Chapter 992 The league before the Champions League
After Hulay returned to Leeds, he ushered in a powerful opponent in the league - Stan Park Rangers.
Leeds City beat Stan Park Rangers at Stan Park last season, kicking off an exciting comeback. The championship campaign that season was called by many media the most exciting championship battle in the Premier League in the 21st century.
Here Leeds City has the last laugh and is famous all over the world.
Stan Park Rangers became the backdrop for Leeds City, being whipped to death again and again - of course, they were not alone, because there was Tramed accompanying them, and the scene was equally important.
The entire season's Premier League title race can be condensed into two games: one in which Stan Park Rangers lost 3:4 at home to Leeds City, and one in which Tramed lost 2:3 at home to Leeds City.
The final results of these two games determined the Premier League title last season.
The former bitter rivals in English football are both the best supporting players in Leeds City's championship, and have become brothers in trouble. It is really funny and sad.
After Leeds City robbed Stan Park Rangers of the championship, Stan Park Rangers have been looking forward to revenge.
Now they finally got their chance.
As soon as the national team game ended, the English media quickly shifted their attention from the England team to these two teams.
The local media in Liverpool couldn't wait to shout the slogan of "revenge".
This is definitely not just the media’s self-pleasure.
Although they will face French Ligue 1 champions Paris Eger at home in the middle of next week, and even though they have just finished playing for the national team, Stan Park Rangers head coach Scott Brooks still sent out most of his main players to face the home team. Leeds City.
It can be seen from this formation that the Stan Park Rangers team cares about this game.
In fact, Brooks took a certain risk by doing this, because in the next Champions League group stage, Stan Park Rangers played the strongest seeded team in the group, the last French Ligue 1 champion Paris Eger, in the first round.
As a wealthy team that participates in the Champions League all year round, Stan Park Rangers' goal is definitely not as simple as qualifying for the group, but also to compete for first place in the group.
Since we are competing for first place in the group, the home game against Paris Eger is very important.
It stands to reason that Brooks should strategically abandon this league and concentrate on playing well in the Champions League group stage with Paris Eger.
This is the way to maximize profits.
But Brooks didn't do that.
His purpose is very clear, which is to seek revenge from Leeds City.
Some Leeds City fans ridiculed Stan Park Rangers' approach on the Internet as just trying to make up for it:
"...Even if Stan Park Rangers beat us in this game, what will change? The Premier League championship in the 2025-2026 season still belongs to Leeds City, and will always belong to Leeds City!"
Brooks did not respond publicly to such remarks.
Instead, in the home team's dressing room at Stan Park before the game, he told his players the reasons why he did this:
"...I know some people say that we have lost the league title, and now even if we beat Leeds City to the ground at our home ground, there is no point. Because the lost league title will not come back to our hands... but What I want to say is that I don't agree with this statement. We lost one league championship last season and can win it back next time.
"I know that since losing the league championship, many players are holding back anger and anger. There must be someone who is not reconciled to the final result of last season... What should we do? Win it back of course! If we want to win the championship again, we must Defeat this opponent who robbed us of the championship. Otherwise, we cannot start again. If we hold this breath in our hearts and cannot express it, there will be problems! And this time, defeating them, even if it is a rotating lineup, is a big win. It’s also important to us!”
Unlike Stan Park Rangers who clearly wanted revenge, Leeds City did not take this game very seriously.
Many of the main players in the squad given by Tony Clark never came to Liverpool from Leeds.
They were left in Leeds, well rested, in preparation for their away game against Turkish Premier League champions Gulf Beacons.
From this personnel arrangement, we can see Leeds City's attitude towards this game - no matter how much the media hypes it, Tony Clark still prepares for the game at his own pace.
In order to play in the Champions League, give up the league.
Even if it was a major game with Stan Park Rangers, I gave up even if I said I gave up.
But Clark still brought Hulay to Stan Park Stadium.
This arrangement is puzzling - neither Kamara nor Jay Adams came with the team, what is a forward like Hu Lai doing?
And as the team's main shooter, in order to prepare for the Champions League, shouldn't he take a good rest in Leeds, get off the jet lag, and prepare to go to the away game to challenge the Bay Lighthouse?
What is he doing in Liverpool?
Is it specifically meant to humiliate Stan Park Rangers fans? Remind them not to forget that this is the first visiting player to score a hat-trick at Stan Park in nine years...
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"I really think that boy Clark brought Hu here just to taunt us and remind us not to forget the defeat last season..." Stan Park Rangers assistant coach Stephen Brown said to the head coach Scott sitting next to him. Te Brooks said. "Otherwise, why didn't he play after he came and put him on the bench...Does this mean anything?"
"Don't worry about whether it makes sense, Stephen. Let's play our own game, keep our own rhythm, and don't be affected or interfered by our opponents." Brooks curled his lips and said.
At this moment, the game has entered the second half. Stan Park Rangers leads Leeds City 2:0 at home, with about twenty minutes left before the end of the game.
It seems that it is no surprise that Stan Park Rangers won this game and successfully took revenge.
