Chapter 387 Night in Istanbul 2
"Liverpool's No. 10 is not playing!?"
When AC Milan's head coach Ancelotti heard the news, he was directly stunned, "Is that Spaniard funny?" Ancelotti knew that Don Jack transferred to Newcastle United, because AC Milan lost the competition, but the player he wanted went to a declining club. It was impossible for him not to pay attention to it.
But because of this, the other party can't play, which is really a surprise!
In this game, both sides are under pressure.
In the Premier League, the champion is Chelsea. The Blues won the league championship three rounds in advance, and the Cup is full of the geniuses of Manchester United and Arsenal. Liverpool has been brilliant for a season, but now there is no harvest. The European championship has become the club's only hope. The same is true for AC Milan, because they have no way out. For the sake of the Champions League, AC Milan gave up Serie A. After three months of collap with Juventus, the collapse of the final stage made head coach Ancelotti only expect to prove that his defensive football was not outdated through the Champions League.
Relatively speaking, the two sides have mutual advantages, and AC Milan is under greater pressure!
The last time Liverpool appeared in the Champions League final was 20 years ago. The "Hassel tragedy" once hit English football hard. Liverpool is still in a period of reconstruction, but the arrival of Benitez has brought the team out of the sluggish trough in recent years. Their vitality and ** play is in the United Kingdom. Super unique.
AC Milan's promotion to the finals was not smooth, especially at the end of the season, showing a decline. In the league, they lost to Juventus at home, while the Champions League lost 1:3 away against Eindhoven. In the end, they only advanced with the advantage of more away goals. In addition to the old man in the defense, the team's attack has gradually lost its previous creativity. The number one striker Shevchenko's goal in the second half of the season has dropped significantly, and Crespo was also hidden by Ancelotti because of the stalemate in the transfer negotiations. Kaka in the midfield has gradually lost his previous aura in the team's conservative playing style. In the current state, AC Milan's self-confidence and morale are facing severe challenges.
It is worth noting that Liverpool eliminated Serie A and Premier League champions Juventus and Chelsea in the process of advancing to the finals. They gave full play to their teamwork ability without being optimistic, and Benitez has also achieved significant results in the reorganization of the midfield. The tactics with Gerrard as the core The control ability of the game has been significantly improved.
AC Milan has unquestionable advantages in experience. After all, their elderly defense has experienced countless major battles, and Liverpool's spiritual leader Gerrard admitted that this is the most critical game ever for him and the team. However, Liverpool has been known as a "cup expert" in recent years, and Benitez also won the UEFA Cup when coaching in La Liga Valencia.
Mature is the biggest feature of AC Milan, but being too steady also makes Ancelotti's play more and more conservative. He will replace three offensive players with three guards in a row under the lead. Benitez's playing method is famous for its practicality. His timing and insight in the game enable the team to He has effectively changed the unfavorable situation, and his adaptability has been fully proved by the rise of Liverpool this season.
For the two hereditary giants of European football, there is no secret between the two sides in terms of tactics. Whether AC Milan can show the advantages of experience and the characteristics of calm style will be the key; when Liverpool's strength is at a disadvantage, can their No. 10 show itself At their own level, whether the whole young team can show their due ** and vitality will determine whether they can return to the top of European football!
These are the pre-match reporter's analysis of the game.
But now, the important premise of Liverpool's victory: Jack Don's performance is completely gone, because he will not start the game, which means that at least Jack Don will not be seen in the first half, and look at the stubborn Spaniard's meaning, if Liverpool is not too passive, Don Whether Jack can get a chance to play remains to be proved.
This is really good news for Ancelotti's AC Milan. Ancelotti's biggest worry is how the team defends Don Jack, but now Don Jack can't start... The champion seems to be waming to AC Milan.
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With the chaotic discussion of the 'Don Jack topic', the time passed in a blink of an eye. At 6:25 p.m., the fans had finished entering the field, and the game between the two sides would start on time at 6:30. At this time, the players of the two teams had already stood on the court singing team songs and made some pre-war preparations.
The atmosphere at Ataturk Stadium is very warm.
Turkish fans have always been very popular. There are a lot of football hooligans here, but for the two teams they are playing now, these extreme fans have become cheering fans. Their enthusiasm fills the whole stadium. Unfortunately, Jack Don did not play, and Turkish fans are a little dissatisfied. In the pre-match introduction, they I know that the 'world's best football player' is in Liverpool, but now this player can't play. Anyway, it's a pity.
"That's Jack! He is the best player in Europe!" A Turkish fan pointed to the Liverpool bench and said, "He has scored 14 goals in Europe!" And there are still five games left.
"Oh, my God! Is he the son of God?
"He must have been blessed by God... Unfortunately, he was put on the bench. This is obviously an extreme religious sect.
Sitting on the bench, Jack Don felt very good. He suddenly felt that he should leave directly. In such a luxurious game, he could only be a substitute. It was not as interesting to watch the game on TV at Liverpool's home, especially watching his teammates wasting opportunities on the court again and again. He would be a little anxious. . Even if he is about to leave, Jack Don doesn't want to put up with the feeling of being on the bench. That's really not good.
But obviously, Benitez didn't pay attention to Don Jack at all. He crossed his legs and talked about the game with the assistant coach.
AC Milan's start was not unexpected. Between Crespo and Dainzaghi, Ancelotti chose the Argentine. Liverpool's list is beyond all pre-match predictions. Not only Don Jack did not play, but Benitez did not use three midfielders, but also sent an additional offensive player, Cowell, who suffered from injuries this season, which was only his eighth game this year. In the selection of forward, Benitez used Baroche, and Cise, who won two yuan in the last round of the league, played as a substitute with Don Jack.
Although the formation is surprising, media reporters and fans still feel that Liverpool have no hope. The strength of the two teams was originally equal, but Don Jack did not play, and the gap was too big. Some Turkish fans at the start of Ataturk Stadium shouted like red: " We want Jack! Jack, come on!" This made Benitez look embarrassed, while Don Jack looked at the game solemnly, but felt a little gratified.
Ataturk Stadium is like this, and my year of hard work has not been in vain.
But no matter how optimistic people are about Liverpool, they didn't expect the first goal to come so quickly.
At the beginning of the game, Brazil's young genius Kaka was put down by Liverpool full-back Troure when he broke through on the right side, and then Pirlo took a free kick. After Liverpool lined up the good man's wall, Pirlo immediately opened the ball as soon as the referee whistled.
Pirlo did not find the high point in the penalty area, but opened a low flat ball. Maldini, who was ambushed on the periphery, shot with his right foot half in the air 12 meters in front of the goal, and hit a bullet into the net! The goalkeeper Dudke didn't respond at all!
Goooooooooooooooooooooal!!! Maldini————”
AC Milan leads 1-0!
At this time, it was only 52 seconds after AC Milan's kickoff. "Martini, AC Milan captain Maldini, took the lead and opened the record for AC Milan with a volley. This goal was too fast. In 52 seconds, he set the fastest goal in the Champions League final."