Chapter 1 The Entire First Half

Throughout the first half, the defensive positioning of the AEK Athens players was accurate, and they did not lose their positions.

With tenacious defense, they squeezed the Norwich players outside the penalty area, making it difficult to form truly threatening attacks.

And Hilo's attempted shots from outside the area did not pose much threat to the goal.

Ospina, standing inside the penalty area, also found it difficult to run into open space, and almost all of Philip and Feman's crosses were selflessly destroyed by the AEK Athens players in advance.

In the first half, Norwich surrounded AEK Athens, and even the central defenders were almost in the opponent's half, but there was no effective way to score.

As the referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half, Henry shook his head, "I personally still hope that Norwich can win the game, but AEK Athens' defense is very good. If Norwich continues to play like this, it is impossible to win.

Not to mention winning by four goals. James, you are doomed to lose this time."

"Looking at the entire first half, AEK Athens' defense is indeed very good, but there is a problem. Can they continue their defense in the second half? Or, in the final moments of the game, will the AEK Athens players have some mental changes, thinking that Norwich's attack is nothing more than that, and they don't need to continue to defend strictly, but seize the opportunity to attack? Once this happens, will Norwich seize the counter-attack opportunity and seal the victory??" James did not focus too much on the bet, but analyzed the situation on the field.

"AEK Athens players are good at defense, and their goal is also very clear, which is to force a draw against Norwich away from home. In the first half, AEK Athens actually had counter-attack opportunities, but they did not choose to attack at all. After getting the ball, they almost always passed the ball back to delay time. I don't think they will attack easily.

Norwich still has to find a way to solve this problem.

If, and I mean if, Zhao has good dribbling and breakthrough ability, can shake off two defenders, and get a better passing opportunity, then with his passing vision, it is easy to create chances.

However, in so many games, his breakthrough and dribbling ability has hardly been seen.

The AEK Athens players have also seen this, so they can recklessly block his reception and passing.

If he has good ball control and the ability to get past people, he doesn't need to be as strong as me... haha... he only needs to have basic dribbling ability, then at the moment when the opponent is pressing close, he can get past them in one step, and in front of him is a wide passing view. Even if he can't deliver a fatal blow, he can make the defenders afraid to press him so unscrupulously.

This should be his biggest weakness! If he never has dribbling ability, it will be very difficult for him to adapt to a better-level league."

"Although AEK Athens is playing with one less player, they sacrificed their offense. The midfield and backfield are full of people, and it is difficult for Norwich to break through their defense."

Farke in the locker room was also scratching his head.

Finding a way to break through a dense defense has always been a difficult problem for coaches.

Usually, long passes and crosses, using a tall center forward is a good way.

However, Ospina is too young, lacks experience, and his technique is not good enough, so it is difficult for him to withstand two people in the penalty area and get the ball.

Or long-range shots, but Hilo has tried several times, and the effect is not obvious. Either the shot is blocked by the defender, or he pursues the angle and shoots directly into the air.

Then there is the star's personal ability, a moment of inspiration on the field, directly dribbling the ball into the penalty area, and sending the ball in through the cracks.

It is really difficult for ordinary players to break through.

Set pieces are also a good way, but the AEK Athens players are positioned very accurately, and they would rather have Hilo take a long shot in the dangerous area than rashly commit a foul.

If this continues, it will be really difficult to win this game.

If they can't win at home, it will only be more difficult when they go to the away game.

"They are closely guarding Zhao, not allowing him to receive the ball and pass the ball easily. So you need the rest of you to stand up and break the deadlock!

In the second half, the defense line will continue to move up. Since they are not thinking about attacking, then we must be bolder and increase our attacking firepower!

They can't possibly maintain the highest vigilance and defensive awareness every moment.

Feman, Brian, you two, push all the way up for me, continue to put pressure on them on the left and right, Mendy, I want you to participate in the attack as well, and increase our attacking height!

It is difficult for us to have counter-attack opportunities, so we will keep attacking their defense line and make them exhausted!

It is difficult for them to really achieve airtight defense for ninety minutes!

