The fact that Zhang Qinghuan killed Catalan United with one meal is still circulating on the Internet. I believe that in the future, whether Saria meets Catalan United again, or Leeds City meets Catalan United again, or Hulay
If we play against Catalonia again, this matter will be mentioned repeatedly by major media.
Catalan United was nailed to the pillar of shame.
Whether they admit it or not, the label of "losing to a meal" cannot be taken off.
But this is actually not what worries Catalonia the most, or it is not what they are most concerned about at the moment.
What bothers them most is that after losing to Leeds City, they may lose the first place in the group.
In another Champions League group match the next night, Vesuvius, playing away from home, defeated Gulf Lighthouse 3:2 after a fierce battle and scored the key three points.
With only the final round of the group stage left, Catalonia United has twelve points and is temporarily in first place.
Vesuvius caught up to ten points, only two points behind.
In the last round of the group stage, they faced Catalan United at their home court. As long as they win, they can overtake Catalan United with a one-point advantage and become the first in the group. They will ensure that they will draw one in the next Champions League knockout group.
Good sign.
Vesuvius' victory is not good news for Catalonia.
The same goes for Leeds City.
Originally, they defeated Catalonia United away from home, which gave them a glimmer of hope of qualifying for the group stage.
Now this last glimmer of hope was shattered with Vesuvius' victory.
With only six points, they are still four points behind Vesuvius, second in the group, so they bid farewell to the Champions League knockout round one round early.
However, precisely because Gulf Beacon lost at home, Leeds City locked in their qualification to participate in the knockout rounds of this season's Europa League one round ahead of schedule.
In the second half of the season, they will move to the Europa League as third in the Champions League group.
But for the current Leeds City, I don’t know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing to be able to continue to stay in the European arena...
After all, everyone can see that participating in the Champions League this season has consumed a lot of their energy and distracted their investment in the league.
Although it has not fallen to the point of fighting for relegation so far, if it continues like this, who knows what will happen in the end?
Such examples are not uncommon in European football, and can even be said to be the norm for small and medium-sized teams after qualifying for the European competition.
In a sense, qualifying for the European Cup is more like a "hot potato" in their hands.
※※ ※
"Although we can continue to stay in the European competition and participate in the Europa League, I really don't know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing for us..."
In the tea room, Leeds City coaches were talking about each other while drinking tea.
The topic they discussed was of course the Europa League.
Everyone can speak and express their opinions.
"Will we end up in the Championship like Sarri in Spain?"
"It is an exaggeration to fall into the English Championship. We are still stronger than Saria. But we are very likely to be empty-handed this season and get nothing. Don't expect to defend the league championship, or even
We can’t even qualify for the Champions League next season…”
"I would also like to remind everyone that starting from December 17, Hu will leave the club to train with the national team to prepare for the Asian Cup. However, our league will not be suspended because of the Asian Cup. And this Chinese team
The team is considered to be the favorite to win this Asian Cup, which means that they are likely to play until the end, until early February... That means that he will miss nine rounds of the league! These nine rounds of the league happen to be the one we do not have
In the European war, he can concentrate on playing in the league. When he comes back, it will not be long before the Europa League... So our prospects in the league this season are not optimistic! Not to mention qualifying for the Champions League, we may not even be able to win.
You can’t even qualify for the Europa League!”
As soon as he said this, there was no sound in the tea room.
In the past, everyone had ignored the impact of the Asian Cup. After all, the Asian Cup was too far away for them and they could not come into contact with it in their daily lives.
Now that it was mentioned, it was discovered that the Asian Cup had a far greater impact on the team than they had previously imagined.
This is not just three group matches.
From the beginning of the training camp to the end of the Asian Cup, Hu Lai will be absent for a month and a half, nearly forty-five days and nine league rounds!
During this period, Leeds City will lose their leading scorer and important firepower. When Hulay returns to the club again, who knows where Leeds City will be ranked in the Premier League...
"I know it's not a good thing to say...but I really hope that the Chinese team will be eliminated after the group stage..." Someone from the coaching staff murmured, breaking the silence in the tea room.
