Rebirth 1994: Football Situation

Chapter 704

Before Newcastle's away game against Southampton on September [-], the Newcastle club announced the news of a one-year contract extension with the old captain Alan Shearer. After the news spread, Newcastle fans rejoiced. In their hearts, Shearer He is the greatest striker in the history of the club. Even in the worst years in Newcastle, no one had any complaints about Shearer, who has always occupied the main position. They blame other players, the coach, and the management. The one who didn't blame him was Alan Shearer.

Just because Shearer rejected Ferguson's invitation and joined his hometown team without hesitation, he has won the wholehearted support of Newcastle fans. In fact, Ferguson has always regretted not bringing the most intimidating center in England to Laot Rafford, Sir Alex always believed that if Shearer chose Manchester United at that time, then both Shearer himself and Manchester United would reach a more glorious height.

And Shearer's contract extension is no less than a shot in the arm for all Newcastle players.

Before the start of this season, as there was only one year left on Shearer's contract, everyone thought that this season would be Shearer's last season in Newcastle, and after Shearer was injured, many people thought that Newcastle would not Possibly re-sign with a 34-year-old veteran who has struggled to get back to his best after an injury.Pei Wei's attitude since he took office has been very clear. Only players that the team needs will stay, and those who don't need will leave. The announcement of the contract renewal at this time proves that the club will not kick away meritorious veterans. It also made the two veteran players in the team, Robert and Shay, who performed well last season but lost their main positions this season, feel the club's respect for these veteran players.

In this league, Mourinho has carried out a substantial rotation of the main lineup. Robert, Dyer and Janus all played. Newcastle relied on the goals of Janus, Larson and Drogba in the away game. They defeated Southampton one-to-one, and in this round of competition, Arsenal and Chelsea, who were ahead of Newcastle, faced draws one after another. Arsenal were tied [-]-[-] at home by Bolton, and Chelsea were tied [-]-[-] at home by Tottenham. With a tie, Newcastle overtook Chelsea on goal difference and were only two points away from Arsenal.

After a miraculous start with five consecutive victories, Arsenal finally stopped their progress, but they were tied in this game and they still occupied the first position with a record of five wins and one tie, expanding their unbeaten record For 46 games, it seems that they still have the possibility to continue to expand this record.

Chelsea suffered two consecutive draws, and these two games were ugly zero-to-zero, which also put a certain amount of pressure on Benitez. In the new season's six games in the league, except for these two zero-to-zero , Chelsea only won by two goals in the away game against Crystal Palace, and the other three victories were only [-]-[-], which also made Chelsea fans who are used to watching "sexy football" in the era of Gullit and Vialli feel a little dissatisfied .

And Manchester United beat Liverpool [-]-[-] at home in a focus match, climbing to seventh place. This victory also relieved the pressure on Ferguson, at least it was a powerful counterattack to the argument that "Ferguson is no longer good" .

After the end of this round of the league, teams in the Premier League and major European leagues have ushered in a rest period. To be precise, those mid- and lower-level clubs that do not have many international players ushered in a rest period, because in the middle of this week, there will be a rest period. There will be World Cup qualifiers for the national teams of all continents. These poor international players will spend three days in their national teams and return to the club after playing a qualifier. This is a headache for all the rich coaches in the European continent. , the hated "FIFA virus".

Shay and Hart were called up to the Irish national team, Petr Cech was called up to the Czech national team, Lucio went to the Brazilian national team, Trabelsi and Kufuor, Essien and Drogba naturally couldn't escape this. Jie, they are the main players in Tunisia, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. Dawson, Janus and Dyer were selected for the England national team. Nie Fei was recalled by Hiddink to the Chinese national team for a friendly match. Makelele of the national team, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of the Swedish national team, Newcastle's 24 first-line players left [-] out, and the remaining [-] people can't even make up a lineup. Mourinho can only pray that these players are here Don't get injured in the national team game.

With two fewer goalkeepers, five fewer defenders, five fewer midfielders and two fewer strikers - Newcastle have lost a lot on each line, especially with only three strikers in their own team after Shearer's injury. , Now there are two at once. If Larsson had not announced his withdrawal from the Swedish national team after the European Championship, then Newcastle would not even have a striker left.

Mourinho had to recruit more than a dozen young players from the reserve team and the youth team, so as to ensure that the training effect during this period would not be compromised.

