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Chapter 22 Leagues before the Champions League

 After Hulay returned to Leeds, he ushered in a strong opponent in the league, Stan Park Rangers.

Last season, Leeds City defeated Stan Park Rangers at Stan Park Stadium, starting an exciting counterattack. That season's championship campaign was called by many media the most exciting championship battle in the Premier League in the 21st century.

Here Leeds City had the last laugh and became famous all over the world.

Stan Park Rangers became the backdrop for Leeds City, being whipped to death again and again. Of course, they were not alone, because there was Tramed accompanying them, and the scene was equally important.

The entire season's Premier League title race can be condensed into two games: one in which Stan Park Rangers lost 3:4 at home to Leeds City, and one in which Tramed lost 2:3 at home to Leeds City.

The final results of these two games determined the Premier League title last season.

The former bitter rivals in English football were both the best supporting players in Leeds City's championship, and became brothers in distress. It is really funny and sad at the same time.

After Leeds City robbed Stan Park Rangers of the championship, Stan Park Rangers have been looking forward to revenge.

Now they finally got their chance.

As soon as the national team match ended, the English media quickly shifted their attention from the England team to these two teams.

The local media in Liverpool couldn't wait to shout the slogan of "revenge".

This is definitely not just the media’s self-pleasure.

Although they will face French Ligue 1 champions Paris Eger at home in the middle of next week, and even though they have just finished playing for the national team, Stan Park Rangers head coach Scott Brooks still sent most of his main players to face the home team.

Leeds City.

It can be seen from this formation that the Stan Park Rangers team cares about this game.

In fact, Brooks had to take a certain risk by doing this, because in the next Champions League group stage, Stan Park Rangers played the strongest seeded team in the group, the last French Ligue 1 champion Paris Eger, in the first round.

As a wealthy team that participates in the Champions League all year round, Stan Park Rangers' goal is definitely not as simple as qualifying for the group, but also to compete for first place in the group.

Since we are competing for first place in the group, the home game against Paris Eger is very important.

It stands to reason that Brooks should strategically abandon this league and concentrate on playing well in the Champions League group stage with Paris Eger.

This is the way to maximize profits.

But Brooks didn't do that.

His purpose is very clear, which is to seek revenge from Leeds City.

Some Leeds City fans ridiculed Stan Park Rangers' approach online as a last resort:

"...Even if Stan Park Rangers beat us in this game, what will change? The Premier League championship in the 2025-2026 season still belongs to Leeds City and will always belong to Leeds City!"

Brooks did not respond publicly to such remarks.

Instead, in the home team's dressing room at Stan Park Stadium before the game, he told his players the reasons why he did this:

"...I know some people say that we have lost the league title, and now even if we beat Leeds City to the ground at our home ground, it is meaningless. Because the lost league title will not come back to us...but

What I want to say is that I don't agree with this statement. There is not only one league championship. If we lost one last season, we can win it back next time. The key is how to win it back?

"I know that since losing the league championship, many players are holding back anger and anger. There must be some people who are not reconciled to the final result of last season... So what should we do? Win it back of course! If we want to win back the championship, we must

Defeat this opponent who robbed us of the championship. Otherwise we can't start again. If we hold this breath in our hearts and can't spit it out, there will be problems! And this time, defeating them, even if it is Leeds City with a rotating lineup, it will be a big win for them.

It’s also very important to us!”

Unlike Stan Park Rangers who clearly wanted revenge, Leeds City did not take this game very seriously.

Many of the main players in the squad given by Tony Clark never came to Liverpool from Leeds.

They were left in Leeds, well rested, in preparation for their away game against Turkish Premier League champions Bay Lighthouse.

From this personnel arrangement, we can see Leeds City's attitude towards this game. No matter how much the media hypes it, Tony Clark still prepares for the game at his own pace.

In order to play in the Champions League, give up the league.

Even if it was a major game with Stan Park Rangers, I gave up even if I said I gave up.

But Clark still brought Hulay to Stan Park.

This arrangement is puzzling. Neither Kamara nor Jay Adams came with the team. What is a forward like Hu Lai doing?

And as the team's main shooter, in order to prepare for the Champions League, shouldn't he take a good rest in Leeds, get off the jet lag, and prepare to go to the away game to challenge the Bay Lighthouse?

What is he doing in Liverpool?

Is it specifically here to humiliate Stan Park Rangers fans? Remind them not to forget that this is the first visiting player to score a hat-trick at Stan Park in nine years...

※※※

"I really think that boy Clark brought Hu here just to taunt us and remind us not to forget the defeat last season..." Stan Park Rangers assistant coach Stephen Brown said to the head coach Scott who was sitting next to him.

Te Brooks said. "Otherwise, why didn't you let him play and put him on the bench after he came here...Does this make any sense?"

"Don't worry about whether it makes any sense, Stephen. Let's play our own game, keep our own rhythm, and don't be affected or interfered by our opponents." Brooks curled his lips and said.

At this moment, the game has entered the second half. Stan Park Rangers leads Leeds City 2:0 at home, with about twenty minutes left before the end of the game.

It seems that it is no surprise that Stan Park Rangers won this game and successfully took revenge.

