Chapter 221: Fight again
After the match, Wang Feng did not attend the celebratory dinner but instead hurried back to Milan because Inter Milan would face their title-contending rivals AC Milan in the next round of the league.
In the first encounter between the two sides, they played to a draw, and Ancelotti's 4-3-2-1 formation left a deep impression on Mancini and Inter Milan. Their new player, Kaka, also displayed potential and resilience comparable to Wang Feng's.
Although Kaka experienced a period of quietness after this match, the club and fans showed great patience and gave him ample time. For a Serie A newcomer, fluctuating form is normal, unlike Wang Feng, who consistently performs strongly.
Kaka did not disappoint, as he regained his form after self-adjustment and scored 10 goals so far, placing him in the top five scorers' list.
On the eve of the game, Mancini assembled the coaching staff to discuss tactics against AC Milan's lineup. Since their last encounter, he had been contemplating ways to break through.
"I've been thinking for a long time. The 4-3-2-1 formation relies too much on central penetration, making it difficult to form effective wing attacks," Mancini analyzed.
"This formation also heavily depends on the forwards and attacking midfielders' impact and shooting qualities. Now, AC Milan's Shevchenko and Kaka perfectly fit these characteristics, enabling them to exert maximum power."
The technical coach added, "But AC Milan will still have some wing attacks, mainly assisted by the full-backs' long passes into the frontcourt. Can we counter and exploit the space behind them?"
Mancini frowned at the question, then watched the footage of the previous round's match for a while. His eyes gradually brightened, and he excitedly said, "Yes, we can totally exploit the space behind the full-backs for quick counterattacks!"
"After receiving the ball from the wing, we can actively contest with Adriano and Wang Feng's skills to exploit the space. Meanwhile, the central players should quickly press forward to create a numerical advantage, rendering their horizontally spread defense ineffective!"
Mancini stood up from his seat excitedly and continued, "Defense can be done in the same way, by densely positioning players in the middle to prevent easy penetration. This can not only block their threatening central attacks but also force them to use their weak wings, providing us with more opportunities!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and the assistant coach asked, "So how should we position our heavy troops in the middle? Should Wang Feng drop back to the attacking midfielder position?"
"Absolutely, using a 4-5-1 formation. Wang Feng has played as an attacking midfielder before, and he'll satisfy us," Mancini affirmed.
Before the game, Mancini briefed Inter Milan players on the tactical arrangements. Although many didn't fully understand the principles, it didn't hinder them from strictly following the head coach's instructions.
Thus, Ancelotti was surprised to find that his carefully considered formation had actually been figured out by Mancini, who discovered some ways to counter it. Kaka and Rui Costa faced difficulties in their central attacks.
Wanting to attack through the wings, AC Milan faced problems due to the distance between their front and back lines, which created significant gaps. As soon as the possession switched, it easily led to issues.
For instance, just after Zanetti intercepted the ball and passed it to Wang Feng on the right, he easily broke through the wing. Fortunately, Adriano missed the shot after receiving the cross, which was caught by goalkeeper Dida.
Relying on excellent tactical execution, Inter Milan gradually gained control of the game. AC Milan, sensing the danger, didn't accelerate their attacks blindly but focused on stability.
After experiencing the initial clash and a dull thirty minutes, changes finally appeared on the field.
In the 37th minute, Civu sent a long pass from their half, Wang Feng shrugged off Gattuso and Nesta, slipped through the two AC Milan defenders, and chased after the ball successfully, rushing into the right side of the penalty area.
In his eyes, there was a big gap between defender Cafu, AC Milan goalkeeper Dida, and the left goal post at the moment, making it impossible for them to block directly!
So he didn't wait for his central teammates to catch up, but directly shot with his right foot, sending the ball into AC Milan's net, hitting the inside of the goal net.
"Goal!! The deadlock of the game is finally broken by a world-class strike from Wang Feng!!"
"With his thoughtful and powerful long-range shot, he pierced through the opponent's defense. We can see that Cafu attempted to block, and goalkeeper Dida tried to save, but neither could touch the ball."
"We have reason to believe that this is absolutely not a coincidence. Wang Feng's shot selection was wise, and his execution was precise, combining to create this goal."
Although trailing, AC Milan had to accelerate their attack pace. However, Inter Milan's defense performed excellently, not giving them any chances until the end of the game.
2-0! Inter Milan secured victory in the derby, taking a solid step forward in the title race.
In contrast, AC Milan continued to rank behind Roma. It seems that their second-place finish in the league this season will be difficult to achieve.
After the game, Ancelotti walked to the Inter Milan coaching area and had a brief exchange with Mancini: "You are really extraordinary to come up with countermeasures so quickly."
Mancini laughed, "Anyway, it's amazing that you can think of such tactics. Especially with the core of execution still growing rapidly, I look forward to competing with a fully equipped 'Christmas tree'."
Ancelotti was stunned for a moment, then smiled. Indeed, the 4-3-2-1 formation did look like a Christmas tree with a wide base and narrow top.
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