Valdebebas training base in Madrid, Spain.

In the tactical conference room on the second floor, the core coaching team of the first team was watching the video of the Manchester derby in the Champions League quarter-finals knockout match with the scout team with a concentration and two rounds.

Everyone has forgotten that this is the first time they have watched these two videos. The only thing they remember is the process of the game. Many of them may even remember to whistle the referee in the minute and to take out the cards in the minute, including the team's head coach Mourinho.

The media and fans outside generally had illusions about the Portuguese head coach, thinking that he was very rebellious and arrogant, so he gave him a nickname of madman, but in fact, everyone who worked with him knew that he was a very diligent and meticulous person who considered problems very carefully.

He even has an extremely clear understanding of himself and his opponent.

It seems that he is very clear that with Real Madrid's current lineup, it is difficult to fight Barcelona and Manchester City head-on, and that is purely a search for death, so his strategy when encountering these two teams is to guard against each other.

The winter break was spent heavily to introduce Felipe Melo and Moutinho, which was also for this purpose.

Now the real test has come.

Real Madrid broke the embarrassment of the Champions League Sixteen Ron who had plagued the team for many years, led the team to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, and defeated the Donetsk miners from Ukraine in two rounds in the quarterfinals, allowing the Galaxy battleship to advance to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time after years of separation.

Not only that, Mourinho also led the team to a breakthrough and reached the final in the Copa del Rey of Spain.

In the next half month, Real Madrid will usher in the matchup between the King's Cup final and Barcelona, ​​as well as the two rounds of the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City. This is the most important top-level task for Real Madrid and Mourinho's biggest test this season.

Because, in the first half of the season, Mourinho was humiliated by Manchester City and Barcelona in the Champions League group stage and the Century Derby, and suffered an unprecedented humiliating defeat, which even shook Mourinho's position as coach.

Although the management repeatedly reiterated his trust in Mourinho later, in fact, he still had to face a very embarrassing situation, that is, he had to give decent results after the season.

Especially when it comes to Barcelona and Manchester City again.

Because of this, after learning that Manchester City beat Manchester United 7-0 away at Old Trafford Stadium, Real Madrid was shocked, and everyone felt the threat from Gao Han.

Compared with Manchester City, he seems more confident in facing Barcelona.

"Whether it is the King's Cup final or the Champions League semi-final, in fact, we have no choice at all."

After watching the game video again, Mourinho said with a helpless tone and a wry smile.

We have to rely on our strength to speak on the football field, and Real Madrid's current lineup configuration has not yet reached the level of competing with Manchester City and Barcelona, ​​not to mention that Manchester City still has Gao Han who has been unbeaten for many years.

"However, the problems that Barcelona has encountered over the years have not been well solved."

Mourinho left his seat, stood up, and paced among his colleagues.

"In order to ensure the team's control and the tacit understanding of passing and receiving, Guardiola's priority in the lineup is Barcelona's youth training division. The advantage of this is that the players cooperate tacitly, pass and receive well, and have excellent ball control ability, but the disadvantages are also obvious."

"That is, they lack the ability to attack in the midfield and frontcourt. In the face of the opponent's tight defensive formation, they lack effective means of breaking the situation, especially on both sides, Pedro and Messi took the inward cutting route, so they can only rely on Alves on the right."

"When defending a team like Barcelona, ​​we often only need to give up the ball, grasp the defense, keep the three lines tight, focus on the two points of Ibrahimovic and Messi, beware of Alves' back-spinning attack, which will basically block most of Barcelona's attack."

Mourinho talked freely, but these are no secrets, but basically a general consensus.

Knowing how to defend Barcelona is obviously different from whether you can defend Barcelona.

At least, for many teams, it is already a difficult task to freeze two superstars, Messi and Ibrahimovic.

But Real Madrid has such strength.

Mourinho is one of the best head coaches in Europe. With his training, this defense line of Aveloa, Albiol, Bruno Alves and Kolarov has become the most stable defense line in La Liga, especially after introducing Felipe Melo and Moutinho.

The change to play as a three-middle midfielder has qualitatively improved Real Madrid's defensive ability when facing strong teams.

"But the high-altitude Manchester City is completely different from Barcelona. The Blue Moon is even more terrifying and more difficult to deal with." Mourinho said worriedly.

"Looking at the entire Europe, only Gao Han can have such power and prestige, which can allow the team to give him a transfer budget of hundreds of millions of euros to introduce such a group of outstanding stars with complementary characteristics."

Everyone nodded repeatedly when they heard this, which was also recognized by everyone.

