The FA Cup match is a tasteless one for Leicester City, which aims to reach the Premier League this season.
It is tasteless to eat and a pity to throw away.
What's more, the opponent is the Premier League giant Chelsea.
Even if the opponent adopts a comprehensive rotation, Leicester City's chance of winning this game will not be high.
Considering the number of games in the English Championship, the schedule is very intensive.
After analysis by the coaching staff, Pearson decided to make extensive rotations in the FA Cup.
It's best to win, and it's okay to lose.
"In this game, we adopt the 4231 formation, mainly organizing the offense around Ling Lai..."
"Ling's passing is our advantage. We can let him serve as the team's corner kicker and free kicker in this game, and make more use of set kicks..."
"Mahrez is playing better and better. We can play more on the right and let Ling cooperate more with him..."
"Who do you plan to put in the forward position?"
Hearing this question from the assistant coach, Pearson couldn't help but pause.
Leicester City's first-team staffing position is undoubtedly the most adequate in the forward position.
In addition to the stable starting strike partner of Jamie Vardy and David Nugent, there are four forwards!
They are Kevin Phillips, who won the Premier League Golden Boot and the European Golden Boot with Sunderland more than ten years ago and is still working hard in professional football at the age of 40, and Gary Taylor Fry, a veteran forward who has been playing in low-level leagues all year round. Che, New Zealand high school forward Chris Wood, and young forward Tom Hope who was transferred from the youth team.
These few people, old and young, are just fine playing as substitutes in the British Championship.
To really let them start against a wealthy team like Chelsea would be tantamount to surrendering!
After thinking about it, Pearson made a decision:
"Since we adopt tactic B, let Jamie (Vardy) come on! Let's see if he can have a better chemical reaction with Ling Feng when he plays single arrow..."
. . .
the other side.
London, Cobham Base.
Tactical interior.
The Chelsea coaching staff, headed by José Mourinho, is also holding tactical meetings for the FA Cup game in a few days.
However, compared to the serious faces of the Leicester City coaching staff, the Chelsea coaching staff looked very relaxed.
In their view, the team that draws the English Championship in the FA Cup is definitely a top draw.
Even though Leicester City are the leaders of the English Championship, they do not take each other seriously.
You know, they are the "Blue Army" Chelsea!
Mourinho, sitting in the upper seat, wearing a blue Chelsea training suit, lowered his head and carefully read the scout's team report on Leicester City.
Returning to Stamford Bridge after six years, the "madman" Mourinho is a bit more calm and restrained than when he first arrived in England.
And her black hair has long turned into gray.
Having won the Triple Crown at Inter Milan and the 100-point championship at Real Madrid, Mourinho, who has entered the palace for the second time, is still the most trusted helmsman of team owner Abramovich!
And Mourinho has lived up to the expectations of team owners and fans.
Although the team did not get off to a smooth start at the beginning of the season due to running-in issues.
However, after entering December, as the team took shape and its tactics gradually improved, the team began to get on the right track to win.
Since defeating Crystal Palace 2-1 in the 16th round, the Blues under the Portuguese have recorded a terrifying record of six wins and one draw around Christmas, when the schedule is the most intensive!
In the last round of the league, Chelsea, led by Mourinho, defeated the "Red Devils" Manchester United with a score of 3 to 1 in front of 40,000 people at Stamford Bridge.
In addition to consolidating the third place ranking, they are also chasing Arsenal at the top of the list.
The league has a chance to compete for the championship, and the Champions League has also entered the knockout rounds. Chelsea's situation this season can be said to be very good.
However, Chelsea, with high morale, has a hidden crisis.
Because, with the thickness of Chelsea's current lineup, it is simply unable to cope with multi-line operations.
After a devilish schedule around Christmas, most of Chelsea's main players are obviously exhausted, and some players have suffered injuries.
Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup...
At this time, a choice must be made.
As one of the most successful coaches in football today, Mourinho is not too familiar with this situation.
Slowly raising his head, he made his choice very easily:
"In this FA Cup, we will make a full rotation!"
On the premise of having a chance to compete for the Premier League championship, of course, we must focus on the league.
As for the FA Cup and League Cup, just line up substitutes and newcomers to gain experience.
If you accidentally reach the semi-finals, it won't be too late to send in the main lineup.
The draw to the "Blue Fox" in the FA Cup was the first time Mourinho led the team to face Leicester City.
Although I don’t know much about this opponent.
However, no matter who the opponent is, Mourinho never takes it lightly.
What's more, this opponent from the English Championship just defeated the Premier League team in the last round...
Putting down the pen in his hand, Mourinho raised his head and shot a pair of sharp eyes at his assistant José Antonio Torero:
"Antonio, let's do it!"
Hearing this, Torero, who was sitting opposite, nodded, stood up, came to the computer, and started operating.
After a while, the game pictures began to appear on the projection screen.
The game footage played was the highlights of the second half of the previous game between Leicester City and Stoke City!
After the playback, assistant coach Torero continued to play a game video.
And this video is the highlight of Leicester City's away game victory over Leeds United a few days ago.
While playing the video, assistant coach Torero paused the video from time to time to analyze and explain to the rest of the coaching staff:
"In both games, their No. 23 player Ling Feng came on as a substitute in the second half. After his appearance, Leicester City's formation changed from 442 to 4231..."
"This 18-year-old young man is very talented. Especially his passing, he is very threatening. In one cup match and two league games as a substitute, he averaged two key passes per game..."
"According to my analysis, in the upcoming FA Cup match, No. 23 is likely to start, and will definitely become the core of the tactics..."
"So, we must not take it lightly!"
Listening to the assistant's analysis, Mourinho, who watched Ling Feng's game video for the first time, was already deeply attracted by Ling Feng's performance on the field!
There were already ripples in his heart!
In his opinion, Leicester City's No. 23 is definitely a genius with extraordinary potential!
Extremely reasonable running positions, broad vision, creative passing, and a general style when controlling the team's rhythm...
All of them made Mourinho secretly surprised in his heart.
He even compared Ling Feng with the top midfielders he had led in his mind.
Deco, Sneijder, 272, Xabi Alonso...
Then, he was surprised to find that this 18-year-old young man's passing, vision and running without the ball were no weaker than those of the above top midfielders.
At this time, Mourinho couldn't help but have a doubt:
In England where there are so many bad guys, there are such creative players? !
