Sunday.
Li Shiguang led his team to Stamford Bridge to challenge Chelsea away from home.
Actually, this 34th round league match against Chelsea was a difficult decision for Li Shiguang.
The Champions League semi-final match is in three days.
Leeds United will then return to Elland Road to face Chelsea again.
From Grant's perspective, today's league match isn't that important.
This is also Liverpool's fault for not performing well.
They were held to a draw by Blackburn in yesterday's match, managing only one point.
This means that even though Chelsea lost the game today, they can still maintain fourth place in the standings.
So after careful consideration, Grant chose to give up the league and focus on the Champions League, which was what owner Abramovich longed for!
But Li Shiguang is different.
Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-1 yesterday and have climbed to the top of the league table.
Today's match is a must-win for Leeds United.
Therefore, there were significant differences in the two teams' lineups and formations.
For Leeds United, Li Shiguang fielded almost the same lineup as in the last match, the only difference being that he excluded Adriano from the squad to allow him to rest and prepare for the match three days later.
Grant, on the other hand, did the opposite of Li Shiguang, leaving most of the key players on the bench and sending out a group of substitutes to play.
Such a match, where the skill levels are clearly mismatched, naturally has no suspense.
In the 89th minute, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal gave Leeds United a 3-0 lead, effectively sealing the victory.
The Chelsea fans in the stands at Stamford Bridge also know this very well.
Knowing that Grant's lineup was for the Champions League semi-final three days later, Chelsea didn't stand in the stands and curse as usual after losing the game.
On the contrary, it was when Li Shiguang and the Leeds United players left the field.
They were subjected to indiscriminate attacks by Chelsea fans sitting above the players' tunnel.
Besides verbal greetings, a very small number of fans even threw empty water bottles at the Leeds United players.
This move thoroughly angered Simeone and Ibrahimovic, who are known for their volatile tempers.
The two grabbed cones placed next to the players' tunnel and were about to rush towards the stands, ready to have a full-blown fight with the Chelsea fans who were throwing bottles.
"Boss, if you hadn't stopped me, I would have fucking smashed that idiot's head in!"
In the players' tunnel, Simeone's face still showed anger.
He and Ibrahimovic were about to climb onto the stands when Li Shiguang and Rivaldo pulled them back.
Right now, he's standing in front of Li Shiguang, glaring at him with a beard bristling.
"You think you can be a head coach?!" Li Shiguang rolled his eyes at the furious Simeone. "Let's settle things on the football field. Have you forgotten how I fought back against those fans in Lyon last time?"
Simeone slammed his fist on the wall, muttering, "But Chelsea is stronger than Lyon, and we can't beat them 7-2..."
"Alright, it doesn't have to be 7-2!" Li Shiguang chuckled and patted Simeone on the shoulder. "Chelsea only has the Champions League as their only hope this season. Destroying that hope ourselves might be more impactful than a thrashing of them!"
"That's right!"
Seeing that Simeone wanted to say something more, Li Shiguang quickly interrupted the Argentine's rambling and smiled slightly: "Tell Ferreira that after the press conference, he should take the players back first, and you come with me somewhere!"
What are some good places to visit in London?
Simone was a little puzzled, but didn't ask further, simply nodding and replying, "Okay..."
····
When we came out of Stamford Bridge.
Simone and Li Shiguang had changed their clothes and were wearing baseball caps and masks on their heads and faces.
"Boss, I have a feeling this isn't a good place you're taking me to..."
"Well, I recently met a smuggler who's planning to take you to sell."
"Holy crap!? Are you kidding me!?"
"You know I was joking, right?"
The two exchanged a few words and soon arrived at the parking lot.
After many twists and turns.
The two walked up to a Mercedes-Benz.
Simone stared blankly at the familiar Mercedes in front of him, completely bewildered. "Wait... boss, isn't this the car I bought for Carolina to take the kids to school?! My, no, Carolina's car... shouldn't it be at home?!"
Li Shiguang ignored Simone, who was in a daze.
He pointed to the passenger seat.
He then opened the car door and jumped into the back seat.
Li Shiguang had just gotten into the car.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Allen turned around and nodded to Li Shiguang: "Boss."
Simone, who had climbed into the car from the passenger seat, also saw Allen and exclaimed in surprise, "Holy crap!? Allen!? When did you get to London!? Carolina's car, why are you driving it!?"
"Keep your voice down." Li Shiguang patted Simone lightly, signaling him to shut up, before turning to Allen. "Let's go, have you made plans?"
“Yes, it’s arranged.” Allen started the car. “They’re already waiting for us at a rather private restaurant in the suburbs of London.”
····
The car drove out of the parking lot and onto the road.
Simone finally couldn't hold back any longer and turned to look at Li Shiguang: "Boss, what's going on here?!"
Li Shiguang smiled and said, "Diego, I called Carolina and asked her to lend the car to Allen today. Do you remember when we were talking in the office about Chelsea's new right-back during the winter transfer window?"
“Right-back?” Simeone frowned and thought for two seconds before speaking. “Ah! There is such a person, isn’t he the young man Chelsea bought from Lokomotiv Moscow during the winter transfer window? What was his name again… I can’t remember it right now.”
"Branislav Ivanovich!" Allen, who was holding the steering wheel, promptly offered a reminder.
"Ah! Yes! That's him, Ivanovic!" Simone exclaimed suddenly. "Boss, are we going to see him?"
“Yes.” Li Shiguang rubbed his temples and nodded gently. “Allen has been keeping an eye on this player. Since he joined Chelsea, Grant has never given him any opportunities. The Serbian has only played two games for Chelsea’s reserve team.”
"Huh?!" Simone was a little puzzled. "Boss, I remember you said this kid is pretty fierce, a versatile player in the backcourt. Why doesn't Grant give him a chance?"
How would I know what Grant is thinking?
Li Shiguang made a sarcastic remark about Grant, and then a familiar wicked smile appeared on his lips.
"And I don't need to worry about his thoughts. At the end of last month, Allen reached an agreement with Ivanovic's agent in private, so we arranged to meet today in the suburbs of London. As for why we need your car, I believe you know better than I do."
"Weren't you upset about being insulted by Chelsea fans? Today, let's go poach some of their people and you can collect some interest from them!"
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