Chapter 115 Fear of Insufficient Firepower

Chapter 115: Fear of Insufficient Firepower

Guidolin nodded with satisfaction. He took over Bruno's words and explained to the team members: "We may have this idea: Since we are already three goals ahead, why should we continue to attack in case we are attacked by one heart?" Benfica scored a goal, isn't it in trouble? So let's defend... I believe someone will think so in the second half, and maybe someone will think so now."

Some of the players looked a bit unnatural. They were the ones who had this idea.

This idea is actually normal. Benfica only had 45 minutes left, but they needed to score four goals against Udinese while maintaining a solid defense. No one else would believe that Benfica could do it.

Such reversals are uncommon, especially in such an important game. So instead of fighting Benfica and letting them seize the space behind us and score goals, we should just sit back and defend.

"But it's not okay to think like that."

"Why? Look at Benfica in the first half, don't you understand? Facing a team that has no retreat and only attacks, don't underestimate their energy. Benfica's failure in the first half underestimated us. Determination, do we have to do this in the second half?"

"No! So we continued to attack in the second half! It doesn't matter if they score against Benfica. As long as we can score goals, we will win."

"Now we're three goals ahead of them, and they have to score four goals to knock us out. And if we're four goals ahead, they have to score five goals!"

"Offensive is the only appropriate tactic at this time."

Guidolin turned around and wrote a big "offense" on the tactical blackboard.

Facing Guidolin who suffered from "fear of insufficient offensive firepower", Bruno sighed secretly in his heart and expressed his understanding.

Thinking back to when he was watching the Manchester United game, it was enough to bother him that the team only had one "shooting champion" in front of the goal. Now, Udinese has four "shooting champions" in the goalkeeper position. This is simply It’s so disappointing!

………………

At the same time, in the home team dressing room at the Stadium of Light, Jorge Jesus was also making tactical arrangements for the second half.

"I admit I was too conservative in this game."

As the head coach of Benfica, Jorge Jesus is apologizing to all the players on the team. Although his tactics in the first half cannot be said to be useless in theory, in order to boost morale at this time, he must take all the responsibility on himself. On the body.

Scolding players has no effect, and may even have a negative effect, causing the players to become alienated from the head coach.

"We should be more determined rather than hoping to sit back and think we can hold out for ninety minutes and then kill the opponent with a counterattack."

"But it doesn't matter, it's not too late. Udinese scored two goals in the second half in the first leg to reverse the score, why can't we?"

"So we attack in the second half! Attack!! Keep attacking!!!"

"You have to remember, there is no other way for us to advance to the semifinals except attacking!"

Jorge Jesus clenched his fists and said to the players: "The formation is pressing forward, and the full-backs are actively assisting... The most important thing is to press them in the frontcourt, especially Udinese's No. 18!"

"The slippery surface will make it more difficult for him to control the ball. In the second half, we will press him closely."

"Remember, this job is not Andre's alone. Each of you, as long as you are close to him, must go up and press him."

"Press the whole court, don't cherish your physical strength, you have nothing to cherish!"

"Put pressure on them in their half and we can counterattack as soon as we intercept the ball. Don't miss this opportunity."

"You have to dare to press when you attack, and don't worry about stupid things like we will continue to concede goals."

Then, Jorge Jesus wrote "offense" on the tactical blackboard, drew a circle on "offense", and then poked the circle hard.

………………

When the fans returned to the stands, they all looked up at the sky. The rain was still falling and there was no sign of it stopping.

Under the floodlights on the roof of the stadium, bright lines of rain were clearly visible.

Even though they were wearing ponchos, everyone's body was still wet in many places due to frequent movements.

But no one cares about this, they are all looking forward to the start of the second half.

Benfica will definitely counterattack in the second half. If they don't counterattack, it won't be Benfica.

The key is to see how Udinese responds. Will they stop when they are leading by a big score and concentrate on defense?

This is not impossible. After all, a three-goal lead is relatively safe, and most people will choose a safer tactical approach.

Regarding whether the situation "if Udinese defends" is a good thing or a bad thing for Benfica, there are also many differences among the fans. They have been discussing in the stands while waiting for the players to come out.

Some people think that if Udinese defends, their pressure on Benfica's backline will weaken, so that Benfica can press heavily and have more shooting opportunities.

The more shots you take, the more goals you will score.

