Chapter 400 Fighting Spirit

The first round of the match with Bayern Munich is now in the past. Chelsea has scored 5 away goals and the situation for advancement is very good. It can be said that in the public's mind, Chelsea's entry into the final is already a sure thing.

But no matter how enthusiastic the media reports outside were, in Chelsea Club, the players were still continuing to train. What they did was the same as usual, still focusing on recovery training. In the afternoon, the team dispersed and each sought guidance from professional coaches to do some technical training. At least from the performance, except for the obvious increase in the number of reporters outside the club's training base, there was no other difference.

In fact, Wang Li felt that the team was a little too complacent.

Now almost all the players believe that they will win the next game at Stamford Bridge and that they will inevitably advance to the final. Of course, Wang Li thinks so too, but many players' hearts are already on the championship trophy and they have almost forgotten their opponents in the final. Many people are already talking about where to travel after the season ends.

Perhaps these people feel that neither Liverpool nor Eindhoven can pose much threat to Chelsea.

Even though Wang Li himself felt that Chelsea would have no problem winning the championship, the mentality of both sides was different after all. He practiced Taoist mental methods, so this understanding could be considered absolute self-confidence, while other players were purely arrogant and they did not take their opponents seriously.

Such a team atmosphere was abnormal, so he told the problem to Mourinho's right-hand man, assistant coach Mr. Clark, hoping that the old players in the team would pay attention to it.

"I think we should keep a calm mindset. Many people are even talking about where to go in the summer, which is not normal."

While the two were talking, Wang Li also brought in the team's captain, John Terry. In Chelsea, the only one with a reputation comparable to Wang Li's was this iron-man captain. Although fans believed that his strength was not better than Wang Li's, his strong will and fighting spirit on the football field were worth learning for all players. In this regard, Wang Li admired Terry very much. At least until now, he had never blocked the ball with his body on the football field.

"Is that so? John?" Clark looked at the players on the green field in confusion and turned his head to ask.

"The team just defeated Bayern with a big score. They are a little excited. Now there is a problem with the mentality of the team. However, I will remind them." Terry turned his head and looked at his teammates who were training on the court and explained.

"Will this work? John, I think it's better to tell Mr. Mourinho about this. He will definitely think of a solution." Clark thought for a while and said, now is the most important moment of the league, he doesn't want any other problems to arise.

After listening to Clark's words, Wang Li turned his head and looked at his teammates who were still training on the court. They did not look slack during training. The usual training intensity was not easy. At least during training, everyone was extremely serious and no emotions would spread.

"Why not increase the intensity of training?" Wang Li thought for a moment and suggested, "Or do closed-door training? As long as the training intensity is high and everyone is not allowed to contact the outside media, I think the team will not have any other emotions spreading, right?"

The team captain John Terry next to him heard what Wang Li said and looked at his teammates on the court with pity.

No one in the team loves Chelsea more than him. In order for the team to win the highest honor this season, he would not directly oppose Wang Li's proposal. As the captain of the team, Terry thought Wang Li's proposal was very good. In this way, the team would be more guaranteed to win the final championship. Therefore, he immediately persuaded Clark to agree to this request.

Then, that afternoon, Mourinho announced that he would conduct closed training, and the internal training requirements for the players became extremely strict. While ordinary players and media reporters complained bitterly, they did not know that the actual culprit was Wang Li.

In fact, Wang Li did this out of selfish motives.

On the afternoon of the second day after the game, Wang Li went to the airport to pick up Angela who had just returned from the United States. The two had not seen each other for a long time, so they were very close when they met. Many lucky reporters took pictures of the two hugging each other at the airport.

After returning home, needless to say, the fire was ignited and couldn't be controlled. On the afternoon of the next day, Wang Li had planned to go shopping on Victoria Road with Angela. There was a high-end shopping mall there with many fine products. They wanted to buy gifts first and then find time to visit Sir Edward who had just returned home.

But now, Wang Li can't leave the club. He doesn't want to violate the rules of head coach Jose Mourinho, and these rules were suggested by himself.

"Is it because I don't want to meet Annie's father that I went to discuss the team's problems with Clark?" Lying on the bed with a pillow in his arms, Wang Li began to analyze the reasons in his mind. He suddenly realized that he was not selfless either.

In fact, ever since Angela returned to London and told him that she wanted to visit her father, Sir Edward, Wang Li had been thinking about it. It was not because he didn't want to marry Angela, but as a man, he always felt weird when he met his future father-in-law for the first time. This was a normal embarrassment and contradiction.

