Capítulo 394: Chapter 394: Ronaldinho: This Guy Will Become a Football King!
Chapter 394: Ronaldinho: This Guy Will Become a Football King!
Barcelona's left flank was in chaos after Messi switched sides. With Lin Quan no longer needing to defend, he unleashed his full power, wreaking havoc on Barcelona's left side. Alba and Busquets struggled to contain him, sometimes even requiring Iniesta to join in the defense. However, this defensive focus impacted their attacking abilities, causing Barcelona's left-side offense to falter.
Originally, both teams had their star players matched up against each other. Now, with the stars separated, it turned into a mutual onslaught. This setup allowed the fans to truly witness the immense individual talents of these top players.
On Manchester City's side, although Messi created many problems, Kante managed to hold on, albeit with great difficulty. However, this was only because the first half was nearly over, limiting the time Messi had to make an impact. If the second half continued like this, Kante alone wouldn't be able to contain Messi.
A few minutes later, the halftime whistle blew, and the first half ended with the score tied. The suspense of the match carried over to the second half.
The game, held in Germany, attracted many familiar faces in the stands, including German national players like Reus, Müller, and Lahm. Coaches such as Bayern's Heynckes, Werder Bremen's Thomas Schaaf, and former Dortmund coach Klopp were also present.
The Champions League final is a grand event in European football. It's an opportunity to witness top-level individual performances, the beauty of team coordination, and the tactical battle between coaches. Such a spectacular event draws not only football insiders but also a wide array of fans from other fields.
Among the spectators in a VIP box was NBA star Kobe Bryant. Kobe, a well-known football fan, had plenty of free time since his season ended early due to a shoulder injury, and the Lakers did not make the playoffs. He was there to watch his favorite player, Messi.
Kobe and Messi had known each other since 2004 when Barcelona visited Los Angeles. At the time, Ronaldinho introduced Messi to Kobe, predicting that Messi would become the best in the world and possibly a football king. This left a deep impression on Kobe, who befriended Messi.
This match was Messi's return to the Champions League final after three years, a crucial occasion that Kobe couldn't miss. However, watching the first half, Kobe was impressed by a Manchester City player.
"Hey, Ronaldinho, is that the guy you said could match Messi's talent?" Kobe asked, pointing to Manchester City's number 10 as he left the field.
Ronaldinho, currently a free agent after terminating his contract with a Mexican club, nodded seriously. "Yes, that's the guy."
Kobe, curious, asked, "You once said Messi would become the best in the world and a football king. Now you say this guy's talent matches Messi's. Who do you think is better?"
Ronaldinho, after a moment of serious thought, replied:
"I watched some of his games in Brazil. Lin's talent and abilities are comparable to Messi at his peak, and in some aspects, he might even be better. If one of them can become the king of football, I think it will be Lin!" Kobe was stunned. If someone else had said this, he would have laughed it off. But since it came from Ronaldinho, a former Ballon d'Or winner and world number one, he had to take it seriously.
In the locker room, both coaches were busy strategizing for the second half. Both teams had shown some weaknesses in the first half, with Manchester City facing significant defensive pressure. Although Suarez and Neymar didn't score in the first half, their presence created numerous threats to City's goal, forcing the team to focus heavily on defense.
"You did well in the first half. Keep it up in the second half. When defending, don't give Messi space to accelerate. Try to isolate Messi, Neymar, and Suarez from each other to prevent their combinations," Guardiola said. Respect for Barcelona's MSN trio was necessary, as underestimating them would lead to disaster. As a former Barcelona coach, Guardiola understood their strength well.
After discussing defensive strategies, Guardiola shifted focus to the offense. Unless the team aimed for a draw and a penalty shootout from the start, they would need goals to win. Football is a game of time and space, and knowing how to expand space when attacking and shrink it when defending is crucial for any coach.
In Guardiola's view, space always exists, no matter how solid the defensive system is. The key for attackers is to find and exploit that space, requiring high football intelligence. Another approach is brute force, using players with exceptional skills like Messi to break through defenses. At Bayern, without a player like Messi, Guardiola's demands couldn't be met, leading to their scoreless draw against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League semifinals.
After realizing that players like Messi are rare, Guardiola deepened his tactical research, focusing on space utilization. Over time, he improved his possession-based tactics. Now, at Manchester City, with a player like Lin who could rival peak Messi and an improved tactical system, Guardiola was confident about the second half.
In Barcelona's locker room, Enrique was equally confident. "We've figured out their defense, and we have two more trump cards to play! Messi, in the second half, link up more with Neymar and Suarez. If you three play to your potential, we'll win this match!"
Enrique's confidence stemmed from knowing that they hadn't fully unleashed Suarez and Neymar in the first half. With all three forwards in action, he was eager to see how Manchester City would cope with the full force of the MSN trio.
The fifteen-minute halftime break passed quickly, and the second half began without any substitutions. Both teams knew the importance of conserving substitutions for potential extra time or a penalty shootout, especially since this was before the era of five substitutions per match.
As the second half kicked off, the audience immediately noticed a change in both teams' offenses. Manchester City's movements seemed strategic but hard to decipher at first glance. Barcelona's changes, however, were evident. Suarez and Neymar became more active, and their interactions with Messi increased, posing greater threats to City's goal.
"Is Barcelona getting serious? Manchester City seems a bit passive now." "Yeah, they're getting pushed back into their half!" "Barcelona's second-half possession rate is nearly 70%! That's incredible against a team like Manchester City that knocked out Bayern." "Possession doesn't win games; goals do!" "True, but Barcelona's control is impressive."
Without Lin's distraction, Messi felt like he was back in his prime, dominating the pitch. With Messi regaining form, Kante struggled more defensively, even with help from left-back Kolarov. This increased Barcelona's offensive threats, with Suarez missing a golden opportunity.
In the VIP box, Kobe and Ronaldinho were excited by Messi's stellar performance. "Looks like Messi's close to scoring his first final goal!" Ronaldinho said confidently. However, the game took a sudden turn.
Messi, after dribbling past Kante, faced Van Dijk, who, following his coach's instructions, maintained a safe distance, gradually narrowing Messi's space. This allowed Kante to recover and help Van Dijk dispossess Messi.
Kante quickly passed to Kroos, who, before Rakitic could intercept, delivered a precise long pass to De Bruyne. Demonstrating masterful control, De Bruyne cushioned the ball seamlessly, then sent a through ball between Mascherano and Piqué. Lin, running at full speed, received it in the open space.
With a one-on-one chance against Ter Stegen, Lin deftly dribbled past the diving goalkeeper, creating an open goal. Lin raised his right foot and struck the ball, aiming to score.
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