Chapter 48: Red Card Plus Penalty

After Coach Schaaf finished explaining the tactics, he looked seriously at his players.

"I know this is very difficult. You have to withstand the opponent's relentless attacks and preserve energy for a counterattack in the final stages, especially for attacking players who play the full ninety minutes!"

As Schaaf spoke, he glanced at Lin Quan and asked, "Lin, do you still have the strength to run?"

Lin Quan nodded. Although his energy consumption was significant, he had the backup of systematic stamina potions. If necessary, he could spend some points to buy a stamina potion, which would last for thirty minutes!

"Alright, then I won't substitute you. The team needs your breakthrough ability to change the score. During the second half of the game, pay attention to managing your energy to ensure you have the strength for a final sprint. Understand?"

Lin Quan nodded heavily. He keenly felt the weight of the coach's expectations in his tone!

Fifteen minutes later, the game resumed.

The frenzied goals in the final stages of the first half completely snapped Borussia Dortmund's players out of their bewildered state at the beginning of the game.

They firmly believed they were invincible at home, unstoppable in their attacks!

So, as soon as the second half began, Borussia Dortmund's players continued to steadfastly execute their high-pressing tactics.

Such tireless running probably could only be carried out by a team like Borussia Dortmund, who were accustomed to playing with high intensity!

Werder Bremen's players obviously couldn't keep up; they simply couldn't outrun their opponents.

Of course, there were significant limitations to this style of play.

As players aged and injuries accumulated, the execution of this tactic would seriously decline.

Moreover, once other teams in the league adapted to this style of play, they would quickly develop counter tactics.

Therefore, after several seasons at their peak, if a team's tactics couldn't be further improved or changed, their performance might plummet.

After the 2012-2013 season, Borussia Dortmund's performance began to gradually decline, and in the 2014-2015 season, they even fell into the relegation zone at one point.

If it hadn't been for the team's late resurgence, winning 13 points in six games and climbing out of the relegation zone, they might have actually been relegated.

This kind of exploitation of their own physical fitness and potential was very likely to cause injuries to the players. Take Borussia Dortmund's summer recruit, Reus, for example. After joining Borussia Dortmund, he began to frequently suffer from injuries, often missing national team matches due to injuries!

A significant part of this was due to Klopp's tactical style.

Just like this season, Liverpool is plagued by injuries.

Klopp is a good coach, but not suitable for all players.

Players like Lin Quan believed they weren't very suitable for Klopp's tactics, just as Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid.

On the field, Dortmund's players were very diligent in pressing and running.

But their opponents no longer cooperated. Werder Bremen didn't accelerate with them as they did at the beginning of the first half, nor did they engage in a back-and-forth exchange.

Instead, they adopted a "park-the-bus" approach, amassing a large number of troops in their own half and using dense defense to restrict the opponent's attack.

Borussia Dortmund's offensive firepower was indeed fierce, but when the opponent set up a defensive blockade, they didn't have many good options.

There were too many players in the penalty area, and Werder Bremen also brought on several players with abundant stamina.

These players' active challenges repeatedly thwarted their attacks, so they began attempting long-range shots from outside the penalty area.

Long shots, set pieces, these were the conventional methods to deal with dense defenses.

Since Werder Bremen dared to park the bus, they must have been prepared for this. They restricted the opponent's passing through area defense, ensuring that the most threatening midfield and forward players always had defensive players ready to disrupt their shots.

Under pressure, Borussia Dortmund's players attempted several long shots but failed to threaten Werder Bremen's goal.

Klopp couldn't sit still on the sidelines; this tactic from the opponent was just too annoying.

He really wanted to ask Schaaf, "What's the point of defending when you're behind in the score? If this score continues, then Dortmund will be the ones to win in the end!"

Are you just going to accept defeat like this?

If the leading team were Barcelona, the opponent's park-the-bus tactic would be handing Barcelona a victory. They could use passing to delay time and exhaust the opponent!

But possession-based tactics weren't Borussia Dortmund's style, and they didn't have such tactical alternatives.

So Klopp could only urge the players to be more patient. They were in the lead now, so the opponent should be the one feeling anxious.

If it weren't for being at their home stadium, he would have had the players retreat to their own half and play counterattacks.

