Benitez is a very methodical manager, and to some extent even stereotypical.

For example, every match morning is scheduled for a tactical meeting.

Liverpool arrived in Madrid the day before the game, and the temperature in the Iberian Peninsula was much warmer than in the north of England, and this sudden temperature difference made many players not particularly adaptable, and even one could fall ill at any time if he was not careful.

However, Liverpool are a seasoned team with most of the players in the squad and have travelled back and forth across Europe over the years, so they have their own set of strategies for away games.

That's the difference between a mature team and a young player.

On the morning of the matchday, Rafael Benitez held a tactical meeting in the hotel as usual, focusing on discussing the tactics against Real Madrid, but mainly to explain his thinking and framework, and the details will be announced in the dressing room before the game, as Benitez has always done.

In his words, he was afraid that the players would accidentally leak it out.

But one thing is very clear, that is, in this game, the key to Liverpool's victory will fall on Yang Yang.

The Red Army is known as Yang Yang's one-man team, which is not an exaggeration from the outside world, and even the team has acquiesced to this statement, and now, Crouch and Gerrard have been injured successively, and the Liverpool captain can only play as a substitute in this game, and Yang Yang's responsibility will be heavier.

Finally, the meeting was over, and everyone stood up.

Captain Gerrard also walked in front of Yang Yang and patted Yang Yang's shoulder vigorously, "This game is all up to you!" ”

Team doctor Mark Waller did not give the green light to Gerrard's last game, and reluctantly agreed to let him enter the squad, but Gerrard, as the spiritual leader of the team and the captain, can still play some role if he is allowed to go up when the situation cannot be opened for a long time.

What's more, Crouch is not there, Yang Yang will become the target of Real Madrid's focus, once Yang Yang can't break free from Real Madrid's cage, then Gerrard can properly share Yang Yang's defensive pressure after he comes on the field.

In any case, Gerrard is also a world-class midfield superstar.

"Don't worry, I'm here." Yang Yang replied with a smile.

"Are your legs okay?" Gerald asked with concern.

"A small injury, if it wasn't for Mark, I would have been on when we were against Manchester City."

Yang Yang's ankle is really fine, after all, after playing professional football for so many years, he has long learned how to protect himself.

Gerald was silent and didn't say anything, just looked at Yang Yang deeply.

Others may not know, but as the captain of Liverpool, he knows very well that this will be Yang Yang's last season in the team, and he can clearly feel that Yang Yang likes Liverpool from the bottom of his heart and wants to leave something for this city, this team, and this group of fans.

Therefore, this season, Yang Yang has been in very good shape, and he has been training extremely hard.

There are some things that need not to be said, and each other knows what to say.

……

Unlike usual, after the tactical meeting, Benitez did not let the players move freely in the hotel, but organized the players to go out and walk around the hotel.

Benitez is a native of Madrid, and in his words, it's a great city to walk in.

I don't know if it's because of his return to his hometown, or if he wants the players to soothe their emotions and relax and get rid of the tension before the tournament, the usually serious and reticent Spaniard has become a little talkative.

It was a sunny spring morning and the weather in Madrid was really much better than in England.

At the very least, the weather is as good as the morning is something that is rarely seen in the UK a few times a year.

Rafael Benitez and his players wandered through the streets and alleys of the hotel, occasionally introducing the surrounding buildings and the famous landmarks that the nearby roads lead to.

From the Royal Palace of Spain to the Prado Museum, from the Puerta del Sol to the Goddess of Harvest, from Calderón to the Bernabeu......

Benitez clearly knows a lot about the city, so much so that it was only at this moment that the players in the Liverpool squad suddenly discovered that he was really a Madridian, born and raised, and in his blood.

He made his career at Real Madrid, his coaching career at Real Madrid, and perhaps even the pursuit of his life is the distant, unreachable Bernabeu Stadium.

It's not uncommon to see stars in Madrid.

There are several professional teams here, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Getafe, Rayo Vallecano......

Especially with Florentino's Galactic Battleship era, meeting the world's top superstars on the streets of Madrid is nothing new, and has even become a topic of pride for all Madridians.

So when the residents of Madrid saw Liverpool players in civilian clothes strolling through the streets of Madrid, they were not surprised or even hostile to the upcoming showdown.

The team staff opened the way in front to avoid fans from crashing into the team, and all requests for autographs and group photos were declined, and the fans were very disciplined, just watching or taking pictures from a distance, and no one came up.

From time to time, there were shouts from the crowd to cheer on Liverpool's game tonight, but few would wish them a victory.

