Chapter 14 Where is Cruyff?

In Barcelona's match against Liverpool, Simon Grayson did not make much adjustments to the team's lineup, Shaq, Vasquis, Salavevi, Ganso, Fabregas, Busquets, Ben Parker, Raphael, Batista, Rivero, plus a German goalkeeper Mark.

Barcelona's lineup is not surprising. It can even be said that other teams are quite familiar with Barcelona's current lineup and tactics. After all, there are only 21 players in Barcelona's first team. Neymar was sent to the youth team by Simon Grayson because he expressed some dissatisfaction with the media. Excluding three goalkeepers, Barcelona actually chose ten of the 18 players to play and six substitutes, so... there is really nothing to guess.

But the reason why the team under the "brutal Simon" is terrifying is because of this. The opponents clearly know what tactics they want to play, and they can guess the squad, but it is difficult to defeat them. This is the case with the "Young Guards" and the "Red Devils". Now it's changed to Barcelona... it's still the same.

If you lose to an opponent you don’t know, you may not be convinced or admit defeat, but if you lose to an opponent you can even feel familiar with, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t win, it will really make people feel frustrated at this time. Over time... it will be more and more terrifying to Simon Grayson.

After Liverpool's Scottish coach Peter Grant led the team to the Camp Nou Stadium, he became more cautious. Even the tactics he arranged for the team were mainly defense 4-2-3-1. South African midfielder Jari and French midfielder Las Diyala were both midfielders with strong defensive capabilities, and one of them was 28 years old and the other was 33 years old. He had a lot of experience. It can be said that Liverpool had made sufficient preparations for this game. When playing against teams like Barcelona, ​​defensive counterattack was the minimum tactic.

After the game started, Shaq, who was trapped in a heavy siege, did not get any good chance. He always followed one of Jari or Las Diyala, and coupled with the defense of two Liverpool's central defenders in front, Shaq, who was trapped in a heavy siege, had only one turn and shot and missed after thirty minutes of the game.

Although Barcelona, ​​who was fighting at home, had the advantage on the court, they fully demonstrated their traditional ball control style. The suppressed "Red Army" could not lift their heads, but they always lacked a final word. The fans at home were really anxious. They cheered wildly without any effort, and even Shaq did not stop when he took the ball. Camp Nou was completely ignited at home by madness.

"The first half has been played for thirty minutes. Although we have the advantage and take the initiative, we still have no goals. It seems that our offense has encountered difficulties under Liverpool's defense. Shaq, it's time for the team to stand up and score goals!"

During these thirty minutes, Barcelona's performance was really a bit worrying, and the players felt... helpless!

Vasquis on the left, Salave on the right, and even Ganso, Fabregas and Busquets in the middle, all completed their shots. Some even got a chance to shoot more than once, but they failed to score. It seemed that after being familiar with Shaq's goal, everyone else could no longer score!

But Shaq had too few shots today. It’s not that Shaq was in poor condition today, but because the tactics arranged by Simon Grayson for the team in today’s game limited his performance. Although Barcelona’s formation has not changed, it’s just the appearance, and the inner things are really different from before.

In the past, Barcelona's tactics were tilted against Shaq. Others were creating opportunities for Shaq. Many times, Shaq didn't have to invest in the offense at all, just waiting to score goals in the familiar area. But in today's game, Simon Grayson consciously limited Shaq's range of activities, and Barcelona did rely on Shaq to restrain at least three defensive players in Liverpool in front, and it was easy to get the initiative in the game.

But... Vasquis, Salave, Ganso, Fabregas and others are really not good!

Simon Grayson off the court looked at the team's performance on the court calmly. He was still very confident in the team's performance. For a team like Barcelona, ​​as long as they take the initiative in the game, the goal... is not a big deal!

But as the game deepened, when the game had been played forty minutes, the first half was about to end, but the score on the field was still 0:0. At this time, Simon Grayson frowned. He could accept the goal a little later, but he could not accept that his team had no gains when he had the advantage in the first half.

At the critical moment... Shaq still stood up!

Although Shaq's activity space was limited in this game, the role he could play was limited to the tactical center creating opportunities for his teammates, but the world-recognized third "King of Football" is not a fictional reputation after all.

In the 44th minute, as the whistle was about to sound at the end of the first half, Barcelona won a free kick in front of the penalty area on the right side of Liverpool in the frontcourt.

Shaq's free kick style is now the best in the world, so this set-up ball is naturally handed over to him to take the penalty. Even if there are actually Vasquis, Ben Parker, Fabregas and others in Barcelona.

When Shaq was heading to the right, Spanish talented central defender Batista ran past him. Shaq suddenly moved his heart and said directly: "Left... goal post!"

kindness!?

