Lisbon, in front of the computer in the living room of the suite at Four Seasons Hotel Lisbon.
George Li wore headphones, turned on the camera, and continued talking to several people in the video.
"In different situations and facing different ball holders, I think different methods should be used to press high in the frontcourt."
"Please tell me more specifically." "Can you give an example?" Several other people listened more seriously and began to ask questions.
"Let's take the game just now as an example. For example, I was in Greece. When I played against Portugal, when the ball was in the opponent's backcourt, the ball was at the feet of the opponent's center back or other players who were not very good at playing the ball. Then my high-post press must be a man-to-man press, with one or two players pressing the ball holder, while other members of our team press the nearby receivers to pose a threat."
He took a sip of water and continued.
"Greece's first goal was another way. They formed a kind of pressure on the ball. I used two or even three people to press you with the ball. Because you are pushing forward. If a mistake is made, there will be a lot of space around you."
"Yes, Paulo Ferreira kept retreating after losing the ball. The two central defenders did not attack. The other midfielders started to advance forward. There was a complete vacuum in front of the penalty area." Chris Card Spa added.
"There is another way. For players like Luis Figo and Rui Costa, I will also press them when they don't have the ball. I will constantly appear between them and the ball holder. I can't let them Their core gets the ball easily." The third method of high-post pressing mentioned by George Li.
"Yes, yes." Brian Kidd took over, "No wonder you just said that the frontcourt, central midfielder, and full-back need to all participate in the frontcourt pressure. Obviously, the two forwards alone can completely It’s not enough, this is completely a system, a very complete system.”
Cruyff Jr. also expressed his opinion: "Sometimes, I think our central defenders need to participate in the pressure in the frontcourt. As long as it is possible to regain the ball in the frontcourt, then we don't need to The fighting got into our half."
"Total Football?" Kasper said the name "Total Football".
"Based on what George said before, there are some similarities between frontcourt pressure and total offense, but they are also different in other ways."
Cruyff Jr. has a deeper understanding of "Total Attack and Total Defense". After all, his father Johan Cruyff is considered to be the representative of "Total Attack and Total Defense", the best space creator, and the Dutch national The team's most critical factor in bringing all players together on the court.
"We can try what Jordi just proposed, but the midfielder and the two central defenders are our last barrier."
"And the goalkeeper, you have been pressing and pressing in the opposite half all day long. I think it is not too much to let our goalkeeper stand outside the penalty area." Peter Schmeichel joked.
"Hahaha~" Everyone laughed.
"Oh, Peter, you reminded me that I think it is necessary for the goalkeeper to participate in our tactical thinking."
"Really?" George Li's words made Schmeichel a little confused.
^^^
"When we were conducting the ball in our own half, Peter reminded me that we can let the goalkeeper join in, so that if we encounter the opponent's frontcourt press, we will have an extra point for the ball."
George Li took out the tactical board he bought in the Netherlands and started painting non-stop. Although it was not very clear in the video, everyone here could understand what he wanted to express. Everyone can see that Understanding, he began to continue.
"The goalkeeper, plus the retreating midfielder, are three central defenders, plus two full-backs. I encourage them to keep passing and pulling as they advance..."
Chris Casper interrupted George Lee.
"Can we just use a wide lateral movement in the backcourt to create space?"
"Okay, this way our vertical space on the wing can be stretched out at once."
"In this way, the two full-backs have a very heavy task. They not only have to press in the frontcourt, but also move and run in a wide range of backcourts."
"Not only that, during the offense I need our wingers to cut more inside to create two wing corridors for the two full-backs." Lee George has high demands on the team's two full-backs.
"Wow~"
"If conditions permit, when the winger is close to the baseline, I even want the full-back to radiate to the center." Li George continued to add.
Jordi Cruyff finally understood why George had always emphasized the central combination of Alan Smith, Edgar Davis, and Thomas Gravesen. Because in Li's tactical concept, the focus of the offense is the two wings, and the midfielder needs to play the role of a meat grinder, with three tough guys who are strong, aggressive, and aggressive in tackling.
"Can our current full-backs meet our tactical needs?" Cruyff Jr. asked.
"On the right, we have Danny Mills and Gary Kelly, which I think is enough. Moreover, Danny can also appear at the center back position, and Gary can also play as a right midfielder."
"How is Wes Brown's transfer going?" Brian Kidd asked about his former disciple.
"The old man refused to sell it and even scolded me," Li said.
"If there are only two, it will look weak. Besides, Gary is not too young and has a lot of injuries."
"Otherwise, let's try to let James play as a right back?"
The James they are talking about is actually the team's winger James Milner.
"Okay, he's a winger."
"Maybe it can be done. He has speed, body, and a good overall view. It fully meets George's requirements for a full-back." Kasper mentioned.
"Chris, during the training camp, you started asking Milner to try playing as a full-back, and let him try both wings."
"Okay, are we lacking on the left side too?"
"That's not the case, although Ian's pace is a big issue, but his crosses and set-pieces are exactly what we need."
Ian Hart, an Irish left-back born in 1977, came from the Leeds youth training. He often uses his left foot to play unforgettable set-pieces, and is also the team's first penalty kicker. In the 2001-02 season, Hart scored 11 goals in all competitions, which is quite rare for a defender. In the away game against Arsenal in the 2002-03 season, he scored with a direct free kick from 25 meters away to help the team win an upset 3-2 and help Leeds United successfully avoid relegation.
"Where's the replacement? Have you found a suitable one?"
"I asked Gray to contact the transfer department before and tried to contact Wigan's Leighton Baines. Wigan offered 1.5 million pounds and I agreed."
"You're less than 20 years old, isn't 1.5 million a bit expensive?" Kidd doesn't seem to be very optimistic about this young left-back from Wigan.
"Brian, we are not short of money now. If Ashley Cole is willing, George is willing to offer 10 million, but the Frenchman at Arsenal will not agree. Do you think it is still when you were the head coach at Leeds? , spend some money buckle swish... Hey, Brian, I was wrong, don't hit me..." Colin McGee just made a joke on Brian Kidd, his A hand appeared in the video, pretending to hit him.
"You bastards, can you respect your seniors?" Kidd was dissatisfied with being teased by several former disciples today.
George Li quickly brought the topic back to the discussion of the team's lineup.
"Ian Hart and Leighton Baines will form our daily rotation at left back. Dominic Mateo can play at left back if needed, and Juris Matheson may be transferred next. He can also play at left back."
"Mateo is not leaving?" Kidd knew that due to the team's poor record last season, team captain Dominic Mateo's contract renewal work had stalled.
"Signed for another year."
"So, if the results next season are not good, he will still leave, right."
"Let's make two preparations. Mateo and Albuchesson will still be the starters. During the season, we will gradually bring Matteison to the main team. This way, losing Mateo will not have much impact after the season is over."
"Okay, let's talk about the frontcourt. You have so many wingers, can't you buy a serious center?" Kidd finally asked, "The only forward, Alan Smith, you still want to let him return." Withdraw. In the next game, are you prepared to focus on which forward?"
"Let me think about it, England, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden... Brian, do you have any recommendations for Iceland forwards?" George Li asked knowingly.
"Damn it, Iceland didn't come, there's no Iceland in this European Cup."
Kidd was already driven crazy by his former disciples. He regretted that he had trained them too easily when he was in the youth team.
