opening a balotelli

Chapter 385 So This Fucking Surprise

The League Cup, which has reached the fourth round this season, still attracts the attention of the English media.

At least more attention than in previous seasons.

Because the second and third rounds of the League Cup, which were always hailed as the "hotbed of upset" in the past, did not have the effect of upset the small teams this season.

Among the teams that have reached the top [-] of the English League Cup, except for four teams from the English Championship clubs, the remaining twelve teams are all from the Premier League!
And now they have reached the fourth round, and the next step is the quarterfinals, and few teams want to give up easily if they are bad.

So this situation has led to a sharp rise in the popularity of this year's League Cup competition.

After all, if a few more English Championship teams are eliminated in this round, then the next round of the English League Cup knockout round will basically be the Premier League civil war.

Not to mention the high quality of the game, many Premier League stars will also participate in the battle.

For example, in this round, Li Mo's play surprised many media and Premier League fans.

Southampton's young players have performed very well this season, and they will all start this round of the Carabao Cup.

But to be honest, even though these teenagers have already gained fame in England, they are not as famous as Li Mo's one percent when they are tied together.

Because this English League Cup is going to compete with Sheffield United again, Southampton's home tickets are naturally swept away by the fans early.

There are not only Southampton fans who want to cheer for the home team on the spot, but also many third-party fans from surrounding towns and even cities.

After all, it is a Premier League level game, and you can see many Sheffield United stars.

Even if, as these fans originally guessed, Sheffield United only has some rotation players, they still make money.

Berbatov, Dirk, Barry, Lescott, Matridge
Just these names, they will be put in the rotation of Sheffield United, and put in other small and medium clubs, then they will be the main players.

Not to mention that Speed ​​gave these fans a huge surprise this time.

Li Mo's play made it almost hard to find a ticket at the St. Mary's Stadium at the moment.

A large number of fans of Sheffield United can only look at the tight [-] away team tickets and worry.

They didn't expect that these third-party fans were more enthusiastic than them, and the tickets would not be sold even if the price was increased, so there was no one else.

On the evening of October 10th, amidst the attention and discussions of countless Premier League fans, Sheffield United and Southampton, the defending champions, started their warm-up on time at St. Mary's Stadium.

Sheffield United, who have already won two consecutive Carabao Cup titles, are heading towards their third consecutive championship achievement.

This time Speed ​​is no longer low-key. The pre-match press conference clearly stated that the goal is to achieve three consecutive English League Cup championships.

This champion is neither big nor small.

Although the status is not as good as the FA Cup, it is also one of the symbols of the success of the season.

And for the players of Sheffield United, the League Cup has a special meaning.

This trophy symbolizes their "small success" in the first Premier League season, breaking the embarrassment of the club without a title for decades.

And many Sheffield United players tasted the glory of the championship for the first time at the moment when they won the League Cup.

So in this special season with a clear goal to strive for all championships, they naturally hope to make a good start with the three consecutive League Cup championships.

This is their "good luck" trophy.

Even if Li Mo doesn't believe in this kind of metaphysics, he has to admit that the English League Cup champion in the late winter of last year was indeed an important starting point for the rise of Sheffield United.

Since then, they have smashed through the Premier League powerhouses, successfully avenged Manchester United, and truly embarked on the path of pursuing honor.

For this season's English League Cup, Sheffield United is determined to win.

Although Speed ​​brought a large number of rotation players to play the key battle of the fourth round, Sheffield United is still very strict in terms of tactical arrangements.

Even in terms of lineup strength alone, it is more than enough to restrain this Southampton team.

But for Pochettino, Sheffield United's rotation today can be regarded as an excellent opportunity for him.

After the contest in the second round of the league, Pochettino saw it clearly.

Of all the teams in the Premier League today, none of them can compete with Sheffield United, which has a complete starting lineup.

Even Liverpool and Arsenal, who are currently closest to Sheffield United in the standings, cannot escape the end of complete defeat after a head-to-head confrontation with Sheffield United.

But when Sheffield United uses a large number of rotation players, the small problem of running-in between new and old players will become a flaw in the lineup that can be exploited.

