Chapter 347: The first championship of the season, who is the real king of the finals?
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Liu Nian Fei Shui
Chapter 347: The first championship of the season, who is the real king of the finals?
"Goooooooooooooooooooal—"
"Oh My God! It's such a criminal feat!"
"Martin played with Bayern Munich's entire defense!"
"Waltz dancer on the green field!"
"It's like an unsolvable breakthrough in a no-man's land! A crotch-piercing goal! Arsenal leads Bayern Munich 2:0!"
"Incredible performance! Another goal worthy of being selected for the Puskas Award!"
……
The commentators in the live commentary box/live broadcast room all blurt out the words.
The fanatical atmosphere at the Allianz Arena was obviously affected by Martin's goal and it was as if someone had pressed the pause button, and there was no sound.
"Martin!"
"Martin!!"
"Martin!!!"
The Arsenal fans who were traveling with the team reacted quickly and let out deafening shouts.
Martin, who scored, faced the broadcast screen, smiled and opened his arms.
The belated Arsenal players rushed towards Martin who scored a wonderful goal.
This goal is not the most exciting goal they have ever seen Martin score, but...the brain can't help but recall the amazing scene just now and will be ecstatic.
Coach Arsene Wenger rarely cheered.
The players in front of the bench were talking dirty words, which fully reflected the excitement of Martin's goal.
In accordance with international practice, the live broadcast restored Martin's entire process.
"Fake shot and real dunk! Even the camera was shaken...and he did it again! Bayern's defensive players are like string dolls, always making blocking actions based on Martin's exaggerated shooting movements! Alaba, Thierry Yago, Javi Martinez, Hummels... Neuer thought Martin would continue to fake shots and dunk for real, but he got a small crotch slap..."
Central 5 commentator He Wei gave wonderful comments based on slow-motion playback.
Commentator Xu Yang laughed and said: "With Neuer's center of gravity so low, kicking the crotch shot is indeed the best shooting route. I have to say...Martin is really a super genius who is good at controlling the opponent's thinking!"
The commentators on every TV station were full of praise for Martin's performance.
Later, the on-site director showed a close-up shot to the Bayern players on the court.
Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Thiago, Vidal, Hummels, Neuer, Lahm...
Everyone shook their heads and sighed in pain.
If there is still hope of coming back after losing by one goal at home, then losing by two goals means that it will be difficult to recover in the second leg on the road.
As we all know, Arsenal has never lost at home since losing to West Ham United in the first round of the 2015-8 Premier League season in August 2015, and... there are very few draws.
Almost...complete victory!
Especially looking at the high-spirited Martin, I felt bad.
Bayern fans at the Allianz Arena were filled with emotions.
Two years ago, that kid was obviously just a little guy with abnormal defense and great assists.
Isn't this... the growth rate too fast?
Whether they are Arsenal fans at the scene or Arsenal fans in front of the TV, they feel extremely happy.
Having Martin really means all kinds of honors!
Nice!
……
Bayern has completed all three substitution adjustments, which means that they can only rely on the 11 players on the field if they want to regain a victory or even equalize the score.
The most important thing is not to lose the ball.
Once we concede three goals at home, it's a real disaster!
Many Bayern players are big-game players, especially the German internationals.
Three years ago, I won the World Cup in Brazil and lost 0:4 to Real Madrid at home. I have experienced many victories and failures. After a short period of adaptation, I quickly accepted the reality.
They know that regret and hesitation are of no use. They can only stand up bravely and challenge the future of survival.
In the 84th minute, Arsenal's last adjustment was in defense.
Coquelin replaced Xhaka to add pure defensive strength in the middle.
This Southern King, which was originally built by Guardiola as a passing and controlling team, has undergone some changes after being trained by Ancelotti for most of the season. It emphasizes defense while ensuring sufficient control of the ball.
With the serious decline in strength of strong teams such as Dortmund and Wolfsburg, this style of play can be described as a dimensionality reduction blow in the Bundesliga, but it is a bit insufficient in the European competition, otherwise Bayern would not qualify as second in the group.
Arsenal's offense and defense were very balanced, and Bayern simply couldn't find any good offensive opportunities when they deliberately strengthened their defense.
Time passed by second by second, and Arsenal's overall performance, which was almost entirely spent on defense, was impregnable.
Ancelotti kept chewing gum mechanically, his bright eyes showing a trace of tension and melancholy that was easy to understand.
