Chapter 1 Manchester United Recovers Its Formation…

“Manchester United is recovering its formation…”

The reporters in the press box were buzzing. In such an important game, every minute could generate many talking points. When the reporters weren’t busy writing articles, they would gather together to watch the game and express their opinions.

“They’re trying to lure Liverpool out, but I think that’s a very dangerous thing…”

“Of course it’s dangerous! That trick works against ordinary teams, but it might not work against Liverpool! I think Manchester United should continue to apply pressure; only in this way can they trap the beast inside Liverpool…”

It seemed as if great minds think alike. As the reporters in the press box were commenting, Liverpool’s commentator, Harry Levy, who was commentating on the game, said, “Manchester United is retreating, but this is not a good thing, because they are opening the cage holding the giant bear, and that is a very dangerous thing! The Manchester United players think they have the ability to control this giant bear. They are slowly opening the iron gate, and the gap is getting bigger and bigger… For now, the giant bear is not moving, as if it has fallen asleep, but in reality… Who knows what will happen when the door is opened a little more?”

As Liverpool’s commentator, Harry Levy specialized in commentating on Liverpool games. Although this job was mainly done by Hatson before, he had always been following Liverpool, so he knew Liverpool and Chen Hero very well.

In his opinion, the best way to defend against a player like Chen Hero is not to give him any chances. Because once this person gets a chance, even if it’s only a one percent chance, maybe he will score a one hundred percent sure goal.

So the best defense is to create a "vacuum" around Chen Hero, completely isolating him from contact with the ball, not giving him a chance. Only in this way can you ensure that Chen Hero can’t play. But this kind of defense is destined to be impossible to achieve, which is why Chen Hero is able to kill gods when they block, and kill Buddhas when they block.

Now Manchester United is doing the opposite, they are doing a very dangerous thing—they are actually creating opportunities for Chen Hero!

Do they think they are dying too late?

Harry Levy laughed.

※※※

Ferguson was originally sitting on the coach's bench, chewing gum unconsciously.

When Manchester United began to retreat, he didn’t think there was anything wrong with it. In his eyes, this was a very normal player self-adjustment.

If they didn't pull back the formation, how could Liverpool attack and how could loopholes appear in their defense?

But soon an idea flashed through his mind, causing his unconscious chewing of gum to stop.

He was startled by the thought in his mind.

He suddenly thought—would Manchester United's retreat be a kind of indulgence that Liverpool needed?

Manchester United retreats, Liverpool follows up, and then launches a powerful offensive, threatening Manchester United's goal in one fell swoop…

This possibility is minimal if it happens to other teams. But now Liverpool has a Chen Hero!

After playing against each other for several seasons, Ferguson has become more and more aware of Chen Hero. He knows the energy contained in this person’s body.

This person can never be underestimated!

Maybe this possibility is actually very small, but as long as the opponent has Chen Hero, this possibility cannot be ignored. Even if it is only a one percent chance, it may become one hundred percent in Chen Hero’s hands.

Thinking of this, Ferguson suddenly stood up from his seat, startling the assistant coach Whelan next to him.

He looked up at the old coach walking down the steps in a hurry, heading towards the sidelines.

Ferguson, who refused to admit that he was getting old, had always been agile, but these few steps were especially quick.

Ferguson, who walked to the sidelines, had already figured it out in these short few steps. He was worthy of being an experienced old coach.

It is now impossible to ask Manchester United to press forward again and maintain pressure on Liverpool, as this would only make the gaps behind them even bigger, allowing Liverpool to seize the opportunity to attack behind them.

So at this time, the team needs to quickly retreat and everyone needs to quickly return to shrink the defense. It’s like a hand that was originally with five fingers spread out, but now needs to quickly come together and tightly clench into a fist, not giving the opponent any chance to take advantage.

The key is to retreat quickly, if it’s too slow, then it’s all over!

The opponent will directly hit the softest palm!

He strode to the sidelines and shouted to the players on the field: "Defend! Retreat quickly!!"

Phil Jones, who had returned to the center-back position, was a little strange. He turned his head to look at his coach, then spread his hands, indicating that he didn't understand.

Ferguson didn't care whether he understood or not. He wasn't going to speak to Jones anyway. He called out Fletcher's name, shouted Rooney's name, shouted the names of wingers Ashley Young and Nani, and constantly waved his arms, asking them to retreat, to retreat quickly.

But he was too late.

Because Liverpool launched a very rapid counterattack.

Pepe in the backcourt directly kicked a long pass to the top of Chen Hero’s head in the front. Chen Hero jumped high and headed the ball back to Gotze, who came up. Gotze didn’t stop the ball and directly passed the ball to the side. Gareth Bale was accelerating and cutting in from the wing.

