Leeds City’s home match against Madrid Pirates has begun.
Zhou Zijing was sitting on the bench, watching the game.
He really didn't get the chance in this game.
The only good news is that he has entered the 18-man squad, so he still has a chance to come on as a substitute in the game...
Just now, Zhou Zijing experienced up close how much influence Hu Lai has on this team:
Before the players from both sides took the field, there was a session where the Leeds City Club's on-site radio DJ led everyone in chanting the names of the players who were playing.
In the past, this link was limited to home team players.
Visiting team players skip directly.
But today, before announcing the names of the home players, the DJ led everyone in shouting: "Let us welcome the returning wanderers, LAAAAAAAAI"
The 30,000 fans in the audience shouted in unison: "HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!"
It was different from the one after Hu Lai scored. This was a prolonged roar.
If the short "HUUUUU" was thunder, then this "HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU" was the continuous rolling thunder that echoed in the sky of Flanders Stadium for a long time.
It also echoed in Zhou Zijing's heart.
There were even goosebumps on his arms!
Before coming to Leeds City, Zhou Zijing had seen how Leeds City fans expressed their love for Hu Lai through live TV or online videos.
He knew that Leeds City fans would shout loudly when Hulay played. At that time, he thought there was something strange about this? It seemed like no one had seen it before!
But when he was at the Flanders Stadium and experienced this scene from the nearest distance, he still felt that his soul was hit directly.
He couldn't help but fell into a trance. If one day in the future, when I play, there will be so many fans calling out my last name in a long voice...
How cool that would be!
※※※
Not only the fans, but also the Leeds City players greeted Hulay one by one in the tunnel before the game started, greeted and exchanged greetings.
Everyone had smiles on their faces and talked and laughed happily.
I don't know which sentence mentioned an interesting story from the past, and there was a burst of laughter in the players' tunnel.
The atmosphere before the game could not be more harmonious.
Even the commentator Matthew Cox who saw this scene couldn't help but complain: "Ladies and gentlemen, audience friends, what you are watching now is a friendly match before the 2027-2028 season, against Leeds City.
And Pirates of Madrid..."
Hey guys, the Champions League group stage has turned into a friendly match.
He Feng and Yan Kang focused all their attention on Hu Lai's popularity: "It can be seen that although he has left, Hu Lai's popularity in Leeds City is really good. Every Leeds City player who comes by will say hello to him.
, let’s chat briefly..."
"This is 'Returning to Home Again', He Feng!" Yan Kang burst out laughing.
This game must be very enjoyable for Chinese fans like him who are conscious and proud.
This friendly atmosphere is indeed intoxicating.
But after the opening whistle blew, everything changed.
The gentle exterior was torn off and replaced by...craziness.
As Hulay knew, as soon as the game started, Leeds City, which had the home advantage, launched a fierce offensive against the Madrid Pirates.
There have been two shots on goal in the first six minutes, an average of once every three minutes.
Although these two shots did not hit the goal frame, it still made Valentin, the assistant coach of Madrid Pirates on the sidelines, look solemn:
"Do they not consider at all that the space behind them will be counterattacked by us?"
"If you think about it, it won't be Leeds City." Parotti said calmly. "Offense is their life. What they are best at is attacking, and they can only attack. What they believe in is to score before the opponent scores.
, penetrate the opponent’s defense first.”
"But Leeds City was able to attack like this before because they had Hu. But now Hu is on our side..." Valentine speculated. "If we keep playing like this, as long as we can withstand their three attacks at the beginning, we will win."
The balance will tip in our favor."
Parotti nodded and agreed with his first assistant's opinion.
Indeed.
A large part of Leeds City's success in the first two seasons is that they have a super efficient shooter.
The existence of Hulay makes Leeds City's life-threatening style of play actually very safe, because they can always open the opponent's goal before the opponent breaks through the defense.
Once Leeds City takes the lead, the opponent will have to devote more troops to the attack in order to equalize the score, so the defense will inevitably be empty.
Leeds City can score more goals.
Their offensive is often like an avalanche. As long as they break through a little, it can cause a disaster that completely buries the opponent.
It is precisely because of understanding this that Parotti will not be like some people who think that Hulay is just a "goal scorer" who is relatively better at scoring goals.
Think about it, if your team has a player who can always score first, wouldn't that start the game with a score of "1:0"?
It doesn't take a professional to know how big of a tactical advantage this is, even a pseudo-fan should know it.
But now that Leeds City does not have such a player, the offensive tactics have lost the most important cornerstone.
Leeds City's poor performance in the league this season and its weak offense are related to this, and it has a lot to do with it.
Clark tried many combinations of personnel and tactics, but the results were not very good.
The main reason is that the players' condition is not stable enough and their performance does not meet expectations.
Forwards like Kamara and Laski, of course, do not perform well in every game. They also perform well sometimes, but they cannot continue this state forever.
The same goes for Zhou Zijing, another Chinese forward in the team.
He once came on as a substitute in a game against London Mars, scored a goal and provided an assist, and his performance was very eye-catching.
However, in the next league match against Burley, Zhou Zijing's performance was mediocre, without any outstanding performance.
If the players are in unstable condition, it will be useless no matter how sophisticated the head coach's tactics are.
