Volume 1: When a Male Appears, People Pay Attention. Chapter 96: Fire, the More It Burns, the Stronger It Becomes.

At this point in the season, Martin O'Neill suddenly found that he was influenced by Chen Yingxiong, because his strategic focus had unknowingly shifted to the Europa League instead of the domestic league.

Liverpool is now ranked first, two points behind Manchester City, who is second, three points behind Manchester United, who is third in the league, and seven points behind Newcastle, who is fifth in the league. It should be said that the top four are relatively stable.

So many times, when he considers personnel arrangements and rotations, he will unconsciously put the league aside temporarily and prioritize the Europa League.

He felt that this was all the result of that Christmas dinner, and his heart was actually beating a little at the words of Chen Yingxiong and Suarez.

The Europa League champion... Wouldn't it be better if this season we could not only qualify for next season's Champions League but also win the Europa League championship?

Going one step further, wouldn't it be better to win both the league championship and the Europa League this season?

So as soon as the Europa League draw results came out, he first began to study Besiktas' information.

He even forgot that there was a league game before the game against Besiktas... Of course, as a head coach with such an excellent profession, how could he forget? He just didn't pay attention to his opponents in the twenty-eighth round of the league...

Real Madrid's opponent in the next round of the league is Bolton. This team was defeated by them by four goals at Anfield in the first half of the season. It is normal for Liverpool not to take it seriously. Even if this is an away game...

So in the end, Martin O'Neill paid the price for his rashness.

Liverpool, who was unanimously optimistic before the game, lost to Bolton 1:3 in an away game!

In preparation for the Europa League away game against Besiktas four days later, O'Neill rotated. The rotation is relatively large this time, because the away game against Besiktas is very difficult. If the main players are not ensured, O'Neal will not be confident that he can escape from the away game - the Turkish team's home game. The reputation is so great that it is so loud.

As a result, it is hard to say whether the team can be returned from Turkey. It has already been carried out at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton's home ground...

O'Neill believes that even if he makes a larger rotation, he can still beat Bolton on the road. At worst, it can be a draw. In this way, even if Manchester City wins the game, they can rely on the goal difference advantage to continue to occupy the top spot.

Unexpectedly, the team lost cleanly to their opponent 1:3 in the away game.

Because of the defeat in this game, Liverpool was surpassed by Manchester City and became second place, and was also chased by Manchester United to the same point. Maybe second place in the league is no longer safe.

But before Martin O'Neill had time to regret the defeat in this game, he had to think about how to deal with Besiktas.

O'Neal's strategy is to lose on the road, but not too much, and it's best to score away goals.

Then it's back to home to decide the winner.

The away-before-home schedule is good for Liverpool, so they should take advantage of it.

But what he is most worried about is not the result of the game, but Chen Yingxiong.

※※※

Chen Yingxiong found that after Martin O'Neal became the head coach, he talked to him alone more often than any other head coach he had worked with before.

Does this mean that my status is important? In an away game like Besiktas, you really have to rely on yourself!

Chen Yingxiong was a little confused.

But when Martin O'Neill told him his purpose, Chen Yingxiong was speechless.

They are not here to talk about how to win the game, but how to reduce the chance of getting cards.

"Everyone knows that your temper is... well, hot, hero. I think the other party may make some arrangements to deal with this. And the atmosphere at Besiktas' home court is very hot, and I'm worried that this will affect you. ...So no matter what happens in the game, you must stay calm, hero!"

Seeing the worried look on the head coach's face, Chen Yingxiong couldn't laugh or cry - is my reputation so bad?

"Don't worry, boss. My goal this season is to score at least 20 goals in the Europa League and win the Europa League, so I won't miss the game so easily!" Chen Yingxiong could only comfort him. His own head coach.

"Of course I know this, but you will always be hot-headed on the court, not to mention that your opponent may keep provoking you... So when you encounter that situation, you must exercise restraint!"

When Chen Yingxiong saw his boss so nervous, he suddenly deliberately teased him.

"What if my opponent scolds me?" Chen Yingxiong asked pretending to be serious.

"Be patient!" O'Neill was afraid that Chen Yingxiong would really get into trouble with his opponent because of this, so he quickly said decisively.

"What if the opponent fouls me illegally?"

"Tolerate!"

"What if my opponent hits me?"

"Tolerate!"

"Hey, boss!"

"Uh...well, if they hit you, you just fall to the ground..."

"Want to cover your face?"

"Yeah... that's okay too!"

"Boss, are you from La Masia Film and Television Academy?"

Martin O'Neill finally realized that Chen Yingxiong was joking with him. He couldn't laugh or cry for a moment.

