Chapter 106: Sprint
It's been more than two months since Christmas passed before I knew it. ~~~~ And at this time. All major European leagues have come to an end. The final sprint. The strong teams began to grit their teeth. Make a final effort.
The league is getting to the end. The test for each team will also be tougher. After all, the game is played like this. The physical exertion of the players is a big problem. At the same time, due to the final stage of the league competition. Even if it's a big team. No, I didn't give up and choose. The game is played to this one. No team would dare to play at all sides.
To know. The more you get to the end of the league. The more it makes the team and the players nervous. If the league has just begun. It's okay to lose one or two games. But now it's different. The league is coming to an end. If only at this last moment. Lose that one game. I'm afraid I won't be able to win the championship.
It's under this pressure that the players are in. Give it your all to face every game. This naturally sped up the players' already small amount of physical exertion.
At the same time, due to the final stage of the league. In addition to the giants in order to compete for the championship. Other powerhouses are also competing for Champions League qualification. The weak team began to play with their lives in order to be relegated. This also makes the league more hot and difficult.
Like all teams. Liverpool also face a serious test at the moment. In the end, it was under the negotiation of the club and manager Rafael Benitez. With the idea of preserving the fitness of the main players. Liverpool have dropped the Charity Shield and FA Cup. Go all out to win the Champions League and English League.
The FA Cup and the Charity Shield are all about young players playing games. On the one hand, the fitness of the players can be maintained. On the one hand, it allows young players to get more training and game experience.
But Liverpool is not Manchester United and Arsenal after all. There are no bench players as strong as Manchester United and Arsenal. You know, it doesn't matter if it's Arsenal or Manchester United. Substitutes from both teams pull out to rebuild a team. That's definitely a British powerhouse. The reason why Liverpool are still at the top of the league table is now. The reason is that the main players play well. As for the substitutes. Even Lao Bei shook his head helplessly.
The results are clear. On the FA Cup. Liverpool were knocked out of the tournament by Chelsea. In the Charity Shield. Liverpool were knocked out of the tournament by Fulham. These British powerhouses know that there is no hope of winning the championship. In addition to striving for a Champions League qualification. He spent all his energy on the Charity Shield and the FA Cup. After all, mosquitoes are also meat in small sizes. The Charity Shield and FA Cup no longer have an impact. But it's also a trophy anyway.
"Hey Pace. What's wrong with you stupid big guy. Allowing George to break through your defense so easily. "At the training ground in Liverpool. Liverpool players are training on internal confrontations. George receives Murphy's through ball. Throw off Colombian defender Yepez, who has just been brought in in the winter transfer market. Calmly push the ball into the goal.
Dudek got up from the top with a helpless expression. Glancing at George. Shook his head helplessly. kept comforting himself: George was an animal. Not a normal person. Can't follow the normal people's perception of George.
Now. George has slowly gained experience in the game. began to slowly transition towards a world-class killer. If you say that George was famous before. Known as a world-class striker. It's because George is technically comprehensive. Strong. Plus a few big games with a good swing and a few great goals. Now George is really going over to a level forward. George is no longer what he used to be. Every shot on goal though has no technical content. But it is always possible to choose the most accurate shot in the shortest possible time.
Dudek understood. That's the difference between a level forward and a normal striker. The average striker will always play some difficult shots to please the fans and increase his popularity. But the strikers are different. Unless there is nothing to be done. Or maybe there's no way around. The striker is more likely to take the simplest and most direct shots. Why. It's all about efficiency.
Think of it that way. But Dudek was still embarrassed. After all, George is only how old he is now. As Hyypia said. Fart big a little kid. An experienced goalkeeper himself. That's how a big kid scores. What a humiliation it is. Come to think of it. Dudek couldn't help but smile. jokingly said to the newcomer Yepes.
"It's not like that. Just George's degree was very fast. The explosive power is very strong. Shake me off at once. I can't be blamed for that. It's just that I'm not familiar with George. Just wait and see. Next time George wants to get past me. It's not that easy. ”
Hear Dudek's words. Yepes thought Dudek was a little angry. Hurriedly said in English, which he was not very good at.
"Hey, big one. Don't listen to him. That's because he doesn't have the ability to do it himself. I scored a goal. Trying to find a scapegoat. You've been tricked. "I saw Yepes looking nervous. George couldn't help but roll his eyes. Said to Yepez.
"Is that really the case?" Listen to George. Yepes looked at George with a puzzled expression. Look at Dudek again. I want to find out the answer from the expressions of the two.
