Chapter 9: The Opportunity Has Arrived

I saw that the right back of Team B 2, who had been consistently defending on the back line, suddenly moved forward. After receiving a pass from De Jong, he kicked the ball forward. At that moment, the winger of Team B 1 was taking a break to catch his breath, and the fullback was too far away to press immediately.

It is a desire revealed by a starving person, akin to one who has long endured hunger, upon seeing food

The situation in the 1994/1995 season was somewhat better, but they were also defeated by Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.

Westhoff also appeared extremely angry; he could not imagine what would happen if, after boasting so much before the match, he were to accidentally lose to Ye Qiu during the competition

During halftime, Ye Qiu offered them encouragement. He spoke little, just a few words, but this particular sentence carried the most weight, as it instilled hope in all the players of Team B2.

When Rui reached the vicinity of the right post in the small penalty area, the cross from the wing had already bypassed Heitinga's defense. It was a low ball, traveling at high speed, and went directly to the front point, where Rui perfectly entered an attacking position.

No one is willing to be born a loser, who does not hope for their team to win? Who does not take pride in defeating a strong opponent?

History can sometimes be truly extreme

At that time, a common tactic observed in Barcelona was to intercept the ball in midfield and pass it to Koeman, who would then deliver a direct long ball over the top to the winger, subsequently exploiting the flanks to create opportunities in the center.

The gap caused by the excessive distance between the winger and the full-back is the fatal flaw in Ajax's 4-3-3 formation

The 1990s European football was dominated by the number 10, where the midfielders held the key to success. This was profoundly validated at the time, as the midfield was given significant importance. However, the flanks of both the forward line and the defense were far from receiving adequate attention, a fact clearly illustrated by the then-popular three-defender formation.

In this situation, Cruyff clearly recognized the drawbacks of a three-defender system and acknowledged that the midfield had become overly congested. He understood the necessity to find a way to extricate the team from the quagmire of the midfield, which led him to adopt a winger strategy. He arranged for two forwards with exceptional individual skills to operate as wingers in the front line, aiming to exploit the flanks and create openings.

The right winger was lurking just behind the left back of Team B, and as soon as he received the ball, he quickly made a breakthrough along the right flank. Before the opposing center back Heitinga could close him down, he delivered a cross into the penalty area.

Team B1 still wishes to continue passing the ball to Van der Vaart's feet, despite having made the same mistake countless times in this match. However, they persist in doing so time and again, for they have no other options available to them.

He suddenly felt that this adventure into the unknown truly brought him a thrilling excitement, it was simply exhilarating

Rui is a typical Dutch center forward, tall and strong, not very fast, but possesses good awareness and solid fundamental skills

It is similar to the current B1 team of Westhof at wwwhetushu.com, where both wingers lack speed, and the full-backs are also quite average in pace. This results in a naturally small coverage area between them, relying more on the connection of the midfield players. However, even so, there remains a frequent disconnection between the wingers and the full-backs.

In this situation at the beginning of the match, Team B1 actively attacked, and the suppression of Team B2 was not very apparent. However, as the match progressed, especially during the entire 45 minutes of the first half, it became increasingly evident in the second half that Westhoff's team was unable to break through Team B2's goal.

He was originally assigned more organizational and offensive tasks, but as the situation became passive, he had to withdraw more to support the midfield, taking on more defensive responsibilities

It is certain that he will become the laughingstock of everyone associated with Ajax, and it is also certain that he will leave Ajax in disgrace. More seriously, he will undoubtedly become a great joke within the coaching community across the Netherlands, and this will certainly happen

And you, John, when you take the ball up, you need to know how to come back; don't be so reckless. Do you really think you are Koeman

In the eyes of this group of historical figures, not to mention Westhoff, even Leo Benhark would feel inferior

Fans often refer to vulnerabilities; what is meant by vulnerabilities

Beside him stood a group of B1 team players, all of whom were in a state of shock, unable to believe what they were witnessing as the B2 team players celebrated their goal. They found it hard to comprehend how they had just held a significant advantage, yet in the blink of an eye, the opposing team had scored against them.

