Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 200

On February 2th, Sunderland sat at the Stadium of Light and faced Chelsea.

From last season's FA Cup final to the present, Sunderland and Chelsea have played too many times, and the two teams are already familiar with each other-but the previous games were either at Wembley, or at Stamford Bridge, at the Stadium of Light or in recent years. For the first time.

Most people are optimistic about Chelsea.

After all, just four days ago, Chelsea had just won cleanly, fresh and hot.

The crisis that Sunderland encountered four days ago has not yet been lifted.Anton was restricted by the FA and could not direct the game on the spot. The team was temporarily led by an assistant coach Blake who had never served as a head coach, and faced the tactical master Ancelotti-it didn't look like there was any chance of winning.

Before the start of the game, the Sunderland players gathered in the dressing room.With a straight face, Russell asked everyone loudly: "Have you remembered the tactical arrangement on the field?"

From Captain Garner down, everyone nodded.

So Russell turned to Ibrahimovic and snorted coldly: "Zlatan?"

Ibrahimovic was a little absent-minded at the moment, Russell asked again before he nodded, and said casually: "Understood!"

Russell was actually a little apprehensive towards Ibrahimovic.First, Ibrahimovic's previous club experience shows that this person is a "thorn", and second, Russell always feels that he lacks Anton's ability and cannot make Ibrahimovic "obey" himself.

It just so happens that Ibrahimovic is the kind of person who, the less confident you are, the less he will obey you.

Therefore, Sunderland's first half was still a passive situation.

Russell stood in the cold wind of the northeast coast in February, and his heart felt cold.It was the first time for him to stand in the command area of ​​the Stadium of Light. It is rare for the fans to know that this is the most difficult period for the team. Instead of despising him, they have been cheering for the entire team behind their backs.

But Russell had to admit that he didn't feel that when Anton was on the field before, but now that it was his turn to direct, he felt that Ancelotti was too powerful.

Previously, the coaching staff made tactical arrangements according to the email sent by Anton, but within a few minutes of playing, Ancelotti saw the weakness of this tactic: Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic relied too much on Eriksson's "cake feeding", and he advanced too far alone, causing this tall center to be out of touch with the rest of the team.Coupled with his unwillingness to retreat and participate in the defense, this is equivalent to putting Sunderland at a slight disadvantage in terms of numbers when defending.

So Ancelotti immediately asked someone to restrict Eriksson. Once this point was controlled, Ibrahimovic was basically isolated and helpless in the frontcourt, and he ran around casually.

The more Russell watched, the more anxious he became. He repeatedly yelled at the field, but neither Ibrahimovic nor Eriksson seemed to hear them.In the past, Anton only needed to make a gesture, and the players could obey the rules, but now he can't do it.

In fact, Anton has already explained this weakness in the email, and clearly asked the coaching staff to instruct Ibrahimovic to retreat appropriately to get the ball and support teammates, and not just rely on his own ability to make a breakthrough.

So Russell was anxious and angry, and what made him even more angry to death was: Chelsea took advantage of Eriksson's opportunity to "feed cake" to Ibrahimovic, three people double-teamed, successfully intercepted, and took advantage of Sunderland's return. Time to launch a quick counterattack and score a goal.

0 to 1, Sunderland fell behind again.

Russell could hear the violent fluctuations in the emotions of the fans behind him: Sunderland fans are used to winning against Chelsea, and even conceding first rarely happens.Back at Sunderland's home court this time, it was too...

The last game was a clean 0-3 loss. It can also be said that because the game was postponed and Anton was taken away, the emotions of the players were greatly affected and they were completely unable to concentrate.But now that they are playing at home, what reason do they have to lose?

The last game was the FA Cup. After losing, Sunderland just lost one front.But this game is a league game, a dialogue between the strong and the strong.In addition to Chelsea being the most powerful competitor in the championship, Sunderland is closely following other teams such as Manchester United——

Anton managed to weave a dream for Sunderland. Will this dream be shattered once he is absent?

At this time, although no one booed Russell in the stands, Russell felt very unhappy. He knew that it was time to change.

He couldn't help but think of what Anton said on the phone that day: You need to find your own style.

But after such a long time, he felt that he had completely become Anton's deputy, and he was extremely comfortable and glorious with Anton... By the way, what is his own style?