Although Manchester City is rich and powerful, it is simply unimaginable that it would take out several hundred million euros to sign up at once and hand it over to one person. Investors are not fools, how could they be so hasty?

But only Gao Han has such influence that can make investors trust and feel at ease with him.

At least, in the past decade, his iron grades have been his most powerful proof.

"It's very similar to Barcelona. David Silva, Modric and Xavi Alonso, as well as Xavi Martinez on the backline, are all guarantees of Manchester City's control, so their passing ability on the court is very good."

"But in the frontcourt, Benzema is a very excellent center with tactical execution. Cristiano Ronaldo cuts in from the left and attacks, Sanchez breaks more and bottoms on the right, and a Kaka with super attacking ability in the back, making Manchester City fill Barcelona's shortcomings with Barcelona's advantage."

"Many people often focus on superstars when talking about Manchester City, but in fact, we forgot that Sanchez was introduced by Gao Han. How many times have they been facing the opponent's strict defense in the past two years at Manchester City? It was the Chilean winger who tore the defense from the right and created a threat?"

"In Manchester City's midfield and frontcourt offensive system, everyone is crucial and indispensable. This is the most perfect and unsolvable offensive combination in European football in the past two years."

The entire coaching staff was surprised to hear it, and he didn't expect Mourinho to give such a high evaluation of Gao Han Manchester City.

You know, he has ridiculed Gao Han a lot outside.

Perhaps, as many people say, it is just a miàn ju that madmen have in front of the media and fans.

"Look at the two Manchester derby games in the semi-finals, Ferguson is a master of tactics. He has made enough preparations in targeted tactics, but he still failed to defend the second half in the first round. Even if Evans' red card in the second round, they would still be a complete defeat."

When he said this, Mourinho sighed heavily, "Faced with such a Manchester City, anyone will be helpless."

The coaching staff of Real Madrid looked at each other, but they did not expect that Mourinho, who is usually arrogant and always looks like he is sure to win, would say this now.

Is he going to give up these two games?

Only assistant coach Faria, who is familiar with and understands Mourinho, knows that giving up is never Mourinho's option, and it will never be.

Sure enough, after Mourinho complained, he turned around and supported his hands on the table, staring directly at the assistants in front of him, with an extremely serious expression.

"Everyone, the next half month will be not only a test for me and everyone, but also a rare experience. Perhaps many people will never have such an experience and experience in their lifetime."

Mourinho said it very quickly, but every word was bitten very clearly.

"We will face two of the most unsolvable teams in Europe and even the world football world. Facing them, we can't even think of any other way to resist except defense."

"I don't want to increase the ambition of the opponent and destroy our prestige, but to tell everyone a very cruel fact. Facing Barcelona and Manchester City, we only have to defend, and it may even be extremely difficult to defend, especially Manchester City, so each of us must be fully prepared."

Everyone was also aware of the difficulty of these three games.

Whether it is Barcelona or Manchester City, their overall strength is above Real Madrid. Coupled with the skills and tactics and the bonus of the head coach, they have no other choice.

Perhaps, this is unacceptable, but it is true.

A fact that even Mourinho is as arrogant as he has to accept!

"In the next period of time, my requirements for everyone are very simple. We must gather all our resources and energy, devote ourselves to the preparations for these three games, and take them out to play in the Champions League final. Only in this way can we have a glimmer of hope."

"At the same time, I also need everyone present, everyone on the team, and every player, to fully and unconditionally carry out my arrangements and complete the tasks I assigned."

Everyone present also felt Mourinho's determination.

In fact, the Portuguese can already make a contribution this season, but he obviously puts higher demands on himself because he wants to prove his ability as a top European coach.

Therefore, facing Manchester City and Barcelona, ​​Gao Han and Guardiola, he is still unwilling to give up, and he still longs to win every game.

This has nothing to do with the victory or defeat of the game or the honor and disgrace of the championship. It is purely his dignity as a professional head coach!

Being able to join Mourinho's core coaching staff and be able to serve in Real Madrid's first team, everyone can understand Mourinho's mood and understand his intentions, because they are the same.

They all want to prove that they are worthy of the job they currently have by winning the competition.

What's more, as a professional coach, being able to compete with top coaches like Gao Han and Mourinho, as long as you do your best, even if you really lose to them in the end, it will definitely be a huge benefit.

Especially high and cold.

Therefore, Mourinho's appeal soon received the support and recognition from all the colleagues present.

The Portuguese completely faded away the helplessness he had just now and became energetic again.

He had made up his mind to fight Gao Han and Guardiola.

Even if you lose, you must let your opponent lose his skin.
Chapter completed!