The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 192 Express Train from Eastern Europe

Sometimes, the Red Devils fans are really puzzled by Ferguson's sharp vision in signings, but they have to admire him with all their might.

--Inscription

The Red Devils in Ferguson's era were full of stars, and fans knew many of the meritorious players by heart. Many fans also had a very clear understanding of the historical process of the Red Devils in that era, and they knew some of the stars and characteristics by heart. For example, they would clearly know:

Before Giggs, was there anyone from the Red Devils who could be ranked as the best winger in Europe?

Before Beckham, who was the main attacker on the right side of the Red Devils? Who opened the door to the Red Devils' fast attack from the wing?

Veteran fans of the Red Devils know all these questions, and the answer is Andrei Kanchelskis - the express from Ukraine, the "right lightning" of the Red Devils.

Back then, this player seemed to have suddenly appeared from the sky.

Ferguson kept the news of the signing a secret and did not leak any information. Ferguson was impressed by this player in the 1990 World Cup, and after humbly asking the Soviet coach for some tactical advice, Ferguson suddenly realized how to explore breakthroughs in his own team. So he began to take positive actions, contacted many parties, overcame various difficulties, and finally achieved his goal.

In March 1991, the Red Devils club suddenly announced that it would buy a player from Shakhtar Donetsk, a strong Ukrainian team in the Soviet League. He was Andrey Kanchelskis.

Buy someone from the Soviet Union? Buy a Soviet player?

All the reporters were stunned.

Although many Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga clubs began to introduce Soviet stars at that time or even earlier in the summer of 1990, this was undoubtedly a fantasy for English football.

The Iron Curtain was still ringing in our ears, the Cold War was still going on, the confrontation between NATO and the Warsaw Pact was still going on, and the competition between Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union was still intensifying... How could the English league possibly introduce a Soviet player? !

At that time, many media were speculating that the Red Devils had no hope in the league and European competitions at this point, and Ferguson might plan signings for the new season in advance, or he might continue to promote young people to see the world and gain experience, but they did not expect Ferguson to suddenly buy such a special guy.

The Red Devils fans were basically confused. Ferguson kept this action a secret until it was successful. He suddenly brought in this handsome guy from the Soviet League, who had a great reputation in Soviet football and was a fast winger Kanchelskis who shocked the football world in the 1990 European Cup. There was no sign before the signing. But Ferguson soon made the Red Devils fans extremely excited, because this Soviet guy who couldn't speak a word of English and needed a translator for the most basic tactics could kill people with just his speed.

Ferguson said: "We discovered Andre from Donetsk in 1990. That team is not well-known in the Western world, but there are many good players. We were quickly attracted to Kanchelskis, thanks to our scout network, they gave us the right information. Kanchelskis has a strong body, amazing speed, excellent shooting skills, he is like a whirlwind. I think we have found the most suitable wing candidate, he is our target."

Kanchelskis joining the Red Devils was a major event in English football that year. This transfer opened the iron curtain of communication between British football and Eastern European football.

Why buy a completely unfamiliar player from an Eastern European team?

Ferguson explained, "England's clubs should take a long-term view. We are not the only ones playing football in the world. The Soviet Union? Eastern European teams? Russians? We should transcend ideology and should not be confused by those stubborn ideas. As long as we need it and it complies with the regulations, I don't think there is any more concern. For a player as good as Kanchelskis, we should be thankful that other teams have not discovered him yet."

Ferguson's vision and decision transcended regional views and the constraints of Cold War mentality.

Ferguson is a real talent scout with a discerning eye. The Manchester United, an ambitious club, has always been willing to provide a stage for those stars with extraordinary talents.

Who is Andrei Kanchelskis, the star who has always been praised by Ferguson?

Kanchelskis was born on January 1969, 1 in Kirovograd, Ukraine. He is 23 cm tall and weighs 178 kg. He has a very handsome face typical of Eastern Europeans. He has not been in the industry for long, and so has his fame. Kanchelskis was playing very well for Shakhtar Donetsk at the time and had long been famous. The right side he played on became his own exclusive road.

