Luca Toney's goal was also the only goal of the first half, but anyone who watched the game was clear that the score was not the only criterion for judging the game, and Portsmouth had little to do to fight back under Millwall's pressure.

Portsmouth wants to catch up, it's difficult.

If they don't concede in the first half, they have some hope of a draw, but after conceding they are too passive.

Portsmouth coach Redknapp understands the current situation very well, when there is no lag, the team can still rely on a hard work, try to defend, strive for a glimmer of hope, conceding a goal is different, such a passive game, will the team still have fighting spirit?

That's the most serious thing.

It's also hard for Redknapp now, and if he loses, he loses, and he worries that the loss will affect the overall morale, affect the mentality of the players, and in recent the subsequent games.

For Portsmouth, playing well in the league ahead of them can almost determine the final result, because after Christmas, it is fortunate that their results do not slip.

After returning to the dressing room and seeing a tired and out of breath player, Redknapp knew that tactical adjustments didn't matter, and he had to reduce the psychological pressure on his players.

"You've all been through the first half, how did it feel?" Redknapp began with a question, and then answered himself, "Tired! Very helpless! The opponent is strong! I used to be a player and I know how you feel. ”

"When you have a strong opponent, you have to face it. No matter how hard you try, there is no result in the end, in fact, it is very normal in football games, you are all mature players, you have experienced a lot of games, you should all know. ”

"It's nothing."

Redknapp made a nonchalant look, "It's normal! O Millwall! You've seen a lot of reports and a lot of comments about Millwall, but even the media that talk about Millwall will say, 'They're worthy of the league title', right? ”

"Are we eligible? No. You know, Millwall were the treble winners last season, they won the league, they won the Champions League, they beat AC Milan, Real Madrid, such a strong team, and they are sitting at home, what do we have to lose? ”

"I knew I was going to lose. Yes, I'm mentally prepared that this game is just an experience for you and to give you an idea of what it's like to play against the best team in the Premier League. The next opponent will be no more difficult than that. ”

"It's good for us. So in the second half, you try to adapt, don't try to win, just adapt to the game and experience the feeling of a tough game, which will help each of you and the mentality of the new season. ”

“……”

Redknapp not only cheered up the team, telling them that it was okay to lose the game, not to play with pressure, and also made targeted adjustments, but in the face of the gap in strength and the situation of backwardness, he could only let the team strengthen the blockade at the edge of the penalty area to limit the passing of Millwall's midfield, and the attack still needed to find counterattack opportunities.

After the start of the second half, Portsmouth showed tenacity, it didn't seem to be affected much, their defensive performance was tough, but defense and attack are relative, increasing defense requires sacrificing attack, Portsmouth put on a dead end.

The Portsmouth players really don't care about winning or losing.

Before the game, they were hoping to draw or even win against Millwall to prove that Portsmouth are not easy to deal with, but now that the score is behind and the opponents are doing quite well, they have almost no chances, so as manager Redknaps said, they just need to adapt to the game, experience the top teams in the Premier League, and then meet opponents who are easy to deal with, and it will feel much better.

Millwall and Portsmouth started a half-court offensive and defensive battle, and in the process of continuous attack and defense, Portsmouth occasionally got chances, and the individual ability of striker Nugent was not bad, and after receiving a pass from a teammate, he also made two threats, although he did not get a chance to shoot, but it also made Millwall's defense vigilant.

That's all.

Nugent was Portsmouth's only force to resist, and when Millwall focused on defence, Nugent had little to do, he could only stand up front and watch the goal fall into crisis after crisis.

In the 71st minute, Millwall scored again.

This time it was a corner kick that Simpsons took in with a foot ball that was hoisted into the middle of the box, and Zambrotta, who was cut in from behind, rushed up to head the ball straight into the back of the net.

"Pretty crisp!"

The media commentator spoke highly of the goal, "Zambrotta! As a defender, chances to score were very rare, and this time Zambrotta went up to fight for the goal and used his header to help Millwall. ”

'From this game, we can see that Millwall have improved on the high ground compared to last season. Last season, it was not visible that they had a few headers, but now they have repeatedly used high balls to find opportunities, which should be attributed to the addition of striker Toney, a player with excellent header ability, and his height of 1.93 meters also supports his aerial advantage. ”

"The other Millwall players, including Morris, Simpson and others, are not very good at heading, Vardy is also very average, and he has a lot of contentions, but most of them cooperate with his teammates, and there are not many direct headers."

"The addition of Tony has made Millwall's air strike capabilities, coupled with the addition of Zambrotta, Millwall's opponents should also pay more attention to air defense......"