Zhao, when they have enough defensive pressure, it is very likely that they will withdraw a defender to reduce the defensive pressure on the rest of the team.

At this time, your role will appear!

I need your passing, so that Ospina and Mendy can comfortably receive the ball and head the ball, understand?"

"People move, and the ball must move even more, let them run after the ball, and their physical energy consumption will be very large!"

"Go, get rid of them, the Greek god has no divine power in England!"

On the other side, the AEK Athens coach was roaring in the locker room.

"You did very well! Your defense makes Norwich like a tiger that has lost its claws and teeth! They have no way to break through your iron defense!

That Zhao, that Europa League Best Player of the Round, under your defense, is as useless as a headless fly!

He can't enter the penalty area, can't complete a shot, he can't even receive the ball, and can't assist his teammates!

Facing you, my closest comrades, partners, he is just a pile of mud! Norwich is just a pile of mud!

Continue to use your iron-like defense to defeat them!

The fans are watching you, Athena is watching you, and the gods are protecting you!

We will defeat Norwich, we will defeat Dortmund, we will defeat Sevilla! We will defeat all the enemies who stand in our way to win the Europa League championship!!

The gods once blessed us to win the European Cup, and now they are still here, they will bless us all the way to win the Europa League championship!

Go!!!"

The AEK Athens players, listening to the coach's passionate voice, felt as if they were blessed by the gods. They wiped away their sweat, their bodies filled with strength, and they walked out of the locker room.

We are with the gods!!

The morale of the AEK Athens players was greatly boosted, and their spirits were even higher.

Their strategy is right.

When they return to Greece with a draw, to the place blessed by the gods, they will defeat Norwich in one fell swoop!

"It can be seen that the Greek AEK players are not discouraged because they were suppressed for the entire first half. Their fighting spirit is still there, and it has even been improved a lot!

It seems that it will be really difficult for Norwich to win this game." Shen Jian said with concern.

Norwich can rely on strong defense and counter-attack to defeat Manchester United and Arsenal.

But positional warfare seems to be impossible.

Zhao Gang's scalpel-like passing and miraculous shooting cannot be displayed.

And Hilo's breakthrough is also difficult to play.

I wonder what method they will use to deal with AEK Athens' dense defense in the second half?

"AEK Athens kicks off, and it is indeed a back pass. AEK Athens players are still not visible in Norwich's half. This is a very unconventional way of playing, but it is acceptable for them who only want to take away a draw."

"AEK Athens keeps passing back, cooperating with the goalkeeper... sure enough, the goalkeeper kicks the ball to Hull's feet. Hull is almost standing on the center line... he has become Neuer today."

"Hull passes the ball to Feman, Feman dribbles the ball, and passes it to Philip..."

At this time, Zhao Gang, who had been wandering on the right, suddenly accelerated, shook off a defender, and ran towards the center.

"Huh? Zhao Gang suddenly became active, moving towards the center, and taking the initiative to ask for the ball... is this Farke's tactical arrangement?"

Seeing Zhao Gang moving, Philip passed the ball horizontally almost without hesitation.

Although Farke did not say that Zhao Gang should run to the center or let Zhao Gang receive more balls during the half-time break, but just let him continue to attract defense.

However, this is Zhao Gang.

This is the team's number one core.

On the field, he is the coach.

He can do whatever he wants!

It's just that Zhao Gang has always listened to the coach's arrangements and rarely takes the initiative to break the coach's arrangements.

After Zhao Gang received the ball using his running position, two defenders quickly approached.

Their task is very simple, to cut off Zhao Gang's forward pass!

As for him passing back, the two can't control it!

This is the coach's arrangement.

The terror of this Dragon Country teenager lies in the fact that he can find his teammates who are cutting forward even with the slightest chance.

Therefore, after he gets the ball, immediately block his forward passing route, and at the same time, all defenders must immediately cheer up and stare at the Norwich attacking players who are running!

Zhao Gang stepped on the ball, and the two quickly rushed over to get close to Zhao Gang.

Regular defense will leave a certain gap, and it is rare to directly press close to grab the ball and force the opponent to pass the ball.

Because if you do that, the opponent can easily break through the defender as long as they are prepared.

