After watching these two key matches, Leeds United will soon face the League Cup.
The next morning, Li Shiguang sat in Thorpe's office, looking at the players whose physical reserves on the system were mostly below 40 points and he was very worried. He knew that the team was indeed running out of steam and he had to make a decision. With Leeds United's current foundation, it would be difficult for them to compete for all the bids this season.
Therefore, Li Shiguang made a lot of rotations in the midweek game, with players such as Pique, Mills, Neuer, and Garcia all starting. Tactically, Li Shiguang also adopted a defensive posture and did not have the players press high up the pitch.
To Li Shiguang's great surprise, even though he clearly wanted to give up on the League Cup, Crewe from League One was really disappointing. In 120 minutes, he had nearly 15 shots but failed to break through Neuer's goal. Instead, he got angry and started playing aggressively.
In the final penalty shootout, Neuer displayed incredible prowess, making three consecutive saves to eliminate Crewe.
Leeds United have been forced into the next round of the League Cup...
At the post-match press conference, Li Shiguang showed no trace of joy at the team's victory. When a reporter asked Li Shiguang why he looked unhappy, he did not respond.
Li Shiguang, having reached his limit, finally fired back: "Mr. reporter, if your team had to play four official matches in half a month, including one in the Champions League, would you be happy?"
Li Shiguang's rhetorical question instantly ignited the atmosphere at the scene.
Reporters love coaches like Li Shiguang and Mourinho who can generate buzz. If coaches are all taciturn, where will they get the exciting news to write in the newspapers?
Immediately, a reporter stood up and asked, "Mr. Li, what do you mean?"
"That's right! Even if I get fined, I'm still going to speak out today." Li Shiguang, in a fit of anger, didn't care about anything else. "I'm referring to the FA's stupid schedule. Look at Leeds United's schedule! My players haven't had a proper rest since the third round of the league! After today's 120-minute match, they didn't even have time to go shopping with their wives and kids, and they have to play another match in three days! I just want to say that whoever came up with this kind of schedule must have been kicked in the head by a donkey!"
After venting my anger, even though I knew it wouldn't change anything, at least I got my revenge.
Meanwhile, the reporters sitting below were also beaming, heads down, frantically typing on their keyboards, determined to record every word Li Shiguang said so that it could be published in tomorrow's newspaper.
Unsurprisingly, the following morning, Li Shiguang's angry remarks against the FA the previous day appeared in major English newspapers, embellished by reporters.
This also led to Li Shiguang, who had just started working at the club, receiving an email from the English Football Association about a fine of 20,000 euros.
But despite the criticism, the game still has to be played.
Over the next nine days, Leeds United first played a league match at home against Watford, which ended in a 1-1 draw. They then faced Turkish champions Galatasaray in a Champions League group stage match, a hard-fought 90 minutes in which Leeds United ultimately won 3-2, securing their second consecutive Champions League victory. Finally, they traveled to Lancashire to challenge Blackburn Rovers, but unfortunately, even with the morale boost, Leeds United still lost 1-2 away from home, managing only one point in two league matches!
Although the team's performance in the last two rounds of the league was poor, Li Shiguang managed to get through the brutal month of September. With the arrival of the international break, Li Shiguang and the players will have two weeks to catch their breath before their first high-level match of the season.
The home game against Manchester United....
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