Chapter 291
Liverpool's performance during this period made him feel pressure and smell the danger. He could no longer joke with this game and this opponent like he did at the beginning of the second half.
It seems that I have to treat Benitez differently?
Perhaps this game is a little turbulent?
How big wave do you want to make? Mr. Benitez? Want to win the championship? I won't agree.
...
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shot directly from the top of the penalty area! Ah, but Liverpool's central defender Heipia blocked the baseline with his body. This was Manchester United's first shot in the second half! They were previously crushed by Liverpool in their own half and basically couldn't get out."
This sounds a bit miserable, but it is actually the case.
After Ferguson adjusted his midfield tactics, Manchester United's offense finally improved a bit. Solskjaer's shot this time was an opportunity found through quick passes in the midfield.
Liverpool made tough arrangements in the midfield, but Ferguson did not fight them head-on. He used faster passes and running to get rid of Liverpool's defense.
Next, the game was in a deadlock. Both sides had some opportunities, but they could not directly threaten the opponent's goal.
In the 74th minute, Ronaldinho once again relied on his personal skills to force a breakthrough from Liverpool's defense line and entered, and then shot at the small angle, but hit the edge net. This made Ronaldo very upset. Although he had scored a goal, his pursuit of goals will never stop.
Liverpool then launched an attack. Reiser stopped the ball with his chest after receiving a pass from Gerald, but he fell to the ground in a fight with Keane and fell into the penalty area. Liverpool players raised their arms, while Liverpool fans made huge booing, hoping that the referee would see this scene so that Manchester United could get a penalty kick.
The referee's whistle sounded, but he did not foul Keane, but foul Riser's handball handball first!
This penalty caused Liser, who had just fallen to the ground and raised his hands to signal the innocent, to jump up, waved his arms angrily, and complained endlessly. It is no exaggeration to describe it as "furious like thunder".
Seeing this scene, Benitez also jumped out of his seat and complained angrily off the court. At first, he was because the referee did not judge Keane for a foul. Later, he was angry with Lisser - did you forget a yellow card on your body? At this time, you contradict the referee, you want to apply for a red card to end?!
Gerald calmed down, so he went up and pulled Riser away, repeatedly reminding him of a yellow card.
Lisser gave up and ran back with Gerald. The referee had no intention of finding a card, which also made other Liverpool players feel relieved.
After 76 minutes of the game, Baros basically did not get any decent chances. His physical fitness was well-known in Premier League football, but today he met a difficult opponent - Ferdinand and Vidic, who were always in the middle of the day, clamping him tightly, so that he had no chance to get the ball, and even if he got the ball, he could not turn around, and even if he turned around, he would not have the chance to shoot.
As Liverpool's center forward, his performance in the first time in the Champions League final was so cowardly. Can he not be popular?
In addition, Benitez's harsh words during the break made him desperately hope to prove himself with a goal.
There must be a way to change this situation!
He retreated outward and no longer kept pushing it inside, which made it easier for him to get the ball.
Ferdinand and Vidic saw Baros withdraw from the penalty area, but they did not follow him. Baros who did not get the ball did not need to worry about it. Only when the football was passed to Baros' feet would the two people pounce on it.
After Baroche withdrew, he raised his arm and signaled his teammates to pass the ball to him. He wanted to vent his depression of being frozen during this period.
Garcia's personal skills on the right side attracted Neville and Ronaldo, and he took the opportunity to pass the football horizontally to the front of the penalty area.
Barroche catches the ball.
The football was not very good and jumped up a little, but this also gave Baroshi the chance to shoot. He didn't have to think about how to get rid of the difficult defense. Now he just needs to... swing his legs directly!
Baroshi swung his thick thighs, turned his body to the waist and abdomen, and thrust in place!
No one will underestimate the strength of this center. Although his performance in the Premier League is average, he was the Golden Boot of the European Cup last year. The powerful German and Dutch teams have suffered his losses. For such a player, even if he stays away from the goal, he should not be taken lightly!
Ferdinand took the lead in trying to block the football with his body, but the football whizzed past him.
The football passed through the penalty area and flew straight to the right of the goal.
Van der Sar saved hard, and his whole body flew horizontally. His extended arm wanted to save the football, but he couldn't do it.
