By this time, both teams' players had finished warming up.
Li Shiguang took the initiative to shake hands with Mourinho and then followed the players into the players' tunnel.
"Bang!"
As Li Shiguang closed the locker room door, the noise inside Elland Road Stadium was shut out.
The Leeds United players were all sitting in their places, making their final preparations before going on the field.
Li Shiguang pulled up a chair placed against the wall, dragged it to the middle of the changing room, sat down, looked around, and did not rush to speak.
Gradually, everyone noticed Li Shiguang's appearance, so they stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on their head coach.
Li Shiguang smiled, first raising his wrist to check his watch, then turning his gaze back to his teammates, his eyes looking somewhat ardent.
"Alright, guys, we have 17 minutes left before we head out to play this six-point game against those Londoners." Li Shiguang hadn't given such an impassioned pre-match pep talk in the locker room in a long time.
"I believe everyone knows our current situation. Only by winning this game can we continue to put enough pressure on Manchester United and stay in the title race. Although we unfortunately lost the last game, it was because of this shitty schedule. I know everyone is too tired."
Upon hearing Li Shiguang's words, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, sitting directly in front of him, nodded in agreement. Indeed, in Ibrahimovic's mind, how could the mighty Leeds United have lost at home to a bunch of lousy Sheffield United if they hadn't played two games in three days?
Li Shiguang stood up from his chair, waved vigorously at the team members whose emotions had been stirred up, his face flushed red, and his voice became increasingly loud: "Now we have had a comfortable week of rest, and everyone's physical strength and condition have recovered to their peak! In the next 90 minutes, I want every one of you to go all out and make these Londoners go back to where they came from with a big 'egg'!"
"Let's take 3 points, then go home comfortably and have a happy Christmas Eve! Any questions?!"
"No problem!!! Kill these Londoners!!!"
Seeing Li Shiguang so passionate, a sight he hadn't displayed in a long time, the group of young men in white jerseys in front of him all stood up and shouted in unison!
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the away team's locker room was slightly more serious.
"Defense! Defense! Still the damn defense! Everyone remember, stabilize our backline and find opportunities to pass the ball to Didier and Arjen." Mourinho emphasized today's tactics to the Chelsea players again with a blank expression.
However, after saying that, he seemed to realize that he had said something wrong in a moment of carelessness, and subconsciously glanced at Shevchenko, who was looking down and seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing that Shevchenko had no reaction, he continued, "Remember what I told you earlier, and remember what we practiced on the training field this week. Today we have only one goal, and that is to destroy their right flank!"
Ten minutes later, the two teams met in the players' tunnel.
Chelsea is doing alright; the players are relatively calm.
The Leeds United players had just had their emotions stirred up by Li Shiguang in the locker room, especially the notoriously rebellious Ibrahimovic, who was now staring intently at Drogba standing right next to him. From the way he looked at the Ivorian, you could feel the tension in the air.
The final Christmas Eve match of the first half of the Premier League season is about to begin!
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After the players completed their entrance procedures, Cannavaro and Terry stood on the sidelines, and under the referee's guidance, the two tough guys completed the coin toss.
The television broadcast also had a wicked sense of humor, focusing the camera on the two captains' hands clasped tightly together.
Judging from the bulging veins on their hands, you can imagine what a fierce battle the next 90 minutes will be like!
After completing all the procedures, both sides stood in their respective halves of the field, waiting for the referee to blow the whistle to start the game.
Drogba and Shevchenko walked into the center circle and stood on either side of the ball that the referee had already placed, ready to kick off!
"Alright, both teams are in position. Fans, get ready and let's see what kind of exciting Christmas Eve battle these two teams will bring us!"
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As soon as the referee blew his whistle, a deafening roar of cheers erupted from the stands at Elland Road!
Chelsea kicked off first, intending to capitalize on their advantage and launch a direct attack on Leeds United's goal. If they could score first, they would have the upper hand and could retreat deep into their own half, making it quite possible for Leeds United to be unable to break through their defense!
So, Drogba gently tapped the ball in the center circle, and Shevchenko, instead of passing it back to Lampard as usual, flicked his right foot and kicked the ball directly to the left flank, where Robben had just sprinted out after the referee blew his whistle.
However, Chelsea's attack did not pose a real threat to Leeds United. Although Robben successfully received Shevchenko's pass on the wing, Mills and Alonso immediately came up to meet him, blocking his way from both the front and the side.
Li Shiguang also noticed this, and he stood on the sidelines nodding repeatedly.
Mourinho had actually anticipated this move before the match.
Unfortunately, with Maicon demoted, Mills is indeed Leeds United's biggest weakness on paper after Maicon's departure.
Seeing Robben, who had already made several substitute appearances, start the match, further convinced Li Shiguang that Mourinho intended to focus on attacking down the right flank. Therefore, during warm-ups, he specifically reminded the two defensive midfielders to pay close attention to defending the right flank.
Once Robben gets the ball, besides Mills defending him head-on, they have to send someone else to help defend him.
However, even when Robben saw the two players closing in, he did not immediately pass the ball. After all, the game had just started and his teammates had not yet had time to run over to support him. He planned to dribble through the gap between the two players to get away.
But is Alonso so easy to beat?
Robben flicked the ball with his left foot into the gap between the two players, and Alonso seized the opportunity, sticking out his right foot to poke the ball to Mills directly in front of him.
Mills reacted quickly; instead of stopping the ball, he launched a long ball as soon as it rolled in front of him, sending it directly into Chelsea's half.
Judging from the trajectory of the ball, Torres had already leaned against Ashley Cole, preparing to contest for the first ball.
Suddenly, the roles of attacker and defender shifted...
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