Chapter 1 We Meet Again, Guys!

When Chen Yingxiong reappeared on the reserve team training ground, he raised his hand to greet everyone: "Time flies, we meet again, guys!"

He was met with cheers from the reserve team players.

Chen Yingxiong had long been the biggest idol and role model in the hearts of these young men.

Everyone supported and liked him from the bottom of their hearts.

In addition to his formidable strength, his personality was also a factor. Although the media said Chen Yingxiong was not an easy person to get along with, that was just the media's side of the story, because Chen Yingxiong rarely had a good look for the media. Chen Yingxiong was not a difficult person to get along with, just that he and the media did not get along well.

In front of his teammates, Chen Yingxiong never put on airs, even to the reserve team and youth team players who were not as good as him, he was very enthusiastic and cheerful.

In addition to coming to the reserve team to train with the team, he also brought a message.

"After playing the two League Cup semi-finals and making it to the final, I'm treating! I'll invite all of you to my house for barbecue!"

This invitation was a pleasant surprise for the reserve team players. They couldn't believe their ears, so much so that they were stunned for a moment after hearing Chen Yingxiong say this, thinking they had misheard.

The first-team's star player, currently the best shooter in the world, was actually inviting them, these unknown reserve team players, to his house as guests?

Such a thing... who had ever heard of it before?

Not only in Liverpool, but in other teams, which of those first-team players didn't look down on the reserve team players who weren't as good as them? Not to mention the established stars, even those players who had just entered the first team probably felt that they were a cut above the reserve team.

This was a class concept from the bottom of their hearts.

It was a deep-rooted impression formed over a long period of time—until now, in many Premier League clubs, youth team players were still responsible for shining the shoes and tidying up the wardrobes of first-team players. And if the first-team players were not satisfied with these people, they could scold them, and twenty years ago, they could even hit them.

Just like the relationship between master and apprentice in China.

It was said that a master beating his apprentice was a sign of love, and a master punishing his apprentice was also justified. No matter how the master treated the apprentice, the apprentice himself must never harbor resentment or be negligent in serving the master.

But Chen Yingxiong did not do this. He just felt that since everyone was a teammate of the same team, they were brothers in the same trench. What need was there to put on airs for his own people?

So he was always very enthusiastic towards his teammates.

This enthusiasm, in the eyes of other players, meant that "Chen Yingxiong has no airs at all, he is approachable, and he is the idol that we all like."

If Chen Yingxiong had any requests, would anyone dare not try their best?

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In the match against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool's tactics were the same as always—solid defense and counterattack.

In fact, now, Liverpool reserve team's opponents all knew that this was Liverpool's tactic. There was no secret to it. It had long been thoroughly studied.

But thoroughly studying it didn't mean they could win.

Because they had an unsolvable Chen Yingxiong.

There was nothing to study about Liverpool reserve team's defensive counterattack, but Chen Yingxiong, they couldn't figure out how to deal with him—that was the key.

The reserves were just the supporting cast, Chen Yingxiong was the star…

Tottenham, who had not figured out how to deal with Chen Yingxiong, could only pin their hopes on their slim home advantage.

In fact, they themselves knew that this was unlikely to work.

But apart from this, what other means could they come up with?

They couldn't come up with any!

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In fact, Tottenham Hotspur's players did fight hard enough.

They performed very well in this game, scoring two goals in total.

Unfortunately, Liverpool reserve team were just as good, relying on Chen Yingxiong's two goals.

The two sides drew 2:2 at White Hart Lane.

Being able to tie Liverpool, Tottenham should have been satisfied, after all, their arch-rivals Arsenal had not done as well as them.

But at this time, the people of Tottenham could not laugh at all.

Having failed to take down Liverpool on their home ground, going to the opponent's home ground… they would really just be meat on the chopping board…

They didn't expect themselves to be tenacious, but Liverpool reserve team were even more tenacious than them!

Obviously, this team was not relying on Chen Yingxiong alone. They were able to get to this point because every reserve team player was working hard and fighting hard!

This was a very difficult opponent to deal with, an opponent that even the Premier League's strong teams had to take seriously.

Tottenham coach McClaren had a gloomy face after the game.

He also knew that the hope of reaching Wembley Stadium was slim.

Although it was a draw, it was tantamount to a defeat for Tottenham, while Liverpool's players could leave with their heads held high.

