Chapter 8

On March 10, in the British U18 League, Chelsea U18 challenged Birmingham City U18 away.

Although the English U18 League is not as popular as the Premier League, under normal circumstances the number of people watching each game is not small, but they are not watching the game for a certain player, but to support the team in their region. It's their tradition.

They do not fall behind at all in the home team's games, and they also love watching the youth team's games, and they have lower performance requirements for the youth team players. For example, Chelsea fans' expectations for the home team have always been to win the league championship and the Champions League, but their expectations for the youth team are only to win a few more games... Well, in fact, the main reason is that Chelsea fans are not very good at it. Pay attention to the results of the youth team, because they are busy worrying about the home team now.

Blues fans are undoubtedly happy after Abramovich joined the Blues. Although they did not win much honors in the first four seasons, this young team that spent a lot of money to build is already a spark. Abramovich, who is eager to win the championship, invited him Mourinho. After the head coach from Portugal came to Chelsea, two of the most promising newcomers in Europe, Petr Cech and Robben, joined Chelsea. Drogba and Matega also came to the team one after another①.

The first thing Mourinho did after taking office was to hand over the captain's armband to John Terry. The second thing was victory, victory, victory!

The Blues have sounded the clarion call since defeating Manchester United and became the Premier League champions for two consecutive years. Mourinho has since become famous in the Premier League. The British media often compares him with Ferguson. But compared with the league record that achieved a historic breakthrough, the results achieved by the Blues in the Champions League are not so impressive.

Last season, Chelsea defended the Premier League title in advance, but in the European competition, they were eliminated by Barcelona in the 1/8 finals and were eliminated in the Champions League round of 16.

In the new season, which is now the 2006-07 season, the team's excessive injuries have caused ups and downs in Chelsea's league results. Two goalkeepers, Cech and Cudicini, were injured successively, and Chelsea could only send out their third goalkeeper Hilario. In front of the goal. The injuries to Cech, Cole, Claude and other main players made the team's record shaky in the wind. Mourinho realized the team's defense crisis and asked the club to introduce defenders during the winter window, but Abramovich Refused. ①

On March 4, Chelsea lost 0-2 to Portsmouth at Fetton Park.

On March 8, Mourinho used a 4-1-3-2 tactical formation to defeat Porto with difficulty and successfully advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals.

On March 10, only a small number of Chelsea fans followed the Chelsea U18 team to Birmingham City to watch the match between the two youth teams.

Most of the Chelsea fans were busy bickering and were divided into several groups. Some are arguing with fans of other teams who are afraid of chaos in the world, and some fans side with Abramovich, thinking that since Shevchenko and Ballack have been bought back at a high price, these two are not bad. Mourinho can use them. Will I lose half a hair for the competition?

Another part of the fans believe that Mourinho is right. Abramovich will hand over the management of Chelsea's youth training to Arnesen, intervene in last summer's transfer, and introduce two tactics that cannot be integrated into the team despite the objections of the head coach. Shevchenko and Ballack of the system, don't blame Mourinho for putting these two people on the bench.

Mourinho has always been tough. Last year, he publicly stated in front of the media that if Abramovich forced him to use a certain player, he would leave directly. Abramovich could only bow his head and say that he would not interfere in team affairs. He also said that if the coach did not want to introduce a certain player, he would not force him and he could not do that. ①After

the matter came to an end, Abramovich couldn't help but said in an interview in December that the two were not actually friends, but we had a good relationship, and generally speaking, I respect him very much, and not just because of his coaching. On the achievements achieved. ①Mourinho

remained silent, and Abramovich really didn’t treat people as friends. He publicly pressured Mourinho to let Shevchenko play the main role. Mourinho then also publicly criticized Abramovich for not saying anything after the game for a long time. Appearing in the team's locker room - at that time, the media even began to spread some outrageous remarks about the two people fighting. Rumors of Mourinho's dismissal were overwhelming. In the winter transfer window in January this year, the two quarreled again over transfer issues. . ①

However, after this quarrel, it was Mourinho who lowered his head first. After defeating Nottingham Forest 3:0 on January 28, Mourinho publicly stated that he would fulfill his contract and coach until 2010. He also denied the media's remarks that he and Roman, also known as Abramovich, had differences, and said that Roman is not in London now. When he returns to London, he and the team will welcome Roman to us. Go to the team locker room. ①

But until now, Abramovich has not responded to Mourinho's remarks. The Chelsea chairman, who often likes to come to the scene to cheer for Chelsea in person, has not appeared in London for several months.

