Chapter Thirty-Seven: Shaq is Shaq after all!

After the starters of both sides stood on the court, Simon? Grayson looked at the team he had led to conquer all of Europe in the past, and nodded inwardly.

Mihajlovic's Leeds United is still a little different, in terms of lineup arrangement with last season's Allan? The "Young Guard" of the Shearer era made no small adjustments.

Naturally, is the Portuguese centre-forward Nelson arranged in the forward line? Oliveira, this is the seventh season of the Portuguese for Leeds United, and his form has been steadily improving, from the single digits of goals in the original season, to 29 goals and 4 assists in 45 games last season, and this season has also scored 22 goals in 34 games for Leeds United. Grayson spent £9.5 million on him and it was great value for money.

The Swede Pivkowski, who was relegated to the left winger position, has finally reached his maturity with 15 goals and eight assists in 37 appearances for Leeds United this season.

The Dutch international Wijnaldum, whom Van Gaal bought, was hidden in Nelson? Oliveira has been consistent since then, with double-digit goals and double-digit assists every season.

Ivory Coast international Gervinho is no longer 31 years old in the right wing-up position, but his experience can still help Leeds United.

Behind the attack group of these four people is the real core of the "Young Guard", Captain Jonny? Hausen returned from the left to the middle and dropped back to meet the youngster Ashley? Hood has formed an all-round midfield duo that is the envy of many Premier League teams.

Johnny? Hausen was originally a hard-working, combative team leader, and his skills were very well-rounded, although Ashley? Hood is more defensive, but both men are versatile players.

This season. Johnny? Hausen scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in 35 games for Leeds United. Hood scored 8 goals and provided 6 assists in 41 games, although the statistics of the two men are not very impressive, but combined with the average of 8.07 tackles per game contributed by the two men, and a 75% pass completion rate, the midfield combination can be a good illustration of what it means to be all-round.

Defender line. "Little Ben" Chris? Farley, Mbia, Phil? Jones, prunes? Vrsariko lined up with four people, which can be regarded as a good back line, Alex standing in the goalkeeper position? Smith used to be Mark's backup, and his performance after becoming a regular this season has been mediocre.

But overall, Leeds United's starting lineup is still very combative, plus the Argentine striker Eric on the bench? Lamela, Kjaer, John? Fleck, Hamsik, Matedi and others, Leeds United is really worthy of the name of a strong team.

At the beginning of the game, Leeds United, who were playing at home, took control of it a little, and then Ashley? Hood launched an attack with a long pass in his own half. A pinpoint 40-metre pass found Pivkowski on the left.

The Swedish big man's header kung fu has improved, and he is no longer the heavy-footed rookie he used to be, relying on his height advantage, he sent a powerful header from Rafael's head to the left side of the penalty area on the left side of Barcelona.

However, Barcelona's current back line is quite strong, especially in the central defender combination, Batista quickly returned to the position. Rushing to Nelson? Oliveira had already controlled the ball and sent it to the feet of the "Little Pharaoh" in front of him on the right.

Simon? Grayson smiled and nodded as he watched from the sidelines. He is no longer the manager of Leeds United, but looking at his former disciples Pivkowski, Ashley? Hood did well, and he was still very pleased.

Ashley? Is this little guy Simon Hood? Grayson personally unearthed another gem from the youth team after Shaq, and Pivkowski was also bought from Blackburn Rovers with his nod, and when he first came to Leeds United, he only had work under his feet, and he has also made up for his head homework in the past few years. The progress has been significant.

When it was Barcelona's turn to attack, Rinaldi took the ball on the left side to force Seeme, although he failed to break through, but he also brought the ball close to the middle, and took advantage of Shaq to contain Mbia and Phil in front? Jones. Rinaldi, however, linked up with Vasquez with a through ball, who cut in and fired a furious shot high.

Although the goal was not scored, Leeds United was also scared into a cold sweat, they have already watched the opponent's game video many times, and have a certain understanding of Barcelona's attacking power, but when they think of the real face, there is still a sense of powerlessness, that kind of speed and exquisiteness, meticulousness, it is indeed difficult for them to deal with it.

But Leeds United is not a fish belly team, as the king of Europe last season, the "Young Guards" also have the confidence to fight with their opponents, but it is more difficult to face Barcelona today.

The initiative of the game, did not fall into the hands of Leeds United because the game was at Elland Road Stadium, Barcelona quickly grasped the initiative through their own possession and high-quality attack, but the goal did not come for a long time, but Leeds United's counterattack was very threatening.

In the 22nd minute, Gervinho received a pass after a one-on-one steal from the feet of Shaarawy from the "Little Ben", and rushed into the Barcelona left penalty area with the ball from the left middle line for 35 meters in one breath!

"Kuasi! Kuasi! Kuasi! ”

There was a neat shout at Elland Road, and the Leeds fans were frantically calling Gervinho's name, as they seemed to have foreseen the outcome of the goal!

Single Pole Ball ...... It's a great opportunity to break the door!

