Vol 2 Chapter 71: Liverpool: Cage blockade

The draw of the Champions League quarter-finals has attracted the attention of mainstream European media. The British media is the most active. One reason is that the Premier League team occupies half of the quarter-finals. Every game is closely related to the future and destiny of the Premier League team. There is another reason. The British media industry is extremely developed, and many newspapers with world influence are in the UK, so the views of the British media are often cited as mainstream.
　　 Generally speaking, the British media are quite satisfied with the draw. "The Guardian" and "The Sun" have similar views. The red and blue collision between Manchester United and Chelsea ensure the enthusiasm of British fans to watch the game, while Liverpool and Arsenal have the opportunity to go further. They believe that this signing is undoubtedly three insurances for the Premier League to defend the championship!
　　 has such an obvious group advantage. As the world's first league, the Premier League is indeed worthy of the name whether it is at the competitive level or commercial level.
　　 And the first time after the lottery results came out, the German media contacted the two coaches Klinsmann and Slomka in the first time, hoping that they would express some opinions on the lottery results.
The attitudes of the two coaches are very different. Klinsmann is very cautious: "Barcelona is one of the most powerful teams on the planet. They are big favorites to win the championship. If you let me choose, I am very reluctant to touch it now. To them. But since it is already the truth, we will go all out and Bayern’s determination to win will not be shaken at any time."
　　Klinsmann's posture is relatively low, but no one is critical of them. The German media believes that maintaining this low-profile posture, Bayern may continue to play amazing performances. After all, the strength of the card is still there.
The same question, when the German media asked Sloemka how to face Liverpool, the response received was full of confidence, Sloemka said: "With Liverpool, we have experience in the group stage, their weaknesses All under our control, we are very confident to go further than last year!"
　　Privately, Slomka also emphasized with the players during training: "It is our luck to win Liverpool. I need you to relax your mind and play like in the league. It is definitely not a luxury to advance to the semi-finals."
　　……
　　Although Schalke 04 has gradually put the focus of the season on the Champions League, they have also maintained the momentum of vigorous advancement at the league level and continue to attack the championship.
　　 In the 25th round of the Bundesliga, Schalke 04 reversed Hamburg at home 2:1, winning 11 consecutive victories at home at various events. Zhou Tiancheng used his iconic world wave to score a goal for the team to lock the victory.
After the game, the German largest newspaper "Photo" joked that Schalke is now completely racing at full power and record-the Bundesliga's fastest championship record was created by Cologne in the 1963-64 season, when they advanced in advance Five rounds of winning, this record has not been broken in the past 40 years, even Bayern, the earliest won the earliest three earliest. Many German media are tipping their toes in anticipation of Schalke's soaring to the end, the record book is used to break.
　　Of course, Schalke has never thought of such a painless and itchy record. The belief that Sloemka instills in everyone is only one word: Win! Schalke players have maintained a constant desire for victory at all times.
　　 The time came to the end of March. The Bundesliga will be suspended for the FIFA National Team next week for the next weekend. The German team concentrates on preparing for the away game of the World Cup qualifier in South Africa and Wales. The Chinese team has no competition task on this international competition day, so Zhou Tiancheng received another week's rest.
　　After returning to the league after a week, Schalke 04 was not affected by the FIFA virus-at least on the surface, the 2:0 away victory over Bielefeld, the scene is as strong as ever, and all the data overwhelmed the opponent.
After the end of these two rounds of competition, it is finally the long-awaited Champions League game day. Slomka constantly rotates Westman, Zhou Tiancheng and Kuranyi in these two games. The game is preparing.
　　According to the draw of the previous quarterfinals, Liverpool won the away draw, so compared to the home and away order in the group stage, the quarter-finals are just the opposite. Schalke plays first at home, Liverpool first at home and then at home.
In the locker room before the game, Benitez encouraged the morale of Liverpool players: "Forget everything in the group stage! This is a knockout game. You are the players who have won the Champions League. The experience is not comparable to those rookies. The most important point is to block Zhou Tiancheng and then use our powerful offensive firepower to defeat them!"
　　On the other side, although Slomka defied his opponent strategically, he paid great attention to tactics. He gestured on the tactical board and said: "When Zhou takes the ball, there must be at least two people within two meters to get the first response. Liverpool are not vegetarian. After learning the lesson, they will be crazy. Forcing the week."
　　 An hour before the game, all the commentary received the starting list of the two sides, the formation of Liverpool has changed, Benitez gave up 4-4-2, this time to play 3-5-2. Gerrard withdrew from the offensive avant-garde to play three backs with Xavi Alonso and Mascherano. Obviously, Benitez made a big determination, even if he sacrificed the fluency of the midfield attack, Nor can Zhou Tiancheng play comfortably in the midfield.
　　 Within a few minutes of the opening, Zhou Tiancheng touched the ball for the first time. Gerrard immediately gave the body counter pressure from the side and squeezed Zhou Tiancheng's ball protection space with full strength. His confrontation strength was very large. Although he is famous in the world football as an offensive ~EbookFREE.me~, but his physical quality still has the characteristics of traditional classical English style lower back is good at confrontation. Although Zhou Tiancheng's upper body is very powerful, Gerald continues to try to poke the ball while interfering, which interferes with Zhou Tiancheng's ball protection rhythm. Zhou Tiancheng can only turn around and dribble with his opponent.
But this is not the way to go. Zhou Tiancheng glanced up, Xavi Alonso and Mascherano both formed a circular midfielder barrier around themselves, which greatly hindered their passing path, And the encirclement is shrinking and shrinking.
　　 Liverpool's midfield defense is like a cage, surrounded by Zhou Tiancheng, and Mascherano stuck in a favorable position, Rakitic's response route was also blocked.
　　 Marcel Lef frowned straight: "The situation is not very good, Zhou encountered a big problem, but now other teammates want to support him is very difficult."
CCTV commentary He Wei looked at this scene and felt sadly: "I really don’t know if it’s time to praise Zhou Tiancheng for his excellent dribbling ability, or should he criticize Schalke for relying on Zhou Tiancheng for being excessive. If you change someone else, this This kind of defensive strength is estimated to have lost the ball right? Hey, it's really hard for him."
　　 PS: I will return to the city today. I will still be in the car at this time. I will change the chapter to two thousand words first, and then I will issue another chapter at six o'clock in the evening to ensure the update of four thousand words.
　　 Today's Xiao Li's birthday, friends and family gathering, update time later, forgive me.
　　
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