————

The rest of the game ended in a battle between Millwall and Portsmouth, with Zambrotta's header becoming the final goal of the game.

2 to 0.

Millwall beat their first opponent in the league.

After the game, Zhang Yang and Redknapp shook hands amicably, the two were friends in private, and when they became opponents during the game, they would definitely be hostile to each other before the game, because they represented their respective teams, but when the game was over, everything was over.

When Redknapp shook hands with Zhang Yang, he said with a wry smile, "I really didn't expect that Millwall would be so strong, worthy of last season's 'treble', you can probably get very good results this season, right?" ”

"Thank you." Zhang Yang smiled, "Portsmouth is not bad......"

"You don't have to compliment my team, that's pretty much sarcasm." Redknapp interrupted, "My team, I understand, should not be a big problem with relegation, it depends on luck to play well, but there is certainly no hope of competing for the top few places." After watching this race, I knew that the media was talking nonsense and I was sure you could get the best results. ”

What does the best score mean?

Champions, of course!

In the face of such praise, Zhang Yang just smiled, for him, the championship is definitely to be pursued, but it is not the only pursuit, it is more important to break the undefeated record and complete the system task, and the league has achieved good results in the process, and sincerity is only incidental.

At the post-match press conference, Zhang Yang praised Portsmouth again, "We saw in the game that Portsmouth are a very tenacious team, and if anyone treats them as promotion horses, it is definitely a big mistake!" ”

'Even though we won the game, Portsmouth were also doing well and if they kept going with that look at the league they would probably have lost to them.

After admiring Portsmouth, Zhang Yang kept silent about his team.

There is almost only one topic for the media to ask - the new formation, how could Zhang Yang reveal the new formation to the media in advance? When the time comes, won't the whole world know what the characteristics of the new formation are, let them analyze it slowly, and when they really analyze it, it's like last season's 451 'double core' style of play, and the season is almost over.

The opponents they face during the season and don't know how to deal with Millwall are the best for the team.

Zhang Yang also commented on some players, he praised Luca Toney for his excellent performance, "He is in great shape, I believe that the combination of Luka and Jamie will be the best striker combination!" ”

On Zambrotta, "he's been consistent and it's not a surprise to score. ”

To Braniff, "Kevin was on the bench for this game, but it was nothing, just a normal rotation and I couldn't count on a player every game, even though he was very good. ”

Wait a minute.

After the game, the British media reported on Millwall's performance, and many foreign media reported on Millwall's performance, because Millwall is the defending champion of the Champions League in the new season, which is something that many foreign teams need to pay attention to.

Most of the European media did not arrange Millwall to be the 'favorite to win the Champions League', one of them thought that Millwall was similar to Porto, it was a small club, and it was God blessed to win the Champions League once in a while.

The second is, winning two Champions Leagues in a row?

Even the top teams dare not say that, Millwall wants to continue to win the Champions League, "it's simply impossible!" ”

Many media assert.

But Millwall's strength is still worth affirming, and many teams may meet Millwall in the Champions League, so it doesn't hurt to know the opponent's form in advance.

This season, Millwall will be covered by foreign media much more than last season.

This is the embodiment of the expansion of influence.

————

There has always been a lot of reporters in front of the Millwall club, and they are looking for opportunities to interview the players, and even the manager, and as the league unfolds and Millwall performs well, the number of reporters has proliferated, and a large group of reporters will arrive every morning, even if they know that Millwall are not in open training, they will stand there and wait for their opportunity.

The group of reporters is not only small and medium-sized media in the UK, but also many large media and foreign media.

For the last two years, Millwall's news has always been fascinating.

The reporters were all standing outside the door, looking a little pitiful, they always applied to enter the viewing training, or applied to enter the interview, but every time they got the reply was a refusal.

Zhang Yang will not let reporters watch the training casually.

Now Millwall's tactical training is still in the 'secrecy period', other clubs don't understand the team's style of play, it is the most beneficial to the team, the game can be easier, the opponent is not easy to make targeted arrangements, if everyone knows Millwall's style of play, the tactics are thoroughly studied, then the game will become much more difficult, and when you are unlucky, it is possible to lose.

Zhang Yang will try his best to eliminate the possibility of losing, but during the training process, he still met with an outside person, who was not a reporter, and he applied to meet Zhang Yang for the purpose of 'preparing for the football school'.

It was a Chinese in a suit and leather shoes, with a proud face.

