Fox in the Penalty Area

On August 22, in the second round of the English League Cup, Leeds City played at home against the English Premier League team Kingston.

In this game, most of the main players, including Hu Lai, got the opportunity to rest.

Since the start of the Premier League, it has always been a double match a week. In the League Cup, there is no need for the main players to play.

Because Leeds will fight on multiple lines this season, before the start of the season, head coach Tony Clark has made plans for the events the team will participate in this season.

The League Cup is the lowest priority of all competitions.

It is the first event that can be abandoned.

On the one hand, of course, it is because the League Cup has the lowest gold content among the three major matches in England. It is certainly not as important as the League. In terms of long history and status in the hearts of the fans and media, it is not as good as the FA Cup.

On the other hand, it’s because the League Cup schedule and the UEFA Champions League basically overlap-when the UEFA Champions League group stage is in full swing, if the team still plays the League Cup, then for Leeds City, which is already fighting on multiple lines, it will The burden is heavier.

The FA Cup is much better in this respect: Premier League teams have to wait until the third round to join the FA Cup, which was already the beginning of January of the second year. The UEFA Champions League group matches are all over without delay.

Based on these two reasons, Clark decisively abandon the League Cup, or he positioned the League Cup as a chance for the substitute players to get a chance to exercise their games. As for the performance, there is no requirement. It doesn't matter how far you can go or be eliminated.

This time against Kingston at home, according to Clark's plan, Leeds City's starting lineup has undergone a major rotation.

But even so, they still easily defeated the English League team Kingston 4:1 at their home court-after all, the opponent's strength is too weak. The League One team is ranked third in the English league system, and is separated from the middle of the Premier League level.

The talented Polish striker Dominic Laski, who transferred to the team this summer, finally scored his first official goal since joining Leeds City.

This talented player, who was highly anticipated by Polish fans, did not immediately satisfy after coming to Leeds. Still in the running-in period.

And as much as Laski has paid attention to in Poland, there is now much pressure in Leeds.

Clark also saw the pressure Laski was under, so this League Cup with the League One team specifically let Laski start.

Although Kingston is an League One team, the strength is not strong. But being able to score goals in the game, I believe it can still greatly reduce the pressure on Lasky.

At the press conference after the game, Clark also focused on praised Lasky's performance.

Through the problems encountered by Laski in Leeds, it can also be seen how unbelievable Hulay's performance was when he scored five goals in his first three games in Leeds.

Everyone is a genius, but it is clear that Hu Lai is more genius than Laski...

※※※

After playing the League Cup game with Kingston, Leeds City played against Warship Harbor at home, which was the fourth round of the Premier League.

It is also the last game before the UEFA Champions League draw and award ceremony in the new season.

Hulai still failed to score a goal in the game, but he gave his first assist of the season... This came earlier than the assists of previous seasons.

He assisted off the bench midfielder Robert Canroy to score an equalizer goal for Leeds.

In fact, in that game, after Hu Lai himself was under the focus of the warship harbor, he took more time to create opportunities for his teammates.

But the teammates' ability to seize opportunities is a little worse, and their luck is not very good.

Fortunately, Kan Roy, who was put on the field, did not live up to Hulai's pass and scored the goal with almost no defense.

In the end, Leeds City drew 1:1 at home with this goal.

After four rounds of the league, Leeds ranked second with three wins and one draw.

The first place is Liverpool United, they maintained a full victory after the start of the season, accumulating 12 points.

From third to fifth place, Holt, Wiggiston, and Stan Park Rangers, all scored nine points. In the traditional big6, the Warship Harbor, North London Wanderers and London Bridge all scored seven points, ranking six to eight.

It can be seen that the results of many giants teams are obviously not as good as expected.

This is the impact of the World Cup.

Every time there are major events such as the World Cup and the European Cup, the performance of the giants will be so ups and downs at the beginning of the next season.

This is mainly because the players in the giant teams are basically the main players of their respective national teams, and most of the countries where they are located are strong teams, and there is a high probability that they will be able to go further in the World Series.

