Chapter 1 League Cup Final is Imminent

The League Cup final was imminent, but the war of words between the two sides regarding the match had not ceased.

Newcastle United's manager, Alan Pardew, appeared very low-key and didn't talk much about his opponents. When he did, it was always in praise.

He acted as if he were treating Liverpool's reserve team as Liverpool's first team.

Martin O'Neill, on the other hand, naturally believed that Newcastle United was a very strong opponent.

Anyway, both sides were saying nice things. It was hard to tell whether they really believed it from the bottom of their hearts, or if they were trying to mislead their opponents.

But everyone agreed with Alan Pardew's words.

In any case, Liverpool's reserve team had already proven their ability with their previous performances, and they had earned the respect of most people.

So no one would laugh at Alan Pardew even if he was cautious.

For Liverpool's reserve team, this was perhaps the most severe challenge and test. After all, in last season's FA Cup final, Chelsea, though strong, were arrogant and complacent. So in the end, they only had themselves to blame for losing to Liverpool's reserve team.

This time, Newcastle United did not underestimate them.

In a situation where both sides were giving their all, strength would ultimately be the deciding factor.

And in terms of strength, Liverpool's reserve team, even with the addition of Chen Hero, was not necessarily a match for Newcastle United.

So what could they rely on to win?

Having lost their former mystique, and having been thoroughly studied, Liverpool's reserve team could perhaps only pray that God would be on their side during the match.

No one thought that Liverpool's reserve team would also use the first team's tactics, focusing on cooperation with Chen Hero's left foot.

Some people thought of Chen Hero's left foot, but they then believed that Chen Hero would not continue to use his left foot in the reserve team. Because the left foot required the cooperation of the entire team, and the reserve team obviously did not have this condition.

So Newcastle United, in this way, lost the last chance to prepare.

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The twin towers of the old Wembley Stadium were gone. The landmark of the current Wembley Stadium is a 133-meter-high and 315-meter-long arch. At night, the arch is like a beautiful rainbow bridge in the night sky, echoing the famous giant Ferris wheel "London Eye" not far away. Of course, the function of this arch is not only decoration. Its actual use is to fix the north side of the Wembley Stadium roof and 60% of the south side roof with dozens of steel cables. In this way, the new Wembley does not need to use pillars to support the roof like the old stadium, which can ensure that the 90,000 seats in the new Wembley have a very good view of the game from every angle.

Anyone who has been to the scene to watch the game knows how painful it is to have a seat in a bad location. This means that you spent money and can't enjoy the wonderful game with others. And this kind of situation is common in traditional English stadiums. Because most English stadiums have many pillars to support the roof. If you are unlucky and happen to buy a seat behind a pillar, then you will not be able to see anything. Some stadiums also have very low roofs. If your seat is on the top floor, you will only be able to see a very narrow part of the field.

But in the new Wembley Stadium, these problems do not exist.

This is the most top-notch five-star stadium in the entire UK.

After the reconstruction of this stadium, it still does not detract from its historical status in English football.

Being able to play in such a stadium is still the dream of many English players.

If it weren't for Chen Hero, these Liverpool reserve team players would not know how long they would have to wait, or perhaps some of them would not have the opportunity to play here until they retired.

But now, they can legitimately use Wembley Stadium's modern dressing room and step onto the field to feel the softness and resilience of the turf.

They are doing their last warm-up before the game at Wembley Stadium.

Many fans from both sides have already taken their seats in the stands.

The red Liverpool fans and the black and white Newcastle United fans are seated in distinct areas and can be distinguished at a glance. They occupy almost 80% of the stadium. The remaining 20% is reserved for sponsors, some for the families of FA officials and staff, and some are sold to neutral fans.

Originally, a League Cup final like this was not very attractive to neutral fans, let alone to neutral fans, even to sponsors and the FA themselves. Everyone knew that the League Cup was a chicken rib, and the real giants simply didn't bother to play, so they threw the bone to other small teams.

But since Chen Hero and Liverpool's reserve team came out of nowhere, this has made the League Cup full of gimmicks.

This can be seen from the ratings and attendance of the previous few Liverpool reserve team matches.

