Chapter 569 Champions Outpost

Almost overnight, the media in the UK, Europe, and even the world were frantically reporting Yang Yang's hat-trick and Liverpool's two-game winning streak in the new season.

This was the first hat-trick in the Premier League this season, and it was also understood to be the strongest voice Yang Yang made when he officially hit the highest honor as a professional player. Everyone believed that he was full of urgent desire.

And Liverpool's two-game winning streak also attracted the attention of all parties, because this is the second time in their history that they have won the opening two-game winning streak in the Premier League. Before this, they only won this in the 2020 season. scores.

Under the leadership of head coach Houllier at the time, Liverpool ushered in a two-game winning streak at the beginning.

This also makes everyone look forward to Liverpool this season. Some people even believe that this season, Liverpool has established the lead early this season, showed an excellent state of scoring points, and is very hopeful to make a breakthrough in the league.

But for this statement, Chelsea head coach Mourinho obviously disagrees.

...

"These swaying grasshoppers seem to have forgotten to look up the historical data. After Liverpool beheaded Aston Villa and Southampton one after another, they soon drew with Blackburn in the third round."

In Cobham, a small town in the south of London, in Chelsea's newly opened training base, Mourinho sat in the head coach's office, flipping through the latest newspapers, his face was worried, but his mouth was scornful, Appears disdainful.

"And that season that started with two consecutive victories, Houllier finally brought Liverpool to fifth in the league. Instead of improving their results, they also lost their Champions League qualification. This is not a success at all. If this season Liverpool is really like that season, Benitez should get out now."

In the office, several of Mourinho's right-hand men looked at each other with wry smiles, apparently not agreeing with the Portuguese madman's statement, but no one would refute him.

Because at Cobham, Mourinho is the king of all things.

Even if his current status has been shaken.

The Portuguese made such a statement mainly because the British and European media praised Liverpool too much.

The Reds are indeed the best team to start the Premier League this season, with two consecutive victories, but Chelsea also have two consecutive victories. The only difference is that Chelsea played a bit difficult in both games, unlike Liverpool who had a four-goal victory, but that so what?

Does this mean that Chelsea will fail at Anfield in the third round?

You know, before the third round, Chelsea had been undefeated in the Premier League for 16 rounds!

This seems very quiet, but in fact it is quite an easy achievement.

What’s interesting is that the last time Chelsea lost was precisely at Anfield, against Liverpool, and it was the match in January of the beginning of the year that kept Chelsea out of the league title race.

Therefore, Mourinho is not happy with Liverpool in his heart.

Especially in Yang Yang's performance, the more unhappy the Portuguese madman feels about Liverpool.

But Chelsea's current situation is indeed not smooth, too many injuries.

"In January last year, our two starting centre-backs were both injured, Carvalho and Terry were unable to play, and as a result, we had to arrange the combination of Ferrena and Essien, but they were blown up by Liverpool in the game. And now, we still have problems in the central defender position." Mourinho seemed unwilling, but very worried.

The biggest headache he has now is that Carvalho is injured again.

Chelsea's central defender injured his thigh in the midweek game against Reading, which was basically sentenced to death.

What's more terrible is that Terry also has injuries on his body. He has a knee cruciate ligament injury. So far this season, he has not played for Chelsea once. It has always been Ben Haim and Kava who have just joined in the summer. Slight partner.

Interesting to say, the last time I played Liverpool, it was the transfer period during the winter break. Both Chelsea's full-time central defenders were injured. Mourinho wanted to introduce a central defender. He took a fancy to Ben Haim, but Abra Movic wanted to introduce Eindhoven's Alex, but the two sides did not back down.

In the end, it was a lose-lose situation. Neither Ben Haim nor Alex were able to help the team during the winter break, but they both came this summer.

During Terry's absence due to injury, Mourinho has always pressed Alex and reused Ben Haim because he wanted to show Abramovich that his choice was the right one.

But now, even Carvalho is injured, what should I do?

This question has been put before Mourinho and the coaching staff.

...

"I think Alex is a trustworthy central defender, especially now." Boas offered his opinion.

Mourinho sullenly shook his head, "I don't think he's ready yet."

In a word, the Portuguese madman rejected Alex.

Boas and the other members of the coaching staff looked at each other and felt helpless.

They all know that Mourinho is somewhat emotional now.

But in the professional league, as long as you can win, you can be forgiven for being self-willed.

"How is Terry?" Mourinho asked.