Sheffield United has demonstrated before that this kind of running-in problem can only be solved gradually with the passage of time.

So this is Southampton's only chance to hit Sheffield United's defensive link in the backcourt, relying on the talents of their young players to create fatal damage.

Pochettino can see such an opportunity, so naturally he has to try it hard.

It doesn't mean that there is a strong confidence that they can successfully overthrow Sheffield United.

It's just that Pochettino didn't want to do nothing and directly surrender to Sheffield United.

The Southampton players also put in at least one effort to prepare for this game.

They are currently ranked seventh in the Premier League and have a pretty good record. It is a misfortune to meet Sheffield United early in the League Cup, but Pochettino's enlightenment to his disciples has been very successful.

"Winning is a huge profit. It doesn't matter if you lose. We can prepare better for the league. If we can't win the cup, we will try our best to stay in the top six in the league. Next year we will also play in Europe!"

The desire to participate in the European war has made this group of Southampton lads very motivated.

And just like Pochettino said, if they win Sheffield United, then they will not be afraid of anyone in the remaining League Cup schedule, and everyone will dare to fight.

Losing is also good for preparing for the league. They can now get fifth in the league. If they finish this season with a single line, they are very hopeful to get the top six rankings.

If Sheffield United wins the FA Cup and League Cup by then, they will be able to play in the Europa League if they rank sixth.

Anyway, it highlights a kind of bachelor temperament, which is a bit like Sheffield United, which was only promoted to the Premier League.

I'm barefoot because I'm not afraid of you wearing shoes. I don't care if he gets the benefits or not, I have to get a handful before leaving.

I make money whether I win or lose. As long as I think about it this way, I'm always winning. It's so hard to win!
When the players of the two teams finished their warm-up and walked back to their respective locker rooms, the Sheffield United players were very puzzled.

Before the game starts, it is normal for the opponent to look confident.

But are Southampton's young players a bit overconfident?

It looks as if he has already won, which is outrageous. Could it be that Pochettino poured chicken soup before the game?

Speed ​​didn't know what his own players were complaining about in his heart, so he told a few players on the back line to communicate more during the game and pay more attention to filling positions.

It's not that he is overly cautious, he is still worried about the stability of the back line.

But today, Sheffield United sacrificed a three-back system for a long time, so he naturally wanted to explain a few more words subconsciously.

Although there are often training partners with three central defenders and double central defenders in normal training, compared with regular games, the intensity is naturally different.

Lescott smiled honestly, and assured Speed ​​again that he would command the defense well, so that Speed ​​should not worry.

"If it doesn't work, I'll go to the back and forget it. If Dimitar (Berbatov) and Dirk (Dukiter) play double forwards, I will definitely feel relieved to go to the back boss."

Li Mo made a joke at the right time, immediately enliven the atmosphere in the locker room, and Speed ​​also shook his head with a smile.

In the first two seasons, he often used the tactic of letting Li Mo play the central defender in the final stage.

It is easy to use and affordable, does not take up the substitution quota, and can often make opponent fans and head coaches half dead.

Now Sheffield United's defensive system is becoming more and more perfect and stable, and Speed ​​no longer needs to use the previous set of weird defensive tactics.

Li Mo's joke naturally reminded other Sheffield United players of the complaints made by the outside media and various coaches about Sheffield United.

Barry and Lescott also looked at each other and smiled.

When they were still in Manchester City, they experienced the torture of this exclusive Sheffield United tactics.

Li Mo's strength as a central defender is also extraordinary, at least his confrontation attributes are full. At that time, he tortured Manchester City's front and back players.

"Okay, okay, no kidding, I won't nag anymore. In short, after playing, shout more and remind the teammates around you. Follow the tactics we prepared before the game. There is no problem in beating them. Just don't relax yourselves."

"Don't worry boss, we will definitely focus on the game, but I don't know what expression Pochettino will have when he sees our formation, hahaha!"

The generals of the Sheffield United looked at each other, and then they all laughed, and the expressions on each other's faces were extremely happy.

