Chapter 253: Wenger No Match for Mourinho's Curse?

Arsenal's situation is somewhat difficult. lan

It looks like they won't be able to hold the city.

Manchester United's pressure is very strong; the distance between players is not short, but their firepower is very dense.

The pressure in terms of technical and tactical style.

The 28th minute of the match.

Pogba, at the top of the arc of the large penalty area, received the ball, turned and shook off Xhaka, and then fired a powerful, heavy long shot.

The spectators all marveled at the hundred-million-euro man's bodily flexibility. lan

The ball flew out of the stands with a howl.

The home fans at Old Trafford gradually regained confidence.

Mourinho loosened his grip on the mineral water bottle in his hand.

Ferguson stopped trembling and tore open a piece of chewing gum wrapper again.

They flattened Arsenal's formation...

Will Manchester United's goal still be far away?

... lan

The Red Devils' attack continues.

The 35th minute of the match.

Blind rushed to the vicinity of the byline and received a pass from Pogba.

No need to adjust.

No need to stop the ball.

The Dutchman's aerial cross has reached perfection.

Smack! lan

Before the ball even touched the ground, it violently swirled and arced into the penalty area.

One-touch!

A hurried yet flat cross!

Does Manchester United still have van Persie?

We have Ibrahimović!

The 35-year-old Ibrahimović stood in the penalty area, as if a god descending to earth.

Young Maguire and Mustafi, together weighing four hundred catties... still couldn't disturb the Swedish godlike striker's shot! lan

That was a leg-swinging motion resembling a dance.

It was vigorous yet retained its beauty.

Thud!

Ibrahimović's soaring... heel! struck the descending ball!

Čech was overwhelmed (two heads, one big).

There was no way to anticipate the angle of the opponent's shot this time.

His timing for leaping up was a step slow. lan

Fortunately, his arms were long enough.

He punched the ball out over the baseline.

Just a little bit off!

Ibrahimović is too strong; he almost created a divine goal at Old Trafford!

The heel volley, the angle was masterfully perfected.

But Čech would feel no pressure facing such ball speed.

Eh? lan

Mustafi seems to have had a minor tussle with Maguire.

The two Arsenal centre-backs just tripped each other...

Looking back at Manchester United's attack during this period, no matter how the players ran, their formation maintained a three-line structure...

But during the attacking phase, the vertical spacing became more precise.

These three lines are crucial.

They could launch a layered, technical counterattack that stifles Arsenal.

These three lines... lan

Time passed second by second.

Manchester United ruthlessly pressed Arsenal in the penalty area, rubbing them.

The two halo heroes, each carrying their own system, combined to produce an attack too hard to predict.

The entire Premier League coaching staff were working overtime to study it.

The situation was obvious: Mourinho-style Manchester United is several levels stronger than Van Gaal's 'big circle' Manchester United!

Old Trafford. lan

Manchester United fans regained the initiative.

The momentum on the stands grew ever more intense.

"GlloryManUnited!"

Glory belongs to Manchester United.

The stirring tune inspired the Red Devils on the field.

Mourinho had a plan in hand, wielding his authority with ease.

Another side command area. End.

Wenger furrowed his brow, pacing back and forth.

The Manchester United anthem drifted into his ears, his mind unable to calm.

It's still a bit difficult.

"Boss, our next suggestion is..."

"Wait a bit longer."

The first half is about to end.

Making adjustments now would yield too little return. End.

Arsenal fans were a bit nervous:

"It looks like they're leading by one goal, but Manchester United could equalize at any moment—could Mourinho really be suppressing the professor that much?"

ESPN viewers were about to get sick of it.

Commentator He Hui kept repeating Manchester United's "three lines".

The camera suddenly cut to Manchester United's goal.

The half was empty...

De Gea didn't break out his former relaxed smile from the Euro Cup days. End.

Instead, he was worrying about something.

It seemed as if he were an Arsenal player.

Why was Wenger so thoroughly crushed by Mourinho in the past?

They had faced each other sixteen times and won only once.

Is it because Arsenal is poorer? Or is their overall strength inferior to Chelsea's?

This is just one factor with a small impact. End.

Essentially, it's still a clash of the two sides' technical and tactical styles.

Beautiful football versus utilitarian football?

Put simply, it's the dull‑sneaky style versus the vulgar style.

Wenger is the dull‑sneaky style.

He gave the players ample attacking freedom, letting them fully display their talents, resulting in a mercurial, beautiful offensive flow in their dazzling combinations, with attackers closing gaps, wildly tearing space, and the style both suave and vigorous.

Arsenal's matches never lack goals.

Then why say he's the dull‑sneaky style? End.