Obviously, he knows what it means to be two goals behind at home.
Out early!
But he didn't have any good ideas.
Many Bayern fans in the audience were very disappointed and vented their strong dissatisfaction with being two goals behind at home by leaving the game early.
The broadcast screen also took advantage of the stalemate of the game to show it to Bayern fans who left the field early.
Many commentators explained for the Bayern players on the field.
It's not that Bayern's offense is weak, but that defending champion Arsenal is too dominant.
In a sense, being only two goals behind is still a good result.
In the blink of an eye, the game is approaching the 10th and [-]th minutes. As professional players, we all know that this is the point where the ball is most likely to be lost.
Bayern has been unable to attack for a long time, and the offensive players are eager to score goals, but the defensive players do not seek merit but seek no faults.
The emergence of inconsistent thinking in the front and backcourt also directly affects Bayern's offensive efficiency.
However, there were no problems on the defensive end.
Until the end of the game, the scoreboard still showed 0:2.
The home team is at the front and the visiting team is at the back.
"competition is over!"
"competition is over!!"
Central 5 commentator He Wei said impassionedly: "With the two goals scored by Chinese player Martin in the first and second half, Arsenal's captain defeated Bayern 2:0 as a guest and won the opportunity to advance to the two-leg Champions League knockout round."
The on-site director gave Martin a close-up shot immediately.
There is no doubt that Martin is the best in the game.
Arsenal fans who traveled with the team were overjoyed and cheered for captain Martin who performed well.
"Martin's Song" once again spread over the away field, sweeping the entire field.
The Arsenal players on the field gathered together to celebrate the two-goal away victory.
The Bayern players will be in a bad mood. If captain Lahm hadn't deliberately reminded them, they would have planned to leave the game early.
Martin took the initiative to go to Robben, said comforting words, and exchanged jerseys by the way.
Robben looked at the other party with emotion: "I'm really old..."
"Really old."
Martin nodded lightly: "By the way...when will you retire?"
"..."
Robben had a black line on his face and thought to himself: Why don't you play according to the routine?
Logically speaking, shouldn't I give you a few words of advice?
Martin looked at the rich expressions on Robben's face and laughed, reaching out to touch his bald head: "Just kidding, haha~"
"..."
Robben has had several encounters with Martin. Thinking of the second round half a month later, he became more motivated again: "I will definitely make a scene at the Emirates Stadium!"
"Wait for you~"
Martin blinked.
I thought that the other party would instinctively say harsh words, but I didn't expect...
It feels like a punch to cotton, a bit blue and thin, shiitake mushroom.
"Boy, I will definitely score in the next round!"
"Very good, come on!"
Martin also made a cheering gesture.
Robben was completely defeated: "..."
……
mixed zone.
Reporters from major media outlets all aimed at Martin, who performed extremely well, and rushed to ask questions.
Martin, who felt that he performed well, was in a good mood and was very cooperative in interviews with media reporters.
※※※※※
At the same time, another first leg of the Champions League 1/8 finals also came to an end. Real Madrid defeated Naples 3:1 at home.
欧足联为了能够跟欧冠和欧联1/4决赛同步进行，欧冠1/8决赛两回合时间差距有半个多月，阿森纳坐镇主场迎战拜仁的欧冠1/8决赛次回合要等到3月7日晚上的8点45分。回到伦敦的阿森纳全队获得一天半的假，随后才备战足总杯第5轮赛事。
Considering that Seton United are from the fifth level and there is a huge gap between them, Wenger plans to play with the main force, semi-main force and youth team players.
To ensure nothing goes wrong, Martin, Sanchez, Xhaka and other players were also allowed to go with the team.
However, there were no accidents in the game. In the fifth round of the FA Cup at the weekend, with Iwobi and 'Chain Brother' Niles scoring a goal each, they defeated Thurton United 5:2 as a guest and easily advanced to the sixth round.
Next up is preparation for the EFL Cup final against Manchester United at the new Wembley Stadium.
The focus of European mainstream media is once again on London.
Arsenal, as the defending champion of this event and currently at the top of the Premier League, are naturally the favorites to win the championship.
However, there is a famous saying in the gambling industry that "hot will die". The Arsenal team has always remained highly focused in preparing for the game, even if they have won all the games against Manchester United in the past two seasons.
Both players preparing for the EFL Cup received bans from their head coaches and did not pay attention to outside reports or make any remarks.
