Manchester United legend

Chapter 182 Come From Failure

The glory of Manchester United's triple crown season was actually regained from the defeat against Arsenal in the 97-98 season.

Losing the title to Arsenal may have seemed sudden, but the setback was significant.Judging from the long history of Ferguson coaching Manchester United, Manchester United in the 1997-98 season seemed to be still strong, but it was knocked down by a double crown by Arsenal.

Although Manchester United has the halo of the 92 generation, the failed ending of this season shows that Manchester United has entered a period of reconstruction.

Of course, from another perspective, Manchester United lost the championship. It can be said that an era belonging to Manchester United is over-Cantona's retirement made Ferguson once invincible in the Premier League's tactical system-the powerful and flexible 4411 was ruthlessly ended.

Regardless of the golden generation of 92, the second generation of Manchester United, which Ferguson personally created and polished, came to the end of history with the departure of Cantona.exist
When Ferguson's third generation of Manchester United started in the summer of 1997, many Manchester United fans were worried about the team's transformation.Although Schmeichel and Jost are still the core of Manchester United, the position of "Cantona" cannot be seamlessly filled by a striker with a completely different style like Sheringham.

Just like the opinions of many fans, Cantona's incomparable and even indispensable significance to Manchester United can only be fully proved when Manchester United loses Cantona: Manchester United lost the championship during the flying kick incident, and Manchester United lost the championship again after the king retired!Without Cantona, without this "king-like man", Manchester United's overall strength can be said to have dropped to a level. Manchester United is no longer the dominant team that can wreak havoc on the Premier League at will.

Even if he still has strong strength, he has already fallen behind in the direct confrontation with Arsenal, and even ended in defeat.

In fact, Ferguson's tactical system has been evolving, and has been designed according to the specific characteristics of the players, in order to maximize the value of each individual, and then improve Manchester United's combat effectiveness to a stronger level through synergy.

Fans who have followed and studied Manchester United for a long time may know that the tactical characteristics of the first generation of Manchester United that Ferguson created successfully - marked by 1991 - are already different from the traditional British 442.At that time, Manchester United did not have Cantona. In fact, it was based on Bruce-Bryan-Robson-Mark-Hughes. Mark Hughes and McClair were traditional strikers from England, but Ferguson had more flexibility in using them.

The first generation of Manchester United won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup, which is already a peak of Ferguson's tactical achievements.At that time, Manchester United showed more of the strength of Mark Hughes, McClair, Robson and Ince when executing 442, and under the excellent organization and connection of Strachan, Manchester United's offense has more changes than English football, whether it is rhythm or use of space.

At that time, Manchester United was using Ferguson's well-studied tactical system that was completely different from the traditional British style. It reduced blind long-pass attacks, reduced blind crosses from the side, center forwards rushed to the top, and reduced blindly fast rush mode. Except for counterattacks, Manchester United rarely used long passes at that time.

There is no extreme long-pass rush, nor does it rely too much on the impact formed by the body and running. When Manchester United won the Cup Winners Cup in 1991, it was actually a flexible 442 or 4411. Among the two forwards, Mark Hughes and McClair would retreat to take the ball, and their backs to hold the ball and protect the ball while waiting for their teammates to come forward were also quite good.

From this point of view, Mark Hughes and McClair are no longer stand-up centers. When needed, they even come back to participate in defense more. The European Cup Winners’ Cup match against Barcelona perfectly demonstrated the defensive ability of Manchester United forwards; in the middle of the midfield, Ferguson has the most tough pair in England.

On the wing, Ferguson's offensive routines rely on the skills of Kanchelski and Lee Sharp rather than just speed and long passes. Of course, Kanchelski's speed is also explosive.

In this formation, the two full-backs don’t do much pressure and assists. They are more of a timely premise after the formation as a whole, responding to and defending the space behind the attacking players in front.

Such 442 has a very rigorous integrity, and its resoluteness and excellent effect in tactical execution have also been verified.Although the league is restrained by the stronger or more aggressive Liverpool and Arsenal, the results of an FA Cup, a Cup Winners Cup, and a Super Cup championship have already illustrated Ferguson's success.The defeat of Barcelona in the Cup Winners' Cup attracted the attention of continental football at the time.

The following season, Ferguson's side were beaten in the title race by Cantona's Leeds United, a stronger and more resilient striker and midfielder who overwhelmed the Red Devils.

But Ferguson's team still won a League Cup, a Super Cup, and ranked second in the league.In this season, Manchester United accelerated on the offensive end faster, and the two wing attacks played more resolutely. The double wings of Kanchelski and Lee Sharpe began to shine, and they were full of energy for Manchester United's wing attack.It can be said that Ferguson's 442 Manchester United already has the prototype of a strong British team.

Manchester United in the first year of the Premier League started a wonderful journey. Ferguson got Cantona in the middle of this season.Immediately, with the help of Cantona, Manchester United successfully won the league championship!

Marked by this season, Ferguson's second generation of Manchester United appeared.This is a Manchester United whose tactical style has begun to change.Cantona is a striker, but he is not just a striker. In fact, he can play both as a No. 9 and as a No. 10. He can not only destroy the city in the frontcourt, but also provide ammunition and assists for the striker and other teammates.

The joining of Cantona has completely reformed Manchester United's midfield, and also completely changed Manchester United's offensive mode. Through Cantona's technology and awareness, through his flexible positioning, through his dribbling, breakthrough, connection, through his shooting and assists, Manchester United's frontcourt attack power has been greatly improved.

