Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 53

April in Sunderland was both crazy and happy.In addition to the team's big victory and advancing into the FA Cup, the team earned 69 points before the final round of the English Championship, and tied with another English Championship team, Swansea, with 69 points. No.6 on the list——

No, there is no such thing as a "tie" in the English Championship standings. In this case, it is necessary to compete for goal difference.Coincidentally, Swansea's goal difference is exactly two goals more than Sunderland.So Sunderland temporarily ranked seventh.

Before the final round of the regular season, the owner of Sunderland, Short, rushed to the Guangming Academy to express his condolences to the players and the staff of the club.After turning around, they asked Anton and Russell nervously: "How is it, the last game, is there any hope of getting into the top six?"

In fact, during the middle of the season, Sunderland never expected to face such a situation-at the end of December, everyone was still thinking about relegation, but by this time everyone was talking about getting into the top six , Play the play-offs and break into the Premier League.

Anton and Russell looked at each other, Anton smiled and nodded: "We have the same points as Swansea, so on the closing day, the two teams will play at the same time. We played against Queens Park Rangers, and Swansea played against Swansea." Middlesbrough, if they win the game, we just need to win the game by three goals."

Short was relieved: "Oh, that's all right!"

Russell shrank behind Anton and flattened his mouth, complaining secretly in his heart, thinking that Anton's words were really very deceptive and deceptive—what do you mean by "just like this"?This is already the last match of the main match, and it depends on whether they can win the qualification to surpass.If the opponent went all out and scored [-]-[-] or [-]-[-], wouldn't Sunderland have to score seven or eight goal difference to win the qualification to surpass.

But Anton simply told the boss Short, and at the same time told the players: "Just win three goal difference!"

Anton is born as a coach, and his words are also hugely provocative in front of the players.When making the pre-match arrangement, Russell looked at the players and nodded happily to Anton one by one: "No problem, coach, isn't it just to win three more goals?"

Compared with the sluggish locker room in the season, where you can't do anything, this team seems to have been reborn and completely new.

Russell thought sadly: It's all due to Anton's mouth, it must be a demagogic spell from the East, which makes even the most stubborn stone nod to listen to Anton...even himself.

On May 5, Sunderland sat at the Stadium of Light and ushered in the rival London team Queens Park Rangers.And their rival Swansea, who competed with them for six, also played at home against Middlesbrough.

The two simultaneous closing games are known as the "Battle of Black and White", that is, "Black Cat" vs. "White Swan" (Swansea's nickname is "Swan").When many Sunderland fans enter the stadium to watch the game, they carry the radio with them and listen to the home game on the other side at any time.

To a certain extent, the two sides can be said to be evenly matched: the two teams have the same points, both sides are playing at home, and the opponents are all mid-range teams in the British Championship.In this game, the only unequal item is that Swansea has these two more goal difference than Sunderland.

Sunderland fans are full of confidence in their team, but the opponent's two goal difference advantage still makes them worry about it. "Sunderland boys, go!" the fans shouted from the stands to the players below.

And Anton stood next to the coach's bench, seemingly calmly watching his disciples warm up and prepare for the game.He once told the players that every game should be played as a decisive game.And they finally came here today, coming to the last game of the race.

Before the game, the players of Queens Park Rangers looked relaxed and comfortable, while the eleven players of Sunderland formed a circle before kick-off in the middle circle, put their arms around each other, and captain Garner Everyone said something, and the team members roared with pride, followed by the singing of the fans in the Sunderland stands——

"From here to there, from coast to coast,

You can always hear our roar;

The echo of the roar It resounds across the land;

echo our name Sunderland;

Sunderland never dies,

Our flag will always fly..."

This song pushed the atmosphere of the audience to the highest level.Following the whistle of the chief referee on duty, the stands in all directions erupted into shouts that shocked the audience:

Sunderland, go--

Anton turned around and looked at the coach's bench.There is a small radio next to Russell, and he can listen to the news from Swansea's home court.

Seeing Anton turn around, Russell quickly shook his head and said: Not so fast, the opponent hasn't scored yet!

Because other electronic devices are not allowed on the field, Anton and Russell made an appointment in advance, and Russell would be responsible for listening to the radio and notifying Anton in real time of changes in the opponent's goal difference.Anton is in charge of field command.