The team's stars and fans were unwilling to be left alone while waiting for the EFL Cup final, and began to use social platforms to spit on each other.
In the past, Red Devils fans relied on their huge base advantage to crush Arsenal fans, but now Arsenal's results are guaranteed and the fans are confident in speaking.
On the other hand, Manchester United fans are becoming less and less confident now, even if the crazy Mourinho is the head coach.
It's just that they are often unwilling to admit defeat and are stubborn.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it comes to the day of the traditional EFL Cup final.
end of October!
On the afternoon of February 2, local time, the entire Manchester United team arrived in London by bus one day in advance to prepare for the EFL Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium tomorrow evening.
Great Britain is a small country, and few teams will arrive at the game venue a day early unless the game is played at noon.
Mourinho and his team came to London in advance to better prepare for the EFL Cup final.
He knew that it was not even theoretically possible to compete for the league championship with the current lineup, so he pinned his hopes on the cup.
The EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League are Mourinho's plans to win the championship.
The EFL Cup final, which kicks off tomorrow, is the first championship he can compete for since taking charge of Manchester United.
Routine press conference before the game.
In an interview, Mourinho revealed his desire to win the championship: "Coming to the EFL Cup final, I don't think anyone came for the runner-up. It is undeniable that Arsenal's strong dominance, but I believe that the whole team is determined to win the championship. Desire! No matter how powerful Goliath is, he will be defeated by David!"
The local media in Manchester were somewhat dissatisfied with Mourinho's statement.
Including many Manchester United fans, they believe that Mourinho is trying to make others ambitious and destroy his own prestige.
What does it mean that no matter how powerful Goliath is, he will be defeated by David?
So... Manchester United is David?
Do not!
For many Manchester United fans, Manchester United is the powerful Goliath, right?
And he is still an undefeated Goliath!
But when thinking about Mourinho's magic, only a few extreme fans complained. Although most fans were unhappy, they did not say anything.
Only a few Manchester United fans have a good mentality and believe that the lineup since Ferguson retired is not good. The current lineup cannot be compared with Arsenal. It can indeed be said to be an ordinary team.
Later, Wenger held a press conference in the press conference hall of the new Wembley Stadium.
When interviewed by media reporters, he remained relatively low-key and gave Mourinho face: "José is an excellent coach and the most troublesome opponent in my coaching career besides Alex. , As we all know, Manchester United is the most valuable football club on the planet. Arsenal still have too much to learn. Tomorrow’s EFL Cup..."
In addition, his interview also brought enough illusions to many Manchester United.
listen and see……
Wenger said there are too many things to learn from Manchester United!
In other words, Manchester United is a better football club on the planet than Arsenal!
When such remarks appear on social platforms, Arsenal fans are immediately confused.
Finally, it turned into one sentence: Top understanding!
※※※※※
On the afternoon of February 2, London, with its strong football atmosphere, became even more fanatical.
Arsenal and Manchester United fans wearing red jerseys can be seen everywhere near the new Wembley Stadium.
But since the main color of the home jerseys of both teams is red, it feels like they are one team.
The relationship between Arsenal fans and Manchester United fans has always been bad, and now there is a direct championship battle. Extreme fans of the two teams have even arranged a fight on social platforms.
Fortunately, the London patrol was well prepared and nipped in the bud any possible escalation of conflicts through advance deployment.
Many self-media bloggers and media reporters interviewed fans of the two teams in the streets and alleys.
The answers from these fans were exactly the same, and they were all confident in their respective home teams.
Especially Arsenal fans.
More than two hours before the game, players from both teams arrived at the new Wembley Stadium on their respective buses.
At this time, the outer square was already overcrowded, and cheers and boos intertwined to form a long-lasting noise.
In order to relax their mind and body, the participating players put on headphones to isolate external sounds and listened to their favorite music from the moment they checked into the hotel.
So unless the players take off their headphones on their own initiative, no sound will be heard.
The game time was at 05:30 in the afternoon, and the starting lineups of the two teams came out at early four o'clock.
Manchester United, which was drawn by the home team, arranged a 4231 formation.
Goalkeeper: De Gea
Defenders: Rojo, Smalling, Bailly, Valencia
Defensive midfielder: Herrera, Pogba
Midfielder: Martial, Mata, Lingard
Forward: Ibrahimovic
Arsenal lined up the same formation.
