Coaching legend

In the FA Cup 32-round knockout, Blackburn was unfortunate enough to meet the Premier League team Sheffield Wednesday.

To be honest, they didn't let Blackburn pass. Now Sheffield Wednesday is a team with no desires. Ranked 11th in the Premier League, they have no worries about relegation and no possibility of entering European competitions. They are the most typical team in the Premier League.

Therefore, he still attaches great importance to domestic cup competitions such as the FA Cup. But Blackburn is different. Although George keeps saying that he will not give up any game. But the starting lineup clearly shows George's attitude towards this game.

Almost even Blackburn's perennial bench player Ian Pearce got a chance to play, which is enough to show George's attitude towards this event.

Although the substitutes worked hard. But in the end, Blackburn still lost 1-2 at home and was eliminated after only two FA Cup games. But George didn't care about being eliminated in the FA Cup.

Now the game has been played for 23 rounds, and Blackburn has only 33 points.

In the current Premier League, there are three places for the Champions League.

Before the 1991-1992 season, the Champions League was a pure knockout tournament. In the 1992-1993 season, the Champions League was officially renamed the "UEFA Champions League", and the competition was held every Tuesday and Wednesday. But people are used to calling it the European Champions Cup. In the following years, the Champions League system has changed again and again, and the group round-robin system has gradually been applied to the competition before the rematch. The participating teams are no longer limited to the league champions of various countries and the Champions League champions of the previous season. The league runners-up of some football powers can also participate.

However, the time for another reform of the Champions League has come. In 1998, the major European league clubs held a secret meeting in Brussels, Belgium in the same year to contain UEFA's reform of the European Champions League! Thus, a new organization called "G14" was born.

In 1998, in order to prevent major clubs from establishing a European Super League, the UEFA Finals made the biggest reform in history to the three major European cups from the 1999/2000 season: the European Cup Winners' Cup was cancelled.

And because a round of group matches was added, the Champions League was expanded again. So the Premier League will have three teams participating in the Champions League starting next season. And the UEFA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup are merged, and the Premier League will have three places.

The League Cup champion, the FA Cup champion, and the fourth place in the Premier League can all participate in the UEFA Cup. Of course, there is also the Intertoto Cup, which also has a place in the UEFA Cup. Unfortunately, the Intertoto Cup is held in the summer, and George will not let his team participate in the so-called Intertoto Cup in the summer.

Blackburn has already given up the League Cup and the FA Cup, and George is aiming for the fourth place in the Premier League.

Now the fifth place in the Premier League is West Ham United, who have performed well under the leadership of Redknapp this season. West Ham United has reached 40 points so far. Seven more points than Blackburn.

Leeds United is in fourth place, and they have a better performance this season. They have 44 points, 11 more than Blackburn.

Leeds United is in a pretty good state now. Although 11 points cannot be said to be an insurmountable gap, it is also a big gap. Eleven points, there are only 16 rounds left. Blackburn's remaining games are all decisive battles, and there can't be too many mistakes.

…………

January 30, the 24th round of the Premier League.

Leeds United's game started first. Leeds United faced Southampton away. Southampton is currently 18th in the Premier League and is still in the relegation zone. It is only four points more than Charlton Athletic, which is 19th. The relegation situation is worrying.

Southampton is now racing against time, and every game is a life-and-death battle. Because if you are not careful, you will be relegated to the English League One. In the relegation odds, Southampton ranks second to last. Therefore, Southampton's performance at home was almost crazy, bombarding Leeds United's goal. The young Leeds United players were probably scared by this style of play and acted timidly. Southampton actually defeated Leeds United at home with a score of 3-0.

The first game was a big upset. Southampton actually defeated the powerful Leeds United.

It surprised all the media.

Seeing this score, George was also very surprised, but at the same time he was in a good mood.

George never thought that Leeds United would lose to Southampton, and now Leeds United lost the game. For George, it was an unexpected surprise.

"The league has been played for 23 rounds, and we are now ranked eighth. With our current points, as long as we simply deal with the next game, there will be no problem with relegation." George faced the players in the locker room and made the final mobilization.

"I want to ask you, are you satisfied with just a relegation?"

Hearing George's question, everyone looked at each other. If you can achieve good results, of course it would be the best.

"Willie, did you come to England with me just to avoid relegation?" George first named Sagnol.

