coach legend

Chapter 191 Sprint

In the knockout round of 32 in the FA Cup, Blackburn was unfortunate enough to meet the Premier League team Sheffield Wednesday.

Speaking of it, Blackburn is not allowed to pass the test. The current Sheffield Wednesday can be regarded as a team that wants nothing.Ranked No. 11 in the Premier League, there is no worry of relegation, and there is no possibility of entering European competitions.He is the most typical soy sauce team in the Premier League.

Therefore, he still attaches great importance to domestic cups such as the FA Cup.But Blackburn is different. Although George keeps saying that he will not give up any game.But the starting lineup clearly shows George's attitude towards this game.

Almost even Blackburn's perennial bench player Ian Pierce got a chance to play, which is enough to see George's attitude towards this event.

Although the substitute players worked hard and worked hard.But in the end Blackburn still lost [-]-[-] at home, and was eliminated in just two FA Cup games.But George didn't care at all about being eliminated in the FA Cup.

Now the game has been carried out 23 rounds, Blackburn's points are only 33 points.

In the current Premier League, there are three Champions League places.

Before the 1991-1992 season, the format of the Champions Cup was pure knockout. In the 1992-1993 season, the Champions League was officially renamed the "European Champions League", and the game was also developed into every Tuesday and Wednesday.But people are used to calling it the European Champions Cup.In the next few years, the competition system of the Champions League has changed repeatedly, gradually applying the group round-robin system to the games before the rematch, and the participating teams are no longer limited to the league champions of various countries and the Champions League champions of last season, some football powers The runner-up of the league can also participate.

However, the time for another reform of the Champions League has emerged. In 1998, the clubs of the major European leagues secretly held a meeting in Brussels, Belgium in the same year in order to contain UEFA's reform of the UEFA Champions League!Thus a new organization named "G14" was born.

In 1998, in order to prevent major clubs from establishing a European Super League, UEFA made the biggest reform in the history of the three major European cups from the 1999/2000 season: the European Cup Winners' Cup was cancelled.

And because of the addition of a round of group matches, the Champions League has been expanded again.So the Premier League will start next season with three teams participating in the Champions League.With the UEFA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup combined, the Premier League will have three places.

The Champion of the League Cup, the Champion of the FA Cup, and No.4 of the Premier League can all participate in the UEFA Cup.Of course there is also the Intertoto Cup and the UEFA Cup.It's a pity that the International Toto Cup is held in the summer, and George will not let his team participate in the so-called International Toto Cup in the summer.

Blackburn has already given up the League Cup and the FA Cup, and George is aiming for the No.4 position in the Premier League.

Now No.5 in the Premier League is West Ham United, who have performed well this season under the leadership of Redknapp.West Ham United has reached [-] points so far.Seven points more than Blackburn.

Ranked No. 4 is Leeds United, and Leeds United's performance this season is better.Their points reached 44 points, eleven points more than Blackburn.

Now Leeds United is in a pretty good state. Although eleven points cannot be said to be an insurmountable moat, it is still a big gap.Eleven points, now there are only sixteen rounds left.Blackburn's remaining games are decisive battles, and there can't be too many mistakes.

…………

On January 1th, the No.30 round of the Premier League.

The Leeds United game took the lead.Leeds United face Southampton away.Southampton is currently No. 18 in the Premier League and is still in the relegation zone.Only four points ahead of No.19 Charlton Athletic.The relegation situation is worrying.

Now Southampton is also a race against time, and every game is a battle of life and death.Because of a little carelessness, they will be relegated to League One.Among the relegation odds, Southampton ranks second to last.Therefore, Southampton's performance at home was almost crazy, bombarding Leeds United's goal indiscriminately.The young Leeds United players were probably frightened by this style of play, and behaved timidly.Southampton turned out to beat Leeds United with a score of [-]-[-] at home.

The game that started first was a big upset.Southampton turned out to have defeated the mighty Leeds United.

Surprised all the media.

Seeing this score, George was also very surprised, but at the same time he was in a great mood.

George never thought that Leeds United would lose to Southampton, and now Leeds United lost the game.For George, it was an unexpected surprise.

"The league has gone through 23 rounds, and our current ranking is No.8. With our current points, as long as we simply deal with the next game, relegation is no problem." George faced the players in the locker room and made the final mobilization.

"I want to ask you, are you satisfied with just a relegation?"

Hearing George's question, everyone looked at each other in blank dismay.If you can achieve good results, of course it is the best.

"Willie, did you come to England with me just to avoid relegation?" Sagnol was the first to be named by George.