Five minutes ago, Brooks also started to make substitutions and adjustments, allowing the main players to take a rest in preparation for the home game against Paris Eger in the middle of next week.

At this moment, the two people suddenly heard a burst of boos from the stands.

At this time, Stan Park Rangers players were holding the ball and the score was leading. Logically speaking, the home fans should not boo their players.

So this boo is obviously not directed at the Stan Park Rangers players, but...

The two of them turned their heads at the same time and looked at the Leeds City coaching bench next door.

Sure enough, I saw Hu Lai standing up from the bench and taking off his substitute vest!

He's going to appear?!

The two people withdrew their gaze at the same time, looked at each other, and looked at each other.

At this time, Clark asked Hu Lai to play... Could it be that he was not willing to lose the game on the road like this?

But if you are unwilling to do so, don’t bring a half-substitute lineup!

The two of them really couldn't figure out what was going on in Clark's mind.

First, Hu Lai was brought to the away game, but he was not allowed to play.

Now that the overall situation has been decided, Hu Lai is still allowed to appear...

※※※

Amid the boos above Stan Park, Clark was giving Hulay instructions:

"Now Stan Park Rangers are two goals ahead, and Brooks has also begun to replace the main players. They have begun to think about the Champions League next week. I think it is time for you to play, Hu. You know what you have to do, right?"

"I know, boss." Hu Lai nodded. "Do what I do best."

Clark grinned: "Very good. Lasky can help you. You have to respond more on the court and connect with him. Anyway, you can communicate with him. Language is not a problem. He has very good foot skills.

You can attract the defensive player. At this time, you have to pay special attention to inserting into the space he pulls out..."

After a brief explanation, Clark pushed Hu Lai to the fourth official.

Then he returned to the coaching bench and sat down.

Assistant coach Sam Landill came up and said: "I thought you were bringing Hulay just to show off in front of the Rangers fans at Stan Park that we ended their 90-match home unbeaten streak here..."

Clark smiled: "I'm not as bad as you think. I did prepare a few plans, so I brought Hu to the away game. If we are three goals behind now, then I won't let Hu play...

"

"Do you still want to steal a point?" Randhir's eyes widened.

"If possible... we won't have any losses anyway. The failure of this game was already expected." Clark shrugged.

※※※

From the moment Hulay stood on the sidelines, the boos at Stan Park became louder and louder.

Obviously, Stan Park Rangers fans still remember the three bloody holes that Hulay poked in their bodies.

"Ha, sure enough! With two goals behind, Clark replaced Hu, was he trying to win the game? No, I guess he was reminding Stan Park Rangers fans in this way: 'Don't forget

We beat you here 4:3 last season!" Matthew Cox said sadly.

After Hulay came on the field, he replaced captain Lorenzo who played in this game and partnered with Polish talented forward Dominik Laski.

It didn't take long for him to get a chance in the penalty area of ​​Stan Park Rangers!

His shot almost caused Lemos to miss!

Fortunately, Lemos reacted quickly and immediately put the football under his body, leaving Lasky no chance to make a follow-up shot.

Lasky seemed regretful that he missed his first goal in the Premier League. If he had started earlier and could have predicted that Lemos would let go of the goal, maybe the football would have been on the line by now.

In Stan Park Rangers' goal...

※※※

"After Hu came on the field, Leeds City's offense was obviously better than before. His body is not as strong as Lorenzo, and his foot skills are not as good as Lasky. However, the two of them combined are not as big a threat as Hu.

.His interspersed movement around the Stan Park Rangers penalty area caused headaches for the Stan Park Rangers defenders who were trying to keep their formation intact..."

After playing for a few minutes, Matthew Cox summed up the game he had just observed.

On the sidelines in front of the home team's coaching bench, Brooks also frowned and muttered to himself: "Clark also replaced Porter before replacing Hu. In this way, Walsh was on the left and Porter was on the right.

…”

His eyes suddenly lit up: "No, Stephen Clark wants to sneak attack us!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a huge noise suddenly erupted from Stan Park Stadium, mixed with boos.

Leeds City attack!

Charlie Porter sent a cross from the wing, and Lasky ran from the back towards the center, attracting the attention of Stan Park Rangers center back Zach Gordon.

And Hu Lai was lying in ambush behind him. He was originally running with Laski. It looked like the two of them had grabbed a point. But halfway through, Laski sprinted towards the goal in the middle, but Hu Lai suddenly

Accelerate beyond the limit, then insert from the middle and move forward!

Then he jumped up against the ball from Charlie Potter, shook his head, and rubbed it backwards!

The football flies towards the back corner of the goal!

When Brazil national goalkeeper Victor Lemos saw Hulay suddenly overshooting, he rushed toward the near corner of the goal in an attempt to block the angle of the shot.

As a result, the football was thrown to the back corner by Hu Lai!

He just happened to miss the football, and he only had time to raise his arm like a conditioned reflex. This reaction was already considered fast, but he still failed to hit the football...

The ball flew into Stan Park Rangers' goal amid boos!

After failing to score in two consecutive league games, Hulay broke through the door of Stan Park Rangers!

This is his fourth goal in this stadium!

It is also his fourth goal in the Premier League this season!


This chapter has been completed!
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