In his previous life, Ethan had read extensively about football tactics, including managers' biographies and professional tactical analyses translated from overseas. Because of this, he understood one thing very clearly: there was no such thing as a perfect tactical formation in football.
When Ethan first began learning about the game, gifted number nines such as Romário, Ronaldo, and Roberto Baggio were in their prime. However, as more managers adopted defensive tactics specifically designed to contain such forwards, their influence gradually declined, while injuries also began to take their toll.
As those gifted strikers were shackled, traditional number tens such as Zidane, Rui Costa, and Seedorf emerged. They ushered in the era of the attacking midfielder. Their exquisite technique, creative passing, and ability to arrive late in the box and score made them an unforgettable part of football history.
However, as Zidane and the others shone, managers began devising systems built around defensive midfielders to restrict them. Players such as Keane, Makélélé, and Vieira gained widespread recognition, transforming from previously overlooked workhorses into the defensive cores of their teams.
As the saying went, every tactic had a counter.
When defensive midfielders began dominating the center and occupying the space traditionally used by attacking midfielders, the classic number ten gradually lost its effectiveness. However, clever managers began experimenting with moving the playmaker into a deeper position. Players such as Pirlo, Xavi, and Xabi Alonso became deep-lying playmakers, serving as commanders on the pitch.
In the years before Ethan transmigrated, the term "beast defensive midfielder" had begun appearing frequently in discussions among the media and supporters. These players emerged to restrict deep-lying playmakers. With their powerful physiques, relentless work rate, and tireless running, they further compressed the space available to the number four and limited their influence.
However, the beast defensive midfielder tactic was certainly not perfect either. As football continued to develop, newer tactics would inevitably emerge to restrict these players and eventually neutralize them.
All of this made Ethan understand one thing. On the football pitch, every strength could be countered by something else.
That was also why, throughout football history, no team had ever remained dominant forever. No matter how strong a team became, opponents would eventually discover a fatal weakness that could be exploited or even used to dismantle them.
In New Manchester United's tactics for this match, right-back Steinsson was the weak point. From the opening whistle, Morecambe relentlessly targeted that weakness and even scored twice against New Manchester United within the first ten minutes.
It was utterly shocking!
However, New Manchester United quickly adjusted and pulled a goal back before half-time.
After the second half began, Bruce turned the tables by targeting Morecambe's weakness. Knowing that their right-back was strong going forward but poor defensively, he instructed Evra and Hleb to relentlessly exploit that flank from the start of the half.
At the other end, New Manchester United's defensive weakness had been covered. Essien moved to right-back, Steinsson shifted into the middle to partner Abidal at center-back, while Distin dropped deeper as a sweeper. With Evra and Hleb also pinning back Morecambe's right flank, New Manchester United's defense immediately became much more solid.
Morecambe, meanwhile, looked like a snake seized by its vital point. Their counterattacking forwards could no longer break through New Manchester United's defense. In particular, after Bruce noticed that their forward preferred receiving the ball on the left, he immediately ordered Essien to mark him tightly.
With their counterattacking weapon neutralized and their defensive weakness being ruthlessly exploited, even Morecambe's resourceful manager could do nothing against New Manchester United.
When it came to building momentum on the pitch, New Manchester United were already highly experienced. That spirit had been instilled in the team by the manager almost from the moment the club was founded.
It was the determination to persevere and fight until the bitter end.
Standing on the touchline, Morecambe's manager watched New Manchester United play with an almost frenzied intensity that completely overwhelmed his team. For a moment, he was filled with mixed emotions.
In terms of squad strength, Morecambe were inferior to New Manchester United. Tactically, he considered himself no better than Bruce. He had recognized this before the match and knew that if Morecambe could crush New Manchester United in the first half, they would win.
But who could have imagined that New Manchester United would struggle for only twenty minutes before responding with such force?
This was a terrifying team, especially in the way they reacted after being suppressed. From front to back, from the manager to the players, almost everyone displayed a determination not to stop until they had won the match.
Bruce was also standing on the touchline. Despite New Manchester United holding a clear advantage on the pitch, he remained dissatisfied. He repeatedly shouted at the players, demanding greater efficiency, urging them to equalize as quickly as possible and complete the comeback.
This left Morecambe's manager feeling powerless because he knew his team was likely to be completely overwhelmed in every aspect.
In truth, he still had another option. He could bring on a defensive player to strengthen the right flank and restrict Hleb and Evra. However, with the match so finely balanced, removing another player might simply create a different weakness for New Manchester United to exploit. Plugging one hole only to open another could lead to a complete collapse.
