Thorpe Arch Training Base.
Li Shiguang, Simone, and Rivaldo are standing on the training field.
Aside from Li Shiguang, whose complexion looked somewhat better but whose brows were still furrowed, Simone and Rivaldo looked even more worried.
After a moment of silence, Rivaldo's voice broke the silence between the three: "Boss, I think if it really doesn't work out, let's give up on the League Cup. I studied our schedule carefully yesterday. Before the international break in mid-October, we have to play Chelsea, Liverpool, Roma and Manchester United in a row. That's four tough matches in a row. Compared to their performance the day before yesterday, I feel like we really can't handle it."
After Rivaldo finished speaking, Li Shiguang did not immediately express his opinion.
He knew that Rivaldo was indeed referring to the current predicament Leeds United were facing.
To be honest.
Even Li Shiguang himself didn't expect that Leeds United, which had strengthened its bench this year, would still run into trouble under the incredible Premier League schedule.
After Portugal secured the victory.
The entire Leeds United team rushed back to England that night, but instead of returning to Leeds, they went directly to Berkshire.
After spending a day in Berkshire.
Just three days after playing Sporting Lisbon, Leeds United faced Reading away from home.
Reading is not a strong team, and their form in the first six rounds was not very good, with only one win, one draw and four losses.
Having confirmed that the players' condition and physical reserves were in good condition, Li Shiguang did not make many changes to the starting lineup in this game.
But the course of the competition was a huge surprise to Li Shiguang.
The first half ended in a 1-1 draw.
Then in the second half, Adriano and Sneijder were forced to leave the field due to injuries. Finally, in the 89th minute, Reading surprisingly scored a goal from a corner kick.
Li Shiguang hesitated for a long time, but in the end he couldn't bear to use the ultimate card, which could only be used five times.
Leeds United also surprisingly suffered a defeat away from home!
After this defeat, Leeds United slipped from the top of the table with a record of five wins and two losses, accumulating fifteen points. Meanwhile, Arsenal, who thrashed Derby County 5-0 at home, surpassed Leeds United with seventeen points to take the lead.
Meanwhile, Manchester United, who defeated Chelsea at home, quietly climbed to second place with a record of four wins, two draws, and one loss, accumulating fourteen points.
This result put Li Shiguang, who hadn't wanted to give up on the League Cup, into deep thought.
“Boss,” Simeone spoke up as Li Shiguang was deep in thought, “and it’s not just that. Next month during the international break, the European players will be playing in the European Championship qualifiers. The intensity of those matches is completely different from this month’s international break. If they don’t get enough rest, I’m worried some key players might get injured during the games…”
"I haven't had a chance to check yet. How's Liverpool's form lately?" Li Shiguang finally spoke after thinking for a long time.
Rivaldo quickly replied: "Usually, after winning against Derby County, they have drawn two consecutive matches, both of which were 0-0."
"Alright then." After learning that Liverpool's form was not good, and weighing the importance of the League Cup and the Premier League, Li Shiguang finally made up his mind. "Then let the first team rest for the League Cup match against Chelsea. Besides, I think Mourinho probably has the same idea as me, and Chelsea might also field a completely reserve team."
····
Three days later.
The third round of the 2007-2008 English League Cup kicked off at Elland Road.
As mentioned before, Li Shiguang made a lot of rotations in this game.
Apart from Torres.
All the other players who appeared were substitutes.
This time, however, Li Shiguang did not win the gamble.
Mourinho did not hold back upon arriving at Elland Road. Seemingly to vent his anger over the 2-0 defeat to Manchester United a few days earlier, Mourinho fielded his full starting lineup for today's League Cup match.
After the match began.
Chelsea consistently used their physical advantage to press and harass Leeds United players.
Leeds United's young players put up a fight for a while.
Drogba and Shevchenko still managed to find a breakthrough.
Thirty-eighth minute.
Shevchenko received a pass from Lampard, held off Hummels, turned sharply, broke into the penalty area, and unleashed a powerful shot.
De Gea reacted quickly in front of the goal, using his left foot to block Shevchenko's low shot.
But the blocked ball didn't roll very far; instead, it rolled towards the direction where Drogba and Silva were entangled.
In this one-on-one defense, Thiago Silva was no match for Drogba. Drogba kept him firmly behind him, and he didn't even have a chance to clear the ball out of bounds.
After blocking Silva, the Ivorian, facing an open goal, naturally took a shot and happily accepted the gift.
0:1!
Chelsea take the lead!
During halftime, after much deliberation, Li Shiguang decided to replace Reus with Adriano in an attempt to increase the attacking force and try to equalize the score in the second half.
But the main problem in today's game wasn't with the forwards, but with the defense.
The second half has just begun, just two minutes in.
A long pass from Chelsea's backfield found Drogba perfectly in Ashley Cole's cross.
Drogba once again blocked Silva behind him, easily winning the first ball and passing it to Kalou, who was coming from the left wing.
Kalou then used his speed to outpace Mills, broke into the penalty area, and unleashed a powerful shot, breaching Leeds United's goal once again.
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