There is a dream called football

January 1st was the first day of the new year, but Liverpool fans did not have a good time. They lost to Chelsea 0-1.

The Christmas schedule finally brought down Liverpool. Compared to Chelsea, who had a strong team and a very deep bench, Liverpool finally couldn't withstand this game.

But what was even worse was the double-header meeting with Manchester United two weeks later. This time Liverpool still lost 0-1.

As a result, the team's performance in the league also dropped to sixth, and was once again overtaken by Middlesbrough.

The Sun reported with a huge photo, in which Benitez looked lonely, as if he had lost everything.

"It is impossible for Liverpool to compete for the league title this season. The only thing they can look forward to is the Champions League."

"But I think Liverpool will also be eliminated in the Champions League. Their opponent Leverkusen is not easy to mess with."

In a BBC program similar to World Football, the big-mouthed Lineker criticized Benitez for not understanding football.

"I think he doesn't understand football, at least not the Premier League. Many times his tactics are very dull. For example, when facing a weak team in the league, you should send Hamann to fight head-on, instead of having good skills but being flashy.

Alonso."

The host asked: "What do you think is the reason why Liverpool has not won the Premier League championship since the beginning of the Premier League?"

"It's very simple. Ferguson understands football better. Football used to be football, but now football is business."

"Does Liverpool have the international reputation of Manchester United now?"

"I have been to Malaysia, and people there love Manchester United. This is something we Brits cannot understand. In our hearts, Liverpool is the giant, but in the world, Manchester United is, and now Chelsea has surpassed Liverpool."

“It comes down to money?”

Lineker pointed to his brain, "In the final analysis, it's a problem with the management's brain."

"So should Liverpool replace Benitez?"

"I don't know this, but if I were the top manager of Liverpool, then I would definitely change to a British coach. I have to say that the Premier League is different. The competition here is very fierce. If you can't go head-to-head, then you don't belong here.

"

Lineker is a famous loudmouth in the UK, and is also a very famous football commentator. He was also a very successful player in the past, so many people still listen to what he says.

Immediately these words reached Benitez's ears, and reporters also came to stir up trouble.

"Raphael, what do you think of Lineker's words?"

Benitez's image to British reporters has always been gentle, but this time he rarely got angry.

"Lineker? Was he a coach? I think he was a commentator on a TV show?"

"You know what? It's easy to talk and point fingers on TV, but it's very difficult to actually win a game. Football is played with your feet, not your mouth."

"Actually, the same goes for you. You always question my substitutions and my tactics. But if any of you were to sit in my position, I can guarantee that you would be just like a piece of shit."

"And what I want to say is, if you like Manchester United, then go ahead and like it. It doesn't matter to me. I am not Ferguson, and Liverpool is not Manchester United."

As expected, Benitez's remarks quickly hit the headlines of sports pages. Some people can understand that Liverpool has been under too much pressure recently, but many people also ridiculed that Benitez is at the end of his rope.

However, Benitez was not idle. He flew to Germany to watch Leverkusen's game, which was his opponent in the Champions League quarter-finals. At this time, the Champions League was Benitez's only life-saving straw.

, because we are already 20 points behind Chelsea in the league, and it is indeed impossible to counterattack again.

Leverkusen's current head coach is German Klaus Augenthaler. This is a coach from the Bayern Munich system, and his basic skills are quite good.

Like Porto, Leverkusen has also been a star supermarket in recent years. After the success of the UEFA Champions League in 2002, Leverkusen's stars have been poached, mainly by Bayern Munich.

Ballack is gone, Ze Roberto is gone, but Leverkusen's blood-forming ability is good. At this time, they have the handsome Berbatov, the Ukrainian Voronin, and the old international Schneider in the midfield.

The glory of the Champions League two years ago is still fresh in his mind, so Benitez does not dare to underestimate this powerful opponent.

He came to Germany just to watch the Leverkusen game.

I have to say that German football has its own very distinctive style, with fast attack speed and tough play. And most importantly, the will and quality of German footballers are very strong, which means it is difficult to defeat the Germans.

Benitez was watching a league game between Leverkusen. The team played quite well and won 1-0 in the end. Obviously Leverkusen did not show their true strength. They obviously did not show their true strength in the Champions League.

It will be like this.

The first leg of the Champions League is at home, so Liverpool must play well and then use the goal advantage to achieve a good result in the away game. This is Benitez's wishful thinking.

Just when Benitez was about to leave after watching the game, a staff member came over and said, "Hello, Rafael, Klaus is here to invite."

"Oh my God, I was still discovered."

Benitez could only smile bitterly.

The place where Augenthaler met Benitez was in the VIP room of the stadium. It was very luxurious, overlooking the stadium, and was big enough to fit into a double bed.

"Hello, Raphael."

In a rare display of German enthusiasm, Augenthaler embraced Benitez.

"Are you scolding me in your heart that this stinky old man came to spy on me?"

"Hahaha, actually not really, because I know you can't see anything."

"Does that mean you have hidden your strength?"

"Maybe."

"Both parties are in a tacit understanding and both know what the other party is doing."

Augenthaler smiled and said: "Now that we are in Germany, how can we not try our German dark beer?"

Besides cars, Germany is most famous for its sausages and beer. Benitez nodded, "Of course."

Augenthaler had already prepared a sausage and a bottle of beer for Benitez.

"Wow, that's great."

While eating and drinking, Augenthaler smiled and said: "It's a lot of pressure in the UK, right?"

"Haha, it's not a job for humans at all. Those British guys are so capable of causing trouble."

"Ha ha."

"I think after losing to Leverkusen, you will be under more pressure."

Augenthaler also knew the significance of the Champions League to Benitez, but Benitez just laughed and said nothing.