Approaching October, the nights in Eindhoven were a bit chilly.

Head coach Cocu, wearing a black trench coat, occasionally ran his fingers through his hair.

In his youth, he was capable of playing in every position except goalkeeper, and he excelled at a top-tier level in each.

In the 1998 World Cup, with Dutch players suffering injuries in rotation, Cocu switched between winger, defensive midfielder, forward, and fullback positions throughout the tournament.

In his first season with Barcelona, as a defensive midfielder, he even outscored several of the team's main attacking players... including Figo.

Defense?

The best defense is a good offense.

The Eindhoven players on the field steadfastly carried out his football philosophy.

There was no thought of deliberately defending to narrow the goal difference in order to eliminate Barcelona, just to qualify.

Eindhoven was in a much better position to qualify than Barcelona.

At least they hadn't conceded six net goals.

...

Eindhoven launched a fierce attack on the right flank from the start.

It wasn't a mindless advance.

Cocu wasn't a dud; he was, after all, a loyal believer in La Masia's football philosophy.

He was better at planning the team's overall direction of attack.

This direction of attack often had nothing to do with the opponent's weak side or the players' attacking characteristics.

So, what was the ultimate intention of the planning?

It was to tease the opponent's defensive resources!

In the first round of the Champions League, Monaco's midfield operation was disrupted by Eindhoven in this way! In the end, the two sides drew.

"Smooth!"

"Tacit understanding!"

"An unstoppable right-wing advance!"

"Luuk de Jong!"

"The frustrated Dutch talent regained his killer instinct last season!"

"Although he is a forward! We see that he likes to drop back and establish close connections with the midfielders!"

"Can Eindhoven replicate their suppression of Arsenal from back then?"

"Beautiful series of give-and-go passes."

"Even facing the red-hot Gunners, the Eredivisie champion is not afraid..."

Before the commentator could finish speaking,

Li Kang, who had switched to the right center midfield, easily intercepted the ball.

Eindhoven's formation stalled, and they quickly organized a counter-press!

There's an art to counter-pressing too.

The whole world is also studying Arsenal's number 10:

If he appears on the right half of the field, how do you counter-press?

It's simple.

Even with a golden left foot, his best solution for passing the ball on the right half of the field... still requires him to complete a back-to-goal or side-on action in order to directly create opportunities and launch a counter-attack with his left foot.

What if he uses his right foot?

A left-footed player... using his right foot on the right half of the field makes his passing tendencies too simple.

This is a problem that many midfielders can't avoid.

Right-footed players receiving the ball on the left half of the field.

Left-footed players receiving the ball on the right half of the field.

The two biggest influences are the speed of passing and counter-pressing.

Cazorla could do it because he had the most balanced feet.

Modrić could do it because he had an unparalleled outside-of-the-foot technique.

...

The Eindhoven players were preparing to seize the opportunity when Li Kang made a back-to-goal or side-on movement.

Not dirty.

The real old-fashioned giants of the Eredivisie are Ajax and Feyenoord. If Eindhoven, sitting in third place and hoping for second, wants to catch up, it must be reflected not only in terms of honor but also in its style of play.

*Thwack.*

Li Kang's right foot struck the bottom of the ball.

Right foot?

Cocu didn't panic at all; everything was under his control.

Eindhoven's midfielders and forwards subconsciously moved their pressing circle.

But they found that the trajectory of the ball in the air was a little off.

"A long diagonal pass!"

"Li Kang's right foot... the speed of the pass is also so terrifying!"

"Which is his preferred foot?"

"A long diagonal pass!"

"Directly created an attack!"

Eindhoven's line was pressed very high.

After receiving the pass, Sanchez sprinted forward with all his might.

How could two Eredivisie center-backs stop him?

Boos erupted at the Philips Stadion.

Eindhoven fans could only watch helplessly as those thick, dark legs trampled on their empty half of the field.

Zoet came out.

The young Dutch goalkeeper believed that he would definitely become famous all over the world in the future.

Maybe tonight.

*Thwack!*

Sanchez didn't give him a chance.

He lightly flicked the ball with the instep of his foot.

The ball arced through the air, over Zoet's head, and fell lightly towards Eindhoven's goal!

The Dutch goalkeeper hurriedly turned around and rushed towards the goal line, crawling and rolling... but he couldn't stop the goal from happening.

0:1!!!

"Eindhoven paid a painful price for their impulsiveness!"

"Li Kang's performance makes Arsenal's qualification situation even less suspenseful."

"Facing a multi-player encirclement, he once again used an accurate long pass to create a sharp attack!"

"Sanchez didn't waste this good opportunity!"