Yang Yang is Liverpool's number one star and the most popular among fans.

At first, I didn't feel anything, but as more and more people heard the wind surrounding them, some people began to shout slogans such as "Welcome to the Bernabeu", hoping that Yang Yang could join Real Madrid.

This made Yang Yang, who was walking among the players, somewhat embarrassed, and could only smile.

Perhaps seeing more and more people gathered around him, for fear that something would go wrong, or perhaps because the time was almost up, Benitez led the team around and returned to the hotel for lunch.

Subsequently, the players were given a two-hour break.

…………

…………

Just returned to the room, after Yang Yang turned on his mobile phone, he found that there were many text messages.

There were pre-match wishes from family and friends, as well as Su Ye's concern, and one of them was from Florentino.

"Welcome to Madrid! Hope to see your best tonight! ”

After reading the text message, Yang Yang smiled, it is obvious that the matter of Benitez leading the team to walk through the streets of Madrid has already spread, and the news that Florentino got as soon as possible shows that the Spanish business tycoon has connections here.

"Thank you! I'm going to do my best! Yang Yang replied.

"It's a beautiful city, I hope you can make good memories here!" Florentino was quick to reply.

This is a reply with a pun, Yang Yang naturally knows that he may not be wishing himself to win tonight, after all, Florentino is also a die-hard fan of Real Madrid, and he is more likely to look forward to the future.

"I hope so, too." Yang Yang replied briefly.

He has lived in southern China since he was a child, and although he has adapted to the climate of the Netherlands and England, he really does not like it, on the contrary, although he has not been to Spain very often, he prefers the climate here.

Of course, the more important thing is your own career development.

But these are things to think about later, and the most important thing for now is tonight's game.

Before the game, the Spanish media described Juande Ramos' Real Madrid side as an invincible Lions.

Up front, they have the strong and fast Gonzalo Higuain, an Argentine striker of Yang Yang's age who has a very strong ability to take chances, and is the top scorer in the Real Madrid team this season, which should not be underestimated.

There is also Raul, after the Real Madrid captain returned to the front line, his performance was also good, especially in the Champions League, Raul is the player with the most goals in the Champions League among the active players, and Yang Yang is chasing after Raul, which is also their competition to some extent.

There's Arjen Robben on the wing, a winger who has been doing so well at Chelsea and just as well since arriving at Real Madrid, but now playing more on the right flank, where he is a threat when he cuts inside.

On the contrary, it is Yang Yang's best friend Sneijder, because of the previous divorce, the whole person is in a slump, and now he can't play the main force.

Las Diarra and Gago, who play as Real Madrid's midfield duo, are also very good.

At the back, World Footballer of the Year Cannavaro is the lead, with Ramos, Pepe and Heinze partnered, and this defensive combination is second to none in the world, at least on the cards.

And this defensive line, which is known as the strongest in the Champions League, will be the challenge that Yang Yang will face tonight.

Without Crouch, a high school striker, and Gerrard, a powerful arm, Yang Yang had to face this group of wolf-like opponents alone.

…………

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The game started at 19:45 p.m.

But in fact, just after 19 o'clock, the stands at the Bernabeu Stadium were already full of people.

It was undoubtedly one of the most important games for Real Madrid so far this season, second only to the Century Derby.

Florentino appeared in the most expensive luxury box at the Bernabeu with the group of rich and famous people who attacked the fan club, and the fans at the scene applauded his appearance, and at the same time, many Real Madrid fans put up banners to welcome Yang Yang to the Bernabeu, which should be regarded as an invitation from Real Madrid fans to him.

In the warm-up training before the game, the atmosphere on both sides was very harmonious.

Liverpool is a team with a very deep Spanish atmosphere, the manager is Espanyol, the core Xavi Alonso and Arbeloa are also Spaniards, and the Real Madrid team Heinze, Robben and Las Diarra have all played in the Premier League before and are very familiar with each other.

Yang Yang and Sneijder, who is wearing Real Madrid's No. 10 jersey, are close friends, but unfortunately, the Dutch midfielder can only sit on the bench in this game, which has to be said to be a big pity.

When they met, Yang Yang also asked Sneijder about the current situation with concern, and the latter said that his private life problems have been solved, and he is also aware of the problem, and is trying to find opportunities, but if he wants to return to the main force, how easy is it to say?

And when the training was over, as soon as Liverpool's starting line-up was released, Benitez's line-up surprised again.

The king of the cup, who won by surprise, is not in vain.