Since they have gone further, the players have to participate in more games than other players, more exhausted, and at the same time have a greater chance of injury.

Even if they are not injured, they will be absent from pre-season training to varying degrees because they have participated in more World Series competitions, and there is no way to get in touch with the team and adjust their state.

The final performance in the league was poor performance and sluggish state...

This comprehensive phenomenon is collectively referred to as the "World Cup syndrome."

And during the national team match day during the league, there is another name-"fifa virus".

It all means that the more high-level clubs, the more susceptible to the influence of the national team.

However, Liverpool United, Holt, Leeds City and Wiggiston have few international players, and the interference from the World Cup is naturally not that big.

So they can currently rank in the top ranks.

However, considering that the league is a long marathon, the wealth of the team and the thickness of the bench determine that they can always adjust slowly later.

Once they play to their advantages in scale, teams like Liverpool United and Holt that were originally midstream and downstream teams will find it difficult to compete with the giants. Eventually, they will gradually let them appear in the position and return to the position they should be in in terms of their strength. on……

The "miracle" of Leeds City last season is really difficult to repeat on other teams.

Even Leeds City itself is difficult to reproduce.

※※※

After the match with Warship Harbor, the league was temporarily suspended to make way for the national team.

It stands to reason that Hu Lai should fly home at this time to prepare for the national team's warm-up match.

But this time, he had to go to Paris, France first.

Went there to attend the award ceremony for the best player in Europe.

At the same time, the Leeds City Club will also send people to participate in the new season's Champions League group draw.

Why Paris?

Because Paris is the headquarters of the French "Golden Globe" magazine.

Since UEFA and the "Golden Globe" magazine cooperated, they have simply merged the UEFA Champions League draw and awards ceremony together, so that it is all done in Paris, without everyone traveling back and forth.

In the end, Leeds City’s coach Tony Clark and club general manager Eric Duffy, as well as player representatives Huley and... Pete Williams gathered at the airport.

"Pitt, why are you here?" Hulay was surprised when he saw Williams on crutches at the airport.

Williams said angrily: "What is your expression, Hu? I was also selected for the ten-person candidate list!"

As the core midfielder of the Premier League champions last season, and was selected for the England team to participate in the World Cup, he also performed well in the World Cup. It is normal for Pete Williams to be selected as the ten-man shortlist for the best young European players last season.

"No... I mean you didn't heal your injuries at home? Why did you run out..." Hu Lai explained quickly.

"I didn't want to come, but Delphine persuaded me to come out and relax, so I came." Williams introduced Delphine Isabella, who had been supporting him by his side, to everyone present.

Isabella greeted them generously, and then turned to stare affectionately at Williams, the man and woman in love...

Hulay looked at the brown-haired, outstanding-looking woman in front of him. This was the first time he and Williams’ girlfriend met. After going to Williams’s house to make a noise, he did not ask Williams to take Isha. Bella called out to treat her to dinner.

After all, he really didn't want to be fed dog food.

But I didn’t expect to attend the awards ceremony this time, but would be fed dog food on the road...

It's very exhausting.

He asked Clark: "Boss, can I take my family to participate in this kind of activity?"

Clark nodded: “Of course, it’s okay to bring your parents or your lover. After all, this is a glorious moment for every player. Of course, this kind of time must be shared with the people closest to him.”

Then he looked at the couple in front of him and said with a smile: "Obviously, in Pete's mind, the person he is closest to is this beautiful lady."

Williams did not deny, but looked at Isabella at each other, and the two smiled at each other.

Hu Lai looked up at the roof of the terminal building and used this gesture to conceal his expression of rolling his eyes.

When Williams noticed Hu Lai's action, he asked: "What's the matter, Hu? What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, enjoy the view." Hu Lai continued to look up at the sky.

"Beautiful view?" Williams followed up and looked up, looking at the roof of the terminal building composed of steel skeletons, frowning: "What is this beautiful view?"

