Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 15

Anton's tactical arrangement is indeed as Fletcher said. He let Jones, who is good at physical confrontation, come off the bench, not expecting him to score, but hoping that Jones' strong breakthrough can create opportunities for other teammates.At the same time, if Jones' breakthrough can cause the opponent's foul, it will allow Eriksson, who has excellent free kicks, to show his talents.

Sure enough, Anton's tactics worked.Sunderland leveled the score.If the 1:1 score continues to the end, Sunderland can get their wish and visit Liverpool's home Anfield.At Anfield, there are at least 2 more fans who come to watch the game than at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland can earn a fortune by sharing the ticket revenue, and ease the club's tight financial pressure.

But the premise of all this is that Sunderland can withstand Liverpool's stormy attack.

Anton was on the sidelines and Garner was on the field, shouting to Sunderland's players to quickly get back in place.Even Vincent, the only one standing forward, only stood near the middle circle.They are facing the giants Liverpool. How could Liverpool accept the result of being tied by a Championship team?

Including injury time, there are at most seven or eight minutes left in the game.But seven or eight minutes is definitely enough for a top giants team.Anton watched from the sidelines, sighing in his heart: Facing Liverpool, which has the golden boy of Spain... the bus still needs to be placed.

So, he used up the last substitution spot, replacing Vincent, who had been ineffective on the field, and replaced him with a defender.

"Sunderland are going to hold on to this draw, but can they do it?" commentator Fletcher said loudly into the microphone, "now Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard instigated another attack, and the ball was given to Ku on the wing. Itter, Dirk Comet goes down, he goes past the defenders, but the box is full of people..."

Throughout the game, there was no more densely populated moment in Sunderland's penalty area than this.Everyone's spirit is highly nervous, for fear that a missed player will lose their goal.

"Dukiter couldn't give the ball to Torres. He shot himself ... and took a corner."

"The time has entered stoppage time, Skrtel, Carragher... Reina also came up, and all Liverpool players came to the opponent's penalty area."

"Duit took a corner kick, Carragher won the first place, he missed the goal, just sent the ball to the feet of the captain Gerrard, Gerrard raised his foot and shot... Goalkeeper, the goalkeeper from Iceland made a contribution , he held the ball firmly in his arms amidst the chaotic army. An excellent chance for Liverpool to score was resolved in this way."

"Sunderland keeper Haldosson has made a quick toss, Eriksen has the ball and he's sprinting towards Liverpool's empty goal. Reyna is chasing back like hell. Liverpool may only be able to match the goalkeeper now. This young player who came off the bench worked hard."

"Skrtel also returned to the defense. He really deserves to be an iron guard! At the last moment, he shoveled the ball out of the baseline with a sliding tackle in front of the goal, destroying Sunderland's counterattack that was determined to score. Stoppage time has passed, will the referee still give Sunderland a corner?"

At this time, Atkinson blew the final whistle.The score was fixed at 1:1.When the whistle sounded, the Stadium of Light was silent for a moment, and then burst into applause.The Sunderland fans are obviously very happy - they can go to Anfield to watch the game.

But the fans didn't get carried away this time: we're Sunderland, with great ancestors, and a draw against Liverpool isn't much to celebrate.So the fans applauded the home and away teams together, thanking the players from both sides for contributing to this wonderful game.

Anton went over to shake hands with Benitez.Benitez was polite but slightly annoyed at having been drawn in the final 10 minutes and almost losing the game.But fortunately, an away draw did not cut off Liverpool's way to the FA Cup. Back at Anfield, they still have a good chance of winning.

Then Benitez returned to the locker room, but Anton took the Sunderland players to stay on the field and thanked the home team fans.Anton caught a glimpse of Eriksson running quickly to find Gerrard to exchange jerseys. The kid was a little heartless and failed to score in the counterattack. Eriksson obviously didn't feel regretful at all.Gerrard nodded friendly, exchanged jerseys with the rookie boy, and then sat alone on the ground with a tired face, looking at the goal he missed earlier——

Probably he, the captain, is blaming himself in the face of the team's continued downturn.

Liverpool, in the pub where the diehard fans gather, a large group of Liverpool fans shouted at the TV screen in the bar: "Okay! Sunderland boys, come on, come to Anfield, let you see and see Liverpool." It's amazing!"

"In my opinion, Sunderland fans are afraid to come to us, a bunch of spineless cowards."

"I'm afraid it's not because I don't dare, but because I can't pay for the ball and bus tickets!" Speaking of which, there was a burst of laughter from the bar.

The local residents of Sunderland have always made a living from the coal mining industry and shipbuilding industry. They are mainly blue-collar workers, and most of them are hard-pressed.In the 80s, Sunderland and arch-enemy Newcastle United played against each other in Newcastle. Sunderland fans would save their fare money to buy tickets, and then walked in groups to St. James' Park Stadium to support their team.Because of this "feat", Liverpool fans will use "can't afford tickets" to laugh at Sunderland fans.

At this time, the post-match press conference was broadcast on TV.The coaches of both sides attended with the captains of both sides.Bei Shuai and Team Jie looked serious, while Anton and Garner also looked very calm.

Bei Shuai seemed a little emotional when he spoke: "This is a very difficult game. Sunderland has been playing very aggressively and oppressively since the beginning of the game. But our players also tried their best to complete the confrontation with the home team .It was the logical result for us and we will have a replay at Anfield."

