Chapter 192: Battle with Juventus

March 22, Philips Stadium, Eindhoven, Netherlands.

When Robben broke through the defense of Eindhoven from the left in the 88th minute of the second half, dribbled past Oye on the left side of the penalty area, and shot low with his left foot into the goal of Watrous, the whole Philips Stadium was silent.

This is the third time that Eindhoven has lost to Ajax this season, and they have lost three games in a row. If we trace back to the three years when Ye Qiu was in charge of Ajax, they have hardly defeated Ajax, and they have been in an embarrassing situation of not winning for three consecutive years.

Hiddink, the famous World Cup coach who came to the Philips Stadium with the aura of the Dutch King before the season, failed to continue his good luck in the Korea-Japan World Cup. In several head-to-head matches in the Dutch Eredivisie, he encountered a very embarrassing record. Not only did he lose all the games to Ajax, but he also lost two games in a row to Feyenoord.

With PSV's strength, they can maintain an absolute advantage against other teams except Ajax and Feyenoord, but when facing real competitors, Hiddink was powerless and embarrassed to lose all the games.

0:2, the big red scoreboard showed a number that made Hiddink and PSV fans want to collapse.

Although this does not seem to be a complete defeat, it cannot cover up PSV's disadvantages and poor performance in this game, nor can it reflect the opportunities created by Ajax in this game.

If Ibrahimovic had not been injured in the 37th minute, if Huntelaar, who came on as a substitute, and Van der Vaart, who has been scoring recently, had not wasted many opportunities, if Sneijder's long shots had not hit the right spot...

It is precisely because of so many ifs that PSV was lucky enough to lose only 2 goals.

Hiddink's so-called halo of kingship has long been torn apart by the media and fans, and even his last fig leaf has been torn off, because no matter how hard he talks or how he quibbles, he can't cover up his embarrassing record of losing all the games against Ajax and Feyenoord this season.

PSV Eindhoven can maintain the second place in the league because they guarantee the efficiency of scoring points when facing weak teams. In the words of the Dutch media, this is a team that bullies the weak and fears the strong, and it shows its true colors when it encounters a strong team.

This is the case in the Champions League and the Eredivisie.

Ye Qiu does not have much aversion to Hiddink. He has always believed that Hiddink has been away from the mainstream European league for too long. In the mainstream European league where tactical reforms are changing with each passing day, you have been away for a year, not to mention that he has been estranged for so many years and recently went to faraway Asia.

It's not that Ye Qiu himself looked down on Asian football, but it was a fact that if Ye Qiu returned to China to coach now, it wouldn't take long, one year, he dared to guarantee that when he returned to Europe after one year, he would need a long time to adapt to and explore the tactical trends of the mainstream European leagues.

Hiddink slowly walked out of the coaching booth, dragging his seemingly heavy steps towards the visiting team's coaching booth.

When Ye Qiu's hand was shaking with Hiddink's, he found that Hiddink was a little bit unable to control the strength. At first, he used too much strength, but soon loosened it. Finally, as if to apologize, he supported Ye Qiu's right hand with both hands.

Hiddink didn't say anything during the whole process. Maybe he was embarrassed, because at the beginning of the season, he underestimated Ye Qiu and the Eredivisie too much. When he first came to the Eredivisie from the World Cup, he came with the halo of a magical coach. He was ambitious to make a big difference. He didn't take all the Eredivisie coaches seriously at that time.

Apart from anything else, for his achievements in Eindhoven, for the reputation he has accumulated over the years, and for his performance leading the South Korean team in the World Cup, he felt that he would definitely be able to make a difference in the Eredivisie.

People, when they have just achieved outstanding achievements, will inevitably be proud of themselves.

Seeing Hiddink turn around and walk back to the home team coaching seat without saying a word, Ye Qiu secretly warned himself in his heart that Hiddink's today may be his tomorrow. At any time and in any environment, he should maintain a humble heart and never forget what he relied on to get to where he is today?

Is it based on his own talent? Based on his own talent? Based on the illusory godfather training system in his mind?

Wrong, these are part of the reasons, but they are definitely not the most important.

The most important thing for him to get to where he is today is that he is willing to work hard, willing to pay, willing to put down his posture, and learn humbly.

Learning is endless, like sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you will retreat!

…………

…………

"How is Zlatan's injury?"

As soon as the game at Philips Stadium ended, Ye Qiu walked into the player tunnel and found Roland first.

This Dutch fat man, who rose with Ye Qiu from the youth team to the first team, was doing trivial things beside Ye Qiu. It seemed that he had no professionalism at all and was dispensable. But if such a person was really gone, Ye Qiu would be very uncomfortable, and everyone would feel uncomfortable too.

"The situation is not very optimistic. Peter Brandt took him back to Amsterdam in advance. The preliminary judgment is that he sprained his knee." Roland followed Ye Qiu to the locker room.

Ye Qiu frowned. The knee was injured, which was a fatal part. It would be better not to cause a big mess.

Perhaps seeing Ye Qiu's expression, Roland quickly added: "It shouldn't be serious, but when he will return depends on the results of the examination. Peter Brandt's most optimistic assessment is two weeks."

