Chapter 391 As long as you concede fewer goals than you score, you win!
Winning three consecutive league victories!
Five consecutive wins in all competitions!
Mourinho's Manchester United, under the spotlight, ushered in an unexpected and dreamy start.
Manchester United has changed so much, so quickly, it’s unbelievable.
Even though the team’s signing fee in the summer window was the highest in football and several superstars were introduced;
Even though the team hired one of the top head coaches in the world;
However, most people think that Manchester United, which has experienced a coaching change and the addition of new players, will definitely need some adaptation time if it wants to become a strong contender for the Premier League championship.
Especially due to the lack of pre-season preparations and the defeat by Leicester City in the Community Shield, many media and fans felt that this new Manchester United was still in the running-in period.
I never thought that in the first round of the league just one week later, the team would directly enter the game!
A hearty victory, defeating the underdog Bournemouth in the away game;
Then they defeated Southampton, one of last season's dark horses, at home, as well as the newly promoted team that is "barefoot and not afraid of wearing shoes" Hull City!
Among them, what makes Manchester United fans happy the most is the plug-and-play performance of the new players!
In three league games, Ibrahimovic scored five goals!
The efficiency of averaging 1.7 goals per game is simply terrifying!
While shattering doubts such as "not adaptable to the Premier League" and "he is old", the team finally has a center who can shoot reliably.
As the team's history and football transfer leader, Ling Feng directly handed over the terrifying data of three goals and six assists!
The new Red Devils No. 7 used his dominant performance to tell everyone what a wise decision the Red Devils made to acquire him with a football record transfer fee!
Kante, running in the midfield, killed all the opponents' threatening attacks!
As for the few attacks that reached the penalty area, Bailly used his excellent physical fitness and awareness to get the ball out of the way immediately!
Of course, there are many reasons why the team delivered such an amazing performance at the beginning of the season.
In addition to the amazing performance of the new players, they also benefited from the favorable schedule.
In the first three rounds of the league and the Champions League play-offs, the opponents Manchester United encountered were not strong.
Bournemouth, a mid-lower team;
Southampton, sixth in the league last season after losing several key players in the team;
Hull City, the newly promoted team;
Steaua Bucharest, the "rich club" of Romania.
There is a clear gap in the strength of these four teams compared to the Red Devils, who have made a lot of reinforcements in Xia Chuang.
Of course, why did Manchester United suddenly take on a new look, significantly improved on both offense and defense compared to last season.
Football experts hired by the media and football reporters who think they understand football have also conducted analysis and research.
Then, they came to a conclusion:
The key lies in Ling Feng’s joining!
With the arrival of this pastry master who has given out more than 30 assists in a single season, Manchester United's midfield and frontcourt, which seriously lacked creativity, have been completely revitalized!
Ibrahimovic, who is isolated in the frontcourt, only needs to send Ling Feng's precise pass into the opponent's goal!
Rooney, who had been criticized for his decline in function before, can also safely hand over the responsibility of organizing the offense, reduce the frequency of personal possession of the ball, and actively intersperse moves to create opportunities for Ibrahimovic and Ling Feng. space, allowing the two to attack the goal more!
From time to time, I can also receive Ling Feng's pass and complete the finishing blow!
Offense and defense are often integrated.
As the team's offense becomes extremely fierce, it suppresses the opponent throughout the entire process, which can greatly reduce the number of times the opponent attacks into one's own dangerous areas, achieving the effect of easing the defensive pressure on the back line.
The tactical concept of "offense instead of defense" is not a strange thing.
“As long as you concede fewer goals than you score, you win!”
- This is one of the favorite sayings of legendary Manchester United manager Ernest Mangnall.
Except Sir Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, only Mangnall has led Manchester United to win the league championship.
From a certain perspective, this is the blood flowing in the bones of Manchester United.
That is offense first!
Let’s not talk about the era that was too long ago. During the more than 20 years of Ferguson’s coaching, although there was no fixed tactical formation.
However, he prefers 442.