Goalkeeper: Ospina
Defenders: Monreal, Van Dijk, Koscielny, Bellerin
Midfielder: Ramsey, Kante
Midfielder: Sanchez, Martin, Welbeck
Forward: Cavani
……
Both teams have reservations in their lineups, obviously realizing that the next EFL Cup final will be more difficult than imagined.
The two teams entered the stadium to warm up. The attendance rate of the new Wembley Stadium was close to [-]%, and the remaining seats were occupied by fans lining up to enter the stadium at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The north and south stands were occupied by die-hard fans from both sides of the final. They adapted to the atmosphere of the final in advance. The flag bearers kept waving the flags in their hands and sang the team anthem under the leadership of the leaders of their respective fan organizations.
Most of the time, football matches are not about players competing on the field. Their fans also need to release their passion off the field and cheer for the players on the field.
The warm-up time lasted about 10 minutes. Players from both teams returned to their respective locker rooms through the player tunnel to prepare for the EFL Cup final that was about to begin soon.
Fans also rested and prepared for the next finals.
Home team locker room.
The Manchester United players tidied up their personal appearance and all gathered around coach Mourinho with heavy expressions.
Arsenal have not lost for a long time, and they have won many games and rarely drawn. The huge sense of pressure makes them feel that there is a long way to go in the finals.
Mourinho has a wife who is a psychology professor, and she knows that the most important thing in the current competition is the player's mentality.
Before repeating the tactics he had talked about countless times in advance, he gave an incendiary speech about the hesitation the players were feeling.
Arsene Wenger, the head coach of Arsenal in the visiting team's locker room, has extensive coaching experience and knows that the team has failed to win, but it also needs to lose the so-called championship title and start from scratch in order to better compete for the championship.
Seven or eight minutes before the start of the game, Arsenal players and Manchester United players came to the tunnel from the locker room.
The substitute players went straight into the court, while the mainstream players stayed to prepare for the ensuing entrance ceremony.
It can be said that the two teams are old acquaintances, many of whom are former teammates and national team teammates.
There was a friendly chat during the traditional performance before the EFL Cup final.
The on-site director gave close-ups to the players on both sides of the match in the tunnel, and the close-ups to the faces of the stars were obviously longer.
Leshi Sports has the exclusive broadcasting rights for the EFL Cup. The parent company is not short of money now. Central 5 won’t give it any face, and other competing network TV stations will not even want to buy the broadcasting rights. Therefore, the domestic fans of Longguo want to watch the finals. Only through Lex Sports.
Commentator Zhan Jun and his partner Li Yuankui both came to the live commentary box at the new Wembley Stadium, next to the famous Sky TV commentator Andy Gray.
The broadcast screen showed Martin, and Zhanjun's high-pitched voice broke out: "I believe the fans waiting for the game to start know that Martin has become the ultimate winner in every final he participates in, the veritable king of the finals, Manchester United head coach 'Magic Bird' 'Mourinho also has a very high winning percentage in the finals. In a direct confrontation between the two finals kings, who will have the last laugh?"
"What an exciting showdown!"
Guest commentator Li Yuankui said loudly.
The English League Cup final starts at 11:30 pm Dragon Country time. This time is considered a relatively prime start time, so there are a large number of fans sitting in front of computer monitors or Lexus TVs waiting for the game to start.
The fans were filled with admiration after hearing this, and expected Martin to contribute a wonderful game in the future.
It's just that Manchester United fans are a little confused and don't know how to support Martin.
Martin scores and United win?
But once Martin scores a goal, Arsenal will be quite invincible.
The traditional performance at the new Wembley Stadium ended, and referee Oliver led the players from both sides into the stadium from the tunnel.
"papapapapapapaa——"
Thunderous applause swept the entire stadium instantly.
Fans from both sides clapped their hands in the gradually heating up atmosphere, adding to the fanatical atmosphere of the game.
Martin walked at the front of the team and was given special treatment by the on-site director again.
The fans in front of the TV instantly became excited and involuntarily made imaginative sounds.
After a series of necessary pre-match rituals, the two teams stood on half sides in a 4231 formation, waiting for the kick-off whistle.
"beep~"
The time came exactly on time, and Oliver blew his whistle to signal the official start of the 2016-2017 English League Cup final.
There will be a World Cup in 2018. It is specially marked that it is definitely not representing the Dragon Kingdom. The plot has already been foreshadowed. Although the plot is a bit outdated, I hope it will not affect the reading of the parents.
