Chapter 1067 Premier League Ruler

It was full?

When the Times' chief football reporter, Simon Barnes, walked out of the tunnel and appeared in the stands at Stamford Bridge, he was a bit moved.

Full field, this is really not an easy task for Chelsea, which has not performed well in the past few years.

Especially considering that tonight's game is nothing more than an FA Cup semi-final.

Simon Barnes walked into the media area and saw many old acquaintances as soon as he entered.

The first person to greet him was Stephen Howard, the chief reporter of The Sun.

"Hi Simon!"

"Hello, Stephen!"

Simon Barnes smiled and walked over to shake hands with him, then looked around and pointed to the position next to Stephen Howard, "Is there no one here?"

"No, sit down!" Stephen Howard laughed.

As soon as Simon Barnes sat down, several people came over to greet him immediately.

In the circle of British football journalists, the most famous name nowadays must be Charlene Lahiri.

Charlene Lahiri's columns and self-media programs are already well-known in the UK. Her fame is not limited to football and sports circles. Now she has also begun to write some columns on current affairs.

If it is said that Charlene Lahiri is the high queen, then in the circle of football journalists, Stephen Howard and Simon Barnes can be regarded as the second echelon of the queen.

Their names are not as famous as Charlene Lahiri, but thanks to the huge influence of the newspapers they work in, they are also well-known. Any article can trigger reprints and translations by media all over the world.

And thanks to the big platform, they have a better chance to get some inside information that others cannot get.

"How? Has there been any movement from Chelsea recently?" Stephen Howard asked casually.

Simon Barnes shook his head, "Chelsea is in a mess right now, it's hard to get specific news."

Stephen Howard apparently also encountered this problem.

before,

When old courtiers such as Terry and Lampard were still there, Chelsea had a good relationship with the media. For example, Martin Samuel, who switched from The Times to the Daily Mail, was known as Terry and Lampard. Pard's best friend and Chelsea's mouthpiece.

Interestingly, it was after Martin Samuel left that Simon Barnes became the chief football reporter at The Times, but the relationship between the two was pretty good, after all, they were both in the circle.

"As far as I know, since Guus Hiddink led the team, although the league results have improved steadily, it is impossible to compete for the qualifications for European competitions. There are too many bad debts left by Mourinho."

Simon Barnes said softly while arranging his things.

"So this season Chelsea's goal has been adjusted, from competing for the Champions League to winning the FA Cup."

Participating in the FA Cup guarantees participation in the Europa League, and now the champion of the Europa League can directly participate in the UEFA Champions League. With such fierce competition in the Premier League and the Champions League, playing the Europa League is undoubtedly a good one way.

Stephen Howard suddenly realized, "No wonder Hiddink was a substitute in the league before, but he played the main role in the FA Cup against Everton."

"Yeah, doesn't the FA Cup have a nickname now?" Simon Barnes laughed.

"The fig leaf of the rich!" Stephen Howard laughed.

This is indeed a very ironic thing, isn't it?

Once upon a time, the FA Cup was comparable to the Premier League champions, no, even a championship trophy more respected than the top English league champions, but now the FA Cup has completely failed to become a fig leaf for the giants.

In other words, only people like Chelsea who don't expect to get their hands on the league championship will want to fight for the FA Cup to avoid the embarrassing situation of the team without a championship.

This season Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal are all thinking like this.

On the other hand, Southampton, whether in the FA Cup or the League Cup, always sent off the bench to play.

But even with a full bench and a lineup of young players, the Saints still won the League Cup and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

It is conceivable how strong the Saints' overall strength is.

"Is there any news about the Saints in this game?"

This time, it was Simon Barnes who asked the question.

Stephen Howard nodded, "According to the information I got, it's still all substitutes and the youth team."

Simon Barnes couldn't help but feel a little moved when he heard this, "Is this a little exaggerated?"

It is not a big deal to say that Chelsea's overall strength is not good, but after all, it is the traditional power of the Premier League, and here is the Stamford Bridge Stadium, so I know the Saints well.

But even so, the Saints are still on the bench?

Stephen Howard shook his head and sighed, "The Saints are now focusing on the semi-finals of the Champions League. Inter Milan is a difficult opponent. It is said that the team has offered a huge bonus and must win the Champions League for three consecutive times. "

When he said this, Simon Barnes understood.

In the final analysis, it is still a matter of money!

Taking the Champions League championship, the prize pool of the Premier League team, plus the game bonus, Southampton will benefit at least 100 million pounds. If you add match day income, sponsor commissions, etc., the income will be even more generous.

This is just the current direct income, and the potential income is an astonishing figure.

But what about the FA Cup?

Even if you really win an FA Cup, how much money can you get?

That's a gap of nearly a hundred times!

