Chapter 660: Breaking the Cocoon
The Champions League's two-legged knockout format of home and away, as well as the traditional rule of scoring twice away goals, have resulted in many classic matchups in history.
Even in this short season, the results of many games have also refreshed Li Liang's cognition again and again.
Including the miracle at the Camp Nou that he witnessed with his own eyes, Li Liang believes that all the understanding of professional football that he has accumulated in his career as a football emperor and in this tumultuous debut season may be wrong.
He pondered the embarrassing words over and over again: "...... At this time, the growth of the total rating is by no means measured by technical ability and competition awareness......"
This is the answer he wanted from Gaudino in the locker room about more power -
I've done everything I can, where else can I get more power?
At this juncture, how to successfully cross the mighty Dortmund and then face the super teams at the top?
Li Liang once thought that he could influence the outcome of the game with his own hands, and put the whole team on his shoulders to forge ahead, maybe it was He Wei and Xue Yang who said to themselves - play like a football king, right?
But after witnessing the miracle comeback of Barcelona led by Messi, the greatest star at the time, at Camp Nou, and seeing the miracle of Ronaldo scoring five goals in two rounds against Bayern on TV, Li Liang felt that he was far from enough.
He Wei and Xue Yang have already seen the appearance lists of both sides in the studio, Monaco's starting line is decent, and everyone's prediction before the game is basically the same, and Dort's starting has aroused their interest at the same time.
He Wei asked: "Hey, Xue Yang, you see, Tuchel actually put Dembele on the bench, what is his intention?" ”
Xue Yang frowned and analyzed: "I guess Reuss is not replacing Dembele in this game, he is likely to appear in the front line with Aubameyang."
However, I think it will take a lot of courage to keep Shinji Kagawa in the starting line-up in such a situation, and it is clear that Tuchel wants to open up the situation in the first half, and Dembele should be a super substitute to continue to play in the second half of the game. ”
In the stands at the Stade Louis II, Grimindy asked Wenger the same question, and the professor pondered: "Dort must score at least three goals here if they want to advance, and if they can't score first in the first half, it's almost impossible to turn around."
I guess Tuchel is trying to break the mold, everyone would think that Dembele started and now that Dembele is on the bench, Monaco's defensive tactics have to be adjusted on the fly.
If Monaco are unable to organise their overall defence in the opening stages of the game, then then there is a chance. ”
Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta were discussing the same issue, with the City boss telling his aides: 'Shinji Kagawa is a better runner and receiver than Dembele, and Tuchel would probably prefer his side to play simpler.'
Dembele doesn't have a lot of experience at the moment, so it's going to be a double-edged sword. ”
The players from both sides returned to the locker room after finishing the warm-up, and the game was about to officially start.
The home team's locker room was in the locker room, all the links were going on in an orderly manner, and seeing that the time to leave the game was getting closer and closer, after the coach as the final arrangement, it was customary for captain Falcao to gather everyone together for a final cheer.
Li Liang suddenly got up and said clearly: "Radamel, can I say a few words to everyone?" ”
Everyone, including Yaldim, was a little surprised. Falcao motioned for Li Liang to stand in the middle of the crowd.
Li Liang said loudly: "Claudio (Gaudino) told me that football is just a part of life, and it should be a happy game.
I've always been looking for a win, I've never wanted to win this game as much as I have now, I want to get to the last four of the Champions League, I want to win because I'm going to Cardiff, I'm going to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff – not as a spectator, of course, but to go there with you guys for the final! ”
As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes widened, and the medical kit in the hands of teammate Parker fell to the ground!
The locker room was silent so that everyone could hear their breathing, and Yaldim didn't even know how to react, he didn't expect these words to come out of the mouth of the most unlikely Li Liang!
Before that, everyone had been tacitly aware that with Monaco's squad and overall strength, entering the quarterfinals of the Champions League was already an unexpected surprise.
Coupled with the incredible victory of the French Cup from Paris, the club is becoming more and more confident about the eventual victory of the league.
Now, after beating Borussia Dort away, Monaco could be one step further in the Champions League, which many did not expect, including many in the dressing room right now.
Li Liang actually shouted out the declaration that he wanted to enter the Champions League final?!