All were among the best.

Now that Liverpool's reserve team has reached the final, that has pushed this gimmick to its climax.

Many people are concerned about the fate of Liverpool's reserve team. Will they lose to the powerful Newcastle United in the final? Or will they stubbornly defeat Newcastle United and create a legend?

Therefore, this match is not only supported by fans from both sides, but even neutral fans have chosen to come to the stadium to watch the match out of curiosity.

That 20% of the tickets have long been sold out. Today, Wembley Stadium is completely full with all 90,000 seats occupied!

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"It's really spectacular..." The Liverpool reserve team players couldn't help but curiously glance at the stands while warming up, and then they would be frightened by what they saw.

It's not that they haven't seen the Wembley Stadium stands fully seated. They have watched it on TV on weekdays, and sometimes they have also come to the Wembley Stadium stands as spectators to watch it.

But there has never been such a sense of impact as today.

They are on the field below, and 90,000 people are high above in the stands. Even if those people do nothing, do not shout, do not make any sound, just look at them, they can feel huge pressure and momentum coming from all directions, wanting to press them to the ground and prevent them from moving. Not to mention the way it is now.

All kinds of noises are intertwined, bringing them great pressure.

Even Carlton Cole, who has seen the world in the reserve team, seems a little timid, let alone the others.

Only Chen Hero is the calmest of all. Because he doesn't know how many games he has played in this stadium.

The annual Community Shield Cup is played here, and the League Cup final and FA Cup final are played here. Every year he has three such opportunities.

And he is not an English player, so he doesn't have any other special feelings about Wembley Stadium.

Treat it with a normal heart, it's just a slightly bigger stadium.

Clarke also noticed the performance of the Liverpool reserve team players. They seemed to be frightened by the momentum and pressure, and were absent-minded.

He shouted loudly, telling the players to pay attention to warming up.

"If you want your League Cup final to only last ten minutes, you can look up and see enough now! If you still want to finish this final, then you should honestly warm up for me!"

This shout is quite effective.

After all, no one wants to come to the final and only play for a few minutes before being injured and taken off the field due to insufficient warm-up.

Now everyone abandoned distracting thoughts and began to warm up seriously.

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After finishing the warm-up, everyone returned to the dressing room.

Waiting for the arrival of the final moment.

Head coach Martin O'Neill paced back and forth in the dressing room, waiting for the return of each player.

When everyone returned, he signaled assistant coach Clarke to close the door of the dressing room.

The noise was shut out.

This five-star stadium is different, the sound insulation of the dressing room is much better.

"Guys, for you, this is a special and difficult game." Martin O'Neill didn't talk nonsense, but went straight to the point. "Last year's experience of the reserve team playing in the FA Cup final does not apply to you. Because you and they are completely different teams. You have even changed all the players... Therefore, for you and me, this is a completely new experience. But this is not a reason for you to retreat! Think about how much pressure you have withstood along the way? What kind of results have you achieved... You have reached this step as a reserve team, only you know how difficult it is!"

Hearing the boss say this, many reserve team players' eyes became wet.

Because along the way, they have indeed had a much more difficult time than their opponents.

In order to be able to meet Chen Hero's requirements, in order to be qualified to participate in the League Cup with Chen Hero, each of them has put in several times, ten times, dozens of times, or even a hundred times more effort. They had never thought before that the training intensity of the reserve team would even exceed that of the first team...

What kind of days are these!

"But you have all persevered, haven't you? So you are qualified to stand on this final field! So there is no need to be nervous and worried at all. You must know what is behind you! It is all the effort and sweat you have put in! You are more qualified to stand here than your opponents!"

Speaking of this, Martin O'Neill glanced at Chen Hero. Chen Hero stood up and said to those teammates with a smile: "Guys, you have performed very well! You have long been qualified to be my, Chen Hero's, teammates, and you are also qualified to become a part of this legend!"

Finally, someone couldn't help but cheer.

Then more people cheered, they raised their arms and shouted, and got up from their seats.

"Defeat Newcastle United!"

"Lift the League Cup!"

"We want to become legends!!"