After all, it’s hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.
The Leeds City players who are accustomed to playing with Hulay seem to have not yet passed the window period after Hulay left.
Therefore, faced with Leeds City's fierce attack after the opening, Parotti remained unmoved and did not make any adjustments.
Just sitting on the sidelines watching the game with the assistant coach.
His only worry is that the Leeds City fans were too kind to Hu Lai, which will make his players think that this is a very easy away game to deal with.
But seeing Julay and Ramirez in the locker room before the game reminded the players, I guess this won't be a big problem.
※※※
The formation arranged by Tony Clark for this game is 433. The center is Polish international Dominic Laski, the left winger is Ismael Kamara, and the right wing is the newly introduced Swedish international Frederi this season.
Clark Soderbergh.
The two of them were very open and moved close to the sideline, making full use of the width of the field.
Pete Williams organizes the attack in the center.
Jay Adams and Junpei Morikawa play as defensive midfielders behind him, with Junpei Morikawa mainly responsible for interception and sweeping, providing protection for the two midfield partners.
Adams was responsible for supporting Pitt.
This is Leeds City's lineup in the midfield.
The only personnel change is the addition of Soderbergh.
He is the most expensive player Leeds City has introduced this summer. The club spent 42 million euros to lure him from La Liga powerhouse Valentia. This transfer fee made him Leeds City's transfer target this season.
king.
The Swedish international is fast and good at dribbling, but has average shooting skills and is a typical winger.
As a former Valentia player, Soderberg played against Pirates many times in La Liga and is very familiar with this team.
In turn, the pirates were familiar with him.
He is indeed stronger than Charlie Porter who was originally in this position, and his performance after the transfer did not disappoint. It is in line with his worth and everyone's expectations for him.
But to say how outstanding his ability is...it's not that big of a deal.
He is worth 42 million euros and is the top transfer bidder in Leeds City, but in Madrid Pirates is just below the average level, so this worth is worth a lot.
As a right winger, Soderberg happens to face Madrid Pirates' strongest side, the left wing composed of Tonini and Ion.
Ion is now in the defensive zone, ready to defend Soderberg.
He is confident that he will not let Soderbergh break through from him.
But Soderberg's choice surprised Ion. The Swedish international did not struggle with Ion here, but directly transferred the long pass to the other side!
The football went directly across the field and was received by Kamara on the left wing.
While the football was still flying in the air, Leeds City's right back Farrak Quinn made a decisive move forward from the full-back position.
He looked like he wanted to cooperate with Kamala.
When Kamara caught the ball, he had already run behind Kamara and was still accelerating forward without any intention of slowing down and stopping.
His run caused the Pirates' right back Irazusta to retreat. He was afraid that Kamara would pass the ball directly behind him, allowing Quinn to sprint.
Errazusta's retreat meant that Camara only had to face a Portuguese midfielder named Silverio who was not very defensive.
He didn't hesitate and brought the football directly to the center!
A sudden acceleration started, and Silverio, who didn't react, was stuck behind him!
Seeing that Silverio couldn't stop Kamara, Pirates captain Juan Ramirez decisively came up to cover the defense.
Kamara took advantage of his opportunity to pass the football horizontally to Peter.
After passing the ball, he suddenly changed direction and ran in a straight line towards the penalty area.
Joaquin Vela steps up to defend Pitt.
Pete used his skills to protect the football in front of him, blocking Joaquin Vela's harassment from behind, and then passed the football forward to center Lasky who was pulling out.
Although this Polish forward is not a completely powerful center in terms of size, he is definitely not the thin type like Hulay.
At the same time, he not only has good physical confrontation ability, but also has excellent foot skills.
This makes him a more versatile center.
He turned his back to the direction of the attack and made a posture to turn away from the left side of his body before catching the ball, allowing Pirates' center back Kepa Amantegui to follow him there and shift his center of gravity.
When the football came, Lasky used the outside of his right foot to send the football behind him...
The football rolled into the penalty area from the other side.
This is not a get rid of, but a pass!
There were loud cheers in the stands of Flanders Stadium.
He saw Kamara, who had just changed direction and went straight into the penalty area, appear behind the football, and he chased after him!
Another Pirates center back, Riva Moreno, followed the football and turned around. When he saw this, he quickly shoveled the football with his feet, preparing to destroy the ball before Kamara!
But Kamara's feet moved faster than him. He stretched out his right foot first and gently pulled the football to the left, allowing Moreno to scoop it up!
Then his left foot moved the football he was pulling out very quickly, and he just passed Moreno!
Pirates goalkeeper Haywell did not hesitate when he saw this, and immediately abandoned the goal and blocked Kamara's shot angle!
He bared his teeth and claws, and his huge body basically blocked all Kamara's shooting possibilities.
But Kamara missed the shot!
He passed the football sideways with his left foot!
"Lasky!!"
The Polish striker who followed up in the middle took advantage of everyone's attention being attracted by Kamara and ran to the most deadly place.
And Amantegui was completely left behind!
I saw Lasky stretched out his foot and pushed lightly, and the football was pushed into the goal!
The cheers at Flanders Stadium almost reached their peak!
In just twelve minutes, Leeds City led Madrid Pirates 1:0!