It wasn't until he stood in this position that Russell realized how much pressure Anton was under as the head coach of a team.

When the half-time whistle blew, Sunderland were two goals behind Chelsea.Russell's face was livid. When the players returned to the locker room after the end of the field, Russell did not give them high fives like Anton did, nor did he express condolences. Instead, he glared fiercely at them one by one.

The players haven't seen Russell like this for a long time.

Even Ibrahimovic was taken aback when he saw Russell, the big center shrank back, pointed at Russell and said, "Why do you seem to..."

He wanted to say, why do your eyes seem to be falling out, but Russell stared even wider with his cowbell eyes. Ibrahimovic opened his mouth and didn't continue, so he had to follow his teammates back to the locker room.

When the last player also entered the locker room, Russell returned his hand, and the door of the locker room was slammed shut with a "bang", which made the players' ears buzzing.

Everyone turned around in surprise, as if they didn't know Russell, and stared at him.

"I just want to ask you guys, are you smart enough to compete today?!" Russell asked coldly, crossing his arms.

The only people who have experienced this period in the team are captain Garner, deputy Henderson, and a few bench players. At first, like everyone else, they were surprised by Russell's sudden transformation.But then Garner and Henderson seemed to think of something, looked at each other, turned their heads together, and cast encouraging glances at Russell.

——Brother, you can do it!

They knew Russell was finding himself, the irascible, blustering, deeply emotional assistant coach -- the Russell who had long stood behind Anton, completely overshadowed by Anton's light.At this time without Anton, when the team is getting close to losing, I am afraid that only his roar can stimulate the most important sense of honor and desire to win in the players' hearts.

Sure enough, Russell raised his voice and shouted: "Answer me! One by one!"

In the locker room, Russell blushed, and the players' ear drums were buzzing at the same time.Flanagan and other young players had never seen the ferocious face of "Mother Luo", so they were frightened for a while, and quickly nodded along with the other players.

"Okay, very good, everyone still has brains, I just want to ask you, where is your heart?" The veins on Russell's forehead were protruding one by one, and he broke out completely, and asked in a hateful voice: "Do you please?" Where did the heart of victory go, isn’t it because Anton is not here? Feelings, you have always played football for Anton, and never for yourself?”

"Anyone who still can't cheer up, raise your hand now, don't play in the second half, I will pack you up and send you to London to meet Anton, and explain to him personally... It doesn't matter if there are less than 11 players on the field, as long as If you dare to raise your hands, I will drive people away..."

"By the way, remember when you're gone, don't let me see you within twenty miles of Sunderland again..." Russell waved his fists, as if he saw him and beat him every time.

The players in the locker room were all dumbfounded—who would dare to call such an irritable old man "Mother Luo".

Russell is not like Anton, who is always chic, personable and eloquent.Anton is born with a magical ability to unite people's hearts, and can easily attract players to him and let them go with him.

But just like what Anton said, who stipulates that all head coaches in the world must be like Anton?

"Find yourself..."

Anton's voice echoed in Russell's ears.

Russell, today, is finally going to come out of Anton's shadow.After Russell roared, his face was flushed and he was panting, but his eyes were a little red again. He clenched his teeth and clenched his fists, trying to control his emotions.

"Listen, since none of you raised your hands, I'll tell you honestly how I felt watching the first half." Russell's eyes slowly swept across the entire locker room.

"I'm just wondering? Are you all scumbags or something? Anton drew a cake for you in the air before, saying to play as he said, you might have a chance to win the championship, create Miracle! The cake is so big and far away, but it is drawn in the air, and everyone in the world is laughing. You all listened to it, kicking one after another, beating one opponent after another... ..."

When he said this, some players suddenly wanted to laugh, but after thinking about it, they felt like crying.

But if you think about it, Sunderland is a newly promoted team this season, and the goal of striving for the league championship was like a dream to the players at the time.But now the schedule has already passed halfway, and they have stayed at the top of the standings for seven or eight rounds.

"Seeing that this 'impossible' is gradually becoming 'possible', but now you are all paralyzed on the field like a puddle of mud, letting your former defeated opponents destroy your defense line. If I were Anton, I would spit in your face water……"

Russell opened his eyes and stared at the players closely, looking like he really wanted to spit.

The players were sweating on the back of their heads: ...It's obviously you who want to spit!

"And you..." Russell turned to Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic also stared at Russell: "Me?"

