Super Marshal

April 3, 2007, late.

It rained heavily all day long in Milan, and it didn't stop from morning to night.

Although the drainage system of the Meazza stadium is very complete, the ground is still very slippery.

Tonight, under heavy rain, the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals is being held here. Inter Milan faces the Red Devils Manchester United at home.

Before the game, both sides had proposed postponing the game, but UEFA considered it again and did not agree.

Therefore, the two sides could only carry out this water battle in the heavy rain.

Michael Carrick hated playing in this weather. The ball was wet, slippery and difficult to control.

In this game, he was Manchester United's main defensive midfielder, partnering with Fletcher.

In front of them, Giggs is on the left, Alan Smith is in the center, Saha is on the right, and Rooney is the lone forward.

Behind him stood Heinze, Ferdinand, Brown, Gary Neville, and goalkeeper Forster.

Ferguson made a big fuss before the game, saying that many key players were injured and missed the game and could not make it to the game. But in fact, all of them, including Fletcher and Saha, started the game.

Only Scholes, who was suspended for three games, missed the chance to participate in this game.

Inter Milan, which plays at home, also uses its main force. The goalkeeper is Cesar, the defense is Evra, Cannavaro, Vidic and Maicon. The midfielder is Cambiasso and Yaya Tu. Ray and Veron move forward.

The front trident is a combination of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic and Adriano.

Inter Milan has a strong team and Manchester United is playing away from home, so the Red Devils still focus on stability in the first round.

At the beginning of the game, Inter Milan launched an offensive.

After Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball on the left, he tried a heel knock against Gary Neville. As a result, the field was slippery, and the Portuguese's performance directly knocked the ball to Gary Neville.

Gary Neville sent the ball to Carrick's feet, but as soon as the England midfielder received the ball, the opponent's black and strong midfielder Yaya Toure was already close to him, which surprised Carrick and quickly Passed the ball back to the defense.

It rained heavily and the view was greatly obstructed.

Everyone in the stadium, including the referee, was soaked in the rain.

Carrick wiped the rain off his face and felt unreal as he watched the figures flickering in front of him.

But Inter Milan didn't give him any time to think about it. Less than a minute later, Inter Milan, who grabbed the ball again, launched another offensive and still passed it to Cristiano Ronaldo on the left.

But this time, after Veron received the ball, he made a mid-to-long-distance through ball and passed the ball directly behind the Manchester United defense.

Cristiano Ronaldo quickly made a diagonal pass, passed Brown, received the ball and shot directly low.

But I don't know if it was affected by the heavy rain, but the Portuguese's single shot was not on target and slipped out of the far post.

"Hey guys, cheer up," captain Gary Neville shouted into the rain.

Carrick also gestured towards his partner Fletcher, telling him not to get too close and to protect the defense.

Inter Milan's opening tactics are very smart. They don't blindly pursue passing and control, but attack and efficiency.

In this kind of weather, they chose to use the simplest and most direct way to send the ball into dangerous areas as much as possible, and then relied on the players' personal abilities to create threats.

Carrick wiped his face and looked towards the sidelines. In the haze, he saw the head coach, Gao Han, who was still standing on the sidelines directing the game in a transparent raincoat.

He admired Gao Han very much, because when Gao Han was coaching Chelsea, he tried to introduce him. The two parties had a phone conversation. Gao Han personally told him that over time, he would become the best midfielder in Europe. It was also Gao Han who suggested that he Position retreat.

At the time, he was playing for West Ham United in England's second-tier League One.

At that time, Carrick was full of expectations to join Chelsea and play under Gao Han, but who would have thought that in the summer of that year, Chelsea suddenly announced Gao Han's resignation and the transfer was aborted.

But even so, Gao Han was very graceful and called him personally to explain his difficulties. At the same time, he also encouraged him to keep up his efforts, leave West Ham United as soon as possible, and go to the Premier League to prove himself.

So Carrick joined Tottenham Hotspur, and then came to Manchester United.

When Ferguson invited Carrick to join him, he mentioned Gao Han. Therefore, Carrick knew that at least part of the reason why Ferguson relied on him so much was because of Gao Han's reputation.

Whether it was in Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester United, Carrick never thought that the first time he encountered high cold would be like tonight, with such heavy rain.

Beep!

In the heavy rain, the referee's whistle came from the left side.

Carrick looked up and saw Adriano lying on the ground through the rain curtain. Manchester United left back Heinze was explaining something to the referee. Fortunately, the referee did not give a card. It was a warning.

Inter Milan's free kick opportunity in the frontcourt.

"Damn it, watch out for their free-kick!" Gary Neville shouted, "Michael."

"I'm coming." Carrick ran over immediately.

He knew that the captain was calling him to come over and form a human wall.

Inter Milan's free kick skills are well known to everyone. This area is far or not far, close but not close. It can create a threat by hitting the goal directly or by cooperating.

And it turns out that Inter Milan also has two free kick masters, Veron and Adriano.

