Episode【366】: Another Vivid Lesson
November 5, 2009, Crown Stadium, Leeds, England.
What is happening here today is a match in the fourth round of Group H of the 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League group stage. Leeds United plays against Alkmaar at home.
This is the second time the two teams have met. In the first round, Leeds United defeated their opponent. Now that they are back at home, Leeds United are naturally confident of defeating them.
Zhong Cheng’s formation for this game is 4-2-3-1, and the list is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Zhong Zheng
Back four [from left to right]: Patrick Evra, Kompany, Mats Hummels and Lichtsteiner
Double defensive midfielder: Stephen Mbia and Sami Khedira
Midfield three [from left to right]: Gareth Bale, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo
Single striker: Ruud van Nistelrooy
This is today's starting lineup for Leeds United. Leeds United was at the absolute top from the beginning of the game. Alkmaar was powerless and could only struggle to cope.
In the fifth minute of the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo received a through ball from Mesut Özil in the middle, ran into the group, and then shot low and sent the football into Alke Mar's goal, one to zero.
Now the cooperation between Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil is getting better and better. The tacit understanding between these two people is very good. More importantly, they are in perfect harmony and play very well. Even many people They all feel that these two are more in tune with each other than Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo.
This can be regarded as Zhong Cheng finding the best pairing combination!
In the 19th minute of the game, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo connected again. Mesut Ozil suddenly turned around and passed the ball to the back. Cristiano Ronaldo rushed up but could not When the ball hit the ground, he directly swung his legs and volleyed the ball. The football flew into Alkmaar's goal like a white light, two to zero.
The cooperation between these two people is really great, and the hands of Leeds United fans' hands hurt from clapping.
At the end of the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo disrupted Alkmaar's defense after consecutive breakthroughs from the wing. He directly returned the favor and knocked the ball back in an inverted triangle, followed by Mesut Ozil. I shot low easily and pushed the football into the goal corner, 3-0.
This half of the game was an exhibition match between Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo, and they played very well.
Zhong Cheng stood on the sidelines and applauded non-stop. As long as these two people find a tacit understanding, it will be a nightmare for their opponents!
Zhong Cheng was very satisfied with the performance of the two. Then Zhong Cheng made substitutions in the second half of the game and took some of the main players off the field to ensure their safety.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also replaced, as if he was still a little emotional. It seems that he wants to score a hat trick.
Just ten minutes into the second half, Leeds United got another chance. Gareth Bale on the wing quickly broke through and then crossed the ball. Van Nistelrooy in the center jumped high and headed the ball into the goal. Alkmaar's goal, 4 to 0.
Leeds United really went on a killing spree. There was really no suspense in this game. In this way, Leeds United advanced to the top 16 of this season's UEFA Champions League two rounds in advance.
Of course, it should be easy for Leeds United to qualify from this group. After all, this group is weak, and Leeds United got a top draw.
But many people claimed that Leeds United had to pay it back when the draw was made for the knockout rounds of the last 16. Because the lottery for the top 16 is not easy to draw, Leeds United really has many opponents.
This game is not over yet, but Alkmaar Club has no chance of comeback.
Sure enough, AZ Alkmaar eventually lost to Leeds United 1-4.
Although Alkmaar pulled a goal back in the end, it was of no use. Leeds United advanced two rounds ahead of schedule.
After the game, Zhong Cheng said: "It is a good thing for our Leeds United team to be able to qualify two rounds in advance. We will have more energy to invest in the league. The league is particularly important now. , We cannot make mistakes, because we will play in the World Club Cup in mid-December, and if we don’t score more points at this time, we will definitely collapse!”
Yes, Leeds United are going to play in the World Club Cup in mid-December and they are going there as Champions League champions.
Of course, Leeds United are also the favorites to win this event.
Now Zhong Cheng is preparing for this competition, striving to get more points in the league. Only in this way can Zhong Cheng feel confident about going to the World Club Cup.
Zhong Cheng also reminded the Leeds United players that they must tighten their skin at this time to avoid any problems. Otherwise, Leeds United's subsequent games will not be easy to play. Zhong Cheng reminded Leeds United players to be serious, especially regarding league games.
After the game against Alkmaar, Leeds United ushered in the twelfth round of the Premier League this season. Leeds United continued to sit at home and face Everton.
Everton's performance this season is very poor. They are now ranked 14th and are not far from the relegation zone. Zhong Cheng’s good friend David Moyes is also having a hard time, but Everton fans are not as heartless as Liverpool fans. They still support David Moyes now. They believe in David Moyes. Si can lead them back to the top.
