George. Since his debut in professional football, Wood has given the impression that he is excellent defensively and good offensively. In the past, when playing against Nottingham Forest, everyone would not have considered defending George. Wood, he almost never stepped forward to get involved in the attack. In the past, some critics even joked that Nottingham Forest "had 12 men in defense and only 10 in attack", to illustrate how small Wood's contribution to the team's attack was.

But three and a half seasons have passed, and now everyone finds that the other half of the talent in the body of that "defensive genius offensive waste" is slowly awakening. His defensive performance in this game was relatively average, but his offensive involvement was impressive.

How much potential does this kid have to tap......

※※※

"George. Wood's shot! It's a pity that no goals were scored. However, the attack left Makelele very embarrassed...... We rarely see Makelele like this. In terms of physical confrontation, he is completely at a disadvantage. ”

Terry came to his aid, but didn't catch up, only to pull Makelele up. "Need help?" He was well-intentioned, but Makelle felt belittled, and he shook his head vigorously: "It won't be like this next time, I promise." ”

He had to admit that he underestimated Wood in his defense, because his previous impression of this man made him think that Wood would not be too much of a threat.

He looked at Wood's back and clenched his fists.

This shame must be repaid twice!

※※※

George. Wood's effort down the left did not allow Chelsea to adjust their defensive strategy as they continued to focus heavily on Ashley. Cole, for his part, seems to be deliberately indulging George. Wood.

The narrator is looking for reasons for this arrangement, of course, for reasons he has come up with...... Some commentators want to do this kind of thing, relying on their own specious understanding to judge the format of the game, and using their own brains to replace the managers of both sides, as if they were more professional than the head coach who directs the game, which can quite deceive some of the audience to support their views. If you guess correctly, it's lucky, and if you guess wrong, then hit a haha and split the topic.

'Chelsea didn't make any defensive changes to Wood's wing...... Actually, it's normal. Although Wood was very active in attack in this game, he is not a professional offensive player after all, and he is not as dangerous in attack as Ribery, Lennon and others. Chelsea can't afford to change their defensive focus in a hurry because of his brief outburst, Ashley. Cole's side is obviously under more pressure......"

In fact, it has nothing to do with which side of the threat is big, Chelsea did not adjust just out of trust in the veteran Makelele.

Makelele has faced a wide variety of attacking players in his career, many of them world-class masters, he has a lot of experience, he has been through all kinds of storms, a George. Wood can't handle it?

Van der Vaart, having tasted the sweetness, did not hesitate to move the football to the left wing this time. Compared to last time, his passing this time was just right in terms of power, speed and accuracy. George. Wood can be parked effortlessly.

Wood stopped, and Makelele came up.

Everyone was expecting Wood to make another unreasonable breakthrough, but they didn't know that Wood on the field was in a very uncomfortable situation.

The football stopped at his feet, and less than three metres across from him stood a stark Makellele. He didn't come up to grab his ball, but he didn't know what to do.

As a defender, Wood can feel the pressure coming from Makelele, the kind of pressure that I can be confident of stopping no matter which way you break through.

From a professional point of view, Makelele is in a good position. What's more, once Wood stops the football, he is not good at doing it again.

He is more suitable for the kind of work that keeps the football moving, such as the breakthrough just now, making the next move in an unconventional situation, without using the brain to think, just following the body's instinctive reaction.

Once you let the body stop and give the brain a chance to think, the mind will get stuck.

What to do?

Makelle quietly looked at the man in front of him, and the ball at his feet, and had no intention of stabbing it off. He's waiting for Wood to make a move. Don't know what to do? As I thought, this kid has too little experience in attack, and his amazing performance just now is just physical instinct.

Just need to get stuck in the position, and he can't help it.

Van der Vaart didn't wait for another beautiful attack to appear, and he looked at Wood strangely.

There is obviously time in the back, as long as you can break through, you can pose a threat again. Wood decided to force his way through, and in the last confrontation, he knew that his physical advantage and speed advantage were very obvious, and since he could do that time, he should be able to do it this time.

Wood jerked the ball forward at his feet, ready to start. At the same time, Makelle spun around quickly, separating him from the football, and before Wood could pick up speed, he just started and crashed into Makellele's back. He wanted to knock the Frenchman out of the way, and he did knock Makelle away, but instead of tilting to the side to clear the way for him, he pushed Makelle towards the football in front of him.

The opponent took advantage of the situation to catch up with the football and intercepted the football that originally belonged to him.

Successful defensively.

Wood was only stunned for a moment, and then quickly launched a counter-robbery on the spot. He pounced on Makelele like a cheetah, and the two became entangled.

Essien came up to pick it up and got Makelle out of trouble, otherwise he might well have just grabbed the ball from Wood and was snatched back by Wood...... That's even more humiliating.

After the ball was passed to Essien, Wood also changed his target and turned to pounce on Essien.

Makelle looked at his opponent's back and shook his head slightly. Funny guy, who switched roles so quickly after being cut off, didn't seem to be affected by the loss of the ball in the slightest...... Or is he always ready to drop the ball, and he is always ready to counter-attack on the spot?

