Starting With Real Madrid

"That header not going in has put Bayern in real danger in this game."

In the Wembley stands, Ferguson frowned, growing more animated the longer he watched.

He was talking about David Alaba's cross from the left that Mandzukic headed on target.

It was Bayern's first shot of the match and their best chance so far.

Unfortunately for them, Mandzukic's header was saved by Iker Casillas and tipped onto the crossbar.

"That was not a high-quality chance," Wenger shook his head.

"I've always said deep defending is underrated," Ferguson replied.

Wenger mulled it over, then nodded.

Isn't that the truth?

"If that had gone in and it was 1-1, Bayern might still be in it. But now Real Madrid are one up, Gao Shen has decisively switched to passing and control, and Bayern are in a very precarious spot."

He sighed again. "This Bayern side's strength, so far, begins and ends with that one effort."

His meaning was clear, it would be hard for Bayern to break Real Madrid down.

"This Real Madrid is so steady," Wenger said, full of praise.

"Gao Shen has played this completely straight, revealing nothing, while Bayern..." Ferguson exhaled, "If they keep this up, they will concede more."

There was nothing wrong with Heynckes's match strategy. Bayern's limitations were in personnel quality.

Often, tactics are only as effective as the players' level.

Everyone knows Gao Shen is ruthless in attack, and Heynckes anticipated Real Madrid would go at them early, so Bayern set up to defend from the start. Unfortunately, they conceded inside four minutes.

Heynckes stayed calm, waited for Real Madrid's opening spell to pass, then adjusted and launched a quick strike, but it did not yield a goal.

Now Gao Shen has reacted, dropped the block, and shifted into his preferred passing and control, outmaneuvering Bayern.

"Real Madrid's ability to circulate from midfield and the back is just too strong. How did I never feel this before?" Wenger gave a wry smile.

Gao Shen's Real Madrid and Mourinho's Real Madrid are two completely different teams.

Like now, Real Madrid are patiently circulating in midfield and the defensive third, slipping away from Bayern's press.

Win it back? They cannot get near it.

"The key is the midfield. Gao Shen's trio is one of the most controlling in Europe right now. Only two teams can compare." Ferguson held up two fingers.

Wenger did not need to ask which two.

Barcelona and Manchester City.

Barcelona speaks for itself, and Manchester City have been constructed with great care.

What is interesting is that under Pellegrini, City are not as stable as before.

United took the title this season because Pellegrini's side made errors in several situations where they should not have.

By contrast, look at Real Madrid under Gao Shen. In the autumn, the winter slog, and the spring run-in, with brutal schedules and heavyweight clashes, Gao Shen won again and again and held firm.

This season at Real Madrid, Gao Shen has showcased his coaching to the fullest.

Maybe the media and fans do not feel it as deeply, and at most marvel at his results. But professionals across Europe and the world are in awe.

So strong.

Strong in every department.

Just like in this match, they started with a blistering blitz. As soon as Bayern shifted, Real Madrid adjusted in kind and now are playing pass-and-move control.

If Bayern throw everything forward, Gao Shen will simply drop deeper, defend compactly, and wait to counter.

Bayern could be completely undone by this refined approach.

"Technical completeness leads to tactical richness. That is exactly what Gao Shen always says." Ferguson's admiration was clear.

United did not even face the full version of Real Madrid. Without Marcelo earlier, their left lost half its thrust.

But now, Real Madrid are truly formidable.

At this moment, Wenger suddenly hissed.

"Is Mourinho really here tonight?"

Ferguson blinked, then smiled. "He said he was coming."

"Where is he sitting?" Wenger asked.

"I do not know." Ferguson scanned the stands.

They were on the VIP platform, very prominent, and had just been picked up by the live cameras.

But there was no sign of Mourinho.

"I suspect he has not come at all and is too embarrassed to show," Wenger said, unimpressed with his London rival.

Especially after Mourinho came back, Chelsea beat Arsenal twice this season.

Infuriating.

Last season Mourinho stirred Real Madrid into such a mess that the dressing room nearly split. The players fractured into camps and conflict was rampant.

Last summer, when Gao Shen took over, how many people worried for him?

