Chapter 231 Before the Premier League season, China

2007年8月3日和4日，曼联又连续进行了两场季前热身赛，不过两场比赛都是以青年军和替补阵容为主，而主力阵容将准备应对8月5日晚上的社区盾杯与切尔西的赛季前重头戏。

8月3日晚上19时45分，曼联前往客场挑战英甲球队唐卡斯特。曼联排出了4-4-1-1的首发阵容：19岁的坎贝尔担任单前锋，另外从萨拉戈萨租借回归的巴萨名宿皮克也是本赛季第一次代表曼联进行比赛，其与埃文斯搭档中后卫，巴德斯利和场上队长西尔维斯特分居两翼。

Fletcher led the midfield, which also included young players such as Martin, Gibson and Sean Evans, while new signing Anderson supported Campbell in the frontcourt. Although the opponent was only a League One team, the team included former Manchester United players Mark Wilson and Richie Allen.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that the opponent's goalkeeper Sullivan is the former Wimbledon goalkeeper who became famous 11 years ago when Beckham headed the ball into the net in the first half.

However, everyone's eyes were still on the Brazilian new player Anderson, who tried to open up Manchester United's offensive rhythm with tireless running and passing after the opening. However, after the goalless first half, Chinese striker Dong Yuanchao replaced Anderson at halftime.

Manchester United broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Richie Jones' corner kick was cleared and Gibson volleyed into the goal from 20 yards.

Manchester United then expanded the lead before the end of the game. Dong Yuanchao and Campbell cooperated on the right and made a diagonal pass. Sean Evans shot into the net with his left foot from 25 yards in front of the goal.

Manchester United won another friendly match away from home with a score of 2-0.

However, less than 24 hours later, at 15: p.m. the next day, Manchester United rushed to London and played another pre-season warm-up match with English League Two team Peterborough before the upcoming Community Shield match. This time it was the turn of another new player, Hargreaves, to make his debut.

However, Hargreaves started the game from the bench. Manchester United's starting lineup was composed of young players. However, Dong Yuanchao got the chance to start, while Pique, Evans, Gibson, Martin and Campbell started consecutively.

After the game started, Manchester United controlled the game and took the lead in the 23rd minute. Eckersley scored with a left-foot shot after a wall-to-wall match with Dong Yuanchao.

Hargreaves, the new signing from Bayern Munich for £1800 million, finally made his debut in the second half, replacing Gibson, but as a result, it seems unlikely that he will play in tomorrow's Community Shield match.

However, after the change of sides, the home team Petersburg took the initiative on the field and equalized the score in the 49th minute. After that, Petersburg even got consecutive opportunities and almost reversed the score.

Sir Alex Ferguson was very dissatisfied with this and walked from the bench to the sidelines to signal Manchester United to be more nervous. So even though they were facing a League Two team, Manchester United players started to fight for their lives with red faces, but the rest of the game obviously became a special performance by Chinese striker Dong Yuanchao.

Manchester United once again took the lead in the 72nd minute. After Dong Yuanchao's powerful shot from a distance was saved by the opponent's goalkeeper Mark Taylor, Richie Jones shot in from close range. Then in the 79th minute, Dong Yuanchao made a personal breakthrough and scored a curved shot near the penalty area line to help Manchester United secure the victory...

In the end, Manchester United won another pre-season friendly match with a score of 3-1, and all three goals of Manchester United were related to Dong Yuanchao, who assisted one goal, scored one goal, and created a rebound goal. It's a pity that Dong Yuanchao's excellent performance was in a friendly match against a League Two team, instead of in the Community Shield match at Wembley a day later.

Ricciardo did not participate in the two warm-up matches. Sir Alex Ferguson gave Ricciardo a half-day holiday so that he could find a new place to stay for the next season as soon as possible. It is not good to stay in a hotel all the time...

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According to Ricardo's recent research and information obtained from his teammates and Pimenta, Manchester United and even many traditional strong teams in the northern part of the Premier League like to settle in Cheshire, where there are many luxury houses.

In addition to its vast countryside and excellent natural environment, Cheshire also has outstanding educational resources, including the prestigious private school Ellesmere School.

In 2001, Beckham and Victoria bought their first property in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Manchester United bosses such as Giggs, Ronaldo, Ferdinand, Rooney and even former Manchester United CEO Peter Kenyon mainly live in Cheshire.

In addition to sports elites, many old money aristocrats also choose Cheshire as the base of their homes. For example, Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, one of the richest men in the UK, has his family mansion Eaton Hall in Cheshire.

