Chapter 196: She Came to See My Game
The Red Devils return from Sevilla to host defending champions Chelsea at Old Trafford in the 28th round of the Premier League at the weekend.
One of the highlights of this game is undoubtedly how the two coaches Mourinho and Conte continue the war of words for more than a year.
The war of words between the two dates back to October 2016, when Chelsea swept Jose Mourinho's Manchester United 4-0 in the Premier League at home.
After the referee blew the final whistle, Mourinho said to Antonio during his routine handshake with Antonio Conte: "If it's 1-0, you can get so carried away and celebrate, but at 4-0 you should be more restrained, otherwise you're humiliating me and my team." β
However, Mourinho may have forgotten his sliding kneeling celebration at the Camp Nou......
Conte is leading Chelsea through intense preparations ahead of the start of the season and does not want a repeat of Jose Mourinho's tragedy of leading the team into the new season as defending champions, only to fall into the relegation zone and be sacked. Speaking to reporters, he said: 'Two years ago, Chelsea finished 10th and I don't want that to happen again. We all know how difficult the defending champions are facing in the new season and at this point I want to avoid another 'Muhammad tragedy' at Chelsea. β
Conte's remarks made Mourinho very angry, and he openly retorted to the Italian coach in front of the media: "I can respond to Conte's remarks in many ways, but I don't want to do it. Because of talking about topics related to Conte, I would have severe hair loss. β
In October last year, Manchester United defeated the Portuguese Super League giants Benfica in the Champions League group stage, and in the post-match press conference, Mourinho openly "fired", although the Red Devils coach did not scold Conte by name, but everyone clearly knew that the "madman" was attacking the Italian coach at that time: "I never cry because of injuries, because in my opinion, the best way to solve the problem is to forget all the disadvantages and concentrate on the part of the players who can play." If I complain and cry like some of my peers, then I can cry for a long time. But I definitely wouldn't do that. β
After hearing Mourinho's comments, Conte responded: "I think he should focus on his team and concentrate on his job and not always care about other people, other teams. In my opinion, a lot of times Mourinho has always given a lot of attention to Chelsea, which is obviously very abnormal because he is now the manager of Manchester United. In fact, Mourinho has been concerned about Chelsea since last season and I think that's not appropriate and he should focus more on his team. β
In late October last year, when the British media questioned that Jose Mourinho had lost his passion for professional football, the United boss responded: "Just because I didn't move around the pitch like a psychopath, you say I've lost my passion for professional football? As a coach, I'm more inclined to express my passion in a way that I like to be, in short, I want to express myself in a more mature way, because it's better for me and for the whole team. In my opinion, the way to behave like a madman on the sidelines is not passion at all. β
It was clear that Mourinho was insinuating a taunt to Antonio Conte, as the Chelsea boss simply couldn't stop from the sidelines in any game. In response to Mourinho's ridicule, Conte said: "I think Mourinho should look back at what he did back then, and in my opinion, his remarks are exactly what he did back then. Some people tend to forget what they have done and said before, and I don't know how to express that in English, which in Italian is 'Alzheimer'. β
Conte later changed his tune and said that he was not talking about "dementia" but "amnesia".
After beating Derby County in the FA Cup in early January, Mourinho took his war of words with Conte to a whole new level, when he made it clear that Conte had been suspected of manipulating the Italian professional league in 2012: "Some people have been suspended for manipulating matches, this has never happened to me in the past and never will happen. β
Conte, on the other hand, responded: "What is a villain? Without knowing the truth at all, he rashly attacked the person he wanted to attack, this is the villain, this is the villain's behavior. Jose Mourinho was such a villain in the past, he is still a villain, and I can assure you that Mourinho will always be such a villain in the future. Overall, Mourinho is a very low man, and everyone knows that. β
All in all, the war of words between Mourinho and Conte has come and gone, and neither shows weakness, but on the pitch, winning is the last word.
Given that Conte is very likely to be swept away by Abou at the end of the season, this meeting between Manchester United and Chelsea is very likely to be the last chance for the two sides to face each other to decide the winner, and Mourinho and Conte are also gearing up and ready for everything!
Antonio Conte is confident of wrestling with Jose Mourinho, naturally because the Blues have been strong enough recently.
Chelsea also participated in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals in midweek, drawing 1-1 at home, but their opponents were a much better side than Sevilla, Barcelona, and Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three matches with two wins and one draw.
This "red and blue battle" is the highlight of this round of the Premier League, judging from the starting lineups of the two managers, Pogba on Manchester United's side got the opportunity to start, Ozil and Martial were separated on both sides, and Dai Zhiwei was in the center as a single arrow.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are led by Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, with Alvaro Morata and Cesc Fabregas both on the bench.
Before the game, Mourinho took the initiative to shake hands with Conte to resolve the conflict, but unfortunately Dai Zhiwei clearly remembered that just 5 minutes ago, Mourinho also gave a death order in the dressing room that he must win against Chelsea!
It is worth mentioning that former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney appeared in the stands at Old Trafford to watch the game.
Manchester United starting line-up: David De Gea; Valencia, Lindelof, Bailly, Ashley Young; Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay; Mesut Ozil, Dai Zhiwei, Anthony Martial
Chelsea starting line-up: Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Drinkwater, Alonso; Willian, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard
Carla Delevei has no shortage of opportunities to watch sports, even after watching the Champions League final and NBA playoffs live many times, she is still impressed by the enthusiasm of the fans at Old Trafford, and she is now singing "Glory_glory_Man_United," the world-famous team anthem of Manchester United, under which the Red Devils have created many miracles.
