"Boss, what are your plans regarding the use of Fabregas?"

After the training, Simeone and Southgate also approached Chen Ran to ask about the matter.

"It's nothing special, just let Fabregas play as a substitute for a period of time, and then he can play the main role after he adapts."

"But judging from the League Cup game and the last league game, he adapted very well?" Southgate asked with some confusion.

Chen Ran did not answer directly, but turned to look at Simone.

"Diego, do you think so?"

"Well... Gareth has no problem with what he said. Judging from Fabregas' performance, he has adapted well to England's style of play. And, I have to admit, when he is on the court,

, the team can launch a sharp counterattack. He can do this better than me."

Chen Ran smiled and pointed at Simeone. This guy looked like a tough guy, but he was very humble when he spoke and frankly admitted his shortcomings.

"Diego, you are too humble. You, Guardiola and Fabregas are different types of players. It is normal for everyone to be good at different things."

Chen Ran comforted Simone, after all, he was his right-hand man.

"Of course I know that when Fabregas is on the court, the team's offense is smoother. But after all, he is only 16 years old now. Whether he can withstand 90 minutes of high-intensity confrontation is still unknown."

"Fabregas' performance in the previous two games was good, but there is one factor that cannot be ignored. That is that he only came on in the second half. At this time, the opponent's physical strength had declined, but he had plenty of physical strength, so he actually took advantage."

"If I let him start, but his physical strength cannot last for 90 minutes, and he is replaced midway, then we will have no backup and can only passively defend. So whether it is for the team or Cesc Fabregas

, starting from the bench is always a safe choice."

Southgate and Simeone also nodded repeatedly. Chen Ran's concerns were not impossible.

"But if Fabregas is not on the court, our counterattack will not be able to fully exert its power. If the opponent has no scruples and attacks with all their strength, then our defensive pressure will be too great."

Southgate said with some concern.

Ipswich's strength in the last game was generally good, but Sunderland in this game was a team that had just come out of the Premier League, and their lineup did not suffer much. This was a big blow to Crystal Palace's defense.

A major test.

"This way, Gareth, in this game against Sunderland, you won't play as a centre-back, you will play as a free agent."

"Free man?"

Southgate was stunned for a moment, because the requirements for players' ability in this position are too high, and few people are qualified, so he has not heard this name for a long time.

"Boss, I'm not capable enough. I'm afraid I won't be able to play this position."

Although he doesn't want to admit it, Southgate still has this self-awareness.

"Don't refuse in a hurry. I'm not asking you to be an all-around free agent like Beckenbauer, but a semi-free agent who only defends in your own half. You don't need to be involved in the offense."

"You can play both as a central defender and as a defensive midfielder. Only you are qualified for this arrangement. I plan to remove Modric as well, and then send Thiago Silva and Vidic to partner as central defenders. Diego

You also play as a defensive midfielder with Yaya Toure, and you are responsible for finding and filling their gaps."

"Then we give up the attack completely?"

Simeone was also shocked by Chen Ran's arrangement. Is this just defense without any intention of counterattack?

"Isn't there still Toni in the front? After you intercept the ball, you can directly pass the long ball to Toni, and then let him decide whether to do it alone or distribute the ball to Ronaldo and Ribery on both sides. As for the effect, it depends on them.

Just wing it."

"Boss, you are really simple and rude."

Simeone couldn't help but smile bitterly after hearing this. Chen Ran's tactics were even more radical than his defensive counterattack.

"There is no way, who made us short of players? But fortunately, we only need to survive the first half. I will replace Cesc Fabregas in the second half, and then return to normal tactics, do you understand?"

"clear."

Sunderland's home stadium, the Stadium of Light, is one of the most famous stadiums in England.

It was built just over five years ago and can accommodate more than 40,000 people. If necessary, it can be expanded to 64,000 people in the future. Chen Ran, who came here for the first time, drooled at the sight.

Damn it, Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park stadium is so shabby and small that I will have to demolish it and rebuild it sooner or later.

Crystal Palace’s starting lineup for this game is:

center toney

Left midfielder Ronaldo, right midfielder Franck Ribery

Defensive midfielder Simeone, defensive midfielder Yaya Toure

Freeman Southgate

Left back Chiellini, center back Thiago Silva, center back Vidic, right back Maicon

Cech

"beep......"

As the referee's whistle sounded, the game officially began.

At this time, McCarthy, the head coach on the Sunderland bench, was looking at Crystal Palace's position on the field with a frown.

When he got the Crystal Palace lineup before, he noticed something was wrong.

Because Modric is no longer in the starting lineup, but if Crystal Palace wants to use a two-tower strategy, then Crouch should be on the roster.

But Crouch's name didn't appear either, but there was a strange Thiago Silva.

According to the data, this Thiago Silva is a central defender.

If Southgate and Vidic are included, then Crystal Palace fielded three central defenders in this game. Is the Chinese going to adopt a five-back defensive formation?

This is a style of play that Crystal Palace has never used this season.

McCarthy has been preparing for this game against the leaders for a long time and there is absolutely no way he can remember it wrong.

Is it because Guardiola is absent?

But in the last game, didn't they have another kid named Cesc Fabregas?

In the last game, the kid performed very well and directly helped Crystal Palace win. After the game, the media praised him as a genius player.

Why not continue to use this one?

McCarthy was puzzled and almost scratched his scalp. In the end, he still couldn't think of what kind of medicine Chen Ran was selling in his gourd, so he decided to take it one step at a time.

Crystal Palace was playing away from home and McCarthy had already expected that they would use defensive counterattack tactics.

He is very confident in the strength of his team. After all, the players under his command have been trained in the Premier League and will definitely be no worse than Crystal Palace.

Therefore, in addition to telling the defensive players to pay attention to Crystal Palace's counterattack, he also adopted offensive tactics. He was prepared to take advantage of Crystal Palace's weakened strength to win over the league leader.

Soon, less than ten minutes into the game, McCarthy discovered Chen Ran's arrangement.

"This Southgate is covering up defense everywhere in the backcourt, and some places are even far away from the penalty area. This is not the way a central defender plays at all. He is playing as a free agent."
Chapter completed!