Football passed by his fingertips.
At this moment, I believe that all Manchester United players and fans' hearts were cold. At the same time, Liverpool fans could not wait to raise their arms high and prepare to announce their lead.
"Bang!"
A very loud sound brought the souls of Manchester United fans back into their bodies, and at the same time, the souls of Liverpool fans really flew into the sky.
The football hit the outside of the goal post and flew directly out of the bottom line!
"Ah--" the commentator shouted, as if he was even more regretful than Barroche himself, "It actually hit the post! Liverpool's luck is too bad! Barroche's luck is too bad!"
This kick made Ferguson jump from his seat, and the moment he was moving was like his butt was on fire.
"FU-CK!" he cursed.
Liverpool was like taking medicine in the second half. He was so excited that no matter how he shot, he could threaten his shots, how could he play in this game? If this continues, even if there is a counterattack, Manchester United will collapse sooner or later.
This kind of shot hit the post is simply a psychological torture to Manchester United players. Will they feel a little soft after surviving the disaster?
The match against Chelsea for the league championship has never been so nervous, and it is indeed more difficult to defend the Champions League championship...
You are the target of public criticism, you are the super-large mobile target, everyone wants to overthrow you, and then step on the body of the defending champion to pick up the supreme honor. If you can't hold on, you will fall from the throne and be eaten by a group of hungry wolves waiting below.
"Go and call Scholes back." Ferguson said to Queros behind him.
It's about to adjust.
Ronaldo's performance under the opponent's continuous high pressure was not as active as in the first half. In the second half, Manchester United's few offenses all came from Giggs and Evra.
Scholes ran back from the warm-up area, and the two looked at each other, and Ferguson pulled him to the sidelines. "You go up and replace Cristiano, in addition to playing hard on defense, I need your long pass to send the football out."
Scholes nodded.
Ferguson said nothing, patted Scholes on the back and asked him to follow the fourth official to the sidelines.
In the 77th minute, Manchester United made the first substitution adjustment in the whole game. No. 18 Paul Scholes replaced No. 7 Cristiano Ronaldo.
After this substitution, it did not have an immediate effect. Instead, Liverpool continued their strength in the second half and continued to push Manchester United's goal siege.
In the 79th minute, Riser made a cross after breaking through the wing, and Barosch shot in front of Ferdinand and Vidic, but he hit high.
It seems that he didn't wear shooting boots today.
In the 80th minute, Scholes finally passed a good ball to Solskjaer. Solskjaer, who performed in this game, adjusted slightly outside the penalty area and shot a long time, but this kick was directly high and not within the goal range.
In the second half, Liverpool strengthened its defense, and Solskjaer, who was not physically superior, basically disappeared, with two shots but did not threaten the opponent's goal.
The commentator couldn't stand it: "So far, if you want to score, both sides have the lowest score players. The Liverpool side's winner is Barroche, and Manchester United side is undoubtedly Solskjaer. The Norwegian scorer is completely at a disadvantage in the physical confrontation with Liverpool defenders. He seems to be afraid of such physical confrontation. He pulled the position outside the penalty area, avoided the opponent's defender, and also stayed away from the goal. At the same time, he also hindered Ronaldinho's performance here. Coach Ferguson just replaced Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Ronaldo's performance was not outstanding in the second half, he was still very active in the first half. What about Solskjaer? Perhaps, Ferguson has to consider substitution again."
Ferguson is indeed considering whether to replace Solskjaer. His repeated injuries have greatly reduced his strength, and at the same time, he has a psychological shadow in his physical confrontation. Liverpool changed his defensive strategy and focused on being tough. Of course, it would not be specifically targeting Solskjaer, but it has caused an objective phenomenon that made Solskjaer disappear.
Should he get out?
"Jazz?" Queros also noticed that Solskjaer's performance was getting worse and worse. Perhaps because of his physical fitness being almost exhausted, his running was not as active as in the first half.
"Um?"
"Do you want to continue to change people?"
Ferguson nodded and said, "Go and call Drogba back."
This decision surprised Queros. Manchester United's substitutes were warming up in the warm-up area at this time and were ready to play at any time. Queros did not expect Ferguson to go to Drogba instead of Villa.
"You want to play as a double center?" Queros asked.
Chapter completed!