spn Manchester United's first game of the season is at home against Birmingham City.
After Birmingham was relegated in 2008, McLeish led the team back to the Premier League in the first season of the Championship. Birmingham only scored 54 goals in the league last season and was the weakest offensive power among the top 10 teams.
, their success in promotion still relies on defense. They invited Chinese player Shao Jiayi for trial training during the winter transfer period in order to seek to improve their firepower.
In the end, Birmingham were directly promoted to the Premier League as runners-up of the English Championship.
Since promotion, Birmingham has begun to strengthen the team's strength.
The most successful thing about head coach McLeish is the loan of Joe Hart, who has been selected for the England national team.[
In terms of midfield configuration, Macaulish reused experienced players, inviting fellow player Barry Ferguson who previously played for Rangers, and bought out Bowyer, who was on loan from West Ham last season.
However, Ferguson has had disciplinary problems with the national team and club, and Bowyer did not achieve much success last season.
Birmingham's biggest bet was to spend 15 million to acquire Ecuadorian forward Christian Benitez. Benitez scored 31 goals in 58 games in the Mexican League.
It is said to be a bet, because Benitez joined with a shoulder injury, and the transfer was previously delayed due to his knee problems, but the whole team still has high hopes for him.
However, what is somewhat surprising is that the fans who originally supported them, Birmingham's promotion did not bring much joy to the fans.
This is reflected in the fact that the team's style of play last season was really ugly. MacLeish's ability to lead the team deserves recognition, but his style of play is not popular.
Throughout the entire English Championship season, Birmingham scored fewer goals at home than Charlton at the bottom. It’s no wonder that their attendance was so low.
In the new season, McLeish will feel the pressure from fans and club executives, but the question is, who can help the team score goals?
Midfielders Barry Ferguson and Bowyer will compete with Carsley and Damian Johnson for the two central midfield positions. Sebastian Larsson and McFadden are more creative in the midfield, plus the original O'Connell
Na, Birmingham's frontcourt next season will be all Scots.
Joe Hart, who is on loan from Manchester City, will definitely prove himself here. His originally promising career has hit the bottom due to Given's arrival. Birmingham will provide him with the opportunity to compete for the World Cup in South Africa.
Although Birmingham directly advanced to the Premier League as the second-placed team in the Championship, they decided their fate only after defeating Reading in the final round. The prudent head coach Macaulish has always been known for exploring the potential of players. For example, he
In the season before relegation a year ago, Argentinian star Zarate, who is now playing for Lazio, was used.
MacLeish's team will definitely fight to avoid relegation. They can satisfy the fans, but they will not please them. The only problem is that scoring goals may be a constant problem. If it is solved, Birmingham can avoid relegation, otherwise it will be
Continue to be an elevator.
In this game, the outside world is generally very optimistic about the European champion Manchester United. Although Manchester United may be relatively tired, the fans at home at Old Trafford are enough to give the Birmingham players a drink. Manchester United does not have any
Reason to give up a good opportunity to please the fans and take all three points.
Manchester United faced a newly promoted team at home. The pre-match predictions were all one-sided. However, the progress of the game was beyond everyone's expectations. It was the home team Birmingham who scored first. Birmingham, who had problems scoring goals, actually broke Manchester United.
's goal.
This was the 22nd minute of the game. McFadden, the only regular scorer in Birmingham, used his speed to tear apart Manchester United's defense. Facing the attacking goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, he shot a low shot into the net - Manchester United
0:1Birmingham.
What happened to Manchester United?
Is this the same European champion team from two months ago?
Seeing the sleepwalking performance of Manchester United players on the pitch, commentators and experts kept asking questions.
Of course Ferguson knew what the problem was. There was a problem with the team's physical fitness. The commercial competition in the summer made the team's physical reserve a joke. The current situation of Manchester United's physical fitness is not at a level at all. Some players are still in good physical condition.
, and some players have average physical fitness and do not have much training time together, which makes the players sleepwalk on the field. Today's Manchester United is in really bad shape and is not fully prepared compared to their opponents.[
Under such circumstances, it is of course impossible to expect the team to perform well.
However, for Ferguson, although the team's physical fitness is not good, it is absolutely unacceptable to be led by a goal by the newly promoted team in the opening game of the season at home.
When referee Farrow blew the whistle at the end of the first half, the scoreboard of Manchester United at Old Trafford, 0:1 Birmingham, remained unchanged.
The Manchester United players walked towards the dressing room dejectedly, while Ferguson didn't even wait for the end of the first half before he got into the players' tunnel with an angry look on his face...
"Haha, it seems that these 15 minutes during the halftime break are so dark for the Manchester United players." The commentator said unkindly. Obviously everyone knew that the players would definitely be criticized by Ferguson in the lounge.
