Chapter 278 New Formation, New Tactics

In La Liga, the head coach is similar to Serie A. They don’t have much say in signings. Just as Valencia sold three important main players in one go, Cooper could not say anything. He could only make a request. He did not have much decision-making ability for specific signings. Except for the two young players, Aimal and Karu, who were chosen by him, the other players were basically selected by Valencia’s managers.

After a pair of main midfielders, Valencia's managers bought Baraja, Deschamps and Zahovic, who can play in the midfield. However, on the wing, Cooper did not have many players, which forced him to use other methods to make the team's combat power stronger.

Cooper already had plans in his mind, and the upcoming European Super Cup in France will be a good opportunity for him to test the team's actual strength and whether his tactical conception is perfect.

On August 24, Valencia's entire team arrived in Monaco to prepare for the European Super Cup. For Valencia, who has not started the La Liga and has not played in a formal game this season, it seems a bit unfavorable to face Galatasaray, who has been fully in shape. Galatasaray's personnel have also changed a lot this season. Their top scorer Jacan Suk transferred to join the Serie A giant Inter Milan, but they quickly introduced Brazilian center Jadel from Portugal. This alternative Brazilian striker quickly proved his strength. He scored five goals in the previous Turkish League game, and there were also goals in the qualifiers for the Champions League. How to guard this striker will be a headache for Valencia's defense.

However, for Tiger, this game has another meaning - he expressed his hope to talk to Haji on the court in the European Cup, but unfortunately he lost this opportunity because of Haji's injury. However, perhaps God wants to make up for Tiger. The opponent of this game, Galatasaray, is the core of the midfield in the team!

Another legendary Romanian star, Popescu, who was injured in the midway point of the European Cup, was also in Galatasaray's team.

"I'm very happy to have such an opportunity. I've said before that I'm very interested in the confrontation with Haji on the court," Tiger said in an interview.

"We are also very happy to meet Valencia... We will use a victory to avenge the European Championship. In that game, Popescu and I were unable to contribute to the national team. In the club, we are still happy to have such an opportunity." Haji said with a smile in an interview.

The European Super Cup is not a very impressive honor, but one thing seems to be unfavorable to Valencia - the European Super Cup reform changed from a two-round match to a final victory at Louis II Stadium, two games have been held. In these two games, the final winners were the European Cup winners - Chelsea won in 1998, and Lazio won in 1999. Although the Cup winners and the League Cup had been merged last year, this rule seems to be continued...

"The first two Champions League champions lost? What does it have to do with us? Isn't our opponent the League Cup champion?" Cooper said with a smile on this question.

Although it is easy to say, Cooper still attaches great importance to this game. Perhaps the European Super Cup game is nothing for other top giants, but for Valencia, it is still an honor that has never been involved!

People always desire honors that have never been involved.

In this game, Cooper will also test whether there is anything wrong with the new tactical concept.

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The Louis II Stadium can only accommodate 18,500 fans, which is also a criticism of why UEFA chose to hold the European Super Cup here. Whether it is Valencia fans or Galatasaray fans, more than 10,000 people came to Monaco, but only 5,000 people were able to enter the court to watch the game, which also caused great trouble to the local security.

Cooper sent a strange lineup in this game, goalkeeper Canisales, four defenders are Anguema, Ayala, Pellegrino and Aurerio, midfielder Baraja, Deschamps and Mendeta partner in the middle, in front of them are Tiger and Aimal, and the forward forward is Norwegian forward Karu. Among the nine new players this season, six appear in the starting lineup. In addition to the two young players Vicente and Villa, the famous new players are Zahovic sitting on the bench alone...

This also made the Slovenian very upset, and he sat on the bench without saying a word.

However, this is not beyond the expectations of most people. As a club, players who have spent a lot of money in the transfer market are of course going to play as the main player, unless their performance will generally be on the bench. Zahovic has a conflict with Tiger and Mendeita in terms of position, so it is difficult for him to become the main player from the beginning. His situation is somewhat similar to what Tiger did after he went to Manchester United. He is both his own strength and he spent a lot of money on the club, but because of the position conflict, he can only sit on the bench at the beginning.

At that time, Tiger obtained the main lineup based on his outstanding performance and changing positions. What would happen to Zahovic?

Watching the players walk onto the stadium, Cooper rubbed his hands while sitting down, and he began to feel a little nervous.

