Chapter 26: High morale

With good news, Leeds United has become increasingly unstoppable...

In the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals on January 30, Leeds United, who played away, still defeated Fulham, Shaq, Knuwells and Weather 3-0 each to score a goal. The "Youth Guards" reached the League Cup final with a total score of 7-0.

It seems that because of the overwhelming confidence, or because Simon Grayson is eager to cultivate talents for the team's future. In the fourth round of the FA Cup, Leeds United lost 1:2 away to the Championship team Barnsley.

In this game on February 3, Simon Grayson boldly used Campbell, Claysandy, Hoydenk, Weather, Knuwells, Ashley Hood, Richardson, Du Xiaoguang, Kslov, "Little Ben" Chris Farley, and Diaz, which is a lineup with an average age of only 20 years old.

Although, among these players, Ashley Hood, Chris Farley are all players, Du Xiaoguang, Kslov, Weather, and Hoydenk also have many game experiences, but young people... are young people!

This "Youth Guards" with an average starting age of only 20 years old is indeed young enough, and they have brought up the common problem of young players. They are arrogant and arrogant, thinking that the English Championship team Barnsley is not his opponent at all, and started to launch a fierce attack on his opponent as soon as he started. As a result, Barnsley's counterattack was accurate in one strike. When the first half was 29 minutes, Barnsley, who played at home, had already led 2:0!

If it weren't for Simon Grayson, he quickly adjusted the team's tactics and let Ashley Hood have to control the rhythm. Perhaps Leeds United would lose more goals in the first half.

As the game entered the second half, Simon Grayson sent Shaq and Lons to strengthen the attack, and Leeds United gradually began to gain the advantage. However, Barnsley, who played at home, became more and more brave. Their tenacious defense and fouls again and again made Leeds United's offense come back in vain, and even paid the price of a red card.

In the end, only Shaq was on the side of Leeds United in 83 minutes. He received Ashley Hood's long pass from the penalty area on the left, and scored a goal with a 22-meter rage shot on his left foot, which was considered to have saved Leeds United's face.

When the final whistle rang, Barnsley, from coaches to players, to all the fans on the court, fell into crazy joy. They made all kinds of preparations before the game, but they were not ready to celebrate the victory. At this time, they didn't even know what to do.

When Simon Grayson shook hands with Barnsley tactical coach Adrian Potteroyd, the tall and thin man in his early fifties seemed very shy: "Haha, Simon... that... sorry, I'm too celebrating too much."

Simon Grayson patted his shoulder and laughed: "It's okay, Adrian, thank you for winning the game. This has helped us Leeds United. Okay, celebrate happily!"

ah!?

Adrian Portroyd watched Simon Grayson leave in shock. Before his head turned around, he won the game himself. Why... helped Leeds United a lot!?

In fact, Simon Grayson really thinks so. He really doesn't care much about the FA Cup. Even if he can reach the final of the League Cup, he is overjoyed. These two events are simply bullshit in the eyes of "Brutal Simon" and cannot be taken seriously at all.

What really makes Simon Grayson see is the league champion or the trophy of the Champions League!

However, this cannot be said explicitly. It is really offensive. The FA will be unhappy. So Simon Grayson also followed the principle of training. He sent some players and young players who usually have few opportunities to play in the FA Cup. Replaced with Shaq. Lens is just a show. If he wins, it is certainly a welcome thing. If he loses... then he will lose. It just so happens that Leeds United can now focus all his energy in the league!

However, at the post-match press conference, Simon Grayson said with anger: "The team performed very badly in this game. It's not that my team cannot lose, but they lost two goals in just 30 minutes at the beginning of the first half. This is a very abnormal performance for the team! I believe that this is because some players have psychological problems. They need to have a greater amount of training to calm their minds. Don't think of so many messy things, so that they can devote all their energy to training and games!"

Simon Grayson did not criticize anyone by name, but Leeds United's locker room was a little silent. After watching the live TV broadcast in the locker room, the players all became honest. Kslov, Richardson, Du Xiaoguang, Knuwells, Weather, Hoydenk, Claysandy, Campbell and other little guys were all depressed, and they looked very uneasy when they secretly exchanged their eyes.