The right back of Team B2 quickly brought the ball into the half of Team B1, prompting the left back of Team B1 to press immediately. However, the right back of Team B2 swiftly passed the ball to the advancing Sneijder

Indeed, it is just a single goal, but within Ye Qiu's arrangements and plans, this solitary goal is already sufficient to be fatal for Westhoff's team

Just as Westhoff was about to lose control, the situation on the field changed dramatically. Team B2 once again utilized Team B1's pass to Van der Vaart. When the latter was holding onto the ball, De Jong and Maduro teamed up to intercept it, passing it back to the fullback who advanced with the ball. Upon reaching the front line, he passed it to Rui, who then returned the pass.

Looking back at Westhoff, his face immediately resembled someone who had just eaten a bitter herb, devoid of the spirited demeanor he had before the match. Now, he had returned to the coaching seat, looking rather dejected, making it difficult to discern his expression, though it must have been quite amusing.

... ...

However, all these worries dissipated with that one goal

"Don't get too excited, Roland, it's just a single goal!" Ye Qiu shouted with a smile that seemed less than satisfied

Thus, Ye Qiu walked out of the coaching area and approached the sidelines, raising his right hand high. This was the first time he had called out from the sidelines during this match

Sneijder received the ball and quickly passed it to the right flank, delivering it to the right winger

In the fourth year, Real Madrid performed poorly, suffering a crushing defeat of 5:0 at the hands of Barcelona at Camp Nou. However, in the race for the league championship, Barcelona narrowly secured the title in the final round, just edging out Deportivo La Coruña.

Weis Tehuofu was initially feeling somewhat disheartened, but upon hearing Ye Qiu's words, he immediately leaped out of his seat and shouted at the players of Team B1 on the court, "You bunch of damn fools, is this how you play the game? What have I always told you? Don't be reckless, what are you all getting worked up about? If they dare to attack, suppress them, push them back completely!"

We scored! We really scored! We actually scored!

Beside Ye Qiu, Roland Shepas was already so excited that he was dancing with joy, and in his excitement, he hugged Ye Qiu tightly, clearly still immersed in the surprise brought by the goal, unable to detach himself.

Thus, when Sneijder saw Ye Qiu walking out from the sidelines and waving at them, his spirits were lifted. Looking towards De Jong, Maduro, and Rui, he noticed that each of their faces was filled with excitement and a sense of longing

The areas that players cannot cover are vulnerabilities

This goal came as a complete surprise, catching them all off guard and filled with astonishment

The decline of Ajax over the past two to three years actually began with the departure of a group of outstanding wing players such as Davis, Overmars, and Litmanen. Without strong wing players with exceptional individual abilities, continuing to employ the 4-3-3 formation will only exacerbate the existing vulnerabilities.

In the stands, although there were not many spectators, only a few hundred, a scattered round of applause suddenly broke out, clearly indicating their surprise at the goal while also expressing their approval.

When he saw Sneijder distribute the ball, he already knew what to do, making a forward run at the first opportunity

However, in his heart, he still harbored a glimmer of hope

However, De Jong successfully intercepted the ball

This shot is not particularly difficult; although the speed of the ball is fast, the angle of attack is quite favorable, and the distance to the goal is close. As long as the fundamental skills are solid, it is truly not easy to miss. Rui's fundamental skills are undoubtedly solid.

This glimmer of hope came from a remark made by head coach Ye Qiu during the halftime break

The right foot collided with Rui's right foot, making no noticeable sound, and changed direction. Before Steklenburg could make a full effort to save, it slipped into Team B1's goal

Raphael, you need to hold onto the ball more and not just pass it at every opportunity. You are the core player, and being the core means you should possess the ball more, pass more, and create more threats. Do you understand? If you don't do this, what kind of core player do you think you are?

Bianfeng aims to continue strengthening the offense, but the full-backs have been running back and forth throughout the first half, leading to excessive physical exhaustion. By the time the second half begins, they are unable to keep up, and the gaps between the two will inevitably be further magnified

This kick was powerful, as if Sneijder intended to release all the pressure and frustration he had experienced in the previous hour of the match through this shot.