Thinking of this, Makelle suddenly wanted to laugh, indeed like the mind of a defensive player.

Although he is an enemy now, Makelle has a bit of a liking for this taciturn lad. Maybe it's because there are fewer and fewer players who specialize in defense now.

On the pitch, it's paradoxical that they're all blue-collar workers who don't get the spotlight and yet are indispensable and important to every team......

But boy, I know you're in good health and fast. Defense, however, is not a job that can be eaten all over the world by relying on the body alone.

※※※

"Makelele and Wood are up against each other...... "Donn muttered from the sidelines, "it must have been Mourinho's bastard's idea." He turned his head to look at the Chelsea dugout next door, where Jose Mourinho was staring intently at the pitch.

Mourinho was willing to use Makelele to mark George. Wood, indeed, did not expect Donn, he thought that Makelle would always follow Van der Vaart.

Now Van der Vaart is followed by Essien, George. Wood was tangled up by Makelle and assisted Ashley himself. Cole's wing was heavily defended by Chelsea.

The scene was at an impasse again, and the Forest's attack did not improve for half a day.

Don glanced at the big screen, which had game time. It was the sixty-eighth minute of the game.

He decided to make a substitution.

There is no one on the bench now, the players are out to warm up, and every once in a while they have to be called out by assistant coach Chris Lak to warm up to make sure they are always available when they need to.

"Go and call the little monkey." Don said to Don, and Don took the order and left.

Soon, Gareth. Bell ran back with an excited face, and when he saw Donn, he asked, "Boss, is it time for me to play?" ”

Don nodded, took the tactics board from Don, and pulled Bell to the sidelines.

"You go up and support the attack. See where Wood is now? He asked, pointing to the pitch. Wood was picking up the ball on the flanks and Makelele pressed on, and this time Wood didn't choose to force a breakthrough, instead passing the ball to Van der Vaart. It was a bit of a frustration because it was Van der Vaart who had just passed the football to him.

"See." Bell nodded.

'We've been hampered on the right flank and now Wood on the left is lacking support and if you can play wide from behind, it will be hard for Claude Makellele.

Layton. Barnes is certainly better defensively than Bale, but now Donn needs offense, not defense. He wants to win Chelsea away from home and not settle for a draw.

"If you set the edge and go down, you must be resolute and not hesitate. Otherwise, you won't be able to pull away Makellele, even if you rush forward, don't think about defense when attacking, and don't think much about what happens if you lose the ball...... In short, you remember that when you rush up, there is George behind you. What about Wood. ”

When Donn said this, Bell smiled even more.

"Alright, let's get ready to play, go and take off this vest."

※※※

'Nottingham Forest substitution, No.2 Gareth. Bale replaces No. 22 Layton. Barnes. ”

Nottingham Forest's latest tweaks were broadcast on the stadium radio.

Mourinho looked at Bale, who had run onto the pitch, a figure that brought back unpleasant memories for him. The kid became famous when he scored the winning free-kick in the last minute of the match against his own team.

Gareth. Gareth Bale is a full-back who is better offensively than defensively, and Donne's substitution of him is obvious – to strengthen the attack.

Mourinho is not afraid of Don to strengthen the attack, on the contrary, he is afraid that Don will strengthen the defense and not be able to retreat. Well, now Chelsea have a chance to score as long as Donn has the will to attack.

With 20 minutes left in the game, let's see who scores first!

※※※

With Bale on the pitch, Forest's attack on the left was strengthened. Makelle immediately felt the pressure of a pair of twos.

When he watched Wood, Bell always rushed up from behind. Does he leave Wood behind or ignore Bell at this point?

Dilemma.

When he decided to keep an eye on Wood, Wood passed the ball to Bale, who cut in with ease, and then crossed with ease, and if it wasn't for Terry, Van Nistelrooy would have had to head the ball again.

Donne's move upset the balance on the pitch and if Chelsea don't adjust their defensive strategy, they will be beaten up the right side of the pitch.

Mourinho had to abandon the idea of heavily deploying his troops on the left flank and restore the defence to normal condition. The best defence now is not to work the backline, but to seize the time to launch an attack, use a powerful offensive to press back the formation of the Forest team, and beat the arrogance of the Forest team.

As Mourinho said in his heart before, in the final moments of the game, it is not who defends more solidly, but who attacks more sharply.

"Gareth. When Bale came on, he effectively strengthened Forest's attack on the left flank. But there are drawbacks, as a result, their defensive strength is even weaker. With Wood having to juggle both attack and defence, and with the two full-backs providing frequent assists, I think the chance Chelsea have been waiting for has finally arrived. ”

That's what Chelsea's players think.

They stepped up their attack, with Drogba, Shepchenko and Arjen Robben all getting shots on goal. It was different from the first half, there was a lot of space in the Forest defence in front of them, and the defense around them was not as tight as it used to be.

After making two threatening saves in a row, Van der Sar was so anxious that he yelled at his teammates who pressed up: "Pay a little attention to the defense!" If you go up, you have to come back, and if you can't come back, don't go up! ”

Done has certainly seen the situation as well, with Chelsea attacking aggressively and responding to Forest's change.

