Some things are truly carved into people’s bones.
No matter how many times you restart, the outcome remains the same.
Why were Guardiola and Southgate’s tactical plans submitted slower than Simeone’s?
Because Chen Ran’s transfer strategy inherently leaned toward defense, bringing in a pile of defensive players.
But even so, Guardiola still managed to design a possession-and-passing-based tactic.
Can you imagine it?
Guardiola’s designed setup: In attack, the two fullbacks, Chiellini and Maicon, push up to the wide midfielder positions, while the two wingers, C.
Ronaldo and Ribéry, drive straight into the penalty area to poach goals alongside Toni.
Only Southgate and Cech remain in the backfield to hold the fort.
Another center-back, Vidić, pushes up to the defensive midfield position, partnering with Simeone to guard against opponent counter-attacks.
Meanwhile, Guardiola himself pushes up to the edge of the penalty box, partnering with Modrić to orchestrate the attack, or taking long shots directly.
Once possession is lost, players are required to immediately counter-press on the spot, not hesitating to foul, to definitively strangle the opponent’s counter-attack.
Just picture this scene: Under this tactical system, Crystal Palace would only have two players behind the halfway line; everyone else would be tasked with pinning the opponent tightly within their own half.
If the attack flows well, it would be like mercury spilling down, wave after wave.
But if the opponent manages to successfully break out with the ball, it would be a total collapse.
How thrilling!
Yet how absolute madness!
Compared to Guardiola’s approach, Simeone’s defensive counter-attack was the complete opposite extreme.
In his system, C.
Ronaldo and Ribéry were no longer wingers but wide midfielders.
Normally, they would drop back into their own half to aid in defense.
But the moment their team regained possession, they had to sprint forward along the flanks at top speed, stretching the field to create passing lanes for potential counter-attacks.
In defense, only the target man, Toni, was left in the opponent’s half, while the attacking midfielder, Modrić, hovered near the center circle, waiting for an opportunity.
The moment they regained the ball, Guardiola or Simeone would launch a long pass directly from the backfield, looking either for Toni or the surging C.
Ronaldo and Ribéry.
Toni acted as the bridgehead.
If the ball reached him, he would immediately flick it to the overlapping C.
Ronaldo or Ribéry on the wings, then turn and charge straight into the penalty area to finish.
If there was no opportunity to distribute wide, he would pass it back to Modrić behind him, who would then thread it to C.
Ronaldo or Ribéry.
In short, the rapid counter-attack involved only four players from start to finish: Toni, Modrić, C.
Ronaldo, and Ribéry.
Everyone else stayed in the backfield to guard against the opponent’s counter.
How about that?
Two absolute extremes, right?
Looking at these two tactical systems, the name of an American TV show popped into Chen Ran’s head—A Song of Ice and Fire.
Compared to Guardiola and Simeone, Southgate’s designed tactic was quite orthodox.
It was a classic English-style 4-4-2, utilizing no attacking midfielder, only central midfielders.
It focused heavily on wing breakthroughs and crosses, with Toni and Crouch, two tall giants, responsible for attacking the ball in the middle.
Unremarkable, but simple and practical.
Chen Ran called Guardiola, Simeone, and Southgate together and had them look at each other’s tactical designs.
Watching the ever-changing expressions on their faces, Chen Ran almost laughed out loud.
Especially the expressions of Simeone and Guardiola when they saw each other’s tactics—the shock, confusion, and disdain were incredibly vivid.
“Why don’t you guys evaluate each other’s tactics?” Chen Ran wickedly suggested.
“Diego’s tactic is too conservative.” “Josep’s system is too radical.”
Guardiola and Simeone blurted out instantly.
Then, looking at each other, they said simultaneously: “Gareth’s is too ordinary.” “Exactly, totally unoriginal.” “…”
Southgate cursed them in his mind.
Why don’t you two look in the mirror?
One defends like a maniac, the other attacks like a maniac.
Mine is called offensive-defensive balance, got it?!
“Boss, Diego and Josep’s tactics are too extreme.
I still think my system is the most balanced in attack and defense,” Southgate said, ignoring the other two and earnestly expressing his view to Chen Ran.
“Ahem, if you ask me, the tactics designed by the three of you each have their own characteristics, but they also have their respective flaws.
Why not integrate them?” Having enjoyed the show enough, Chen Ran offered his perspective.
“Integrate?
How?” “Boss, Diego and Josep’s tactics are two complete extremes.
There’s no way to integrate them, right?” “Yeah, Boss.
If we try to implement Diego’s and my tactics simultaneously, the players’ stamina won’t last 90 minutes.
They’d probably collapse after 60-70 minutes at most.”
“I don’t mean implementing them simultaneously.
I mean adopting different tactical approaches based on the opponent.
You know what a revolver is, right?
To deal with enemies of different characteristics, you rotate to the corresponding bullet, and then take them out.”
“For example, if we face a team much stronger than us, using Josep’s tactic carries too much risk.
In that case, we can use Diego’s defensive counter-attack.” “If we face a team weaker than us, we can deploy Josep’s system to crush them in one fell swoop.” “If we encounter an opponent of similar strength, we respond with Gareth’s tactic.
Once we take the lead, we can shift to Diego’s tactic; if we can’t break the deadlock or fall behind, we switch to Josep’s.”
“What do you think of my idea?”
Feeling a bit parched, Chen Ran picked up his coffee to soothe his throat.
“Well…
Boss, the idea is quite good.
But it requires the players to master three sets of tactics simultaneously and be able to switch between them at any moment during a match.
Isn’t that asking too much?”
The three exchanged glances; they hadn’t expected their young boss to actually have some real substance in him.
It seemed his UEFA A coaching license was genuinely earned.
“It’s a high demand, definitely.
Have you forgotten my goal in buying Crystal Palace?” “You mean building a football dynasty?” “Exactly.
After observing them recently, I’m sure you’ve seen it too: every player I brought in this time is exceptionally talented.
Mastering three tactics simultaneously and switching on the fly might be impossible for average players.
But I believe these players will absolutely have no problem.”
“Besides, I’m not demanding they master all three immediately.”
“My plan is this: first, train them to master Diego’s defensive counter-attack.
Our goal this season is promotion to the Premier League.
Over a long league campaign, conceding few or no goals is crucial.” “Once they’ve mastered Diego’s tactic, we’ll start training Gareth’s.
The key to Gareth’s tactic is whether the wings can effectively cross the ball, which relies more on individual ability.” “Finally, and the hardest to achieve, is Josep’s system, because it demands incredibly high passing, moving, and coordination abilities from the players.
My judgment is that it might take the entire season to gel.”
“And that concludes my plan for Crystal Palace’s tactical arrangements.
Do you think it’s feasible?”
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends.