The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 272 Shumi Becomes a Punching Bag

"The Red Devils didn't lose the away game against Liverpool, but the key is that they didn't win despite a good situation. The biggest scapegoat is obviously Schmeichel."

--Inscription

On January 1994, the first day of the new year in 1, the Red Devils faced Leeds United in the Premier League. The Red Devils had a great advantage at home, but due to various luck problems, they failed to score, and the two sides ended 1-0.

On January 1994, 1, the Red Devils stepped onto Anfield Stadium to challenge the former giants Liverpool.

It was the first clear day after the snow, and the night was cold, which was a good time to travel and fight. This was the 25th round of the Premier League, the Manchester United derby, the most important game in the entire Premier League.

Ferguson's pre-war mobilization was simple, pointing directly to one goal, "We are here to take back the victory, to destroy them. These guys are now completely behind the times, and we represent vitality and progress!"

This season, Liverpool is coached by Evans. The team left by his predecessor Souness is in a new reconstruction period, and the whole club is in a precarious situation. Before this game, Liverpool ranked only 8th in the league, 21 points behind the Red Devils.

Liverpool now have only one strong desire, that is, never let the visiting Red Devils win easily and walk out of Anfield with arrogance. Because the Red Devils have won the championship last season, they want to humiliate the Red Devils at Anfield and save face.

Ferguson's starting lineup was announced early, with Schmeichel guarding the goal, Parker, Irwin, Bruce and Pallister as the four defenders, Keane and Ings as the midfielders, Giggs and Kanchelskis on the two wings, and Cantona and Hughes as the forwards.

When the fight started, the Red Devils players ignored the fans' shouts like boiling water and hot oil, and quickly entered an excellent state, quickly raising the rhythm to a very strong level. The Red Devils players were full of confidence and pride, and in terms of overall performance, the Red Devils were far superior to their opponents. The players' tacit understanding, the enthusiasm for running without the ball, the fierceness and initiative of the confrontation, the toughness of the pressure throughout the game, the sharpness of the forwards, the diversity of offensive combinations and tactical coordination were all second to none in the league, and they might have even more advantages than Liverpool.

Liverpool, playing at home, had a special advantage, that is, they had the support of the fans and the blessing of Anfield itself. Liverpool players were in high spirits and in top form, and they were well prepared before the game. Their 442 formation was almost exactly the same as the Red Devils' 442 formation, and the two teams soon collided like a torrent of steel, with fierce fighting in every area of ​​the stadium. The Red Devils players, wearing dark grey and blue, obviously had a greater overall advantage, and their sharp edge was hard to resist even for the Red Army, who were playing at home.

The Red Devils took the initiative from the start, attacking aggressively away from home and creating chances to score. In the 9th minute, Cantona intercepted the out-of-bounds ball caused by the opponent's clearance on the left and quickly launched a counterattack. He made a long pass directly to the penalty area - because the Red Devils had been attacking at this time, the central defenders were still in the opponent's penalty area, and the cross was the most correct choice. The broadcast camera was very good at capturing exquisite moments. After Cantona got the ball, his body leaned back slightly, and he swung his leg gracefully and made a rare long pass. This footwork is a bit similar to the long rubbing in table tennis, which requires precise landing points and a high arc that is erratic enough. The picture in the TV camera was extremely beautiful. This cross was indeed like being controlled by an invisible hand, as if it passed on the track, passed over the heads of Liverpool's two central defenders, and fell to the point Cantona hoped for in the penalty area like an elf. Bruce, the Red Devils' sword-carrying guard, flew up and scored a sharp header.

"Red Devils score a goal!" The commentator's voice was like hot oil adding fuel to a fire, and the small number of Red Devils fans sang and laughed.

