Chapter 1 Before the League Cup Final

Before the League Cup final, Liverpool's first team was preparing intensely, and the war of words with Manchester City was heating up.

But the reserve team had nothing to do with it.

During the League Cup semi-final, Martin O'Neill had at least called up six players from the reserve team to travel with the squad, and four of them had the opportunity to start.

But this time, there were simply no Liverpool reserve team players to be seen.

No one notified them to train with the first team, and Clarke didn't read out any names.

It was as if this League Cup final had nothing to do with them at all.

However, unlike the semi-final, the reserve team players were no longer complaining.

On the one hand, after the semi-final, they had accepted the reality - when it comes to competing for the championship, they are unreliable and untrustworthy.

On the other hand, the League Cup final opponent was a team like Manchester City, and the reserve team players themselves didn't have the confidence to beat Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. If they lost the championship in the end, who would be to blame? Although they had previously felt unfairly treated for having worked so hard to help Liverpool reach the League Cup semi-finals, only to be kicked to the curb. But they were also unwilling to bear the responsibility for losing the championship.

This is a very realistic problem. Everyone wants to stand on the podium and be infinitely glorious, but at the same time, no one wants to be reviled as a loser.

So, Martin O'Neill's decision, even if they were disappointed, was not as strong as it had been during the semi-finals, and some even felt relieved…

Now they were all Liverpool fans, just waiting to cheer for the team.

※※※

The Liverpool reserve team players felt indifferent, but Chen Hero felt awkward. In the semi-final, he still had six reserve team players around him, six people who had performed well in games and training, and who could be said to be the biggest contributors to the team's final entry into the semi-finals.

But now there was no one left, and he was surrounded by first-team starters like Sanchez, Bale, Gerrard, and Gotze.

He didn't have the "want to win but afraid to lose" mentality of the reserve team players, so he naturally couldn't understand that the reserve team players didn't actually feel anything was wrong. He just felt that wasn't this a bit too ruthless? After all, they had helped Liverpool reach the semi-finals, and now they weren't calling up a single one of them, wasn't that too cold-blooded?

He still remembered Evan, the reserve team player who had questioned him in the locker room, remembered scolding their captain, Spearing, and remembered the other reserve team teammates who had remained silent…

He really didn't know how heartbroken those reserve team players must be feeling at this time.

So what if it's the final? So what if the opponent is Manchester City?

We can still beat them! Whether it's with the first team or the reserve team, shouldn't Liverpool have that kind of confidence?

Chen Hero made a decision in his heart.

※※※

Wembley Stadium was already packed, with the stands of the stadium that can accommodate 90,000 people filled to capacity. Liverpool and Manchester City fans occupied 95% of the seats, neutral fans came in small numbers, neutral fans are not interested in this kind of game, the remaining 5% is reserved for sponsors, and also specifically left empty to ensure safety. Once a stadium is completely full, it's difficult to evacuate in case of an emergency.

Both teams had finished warming up and returned to the locker room to make final preparations for the game.

Martin O'Neill looked at his elite troops in the locker room, and he had high hopes for them.

Manchester City was Liverpool's defeated opponent, having just lost to them in the league, so this League Cup title was a sure thing.

He was even considering how to win this least valuable title at the smallest cost.

"Actually, I don't have much to say, guys. We just beat them in the league, so why can't we beat them again in the League Cup? So, I only have one request for this game - go and bring the championship trophy back!"

※※※

At the same time, in Manchester City's locker room, Mancini was working hard to encourage his players.

"This is our best chance for revenge! Beat them in the final and snatch their championship! Tell them that the league and the cup final are completely different! If they dare to underestimate us, they can just wait for bad luck!"

Because of Chen Hero, Mancini had become particularly violent.

But even he himself wasn't sure if his encouragement would work.

He could only take things one step at a time…

※※※

"The two teams in this final are old rivals. The relationship between Liverpool and Manchester City has deteriorated sharply since Chen Hero transferred and joined, and has eventually become the bitter enemies they are today. Therefore, there will be absolutely no probing phase in the game between these two teams, and it will definitely be like this, attacking with all their strength from the very beginning!"

The commentator said excitedly.

He loved watching this kind of game. And not only him, the vast majority of fans also liked this kind of game.