After visiting the luxury houses for sale and rent in Cheshire, Ricardo was deeply moved. They were so handsome, and the surrounding shopping, consumption, entertainment and medical facilities were very complete. It was indeed a paradise for the rich.

In addition, in addition to Cheshire, which is favored by the team bosses, another group of Manchester United players gather in the community near the Carrington base. Most of Manchester United's echelon and youth players live not far from the training base.

Although most of the young players are staying in local residents' homes, there are also many cozy houses for sale or rent in the community. Although the properties in these communities are relatively simple, they are very livable, and the transportation, living environment and various supporting facilities of mature communities are also very convenient. The most important thing is that it is only a dozen minutes away from the training base, and you can easily reach it by jogging or riding a bicycle.

However, both of the above places were eventually rejected by Ricardo and Sarafina Paz, because although both places have various advantages and conveniences, the key is that they are too far away from the train station, which is not very friendly to Sarafina who plans to come from London frequently for surprise inspections.

Besides, Ricardo didn't really like living alone in a villa covering several hundred square meters. Not to mention the spaciousness and the trouble of cleaning, Ricardo felt it was too extravagant and wasteful, and there was a lack of wives, oh no, it was a lack of popularity...

Deeply influenced by old Li Qi who has lived in the southern metropolis of China for a long time, Ricardo still likes to live in a flat. In Milan, Italy, his family has no choice but to live in a small villa, but when he is alone, living in a flat is more in line with his temperament.

So Pimenta's recommendation of Beetham Tower in the center of Manchester was unanimously approved by both Sarafina and Ricardo.

The 168-meter-high Beetham Tower, which was completed in 2006 and opened to the public in October of the same year, is a rare skyscraper in England. The 10-story new landmark of Manchester is still the tallest residential building in Europe.

Beetham Tower is located in the heart of Manchester, adjacent to Manchester Central Business District, the world-class art center, and within walking distance to Salford Central Railway Station. The convenience and prosperity of urban life are all within easy reach. Surrounding facilities are scattered everywhere, large shopping malls are also within walking distance, and Chinatown is also a ten-minute drive away. A few streets away is the financial district where Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC and Bank of New York Mellon gather...

The three-bedroom, two-living-room, 120-square-meter high-rise apartment only costs 3500 pounds per month, which is exactly one-tenth of Ricardo's weekly salary. The cost-effectiveness is suitable. Moreover, the apartment in Beetham Tower has 24-hour access security and supporting high-end housekeeping services. The most important thing is that after Sarafina takes a two-hour train ride from London, it only takes 2 minutes to reach the little princess' palace in Manchester!

On the afternoon when Ricardo and Sarafina finalized the apartment layout and were preparing to move in, Raiola also finalized the endorsement contracts with Prudential and Audi. He brought them to Ricardo's door for him to sign and drove directly to him a car arranged for Ricardo by Audi's UK branch.

It is the model that Audi is promoting, a silver Audi TT 2.0T small steel cannon. As an entry-level sports coupe, TT is a combination of fashion, beauty and powerful power performance, and the main thing is low-key luxury and connotation, which is in line with Ricardo's positioning as a newcomer to the team and his sultry personality.

However, Ricardo had no chance to test drive the car, so he had to leave Sarafina to help decorate the new house and deal with the contract, and let Raiola drive him back to the club in the new car to meet up with the main team and go to London to prepare to challenge the first championship of the new season: the 2007 Charity Community Shield!

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The Football Association Community Shield, formerly known as the Charity Shield, was founded in 1908. It is an annual tournament hosted by the English Football Association, where the champion of the previous season's Premier League plays against the champion of the previous season's FA Cup. If a team is a double champion (winner of both the Premier League and the FA Cup), the opposing team will be changed to the runner-up of the Premier League.

The Community Shield is the opening match of each season and is traditionally held at Wembley Stadium; however, from 2001 to 2006, due to the renovation of Wembley Stadium, the event was moved to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

This year, the renovation of Wembley Stadium was completed, and the team won the traditional English Community Shield for the first time.

As England's national football stadium, Wembley Stadium, which was built in 1923, spent 7.8 million and 6 years to complete the renovation and put into use in 2007. The renovated new Wembley Stadium is a modern high-tech stadium with seats and a floating roof. It is the largest roofed stadium in the world and a UEFA five-star football stadium.

