After spending a pleasant Chinese New Year's Eve with Nicola, Zhang Xu returned to intense preparations. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

On 28 January, it was supposed to be the day of the 28th round of the league, but because Sheffield United successfully eliminated their opponents in the last FA Cup match and entered the fourth round, the league on the 28th was changed to an FA Cup match against Championship side Birmingham.

There is no doubt that Birmingham are strong and star-studded, and although most of them are abandoned by the big teams, there is no doubt about their strength. Famous stars such as Upson, Melchiott, Pennant, Bart, Heskey, Dunn and many others have all joined the team.

Although the strength of Hong Kong bigwig Yang Jiacheng has declined after he became a shareholder of Birmingham, there are still a number of main players of the national team, such as Jonathan, the main defender of the US national team, and Zhikic, a high school forward of Senegal.

Therefore, this FA Cup game, despite playing at home, Sheffield United is not very optimistic up and down. Moreover, manager Wilson made the decision to forgo the FA Cup in order to allow the team to go all out to attack the Championship.

No matter what decision Wilson makes, Zhang Xu is still training diligently and always preparing for the next game.

The day before the game against Birmingham, Wilson announced his starting line-up for tomorrow's game against Birmingham, and Zhang Xu's name was clearly visible.

Afterwards, Wilson deliberately found Zhang Xu and clarified the reason why he arranged for him to start: "Zhang, tomorrow's game with Birmingham, you will play as a starter, which can be regarded as a chance to give you an official appearance in front of the fans!" How is it? ”

"Thank you, Chief, I will cherish this opportunity!" Zhang Xu thought that Wilson hoped that he would play a good game tomorrow, and hurriedly said that there was no problem.

"Uh-uh, zhang, don't worry too much about the result of the game, I think, even if we lose, it's nothing, we have to focus on the league!" Wilson couldn't help but blush when he saw Zhang Xu's eager expression, and explained embarrassedly.

Zhang Xu was a little confused, and Wilson's words were a little difficult for him to understand. Competitions? Isn't it just about the pursuit of victory? Nothing to lose? How could there be nothing out of it?

Birmingham? Even if you are a Championship team, I must fight you to the end! Zhang Xu swore silently in his heart.

On this day, January 28, although the weather was cold, it still couldn't stop the crazy enthusiasm of the fans. At half past one in the afternoon, Bramoo Lane was already packed, and countless Blades fans in red jerseys rendered the entire stadium into a sea of red.

Before the start of the game, head coach Wilson arranged the tactics at random, and then emphasized two points: one is to feel and experience, feel the strong strength of Birmingham, feel the gap between our Sheffield United team and the strong teams, and at the same time learn from the game as much as possible; The second is protection and safety, protect yourself, try not to do some actions that are easy to get hurt, and also avoid the opponent from causing harm to you.

At this time, even a fool can understand the intention of head coach Wilson, who is planning to give up the game to train the team.

In fact, Zhang Xu didn't agree with it very much in his heart, in his dictionary, there was no word to take the initiative to admit defeat, but since the head coach had explained to this extent, he couldn't refute it face to face, right?

If you can't refute it in person, then discuss it privately.

Therefore, after his teammates walked out of the locker room, Zhang Xu deliberately came to the side of head coach Wilson and whispered: "Boss, I want to try it!" ”

"Try what?" Wilson was puzzled.

"I want to see how far apart I am from the players at Birmingham, I want to fight, and I don't want to fight if I don't! May I? ”

Wilson was silent, he looked at Zhang Xu seriously, and found that the other party's eyes were full of burning war intent, and he couldn't help but sigh and said, "Okay, but you have to promise me one thing." ”

"Great, you say, boss, I'll do it!" Zhang Xu was overjoyed and hurriedly agreed.

"I want you to promise me that no matter what, you can't get hurt!"

"There is no problem!" Zhang Xu patted his thick chest and said loudly: "Boss, it's not me who blows, with my physique, the person who can make me injured hasn't been born yet!" ”

"You stinky boy, go ahead! It's about to start! Wilson laughed and kicked Zhang Xu.

At 1:50 p.m., Zhang Xu, under the leadership of head coach Wilson, came to the court alone to have the first home meeting with the fans.

Robin, the commentator at the scene, gave a detailed introduction to Zhang Xu's situation very cooperatively, and then sent the microphone to Zhang Xu.

Zhang Xu took the microphone handed over by the staff and said loudly: "Dear Blade fans, I am Zhang Xu, from China. You can call me Chinese zhang, or you can just call me zhang! ”

"I am honoured to be joining Sheffield United this cold winter! Even though the weather was cold, my heart was on fire because I was already in a sea of red! ”

"To be honest, I'm very excited right now because I met you for the first time – Birmingham! The opponent is indeed strong, but how strong it is, I will not give in just because the opponent is strong, because I have become a member of the blade! I can proudly say: I am Blade, I am - fearless! ”

Zhang Xu's last sentence immediately conquered all the Blade fans, and the neat shouts of the fans immediately sounded over the Bramall Lane Stadium: I am the Blade, I am fearless!

