Super Marshal

January 23, 2002, La Coruña, Riazor Stadium.

The first game of the Copa del Rey semi-final, which has attracted much attention because of Real Madrid's football, officially kicked off when Atletico Madrid challenged Deportivo in an away game.

In the stands of the Riazor Stadium, nearly 30,000 Deportivo fans were making noise, but thousands of Atletico Madrid fans who came from afar were also not to be outdone, and the two sides launched another fight in the stands.

Gao Han stood in front of the coach's bench and watched the game silently.

After Atletico Madrid was relegated from La Liga that year, the team's hearts were scattered, and Deportivo took advantage of the opportunity to poach three stars, Belleron, Capdevila and Molina.

Now, these three players have become indispensable and important members of Deportivo. Although Capdevila is not the main player, he is also an important substitute on the left, not to mention the core midfielder Bailey Long, and the absolute main goalkeeper Molina.

With this layer of grievances, the contest between the two sides will attract more fans' attention.

Sitting at home, facing Atletico Madrid, Deportivo do their best.

Although Irueta was born in the Basque Country in northern Spain, he also played for Athletic Bilbao for most of his career, but his coaching style is not at all like the northern team, but more like the southern Barcelona. Emphasis on possession.

The left winger Forlan is good at ball control and organization, more like a midfielder. He and Belleron are important ball handlers in the frontcourt of Deportivo. Victor on the right is also not a traditional winger and is not good at breakthroughs. And cross, but good at inserting behind.

Coupled with the explosive state this season, the Dutch center Roy Mackay was directly squeezed out of the center position. Not only is the physical fitness excellent, but also the comprehensive center Tristan with very delicate skills at the feet.

Deportivo are very good in possession organization and offense.

The midfielder is equipped with double defensive midfielders. Mauro Silva has just passed his 34th birthday, but he is in good condition. He is one of the midfielders with the best stealing ability in La Liga this season. His partner Sergio is both offensive and defensive. , the strength is not bad.

This pair of double midfielders is also one of the best in La Liga.

As for the defense, Romero on the left is the main force, and even Capdevila can't shake his position for the time being. The central defender is Cesar's partner with South African international Nebbitt, and he is also the main force that cannot be shaken.

The only one who didn't make the main team was the right side. The starter was the Argentine international Scaloni, but that was also because the Spanish international Pablo suffered a serious injury and fractured and missed the season ahead of schedule.

The goalkeeper is the former main goalkeeper of Atletico Madrid, Molina.

Deportivo de La Coruña did their best, and Atletico Madrid in the away game also did not dare to be careless.

It is still a 4312 tactic, the goalkeeper is Petr Cech, the defense line is Jankulovski, Carvalho, Marchena and Dario Srna, and the three midfielders are Sedu Keita, Guardiola and Marcos Senna.

The front trident is Kaka, Villa and Torres.

Gao Han's only adjustment is Deco, because this midfielder has played the whole game for many consecutive games, so he arranges a rotation.

Standing in front of the coach's bench, Gao Han raised his head, glanced at the dark sky, and thought to himself, will it really rain tonight as the weather forecast said?

But regardless of whether it rains or not, this game is decided for him!

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For Atletico Madrid, Belleron has mixed feelings.

Like all the people from the Canary Islands, he is low-key and restrained, with rich and strong emotions.

Although he has only been in Atletico Madrid for two years, he is quite grateful to the capital team, but it is very complicated.

On the one hand, he officially established his position as a top midfielder in La Liga here, and at the same time entered the Spanish national team, but on the other hand, at the most difficult moment for Atletico Madrid, he chose to leave and join Deportivo.

This choice made him feel helpless and regretful.

However, if time was turned back and he was asked to choose again, he would still do it.

Those who have not personally experienced that nightmare season will never be able to feel the despair and terror in the Atletico Madrid team at that time. Everyone was training and playing in fear.

With the lineup and strength of Atletico Madrid that season, they should not be relegated anyway.

But in the end, he was relegated.

There is no problem with the team's strength and lineup, even if you play casually, you will not be relegated; Ranieri and Antić are both famous coaches in La Liga, and their coaching level is beyond doubt; They have also been resolved one after another...

But relegation was like a curse, and it finally fell on Atletico Madrid.

If there is a curse in this world, Belleron believes that the curse of Atletico Madrid's relegation is the heart.

It is the psychological problems of everyone in the club, from the players to the management.

Atletico Madrid has returned to La Liga, and Valeron is also very happy.

Only now that he is wearing a Deportivo jersey, he has to fight for Deportivo.

Therefore, at the beginning of the game, he abandoned all distracting thoughts in his mind. Together with his teammate Fran and Sergio and Mauro Silva behind him, he hoped to help the team stabilize the rhythm and firmly grasp the possession of the ball.

This is what he is best at, and what he is most familiar with.

