The Legendary Chairman Novel - Chapter 1143
1143 Think About Liverpool!
The Red Devils’ dressing room was extremely quiet.
The Manchester United players sat quietly in their seats, their heads lowered, and some even had towels flashing over their heads, covering his entire head.
Although this was not the Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan, they were three-0 down in the half. But the Manchester United players were in a very low spirits as if they had lost the game.
Alex Ferguson watched quietly and remained silent.
In an instant, Manchester United’s players were like dummies in a dummy challenge, motionless, like sculptures made many years later to commemorate this match.
Alex Ferguson’s heart ached when he saw the Manchester United man like this!
He had rarely seen a Manchester United player with such a dispirited side and could tell that the pressure this game was putting on them was very, very great!
After a while, Alex Ferguson coughed, “Cough cough!”
Some Manchester United players raised their heads, while others continued to lower their heads.
Alex Ferguson said: “I’m sorry, everyone! I, Alex Ferguson, am fully responsible for this match!”
The Manchester United players looked up at Alex Ferguson, puzzled.
Alex Ferguson ignored it and continued, “It was my tactics that went wrong and I underestimated Madman Loria that got you into the trap. If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have dropped the first goal, we wouldn’t have been passive all the time and dropped the second!”
The Manchester United players were shocked. To tell the truth, although there was a reason for this, they still believed that it was all because of them. In fact, at the beginning of the first half, they had already obtained a lot of chances, but they did not score any goals. This was because they did not play a good game.
At the same time, they knew that they had underestimated Leeds United!
“No, Sir Alex! It has nothing to do with you,” some of the Manchester United players said immediately. “We played well in the media and we didn’t take the chance. But Sir Alex, don’t worry, we will win Leeds United in the second half and win the trophy!”
The rest of the Manchester United players echoed and voted.
Alex Ferguson nodded slightly and said, “I’m not going to give you chicken blood here, and I’m not going to say too much inspiration.” Let me just tell you one thing. Four years ago Liverpool were three-0 down in the Champions League at half-time, but in the end they won the Champions League. “I hope you are not worse than the Liverpool men …”
The Manchester United players nodded resolutely, their expressions exceptionally solemn.
Looking at the reaction of United players, Alex Ferguson was very excited to have such a momentum. Who have we Red Devils and Manchester United ever been afraid of?
Alex Ferguson immediately said, “We did this in the second half, Franck Ribery …”
Alex Ferguson is setting up a second-half tactic for the Reds’ players, apparently ready to stir up trouble in the second half.
Manchester United’s dressing room was in full swing and everyone was discussing good ideas.
On the other side, the atmosphere in Leeds United’s dressing room was even more serious than in Manchester United’s.
Yes, the Leeds United players are not overjoyed.
The Leeds United players felt the pressure was really great. Although they were leading 2-0, they still didn’t dare to let go of Song Xi because their opponent, Red Manchester United, was really too strong.
If Leeds United relaxed a little, this game would be another one.
Zhong Cheng was very satisfied with the attitude of the Leeds United players.
Zhong Cheng said: “We played well in the first half, but that was the past. We don’t need to think about that now. We need to think about the second half, you know?”
The Leeds United players nodded in understanding.
Zhong Cheng continued: “In the Champions League final, there weren’t many reversals, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t.” Liverpool were three-0 behind to win the Champions League. “So, it’s nothing for us to have a 2-0 lead now. The second half of the game is going to get tight, you know?”
The Leeds United players could only nod and explain everything in their hearts.
Zhong Cheng also said: “The Red Devils Manchester United will definitely not give up, so the second half of the game will only be more intense than the first half, you have to be mentally prepared!”
The Leeds United players were very serious and they had already thought of that.
Manchester United have never been easy to deal with and Leeds United players are ready to go head-to-head with Manchester United.
Zhong Cheng also said: “In the second half of the game, our tactic was to defend and counterattack. This is the tactic we are most familiar with. I hope that you can perform well. As long as you show 100% of your form and strength, I believe we can win.”
“I see, boss,” said the Leeds United players neatly.
The mentality of the Leeds United players was actually quite good, and Zhong Cheng was quite satisfied with it. However, Zhong Cheng was just afraid that the pressure of the second half would crush their players. In that case, Leeds United would collapse.
Zhong Cheng repeatedly reminded the Leeds United players to pay attention to defense and play seriously!
To tell the truth, Zhong Cheng felt a lot of pressure now. This Champions League final was indeed different from the other matches. Zhong Cheng immediately asked a counselor to give psychological counseling to the players of Leeds United, so that they could play a more stable game in the second half.
The atmosphere was already very, very tense.
At this moment, the staff at the scene came to remind the Leeds United players to hurry up and the second half of the game was about to start.