He stood up from the dugout, walked to the sidelines, and yelled inside: "Chimbonda, go back to defense!" 'It was too risky for both full-backs to get the assist after Bale went up and had the better defending Chimbonda back to strengthen the defence and contain the Chelsea attack.

"Wood! Back to the middle! ”

Now that both sides are back to normal, it would be interesting to let Wood go back to the left and block the movement of Bale and Ribery, so it would be a good option to let him go back and solidify the defence.

With Wood and Chim Bonda both back in defence, Forest's difficulties eased. Chelsea are still looking for attacking opportunities and have not backed down as Forest have stepped up their defence.

With little time left, they are in a better hurry than Nottingham Forest. If we only end up drawing 1-1 at home, it will be a big blow to the confidence of going to the away game in the second leg.

Win it, even if it's just 2:1!

George. Wood's brief performance on offense was over, and he was back to what he did best defensively. At the edge of the penalty area, in the middle of the pitch, build a wall for the teammates behind you.

Chelsea's attack intensified, and Forest's formation was pushed back again, and slowly, it was the same as soon after the game began, with Forest playing their most comfortable counter-attack.

In fact, Don did not shout loudly on the sidelines to let them defend against it, it was purely a decision made by the players themselves according to the situation on the field...... Or this is a habitual surname, when the opponent attacks fiercely, it will unconsciously recycle, lead the opponent out, and then suddenly hit the opponent's back, and solve the battle at once.

※※※

Jose Mourinho replaces Ballack for Joe. Kerr intends to bolster the ball in midfield and he sees it. Now everyone is in a hurry to attack, playing very impatiently, some in a hurry, but the effect is not very good. There were too many mistakes in midfield and it was just a waste of time and chances.

Joe. Kerr can slow down the tempo by getting the ball on the ball and his skills can help Chelsea reorganize their midfield.

I hope so......

Joe. Cole's first pass sent the ball straight off the touchline, and the commentator defended him because he had just come on the pitch, had not yet moved, and was not yet comfortable with the atmosphere of the game, after all, the game had now entered the white-hot stage.

Everyone believed it, and another minute later, Joe. Cole took the ball but hesitated because he held the ball for too long, and was taken by George. Wood crashed to the ground. Earning a free-kick in front of Chelsea was a squandered chance that could have been better.

"Joe. Kerr hasn't gotten into the game yet...... "It's too pale in the commentary.

Chelsea's free-kick wasn't of high quality either, and the cross was headed over by Pique. Wood relied on his body to get his header again in a scramble with Makelele, and he continued the ball forward.

Due to the defensive set-piece back, there were not many Forest players in front at this time, only one man.

Van Nistelrooy is back to be a man because of his height.

The man who received the ball from Wood was Eastwood.

"This is Nottingham Forest's chance to fight back! But Eastwood lacked support, he didn't have a single red-clad team-mate around him, and he was dribbling the ball diagonally...... Carvalho was following him closely. ”

Wood looked at the situation, hesitated a little, and ran forward.

Just two steps away, he was overtaken......

Frank. Ribery and Gareth. Bell seemed to be in a 100-meter race, and the two of them rushed forward desperately, passing Wood like a gale.

Wood watched the desperate backs of the two men and slowed down, but it was only a matter of moments, and he changed his mind again, speeding up again and chasing after the two men.

"Four to three!"

Chelsea's backfield does not count as three defenders, but Nottingham Forest have put in four men to attack in the shortest possible time, and the situation is very bad for Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho nervously stood up from his seat.

Carvalho didn't know what was going on behind him, he just knew he couldn't let Eastwood take the ball out and keep pressuring him towards the corner flag. In this way, your defense is considered successful.

"Idea Wood!" Terry yelled.

George. Wood's attacking vibrancy in this game has managed to attract enough attention for him. The Chelsea players are wondering what kind of horrible shots this monster is coming.

Eastwood made a feint to break through when he was close to the bottom line with the ball, shaking off the space for a split second, and he didn't hesitate to cross!

It's not a common aerial ball, but a very fast boccia ball that rolls against the turf!

Terry prepares to defend George. Wood, everyone's attention is pretty much on this striking guy. Ribery stabbed in a diagonal stab that scared all Chelsea people out of their heart attacks.

"Frank. Ribery ...... Didn't kick it! Ribery shot at the ball but didn't hit it in the high-speed motion and the ball slipped between his legs.

The narrator was tempted to say that it was really an amateurish mistake, but he didn't have time to make such an exclamation. I saw that behind the most crowded crowd, in the back corner of the goal, a red figure appeared on the trajectory of the football......

Petr Cech was swept to the ground by Ribery's first shot – he made a save, but instead of waiting for the football, the goal was wide open behind him.

This is Gareth. Bell's chances......

As he was running, Bale crossed his foot, hit the inside of his foot, changed direction, and flew into the goal in front of him with ease.

It was his first Champions League goal.

"Nottingham Forest's counterattack has finally paid off! Gareth. Bel! Nottingham Forest lead Chelsea 2-1 away! ”

Donn took the lead and rushed out of the coach's box, raising his arms and cheering. It was a crucial goal in determining who would reach the Champions League final!

(To be continued)