Chapter 200: If Heaven Has Feelings, It Will Grow Old, Seeing...
The rest of the game went exactly as Davis and McGregor had said, the Celtics' offensive style was completely different from last season.
The positions of the three forwards, Horta, Furuhashi Kengo and Maeda Dairan, have been changing.
Sometimes Hota cut into the middle and Furuhashi Kengo moved to the wing, then Hota switched to the right again and Maeda Dairan roamed in the middle.
Coupled with the constant support and transfer by the midfield flag bearers Lian Yang and Callum, with a large number of short passes, an Australian coach led a group of Scottish Premier League players and subtly played in the style of South American football.
Chen Xiaoliang also encountered an embarrassing problem.
Except for the villain-like Callum, the other offensive players basically tried their best to avoid physical contact. There was almost no offensive routine of high crosses and forced headers. Once they had no choice but to have physical contact, they would fall down at the slightest touch.
Whenever he was at a disadvantage in the confrontation, he would pretend to be violated and fall to the ground with exaggerated movements to induce the referee to call a foul and draw a card.
What's even more frustrating is that tonight's referee, Romanian Istvan Kovac, is particularly strict with his whistle. Any slightly larger physical contact will result in his whistle and warning.
This made Chen Xiaoliang, very uncomfortable. Within 7 minutes, he was called for fouls twice because the opponent fell to the ground while he was blocking the ball.
This level of confrontation was allowed in all the competitions he participated in before.
However, the Romanian referee was very consistent in his whistleblowing standards. He also called the shots when Celtics players made big defensive moves.
From another perspective, it was precisely because of the strict refereeing in the first 10 minutes that effectively intimidated the players on both sides, allowing the subsequent game to proceed smoothly.
After 15 minutes, Celtic had 59% of the ball possession and completed 5 shots, 3 of which were on target, while Roma had only one shot and failed to threaten Joe Hart.
With the crazy cheers of the home fans, their formation was constantly pressing forward. Except for the Danish midfielder Matteoli who was slightly behind to act as a receiving point, the other five players in the midfield and frontcourt became more and more excited and moved further and further forward as the game went on.
Callum and Furuhashi gradually came up with an idea: Is this all Roma, ranked second in Serie A, is? It seems that Serie A is not that good. If they continue to play like this tonight, they will definitely win.
This feeling is quite normal. In European intercontinental competitions, clubs from lower-level leagues are always particularly excited when they meet teams from the top five leagues, especially the giants.
When fans of top clubs draw another top club in the draw, they will sigh that their team has bad luck, such as Arsenal in the past, Bayern for five years and Barcelona for three years.
Once a club from a small country's league draws a top team, the players and fans will cheer.
Being able to play against a top club once before retiring is enough to brag about for a lifetime.
Although Roma is not yet at that level, in the eyes of the Celtics, they are a team that can represent the strength of Serie A.
Only by destroying such a team can we prove how outstanding the Scottish Premier League giants are.
In the box of the stadium, Shen Mengyu was watching the game with a female companion who had just arrived.
She is Shen Mengyu's former national youth team teammate Shen Menglu.
Although they have the same surname and their names differ by only one character, they are not related by blood at all.
Shen Menglu, who went abroad to play for Sporting CP last summer, was terminated in the winter transfer window because she was unable to integrate into the team. She then went to Sporting CP, which is also in the Portuguese Women's Super League.
After hearing that the environment and atmosphere of the Scottish Women's Premier League are more suitable, her agency team has reached an agreement with Celtic, and Shen Menglu will transfer here next season to start a new football career.
Today, Shen Menglu took advantage of the league break to come to Glasgow with her agent to sign a preliminary contract and inspect the club facilities in advance.
Not only the Celtics players and fans in the stadium, but even the two fellow Red Country folks who secretly supported Chen Xiaoliang felt a psychological gap of "Why did Roma play so passively?"
The second place in Serie A versus the first place in the Scottish Premier League, both feel that Roma should be stronger. Even if Celtic has the advantage away from home, it should be a spark and a passionate collision.