The stands at the Riazor Stadium were as crazy as ever, and the fans cheered hoarsely, as usual.

But the sensitive Belleron quickly felt something strange.

The rhythm of the game was not as he expected, and was jointly controlled by him and his teammates.

Atlético pressed and pressed from the start, forcing Deportivo to step up the pace.

The players of the Sheets Corps cover the entire court almost everywhere through active running, making it impossible for them to get and pass the ball comfortably.

Deportivo always either cut off the ball or lost the ball after three or four passes.

Once the ball reaches Atletico Madrid's feet, it is not easy to get it back.

Different from Deportivo's ball control method, Atletico Madrid's ball control relies on the active running of the whole team, forming multiple contact points around the ball holder to ensure the success rate of the pass.

Facing Atletico Madrid's organized team possession system, so far, many teams in La Liga have not found a reasonable and effective method of restraint, and can only choose to retreat.

But Deportivo's lifeline is to press forward to control the ball, and to retreat is to die.

As the soul core on the court, Belleron naturally understands this deeply.

Therefore, Deportivo cannot retreat, only advance.

Perhaps Seydu Keita can take advantage of this point.

Judging from the situation after the opening, this Hei Dazhuang seemed very abrupt and out of place in Atletico Madrid's entire tactical system. In many cases, he couldn't even keep in the same rhythm as the team.

Guardiola clearly saw that there was no chance ahead, and wanted to pass a few more kicks, and then sorted it out, but after the ball reached Sedu Keita's feet, he was harassed by the defender, but he went straight forward with a big kick.

The same situation happened more than once, and I even often left my position.

As a result, Guardiola had to reduce the pass to Sedu Keita's side, and at the same time reminded the Mali midfielder many times to keep an appropriate distance and not leave the position blindly.

Whether it is four three one two or four two three one, once the distance between the lines is not kept close enough, it is easy to be torn apart by the opponent, resulting in a disconnect.

Belleron soon realized this.

On the sidelines, Irueta also brightened and smiled.

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"I thought before that this Seydu Keita would become the second Marcos Senna, but now it looks nothing like it."

In the away fan group at the Riazor Stadium, Javier Mataiana sat with Hill and others, frowning.

Gao Han's experience of excavating Marcos Senna is a classic, and it is still talked about by fans and the media.

Therefore, when Atletico Madrid announced the introduction of Seydoux Keita from Ligue 1 Lorient for one million euros during the winter break, everyone guessed whether the Mali international would become the second Marcos Senna?

But judging from this game, the styles of the two are completely different.

"He's too tall." Paul Futre also nodded.

Anyone who is familiar with Gao Han's use of troops can see that he has a preference for midfielders, especially the two midfielders who often leave their positions and actively press forward and grab. He has always used short players.

This is not without reason, because generally speaking, shorter players are more flexible, quicker to react, have an advantage in a narrow range, and are more suitable for Atletico Madrid's high-pressing tactics.

Whether it is Deco, Marcos Senna, or Gabi, they are not the mainstream midfielder type in La Liga.

Also because of this, Baptista's performance was not satisfactory after playing as a defensive midfielder a few times, so Gao Han began to move forward in his positioning, becoming Kaka's substitute, and even the top striker.

Sedu Keita is 1.83 meters tall, not considered short in Spain. His physical fitness is very good, and he plays football openly. Although from the training, his footwork is very delicate and his skills are quite good. He can be described as offensive and defensive. Both, but not the same as Deco and Marcos Senna.

From the beginning of the game to the present, Seydu Keita's role can't be seen much, but his shortcomings are fully exposed.

"Could Gao Han use him to improve the toughness of the team's midfield?" Little Hill asked.

Judging from the game, Mali's midfielder's running coverage and defensive ability, and even physical confrontation, are quite good.

Neither Mattayana nor Paulo Futre could figure it out, and it was a possibility.

After all, Seydu Keita has just joined the team and needs time to adapt, but in a hurry, isn't it a bit risky to let him start instead of Deco in this game?

A transfer fee of one million euros, even for Atletico Madrid, is a lot, but even if it is really in vain, no one will blame Gao Han.

But no matter how you look at it, Gao Han doesn't seem like the kind of person who is aimless.

He would want to introduce Seydu Keita, he must have his idea.

What the hell is that?

What does this Mali midfielder deserve Gao Han's attention?

While everyone was wondering, there was a sudden exclamation in the stadium.

After realizing Sedu Keita's weakness, Deportivo immediately and consciously made a trap for this point, and quickly reaped the prey.

Seydoux Keita fumbled a pass and was handed over to Valeron after being intercepted by Mauro Silva.

After Valeron took the ball, without thinking, he passed it directly to center Tristan.

Suddenly, the Atlético Madrid Big Three and Mattayana in the stands were shocked.

Deportivo's counterattack is coming!