Chapter 106: Middlesbrough

With a hard-fought win over PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Cup semi-finals, AZ Alkmaar's morale skyrocketed, and they took a breath to win back-to-back games.

On March 26, they beat Waalwijk 1-0 away and almost sealed the league title. After this game, AZ Alkmaar only have four league games left, eight points ahead of second-placed PSV Eindhoven, and only need one more win and one draw to seal the league title early.

AZ Alkmaar have a goal difference of 30 more than PSV Eindhoven, and if PSV want to overtake, they will need to score at least 30 goals in their last four games and at least eight goals in one game.

In the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup that followed, AZ Alkmaar drew 2-2 away against Rapid Buchaal, ending the winning streak.

However, a week later, AZ Alkmaar returned to home and the team won 1-0 to reach the last four of the UEFA Cup.

The opponent of the last four of the UEFA Cup is also out, Middlesbrough. AZ Alkmaar were lucky, with the draw deciding the home-and-away order, with them drawn first and then home.

Middlesbrough did well last season, finishing seventh in the Premier League and reaching the UEFA Cup. This year, they have played on two fronts and have not performed well, finishing only 15th in the league, but they have made a strong progress in the League Cup, reaching the last four and making a declaration to win the championship.

Middlesbrough also played a big comeback in the quarterfinals. The away team was beaten 2:0 by the Grasshoppers of the Swiss Super League. returned to the home court with a high score of 4:1 and eliminated the Grasshoppers in a reversal.

It is worth mentioning that Dong Fangtable performed well in the two-legged match, scoring a goal. Another Chinese national player, Zhang Fanzhen, guarded the right side and also performed well, contributing an assist.

But strangely, the Grasshoppers still lost. Neither Dong Fangtable nor Zhang Fan are players who can lead the team to victory.

Middlesbrough are gearing up to take out AZ Alkmaar, who have also been in good form. Myburgh have a season to be proud of, having beaten Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League. Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were beaten 3-0, their worst defeat in two seasons.

Unfortunately, their trick was later stolen by a team called Liverpool, who specialized in robbing the rich and helping the poor.

On April 21, in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, AZ Alkmaar traveled to England to face Middlesbrough.

It was no surprise that the game became popular in the British coaching circle. Van Gaal's visit was unlikely to be indifferent to Myburgh's McClaren, who thought about asking Van Gaal for a drink after the win.

The Riverside Stadium was already full of fans, and the Chinese in England were the first to rush over to support Kaisa. There were also a couple of coaches who came to watch the game, and they certainly didn't watch Louis van Gaal cook.

They're looking at Kaisa, and Kaisa's performance has conquered the coaching circle, the 18-year-old young player, who scored 35 goals and 29 assists in the Eredivisie, have you seen it?

In addition, Kaisa also has 8 goals and 3 assists in the UEFA Cup, and the Netherlands Cup has a relatively small number of goals, with 5, and has scored a total of 48 goals in all competitions, which has surpassed Ronaldo in the same period.

With such a performance, if you are in the five major leagues, you can compete for the Golden Ball Award, what else do you want for the Golden Boy Award? What were Messi's stats for 2005-06? To tell you, Messi has made 25 appearances in all competitions, and the number of goals is only a pitiful 8 goals, and there are 4 assists.

This data is exactly a fraction of Kaisa's goals. Compared with Messi's 8 consecutive seasons with more than 40 goals, it is not worth mentioning, but the season is not over yet, Messi is stimulated by Kaisa's performance, and will definitely increase the number of goals and assists.

Ferguson and Jose Mourinho appeared in the stands at the Riverside Stadium, and they were targeting the same person, both Kaisa. Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez also came, and they also came to see Kaisa.

The coaches of the traditional four giants of the Premier League appeared in the team stands, and McClaren was angry, "What pressure is this group of guys putting on me? Hmph, Kaisa has never experienced the Premier League, so he can be so famous, but the Premier League is not so easy to adapt. ”

Myburgh's new ace player Downing also muttered, "Are these coaches coming to see me?" Looks like I'm going to behave well. ”

Other Myburgh players are also on fire and ready to step up the confrontation and let AZ Alkmaar players know the intensity of the Premier League.

Van Gaal decompressed the players, "There will be a lot of confrontation in the game today, everyone must be mentally prepared. But don't worry, play with our possession advantage and we will win. ”

"Kaisa, protect yourself today." Van Gaal no longer cares about the result of the game at this time, as long as Kaisa is not injured, the team has hope of victory.

Kaisa was eager to try it and smiled, "I will." ”

At the beginning of the game, Middlesbrough discharged the strongest lineup, full of muscular men, that is, Downing was the thinnest.

The starting goalkeeper is Schwarzer, and the back line is lined up, with Bates, Riggott, Panaby, and Kudru; In midfield are Boateng, Mendieta, Roshenbach and England new international Downing; Up front, Hasselbaink and Jakub played together.

Yakubu is a Nigerian striker, a strong, poor man's version of Warcraft, and today was the biggest challenge for the AZ Alkmaar defenders. In addition, Mendieta's offensive ability is very strong, and in the 4:1 Manchester United game, Mendieta also scored twice.

After that game, Roy Keane scolded Fletcher, and Ferguson must have remembered. It's just that the team still needs Keane, and he didn't turn his face, after all, there is no substitute for a healthy Keane.

AZ Alkmaar is still the main lineup, but the formation is 451, guarding against the opponent's 442 lineup, two high strikers, and must add a safety bolt in front of the central defender.

At the beginning of the game, Myburgh abandoned the midfield, only engaged in destruction and did not organize, and the ball was transferred to the side when it reached the feet, allowing Downing and Boateng to break through and attack Alkmaar on the wing.

Mourinho watched the situation develop, his face grim, "McLaren still wants to copy the tactics against me?" Hehe, Van Gaal is not so easy to beat. ”

Mourinho is Van Gaal's apprentice, and when Van Gaal was in Barcelona for the first time, Mourinho was his translator, but Van Gaal used people boldly, and Mourinho did a lot of pre-match training and arrangement.

Now that Mourinho has achieved fame, he is still grateful to Louis van Gaal.

Alkmaar vs. PSV Eindhoven's tactical competition, Mourinho studied it more than a dozen times, the more he watched it, the more excited he became, and the tactical arrangements of both sides were at their peak, but the key hand was still Kaisa.

He has informed the team's CEO, Kenyon, that he will buy Kaisa into the team in the summer, no matter what the price, and as long as Kaisa joins the team, Chelsea's dynasty is just around the corner.

A treble is a dynasty, and Chelsea are almost certain to have two in a row, just off the next season.

Ferguson is very satisfied with Kaisa's progress, he is wondering what position Kaisa can play, when he first met Kaisa, Kaisa was a fullback, became a winger in the Eredivisie, and now he can still play the No. 10 position.

"This little guy can surprise me every time."

Wenger looked drooling, "It's so much in line with my requirements, Kaisa plus Fabregas, and Van Persie, my young arsenal, can sweep Europe." I'm going to win the Champions League this year, and the likelihood of recruiting Kaisa is huge. ”

"Kaisa's character of not admitting defeat is too similar to my team." Benitez's head will flash, "Is there a surprise to join England's No. 1 giant?" Quack ......"