Chapter 78

The success of the wing forward's cut-inside is guaranteed by the sufficient threat posed in the penalty area, which can significantly pull the opponent's defense and create space. However, with Gudjohnsen's departure, Chelsea's dominance in the opponent's penalty area undoubtedly decreased significantly.

After Gudjohnsen was sent off, Chelsea, who were already more focused on attack than defense, found their offense hindered and their defense stretched thin, putting them at a disadvantage. Especially when Porto's players saw that Chelsea had one man fewer, the hope of advancing in the Champions League appeared in their minds, and they played with unprecedented passion. Particularly, Fernandez, who was no ordinary player, immediately took advantage of the situation, directing the team to press forward and attack!

For a while, Chelsea's goal was under constant threat. Fortunately, the central defensive partnership of Terry and Cannavaro, though not tall, had excellent positioning, reliable awareness, and precise tackles. Their excellent jumping ability made them unafraid of aerial balls, and with Cech's outstanding goalkeeping, they barely maintained a 0-0 score.

Playing with one man fewer was not a new situation for Chelsea, but being so passive on the field was a first. This was a complete reversal of Chelsea's usual style, where they dominated the opponent's half. Now, they were practicing their defensive and offensive drills in their own half!

"Those who live by the sword die by the sword!" CCTV5 commentator Huang Jianxiang suddenly blurted out, leaving the guest commentator Zhang Lu stunned.

The fundamental reason was the one-man disadvantage, but another factor was that Jowan Xian did not want to use Source No. 1 today. Lastly, it was due to Porto's 4-3-3 formation! In this era, 4-2-3-1 was just in its infancy, and the 4-4-2 formation, which balanced attack and defense, was the mainstream in world football. Mourinho's rise to fame in the past two years was because he used the retro 4-3-3 formation!

A UEFA Cup and a UEFA Champions League had shown the Porto club's management the power of the 4-3-3 formation, so they explicitly stated that the new coach must continue Mourinho's 4-3-3 tactics!

In this match, Fernandez almost replicated Mourinho's invincible tactics from last season. The three midfielders formed a meat grinder-like barrier, with Costinha and Maniche being like bulldozers. Chelsea's midfield lacked the dynamic breakthroughs of Kaka, and Parker was still young. Relying solely on Lampard's playmaking was clearly insufficient.

When Porto's formation pressed forward, the three beast-like midfielders made it difficult for Chelsea to adapt, making it hard to organize effective attacks. Any attempt at smooth cooperation was met with fierce and desperate tackles from the Porto players.

Jowan Xian watched for five minutes from the sidelines and then returned to his seat with a stern expression.

Boas was extremely anxious about the passive situation and, thinking of Gudjohnsen's red card, sighed and muttered, "If we had sent on the Finn Foe, this situation wouldn't have happened!"

Jowan Xian glared and said in a deep voice, "Are you blaming me?"

"N... No... I just think that Gudjohnsen has let us down..." Boas stammered.

Jowan Xian ignored Boas and took out his phone.

"Chelsea is now being comprehensively outplayed by Porto. Although they haven't scored yet, maintaining this momentum, a goal is inevitable! We have three top forwards on the field and even Quaresma on the bench! So far, we can breathe a sigh of relief and prepare for the Champions League round of 16!" Porto's commentator was smug, then his eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "Oh, my God! Look, what is Jowan doing? He's making a phone call! Hmm... It seems this young coach is at a loss and is seeking help from the audience..."

On the field, coaches usually use phones only under special circumstances, such as when they are not on the sidelines, to remotely command the team, and they avoid the media's cameras. However, Jowan Xian never followed the rules. He knew that media experts were very skilled and could even read lips, so he carefully covered his mouth while on the phone.

He directly called Chelsea's CEO, Kenyon.

"Xian?" Kenyon was watching Chelsea's match on TV and was surprised to receive Jowan Xian's call.

Jowan Xian's voice was calm, "I have something to tell you. This winter, let Gudjohnsen leave the team!"

"Huh?" Kenyon was stunned, and even Boas, who had been eavesdropping, was shocked, looking at Jowan Xian with surprise, "This... This is a bit harsh, isn't it?"