<divclass="contentadv">Some people think that if Udinese concentrates on defense, Benfica will face a huddled hedgehog, and it will be difficult to penetrate this iron barrel formation.

After all, "how to break through dense defense" is a problem in the world.

……

Time flew by as everyone discussed, argued, and debated.

Soon the fans in the stands saw players from both sides walking out of the tunnel.

All chatter disappeared as Benfica fans cheered for the Benfica players and Udinese fans cheered for the Udinese team.

Neutral fans either remained silent or chanted the names of the stars they were interested in. For example: "Bruno! Bruno! Bruno!!"

………………

After Bruno ran out, the dry jersey he had just changed at halftime quickly became wet again. He estimated that the rain seemed to be heavier than in the first half. When he ran onto the court, he felt the condition of the turf again and found it was even slippery.

It seems that in the second half, I have to consciously reduce the time of dribbling and controlling the ball!

He knows that if Benfica wants to counterattack, they must strengthen their defense against him, because he is the commander and brain of Udinese. If he is not contained, Benfica's counterattack will only create more opportunities for him to be exploited. Empty time.

And Bruno did not doubt Benfica's counterattack in the second half at all, because Udinese set a good example for Benfica in the first round of the match between the two sides.

Since Udinese can chase two goals in a row even after falling behind at halftime, why can't Benfica complete a great comeback?

Is there any permanent solution?

The answer is yes, that is, continue to score goals and completely crush Benfica's promotion hopes!

Head coach Mr. Guidolin is right, we must continue to attack in the second half!

"It seems that the fear of insufficient offensive firepower is not entirely a bad thing!" Bruno thought a little funny.

………………

After the game started, Benfica took advantage of their kick-off opportunity to launch the first wave of offensive towards Udinese's penalty area.

Udinese went on the defensive, but Bruno did not let Di Natale and McSuell withdraw to participate in the defense. They had to stay in front, be the vanguard of Udinese's offense, and contain Benfica's defensive power.

Once Udinese's offensive power in the frontcourt is completely withdrawn, all Benfica players will press forward, and Udinese's defensive pressure will only be greater.

Benfica's attack ended with Cardoso's shot sending the ball over the goal.

Udinese fans booed him mercilessly, while Benfica fans applauded Cardoso for showing them another high-quality shooting action.

Well, they're just encouraging this aggressive attitude...

Skuffet placed the football on the goal-zone line, then saw Bruno hooking the ball toward him and kicked the football over.

After Bruno received the ball, Rodrigo pressed forward. After Bruno passed the football to full-back Gabriel Silva on the wing, he turned and ran. Rodrigo did not follow him, so Silva passed the ball again. Passed to him.

When Bruno caught the ball, there was Rodrigo behind him and Salvio in front of him, but both of them were far away from him and could not threaten him at all.

So he didn't rush to pass the ball, but continued to dribble forward. Only when Andre Gomez sprinted towards him did he pass the ball to Mahrez on the wing, and then Mahrez easily broke through Siquiera on the wing.

………………

After breaking through Siquiela, Mahrez did not break further into the penalty area, but directly made a pass.

The landing point of his pass was not in front of the goal, so it was neither to Di Natale nor to McSuell, but to Bruno who suddenly broke in from outside the penalty area!

Bruno jumped high and shook his head to attack the goal!

No one was marking him at all, but he pushed the football slightly higher and flew over the crossbar, shocking the Benfica fans into a cold sweat.

"Bruno Fernandez's header was slightly higher... What a pity! But this time Benfica's defense missed someone again. They only focused on marking Di Natale and McSuell, but forgot about Bruno! Fortunately, this passing route is relatively high, so Bruno has to attack the goal with a header, which he is not very good at, otherwise Benfica will lose the ball again!" the Portuguese commentator reminded the Benfica players.

Benfica's head coach Jesus was furious below. He shouted at Rodrigo and Salvio on the court: "What are you doing! Keep an eye on him, keep an eye on him!!"

Salvio pointed to himself, then shrugged to the coach and asked: "Whenever?"

"Of course! From the moment he starts catching the ball, keep an eye on him!"

Jesus waved and walked back to the rest area. His sweatshirt was already soaked, but he didn't care. He just took a towel and wiped the rain off his face, then turned around and went back, standing outside the court and continuing to stare at the court.

We can’t lose the ball anymore...