Zhong Cheng immediately said, “Alright, relax. This is an ordinary game. Don’t be too nervous. Go play well. You must be champions. Let’s go. Don’t let them wait too long!”
The Leeds United players nodded in understanding.
Then the Leeds United players immediately turned around and rushed out like a swarm of bees, rushing into the players’ passageway and rushing towards the stadium.
When Zhong Cheng and the others came out, they discovered that the Manchester United players were already standing on the pitch, waiting for the appearance of the Leeds United.
Zhong Cheng took a closer look at the Manchester United players’ condition. His eyes instantly tightened. The Manchester United man’s mental state was very full. This match seemed to be very difficult!
Zhong Cheng raised his eyebrows slightly. He realized that the second half of the match would be very difficult.
As soon as the Leeds United players entered the stadium, the Reds made a substitution change. Alex Ferguson could not endure Bale Bartov anymore and replaced him with Carlos Tevez.
Seeing this change, Zhong Cheng frowned slightly.
Although Bale Bartov is not particularly active on the pitch, Manchester United’s offensive tactics will be richer if he stays on the pitch. This would replace Bale Bartov. This required a lot of courage!
When Bale Bartov was replaced, he was also very unhappy, very uncomfortable!
In the end, Bale Bartov gave Carlos Tevez a perfunctory slap before ignoring Alex Ferguson and returning to the bench.
Returning to the bench, Bale Bartov covered his head with a towel, isolating himself from the rest of the world!
Alex Ferguson didn’t even look at Bale Bartov. His eyes were fixed on the pitch, watching the second half of the game.
At this moment, the referee Busaka blew the whistle for the start of the second half.
Red Manchester United launched a ferocious attack at the start of the second half, wanting to take advantage of Leeds United’s precarious defence to deliver a fatal blow to them.
With a bang, Joan Gourcuff, who was in the middle of the line, passed the ball to Franck Ribery, who was in front of the winger. After receiving the ball, Franck Ribery did not force it. Instead, he suddenly passed the ball back and it rolled under the feet of full-back Chimbonda.
The two were once teammates of the French national team, and they had worked together for a long time at Leeds United. The two of them had a very good understanding of each other. The route he formed with Franck Ribery was an important offensive move for Manchester United this season, and that’s one of the reasons why Franck Ribery has performed so well this season.
Chimbonda immediately picked up the ball and drove it forward at high speed!
The Leeds United defenders did not put too much pressure on him, allowing him to pass the half-court. However, it was very difficult for Zimbonda to take the ball forward after the half-court. After many attempts, he could only choose to return the ball.
The oppressive nature of Leeds United’s words was too strong, and the intensity was so high that Zimbonda was almost unable to endure it.
The ball rolled under centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who immediately crossed the ball diagonally and rolled it under Nani, who was retreating on the other side.
Nani did not stop the ball, but took advantage of the situation to move the ball to the middle of the field. Winger Gary Neville sped up and chased after the football. On the other side, Zimbonda quickly retreated, maintaining the defensive line intact.
Gary Neville stabbed forward frantically on the side, but he was quickly blocked and unable to break through.
Gary Neville immediately pulled the ball and turned around, ready to pass it back. However, at this moment, Gary Neville suddenly turned around again and sent a long, slanted pass towards Lichtsteiner’s back.
Franck Ribery rushed over like a gust of wind.
Lichtsteiner’s reaction was already very fast. He quickly turned around and was almost on the same line as Franck Ribery. At first, his speed was exploded by Franck Ribery.
Franck Ribery immediately overtook him and caught up to the football.
Lichtsteiner did not even reach out to grab Franck Ribery. Franck Ribery caught up with the football. The Manchester United fans immediately cheered wildly, all of them very, very excited.
“Chance! Red Devils United’s chance has come!” The local sports commentator in Manchester was so excited that he almost jumped up.
Leeds United centre-back David Louis immediately rushed forward to intercept Franck Ribery.
Franck Ribery did not clash with David Louis. Instead, he gently sent the ball back to the back of the triangle. The ball rolled a little bit into the corner of the restricted area and Zimbonda followed.
“Danger!” Eddie Gray exclaimed.
Chimbonda immediately swung his leg and pretended to shoot, but gently swung the football horizontally.
The soccer ball instantly rolled out, and Yoan Gourcuff rushed forward at top speed. He kicked the soccer ball fiercely!
“Intercept! He has the ability to shoot from afar!” Eddie Leave roared madly.
Unfortunately, the Leeds United players were still a little slower, and when Sedu Keita rushed over, Joan Gourcuff had already hit the ball with a hard kick.
With a bang, the football flew out like a loaded cannonball, quickly shooting towards the upper right corner of Leeds United’s goal.
Zhong Zheng immediately threw himself sideways and stretched out his hands, but he did not stop the football.
The football flew into Leeds United’s goal.