Heroes of the Restricted Zone

Chapter 1147 Thank you, Jamie
Everyone was surrounding the television in amazement at the spectacular scene, but Gerald was sitting alone on the periphery.

In the last tactical meeting before the game last night, head coach Martin O'Neill announced the starting lineup, and Gerrard, the captain of the team, was not among them.

Not only was he surprised, but other teammates were also surprised.

In the last game, Gerrard came off the bench and there was no problem with his body, which proved that his body can compete for the game.

But O'Neal still put him on the bench.

In such an important game, as the captain of the team, he was unable to start the game, which was a very heavy blow to Gerrard.Why is he working so hard to come back, isn't it just to catch up with Manchester United in the final?

This season they will give the league title to vice-captain Jamie Carragher as his parting gift.At the same time, he himself is very eager for this championship.So in such an important game, he didn't want to be absent.

Now he was arranged to sit on the bench by the head coach.

After the tactical meeting, he wanted to talk to the head coach. He hoped to get a reasonable explanation. Unexpectedly, O'Neal came to him first.

O'Neill told Gerrard everything on his mind.

Letting Gerrard come off the bench is not because he is worried about Gerrard's body, but an act of "pretending to be a pig and eating a tiger".

He wants Manchester United to further lower their vigilance. Chen Yingxiong is "not in good shape". If he sits on the bench as the captain, Manchester United may underestimate the enemy even more.

Wait until the second half, when the time is right, put Gerrard on the field, take advantage of Manchester United's unpreparedness, and give the opponent a fatal blow!
That's what Martin O'Neill thought.

This reason is reasonable. From a strategic point of view, playing in the second half can not only ensure enough physical strength, but also be unexpected.

Gerrard accepted the boss's explanation, but he still had a thought in his mind that he still couldn't let go of.

That is, at the most critical time for the team, he seems to have gradually lost its role. What the team needs now is not him, but Chen Yingxiong...

Thinking back, every time Liverpool encountered danger and reached a cliff, who stood up to turn the tide?
It was Steve Gerrard.

In Istanbul in 2005, he scored the first goal for Liverpool in that big reversal, sounding the clarion call for Liverpool's counterattack.

In the 2006 FA Cup final, when two goals fell behind West Ham United, Gerrard stood up twice to help the team equalize the score.Especially when the game entered the No. 90 minute, everyone thought that West Ham United could win the FA Cup and go home, but Gerrard scored a shocking long shot of nearly 40 meters in front of the goal to equalize the score.

In the end, Liverpool defeated West Ham United, which had a nervous breakdown, in a penalty shootout.

The one thing these two games have in common is that Liverpool were behind by two or three goals, then equalized the score, and dragged the game into extra time and penalty shootouts, and none of Liverpool's opponents The exception was a mental breakdown in the penalty shootout.

The spirit of Liverpool has always been a characteristic they are proud of, and Gerrard is the spokesperson of this spirit. He has rescued the team in distress several times.

But now, the team doesn't need him to rescue, and the team has a new savior.

Although a long time ago, Gerrard was mentally prepared to accept such a reality-no matter how good he is, he will grow old.He will change from an absolute core to a player who can be rotated, from a player who can be rotated to a substitute, and finally from the bench to retirement... If he is not willing to accept this arrangement, he can only choose when he has not become a substitute Just retire.

As for leaving Liverpool and looking elsewhere?After he won the fifth Champions League trophy for the team, he never thought about it again.He is definitely going to retire at Liverpool.

But when this reality really began to lift the veil in front of him little by little, Gerald felt that he was not as strong as he imagined, and he couldn't accept this result calmly.

He felt lost. For the first time, he felt that this team no longer needed him, and he became a superfluous person...

Having been the core of Liverpool for more than ten years, he couldn't accept this reality all of a sudden.

He felt a little depressed.

But he is the captain, he can't tell people everywhere, that would damage his image in the eyes of his teammates and make his captain weak.In this way, when the team needs him, his teammates may not trust him as much as before.

At the same time, before such an important game, he couldn't let go of his depressed mood, and it was even more impossible for him to have a big fight with the head coach. Infighting is the most terrible disaster.This is why he agreed to be a substitute after listening to the head coach's explanation yesterday.