But the two are facing Zhao Gang. The coach said that this guy can pass the ball, but he can't dribble!

So pressing close can not only cut off the pass, but also force him to quickly pass the ball back.

And in the first half, the two did indeed do this. In Zhao Gang's limited touches, as long as they pressed, he would pass the ball away without sticking to the ball.

This time, the two were the same as before.

They were so familiar with it that they were even a little careless.

One defender was always watching Zhao Gang's forward passing route, and one defender pressed forward.

The attacking midfielder kicked the football at Zhao Gang's feet.

According to experience, this guy will directly push the ball to the left or back.

The attacking player's center of gravity shifted to the right side of Zhao Gang's body.

At this time, Zhao Gang's right foot suddenly gently plucked the inside of his instep, and the ball reached the side of the defender.

The defender was slightly stunned, why isn't he passing the ball?

He reacted and quickly raised his right leg, wanting to interfere with Zhao Gang's continued movements, trying to intercept the ball.

The moment his right leg stepped out, Zhao Gang pushed gently with his left foot, like a pole he faced during training.

In less than a second, a pair of legs moved the football from the right to the left like a pair of chopsticks, with just the right amount of force, tricking the defender to his right.

He then continued forward with the ball from the left.

When the defender fully woke up, he could no longer recover his center of gravity and had no time to retreat.

And Zhao Gang had already leisurely appeared behind him.

Another defender was still paying attention to his passing, and Zhao Gang had completely moved away from his position.

"Eh? Eh???" Shen Jian blinked his eyes hard.

This... this is the first time he has seen it in so long!

Zhao Gang actually broke through with the ball!

And it's still a classic *youtiao* (deep-fried dough stick) maneuver!

It looks simple and direct, but in fact, the requirements for ball feel and strength are very strict!

He passed the defender like he was passing a stone.

There is a large gap in front, and all the defenders are following the Norwich attacking players!

"Zhao Gang... he dribbled past him!!!" Shen Jian's voice was more excited than Zhao Gang's assist for a goal.

Everyone knows that Zhao Gang's basic dribbling skills are too poor. Farke also said that Zhao Gang is working hard to improve. He can see him doing dribbling training every day.

But it's all against dummy poles. Once he gets into a confrontation, he basically loses the ball.

"He... he dribbled past him! He dribbled past him with a *youtiao* maneuver!! He... he is still dribbling forward!!!"

"There are no defenders in front, and the two behind him have been shaken off..." The two defenders have not only been shaken off, but also need to turn around to continue chasing.

So it is impossible to catch up with Zhao Gang, who is accelerating forward, in a short period of time.

And there is a space in front, and the AEK Athens players will definitely not watch him keep moving forward. Midfield players will immediately come to make up for the defense.

If there are players to make up for the defense, then there will be a leak in the rest of the positions.

The Norwich players seized the opportunity and quickly pulled away almost at the same time to attract the defense.

"The player making up for the defense has arrived, Zhao Gang's speed has slowed down... the defenders behind him are about to catch up... Zhao Gang is facing the defender... the defender fell..."

Shen Jian widened his eyes in disbelief. The defender moved his center of gravity forward, and when he found Zhao Gang appearing on the other side, he wanted to take back his center of gravity, but fell directly to the ground.

"The defenders behind him have caught up, but there are no obstacles in front of Zhao Gang, and he can calmly kick the ball!"

The defender who came from behind saw that Zhao Gang was no longer dribbling the ball, but was preparing to kick it, so he could only gamble and slide over!

"Zhao Gang passed the ball out!!!" Shen Jian watched Zhao Gang raise his leg. There was still a considerable distance from the goal here. It was not a shot, but he lobbed the ball into the penalty area.

"The first point, Ospina, crossed Ospina and the defender! There is also the second point!!!"

"Mendy!!! Mendy!!! Central defender Mendy, has given up his defensive position and rushed into the penalty area!!!!"

"Header!!! The ball went in!!!!"

"The ball went in!!! Mendy's header!!! Two defenders blocked Ospina, but the landing point of the ball was behind!!!

It crossed three people and landed on the head of Mendy, who was unguarded!"