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

Chapter 311 Don't Underestimate the Heroes of the World
Liverpool won a crucial match against title rivals!

Has the Premier League season lost its suspense?

[Terrifying sunlight! Terrifying Liverpool!]

After the game.

The game is being covered by media outlets all over the world.

Subsequently.

People's attention was quickly drawn to another matter: the 2018 Golden Globe Awards were about to be presented!

This year's Golden Globe Awards were pretty much a foregone conclusion.

Because it must be sunny.

If it weren't for him, the Golden Globe Awards probably wouldn't have much credibility.

In fact it is.

Although the organizers put together a seemingly impressive list of three candidates and then hyped it up, making it appear as if there was a lot of suspense.

But in reality, both Messi and Ronaldo knew they were just there to make up the numbers.

really.

At the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.

Everyone was just going through the motions.

Clapping and cheering, Yang Guang went on stage to receive his award.

Finished.

that's it.

Sunshine won his second Ballon d'Or.

They've taken another step closer to the number of Ballon d'Or awards that Messi and Ronaldo have combined.

Despite going to accept the Golden Globe Award.

But the sun still shone during the FA Cup match against Wolves.

The team fielded a lineup of substitutes and youth team players, as usual.

Liverpool almost suffered a defeat.

They were in the 80th minute of the match.

They are still down 1-2 to Wolves.

However, the sun shone brightly in the final moments of the game.

They equalized the score with a beautiful long-range shot.

Then, he scored directly into the opponent's goal with a free kick in the attacking third.

They completed a comeback, winning 3-2.

that's it.

Liverpool still retains the possibility of winning seven titles.

But next, they will face a test: in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, Liverpool will host Tottenham, who are also in good form this season.

For Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino

He really wants to lead Tottenham to end their title drought.

但老实说。

The chances of winning the league title are slim. Liverpool and Manchester City have been in exceptionally good form in recent seasons, especially Liverpool.

But Tottenham still have a chance in the League Cup.

Tottenham have now advanced to the semi-finals.

Based on Liverpool's previous attitude towards these cup competitions, they will most likely still field a lineup of players including sunshine, substitutes, and youth team players.

This gave Tottenham an opportunity.

He needs to play in Liverpool's starting lineup.

Pochettino found it very difficult.

But facing such a rotating lineup.

Pochettino is still very confident.

Even when playing away from home.

Soon, the time arrived for the first leg of the League Cup match between the two sides.

Tottenham Hotspur returned to Anfield for the second time in two days, sitting in the away dressing room awaiting owner Mauricio Pochettino's final pep talk.

Pochettino looked at his players.

It's actually quite easy to motivate them.

because
Liverpool, their opponent, gave him that opportunity.

"Have you seen our opponents' starting lineup?"

Pochettino asked.

He looked at the Tottenham players.

His tone began to become somewhat intense.

Everyone looked up in surprise.

What's the opponent's starting lineup?
it's common.

Hasn't Liverpool been using this lineup for the League Cup all season?

“I don’t know what you guys are thinking, but I’m really annoyed, I’m really angry!” Pochettino said. “We’ve been underestimated, guys. They think they can beat us with some youth team kids and Sunshine, the big star! Right? That’s definitely what they think!”

The Tottenham players stared blankly at Pochettino.

They were moved by these words.

Yes.

Before this match.

Liverpool using such a lineup in the League Cup could be interpreted as them not caring about the League Cup.

But what about now?
Is it the semifinals now?
Would anyone be happy to lose a semi-final match?
Surely not?
That being the case.

The only explanation for Liverpool fielding this lineup is that they believe it's enough to beat Tottenham.

Pochettino provoked the anger of the Tottenham players.

Pochettino was pleased with his players' response.

he continued.

"I demand that everyone give their all in this match. We need to deliver a resounding victory to show them that they can't possibly play against us with such a ridiculous lineup! Dream on! We need to establish a dominance that Liverpool can despair in this game, and we need to make their seven-title dream a laughing stock!"

His words stirred up the emotions of the Tottenham players.

