Chapter 1 Chen Yingxiong's Expectations

Chen Yingxiong hadn't expected that a few words from Martin O'Neill could dispel the pre-match jitters of the reserve team players, filling them with fighting spirit.

He had thought the Liverpool reserve team's emotions would need to be calmed gradually on the field. He had even planned to stabilize the team's morale with some outstanding plays at the start of the match.

But now it seemed that his preparations were unnecessary.

He didn't think Martin O'Neill was the type of coach who excelled with words. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made him Liverpool's spokesman, responsible for arguing and trading insults with others.

He also didn't like giving rousing speeches before matches, preferring to talk tactics and point out details that others might miss.

But this time, he went against the grain, using a passionate speech to inspire and boost morale.

Even Chen Yingxiong had to look at him with new eyes.

It seemed that winning consecutive championships had emboldened this usually cautious manager.

※※※

The players were still full of fighting spirit as they left the locker room, eager for the match to start immediately, preferably without any waiting in the tunnel.

When they stood side-by-side with the Newcastle United players, waiting to enter the field, each of them held their head high, looking straight ahead, only at the tunnel exit.

Their expressions were proud and confident.

They looked like the true powerhouses, while the Newcastle United players were mere ants.

Because they felt they were more deserving of being on the final stage than the Newcastle United players. Their efforts to recover were something that those Premier League teams wouldn't even dare to imagine, let alone achieve.

This pride confused the Newcastle United players beside them. They couldn't understand what the Liverpool reserve team players had been eating, acting so arrogant. It was as if Newcastle United were inferior to them…

Chen Yingxiong stood at the front of the line, the undisputed captain, leader, and standard-bearer of the Liverpool reserve team.

When the referees approached to tell them it was time to enter, Chen Yingxiong shouted to the back, "Prepare to enter!"

The Liverpool reserve team players responded with a loud and spirited shout that echoed through the tunnel: "Prepare to enter!!!"

The sudden sound startled everyone around them. Even Chen Yingxiong's shoulders twitched, not to mention the Newcastle United players…

The Newcastle United players' expressions showed a mixture of confusion and disdain—"Are you crazy! Have you never played in a League Cup final before! Shouting so loudly! Do you think shouting loudly will win you the game? What a bunch of hicks!"

They were somewhat embarrassed and enraged because they had indeed been startled by the Liverpool reserve team's roar. Several players, who usually acted like superstars, had jumped in surprise—it was embarrassing to be caught off guard in front of the reserve team players.

After being startled, they were naturally angry and ashamed, so they looked down on the hicks even more.

Watching the Liverpool reserve team stride out of the tunnel with firm and unified steps, the Newcastle United players, startled, hesitated for a moment, naturally falling behind the Liverpool players.

The match hadn't even started, and they had already lost a round in terms of momentum.

Thinking this, the frustrated and annoyed Newcastle United players glared at the Liverpool reserve team players beside them.

But the Liverpool reserve team players ignored the Newcastle United players beside them. They didn't even bother to look at their discomfited expressions. They kept their eyes fixed ahead, following Chen Yingxiong onto the field.

Chen Yingxiong didn't look back, but his face was filled with a broad smile.

This team was ready to fight!

※※※

From entering the field to the national anthem to the handshake.

The Liverpool reserve team players' performance was impeccable.

They looked more like seasoned veterans than a bunch of teenagers, mostly eighteen or nineteen years old, recently promoted from the youth team.

Even the commentators sensed the momentum radiating from these players.

"There's a reason why this team, rather than other Premier League teams, has made it to the League Cup final stage. Their strength isn't just because of Chen Yingxiong… Perhaps we can look at it another way, the players who can cooperate and play with Chen Yingxiong can't be weak…"

"I think Alan Pardew's caution is correct. Just look at the spirit of this team. This is certainly not a weak team without fighting spirit and confidence!"

"Newcastle United may face a tough battle in this final. I hope they are prepared…"

※※※

After the match started, the Newcastle United players realized that their coach hadn't been lying to them. This was indeed a tough battle…

The Liverpool reserve team's main tactic was no different from before: defense and counterattack.

They deliberately ceded possession to Newcastle United, letting them control the ball and besiege them. But their defense was very well-organized. Even if Newcastle United had possession, it wasn't easy for them to break through their defense.

