The second half of the FA Cup final was torture for Everton fans.
Logically, being only one goal behind wasn't that bad.
They were still hoping their team would fight back in the second half, equalize, and bring both sides back to the same starting line.
Who would have thought that with more than ten minutes gone in the second half, the Everton players showed no intention of fighting Liverpool to the death? Their attacks were weak and listless, their defense absent-minded.
It was a miracle they hadn't conceded a goal with a performance like that for over ten minutes.
But Everton's good luck ended there.
In the twentieth minute of the second half, they conceded a goal.
Scored by none other than Chen Hero.
This time it wasn't a header, but a long shot.
Now that Liverpool were leading 2-0, the game was completely without suspense.
A two-goal lead wasn't much, but with Everton's current form, they wouldn't have been able to come back even if they were only one goal behind, let alone two.
Liverpool completely dominated.
So what was the reason for all this?
Anyone who paid close attention would realize that it all started when the referee, James, was injured and had to leave the field.
After the referee was changed, the standard of judgment became stricter than before, but for Liverpool, this was exactly what they wanted. The previous standard was too lenient, indulging Everton's rough defense.
Now, under stricter enforcement, Everton had restrained themselves, and Liverpool was thriving.
In this way, the gap in strength between the two sides, as well as the huge difference in morale, were all reflected.
In the end, it was no surprise that Liverpool completely took the initiative.
※※※
After conceding the second goal, Everton's morale completely collapsed.
They couldn't even put up an effective defense.
And Moyes didn't even bother to think about what the loopholes were at this time. Because even if he figured it out, it would be meaningless, since his team had already conceded two goals. At this time, what should be considered was how to revive morale and strive to equalize the score.
But this was wishful thinking. Especially when the team's morale was low.
He made frequent substitutions, constantly shouted from the sidelines, but still did not change the situation.
On the contrary, he allowed Liverpool to score more goals.
Chen Hero completed a hat trick, and Carlton Cole also scored a goal.
Finally, when the referee blew the whistle to end the game, the victory was no longer enough to make the Liverpool fans ecstatic. Because they already knew the final result, and the Liverpool fans' celebration had started tens of minutes earlier.
When the game really ended, they calmed down instead.
The Everton fans left the stadium one after another before the end of the game. They didn't want to stay here and watch their team being slaughtered by their bitter rivals Liverpool, and then have to applaud the champions Liverpool in the stands. Given their hatred for Liverpool, they would be happy to spit on the Liverpool players, but they wouldn't applaud Liverpool's victory under any circumstances!
Coupled with their dissatisfaction with their team's lack of fighting spirit, they eventually left the stadium.
By the time of the award ceremony, the stands of Wembley Stadium, which could accommodate 90,000 people, were almost half empty—the Everton fans retreated fast enough.
※※※
As captain, Chen Hero accepted the FA Cup trophy from Prince Charles on behalf of the whole team.
Then he raised it high.
Red confetti sprayed from the roof of the stadium, and the Liverpool fans on the scene roared with cheers.
"Congratulations to Liverpool! Congratulations to Liverpool! They have won their sixth championship of the season! Now they are only one game away from their seventh championship this season!"
"It's simply an unbelievable season! Liverpool won four championships last season, and this season they have won six championships! Their success is unimaginable—just a season ago, when Chen Hero said he would win all the championships, many people laughed at him for daydreaming!"
"The FA Cup final was a Merseyside derby again, which was originally something to look forward to. At least this time Everton's opponent was not the powerful Liverpool first team, but the Liverpool reserve team. But Everton's performance disappointed us once again. They told us with their actions why the Merseyside derby has now become the most boring city derby in the world!"
"Look at this game, Everton even lost so miserably to the Liverpool reserve team. It is conceivable that if they were able to tie the Liverpool first team 1-1 away, it would be strange if there were no ghosts! If James hadn't been injured in an accident, I think the final result of this game would have been really hard to say..."
Amid the commentators' emotions, the Liverpool reserve team players swarmed up and surrounded Chen Hero and the championship trophy in the middle.
Everyone stretched out their hands, vying to touch the championship trophy, feeling the refreshing touch and coolness. Only at this time did many people feel it was real—we really won the FA Cup!
※※※
On the evening of the same day, the FA Cup final was the focus of major television stations.
