Football giants

Chapter 993 You guessed wrong!

"Audience friends, welcome to Stamford Bridge Stadium!"

"What we are about to broadcast live for you is the eighth round of the Premier League from the [-] season to the [-] season. Chelsea vs. Southampton at home. Sitting next to me is the famous Manchester United player, Gary Neville!"

"Hello, Gary!"

"Hello!" came Gary Neville's voice.

"Just now we saw the Saints' warm-up. We and all the fans at the scene were surprised to find that Messi appeared in the squad. This is the first time he has entered the squad this season. Gary, what do you think?"

Nevin Ho, uh, just because the column was so well written Gary Neville smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I personally look forward to this very much, because we have seen that after joining Tottenham Hotspur, Cristiano Ronaldo has shown a very good state and strength. He once again proved his strength as a world superstar."

"Well, as a former teammate, Gary, do you think Cristiano Ronaldo is still at his peak?"

Gary Neville nodded: "Without a doubt, I'm pretty sure."

"From the time he came to Manchester United, I felt that this young man is extraordinary. He has worked harder than anyone else in training. I am not surprised that he can achieve what he is today."

After a pause, Gary Neville continued: "Messi, who landed in the Premier League at the same time as Cristiano Ronaldo and is loved by fans all over the world, has not been able to participate in the game after joining the Saints. This also makes the outside world full of doubts."

"Yes, some people say that Messi is injured, but some people say that Messi had a problem during the transfer process and was blocked by the Saints. Some people say that because the team is currently in such a good state, Messi has no place."

After hearing this, Gary Neville laughed, "This is obviously impossible."

"Then what do you think?"

"You know, I visited the Saints not long ago. I once said in a column that the era of the Premier League's past monopoly of head coaches will end, replaced by technical directors following the European continental management system, or football directors. Positions such as directors will become more important, so we see that Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all adopt this management model."

"Ah."

"When I visited the Saints, I was fortunate enough to meet England's youth training expert, Les Reed, who is now Southampton's technical director and is in charge of the first team and youth training. I learned a lot about the specific work of the technical director and the club's internal division of labor. I wrote that column later."

"Yes, I have read it, and it is very well written, but I heard that Ferguson was not happy after hearing it."

"Hehe, he didn't call me to tell me!" Gary Neville laughed.

"I don't know if you have any impression. I mentioned that the internal management system of the Saints is the most standardized and modern team in the Premier League that I have ever seen. Even Rice told me that they will fully implement a paperless office within the next year."

"OK, what does this have to do with Messi?"

"I mean, they're very modern and they're pretty efficient, and Messi's problem, as far as I know, is that he's stuck in the medical department, he's been slow to get medical clearance, and at Southampton, unless there's an exceptional situation, no player can play without a medical clearance."

"Gary, what do you mean, the Saints spent 5000 million euros to introduce Messi, but failed to convince the medical department to let Messi play?"

"It's unbelievable, isn't it? But as far as I know, it's true!"

"If I were Yang Huan, the owner of Southampton, I would probably tell everyone in the medical department to leave!"

Gary Neville burst into laughter immediately, "But I heard that Yang Huan is planning to give them a raise!"

"I'll wipe it, won't I?"

But after a while of jokes, the TV commentator asked again: "Then according to what you said, Messi should have got the license to play now. I don't know if he will start this game?"

"I'm not very clear about this. If we follow a more prudent approach, I think a substitute should be arranged in the second half. After all, Messi has not played a game for three months. He needs a little time to adapt."

"Well, I think so too!"

But soon, he said, "Oh, Gary, I have to say, you guessed wrong!"

"Did I guess wrong?"

"Yes, I have now got the starting list of the two teams!"

The on-site commentator seemed a little excited, "Dear audience friends, I have arrived at the starting list, Southampton's starting list."

But this guy laughed badly at this moment, "I think the director should cut a commercial at this time."

However, if there is an advertisement at this time, Sky TV will probably be sprayed to death by the saliva of the fans.

"Southampton's starting XI, goalkeeper Neuer, David Alaba on the left at the back."

"Yes, Alaba, the left-back is very good, and Luke Shaw, this local teenager has great potential. The two are now competing on the left. The Saints basically ensure that they have two players in each position."

"The central defenders are Nastasic and Varane. Stones, who shined in the last game, will be a substitute in this game."

"It was Danilo at right back and Chambers was on the bench."

"In the midfield, Toni Kroos, Di Maria and Cesc Fabregas, the Saints are playing with the main force."

"Forward trident, Hazard on the left, Suarez in the middle, and Messi on the right."

"Yes, you heard me right, Messi is starting now!"

After the TV commentator had just finished introducing the starting lineup of the Saints, he saw the players of the two teams walk out of the court one after another under the leadership of the referee amidst the thunderous cheers of the fans.

