Chapter 164: A Crack Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
McClaren was in a difficult predicament now. He could not lessen the pressure on the players, nor let these men relax. He also could not continue to provoke these players' tense mental states, for fear that someone's psychological quality would be weak. He would be in trouble, if that player broke under the pressure and ended up making a mistake in the game.
At this time, he could not tell these players "be indifferent to the outcome of the game", and he also could not say "we absolutely must not lose". It was a real headache that he could not use the halftime interval to inspire his players. In fact, McClaren knew that, in order to reduce the players' psychological burden, and to liberate them from this vicious circle of their current psychological state, there was only one way, and that was to get a ball into the Forest team goal.
As long as they scored a goal, there would be no problem. The must-win pressure, and their opponents' fierce interceptions, all that would vanish. However, this was a difficult problem for McClaren. If it was so easy to score a goal, the scores in a football match would be on par with a basketball game.
It did not seem feasible now, to try and change the situation by bringing on a substitute. What else could he expect? He began to run through the current situation in his mind, in all its possible scenarios:
A. The game currently had eleven players on the field; B. The rival manager became muddled, and made a wrong decision; C. The opposing players made a mistake, and sent the ball their way; D. A well-placed kick would be made..
To tell the truth, McClaren did not hold too much hope that his players would bring any of these to bear on the field. This was constant, not a variable. What would be the variable? Tony Twain, being dazzled by the atmosphere of the championship finals, wrongly judged the situation on the field and made inexplicable adjustments. Under Middlesbrough's continued offense, the opposing players' pressure to let go and the psychological stress became stronger, till they were overwhelmed, made mistakes, and then collapsed ...
At the thought of this, McClaren's eyes lit up. Why not? My players are under immense pressure, because they are unable to break through. Why would the opposing players not feel pressured, because they constantly need to be on guard against our offense and always think that they can't lose the ball? Look at the way they bent their backs and were out of breath when they left the field. Tony Twain's tactics are too demanding for the players. Whether it was the aspect of their physical strength or psychological quality, McClaren did not think that the Forest team could consistently execute this tactic.
In that way, as long as we have enough patience, and constantly make use of the offense to harass the Forest defense line, we'll wait until their confidence and resolve begin to waver, and then, we'll suddenly strike the fatal blow!
Then, the game will be over ...
McClaren, with a clear tactical intent in mind, was visibly relieved. He now knew what to say to these players.
"Is there anyone beginning to doubt that we can win this final? Have your confidence and fighting spirit shaken earlier than our rivals?"
Upon hearing his voice, the initially crestfallen players looked up at their manager, the young manager Steve McClaren, who had also convinced them with results, and their confidence was restored. Their spirits were further raised when they saw their boss' smiling face again.
"No, boss. No one has given up on the game!" The team captain and their goalkeeper Schwarzer stood up and said.
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As the second half began, Tang En realized that Middlesbrough had stepped up their offensive. They seemed to be going up against Nottingham Forest's "Wall Defense". McClaren did not let his team slow down and do multiple passes, but instead, he sped up the offense. High-speed passing, faster interception, fast attempt shots to the goal, all of this was performed, plus the direction of their passing went from crossing to vertical, and the forward passes significantly increased.
That was also a way to do it, but Tang En was not worried. The advantage of a wall was not in speed, but in its depth and in the stability of the formation. Immoveable, like a mountain, was the best description of this defensive tactic, allowing play to remain constant in order to deal with changing conditions of the game.
As long as they were able to hold the defense for the first ten minutes of the game's second half, the momentum would gradually fall into his control for the remaining game time. The ones who should worry about not scoring a goal was McClaren and his team.
However, ten minutes into the second half of the game, he jumped from his seat.
After Middlesbrough intercepted the ball and shot out a long pass from its own half of the field, the ball went directly behind the Forest defense line. John Thompson, who had always performed calmly, missed the ball with his head! The swift Downing got into action behind him at the same time, when his teammate had passed the ball. When Thompson missed with his head, Downing rushed past the Forest team's last line of defense!
The Middlesbrough fans in the stands jumped up from their seats, cheering with their arms raised! This was the perfect opportunity that they had waited for in the last fifty-five minutes.
Downing had just stopped the ball, and intended to seize the opportunity to break through inwards. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind in front of him, and a dark shadow flashed past. Immediately, the ball underneath his foot had disappeared, and he was suddenly knocked out. At that moment, he felt as if he had been hit by a boulder. He was writhing in pain on the ground, and the football had already flown out.
"It's a f**king foul!!" All the Middlesbrough fans were shouting.
"Damn your bloody rules!!" This was the Nottingham Forest fans' comeback.
Both managers stood up from their seats, almost at the same time, nervously waiting for the referee's decision.
The referee ran forward, pointing with the corner flag –"This is a corner! It's really an incomprehensible ruling... Look at the faces of the Middlesbrough players, and there's a loud booing in the front field of the stadium!"
Because Nottingham Forest's goal in the second half was close to the Middlesbrough fan area, this spot was suddenly drowned out by hissing. The Middlesbrough players rushed around the referee, and they could not believe their eyes! How could this ball be a corner ball?! This was clearly a collision! And it was absolutely unreasonable!
McClaren turned around in anger, and smacked the awning of the technical area. He could not understand the referee's decision any more than his own players could. Did the damn referee not see Downing flipped twice in the air? He had rolled from inside the field to past the sidelines! What's wrong with his eyes? The fuming Middlesbrough manager pointed to his own eyes with two fingers in protest.
Twain let out a long breath and sank down to his seat. Although Wood was young and had not played in many official First Team games, he was the core of this defensive tactic. His tireless running and rough defense were important deterrents to the opponents. If he were to be sent off with a red card, his defensive system would collapse. Without him running and intercepting in the wide middle, this wall would be nothing but a hollow wall. One jab, and it would come crumbling down.
The referee must have been baffled by Wood's speed, or perhaps his active performance in the first half had caused some inertia in the referee's mind. But this danger had passed, and there was a greater danger waiting for Tang En and his Forest team.
"George Wood had made a dangerous defense. Fortunately, the referee did not pursue it. From the replay, Wood did touch the ball first, but his defensive move was too big and very aggressive. McClaren had enough reason to complain – this could have been a turning point in the game, leaving the Forest team without an absolute defensive core, and at a disadvantage, both on the field and in terms of player numbers. But now, his team has only been given a corner kick, and Downing, who had been the most active so far, since the first half, is still under treatment! Listen to the booing at the Millennium Stadium!" Even with a soundproof headset, Andy Gray could barely hear himself. He had to raise his volume during his commentary, just to compete with the roar of the raving Middlesbrough fans.
As a matter of fact, Steve McClaren did not have to be so angry. Even though he did not reduce the Forest team's numbers, at least he had finally split open a crack in their thick and hard wall in fifty-five minutes. Would this be the beginning of a full-scale collapse of the Forest wall?
Perhaps the two managers, Steve McClaren and Tony Twain, would have to reconsider things carefully in their minds.