Because he is even more Cruyff than Michels, or rather a bit more Reynolds.

That's right.

The professor inherited the "defense" of All-out attack-defense.

If Arsenal pushes forward in attack, their formation won't push up as high as Barcelona's; superficially it's to give space for "pass‑and‑cut" to tear open, but essentially it still serves his defensive strategy.

When losing possession, the Cruyff‑style side would press up front to win it back, whereas Arsenal... falls back.

For example:

A young man ardently pursues a girl each day, trying to break through her defenses, but when she becomes slightly stirred and a bit more proactive, he fidgets and withdraws.

He also overthinks, feigning aloofness on the surface...

Still will indulge in random thoughts, putting on a deliberately cold and aloof façade...

Switch to the Cruyff‑style crowd, and they'd boldly kiss her, seize the ball, exploit the chaos in her defenses, charge straight in, and break through in one go.

Wenger places great importance on defense.

Arsenal plays a low‑block defense. End.

At the moment of losing possession, the whole defensive focus shifts wildly backward.

The problem arises.

In attack‑defense transitions, without a strong holding midfielder they'll get crushed.

They get drenched in dog‑blood scolded by the girl.

If they withstand this wave of the opponent's attack.

Where else is Arsenal dull‑sneaky?

Transitioning to attack. End.

Wenger's initial attacking setup ranks among the top five in football history.

But he is not good at transitioning to attack.

Arsenal can launch a powerful technical‑style counterattack when playing weak opponents.

But in matches against elite clubs, the players cannot guarantee the stability of quick passes in their counterattacks.

Counterattack after counterattack... it turns into a positional battle.

Counterattacking over and over... it turned into a positional battle.

Returning to the opening scene: handsome Arsenal striving to breach a girl's heart... over and over... End.

This dull‑sneaky style is not weak; it's strong and grating.

Unsuitable for cup matches.

Not suited to face Mourinho.

It is also a low‑block defense.

It is also a low-position defense.

Defensive focus shifts backward.

Lewd-flow girls are forever the nemesis of shy-flow boys.

In a showdown between the strong.

Mourinho is not good at launching first-hand suppression; he excels at transitioning attack.

His counter-attack setup ranks among the top five in football history.

If Chelsea girls are approached by Arsenal boys, they won't give the opponent a chance to be coy; wanting to complete positional defense? The two wings... two big blue braids swing hard, then Drogba's big black tongue flicks out a few times, finally delivering a deadly blow.

After breaking the siege again.

Li Kang's thoughts were scattered by various chaotic emotions.

The conditions for solving the problem are fully grasped.

But the answer is not how to cut off the connection between Pogba and Yunbu.

What is the current situation?

Wenger and Mourinho's role positioning has been reversed.

Chelsea, after Manchester United acquired Pogba and Yunbu, made up for Mourinho's lack of a first-hand attack.

Arsenal, after acquiring themselves, made up for Wenger's lack of transition attack.

Dead ball stage.

He gradually realized he could no longer obsess over how to disrupt Manchester United's attack.

Time does not allow.

There are many ways to win a game.

Optimal solution: tear apart Manchester United's 'three lines' maintained in attack, then use Mourinho's way to defeat Mourinho.

When the match is paused.

Yunbu's gaze cannot leave Li Kang.

His face repeatedly shows an ambiguous smile.

This kid doesn't look like Ronaldo at all, yet he's just as likable.

Look, the international basic gesture he and his teammates make... also reminds people of Milan's Meazza.

Manchester United assistant coach Faria has followed Mourinho for many years.

From Porto lifting the Champions League trophy, then to Stamford Bridge, Meazza, and Bernabeu, and finally to the Theatre of Dreams.

He has always been Mourinho's most trusted person.

"Boss..."

"Call me Boss!"

"Boss, Li's basic gesture... seems to want to imitate our former selves..."

Mourinho stretched his neck, expression solemn.

He hurriedly interrupted: "It means nothing; all the lower-tier European teams are imitating us, have they won any championships?"

Do Arsenal's matching players have traits suited to this tactic?

Obviously not.

Hmph.

A bunch of sissies.

Car Era and Mourinho-style Inter Milan are the most classic bus textbook, simple, practical, easy to pick up.

Back then, whatever Barcelona cosmic team or model Bayern, encountering them would have a few layers scraped off.

The other side.

Boerde said dejectedly: "Boss, Li's adjustment is simple; the goal might be for us to hold the lead until halftime."

No reply was given.

The Arsenal head coach stood frozen, dazed.

The Gunners' teammates understood tacitly.

Although they couldn't fully grasp Li Kang's intention, they still know how to 'squat in the toilet'.