Sanchez excitedly kicked the corner flag and took off his jersey, pounding his chest wildly.

The championship obsession that had gradually blackened in his heart, which many famous psychologists couldn't cure, had been "cured" by Li Kang this season.

The last time Arsenal won the Premier League was in 2004.

What about the Champions League title?

Never.

....

On the sidelines.

Cocu looked puzzled.

It's not uncommon to see forwards who are equally skilled with both feet and can use either foot.

But a midfielder who can also send out such a wide range of accurate long passes with his weaker foot... is too rare.

"Boss, there's nothing wrong with our attacking defense. Just strengthen the intensity of the counter-pressing..."

The assistant coach next to him looked a little anxious.

He was afraid.

If they were slaughtered in this game... then their chances of playing in the Europa League would become even slimmer.

"Calm down."

"Observe a little longer."

Cocu walked back to the coaching bench, picked up paper and pen... and began to think as he wrote and drew.

On the other side.

The players on the bench stood up and cheered.

Bould exclaimed, "Li is still improving? I thought he was already at his peak!"

"His right foot wasn't bad to begin with, it's just that his left foot's passing and control skills are even more exquisite."

"God, how far can he grow in a few more years?"

"Boss, I suggest increasing investment in signings during the winter window!"

Wenger smiled and nodded: "I didn't expect the goal to come so easily."

...

There were no twists and turns in the game.

Eindhoven's meticulous planning for the direction of attack... all turned into bubbles.

After a period of contemplation, Cocu didn't have time to think of a countermeasure.

He had too few cards to play, and there was little room for adjustment.

Eindhoven didn't have Monaco's group of super prodigies.

They could only fight Arsenal head-on, with bayonets drawn.

His coat was blown loudly by the wind, and he waved his hand, announcing the most direct order: attack!

They couldn't attack.

Li Kang steadily controlled the rhythm of the game, gradually helping Arsenal to control the advantage on the field.

The situation of needle against awl gradually disappeared.

Eindhoven was being rubbed frantically in their own penalty area.

How could they attack?

It was also difficult to seize counter-attack opportunities.

The Eredivisie champion wasn't good at playing low-block defense, let alone facing Arsenal's transition attacks?

"This Arsenal's dominance is too terrifying!"

"Li Kang's presence has solved many problems in the team's tactical framework."

"Wenger, who spends money like water, is beaming on the sidelines."

"The Tulip champion can probably feel the feelings of the mid-to-lower-level teams in the Eredivisie at this moment."

"The Champions League is like this. Even if you are unstoppable on your own territory... you still have to undergo the style baptism of strong teams from different leagues."

.....

42nd minute of the match.

Li Kang got rid of the defense and sent an accurate lob pass from the left side.

Giroud's body shook.

Like a large pillar, he opened up the delicate center of Eindhoven's penalty area!

He withstood the young Dutch center-back.

And slammed his head forward.

Eindhoven's goal was undoubtedly breached!

0:2!!!

Giroud patted his forehead and excitedly ran back to Li Kang, slapping hands and hugging!

"The French striker finally scored! He used this fierce header to announce to the audience that he is not a dud!"

"Arsenal's night of revenge!"

"Will it turn into a massacre?"

......

On the sidelines.

Wenger was overwhelmed with excitement.

He subconsciously touched the zipper of his jacket.

Xhaka looked very anxious and hurriedly rushed out of the bench to help the head coach zip up his zipper.

Bould said excitedly: "Boss, I suggest taking Li off..."

Wenger hesitated for a moment and shook his head: "The intensity of the game is not high, Li is playing very easily, and the opposing players' defensive actions are not too big."

He was very conflicted.

He was afraid that Li would be injured, but he also wanted Li to pad his stats...

Padding stats in low-intensity games is not a bad thing.

It has a supporting effect on the commercial packaging of individual players and the club.

Many famous coaches are also good at this.

The coaching staff did not participate in the goal celebration.

They huddled together, constantly discussing in low voices, gesticulating on a small tactical board, and quietly preparing the tactical analysis for the weekend's Premier League match.

On the other side.

Cocu's hair was disheveled, and he was frantically gesturing to the players on the field.

He wished he was 10 years younger... and could personally take the field.

The Eindhoven coach valued face very much, and he looked down on any "lumbering" behavior, which led to the club's overall style of play being very clean.

This cleanliness did not translate into Champions League rankings.

....

58th minute of the match!

Eindhoven finally had a chance to counter-attack.

After resolving the danger, Zoet quickly threw the ball forward.

Van Ginkel sprinted and controlled the ball before Maguire...

He was not an unknown person.

