Chapter 85 Once
Compared to the last game against Leicester City, today's midfield locker room was quieter.
The silence reveals despair.
Old Davis was panting and drinking a sports drink. He didn't even have the energy to curse "Fuck". Without Chen Xiaoliang's interception, Rashford, Greenwood, and the Brazilian Fred attacked his defense area one after another. The 36-year-old veteran was exhausted and unable to focus on one thing at a time.
Although captain Tavernier looked serious, he kept blaming himself for the repeated injuries this season that affected his recent form.
The first goal conceded in the first half
Tavernier wanted Patterson to slap him in the face.
The ones who found it the hardest to adapt were Aribo and Barisic. Only now did they realize how much the team relied on Chen Xiaoliang when facing strong opponents.
Without his interception and coverage, the midfield is just like a fishing net, which seems to cover everything but actually cannot stop anything.
Gerrard paced back and forth, while McAllister stood with his hands on his hips.
After a long silence, Gerrard began to tap the tactical board.
"They got a lot of set pieces in the first half and every time there was a collision, they put pressure on the referee, asking for a card! Asking for a set piece!
And what about us? We have only had one corner kick so far.
They lost the first leg, so they changed their performance today!
Like a bunch of bastards, they kept putting pressure on the referee on the court, forcing us not to make any moves!
The cup competition is a life-and-death battle!
So in the second half, show your fighting spirit!
That’s right, Tavernier, you also received a yellow card, and everyone knew they would take advantage of this in the second half!
But they got three cards!"
As he spoke, Gerrard continued to tap the tiles representing the players.
"Fred got one at the start, then Telles blocked Patterson's counterattack, and then Bruno Fernandes.
So get out there and show your fierce side!
If you try to be nice, you'll never win!
Defend with all your strength! And then take advantage of the set-piece opportunities! Just one goal and we can advance to the next round! "
The morale improved a little, and some light returned to the team members' eyes.
But it is far from enough.
Next, McAllister called on several players in corresponding positions to start warming up.
Of the nine substitutes on the bench, seven were called to warm up, and only substitute goalkeepers McLaughlin and Chen Xiaoliang were not named.
There were only five minutes left before the start of the second half, and Chen Xiaoliang stood up.
"Coach..." As soon as he opened his mouth, Gerrard turned around:
"Stop talking! Sit down!"
Everyone was stunned. They had never seen Gerard treat Chen Xiaoliang so harshly.
Chen Xiaoliang was also a little surprised, but he did not back down:
"Boss, I must tell you."
Gerrard opened the door to the dressing room and shouted: "You want to say yes? Okay.
Come on! Everyone else go to the field and get ready!
I'll stay, and you can tell me whatever you want to say!"
Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, the teammates quickly left the locker room.
Gerard kicked the door with his foot and it slammed shut with a bang.
"Go ahead."
“I want to play.”
"No, don't you know what's wrong with your feet?"
"Then why did you put me on the list?"
Jerad came over and pointed at Chen Xiaoliang’s chest: “Boy, listen to me carefully.
I have included a nine-man substitute list where all the players who are still useful in the team can be included.
We brought you here because we didn't want you to miss the chance to enter this stadium, and we also wanted you to stand together with the teammates who have fought a season! We didn't want you to play and ruin your career!
And tell me, how can you kick like this? Can you run now?
Boy, the game is about to start. I don't have time to talk nonsense with you. Stop thinking about it and sit back on the sidelines to support your teammates!"
Chen Xiaoliang could hear Gerard's irritability, so he softened his tone: "I can get a closed injection, and then I won't feel anything."
"Where did you learn all this?"
"Terry, I read his autobiography."
"What?!" Gerard was very surprised. He couldn't figure out what Chen Xiaoliang was talking about for a moment.
"He said that once he injured his ankle, Mourinho walked into the locker room and talked to all the players, but ignored him, so he asked the team doctor to give him a shot to seal the wound. Mourinho thought he was crazy! But he persisted and finally played!"
"What about the stories about the other three people the old man told you last night?! Why did you only look at Terry?! I shouldn't have brought you here! Fuck!"
Gerard waved his hands vigorously, walked towards the door, and shouted angrily:
"You are not Terry! I am not Mourinho! This is not Chelsea!"
He turned his back and was about to open the door when he heard Chen Xiaoliang shouting from behind:
"August 19, 2007! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea at home! Who fractured his toe after playing in the Champions League qualifiers but still played with a bandaid?!"
"March 31, 2013! Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-1 away! Who tore his ankle ligaments so hard that he couldn't even wear shoes! Yet he got a shot of injection and still scored a goal that turned the game around?!"
"And the FA Cup against Bournemouth, who is it..."
"That's enough! Stop talking!"
Gerard dropped the door handle, walked back and looked into Chen Xiaoliang's eyes:
"Then I'll tell you, on April 27, 2014, we played against Chelsea at home.
We were three points ahead of Manchester City at the time and I strained a muscle in my back. I was in so much pain during those days that I could only lie down and not move even when I slept!
Rogers asked me to be a substitute and I refused!
I found the team doctor and he gave me a painkiller injection!
I want to play! He agreed!
The whole world knows what happened next!
The scene of Demba Ba snatching the ball from me has become my lifelong nightmare!
I made a mistake at home that I can never make up for the club or the fans!"
Gerard pointed to his chest:
"Yes! If you ask me if I regret it, I will answer you no!
But if I had listened to Rogers and chosen to stand on the sidelines to cheer for my teammates, perhaps none of this would have happened! ”
Gerard patted Chen Xiaoliang on the shoulder and walked towards the door again.
"If you were given a hundred chances to choose, you would still choose to play because you know your teammates need you and the fans need you too. If you don't dare to play because of injuries or mistakes, then what is the meaning of our existence?"
Gerrard didn't look back or say anything else, but opened the door of the locker room.
Unexpectedly, the Rangers team members did not leave, but gathered at the door!
They had been listening to the conversation between two people in the room!
Everyone looked at Tavernier silently. The Rangers captain swallowed and whispered, "Boss, if..."
"Shut up! Who told you to stay here? Get on the stage!"
"Let's go, let's go, get on the court quickly." McAllister tried to smooth things over.