As for whether it's a hair dryer, I can't say for sure, after all, this is the opening match.
The commentator was right. You could hear roars in the players' lounge far away in the corridor. Who else could it be? Ferguson was furious.
"This is your football? Shit! The youth team players are better than you, so you have to be passionate!'
"No fighting spirit!"
"Have you wasted all your energy on women?"
Everyone in Ferguson's dressing room was scolded profusely. When the old man cursed, he simply blocked his words and cursed whatever was offensive. The old Scottish man's anger all summer long seemed to have burst out at this moment.
When the players ran out of the tunnel, everyone's faces were not so pretty, which showed how powerful the old Scottish man's hair dryer was.
After the start of the second half, Manchester United had good luck and evened the score in the 51st minute of the game.
It was Scholes' long shot that caused Blackburn goalkeeper Hart to take the ball away. Fletcher grabbed the ball from the Birmingham defender just before the season and hit the ball into the net. 1:1, Manchester United, playing at home, pulled one back.
ball.
This goal made the Manchester United fans at home extremely happy, and the commentator also praised the Manchester United team. From everyone's point of view, it is not a big problem for the European champions to equalize the score or go ahead.
The game has gone on for eighty minutes, and the score is still 1:1, with Manchester United trailing at home.
"Li Yu's performance today is very puzzling. He ran a lot, but never had a few chances to win the ball. It can only be said that he was very active, but the actual effect was not obvious. This is a bit different from Birmingham's targeted defense.
Relationship!" The commentator's evaluation of Li Yu was quite objective.
Of course, Li Yu himself wanted to score a goal, but he felt that it was very difficult to cooperate with his teammates today. He ran out of good positions several times, but his teammates did not pass the ball over immediately.
How should I put it? Li Yu wanted to cooperate, but he always felt that something was wrong. In fact, Li Yu seemed to understand what the problem was. The other players were in poor physical condition now. Some of the actions they could usually make could be scored.
The ball, it seems now, is difficult.
This time, after Li Yu finally received Carrick's long pass in the frontcourt, he padded his chest and stepped on the football. He and Rooney made a wall-to-wall cooperation, which broke through Karl's defense.
Immediately, without saying anything, Li Yu used his speed to rush past Johnson. However, his final shot was firmly caught by the opponent's goalkeeper Hart.
Li Yu glanced at the opponent's young goalkeeper after shooting. He knew how powerful his shot was, but Hart was able to save the ball instead of hitting it. Is this young goalkeeper very confident?
Three minutes later, Li Yu made a beautiful dribbling pass from Birmingham full-back Kudru. He wanted to send a through ball immediately, but he found that he and Rooney did not form a tacit understanding at all this time. Rooney did not move forward and had to go inward.
After a group of forced intruders decided to go it alone, Li Yu no longer wanted to cooperate.[
Everyone in front must be crushed to finish the shot. This is what Li Yu thought and did. Johnson, the Birmingham central defender who stepped forward to defend, felt as if he was mounted on a wall. His opponent was unmoved, but he himself was
Li Yu instantly lost his center of gravity and dribbled the ball past.
In the picture, the seemingly weird picture made Manchester United fans excited. Li Yu successfully cut inside and he was about to shoot!
Li Yu raised his right foot and made a strong shot. Hart confidently judged the direction of the shot, moved his center of gravity, and was ready to make moves at any time.
Suddenly, Manchester United's No. 9's feet in the air changed!
"No!" Hart yelled, trying to move his center of gravity in the opposite direction too late.
The outside instep rubs the shot at a reverse angle. The ball speed is not very fast, but there is no obstruction on the trajectory of the ball. The goal is scored. Manchester United finally overtakes the score 2:1 at the last moment!
The goal was so difficult to score, it almost hit the goal just as the final whistle sounded!
The Old Trafford stadium was filled with joy. Before the game started, few people probably realized how difficult this game was.
The Birmingham players looked at the Manchester United players celebrating the goal with unwilling expressions. Before the game started, maybe they thought they would be satisfied if they could take away one point from Old Trafford. However, the game started.
Later, especially when they took the lead, Birmingham also dreamed of taking away three points from Old Trafford. However, in stoppage time, Manchester United overtook the score, and the one point they were about to win was also lost.
Without it, Birmingham people certainly have reason to be depressed.
After the game, Li Rui was rated just passing by the media, which is still very rare in his career.
After the first round of the 2008-2009 Premier League season, among the traditional top four of the Premier League, Liverpool was defeated by Tottenham in an away game, and the other three teams all won.
Arsenal beat Everton 1:6 away from home, with Denilson, Gallas, Vermaelen, Eduardo, and Cesc Fabregas scoring twice, Wenger's red arsenal of high-definition artillery.