"Hey!" looked at Yepes with a puzzled look. George shook his head helplessly. Gerrard, who was watching the play, and Owen, who had returned from injury, were on the sidelines. Shrugging his shoulders to indicate that he couldn't help it.
George couldn't figure it out. This Yepes is also a big man. Why is the whole person grinning. It feels silly. Otherwise. George and the others would not have given Yepes the nickname of a stupid big man.
But if you think Yepes is stupid, you're wrong. Yepes is usually a bit silly. But Yepes is just stupid. Not stupid. With these months of racing down. Everyone in Liverpool recognises the quality of Yepes' new team-mate.
Don't look at Yepes' stupid look. If only at the time of the game. You still take Yepes for a fool's words. Then you are an absolute fool. Strong body. Excellent physical fitness and reflexes. And also in terms of headers and card positions. Yepes is also quite good. It can be said that the departure of Henkz. It didn't make a difference to Liverpool. Why. That's because Yepes has the quality. Successfully made up for the vacancy left by the departure of Henkez. Even better than Henkez.
Genkz came at a time when the winter transfer market was opening. He left Liverpool. Away to Sampdoria in Italy. on this. None of the Liverpool players said anything. After all, a transfer is for a professional player. It's really the most normal thing. Genkz after holding on to Liverpool's backline for several years. Finally when walking. $7.4 million was left for Liverpool. That was Sampdoria's transfer fee for the purchase of Henkz.
Henkez is gone. Liverpool naturally need to find a replacement for Henkz. After no way to Lucio. Parry put all his mind on the Yepes that Benitez raised. Finally, Liverpool after lengthy talks with Nantes. Yepes ended up worth $6.5 million. Joined the Red Army.
Originally, Benitez and Parry thought they would buy a player like Yepes, who was not very famous. About five million can be taken down. But no one thought of it. Nantes defender Fabry has left Nantes just this season. This has also made Yepes the heart of Nantes' defence.
If it weren't for Parry, he would still have some means and relationships. I'm afraid there's really no way to get to Yepez. For Nantes, after all. Yepes is the heart of the team's defence. How could Nantes sell Yepes so easily? But even so. Liverpool still spent $6.5 million. More than 1 million more than expected to bring Yepes to Liverpool.
From this aspect, you can see the strength of Yeppers. At the same time, with the continuous start of the English League. Yepes after a period of acclimatization. Stunned, he squeezed Traore to the bench. Successfully made the main position of Liverpool.
And the back line of Yepes and Hyypia is two. In addition to the tacit understanding, there are still some problems. Everything else can be said to be invulnerable. At this time, even Liverpool fans sighed. Lao Bei is accurate when he sees people. It's a good deal.
Truly. Benitez and Parry were in talks about abandoning the event. Speaking of Yepez. Parry couldn't help but praise Lao Bei for his good eyesight. Parry after watching Yepes get more and more steady and brilliant swings. Already sure. $6.5 million to buy Yepes. Just take it with Liverpool for a year or two. Its value will definitely grow to more than $8 million.
The reason is simple. The value of a player. It's not just the strength of the individual and the swing of the game. At the same time, it is more important to join the big teams. Let's use an analogy. Argentina's Boca Juniors and River Plate's leading scorers are amazing. It's going to be amazing. Very powerful. But their worth. I'm afraid it's not as valuable as Liverpool's Barosh at the moment. Why. That's just the way it goes.
Not to mention South America. Even the European players are like that. You're in a normal team. It may be worth 2 million US dollars. But you just have to swing well. was favored by a wealthy family. Bring in the big teams. Then your worth will at least double. An increase of 4 million is not bad.
And Yepes is undoubtedly that kind of player. There is strength but no fame. As long as Yepes works hard at Liverpool for a few years. The value will definitely be several times.
"I said Big Brother Dudek. Don't make excuses. Bullying honest people. You'd better be ready to tee off. "What else do you want to say when you see Dudek. George immediately preemptively said.
"You're a great kid." Look at George's smiling face. Dudek also said with a smile. Then throw the ball player to George. George, on the other hand, passed the ball to Gerrard in the back. Start preparing for a rematch.
"Oh my god I'm going to play in the league. The day after tomorrow, he will play the Champions League knockout round with Serie A giants Juventus. Damn it. It's a fucking torturous schedule. Juventus. Powerful Juventus. ”
Look at the players training on the sidelines. Lao Bei's mind has already flown to tomorrow's game. More precisely, in the later game against Serie A giants Juventus.
