The Legendary Chairman Novel - Chapter 624
624 Roja, Welcome to Anfield!
Benitez stood in front of Zhong Cheng with a smile and extended his right hand.
Zhong Cheng smiled and reached out his right hand to grab Rafael Benitez’s right hand.
Benitez warmly said: “Welcome to Anfield, Mr. Loria!”
Zhong Cheng chuckled and said, “Haha, Mr. Benitez doesn’t mean what he said. Aren’t you afraid that I will come to Anfield to take away the victory?”
Rafael Benitez’s lips curled up as he said indifferently, “You can take the victory away, but it will definitely be our Liverpool side who will advance.”
The smile on Zhong Cheng’s face was still the same. Indeed, Benitez was still the same Benitez!
The smile on Zhong Cheng’s face suddenly disappeared and he said calmly, “That’s not certain. Today, we are here for the qualification to advance!”
Benitez continued with a smile on his face: “Don’t worry, this will not happen today. We at Liverpool will not give you a chance!”
Zhong Cheng raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise, “Is that so?”
Benitez smiled and said: “Of course!”
Zhong Cheng suddenly patted Benitez’s shoulder and said indifferently, “Don’t be too superstitious. Sometimes you should be more down-to-earth, Mr. Benitez!”
Benitez smiled and said: “There is no need for Mr. Loria to worry about this. What you should worry about now is how to explain to the Leeds United fans after the game is over!”
Zhong Chengyi waved his hand and said: “There is no need to worry about this, because it does not exist. Today, our Leeds United will definitely defeat your Liverpool team.”
Benitez turned to Zhong Cheng and said warmly, “Is that so? Then let’s meet him!”
After saying that, Benitez waved his hand at Zhong Cheng, then turned around and walked towards the coaching seat of the home team.
Looking at Benitez’s back, Zhong Cheng’s expression suddenly became serious.
Zhong Cheng could tell that Benitez valued this match very much. And from his movements, he could tell that the Liverpool people did not take it lightly at all. All of them were very devoted. It looked like they were a backward team.
Zhong Cheng was about to breathe in a breath of cold air. This match would be very difficult.
Rogers immediately walked up to Zhong Cheng and asked, “Boss, what did he say?”
Zhong Cheng stared fixedly at Benitez’s back and said after a while, “This match will be very difficult. Benitez is really hard to deal with. They already said that you can take the victory. But the qualification to advance belongs to them only!”
Rogers raised his eyebrows slightly, he did not think that this was Benitez’s weakness. On the contrary, it was Benitez’s tough move. He had made it clear that Liverpool were going to fight Leeds United to the end in this match.
Rogers frowned and said, “This match will be even more difficult.”
Zhong Cheng smiled faintly and said, “We are already prepared to face all difficulties. Are you afraid of this? Just wait, this match should be a very tragic one.”
Rogers sighed, his serious face filled with worry.
–Division Line–
“Alright, audience friends, welcome to the BBC. I am the familiar Mark Lawrenson, and today I will explain this match to you!” Mark Lawrenson said immediately.
“Hello, everyone. We are the familiar Eddie Gray. Today, I am Mark’s partner!” Eddie Gray also sat beside Mark Lawrenson and the two teamed up again.
“Today we are bringing you the second leg of this season’s Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool and Leeds United. “There was a big gap in the first leg. Leeds United lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool. Now that we’re in the second leg, Leeds United are in a very difficult situation!” Mark Lawrenson immediately shouted.
Eddie Gray also said: “This game is really bad for Leeds United.” But Leeds United will never give up on this game, and those damned media reporters before the game were completely irresponsible. I believe that Madman Loria will not give up this match. “If he gives up, is he still crazy?”
The fans in front of the TV all nodded. Eddie Gray was right.
If he gave up, would he still be crazy?
Obviously not. Madman Loria has been doing something crazy all his life. Will he give up on this match now? Obviously not!
Mark Lawrenson immediately asked, “May I ask Eddie, who do you like better in this match?”
Eddie Gray said: “Of course I’m on Leeds United’s side unconditionally. But I know it’s going to be a very, very difficult game for Leeds United. It’s going to be very, very difficult for them to win!”
Mark Lawrenson also said: “Yes, the chances of Leeds United playing this game are slim. Well, that’s all. Now that the players on both sides have come out of the tunnel, let’s introduce the starting lineup for today.”