Two weeks, if it only takes two weeks, then Ye Qiu is not worried at all.

After playing against Eindhoven, the Dutch league will immediately usher in a two-week league suspension, the national team training, and preparing for the European Cup qualifiers, but after the training, Ajax will soon usher in Juventus, this time playing away first and then at home.

This is the advantage of the top place in the group stage, first away and then at home, which is a favorable schedule for the knockout stage.

Ye Qiu nodded, "Let's talk about it when we get back."

After walking two steps, he remembered something, "Help me get two tickets to the De Kuip Stadium. I want to see Nedved, and arrange for scouts to watch the games of Italy and France respectively."

In the two-week national team match day, the Netherlands will play a European Cup qualifier with the Czech Republic, and the Italian and French teams also have game tasks, but because the schedule is very tight, Ye Qiu can't watch all the games, so he wants to watch the game between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

This game has many international players from Ajax and Juventus, such as the wild boar Edgar Davids and the Czech midfielder Nedved. These two midfielders are the most powerful stars in the Juventus team.

To be honest, Lippi's Juventus lineup is really not as good as Capello's later old lady. First of all, a very important thing is the defense line. Ferrara is old, Juliano is still unconvincing, Thuram is now playing right back, and there are players like Pessotto, Montero, Birindelli, Tudor and others.

Compared with Juventus in Capello's period, this defense line is still not strong enough, which is why Juventus lost 11 goals in the second round of the group stage.

In the midfield, Davis is definitely underestimated. Ye Qiu is very clear about the strength of this Dutchman, but he is not liked by Lippi. Instead, Conte, Tudor and others have been pulled to the midfield many times, and there is also Tacchinardi.

This season, Juventus' most commonly used tactical formation is 4312, with three players in the midfield, Nedved as the attacking midfielder, and two forwards in front. Trezeguet is always at the front, and the other is Piero or Di Vaio. The two players move forward or retreat according to the opponent's tactics. The formation changes back and forth between 4312 and 4321.

But there is no doubt that Nedved is the most important core player in this Juventus.

Ye Qiu watched the game between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. In addition to observing his own players, it is more important to see Nedved.

…………

…………

Back in Amsterdam, Ye Qiu did not receive good news from Peter Brandt.

Ibrahimovic sprained his knee, and the injury was not light. It was initially estimated that it would take two to three weeks. Judging from Peter Brandt's tone, it should be more likely to be three weeks. In this way, whether he can catch up with the game against Juventus is unknown.

Ibrahimovic is a crucial part of the current Ajax offensive tactics. With him, he can suppress the opponent's central defender to the maximum extent, completely disrupt the opponent's defense, create opportunities for Ajax's offense, and find loopholes.

Huntelaar is an excellent scorer with a very keen sense of goal, but he cannot be an offensive core like Ibrahimovic, and it can be foreseen that Lippi will do everything possible to tighten the defense against Juventus.

Ye Qiu has no idea how to play this game.

In the next few days, the players all reported to the national team, and Ajax also ushered in the holiday. Except for Ibrahimovic and several other injured players, everyone else can take a temporary vacation. Ye Qiu conducted targeted analysis of Juventus with the coaching staff for several consecutive days, and discussed tactical arrangements, and then simply ran to Cambridge to rest.

The wedding date for the two of them has been set, in June. Huang Chu was a little nervous and secretly bought a lot of things for the wedding or home use, which made Ye Qiu almost laugh to death. In the past few days in Cambridge, they were not idle.

Ye Qiu specially customized an Armani wedding dress, and he also accompanied Huang Chu to customize a white wedding dress tailored for Huang Chu by the wedding dress queen Vera Wang. For this purpose, the two of them flew to New York.

After finishing these things, Ye Qiu also returned to the Netherlands. Accompanied by Roland, he went to Rotterdam to watch the European Cup qualifier between the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

This is the 100th international event welcomed by the De Kuip Stadium, so this game made many Dutch fans feel that it has a special meaning. In the game, the Netherlands also insisted on offensive football and launched a rushing attack tactic at the beginning.

The Czech Republic deployed a 451 tactic, leaving center forward Jan Koller in the front. What disappointed Ye Qiu was that Nedved was arranged at the left midfielder position, which was somewhat different from his attacking midfielder position in Juventus.

Nedved used to play as a left midfielder. When he joined Juventus, Lippi still arranged him as a left midfielder instead of playing as a front midfielder to replace Zidane. However, Nedved felt that he could not play his best on the left, so he had a long talk with Lippi, and then he was arranged to play as a front midfielder, cruising behind the two forwards.

Nedved's front midfielder is actually a bit like Kaka later. Of course, the Czech's running range and ability to counter-grab in the front field are better than Kaka, but the characteristics of the two as offensive scoring points are the same. After playing as a front midfielder this season, Nedved has scored 9 goals in Serie A and 4 goals in the Champions League.