Especially Liverpool winning the championship trophy again.
"...Before the season, when Chen Hero said he would win all the championships this season, many people thought he was talking nonsense. But look at Liverpool's performance this season, one championship after another is dazzling. We bystanders have gone from the initial surprise to the numbness of today... I think Liverpool fans probably feel it even more deeply than us. This can be seen from their celebrations... Now their celebration scale is much smaller..."
"Some Liverpool fans said in interviews that they did not celebrate on a large scale not because they were numb, but because there were too many championships, they couldn't celebrate them all, so they planned to have a big enough celebration after winning the Champions League..."
After hearing the situation introduced by the reporter from Liverpool, the news anchor was stunned for a moment, and then a helpless smile appeared on his face.
"It seems that Liverpool fans are very confident in their team..."
This television station's program was just a microcosm of the major English media tonight.
Everyone was discussing Liverpool, not just discussing this FA Cup title, but more often discussing Liverpool's crazy performance this season.
As long as Liverpool participated in the game, the championship belonged to them in the end.
Liverpool's success must have a reason, so what is the specific reason?
As for the reason that even fools can see, "because they have Chen Hero", experts and celebrities disdain to discuss it. They began to find another way, such as starting from the head coach Martin O'Neill, analyzing that O'Neill actually has real talent and learning, and his contribution to Liverpool is very large. They also analyzed the management level of the Liverpool club. The general manager Niang initially seized the power of signing players from Dalglish, which made many media and celebrities scold him for destroying the tradition of English football. But now, in the face of brilliant results, these people have to bow their heads and admit that Niang's control over the team and even the club is very successful.
In addition to these, there is naturally the low-key but willing to spend money boss Chen Xing. At the beginning, he caused some disturbances when he moved into the Liverpool club as a Chinese.
But now, there is no noise anymore. With the success of Chen Hero, Liverpool has changed from the city with the most anti-Chinese sentiment to the city that likes China the most...
After analyzing these factors, everyone began to discuss whether other teams could achieve Liverpool's achievements.
Then, after a fierce debate, they finally came to a conclusion.
Even if they add all the favorable conditions they think of to other teams, it is impossible.
Because there is more than one boss who is rich, generous, and does not interfere with the team. There are many in the world football. There is more than one general manager who is good at business management, has a good eye for buying players, and is dedicated to his responsibilities. There is more than one head coach who is capable and low-key. There are many in the world football. There is no shortage of excellent players in the world football. There are more loyal, hardcore and enthusiastic fans, and no team lacks them.
But... there is only one Chen Hero.
So other teams will not be able to replicate Liverpool's success unless they have all the above conditions, plus a Chen Hero.
This is a frustrating reality.
Then this reality gave birth to a new problem: "Is Liverpool's strength so unstoppable?"
The British like to argue, and the emergence of this question made them excited, because it could make them argue for a long time.
So everyone started to discuss this issue with great interest again.
※※※
Chen Hero never watches this kind of debate program in the UK, because he thinks it is a waste of life.
On the day they won the FA Cup, the reserve team players celebrated wildly, almost everyone was drunk. They used the FA Cup trophy to hold wine, and then everyone drank directly from the trophy.
For the Liverpool reserve team players, the FA Cup title is definitely more important than the League Cup title.
They have played in two cup matches this season and won both championships, so it is understandable that they are so happy.
But Chen Hero was not as excited as they were.
It is gratifying to win the FA Cup, but Chen Hero's goal this season has not yet been completed, he has only completed a stage of the task. The overall task has not been completed, so it is not worth being too happy, or even carried away.
The Champions League final is the biggest test of the season.
Real Madrid is currently the only strong team in European football that can be compared with Barcelona and Liverpool. They have a strong lineup, and Mourinho is in command. They have already won the La Liga title this season and are now heading towards the eleventh Champions League title in the club's history.
This team is currently in high spirits and is definitely a strong enemy for Liverpool in the Champions League final.
But this did not make Chen Hero feel headache. On the contrary, this opponent made Chen Hero high-spirited.
He has always been the kind of person who gets stronger when he meets the strong. The stronger the opponent, the stronger he will only become.
Being able to meet Real Madrid in the final is the result he most hoped for.
Because only by defeating Real Madrid and winning the championship, such a Champions League final is meaningful.
That's the ultimate showdown in Europe!