Chapter 995 You guessed wrong!

"Dear audience, welcome to Stamford Bridge!"

"We are about to broadcast live for you the match between Chelsea and Southampton at home in the eighth round of the English Premier League from the 2015 to 2016 season. Sitting next to me is the Manchester United legend, Gary Neville!"

"Hi, Gary!"

"Hello!" Gary Neville's voice came.

"We just watched the Saints warm-up. We and all the fans were surprised to find that Messi was on the roster. This is the first time he has been on the roster this season. Gary, what do you think?"

Neville, uh, Gary Neville, who writes such good columns, smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I am personally looking forward to it very much, because we have seen that Cristiano Ronaldo has shown a very good state and strength after joining Tottenham Hotspur. He has once again proved his strength as a world superstar."

"Well, as a former teammate, Gary, do you think Cristiano Ronaldo is still in his prime?"

Gary Neville nodded and said, "No doubt about it, I am absolutely sure of it."

"From the time he came to Manchester United, I felt that this young man was extraordinary. He worked harder than anyone else in training. I am not surprised at all that he has achieved what he has today."

After a pause, Gary Neville continued: "Messi, who reached the top of the Premier League at the same time as Cristiano Ronaldo and was loved by fans all over the world, has not been able to participate in the game since joining the Saints, which has also made the outside world full of doubts."

"Yes, some people say that Messi is injured, but some people say that there was a problem with Messi's transfer process and he was blocked by the Saints. Some people say that because the team is in such a good state, Messi has no place."

After hearing this, Gary Neville laughed and said, "This is obviously impossible."

"So what do you think?"

"You know, I visited the Saints not long ago. I once said in my column that the era of the head coach holding all the power in the UK will end. Instead, positions such as technical directors or football directors who follow the management system of the European Big Six will become more important. So we see that Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all adopt this management model."

"Um."

"When I visited the Saints, I had the honor of meeting England's youth training expert, Les Reid, who is now Southampton's technical director, fully responsible for the first team and youth training. I learned a lot about the specific work of the technical director and the internal division of labor in the club. Later, I wrote that column.═┡╞┝╪╪┠┢┠┠."

"Yes, I have read it. It is very well written, but I heard that Ferguson was not happy after hearing it."

"Haha, he didn't call me to tell me!" Gary Neville laughed.

"I don't know if you remember that I once mentioned that the Saints' internal management system is the most standardized and modern team I have ever seen in the English football team. Rice even told me that they will fully implement paperless office in the next year."

"Ok, what does this have to do with Messi?"

"I mean, they are very modern and quite efficient, and as far as I know, Messi's problem is stuck in the medical department. He has not been able to get the medical clearance, and at Southampton, unless there are special circumstances, no player can play without the medical clearance.

"Gary, you mean that the Saints spent 150 million euros to bring in Messi, but failed to convince the medical department to let Messi play in the game?"

"It's incredible, isn't it? But as far as I know, it's true!"

"If I were Yang Huan, the boss of Southampton, I would probably ask everyone in the medical department to get out!"

Gary Neville burst into laughter, "But I heard that Yang Huan is planning to give them a raise!"

"Oh my god, no way?"

But after a while of joking, the TV commentator asked again: "According to what you said, Messi should have got the license to play now. I wonder if he will play in this game?"

"I'm not sure about this. If we follow a safe approach, I think we should arrange for a substitute to come on in the second half. After all, Messi has not played a game for three months. He needs some time to adapt."

"Yeah, I think so too!"

But soon, he said, "Oh, Gary, I have to say, you guessed wrong!"

"Did I guess wrong?"

"Yes, I have obtained the names of the two teams on site now!"

The commentator seemed a little excited. "Dear audience friends, I have come to the list, the list of Southampton. (."

But this guy just happened to laugh evilly at this moment, "I think the director should cut to a commercial at this time."

However, if Sky TV were to broadcast advertisements at this time, it would probably be blasted with saliva from fans and spectators.

"Southampton's lineup, goalkeeper Neuer, David Alaba on the left side of the defense."

"Yes, Alaba is an excellent left-back, and Luke Shaw, a local teenager, has great potential. The two are now competing on the left side. The Saints basically ensure that they have two players in every position."

"The central defenders are Nastasic and Varane. Stones, who played brilliantly in the last game, is on the bench in this game."

"Danilo is the right back and Chambers is on the bench."

"In midfield, Toni Kroos, Di Maria and Fabregas, the Saints will send out all their main players."

"The front three is Hazard on the left, Suarez in the middle and Messi on the right."

"Yes, you heard it right, Messi is on the field!"

