The ball was dead.
Pogba looked solemn. He closed his eyes, then opened them a moment later, as though he had finished solving a math problem.
Suddenly.
He raised a hand and pointed at Maguire in the distance, shouting to his Juventus teammates, "Play behind that big idiot! That's the key to breaking them down!"
"Everything is under my control!"
His Juventus teammates looked exasperated. Wasn't this so-called "breakthrough" routine of his just an imitation of what Li Luo used to do?
Maguire smoothed his hair and gave Rakitic and Malanda a thumbs-up. "Nice work, lads."
"..."
Rakitic was constantly thinking during matches, even when the ball was dead.
He couldn't help thinking: Manchester United play like an elite club, pressing high. Their center-backs need to turn quickly, cover laterally, chase back at speed, be agile and mobile, think clearly, and fit perfectly into Li Luo's system...
A center-back with Maguire's attributes? Wouldn't he only realize his full potential at a mid-table or lower-table club?
Just like some goalkeepers who are excellent shot-stoppers but can't establish themselves at an elite club.
"A corner for Juventus."
Pjanić stood by the corner flag and raised his hand.
A three-step run-up.
Smack!
The ball rose off the ground, spinning fiercely through the air as it traced a sharp curve toward Manchester United's penalty area.
The spectators were excited.
In FIFA 2017 and PES, the Bosnian midfielder's passing ratings were on par with De Bruyne's and Çalhanoğlu's, all among the very best active midfielders in football.
Manchester United's penalty area was fraught with tension.
Chiellini and Benatia were poised to strike.
These two aggressive, front-foot defenders had overlapping defensive roles, demanding an exceptionally unified approach to defending.
But.
When attacking set pieces.
Both of them offered a serious goal threat!
Powerful