Why are we being suppressed so one-sidedly?
Mourinho sat calmly in the coaching booth, too lazy to stand on the sidelines to direct the game.
But what he was thinking was: I just like being suppressed.
In the 17th minute, Furuhashi Kengo received the ball on the right and tried to break through Malaysia but failed. He immediately changed direction and passed the ball back to the flag bearer Reo who came forward to receive the ball.
Flag-holder Reio dribbled towards the middle, and when Veretout was about to get close to him, he passed the ball with the outside of his right foot to Horta who was retreating from the penalty area.
Smalling followed up, and Jota received the ball without stopping, pushed with the arch of his foot, and knocked it back to Callum at the top of the arc in the middle.
The Celtic captain received the ball and shot directly from long range, but was blocked by Fuzatto's palms.
Manic cleared the ball with a long kick, and Cesco overpowered the 187cm tall Vickers in the center circle, headed the ball to Chen Xiaoliang, then turned around and made a high-speed forward run!
Chen Xiaoliang received the ball without stopping, he kicked it with the instep and passed it to Abraham who went around to the right.
After Abraham caught the ball while running forward, the Roma players on the field instantly formed a 3 vs 5 situation.
The two Celtic central defenders retreated to the penalty area first, and the two full-backs moved inward to interfere with Cesco and Abraham who were advancing forward. Midfielder Matteoli followed Chen Xiaoliang and was protected in front of the penalty area.
Abraham's ball control skills are relatively good among tall centers. Let him sprint in open areas and the speed of this black player is also very good.
Taylor, the Scottish left-back worth 2.5 million euros, was completely unable to keep up with his pace and could only struggle to catch up behind him.
Swedish center back Stafelt, who is still striving to be selected for the World Cup national team, stepped back sideways, blocking Abraham's route to cut inside while keeping a close eye on his movements.
Abraham was at the right side of the penalty area, but his route to cut inside was blocked and he was not sure about making a cross from the bottom, so he simply stopped and passed the ball to Chen Xiaoliang who was following him in the middle.
"Watch out! Pass the ball!"
The 35-year-old former England goalkeeper Joe Hart shouted to remind his teammates!
Ever since Guardiola took over Manchester City, Joe Hart, who was in his prime at the age of 30, was kicked out and his career has plummeted.
He was loaned out to mid-table Serie A team Torino, transferred to Premier League underdog Burnley, then signed by Tottenham as Lloris's substitute, and finally came to the Scottish Premier League giants to serve as the main goalkeeper again.
His place in the England national team has long been taken away by Pickford, Ramsdale and other younger players who are obviously younger than him.
Joe Hart has been confused, painful and puzzled.
However, more than five years have passed, and he finally let it go.
After joining the Celtics, he once again felt the long-lost feeling of being valued and respected.
Now he has begun to enjoy football, enjoy the game, and try his best to use his experience and ability to help the team go further.
Before the game, the coaching staff and players analyzed the game for a long time, especially conducting in-depth research on the styles and habits of several key figures in Roma.
Cesco is good at scoring and heading, but weak in escaping and flexibility.
Abraham has very comprehensive physical qualities, but his shooting calmness and team awareness are slightly lacking;
Chen Xiaoliang rarely chooses to attack directly, but prefers to pass the ball to his teammates.
In particular, the cooperation between him and Cesco is extremely tacit. In various competitions this season, Chen Xiaoliang has provided 6 assists to Cesco.
As soon as Joe Hart finished speaking, Chen Xiaoliang made a lob pass and rubbed the ball above Cesco.
The Celtics' two guards, Vickers and Uranovic, were well prepared and sandwiched Cesco on both sides.
Cesco had no choice but to jump with two players on his shoulders. However, he jumped a little too slowly and the ball flew over his head and out of the baseline.
Watching Joe Hart and Vickers bumping fists in encouragement, Chen Xiaoliang and Mourinho realized that Celtic's pre-match preparations were far beyond their imagination.
However, Mourinho also made a move that was just right.