Five minutes ago, Brooks also started to make substitutions and adjustments, allowing the main players to take a rest in preparation for the home game against Paris Eger in the middle of next week.
At this moment, the two people suddenly heard a burst of boos from the stands.
At this time, Stan Park Rangers players were holding the ball and the score was leading. Logically speaking, the home fans should not boo their players.
So this boo is obviously not directed at the Stan Park Rangers players, but...
The two of them turned to look at the Leeds City coaching bench next door at the same time.
Sure enough, I saw Hu Lai standing up from the bench and taking off his substitute vest!
Is he going to appear? !
The two people looked away at the same time, looking at each other, looking at each other.
At this time, Clark asked Hu Lai to play... Could it be that he was unwilling to lose the game in the away game like this?
But if you are unwilling to do so, don’t bring a half-substitute lineup!
The two of them really couldn't figure out what was going on in Clark's mind.
First, Hu Lai was brought to the away game, but he was not allowed to start.
Now that the overall situation has been decided, Hu Lai is still allowed to appear...
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Amid the boos above Stan Park, Clark was giving Hulay instructions:
"Now Stan Park Rangers are two goals ahead, and Brooks has also started to replace the main team. They have begun to think about the Champions League next week. I think it is time for you to play, Hu. You know what you have to do, right?"
"I know, boss." Hu Lai nodded. "Doing what I do best."
Clark grinned: "Very good. Lasky can help you. You have to respond more on the court and connect with him. Anyway, you can communicate with him. Language is not a problem. He has very good foot skills. You can attract the defensive player. At this time, you have to pay special attention to inserting into the space he pulls out..."
After a brief explanation, Clark pushed Hu Lai to the fourth official.
Then he returned to the dugout and sat down.
Assistant coach Sam Landill came up and said: "I thought you brought Hulay just to show off in front of the Stan Park Rangers fans that we once ended their 90-game home unbeaten streak here..."
Clark smiled: "I'm not as damaged as you think. I did prepare a few plans, so I brought Hu to the away game. If we are three goals behind now, then I won't let Hu play... ”
"Do you still want to steal a point?" Randhir's eyes widened.
"If possible... we won't have much to lose anyway - the failure of this game was already expected." Clark shrugged.
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From the moment Hulay stood on the sidelines, the boos at Stan Park became louder and louder.
Obviously, Stan Park Rangers fans still remember the three bloody holes that Hulay poked in their bodies.
"Ha, sure enough! With two goals behind, Clark replaced Hu, was he trying to win the game? No, I guess he was reminding Stan Park Rangers fans in this way: 'Don't forget We beat you here 4:3 last season," Matthew Cox said with disgrace.
After Hule came on the field, he replaced captain Lorenzo, who started the game, and partnered with Polish talented forward Dominik Lasky.
It didn't take long for him to get a chance in the Stan Park Rangers penalty area!
His shot almost caused Lemos to miss!
Fortunately, Lemos' second reaction was very quick and he immediately put the football under his body, without giving Laski a chance to make a follow-up shot.
Lasky seemed very regretful - he just missed his first goal in the Premier League. If he had started earlier and could have predicted that Lemos would release the ball, maybe the football would have been in Stan Park Rangers' goal now...
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"After Hu came on the field, Leeds City's offense was obviously better than before. His body is not as strong as Lorenzo, and his foot skills are not as good as Laski. But the two of them combined are not as big a threat as Hu. . His interspersed movement around the Stan Park Rangers penalty area caused headaches for the Stan Park Rangers defenders who were trying to keep their formation intact..."
After playing for a few minutes, Matthew Cox summed up the game he had just observed.
In front of the home team's coaching bench, Brooks frowned and muttered to himself: "Clark also replaced Porter before replacing Hu. In this way, Walsh was on the left and Porter was on the right. …”
His eyes suddenly lit up: "No, Stephen. Clark wants to sneak attack us!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a huge noise suddenly erupted from Stan Park Stadium, which was mixed with boos.
The city of Leeds launched an attack!
Charlie Potter sent a cross from the wing and Laski ran towards the center from the back post, attracting the attention of Stan Park Rangers center back Zach Gordon.
And Hu Lai was lying in ambush behind him. He was originally running with Lasky. It looked like the two of them had grabbed a spot. As a result, halfway through the game, Laski sprinted toward the goal from the center, but Hu Lai suddenly accelerated and passed forward, then pushed forward from the center!
Then he jumped up to face the ball from Charlie Potter, shook his head, and rubbed back!
The football flies towards the back corner of the goal!
When Brazil international goalkeeper Victor Lemos saw Hulay suddenly overshooting, he rushed toward the near corner of the goal in an attempt to block the shot angle.
As a result, the football was thrown to the back corner by Hu Lai!
He just happened to miss the football, and he only had time to raise his arm like a conditioned reflex - this reaction was already considered fast, but he still failed to hit the football...
The ball flew into Stan Park Rangers' goal amid boos!
After failing to score in two consecutive league games, Hulay broke through the door of Stan Park Rangers! This is his fourth goal in this stadium!
It is also his fourth goal in the Premier League this season!
(End of chapter)