Of course, the Liverpool reserve team had been sticking to this tactic for so long that their opponents had long since figured it out.

In response to this situation, Newcastle United had also made corresponding countermeasures.

First of all, the players couldn't be impatient.

Alan Pardew had analyzed for them the reasons why previous teams had lost to the Liverpool reserve team, and the first reason was that they were too impatient. They thought they were stronger than the Liverpool reserve team, so they could win easily. But when they found they couldn't win easily, they started to panic, and this panic led to problems.

They pushed forward in force, throwing everything forward.

Then the Liverpool reserve team used the space behind them to launch counterattacks. And what kind of person was Chen Yingxiong?

How could he miss such an opportunity?

Once they conceded a goal, the Liverpool reserve team's opponents often collapsed.

So, it was important not to be anxious. They had to treat the Liverpool reserve team with the same caution they would treat the Liverpool first team.

Who would push forward in force against the Liverpool first team, leaving huge gaps behind them for the opponent?

Similarly, even if they accidentally conceded a goal, they shouldn't be impatient. Because being behind against the Liverpool first team was also normal.

As long as they didn't panic, Newcastle United's rich experience would have room to play, and they would always be able to find the reserve team's weaknesses and exploit them.

In addition to not being impatient, they also had to constantly put pressure on the Liverpool reserve team's defense, striving to quickly organize a second or third wave of attacks. Through this continuous offensive, they could put a lot of pressure on the Liverpool reserve team players. After all, they were a reserve team, young and inexperienced. In the face of this continuous offensive and pressure, they would inevitably make mistakes. And one mistake could lead to more mistakes.

So now, when the Newcastle United players saw Liverpool retreating and defending in their own penalty area, they immediately followed the pre-match tactics arranged by the coach, surrounding the Liverpool reserve team and patiently passing the ball back and forth, looking for the right opportunity. They tried to create gaps in the Liverpool reserve team's defense by constantly passing the ball around.

However, the Liverpool reserve team was well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of their tactics, so they had made many targeted arrangements.

For example, no matter how the opponent passed the ball, they had to stick to their defensive zone. Each player was assigned a defensive zone, and during defense, they could only move within that zone and were not allowed to leave, even if it seemed like their teammates were about to collapse. Because once they left their defensive zone without permission, a gap would appear in that area. And other teammates would have to compensate for his gap, creating a chain reaction.

If this continued, the Liverpool reserve team's defense would quickly fall apart.

The collapse of the entire defense was more terrifying than a problem in one area.

So, no matter what, everyone was not allowed to leave their posts without permission.

And because they had accumulated enough players in the penalty area, problems in a single defensive zone were rare.

If the opponent was just passing the ball horizontally outside, then let them pass. They shouldn't move at all.

That's what they were doing now.

Newcastle United passed the ball back and forth, trying to lure them out. The Liverpool reserve team players remained unmoved, simply holding their positions and watching the ball go back and forth.

Of course, they couldn't rush out to intercept the ball, and Newcastle United had no chance to get the ball in. After a few minutes of passing, boos rang out from the stands—obviously, the fans were dissatisfied with the game, but it was unclear whether they were neutral fans or Newcastle United fans. On the other hand, Liverpool fans knew very well that this was how the Liverpool reserve team fought, and they wouldn't be impatient.

Amidst the boos, the Newcastle United players finally couldn't hold back and ended the attack with a long shot. Of course, the quality of the long shot wasn't high, as it went over the crossbar.

It was clear that they were forced to do so.

※※※

Newcastle United's attack didn't work, but Liverpool's counterattack was somewhat threatening. When it was Liverpool's turn to attack, their offensive methods were simple, but effective.

They simply kicked the ball long to the front, and Chen Yingxiong and Carlton Cole were able to create a scoring opportunity, forcing goalkeeper Krul to make a save.

Because of this, the Newcastle United players didn't dare to push all the way up, always leaving some players in the back to guard against the Liverpool reserve team's counterattacks.

Because they didn't commit enough troops, they were even more helpless in the face of the Liverpool reserve team's defensive wall, with few options.

But Liverpool, after all, was defending with all their might, and there weren't many opportunities to support Chen Yingxiong's counterattacks.

So, the two sides were at a stalemate.

More than twenty minutes had passed in the first half without anyone noticing, and the score was still 0:0.