"If we aim for fourth place in the league."

"Then we might end up in fifth, or even further back."

"Third place!" Fang Jue wrote on the whiteboard, 'Third. ’

'The goal is next season's Champions League and we should now aim for third place.

All the players nodded.

To achieve a given goal, you have to set the bar higher at the beginning.

Everyone understands this.

At the beginning of the season, Fang Jue told the players that their goal was to finish third.

No, even if he says the goal is fourth.

None of them convinced the whole team.

However, now, Fang Jue said such a thing, which is enough to convince and agree with the vast majority of players.

Because Aston Villa is currently ranked fourth in the league, the same point as Arsenal in third place, at this time, the goal is third, and there are achievements as capital support.

And, there is a very important point.

Although the media is ridiculing Aston Villa for robbing the rich and giving to the poor, it is undeniable that successive victories over Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have raised the morale of the whole team.

Winning against the big clubs is the fastest way for a team to boost their morale and self-confidence.

And this 3-0 victory over Sunderland further strengthened the team's confidence when facing the middle and lower teams.

There was one point, Fang Jue didn't say it, he was afraid that it would not have a good impact if it was spread out.

That is, Fang Jue is trying to avoid Aston Villa finishing fifth in the final stage of the season and having to compete with Arsenal for a fourth place.

Fang Jue has carefully studied the Premier League's competition for four in the last four years.

In the previous four seasons, Arsenal had finished third once and fourth three times.

Especially in the second half of the game, Arsenal will burst out with huge energy when they grab the fourth place.

Fang Jue didn't understand why this was the case.

Why did Arsenal go crazy until the end of the season?

However, it is clear that Aston Villa will want to avoid fighting Arsenal, who have become 'race for four' in the second half of the season.

So, there is only one way, to be ranked above Arsenal, at least third, and to widen the gap with Arsenal as much as possible.

……

After the day's training.

Team captain Petrov found Beckham.

"Are you free for the evening, David?"

"Evening." Beckham was stunned for a moment, then immediately smiled and said, "Yes." ”

Originally, he had an appointment for a magazine interview on this evening, but Beckham was smart enough to immediately decide to postpone the interview for the time being.

He knew that the captain of the team asked this question, it must have been arranged, and it was likely to be a group event.

David Beckham has never been naïve enough to think that because he is a big-name player and has a good relationship with old buddies like Ruud van Nistelrooy, he can have privileges and ignore group activities.

"Great." Petrov said happily, "Everyone has prepared a welcome party, and everyone can bring their families with them." ”

"Welcome party? For me? ”

"Of course, you're part of the team, welcome to the party of the Vera collective." "It's not a formal banquet, it's just a get-together. ”

"It's an honor." Beckham nodded, he glanced at Fang Jue and the others not far away, "Will the coach go?" ”

"No, it's our party." Petrov smiled and said, "The coach went, and everyone couldn't have fun." ”

"No problem, I'll be there on time in the evening." Beckham said.

Hearing Beckham say this, seeing that his attitude is very enthusiastic, everyone is very happy, and at first there were some people who worried that Beckham would not be so gregarious.

David Beckham told his wife that the evening magazine interview had been cancelled.

Victoria was still a little angry.

However, when Beckham said he was attending a welcome party hosted for him by his teammates, he invited his family to join him.

Victoria's attitude immediately changed, and she immediately called her familiar hairstylist.

Victoria has always been 'defensive' against Beckham, she knows how popular her husband is, and she is worried about what kind of bewitching sword goods Beckham will provoke.

Since it's a party that you can bring your family to, Victoria will only welcome it.

She also understands that such an invitation to a party means that her husband has begun to integrate into the team.

Of course, England's teams, especially the England national team, are a unique culture.

Victoria loves to party, and she needs to dress up.

……

"How's yesterday's party?" Fang Jue asked.

"Everybody's happy." Beckham said, thought about it and added, "The atmosphere in the team is good and I love it. ”

"Hmm." Fang Jue nodded, "If you have any difficulties in life, you can find me at any time." ”

This is also to show an attitude, Beckham naturally will not have any difficulties in life.

However, he had to receive the kindness of his coach.

Seeing that Beckham had left, Fang Jue smiled and shook his head.

He had heard that at yesterday's party, David Beckham's celebrity wife was dressed up.

Moreover, this woman is very good at things, and soon the focus of the whole audience is to chat with the wives and girlfriends of the players, and introduce them to the latest cosmetics and luxury goods.

A delicate little gift was also given to every lady present.

Although the media has been criticizing Victoria, from Fang Jue's point of view, Beckham and Victoria, the star couple, are indeed very compatible.

Regardless of the private life of this team of couples, in public, this celebrity couple is very smart and very good at behaving in the world.

That's enough.

……

December 19th.

2009/2010 Premier League round 19.

Aston Villa host Stoke City.

Before the game, when the two managers shook hands, Stoke City manager Tony Murphy shook hands. Pulis patted Fang Jue's shoulder, "Good job, come on." ”

This headless and endless words made Fang Jue a little confused.

It felt like being patted on the shoulder by an old leader.

"What's the situation?" Fang Jue asked Werner.

Werner has been with Aston Villa for many years and is well aware of a lot of English football.

Werner smiled and explained.

It turns out that Stoke City manager Toney? Palis is a big contempt for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who hates the way they play.

Correspondingly, Arsene Wenger also hates Stoke City's style of play, which he thinks is rough and outdated.

As far as football is concerned, they are opposing sides.

The two have also attacked each other many times in the media, to be exact, it was Pulis who repeatedly attacked Wenger, but the latter did not bother to pay attention, which only made Pulis even more angry.

It is more unpleasant to be ignored than to be scolded.

Pulis praised Aston Villa's good results and can be on the same points as Arsenal, and wishes Aston Villa can continue to work hard and press Arsenal.

This person is interesting.

However, after the game started, Fang Jue didn't think so.

He kind of understood why Wenger didn't like this man so much.

Stoke City played traditional English football, with players playing big and rough on the pitch.

Tony. Pulis definitely did not 'show mercy' because of the 'appreciation' of the other party.

Less than twenty minutes into the game, the pitch was flipped on its back, and the referee Anthony Murphy. Taylor has already shown three yellow cards.

In the first half of the game, the yellow card ratio between the two sides was 2-5!

Aston Villa's side, Sidwell and Albrighton were booked.

For Stoke City, Wilkinson, Laurentton, Etherington, Shawcross and Vlaar in the front line received yellow cards.

The two sides played to a 1-1 draw.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, who started today, opened the scoring for Aston Villa after receiving a cross from James Milner.

However, Stoke City equalised before half-time thanks to a goal from England's homegrown striker Beatty.