Because Sagnol is the lubricant in the Blackburn dressing room.

"Of course not, head. Didn't you tell me that you can let me enter the national team and become the main force of the national team. If it's just relegation, then how can I become the main force of the national team." Sagnol stood up and shook his head firmly .

"Yes, Willy, you are so right." George became more and more satisfied with Sagnol, thinking about whether Sagnol should be the third captain or something. "There are not many international players among you. Your goal is to enter the national team and become the main force."

"Then relegation, this kind of thing shouldn't be done by us."

"Have you seen the standings?" George took out the enlarged standings and pointed it out to everyone. "It is said that I am arrogant, but I am a very rational person. I will not tell you that our goal this season is to win the championship, that is an unrealistic goal. No.3 Chelsea is now [-] points ahead of us , we don't have many chances even if we catch up to Chelsea."

"But look at No. 4 Leeds United. He is [-] points ahead of us and has played us one more game. As long as we win this game, then only eight points ahead of us."

"Colin, tell me, if it's No.4 in the Premier League, what does it mean?"

Hendry was surprised, but also overjoyed at the same time.Everyone present understood what George meant. "The UEFA Cup, next season's UEFA Cup!" Hendry stood up and shouted. At the beginning of the season, who would have thought that Blackburn could still win the UEFA Cup next season.

Since the Premier League championship, Blackburn has been working hard to avoid relegation for three seasons.European competition, I don't know how far it is from Blackburn.

"Yes, the UEFA Cup. The UEFA Cup next season!" George clenched his fists. "Eleven points, it seems like a lot. In fact, it is a difference of four goals, and as long as we win this game, it will be a difference of three goals. And we have a head-to-head confrontation with Leeds United, which means that it is five points at most. difference."

"Is Leeds United strong? They don't have the slightest ability to fight back against us. They have too many young players. So their results will definitely fluctuate. Look at this round of games, they faced Southampton and they turned out to be zero. Three lost to them. They will continue to lose points in the future. Believe me, as long as we play game by game, the UEFA Cup place next season will be ours."

"Do you believe in yourself!"

"Believe it, believe it!" It has been more than half a season, and George has stated his goal for this season for the first time.

Although the gold content of the UEFA Cup at this time has begun to decline, it is still a game that European football attaches great importance to.

"If you want to participate in the UEFA Cup, there is only one way. It is to win every game, and win all the games we can win. Do you have confidence!"

"Yes! Yes!"

With a clear goal, players like Blackburn are even more excited.The UEFA Cup, if they participate in the UEFA Cup next season, it will be a huge temptation for young players like them.After all, it is the European Cup, and its status in European football is not low.

"Okay, now get out. Tell the fans that we are not a team that is content with relegation. We are a team with big goals. I only ask of you, and that is to get the three points."

In the No.20 round, Blackburn played against Wimbledon at home.

Wimbledon is currently ranked No. 17 in the Premier League, which turned out to be only one point more than Southampton, which just defeated Leeds United.But after Southampton defeated Leeds United, they jumped out of the relegation zone and instead led Wimbledon by two points.

This made Wimbledon a little flustered, from No. 16 in the Premier League at the beginning of the season to No. 18 in the Premier League now.

But George will not save face for him just because he is a team in the relegation zone.

Against Wimbledon, George didn't play as oppressive as usual.Instead, he withdrew a little later, just to allow Wimbledon to attack.

All the media now believe that Blackburn is now relegated without worry, and it is not very possible to get good results and enter European competitions.It belongs to the kind of team that has no desires and no desires in the middle reaches.But Wimbledon is different, they need points, they need to get out of the relegation zone now.

Sure enough, they attacked at the beginning of the game, and they didn't care that this was Blackburn's home court.

Now George is more and more fond of Premier League games, because their games are open.For a team like George's that plays both wings, it couldn't be better.

Blackburn's two wingers, Pires and Duff, are the best at playing this kind of game.And it can also play Micoud's precise direct pass.

Klose did not press forward in this game, but retreated to give Pires and Duff more sprint space.Wimbledon's attack was lively, but without much effect.On the contrary, Blackburn's offense was impressive. Amidst the cheers of the home fans, they scored three goals in a row.In the end, they defeated Wimbledon [-]-[-].

At the same time, Liverpool lost 36-8 away to Coventry, Villa lost 6-[-] away to Newcastle, and West Ham United drew [-]-[-] away to Middlesbrough.Therefore, Blackburn scored [-] points, jumping from No.[-] to No.[-].It surpassed Liverpool by three points and Villa by two points, and was only four points short of West Ham United.

(End of this chapter)