The interests of the team are higher than personal interests, and the name on the chest of the jersey is always more important than the name on the back.

Gerrard is a traditional English player, and he understands this very well.

Now he can only sit on the periphery alone without being disturbed by anyone.

At this moment, there was suddenly a person beside him.

Jamie Carragher sat down next to him.

"When the hero told me that he was going to give me a league championship, I thought he was just comforting me. He didn't want to make me, an old guy, too sad, so he could walk more easily. Now it seems that I was wrong. He He really intends to win a league championship." After sitting down, Carragher looked at the teammates looking up at the TV and said, Chen Yingxiong was very conspicuous among them.

"Heroes have this ability, Jamie." Seeing someone approaching, Gerald quickly adjusted his mood and put a smile on his face. "We've known that since he first came to Liverpool, haven't we? Otherwise why would the 'King' keep him at all costs?"

"I really hope he can stay here until he retires...let him take over from you." Carragher turned to look at his old partner.

"Isn't he doing that?" Gerrard asked, not avoiding Carragher's gaze.

Carragher turned his head back again, looked at Chen Yingxiong, and then sighed: "It's really old. Sometimes I have to admit that my body is really not what it used to be..."

"But you've done a good half of the season, Jamie. You've exceeded your goals and done it."

"I know my own body, Stephen. In fact, retirement is nothing to me, isn't it just not continuing to play? What's the big deal? I will continue to work at the Liverpool Club. Manager Niang has promised Help me arrange a position in the coaching staff, I plan to start from the most grassroots youth coaches. When you miss me, you can go to the youth team to find me, ha!" Carragher said and laughed.

Gerald did not laugh with him, and there seemed to be a sudden silence between the two of them.

Carragher spoke again, this time his voice was slightly lower: "When I decided to retire, I only spent less than half a game, but I was struggling in my heart. I kept repeating Ask yourself, if I don't retire, if I keep going, what can I contribute to the team next season, the next season? I sit on the bench most of the time and play occasionally. I think I am more The focus of my work may no longer be on the football field, but in the locker room. I feel very unwilling, and I think I should still be able to persist for a few years... But then I figured it out, everyone has that stage, this There is nothing to be reconciled to. When I entered the first team, I was also a kid who didn't know anything. Later, we also took the positions of those big players... like Paul Ince, like little Redek Knapp. Remember Rush? The season I was promoted to the first team was his last season at Liverpool. In fact, the omnipotent Rush has not been able to score much a few seasons ago, I still remember In 92 he only played [-] league games due to injury and scored [-] goals...the last season, he played like [-] league games? Only [-] goals...if I remember correctly. That At that time, I was thinking that such a great player has not been able to resist the invasion of time, and I think my ending must be worse than his..."

Speaking of this, Carragher paused for a moment: "But, thanks to the heroes, and thank you, Stephen. My last season turned out to be so brilliant and successful. I am much luckier than Rush, and you..." He turned looked at Gerald. "I believe you are luckier than I am, Stephen."

After finishing speaking, he didn't say anything anymore, just turned around and raised his head, his gaze passed through the standing teammates and onto the TV screen.

After a while, he heard Gerald beside him say, "Thank you, Jamie."

Him: "Well."

※ ※ ※

When it was time to board the car, Stephen Gerrard was the first to stand up and slapped his hands to remind his teammates.

"Let's go! Let's go! Guys, what's the point of just watching in front of the TV? Go to the scene!"

When everyone heard the captain's voice full of vitality and fighting spirit, they all turned to look at him.

Martin O'Neill was also attracted by Gerrard's voice.He knew that Gerrard was actually dissatisfied after being assigned as a substitute, but for the overall benefit of the team and the overall situation, he endured it.It's just that the mood has not been high.

Seeing him like this now, does he still look a little depressed?

O'Neill didn't know what happened, but this result was something he was happy to see.

If Gerrard is emotionally unstable, it will inevitably bring instability to the team.

In such a critical game, no instability is allowed, because it is like a time bomb that has malfunctioned, and no one knows when it will explode.

(End of this chapter)