Chelsea defeated newly promoted Hull City 2:1 at Stamford Bridge. In this game, Ancelotti's Blues did not perform well. At the critical moment, Drogba stood up in stoppage time and scored a beautiful goal.
The volley shot scored all Chelsea's goals in the game and helped the Blues get a good start to the season.
Liverpool encountered resistance from Tottenham at White Hart Lane and lost 2:1 away from Tottenham. Gerrard's goal did not help the team take away any points.
After this round, the whole of England said that Arsenal showed signs of rising, but the league points were not opened up. Chelsea and Manchester United had Didier Drogba and Li Yu stand up at critical moments. Only Liverpool was disappointing.
, although Tottenham is also difficult to beat, Liverpool, which did not score a single point, made the screamers somewhat misled!
Subsequently, the UEFA last season's best award ceremony and the 2009-2010 Champions League group stage draw ceremony were held in Monte Carlo.
At the scene, while the awards for last season's European Champions Cup were being awarded, the group draws for this season's Champions League group stage were interspersed.
Best Goalkeeper: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United)
The first award was awarded to the best goalkeeper. Van der Sar defeated his biggest rival Chelsea's Petr Cech, as well as other nominees Almunia, Neuer and Reina to be elected as the best goalkeeper.
What is unique is that the person who presented the award to Van der Sar was former Manchester United goalkeeper Schmeichel, who won the first Best Goalkeeper Award in 1998.
Next was the award for the best defender. Former Milan captain Baresi was the guest of honor and presented the award to Barcelona captain Puyol.
Although Barcelona lost to Manchester United in the final, the Barcelona captain still defeated Vidic, who was highly popular at Manchester United, and won the award for the best defender.
But Puyol is obviously not in a good mood. This past season, he reached the Champions League final with Barcelona and ended up finishing second. This made Puyol look like he was not in a good mood.
"For me personally, it's an amazing achievement. In order to be a great defender, you have to have a lot of qualities, like being fast, strong, and good at heading the ball. You also need a lot of great teammates around you, and luckily for me
With such conditions, of course, if I can bring a championship to the team, I am willing to give up personal glory." Puyol said truthfully when the host asked him to give an acceptance speech.
The subsequent best midfielder award belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo. In fact, the former Manchester United No. 7 should belong to the striker. However, since almost everyone knows who the best striker will be, it is also chosen.
A compromise was made and the award for the best midfielder was awarded to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Interestingly, it was another Manchester United man who presented the award to Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
Cristiano Ronaldo seemed very happy to receive this award. He said: "This award makes me feel very good. The competitors you see are all world-class players. The competition is very fierce. In the end, I can win this award."
It’s great.”
Li Rui won the best player and best forward awards without any suspense. Before the award ceremony, it was already an open secret.
UEFA President Platini personally handed the crystal trophy to Li Yu.
"Congratulations, Li Yu, the trophy and honor belong to you!" Platini smiled, shook hands and greeted.
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman." Li Yu responded politely. An Asian player won the best player and top scorer in the Champions League. This can be said to be an unprecedented feat.
The next day, the photo of Li Yu holding a crystal trophy in each hand became the front page headline of major sports media. Among them, the headline of "The Times" was sensational and exaggerated.
"Amazing young man! He made history!"
At the end of the award ceremony, the group drawing ceremony for the UEFA Champions League group stage of the 2009-2010 season was also completed. The final group group situation is as follows:
Group E: Liverpool, Lyon, Fiorentina, Debrecen (Hungary)
Group F: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine), Ruby Kazan (Russia)
Group G: Sevilla, Rangers, Stuttgart, Uniria (Romania)
Group H: Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Olympiacos (Greece), Standard Liege (Belgium)
The first eight seeded teams to be seated in the draw are: Group Bayern Munich, Group B Manchester United, Group Milan, Group Chelsea, Group E Liverpool, Group F Barcelona, Group G Sevilla, Group H
Arsenal then has the most eye-catching second group of teams. Real Madrid was drawn into Group F and they will meet Serie A giant Milan. Inter Milan was drawn into Group F and will meet defending champion Barcelona; the other team
The much-watched team Juventus is placed in the same group as Bayern Munich.
After that, the draw of teams in the third and fourth pots was uneventful, and there was no absolute death group.
The new season of the Champions League group stage will be held on September 16\17, September 30\October 1, October 21\22, November 4\5, November 25\26 and December 9, 2009
\It will be held on the 10th. The top two teams in the group will advance to the knockout rounds of the top 16, and the third place will advance to the top 32 of the Europa League.
The final will be held on May 22, 2010 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of Real Madrid.