(End of this chapter)
"Goooooooooooooooooooal—"
"Oh My God! It's such a criminal feat!"
"Martin played with Bayern Munich's entire defense!"
"Waltz dancer on the green field!"
"It's like an unsolvable breakthrough in a no-man's land! A crotch-piercing goal! Arsenal leads Bayern Munich 2:0!"
"Incredible performance! Another goal worthy of being selected for the Puskas Award!"
……
The commentators in the live commentary box/live broadcast room all blurt out the words.
The fanatical atmosphere at the Allianz Arena was obviously affected by Martin's goal and it was as if someone had pressed the pause button, and there was no sound.
"Martin!"
"Martin!!"
"Martin!!!"
The Arsenal fans who were traveling with the team reacted quickly and let out deafening shouts.
Martin, who scored, faced the broadcast screen, smiled and opened his arms.
The belated Arsenal players rushed towards Martin who scored a wonderful goal.
This goal is not the most exciting goal they have ever seen Martin score, but...the brain can't help but recall the amazing scene just now and will be ecstatic.
Coach Arsene Wenger rarely cheered.
The players in front of the bench were talking dirty words, which fully reflected the excitement of Martin's goal.
In accordance with international practice, the live broadcast restored Martin's entire process.
"Fake shot and real dunk! Even the camera was shaken...and he did it again! Bayern's defensive players are like string dolls, always making blocking actions based on Martin's exaggerated shooting movements! Alaba, Thierry Yago, Javi Martinez, Hummels... Neuer thought Martin would continue to fake shots and dunk for real, but he got a small crotch slap..."
Central 5 commentator He Wei gave wonderful comments based on slow-motion playback.
Commentator Xu Yang laughed and said: "With Neuer's center of gravity so low, kicking the crotch shot is indeed the best shooting route. I have to say...Martin is really a super genius who is good at controlling the opponent's thinking!"
The commentators on every TV station were full of praise for Martin's performance.
Later, the on-site director showed a close-up shot to the Bayern players on the court.
Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Thiago, Vidal, Hummels, Neuer, Lahm...
Everyone shook their heads and sighed in pain.
If there is still hope of coming back after losing by one goal at home, then losing by two goals means that it will be difficult to recover in the second leg on the road.
As we all know, Arsenal has never lost at home since losing to West Ham United in the first round of the 2015-8 Premier League season in August 2015, and... there are very few draws.
Almost...complete victory!
Especially looking at the high-spirited Martin, I felt bad.
Bayern fans at the Allianz Arena were filled with emotions.
Two years ago, that kid was obviously just a little guy with abnormal defense and great assists.
Isn't this... the growth rate too fast?
Whether they are Arsenal fans at the scene or Arsenal fans in front of the TV, they feel extremely happy.
Having Martin really means all kinds of honors!
Nice!
……
Bayern has completed all three substitution adjustments, which means that they can only rely on the 11 players on the field if they want to regain a victory or even equalize the score.
The most important thing is not to lose the ball.
Once we concede three goals at home, it's a real disaster!
Many Bayern players are big-game players, especially the German internationals.
Three years ago, I won the World Cup in Brazil and lost 0:4 to Real Madrid at home. I have experienced many victories and failures. After a short period of adaptation, I quickly accepted the reality.
They know that regret and hesitation are of no use. They can only stand up bravely and challenge the future of survival.
In the 84th minute, Arsenal's last adjustment was in defense.
Coquelin replaced Xhaka to add pure defensive strength in the middle.
This Southern King, which was originally built by Guardiola as a passing and controlling team, has undergone some changes after being trained by Ancelotti for most of the season. It emphasizes defense while ensuring sufficient control of the ball.
With the serious decline in strength of strong teams such as Dortmund and Wolfsburg, this style of play can be described as a dimensionality reduction blow in the Bundesliga, but it is a bit insufficient in the European competition, otherwise Bayern would not qualify as second in the group.
Arsenal's offense and defense were very balanced, and Bayern simply couldn't find any good offensive opportunities when they deliberately strengthened their defense.
Time passed by second by second, and Arsenal's overall performance, which was almost entirely spent on defense, was impregnable.
Ancelotti kept chewing gum mechanically, his bright eyes showing a trace of tension and melancholy that was easy to understand.
Obviously, he knows what it means to be two goals behind at home.
Out early!
