I'm 198cm tall. Are you giving me a Maradona template?

Chapter 296 The Crucial Battle
"Who does he think he is?"

"What makes him think he can teach Arsenal how to play?"

"Does he think they are bound to break our record?"

In front of the camera.

Arsenal fans were furious.

This is an interview conducted by Sky Sports in North London.

Yang Guang's words infuriated them.

"We will defend our honor on home soil!"

A long-time Arsenal die-hard fan pointed at the camera and said.

But a pity.

Yang Guang did not respond.

Because he is about to play his last Champions League group stage match of the season.

In theory.

Liverpool could still slip to second place in the group.

therefore.

This match is a home game against Hoffenheim.

Liverpool strike hard.

They didn't give their opponents any chance.

One goal was scored in each half.

They won easily, 2-0.

This way.

Liverpool finished the group stage with five wins and one draw, earning 16 points and topping the table.

Lyon defeated Shakhtar Donetsk to overtake Hoffenheim and take second place.

Hoffenheim has slipped to third place and will now play in the Europa League.

After this week.

The Champions League group stage matches have all concluded.

The qualification situation for each group is now clear.

The teams that topped their groups and advanced to the knockout stage are: Liverpool, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, ​​Manchester City, Porto, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.

The teams that finished second in their groups were Roma, Lyon, Ajax, Schalke 04, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, and Atletico Madrid.

Among Premier League teams.

All four teams in this season's Paralympic Champions League have qualified for the next round.

Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City all finished first in their groups.

Tottenham finished second in their group and advanced to the knockout stage.

This has greatly excited the English media, and everyone is even more eager for the draw of the round of 16.

Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid finished second in their group.

therefore.

When analyzing the draw, the English media outlet Daily Mail suggested that English teams might be lucky enough to avoid these three teams, but given that English teams have historically had poor luck in Champions League draws, they should be prepared.

结果
After the lottery results were announced.

English media outlets are lamenting that Premier League teams are indeed having bad luck.

Liverpool were drawn against Juventus.

Manchester United drew Paris Saint-Germain.

Manchester City were drawn against Atletico Madrid.

On the contrary, Tottenham, who slipped to second place in the group, were quite lucky.

They didn't draw Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​or Bayern Munich; instead, they drew Borussia Dortmund.

Considering that three of the teams in the Champions League quarterfinals are from the English Premier League.

Tottenham's possible opponents are Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich, Porto, and Dortmund.

There's a three-in-five chance I didn't get it.

You could say they were just lucky.
Cristiano Ronaldo transferred to Juventus this summer.

and so.

The match between Liverpool and Juventus.

It's hard not to suspect that UEFA "arranged" this.

Sunshine vs. SC Luo.

A battle of superstars.

Only one of them can continue in the Champions League.

Sunshine is the newly emerged record holder for most goals in a single Champions League season.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the player with the most goals in Champions League history.

One of them will have to be eliminated in the round of 16.

Such a showdown naturally attracts a lot of attention.

On the English side.

The English media were hyping up this topic.

This greatly displeased Ronaldo's fans.

The Guardian: Cristiano Ronaldo will challenge the Suns in the round of 16!

Such reports.

It was reprinted by many English media outlets.

According to the English media.

Sun's status in the world of football is clearly higher than that of Ronaldo.

This greatly displeased the media in Italy and Portugal.

They listed many statistics showing that Ronaldo had an advantage to prove that Ronaldo was greater than the sun.

Both sides come and go.

Before the Champions League knockout stage even began.

This match was hyped up to be incredibly exciting.

This has also made everyone pay more attention to the Champions League knockout stage matches.

And before that.

Liverpool are focusing all their energy on domestic competitions.

Their next task is to prepare for their match against Arsenal in the fifteenth round of the league.

before this.

Klopp showed everyone some video footage of Arsenal's matches this season.

Arsenal fans are probably still not used to the fact that Wenger is no longer the manager standing on their bench, but Emery.

But let’s be honest.

At least, judging from the previous fourteen rounds of league matches.

