McLaren is now riding a tiger. He can't decompress the players, let these people relax, and he can't continue to stimulate the tense nerves of these people, for fear that if someone has a weak psychological quality, he will break an own goal, or make a mistake in the return pass, and he will be miserable.

At this time, you can neither say "downplay" nor "never lose" to these players. You can't use the break to boost the morale of the players, which is a real headache. In fact, McLaren knew that there was only one way to reduce the psychological burden on the players and liberate them from this cycle of bad names - a goal for the Forest.

As long as you score a goal, there are no problems. The pressure to win, the fierce pressing of the opponent...... It's all gone.

That's a problem for McLaren. If it's that easy to score, the score of a soccer game would be on par with basketball.

Trying to change the situation on the pitch with substitutions doesn't seem feasible right now. What else could he expect?

a, the play of the existing eleven players on the field; b, the opposing head coach makes a stupid move; c, the opposing player makes a mistake to give a big gift; d, set-pieces.

The on-court performance of his own players, to be honest, McLaren is not holding out much hope. This is quantitative, not variable. What are the variables? Tony. Don was carried away by the atmosphere of the final of the tournament, misjudged the situation on the court, and made inexplicable adjustments. Under the continuous attack of Middlesbrough, the opposing players were under increasing pressure to let go and feel more and more pressure, overwhelmed, made mistakes, and then collapsed...... Thinking of this, McLaren's eyes lit up. Why not? My own players are under a lot of pressure because they can't open the situation for a long time. Why don't the opposing players feel pressured because they need to be on the lookout for our attacks all the time, always thinking that they can't concede the ball? Look at the way they came off the pitch with their heads bowed and out of breath. Tony. Donn's tactics are too demanding of the players, and McClaren doesn't think the Forest will be able to consistently implement them, both physically and mentally.

So as long as you have enough patience, you can continue to use the attack to harass the Forest team's defense, and when their confidence and will begin to waver, they will suddenly launch a fatal blow!

That's the end of the game...... With a clear tactical intent in mind, McLaren breathed a sigh of relief, and he knew what to say to the players.

I said...... Now is there a suspicion that we can't win this final? Did you shake your confidence and fighting spirit earlier than our opponents? ”

The dejected players looked up at their manager when they heard the sound, and the young coach Steve, who also convinced them with his results. McLaren. Seeing the smile on their boss's face again, their confidence was restored.

"No, boss. No one gave up on the game. The captain of the team, their goalkeeper Schwartz, stood up and said.

By the start of the second half, Done found that Middlesbrough had stepped up their attack, and they seemed to be in line with Nottingham Forest's "wall defence", and McClaren did not let his team slow down the tempo and fall to the ground, but instead accelerated the attacking tempo. Quick ball, quick cut, quick shot, the direction of the pass changed from horizontal to vertical, and the forward pass was noticeably more.

It's also an option, but Don isn't very worried. The advantage of the wall method is not in speed, but in stability in thickness and formation. Immobility is the best way to describe this hands-off tactic, which is to adapt to change.

As long as he holds the opening ten minutes, the rhythm will only slowly fall into his hands for the rest of the game. It's not him sitting in the dugout who needs to worry about not scoring, it's McClaren's team.

But just ten minutes into the second half, he jumped out of his seat.

Middlesbrough broke the ball and played a long pass from his own half of the pitch straight behind the Forest defence. John, who has always been calm. Thompson made a mistake on the top! The blistering Downing started from behind at the same time as his team-mate's pass, and when Thompson came to the top, he rushed right past the last line of Forest's defence!

Middlesbrough fans in the stands jumped from their seats, raised their arms and cheered! It was the perfect opportunity they had waited for fifty-five minutes!

Downing had just stopped the ball and was about to take advantage of the situation to break inside. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind in front of him, and a black shadow flashed, and then the ball under his feet was gone, and he was suddenly knocked out...... At that moment, he felt as if he had been hit by a boulder. He rolled on the ground in agony, and the ball had long since flown off the line.

"Fucking fouls-!!" All the Middlesbrough fans are shouting.

"Break your mother's rules!!" This is the Nottingham Forest fans' riposte.

The managers of both sides got up from their seats almost at the same time, nervously awaiting the referee's decision.

The referee ran forward and pointed to the corner flag - "This is a corner!" What an incomprehensible decision...... Look at the expressions of the Middlesbrough players, there was a huge boo in the stadium the year before! ”

Because Nottingham Forest's second-half goal was close to the Middlesbrough fan zone, it was suddenly overwhelmed with boos. The Middlesbrough players rushed up to surround the referee, they couldn't believe their eyes! How could this ball be a corner!? This is clearly a collision! And absolutely unreasonable!

McLaren turned around angrily from below and punched the roof of the dugout. He, like his own players, could not understand the referee's decision. Didn't that bastard referee see Downing even flip twice in the air? Roll from inside the stadium to outside the stadium! How do his eyes grow? The angry Middlesbrough manager pointed two fingers in his eyes in protest.

Don let out a sigh of relief and sat down. Despite his young age and not playing many official first-team games, Wood is at the heart of this defensive tactic, and his tireless running and brutal defending are an important part of the intimidation. If he is sent off with a red card, his defensive system will collapse. Without his extensive running and interception in the middle, this wall is nothing more than a hollow wall, which can fall down when poked.

The referee must have been confused by Wood's pace, or perhaps his lively performance in the first half caused the referee to think a little bit of a habitual mind.

But this danger is over, and there is an even greater danger waiting for Donn and his Forest team.

"George. Wood made a dangerous defence, but luckily the referee didn't pursue it. Judging by the replay, Wood did touch the ball first, but his defensive action was too big and had a strong attacking surname. McLaren had plenty of reason to complain – it could have been a turning point in the game, leaving the Forest without an absolute defensive core and falling behind in terms of field and numbers. But now his side have only been awarded a corner, and Downing, who has been the most active in the first half so far, is still receiving treatment off the field! Listen to the boos at the Millennium Stadium! "Even with sound-isolating headphones, Andy. Gray could barely hear himself and had to raise his voice as he commented to take on the crazy Middlesbrough fans.

In fact, McClaren didn't need to be so angry, although he didn't let the Forest team down, but at least it took him fifty-five minutes to finally hit a crack in the thick and hard wall. Could this be the beginning of a total collapse of the forest wall?

Steve. McLaren and Tony. I'm afraid that the two coaches of Don En have to think carefully in their hearts.

(To be continued)