Therefore, in this case, a smart person knows how to choose!

But at this moment, Stephen Howard changed the subject, "However, I received news that the Saints have also offered a sky-high bonus for the FA Cup, which is said to be as high as 10 million pounds."

"What?" Simon Barnes jumped up, "Ten million pounds?"

His chubby eyes seemed to be saying, I don't read much, so don't lie to me.

Even if the FA Cup is won three or five times, the bonus may not add up to 10 million pounds.

Will Southampton be willing to pay such a huge bonus for such a cup champion that has not benefited?

The Saints are also different from teams such as Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal. The Saints have already won the league championship ahead of time, and they have another League Cup champion in hand, so they can make a difference.

But the following teams are desperately trying to win a cup championship and avoid the embarrassment of not having a championship.

Therefore, Simon Barnes would not be so surprised if the following teams offered 10 million pounds in bonuses for winning the FA Cup, but the Saints...

"I can only say that Yang Huan has too much money to spend!" Simon Barnes sighed, and teased enviously, "Why don't we talk to Master Huan later and give us some, We sing his praises in the papers every day."

Stephen Howard burst into laughter immediately, "How about I convey it to you later?"

"Okay!" Simon Barnes was not polite.

After a while of joking, Simon Barnes sighed again with mixed feelings.

"To be honest, the saint's scheme is not small!"

Stephen Howard nodded, "A strong team and a weak team don't just depend on the lineup and strength, but also on the team's temperament. The same Manchester United can win the championship in the hands of Ferguson, but in the hands of Moyes But it plummeted, a very important reason is that Ferguson has a winner's temperament."

"That's a kind of temperament that has experienced thousands of victories, in the baptism of blood and fire, and has been killed with a knife and a gun."

Simon Barnes also agrees, "Yeah, without Ferguson, Manchester United is no longer Manchester United."

At least judging from the period after Ferguson retired, Manchester United has long lost the domineering style of the Red Devils dynasty in the past. How can there be any kingly style of the Premier League ruler?

This kind of domineering, this kind of style is not something that any team can have if they want it. No matter how strong you bring in superstars and build up a good lineup, it is useless.

He has to rely on precipitation, accumulation, the team's arduous game after game, and the accumulation of championship trophies one after another.

As many people say, victory is also a habit!

"Maybe we're lucky!"

Stephen Howard calmed down and smiled slightly, "We are witnessing the birth of a brand new dynasty with our own eyes."

Simon Barnes agrees.

Almost everyone believes that Southampton has reached a new peak this season, but everyone is also looking forward to how long the Saints under Guardiola can continue this peak.

Prosperity must decline, this is an inevitability.

However, Guardiola's coaching philosophy is in the same line as Bielsa's, and it is the past, and even in the next few years, the head coach who has the most thorough understanding of pass and control tactics in world football and is best at building a stable tactical system.

Such a coach, entering a team like the Saints, the result is simply unimaginable.

"Ancelotti should be working hard now, right?" Simon Barnes laughed.

"Who said it wasn't?"

Stephen Howard nodded and smiled, "I heard that this Italian old man was always lazy, but recently, he has become a workaholic, his personality has hardened, and it is said that he has lost a lot of weight. "

"For him, this season will probably be the most successful season of his life!"

is not that right?

The Premier League title has been won early, the League Cup was won in February, the UEFA Champions League has reached the semi-finals, and the FA Cup has also entered the semi-finals. With Southampton's overall strength, it is fully capable of competing in these two events Champion strength.

If you really win these four championship trophies, then Southampton will complete an unprecedented Grand Slam this season, seven crowns!

My goodness!

Simon Barnes couldn't imagine what kind of reaction all the fans in the world would give at that time. It would be like sending Southampton and Ancelotti directly to the altar.

Whether it is for professional players or professional coaches, such an opportunity is rarely encountered once in a lifetime. Once encountered, who would easily let it go?

If you don't even try your best at this time, when will you do your best?

It's unbelievable when you think about it.

If Yang Huan had just moved into Southampton six years ago, who would have thought that the Saints would be where they are today?

Even when the Saints were just promoted to the Premier League, even those who were optimistic about this team, it was hard to imagine that the Saints could rule the Premier League, right?

But now, Southampton has unknowingly won the Premier League for four consecutive times, and dominating the Premier League has become a reality.

But the ambition of this team has obviously exceeded everyone's expectations. They not only want to rule the Premier League, but also rule European football and become a super giant in world football.

As Stephen Howard said, witnessing the birth of such a team is a gratifying thing.

While Simon Barnes was admiring, the players of the two teams finally walked out of the player channel of the Stamford Bridge under the leadership of the head coach.

In an instant, the audience cheered!

Is it for the saints? Or to Chelsea?

Who knows?

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