"We intend to set up thirteen football schools in SZ and SH, as well as in surrounding cities, dedicated to the development of young people. Our project is supported by the Chinese Football Association, and there are many well-known football players and clubs involved, but funding has always been a big problem. ”

"Mr. Zhang, you are the best head coach in China, you are the top person in the football world, and you should take the lead."

"Our football school project is to contribute to the development of Chinese football, and the donation will be open to ...... then."

The middle-aged man talked for a long time, Zhang Yang was a little confused, he understood a meaning, the other party is here to ask for money, and hopes that he will donate some money for the construction of the football school project, which means that he will donate money to support the project, and when the time comes, the project will disclose the name of the donor, a bit like a disaster in China, how much a star has donated.

Zhang Yang understood a little, but he was a little interested, and began to ask for details.

For example, the donation of funds, what is the specific operation process.

For example, can you send someone to supervise the entire investment process of the project, and the donated money can't be lost without knowing it.

Another example is whether the use of funds will be made public.

Wait a minute.

The other party was a little vague, and if he couldn't answer, he simply answered with 'I don't know'.

Zhang Yang suddenly lost interest, he said impatiently, "I can donate, for the development of Chinese football, a little money is nothing, but I must know what my money is used for." Come back when you've figured it out. ”

The middle-aged man could only walk away in anger.

————

Zhang Yang didn't care, he just felt that he seemed to have encountered a liar, and then returned to the training ground and continued to watch the team's normal training, what he didn't expect was that things really had some impact.

The middle-aged man's name is Liang Jiayong.

Liang Jiayong is an official in charge of youth football within the Football Association, a middle-level official within the Football Association, and a small leader in the department.

The project is in the planning stage.

In the early stage, it is necessary to raise funds, and the Chinese Football Association 'spiritually' supports the development of youth football, but the investment in the development of youth football has almost no return, and the general football school must also have the backing of the club, otherwise it is difficult to be self-financed.

Funding is a big issue.

Thirteen football schools, even with the support of the local government, can easily invest tens of millions of yuan, adding up to nearly one billion yuan.

With such a large amount of money invested, the Football Association alone will definitely not be able to support it in one go, and there must be external financial support.

"Organize football donations", is the idea of department leader Zhang Jian, as long as the rich people engaged in football, all come to donate, even if a person is tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of yuan, there are hundreds of people, can easily raise hundreds of millions of yuan, plus the collection of donations from fans in the society, the preparation of funds is not a big problem at all.

Then it's easy.

Zhang Jian, the leader of the youth football department of the Football Association, actually has his own careful thoughts.

In the entire Football Association, the most oily and watery is the youth department, because there are few young people who only have input but no output, and once the project is really done, there are too many places that can be used.

Hundreds of millions of yuan!

When the time comes, if a few fewer schools are built, it can also be said that the local land will not be divided, and the schools that will be built can be built casually, and a few buildings and dormitories will not cost much, and the teachers will also be a place to make a fuss.

Wait a minute.

In addition, the project funds are in place, and it is normal not to do it, there are too many reasons, there are very few private football schools in China that can really operate, and most of the results are to close the door at a loss, and the fees are so high that no one can sign up!

Of course, it's not bad to be really capable, more than a dozen football schools, when the time comes, to train a group of young football players, no matter how you say it, there will be great achievements!

In any case, funding still comes first, and with enough financial support, it's easy to say anything.

It is also very important to let the superior approve it in the early stage, otherwise the project will not be able to start at all, and what is the most important thing for the leader to approve?

There are funds!

As long as the leaders are not allowed to contribute funds, it is easy to negotiate any project, and a certain amount of funds must be raised in the early stage.

Zhang Jian sent all his employees out to invite various football personalities to raise funds for the project, and of course the name was 'to contribute to the cultivation of Chinese youth football'.

This slogan is so loud that it is almost the same as 'the future development of the motherland'.

Righteousness in hand, I have the world!

Some key fundraising targets are naturally the most capable employees under him, Liang Jiayong is Zhang Jian's first confidant, he flew directly to London to find Zhang Yang to raise funds.

Zhang Yang is the top coach in China, and the high salary is a bit scary, as far as Zhang Jian knows, Zhang Yang's annual salary and endorsement fee must exceed 5 million pounds, which is converted into 60 or 70 million yuan.

With such a high salary, you can donate a few million with a fraction, right?

Zhang Yang is also a football coach, and he will definitely support the development of youth football, and donating funds for the development of youth football is very beneficial to his domestic reputation.

Then tens of millions can also be discussed.

When the time comes, it would be nice to be interviewed and talk more about Zhang Yang's emphasis on the development of youth football in China.

For these top football stars, nothing is more important than fame.