After scoring, the Red Devils players were in high spirits and their offensive was even more vigorous. They completely suppressed their opponents. Liverpool was forced to clear the ball with a long kick in the backcourt and passed the ball randomly in the backcourt. They didn't even have the chance to attack beyond half the field. In the 16th minute, Cantona tried to attack again and made a long shot, but unfortunately it was too straight and not very threatening. Then in the 20th minute, Giggs intercepted the opponent's ball in the middle of the frontcourt, and directly used his heel to confront the opponent's defender who fell to the ground to tackle the ball. After that, he took the ball and dribbled it all the way. Giggs rushed all the way, and when he rushed to the edge of the penalty area, no other defender could catch up. When the clever Giggs saw that the opponent's goalkeeper had left the goal to intercept, he used a clever scoop shot to gently rub the ball and send it into the far corner of the net.

The Red Devils lead 2-0, such a good start!

Giggs later said, "I always remembered the humiliation I suffered here the year before last, and I encouraged myself to score a goal at Anfield that would completely silence them - I thought, there would be nothing easier to kill the opponent than scoring a goal like this." Indeed, before the game, many Liverpool fans did their best to discredit Giggs, but after witnessing Giggs' goal with their own eyes, the entire Anfield stadium fell into a brief silence.

The on-site commentator said, "Even if you are blind, you have to admit that this was a gorgeous performance, a wonderful attack, and a goal full of imagination and extraordinary skills."

The Red Devils did not intend to stop there. Keane soon created a free kick opportunity in front of the opponent's penalty area. He stole the ball before a Liverpool player could kick it away. The Liverpool player was so angry that he kicked him to the ground.

This time, it was the turn of the Red Devils' free kick expert Irwin. Irwin's precise arc free kick was sent out, and the ball turned sharply and flew to the dead corner in the upper right corner of the goal - this was beyond the saving ability of any goalkeeper. Liverpool's goalkeeper had no way to save it. 3:0! At this time, the game time was only 24 minutes.

The Red Devils defeated Anfield 24-3 in 0 minutes of the first half!

If the game ended here, the whole Red Devils team would definitely feel that this was a perfect day. Especially for Schmeichel, it would be perfect if the game ended here.

Liverpool's substitute goalkeeper James, who was sitting on the bench, was secretly thankful that the one standing in front of the goal was not him.

Anfield seemed to be in dead silence. The Red Devils fans were singing, but the Liverpool fans were completely confused.

Liverpool just surrendered? They were trampled and slaughtered by their mortal enemy at Anfield?

Liverpool fans would never agree to this. The insulted Anfield Stadium erupted with even stronger voices. Those Red Army fans would never want to see their team humiliated like this. The song "You'll Never Walk Alone" resounded throughout the stadium, and the shouts of "Fight, fight, fight!" became more and more intense.

Liverpool, knowing their shame, began to fight back, hoping to score a goal as soon as possible to reverse the unfavorable situation.

The Red Devils were still enjoying a 24-goal lead after 3 minutes, but their players started to become careless, especially goalkeeper Schmeichel, who was too relaxed.

Liverpool's counterattack started with a long shot, and this originally inefficient attack quickly achieved results. In the 26th minute, just one minute after the Red Devils fans celebrated 3:0, Liverpool's attempt to penetrate the Red Devils' penalty area with a short pass failed, and the ball was cleared out of the penalty area by the Red Devils' defender. At this time, Liverpool's Clough shot hard in an area 40 yards away from the Red Devils' goal, and the ball whizzed towards the Red Devils' goal. This shot was very sudden, but the speed of the shot was not fast, and the power was not strong, but the angle was tricky enough. According to the normal level, Schmeichel had more than 1 second to deal with it from the shot to the front of the goal. He had enough time to make the right reaction, and he should have made the right save to save the ball.

Just jump out, and the Red Devils' penalty area will be safe. At this time, Liverpool's players have left the Red Devils' penalty area. They have already planned to return to the midfield defense and then look for the next attacking opportunity.

Unfortunately, Schmeichel did not react correctly. His save was extremely slow. Liverpool's shot had already whizzed into the goal, and his flying figure became the background board.

Liverpool 1-3 Red Devils, Clough scored a goal!

