Reborn Liverpool

Chapter 419 Returning to Liverpool

The Huaguo team, which won the Asian Cup championship, returned to Huaguo on February 2. Zhang Mai and Zhang Yulin came back with the team to participate in the celebration of winning the championship.

For the first time since Huaguo football was born, it won the intercontinental championship, and its significance even surpassed last summer's World Cup No.4.

During the national carnival for almost a week, both Zhang Mai and Zhang Yulin were dizzy with their busy schedules, and various commendations, rewards and celebrations continued in an endless stream.

During the period, Zhang Mai completed the most important thing of returning to China this time. After meeting with the senior management of Huaguo Football Shoes, Lippi's new 5-year coaching contract was finalized. The development idea of ​​the company is determined, and the plan to continue the new round of Asian hegemony will continue.

Li Tong and Gao Hongbo continued to serve as the Chinese coaches, and Zheng Zhi, who had officially retired, also joined the Chinese coaching staff. Veterans over the age of 30 in the team were cut across the board.

Lippi's idea of ​​building the new Hua Guo team is very clear. Taking advantage of the "two Zhang" years of playing, he quickly cultivated the new Hua Guo team with post-95 players as the backbone, and gradually trained the post-00 new army.

Zhang Mai took a break from his busy schedule. On the way to the major hotels and auditoriums, he also ran into several stewardesses he knew when he came back from the UAE charter flight. Unfortunately, he had no time for further development.

……

The Premier League matches in Europe are in full swing. Liverpool's recent situation is not good. Zhang Mai had to rush back to England on February 2.

On February 2th, Zhang Mai watched the home game between Liverpool and Bournemouth in the stands of Anfield Stadium. 12 wins.

This is already the 26th round of the Premier League this season. In the previous two rounds of the league, Liverpool's state continued to slump:
On January 1th, the 30th round of the Premier League was a focus match at Anfield Stadium. Liverpool drew 24-1 with Leicester City at home. Mane scored in 1 seconds. Fox equalized in stoppage time at halftime. A missed penalty left Liverpool with a 121-point lead.

On February 2th, the 5th round of the Premier League was fought at the London Stadium. Liverpool drew 25-1 away with West Ham. Mane took the lead, Antonio equalized, Liverpool tied, and the lead shrank to 1 points.

During the same period, Manchester City continued to win two consecutive victories, which reduced Liverpool's lead after four consecutive league draws to 3 points.

In other words, within a month of Zhang Mai leaving Liverpool and returning to participate in the Asian Cup, the Red Army's original 14-point lead turned into a gap between victory and defeat.

Fortunately, Liverpool's substitute lineup was well changed, and they eliminated their opponents in both the League Cup and the FA Cup in January and continued to advance:
1月9日和1月24日的联赛杯半决赛2回合比赛，利物浦4-2淘汰热刺，进入到2月25日的决赛，决赛的对手是红军的宿命之敌-曼城；

1月26日，利物浦在足总杯第四圈中3-1战胜乙级队士丽思，顺利挺进第5圈比赛。

In the 26th round, it was not easy for Liverpool to narrowly beat Bournemouth 1-0 at home, but it was at least a boost to the sluggish morale of the Red Army.

From February onwards, Liverpool's matches became more intense, the league entered the final sprint stage, domestic cup matches continued, and the fierce Champions League knockout rounds also reignited the flames of war.

After losing to Manchester City in the 21st round, Liverpool suffered four consecutive draws, and the morale of the team fell to the bottom. It was not until this round of narrow victory over the underdog Bournemouth that the pressured Klopp had the energy to pay attention to the bustling media.

In the last game of the 26th round of the Premier League, Liverpool narrowly beat Bournemouth 1-0 and currently leads the standings with a 3-point advantage. After the game, Klopp believes that Liverpool should have a better performance.

When asked if Liverpool were lucky to get the three points, Klopp denied:
"I don't think so, but I know what the other side will think because we always have a player who will step up and break the deadlock, this time the captain Henderson, if Origi's shot goes in at the last minute, then we will be more confident. We absolutely deserved the three points."

Klopp doesn't think injuries should be used as an excuse:

"I don't always say that, it's not really an excuse, I mean we should have played better, but we're not complete, we've got two players out, Milner just came back, yesterday No training. Everything wasn't perfect, that's part of the game, but we shouldn't count on that, so we got a point without being perfect."

As for the question raised by many media about the straight drop in Liverpool's performance after Zhang Mai's absence, Klopp told the news frankly:
"Every player has a homeland. You have to learn to accept this. Zhang Mai's absence, we have been trying to make up for it through the efforts of other players. Today, it seems that the effect is not bad."

Talking about the competition for this year's league title, Klopp said:
"Since the fifth week, we have always said that there are two teams fighting for the title. Now Tottenham are also coming up. Although they are in a difficult situation, they have handled it very well. I think they are also a strong contender for the title. Want to To win the championship is to deal with a much more complicated situation than today. We are now 67 points and only lost one game, so we are optimistic, and today we can regain three points, which I think is very good. Obviously, small wins It’s no surprise, you have to be ready for anything if you want to win a championship.”

With the recovery of the team's performance and the return of Zhang Mai, while Klopp was relieved, the outside media did not let go of the continued criticism of Liverpool's sluggish state.

Even Liverpool famous people have publicly talked about Liverpool's worrying point, that is, "It seems that Liverpool's lineup is not as thick as Manchester United and Manchester City."

In the 25th round of the Premier League, Liverpool drew 1-1 away with West Ham United, and the advantage over Manchester City was reduced to 3 points.

Carragher said on the Monday Night Football program that he said that Liverpool's lineup is not as deep as Manchester United, and there may be problems in the championship process.

"I said yesterday that the depth of Manchester United's lineup is stronger than that of Liverpool. Some people may think it sounds a little strange, but now, we can see some clues." Carragher said.

"Klopp made a mistake at right-back and he let Clyne go. I know the player has had a couple of injuries but you don't have to let him go, keep him."

"Milner has played twice in that position now, and seeing him, it's hard to imagine he's ever been a left-back for that long. He doesn't seem to fit in at all."

"Keita, the new signing who paid a lot of money, was a little quiet on the pitch and kept losing the ball. Firmino didn't look like himself. And Salah, we didn't see him tonight. do anything."

"I think that's the thing to worry about, way more important than the pressure of the title race. Liverpool are not as consistent as we've seen in the last few weeks after injuries in a few different positions. "

"Liverpool's only player who won't make people worry is Zhang Mai. It's a pity that Zhang Mai has to participate in the damn Asian Cup!"

(End of this chapter)