He used Malacia and Zalewski, who have strong running ability and flexibility, as left and right wingbacks, which just happened to correspond to the Celtics' three flexible and fast forwards in the frontcourt who never stopped switching positions and coordinating.
In modern football, when the flanks are not dominant, the success rate of attacking the middle where the players are more concentrated is undoubtedly very low.
This is why the Celtics are currently unable to score, as their main means of attack is still long shots within 45 degrees to the left and right of the goal and near the penalty area line.
In the next 11 minutes, Roma had three chances to counterattack. One time, Abraham's long shot went wide of the goal. The other two times were when the backcourt made a long pass to the frontcourt. The two center forwards were double-teamed by two opponents each, and the ball was eventually destroyed.
After 30 minutes, seeing that no decent attack had been launched, Chen Xiaoliang communicated with Veretout and Matic and decided to make a change.
In the 32nd minute, the Celtics took a goal kick and organized an attack.
However, after central defender Vickers finally created distance and passed the ball safely to Juranovic on the right under Abraham's high pressure, the right-back who was pre-selected for the Croatian national team's World Cup list found that he had no reasonable passing point except to break forward.
Weller image clings to Callum like a fly.
The newly selected French international is 177cm tall and weighs 67kg, while Scotland and Celtic's dual midfield core Callum is 178cm tall and also weighs 67kg.
What’s more coincidental is that both of them were born in 1993 and are now both 29 years old.
Apart from the different left and right foot instincts, the two players' playing styles are also quite similar. They both run actively, have good long pass ability, are quite threatening with set pieces, and can also make long shots from behind.
But overall, Veretout is more "sophisticated" and Callum is a bit more "tough".
The similar speed, similar body shape and the same position meant that once Callum was entangled by Weletu, he had no way to get rid of him.
When Yuranovich turned around and took another look, he couldn't help but gasp. Standing next to another midfielder Matteoli was Chen Xiaoliang.
The Red Countryman is like a beacon, emitting an aura that "illuminates" any target within a ten-meter radius around him, as if any move can be locked upon by him.
Even though he transferred to Celtics from Poland last summer, Juranovich knew Chen Xiaoliang's defensive and running abilities.
Not to mention that he is a professional player, even the fans have seen his videos and news, especially the fact that he just broke the historical record of professional players' single-game running distance not long ago.
Abraham and Cesco were near the two central defenders, and the ball had finally come out of the penalty area, and passing it back would be tantamount to suicide.
Yuranovic had no choice but to run and dribble along the right side, hoping to find an opportunity in the formation change.
It would have been better if he didn't move. Once he moved, he immediately entered into Chen Xiaoliang's design.
As the captain on the field, he could not change the defensive counterattack tactical tone set by Mourinho before the game.
If he was still at Rangers and the head coach was still Gerrard, with whom he worked day and night, he could definitely do so, but Mourinho can't.
Even if Mourinho trusts him, this trust is still different from that of Gerrard, who is just starting out.
Chen Xiaoliang knew clearly that in front of Mourinho, even if he had no intention of overriding the head coach, he had to show loyalty and obedience in his behavior.
Therefore, he can only adjust the details of the defense and method of triggering the counterattack, but cannot ask his teammates to change the overall tactical play.
Chen Xiaoliang's perfect sense of proportion is naturally within Mourinho's sight.
He will not blindly oppose players adjusting details on the field according to the overall tactical guidelines.
It depends on the person.
Like Chen Xiaoliang, Terry and Sneijder, he will give players autonomy without any hesitation.
As for Pogba, Casillas, Hazard, and now Karsdorp, if any performance on the field is contrary to their own requirements, they will inevitably face the trial of "insider".
This is Mourinho's character.
It is both the key to his success and the reason for his failure.
On the field, Yuranovic advanced all the way without any hindrance.
Malaysia on the left side has already moved inside the left penalty area. The person he is looking at is Dairan Maeda who is currently active on the left side.
Yuranovic didn't dare to advance too deep, and head coach Postecoglou gave the two full-backs the task of "focusing on defense."