Tony Clark laughed: "Actually, the situation is not as bad as everyone thinks. Hu is gone, and we still have Lasky. He scored a goal against Catalan United. I believe this will be a great
to boost his confidence.”
Assistant coach Sam Landier shook his head and said: "Tony. So far this season, Lasky has only scored four goals in total, one in the League Cup, two in the league, and one in the Champions League. I want him to take over from Hu."
I'm afraid it's not that easy to use a gun..."
"Hey, don't use Hu as a reference standard, otherwise you won't be able to find a few forwards in the entire Premier League who can replace Hu." Clark waved his hand, "Lasky has the ability to score. It's just that we didn't give full play to his ability before.
Of course, this ability is normal because we have Hu. For any team with Hu, who would consider finding another scoring point? But starting from today, we must activate Lasky's scoring point.
"
Seeing that his friend was so confident, Matt Dawn interrupted: "Do you already have an idea in mind, Tony?"
Clark smiled slightly at Matt: "Actually, I got inspiration from Hu. You still remember the bet I made with Sam, right?"
When everyone heard what he said, they suddenly realized.
This has become a well-known joke within the team.
In order to encourage Hulay, who had just joined the team, to perform well, Clark pretended to make a bet with assistant coach Sam Landill on the number of goals Hulay would score in the season.
Clark ran to Hulay, told him about the incident, and said that as long as Hulay could score five goals at the end of the season, he would invite Hulay to have a meal at Red Chili Peppers.
At that time, he and the rest of the coaching staff believed that scoring five goals in his first Premier League season was already a great achievement for Hulay.
After all, Leeds City's offensive tactics had not yet taken shape at that time.
But I didn't expect that Hu Lai only needed the first three games to complete the agreement with Clark.
In the end, he scored 11 goals in half a season and became Leeds City's top scorer that season.
You know, he played half a season less than others!
Randhir understood what Clark meant and asked: "So how big are you going to set your goal this time? Like Hu, or five goals?"
Clark laughed dumbly: "Or five goals? Your requirements are too low. Sam Hu's situation at that time was different from now. At that time, our offensive lineup was not as strong as it is now, and Hu had only been with the team for a month.
But now that Lasky has adapted to the team for almost half a season, it would be too easy to score five goals. He already has four goals."
"I mean league goals..."
"Then he has already scored two league goals." Clark said, "I plan to give him... ten goals, ten goals in the league. By the end of the season, as long as he can score ten goals, I will ask him
He goes to Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
Randall has no objection. Ten goals in the league is indeed a very pragmatic goal. If Laski can really get better, considering his ability, it will not be difficult.
But he suddenly remembered something, and then smiled: "But I don't think you will just invite him. In the end, if you really want to invite him, you must be prepared to invite the whole team..."
When he said this, the coaches in the tea room burst into laughter.
For two consecutive seasons, Clark said that he would only invite Hu Lai, but in the end he invited the whole team. So now, both the media and the fans think that the whole team goes to the Red Chili Peppers for a dinner after every season.
What tradition does the city have...
Clark also laughed: "Actually, I just hope they all know about this."
Randhir was a little surprised, but he quickly figured it out: "If you want to activate Lasky, you need the joint efforts of the whole team!"
"That's right." Clark smiled. "In addition, I have an immature opinion about qualifying for the Champions League, and I want to discuss it with you..."
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When Lasky returned to the team's locker room from the head coach, his teammates gathered around him curiously: "Dominic, what does the boss want from you?"
As soon as the training ended, Lasky called to the head coach's office on the training field.
There is something that cannot be said on the training ground and must go to the office specifically. This makes other Leeds City players very curious.
Laski glanced at Hu Lai first, and then looked at his teammates: "Uh... the boss made an agreement with me."
"Agreement? What agreement?"
"He said... if I can score at least ten league goals at the end of the season, then... he will invite me to eat at Red Hot Chili Peppers..." Lasky said hesitantly.
"Red chili?!"
"Oh My God!"
"What did I hear?! What did I hear?! You are such an enviable bastard, Dominic!"
The locker room erupted after hearing the keyword.
But Lasky still didn't seem very excited.
Or maybe Pete Williams noticed something strange about Lasky in the cheering atmosphere, and he asked: "What concerns do you seem to have, Dominic?"
