Green Life

Needless to say, Chelsea's history, its past was unremarkable, until a Portuguese added Mourinho's surname to it, and it really forged its way to a wealthy family.

Mourinho came to the Premier League almost at the same time as Benitez, and the story of their grievances and killings began, as if they were attractive. They met frequently in cup matches, especially the Champions League, and met every year.

The semi-finals of the 0405 season, the group stage of the 0506 season, the semi-finals of the 0607 season, and the semi-finals of this season.

In recent years, Liverpool has maintained the good tradition of meeting Chelsea as long as they enter the semi-finals. Benitez is simply Mourinho's curse in the Champions League. Mourinho has been worn away, and his successor Grant is still to repeat his fate.

Liverpool is Chelsea's fate in the Champions League.

As of today's game, the historical record of Liverpool VS Chelsea, Liverpool has more losses than wins in the league, and Chelsea has more losses than wins in the Champions League.

Adding up all the games, in the last ten games, their record is 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses, each scoring 8 goals and conceding 8 goals. They are absolutely evenly matched, absolutely evenly divided!

"Kicker": To be honest, seeing them in the semi-finals three times in four years, I have a feeling of nausea, no need to predict, this is another extremely dull semi-finals, let us focus on Barcelona, ​​which starts a day later And Manchester United!

"Aspen": After the British Civil War, it is still the British Civil War, Barcelona needs to defend its glory!

"BBC": Liverpool and Chelsea seem to be playing in the league, the only expectation is Mark.

On the evening of April 23rd, it was still Anfield. In the UEFA Champions League semi-final, Liverpool played host first and then guest away. In the live broadcast room of Sky Sports, there was still a duo of old handsome guys and regular guests.

Today's guest is the famous Italian player and Chelsea star Zola. He came here early to make his presence felt, because the season is coming to an end, West Ham United has basically negotiated with him, and he will be the head coach of West Ham United next season.

The three chatted for a long time, and began to focus on the game between the two teams. McManaman said: "If there is no Mark in this game, I will not have the slightest desire to predict. The two teams are in the league this year. Played two dull draws without Mark on the floor, it was boring."

Zola has not paid close attention to the Premier League for a while. He just came from Italy. He analyzed Chelsea and said: "Chelsea just introduced Malouda this year. In fact, they still play Mourinho's style. I am more concerned about it." Yes, Mark, who has been on fire recently, can break through Chelsea's steel forest"

Peterson nodded, "I am also more concerned about this. As we all know, the only team in the top four of the Premier League that Mark has not scored is Chelsea, and Chelsea's midfield configuration is a typical three tough guys. "Iron Man" Lampard, Makelele, known as the best defensive midfielder today, and "Baxiong" Ballack, I doubt whether Benitez has the courage to let Mark play in the midfield."

McManaman tilted his head and thought for a while, then replied: "It's hard to say, if it were me, I would also feel in a dilemma."

Benítez was indeed swinging from side to side, so he didn't announce the starting lineup in the locker room until it was almost time for the submission of the final game list.

Today's lineup has been determined to be four-five-one, but Mark Qin has obvious advantages and disadvantages in this game. Mascherano is already very short. The impact ability of Chelsea's two central midfielders, the ball on both sides is enough for Liverpool to drink a pot.

It’s even worse to play on the wing. Chelsea’s two full-backs are all assist-oriented. Mark Qin’s ability to go back and forth is not good, but in his fiery state, not allowing him to play may make him unhappy, especially when he is still playing When competing for the top scorer in the Champions League.

Benitez is also very tangled, with him, the defense is not good, without him, the offense is almost...

Mark Qin came back from warming up with his teammates, pushed open the door of the locker room, and woke up Benitez who was meditating.

The staff waited at the door because he had to announce the starting lineup.

Benitez turned around and took off his glasses to wipe them. Taking advantage of the time when everyone in Liverpool was walking in, he made a final struggle.

After everyone was seated, he turned around, looked around, and said: "The starting lineup for this game will be announced below." Liverpool's generals have not changed much. The season has progressed so far, and the main substitutes are obvious.

"Goalkeeper Reina, back line Enrique, Skrtel, Carragher, Arbeloa"

"Middlefield midfielder Mascherano, left midfielder Aurelio, right midfielder Kevin Dirk, central midfielder Alonso and Gerrard"

"Forward Torres"

"Huh?" Aurelio was stunned for a moment. He can play as a left midfielder and often plays in training, but he has never played as a main player.

Mark Qin and Gerrard were also stunned for a moment. One of them returned to the midfield and the other came off the bench.

Mark Qin glanced at Benitez first, and Benitez glanced at him, nodded slightly, and said nothing.

Ma Keqin was furious, the top scorer in the Champions League, how can he win if he doesn't play? He couldn't understand why Benitez suddenly changed at this juncture.

In fact, this is a matter of choosing different styles of coaches. Baldy Bei feels that it is too difficult to score Chelsea's goal, so the most important thing is that he must not concede the ball. On Mark Qin, the goal is not sure, but the risk of conceding the goal But it's too big.

After Sammy Lee finished writing the starting lineup, he walked out and handed it to the staff. In the locker room, Benitez began to explain the tactics of the game.

