Leeds City’s 3:1 away win over Alvara was somewhat unexpected.
This game is certainly not an upset, but it was something that many people did not expect before the game.
After all, this is Alvara’s home court. As Portugal’s top giants, how can their home court be so easily breached?
Even considering that Leeds City, as the defending Premier League champion, has extraordinary strength, it is unlikely that they will win with such a score in an away game.
When various media analyzed the game after the game, they all believed that Hulay's second goal was the turning point of the entire game.
Before he scored, Alvara, who had pulled back a goal, was in high spirits. If he continued like this, he would have a chance to equalize the score.
But at this juncture, Hulay scored.
Hulay's goal gave Leeds City players a sense of security and allowed them to relax.
In a competition of this level, whichever side can relax during the competition will often gain an advantage.
It can be said that Hulay is a strategic weapon, allowing Leeds City players to use a calmer mentality to deal with different opponents most of the time.
In fact, Hulay's performance in the Premier League and World Cup last season has made the whole world and Europe aware of such an efficient killer.
However, there will always be people who wonder whether this will be a flash in the pan.
After all, in previous history, there are many examples of players who performed well in the World Cup, only to be ignored by everyone the next season.
So a World Cup Golden Boot and a Premier League Golden Boot cannot fully prove that Hulay is a top forward.
It can only be said that he played as a top forward in the past season.
To truly become a top striker, one needs to maintain good condition for a long enough period of time and deliver perfect answers.
Then his performance in the Champions League this season can be regarded as his first answer.
Limited by the overall strength of the team, Hu Lai only participated in the Champions League group stage and gave up the last game because of the national team match.
But even so, he also scored five goals in the five group matches. Among them, the hat trick in the away game against Catalonia United fully demonstrated his ability.
His performance in the Champions League group stage also convinced many people that if Leeds City can go further in the Champions League and participate in more games, then Hulay's goals in the first Champions League season will definitely be more than just these five.
Now that he scored twice in his first Europa League game, he proves this view.
Of course, while acknowledging that Hulay's goal played a key role in Leeds City's away win, some Portuguese media also criticized Hulay's behavior when he was replaced at the last moment of the game.
At that time, his deliberate delaying was so obvious that even a blind person could see it.
Those Portuguese media who criticized Jule believed that there was no need for Jule to do this. Leeds City was already leading by two goals and the game lasted less than ten minutes. What can Alvara do in these ten minutes?
However, this kind of criticism is meaningless, and no one takes it seriously. After all, Alvara's loss was not caused by Hu Lai's delay. Making a fuss about this matter is nothing more than "incompetence" after losing the game.
"Rage" is all, but it seems that the Portuguese media has lost its grace.
The Portuguese media also targeted Alvara head coach Ricardo Moya.
I think Moya's tactics in the first half were a disaster. Although he made timely adjustments in the second half, the consequences of the first half were so serious that even if the adjustments in the second half were effective, they were still not enough to make up for it.
So the main responsibility for losing this game lies with head coach Moya.
It was Moya who misjudged the strength comparison between the two teams and adopted the wrong response method, which ultimately led to Alvara almost being defeated by Leeds City at his home court.
Of course, the current result of 1:3 is not much better...
In short, the Portuguese media called on Moya to resign and not wait until the club fired him, which would make everyone look bad.
“Xiaoyu, if Moya resigns, is it good news for you?”
Hu Lai circled Xia Xiaoyu in the group and asked.
Xia Xiaoyu soon replied: "I don't know..."
“How could you not know? You haven’t played in the first team until now. Isn’t it his fault?” Chen Xingyi also jumped out and said.
About Xia Xiaoyu’s situation, everyone has also discussed it in the group.
After all, he is the only one among them who has not played in the first team yet.
One of their consensuses is that the main reason lies with Alvara head coach Ricardo Moya.
Logically speaking, Xia Xiaoyu was contacted by the Alvara Club on the initiative of the Flashing Star Club. It was not the Flashing Star who took the initiative to send Xia Xiaoyu out.
Since the other club took the initiative to contact him, it means that they are interested in Xia Xiaoyu and recognize Xia Xiaoyu’s talent and ability. Otherwise, why would they spend this money?
You can’t just say, “I’ll just buy it and leave it there, eh, I won’t use it, I’ll just play with it”, right?
So everyone is quite optimistic about Xia Xiaoyu's future in Alvara. Anyone who wanted to go there was directly placed in the reserve team.
It is normal to be placed in the reserve team. After all, Xia Xiaoyu has never played in Europe before. Although he has played in the World Cup, it can only prove that he has talent, but it cannot prove that he can adapt to European competitions immediately.
So he is transferred to the reserve team, trains with the reserve team, and importantly, he can also play with the reserve team.
Gain experience through reserve team games.
This is normal operation.
Not to mention newcomers like Xia Xiaoyu, even many first-team players often come to the reserve team to play. For example, those who cannot play in the first-team will come to the reserve team to play games from time to time to maintain their condition.
There are also those injured first-team players who want to return to form after recovering from injury. They will not directly play in the first-team. They always have to play two games with the reserve team first.
After Pete Williams was injured in the World Cup, he is now playing in the reserve team after recovering. By playing in the reserve team, he proved that his physical condition has returned to a state where he can compete, and he was given the opportunity to play in the first team.
So it does not mean that joining the reserve team means being "sent to the frontier".
Playing in the reserve team also represents the expectations of the coaching staff for this player.
However, Xia Xiaoyu has been in the reserve team for most of the season and participated in many games. He is now able to play stably in the reserve team.
It stands to reason that such a performance can always impress the head coach of the first team, right?
The result is no.
He has been staying in the reserve team.
It was as if he had been forgotten by the first team.