A year later, he is leading Real Madrid in a Champions League final, chasing the fifth Champions League title of his managerial career. How many who expected him to fall flat have been stunned?

With Mourinho's pride, is he really willing to come and watch?

"I think he will," Ferguson said confidently.

"He knows full well Gao Shen has driven tactical development in world football. This game reveals a lot, including Real Madrid's blueprint."

"Just from this, Koulibaly's price will rise another five million pounds at least."

Ferguson spoke with conviction, and Wenger kept nodding.

Why?

Because of the build-up.

Real Madrid's circulation from the back and midfield is so strong, there are almost no peers.

Perhaps only Manchester City and Barcelona compare right now.

Both share one feature, center backs with outstanding passing.

Barcelona have Piqué, Puyol, and Thiago Motta, Manchester City have David Luiz, Jérôme Boateng, and Kompany.

Now, Real Madrid's Ramos, Pepe, and Varane are also very good on the ball.

Across Europe, how many center backs are genuinely strong passers?

Bonucci at Juventus, Dante at Bayern. Who else?

Yet many clubs are desperate for center backs. Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United for starters, and even Bayern, on the pitch against Real Madrid, would love a higher level center back to cover Van Buyten's weakness, right?

Players like Van Buyten are destined to struggle to adapt to the mainstream tactics of today's elite clubs.

The German press has already suggested that once Guardiola takes over Bayern, his first move will be to sign a top center back.

…

While Ferguson and Wenger were chatting, Bayern seized a moment, intercepted in midfield, and countered at speed.

Ribéry, on the ball, wriggled past Carvajal and tried to cut inside, but Pepe stepped out decisively to challenge.

Ribéry reacted fast and poked it past Pepe first, but as he tried to go around him and chase it, the Real Madrid center back failed to pull out of the challenge cleanly and "accidentally" clipped Ribéry, tripping him.

Bayern's players were livid.

Come on, we were about to break through and you foul?

Card him.

It has to be red.

But as Bayern players rushed angrily toward the referee, Rizzoli smiled and waved it away as a foul with no card.

"Brazilian defenders are so savvy, they know how to work the laws."

"It is hard to tell if Pepe meant it, but he did trip Ribéry and shut down a dangerous Bayern attack."

"Bayern are very unhappy, but that is the reality."

"Pepe has a wealth of experience, especially in reading the referee."

"And to be fair, Gao Shen has always put great emphasis on this detail."

The cameras cut to Pepe, grinning as he backpedaled, seemingly unbothered by the foul.

No card anyway.

Bayern's free kick led to a scramble in Real Madrid's box, but Iker quickly gathered.

The captain's timing off his line was perfect, allowing Bayern no second chance.

Iker rolled it out to Marcelo on the left, urging him to carry forward, but Bayern immediately pressed high to counterpress.

Marcelo went back to Ramos, and it was recycled to the left again.

Real Madrid tried to punch through on that side, but Bayern were compact there, so Toni Kroos switched to Xabi Alonso, who moved it right.

Carvajal brought it under control and played forward.

Di María dropped over halfway to receive Carvajal's line pass with his back to goal, cushioned inside, and swept a left-footed pass into space for Modrić.

Vidal, sprinting back, rushed Modrić immediately, but the Croatian skipped past him, took two diagonal strides inside, spotted the angle, and launched a long diagonal.

The ball flashed past Gustavo, split the gap between Dante and Van Buyten, and dropped on the left side of the D at the top of Bayern's area.

The piercing pass drew a collective gasp around Wembley.

A white blur lunged into the space.

"Cristiano Ronaldo!"

He was electric, a flash of white lightning.

He knew if he could get there first, go one on one, and score, the game would be theirs, and he would be the hero who delivered the trophy.

At the same time, he would be the leading candidate for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

With that in mind, he gritted his teeth and hit top speed. Reaching Modrić's pass on the left edge of the box, he cushioned with his left, pushing it into the area.

Chasing his touch, Ronaldo glanced at Butt, who had come halfway, stayed calm, and struck cleanly with his right.

The shot zipped past Butt and into the Bayern net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"In the 32nd minute, Real Madrid score again!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo on the break, his second of the night!"

"2-0!"

"Real Madrid have one hand on the trophy!"

(To be continued.)

***

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