Chapter 118: Counterattack

When United replaced an attacker and a centre-back, recovering the defence and waiting for an opportunity to counter-attack, it was difficult for Chelsea to pose any threat to the United goal for a while. （）

Because United are now playing one man less, it makes sense for them to do so.

Chelsea had also intended to use their numerical advantage to step up their attack and try to extend the lead before half-time. But United opted to shrink their defence. When Chris Smalling came on the pitch, he passed on Ancelotti's request to the players on the pitch as well.

Carlo Ancelotti wants not to concede a goal before the end of the first half!!

As for things like overtaking the scoreline, it's best to save it for the second half. It's no joke to play one less, if the two sides start to attack, Chelsea with one more player is undoubtedly more advantageous!

However, Manchester United's recovery of the defense is not as simple as piling up numbers in the penalty area and putting on a passive posture of being beaten. Manchester United's defence is very structured and resilient............ And... It's very hard.

As soon as football is past half-time, it will be very difficult for Chelsea to continue to pass forward.

Fabregas's expression shows how depressed Chelsea's players are right now.

"Another foul!! Di Maria reached out and pulled Fabregas down!! ”

"It's all about fouls, going down, blowing the whistle. It's like pieces, and they can't be connected at all. ”

'Cesc Fabregas has been fouled for the eighth time and as a tandem playmaker in Chelsea's midfield, Cesc Fabregas has clearly received special treatment from a Manchester United player.

In fact, it is not just Cesc Fabregas, as long as the football is half-time, any Chelsea player will be marked with such a tight and tough defence.

In fact, the player who really received "special treatment" was Diego Costa.

There is no doubt that Diego Costa's actions have completely angered Manchester United's players. Now Diego Costa is basically afraid to stay away from Manchester United's penalty area. Because as soon as he shows up a little bit in a less critical position, the Manchester United player will just shovel it.

In fact, if Diego Costa had been tougher, maybe Manchester United would have nine men to play now.......... However, there is also the possibility that he Diego Costa is left with a tackle....

This is certainly not a good deal for Costa in his opinion, after all, he is a great striker who can score goals, how can he miss the game.

Diego Costa thought as a matter of course. As a result, he has only been in and around the United penalty area – because where a foul is committed by the players knows what it means, either to give Chelsea a penalty or to a direct free-kick that can cause a lot of damage. Manchester United's players are angry, but they are not stupid.

If Chelsea's attack is fine when it's fluid, Costa is a central striker, it's nothing if he's in the box, but now it's difficult for Chelsea to get through midfield, and Diego Costa is out of touch with the other Chelsea players behind him when he is in the box.

United have tightened their defence, but they are not without attacking opportunities.

With Juan Mata now gone, United's attack has been largely based on a simple counter-attack with long balls, albeit with a small number of personnel, but it has also threatened the Chelsea goal for a while.

In the thirtieth minute, Herrera cut off Oscar's foot and played a long ball straight behind the right side of the Chelsea defence.

On that side, Di Maria was very fast, he grabbed the ball ahead of Ivanovic, and then made a feint to try to fool his opponent before breaking through, but Ivanovic was unmoved.

Di Maria has already sensed the news of Nemanja Matic's killing, and now he has to pass the football out, otherwise when Nemanja Matic arrives and is sandwiched with Ivanovic, the chance for this counterattack will be gone.

He didn't have time to adjust, and just hoisted the ball with his right foot into the Chelsea box.

John Terry and Gary Cahill, along with another defender Azpilicueta who had been recovered from the other side, had already received the penalty area to compete with Li Qingshan for the ball.

The two centre-backs were tasked with engaging Li Thanh Shan in a physical confrontation and disrupting his headers, while Cesar Azpilicueta was adducted to grab the second point.

Now that there is only Li Qingshan in the Chelsea penalty area, Chelsea's defensive strength should be enough to deal with it.

Li Qingshan also knows this, although he is sure to grab the first point, but it is difficult to directly complete the header attack, under the blockage of Terry and Gary Cahill, the possibility of directly and forcibly shaking his head to break the opponent's goal is too low, after all, now there is a point in the penalty area, and the opponent's defense can be distracted.

Li Qingshan firmly occupied the position of jumping and fighting for the top, while thinking about countermeasures.

After Juan Mata was gone, the right area was all handed to Valencia. Fortunately, Valencia is also a winger, and his attacking ability is also very strong.

After Herrera broke the ball, Valencia was already aware that it was a good opportunity to counter-attack, so he ran forward with all his might, and if he had the speed of a single round, Valencia could be the fastest player in the 100 meters at the moment, so he quickly ran past halftime.

Although Herrera's long ball didn't find him in the same way, he didn't back away and turned a corner and continued towards the Chelsea penalty area.

For Li Qingshan, there is time left for him to think, and he has to jump now - even if the probability of a direct header hitting the opponent's goal is low, but if there is no other possibility, he has to give it a try, isn't it.

Just as he was about to jump, the corner of his eye caught the corner of his eye on Valencia's running position!!

"Di Maria passed the ball!! The ball was passed high and long, and Li Qingshan had already run into the penalty area. Although Li Qingshan's header is good, he wants to be isolated in this situation, and Di Maria's pass can't make him borrow........."

Just when the commentator was not optimistic about Li Qingshan's forced jump to compete for the top this time, another Manchester United player appeared in the camera lens.

"Valencia !!!"

In the surprised voices of the commentators, Li Qingshan's header gave the ball to Valencia at the top of the penalty area.

And Valencia has already opened her bow at this time!!

"Volley !!!"

Bang!!!!

Football flew towards the Chelsea goal like a shooting star.

Courtois flew to his feet and flicked the ball with his fingers...........

However, he has a heart in his heart!

When he turned his head to look, the ball was already lying behind him and the goal was jumping.

In the thirtieth minute, Manchester United scored again. Chelsea 1-2............. Lag!!