But he didn't have any good ideas.
Many Bayern fans in the audience were very disappointed and vented their strong dissatisfaction with being two goals behind at home by leaving the game early.
The broadcast screen also took advantage of the stalemate of the game to show it to Bayern fans who left the field early.
Many commentators explained for the Bayern players on the field.
It's not that Bayern's offense is weak, but that defending champion Arsenal is too dominant.
In a sense, being only two goals behind is still a good result.
In the blink of an eye, the game is approaching the 10th and [-]th minutes. As professional players, we all know that this is the point where the ball is most likely to be lost.
Bayern has been unable to attack for a long time, and the offensive players are eager to score goals, but the defensive players do not seek merit but seek no faults.
The emergence of inconsistent thinking in the front and backcourt also directly affects Bayern's offensive efficiency.
However, there were no problems on the defensive end.
Until the end of the game, the scoreboard still showed 0:2.
The home team is at the front and the visiting team is at the back.
"competition is over!"
"competition is over!!"
Central 5 commentator He Wei said impassionedly: "With the two goals scored by Chinese player Martin in the first and second half, Arsenal's captain defeated Bayern 2:0 as a guest and won the opportunity to advance to the two-leg Champions League knockout round."
The on-site director gave Martin a close-up shot immediately.
There is no doubt that Martin is the best in the game.
Arsenal fans who traveled with the team were overjoyed and cheered for captain Martin who performed well.
"Martin's Song" once again spread over the away field, sweeping the entire field.
The Arsenal players on the field gathered together to celebrate the two-goal away victory.
The Bayern players will be in a bad mood. If captain Lahm hadn't deliberately reminded them, they would have planned to leave the game early.
Martin took the initiative to go to Robben, said comforting words, and exchanged jerseys by the way.
Robben looked at the other party with emotion: "I'm really old..."
"Really old."
Martin nodded lightly: "By the way...when will you retire?"
"..."
Robben had a black line on his face and thought to himself: Why don't you play according to the routine?
Logically speaking, shouldn't I give you a few words of advice?
Martin looked at the rich expressions on Robben's face and laughed, reaching out to touch his bald head: "Just kidding, haha~"
"..."
Robben has had several encounters with Martin. Thinking of the second round half a month later, he became more motivated again: "I will definitely make a scene at the Emirates Stadium!"
"Wait for you~"
Martin blinked.
I thought that the other party would instinctively say harsh words, but I didn't expect...
It feels like a punch to cotton, a bit blue and thin, shiitake mushroom.
"Boy, I will definitely score in the next round!"
"Very good, come on!"
Martin also made a cheering gesture.
Robben was completely defeated: "..."
……
mixed zone.
Reporters from major media outlets all aimed at Martin, who performed extremely well, and rushed to ask questions.
Martin, who felt that he performed well, was in a good mood and was very cooperative in interviews with media reporters.
※※※※※
At the same time, another first leg of the Champions League 1/8 finals also came to an end. Real Madrid defeated Naples 3:1 at home.
欧足联为了能够跟欧冠和欧联1/4决赛同步进行，欧冠1/8决赛两回合时间差距有半个多月，阿森纳坐镇主场迎战拜仁的欧冠1/8决赛次回合要等到3月7日晚上的8点45分。回到伦敦的阿森纳全队获得一天半的假，随后才备战足总杯第5轮赛事。
Considering that Seton United are from the fifth level and there is a huge gap between them, Wenger plans to play with the main force, semi-main force and youth team players.
To ensure nothing goes wrong, Martin, Sanchez, Xhaka and other players were also allowed to go with the team.
However, there were no accidents in the game. In the fifth round of the FA Cup at the weekend, with Iwobi and 'Chain Brother' Niles scoring a goal each, they defeated Thurton United 5:2 as a guest and easily advanced to the sixth round.
Next up is preparation for the EFL Cup final against Manchester United at the new Wembley Stadium.
The focus of European mainstream media is once again on London.
Arsenal, as the defending champion of this event and currently at the top of the Premier League, are naturally the favorites to win the championship.
However, there is a famous saying in the gambling industry that "hot will die". The Arsenal team has always remained highly focused in preparing for the game, even if they have won all the games against Manchester United in the past two seasons.
Both players preparing for the EFL Cup received bans from their head coaches and did not pay attention to outside reports or make any remarks.
The team's stars and fans were unwilling to be left alone while waiting for the EFL Cup final, and began to use social platforms to spit on each other.