Following is the starting lineup for the two teams today:
Home: Liverpool, Coach: Rafael Benitez, Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Reina
Fourth Guards “Left to Right”: John Lithur, Samir Hyypia, Daniel Carragher and Steve Finnan
Four midfielders “from left to right”: Luis Garcia, Steven Gerrard, Harvey Alonso and Dirk Kuyt
Twin strikers: Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy
This is Liverpool’s starting lineup for today. This lineup can be considered a very complete starting lineup for Liverpool. Of course, there were also some changes in the formation. Benitez still liked the 4-2-3-1 formation, but the formation he had put out today was 4-4-2. It could be seen that this was an offensive and defensive balance formation.
It can be seen from this that Benitez’s thoughts. He certainly didn’t want to defend this game. He still hoped to give Leeds United some pressure so that they wouldn’t be able to attack so boldly and at ease.
Of course, Benitez did not replace Mohamed Sissoko, who was more defensive, but instead used a midfield combination of Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard, a combination that tended to be more offensive.
Rafael Benitez could tell that he had some ideas for the game.
Guest: Leeds United, Head Coach: Zhong Cheng, Formation: 4-1-3-2
Goalkeeper: Zhong Zheng
Fourth Guards “Left to Right”: Patrick Evra, Gerard Pique, Compani and Sagna
Single waist: Mascherano
Three avant-garde “Left to Right”: Frank Ribery, Joan Gourcuff and Joaquin
Twin strikers: Luca Toni and Edinson Cavani
This was the starting lineup of Leeds United today. Obviously, this starting lineup was very different from what the media reporters had guessed. The media reporters all believed that Leeds United had abandoned this match and would definitely send out some substitutes.
However, in this match, Zhong Cheng had put out almost all of his main players, with only some changes to his front waist and front line. Luca Modric didn’t start on the front line today, starting with Gourcuff. After Gourcuff returned from injury, he was often a substitute, but he had never started before.
The fans and media reporters on the scene were confused. Why did Zhong Cheng let Gourcuff play? Did he really give up this match after obtaining this guy?
–Division Line–
The players on both sides stood in position on the field and the match was about to begin.
Luca Toni and Edinson Cavani were in the middle and Leeds United were given the right to kick off the game.
At this moment, the referee blew the whistle of the kick-off-beep!
Luca Tony gently tapped the ball in the middle and then turned around and rushed forward. Edison Cavani was quick to pass the ball back to the midfield, and then he ran out himself.
Leeds United’s away game against Liverpool has officially begun.
The football arrived at Gourcuff’s feet, and in front of him, Bellamy was rushing forward without any hesitation. Gourcuff naturally did not hesitate to quickly pass the football back, and the football quickly rolled under Mascherano’s feet in the middle.
Gourcuff used his body to block Bellamy, giving Mascherano enough time.
Mascherano observed it for a moment, and then with a big foot, he quickly drove the football towards Liverpool’s half-court. The football flew quickly towards Luca Tony, who was inserted in front of him.
Luca Tony saw the ball jump up high, and Harvey Alonso, who was beside him, jumped up too, but the difference was too great.
With a bang, Luca Tony turned around to look at the moon and gave the football to Edison Cavani, who was following him. After Luca Tony landed, he rushed into the Liverpool box to create killing intent.
The Liverpool fans were shocked. They did not expect Leeds United to give them a blow at the start of the game.
After Edison Cavani caught the ball, Liverpool winger Louis Garcia rushed over with a ferocious slippery shovel towards the football beneath Edison Cavani’s feet.
Edison Cavani was shocked. He immediately jumped up and dodged Louis Garcia’s shovel. As soon as he landed, he quickly sent the football to the right and rolled into the open space on the right.
The football quickly rolled to Joaquin’s feet and Liverpool winger Arne Riise rushed out in shock. However, Joaquin had just caught the ball when he crossed 45 degrees inclined. He immediately sent the football into Liverpool’s restricted area and quickly flew towards the center of the Liverpool restricted area.
“Wow! Nice attack. Leeds United launched a long-planned attack just as the game was about to begin. Leeds United wanted to snatch it away. The ball worked very well. It was long and short. It was very beautiful. Wow, Watkin crossed 45 times and the football flew into Liverpool’s restricted area. It was dangerous!” Mark Lawrence immediately cried out loudly, his voice bright.
‘”Aiya, Luis Garcia is a bit rash with this one. It seems that this guy is a little excited today. He is too excited and did a bad thing. Beautiful, beautiful pass. Watkin’s ball is perfect. In Liverpool’s restricted area, chance!” Eddie Gray also roared loudly.
Luca Tony jumped into the Liverpool box and threw half of Carragher and Hyypia out of position, heading straight for the ball!