"We will continue to strive for victories in the Europa League and the FA Cup, while working hard to improve our results in the league." Benitez glanced at Gerrard after speaking.Gerrard didn't speak. There have been rumors that the relationship between Team Jie and Bei Shuai is not good.

Anton opened his mouth: "The world says that we should not feel any pressure when we meet Liverpool this time..."

The reporters below all laughed knowingly. A Championship team played against Liverpool in the knockout round. It really doesn't need to feel pressure, and no one will blame them if they lose.

"But facing an opponent like Liverpool, I think anyone would feel the pressure," Anton continued, "Fortunately, our players played their due level today and I am very proud of their performance. We are very much looking forward to the upcoming rematch at Anfield."

The flashes at the press conference blazed, and the reporters kept pressing the shutter. Anton, who was sitting at the banquet, seemed too strange and mysterious to them, and also too young and handsome.

This was followed by a question-and-answer session.Anton looked at the raised hands in the room, and ordered one at random.

The man took the microphone and said, "Hello, Mr. Lin, I'm Mark Gary, a reporter from The Sun..."

When the words "The Sun" came out of the reporter's mouth, the muscles on Gerrard's cheeks jumped suddenly, and even Benitez frowned.Even in a pub in Merseyside, Liverpool fans blushed one by one, staring at the screen, and some couldn't help but start cursing: "These goddamn reporters..."

At this moment Anton spoke and said very firmly: "Mr. Gary, I'm sorry I didn't know you were from The Sun in advance. I will not answer your question. You are not welcome here, please leave."

Anton's usual performance has always been "official", and he rarely reveals his personal feelings in front of outsiders, let alone on such occasions.When this sentence was said, even the colleagues in the club were stunned when they heard it.

The reporter blushed. He never expected that Anton would reject him so bluntly, even refusing to hear what his question was. "Lin... Mr. Lin, I think this is Sunderland, there shouldn't be any trouble between us... right?"

"This is Sunderland vs Liverpool and as manager of the home team I only welcome journalists who are committed to reporting the 'truth' to report and ask questions. Also, this is you asking me personally and I think, I should Right to refuse to answer—”

In his words, Anton deliberately emphasized the word "truth".Gerald was sitting not far from Anton, his face flushed red.Benitez had a compassionate face and was slightly moved.Captain Garner opened his eyes, very dazed.

The "Sun" reporter was right, this is Sunderland, and the "Sun" has no feud with the local team.But the "Sun" and the Liverpool team have a big tie.

It all started with the Hillsborough massacre in 1989.In that tragedy, a total of 96 Liverpool fans who went to Hillsborough Stadium to watch their home team's game were trampled to death due to structural problems and unreasonable admission arrangements.After the tragedy, the Liverpool fans who survived the disaster helped the security personnel carry away a large number of victims and helped rescue the wounded as soon as possible.However, the "Sun" immediately published a signed report titled "The Truth", reporting a large number of false and biased allegations, pouring all the dirty water on the heads of Liverpool fans.Although this has attracted a lot of attention, such untrue reports and smears have caused great harm to Liverpool fans.

Although the "Sun" admitted that the so-called "truth" was all fiction one month after the incident, Liang Zi was completely tied up. Twenty years have passed, and the entire Merseyside County is still boycotting the "Sun", and Liverpool fans still hate the "Sun"'s sensationalist reporters.

So at this time, out of respect for the visiting team, Anton categorically rejected the question from the reporter of The Sun.The fans in the Liverpool bar even applauded: "It's so fucking relieved!"

"Although the new kid from 'Black Cat' is young, he is really loyal!"

At the press conference, Gerrard turned his face and asked Anton in a low voice with gratitude: "Mr. Coach, you...are you also a Liverpool fan?"

Probably only Liverpool fans remember the heartbreaking past, and remember their relationship with the "Sun".

Anton also turned his head and did not directly answer Gerrard's words: "My brother Bernard, he is a loyal Liverpool fan."

The author has something to say: a few more words about the Hillsborough tragedy.It is said that it was the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 1989, 4. The game was held at the Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, a neutral stadium.Due to structural problems of the stadium and disorderly organization, 15 Liverpool fans were unable to enter the stadium after the game started. The police officer opened the gate but did not give the necessary guidance, causing 5000 people to flock to the same stand, resulting in serious stampede casualties , 5000 Liverpool fans lost their lives.

Due to the lies of the police officers present, the malicious reports of the media and the unfairness of the government, no one has been responsible for the Hillsborough tragedy for a long time.Until 2011, the United Kingdom stated that it would disclose all top-secret documents on the matter and continue to investigate. On September 2012, 9, the investigation results were officially released. The truth of the tragedy came to light after 12 years, and the grievances of the fans were avenged. On April 23, 2016, the jury of the British High Court ruled that the cause of the stampede accident was that the South Yorkshire police had neglected their duties, and the organization, management and control of the scene were ineffective, which eventually led to the crowd out of control and mutual stampede leading to tragedy. 4 fans were "unlawfully killed".

This is roughly what people often say, justice may be late, but it will never be absent.

The Sun has always been boycotted in Merseyside, where Liverpool is located, and it still is.