For example, arranging dedicated man-to-man marking specifically for players like Wang Shuo, Messi, or Ronaldo. But this was rare. The ability to seamlessly switch between man-to-man marking and zonal defending, along with the speed of help defense, was a key indicator of a team's defensive level. Most importantly, defending and attacking were fundamentally different.
A few very ordinary players could completely build a mature, World-level defensive line through tacit defensive positioning and teamwork. This was exactly why Ferguson had always refused to bring in new midfielders and defenders! Because he believed that as long as the current batch of Manchester United players were developed and formed a tacit understanding, they could build a World-level defensive line.