Emery wouldn't dare say that what he did was absolutely amazing.

But it's fairly standard.

They are currently ranked fifth in the league.

They are only one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

The situation is not much different from when Wenger was in charge of Arsenal.

This has greatly angered some Arsenal fans who were already opposed to Wenger's dismissal: "If his results are similar to those of his previous managers, why should we fire our successful coach?"

However, some Arsenal fans insist that Wenger must leave for Arsenal to have a future. Other Arsenal fans argue, "We need to give the new manager time. He hasn't received much support from the club yet, and Emery isn't using his squad."

Wenger has left.

But the divisions among Arsenal fans surrounding Wenger are far from over.

even.

In the many years to come.

Arsenal cannot ignore what happened this year: a group of Arsenal fans ousted the most important manager in Arsenal's history.

What impact will this have on the Arsenal team?

Who knows
Klopp takes this match very seriously.

Although they lost the game.

It's highly likely that Liverpool will win the league title.

However, if we can set a record.

why not?

And Klopp is aware of that as well.

This is the final step of a long march—Klopp may not know the Long March, but he certainly knows something similar.

Barry is only half of 90.

There are many cautionary tales of those who failed before achieving success.

No matter what the reason.

Failure is failure.

If Liverpool fail to beat Arsenal.

From now on, everyone will just talk.

Liverpool once equaled Arsenal's record.

Liverpool remains Arsenal's backdrop.

Everyone will mention Arsenal first.

Not Liverpool.

But if Liverpool win this game...

Then Arsenal has nothing to do with it.

That's when.

People will then overlook Arsenal.

They only mention Liverpool.

Fifteen-game winning streak and fourteen-game winning streak.

Although it's only one game away.

But they are worlds apart.

Therefore, Klopp has been working tirelessly these days to prepare for this match.

He was well aware of the immense pressure his players faced in such matches. But he was also well aware of...

Who is the core player of this team?

He simply told the players, "Play with confidence and boldness. No matter what problems we encounter, we still have Yang, don't we?"

The Liverpool players in the meeting room burst into laughter.

Everyone looked towards the sunlight.

Some people whistled excitedly.

Even the sunlight smiled.

He did not refute Klopp's statement.

Of course, he did not show any anxiety or dissatisfaction.

Facing the pressure Klopp put on him.

He accepted it readily.

He knew this was Klopp's way of relieving pressure on the whole team.

Klopp took on the pressure that should have been shared by the whole team.

It was transferred to the sunlight alone.

All the pressure was borne by Yang Guang alone.

Others, of course, didn't feel much pressure.

If this were done by another team...

That would certainly be a very inhumane practice.

It's about shirking responsibility.

But in Liverpool.

This approach is perfectly normal.

And it is correct.

Yang Guang didn't think there was anything wrong with this approach.

He is the core of the team.

He is also the only player on the team with unlimited shooting rights.

He is also the highest-paid player on the team.

His salary budget accounts for 30 percent of the team's total salary budget.

Even if we don't consider it from a technical or tactical perspective.

Receiving so much money.

Take responsibility for yourself.

Isn't that what should be done?

Within the Liverpool team, this is a consensus: if there's a problem, go to Sunshine; you can't go wrong.

With sunshine as the team's support.

Liverpool's players really have nothing to worry about.

The sky is falling.

There are tall people to cover for them.

And sunlight.

It's that tall guy.

He is 1.98 meters tall.

With a relaxed mindset that "we still have sunshine."

The entire Liverpool team has arrived in North London.

At the pre-match press conference.

The conversation inevitably turned to whether Liverpool could break the record.

Reporters from many media outlets in North London are asking this question.

Liverpool will break Arsenal's record in just one more game. What are your thoughts on this?

What are Liverpool's thoughts on this record?

"Would playing against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and breaking Arsenal's record put more pressure on Liverpool?"

A whole host of problems came crashing down on Klopp.

No matter what Klopp says.

if only.

This topic has been hyped up.

That pressure is unavoidable.

Especially some local media outlets in North London.

