Chapter 833 Rose Derby

One day after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Sheffield United ended, on the evening of December 18, local time in the UK, the 2020 FIFA Awards Ceremony was also held online.

This award ceremony was originally planned to be held in September, but because the epidemic was very serious at that time, FIFA hoped that the award ceremony would still be held on site. After all, this is what FIFA can do best. Something was missing, so I decided to postpone it.

However, until the end of the year, the epidemic in the UK is still burning like a raging fire, with no signs of easing. FIFA had no choice but to choose to hold the game online.

However, there are many awards presented.

South Korean star Son Heung-min, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, undisputedly won the Puskas Award, the best goal award, with a goal at the end of last year.

Son Heung-min's classic goal occurred in December last year. During the Premier League match between Tottenham and Burnley, Son Heung-min rode alone for thousands of miles. He started dribbling the ball from the backcourt and accelerated all the way to get rid of the opponent's team's pursuit and interception. After a distance of 80 meters, he dribbled the ball into the penalty area and finally completed this wonderful goal with a calm push.

This historic goal will not only become a Premier League classic, but also represents the crowning moment of an Asian player's career.

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Several other awards in men's football were all won by Manchester United players.

With his team winning four consecutive Premier League titles and three consecutive Champions League titles, Mourinho has won the title of Best Men's Football Coach for three consecutive years.

De Gea's performance last season was still at the level of the world's top goalkeepers. De Gea is extremely good in terms of goalkeeper statistics and team honors. Facing the honor of five crowns, De Gea's position as the best goalkeeper and the best team is unshakable.

The World Footballer of the Year fell into Bruno's bag without any accident. He has won the World Footballer of the Year for three consecutive years. In addition to the FIFA Ballon d'Or Award he won in 2015, he can be regarded as sitting on four world football titles. Mr.'s trophy.

Rashford won the FIFA Foundation Award. In the past year, Rashford successfully lobbied the British government to provide free lunches for disadvantaged children, and has also helped raise more than 20 million pounds in funds, and in his spare time helps charities provide food for those in need.

FIFA praised Rashford for his "outstanding efforts and humanitarian work to eliminate poverty among children." and will donate US$100,000 to support his charity.

Rashford also gave his own acceptance speech in the interview: "I just want to say thank you because the people I know from other countries, they all want to get involved, they want to understand and learn more about it "It's going to have a knock-on effect because it's starting to happen in other countries as well. I'm getting text messages from players in different leagues who want to do something similar for their country."

"To me it's great and that's why I do what I do. I want to make a change to make people's lives better. It's had a good impact and it will continue to work at the end of the day. The kids They're looking forward instead of back, they're raising their heads instead of looking down, so thank you to everyone."

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Time has entered late December, Christmas is approaching, and the Christmas Devil race is about to begin.

On the afternoon of December 20, Manchester United ushered in a new opponent, newly promoted Leeds United.

The red rose and the white rose are a pair of famous rivals in the history of England. After the death of King Edward III, the Lancaster family, the descendant of his third son, and the York family, the descendant of his fourth son, started a long relationship. The decades-long struggle for England's rulers.

The impact of this war was widespread and affected the future development of England in many ways. To commemorate this war, Lancaster University and York University will hold the Tournament of Roses between the two schools in May every year. , and on the football field, Manchester United, representing the Red Rose of Lancaster, and Leeds United, representing the White Rose of York, have always been rivals.

Just as Manchester's cotton textile industry suppressed Leeds' sheep textile industry, Red Rose Manchester United has long been the more successful side. In the early days, neither side was very successful, and the War of the Roses was always on and off due to the rise and fall.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the competition between the two teams gradually reached its climax. At that time, Manchester United was coached by the famous Matt Busby, while Leeds United was led by Don Revie. In the 1964-1965 season, Leeds United eliminated Manchester United in the FA Cup with an 89-minute victory. In the league, Manchester United finally beat Leeds United to win the championship with a goal difference advantage.

The 1960s and 1970s were the peak of competition between the two teams, as well as the peak of football hooliganism in England. Fights between football hooligan organizations representing the two teams were commonplace.

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The grudges between Manchester United and Leeds United are the most talked about among Manchester United fans. What makes Leeds United fans furious is that Manchester United hired many good players from Leeds United. The most famous ones are undoubtedly Cantona, Ferdinand and Alan... Smith.

It is said that Cantona came to Manchester United because Leeds United wanted a player from Manchester United at that time, but Ferguson refused. Then Ferguson casually asked Cantona if he wanted to sell him? Leeds United said yes, so the deal was negotiated and the Manchester United king returned.