However, seeing the opponent like this, even if they really retreated, the opponent might not attack.

If both teams parked the bus in their own halves, the game would become so ugly, and the fans at the scene would boo loudly!

Klopp wanted face; after all, they were leading in the score, so there was no need to be so extreme.

If the team could score another goal, the outcome of this game would be no longer in doubt, and there would be nothing to worry about then!

Klopp hoped the team could score another goal, but his hope was dashed.

Under Werder Bremen's united defense, Borussia Dortmund launched a continuous attack for more than twenty minutes but still failed to breach the opponent's goal.

During these twenty-plus minutes, they had a ball possession rate of over 70%, took 17 shots, including 12 long shots, and almost besieged the opponent's goal.

However, despite the numerous attempts, less than half of the shots were on target, and none of them resulted in a goal.

The long period without scoring, coupled with the fading effects of their earlier adrenaline rush, pushed Borussia Dortmund's players into a physical bottleneck. Their running speed and enthusiasm on the field began to noticeably decline.

In the 55th minute of the game, as they saw the opponent's energy waning and their pressing intensity dropping, Werder Bremen's players finally began to counterattack!

They instantly increased the tempo of the game and abandoned their previous defensive stance, initiating attacks towards Borussia Dortmund.

Borussia Dortmund's players were clearly caught off guard; after being in control for over twenty minutes, they had almost habitually assumed that their opponents wouldn't fight back.

But as soon as they relaxed a bit, the opponent launched a furious counterattack.

This made Borussia Dortmund's players feel uneasy!

"Is this your strategy then? Are you afraid to fight for the full ninety minutes, only fighting in the first five minutes after kickoff and the final five minutes?" Borussia Dortmund's head coach Klopp was the first to react, guessing the opponent's intentions.

Thinking of the opponent's sharp counterattacks at the beginning of the match and the two conceded goals, his heart skipped a beat, immediately realizing the danger!

"Quick, defend, don't let the opponent counterattack!"

If Werder Bremen could still launch the terrifying counterattacks they did in the first half, Borussia Dortmund's goal would be in danger!

They were only leading by one goal, and if the opponent scored, both teams would be back to square one!

Moreover, there wasn't much time left in the game. Once it was leveled, they might not have time to score another goal to reverse the score.

If that happened, they would be dragged into a penalty shootout by the opponent!

So, is this your real purpose? Klopp turned to look at the opponent's coaching staff. On their side, Werder Bremen's coach was already standing on the sidelines, his eyes shining as he watched the field, focusing on his team's counterattack.

Klopp's guess was spot on; Werder Bremen did indeed want to drag the game into a penalty shootout.

After a whole game, their energy was almost depleted, only enough to support one high-quality counterattack.

If they succeeded with this one, they might be inspired to muster up more courage, defend desperately, and hold out until the last few minutes of regular time.

If this counterattack failed, they would be powerless to change the score and could only accept defeat.

And this opportunity for a counterattack was earned through the team's full effort in defending during the second half, not allowing the opponent to extend their lead.

Otherwise, if the score difference exceeded one goal, even if they managed a counterattack, it would be futile.

So, they absolutely couldn't miss this chance!

The ball swiftly passed from Werder Bremen's defense to the frontcourt, to De Bruyne's feet.

Under the tug of Borussia Dortmund's number 5, he exerted all his strength to pass the ball before falling.

In that split second, he saw the number 10 player in green jersey sprinting at full speed in the frontcourt.

Lin, it's up to you now, you must score! Lin Quan didn't want to disappoint De Bruyne's assist. He had been strolling for over ten minutes in the second half just to preserve his strength for this crucial moment.

And now, it was time to use it!

After receiving the ball, he dodged Borussia Dortmund's number 7, Leitner, with a sideways step, rushed into the penalty area, and got past the recovering Ginter.

There were no defenders in front of him, only the goalkeeper!

So, Lin Quan decisively lifted his foot, aimed at the goal, and prepared to shoot.

But just then, a figure rushed out from the side and tackled the ball before Lin Quan could shoot.

The ball was kicked away, and Lin Quan fell inside the penalty area.

The entire audience couldn't help but stand up, looking at the referee, unsure of what his decision would be.

The referee immediately rushed into the penalty area and pointed to the penalty spot.

Penalty!

(End of chapter)