There was an quarrel between the team president and the coach, and the fans were divided into several groups who refused to bow to each other and even criticized each other. However, the Chelsea fans who were watching the English U18 League game immediately became engrossed in watching the game as soon as it started.

Birmingham City U18 deployed a 4-5-1 formation for this game, while Chelsea U18's formation was 4-4-2. In the 12th minute of the

Birmingham City kick-off

, the Chelsea U18 midfielder stole the ball from the opponent's midfielder and passed it to Coker in front of the penalty area. Coker hit a curve ball outside the penalty area and successfully scored.

Chelsea U18 temporarily lead by one point.

In the 27th minute, a Birmingham City player seized the opportunity to break through from the left and pass the football. After receiving the ball, forward Preet Hall shot the ball straight into the upper right corner of the goal.

Zhou Liran jumped up and took the football into his arms in mid-air.

Preet Hall gritted his back molars with some displeasure, and made up his mind to kick the ball a little higher and with a little more force the next time he scored.

In the 39th minute, the Chelsea midfielder passed the football long to the frontcourt, and forward Leopold scored with a shot.

Chelsea U18s lead by two points.

With less than five minutes left before the end of the first half, Birmingham City U18 forward Preet Hall kicked a threatening long-range shot. The Birmingham fans present clenched their fists and prepared for their home team. The striker cheered, but Zhou Liran jumped behind the football as it flew towards the goal.

At the end of the first half, Chelsea U18 returned to the locker room with two goals.

Ten minutes after the intermission, Birmingham City U18 replaced two midfielders, added a new forward, Marlon Bell, and directly set up a 4-4-2 to steal points from Chelsea U18.

Five minutes into the second half, Birmingham City U18 forward Marron Bell got the ball through a through ball and rushed towards the Chelsea U18 penalty area. He stopped in front of the penalty area and faked a shot and then passed the ball to Pritt in the middle. Hall, who stopped the ball and hit a ground ball that made the football spin towards the goal at high speed.

Zhou Liran was shaken by the movement of striker Mullen Bell. Although he reacted quickly, he was still a few seconds late. If Zhou Liran was still the Zhou Liran before, he would definitely not be able to save the ball, but now Zhou Liran flew directly towards the football. The football hit him in the face, but Zhou Liran reached out and pinned him down on the lawn.

The excited cheers of Chelsea fans came from the scene. Amidst the cheers, Preet Hall frowned and looked at Zhou Liran, who was hit in the face by a football, and stood up like a normal person: What's going on? How many months have you not seen each other? Is the opposing goalkeeper better than last year?

In the 15th minute of the second half, Coker scored another goal, unlocking a brace and giving Chelsea U18 a three-point lead.

In the 20th minute of the second half, Preet Hall rotated at a small angle in the penalty area to hit the short corner. The football went straight to Zhou Liran's thigh. Just as the ball was about to hit Zhou Liran's leg and then roll into the net, Zhou Liran suddenly bent down. , the football hit Zhou Liran's chin, and then Zhou Liran reached out and scooped it into his arms.

Looking at Zhou Liran, who still had no expression on his face, Preet Hall was confused for a moment: How come this person didn't react when he was hit twice by a ball?

In the 35th minute of the second half, Mullen Bell hit the goal with a through ball, but was kicked out of the penalty area by Zhou Liran.

In the 43rd minute of the second half, the Birmingham City U18 left player passed the football to the goal. Preet Hall caught the ball and hung the football straight into the upper right corner of the goal.

The ball flew extremely high, almost parallel to the frame. Preet Hall looked at Zhou Liran who jumped up and felt that he was doing useless work. At this height and angle, if you can catch the ball, I will... Just... fxxk! Can you catch this horse? !

With lingering fear, Zhou Liran hugged the football and dropped it on the lawn. He threw the football out again and kicked off the ball. When he looked up, he found that the forward on the opposite side was still standing there, with a distorted expression.