Boas looked at the others and replied, "It's a little troublesome, he hasn't recovered yet, so he hastily let him go, I'm afraid it will bring some problems, and it may even leave trouble later, and we have to find a way to convince him."

"It's a big fight against Liverpool, the Champions League outpost, Carvalho is injured, we need an experienced central defender to stabilize the backcourt, Alex and Ben Haim are new players, we need Terry ' Mourinho decides.

What he meant was clear, he needed Terry to play with an injury.

Boas thought for a while, nodded and said, "I'll tell him."

But soon, Boas thought of another question, "How can Yang Yang prevent it?"

This is also the most troublesome thing in this game. It can even be said that it is a problem that all teams will encounter when they encounter Liverpool, and that is how to freeze Yang Yang.

Is there a special arrangement for man-to-man? Or rely on the team as a whole?

"What do you think?" Mourinho asked.

Boas has always been his right-hand man, making suggestions for him.

"Each has its pros and cons. Essien played as a right back and played well. It would not be impossible to let him stare at Yang Yang throughout the entire process, but our defense will inevitably be affected, and Essien's ability to assist in the right flank is also good. , he was one of the best players in the team in the first two rounds."

In the first round against Birmingham, it was Essien's lore that helped Chelsea score three points at home.

"But if we don't specially arrange people to mark and rely on the whole, we may not be able to limit Yang Yang, and we have to protect the tacit understanding between Terry and Ben Haim. So far, they have not even played the same game once."

Boas's hesitation is not unreasonable. The lack of tacit understanding between the two central defenders is a very fatal thing.

Why doesn't Mourinho know?

Sometimes, this dilemma must be faced.

His choice of Terry is not only a battle of morals, but also his trust in Terry. He believes that the more at this critical moment, the more he needs the support of an experienced veteran like Terry.

Let Ben Haim and Alex start, God knows will they become soft-footed shrimp at a critical moment and be completely destroyed by Liverpool's super striker? In the event of a big loss, Mourinho would have to be dismissed the next day as an apology.

Yang Yang is a problem, so is Crouch!

Liverpool's striker line this season is indeed quite good, and it is also quite difficult to defend.

"Yang Yang has been in good shape recently, he must be restrained, one-on-one..." Mourinho shook his head when he said this, "I don't think that even if Essien were to mark him full-time, he might not be able to defend him. live."

Ask Essien to specifically mark him, but can't you keep it?

Boas and other members of the coaching staff couldn't help but be a little surprised. Isn't this also too high for Yang Yang?

You know, Essien is the premier defensive midfielder in the Premier League today. He is known for his running and defensive abilities. He is nicknamed the Ghana Buffalo. Let him entangle Yang Yang, okay?

Mourinho knew the doubts of his assistants, but some things didn't happen, so there was no convincing.

It's impossible for him to say, this is one of his feelings, right?

In fact, many times, to freeze a player, running and defensive ability alone are not enough.

Yang Yang himself is known for his running ability, and he runs extremely smart, and he is active and passive. Essien may not be able to defend him, because the Ghana buffalo is often distracted and unstable.

On the contrary, like Ferreira, it is easier to give Mourinho confidence.

"Then it can only rely on the whole." Boas said helplessly.

This is just a Yang Yang. Behind Yang Yang, Liverpool has Benitez who is best at playing targeted tactics.

This guy seems to have never lost to anyone on a tactical level.

Mourinho nodded helplessly, "I won't participate in the pre-match press conference tomorrow."

"Why?" Boas was a little surprised.

In Chelsea's pre-match press conference, Mourinho has always been the protagonist, and even gave him the nickname "The Troublemaker" in Fleet Street in London.

"Before this game, we need to remain stable and calm," Mourinho said lightly.

Boas has worked with him for many years, and can vaguely hear his overtones.

It seems that he is also full of worries about this game.

"In addition, you urge Stamford Bridge as soon as possible to speed up the transfer operation of Daniel Alves, we need him."

Daniel Alves, a Brazilian right-winger who plays for Sevilla, can play from right wing to right back. He was very close to Liverpool last summer, but Sevilla asked for too much and the Red Army brought in After Yang Yang and Kuyt, they could not afford to run Alves at all.

Chelsea wants to strengthen the right flank this season, and Mourinho is determined to win against Alves.

Before, the Brazilian right-back's agent Suarez has publicly announced that 95% of his players will join Chelsea, because the difference between the two sides in the transfer fee is only 4.5 million pounds. For Chelsea, it's not a problem at all.

Mourinho is also full of expectations for Alves.