The expression on the Chairman's face was naturally noticed by Waters, which made his gaze even darker

Ye Qiu studied Cruyff's insights on the 4-3-3 formation, as well as Beckenbauer's understanding of positioning and tactics on the football field. He greatly admired the insights and knowledge of these two predecessors regarding football. He also realized that the greatest strength of the 4-3-3 tactic, which brought Cruyff fame, lies in the wingers, yet its most significant weakness is also precisely the wingers

In this situation, the opportunity that Ye Qiu had been waiting for finally arrived

In other words, the two players are positioned too far apart, allowing an opposing player to receive the ball in that area, and neither of the two players can apply immediate pressure. This indicates that a gap has emerged between them

In the early 1990s, La Liga's status was inferior to Serie A and comparable to the Bundesliga. At that time, the domestic scene was dominated by two teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, which took turns in power. First, Real Madrid achieved five consecutive championships, followed by Barcelona with four consecutive titles, and the two teams completely dominated La Liga

Ye Qiu waited anxiously to score a goal, and he waited for nearly an hour

Using their own methods against them, Ye Qiu now wishes to do the same

Roland grasped his shoulders and shouted vigorously, "Yes, don't get too excited, it's just one goal!" However, his forceful grip on Ye Qiu's shoulders made it hard to believe that he could calm down.

Time and again, the passes to Van der Vaart seem to be assisting De Jong in boosting his match statistics

That damned Chinese..." Turning his head, Westhoff cast a glance at Ye Qiu, finding him increasingly irksome.

Speaking of the league, apart from the first year, in the second and third years, one important reason why Barcelona was able to win the championship is thanks to Tenerife, coached by Valdano. The latter's surprising victories over Real Madrid in the final round of two consecutive seasons ultimately enabled Barcelona to make a comeback and claim the title

In that moment, everyone in the entire second team stadium was dumbfounded, staring in disbelief at the match, particularly at the lifeless ball that had long ceased to move inside Team B's goal. They then watched in astonishment as the forward, who had lost his balance due to the shot and fallen to the ground, sprang back up and dashed out of the penalty area.

However, the 433 wing play tactic has a fatal flaw, a problem that even Cruyff could not change during Barcelona's peak period. This issue lies in the offensive end: to ensure that the wingers can pose the greatest threat, they must move closely alongside the full-backs. This results in an increased distance between the wingers and the full-backs.

If we consider European achievements, the Dream Team I is significantly inferior to Guardiola's Dream Team III, and it may not even surpass Rijkaard's Dream Team II.

Rui rushed to the sidelines, tightly clenching his fists and waving them vigorously. Behind him, Sneijder, De Jong, Maduro, and others also rushed out one by one, surrounding Rui in the center, celebrating the team's first goal and taking the lead.

He is the one who understands Ye Qiu's arrangements the best, but he is also the most worried. He is concerned whether Ye Qiu's clever strategy will be effective in front of the seasoned veteran Westhof. He is also anxious that if Ye Qiu were to lose, he might also be expelled from Detokmost.

They will surely reveal their flaws, they will surely have moments of laxity, and that will be our opportunity

In the past hour, he has been filled with fear and anxiety, his heart enduring more shocks than it has throughout his entire life. This not only leaves him with a sense of complete exhaustion, but also brings him a deep-seated excitement, a fervor that feels as if his entire being is ablaze.

Snyder appears somewhat dejected, as his team B2 has been consistently suppressed by the opposing side since the beginning of the match.

In an instant, the entire venue erupted once again, and even Van Praag couldn't help but cheer and applaud for Ye Qiu's B2 team

Haha, I knew it, I knew that Ye Qiu definitely had more tricks up his sleeve. This kid doesn't look like someone who would settle for a draw! Fan Pulage laughed heartily, feeling quite pleased with his previous wisdom.

The Barcelona of the Cruyff era did not employ the possession-based style characteristic of the Guardiola period; in fact, the team played a complex style that combined elements of traditional long-ball tactics from England with short passing and penetration typical of Spain.