But regardless of whether the opponent has scored or not, what Sunderland has sent is already the most aggressive of all the team's lineups.Sunderland's young players all know that if they can't win three more goals than their opponents in this game, they will be in vain——

In order not to disappoint so many fans, not to let down the head coach, and not to let their hard work go to waste, the Sunderland players chose to rush forward.As soon as the referee blew the whistle and kicked off, Sunderland's midfielders had already rushed towards the opponent's half.

So, just 2 minutes into the game, Shaqiri was fouled by the opponent and tripped by the opponent.

The referee blew his whistle and awarded a free kick, and the little Shaqiri stood up quickly with a carp.Seeing that the opponent's defender was still slowly preparing to defend a free kick, Shaqiri immediately chose a fast serve, picked up the ball from the ground, and before the opponent could see what was going on, the ball had already been passed.

Shaqiri: I pass—

Eriksson: I pad-

Vardy: I ​​shot -

A wild cheer erupted in the Stadium of Light:

"GOAL!"

"We scored!"

Just 2 minutes after the start of the game, Sunderland knocked on the opponent's door with a tricky shot from Vardy.His way of celebrating is very British, without any fancy, just running with his head down, quickly ran around behind the goal, then ran to pick up the ball, ran back to the middle circle, put it on the kick-off point, and looked up at his opponent The players seem to be saying: Hurry up!We are still waiting to continue scoring!

Sunderland's opening was so dreamy, the fans in the stands jumped up and sang, as if victory was in sight.In the first 2 minutes of the game, Sunderland had scored a goal.Russell stretched out his hand on the sidelines and made a "two" gesture, indicating that they had two goal difference left to fight for.

His gesture is very similar to the "V" victory gesture, so the fans in the stands behind the coaching staff stretched out their hands in unison, compared to "Victory", and then sang in unison: "Victory belongs to us!"

Soon, in the 36th minute of the game, Sunderland scored another goal.Russell's gesture has changed to "one", and there is no movement from Swansea!Sunderland only needs to score one more goal to surpass Swansea on goal difference, squeeze into the top six of the British Championship, enter the play-offs, and sprint to the top.

But the good times didn't last long. In the 42nd minute, Queens Park Rangers launched a quick counterattack. Full-back Horton made a tactical foul in desperation, brought down the opposing player, received a yellow card, and gave the opponent a penalty A well placed free kick.

"Oh no--"

After witnessing the opponent's goal, the Sunderland fans held their heads together and let out a reluctant cry.

At the same time, Russell's gesture on the sidelines changed to "three".His face turned liver-colored with anger, and he kept muttering about something—everyone knew what he was complaining about.This is really: hard work in the first half, once back to before liberation.

While Sunderland conceded a goal, Swansea in Wales scored a goal against their opponent.All of a sudden, one went up and down, and the goal difference that Sunderland still needed to win suddenly became three again.

This is undoubtedly a huge blow to Sunderland's morale.But fortunately, not long after, the referee blew the halftime whistle, and the Sunderland players returned to the locker room one after another, waiting for Anton to speak.

Anton looked at Russell: "Come on!"

Russell, the irritable old man, almost jumped up again: "It's me again?"

——Isn't this the job of your head coach?

But Russell quickly calmed down, thought for a while, and said seriously to all the players present: "To be honest, this game is the best game I have ever seen for all of you... If it was half a year ago I, I can't believe it at all..."

For some reason, Russell's voice suddenly choked up a little.

The locker room was very quiet. All the players gathered in the locker room sat or stood, and all eyes did not leave Russell.In this season, the players have heard Russell complaining a lot, and even everyone has been scolded by him as a "little bastard".

But at this moment, this assistant coach who always complained and scolded others praised them at this most critical moment, affirmed them, and praised them for doing their best.

"That's it!" Anton took up the conversation from the side. As he spoke, he reached out and patted Russell's shoulder heavily. Russell lowered his head and wiped the corners of his eyes with his fingers.

"My assistant coach Mr. Black and I have nothing more to say to you." Anton said, "Go ahead and try your best in the second half. Don't think about the result. The only thing you need to do is not let yourself down." !"

The players responded in unison, turned around and prepared to return to the field.

At this time, Anton said behind them: "Garner stays, Kolbeck stays, Halldosson stays."

He left three people behind at once, ready to teach the opportunity face to face.Russell curled his lips secretly beside him, thinking: This man said it easily, after all, he is still preparing for a big move, so stay behind!