Of course, at least for the time being, he doesn't have to think about this matter. The club is already in closed training, and he can't go even if he wants to.

…………

During the days of Chelsea's closed training, the media, which could not get any news from the Blues, finally turned their attention away from Chelsea, who were "sure" to reach the final, and turned to Liverpool. In the first round of the semi-finals, Liverpool's performance was pretty good.

The day after Chelsea and Bayern played, Liverpool played against PSV Eindhoven at home. In the 33rd minute, Steven Gerrard, the soul of the team, scored a free kick, giving Liverpool a 1:0 lead. After that, PSV Eindhoven strengthened its defense and Liverpool had no chances.

We lost 1:0 at home, which is neither good nor bad. It cannot be compared with Chelsea, but it can be considered barely passing. In the second round in the Netherlands, we still have a great chance of qualifying for the final.

However, to the disappointment of these reporters, the usually "gentle" Spanish gentleman Benítez, after discovering that the players were constantly "harassed" by reporters, decided to adopt Chelsea's way - closed training. Although reporters outside protested loudly against this practice and claimed that "we have the right to interview", Benítez bluntly said "we have the right to refuse". After that, the reporters received no news.

Before the second leg against Bayern Munich, Chelsea still has a league game to play. On May 1, the team will face newly promoted Charlton at home.

In the league last season, Chelsea had a big victory away from home, so Charlton had little confidence in this game, even though all the players knew that Chelsea's current energy was all focused on the Champions League and the league was an absolute chicken rib for them, but could they really beat a Chelsea team with all substitutes?

With this mentality, Charlton's morale can be imagined.

But when Chelsea's starting players appeared on the field, Charlton completely lost all morale. In Chelsea's starting lineup, except for Wang Li and Robben who sat on the bench, other main players were included in the roster.

The current league is nothing more than a training ground for Chelsea. Charlton is unfortunate because they have encountered a time when Mourinho needs to train his main players.

Even though Wang Li did not play, the game had just begun. These players who had been depressed in the club for a few days rushed to Charlton's half like a group of hungry wolves, and scored 2 goals in 30 minutes. In the second half, Joe Cole kicked a world-class long-range shot, changing the score to 3:0.

In the end, Charlton swallowed three goose eggs and got on the bus back to the club with his head down.

In this game, the media also saw a Chelsea that was still moving forward. Even though Wang Li did not play, the level of Chelsea's performance was definitely the best in the world. Especially winger Joe Cole, goalkeeper Thomas Clarke and Damien Duff, these three players have been performing better and better this season, and their strength is obviously improving. Now their position in the team has surpassed that of ordinary players.

…………

The second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich will be held on the evening of May 5, which will be the last Champions League semi-final.

On the night before the game, the team's head coach Mourinho understood and asked all players to go back to the dormitory to rest early. However, the scattered players soon gathered together and rushed to the captain John Terry's room to watch another live match of the Champions League semi-final.

That night, PSV Eindhoven played against Liverpool at home.

"Who do you think will win?" Before the game started, the players began to discuss with each other excitedly.

"Liverpool, I hope it's Liverpool. They have lost to us three times this year. It won't be difficult to beat them again and win the Champions League trophy, haha." French tycoon Makelele said bluntly.

Joe Cole curled his lips and expressed a different opinion: "I think PSV Eindhoven should be easier to deal with. That team doesn't have much strength at all. This way we are more likely to win the championship."

"Steven called me a few days ago and said, let's meet in the final," Lampard suddenly interrupted, saying, "I think he is very confident, so I think Liverpool will definitely win this game."

"Oh? Frank, you trust him so much?" The usually shy Ivorian monster touched the back of his head and asked with interest.

At this time, Bridget, who had been suffocating in the corner, suddenly interrupted with a sly smile, "Of course, Didi, you should know that there is a private legend in England, that is about Steven and Frank, it is said that..."

At this point, Bridget paused, and everyone in the room pricked up their ears and leaned over. It was obvious that they were very interested in this kind of gossip, especially the gossip about Lampard. As the protagonist, Lampard also looked at Bridget with hesitation, wanting to know what the next gossip would be.

Seeing this, Bridget smiled with satisfaction and nodded, then slowly continued: "It is said that the two of them once got drunk in a bar, and then the next day they slept in the same room in the hotel for one night..." After seeing the puzzled expressions on the faces of the people around him, Bridget gritted his teeth and continued to reveal: "...Also, Ellie has always regarded Steven as a rival in love..."

“Oh~~~~~~”

Everyone understood at once, and they all looked at Lampard with strange eyes. Robben, who was standing next to him, immediately hid behind Drogba. It seemed that he felt safer with this big African man.