At this moment, Pochettino finally emphasized the tactical arrangement in the locker room of the home team. He could not help frowning slightly when he heard the shocking laughter from the locker room of the visiting team.

"Seeing the truth in the game, it will make them laugh, and they won't laugh at half-time!"

The assistant coach sent a harsh word to cheer up the team. Pochettino didn't object, but he always felt something was wrong in his heart.

Until the players on both sides have stepped into the player channel, Pochettino and his assistant also set foot on the court, and walked to the coach's bench, his mood is still not at peace.

"No! It's abnormal! No matter how confident the Sheffield United players are, they have never heard of the news that they played away games with conceit and laughter. Besides, we are not their sworn enemies. This is not right."

The more Pochettino thought about it, the more he frowned, his chubby face was full of thoughts and doubts.

"By the way, didn't Speed ​​say the phrase 'hope to surprise the fans' in the pre-match press conference?"

A scene flashed in Pochettino's mind, and he subconsciously asked the assistant coach beside him.

"Well, it seems that I have said so, is there any problem?"

"No problem, ghost! Speed ​​is definitely hiding something behind, absolutely!"

Pochettino clapped his palms, as if he had caught a clue, but the next second, he was lost in thought again.

Now that the starting rosters of both players have been released, what should Speed ​​do to back it up?

After all, the players are just such players, even if they play well, it is impossible for Speed ​​to temporarily replace Matt Ridge with Bell and Berbatov with Neymar, right?

These two are still at home, and they didn't go out with the team at all. Could it be that Speed ​​has prepared a new offensive system in terms of tactics?
Feeling that his brain was almost confused, Pochettino was also annoyed, so he simply stopped thinking about it, snorted and glanced at Speed ​​slightly.

He didn't believe that Speed ​​could play well with the inherent lineup.

Whether it is [-] or [-], or the [-] that Sheffield United often played last season, he has a solution.

After the players from both sides walked through the opening ceremony and the side selection was over, Pochettino stared closely at Sheffield United's half.

"Come on, come on, let me see what you can hide. I have prepared half a month in advance for this, and I don't believe it. You are today. I rely on it!!!"

Pochettino was dumbfounded when Felipe Luis stood at the left center back and Matt Ridge and Dirk Dirk set up the left and right wing backs.

He thought about Matt Ridge playing left midfielder, playing left winger, and even thought about Matt Ridge going to the right, and Dirk Dirk playing left winger in various combinations.

But he never expected that Speed ​​turned out to change Felipe Luis, who had been playing left back after he transferred to Sheffield United, to play center back, and let Matt Ridge go back to his old job as a wing back!
Who would have thought of this shit! ! !

Not only Pochettino, commentators from all over the world, including a large number of fans, were all flashed to the waist by Speed's glove!

Everyone thought that Felipe Luis would play left back, and when the commentators introduced the formations of both sides in advance, they also boldly positioned Sheffield United's formation as four-three-three.

Well now, Sheffield United is playing the [-] they once succeeded in surpassing!
A large number of commentators had to quickly apologize to the audience dumbfounded, and reintroduced it again.

Zhan Jun couldn't help laughing at the moment and Director Zhang introduced Sheffield United's starting lineup.

"The three central defenders are Felipe Luiz, Lescott and Stones, and the left and right wing-backs are Matt Ridge and Kevin Dirk.

The double defensive midfielders in the three midfielders are Barry and Moussa Dembele, and the central midfielder De Bruyne.

The double striker is Li Mo and Berbatov's classic 'double high' partner. "

This starting formation has an absolute numerical advantage in the midfield. It seems that Sheffield United is going to make a big fuss in the midfield today.

As for the possible weak links of Sheffield United that Pochettino always wanted to target before the game.
Well, if they return to defense at the same time, there will be at least two defensive partners beside Barry and Lescott, and they will target a ghost!

Bo Pang suddenly felt a little dizzy, and the picture of Speed ​​smiling and saying that he would give the fans a surprise game before the game suddenly flashed in his mind.

"It turns out that this is called a surprise!"

(End of this chapter)