Removing Kili, let Mendieta stand a little further, and allowing Tiger and Aimal to play at the same time are tactics he used to solve the problem of too many midfielders. Baraha must get a starting lineup. Cooper, who is used to defense, cannot tolerate the front of the penalty area. There is no strong midfielder with excellent defense. Hrad left, and Baraha is the best candidate to replace him. Although Alberda is also very good, she still lacks experience after all.

Mendeta's position is lower than his organizational ability. In fact, the loss caused by Gerard's departure is not as great as that of Farinos' departure. Last season, Farinos' role in Valencia was similar to Guardiola's role in Barcelona. He organized and launched an offense. This kind of player is actually difficult to find. Alberta is not good, and Deschamps may not do it. After all, he is a little older, and Zahovic's technical characteristics are very suitable to make up for the gap left by Farinos' departure. However, he has an average relationship with his teammates and is not the kind of player who is used to silent dedication. When playing in this position, you must have a view of the overall situation, endure loneliness, and be willing to contribute. These three characteristics, except for the view of the overall situation, Zahovic may have, he does not have the other two, at least not now.

Deschamps was a player who was both offensive and defensive when he was at Juventus. However, he was already 32 years old and has declined very well in the past two years. Otherwise, he would not have been able to play as a main player in the season after leaving Juventus. Although he still performed well in the national team, for veterans, the performance of the national team really cannot be used to measure the overall state - for veterans, it is not a problem to concentrate on playing a few key games, but if they want to perform as well as young people throughout the season, few people can do it.

When sending Deschamps, Cooper relies on his experience, and the only one who can organize in the middle is Mendeta.

Although Mendeta has always been a right forward in Valencia in recent years, his range of activities have always been very large, both on the wing and on the middle. Last season, he and Tiger, two midfield partners with the same range of activities but tacit cooperation, supported Valencia's midfield offense, allowing him to retreat and organize and defend in the middle. This is the best way Cooper could think of.

Kili didn't play, Mendeta was organized at the back, Valencia's wing offense completely disappeared - this requires Tiger and Aimal in the frontcourt to run more - Tiger has a large range of activities, and Aimal is also an attacking midfielder who can run fast. As long as they can form a tacit understanding, take turns to attack on the wing, and take turns to organize in the midfield, then Valencia's offense will play more flexible and versatile. Whether it is to put a strong and powerful Caru, a flexible running Sanchez, or an Angulo who is active and willing to contribute, it will have a good effect.

Of course, this idea is still on paper now. If you want to achieve the best results, you have to search for it in the competition.

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"Pablo, are you sure if you take turns to attack with the position?"

Before the kickoff, Tiger asked Aimal with a smile.

"I think there should be no problem. When I was in the riverbed, I often attacked with Javier." Aimal's delicate face showed a hint of confidence and replied.

Tiger nodded. Valencia's pre-season training camp has been around for almost a month. He and Aimal have cooperated a lot. Although Aimal is quite valuable, this young man has a very good personality. Tiger and such players have always got along very well, just like when he was with Scholes at Manchester United. Although he was a competitor, the two had a very good personal relationship.

To a certain extent, Aimal is also Tiger's competitor. Valencia spent a lot of money to introduce Aimal. In addition to the factors that Cooper chose, they paid a considerable price to keep Tiger this time. This time, it is Real Madrid who wants to poach Tiger, and maybe next time it will be Barcelona or even Serie A giants. Tiger renewed his contract with Valencia this time, and he is unwilling to leave. What if he wants to leave one day? If he buys Aimal, Valencia will not be too worried about the midfield attacker after Tiger leaves.

However, because Aimal's personality and Cooper have been trying to make the two appear at the same time, their relationship is not bad. On the contrary, Zahovic, who should not have a big conflict with Tiger, became tense due to his personality.

From this perspective, Zahovic is not a smart person. At least he doesn't know how to stay in a team for the first time and at least maintain a relationship with his teammates - but then again, with his ability and talent, if he is better at dealing with people, he will not be unable to play in the wealthy family.

After chatting with Aimal for a few words, Tiger looked at the other half, where Haji, who was wearing the captain's armband, was standing there.

Turkey's clubs are now in a time of vigorous development. They have introduced many older stars. This is how Galatasaray is. In addition to Haji and Popescu, there is also a famous veteran in their team, that is, the former Brazilian national team's main goalkeeper, Tafarell, who is good at saving penalty kicks. Last season, under the leadership of the three of them, they won the third place in the Champions League group stage and won the League Cup championship. In the final, it was Tafarell's outstanding performance in the penalty shootout and helped Galatasaray defeat Arsenal and win the League Cup.