This Czech front midfielder has his own characteristics, that is, he is almost everywhere and runs at all costs. This is a huge threat to the midfield and backcourt of any team. Through this large-scale running to find opportunities, through the pulling and interference of the two forwards in front, Nedved finds a loophole behind them and immediately attacks from behind.

Inserting from behind has become a crucial part of modern football tactical offense.

Leverkusen's success last year was actually the success of Ballack's offensive tactics. It is difficult to defend against Ballack's insertion from behind because you don't know when he will insert, but as long as he inserts, he can create threats.

Although Nedved was arranged as the left forward in this game, he often inserted into the penalty area and played the role of a striker.

"If you can't pinch Nedved, it will be difficult to limit Juventus's offense!"

In the stands of De Kuip Stadium, Ye Qiu didn't pay much attention to the game. He was more immersed in thinking about how to compete with Juventus.

There is no doubt that when playing against Juventus, the offense must be played with width. Even Ye Qiu recently watched Lippi and Ancelotti's experience and reflection on the 02/03 Champions League final in the Godfather Development System. They finally mentioned one point, that is, wing attack.

An interesting point is that Lippi eliminated Real Madrid in the semi-finals and restricted AC Milan in the final. In addition to relying on overall defensive contraction, he also made strict arrangements for the opponent's flanks. For example, when playing against Real Madrid, he asked Davis to deal with Figo in particular.

Whether it is AC Milan or Real Madrid, they undoubtedly attach great importance to penetration in the middle and ball control. However, when facing defensive contraction, they lose the threat of the flanks and cannot play effective tactical width, and the middle is stagnant.

Ajax's flank attack is very sharp. The double wings formed by Robben and Van der Vaart are undoubtedly better, more threatening, and more impactful than the flanks of AC Milan and Real Madrid in flank attack. He is convinced that Lippi will make strict arrangements and defenses for this.

With the current situation of Juventus, it is certain to play defense and counterattack. What Ye Qiu has to consider now is how to break through Juventus's iron wall and limit Juventus' counterattack in the absence of Ibrahimovic and the loss of such a tactical high point.

After returning to Amsterdam from Rotterdam, Ye Qiu called together the first-team coaching staff for a meeting in De Tokmost.

This time, the coaches discussed the report sent by the scouts, as well as Ye Qiu's experience watching the game in Rotterdam, and analyzed and predicted the possible tactics of Juventus.

After the team regrouped, the 26th round of the Eredivisie soon rekindled the war, and Ajax welcomed Rosendal at home.

Everyone could see that Ye Qiu did not arrange all the main lineups to play in preparation for the Champions League match against Juventus in the middle of the week. Robben, Van der Vaart, Sneijder, Mascherano, Lucio, Maicon and other players were excluded from the starting lineup by Ye Qiu and did not even play in the entire game.

But in the end, with the goals of De Jong, Van der Meyde, Hleb and Huntelaar, Ajax defeated Rosendal 4:1 at home, showing its strong offensive power and strong overall strength as the overlord of the Eredivisie.

In the same round, PSV Eindhoven drew with Willem II 1:1 away from home.

In the last round of the king of kings, Ajax defeated PSV Eindhoven 2:0, successfully widening the points gap to 5 points. Now PSV Eindhoven has tied, and the points have been further expanded to 7 points.

With 8 rounds left in the Eredivisie, 7 points behind, almost everyone thinks that PSV Eindhoven has lost hope of catching up with Ajax. Unless Ajax collapses at the last moment, otherwise, this season's Eredivisie championship will be successfully defended by Ajax.

But at the press conference when the team went to Turin to challenge Juventus away, Ye Qiu showed no signs of excitement when the team was hailed as the biggest favorite for the Eredivisie championship.

"I said that we are a team with great ambitions. We will not just focus on the Eredivisie. We hope to win more. This requires all of us to work together and play well in every game."

"The team can get to where it is now, not because of anyone's credit, but the result of the hard work of every player in the team for a season. I am proud of my players and I believe that we have the strength to win everything. I believe even more that we can return triumphantly at the Alpi Stadium in Turin!"

Ye Qiu's ambitions infected the players of Ajax. This group of young talents were not afraid of the star-studded Juventus at all. In the pre-match press conference, Lippi also expressed his concerns about the talented young players of Ajax who were not afraid of tigers.

"They are very young and have amazing momentum, which allows them to show strong competitiveness anytime and anywhere. I have no doubt that they are the most outstanding talents among the new generation of players in European football. When we meet such a team, we must stay focused and do our best to win the game."

"Of course, being young is not necessarily a good thing!"

Although Lippi gave more praise to Ajax and wanted to paralyze the opponent mentally, he said the last sentence with confidence, because he was facing Ajax at the Alpi Stadium, and almost all Italian media believed that it would not be a problem to defeat Ajax.

Especially the Republic, which had a feud with Ye Qiu before, shouted, "Let's teach those kids who haven't been weaned what football is at the Alpi Stadium!"

But when everyone got the Ajax starting lineup, they were shocked by Ye Qiu's arrangement.

I'm still familiar with VIP releases. After becoming a V, at least 2 chapters are guaranteed every day. Please support the subscription and give me some monthly tickets, hehe...