"Hehe. The beauty of industry, the beauty of geometry, the beauty of order... You don't understand, Pete, you are too young."

Williams said, "Little? I already have a girlfriend."

Hu Lai: "..."

Damn, how does he answer this?

Clark, who was watching the play next to him, couldn't help but laughed, and then he patted Hu Lai **** the shoulder.

Hu Lai glanced at Clark sadly: What do you mean, boss? It's okay if you don't pat my shoulder, but a pat seems to comfort me!

Sure enough, after Clark finished filming, Williams and his girlfriend Isabella both laughed.

Williams also made up the knife: "Hu, the bone biscuits made by my grandma are really delicious. Bring you some when I come to train next time?"

Hu Lai put up two middle fingers in front of Williams' girlfriend.

Everyone laughed more happily.

※※※

"All right."

Hear the make-up artist's soft call.

Li Qingqing opened his eyes.

She looked at herself with delicate makeup in the mirror, slightly lost.

She basically never puts on makeup, even if she has photogenic needs.

But this time she allowed the makeup artist of the CCTV camera crew to put makeup on her for the first time ever.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt unfamiliar at first, but she soon realized that this is me, Li Qingqing.

Wang Shanshan, who was standing behind Li Qingqing, looked at the beauty in the mirror and was also stunned.

She watched the whole makeup process by the side, so she knew how it looked. But the moment Li Qingqing opened her eyes, she still felt that the beautiful face in the mirror seemed to emit a soft light, which made the dressing room shine.

It is like admiring a picture of a lady. When the artist draws the eyes of the lady, the lady comes alive, walks out of the painting, and stands in front of everyone alive.

Those eyes... reflected the lights in the room, shining like stars.

The beauty is breathtaking, even Wang Shanshan is so jealous...

However, the CCTV reporter quickly put away the thoughts he shouldn't have, and smiled and walked to Li Qingqing's side: "It's so beautiful, Qingqing. With makeup, I can't lose the big stars..."

Li Qingqing shook her head slightly shyly: "I'm a football player, and I put so many things on my face, and when I dry it in the sun, it will all turn into sweat. Then all the beautiful makeup will be spent..."

"Actually, there is waterproof makeup...but that's right. If a professional player spends his thoughts and time on makeup every day...it always feels weird." Wang Shanshan nodded and said no longer.

She just tilted her head and looked at Li Qingqing in the mirror again, with a smile on her face: "If you go to see Hu Lai like this, you will surely startle him!"

Li Qingqing also laughed.

※※※

ps, I’m sorry to ask you a long vacation:

During the European Cup, my wife saw that I had to stay up all night to watch the game and code words. The day and night were reversed. It was really hard. So she proposed to take me out to play, relax and relax. Don't sit in front of the computer all day and stare at the screen and keyboard.

So there is the next self-driving tour on the West Sichuan Small Circle Line...

In fact, it was said that the door was opened on July 9th ~www.novelmt.com~ but at that time, I considered the critical moment of the World Cup plot, the need to break out, it is impossible to slow down the update rhythm, so I postponed it until now.

We met my wife's eldest brother and sister-in-law. The four of us went to Kangding, Xinduqiao, and Daocheng in a car. We did not bring a computer, code, or children. We completely emptied our brains and had a good rest.

But because there are not many manuscripts saved, there are only twelve chapters, so the next nine days from the 22nd to the 31st can only be changed.

Please also understand...

I also want to use this opportunity to go out to temporarily withdraw myself from the tight serialization state and relax my body and mind, so that I can continue to write down Hu Lai and their stories for everyone with a full spirit and complete the writing.

After all, this book has been written for more than a year. Actually, I haven’t taken a break. Even when my family was watching the Spring Festival Gala on New Year’s Eve, I coded in the study room. I wrote four chapters that day...I wrote it since I opened the book. The most of the day-this shows how boring the Spring Festival Gala is.

In the end, from tomorrow on the 22nd, until the end of this month, on the 31st, there will be single changes. Please forgive me.