The head coach is really right. In today's game... they really underestimated the opponent!

Underestimate the enemy...and then lose!

It was still a loss to a team like Barnsley in the English Champions League. This is really... a shame for the "Youth Guards" who currently ranks first in the Premier League with an unbeaten record and aims to win the championship!

The depression in the locker room did not affect Shaq, Ben Parker, Chris Farley and other "old" players who came with the team. They took a shower when they should, and changed clothes when they should, as if they were not them who lost the game just now.

As people who have played for many years under Simon Grayson, they really know their personality. Although he said it fiercely at the post-match press conference, in fact, he himself did not pay attention to the FA Cup at all. Otherwise, how could he not have a pre-match meeting before the game, nor did he explain Barnsley's common tactics, nor did he tell the players the advantages and disadvantages of each player on the other side?

Everything proves one thing, "Brutal Simon" didn't like the FA Cup!

However, it's certain to pretend!

Sure enough, after returning to the locker room, Simon Grayson said with a stern face: "You have five minutes to change clothes and clean yourself up. The parking lot bus will drive in five minutes. Now start the timing!"

After throwing this sentence, Simon Grayson turned around and went out. A group of young people in the locker room immediately became busy. The boys were still wearing the jerseys from the game, sweat, stains, soil, grass clippings, etc., and they didn't have time to change their clothes!

While a group of young people were busy and screaming, Shaq whistled relaxedly, carried his bag and walked out of the crowd casually...

Well!

A group of boys were stunned and speechless... The boss is indeed the boss!

Look... how fucking calm and composed!

Shaq left, Ben Parker, Chris Farley, Murray, Ronegan, Marsio, Chen Jinlong and other people who were not on the court also followed them with their bags, which reminded a group of boys who had not taken off their socks... Time is tight!

Simon Grayson said for five minutes, and that would be only five minutes!

Five minutes actually include the time to go to the parking lot from the locker room. The young men from Leeds United frantically changed their jerseys, stuffed their bags randomly, and then put their clothes on and ran to the parking lot in a panic. They believed that if they were late, they would really be left here by the head coach.

"Time is up, drive!"

Simon Grayson just looked at the watch and sent instructions to the driver with a plain look on his face. He counted clearly that he brought no fewer than 18 players.

After the car drove back to the Thorpe Arch training base, Simon Grayson stood in front of the car door and turned around and said, "Tomorrow's training will be carried out as usual, everyone's training volume will double, and the time will last until the next game! Oh, I probably forgot to say that my rule is that if you win, you can rest for a day after the game. If you lose, you will double the training volume until the next game. If you lose... then double it!"

Turning around, Simon Grayson got off the car and left!

"Why didn't I know there was such a rule?"

Shaq muttered, blinking with Ben Parker and others, got up and left. When the "old" players left with the coaches of the coaches, only a car of young people were left there and sighing...

"I finally understand why the boss's team always wins more and loses less! The training volume is doubled, and it will continue until the next game. If you lose again, it will double again! Oh my god!"

"Tsk tsk! It's true that he is worthy of being the 'brutal Simon'! It's cruel enough! I like it!"

"Did you notice it? The boss is so cool! That's definitely not pretending! Wow! The boss should act in a movie, just this image... he will definitely become an international movie star!"

"Oh, we lost this game today, so frustrating!"

"The boss is still amazing! He can score a goal in the second half, and almost led our Jedi to fight back!"

"Campbell, you guys perform well in training and have scored a lot of goals on behalf of the youth team. Why can't you find the feeling when the game comes?"

"Liam, you really have to adjust your mentality in the future. You are too impatient and want to score goals too much. This is definitely not possible! You and the boss will learn hard!"

Campbell nodded with a wry smile, and he also felt that he was really too impatient during the game, but... let him and Shaqbe?

Campbell is also a teenage genius, but he knows very well that he can't compare with Shaq. A player like "King of Football" is the only one in the century-old history of world football!
Chapter completed!