Yuranovic made a horizontal pass and Maeda Dairan received the ball. Seeing that Veretout was still following Callum step by step and there was no obstruction at the right side of the penalty area, Maeda Dairan took two steps forward and suddenly kicked the ball!
Ibanez and Smalling immediately moved inwards to try to block the most direct shooting route, and Fuzato jumped sideways and blocked the ball high.
In Roma's penalty area, Celtic had no chance of competing for any high balls. Mancini headed the ball, Smalling lifted his foot to take the ball, and then made a short pass to Matic in front.
"Ma Xiangqian" had already observed the positions of his teammates in the frontcourt, and with a kick, the ball immediately flew high.
Yuranovic, who had just made an assist, immediately ran back desperately.
Vickers was also surprised to find that Cesco, who was originally on the left, suddenly ran to the right! And Abraham was also on the right!
In the local area on the right, two Roma centers and two Celtic defenders formed a two-on-two situation!
Matic's long pass went directly to the Celtic's empty right-back defense area, and Chen Xiaoliang took the ball. Central defender Vickers couldn't come out or go back, so midfielder Matteoli had to move sideways to "scare" Chen Xiaoliang.
But he didn't dare to go too far to the side, because once Veretout and Matic got in the middle, the Celtics' front defensive position would become empty.
In this situation, Chen Xiaoliang received Matic's long pass almost without any substantial interference, then aimed at the back of the penalty area and made a long pass with his right foot!
And this long pass was aimed right above Cesco's forward position!
However, not long after the ball flew out, Matteoli jumped up and his head slightly brushed the ball, causing the ball's flight trajectory to deviate slightly, and the landing point changed from Cesco's head to behind him!
Shen Mengyu and Shen Menglu couldn't help but shout "Oh !" in the box to express their regret.
The old guys of Rangers were watching the game in their respective residences. McGregor, Kent and Balogun also sighed with regret.
Only Morelos and Barisic shouted "Good shot!"
The reason they did so was that the two players who once had a tacit connection with Chen Xiaoliang felt where the ball would land at that moment!
If you can't use your head to push, can you not use your feet to kick? !
These two people can feel it through the TV screen, not to mention Cesco on the field!
Recently, many media have said that he is the "second Haaland", while many fans say that he is not as comprehensive as Haaland and can only stay in the penalty area, and no matter whether he heads or kicks the ball, he will just eat the ball that is fed to him.
Even though he is a quiet big boy, he has a fire in his heart and he wants to prove himself to the world!
I am not the second Haaland!
I am the first Cesco!
My full name is Benjamin Cesco!
As partners with perfect tacit understanding, Cesco calculated the landing point of the ball the moment the ball path changed.
He suddenly stopped moving forward, turned around and turned his back to the goal!
Then jump high, contract your abdomen, lift your left foot, and swing your right foot high using inertia!
When his right foot was perpendicular to the ground at a 90-degree angle, the white trail created by the instep hitting the ball made every home fan in the Celtics Stadium feel suffocated!
Joe Hart seemed to have time travelled.
He seemed to see again what the English striker in red had done in front of him not long ago!
Facing this kind of ball, no goalkeeper can make any prediction!
Because this kind of ball can only come from God's favor!
Zhan Jun: "Cesco!!!"
“This ball goes in!!!”
Liu Yue: "Wow! So beautiful!"
Zhan Jun: "This ball should only exist in heaven! How often do we see it?"
Cesco fell heavily to the ground. Although his eyes could not follow the kicked ball, he could see the reactions of the Celtics defenders and hear the reactions of the home fans.
He knew the ball went in!
He ran to the sidelines like crazy and raised his hands high to the Roma fans!
This is the most satisfying goal he has ever scored!
The entire Roma team, as well as the players on the bench, ran towards him!
Barrage:
【Joe Hart, the emperor of tragic background】
[He can defend a good shot, but he can't defend a world-class shot]
[If the sky has feelings, it will also grow old! I saw Hartmon kick me! ]
[I feel like this kick was not a fluke, it was so smooth, Cesco has a promising future! ]
[This kick is a perfect replica of Rooney's kick. We can look forward to the Puskas Award next year! ]
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