156. Spear and shield (1)
Nasty-looking nasolabial folds and neatly trimmed white hair.
With a fiery personality as stubborn as his appearance, he was Javier Aguirre, who has been the manager of Atletico Madrid for three years.
Known for being strict, he also showed a consistent attitude toward reporters.
“Get out of the way. “Any questions you might have were answered yesterday at Camp Nou.”
“It came from the Marca tabloid. “I couldn’t go to Camp Nou yesterday because there was a game in Madrid.”
“Then I guess I don’t have anything else to say to you.”
He headed inside the training ground without even looking at the Marca reporter, who has a close relationship with Real Madrid.
Only pro-Atlético Madrid reporters who were permitted to enter were able to conduct brief interviews.
“I’m going to keep it short. “Starting with this reporter first.”
In response, a female reporter held up her reporting microphone and asked.
“Atlético suffered a bitter 5-2 loss to Barcelona in the sixth round of the league yesterday at Camp Nou. “For Barcelona, who are said to be having their worst season this year.”
“No, I think differently. Barcelona was stronger than ever. Although they may have struggled at the beginning of the season, Barcelona are now getting back to where they belong. They are showing a new kind of soccer. Other teams will find out soon.”
I wasn’t making excuses for the loss.
All it did was reveal without hiding the fact that Barcelona was strong.
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona was building an increasingly perfect strategy by extracting only the strengths and complementing the weaknesses of former manager Rijkaard’s tactics.
Coach Aguirre felt this way about Barcelona in the last game.
This time, another young male reporter asked.
“To make matters worse, our next opponent is Real Madrid, who are on a six-game winning streak in the league. Even though it is a home game, I think there will still be a lot of pressure.”
A match against Real Madrid was scheduled in the round immediately following the match against Barcelona.
This applies not only to Atletico, but to all teams.
Absolutely the worst schedule.
However, Director Aguirre let out his signature sneer.
“It is true that it is a burden, but I am not particularly afraid. “Atletico Madrid has a duty to beat them.”
Aguirre exudes tremendous confidence.
Seeing that, the reporter asked again.
“Last night strategic analyst Fernando Alonso was spotted at the Bernabeu. Did you have any income?”
“… Wow. We still have 13 days left. “We will ensure that we can perform well through thorough training.”
I was unable to give a clear answer to the question of whether I had any income.
That’s because there was no clear answer in Fernando Alonso’s report after watching Real Madrid’s game last night.
The main points of the first game analysis report, which was summarized in 18 pages of A4 paper, were as follows.
[… Real Madrid’s tactical pattern is very different from last season’s 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 with Robinho as the key player.
They have used three starting formations in seven games this season and have made an average of 3.85 major tactical changes per game. It can be seen as a player-oriented strategy.
Among them, 70% are tactics based on Raul and Zidane, and the remaining 30% are tactics that utilize Woo Ho-young’s versatile role performance.
Most of the shots came from fight situations inside the box, and in this case, the scoring probability and frequency of effective shots are the highest.
As a result of running a simulation by substituting the data, the win rate increases by about 1.4% (A pattern) for every 2% increase in ball possession. In particular, when Zidane and Woo Ho-young play at the same time, the A pattern is maximized. .
In order to ultimately overcome this, it is necessary to use control of the midfield as a hot zone and eliminate as much as possible the factors that disrupt performance and make the flow of the game unstable.
First, an individual analysis was conducted on key players likely to play in the next match, and this was posted on the Manzanares ATM (Atletico Madrid) player-specific webpage.
Other than that, the rest…]
In this era where science is rapidly developing, data analysis was a very important part of the team’s strength.
No matter how much we talk about numbers, if we don’t score a goal in the end, it’s a waste of money, but it was power analysis that increased the probability.
If we could increase the win rate by even 1%, we had to dig into the opposing team’s power and tactics in detail, even if it meant the strategic team would die from overwork.
However, there was no clear answer in this report.
If I had to express it in one word, it would be this.
-You have to be perfect to win.
For Aguirre, both shoulders were heavy.
Even if they lost to Barcelona 100 times, Atletico Madrid could never lose to Real Madrid, so the pressure was quite severe.
“Huh…. It’s truly a time of suffering.”
He steeled himself and entered the training ground.
Eventually, Aguirre arrived at the audiovisual room, not the field.
The coaching staff and players were all already in attendance, and it was obvious that they were all tired.
Last night, we had a fierce battle with Barcelona, 5-2, so it was worth it.
In fact, if our next opponent wasn’t Real Madrid, we would have been able to rest for at least two days.
But I couldn’t do that because the opponent was the opponent.
There were 13 days left until the match against Real Madrid, but there was no way to rest to finish all 6 training sessions.
Even if outdoor training was off, indoor training at least had to be done in advance.
“I will only give a brief presentation today, so please check the additional materials distributed on the Internet at home. “Do you all understand?”
“yes.”
No player welcomed this fact, but no one openly expressed dissatisfaction.
This is because their eternal rival, Real Madrid, desperately wanted to win.
“Now, let’s all focus. The video you will see before the briefing summarizes Real Madrid’s seven games this season, grouped into situational categories. First, there are two chance-making routes through Zidane’s rear build-up.”
When Aguirre gave the signal, the analysis video sent by the strategy team was played.
It was a scene from a match between Numancia and Real Madrid, and it was a goal that stood out thanks to the linkage play of Zidane, Ho-Young Woo, and Raul.
The next scene played was the match against FC Bate Borsov.
It was a perfect goal created by Zidane’s rear build-up, Woo Ho-young’s forward playmaking, and Van der Vaart’s second-line pressure.
“This is won….”
“It’s a mountain beyond a mountain.”
Most players who watched the video showed similar reactions.