"Wayne, I'm not done with you." Lampard finally reacted. He immediately let out a loud roar, and then Bridge's cry of pain was heard in the room.

Of course, these were just farces while watching the game, but the game on TV was also extremely exciting. When the two teams started the game, the players' minds returned to the TV screen.

Although the game was exciting, the goals of both teams were constantly in danger, but the game was like thunder without rain. Until the 80th minute, both teams failed to score a goal. Liverpool was about to advance to the final with a goal advantage at home.

But in the 87th minute of the game, PSV scored a goal.

The goal was scored by midfielder Van Bommel. After receiving the pass from the goalkeeper, he made a brilliant back-hook shot to equalize the score for PSV.

"gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal" the Dutch commentator's roar came from TV. This ball saved Eindhoven from the scythe of the god of death.

The final wonderful goal kept the suspense between the two teams. After that, although Liverpool tried their best to attack, they still failed to break through PSV Eindhoven's door. PSV Eindhoven's head coach also asked the team to defend with all their strength and control the situation, hoping to keep the suspense until the penalty shootout.

He succeeded

In the end, both teams had to face a brutal penalty shootout. Such a game made Chelsea players very worried. They had never faced such a difficult game this season, but the players could imagine the pressure faced by the players of both teams as if they were there.

On the field, Gerrard, who was the first to come on, missed his first shot.

Dutch fans gave a deafening roar, they felt that PSV Eindhoven was about to win.

However, the subsequent penalty kicks were not satisfactory. Except for the penalty kick that Gerrard missed, the other four Liverpool players who took the field first all scored their penalties. On the other hand, goalkeeper Jers Dudek withstood the pressure and saved two penalties for the team...

On the TV screen, Gerrard, who had already shed tears for his missed penalty, shouted excitedly. After the last Liverpool teammate scored the penalty, he ran around the field for a full circle. Finally, he ran to Dudek and hugged the hero of the team directly from the grass.

"Congratulations to Liverpool for defeating PSV Eindhoven and reaching the Champions League final. We look forward to seeing them perform better in the final."

With these words, the TV broadcast ended, and the Chelsea players in the room looked at each other and saw the fighting spirit in the eyes of their teammates.

"Tomorrow, it will be our turn. Come on!"

Everyone gathered in a circle in the room, folded their hands in the middle, and as captain John Terry said this, they all shouted in unison: "Victory champions!"

What they didn't know was that at this moment, the head coach Jose Mourinho, who was standing outside the "door", had already seen the whole scene. He smiled with satisfaction, and then did not enter the room, but turned and left.

…………..

The match against Bayern Munich will take place tonight.

During these days, Chelsea's training has achieved its purpose. Facing the training before the game, they mainly focus on relaxing their minds and adjusting their mental state to have better performance.

Compared to Bayern Munich, Chelsea players have much less pressure. With a three-goal advantage, they feel they have more opportunities to make mistakes, so they are relaxed. After watching Liverpool's game yesterday, they are more motivated, especially Frank Lampard, who still remembers his appointment with Gerrard for the final. Liverpool's semi-finals were not smooth, but they already have a ticket to the final. On the other hand, Chelsea's semi-finals were smooth sailing, and he didn't want to give up the ticket.

In the afternoon, Chelsea players arrived at Stamford Bridge. This time the media were able to film and interview them at close range. The German reporters were more concerned about Chelsea's tactical issues. They wanted to find out some "gossip" for Bayern Munich before the big battle. Although Bayern's hope of advancing is slim, as Magath said, they will not give up even if there is a little hope.

But in fact, Chelsea's tactics are really nothing to guess, Wang Li will definitely be the core of the offense, whether it is offense or defense, this is definitely beyond doubt. Mourinho's tactical thinking has always been based on defense, even at Stamford Bridge, it is estimated that it will generally be based on defense. With a three-goal advantage, they can rest assured to play defensive counterattacks.

However, when it comes to the specific method of attack, even Mourinho himself cannot explain it, because the game is mainly based on Wang Li's style of play. If he attacks from the right, the team's focus will be on the right. If he suddenly wants to try the feeling of a one-stop attack, the team will also support him free of charge - in fact, this does not require too much support.

While Chelsea players were training and being interviewed, stadium staff ran over and told them that Bayern's bus had already entered Stamford Bridge.

…………

PS: It’s chapter 400 now, so I’m leaving a message as a souvenir.

It’s really not easy. From the time I started writing this book until now, I didn’t know I could write so many words.

Thank you all for your support. Without you, I wouldn't be able to write so much...