Cantona successfully built a bridge between Manchester United's midfield and forwards, and he also succeeded in becoming Manchester United's most powerful finisher in front of the opponent's goal.

Cantona's ability has made Manchester United stronger as a whole. The team's original flat center attack has undergone tremendous changes, and the connection between the center and the wing, and the connection between the midfielder and the striker have all risen to a new height.

Even the attacking area of ​​the ribs, which Ferguson has always neglected or did not fully develop, has a new flash: Giggs, Beckham, Kanchelski and other players began to regularly penetrate the opponent's hinterland from here.

As a result, Manchester United's offensive routines have undergone tremendous changes. Cantona's offensive power with the ball is huge. In addition to breaking through and distributing the ball, he also enriched Manchester United's offensive options in terms of command and support.

Cantona has become an indispensable offensive soul for Manchester United. His power has ensured that Manchester United won the championship many times in a row until he resolutely retired-except for the 10-month suspension for kicking a fan, which made Manchester United lose the league championship.

Manchester United's offense dominated by Cantona is the most successful team that combines the impact and speed of the British team and changes the rhythm. Cantona's rebelliousness inspired Manchester United's fighting spirit.

"It's similar to letting an angry bull learn to think" and "letting a rigid puppet learn to dance"-this is Manchester United, which is unique in the Premier League.

The infinite scenery that Cantona brought to the second generation of Manchester United continued until 1997, and it didn't come to an abrupt end until he officially retired.

Countless Cantona fans were surprised and depressed by his retirement. In fact, this retirement completely interrupted Ferguson's plan: Originally, Cantona could perfectly connect the old and new Manchester United. If he persisted for another season, Manchester United should have a smooth transition.

But his sudden exit brought that to an abrupt end.Ferguson once imagined letting Le Tissier, Di Canio or Kluivert become the second Cantona, but they all refused to join.

In the end, Ferguson could only sign Sheringham-no matter how hard this traditional British center is, it is impossible to become a substitute for the king!

From this we know why Manchester United failed in the 97-98 season, that is, Manchester United itself became weaker.The Manchester United built by Ferguson is facing a turning point of renewal. It is the prototype of the third generation of Manchester United after the Cantona era: Although the 92 generation has good technical ability, they have also become the successors of the new Manchester United.Ferguson was forced to choose to return to the 442 of the first generation of Manchester United.

Losing Cantona's first season, it's a tough try for United's 442.The double center has always been in the front, rarely retreating to get the ball, the position is too rigid, and lacks enough connection with the midfielder.In addition, there are also big problems in the midfield, not only insufficient support for the forwards, but also passive defense and interception-Jost was unfortunately injured, and he almost missed more than two-thirds of the season.This has become Manchester United's biggest problem.

Jost's injury caused Manchester United's midfield to also lose its hub: for most of this season, Manchester United was without Cantona's organization in the frontcourt and without Jost's coverage and link in the midfield. This is fatal for the transformed Manchester United.

With only Butt alone in the midfield, Manchester United's strength was severely hit.Manchester United's midfield without Jost has become very fragile. Butt's strength is not enough to support Manchester United for the entire season. In the three lines of defender, midfielder and forward, Manchester United has certain candidates. Pallister is old and Sheringham is not enough to take Cantona's gun.

Therefore, in the battle with Arsenal for the league title, Arsenal led by Wenger gave Ferguson a strong impact, and Manchester United finally lost regretfully.Not only did they lose the championship, but Manchester United also lost their opponents in the direct dialogue with Arsenal, which made Ferguson feel a crisis.

Arsenal's double has left Ferguson thinking all round.What is Arsenal relying on?Wenger won the championship in his second season, of course, because of the generous investment.

In the past two seasons, Wenger has signed a lot of foreign aid from France and the Netherlands, and successfully transformed the arsenal into a technology-leading, mid-lane penetration-based tactic, no longer playing long-distance lobs and brutal defensive tactics.

And once the Gunners combine technology, tacit understanding, and body well, Arsenal will explode with huge combat effectiveness.To some extent, Arsenal's success in the 1997-98 season has its logical logic.

The brilliance of the double crown also made Arsenal quickly become synonymous with technical football and artistic football, and even stole more attention and love than Manchester United in England.

The BBC said well, "The significance of Wenger coaching Arsenal and winning the championship far exceeds the significance of all previous English managers winning the Premier League.

The arrival of Wenger has transformed English football from physical and rough to technical and refined.This is the biggest gift for a Premier League team! "It's true, Arsenal have given Ferguson a strong challenge.

Of course, challenges also come from continental Europe.Manchester United's pace of hitting the Champions League has stopped at the top 8 and top 4 time and time again.The strength and tactics of European opponents also stimulated Ferguson.The game against Juventus has proved that Manchester United has the potential to beat the best teams in Europe. How to update, how to build a new Manchester United, how to innovate in the existing lineup, and reach the pinnacle, it depends on Ferguson's actions.

In the early summer of 1998, when Ferguson lost all his championship opportunities in a row, he began to think about Manchester United.What link does Manchester United need to strengthen?What is missing in terms of tactics and players?
Arsenal's challenge, the failure of the traditional 442, the regret of the Champions League...all of these pose a major challenge to Ferguson.

How to find lessons from the failure, how to find a way for Manchester United from the long-term game?Ferguson needs to make a change.

(End of this chapter)