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Chapter 399 The Difference Between Leading and Winning
"Hoffenheim took the lead, which is surprising, but the counterattack was beautiful. Essien seemed a little careless in the midfield... The first half is coming to an end. If Hoffenheim can maintain the lead until the end of the first half, Mr. Mourinho may be in trouble."

The ESPN commentator teased Mourinho. Of course he was not talking about Newcastle’s troubles. Even if Newcastle lost this game, it would not have any impact on them. But for Mourinho, it meant that his unbeaten home record ended in 197 games...

Mourinho must also be very concerned about this record. If this game is an away game, he might send all the young players in the Champions League roster to play to give them a chance to exercise. But this game is at home, so he still sent some main players and most of the main substitutes.

After falling behind, Newcastle launched a fierce attack, but Hoffenheim still defended tenaciously. Two tall central defenders guarded the penalty area tightly.

When the first half ended, the score was [-]-[-], and Hoffenheim surprisingly took the lead away from home.

"The Newcastle players didn't seem very excited in the first half." The ESPN commentator said: "Maybe it's because this game is really irrelevant to them? Even Essien, who is usually stable, also made a mistake. It was his carelessness that led to the conceded goal... If the Newcastle players end their unbeaten record at home because this game is irrelevant, I think the retired Sir Alex Ferguson's 'locker room hair dryer' will reappear in Newcastle in the locker room."

He was right. Mourinho did express his dissatisfaction in the locker room. His theory was simple. Although the outside world believed that Newcastle sent many substitutes in this game, in Newcastle, the line between the main force and the substitutes was not so clear. All 27 players in the first team were useful. If they did not perform well, it meant that Mourinho had no vision.

"Look at your appearance on the pitch in the first half! Do you think this is a game for the reserve team? This is the Champions League representing the highest level of European clubs! Our opponent is the runner-up of the Bundesliga! The runner-up of the top European league! Don't you think they can win casually? Don't forget that they have to win to enter the top [-]! If you are still performing like this in the second half, maybe the reserve team needs to increase some people." Mourinho said angrily.

Pei Wei expressed his anger from another aspect: "You should know that the chairman of Hoffenheim, Hoffman, has also come to St. James' Park. I am an old acquaintance with him. If we lose this game, I will be ridiculed by him. You also know my character. If I lose face in front of my old friends... I will be very annoyed at that time, and the consequences will be very serious."

A chairman and a head coach began to issue their own threats in the locker room without any scruples. The Newcastle players collectively shuddered, and the players who did not play gloated at their teammates and laughed secretly in their hearts.

Hoffenheim knew nothing about what happened in the Newcastle dressing room.

Leading Newcastle in the away game filled the hearts of the players with excitement and incredibleness. Not to mention Newcastle's prestige, just two months ago at their own home could become a nightmare for all Hoffenheim players.But now?They took the lead over Newcastle at St James' Park!

Rangnick didn't say anything like "now you understand? Newcastle is nothing special". He knew that the confidence of the players had reached the extreme.

"Gentlemen, don't forget, it's only the end of the first half, and we're only one goal ahead... This advantage is not an advantage even against the Bundesliga team, let alone Newcastle, which has the best record in Europe in the past ten years! If you are too arrogant in the second half, then next year, we can only play the Europa League! We were very excited when we participated in the Europa League last year, but now? Can participating in the Europa League satisfy you?"

Rangnick's roar echoed in the locker room, and the smiles on the players' faces slowly faded away. The coach was right. Now is indeed not the time to get carried away. It's just a goal ahead, and it's not a victory. If you want to celebrate, it's not too late to celebrate after winning the game.

"Newcastle will definitely launch a fierce attack in the second half, because this is their home court, and they have not lost a game on this ground for a long time. No one with this record will want to end in a game that is meaningless to them. Others may appear weak because of the insignificance of this game. But don't forget that their coach is Mourinho, a guy who never admits defeat. As he said that, he was a little envious of Mourinho. Maybe 90.00% of the head coaches in the world would envy Mourinho. He has a reputation and support that is not inferior to any superstar in the world. There is a boss who unconditionally supports him and let him be the head coach for eight years.

He has not won as many honors as Ferguson, not as many championship titles as Capello and Hildebrand, and he is not as good as Professor Wenger who can win the favor of almost everyone, and he is not like Hiddink in the national team and clubs, not to mention Beckenbauer who has won the World Cup as a player and coach. But even those who hate him the most have to admit that he is a unique miracle in world football.

Rangnick forbade himself to think about it, and now this guy is his opponent: "So in the second half, our main task is still to defend. In terms of offense, we insist on advancing from the ground, so you may feel very tired. I ask you to be careful when advancing. Now, their ability to control the midfield will be weakened a lot. Without Maicon and Bale, their wing attack will become worse. We are facing the Newcastle second team. We must become the ones who break the unbeaten record of Mourinho and Newcastle at home!"

Rangnick's words raised the fighting spirit of the Hoffenheim players even more. Breaking a record that no one can break is an extremely glorious thing in itself. While breaking the record, you can also make yourself into the top [-] of the Champions League-there is nothing more wonderful than this.

What's more, this task that was considered impossible before the game now seems within reach - being able to lead Newcastle at St. James' Park is not something that any team can do!
It is a pity that they have forgotten that there are not many teams that can lead Newcastle in St. James, but no team can beat Newcastle in St. James for eight years.

After the start of the second half, Newcastle unexpectedly did not launch a violent attack as Rangnick expected. Instead, they began to control the ball in the midfield. Apart from Janus, Essien and Bostock, Ribery and Walcott were very flexible.

If it weren't for Kolarov, Beck and Ibisevic who often returned to the midfield to help defend, Newcastle's advancement might have firmly suppressed Hoffenheim in the midfield.

Rangnick gritted his teeth. It seems that Mourinho has seen through his idea of ​​slowly advancing in the midfield. Only in positional battles can Hoffenheim's two center forwards maximize their abilities. If they attack quickly, Newcastle, the Premier League team, will definitely have the advantage.

After being entangled in the midfield for a while, Newcastle, who was slow, suddenly exerted strength.

Walcott, who retreated, got the ball on the left side of the penalty area. Facing the approaching Baker, he first made a fake move to return a pass, then suddenly made a beautiful turn, dodged Baker's defense, and then quickly inserted into the penalty area.

Li Jie blocked Walcott's advancing route, and Comper stared at him from the side. Baker had already returned to the defense at the rear. Three people surrounded Walcott, but there was a huge gap in the penalty area.

Walcott turned and passed the ball in the gap to Ribery who was behind him!

Franck Ribery made a diagonal pass again, and the ball was passed to Drogba in the penalty area. Drogba just kicked it without stopping the ball near the penalty spot!
The ball flew into the goal quickly, and there were loud cheers from the stands of St. James' Park!

PS: A weak question, are you willing to vote monthly for Lao Guo?

(End of this chapter)