Lao Bei is well aware of the strength of Juventus. That razor-sharp attack. That terrifying face short pass penetration. What's even more terrifying is the never-frantic pace of Juventus' game. Come to think of it. Lao Bei sighed helplessly. Because Lao Bei knows. Liverpool's test is coming.
"!" Dejected, George returned to the locker room. He scolded without looking back. Sit down and say no.
It's not just George. Everyone in Liverpool looked depressed. Because it was just the game. In the match against Crystal Palace, who are in the relegation group. Liverpool actually lost the game.
Crystal Palace, which is not very strong. Stimulated by relegation. stunned to explode terrifying combat power. In the end, it was a corner kick opportunity. A goal is scored by an opposing defender. Won 1-0 against Liverpool.
Now Liverpool have lost this game. Suddenly the ranking fell. Second place dropped from first place. In this round. Manchester United won. Finally reached the top of the leaderboard. As for Arsenal. It was encountered by the Magpie Army led by Shearer. After ninety minutes of fighting. The two sides ended in a 1-1 draw. It is currently in third place.
You must know that Manchester United has been on the road to winning the title in recent years. They all have one thing in common. That's when the league is coming to an end. The more stable the Manchester United team is. The robust one is simply terrifying. It's almost impossible to see United lose. Even if it's a draw. It is also rare. Even the British press admitted. Manchester United are undoubtedly the strongest team in England towards the end of the league season. Other teams want to beat Manchester United. There is still a chance in the work schedule. But after Christmas. It will not be easy to beat Manchester United.
Why. Because Manchester United's substitutes are very strong. It can make Ferguson's arrangement more reasonable. At the same time, there are not bad substitutes to go to the game. Manchester United's main players can also get a proper rest. Store some energy. That's the biggest reason why Manchester United go unbeaten every time in the last minute of the league.
Can George not be angry. You know, according to Manchester United's usual situation. I'm afraid even the rest of the league. Liverpool won't be able to win the title without winning all. Because Manchester United every time at the last minute. Almost always win over the opponent. It's hard to lose or draw.
I think of my hard work and struggle for more than half a year. Seeing that the championship is about to be held. Now it is being overtaken by Manchester United. Judging by the characteristics and style of Manchester United. There is also a good chance that the final title will be snatched by Manchester United. Who is this for. Who will be angry.
"Alright. Cheer up. I know you're feeling bad right now. I'm just like you. I also feel uncomfortable. But I can blame you for today's game. It's the opponent who swings it really well. Don't talk about us Liverpool. Even if it is to drag Manchester United and Arsenal to Crystal Palace at this time. Will also lose. "Look at the demoralised Liverpool players. As the head coach of the team. Benitez naturally knows why the players are so frustrated right now. It's not because of the loss. Let Manchester United come from behind. And there is a good chance that Manchester United will snatch the title.
But Benitez is the manager after all. Although I was also very depressed and angry. But Benitez is also not good at saying anything about the Liverpool players. You must know that the Liverpool players did their best in this game. But Crystal Palace, who are fighting for relegation, are clearly even crazier than Liverpool. For this reason, Crystal Palace was stunned to carry 6 yellow cards. This shows how hot this game is. The people of Crystal Palace are playing with their lives.
Benitez can't blame the player either. After all, this game is not about the front, middle and back lines. The Liverpool players are doing very well. Crystal Palace's goal also came from a corner. on this. Benitez can only say that Crystal Palace's luck today was really good.
"Coach. Don't comfort us. We all know that. Maybe it's because of the loss in this game. I'm afraid of the English champion this season. Once again, we will not have a chance with Liverpool. ”
Carragher said in a very depressed mood. As a veteran of Liverpool. Carragher has been in the first team since he joined the team. I've never tasted a championship yet. Now it's a great season. It is very likely to win the championship. But at this time, it was destroyed by Crystal Palace, which Liverpool usually looks down on. Carragher's mood can't rise even if he wants to. "Huh. There are several games left in the league. No one can say what will happen in the next game. After all, football is a garden. Even if we lose the English title. So what. Do you have only one English champion in your eyes? Have you forgotten? There is also a bigger one. More important champions are waiting for us. ”
Champions! Hear Benitez's words. All Liverpool's eyes lit up. Look at the expressions on the players' faces. Although it did not show much surprise. But Lao Bei can still see it. Their own players have not lost their fighting spirit. Because there's still a Champions League waiting for everyone.
Come to think of it. Lao Bei decided. Now I'm back to Liverpool with the team. When making a summary. By the way, comfort the players. After all, tomorrow we will go to the away game against the mighty Juventus. If Liverpool were to play Juventus in this form and morale. That's only the end of losing.