"Don't take it seriously, hero. I'm serious. If the other party really has a physical conflict with you, you must not confront them head-on. It will only be you who will suffer. That is their home court and the referee's The penalty will definitely be biased in their favor." Chen Yingxiong's character is very impulsive, which is what O'Neal is most worried about.

The most famous example of his impulsive character was when he faced Barcelona in Naples. After being framed by Alves, he flew into a rage and hit the opponent's "innocent civilian" Butzquez with an elbow. Originally, he was wrongly accused. If the club appeals, there may be a chance to cancel the red card penalty. Even if the penalty cannot be changed, it can still win the sympathy and support of public opinion and the public.

But Chen Yingxiong chose a response that many people thought would not leave his job at all. He was happy to take revenge, but he was suspended for eight games by UEFA...

This matter is very famous, even if Martin O'Neill has not coached Chen Yingxiong, he knows it. At that time, the whole of Europe was reporting on this matter, and there was debate, with some supporting and some opposing, and the momentum was huge.

Therefore, Martin O'Neill is particularly worried about Chen Yingxiong's situation in the game with Besiktas. As soon as the opponent touches him, he will explode.

But Chen Yingxiong had his own ideas: "Don't worry, boss. If they dare to plot against us, I will make them look good!"

"Hey, hero, have all my words been wasted?"

"Where are you thinking, boss? Of course you want to score goals to make them look good!"

Only then did Martin O'Neill laugh. "This is best, this is best."

If Chen Yingxiong can really focus on the game, that would be great, and he has nothing to worry about.

※※※

No wonder Martin O'Neill is so worried about this, because he has already smelled danger.

There are still three days before the game starts, and the media from both sides have already begun to hype the game.

In order to cheer for Liverpool, the English media brought up the 8-0 victory over Besiktas at home that year and talked about it.

This game is indeed something Liverpool people are proud of, because it is the record for the largest points difference in a single game in the history of the Champions League - breaking the seven-goal victory previously held by Juventus and tied by Arsenal. record.

At the same time, this is also the Red Army's biggest victory on the European battlefield since a 10:1 victory over Finnish team Parosura in 1980.

The English media used this method to cheer for Liverpool.

The so-called enemy is my hero.

Liverpool's proud 8:0 score would be a deep shame when compared to Besiktas.

For Liverpool this is a proud record, for Besiktas it is a pillar of shame.

This game was a game that Besiktas did not want to recall at all. Who would have thought that with the draw to Liverpool, this matter would be exposed by many British media, which made Besiktas feel very bad. anger.

The Turkish media is also talking about this matter, but they are definitely not complacent. What they are promoting is "revenge."

Since that 0:8 game, Besiktas and Liverpool have never met again, and naturally there is no chance for revenge.

Besiktas had been ridiculed for five years and finally had a chance for revenge. They must have been working hard.

You know, the power of hatred is very powerful.

As a result, thanks to the media, the atmosphere suddenly became unprecedentedly tense.

Although Martin O'Neill kept cooling down during interviews and kept emphasizing that the past is the past, he himself had no feelings about that game. After all, he had not coached the team at that time. There are many people in this Liverpool team now. I haven’t experienced that game either… but with little success.

Anyway, Liverpool Club has issued a warning to the Liverpool fans who plan to go to Istanbul with the team to cheer, asking them to follow the team and go out in groups as much as possible. Do not be alone or in groups of three or five. They must be more than ten people. We are safe together.

When Leeds United played in the Champions League with Galatasaray, two Leeds United players were stabbed to death in Turkey.

No one wants such a tragedy to happen again.

That's why Liverpool Club has such a warning. The club even hopes that if it is not necessary, the fans should not go to Turkey and just watch the live TV broadcast at home. Anyway...well, it doesn't matter whether there is live support from the fans in this game. Same.

But at this sensitive moment, whatever you do may be wrong.

Liverpool Club's official warning triggered a protest from Turkey. The Turkish Tourism Bureau directly stated that this was a form of discrimination against Turkey, and this is definitely not an isolated phenomenon. It is the norm across the entire European continent.

"...They always put many empty charges on our heads. This is unfair! This is discrimination!"

All of a sudden, Shangzuna was put online to this extent, so the Turkish football fans became even more angry...

"This is discrimination! Damn it! We must give Liverpool a good look!"

"The British don't want their people to come to Turkey? Just in time, we don't want these damn bastards to come! Get all the British out of Turkey!!"

"Beat Liverpool and show those arrogant British guys how good they are!"

…

This fire seems to be getting stronger and stronger...! .