Chapter 42 The spiritual leader of the wanderers!
In the locker room, the Rangers players were silent.
Old Davis drank water while cursing words starting with F.
Tavernier had a heavy look on his face, as it was his one-on-one defeat that led to the first goal.
McGregor stared at the tactical board in a trance, wondering why he didn't save the ball farther away so that Vardy couldn't make a follow-up shot.
The three oldest and most senior players on the team lost their voices at the same time, making the already weak cheering of assistant coach McAllister even paler.
Gerrard walked in, feeling a little confused by the silence in the locker room.
If we give it a go, we might lose more goals, and not only will there be no chance of making a comeback in the second round, it might also affect the team's morale in the future.
It's not impossible to defend desperately, but the team's morale is at this point. No one can guarantee that the score of 0-2 can be maintained until the end of the second half.
Suddenly, Colombian striker Morelos, who did not start this game, spoke.
"Coach, let me play in the second half. I have to score a goal no matter what! Then, when we get to our turf in the second game, we can teach them a lesson!"
Everyone in the locker room was stunned and turned to look at this black guy who was usually quiet but full of enthusiasm and even a little silly.
But still no one agreed, including Gerrard, who was still hesitant.
At this time, Chen Xiaoliang stood up.
He said calmly: “I have been in this team for the shortest time and have played fewer games than all of you.
I also don't know enough about this team's past successes, glories, failures and tribulations.
My abilities are not comprehensive enough and I can’t help the team score goals.”
At this time, Chen Xiaoliang stretched out his fist, and began to wave it vigorously in front of him as his voice gradually became louder.
“But I know one thing very clearly!
That is!
I've never seen us lose!
there has never been!
Whether it's in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liège, Poznan, Istanbul or Lisbon!
We have never lost!"
McAllister wanted to interrupt Chen Xiaoliang's speech because he repeatedly mentioned undefeated. McAllister felt that this would add more psychological burden to the players who were already timid.
However, Gerard stretched out his hand and waved it gently to stop him, indicating that Chen Xiaoliang should continue.
Because there was a word in Chen Xiaoliang's words that touched his heart.
"Yes! That's right! There is no eternal winner in this world! Our undefeated streak will end sooner or later!
But so what?
Today we are facing the third place in the Premier League!
Before the game everyone thought we were from a weaker league and we were a weaker team!
But so what? !
Just now! Vardy proved that he is a man!
Guys, you may never forget his two goals in the first half!
I will even dream about these two goals scored by Cao Dan every time I dream from now on!
But I don't want it to become a nightmare!
In the second half, let’s put on our clothes and pants and go tell them!
Who the hell is a real man!!!"
At this point, Chen Xiaoliang's face and neck were already flushed with excitement. His almost roaring words not only lingered in the locker room, but also seemed to resonate in the long and narrow player tunnel of the King Power Stadium.
Gerrard saw the players' faces change.
Confusion, hesitation, self-blame, and regret, these expressions were completely gone from their eyes and faces!
Instead, there is determination, anger, unwillingness and courage!
He remembered the night of May 25, 2005!
In Istanbul, also at halftime, he and Carragher used their almost bloodshot eyes to encourage every Liverpool player!
Then they created a miracle that will be engraved in history forever!
But he never expected that he would see this scene again on a 16-year-old child from the Red Country!
It's time to make a decision!
"Morelos, replace Haji! Go to the right!"
"Okay, boss!"
Upon hearing that he was substituted, Hagi did not complain at all. He walked over and hugged Morelos tightly, patting him on the back hard. This was the most unreserved trust between teammates!
"Patterson, replace Tavernier! I want you to run! Run! Run! Run until you have no strength left!"
"Me?!" Nathan Patterson, who was only 19 years old, couldn't believe that Gerrard would replace captain Tavernier with him at halftime!
But when he saw Gerard nodded to him, he realized that this was not a dream!
The right-back, who had been trained in the Rangers youth training since childhood, almost cried out in a loud voice: "Okay! Boss!!!"
Tavernier stood up and took off his warm sports jacket for him! Then he pointed at the Rangers logo on his chest!
Gerrard dropped the marker in his hand and pushed the tactical board away. For this team that has come this far, these are no longer needed at this moment .
He shouted: "Second half! Attack! Let these Premier League nobles see what Glasgow is like!"
Tavernier stood up and all the coaches and players gathered around him!
"Leicester City!"
"Fuck you!!"
“Third in the Premier League!!!”
"Fuck it!!!!"
Re-entry for the second half!
The bustling Royal Power Stadium suddenly became quiet!
More than 20,000 fans were surprised to find that the person walking at the head of the Rangers team and wearing the captain's armband turned out to be the young man from the Red Country who was known to only be able to steal the ball!
The other ten Rangers followed closely behind him as if it were a matter of course.
Barrage:
【？ ？ ？】
[What the hell? Chen Xiaoliang is the captain?! ]
[Is Gerrard giving up ? Is he preparing to train his troops? ]
[That Patterson is only 19 years old, and he replaced the captain Tavernier like this? What on earth is Gerrard trying to do? ]
[Did they know they were going to lose, and they deliberately gave the captain's armband to Chen Xiaoliang for the sake of the Red Country market?]
[A sixteen-year-old captain?! Damn, I'm blind!]
…
"What do they mean by this?" asked Leicester City assistant coach Chris Davies in equal surprise.
Rogers frowned slightly.
What surprised him was not only the fact that Chen Xiaoliang wore the captain's armband, but also the expressions on the faces of the Rangers players.
It was as if eleven different people had been replaced!
It was as if they were the ones leading in the first half!
"Let the team control the ball, continue to maintain the formation, and don't press forward easily!"
After Rogers finished speaking, Chris Davis immediately called Evans to his side and whispered something to him.
Rogers was a little skeptical, but he was still full of confidence.
He made sufficient preparations and even called Mourinho to ask about it.
He had worked as an assistant coach for Mourinho for three years, and the two had developed a deep friendship. He knew that Mourinho would not take a fancy to a 16-year-old kid for no reason.
This is the person that even De Bruyne and Salah once looked down upon!
He didn't even believe that Gerrard was playing badly. Even during those days when he suffered a century-long setback, lost the championship and was ridiculed by the media and fans, this man never gave in!
Something must have happened in the middle...
Rogers didn't have time to think, "Beep!" the second half begins!
"Oh!" As soon as the whistle sounded, the whole audience exclaimed!
The Rangers players, whose legs felt like they were filled with lead before the end of the first half, now rushed towards Leicester City's half like a flood!