In the shouts of the fans, Zhang Xu took the soccer balls handed over by the staff one after another, and kicked the soccer balls to the stands around him one after another.

At this point, the meeting ceremony is over.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, with the referee's whistle, the game officially began!

At the beginning of the game, Birmingham relied on a strong attacking force in the front field and launched a fierce attack on Sheffield United.

In the 7th minute, Charlton No. 7 Chris took the ball, and after cooperating with No. 12 Jorton, he rushed past Michael's defense, went straight across the halfway line, and advanced towards the area defended by Zhang Xu.

Williams was the first to rush forward, intending to control the momentum of the opponent's attack, but No. 7 Chris did not take him seriously, and cooperated with Joton again, and it was another one-two, throwing off the forced Williams.

Zhang Xu saw that the situation was not good, and immediately rushed up, but he did not rush directly like Williams, but kept a certain distance from the opponent as if he was off the ground, and faintly stuck the opponent's passing route.

Chris changed his pace several times, but found that he couldn't get rid of Zhang Xu, so he had to give the football to Keith in the back. After Keith received the ball, he made a long pass directly and sent the ball to "Lighthouse" Zhikic.

The two-metre-old Zhikic is comfortable with this kind of ball, stopping his chest and then unloading it with ease. And Matthew, who was defending him, was dead behind Zhikic to prevent the opponent from turning and forming a breakthrough.

Zhikic didn't want to turn around, in addition to shooting, he also had a precise pass, only to see his arch of his foot shake, the ball passed through the right side of Francois's body, to the open field in the middle of the box.

Another Birmingham striker, Mallon, arrived and met the ball with a furious shot!

The shot was fast and urgent, and the angle was tricky, and Simonson didn't have time to react, so he could only subconsciously stretch out his arms and pounce on the ball.

"Dang!" With a loud bang, in the horrified eyes of all Blades fans, the ball hit the crossbar fiercely and bounced off the bottom line.

Simonson stared blankly at the still trembling crossbar and secretly rejoiced.

Zhang Xu was speechless about the state of his teammates, in fact, as long as Francois was more active in the ball just now, the opponent's Mallon would not have such a good shooting opportunity.

But Zhang Xu can't blame his teammates, he can only use his active running and scrambling to see if he can block the opponent's strong offensive, and also see if he can awaken the enthusiasm of his teammates.

When the game resumed, Zhang Xu immediately expanded his defensive range to the entire own half, as long as the opponent entered his own half, Zhang Xu would immediately rush up to intercept the opponent's attack.

Under Zhang Xu's crazy scramble, Birmingham is indeed a little uncomfortable.

If this Chinese player is only physical, it is not a concern, but it is a pity that this Chinese player has not only super physical fitness, but also has a very good technical and tactical level, although there are still some shortcomings, but it has been able to cause considerable trouble to his side.

For a while, the two sides launched a fierce battle in the Sheffield United half, and every time in Birmingham almost broke the Sheffield United gate, Zhang Xu would be seen rushing to clear the football at a critical moment.

Seeing Zhang Xu's dedicated performance, all the fans of Blade were moved by his indomitable spirit.

As a result, Bramall Lane Stadium began to echo with a neat shout: "Come on!" China Zhang! Come on! China Zhang! ”

Such a neat shout, and the shouting of the name of a player who has just joined the team, has never been seen in Sheffield's history.

This means that Zhang Xu has been fully recognized by the fans!

Hearing the fans shouting his name, Zhang Xu's blood burned completely, his running was more active, his speed was faster like lightning, and the steal position was more ferocious and accurate.

However, football has never been a one-man sport, although Zhang Xu did cause great trouble to Birmingham, but a person is still a person after all, his teammates are still faithfully fulfilling the tactics and tasks arranged by the head coach, and no matter how hard he works alone, he can't compete with Birmingham's strong overall strength.

In the 32nd minute of the game, Birmingham's No. 12 Joton deliberately attracted Zhang Xu's attention after crossing the halfway line with the ball, dragging Zhang Xu to the left side of the court, and then suddenly made a long pass to send the ball to the right side of the court.

Chris easily got the football, and after taking a few steps forward, without waiting for Zhang Xu to return to the defensive position, he immediately made a diagonal pass and hoisted the ball to the center of the big penalty area.

There, the more than 2-meter-high "lighthouse" Zhikic was already ready, and he went straight to the ball that flew over.

Although Zhang Xu arrived quickly, Zhikic had already rushed to the top of the football, and the football smashed on the grass, and then rebounded and flew into the net!

The ball is in!

Sheffield United are 1-0 down to Birmingham!