And Ferdinand and Smith were bought by Manchester United because Leeds United was in great financial difficulties at the time and could only raise funds by selling players. Ferdinand became the backbone of Manchester United's defense for more than a decade and is one of the best central defenders in the team's history, while Smith is the most iron-blooded warrior in the eyes of Manchester United fans.

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Now, with Leeds United advancing into the Premier League under the leadership of "madman" Bielsa, the "Rose Derby" has finally been staged again in the Premier League after 16 years.

Although it is a newly promoted team, Bielsa has given Leeds United an almost crazy offensive attribute, making the entire Premier League feel that this hard bone is not easy to chew. 3:4 lost to Liverpool, although Klopp got 3 points, but Bielsa was defeated with honor; 1:1 draw with Manchester City made Guardiola see that the old ginger is still spicy.

Especially in the last round, Leeds United just beat Newcastle 5:2. For Mourinho, this game needs to be focused enough to avoid a capsized ending.

In the first 13 games of Leeds United this season, there were as many as 6 games with 4 goals or more. Although the two teams won and lost, it was enough to see Bielsa's football philosophy - if you don't knock me down, you will have to fall down.

Therefore, Mourinho is destined to face two choices, either to take the initiative to attack first and beat Leeds United to the point where they have no power to fight back, or to withstand Leeds United's fierce attack first and then attack from behind.

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The players of both sides are already waiting to play in the player tunnel.

Mourinho shook hands with Bielsa, the head coach of the visiting Leeds United, and then returned to the coaching bench of the home team.

"Players from both sides are about to play. Let's take a look at the starting lineups of the two teams today." Andy Gray said.

Leeds United starting lineup (4141):

Goalkeeper: Meslier;

Defense: Dallas, Ayling, Cooper, Alioski;

Midfielder: Phillips;

Midfielder: Rafinha, Rodrigo, Klich, Harrison;

Forward: Bamford.

"Leeds United's starting lineup continued the 4141 of the previous round of the league, and there was no adjustment to the starting lineup. It can be seen that Bielsa wants to replicate the atmosphere of the last 5:2 victory over Newcastle."

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Manchester United starting lineup (433):

Goalkeeper: De Gea;

Defense: Cancelo, Maguire, Van Dijk, Luke Shaw;

Midfield: Kante, Bruno, Gundogan;

Forwards: Mahrez, McTominay, Greenwood;

"For Manchester United, Mourinho continues to rotate, McTominay and Greenwood, Mahrez partner up in the front line, Bruno and Kante and Gundogan sit in the midfield."

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Andy Gray said: "This is Leeds United's return to the Premier League after 16 years. Bielsa's team has won 5, drawn 2 and lost 6 in the first 13 league rounds, ranking 13th with 17 points. Bielsa is known as a madman in football and is famous for his pursuit of extreme offense. At present, Leeds United has scored a total of 22 goals, ranking eighth among 20 teams. However, they also have big problems on the defensive end, with a total of 24 goals conceded, only 2 goals less than West Bromwich Albion, tied with Sheffield United for the second most goals conceded. "

"And Mourinho is a head coach who puts defense first, and his team has always been known for its unbreakable defense. Currently, Manchester United has conceded 13 goals in 13 league rounds, only one goal more than Tottenham, and is the second team with the fewest goals conceded."

Martin Taylor, who partners with Andy Taylor, said curiously: "A head coach who is extremely advocating offense meets a head coach who attaches great importance to defense. What kind of sparks will the two collide with? Let's wait and see!"

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Although Leeds United is only a newly promoted team, and their opponent Manchester United is the Premier League champion, this game is one of the most watched games in this round of the Western Premier League, broadcast live to the entire UK and many countries and regions around the world.

At this moment, commentators from various countries are explaining to fans and audiences, telling them what is happening in this stadium at this moment, and what kind of grievances the two teams have.

Manchester United captain Bruno and Leeds United captain Cooper are guessing coins.

Bruno guessed the coin correctly, Manchester United got the right to choose sides, and Leeds United got the right to kick off.

"Win the first game." Mourinho nodded with satisfaction.

Faria glanced at Mourinho, he wondered if Mourinho was a little nervous, and then he asked: "Are you nervous?"

"Nervous, how could it be?" Mourinho shook his head, with an expression on his face, how could you have such an idea.

Faria was a little ashamed, it seemed that he had misunderstood.