After the league, there is the fourth round of the FA Cup.
This time Leeds City drew the English Championship team Hounslow, and Clark still rotated the lineup to allow substitute players and young players who have not played many opportunities in the league to get a chance to practice in the FA Cup.
Of course, Clark did not completely let young players and substitute players toss around casually, regardless of victory or defeat.
He will still send some main players to hold down the formation.
This time, Leeds City defeated their opponent 1:0 in the away game and advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
After the league was relegated early, some Leeds City fans spoke and discussed online, believing that the team could actually try to compete in the FA Cup.
Anyway, the team's season goal has been achieved ahead of schedule, so do we have to be a salty fish in the remaining half of the season?
The League Cup has been eliminated early, and although the league is ranked second, look at Stan Park Rangers, who are stable and terrible in first place. The league championship is unthinkable.
On the contrary, the FA Cup, as an "unpopular hotbed", is the most suitable for Leeds City's passionate team.
Because the FA Cup is not a two-legged game at home and away, but a single knockout match.
Only before the quarter-finals, if the two teams tie and there is no winner, there will be a rematch on another day.
After entering the semi-finals, the outcome is determined by one game.
This format makes FA Cup matches particularly prone to upsets
Those wealthy teams that show off their power in the Premier League and are domineering may also be eliminated by teams ranked lower than themselves in the FA Cup, or even low-level league teams. This kind of upset happens every season.
If other teams can do it, why not Leeds City?
However, there are also Leeds City fans who object to this opinion. They believe that after Leeds City successfully avoided relegation this season, it is obvious that the goal should be to qualify for the Champions League. As long as we can stay in the top four at the end of the league, we can qualify for next season.
Qualification for the Champions League.
In the FA Cup, even if we win the championship, we can only participate in the Europa League.
It is self-evident which one is more important, the Champions League or the Europa League.
So if you can go to the Champions League, why go to the Europa League?
And there is a huge hidden danger in competing for the FA Cup title:
If in order to compete for the FA Cup, performance in the league declines and the Champions League is lost, who is responsible for this loss? Can those fans who have spoken out for the team to compete for the FA Cup afford this responsibility?
Besides, even if you go all out to compete for the FA Cup, you may not be able to win the FA Cup.
Everyone knows that the FA Cup is a "hotbed of upsets", so why do we only think about Leeds City being upset, but can't other teams upset Leeds City?
After all, since Leeds City is now ranked second in the league, the opponents they encounter will definitely take it very seriously. The chance of Leeds City taking advantage of the opponent's underestimation and getting upset is very, very low...
It is possible that a team ranked lower than you could sneak up on you.
※※※
FA Cup?
Or Champions League qualification?
The fans' controversy extended to the media, and the media also began to discuss this topic.
In response to such discussions, Leeds City head coach Tony Clark did not express any views and remained silent.
In the next round of the 24th round of the league, Leeds City was tied at home by Sydenham, who ranked 14th in the league.
In this game, the performance of the Leeds City players at home was obviously not good. Perhaps they felt that their opponents were so weak and there was no reason why they couldn't win at home. In short, the Leeds City team clearly did not enter the game state after the start of the game.
.
On the other hand, Sydenham played away from home and played very freely.
Of course they scored first and took the lead against Leeds City in the away game.
Leeds City, who were lagging behind, were even more confused. For a while, the home team fans in the stands were a little desperate. They felt that if they continued to play like this, Leeds City would definitely lose at home.
Fortunately, after adjustments in the second half, the players also regained their feeling amidst the roar of head coach Clark and the singing of the fans.
A desperate counterattack took place in the last thirty minutes, and finally in the 77th minute, Farrak Quinn took advantage of a corner kick and knocked the football into Sydenham's goal.
The score was equalized.
The final score was 1:1, and Sydenham took away a point from the away game.
Although Leeds City did not win, they did not lose either, especially after conceding a goal in the first half. They were able to get a draw in the end, which was considered an acceptable result in the eyes of many people.
But some people don't see it that way.
After the final whistle, Tony Clark took the lead to walk towards Sydenham head coach Taylor Walker, who already extended his hand before he could reach him.
When shaking hands with Walker, he patted him hard on the shoulder.
After shaking hands, he turned around and walked back to the locker room without staying on the sidelines.
When the Leeds City players returned to the locker room, they saw the head coach with a black face.
Those players who thought "a draw is good, better than losing" when they came off the field suddenly felt a little bit in their hearts.
Clark didn't say anything, he just stood there with a dark face and watched the players come in coldly.
The players who came in did not dare to say a word. Those players who were still talking and laughing loudly outside entered the room and saw the black face of the head coach. Although they did not understand what happened, they immediately looked like teammates who had come in earlier.
Like everyone else, he wisely shut his mouth, then slipped to his seat and buried himself in changing clothes.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the locker room was a little awkward...
Assistant coach Sam Landill was the last one to walk in. He gestured to Clark to indicate that all the players were in the locker room. After seeing Clark nod at him, he exited and closed the door.
When the locker room door was closed, the Leeds City players all looked away from the door.
At the same time, Clark's voice rang in the room: "It stands to reason that after we successfully avoid relegation in advance, I shouldn't be harsh on you no matter how the game goes. After all, from the beginning of the season, our goal is to avoid relegation. We
All plans and efforts are aimed at relegation... So now that we have successfully avoided relegation and completed the task, how can we continue to ask you?"
Unlike his dark face, Clark's voice is not loud, nor does he sound harsh, and he is even a bit... approachable?
But then he changed the subject: "But when I was watching this game from the coaching bench, I kept having an idea that made me want to say something to you."
He paused here and looked around.
"I can tell that since we have successfully avoided relegation, some people's minds are not on the game. Even though there are still four months until the end of the season, they may already be thinking about where to go on vacation in the summer. Some people say this
It's normal. After all, the task has been completed, and we should be in a state of having no desires and desires... Yes, there have been some discussions recently about what we should pursue next this season. I have also heard it, and I am paying attention. I'm just.
But now I don’t want you to hold a democratic vote and finally choose to determine our goals. I just have one thing to ask you:”
Clark leaned forward slightly, put his hands on his hips, and stared at the players who bowed their heads and said nothing.
"As a professional player, after completing the goal, is it natural for you to play however you want and lose motivation and fighting spirit? Others say that you have no desires and no desires. Do you really have no desires and no desires?"
The players knew that the boss was dissatisfied with their performance, so they all lowered their heads and remained silent.
This is the best way to deal with criticism. Never try to defend your boss...
As if Clark didn't need an answer from the players, he continued: "I think, as professional players, after you have been training for so long, the moment you step onto the court, shouldn't you be thinking about 'Today's game'?"
Do I want to win the game? No matter what the final goal of this season is, no matter whether we have completed the tasks given by the coach or the board of directors... Isn’t the goal of every game and every game very clear?
?That is victory! As professional players, the pursuit of victory should be the instinct of each of you! You don’t need any reminder, you should all know to go out and win!"
"Think carefully about my words, there is still half of the season left!"
After saying this, Clark turned around and left to attend the post-game press conference.
There was silence in the locker room, except for the hum of the central air conditioner.
※※※
PS, two updates will be resumed today!
I still have some left over from the double monthly pass, please give me a monthly pass!