It seemed like we might have to play a tougher game than Barcelona.
In particular, the players who saw Woo Ho-young’s play video for the first time responded with surprise.
“How can someone so young play such a clever game? “Look at them coordinating their attack over there.”
“Well, I only heard that you were breaking the youngest record, but I didn’t know it was to that extent. “This is my first time seeing such a promising person.”
“I remember the first season when Messi debuted.”
I knew that existing players such as Raul, Zidane, and Carlos were good, but I didn’t know that Woo Ho-young would be at this level.
“It’s my first time seeing Real Madrid play this season, and I think they’re better than last year. “Woo Ho-young is at a level where he can become a starting player in any mid-tier team.”
“I know. They say the other players are providing good support from behind… but is there more to it than just this?”
“there’s more.”
It didn’t end there.
When you thought it was over, new videos continued to play, and if you forgot, Woo Ho-young appeared like a regular.
In the video, Hoyoung was forming a triangular formation with various combinations of players including Raul, Robben, Higuain, Malouda, Van der Vaart, Zidane, Guti, and Van Nistelrooy.
It was a tactic that strictly followed the basics of soccer: ‘A perfect triangle is victory.’
Finally, Aguirre spoke.
“Our top priority is to break this triangle. “Whether the opponent is Raul, Robben, or Woo Ho-young, you have to break the triangle formation leading to the front line to have a chance of winning.”
“hmm… I guess so…”
“It’s a lot tougher than I thought.”
The video, which was edited for easy viewing using state-of-the-art technology, raised awareness among players.
However, on the contrary, there were some who were confident.
‘It can be easily prevented.’
It was Gregory Coupet, a 35-year-old veteran goalkeeper from France who transferred to Atletico Madrid this season.
Although he was unable to play in the last game against Barcelona due to a minor injury, he was expected to fully recover from the injury in about 10 days.
This meant that he could play against Real Madrid.
And Coach Aguirre believed in his skills.
That’s because Coupe had experience blocking Real Madrid’s attacks single-handedly at his previous club.
‘No problem this time either.’
He intended to show off his skills as a world-class goalkeeper.
The game is on October 19th at 8pm.
It took place at Atletico Madrid’s home stadium, Estadio Vicente Calderon.
And the tunnel 5 minutes before the game starts.
Players from both teams were engaged in a silent war of nerves with the police and referee standing between them.
An Asian boy was standing in one corner.
Hoyoung was thrilled to be included in the starting list.
Hoyoung’s eyes rolled frantically.
This is because there was a player standing next to me who would make your mouth drop just by looking at him.
A luxury striker from Uruguay with long blonde hair neatly organized with a hairband.
Hoyoung’s eyes lit up as he looked at him.
[Diego Forlan]
-Cannon shooter’s mid-distance shot (U)
-Amazing goal-making ability (S+3)
-Unwavering composure (S+2)
-Two-beat quick kick (S)
-Wide use of both feet (A+3)
-Judgement as sharp as a blade (A+3)
-(Read more)
(You can covet one talent when you meet the conditions.)
(S rank or higher can covet it only when you achieve the hidden condition.)
(Condition 1: This match ( Play for more than 60 minutes)
(Condition 2: Score with a mid-distance shot)
(Condition 3: Record at least 3 effective shots)
(Condition 4: Record at least 2 attack points)
(Condition 5: Score a victory point)
(Hidden Condition: Open when one or more talents are desired)
(Special condition
(Added when special condition
Uruguayan cannon shooter Diego Forlan.
If Roberto Carlos is an insanely strong left-footed shooter, Forlán is a cannon shooter who is equally strong with both feet.
The shooting power as well as accuracy and timing were excellent.
‘Today is middle distance.’
It was a great opportunity to develop my existing mid-range shooting talent all at once.
I wanted to quickly go out to the stadium and show off what I had prepared to the fullest.
However, perhaps because it was my first time participating in a big match, the time in the tunnel felt unusually long today.
There was a tension in the air that made my palms sweat just by taking a breath.
Meanwhile, as soon as the announcer’s voice came out, the referee and players from both teams began entering the stadium at the same time.
Unlike the Bernabeu, where you have to go up stairs in an underground tunnel, the Vicente Calderon Stadium here was structured to go down.
And that was the moment Hoyoung stepped out of the stadium.
“Atleti Atleti Atletico de Madrid!”
It feels like a march that makes you want to dance right away.
The game started with Atletico Madrid’s official cheering song.
and.
Woo Ho-young’s burning desire to win burst out just 7 minutes after the game started.
[Woo Ho-young’s surprise mid-distance shoooouuuuut!]
There was nothing to call it a process.
He just received an ordinary ground ball pass, but the shooting angle was slightly open, and Hoyoung did not miss the opportunity and hit it with all his might.
It was truly a surprise and powerful shot.
However, because the distance was a bit far and it was a standing shot with no run-off, the power was less than expected.
Pow!
[A fantastic save by Gregory Coupe! There is no such thing as a battle between a spear and a shield!]
[It is also a coupe. The shot was very sharp, but he is not a goalkeeper who will easily concede a mid-range goal. Look at that expressionless face. Doesn’t that mean it’s nothing?]
As the commentary said, Coupe’s face was expressionless.
But that wasn’t what I was thinking.
‘…Why is it so heavy?’
Even though the distance was quite long, the shooting power was significant.
This level of power at a distance of 30 meters was enormous.
The memory of that day when I blocked Roberto Carlos’ shot comes back to me.
‘I think it’s faster than the speed recorded in the athlete report…’
That’s when I started to wonder.
Woo Ho-young’s back came into view, and then my eyes were taken by his two strong thighs.
For some reason, I had an ominous feeling about today’s game.
![Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]](https://cpunovel.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/arcane-sniper.jpg "Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]")