Then Tiger looked at Popescu, who was a little further away in this game. He would not have too many matches with Haji, but there might be many confrontations with Popescu...

When the referee blew the whistle at the beginning of the game, Jadel passed the ball to his forward partner Yumit, who immediately passed it back, and Haji received the ball. At the same time, Tiger rushed across the center line and rushed directly to Haji.

Seeing Tiger rushing towards him, Haji was calm. He did not pass back or pass by, but directly passed to Okan on the right.

Tiger stopped - if Haji passed back, he would continue to press forward, and maybe he would force out an opportunity. However, when he passed sideways, he could not turn back and press back to the horizontal...

Seeing him stop, Haji smiled and said, "I have watched your game against the French team." After saying this, he ran to the frontcourt.

Tiger laughed in silence - Haji's words meant nothing more than that he knew that Tiger was sprinting very quickly and could make mistakes when he passed back - in fact, the French team almost made a mistake at the beginning of that game - such an experienced midfield conspirator, indeed thoughtful on the court.

Tiger did not return to defense. He was very high on the court, and defense was the responsibility of his teammates.

One advantage is that three midfielders with good defensive abilities in front of the defense line, that is, the defense line is quite thick and not easily penetrated.

Although Haji received a return pass from his teammates in the frontcourt and began to organize the attack, it was difficult to find the weaknesses in Valencia's defense line - relying on defensive counterattacks Valencia won the championship of the Champions League last season. Although half of their defense line were replaced this season, it was not easy to be broken!

In the end, Haji completed a low-quality long shot at the front of the penalty area, which was easily saved by Canisales.

Pellegrino passed the ball to Mendeta, Mendeta passed it across to Baraha and ran forward. Baraha immediately passed the ball to Mendeta as soon as possible. After Mendeta took the ball, he observed it and immediately passed it straight, passing the ball to the frontcourt!

Tiger was in the middle, and while Tiger was receiving the ball, Aimal started to insert along the right, and Karu in front also started running.

Cooper nodded slightly - two attacking midfielders, one in the middle, the other must go to the side to meet up. From now on, Tiger and Aimal played well.

On the left, Aurerio began to boldly penetrate forward - this is another reason why Cooper did not use Kili. With Amar's breakthrough on the right, the offense on the left relies more on Aurerio, a Brazilian defender with good attack power, and forward to assist!

If Keelli was on the court, the left-back would be Caboni, who had better defense, and at that time the number of midfielders would be reduced. Now, both Deschamps and Baraja can fill the left.

Tiger stopped the ball at his feet, and a horizontal spike dodged the opponent's back midfielder Suath, then raised his foot and sent a diagonal pass very close to the bottom line!

Galatasaray's left-back had just stepped forward and assisted, and Aimal could use his speed advantage.

After passing the ball, Tiger immediately began to sprint forward, while Karu began to move into the penalty area, ready to receive Aimal's pass at any time.

Karu's movement attracted the attention of Galatasaray defenders. After all, a 1.95-meter-high shot in the penalty area is a huge threat to the team's defense line - height is always useful - and Tiger's forward insertion is not something they can ignore.

After catching up with Tiger's pass, Aimal did not go down the bottom, but dunked the ball back, and then passed a diagonally back pass, directly passing the ball to Tiger who was inserted into the front of the penalty area!

In this short-distance sprint without the ball, Tiger's explosive power began to be fully demonstrated.

No Galatasaray defender could catch up with him in the run, and Popescu's blocking from the front seemed to be a step slower!

Facing the rolling ball, Tiger swung his right foot while running, then quickly exerted force, and pulled the rolling ball with a fierce kick!

"Get in!" As the ball flew off the ground, Tiger roared in his heart.

Those who don’t get too much support in the European Cup, those who lose to France are unwilling to accept their defeat... If their teammates can make themselves play so happily in the national team, what is the French team?

The ball flew off the ground and rushed directly to the upper left corner of the goal! Kalu in the penalty area quickly shrank his head, afraid that he would block the ball's route...

Tafarell flew up at the same time, trying to reach out and block the ball, but he was still a step slower. Before his hand touched the ball, the ball had already plunged into the dead corner of the goal!

The whole audience was stunned for a second, and then before Tiger opened his arms and rushed to the stands, the five thousand Valencia players gave huge cheers. Just three minutes into the game, Valencia's first offense completed a goal!

Last season, he swept across Valencia in Europe with a solid defense and a whirlwind counterattack, and there was no change because of the departure of the three absolute main players!
Chapter completed!