Chapter 110: Controlling the Pace

Chapter 110: Controlling the Pace

Kante passed the ball, and Mahrez, moving diagonally with it, took a long shot from outside the box. However, due to slipping, the shot went wide and high. That marked the end of Udinese's first attack of the game, eliciting gleeful laughter from the Benfica fans in the stands.

Picking himself up, Mahrez stomped hard on the spot where he'd slipped, turning up the turf and soil. Martin Tyler, a renowned commentator from British Sky Sports, observed, "From the start, Udinese has shown a strong desire to attack. Interestingly, Benfica, playing at home, seems very conservative. It's an unusual game where the team behind is calm and collected, while the one ahead is eager to attack…"

Tyler didn't realize that for Udinese, who had never reached the semi-finals of a European competition, this was a crucial match. The players were understandably less composed under such circumstances, a manifestation of their lack of European experience. Although Udinese had been participating in European competitions in recent seasons, their journey was typically short-lived due to limited capabilities.

This season, with Bruno's addition, Udinese had grown ambitious. However, their overemphasis on the importance of matches was causing them to lose their usual calm.

Benfica, on the other hand, experienced from frequently reaching the finals of European competitions despite the "Guttmann Curse," which had seen them lose seven finals, were seasoned in handling high-pressure games. Their composure contrasted starkly with Udinese's.

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After Mahrez's missed long shot, he quickly got another chance to shoot from distance. Passing to Dinatale might have been more effective, but Mahrez, turning with the ball, opted decisively for another long shot. Pressured by the opposing defense, his attempt went wide again.

Bruno also tried a long shot from outside the box. The rainy conditions encouraged long shots since the wet, heavy ball could slip through a goalkeeper's grasp. However, indiscriminate long shooting was impractical.

Dinatale, the team captain with extensive match experience, needed to criticize his teammates for squandering opportunities. "Stop shooting from distance all the time!" he shouted. "There are better options available. Why the rush?"

After another ineffective shot, Bruno realized his error and agreed with Dinatale, though Mahrez was still not ready to settle down, defending his actions with, "We need to score quickly…"

"It's not about a few minutes," Dinatale countered. "Blindly ending attacks only gives the ball back to the opponent. We need to focus on efficiency. If there's no better chance, don't shoot from distance. Pass the ball to Bruno and let's reorganize. There's no shot clock in football. What's the hurry?"

"Alright…" Mahrez grudgingly accepted the advice.

Dinatale turned to Bruno, who sheepishly raised his hand, "I only took one shot. The field is a bit slippery, and I couldn't control the ball well, so I opted for a long shot…"

"Pass more, dribble less," Dinatale advised, knowing the pitch was tricky to manage.

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Benfica's coach, Jorge Jesus, was pleased to see Udinese relying on long shots. He understood their strategy to increase scoring chances but wasn't concerned, having prepared his team to pressure shooters, reducing the effectiveness of their long-range efforts.

The rainy weather, far from discouraging Benfica, actually played to their advantage, as it made Udinese's long shots less accurate under defensive pressure.

"Keep shooting," Jesus muttered to himself, watching the misfired attempts. "The more you shoot like that, the farther you are from reaching the semi-finals…"

Unfortunately for him, Udinese soon adapted, reducing their reliance on long shots in favor of more coordinated passing plays.

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Benfica had decided on a defensive counter-attacking strategy for the game. As Udinese controlled the ball in the second half without much pressure from Benfica, Bruno comfortably received and assessed his options before deciding on their attacking moves.

After Dinatale curbed the team's penchant for rash shooting, Bruno also recognized a tactical flaw. In their eagerness to score, Udinese players were congesting the center, allowing Benfica to compact their defense easily, leaving little room for maneuver.

Recognizing the need for change, Bruno patiently orchestrated the play, maintaining possession and encouraging his teammates to move dynamically to create opportunities. This approach allowed Udinese to manage the game's pace effectively, demonstrating a strategic maturity beyond their earlier desperation for quick goals.