Wembley Stadium in London is conveniently located. There are not only bus stations connected to the city, but also Wembley Railway Station and Wembley Underground Station nearby. The new Wembley has a circular stadium with a diameter of nearly 300 meters, a 52-meter-high stand, and the world's longest single-span roof structure with a height of 133 meters above the stadium. There are also two super-large screens in the stadium, each of which is as large as 600 ordinary TVs.

In addition, the new Wembley set a Guinness World Record for having a total of 2618 toilets!

As one of the largest professional football stadiums in Europe and recognized as one of the greatest stadiums in the world, Wembley Stadium has hosted the World Cup final, the Olympic football final, the European Cup final, the UEFA Champions League final, and almost every English Football League Cup final and Community Shield match. It witnessed the glorious moment when the England team won the 1966 World Cup and is known as one of the holy temples of world football.

新温布利的第一场正式职业比赛是2007年3月24日，交战双方是英格兰U21青年队与意大利U21青年队的比赛，双方战成了3比3平局。意大利球员詹保罗·帕齐尼打进3球成为了第一个在温布利进球的职业球员，同时也是第一个在新温布利上演帽子戏法的球员。

The first heavyweight final hosted by the new Wembley was the FA Cup final held on May 2007, 5. The two teams were Manchester United and Chelsea, who were to face each other in the Community Shield this season. However, Chelsea won the championship last season with Drogba's goal, and Chelsea also became the first team to win the championship at the new Wembley.

Therefore, whether it is a warm-up match before the start of the new season or the opening match, it is a battle of revenge for the Red Devils Manchester United. After all, for the elderly Sir Alex, no matter what the grudge is, it is best to take revenge quickly, otherwise there will be no chance in the future...

So Sir Alex Ferguson sent out the 11 best players from the pre-season team as the starting lineup, and arranged an offensive 4-3-3 formation:

The goalkeeper is No. 1 Van der Sar;

The left and right wingbacks are No. 3 Evra and No. 6 Wes Brown, and the double center backs are No. 5 Ferdinand and No. 15 Vidic;

The three central midfielders are No. 27 Sylvester, No. 16 Carrick and No. 22 O'Shea;

The left winger is No. 11 Giggs, the right winger is No. 7 Ronaldo, and the one at the front is No. 10 Rooney.

This was Manchester United's main lineup last season, while new signing Ricardo Reach was on the bench with stars such as Scholes and Fletcher.

At this time, the madman Magic Bird, who was still the Chelsea coach, also used his usual 4-3-2-1 formation.

The goalkeeper is No. 1 Cech;

The left and right full-backs are No. 3 Ashley Cole and No. 2 Glen Johnson, and the double center backs are No. 22 Ben Haim and No. 6 Carvalho;

The three midfielders are No. 5 Essien, No. 12 Mikel and No. 8 Lampard;

The double attacking midfielders are No. 24 Wright-Phillips and No. 10 Joe Cole, and the single striker is No. 15 Malouda.

曾经3次夺取社区盾杯的切尔西上赛季在社区盾中1比2不敌利物浦，最近一次夺取该项赛事桂冠还是2005年，蓝军2比1力克阿森纳。曾经11次捧杯的曼联上次夺冠还是2003年，红魔1比1战平阿森纳后点球取胜。

曼联在与切尔西的近11场交锋中仅胜一场，而这也是穆里尼奥同弗格森第11次交锋，其间弗格森也仅胜一场。不过曼联和切尔西历史交锋147场，曼联64胜43平40负占据上风。双方历史上曾两次在社区盾杯赛中碰面。其中1997年，曼联1比1战平切尔西后在点球大战中4比2取胜；2000年，切尔西2比0取胜曼联。而双方上赛季末在新温布利球场争夺足总杯冠军，凭借着德罗巴在加时赛中打入致胜球，切尔西1比0力克曼联。

However, Drogba missed the game due to injury, and Chelsea captain Terry will be absent for a month due to a knee injury. Fortunately, Lampard recovered in time and started as captain.

Compared with Manchester United's starting lineup in the midweek draw with Inter Milan, Ferguson only replaced Ricardo Ricci, who had been performing well in the pre-season warm-up matches, with Silvestre in the starting lineup. Ricci was arranged to start on the bench in this game and wait for an opportunity. As for the other two new players, Anderson was absent due to injury, while Hargreaves had not yet recovered from his match form.

As old enemies who know each other well, and also the strongest rivals in the Premier League in recent seasons, the two teams did not need to test each other at all after the opening, and directly started fighting with real guns and real bullets, punching each other to the flesh...

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