"Aren't we too careless? 24 first-line players are not a small number, but as long as a few people are injured, it will immediately appear to be stretched. Shouldn't we add a few players in the winter?"

Looking at the empty training ground, Pei Wei said to Mourinho a little depressed.

"Now...not yet." Mourinho shook his head and said: "There are no injuries in our team now, and there are still a few guys in the team who are never injured or rarely injured. It is enough at this stage, if there are more injuries in the future, you can consider buying a few players during the winter transfer period."

"Fortunately, Maicon did not enter the Brazilian national team this time, and Ribery did not enter the French national team. Those African players are as strong as calves. They are not afraid of injury. I am a little worried about Nie Fei and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. , The two of them haven't had a good rest since last season. Nie Fei is okay. Ibrahimovic played in the European Championships and hasn't had much rest. Since the start of the new season, they have basically played every game. Even Iron Man can't support it."

"Is there any way, this Wednesday is the official match day stipulated by the standard FIFA, we have no reason not to let people go." Mourinho smiled bitterly: "Fortunately there will be no Africa Cup of Nations in February next year, otherwise the winter will be really serious." We need to buy a few players for emergency."

"I really hope that Trabelsi, Hart, Dyer, Shay and Drogba can play a full game, while others rest on the bench for a game... that would be great." Pei Wei said with fascination .

"Daydreaming." Mourinho said mercilessly. Pei Wei really thought too well. Those who don't play many games in the club will play the main force in the national team to maintain their state. The absolute main force of the club will take a rest. Where can there be such a good thing.

"Hey." Pei Wei also knew that his idea was almost impossible to realize. Take Makelele, Ibrahimovic and Nie Fei as examples, which one is not the absolute main force in the national team, especially Nie Fei, the Chinese national team is here. There have been no major competition tasks for more than a year. Now is the time for them to develop a tacit understanding. Hiddink, who led the Chinese Olympic team to the quarter-finals in the summer Olympics and was successfully promoted to become the head coach of the national team, wished for more A few games like this are just suffering from these Chinese players playing in Europe.

Franck Ribery and Maicon on the training ground were both a little depressed. Ribery thought that his outstanding performance some time ago would definitely impress Domenech, but who knows that this World Cup qualifier is still not for him, but also No wonder, Pires has always been the first choice for the left midfielder of the French national team, and Wiltord, who returned to France, also performed well. Coupled with Roten, who was brilliant last year, Ribery has no place, let alone For Domenech, he believes more in the old players of the national team, so some people have been laughing that he is always eating the old foundation left by Jacquet and Santini.

Maicon's loss was entirely due to Cafu's return. In the right back position of the Brazilian national team, Cafu's position is unshakable.

Seeing their listless appearance in training, Pei Wei knew exactly what they were for, especially Ribery, Maicon had been selected for the Brazilian national team anyway, and Ribery had never appeared in Domenech's list Among them, whether it was his outstanding performance in Ligue [-] last season or his amazing performance in recent games, Domenech turned a blind eye.

During the interval of training, Pei Wei walked behind Ribery and patted him on the shoulder: "Frank."

"Ah, boss." Ribery looked up.

"You seem to be a little inattentive in training today. Usually you are very serious." Pei Wei ignored the dust on the ground and sat down next to Franck Ribery.

"Sorry, boss." Ribery didn't deny it.

"Hehe, you don't need to say sorry to me... Are you worried about not being in the national team?" Pei Wei looked at Franck Ribery and asked.

Ribery nodded, he didn't need to hide anything in front of Pei Wei.

"What day is today?" Pei Wei suddenly asked.

Franck Ribery froze for a moment, and thought about it, it seems that today is not a commemorative day. It seems that no major event happened today in history.

"Today is August 2004, 8." Pei Wei said: "There are still nearly two years before the start of the World Cup...Frank, why are you in a hurry? There is a saying in China that haste makes waste. Don’t be in a hurry. You’ve only played more than one season in Europe. Isn’t it like entering the French national team in one step? As long as you perform well, the French national team is now at the juncture of metabolism. The 20 World Cup will definitely There will be a place for you, do it well, Frank, I said that you will definitely become an indispensable international player for France in the future, and what I said has always been accurate."

Franck Ribery looked at Pei Wei and winked at him, and laughed: "Boss, I understand...I will continue to work hard."

(End of this chapter)