Gervinho's speed was very fast, Rivero couldn't catch up with the desperate pursuit from the middle, and watched his team's goalkeeper Mark face Gervinho alone, watching the Ivorian dunk the ball to his right with his left foot, and then used his right foot to kick the ball out of an arc, bypassing Marc and spinning to the bottom right corner of the goal......

At this moment, Barcelona left their fate to God to decide!

But apparently...... God is biased today!

The ball arced and was about to turn back into the range of the goal, helping Gervinho to complete a perfect one-on-one performance, but it was a pity...... While!

A crunch!

The ball hit the right post!

"Oh――――――"

"How is that possible!? How is this possible!? How could this goal not be scored!? ”

At Elland Road Stadium, Leeds fans clenched their heads in agony and cried out. They couldn't believe their eyes, such a ball...... Can you not enter!?

Gervinho was also dumbfounded, standing there dumbfounded without reacting, not grabbing the ball, not saying anything, not even making regretful moves. He thought he had 100 percent of the ball, but it turned out to be ...... Contrary!

Barcelona reacted quickly and returned to his position in time. Parker cleared the ball with a big foot......

Barcelona, who are not dying, began to speed up the tempo in the attack, they keenly smelled the sense of crisis, if they can't suppress the opponent with attack, or score as soon as possible, they are really a bit dangerous in this game.

On 25 minutes, Shaq had his first shot on goal. A free-kick from the left side of the middle 35 metres from the goal, although the quality of the shot was very high, ended up being high above the goal.

In the 28th minute, Rinaldi crossed, and Ganso grabbed a spot in the small penalty area to poke the ball out of the bottom line......

On 34 minutes, Alaba sent a delicate through ball to Shaq, who was interfered with by Mbia and then chased the ball from a corner that was blocked by Leeds goalkeeper Smith. A volley was blocked by the Leeds goalkeeper with his left leg.

38 mins, Ashley? Hood sent in another brilliant pass. With his left foot, he stuffed the ball straight into the penalty area on the left side of Barcelona, and Pivkowski, who followed up, was sent off the bottom line by a blast tackle from Batista because of his own slow pace.

With the final minutes of the first half just gone, Simon? Grayson's expression is also becoming more and more serious, he knows too well the resilience of Leeds United, which is what he pursued when he was in charge of the Young Guard. If this deadlock is not broken at the moment, perhaps Barcelona will be in real danger in the second half.

At the critical moment, it is natural to depend on Shaq, and Shaq has never disappointed his mentor.

On 41 minutes, Shaq pressed in front. Phil with the ball? Jones was just a little slower when he came out of the ball, but the ball was returned by Shaq with his left foot, and then when Shaq caught up with the ball, everything was very simple, such an opportunity as a single goal, Gervinho would miss it, but how could Shaq as the "king of the ball" miss it!?

Running to the top of the arc of the penalty area on the left, Shaq made a feint to shoot to the right side of the attacking Smith, but the moment his right foot touched the ball, he turned his ankle and pumped the ball to the bottom left corner of the goal......

While!

It was a crisp sound, but Shaq's shot didn't bounce off the inside of Leeds' left-hand post before bouncing into the back of the net...... 1:0！

Shaq was calm after the goal, with no celebratory movements, a habit he had developed over the years, and he didn't celebrate every time he scored a goal at Elland Road.

However, the Leeds fans in the Elland Road stadium were a little excited, and even gave applause, Gervinho spent 18.25 million pounds on Leeds United, but he was a fool who couldn't score a single goal, Shaq was cultivated by Thorpe Arch Training Base himself but was sold for money, and now ...... Alas, Bierhoff, a German, was so calculating that he was now calculating.

In the exclusive private room of the chairman of the Elland Road Stadium, Bierhoff also shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly: Shaq...... Shaq is Shaq after all, it was a mistake to sell him at the beginning, and now it doesn't seem to meet the criteria for maximizing profits, if Simon was left in the first place? If Grayson is a master and apprentice, Leeds should be worth at least more than a billion now, right?

Bierhoff has also regretted it, but it has never been so strong this time, the star he bought can't score a single goal, but Shaq didn't miss the opportunity, this gap between the inside and the outside, is it really just the difference in the transfer fee between the two people can make up?

If Leeds United stop at the quarter-finals of the Champions League, how much have they lost!?

And if the "Young Guard" has Simon in recent years? Grayson and Shaq, how many more championships will they win!?

The fact is that the Germans have long since repented of their bowels!

But what made Bierhoff regret even more was that only four minutes had passed since the goal, and when the game was about to break at 45 minutes, Shaq received a through pass from Rinaldi on the left side, and resisted Phil with his body after the offside? Jones, with a left-footed volley into the bottom left corner of the net, scored again...... 2:0！

After the goal, Shaq calmly ran around the Leeds United penalty area, turned around and ran back......

The calmer Shaq is, the more dissatisfied Leeds United fans are with Bierhoff, such a "ball king" level super killer has been let go, Bierhoff is really stupid! (To be continued......)