Chapter 595 is drastic

After playing the league with Newcastle, the fourth-tier battle, even if the League Cup ends early, it is also the third-tier Crystal Palace, and soon ushered in another chicken rib cup in the middle of the week - the FA Cup.

The League Cup, which is also a chicken rib, has been included in the bag by Crystal Palace, originally, in the face of such an FA Cup that is also a chicken rib, Friedman did not take it to heart at all, and has always been a pure substitute to compete with the opponent.

However, by the time Crystal Palace reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, Friedman had to think a little more.

As the so-called trophies are like banknotes, no one can have too much. The second leg of the Champions League 8-point 1-1 final in midweek has lost any meaning, and in this game, Friedman risked the use of most of his main line-up.

Then, against Crystal Palace, who are almost the main players, Fulham, the opponent of Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals, will undoubtedly be the cup, and they are not afraid that they will also knock out Manchester United in the previous 4-point 1 final.

After a 4-0 away win, Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup final and only had to wait for another Chelsea vs Everton match to decide their opponents.

A few hours later, another FA Cup semi-final came to an end.

Perhaps it is because Crystal Palace attaches great importance to this chicken rib cup, and is unwilling to fight with Crystal Palace on this chicken rib, or more likely because Chelsea are currently fourth in the table, only one point more than fifth-placed Liverpool, in this delicate moment, Hiddink is unwilling to take any unnecessary risks, and Chelsea has discharged all the substitutes in this game.

Chelsea, which was originally stronger, chose to play as a substitute, on the other hand, Everton had no way to advance in the league, and there was no risk of relegation in retreating, and there were more than 10 rounds left in the league, which has become a routine, and attached great importance to the FA Cup. Who told you that the quality of the Chelsea players on the pitch is not as good as Everton? ――

After the FA Cup competition, on March 12, Beijing time, Crystal Palace ushered in another historic moment for them.

Historic entry into the Champions League quarterfinals, such a moment, if it is put on time, will definitely make Crystal Palace, whether it is the players or the fans, excited.

However, think of the 5-1 score at home of Crystal Palace in the first leg, after that game, regardless of whether it is a Crystal Palace fan or a player, they should be excited, they have already been excited, at this time, there is really nothing to be excited about, even after today, Crystal Palace will become a Champions League top 8 player.

In view of the huge advantage of 5-1 in hand, and the recent period of all competitions is very intensive, in order to avoid non-combat attrition in the sprint stage of the next competitions, Friedman sent most of the substitute lineup in this "insignificant" game. Among them, including Li Yi, Modric, Bale, and Yaya Toure, 4 people rotated together, which shows Friedman's self-confidence.

……

Crystal Palace sent such a leaderless semi-substitute lineup, and even put Li Yi, the No. 1 killer in Europe, into the stands, and did not even enter the team squad. In the face of such contempt for Crystal Palace, from the first minute of the opening game, Sporting Lisbon was full of energy to give Crystal Palace a little color.

Unexpectedly, at the end of the first half, not only did they not score a goal, but they were seized by Crystal Palace and played a perfect counterattack, and Nasri once again penetrated the door of their own side.

From 5-1 to 6-1, the key is that Crystal Palace also equalized the away goal disadvantage, and they need to score at least five goals in the half to drag the game into extra time, and score six goals to reverse the qualification. If such a task is placed before the start of the game, perhaps Sporting Lisbon will not be completely desperate, after all, Crystal Palace has most of the substitutes?

However, by this time, they were already in despair.

Speaking of which, it seems very unscientific that most of Crystal Palace's substitutes can still play like this, but it is not surprising.

Don't forget, who is the substitute for Modric + Yaya Toure? Sissoko + Muntari, both of them are Europe's top midfielders, although they may not be of much help to the team's attack, but if they are called to defend, the energy they can exert is definitely above the starting two.

Also, Friedman's lineup today is not so much a 4-2-3-1 as it is a 4-3-2-1.

The reason for this is because it was Naismith who replaced Bale in the starting lineup.

And Naismith, a player, as a midfielder all-rounder, can be called both offensive and defensive, under Friedman's special advice before the game, Naismith did not regard himself as a winger after playing today, but regarded himself as a defender.

3 beasts with super defensive ability, coupled with the steel defense line that has not been rotated, Crystal Palace, such a configuration, to tell the truth, Sporting Lisbon thought that they were despised, and the players were all in a hurry on the field, even if Sporting Lisbon showed their best competitive state, it was not easy to win Crystal Palace.

At the end of the 90 minutes, a bloody 2-1 told Sporting Lisbon that this Crystal Palace is not what their coach said, and they need to rely on the referee to win, even if they come to your Lisbon home stadium today, even if most of the substitute lineup is on, Crystal Palace can still take away the victory from your home stadium, what does it mean, I believe it is needless to say.

After the first leg was 5-1, the second leg was 2-1, and after the end of the 2nd round, Crystal Palace, which was not favored before the game, used such a disparity score of 7-2 to warn those who looked down on them that Crystal Palace came to the Champions League this time, and it was not to accompany the prince to study.

And the day after the second leg of the Champions League match between Crystal Palace and Sporting Lisbon, all eight teams that entered the top eight were also produced.

Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United.

Among the top 8, there is no doubt that the Premier League once again showed the strength of the top 4 with 3 seats in the previous 2 years.

The 4 Premier League teams that only entered the group stage of the Champions League all reached the top 8, such an impressive record, the Premier League has unknowingly become the world's first league.

However, compared with the Premier League, which only participated in the top 8 of the 4 participants, the performance of La Liga teams this season is not as good as it is at all.

The same 4 teams entered the group stage, all entered the round of 16, and the top 8 also divided 3 places, so under such a record, La Liga is not inferior to the Premier League.

It's just that if the three La Liga teams entering the top 8 is a very happy thing for Spanish fans, it is undoubtedly not so happy for Real Madrid fans.

Because, their home team still has not been able to get rid of the doom of the Champions League 16 Lang this season, becoming the only La Liga team to lose in the 1/8 finals.

And Bayern, who eliminated Real Madrid to enter the top 8, has also become the only fish in other leagues to slip through the net.

It didn't make many expectant fans wait for a long time, and UEFA re-drew the draw that weekend to determine the situation of the top 8 matchups.

It seems that in order to carry out the luck to the end, in the 8-point 1 final, the crystal palace that was drawn on the top draw, and the magic was drawn again, and in the top 8, except for the crystal palace, the yellow submarine, which was recognized as the weakest, was drawn together.

In the face of such a lottery situation, even Friedman, who had been so nervous that he couldn't sleep for several nights in a row, couldn't help but sigh "God bless me Crystal Palace." ”

How the other teams envy and hate will not be mentioned for the time being, and look at the situation of other groups except for Crystal Palace.

Manchester United vs Arsenal, the two teams are not weak, coach Alex Ferguson and the professor are the world's first-class coaches, and it is really difficult to predict who will win in the end of this group of matchups.

But fortunately, regardless of who wins in the end, there will definitely be a team in the Premier League to reach the final 4.

Barcelona VS Bayern, this group of matchups is undoubtedly the one with the most conspiracy in the eyes of outsiders.

Without him, he just killed a La Liga giant, Real Madrid, in the top 8, and immediately drew another La Liga giant, Barcelona, such a configuration, anyone will think that UEFA wants to avenge Real Madrid's rhythm, right?

After the above 3 groups, the last group is actually needless to say - Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid.