My light shines on Arsenal

Chapter 184 Victory is Respect

Michel Laudrup stood in the dressing room at Wembley Stadium and threw on his blazer.

"Are you familiar with Wembley?" He straightened the folds of his clothes, turned around, and looked at the Swansea players.

The players in white jerseys look up to their coach. Michel Laudrup's achievements as a player are unmatched by these players. He is a legendary star in Danish football.

The wealthy teams that Michel Laudrup played for were difficult for players who played in teams like Swansea to get into in their lifetime.

"Not very familiar, sir. This is... this is a venue for a lot of big games, you know, we don't have that opportunity."

A player answered.

"You're right." Laudrup didn't mind the players' unfamiliarity with Wembley, "but I'm very familiar with it."

He held up a finger and said, "[-]. Who can tell me how many years ago that was?"

"Exactly 30 years, sir," said a Korean player.

"Very good, ki." Laudrup nodded in approval, "Boys, you should learn to point to him. Your math worries me as much as your golf IQ."

"Oh, please, sir..." The Swansea players booed, and the tense atmosphere in the locker room was diluted a lot.

Ki Sung-yong lowered his head. As an Asian player, he usually keeps a low profile and is not very relaxed in the locker room.

But on the court, the 24-year-old South Korean player will not be restrained.

"In [-], at Wembley, the Danish team and I defeated England." Laudrup shrugged. "England boys, don't feel bad. Your national team played at a very high level. It's a pity that He couldn’t defeat me.”

"In [-], I was at Barcelona. We won the Champions League here. It was still Wembley."

"So, Wembley leaves me with two wins. I want a third."

Michel Laudrup's eyes swept over the faces of his players. The Danish superstar's stern expression and the football legend's momentum made the slightly relaxed atmosphere in the locker room serious again.

"We all know that we are not a strong team. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to avoid relegation. Your last coach, Mr. Rogers, brought you a lot of good things, and I brought you some new tricks. : Things from Barcelona, ​​from Ajax, from the European continent." Laudrup said, "You have also seen that this season, we have defeated many strong teams. I am proud of you, boys."

"Arsenal are an interesting opponent. If we had faced them before December, we probably wouldn't have won a game. But now, our head-to-head record is that we haven't lost yet. I guess some of you might There are also people who are Arsenal fans and I also like their style of play... The culture that Arsene Wenger has brought to this team, there are people who like it even in Barcelona."

"If you want to show your respect, beat them and give me a third victory at Wembley."

……

Chen Yao was also facing his players in the dressing room not far from Swansea.

"I don't have a lot to say." He said, "I have been the head coach of the team for most of the season. I want to thank you, guys. Without your efforts, there would be another person standing here. A man now."

The players burst into laughter, and Chen Yao heard one player shouting over the din, "We like you, sir, and we won't let anyone else come here."

When people gradually quieted down, Chen Yao said: "As a head coach, a real head coach of a team, this is also my first time coming to Wembley."

He turned to look at his assistant, "Juan and Dennis too. Like me, they are the ones starting a new coaching career in our new team. We are all curious about what will happen at Wembley." What does it feel like to lift a championship trophy?"

"I can't predict the future, and I don't know how we will walk out of Wembley in nine or 10 minutes. But I know one thing, that is, whether it is me or you, we will always get it. Champion after champion.”

"Now, we have an opportunity to complete the rewrite from zero to one."

The Arsenal players listened very attentively. Most of them have not won many important championships. These players are either young players who have just joined the team, or they have experienced Arsenal's six-year drought. A veteran in his trough period.

None of them had tasted the Gunners' golden years.

"This is the third time we have met Swansea. In the previous two games, I am not satisfied with your performance. You couldn't get a three-pointer from them."

There was a bit of dissatisfaction in Chen Yao's words, just right, so that his players could cheer up without being too nervous.

"I won't blame you. Because Swansea is not a weak team that collapses at the drop of a hat. Juan and Dennis and I have explained to you many times about tactical issues. This is a very interesting team. They use comparisons to We played unique football with far limited resources. In a sense, we need to respect them."

"The best way to give them respect is to play seriously and use our football to test their football." Chen Yao put on his coat and said, "Then win the championship. Remember, victory is respect."

"lets go!"

……

The League Cup final has received a lot of attention.

Although this cup does not have high gold content among the many trophies in the English competition system, it is still a recognized championship trophy.

This year's League Cup final is less popular than in the past, largely because the two sides are not competing against two giants.

In the eyes of many neutral fans, Arsenal's strength is still higher than Swansea.

Before the game, when Robbie Lyle was interviewing fans with his small microphone, some fans said: "Chen's luck is so good. He stumbled and was about to win his first championship."

"Do you think this championship must be ours?"

"For God's sake!" the fan boasted and glared, "Our opponent is Swansea, not Chelsea, and not fucking Manchester United. If we lose this trophy, he should get out immediately!"

"Oh, old guy." A fan in the crowd surrounding them reminded, "We are not as strong as you think. We haven't beaten Swansea this season. Besides, how long has it been since we had a stable game?" Have you ever lost to a weak team?"

"We have to win, don't you agree with me?" The fan from before seemed to be getting angry.

"Well, at least you're right about that. I think we have to win - it's just not a [-] percent thing."

……

Chen Yao knew the pressure on himself.If he is facing a stronger team at this moment, maybe he will have less pressure, because no one will say "you have to win the game", but will give the team more tolerant.

In that case, the players themselves will also relieve themselves, and the team will be able to put down its burdens and perform better.

But this game is different.

When facing a mid-range team that is five or six places lower than their own league ranking, coaches, players, and fans all feel that this game should be won. This mentality will subtly affect the players' technical movements and even the final result.

For a mature team that has won many honors, they will know how to deal with this kind of pressure, but this is the first time for Arsenal.

Just like what he sees now.

In this game, Arsenal's starting lineup was not much different from that in recent competitions. Their initial formation was still 4-2-3-1.

The goalkeeper is Szczesny. The young Polish goalkeeper has performed very steadily this season. He rarely makes mistakes in front of the goal. His goal-line skills and reaction ability are also quite good. Arsenal has limited resources and cannot put money into the goalkeeper position. In this situation, Szczesny can be used.

The back four are Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker, Thomas Vermaelen and Dani Carvajal.

The double defensive midfielder is equipped with Arteta's partner Aaron Ramsey. Ramsey's recent outstanding performance made Chen Yao decide to give him a chance to start, while Arteta's starting is more out of balance and maturity. Considering the degree, this team is too young and they need a veteran to sit in the midfield.

The three attacking midfielders are Wilfred Zaha, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky.

Eymeric Aubameyang serves as the lone arrow.

On the other side, Michel Laudrup's starting lineup is also 4-2-3-1.

The goalkeeper is Michael Worm, and the four defenders are Nell Taylor, Ashley Williams, Chick Flores and Angel Rangel.

The double defensive midfielders are Jonathan De Guzman and Ki Sung-yong.

The three attackers are Scott Sinclair, Michu and Pablo Hernandez.

Center Danny Graham.

The starting lineups of the two teams were almost completely mirror images, but Swansea entered the state earlier than Arsenal.

Michel Laudrup's former coach Brendan Rodgers was a player who emphasized passing and control. Under his training, Swansea's passing number and ball possession rate were far ahead of what they were at the time. League standings.

Laudrup, on the other hand, made his team play more direct and concise.

Although the Dane, who has experience in Barcelona, ​​also values ​​possession, he has made his team prefer to choose more direct passes.

"Because their players can't support that kind of play." Chen Yao told his players when analyzing Swansea's tactics. "Last season, Swansea's midfielders included Joe Allen and Sigu. Desen, but this season, they have become Ki Sung-yung and Michu. You have to pay attention to this Korean, and Michu, Laudrup is likely to strengthen the connection between them."

The situation was exactly like this - shortly after the opening, Ki Sung-yung received a pass from Ashley Williams.

The South Korean midfielder's first reaction after receiving the ball was not to slowly control the ball. In fact, after he gradually entered the starting lineup, Swansea's average number of passes per game has dropped by fifty.

Ki Sung-yong's eyes drifted forward. The turf at Wembley was very flat. In the wide stadium, the players turned into small dots, but Ki Sung-yong probably knew where he should kick.

He passed the ball forward forcefully, and the ball passed between Arteta and Ramsey. The two Arsenal midfielders did not expect Swansea's attack to be launched so quickly.

Danny Graham and Michu changed positions. The Swansea center's retracement caused Vermaelen's position to shift somewhat. Arteta quickly exchanged markers with Vermaelen.

Graham unloaded the ball, and Ki Sung-yung's pass was a bit weak. Graham took two more steps back to control the ball. These two steps allowed Mikel Arteta to successfully get closer to him.

The Swansea forward understood that he could not turn around smoothly. He knocked the ball back to his teammates behind him. Swansea passed the ball smoothly. After three passes and two downs, Pablo Hernandez on the wing Got the ball.

He passed the ball from the right, Danny Graham turned back and ran towards the Arsenal goal, and Michu also hid beside the Arsenal defender.

Two Swansea players jumped high, and Laudrup's offensive tactics were completed perfectly.

Chen Yao's heart clenched in his throat.

Lillo beside him lowered his head regretfully, reflecting on the details before the game. Swansea's offensive intention was so obvious, but the Arsenal players did not seem to be paying attention...

As an assistant coach, Lillo feels he has a responsibility.

Bergkamp's mouth opened wide. The Dutch legend has never been good at concealing his expression. Among Arsenal's coaching trio, the players felt that Chen Yao was calm and easy-going, Lillo was serious, and Bergkamp... also brought Focus on the chicness and escape of the player era.

The ball flew in the air, and several people jumped up at the same time, raising their heads and competing to top the ball.

"boom!"

Players from both sides were entangled, and they both made moves to compete for the top.

The trajectory of the ball flew to the other side of the goal, and the Arsenal players were relieved. It was Per Mertesacker who headed the ball away before two Swansea players.

The German tower suppressed two opponents. If it were not for him, Arsenal would probably have conceded the goal within the first 5 minutes.

"call……"

Chen Yao was relieved. He took two steps to the sidelines and yelled at Arteta and Ramsey: "Attention! Mikel, Aaron! Don't let them catch the ball so easily again." Got it!"

Arteta heard what Chen Yao said, he nodded and shouted a few words to Ramsey.

The two players adjusted their positioning distance between each other. Several of Michu's receiving routes were blocked, and Vermaelen was also more careful with Danny Graham.

"In a few minutes." Chen Yao looked at his watch. "Laudrup has no good solution. If they want to slow down and compete with us in controlling the ball, then the game will enter our rhythm."

(End of this chapter)