During halftime, Gao Bo didn't lose his temper despite conceding a goal. It was just one goal, and it came from a threatening corner kick attack by the opponent, so Gao Bo didn't have much to complain about.
He was mainly making arrangements for the second half's attack.
"In the second half, they will definitely play a resolute defensive counter-attack! If they get a chance to counter, the pressure on our flanks will be huge! N'Golo, you need to assess the situation and go to the flanks to help defend!!"
Kante nodded. His job was precisely defense and interception.
"In terms of attack in the second half, Antoine, look for shooting opportunities from outside. Create chances for Antoine in the final third. If they focus their attention on Antoine, then pass the ball to Jamie's feet!"
The players nodded in agreement.
The two forwards in the final third were the main focus of Luton's attack.
"Try to avoid mistakes as much as possible, and improve speed and efficiency!!" Gao Bo wrote and drew on the tactics board. "Be more active in your running, especially in the final third. Even if you lose the ball, don't let them pass it out easily!"
"Danny!! Make sure you defend De Rossi and don't let him have easy opportunities for long passes!" Gao Bo said to Drinkwater.
Drinkwater also nodded repeatedly.
"Kevin!! When we attack in the second half, tuck in a bit towards the middle, and let Carl come up to cross!!" Gao Bo drew a line on the right flank.
"Carl!! Your speed can be put to good use now. Remember! Don't easily abandon your defensive position. When there's an opportunity to attack on the flank, cross the ball! After passing, regardless of success, remember to track back!! Track back as quickly as possible! Understand?"
Carl Jenkinson nodded, "Understood, Boss!"
Carl's performance in this match couldn't be called good; he seemed a bit too nervous. In terms of defensive ability, Carl Jenkinson and Luton's other right-back, Mitchell Piran, were indeed a bit weaker, but he was very fast and very young, so Gao Bo still let Carl start. He needed this kind of experience in big matches.
The fifteen-minute halftime break quickly passed, and both teams reappeared on the pitch.
As Gao Bo had predicted, Roma immediately adopted a defensive counter-attacking stance from the start. For Roma,
all they wanted from this match was a victory. As for how they won, or whether the process was pretty, they didn't care!
Of course, Roma wasn't just defending; their counter-attacks were also very sharp.
Facing Roma's iron wall, Luton truly found it difficult to find a good solution for a while.
Griezmann attempted a few long shots from outside, but they all hit the defending players. While crosses could be put in from both sides, Roma's defense in the center was very dense, and the few Luton players who surged into the box to contest headers didn't gain much advantage.
Instead, Roma's counter-attacks were more threatening.
In the fiftieth minute of the match, Menez received a long pass from the back on the flank and cut directly into the penalty area. Then, he passed the ball towards the center inside the box.
Geoffrey reacted too slowly, the ball hit his arm, and bounced out for a goal kick.
The referee's whistle blew, and he pointed towards... the penalty spot!
Gao Bo on the sideline was very annoyed.
"Damn it...."
Gao Bo ran to the sideline.
"That was ball to hand!!! Did you even see clearly!!!"
Of course, Gao Bo didn't think this was a penalty. He shouted at the referee, causing the referee to frequently turn his gaze towards Gao Bo.
Ranieri, however, paid no attention to Gao Bo not far away; he was celebrating with his assistants.
Geoffrey, with a look of disbelief, went up to protest to the referee, but this obviously had no effect and instead earned him a yellow card.
Gao Bo wasn't overly agitated on the sideline. This penalty might cause his team to lose the match, but the second half had just started, and now wasn't the time to think about losing.
The first thing Gao Bo did was switch cards.
He immediately put on the card that increased the goalkeeper's save success rate!
The success rate of penalties is very high, and while this card could increase Schmeichel's save success rate, Gao Bo wasn't sure if he could actually save it.
Then he called out to the substitutes behind him: "Matt!! Go warm up!!!"
In this situation, Gao Bo absolutely had to attack. Matt, as a tall forward, could be useful when the team needed to attack!
Since he was putting Matt on, the corresponding supporting measures had to be put in place.
Gao Bo immediately temporarily exchanged a card in the card system. He still had over a hundred drawing opportunities, so he didn't feel any pain in exchanging cards.
[Match Card (Green): Crossing ability increased by 15%, designated player Adam White to use!]
While switching the card, he also called Adam over: "After Matt comes on, you pull out wide to create crosses!"
Adam nodded. He had been practicing his crossing quite well recently, and Gao Bo had even specifically enhanced his crossing ability.
The chaos on the pitch quickly subsided, and Menez stepped up to take the penalty himself. He placed the ball on the penalty spot.
"Menez to take this penalty! The situation is now very dangerous for Luton. If this penalty goes in..." Wright-Phillips stood up from the commentary box, his eyes fixed on Luton's penalty area.
The noise from the stands also quieted down considerably; everyone was watching the scene that was about to unfold in the box.
Menez had already started his run-up.
What would happen with this ball?
Could Schmeichel handle the pressure?
Just as everyone was starting to get nervous, after Menez's run-up, he paused, a change in rhythm, and then pushed the ball directly with his right foot!
"Schmeichel!!!!!!!!!!"
Wright-Phillips almost jumped up.
Luton fans also jumped up!
They saw Schmeichel leap, and then directly gathered the ball into his arms!
"Beautiful!! Schmeichel caught Menez's shot directly! A beautiful save!!!"
Wright-Phillips also leaped up in the stands.
Matt had finished warming up and was also raising his arms high, celebrating Schmeichel's save. However, he quickly realized, if the penalty had been saved, did he still need to come on?
The young man voiced his confusion.
Gao Bo laughed heartily after hearing him: "Of course you have to come on, we're still behind!"
"Go on!! Get into the center forward position, and use your header to score for us! Matt!!"
The young man was very excited after hearing this. He immediately took off his training vest and stood on the sideline, waiting to come on.
For Gao Bo, he had realized in the first half that if they slowly tangled with a cunning old fox like Ranieri, given Roma's inherent strength, Luton would have very few chances.
Roma had taken the lead, and they seemed calm and unhurried. Luton's young players found it difficult to compete with them in terms of match experience. At this moment, what was needed was courage and an adventurous spirit.
Gao Bo had never lacked in this regard, and he would soon let his opponents see his madness!