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After the League Cup game, Chen Yingxiong did not return to the first team, but continued to stay with the reserve team.

Anyway, the first team could do without Chen Yingxiong for the time being. They had been working with Chen Yingxiong for so many seasons, they were already familiar with each other, and they didn't need to be together every day to practice.

In the days without Chen Yingxiong, the first team could just practice all kinds of responses to the team in Chen Yingxiong's absence. After all, although Chen Yingxiong had never missed a game due to injury or physical reasons, his temper still made everyone a little uneasy. If this powder keg was ignited, it would be all over. Everyone knew how Dalglish was dismissed. Although the root cause was his poor coaching ability, if Chen Yingxiong had not been suspended for six games, how could the club have found an excuse to move this "King" who had a great reputation throughout the club?

Chen Yingxiong did not receive a single red card last season, and had no suspensions. This was his progress. It showed that while his age was increasing, he was indeed maturing. But who knew when this kid would have another brain cramp?

As a coaching team, they must never wait until a problem arises before solving it, but should prepare contingency plans before the problem arises.

Consider all possible situations, then come up with solutions, and then practice. In the end, when the team really encounters such a problem in the game, they will know how to deal with it, and they will not feel unsure and weak-kneed.

Chen Yingxiong's going to the reserve team gave the first team just such an opportunity.

During this period, all of the first team's training was based on the assumption that Chen Yingxiong was not on the field, and what the team should do. Including how to attack and how to defend. Because Chen Yingxiong was not there, the team's offensive routines also had to change, and it was impossible to simply copy the previous practices. Suarez and Chen Yingxiong's styles were completely different.

While the first team was stepping up its training, the reserve team's training was even more arduous.

After Chen Yingxiong himself participated, the intensity of everyone's training increased, but no one complained, and they were even more motivated than before.

Because no one wanted to be a coward in front of Chen Yingxiong, and be looked down upon by him.

Everyone was working so hard that what they were preparing for was not just the FA Cup match against Bolton, nor the second leg of the League Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur.

What they were preparing for was… the final battle!

Whether it was the League Cup or the FA Cup, their goal was set on the final.

In order to improve their strength and give Chen Yingxiong more support in the final, they had gone all out!

Even Clarke was surprised by the reserve team players' fighting spirit. He had never seen the reserve team players so motivated and full of fighting spirit. Even though he had already seen Chen Yingxiong bring many changes to the reserve team, he was still surprised by it.

Was this team really a reserve team?

Perhaps if they were to form a team to participate in the Premier League, they would be able to stay up?

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With such high morale and Chen Yingxiong in charge, and still at their home ground, what was there for Liverpool reserve team to fear?

Moreover, their opponents Bolton did not send all of their main players. They also retained some of their strength, using a substitute lineup plus a few main players.

Liverpool reserve team's two matches against Arsenal really gave them publicity.

Now everyone knows that Liverpool reserve team are not easy bones to chew on. Some teams that are not so eager for the FA Cup title, teams that simply regard the FA Cup as a dispensable, if they encounter Liverpool reserve team, they simply give up in advance.

Just like Bolton.

If they didn't feel embarrassed, they might as well send the reserve team directly to participate in the competition and play a "Reserve Team FA Cup" with Liverpool reserve team.

This also gave Liverpool reserve team a relaxed environment in disguise.

In the match against Bolton, Liverpool reserve team did not encounter strong resistance. They defeated Bolton 3:1 at their home ground and advanced to the sixth round of the FA Cup.

They won easily, with a bit of a "bloodless victory".

But the Liverpool reserve team were not happy after winning the game.

They were now a bit bloodthirsty, and wanted to compete with Bolton, after all, Bolton was also a Premier League team.

Who would have thought that Bolton would surrender in advance!

It was like a person who had gathered enough strength, swung his arm around to slap the other person, but just as he swung his arm up, the other person collapsed to the ground like a toppling mountain of gold, prostrating and shouting "Hero, spare my life!" Would you still have the nerve to hit him?

This feeling of not being able to use one's strength was extremely depressing.

So Liverpool reserve team did not appreciate it at all.

However, they wouldn't be holding it in for too long, not to the point of getting prostatitis.

Because the second leg of the League Cup semi-final was coming up soon. They would be hosting Tottenham Hotspur at home. The first leg ended in a draw. The second leg would determine who would ultimately go to Wembley!

They would vent all their anger in this game!