Because Sagnol is the lubricant in the Blackburn dressing room.

"Of course not, boss. Didn't you tell me that you could get me into the national team and make me a main player? If it's just relegation, then how can I become a main player in the national team?" Saniol stood up and shook his head firmly.

"Yes, Willy, you are absolutely right." George was getting more and more satisfied with Saniol, thinking whether he should let Saniol be the third captain or something. "There are not many international players among you now, and your goal is to enter the national team and become a main player."

"Then relegation, this kind of thing should not be done by us."

"Have you seen this scoreboard?" George took out the expanded scoreboard and pointed it out to everyone. "Everyone says I'm arrogant, but I'm a very rational person. I won't tell you that our goal this season is to win the championship, that's an unrealistic goal. Chelsea, the third place, is already 17 points ahead of us, and we don't have much chance even if we catch up with Chelsea."

"But look at Leeds United, the fourth place. They are 11 points ahead of us and have played one more game than us. As long as we win this game, they will only be eight points ahead of us."

"Colin, tell me, what does it mean if we are the fourth place in the Premier League?"

Hendry was shocked, but also very happy. Everyone present understood what George meant. "League Cup, the League Cup next season!" Hendry stood up and shouted. At the beginning of the season, who would have thought that Blackburn could still play in the League Cup next season.

Since winning the Premier League, Blackburn has been working hard to avoid relegation for three seasons. European competitions are not sure how far Blackburn is from.

"Yes, the League Cup. The League Cup next season!" George clenched his fists. "Eleven points, it seems like a lot. In fact, it's just a difference of four games, and as long as we win this game, it will be a difference of three games. And we have another head-to-head match with Leeds United, which means the maximum difference is five points."

"Is Leeds United strong? They have no power to fight back in front of us, and they have too many young players. So their results will definitely fluctuate. Look at this round of games, they lost to Southampton 0-3. They will continue to lose points in the future. Believe me, as long as we play one game at a time, the League Cup quota next season will be ours."

"Do you believe in yourself!"

"Believe, believe!" It has been more than half a season, and George has said the goal of this season for the first time.

Although the gold content of the League Cup at this time has begun to decline, it is still a game that European football attaches great importance to.

"If you want to participate in the League Cup, there is only one way. That is to win one game after another, and win all the games we can win. Do you have confidence!"

"Yes! Yes!"

With a clear goal, the players of Blackburn are more excited. The League Cup, if they participate in the League Cup next season, it will be a huge temptation for these young players. After all, it is the European Cup, and its status in European football is still not low.

"Okay, go out now. Tell the fans that we are not a team satisfied with relegation. We are a team with ambitious goals. I only ask you to get three points."

In the 24th round, Blackburn played against Wimbledon at home.

Wimbledon is currently ranked 17th in the Premier League, and it was originally only one point more than Southampton, who had just defeated Leeds United. But after Southampton defeated Leeds United, it jumped out of the relegation zone and led Wimbledon by two points.

This made Wimbledon a little panic, from the 16th place in the Premier League at the beginning of the season to the 18th place in the Premier League now.

But George will not give him face just because he is a team in the relegation zone.

George did not play like usual against Wimbledon. Instead, he retreated a little bit to let Wimbledon attack.

Now all the media think that Blackburn Rovers is not worried about relegation, and it is unlikely that they will get good results to enter the European competition. They are a mid-level team with no desires. But Wimbledon is different. They need points and they are in urgent need of leaving the relegation zone.

Sure enough, they attacked at the beginning of the game, and they didn't care that this was Blackburn Rovers' home court.

George is now more and more fond of Premier League games because their games are open. For a team like George who plays two wingers, this is the best situation.

Blackburn Rovers' two wingers, Pires and Duff are the best at this. And they can also play Miku's precise straight pass.

Klose did not press forward in this game, but retreated to give Pires and Duff more sprint space. Wimbledon's attack was lively, but there was no big effect. On the contrary, Blackburn's attack was very colorful, and with the cheers of the home fans, they scored three goals in a row. In the end, they defeated Wimbledon 3-0.

At the same time, Liverpool lost 0-1 to Coventry, Villa lost 0-1 to Newcastle, and West Ham United drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough. As a result, Blackburn Rovers scored 36 points, jumping from eighth to sixth, surpassing Liverpool by three points, Villa by two points, and only four points behind West Ham United.