Kanchelskis has a vivid memory of joining the Red Devils. "I joined the Red Devils in March 1991. There was no winter transfer window at that time, but I didn't know anything about the negotiations. This may be a shocking thing for the British, and it is also true for me. I certainly understand that this transfer is very important. It is a key step in my career. I don't know why Ferguson is interested in me, nor do I know who my agent is (the team appointed someone to act as an agent at the time), and I don't know what conditions the two clubs have reached. I only know that my next job is in England and I want to play for the Red Devils club. You have to know that this is my second time in the UK and my first time in Manchester. I don't know this place at all, no one can understand what I say, and I don't have any friends. I came to a completely unfamiliar place."

Kanchelskis said: "I have to admit that I know nothing about the Red Devils and nothing about English football. I come from the Soviet Union, that's why. What impression does the Red Devils give me? My impression is that when I first entered Old Trafford, I felt that everything was huge and super huge, a bit like those giants in Moscow. What do I know about this club? Not at all. I only started to know them after they decided to buy me. I only know that they are a huge club with a super large number of fans. I am unfamiliar with anyone in the team. I only know Ferguson. He was the first Red Devils to greet me."

Kanchelskis did not expect to have to prepare for the game as soon as he joined Manchester United. He did not even have time to adapt to the team, the coach and his teammates. He said, "My start was very difficult. My debut was a 0-3 away loss to Crystal Palace. To be honest, I felt very bad."

Kanchelskis said: "I was very nervous in that game. I was not used to the atmosphere of the game and the standards of the referee. The worst thing was that I could not understand what the coach and teammates said during the game. I was just like a spectator. From the psychological to the environmental aspects, I found it very difficult to integrate into English football. Ferguson and the Red Devils' staff helped me, and the fans were also very good. They were all very enthusiastic to encourage and accept me. The Red Devils is a huge club with great fans. Old Trafford is a very famous stadium and I like it here very much. I mustered up the courage to come here, and I must thank everyone in the club and the fans for their support, especially Robson for taking care of me."

After joining the Red Devils, Kanchelskis went through a "very difficult" period of adaptation. He was at a loss in this strange country at first, and was also very lonely, but Ferguson showed him kindness, Bruce and other teammates gave him care and warmth, and Lee Sharpe took him to familiarize himself with the streets of Manchester and play everywhere.

Kanchelskis said: "I quickly felt at home and loved Manchester United. Everything here is different from what I was in the Soviet Union. I got a life assistant who quickly helped me settle my family. My teammates were very nice to me. They were curious about my life and experience at first, but football is the best language and they quickly got along well with me."

Kanchelskis impressed his teammates with his own characteristics and advantages, and soon showed his sharp attacking power. Ferguson began to bring his tactical concept of two-wing flying style into reality, making the Red Devils' attack truly sharp and fast. Kanchelskis, a fast winger from Eastern Europe, quickly integrated into the team under Ferguson's guidance, and led the Red Devils to start a right-wing fast attack style, allowing fans to start enjoying the pleasure of flying. Kanchelskis said, "I got help from the club. Ferguson helped me arrange a new translator and an assistant to help me on a daily basis. Robson and others worked hard to teach me simple tactical English words, and also actively learned some Russian football terms from me. I think the fear I had before disappeared in an instant."

Kanchelskis wore the No. 7 and No. 8 jerseys for the Red Devils, and later fixed the No. 14. He completely revitalized the right side of the Red Devils and opened up a powerful offensive corridor on the right side of the Red Devils. He impressed the Red Devils fans from the beginning. He was faster than anyone else in the Red Devils team, even Giggs. Kanchelskis' desperate speed advantage opened up the wings for the Red Devils' offense, especially providing a more powerful weapon for quick counterattacks.