One left foot, one right foot, it seems to be covering, but it is so real.

"Be careful." Carrick turned back as if facing a powerful enemy and shouted to his teammates in the penalty area.

The wall was set up, and Inter Milan's players did not hesitate at all. Both players started at the same time. Adriano made a false shot, and Veron's right-footed free throw went over the wall and fell into the penalty area.

Yaya Toure grabbed the first shot in the penalty area, but the ball was too slippery and he volleyed directly into the anti-aircraft gun.

The Ivorian squatted in the penalty area with his head in regret, looking frustrated.

Manchester United feels like they are surviving a disaster.

In three minutes, Inter Milan had already created three shots, and Manchester United's defense couldn't even block them.

If it hadn't been for the heavy rain, which had greatly reduced their ability to seize opportunities, Manchester United might have conceded the ball by now.

What a terrifying team!

Time passed by minute by second, but Inter Milan's opening attack continued.

In the seventh minute, Maicon suddenly stepped in and passed a curve ball from the right. Ibrahimovic volleyed near the penalty spot, but failed to hit the right spot. The ball did not hit hard and fell softly. into Foster's arms.

Two minutes later, Evra made a direct pass from the left. Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball and forced a breakthrough. He wanted to take the ball out between Gary Neville and Fletcher, but he accidentally slipped. The ball was intercepted by Manchester United and they launched the first threatening counterattack of the game, which reached the 30-meter area of ​​Inter Milan, but failed to get a chance to shoot.

In just ten minutes, Carrick felt as if a long, long time had passed.

Yaya Toure is like a tough dog-skin plaster. As soon as Carrick and Fletcher get the ball, he will get close immediately. This kid runs with great force. Although his feet are not dirty, he is Very aggressive.

He tried several times to stabilize the rhythm or control the ball, but failed.

On the contrary, it was Inter Milan. Even though it was raining heavily, they still continued to pass and receive the ball frequently. The players were also very active in running. It seemed that the entire midfield had an obvious advantage.

Manchester United failed to play their own rhythm, and their defensive steals and interceptions failed to show their power. However, Ferguson did not consider letting the team shrink its defense, but still expected the team to gain a foothold as soon as possible.

This is dangerous!

Carrick instinctively sensed the crisis, especially when he saw Fletcher and Alan Smith frequently pressing forward to grab the ball, he felt a little palpitated.

"Darren, Alan, don't chase the ball, pay attention to your formation." Carrick reminded.

Manchester United's ability to run and press without the ball is also obvious to all, but it depends on which team it is against.

When encountering a team like Inter Milan, it is very irrational to chase the ball, because even in heavy rain, their passing and controlling the ball can still make it difficult for Manchester United's pressing and interception to exert its power.

On the contrary, the Red Devils themselves, once they can't grab it, will not only consume physical energy, but also easily become overheated and lose their position.

They pressed forward, but Carrick could still stand in front of the defense to protect him?

Seeing Alan Smith pressing forward, trying to press Cambiaso, Fletcher immediately followed up, ready to make up for it at any time.

Seeing them like this, Carrick thought about the distance between himself and them, sighed in his heart, and had to follow them.

But at this moment, Inter Milan's central defender Vidic suddenly stopped the ball. Rooney rushed forward immediately, trying to grab it, but the Serbian central defender suddenly kicked the ball forward.

In the heavy rain, the ball drew an arc and fell to the right side of the top of the penalty area.

Carrick was slightly startled, and immediately turned around and ran back to chase after him.

I saw Adriano blocking Ferdinand with his body at the front of the penalty area, blocking the best position.

Facing the ball flying from the backcourt, the Brazilian center took a smart step forward, headed the ball directly to the ground on the right.

Carrick was immediately shocked because he saw a blue-black figure rushing towards the center from the left side in the heavy rain. It was Cristiano Ronaldo.

The England midfielder tried desperately to catch up faster, but he was only so fast.

When Carrick chased back to the front of the penalty area, he saw that Cristiano Ronaldo had already adjusted, raised his right foot, and took a violent long shot from the front of the penalty area.

Carrick thought quickly and tried to slide in to stop him, but he was too late.

There was only a bang, and the rain in the air around him seemed to be exploded. Then he saw a round shadow in the heavy rain, like lightning in the dark clouds, fleeting.

When it reappeared, it was in the goal behind Forster.

The ball just went in!

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!"

"Only twelve minutes into the game, only twelve minutes, Inter Milan took the lead in breaking through Manchester United's goal!"

"Assist from Adriano, Cristiano Ronaldo's long shot from the front of the penalty area scored the goal of the Red Devils and Manchester United!"

"It was a very good and very sudden shot."

"Cristiano Ronaldo's shot came so suddenly that Foster didn't even have time to react."

"Manchester United had a bad start and conceded a goal first."

Carrick got up from the ground covered with grass clippings and rainwater, his eyes were filled with tears.

Is this Inter Milan?