Low defensive line, lower still.

Defensive focus, shift back a bit more.

Match resumed.

Blind stood in the corner flag area, raising his right hand.

Two-step run-up.

Smack!

Not the familiar high cross.

The ball rolled to Lingard's feet at the edge of the penalty area.

Walcott quickly closed in.

Exactly.

Even if it's a bus, there will be a presser left on the edge of the defensive line.

"Excellent!"

"Fried dumplings!"

"Lingard got past!"

"The Arsenal penalty area is all feet, see how to handle it."

"Oh no, Arsenal's defensive line is too far back, giving Manchester United a chance for a long shot, too risky!"

"Pogba's position is very good." railings

"Another volley!" railings

The French black egg's long legs angrily volleyed.

The football lifted a beautiful arc, curling towards the top right corner of Arsenal's goal.

Thud!

Maguire, having squatted to the extreme, happened to be standing on the goal line.

This guy's ability to defend high balls could rank among the top three in the Premier League.

Thud! railings

His forehead headed the ball into the thirty-meter zone.

Li had said, "Try to head the ball forward as much as possible!"

Old Trafford.

The Gunners' stands did not erupt with inspiring cheers.

This scene had repeated several times in the first half.

The results were all about the same. railings

Manchester United had the magic to briefly reconstruct the 'three defensive lines,' capable of throttling Arsenal's technical passing counterattack.

What a mercury-like passing and cutting.

If there isn't enough positional play to clear space, it's very hard to instantly execute in a counterattack, and it's hard to guarantee ball-out stability in dense passing.

Cazorla stopped the ball.

A wide switch was given to Walcott on the other flank.

It's too complicated.

Manchester United has ample landing time... it's time to build the defensive line. railings

Huh?

When did Li Kang rush up? Oh, during this period he didn't participate in defense to disrupt Manchester United's attacking system.

His current position is very sensitive.

The test paper has already been done once.

Mourinho's three defensive lines' definitions, Li Kang can recite from memory.

He is currently between Herrera and Carrick. railings

The second defensive line.

The definition is: tearing space.

Lewokusen's number 10 needs to guide teammates to cooperate in lateral passing to tear it open.

What about Arsenal's number 10?

Using body and explosive speed is enough.

Walcott, although he knows his duty. railings

But seeing Li Kang's gesture at this moment still feels a bit risky.

Li's required lead... is a bit big!

Didn't think much.

The Arsenal little tiger dribbled a few steps forward and sent a straight pass!

This pass is too casual!

Get even closer to Herrera!

Wow! railings

Old Trafford gradually regained its clamor.

The spectators realized: the passionate clash on the pitch is coming again!

Li Kang's figure crossed paths with Carrick's.

Nobody bumped into anybody.

Manchester United's veteran midfielder is capable of outright withstanding Drogba's impact.

Herrera was about to trap the ball... suddenly felt something was off. railings

An inexplicable feeling of having encountered something before welled up in his heart.

Is it a billboard?

Is it a ball boy wearing a hat?

What is it?

It's the Manchester night sky!

The football was poked open by Arsenal's number 10's boot.

Thud! railings

The close-range audio pickup device transmitted the sound of surging blood vessels.

The pitiful Basque youngster-Herrera felt a more terrifying impact after a year.

The moment he hit the ground.

Warm palms protected the back of his head.

Atkinson is a bit unable to run, he indicated no foul.

Arsenal's counterattack continues.

Why did it come to a halt? railings

Li Kang wanted just a pause.

The ball wasn't poked far away.

Manchester United's third line of defense began to loosen.

Baili lost his position, preparing to contest for the ball.

Where's Morata?

This guy has already gotten into position; he can crush Smalling at any moment!

Herrera looked up at Li Kang's chin, feeling a little moved.

'Li actually gave up a precious counter‑attack chance to protect himself.'

'No wonder he's our Yin Biliya's...'

Bang!

Manchester United's youth player still fell to the ground.

Watching helplessly as Li Kang's crotch swept over his head...

The previously stalled match, accompanied by Arsenal's number 10's sprint, was reignited.

Old Trafford.

This Theatre of Dreams always erupts with the most passionate shouts during the vacuum of possession changes!

By the pitch.

Mourinho watched Baili's struggling figure, angrily crushing the water bottle.

He had a tactical principle he had upheld for many years.

Even if he couldn't destroy the opponent's attack.

The last line of defense must also maintain positional defending.

Baili.

He was tricked.

The other side.

Boerde scratched his bald head, looking puzzled, not understanding why.

Members of Arsenal's coaching staff all leaned out, surrounding Wenger.

"Boss..."

"It looks like we're about to score again."