Even his best teammates in the team, Falcao and Kylian Mbappe, found it incredible.
There was a knock at the door, reminding everyone that it was time to play.
Li Liang took a deep breath and continued to say loudly: "That's right, my goal is to reach the final of the Champions League!"
If this is really a joyful game, this is my greatest joy!
I don't care what you think, I just want to tell you, please follow me and follow me! ”
Yaldim's jaw was almost shocked, and he looked at Li Liang repeatedly as if he didn't know him, is this still the modest, gentle, and quiet Li Liang who everyone likes?
This is clearly the real boss in the locker room!
Dort's players were a little anxious, and suddenly heard a roar, they were surprised to see that Li Liang walked in front of all the players in Monaco, shook hands with the referees standing at the entrance of the passage one by one, and then turned to Reuss, who was the captain of Dort's in this game, and shook Royce's hand strongly.
Li Liang stared into Royce's eyes and said loudly, "Marko, good luck to you!" ”
Royce replied in surprise, "Good luck to you too, Lee!" ”
The Dort players all felt that Li Liang and the warm-up just now were like a different person, they looked at the other Monaco players, and found that Li Liang's players also had complicated expressions, some were also dazed, and some were surprised.
Dort's players already knew the entire Monaco team very well before the two sides met for the first time, not to mention Li Liang, from a large number of game videos, every player in Dort already knew Li Liang deeply.
They didn't expect that this guy who only played in the professional league in his first season, this guy who only entered the stable starting lineup in the middle of the season, this guy who is getting more and more amazing, but the guy who is still young, actually wore the captain's armband in such a major game!?
Under the leadership of the referees, the players of both sides came out, and as soon as Li Liang walked out of the players' tunnel, a huge exclamation sounded in the stands nearby!
Soon the close-up shot on the big screen detonated the audience, and everyone saw it...... Captain Li Liang of Monaco!
The 10,000-odd fans who had been waiting for a long time at home did not know what was going on in the dressing room at the last minute, and after a brief moment of surprise, they all threw themselves into a neat and loud shout.
"Onward! Monaco! ”
Li Liang was full of blood and led his teammates to stride to the center of the field.
Watching Li Liang lead everyone to shake hands with the away team players one by one, take photos with his teammates, and then come to the center circle with Reus to shake hands with the referee and then exchange team flags and start picking sides, Wenger asked Grimandi in surprise: "Gilles, when did Lee become the captain of Monaco?"
Why didn't you tell me in the report? ”
Grimandi had a question mark on his face: "......"
Mourinho burst out laughing, drawing sideways glances from the surrounding fans, who sighed to Mendes: "Well, Radamel is still on the pitch and Lee even wears the captain's armband!" ”
Arteta shook his head: "Pep, I don't think it's good. This is Lee's first season, and he already has that status in the locker room? ”
Pep Guardiola was also quite surprised: "...... Just looking at the performance on the field, Lee is indeed eligible to wear the armband...... But can he be a good commander in the team? ”
Gaudino was dumbfounded, he didn't know how it all happened.
In the last conversation with Li Liang in the locker room before the warm-up, the old Italian man already felt that something was coming out of Li Liang's body and heart as if he was about to rush out immediately.
He realized that the one who was running towards his own half on the field was a completely new Li Liang.
Talon and the rest of the team's family members all cheered: "Lee! Plum! ”
Xiao Yu rubbed her eyes repeatedly, she believed that she was not mistaken, Li Liang replaced Falcao as the captain of Monaco!
Ghazi and Mou Zhaoge were both at a loss, they couldn't understand how Li Liang became the captain of Monaco?
He Wei had already reacted from the shock, and hurriedly explained: "We see that Li Liang wore the captain's armband in today's game!"
It was also his first time in the role of captain in a match! We know that the captain of Monaco should have been the veteran Falcao, and the order under him should be roughly Raj, Subaic and Germain, and now Li Liang has become the captain of Monaco today!
Let's wait and see what kind of performance Captain Li Liang will bring us in the upcoming games! ”
When the game was about to start, Li Liang looked at his teammates and said loudly: "Come on, everyone, please follow me!"
Let's get started! ”
With the referee's whistle, the game begins!