Chapter 20 The Magic Bird’s Doubt
The FA Cup match is a waste for Leicester City, which aims to surpass the league this season.
It is tasteless to eat and a pity to throw away.
What's more, the opponent is the Premier League giant Chelsea.
Even if the opponent adopts a comprehensive rotation, Leicester City's chance of winning this game will not be high.
Considering the number of games in the English Championship, the schedule is very intensive.
After analysis by the coaching staff, Pearson decided to make a wide range of rotations in the FA Cup.
It’s best to win, but it’s okay to lose.
“In this game, we use the 4231 formation, mainly organizing the offense around Ling.”
“Ling’s passing is our advantage, we can let him play in this game. Serve as the team’s corner kicker and free kicker, and make more use of set pieces”
"Mahrez is playing better and better. We can play more on the right and let Ling cooperate with him more."
"As for the forward position, who do you plan to use?"
< br>Hearing this question from the assistant coach, Pearson couldn't help but pause.
Leicester City’s first team’s staffing at various positions is undoubtedly the most adequate at the forward position.
In addition to the stable starting strike pair of Jamie Vardy and David Nugent, there are four forwards!
They are Kevin Phillips, who won the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Boot with Sunderland more than ten years ago and is still working hard in professional football at the age of 40, and Gary Taylor Fry, a veteran striker who has been playing in low-level leagues all year round. Che, New Zealand high school forward Chris Wood, and young forward Tom Hope who was transferred from the youth team.
These guys, old and young, are just fine playing as substitutes in the British Championship.
To really let them start against a wealthy team like Chelsea would be tantamount to surrendering!
After thinking about it, Pearson made a decision:
“Since we adopt B tactic, let’s let Jamie (Vardy) play! Let’s see if he can play a single arrow. Do you have a better chemical reaction with Ling Feng?"
. . .
The other side.
London, Cobham Base.
Tactics room.
The Chelsea coaching staff, headed by José Mourinho, is also conducting tactical meetings for the FA Cup match in a few days.
However, compared to the serious faces of the Leicester City coaching staff, the Chelsea coaching staff looked very relaxed.
In their view, the team that won the English Championship in the FA Cup is definitely a top draw.
Even though Leicester City is the leader of the English Championship, they do not take each other seriously.
You know, they are the "Blues" Chelsea!
Sitting in the upper seat, wearing a blue Chelsea training suit, Mourinho lowered his head and carefully read the scout's team report on Leicester City.
Returning to Stamford Bridge after six years, the "madman" Mourinho is a bit more calm and restrained than when he first arrived in England.
The black hair has long turned into gray.
Won the Triple Crown with Inter Milan and the 100-point championship with Real Madrid. Mourinho, who has entered the palace for the second time, is still the most trusted helmsman of team owner Roman Abramovich!
And Mourinho did not live up to the expectations of the team owners and fans.
Although the team did not have a smooth start at the beginning of the season due to running-in problems.
However, after entering December, as the team took shape and its tactics gradually improved, the team began to get on the right track to win.
Since defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the 16th round, the Blues under the Portuguese have recorded a terrifying record of six wins and one draw around Christmas, the most intensive schedule!
In the last round of the league, Chelsea, led by Mourinho, defeated the "Red Devils" Manchester United with a score of 3 to 1 in front of 40,000 people at Stamford Bridge. In addition to consolidating the third place ranking, they are also chasing Arsenal at the top of the list.
The league has a chance to compete for the championship, and the Champions League has also entered the knockout rounds. Chelsea's situation this season can be said to be great.
However, Chelsea, with high morale, has a hidden crisis.
Because, with the thickness of Chelsea's current lineup, it is simply unable to cope with multi-line operations.
After a devilish schedule around Christmas, most of Chelsea's main players are obviously exhausted, and some players have suffered injuries.
Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup
At this time, you have to make a choice.
As one of the most successful coaches in football today, Mourinho is not too familiar with this situation.
Slowly raising his head, he made a choice very easily:
“In this FA Cup, we will conduct a full rotation!”
When there is a chance to compete Under the premise of winning the Premier League championship, of course we must focus on the league.
As for the FA Cup and League Cup, just use substitutes and newcomers to gain experience.
If you accidentally reach the semi-finals, it won't be too late to send in the main lineup.
The FA Cup draw with the "Blue Fox" was the first time Mourinho led the team to face Leicester City.
Although I don’t know much about this opponent.
However, no matter who the opponent is, Mourinho will never take it lightly.
What's more, this opponent from the English Championship just defeated the Premier League team in the last round
Putting down the pen in his hand, Mourinho raised his head and shot a pair of sharp eyes at his assistant José Antonio Torero:
"Antonio, let's start!"
Hearing this, Torero, who was sitting opposite, nodded, stood up, came to the computer, and started operating.
After a while, the game pictures began to appear on the projection screen.
The game screen played is exactly the highlight of the second half of the last game between Leicester City and Stoke City!
After the playback, assistant coach Torero continued to play a game video.
And this video is the highlight of Leicester City's away game victory over Leeds United a few days ago.
While playing the video, assistant coach Torero paused the video from time to time to analyze and explain to the rest of the coaching staff:
“In these two games, their No. 23 player Ling Feng They all came on as substitutes in the second half. After he came on, Leicester City's formation changed from 442 to 4231."
"This 18-year-old young man is very talented, especially his passing. Very threatening. In one cup match and two league games as a substitute, he averaged two key passes per game."
"According to my analysis, in the upcoming FA Cup game, this No. 23 is likely to start, and will definitely become the core of the tactics"
"So, we must not take it lightly!"< br>
Listening to the assistant's analysis, Mourinho, who watched Ling Feng's game video for the first time, was already deeply attracted by Ling Feng's performance on the field!
There were already ripples in his heart!
In his opinion, Leicester City’s No. 23 is definitely a genius with extraordinary potential!
Extremely reasonable running positions, broad vision, creative passing, and the general style of controlling the team's rhythm
all made Mourinho secretly surprised in his heart.
He even compared Ling Feng with the top midfielders he had led in his mind.
Deco, Sneijder, 272, Xavi Alonso
Then, he was surprised to find that this eighteen-year-old young man’s passing, vision and running without the ball Movement is not weaker than the above top midfielders.
At this time, Mourinho couldn't help but have a doubt:
In England where there are so many bad guys, there are such creative players? !
(End of this chapter)