In the past, Red Devils fans relied on their huge base advantage to crush Arsenal fans, but now Arsenal's results are guaranteed and the fans are confident in speaking.
On the other hand, Manchester United fans are becoming less and less confident now, even if the crazy Mourinho is the head coach.
It's just that they are often unwilling to admit defeat and are stubborn.
Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, it comes to the day of the traditional EFL Cup final.
end of October!
On the afternoon of February 2, local time, the entire Manchester United team arrived in London by bus one day in advance to prepare for the EFL Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium tomorrow evening.
Great Britain is a small country, and few teams will arrive at the game venue a day early unless the game is played at noon.
Mourinho and his team came to London in advance to better prepare for the EFL Cup final.
He knew that it was not even theoretically possible to compete for the league championship with the current lineup, so he pinned his hopes on the cup.
The EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League are Mourinho's plans to win the championship.
The EFL Cup final, which kicks off tomorrow, is the first championship he can compete for since taking charge of Manchester United.
Routine press conference before the game.
In an interview, Mourinho revealed his desire to win the championship: "Coming to the EFL Cup final, I don't think anyone came for the runner-up. It is undeniable that Arsenal's strong dominance, but I believe that the whole team is determined to win the championship. Desire! No matter how powerful Goliath is, he will be defeated by David!"
The local media in Manchester were somewhat dissatisfied with Mourinho's statement.
Including many Manchester United fans, they believe that Mourinho is trying to make others ambitious and destroy his own prestige.
What does it mean that no matter how powerful Goliath is, he will be defeated by David?
So... Manchester United is David?
Do not!
For many Manchester United fans, Manchester United is the powerful Goliath, right?
And he is still an undefeated Goliath!
But when thinking about Mourinho's magic, only a few extreme fans complained. Although most fans were unhappy, they did not say anything.
Only a few Manchester United fans have a good mentality and believe that the lineup since Ferguson retired is not good. The current lineup cannot be compared with Arsenal. It can indeed be said to be an ordinary team.
Later, Wenger held a press conference in the press conference hall of the new Wembley Stadium.
When interviewed by media reporters, he remained relatively low-key and gave Mourinho face: "José is an excellent coach and the most troublesome opponent in my coaching career besides Alex. , As we all know, Manchester United is the most valuable football club on the planet. Arsenal still have too much to learn. Tomorrow’s EFL Cup..."
In addition, his interview also brought enough illusions to many Manchester United.
listen and see……
Wenger said there are too many things to learn from Manchester United!
In other words, Manchester United is a better football club on the planet than Arsenal!
When such remarks appear on social platforms, Arsenal fans are immediately confused.
Finally, it turned into one sentence: Top understanding!
※※※※※
On the afternoon of February 2, London, with its strong football atmosphere, became even more fanatical.
Arsenal and Manchester United fans wearing red jerseys can be seen everywhere near the new Wembley Stadium.
But since the main color of the home jerseys of both teams is red, it feels like they are one team.
The relationship between Arsenal fans and Manchester United fans has always been bad, and now there is a direct championship battle. Extreme fans of the two teams have even arranged a fight on social platforms.
Fortunately, the London patrol was well prepared and nipped in the bud any possible escalation of conflicts through advance deployment.
Many self-media bloggers and media reporters interviewed fans of the two teams in the streets and alleys.
The answers from these fans were exactly the same, and they were all confident in their respective home teams.
Especially Arsenal fans.
More than two hours before the game, players from both teams arrived at the new Wembley Stadium on their respective buses.
At this time, the outer square was already overcrowded, and cheers and boos intertwined to form a long-lasting noise.
In order to relax their mind and body, the participating players put on headphones to isolate external sounds and listened to their favorite music from the moment they checked into the hotel.
So unless the players take off their headphones on their own initiative, no sound will be heard.
The game time was at 05:30 in the afternoon, and the starting lineups of the two teams came out at early four o'clock.
Manchester United, which was drawn by the home team, arranged a 4231 formation.
Goalkeeper: De Gea
Defenders: Rojo, Smalling, Bailly, Valencia
Defensive midfielder: Herrera, Pogba
Midfielder: Martial, Mata, Lingard
Forward: Ibrahimovic
Arsenal lined up the same formation.