At the age of 17, he was the Eredivisie Best Newcomer and a midfield prodigy attracting the attention of European giants.

Unfortunately, his career was too bumpy.

When he joined Chelsea, he was called "Lampard's successor". At the beginning of the new season... he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. After recovering from his injury nine months later... his strength was far inferior to before.

He was subsequently loaned to several giants, but did not get many opportunities to perform.

Life won't always be so unlucky.

After joining Eindhoven in the winter window last season, he scored 10 goals in 16 games, ultimately helping the team overtake Ajax in the last round of the league to win the Eredivisie title.

...

Van Ginkel wanted to prove himself in the Champions League.

A burst of speed...

Didn't burst through.

The tall and mighty Maguire霸道ly intercepted the ball.

Eindhoven's counter-attacking formation... suddenly stalled.

*Thump!*

The ball left the Arsenal center-back's right foot.

Spinning forward!

Walcott, who had been lurking for a long time, suddenly started!

The fastest man in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, Maguire's long pass didn't perform steadily... the ball ultimately flew out of bounds.

.....

The second round of the Champions League completely lost its suspense.

Arsenal completely crushed Eindhoven on both ends of the attack and defense.

No need to consider changes in the defensive focus of the formation.

Pure suppression and siege.

They rubbed the Tulip champion hard on the ground.

94th minute of the match, in injury time.

Li Kang moved forward to the arc of the penalty area... Cazorla set up the cannon.

*Thump!*

A world-class curler!

Once again, Eindhoven's goal was blasted open!

0:4!!!

"Beautiful!"

"This ball went in!"

"A world-class curler."

"At this time, the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match!"

"Congratulations to Arsenal!"

"They continued their winning streak in multiple competitions!"

"We seem to see the invincible Gunners of the early twenty-first century!"

"The qualification situation is very clear!"

"Eindhoven doesn't have to be sad either; they are not the club at the bottom of the group!"

"How far can Arsenal go in this season's Champions League journey? Let's wait and see!"

....

Livestream.

Barrages of comments flew across the screen.

-【Did Arsenal deliberately hold back? Not even giving Barcelona a chance in the Europa League?】

-【It's impossible to fix the game; it's that Eindhoven is more tenacious. They are not good at playing low-block defense because their transition attacks are not well connected, which doesn't mean that their defense is a sieve.】

-【This score is also a good reflection of Arsenal's overall state.】

-【Don't say it. Arsenal's Champions League group stage is fierce every season... but once they get into the round of 16...】

-【If Li Mingdeng and Arsenal don't win the Champions League this season, I'll eat sh*t!】

-【It's normal. Arsenal hasn't encountered a truly evenly matched opponent yet. Not to mention the Champions League knockout stage, the remaining strong teams in the Premier League: Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City... haven't met yet.】

-【They're playing the Iron Hammers this weekend, they must peel off a layer of Arsenal's skin... next week's London derby will be against arch-rivals Tottenham!】

-【These next two rounds will be difficult, they are both tough battles, and Arsenal's main lineup will definitely avoid injuries.】

....

Philips Stadion.

Security personnel dispersed the spectators in the stands on all sides.

Eindhoven is a gentle and tranquil city.

The fans here are not. The residents of the southern Netherlands are known for being combative.

Scattered debris was thrown onto the field.

Boos filled the sky.

Cocu looked helpless, picked up a banana from the ground, peeled it, and walked into the player tunnel.

Li Kang and the referee cast a shadow together, and then he was taken back to the locker room by the team doctor and assistant coach.

......

Post-match press conference.

Media reporters eagerly asked questions.

Wenger seemed to be in a good mood and did not mention the grudges of the past, after all, victory can wash away all negative emotions.

"There is no secret to winning."

"Tactical changes?"

"Arsenal's tactics have not undergone any changes; it is Li who has raised the team's ceiling."

On the other side.

Cocu spoke eloquently, trying to explain the reasons for the loss in this game:

"There is nothing wrong with the players' performance; it is the responsibility of me and the coaching staff."

"Tonight is a Champions League match day, not an Eredivisie match day."

"Eindhoven is in a group of death, and every opponent is very strong."

"Especially when facing Arsenal, our situation is much better than Barcelona's. Didn't Manchester United also get slaughtered a few days ago?"

"Eindhoven did not give up attacking until the last moment of the game."

"No regrets about attacking."

"Eindhoven can be defeated, but it will not be knocked down."

"We will get a victory at the Camp Nou!"

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue!

Which media outlet doesn't like a coach who likes to benchmark other teams after losing?

They could think of catchy headlines in the blink of an eye.

《Barcelona Legend: We Will Bloodbath the Camp Nou.》