At the same time, Manchester City was still slowly retreating, trying to lure more Liverpool players to press up.

But they were disappointed, because only a few attacking players participated in this counterattack. All the other Liverpool defensive players stayed in the backcourt. The defensive formation was not chaotic. None of the defensive loopholes that Manchester United wanted to obtain appeared!

At this time, they noticed Ferguson, who was frantically waving his arms on the sidelines.

The Manchester United players weren't fools either. When they saw the boss's gesture on the sidelines and Liverpool's attacking momentum, they immediately understood what was happening—they were afraid that this attempt to lure the snake out of its hole would result in them being swallowed by the snake!

The Manchester United players immediately panicked. Those in front with any sense of responsibility desperately retreated, while the defensive players in the backcourt nervously stared at Bale with the ball, as well as Gotze, and… Sanchez, who was coming up on the right wing. Of course, they couldn't forget the most threatening… Chen Hero… Damn it! How are there so many!

The Manchester United players only realized at this time that when Liverpool counterattacks, at first glance, it seems like there aren't many people, because the full-backs don't actively press up, but when they saw clearly, they discovered—damn! There are so many Liverpool attacking players!

Bale with the ball, Gotze following up in the middle, Sanchez cutting into the rib area on the right wing, Chen Hero standing at the front attracting firepower.

That's four people, not counting Gerrard in the second tier.

There are so few of us, how are we going to defend?

The backcourt is so empty, how much territory can each of the four people control?

We wanted to induce Liverpool's defense to show loopholes, but now… it seems that there are damn holes all around us!

※※※

“This is Liverpool’s counterattack! Very fast and very sharp! It’s like they’ve practiced it countless times, and every player knows where to run and when to appear… The Manchester United defenders are now a little at a loss… It all came too suddenly!”

Amid the commentator’s exclamations, Liverpool’s attacking whirlwind advanced to the frontcourt, while Manchester United’s defense had not yet had time to organize.

They are now in a dilemma—should they defend Bale with the ball, or should they defend Chen Hero?

Logically speaking, they should defend Bale with the ball, after all, the player with the ball is the most threatening, that’s the law. But in their hearts, they felt that Chen Hero was the most threatening player…

Not to mention that Gotze and Sanchez are both very good players, and any one of them can pose a huge threat to Manchester United’s goal.

It is very difficult for the five Manchester United players currently in the backcourt to guard Liverpool’s players one-on-one. The defending side is at a disadvantage, because the initiative is in the hands of the attackers.

While they were hesitating, Bale accelerated with the ball and made a move to push the ball inward, which meant cutting inside.

Manchester United’s full-back, Fabio da Silva, quickly made a decision. He rushed up and blocked Bale’s path to the inside.

But Bale had no intention of going to the inside. When he was almost about to rush to Fabio da Silva, he suddenly hooked the ball and hooked it to the outside.

With a sideline acceleration, Bale overtook Fabio!

At the same time, Chen Hero was also accelerating towards the penalty area.

Phil Jones and Smalling closely followed him, one in front and one behind, one on the left and one on the right. Now they no longer cared about Gotze and Sanchez. Chen Hero had already rushed into the penalty area. If they didn’t defend him, the two of them would definitely become sinners!

Having played against Chen Hero so many times, if they still couldn’t figure it out, they could go die!

※※※

The fact proves that both Gotze and Sanchez are used to attract defensive firepower. From the moment Bale hooked the ball to the outside, he only had Chen Hero in his eyes!

After he chased the ball back and took a step towards the baseline, he looked up to find Chen Hero in the penalty area, and then crossed!

“Bale crosses!”

The commentator shouted.

Everyone’s hearts were raised to their throats with his shout…

Will this attack be a “close call” that makes the Manchester United players break out in a cold sweat? Or will it be an effective score that completely hits Manchester United?

The answer is about to be revealed!

Three people in front of the goal jumped up at the same time. In addition, goalkeeper David de Gea simply attacked directly, and four people met in the air!

In front of Chen Hero was Phil Jones, on the left was Smalling, and on the right was the attacking De Gea. He was surrounded in the middle.

But this method is useless to him, because he jumps the highest and grasps the timing the best!

After he jumped up, he even reached the height of De Gea’s fist raised to hit the ball!

That is to say, he jumped higher than De Gea!

“Hero—header!!”

Harry Levy roared loudly.

In his roar, Chen Hero flicked his head like a lion in the air, hitting the ball firmly with his forehead!

The ball flew past De Gea’s fists and went straight into the goal!

The rashly attacking De Gea missed!

“Goal!!!” Harry Levy’s voice made many Liverpool fans dance with excitement.

And Ferguson, who was standing on the sidelines and witnessing the entire process of this goal, chewed his gum even faster.

Sure enough, the cage was broken… This damn giant bear!