On Wednesday, Gordon attended England's pre-match press conference ahead of their match against Spain. In the fourth section of the pre-match conference (due to its length, we have divided it into five parts), he reflected on the World Cup semifinal against Argentina.
Related links:
【Gordon: England doesn't have the ball possession that Spain has, but we have our own advantages】
Sorry to bring up the semifinal again; people are still discussing that match. Were you surprised when you were substituted?
To be honest, yes, I was surprised, because I had just scored a goal. I'm the type of player who thrives on adrenaline. After scoring, my confidence soars, and I enter an unstoppable state, feeling on top of the world. Especially on such a big stage, I was in peak form at that moment.
However, as a winger, substitution is quite common. The winger position is often where managers make their first tactical adjustments. Substitute wingers on the bench are typically quick and powerful, and managers want to inject fresh legs to attack the opponent. Of course, this substitution had special significance, but generally speaking, wingers are frequently substituted, and I'm used to it.
There's been considerable controversy about Tuchel's tactical adjustments in the second half, particularly in the final 30 minutes. Did the entire team clearly understand the tactical instructions during the halftime break? Did everyone have the same understanding going into the final phase?
It's difficult. We always prepare with the mindset and tactics we've refined in training. But I felt that in a competitive match, we couldn't execute at the same level as in training. If we could, we would dominate every opponent, but reality isn't like that; every match is a tough battle.
Even against Norway, I felt the opposition wasn't as strong as us, and we could completely control the game, but we failed to do so. So I understand the manager's choice to adopt a safer, more defensive approach, continuing the strategy that helped us progress through the first two rounds. Outsiders might not understand, but as part of the team, I do.
As players, we should take more responsibility and actively control the game. If we do that, the manager wouldn't need to make conservative choices. In football, everyone always blames the manager; the manager always bears responsibility. But in my view, the countless split-second decisions made on the pitch shouldn't be placed entirely on one person's shoulders.
In the semifinal, we had our strongest lineup on the pitch, but we didn't perform well in the final 20 minutes. That's something very difficult for a manager to intervene in from the sideline. As a team, everyone must share the responsibility; we shouldn't blame the manager who was doing his best to lead the team to victory and a championship.
You mentioned the difference in playing style between Spain and England. Playing alongside attacking teammates at Barcelona, how has your playing style evolved?
My playing style has indeed evolved. At Newcastle, under Eddie Howe, it was a completely different style: high intensity, attacking and defending in rapid succession, and crazy pace. But at Barcelona, with so much ball possession, the tempo of play slows down, and we often dictate matches. I needed to adapt to this new style.
However, I've played a similar possession-based style while with England's youth teams, so it wasn't entirely unfamiliar. I've always valued football intelligence and making good decisions. Sometimes I need to be a bit more selfish, but that's not my personality. Barcelona has been a perfect fit for me and has allowed people to see strengths I previously had overlooked. People only thought about my speed and pressing intensity, but my skill set goes far beyond those two aspects.
Diterjemahkan oleh AI.
Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com
Inggris
Barcelona
Thomas Tuchel
Anthony Gordon
Semua Komentar