This old Scottish man’s use of the 442 system has also experienced a gradual transformation from the traditional British style of play to the continental system. In the end, he also achieved the great achievement of dominating the domestic league and reaching the top of Europe!
As the most successful club in England in the past two decades, Manchester United fans naturally have a sense of superiority.
Even if the team could no longer win the league title in the three years after Ferguson retired.
However, they still feel that the team should win every game.
Not only do you have to win, but you also have to win beautifully and the scene is beautiful!
Therefore, both Manchester United executives and fans are very satisfied with the current situation of the team.
With the start of the five-game winning streak, the atmosphere in Manchester United's locker room is also unprecedentedly relaxed.
Whether they are veterans who have been in the team for many years or newcomers who have joined in recent seasons, they all feel the difference in the team.
Now, seeing the changes Mourinho has brought to the team, they are also full of motivation for the new season.
However, some people are not happy.
. . .
Due to the upcoming international match day, the Manchester United players went their separate ways to report to the national team the morning after finishing the league match with Hull City.
As the club's coach, Mourinho returned to Carrington's office according to his strict schedule.
Nine thirty in the morning.
Just when Mourinho looked up at the clock on the wall for the third time, there was finally a knock on the office door.
“Come in!”
As soon as Mourinho finished speaking, Martial, dressed in casual clothes, pushed open the door and entered.
"Good morning, boss."
Looking at this French young man who was hailed as the "new Henry" by the media, Mourinho raised his eyebrows and raised his hand:< br>
"Sit down."
Although the team has won five consecutive games in five games within half a month, and is full of firepower.
However, the team's frontcourt offense still has a lot of room for improvement.
Especially the performance of the big-footed Martial in the team last season was worrying!
Martial was the team’s starting left winger in the first three league games and the first leg of the Champions League play-offs.
However, after four games, not only the Manchester United coaching staff, but also most Manchester United fans can see that the team's top scorer and thigh last season is almost completely outside the team's frontcourt offensive system. !
Not only did he not play the full 90 minutes in a game, he also did not score a single goal or assist.
And Rashford, who has come on as a substitute for him three times, has easily scored one goal and one assist!
Originally, data is not the only criterion for measuring offensive players.
However, Martial's "lazy" performance in the game made Mourinho very dissatisfied.
Of the four in the frontcourt, only Martial will wait for the ball on the wing, while the other three will frequently run around.
Even if I asked him to run more open spaces, connect more with Ling Feng, and play against the wall to cooperate, he did not do so.
This is why he arranged a one-on-one interview with Martial today.
Mourinho wants Martial to understand that he is the team's head coach.
All players must play according to their own tactics!
And Martial also understood very well why the head coach called him into the office.
Sure enough, in the next half hour, Mourinho mainly analyzed his performance in several games with him.
For example, he always hugs the wing and is unwilling to get behind the opponent's full-back; for example, when he gets the ball, he only dribbles the ball and breaks through, and does not actively cooperate with Ling Feng in the middle;
< br>
And Martial also nodded in agreement while listening to the head coach pointing out the areas where he needed to improve on the field.
"You have to believe in Ling Feng's passing. As long as you push forward or run out of space, he will definitely pass the ball to your feet!"
"Okay, boss. I will pay attention next time. "
Although he promised so verbally.
However, as soon as he left Mourinho's office and drove out of the Carrington base, Martial immediately called his agent Ramboli to complain:
< br>“I’ve had enough!”
"If it weren't for me, Manchester United wouldn't have been able to reach the top four last season!"
"There would be no chance of playing in the Champions League!"
"What's more, I have already given in and will be nine. The number was given to that Swede! But why is he still so harsh on me!"
"My skills are the best in the team, why do I always want to run in the open position? Can't he pass the ball to my feet and let me break through and create a threat? "Why was Hazard able to do this when he was coaching Chelsea, but I couldn't?"