The rich and varied cheering chorus is also a beautiful and attractive scenery of English football.
Of course, no club's anthem can compare to Liverpool's "You Never Walk Alone".
Just as Carla Delevei was savoring the singing of the Manchester United fans, there was a sudden commotion at Old Trafford, which was captured by the camera lens, and finally found that the Manchester United players had come out to warm up.
Carla Delevei excitedly searched for Dai Zhiwei's figure, and soon found him standing in the center circle, as if thinking something.
Although he has now become a superstar in the Premier League, even if he gets the world, he is also a football superstar, it stands to reason that Dai Zhiwei should be much calmer in the Premier League, but Dai Zhiwei still feels a little nervous and excited, not only because the opponent is Manchester United, but also because there is "her" attention today.
Dai Zhiwei stood on the court and took a deep breath, trying to get himself back to his former form.
Anthony on the sidelines stared at Dai Zhiwei and frowned: "Dai, I found that you often add drama to yourself now!" β
"You know!" Dai Zhiwei replied angrily, the deep image he had tried his best to create before was gone.
With the strong cheers of Manchester United fans, the high-profile highlight of this round of Premier League has finally begun.
Mourinho and Conte sat in the coach's seat with their chests crossed, looking full of ambition, and the figures of the two in the camera near and far reflected the momentum of the two, but the two really had some confidence in their hearts.
As he was ready to play, Dai had already figured out that after scoring the goal, he would run to Carla Delevei's stands on the side of the pitch to show her masculine beauty and turn her off the straight.
Dai Zhiwei has never used any romantic way to celebrate, after all, he is not a 2B youth, but now he is occasionally impulsive!
People don't take young people lightly!
If it hadn't been for that, he would have beaten Chelsea, but he probably wouldn't have worked so hard, and although they were sworn enemies in the same city, it wasn't worth the effort.
However, at this moment, Dai Zhiwei must burst out all his energy, otherwise he is afraid that he will not be able to complete the task of saving the girl who came out of the closet!
Thereupon......
From the first minute of the game, there was a relentless Dai Zhiwei at Old Trafford, who showed a hunger to score that could even chill the defenders around him.
'Dai Zhiwei, he received a pass from Anthony Martial and he had his back to goal...... Turned around! β
The voice of the on-site narrator suddenly increased.
Not only him, but also the voices in the stands at Old Trafford suddenly increased a lot.
Manchester United's attack has reached a critical juncture!
Just five minutes into the game, Eden Hazard's powerful shot from 20 yards was saved by David De Gea, and then Pogba quickly counter-attacked and crossed from the right, and Dai Zhiwei half-turned and volleyed it straight away.
"Turn around, shoot!"
In the announcer's lengthened roar, the ball whizzed towards the goal and eventually hit the post!
βbangοΌβ
Dai Zhiwei's shot sent the Blues in a cold sweat, but they fought back decisively.
Two minutes later, Eden Hazard's cross from the right was met by Lukaku's header from 11 yards ahead of Eric Bailly, but it was saved by De Gea.
With all the focus on attacking, Chelsea's three lines were pressed forward, leaving more opportunities for Dai Zhiwei.
Victor Lindelof played a long ball from the back of the field through midfield and headed straight for the edge of Chelsea's penalty area.
Dai Zhiwei ran to grab a point, but was pulled by Christensen, and he was just a fingernail away from touching the football.
The ball slipped in front of him and was easily tucked into the arms of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Christensen was very cunning this time, he didn't keep pulling, but was very experienced when Dai Zhiwei pushed his legs forward, reached out and tugged at the hem of the opponent's jersey.
But this is enough.
Dai Zhiwei was just about to exert his strength, but he was dragged by Christensen like this, and the strength could not be released, and the leg kick out was not as far as before, so it was a little short, and he didn't touch the football.
Moreover, Christensen's pull also disrupted his pace and rhythm, preventing him from making timely shots.
This foul is not big, and if the referee has a bad angle, he can't see it at all.
Even if you watch the replay, no one can say whether Christensen's pull-down person really played a key role, and it is just a meaningless war of words.
All in all, Christensen's defensive small moves are experienced and effective.
Although Dai Zhiwei is angry, he has to admit that sometimes small actions are also a kind of defensive technique.
Of course, like the malicious and hurtful actions of the four villains of the Super League, it can only be regarded as a hooligan fight, and they are used to rough hurting work, so even if sometimes subjectively it is not intentional, but hurting people has become their instinct.
After Manchester United broke the ball, they played a quick counterattack again, and the football fell to Dai Zhiwei after three passes and two downs.
At this time, Dai Zhiwei faced the goal head-on, and the distance from the penalty area was less than 10 meters.
Kante is in front, lowering the center of gravity to prevent Dai Zhiwei from breaking through, after all, in the current rankings of various outstanding masters, Dai Zhiwei is recognized as one of the best kings with plates, and Kante has to be careful.
But this time Kante miscalculated, Dai Zhiwei didn't have any fancy feints, and directly picked up his thick right leg during the run, and picked it up to shoot a tiger!
Kante didn't expect Dai Zhiwei to shoot so resolutely and decisively, without even the slightest adjustment, he shot directly in the middle of the ball, he didn't have time to block it with his body, and the football had already flown past him.
He hurriedly looked back with a little horror in his heart - don't go in!
(End of chapter)