Goalkeeper: Ospina
Defenders: Monreal, Van Dijk, Koscielny, Bellerin
Midfielder: Ramsey, Kante
Midfielder: Sanchez, Martin, Welbeck
Forward: Cavani
……
Both teams have reservations in their lineups, obviously realizing that the next EFL Cup final will be more difficult than imagined.
The two teams entered the stadium to warm up. The attendance rate of the new Wembley Stadium was close to [-]%, and the remaining seats were occupied by fans lining up to enter the stadium at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The north and south stands were occupied by die-hard fans from both sides of the final. They adapted to the atmosphere of the final in advance. The flag bearers kept waving the flags in their hands and sang the team anthem under the leadership of the leaders of their respective fan organizations.
Most of the time, football matches are not about players competing on the field. Their fans also need to release their passion off the field and cheer for the players on the field.
The warm-up time lasted about 10 minutes. Players from both teams returned to their respective locker rooms through the player tunnel to prepare for the EFL Cup final that was about to begin soon.
Fans also rested and prepared for the next finals.
Home team locker room.
The Manchester United players tidied up their personal appearance and all gathered around coach Mourinho with heavy expressions.
Arsenal have not lost for a long time, and they have won many games and rarely drawn. The huge sense of pressure makes them feel that there is a long way to go in the finals.
Mourinho has a wife who is a psychology professor, and she knows that the most important thing in the current competition is the player's mentality.
Before repeating the tactics he had talked about countless times in advance, he gave an incendiary speech about the hesitation the players were feeling.
Arsene Wenger, the head coach of Arsenal in the visiting team's locker room, has extensive coaching experience and knows that the team has failed to win, but it also needs to lose the so-called championship title and start from scratch in order to better compete for the championship.
Seven or eight minutes before the start of the game, Arsenal players and Manchester United players came to the tunnel from the locker room.
The substitute players went straight into the court, while the mainstream players stayed to prepare for the ensuing entrance ceremony.
It can be said that the two teams are old acquaintances, many of whom are former teammates and national team teammates.
There was a friendly chat during the traditional performance before the EFL Cup final.
The on-site director gave close-ups to the players on both sides of the match in the tunnel, and the close-ups to the faces of the stars were obviously longer.
Leshi Sports has the exclusive broadcasting rights for the EFL Cup. The parent company is not short of money now. Central 5 won’t give it any face, and other competing network TV stations will not even want to buy the broadcasting rights. Therefore, the domestic fans of Longguo want to watch the finals. Only through Lex Sports.
Commentator Zhan Jun and his partner Li Yuankui both came to the live commentary box at the new Wembley Stadium, next to the famous Sky TV commentator Andy Gray.
The broadcast screen showed Martin, and Zhanjun's high-pitched voice broke out: "I believe the fans waiting for the game to start know that Martin has become the ultimate winner in every final he participates in, the veritable king of the finals, Manchester United head coach 'Magic Bird' 'Mourinho also has a very high winning percentage in the finals. In a direct confrontation between the two finals kings, who will have the last laugh?"
"What an exciting showdown!"
Guest commentator Li Yuankui said loudly.
The English League Cup final starts at 11:30 pm Dragon Country time. This time is considered a relatively prime start time, so there are a large number of fans sitting in front of computer monitors or Lexus TVs waiting for the game to start.
The fans were filled with admiration after hearing this, and expected Martin to contribute a wonderful game in the future.
It's just that Manchester United fans are a little confused and don't know how to support Martin.
Martin scores and United win?
But once Martin scores a goal, Arsenal will be quite invincible.
The traditional performance at the new Wembley Stadium ended, and referee Oliver led the players from both sides into the stadium from the tunnel.
"papapapapapapaa——"
Thunderous applause swept the entire stadium instantly.
Fans from both sides clapped their hands in the gradually heating up atmosphere, adding to the fanatical atmosphere of the game.
Martin walked at the front of the team and was given special treatment by the on-site director again.
The fans in front of the TV instantly became excited and involuntarily made imaginative sounds.
After a series of necessary pre-match rituals, the two teams stood on half sides in a 4231 formation, waiting for the kick-off whistle.
"beep~"
The time came exactly on time, and Oliver blew his whistle to signal the official start of the 2016-2017 English League Cup final.
There will be a World Cup in 2018. It is specially marked that it is definitely not representing the Dragon Kingdom. The plot has already been foreshadowed. Although the plot is a bit outdated, I hope it will not affect the reading of the parents.
(End of this chapter)