Everyone was itching for the game to start right now so they could rush out and wreak havoc on Liverpool.

They raised their heads, clenched their fists, widened their eyes, and their facial muscles trembled slightly with emotion.

Pochettino looked at these people and knew that he had achieved his goal; this last act of violence had been very successful.

Next…

This fire is going to burn Liverpool's head.

If Klopp really thinks he can win the championship with a superstar and some supporting players...

Then feel free to give it a try!
In the home team's locker room.

Klopp was also explaining the final tactics.

Actually, there weren't many players on the youth team in this match.

Curtis Jones, Tyler Morton, and Neco Williams started the match.

Achraf and Ødegaard also started.

They are all young players.

Up front, there are Shaqiri and Gomez, who are also players who have a certain amount of playing time in the first team.

The players were rotated in this game.

But Klopp wasn't so arrogant as to think he could win with a youth team and sunshine.

"What we need to do in this game is to solidify our defense and wait for counter-attack opportunities."

This lineup definitely won't push forward and engage in an attacking battle with Tottenham.

That's courting death.

Counter-attacking is the most reasonable option.

Klopp told his players.

"I can tell you, even if we go all the way to the final, we'll still use this same lineup!!"

Before this, most of the youth team players who made the roster felt that...

If the team makes it to the finals.

The head coach will definitely field the starting lineup to try and win the championship.

They are virtually guaranteed not to get a chance to play in the final.

but now.

The head coach made the promise personally.

If we make it to the finals.

The same lineup will be used in the final match!
This undoubtedly greatly boosted the players' fighting spirit.

At the start of the match, Liverpool's players followed their manager's instructions and retreated into a defensive posture, waiting for Tottenham to press forward and attack.

Thus.

Once they complete the interception.

That would create an opportunity for a counterattack.

Moreover, their counter-attack strategy is very simple: a long pass to the top of the sun's head.

It's simple and straightforward, that's all.

However, Tottenham did not launch a hasty attack from the start of the match.

They seemed very patient.

They patiently organized their attack.

He orchestrated Liverpool's defense by passing the ball left and right.

To a layman who is just watching the spectacle, this kind of passing is just a meaningless back-and-forth passing.

But such a pass is clearly meaningful.

This will get Liverpool's defense moving.

And once.

Their defenses have been breached.

In Tottenham's lineup, a passing expert like Eriksen can immediately pass the ball to England's top striker Harry Kane!

Therefore, Liverpool's defense dared not relax in the slightest.

Even if their defenses are intact, their constant movement still takes a toll on their physical strength.

In the long run...

They might lose their defense due to fatigue.

Liverpool could only run back and forth following Tottenham's passes.

While exhausting their stamina, it also exposes defensive weaknesses in their frequent runs. As long as there is a weakness, it is an opportunity for Tottenham to score.

This is Pochettino's tactic.

They will leverage their overall squad advantage to wage a war of attrition against Liverpool.

After all, they were not facing Liverpool's first team, but a mixed team of substitutes and youth team players.

Facing Tottenham's style of play.

Liverpool's players appeared visibly uncomfortable.

Their hope for a counter-attack depends on frequent changes of possession, which are essential for launching a counter-attack.

But Tottenham are now firmly in possession of the ball.

They would rather not risk passing the ball forward than easily lose possession.

If there are no good opportunities.

They passed the ball back.

This attracted Liverpool players to come up and grab it.

From the start of the match until now.

Their possession rate skyrocketed.

Five minutes passed.

Liverpool barely touched the ball.

The camera focused on Pochettino on the sidelines.

"It's obvious that Liverpool's mixed team tactics have been figured out. They can't really launch any other attacks besides counter-attacks. Pochettino can now sit back and relax."

"The pressure is on Klopp. His decision to use the same lineup in this semi-final deserves criticism. Does Liverpool really expect to win the League Cup with this lineup? I think it's impossible!"

"Tottenham clearly didn't underestimate Liverpool; they were taking it as seriously as if they were facing Liverpool's first team."