"Yes... Pete. I know that Red Hot Chili Peppers is a very famous Chinese restaurant. But..." At this point, Lasky glanced at Hu Lai again, and then said carefully, "I'm not targeting
You, Hu. But I know Chinese food... seems to be bad for professional players... Sorry, I still have to tell the truth: I don't want the boss to treat me to some red pepper... Uh, what's wrong with you?"
When Lasky said this, he didn't see any dissatisfaction with Hu Lai. Instead, he found that the locker room, which was still boiling before, quickly cooled down. The teammates who were cheering were all staring at him. The expressions on their faces...
It’s hard to describe in one word.
It's like looking at a fool.
Charlie Potter asked coldly: "So you rejected the boss?"
"Well, that's not the case. I'm not stupid enough to refuse the boss in person..." Lasky said.
Having said this, he could clearly feel that the originally solid air around him was flowing again.
"But you are still stupid, Dominic!" Potter, who was obviously relieved, said still seriously.
"Why?" Lasky was confused. "It is my responsibility to score goals for the team, but I don't need him to invite me to the Red Hot Chili Peppers..."
"It's not his fault, Charlie." Williams stood up and explained to Lasky, "Dominique, do you think the boss's agreement with you...is just your business?"
"Isn't it?" Laski asked.
"Of course not." Williams flatly rejected his answer. "You are a forward, so do you think you can score ten goals in the league on your own?"
"No..." Lasky is very sensible in this regard, otherwise he would not be popular in the team. "Every goal I score is the result of everyone's joint efforts. We are a collective...
"
"That's right. We are a team, Dominic. So if you can score ten goals, then when the boss invites you to dinner, do you think... is it really good for you to go alone?"
Seeing the sincere questioning look in the team's vice-captain's eyes, Lasky was a little unsure. He tried to ask: "Then I won't go? After all, as a forward, you should score goals..."
Before he could finish his words, he heard sighs and sighs in the locker room, as well as expressions of regret on the part of his teammates.
"I..." As soon as Lasky opened his mouth, he saw everyone staring at him with expectant eyes. He suddenly felt blessed, "I should call you all together, because we are a collective..."
"YES!!" Everyone cheered with arms raised.
Williams also smiled and nodded to him: "Congratulations, the correct answer!"
Laski looked at his excited teammates in stunned silence, and it was really hard to understand: "But the boss said he would only invite me..."
Potter laughed loudly: "The boss told Hu Ye that he would be alone!"
"Ah?" Laski turned his head to Hu Lai, who had remained silent. Is there anything else he has to do with this?
Porter told Lasky about the two agreements between Hulay and his boss.
After hearing this, Lasky couldn't close his mouth. He didn't expect that there is still a tradition in Leeds City that the whole team goes to a Chinese restaurant for dinner after each season... Don't they all say that Chinese food is not good for professional players?
?
Looking at his expression, Porter knew what he was thinking, so he put his arm around his shoulders: "It's just one meal in a season, and the impact is not as big as you think, Dominic. And during the training camp in the new season, Schmidt
Ms. Te will let us practice again...so don't worry too much. Besides..."
Porter pointed to Hulay.
"Chinese athletes also eat Chinese food, but they won many gold medals in the Olympics! What does this mean? This means that Chinese food does not have such a great impact on athletes! If you don't believe me, ask Hu."
Hu Lai, who was pointed at, nodded and said seriously: "Charlie is right, Dominic. Our Olympic champion loves Chinese food the most. In every Olympics, there is a team of chefs who bring various ingredients from China.
Use the seasonings to make lunch for the athletes!"
Lasky was convinced by this logically impeccable reason, and he breathed a sigh of relief: "It's a good thing I didn't refuse the boss..."
"Of course, Dominic, otherwise you will immediately become the 'sinner' in the locker room!" Charlie Potter let go of him after saying that, raised his hands and said loudly to all the teammates in the locker room:
"Guys! From now on, we have to work hard to help Dominic score goals, and we must let him score ten... at least ten league goals before the end of the season! For the 'Red Hot Chili Peppers'!!"
“For ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers’!!!”
Everyone in the locker room raised their arms and shouted.