There were no conspiracies, no complicated tactics, and both sides opened up and attacked each other from the start of the game. It was like two boxers in a match, without frequent circling, but starting with a bare-knuckle brawl right from the start. Although it was very lacking in technique, and didn't look like two professional boxers, this kind of duel was perhaps what everyone wanted to see most, because this primitive, wild fight could arouse the beast deep inside every spectator and stimulate their adrenaline secretion.

This kind of attacking battle cannot show the brilliance of either coach, and there is not much technical and tactical content in it. It is purely a battle of the hard power and luck of both sides.

But everyone likes to watch this kind of game!

Liverpool and Manchester City are both teams with strong offensive power, and they are very confident in their attack.

But the most important thing is that these two teams are mortal enemies. They are particularly jealous when they meet, so how can they care about arranging tactics… They just punch each other directly!

So, a League Cup final that should have been cautious on both sides turned into a rare attacking spectacle.

The fans were thrilled.

※※※

Chen Hero on the field was also thrilled. He liked attacking, he liked offensive football, but there were not many opportunities for such a reckless attack.

So, he especially cherished this opportunity.

He actively ran in the game, creating opportunities for himself and for the team.

In fact, there were many opportunities, because both sides were attacking each other, playing very openly, so everyone could get a chance to shoot, whether it was Liverpool or Manchester City.

Chen Hero had just completed a header in the penalty area, and Aguero had a long shot over there.

Sanchez had a long shot from outside the penalty area, and Lavezzi used his personal skills and speed to break into the penalty area and shoot.

Aguero's performance in this game was very outstanding, because the previous rumors that Manchester City was pursuing Chen Hero gave him a great stimulus, and he even had the idea of leaving. But even if he really wanted to leave, before leaving, he had to prove to the blind executives of Manchester City - that he was no worse than Chen Hero! You pursued Chen Hero in front of me, did you ever think about my feelings? You will regret it when I leave!

A raging fire was burning in Aguero's heart, driving him to pursue goals on the field.

Aguero's level was already very high, and now he had enough motivation, so scoring goals was really not difficult for him…

※※※

"Aguero… Aguero!!"

The commentator almost jumped out of his seat.

This fierce attacking battle finally had a result in the twentieth minute!

In fact, judging from the situation on the field, it was still surprising to many people that a goal was only scored in the twentieth minute.

"Aguero! Aguero!! He scored the first goal for Manchester City! A beautiful goal! He used his skills to force a breakthrough in front of the penalty area, broke in, and then made a cold shot. The ball passed over Renard's ten fingers and went straight into the far corner of the goal! It's a perfect reflection of his personal ability!"

"There were rumors that Manchester City was interested in buying Chen Hero before, and now Aguero has scored in the final. This is his response to Manchester City's senior management!"

"Look at Aguero's state! With such an outstanding striker, the senior management of Manchester City must have water in their heads to want to buy some Chen Hero!"

With the commentators' voices, Manchester City fans in the stands jumped up from their seats, waving their arms and shouting Aguero's name loudly.

Some fans also shook banners and slogans that they had prepared long ago: "We have Kun, we don't need that person!"

"Hero, don't come, Kun, stay!"

"We will always support you, A Kun!"

After scoring the goal, Aguero rushed to the bottom of the rostrum. He knew that the senior management of Manchester City Club should be sitting there, so he ran there specifically and waved his fist at them.

He just wanted to show the senior management that he was no worse than Liverpool's Chen Hero!

Manchester City Club Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who was sitting on the rostrum, saw Aguero's celebration and knew what it meant. In recent days, there had been endless rumors about Aguero leaving, but he knew that this was not a rumor. Aguero's agent had contacted the club and expressed his desire to leave the team.

Chen Hero didn't buy it, and now Aguero was clamoring to leave again, which really gave him a headache.

Looking at Aguero's state, he also knew what the consequences would be if Aguero was let go.

Now he had to yield to Aguero's agent and decided to offer Aguero a new contract, which would make his weekly salary the highest in the team, and would also far exceed Chen Hero's current weekly salary standard at Liverpool.

He hoped to keep Aguero in this way.

Although Mubarak stood up and applauded Aguero's goal, he couldn't see any joy on his face. He was still worried about how to keep Aguero.

Not far from him, Liverpool Chairman Chen Xing and General Manager Niang didn't feel anything bad about the team losing the ball, and their expressions were calm.

It wasn't that they didn't care about their team, but that they had a very high level of confidence in their team, especially in Chen Hero.

They believed that Chen Hero would not allow Manchester City to be arrogant in front of him.