Just after the TV commentator finished introducing the Saints' lineup, players from both teams were seen walking out of the stadium in 66-6 formation, led by the referee, amid thunderous cheers from the fans.

The audience was shouting Messi's name, obviously welcoming the arrival of this superstar.

"The referee for this match is 47-year-old English referee Michael Deane, who is a very experienced referee."

"Also, we see that these are the head coaches of the two teams, the Portuguese Jose Mourinho, and the Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who was once the head coach of Chelsea but was later sacked due to poor performance."

"The situations of the two famous coaches this season are completely different. After Ancelotti took over Bielsa's coaching position, the Saints were unstoppable in both the Champions League and the English League, but Mourinho's team has never been able to reverse the decline of last season."

"Before the game, both famous coaches said that they were determined to win this game. Let's see if the two teams can achieve their goal."

The players of both teams quickly lined up in front of the podium. Messi stood at the end of the line. He looked very relaxed. He was talking and laughing with Hazard in front of him and did not look nervous at all.

This also refuted the rumors that Messi wanted to leave the Saints, because looking at Messi's appearance, he definitely didn't look like someone who was going to leave the team.

After a brief opening ceremony, Chelsea players walked over one by one, first passing the referee and then Southampton.

Today's Chelsea is no longer the powerful Blues of the past.

But the Saints are more terrifying than any English team in the past few years!

After a polite handshake, the two teams returned to their respective half of the court.

After guessing the side, Southampton took the lead in gaining possession of the ball.

Messi and Suarez stood in the center circle of the stadium, with their hands on their hips, listening to the thunderous cheers coming from the stands. This feeling was familiar, charming and intoxicating.

He exhaled heavily and opened his eyes.

Suarez on the opposite side was grinning at him. "Are you nervous?" asked the Uruguayan.

Messi smiled and shook his head. “No, it’s anticipation!”

"Us too!" Suarez said.

It is an honor for any player to be able to compete with a star of Messi's level.

Even for players of the level of Suarez and Hazard, it is a wonderful thing to partner with Messi and become teammates.

"Don't think too much, you're fine, and we're here!"

Messi nodded in gratitude to his teammates. He knew that his teammates were all very good.

This is also the reason why he was able to accept Southampton so quickly, because the internal atmosphere of this team is really good, from top to bottom, it is quite good.

With the referee's whistle, the game officially began.

Messi kicked the ball to Suarez, officially starting his first touch in the English league.

After the ball was passed, Messi immediately ran forward, and Suarez understood what he meant and immediately passed the ball forward.

Messi looked at the Chelsea defenders in front of him, then turned his head to glance at the ball. He knew everything around him. It felt wonderful.

The ball came in front of him as he expected. He stopped the ball before Mikel and dribbled the ball directly past Mikel.

The whole audience cheered and praised Messi's skillful footwork.

But Messi seems to think that all this is natural.

He dribbled past Mikel and cut inside. Ramirez rushed over immediately and tried to block Messi, but the Argentine suddenly kicked the ball and gently poked it past Ramirez. He then quickly passed by Ramirez and chased after the ball.

But at this moment, Ramirez had no choice but to reach out and hug Messi.

He just held on and didn't fall, but he disrupted Messi's attack!

The referee blew the whistle unceremoniously but did not give a card. After all, the game had only started for less than a minute, and giving a card at this time would have been a bit excessive.

However, he still called Ramirez over and gave him a severe scolding.

The Brazilian midfielder was well prepared and walked back helplessly. When he passed by Messi, he did not forget to pat Messi on the shoulder and apologized.

Just now, this was the only way he could stop Messi!

This little Argentine guy is so scary. His reaction speed is terribly fast, as if he is always one step faster than others.

Southampton quickly took a free kick in the frontcourt.

Fabregas wanted to pass the ball to the unmarked Suarez, but Terry suddenly rushed forward and destroyed the ball.

The ball fell at Rakitic's feet, but when the latter caught the ball, he saw Di Maria had returned to defense, sticking to him and spying on him, as if he would steal the ball at any time.

This meal was a surprise to Rakitic.

Damn, isn't this defense too fast?

Although Di Maria has a slim figure, he is just as good as Rakitic in a fight.

Rakitic was entangled and had no choice but to pass the ball to his teammate Mikel.

But as soon as Chelsea's midfielder got the ball, Suarez, who was retreating from the front, suddenly kicked the ball away from behind.

Hazard got the ball, but Ivanovic clung to him tightly, leaving him no chance, so the Belgian could only dribble the ball sideways.

Messi was on the right side of the penalty area, raising his hand to ask for the ball.

He craves the ball, he enjoys the feeling of the ball between his feet