"Fast as a civet cat, moving like a rabbit", this is the best description of Kanchelskis. He quickly got the nickname "Ukrainian Lightning" from the fans at the Red Devils, describing his amazing speed. Kanchelskis is very good at short-distance sprinting and long-distance acceleration. He has a record of 10 seconds for 83 meters, which can completely eat up the defenders in front of him and kill any opponent who dares to compete with him in speed. Kanchelskis is so fast that the defenders can only defend with their eyes after they can't keep up with him, except for immediately tackling or pulling fouls.

Kanchelskis is not only fast, he also has excellent footwork, can change direction at high speed, and can even combine acceleration and deceleration to pass the opponent. His opponents are all confused by his rhythm and feints, and can only watch him go away with despair in the end. Speed, dribbling, breakthrough, passing, shooting... Kanchelskis is good at everything, and is a real wing attacker with great threat.

He was like an elf on a fast horse, brushing past the guards lightly and quickly, as if dancing with the wind;

He was like a flash of lightning, suddenly appearing in front of the opponent's defender, making the opponent tremble and surrender;

Like a cheetah sprinting at top speed, he suddenly changed direction while running, accelerated while running, and made the opponent's defense fall apart;

In the Red Devils' tactical system specially deployed by Ferguson, Kanchelskis enjoys the joy of attacking, enjoys the speed and passion, enjoys the joy of surpassing and breaking through opponents, enjoys the one-on-one chance or pass assist after the ball is separated... He drives the Red Devils' offense, he increases the speed of the Red Devils, he speeds up the Red Devils' rhythm, and ultimately helps the team easily beat their opponents.

Kanchelskis is like a thunderbolt on the right side of the Red Devils, not only shocking the opponent's will, but also bringing light to the silent right side of the Red Devils. Kanchelskis can complete the advancement and breakthrough on the right side of the Red Devils alone. This ability has made him invincible and unstoppable for a long time. Kanchelskis is the weapon of the Red Devils' right attack. He relies on speed to eat up the opponent when breaking through the wing, directly dribbling forward, or directly leaving the opponent behind after the ball is separated. After breaking through the first line of defense, the Red Devils will gain a comprehensive advantage. Sometimes Kanchelskis even takes the ball all the way to the penalty area to form a single knife. His shooting is also quite good, and he has repeatedly helped the Red Devils to capture the city.

This flying Ukrainian, this roaring Eastern European express train, excited the Red Devils fans and all the English media. In particular, the media discovered a new world and began to pay attention to the exchange between English and Eastern European football.

Kanchelskis was an important milestone for Eastern European stars to land in England. Driven by his success, the Red Devils later brought in Bobowski and Vidic, Arsenal brought in Roski and Arshavin, Chelsea brought in Shevchenko, Liverpool brought in Voronin, Tottenham brought in Modric... These were all later events. These stars from Eastern Europe brought different football art, different styles, and different football brilliance to the Premier League, allowing fans to enjoy more excitement.

Since joining the Red Devils, Kanchelskis has quickly become an indispensable key link in Ferguson's fast wing attack. Ferguson has further optimized the ground pass-cut coordination and the combination of wing and center by using Kanchelskis and Lee Sharp to fly on both wings.

Kanchelskis experienced about two months of season training and became familiar with the English League One environment. He then became the main force of the Red Devils in the 1991-92 season and played a huge role in helping the Red Devils win the league championship. Although the Red Devils did not win the championship in the 91-92 season, Kanchelskis' power on the right side excited all the Red Devils fans. In the first season of the Premier League, Kanchelskis continued his excellent performance this season. He has always been very stable on the right side, and his speed advantage has always swept the Premier League without any opponents. His assists and shots are getting better and better. In this way, Kanchelskis helped the Red Devils successfully win the Premier League championship!

坎切尔斯基最高光的表现，是在1994年11月10日的曼彻斯特德比。当时状态正勇的坎切尔斯基上演了帽子戏法，帮助红魔以5比0狂胜同城对手，而他也成为1970年以后第一个在曼彻斯特德比中独进三球的球员！

Based on this game alone, Kanchelskis became a hero in the hearts of Red Devils fans.