Once the starting lineup was decided, it could not be changed, and everyone in the locker room put aside their other thoughts and listened to the coach's tactical arrangements, except Mark Qin.

He couldn't help holding his breath in his heart, and kept saying to himself that it was for the team and tactical needs, but there was another voice that kept tempting him, that I relied on me to win against Manchester United and enter the Champions League I am also a hero in the semi-finals! , why?

Who is not jealous of the chance of the top scorer in the Champions League? This is even rarer than the golden boots in the league. You can play in the league every year. How can you say the Champions League? Even if you can play, how far you go sometimes depends on your luck. There is a fart!

As the game approached, the main players queued up to enter the field, while the substitute players and the coaching staff came out first and walked to the bench and coaching area.

Peterson was making the opening remarks. When he saw Mark, he froze for a moment and said in surprise, "Mark? He didn't play?"

"Hey, really," McManaman said, "He walked to the bench, what's going on, he only played less than 60 minutes in the league, and his physical fitness should be fine."

"I'm afraid you're talking," Zola said. "Benitez didn't use Mark to strengthen his defense."

Mika said in surprise: "I just thought he wouldn't be allowed to play in the midfield."

The director hurriedly followed Mark Qin with the camera, and after he sat down, he took a lot of close-ups of his face. In the camera, his face was expressionless, and he didn't look happy at all.

"Uh, why didn't Benitez let Mark play, it's such an important game?" The bar burst into a commotion after seeing the live broadcast.

Mark Qin's status in their minds is estimated to be second only to those Liverpool heroes who won the championship in 2005, and even has a fight with Torres.

They can't accept that he is not allowed to play in such an important game. It's like Gerrard must be seen in the Merseyside derby. In a major game, unless there are objective reasons, how can the team's representative figure not be allowed to play? What about playing?

"It's not very happy to see Mark," someone said.

"Nonsense, he is now tied for the top scorer in the Champions League. Besides, this is the semi-final of the Champions League. Who wants to be a substitute?" Someone immediately replied.

"I am very grateful to Benitez for the achievements he has brought us, but why is he always defensive in his tactics? When will we be able to defeat the enemy with our heads held high like in Shankly's time?"

"Hey", someone said, "Let's win the championship first, this is more important now"

The hustle and bustle in the bar did not affect the game, and Liverpool started the first leg of the Champions League semi-final without Mark Qin.

At the beginning of the game, not only Jonathan, but also many businesses and domestic media scolded Benitez. This is the semi-finals of the Champions League and the first person of Chinese descent!

Why didn't there be any news before the game, and if they were told to make a substitute, they would be replaced! , Jonathan immediately decided to put pressure on Liverpool in the new contract negotiations at the end of the season. In such an important game, how can the stars just come off the bench?

Now Adidas, Nike, and Puma are all looking at Mark Qin. Every step he takes is creating history. Every time he makes more history, his market value will be more worthy of investment.

To put it bluntly, Mark Qin's current status, agent, sponsors, etc. have not yet formed an influence. After all, he has just played his first season, and many things have not had time to proceed.

If it is after playing for a few years, even if he is not good at defense, Benitez has to consider the ideas of the club and the market if he wants to put him on the bench.

"Hey," Lucas bumped into him next to him, "Why, you've played too many main players, and you're not used to playing as a substitute?"

When he came out, he saw that Ma Keqin was not very happy. If they had chatted before, they would have chatted a long time ago.

Mark tried to force a smile, but when he thought about it, he thought it might be uglier than crying, so he continued to maintain a deadpan expression.

"Yo, I'm really angry," Lucas said with a smile, "You have to learn from me and have a good attitude."

"Got it, don't talk, I'm watching the game," he said blankly.

Lucas shook his head, put his arm around him and patted him on the shoulder, and watched the game with him.

Grant was also very surprised. Liverpool's Mark has been in such a mess recently that he didn't play.

If he wants to change, he must be able to change. The players know how to play, so he is happy and leisurely.

The game has entered the usual rhythm of the two teams again, not entangled in the midfield, medium and long passes are flying all over the field, players are flying all over the field, muscles against muscles, and in the end it depends on who is lucky enough to seize a chance or two.

"I knew it was like this," McManaman complained. "These two teams always have a way to turn the game into a defensive and turnover war."

Peterson questioned: "Both teams compete fiercely, and whoever controls the ball is very dangerous. Do you still think it was a mistake for Mark not to play?"

"I don't know right or wrong," Mika said, shaking his head, "but his game on the court will definitely not be so ugly, more intense than exciting, full of blind direct passes and big feet."

Zola said: "Mourinho injected blood and iron will into Chelsea. This is their magic weapon in the Premier League. His game never cares about the scene. I think Benitez is no less."

The first half was going on minute by minute, and there were not many opportunities for both sides to threaten the goal. Mark Qin watched carefully from the sidelines. Since he couldn't play, let's take a good look at Chelsea's defense.

He thinks, in fact, sometimes it is difficult to say that this kind of fighting is due to the level or style of the team. Why did no team in Barcelona dare to fight like this at its peak? Isn't it because they are good at small skills, and the fast transmission is accurate? Since Benitez did not follow this style, he is destined to compete with Chelsea.

Alas, he sighed inwardly, even Wenger and Ferguson are not as extreme as Benitez and Mourinho...