After looking over his players, the safest option appeared to be replacing the number seven forward. However, that would effectively mean abandoning the attack. Making such a substitution at this stage could damage the team's morale.
A manager's behavior on the touchline often sent a clear message to the players on the pitch.
In this regard, Morecambe's manager was clearly inferior to Bruce. His hesitation and helplessness at the critical moment quickly began to affect his players.
After holding out for fifteen minutes in the second half and preventing New Manchester United from equalizing, Morecambe finally saw their goal breached again in the 52nd minute.
This time, it was a long-range strike from Krzynówek. He received a square pass from Evra near the edge of the penalty area and fired home the equalizer.
After drawing level, New Manchester United's morale soared. They played with the ferocity of a tiger released from its cage.
Once Morecambe had been pegged back, however, their manager finally made up his mind and made two substitutions. He took off the number seven forward and a left midfielder, replacing them with a center-back and a defensive midfielder to reinforce the defense on the right.
As a result, Morecambe switched to a strikerless formation and retreated deep into their own half, hoping to hold on for a draw. After all, if they could secure one point under these circumstances, they would still have room to recover. But if they lost to New Manchester United, Morecambe could be pushed out of the top five and lose even their place in the promotion playoffs.
Of course, there was another possibility. They could defeat New Manchester United.
But judging by the situation on the pitch, New Manchester United's momentum was growing stronger by the minute. Beating them as Morecambe had done in the opening ten minutes was no longer possible.
That was sometimes how football worked. Once a team built enough momentum, no one could stop them.
They were sweeping everything before them.
Or perhaps it was better to say that they had been driven into madness.
However, while Morecambe could accept a draw, New Manchester United could not.
After being completely suppressed by Morecambe for the opening twenty minutes, everyone at New Manchester United was furious. Even after equalizing, the fire inside the players did not fade. Instead, it burned even brighter, as though they wanted to devour their opponents whole.
Seeing the expressions on the players' faces, Bruce abandoned his original plan to make a substitution. He knew that as long as the team maintained this state, they would win the match.
"Ribeiro, steady! Keep it steady!" Bruce shouted from the touchline.
Even without changing anything tactically, he could not allow the team to continue attacking recklessly. Now that they had equalized, everything else would become much simpler.
Juninho naturally understood that continuing to attack wildly would accomplish little. It might instead make his teammates anxious and give Morecambe an opportunity to counter. Bruce's instruction to remain composed was therefore the wisest choice, especially with thirty minutes still remaining.
Under Juninho's control, New Manchester United began to slow the tempo of their attacks. They advanced steadily, like waves rolling across the sea, surging toward Morecambe's goal one after another.
In the 66th minute, Essien successfully intercepted the ball on the right side of the center circle. He carried it forward himself before passing to the approaching Hleb.
Hleb received the ball with his back to goal and laid it off to Krzynówek, who then passed it to Juninho.
Juninho looked up and saw that Essien was still sprinting toward the byline. He immediately played a through ball into his path, allowing Essien to beat the offside trap.
Since joining New Manchester United, Essien had worked hard on his first touch at Cassel's request. His technique was no longer as raw as when he had first arrived. At the very least, he could now deal comfortably with a basic first touch.
He controlled the ball, adjusted his footing, and sent a high cross into the penalty area before the opposing left-back could close him down.
Žigić was like a nail in every attack, firmly planted inside the opposition's penalty area. Morecambe did not dare take any chances with the National League's leading scorer and the tallest player in the English leagues, often assigning two tall defenders to mark him.
Even so, Žigić still found an opportunity. Reading the flight of Essien's slightly overhit cross, he moved toward the dropping ball and met it with a header.
Morecambe's goalkeeper was positioned near the near post. He reacted instinctively and dived across goal, parrying Žigić's header away from the far corner.
However, the moment the goalkeeper hit the ground, he saw a figure in red charging toward the loose ball.
The player lunged forward and struck the rebound into the net. He then raised both arms wildly in celebration and sprinted toward the stand filled with supporters, performing an exaggerated celebration.
Hleb!
Alexander Hleb had completed New Manchester United's comeback!
2-3!
Like all the New Manchester United supporters in the stand, Ethan leaped to his feet the moment the ball crossed the line and roared at the top of his lungs. Many fans immediately began singing the New Manchester United club anthem.
Gradually, the song spread throughout Christie Park Stadium!
In a match that could decide the fate of the championship, New Manchester United had produced yet another magnificent comeback!
But their attack was not over yet!
(To be continued.)