While Liverpool was busy targeting Roma, Eusebio Di Francesco, the Roma coach who took over last summer, was also busy arranging targeted tactics for his players.
In the tactical room of the Trigoria training base, Di Francesco stood on the stage spitting, full of passion, and his words and actions were extremely inflammatory.
"Liverpool's advantage is the trident composed of Salah, Mane, and Firmino. Their forwards have scored more than 80 goals in various competitions this season. These three forwards are in very good shape.
outstanding."
"Guys, Liverpool's best offensive method is to use extremely fast speed and frequent running to tear apart the opponent's defensive front. There are few teams in the Premier League or European competitions that can limit them."
"But we are different. We are red wolves, a group of hungry wolves that can tear apart the Barcelona team in the universe. We have a strong offensive power and a steel-like defensive front." Di Francesco said in a sonorous and powerful tone.
"Liverpool's weakness is its defence!"
"Of course, you know I'm not talking about Van Dyke!" After saying this, Di Francesco deliberately made a joke, enlivening his serious anger.
Nainggolan, Dzeko and others who looked serious in the audience suddenly laughed.
“Of course, I don’t know who Van Dijk’s partner will be yet, but for me, it’s all the same, whether it’s Matip or Lovren, or Klavan and Gomez, as long as we give
With enough pressure on their back line, these guys are prone to making mistakes."
"Guys, you need to listen carefully to what I'm saying next, and keep these high-pressure pressing tactics of Liverpool in mind."
After finishing speaking, Di Francesco pulled the tactical board aside and began to arrange his troops and explain and analyze Liverpool's pressing tactics.
"Their most typical mode is to use three forwards to control the opponent's 4-5 defensive players. Usually this task is completed by the three strikers Mane, Firmino and Salah."
"Firmino presses the midfielder and goalkeeper!"
"Salah and Mane press the centre-backs and full-backs."
"The midfielder covers the middle area and is always ready to pull out to block the opponent's wing attack or directly press in the midfield."
"Their pressure is not only agile but also powerful. After the first wave of pressure is implemented, the players will immediately chase back and continue to interfere with the opponent until the opponent makes a mistake."
"..."
"So in the mid-to-high position, Liverpool will not rush without purpose. They will implement pressing tactics step by step. Only after the opponent has completely fallen into their pressing trap will they start to press heavily."
"..."
Next, Di Francesco explained and analyzed Liverpool's several pressing modes one by one.
"Finally, you all remember that Liverpool's real offensive initiator is their No. 8. At any time, we must have more than two players to implement zone defense around Yang. Once he gets the ball, he will immediately attack him.
To carry out oppression and interference, remember, the purpose is to interfere."
"I think you are all familiar with China Yang. This young player is now known in European football as a new generation of world-class midfield commander."
"He was praised by the media as an all-around midfielder with a God's perspective, a variety of long and short passes as accurate as a scalpel, and extremely creative and imaginative. In addition, he also has extremely terrifying breakthrough capabilities."
"I can't ask you to completely restrict him, but you must interfere and oppress him to a certain extent. You must not allow him to comfortably play the ball forward and organize the offense."
"Once we successfully restrict him like we restricted Messi, it will be equivalent to cutting off the source of Liverpool's offense. At that time, Liverpool will be as obedient as a sheep and will fall under our sharp fangs!"
Until the end of Di Francesco's words, every word revealed strong confidence.
De Rossi, Dzeko and others in the audience were also inspired by the dancing Di Francesco's passionate speech, and everyone's face was filled with confidence.
Their self-confidence is not groundless, but is based on strong morale and confidence.
They even defeated Cosmos Barcelona, so what's more scary?
What's more, Liverpool have had a feud with them for decades.
…
Two days flew by in a blink of an eye.
On April 25, the first semi-final match of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League between Premier League giants Liverpool and Serie A giants Juventus is about to kick off.
Half an hour before the game, Anfield Stadium was already packed with people and all seats were occupied.
In the stands on all sides, fans formed huge banners.
In the KOP stands, which are die-hard fans, a huge portrait of Mo Yang was displayed.
Before the game even started, the Red Army was singing the Liverpool team song "You'll never walk alone".
Kenny Dalglish, the former king of Liverpool, also came to the game to watch the game with club owner Henry.
In addition to Dalglish, Robbie Fowler, Ray Clemons, John Barnes and others also appeared in the private stands.
This game is the only game that Liverpool has come so close to winning the Champions League since winning it in 2005.
Not long after, players from both sides came on the field to warm up.
"Now let's welcome our awesome boys?"
"Who is our captain?"
"Henderson!!!"
"The Premier League's top scorer"
"Salah!!"
"Salah!!"
"Van Dyke!!!"
"Arnold!!"
"..."
Seeing the players on the field, the Red Army fans in the stands on all sides immediately stopped singing, and under the guidance of the DJ on site, began to call each player's name in unison, in an attempt to put huge away pressure on Roma.
"Finally! Let us welcome our prince! The Premier League assists king!"
"who is he?"
"Please tell me loudly, shout out his name!!!!"
"Boom!!!!!!" Anfield began to tremble.
"Positive!!!!"
"Positive!!!!"
"Positive!!!!……"
Under the special instigation of the on-site DJ, the entire Anfield suddenly ignited with an invisible flame, and the stands on all sides exploded into flames. The deafening cheers rose like waves.
This tsunami-like sound caused every Roma player on the field to have tinnitus and their heads were buzzing.
At this moment, every Roma player felt the pressure from the Red Army fans.
During the warm-up period, Red Army fans continued to cheer.
They cheered collectively when Mo Yang hit the ball, and they also cheered when he shot the ball. Anyway, as long as Mo Yang touched the ball, these Red Army fans chanted Mo Yang's name like crazy.
This scene shocked the Roma players.
Only their wolf king Totti can receive this kind of king-like treatment at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
In the KOP stands, Bai Lele and Lu Han, wearing Liverpool red scarves, also went crazy with the fans there.
Not long after, the referee came onto the pitch and the Champions League theme song played.
"You have no football to play in this life!"
"But why are you here!"
"Stupid pig!"
"Kick your sister!"
"Don't kill Bayern!"
"Thank you Barcelona!"
"You want to wipe my factory!"
"Kick Barcelona!"
"Kick Barcelona!"
"Kick Bayern Munich!"
"My factory!"
"..."
"Wow haha……"
When Bai Lele's Chinese transliteration version of the song sounded, Lu Han, who could hear clearly next to him, immediately turned to look at Bai Lele, his eyes widened in confusion, and then he fell back to his seat with laughter.
"Puff puff!!!!!!"
"Puff puff!!!!!!"
"..."
Bai Lele was displayed in front of the mobile phone barrage that was being broadcast live. Countless domestic fans who had never heard of it also collectively criticized Bai Lele. They were all made to laugh out loud by Bai Lele's transliterated version of the Champions League theme song.
"Dirty Demon King! 666666666!"
"Nima, it really looks like that!"
"What did Barcelona do wrong, always kicking people?"