Ibrahimovic was a little bit cramped before, probably because he saw a Russell he had never seen before.

Now Russell came to the door by himself, but Ibrahimovic is not a vegetarian either.

"You came to Sunderland for sightseeing, right?!" Russell squinted at him.

Ibrahimovic: ...

Big Ibrahimovic took two steps forward, almost stuck in front of Russell, and said condescendingly: "Blake, what do you mean by that?"

Russell said impatiently: "If you can't implement the tactics of the coaching staff, let's talk about it as soon as possible, and let someone else play. We are a championship team, and we won't waste time with you here!"

He had already turned around to look at the tactical board, and called the two "Sen" over to give them an opportunity to face-to-face.

Ibrahimovic has been in Sunderland for nearly three weeks, and he has never received such a cold reception, but he felt it was new. He folded his arms and followed behind the deputy Henderson, listening to Russell's arrangement.Just after listening to a few words, Ibrahimovic stretched out his arms, pushed Henderson away, squeezed himself in front of Russell, and said with a sullen face, "You want Ibrahimovic in these positions?"

If Eriksson and Henderson play as Russell said, it is equivalent to emptying Ibrahimovic in the frontcourt.In this case, if Ibrahimovic wants the ball, he must retreat to get the ball himself.

Russell ignored him and continued on.

Ibrahimovic stretched out his finger, tapped Russell on the shoulder lightly, and said, "Dude, you, this is a 'Ferrari,'" Ibrahimovic pointed to himself when he said "Ferrari".

"...Use it as a 'Fiat'!"

Ferrari is a super luxury car, Fiat is just an economical and practical car, the two are not the same.

With a sullen face, Russell turned around, reached out and dusted the spot where Ibrahimovic touched him just now: "Hey, if the team can't win the game, no luxury car is useless!" He stretched out his hand and poked at the tactics board, Without mercy: "Don't tell me 'Ferrari' or 'Fiat', you were a fucking bike for the first half of the race!"

The whole locker room almost burst out laughing, and everyone tried their best to hold back.On the contrary, Ibrahimovic was a little embarrassed, his face turned red and white: football is a sport for eleven people, and he understands all this.

He can come to Sunderland, firstly, Messi returns, and Barcelona will no longer reserve a place for him; secondly, Sunderland has laid the foundation for the championship in the first half of the season.Ibrahimovic has been chasing championships all his life, so what if Sunderland is newly promoted, if he can help Sunderland win the championship, then he will add another Premier League championship medal to his medal cabinet.

Russell mercilessly pierced Ibrahimovic's mind: No matter how strong Da Fengxian is, he is still nothing if he can't help the team win.

Immediately, Ibrahimovic restrained his attitude a little and shrank next to Eriksson. Hearing Russell's emphasis on the tactics in the second half, he thought to himself: Isn't it just a retreat to get the ball?What is the difficulty for him?

At the beginning of the second half, the Sunderland fans in the Stadium of Light were pleasantly surprised to find that their team spirit was different from the first half.

And the "acting" head coach Russell stood on the sidelines, with a very different spirit, with a gloomy face from beginning to end, arms folded, opening his mouth to "roar" anytime and anywhere, without showing any sympathy—the fans have never I've seen Russell like this.

Opponents generally felt the pressure increased.

Ancelotti stood on the sidelines, watching Ibrahimovic retreating frequently to take the ball, sometimes very deep, Ancelotti looked curiously at the "next door" Russell, thinking: I don't know what this assistant coach uses The method wins people's hearts, but it seems to be working now.

But the "old saying" is good, you have a good plan, I have a wall ladder.Ancelotti gave Lampard a wink, and Chelsea immediately stepped up their midfield fight, focusing on Ibrahimovic's feet.

How could Ibrahimovic let someone snatch the ball from his feet?Da Feng first stretched his foot and blocked it with his arm, and the ball came back to his feet.

Hearing only a "di" whistle, the referee whistled Ibrahimovic for a foul and showed him a yellow card as a warning.

The author has something to say: "Ferrari" or "Fiat", this is what Ibrahimovic said when he called Guardiola back then.Back then, Ibrahimovic had an unsatisfactory life in Barcelona. After thinking about it carefully, neither Ibrahimovic nor Gua made any major mistakes. 【Benzema said in a low voice: After all, it's not my fault! 】