Why is this happening?
Because the first-team coach Ricardo Moya doesn’t trust Xia Xiaoyu, doesn’t like Xia Xiaoyu, or thinks that Xia Xiaoyu’s characteristics do not meet his tactical requirements, or because the first-team midfield staff is bloated, or even just Moya and
The club's athletic director has conflicts...etc., in short, various reasons are possible.
There is no need to explore the specific reasons. Just know that the head coach of the first team does not want to use Xia Xiaoyu.
That’s why Hu Lai asked such a question today.
Since Moya does not need Xia Xiaoyu, then if Moya leaves after class, will Xia Xiaoyu have a chance?
“But even if Moya is dismissed from get out of class, his successor may not be able to use Xiaoyu...” Wang Guangwei said.
"Actually, I didn't think too much about it..." Xia Xiaoyu saw that everyone had different opinions and quickly came out and said, "Anyway, no matter who is the head coach, I will just train in the reserve team this season."
"Oh, you have a good attitude." Zhang Qinghuan gave a thumbs up. "Actually, this is not bad. Get used to it in the reserve team. Once you have adapted to all aspects, I will go to the first team next season and I guarantee that you will take off immediately!"
“Well, I think so too, Brother Huan.”
"You can't say that, Brother Huan..." Hu Lai jumped out, "If Moya is still coaching Alvara next season, how can you guarantee that he will not let Xiaoyu continue to play in the reserve team for another year?
?”
Zhang Qinghuan: “……”
He really can’t guarantee it.
If Moya is biased against Xia Xiaoyu, or against Chinese players, then no matter how well Xia Xiaoyu performs in the reserve team, he will not get a chance to be in the first team.
"So. In order to pave the way for Xiaoyu, this Moya must be fired! It is said that Alvara's goal this season is to win the Europa League. If he is kicked out, I don't know if it will speed up his dismissal..." Hu Lai said.
Others in the group also agreed: Regardless of whether Xia Xiaoyu continues to play in the reserve team to finish the season, or whether he can join the first team midway, Ricardo Moya must get out.
“But Hu Lai, you are already leading them 3:1, and Alvara is almost eliminated...” Zhang Qinghuan said afterwards.
Hu Lai: "No, football is round, Brother Huan. Who knows what will happen in the second round? What if that Lesinho explodes? So we must not take it lightly in the next round and must eliminate it.
Alvara, completely ruin Moya’s hope!”
Morikawa Junpei posted an animated picture of a famous comedian from Northeast China applauding.
The animation is also accompanied by text: "Well said!"
“So, Xiaoyu, I’ll help you get that Moya, it’s not too much for you to treat me to a meal, right?” Hu Lai also specifically circled Xia Xiaoyu.
Chen Xingyi: "Fuck! I dare you to make such a big circle, Hu Lai, and just wait here!"
Morikawa Junpei: "Fuck Chinese and Japanese bilingual"
Zhang Qinghuan: “Hu Lai, what the hell are you doing!”
Wang Guangwei: "Hu Lai, you are so mean. If you want Xiaoyu to treat you to dinner, can you just say no? Can Xiaoyu still refuse to treat you? Do you think Xiaoyu is you?"
“That’s right!” Chen Xingyi supported.
Xiaoyu also quickly expressed his opinion: “It’s okay to treat me to dinner!”
Hu Lai said, "That's not possible. I'll be paid for every watermelon I eat in the city! No reward for no reward. If I didn't help Xiaoyu solve his troubles, how could I have the nerve to ask him to treat me to dinner? So this time Moya must
die!"
Zhang Qinghuan: "But you can't guarantee that after being eliminated by you this time, he will definitely get out of class..."
Hu Lai: "As long as he gets out of class, there must be a reason why he lost to us, so I will be considered successful!"
Chen Xingyi: "I have a question, Hu Lai. Morikawa also played in the game when you defeated Alvara. Do you want to be alone?"
Morikawa Junpei posted a picture of a confused expression, with five big words on the picture: "What's wrong with me?"
Hu Lai: "Let's invite them together. Little Xingxing, are you looking down on our Xiaoyu by asking this question? Can't two people afford to invite us?"
Xia Xiaoyu hurriedly said: "Please, please! Please, please, everyone! Let's get together in Europe if we have a chance!"
Hu Lai stopped him: "No, Xiaoyu. One yard at a time, please invite me and Morikawa's first, and then everyone else... This way I can have two meals."
Everyone: "Hu Lai, what the hell..."
This weekend, because there is an FA Cup match, the league will be on a break for a week to make way for the FA Cup.
Leeds City were knocked out of the FA Cup by Wiggerston in the last round, so they have no game this weekend.
However, this does not mean that players can take a vacation to play.
On the weekend, they played a game against the Leeds City youth team at the training base. The game was used to test Clark's tactical arrangements and keep the players in game condition. At the same time, it was also a rare exercise for the youth team.
Chance.
In the end, the first team defeated the youth team with a score of 6:2 in this game.
Hullet scored a hat-trick in the game, Lasky scored twice, and captain Lorenzo, who returned from injury, also scored a goal.
After this match with the youth team, Leeds City welcomed Alvara to challenge on Wednesday, February 24th.
This time Alvara can be said to be in a last-ditch battle. They must beat Leeds City by two goals away from home in order to get the chance to play overtime.
But it’s still good.
If the Europa League still implements the previous rules, then it will be useless even if they win by two goals. After all, Leeds City has three away goals.
Even if Alvara wins 2:0, they will be eliminated due to fewer away goals.
If they win with this score now, they can at least guarantee that the game will be dragged into overtime.
Of course, the safest thing is to win by three goals and beat Leeds City on the total score.
In this way, overtime and penalty shootouts can be avoided.