They appeared particularly proactive.

After all, they are the group least willing to see Liverpool break Arsenal's record.

They don't want Liverpool to break Arsenal's record.

So these pro-Arsenal journalists kept reminding Liverpool.

Make Liverpool's players pay as much attention to this record as possible.

The more Liverpool cares about this record.

That means they're getting closer to collapsing at the finish line!
In response to reporters' questions.

Klopp did not shy away from the topic.

Instead, they chose to give a positive answer.

He said, "We can break the record if we win this game, but I want to say that our goal is not just this one game, and we will not be complacent after breaking the record. Our goal is to win every game! It has little to do with the record. Of course, if we happen to create a record that surprises everyone, I will be happy too!"

Klopp's answer surprised many people.

The journalists in North London looked at each other in bewilderment.

Doesn't Klopp's statement put more pressure on Liverpool?

After all, they've won fourteen straight games; one more win would make it fifteen.

under these circumstances.

The head coach in this match should try to downplay the hype surrounding this record and focus on the game itself.

Instead of talking at length about this record.

Doesn't this just add a lot of pressure to his team for no reason?
What was his purpose in saying that?
The reporters were completely baffled.

No matter how much media hype is surrounding this match.

But actually, things are quite calm within the Liverpool team.

Although their rival Arsenal is also quite famous, they have been inferior in the last two seasons.

Liverpool's performance against strong teams has filled them with confidence.

This kind of confidence.

It made them appear very composed.

In contrast to them.

Their opponents, Arsenal, on the contrary, were met with a chorus of calls for a decisive victory.

Aubameyang, Ramsey, Lacazette, and other players all stated in interviews that they are ready to defend the team's honor at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal is united like never before.

Playing at home, and motivated by the desire to defend their own record.

Arsenal have the advantage of home ground and popular support.

This has made many fans look forward to the game.

Liverpool's winning streak continues.

This has instilled some fear in fans of many top Premier League teams.

They wanted to see Liverpool lose.
Game day.

Emirates Stadium.

Seats are full.

The game hasn't started yet.

The Arsenal fans at the stadium created a crazy atmosphere for the match.

You can see it from the sunlight standing in the players' tunnel.

On the opposite side of the stands.

Arsenal fans unfurled a huge banner.

"Defend our team!"

Arsenal fans use this method to motivate their players.

The Arsenal players stood tall and proud, making it seem like this wasn't an ordinary match, but rather the World Cup final.
In contrast, their opponents...

The Liverpool players were chatting amongst themselves in small groups.

It doesn't seem so serious.

In the commentary box.

Some commentators couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation when they saw this scene on the monitor.

Such a crucial match.

Have Liverpool's players become too relaxed?

Just now.

The referee called out to both teams' players.

The players from both sides followed the referee onto the field.

"The players from both sides are entering the field. This is a crucial match in the 15th round of the 2018-2019 Premier League season. This game is extremely important for both sides. If Liverpool wins this game, they will set a crazy record of 15 consecutive wins in the season, and the record they break belongs to the home team, Arsenal."

Sky Sports commentator Kolo took a deep breath.

at the same time.

Inside the CCTV studio.

Commentator He Wei is announcing the starting lineups for both sides.

"Arsenal, the home team, have fielded a three-center-back formation, with Leno in goal, Mustafi, Sokratis, and Holding as the three center-backs. In central midfield, Torreira partners Guendouzi, Bellerin and Kolasinac occupy the left and right wing-back positions respectively, Ramsey and Mkhitaryan form the two attacking midfielders, and Aubameyang is the center forward. Normally, Emery's Arsenal would field a three-center-back formation away from home and a 4-2-3-1 formation at home, but even at home, Arsenal don't seem to be planning to take the initiative in this match."

"For the away team, Liverpool, apart from Virgil van Dijk who is out injured, all other positions are filled by their starters."

Just as the commentators were talking.

The pre-match ceremonies have concluded.

The sunlight stomped the ball under its feet.

The game is about to begin.

(End of this chapter)