This game against Leeds United is the best proof.
Yes, Everton fans hope that Everton can defeat Liverpool in this game and get three points.
Of course, David Moyes also came to this game with the belief that he would win.
David Moyes also met with Zhong Cheng before the game. Obviously, this man also came to poach. He said that the current situation of their Everton team is very bad. Let's see if Leeds United can loan a player to Everton for emergency response.
Zhong Cheng really didn't expect that I would consider you a friend, but you want to poach me?
Zhong Cheng really didn't expect David Moyes to be such a person, so he refused on the spot.
To be honest, Zhong Cheng really doesn't want to send away any players now. These players are all his hard work and he has worked hard to dig them out from other teams. Now because of Zhong Cheng's amazing vision problem, it is becoming more and more difficult for Leeds United to recruit people. At this time, Zhong Cheng is naturally unwilling to give away his players to others, no matter how good the relationship is!
David Moyes also understands Zhong Cheng's difficulties.
Zhong Cheng, this is completely a tree that attracts the wind!
As long as Zhong Cheng values a player, there is nothing wrong. Now that Zhong Cheng wants to introduce other players, see if other clubs will agree. They are not fools!
Therefore, David Moyes understands that the game now only depends on himself!
In this game, Leeds United's formation is 4-1-3-2, and the list is as follows:
Goalkeeper: Zhong Zheng
Back four [from left to right]: Patrick Evra, Kompany, David Luiz and Lichtsteiner
Double defensive midfielder: Stephen Mbia and Sami Khedira
Midfield three [from left to right]: Gareth Bale, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo
Single striker: Ruud van Nistelrooy
Yes, Lewandowski has not completely recovered from his injury yet, but today Lewandowski is sitting on the bench waiting for his opportunity.
Not long after the first half started, Everton's American forward Donovan received a pass from midfielder Arteta and went directly into the Leeds United penalty area. David Luiz was a little rash and reached out to grab Donovan. Donovan fell down and took a penalty kick.
The referee gave Everton a penalty kick.
Donova personally came to the penalty spot to take the penalty kick. He quickly hit the football with one kick. The football flew towards the Leeds United goal. Zhong Zheng immediately jumped out and knocked the football away with one palm.
Unfortunately, the football fell to the feet of Yakub who rushed in. Yakub succeeded in making a supplementary shot and Everton led 1-0.
Seeing this, Zhong Cheng really had nothing to say. This was an accident!
After conceding the ball, Leeds United stepped up its offense, leaving the defense a bit empty. Isn't there something wrong with David Luiz again? He was too reckless. This time he made a bold move and missed the football. Even Everton forward Jakub almost missed it. react to.
Yakub immediately rushed forward, caught up with the football, and then passed the football in front of Zhong Zheng who saved. The football rolled directly to the feet of Donovan, who was unguarded in the middle. Donovan easily pushed the football into the empty goal of Leeds United.
Zero to two, just like that, Leeds United fell behind zero to two.
Zhong Cheng nodded slightly. He did not expect that David Luiz was in such poor condition today and made two consecutive mistakes. This is really very rare. It seems that Zhong Cheng must remind David Luiz.
Yes, Zhong Cheng did not replace David Luiz at this time. Zhong Cheng didn't want David Luiz to feel uncomfortable. Leeds United could still afford to lose a game.
Zhong Cheng called David Luiz to the sidelines and gave David Luiz a good warning, asking him to cheer up and prepare for the game. At this time, David Luiz directly asked to be substituted. Zhong Cheng was slightly stunned, and then agreed.
Zhong Cheng replaced David Luiz with Gary Cahill.
After David Luiz came off the field, he went to see team doctor Mark Pias. After this examination, everyone knew that the injury to David Luiz's right ankle had recurred, which led to the mistakes in this game.
Zhong Cheng did not expect that this would be such a problem. If he had known that David Luiz was not feeling well, he would not have sent David Luiz to play. David Luiz too, why didn’t he bring it up earlier?
This game was lost due to the negligence of Leeds United. Zhong Cheng directly took the blame on himself, claiming that it was his fault.
David Luiz is very grateful.
After all, he concealed his injury and did not report it. He hoped to be able to play in the game, but he did not expect that his injury would be so serious and directly affect the outcome of the game. If he had known this would be the case, he would have brought it up himself.
David Luiz is full of apologies.
In the final game, Leeds United lost 1-2 to Everton at their home court. At the last moment, Leeds United got a goal back with Cristiano Ronaldo's goal, but unfortunately it still didn't happen. Change the fate of losing.