After quietly listening to Martial's bitterness, the agent who had previously encouraged him not to come out to clarify the reports of internal strife in the team began to warn him earnestly:
"Anthony, now is not the time to lose your temper. ”
Today, the team’s record is very good, and the team’s morale and atmosphere are very good.
If Martial causes trouble, he will most likely be thrown to the reserve team by Mourinho to ponder his mistakes.
Mourinho, who has led the team to consecutive victories, has such confidence and can do such a thing!
Moreover, players such as Rashford and Lingard on the bench are also eyeing his starting position.
You know, victory can cover up all problems.
As long as he can win, even if Mourinho throws him to the bench or even the stands, the club's top brass will not interfere.
Moreover, the transfer window is about to close.
Even if you want to explore the possibility of loan or transfer, it is too late.
Therefore, the agent finally told Martial that even if he is not happy, he must try his best to integrate into the team's tactical system and keep his main position first.
After all, the hard indicator to evaluate a player's quality is always his performance on the field.
After he performs well and becomes a key figure influencing the team, he will be qualified to bargain with Mourinho!
After listening to the agent’s comfort and analysis, Martial also calmed down his inner restlessness a little, and complained again:
“But the new guy doesn’t seem to be willing. Pass the ball to me”
"You mean Ling Feng? Are you sure he doesn't like you? Or does he just think you don't run, so he doesn't want to pass the ball to you?"
Hearing the agent's rhetorical question, Martial fell into into silence.
He tried to recall scenes from his daily life and training.
Ling Feng would not ignore him, but would specifically communicate with him in French when talking to him.
“He didn’t show it in training”
"That's right. Besides, you and he have never had any issues before, so he has no reason to dislike you."
"Well, aren't you and Kanter teammates on the national team? You can ask Ask him what kind of person Ling Feng is.”
“Well.”
The young man’s arrogance makes Martial reluctant to please others.
After all, in his opinion, Ling Feng is indeed very strong, but he is not bad either.
If the head coach can give him the same tactical freedom and right to fire, he thinks he will be no worse than Ling Feng!
However, the agent Lamboli, who has been working with him for several years, immediately read Martial's inner thoughts from his silence.
The tone suddenly became serious:
“Anthony, I strongly recommend that you have a good relationship with him!”
“He is not only England’s favorite Player, and Ferguson also likes him very much. What's more, he is also the team's all-time icon who the club spent a lot of money to buy back."
"If you have a conflict with him, who do you think will get the support of the club?"
Hearing this, Martial was not stupid, and he immediately understood the agent's subtext.
“I understand.”
Ling Feng, who has already arrived at the St. George’s Park base to prepare for the friendly match with the Three Lions, naturally does not know about this incident between Mourinho and Martial. One-on-one interviews.
If I knew, I would definitely laugh it off.
Judging from the past few games, Martial is still immersed in his former glory as the team's thigh last season and is unwilling to accept the reality that he is no longer the core of the team.
Especially after being forced to give up the No. 9 jersey in Xia Chuang and the sharp decrease in ball rights after Ling Feng joined, he was eager to prove himself on the court.
This is also an important reason why he has been playing alone with the ball in these games.
It is true that Martial's small skills are indeed good, and his breakthrough ability is also the strongest point of this Manchester United.
However, his attitude is a flaw!
Football is a team sport that requires running.
The stadium is so big. If Martial is unwilling to run, then other teammates will have to run a few more kilometers for him.
If he doesn't trust his teammates and is unwilling to pass the ball to them, then his teammates will definitely not pass the ball to him!
A team, each player has his or her own playing style.
But, they are all fighting for the team’s victory!
Ling Feng's purpose is also very clear.
The reason why he joined the rebuilding Manchester United is to be the boss of the team and lead the team to win the championship!
Then compete with Melo for the supreme golden ball!
In order to achieve his goal, he needs the assistance of his teammates and more explosive personal data.
If Martial is willing to cooperate with him and run actively, he will not hesitate to feed him crazily and let him score goals.
If you don't want to, then go to the bench with that stinky face, or go directly to the factory to screw!
(End of this chapter)