This seemingly impossible goal inspired the fighting spirit of the Liverpool players. It turned out that the Red Devils could also make low-level mistakes. Even a superstar like Schmeichel could make mistakes, and such low-level mistakes.

Before the end of the first half, Liverpool continued to attack in the frontcourt. They played very chaotically and made a series of low-level mistakes, but the ball was transferred to the front of the Red Devils' penalty area. This was a speechless attack and defense. The Liverpool striker passed the ball to the Red Devils player while dribbling, and the Red Devils' midfielders and defenders were briefly confused. In the 38th minute, Liverpool tried a two-on-one pass in the frontcourt, but the passing line was more like passing to the Red Devils players rather than to the empty space. At this time, the ball appeared near the Red Devils' penalty area. The Red Devils' defensive players cut off the line. The next step was to intercept the ball and clear it directly, but Keane's kick was obviously incorrect. Coupled with the careless defense of other Red Devils players, this offensive developed strangely into the Red Devils' penalty area. By the time the Red Devils' defenders found that there was danger in their own penalty area, it was too late. Keane risked his life to chase back, but Clough, who was advancing in another direction, was obviously faster. He shot directly from the edge of the penalty area before the Red Devils' defense was in place.

Still a long shot, still Clough, this time Schmeichel was again helpless, his reaction was again a beat slow.

Liverpool 2-3 Red Devils.

At this point, the Red Devils players were still alert. The Red Devils immediately regrouped and created opportunities in the frontcourt. Giggs and Cantona both had great chances in the penalty area, but they didn't seize them. Giggs was the most regrettable, he didn't even hit the empty goal with a chance to make up for the 6-yard shot in front of the goal!

Back in the locker room, an enraged Ferguson pointed the hair dryer at Schmeichel, "Are you a piece of rubbish?! You sent two long shots into the goal, is this a normal performance for a goalkeeper?!"

"Damn it, this is Anfield! Anfield, didn't you hear their insults? Is there water in your head, Schumi! What the hell are you thinking about? You are getting worse day by day. This half is just rubbish!"

Ferguson yelled at Schmeichel, his saliva spraying on the Dane's face.

"You can't blame me entirely. How could that kind of shot be predicted? Do you think I wanted to lose?!" Schmeichel defended himself reluctantly.

"Bang!" Ferguson threw a kettle to the ground, splashing water all over the ground. Schmeichel dared not say a word anymore.

Ferguson went crazy and even wanted to eat the Dane. Kidd and others had a hard time pulling Ferguson away. Before leaving, Ferguson yelled angrily, "You have no chance in the second half! You stupid Dane! Your days with the Red Devils are over!"

"Who's afraid of who?" Schmeichel muttered, feeling extremely depressed.

At halftime, Schmeichel was sulking alone. Bruce came over and said, "Get ready to play, Schmeichel, you bitch! The boss just told you to play, to prove to everyone whether you are worthy of this Red Devils jersey!"

Schmeichel continued to guard the goal for the Red Devils in the second half. When the Red Devils team stepped onto the turf, Ferguson's furious roar was still in their ears, "We must crush them!"

After the second half began, the Red Devils seemed to be cursed. Although the players still worked very hard and created many opportunities, they just couldn't score any goals. Giggs once again wasted a single-handed opportunity - his powerful shot was decisively saved by the Liverpool goalkeeper. Liverpool was inspired by the two goals in the first half and attacked more vigorously. The Red Devils players gradually showed signs of unstable mentality, and there was no consensus on offense and defense. The formation was broken up again and again, and the situation fell into a passive position.

Under unfavorable circumstances, Schmeichel finally began to wake up. He bravely saved many of Liverpool's tricky shots and tried to support the Red Devils' shaky defense.

With 11 minutes left in the game, the Red Devils defense made another mistake. Redknapp made an accurate pass from the left bottom line. Rodok jumped high in the penalty area and headed the ball to equalize the score for Liverpool. 3:3, Liverpool accomplished the impossible!

The thunderous singing of "You'll Never Walk Alone" resounded throughout the stadium, and Liverpool fans went crazy.