Batista paused, and he was stunned for a moment, wondering if he had heard it wrong. Although Shaq was already the captain of Barcelona, ​​his Spanish level was still quite average. He could only communicate with people in simple words, and it was mixed with Catalan. Most of the time, he communicated in English with Fabregas, and then Fabregas communicated with other teammates who were not in language.

Batista hesitated. He looked at Shaq who calmly walked towards the penalty area on the right. After he hesitated for a while, he moved his foot and ran towards the penalty area on the left of Liverpool.

Football is a very complex and simple language. Batista now understands Shaq's meaning. If Shaq's words are indeed said to him, it is to ask him to pay attention to the area in front of the left goal post, and the ball... will be sent there!

In the Liverpool's left penalty area, Batista kept running, trying to get rid of the Liverpool defensive players around him again and again, but his eyes were always staring at the area in front of the Liverpool's left goal post.

"Bang!"

Shaq's free kick was kicked out!

"Swoosh swish swish!"

The ball rotated at an extremely fast speed in the air. After drawing an arc, it suddenly fell downward, and it really fell into the small penalty area in front of the left goal post!

Batista rushed out of the crowd, a little faster than the others. After all, he knew where the ball would fall early in the morning. All he had to do was to get rid of the defensive players.

"Shak kicked the ball into the small penalty area on the left...Battista!Battista! Header!"

"Bang!"

Batista jumped into the air with his body sideways, and his forehead flicked against the ball...

The ball has entered!

Shaq's free kick was too fast, and Batista just hit his forehead. So Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Casio didn't even make a save. After waving his arm, the ball was already in!

"GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"The ball went in! Batista's header! 1:0! As the first half approached the end of the game, we finally scored! Batista and Shaq hugged each other. It seems that although some fans don't like Shaq, he is still very popular in the team! Yes. This assist... is Shaq's 6th assist this season! Alas, it seems that Shaq is not a greedy person. This is his 11th game. It is really amazing to have 6 assists! His assists are currently ranked second in the team, only less than Vasquis' assists."

After scoring the goal, Batista ran out directly from Liverpool's goal and ran ecstatically to outside the penalty area on the right. Shaq, who was smiling and spreading his arms, suddenly hugged him: "Boss, the pass is so beautiful! So beautiful!"

Shaq couldn't understand what Batista said, but he could guess it. Hahaha, and patted Batista's bald head with just shaved and glowing green: "It's your best! Hahaha!"

Barcelona players were very happy to gather together to celebrate. This goal really put them under much less pressure. Otherwise, it would be really...too embarrassing to not be able to break through the opponent's goal when the Camp Nou Stadium has the advantage!

After the game entered the second half, although Simon Grayson did not make any requests during the halftime break, the Barcelona players began to naturally create opportunities for Shaq.

The flowers of Barcelona in the first half became very rare, but the threat of their offense increased by geometric multiples...

In the 53rd minute, Vasquis made a cross from the left penalty area. Shaq stopped the ball with his right foot in the small penalty area in front of the left goal post, and then swung his left leg and completed the shot. With a "bang", the ball simply and neatly rubbed against the Liverpool's left goal post and flew in... 2:0!

This goal...is a goal that secures the victory!

Although Shaq's celebration after the goal still aroused the dissatisfaction of some fans, the booing was much smaller than before, especially when the whole Barcelona team gathered, Busquets, Raphael, Batista and others ran to the left corner flag on the frontcourt to celebrate together, and Barcelona fans had less resentment towards Shaq.

Especially when the 73rd minute, "Little Pharaoh" Salave passed the ball to the bottom line of the small penalty area on the right side on the right. Shaq magically stopped the ball with his left foot and suddenly turned around and kicked the ball towards the goal with his right foot. The ball had almost no angle, and with a little external rotation, hit the palm of the goalkeeper Casio and bounced into the goal...3:0!

After completing this goal, Shaq slowly walked towards the corner flag on the right with his arms raised. Barcelona players and even goalkeeper Mark ran out. When Shaq stood on the edge of the corner flag, the camera lens lifted up the front again to reveal the classic "Cruijff, gotohell", the Barcelona players were already standing in a row not far from him, looking at Shaq with his arms around, as if... were paying tribute to their king!

There were only cheers left in the Camp Nou Stadium. The booings used by Shaq to provoke the "gotohell" to provoke the "godfather" were finally almost gone at this time.

Whether the fans admit it or not, the fact is that Shaq has indeed become the guiding light to lead the team to victory now. His 1 assist and 2 goals in this game are very telling. When the team needs him... he will stand up.

And at this time...where is Cruyff!?
Chapter completed!