Westerhof is indeed well-known in the Netherlands, but that reputation is limited to the Netherlands. In contrast, Ye Qiu's exposure to tactical analyses and explanations within the coaching system comes from a group of footballing geniuses renowned in history, including Michels, Cruyff, and Beckenbauer.

In 2013, when many fans mentioned Barcelona, they would think of the Dream Team and Johan Cruyff

But that damned guy seemed to sense his gaze, and looked over as well, flashing a mouthful of white teeth and grinning, which drove Westhoff into a frenzy.

Everyone who heard Ye Qiu's shout was instantly taken aback; was this not too disrespectful to the opponent

The midfielders predominantly adopt the traditional Dutch midfield style, as they are not responsible for organization. Cruyff's team shifted the organizational role to the defensive midfielders and even to the center-backs. Therefore, in Cruyff's team, the center-back Koeman undertook a significant amount of organizational and passing responsibilities

Did Westhoff not boast that he would resolve the battle with a single match, completely shattering Ye Qiu's fighting spirit and morale

After the ball was intercepted, De Jong immediately kicked it towards the flanks

In other words, the so-called "Dream Team" of Barcelona truly reached its peak only during the 1990/91 season. At most, the second season in which they won the Champions League can be considered, but both before and after that, Barcelona's performance and style of play have not been particularly convincing.

Sneijder received a back pass from Rui at the edge of the penalty area, without any hesitation, he set himself up and struck a powerful shot

Perhaps they find it difficult to understand, but Leo Benhakker knows clearly that this is tactics

... ...

Louis van Gaal, while following Cruyff's philosophy, made further adjustments after fundamentally inheriting this approach during his time at Ajax, incorporating more of his own understanding of football. However, to a certain extent, van Gaal still employed a wing breakthrough tactic, which is why the wingers at Ajax during that period possessed considerable individual skills

Certainly, Cruyff's excellence is commendable, but it is not his coaching and tactical application that stands out. Rather, it is his understanding of football and his insights into tactics that truly define his greatness. This is also the fundamental reason for the dramatic ups and downs experienced by the Barcelona team he led

It is undeniable that Barcelona during Cruyff's era was indeed formidable in La Liga. However, in Europe, apart from winning the championship in the 1991/1992 season, in the following three years, in the 1992/1993 season, Barcelona was defeated in the first round of the qualifiers by CSKA Moscow from the Russian Premier League. In the 1993/1994 season, although they advanced to the final by overcoming teams like Galatasaray and Porto, they were ultimately crushed by Capello's AC Milan with a score of 4:0. Barcelona was defeated in the first round of the qualifiers by CSKA Moscow from the Russian Premier League, and in the 1993/1994 season, although they advanced to the final by overcoming teams like Galatasaray and Porto, they were ultimately crushed by Capello's AC Milan with a score of 4:0

Almost simultaneously, Westhoff on the coaching bench had already sensed something was amiss. He rushed out from his seat and shouted loudly towards the field, "Front point, pay attention to the front point!"

In this situation, excessive agitation and encouragement are actually unnecessary; the key is to see hope

Boys, they are clearly no longer capable. Do not be polite with them; eliminate them. Charge!

However, even though he had taken the lead, Ye Qiu did not feel proud or complacent at all. He was not Waters; he clearly remembered a saying he had heard in his previous life: a score of 1:0 is the most precarious lead in the world. Therefore, he was not only unwilling to settle for a draw, but he was also not satisfied with a score of 1:0; he wanted to win by a larger margin.

In the stands, Leo Benhakker, who had previously thought that Ye Qiu's team had little chance of turning the situation around, stood up in astonishment. He watched as the tall forward, wearing the B2 team jersey, swung his right foot to meet the low ball and made a decisive kick.

In 2013, fans worshipped the Dream Team I as a natural progression due to the Dream Team II and Dream Team III, with many viewing Johan Cruyff's Barcelona Dream Team I in an almost deified manner. But is it really the case?

The ball speed was also very fast, passing over Stekelenburg's hand and drilling straight into the corner of the goal, 2: 0