There is a dream called football

Chapter 204 The League Crisis
January 1, the first day of the new year, but Liverpool fans had a bad time, they lost 1 to 0 to Chelsea.

The Christmas schedule finally dragged down Liverpool. Compared with Chelsea, which has a strong team and a very deep bench, Liverpool finally couldn't stand this game.

But what was even worse was the double red meeting with Manchester United two weeks later. This time Liverpool still lost 0-1.

As a result, the team's performance in the league also fell to sixth, and was once again overtaken by Middlesbrough.

The Sun newspaper reported with a huge photo. In the photo, Benitez looked lonely, as if he had lost everything.

"It's impossible for Liverpool to compete for the league title this season. The only thing they can look forward to is the Champions League."

"But I think in the Champions League, Liverpool will also be eliminated. Their opponent Leverkusen is not easy to mess with."

In a BBC program similar to world football, Lineker, with a big mouth, criticized Benitez for not understanding football.

"I think he doesn't understand football, at least he doesn't understand the Premier League. Many times his tactics are very rigid. For example, when facing a weaker team in the league, you should use Harman head-on, not Alonso, who has good skills but is flashy."

The host asked: "What do you think is the reason why Liverpool has not won the Premier League title since the Premier League?"

"It's very simple. Ferguson understands football better. Football used to be football, but now football is business."

"Does Liverpool have the international reputation of Manchester United now?"

"I've been to Malaysia and people there like Manchester United. This is something that we in the UK can't understand. In our hearts, Liverpool is the giant, but in the world, Manchester United is. And now Chelsea have surpassed Liverpool."

"It all comes down to money?"

Lineker pointed to his own brain, "In the final analysis, it is a problem with the management's brain."

"So should Liverpool replace Benitez?"

"I don't know, but if I were in the top management of Liverpool, then I would definitely change an English manager. I have to say that the Premier League is different. The confrontation is very fierce here. If you can't go head-to-head, then you don't belong here."

Lineker is famous in the UK for his big mouth, and is also a very famous football commentator. He was also a very successful player in the past, so many people listen to what he said.

Immediately these words reached Benitez's ears, and reporters also came to pick things up.

"Raphael, what do you think of Lineker's words?"

Benitez's image to British reporters has always been suave, but this time he had a very rare outburst.

"Lineker? Has he ever been a coach? I remember he was a commentator on a TV show?"

"You know what? It's easy to play lip service, pointing fingers on the TV, but it's very difficult to actually win a game. Football is played with your feet, not with your mouth."

"In fact, you are the same. You always question my substitutions and my tactics, but if any of you sit in my position, I can guarantee that you will be like a bunch of S."

"And what I want to say is, if you like Manchester United, then go for it, I don't care, I'm not Ferguson, Liverpool is not Manchester United."

As expected, Benitez's remarks quickly hit the headlines of the sports section. Some people can understand that, after all, Liverpool has been under too much pressure recently, but there are also many people who laugh at Benitez as the end of the road.

However, Benitez was not idle. He flew to Germany to watch Leverkusen’s match. He was the opponent in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. At this time, the Champions League is the only straw for Benitez. Because the league is already 20 points behind Chelsea, it is really impossible to counterattack again.

The current head coach of Leverkusen is the German Klaus Augenthaler. This is a coach from the Bayern Munich system, and his basic skills are still very good.

Like Porto, Leverkusen has become a star supermarket in recent years. After the success of the Champions League in 2002, Leverkusen's stars were poached, mainly by Bayern Munich.

Ballack is gone, Ze Roberto is gone, but Leverkusen's hematopoietic ability is good. At this time, they have the handsome brother Berbatov, the Ukrainian Voronin, and the old international Schneider in the midfield.

The glory of the Champions League two years ago is still vivid, so Benitez dare not underestimate this powerful opponent.

He came to Germany just to watch the Leverkusen game.

I have to say that German football has its own very distinctive style, with fast attack speed and tough play, and most importantly, the will of German footballers is very strong, which means that it is difficult for you to beat the Germans.

Benitez was watching a league game in Leverkusen. The team played fairly well and won 1-0 in the end. Obviously Leverkusen did not show their real strength. They will obviously not be like this in the Champions League game.

The first round of the Champions League is at home, so Liverpool must play well, and then take the advantage of scoring to have a good result in the away game. This is Benitez's wishful thinking.

Just when Benitez was about to leave after watching the game, a staff member came over, "Hi, Rafael, Klaus please."

"My God, it was still discovered."

Benitez could only smile wryly.

The place where Augenthaler met Benitez was in the VIP room of the stadium, which is very luxurious, overlooking the stadium, and the big one can fit into a double bed.

"Hello, Raphael."

In a rare display of enthusiasm from the German, Augenthaler embraced Benitez.

"Are you scolding me in your heart, this stinky old man actually came to spy on information?"

"Hahaha, there really isn't, because I know you can't see anything."

"That is to say, you have hidden your strength?"

"maybe."

"Both sides are also in a state of tacit understanding, and they both know what the other side is for."

Augenthaler laughed and said, "Since you're in Germany, how can you not try our German dark beer?"

Apart from cars, Germany is most famous for its sausages and beer. Benitez nodded, "Of course."

Augenthaler had already prepared a sausage and a bottle of beer for Benitez.

"Wow, that's great."

While eating and drinking, Augenthaler smiled and said, "Is there a lot of pressure in the UK?"

"Haha, it's not a job for people at all. Those British guys are too capable of doing things."

"Haha."

"I think after the loss to Leverkusen, you will be under more pressure."

Augenthaler also knows the significance of the Champions League to Benitez's life-saving straw, so Benitez just laughed and said nothing.

(End of this chapter)