Messi was so scared that he cried when he maxed out his header talent at the start of the game

Some people can be directly identified by their nationality just by looking at you for a second in the crowd.

For example, the short and submissive Xiao Rizi, the squinty eyes of the little Korean... Schalke 04 head coach Mirko Slonka is such a German man with typical appearance features.

Square face, strong facial contours, distinct jaw angle, golden hair, typical pure German appearance.

As a native German, Slonka has been staying in Germany since he retired as a player.

So his English level is very average, and he needs to use the translator he brought with him during the interview.

"Ah... yes! Manchester City is very good! 2 wins and 2 group first... We are under a lot of pressure facing them..."

"But we can't afford to lose. Uh... yes, I mean, if we lose this game, it will be very disadvantageous for the competition to qualify!"

"Su? I know! He... is very good! He is the best player I have ever seen! We will try to limit him... Come on Schalke 04!!"

Not just English! Sloka's German answer was also stumbling and irrelevant after translation.

The media reporters present were very confused, wondering if this guy was pretending to be stupid to avoid some sharp questions...

Really!

Sloka, who left the interview site and returned to the locker room, immediately shed his Alzheimer's appearance just now, and gave a speech in the locker room with excitement.

"Do you know what those local English reporters said just now?"

"They actually asked us if we have the confidence to win the game today?!"

"Scheiße!!"

"Before the game started, I heard the doubts and underestimations from those English people!"

"Such things have been happening in China, just like the attitude of the Bundesliga media towards us last season!"

"At that time, no one believed that we could break into the Champions League zone, but we not only did it, but also won the second place in the league!"

"That's what I want to say today!"

"Gentlemen!"

"Today we came to England, we are playing away, except for those fans who love us and followed us here, no one wants us to win, including any staff you see at the stadium!"

"And what we have to do is to disappoint all of them! Just like we did in the league last season, slap them in the face!!"

"Pa pa slap in the face!!"

The Schalke 04 players are obviously very accustomed to Slonka's pre-match motivation. The tall captain Neuer stood up with his fist raised and actively responded.

"Come on, brothers! Just like the boss said, today we are going to give them a hard slap in the face!!"

......................................................

At 6:30 in the evening, the night enveloped Manchester, and the Etihad Stadium was brightly lit.

The entrance ceremony was in progress.

The two commentators in the ESPN live studio also appeared on the screen on time.

"ESPN Sports Satellite TV!"

"ESPN Sports Satellite TV!"

"Welcome to watch the live broadcast of the third round of the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League Group B match!"

"Both sides of the game!"

"Manchester City of the Premier League will play against Schalke 04 of the Bundesliga at home!"

"The game is about to start!"

"First, let me introduce you to the starting lineups of both sides!"

"Home team, wearing blue, Blue Moon Manchester City!"

"Starting goalkeeper: James!"

"Defenders: Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Sun Jihai!"

"Double defensive midfielders: Toure, Martinez!"

"Left and right midfielders: Rakitic, Modric!"

"Attacking midfielder: Su Fei!"

"Double forwards: Cassano, Balotelli!"

"Manchester City's starting lineups The starting formation is still 3412, but the personnel combination is slightly different from the last league match against Arsenal. This season's main defensive midfielder Pepe is absent due to injury, and the summer new signing Yaya Toure made his Champions League debut! "

"The other side!"

"The visiting team, wearing white, has the nickname of coal miners, the Bundesliga powerhouse Schalke 04!"

"Starting goalkeeper: German goalkeeper Neuer!"

"Defenders: Heiko Westermann, Maraden Korstajic, Marcelo Boden, Rafinha!"

"Double defensive midfielders: Levan Kobiashvili, Jermaine Jones!"

"Attacking midfielder: Fabian Ernst!"

"Three forwards: Gerald Asamossi, Kevin Kuranyi, Khalil Altintop!"

"Schalke04's formation is 4-3-3, but their midfield is composed of two defensive midfielders and one attacking midfielder, which can also help them stabilize the back line. "

"Among them!"

"Kobiashvili and Jones, who play as double defensive midfielders, are both new players of Schalke 04 this summer. After the start of the new season, they have been the main players of the team!"

"Okay!"

"Beep!"

"With the referee's whistle..."

.....................................................................

The game officially started, and Schalke 04, as the visiting team, took the lead in attacking.

This Schalke 04, created by German native Slonka, has a completely different style from other Bundesliga teams. Just this 433 formation is very different from the relatively stable 422 of most Bundesliga teams.

Starting from the kick-off tactics.

This difference is even more obvious.

......

Schalke 04 center forward Kuranyi kicked the ball to his teammate Ernst behind him, and Ernst passed the ball to the back Jones at the waist position.

Jones did not rush to pass the ball forward.

Instead, he made a long diagonal pass and sent the ball to the right side defender Rafinha who started after the kick-off.

There are many Brazilian players named Rafinha, because "Rafael" is a very common name in Brazil. Because Brazilian names are complex and difficult to pronounce, as long as the Brazilian players have "Rafael" in their names, they are basically called Rafinha.

So this Rafa is not that Rafa....

But this Rafa, like many Brazilian Rafa, is good at dribbling on the wing. Although in the position of defender, in Schalke 04's 433 system, Rafinha's offensive responsibility is to cooperate with right forward Altintop to complete the breakthrough on the wing.

"Schalke 04 has made a special kick-off tactic!"

"The defensive midfielder passes the ball to the inserted full-back to initiate the attack!"

"Rafinha!"

"Dribble to the vicinity of the midfield line! ”

“He and his teammate Altintop, who was retreating, made a two-on-one pass in the area!”

“They had a great understanding!”

“Altintop took over Rafinha’s baton and rushed to the front court with the ball!”

............................................................