Messi's name was chanted at the scene, obviously welcoming the superstar's Premier League debut.

"The 47-year-old referee in England, Michael Tine, is in charge of refereeing this game. He is a very experienced referee."

"Also, we see that this is the head coach of the two teams, the Portuguese Jose Mourinho, and the famous Italian coach Ancelotti. Ancelotti used to be the head coach of Chelsea, but he was dismissed because of poor grades."

"The situation of the two great coaches this season is completely different. After Ancelotti took over Bielsa's coaching seal, the Saints are invincible, invincible in the Champions League and the Premier League, but Mourinho's team has never been able to reverse the decline of last season."

"Before the game, the two famous coaches both said that this game is determined to win. Let's see if the two teams can achieve their wish."

Players from the two teams quickly lined up in front of the rostrum. Messi stood at the end of the line with a relaxed expression on his face. He was talking and laughing with Hazard in front of him. He didn't look nervous at all.

This also makes the outside rumors that Messi wants to leave the Saints self-defeating, because looking at Messi, he definitely does not look like a person who wants to leave the team.

After a short opening ceremony, the Chelsea players came one by one, first passing the referee and then Southampton.

Today's Chelsea is no longer the powerful Blues that year.

But the Saints are more terrifying than any team in the Premier League in the past few years!
After the courteous handshake, the two teams returned to their respective halfs.

After guessing, Southampton took the lead in getting the right to serve.

Messi and Suarez stood in the middle circle of the stadium, with their hips crossed, listening to the roar of mountains and tsunamis coming from the stands of the stadium. This feeling is very familiar, very charming, and very intoxicating.

He let out a heavy breath and opened his eyes.

Suarez on the opposite side was grinning at him, "Are you nervous?" the Uruguayan asked.

Messi smiled slightly and shook his head, "No, it's anticipation!"

"So do we!" Suarez said.

It is an honor for any player to be able to compete with a star of Messi's level.

Even for players at the level of Suarez and Hazard, it is a wonderful thing to partner with Messi and become teammates.

"Don't think too much, you're fine, and we're still here!"

Messi nodded gratefully towards his teammates. He knew that his teammates were pretty good.

This is also the reason why he was able to accept Southampton so quickly, because the internal atmosphere of this team is really good, from top to bottom, it is quite good.

With the whistle of the referee, the game officially began.

Messi kicked the ball to Suarez and officially started his first touch in the Premier League.

After the ball was passed, Messi ran forward immediately, Suarez understood and immediately passed the ball forward.

Messi looked at the Chelsea defenders in front of him, and then glanced back at the ball. He knew everything around him like the back of his hand. It was a wonderful feeling.

The ball came in front of him as he expected, grabbed the ball before Mikel, stopped the ball, took advantage of the opportunity to smash the ball, and directly passed Mikel.

The audience suddenly burst into cheers, and they all praised Messi's skillful feet.

But Messi seems to feel that all this happened is a **** thing.

Seeing that he dunked Mikel and then cut inside, Ramirez rushed over immediately, trying to block Messi, but the Argentine suddenly stabbed the ball past Ramirez lightly. Like a white horse passing through the gap, he quickly passed Ramirez and was about to chase the ball.

But at this moment, Ramirez stretched out his hand and hugged Messi under no choice.

Just hugged, didn't fall, but destroyed Messi's attack!
The referee blew his whistle unceremoniously, but did not give a card. After all, the game started less than 1 minute ago. Giving a card at this time is a bit excessive.

However, he still called Ramirez over and gave him a hard training.

The Brazilian midfielder was prepared and walked back helplessly. When passing by Messi, he did not forget to reach out and pat Messi on the shoulder, and apologized.

Just now, this is the only way he can stop Messi!

This Argentine little man is really scary, his reaction speed is frighteningly fast, as if he is always one beat faster than others.

Southampton quickly sent a free kick in the frontcourt.

Fabregas tried to pass the ball to Suarez, who was unmarked, but Terry suddenly rushed up and destroyed the ball.

The ball fell to Rakitic's feet, but the latter had just caught the ball, but saw that Di Maria had returned to the defense, sticking to him, spying on him, as if he would steal the ball anytime, anywhere.

This meal surprised Rakitic.

Nimi, this defensive speed is too fast, isn't it?

Don't look at Di Maria's slender figure, but he doesn't lose to Rakitic at all when entangled.

Being so entangled, Rakitic could only pass the ball to teammate Mikel with one kick.

But as soon as Chelsea's midfielder took the ball, Suarez, who retreated from the front, suddenly kicked the ball from behind and poked the ball away.

Hazard grabbed the ball, but Ivanovic clung to him tightly and didn't give him a chance. The Belgian could only dribble the ball laterally.

And Messi is on the right side of the front of the penalty area, raising his hand for the ball.

He craves the ball, he enjoys the feeling of the ball between his feet.

(End of this chapter)