Chapter 305: Battle of focus
Riding the momentum of a big victory, Real Madrid returns to the Bernab��u for the upcoming showdown, the 7th round of La Liga against Barcelona, the Spanish national derby!
On November 20th last year, all Real Madrid fans still vividly remember that evening when the Galaxy Battleship suffered a humiliating 0-3 defeat at the Bernab��u.
This year, they have the addition of Wang Feng, the world-renowned superstar who once single-handedly brought down Barcelona, so the fans are eagerly hoping that Real Madrid can redeem themselves at home.
However, everyone can see the plight of Real Madrid's defense line. Coach Schuster, in a pre-match interview, was cautious in his words, only praising Barcelona's performance.
"They have shown outstanding performances both in the league and in the Champions League, especially Messi, the winner of the Golden Boy Award, who has fully demonstrated his potential this season. I believe he will definitely grow into a superstar."
"Barcelona's coach Rijkaard is also very impressive. Under his leadership, the club has won the league title twice and reached the Champions League final. We haven't had good results against him in the past two years."
When asked about the recent downturn of Ronaldinho, Schuster said, "He is still a top-class player in the world. As long as he is willing, he can always perform at his best on the field, and no opponent can afford to be complacent."
"Moreover, Barcelona is not just about Ronaldinho as an attacking player. Eto'o and Messi are also very threatening. Overall, Barcelona's strength remains formidable." The German coach then added, "But we will strive for victory with all our might!"
Wang Feng also gave an interview, saying, "Barcelona is a very outstanding team. Their excellent possession and attacking abilities have left a deep impression on me."
When asked about the topic of being a 'Bar?a killer,' Wang Feng smiled and said, "I don't think one match can determine that. Besides, the effort of just one player cannot change anything. To win, it requires the collective effort of the whole team."
In contrast to Real Madrid's cautiousness, Barcelona coach Rijkaard seemed much more relaxed. Perhaps it was due to the effect of previous conversations, Ronaldinho, who was originally languid, finally showed a bit of spirit. Although his form has not fully recovered, it is gradually moving in the right direction.
On the other hand, Messi's growth has been astonishing! Last year, he only contributed 8 goals and 3 assists, but this year he has already equaled that record.
This 19-year-old prodigy is even gradually replacing Giuly's position in the team. It's worth noting that Giuly is an established and excellent forward.
In the summer, Inter Milan even wanted to pay Messi's �150 million buyout clause to bring him to the Meazza, to fill the gap left by Wang Feng's departure. Fortunately, Laporta vetoed the proposal. Anyone can see that Messi is another cornerstone of a top club after Wang Feng.
Therefore, Rijkaard stated that the entire team is ready, and they will secure a victory at the Bernab��u, surpassing Real Madrid to regain the top spot in the league.
"Wang Feng is indeed very strong. From him firmly occupying the top spot in the league's top scorers list, it can be seen. Even after joining Real Madrid, he still maintains peak competitive form. However, we won't forget the pain he inflicted on Barcelona. This will be the team's greatest motivation."
"Barcelona will not fear anyone. We are confident to face Wang Feng again and regain the lost glory!"
Recently, Messi, who has been highly praised by the media in the Catalonia region, also gave an interview. "To be honest, Wang is my idol and the target I chase. Although we are similar in age, when I just debuted for Barcelona, he was already fighting on the European stage."
"So his skills and achievements far exceed mine now, but I am confident that I will catch up with him. Missing the Champions League final last season was a big regret for me, but now I finally have the opportunity to confront him face to face!"
Barcelona's "Godfather" Cruyff praised Messi's recent performance and his courage in facing Wang Feng in his column, "He will definitely grow into a giant supporting Barcelona."
At the same time, he also expressed that as long as Barcelona can limit Wang Feng's performance, the current Real Madrid team is not a concern at all.
Facing the formidable Barcelona, Real Madrid is very cautious. Although they won a precious three points against Bucure?ti Stars in the last game, many key players played the full 90 minutes, inevitably leading to some fatigue.
For this reason, Schuster deliberately adjusted the training schedule, allocating some time for the players to relax with light physical activities, while repeatedly emphasizing the need to avoid injuries during training.
However, Barcelona is also not taking it easy. Although they won big against Levski Sofia in the first round of the Champions League, they drew against Werder Bremen in the second round and suffered a 1-goal defeat to Chelsea in the third round after a 90-minute battle. It can be said that the fatigue level of the players is similar to that of Real Madrid.
Therefore, in the pre-match tactical discussion, Schuster proposed a rapid counterattack tactic: "Barcelona's possession is very strong, and we must not fall into their rhythm. Therefore, we need to actively increase the tempo, press high, and counterattack quickly."
"But wouldn't this be too aggressive? Our players' physical fitness will also be an issue," Assistant Coach Deldi expressed concern.
"Barcelona's physical reserves must be worse than ours, and with the current state of our defense line, once they play their rhythm, it's easy to penetrate. By then, it will be troublesome!"
"So we must disrupt the opponent's rhythm. At least we still have Wang Feng to rely on; his physical fitness and impact are completely fine." Schuster continued, "Let's call him over later and discuss the feasibility of this tactic together."
Usually, when the pre-match tactics are formulated, the head coach does not involve the players, but discusses with the coaching staff and think tank. After the general direction is determined, it will be communicated and discussed with the players.
This is the first time Wang Feng has participated in a Real Madrid pre-match tactical meeting. He has participated in many pre-match tactical discussions at Inter Milan, but that was only after receiving full trust from Mancini and becoming an absolute core of the team. It's unexpected that he would gain this privilege so quickly at Real Madrid.
In the meeting, Wang Feng highly approved Schuster's proposed tactics and believed that it was worth trying to launch a high-pressure attack from the beginning of the match. "Our high-pressure strategy needs to be executed in one go. If we get stuck in a stalemate, the rhythm will naturally slow down."
Schuster agreed, feeling surprised by Wang Feng's tactical insight. It seems that an outstanding player can also develop excellent tactical literacy.
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