Mustafi finally withstood Atletico Madrid's offensive. After playing, he quickly found his state and game rhythm, and partnered with Alberto Masi to rebuild the defense line in front of Romero.

Thanks to Di Francesco's many rotations this season, Mustafi has gained more opportunities to play. He and Alberto Masi have also partnered many times to find the feeling of cooperation and tacit understanding so quickly.

In addition, Di Francesco also made quick adjustments to allow the team to strengthen its defense as a whole.

When Simeone saw that the goal was not washed in a short time, he was worried that Gao Zheng would score another one in front before the end of the first half, which would be a loss. However, he had carefully watched Sampdoria's second leg of the Italian Cup semi-finals against Napoli away. Gao Zheng, without the support of his teammates, scored two goals with just two long passes and counterattack opportunities, ending Napoli's hope of advancing to the Italian Cup final.

Others may not be very concerned about the Italian Cup, but Simeone has been paying attention since Sampdoria started to let the main players participate in the Italian Cup. He saw every performance of Gao Zheng.

If you can't get along with the league, the Italian Cup and the Champions League are knockout matches. He believes that Gao Zheng's performance in such a game is probably more valuable than in the league. Because once you lose, you will be eliminated and players must do their best.

Worried that Gao Zheng suddenly got angry in this game, Simeone took back the formation, signaling the team to slow down and slowly deal with Sampdoria.

The commentator of Argentina TV saw Atletico Madrid take it back and said with some confusion: "It's amazing that Atletico Madrid recovered so quickly, as if Sampdoria had created a great threat to them. But since Gastadoro was injured, Sampdoria has focused on defense and has no chance to counterattack. How could it threaten Atletico Madrid's goal? Simeone did this more like a stupid move. If he let the team continue to attack, he might equalize the score?"

After hearing what the commentator said, Giovanni did not express his understanding of his father's actions this time, because he knew why his father did such a move, and he was worried about Gao Zheng.

Although he knew why his father did this, this did not mean that Giovanni agreed with this approach, and he also felt that this was a foolish move.

Dad was a little too afraid of Gao Zheng.

※※※

The first half ended in the end with this wonderful balance between Sampdoria and Atletico Madrid.

After losing Gastadro, Sampdoria's morale and condition were affected, not as sharp as before.

Atletico Madrid is also cautious in playing, which is a bit unlike the usual Atletico Madrid style.

"Before Gastadro was injured, the game was pretty good..." Caresa sighed at the players on both sides who were leaving the court. "I hope there will be some changes in the second half."

※※※

After all Atletico Madrid players returned to the locker room, head coach Simeone came in the last time, then turned around and kicked the door and closed it.

He clapped his hands hard again and said to his players with satisfaction: "Guys, you did a good job! Even if one loses the ball, that's no big deal. The important thing is that there is only one loses the ball and he doesn't continue to lose the ball."

Every Atletico Madrid player can see that their head coach is in a really good mood, not pretending to encourage them.

Simeone rubbed her hands and said to his players looking forward to it: "Okay. The task in the first half was completed successfully. It's the second half. Remember what I said before the game? There were some problems with their physical fitness, so they will definitely strive for a fierce rush at the beginning of the game, hoping to score as soon as possible and expand the lead. They did score a goal, but failed to expand the lead, and their main central defender was injured. This is all good news for us. All we have to do in the second half is to change the style of the first half and use the style of playing we are best at dragging them down!"

The players did not unexpectedly make such adjustments. The head coach before the game explained all his tactics.

They all know what to do in the second half, and it is precisely because of this that supports them to faithfully implement the head coach's tactics in the first half.

To be honest, they were also awkward to play in the first half because they were not the style they usually played.

However, in order to win and to advance to the quarterfinals, they must listen to the head coach.

Simeone took over Atletico Madrid at the end of 2011, and it has only been more than two years since then, but he has established his authority in the minds of Atletico Madrid players.

In addition to part of this authority comes from Diego Simeone's personal charm, a large part of it comes from achievements.

Professional football is a very realistic world, with success and defeat. No matter how great you achieve when you are a professional player, you may not be able to succeed as a coach. If you cannot lead the team to victory, then the reputation you accumulated in the age of a player will be consumed.

The success of Simeone was that after he took over Atletico Madrid, he won nine consecutive victories in the UEFA Europa League that year, and finally won the UEFA Europa League title, and then defeated the Champions League champion Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup and became the king of Europe.

Such achievements laid the foundation for his coaching in this team.

After having two heavyweight champions, Simeone has a lot of confidence in speaking, so the players are naturally willing to listen to him, because listening to him can bring a championship!

You should know that when Simeone took over Atletico Madrid, the team ranked tenth in the league. After that season, the team won the UEFA Cup, rose to fourth in the league, and qualified to participate in the Champions League play-offs.

Last season was Simeone's second season in coaching Atletico Madrid and the first full season.

In the end, Atletico Madrid defeated his city rival Real Madrid 2-1 in the final of the Copa del Rey and won the Copa del Rey. After coaching the team for one and a half seasons, he led the team to three important championships, only a league championship and a Champions League championship.

Such performance is naturally worthy of the trust of the team members.

Even if they privately feel that the head coach seems to have made a big fuss this time, they will still strictly follow the head coach's instructions on the court and will never be slandered.

Simeone was frowning in the locker room with tactical arrangements. If outsiders saw this scene, they would definitely be shocked, because when they left the court just now, Simeone frowned, looking worried and not satisfied with the team's performance.

As a result, after closing the door, he changed his face.

It seems that the tail is finally not hidden.

※※※

In the home team's locker room, Di Francesco frowned in the face of the team's current situation.

Logically speaking, if you only have one goal ahead at your home court, it is not enough, or even dangerous.

But the current situation is that if you want to continue the offensive in the first half, Sampdoria may collapse before the game is over.

Because the team is not physically fit enough, Gastadro's injury also reminded him that lack of physical fitness will not only cause problems such as not being able to run, but will also cause injuries to players.

From a long-term perspective, we can't continue to work like this.

At the same time, Atletico Madrid played a bit abnormal in the first half, which made Di Francisco always worried. This is not the usual style of Atletico Madrid. They cannot really choose this way of playing because they are afraid of Sampdoria. After all, Sampdoria is not Barcelona, ​​and Di Francisco still has this self-knowledge.

So Atletico Madrid must have some conspiracy hidden when playing like this. If Sampdoria continues to maintain the rhythm of the first half, it may hit Atletico Madrid's thoughts.

After much consideration, despite being unwilling to give in, Di Francesco made a choice.

He told the team to shrink in the second half to play against the counterattack and slowly deal with Atletico Madrid. With the primary goal of not conceding the ball, if you counterattack, it would be left to Gao Zheng alone, just like in the Italian Cup semi-finals.

As long as you can not concede the ball, even if you beat Atletico Madrid 1-0, it will be a victory and the total score will be the lead.
Chapter completed!