Kenyon's mind raced, as if he hadn't thought it through, "Mr. Xian, Gudjohnsen made a mistake, and we all feel sorry for him. But with Owen injured, the team is already short of forwards. If we sell him... it might affect the team's performance."

"He has already severely impacted this match and the subsequent plans!" Jowan Xian roared, then took a deep breath and said in a tone that brooked no argument, "This is my decision. If you want him to rot on the bench and don't care about the transfer fee, you can keep him."

He rudely hung up the phone, took a deep breath, and turned to Boas, asking quietly, "What do you think... what adjustments should we make to change the situation on the field?"

Through that phone call, Boas felt Jowan Xian's resolve and charisma for the first time. For such an excellent player like Gudjohnsen, he could so easily decide to let him go!

"As a coach, a strong stance and a tough style are essential!" Boas learned another lesson from Jowan Xian.

Boas frowned at the chaotic play on the field and cautiously suggested, "The team lacks the attacking and passing abilities of Kaka and Joe Cole, which reduces our offensive power. However, both of them have some physical issues. If they play in this match, they risk injury, and they might be overextended in the next match against Arsenal."

Jowan Xian sneered, "A small Porto isn't worth the risk!"

At that moment, Jowan Xian's eyes gleamed, and he stood up, shouting to the bench, "Grima, go warm up!"

Grima had transferred from Real Madrid last season for £6.9 million and was a versatile player in the midfield and defense. He was particularly strong in defense, with the unique resilience and energy of an African player, making him an indispensable substitute in Chelsea's star-studded lineup.

Jowan Xian had already planned the team's next tactical changes. Using Grima's strong tackling ability, he would pair him with Makelele to form a "black blender" in the midfield, to counter Porto's three midfielders. By disrupting Porto's midfield, the flanks, with the strong attacks of Rooney, Bridge, Ramos, and Duff, could regain control of the game.

"Chelsea's substitute is warming up, it's Grima, number 14. He has played 11 times this season and is a versatile defensive player. But who will he replace?... Woof, it's Scott Parker! The Englishman who partnered with Lampard as a double playmaker in this match! It seems even the magical Jowan is at a loss, and he is determined to hold on to a point!"

In the 29th minute of the first half, the fourth official raised the electronic board, and Chelsea made their first substitution of the match: Grima on, Parker off!

Grima sprinted onto the field, a signature move, and then went directly to Makelele's side, whispering just two words: "Disrupt!"

Disrupt Porto's midfield advantage, create chaos, and ideally, force both sides to abandon central attacks and focus on the flanks, giving Chelsea the most space to play.

Makelele was already one of the world's top defensive midfielders. Costinha and Maniche could barely contain him, and with Diego occasionally joining in, Chelsea's midfield defense was completely broken, allowing Porto to launch a full-scale attack. However, with Grima's entry, paired with Makelele, they formed a double defensive barrier, immediately putting pressure on Porto's midfield, reducing their attacks!

If Costinha and Maniche could handle Makelele, adding Grima made it difficult for the Portuguese midfielders to cope. These two black giants, like fierce beasts baring their fangs, were not to be underestimated, even with Diego's involvement.

Soon, the center of the Porto pitch was a mess of churned-up grass.

Brazilian midfielder Diego, only 19 years old, had transferred from Santos for €8 million this season and was full of energy. Seeing the intense midfield battle involving Makelele, Grima, Costinha, and Maniche, he wanted to join in. However, after being knocked around by Grima and Makelele a few times, he limped to the flanks.

With Grima on the field, the previously suppressed Makelele finally showed his top-class defensive midfield skills. The "double menace" of Makelele and Grima, like the combination of Zhang Fei and Li Kui, was formidable and devastating! Porto's numerical advantage was instantly nullified!

"... The magical Jowan made a magical substitution that turned the tide! The performance of Grima and Makelele is enough to flatten all of Porto, and the entire Dragon Stadium must bow to them!" The London commentator, who had been sighing just a few minutes earlier, was now beaming and singing their praises, "What does it matter if we are one man down? We have the great Mr. Jowan! The legendary Jowan Xian, invincible!"

---

Page break for ads

---

Page break for ads end