"Liverpool's biggest advantage with this lineup might not be the sunshine, but rather the fact that opponents habitually underestimate them, but that advantage is gone now!"

Just as the commentators were chattering away in the commentary booth.

Klopp did indeed leave the coaching bench.

They arrived at the sidelines.

That's the attitude our opponent is displaying now.

They wouldn't care even if the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

Tottenham still have a chance to return to their home ground.

At home.

Tottenham ultimately has some advantages.

Klopp frowned slightly.

Tottenham controlled the game like this.

Are they really aiming for a draw?

No.
wrong!

Klopp was startled.

He realized Pochettino's intentions.

Mentality!
Yes
Several players in the current Liverpool squad have only limited professional league appearances.

Their mindset is unstable.

Facing Tottenham's advances.

They might push forward, or unknowingly let their guard down!

Think of this.

Klopp hurriedly shouted towards the field.

Keep his players consistent.

Do not worry.

Pochettino smiled slightly.

Do you think you can avoid this just by talking about it?
Definitely not.

Klopp would have had time to make adjustments before the match.

But the match had already started.

There's very little Klopp can do.

Let's see how long these young Liverpool players can endure this.

There's a unique characteristic to youth team matches.

That means large scores are common.

Defense, after all, requires discipline.

Young people are at their most energetic now.

They saw their opponents slowly gaining control of the ball.

I started to feel anxious.

In a hurry.

Then I started having more and more ideas.

Many people saw some opportunities in this.

For example, the formation premise
If you can successfully steal the ball when the opponent has possession.

That counterattack.
Was it released soon?
Unknowingly.

The number of Liverpool players with this idea is increasing.

Young people are always a bit restless.

Without realizing it.

Liverpool's defense began to loosen up.

and this.

This is exactly the opportunity that Tottenham has been looking forward to.

The sixteenth minute of the match.

Tottenham's attacking pace remained neither too fast nor too slow.

They first passed the ball to the frontcourt, where Harry Kane received it and passed it back to Eriksen. Eriksen then passed it back and went back to receive the pass himself.

all.

It's the same as before.

But just after Eriksen received the ball again...

Rhythm.

Things have suddenly changed!

This time.

The Danish midfielder neither passed back nor made any lateral passes.

Instead, he suddenly launched a straight pass forward!
The football was passed along the ground, passing between the defensive lines.

When the camera pans over.

Liverpool fans gasped.

A sharp chorus of boos immediately filled Anfield.

Inside the stadium.

Kane turned his body to the side, brought the ball in front of him, and then looked up at the goal.

Liverpool's substitute goalkeeper Mignolet bravely rushed out, but just as he left the goal line, Kane unleashed a right-footed shot!

The football was kicked up and then plummeted downwards.

This kind of shot is very difficult to save.

Moreover, Mignolet was completely unprepared to make the save.

He lowered his center of gravity, his body stiffened, and could only turn his head to watch the football go into the net.

"Kane!! Kane!!! Oh oh oh oh! Kane!!"

"Tottenham Hotspur are in the lead away from home!!"

"Sixteenth minute! Tottenham scores! Liverpool are in trouble now!"

"Klopp must be regretting not fielding his first-team lineup in this semi-final!"

The commentary booth erupted in cheers.

The away team stands at Anfield Stadium.

Tottenham fans were also excited.

Pochettino, who had been sitting on the coach's bench, suddenly jumped up and rushed to the sidelines to celebrate excitedly.

His strategy was very successful.

It's all about controlling the game!

They want to reach the finals with a reserve roster.

Don't even think about it!!
Pochettino turned his head and glanced at Klopp, who was frowning not far away.

A slight smile appeared on his face.

Do you really think you can get into the finals so easily?

You're seriously underestimating the heroes of the world!

Pochettino returned to the coach's bench.

Tottenham players celebrated excitedly.

The camera panned across the faces of the Liverpool players.

Most of the Liverpool players had their brows furrowed.

"This goal was a big blow to Liverpool because they were clearly being completely led by the nose by their opponents."

The commentators were talking.

The camera focused on the sunlight in the foreground.

(End of this chapter)