Returning to the home team's locker room, Pearson's first words were:
"Guys, I want to say you did a great job in the first half!"
"However, the game is not forty-five minutes, but ninety minutes. If we want to win this game, we have to stay focused in the second half!"
Seeing that his team actually suppressed Chelsea in the first half, Pearson, who originally didn't have high hopes for this game, couldn't help but feel a bit ambitious.
He wants to win this game!
You know, Leicester City has not won any of the five matches against Chelsea.
And he hopes to break this embarrassing winless record and become the first coach to lead Leicester City to defeat Chelsea!
Thinking of this, Pearson became even more motivated.
After praising the players' performance, he pulled the tactical whiteboard next to him and started drawing with a marker:
"Ling, you can try some long diagonal passes to the area behind the central defender, so that Jamie can rush up..."
"Riyad (Mahrez), you can increase dribbling on the wing and create set-piece opportunities..."
"Andy..."
After carefully arranging each player's responsibilities and tactical details, Pearson clapped his hands and called everyone to the center of the locker room to form a circle:
"Guys, this is our home court!"
"Let us use a victory to give back to the fans who cheer for us in the stands!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone shouted the slogan of Fox City in unison:
"Go forward, Blue Fox!!!"
The fifteen-minute intermission was fleeting.
Players from both teams walked out of the tunnel again and returned to the court.
"Welcome to continue watching the FA Cup fourth round match live broadcast for you on Sky Sports..."
"In the second half, Chelsea made personnel adjustments..."
It is worth mentioning that Mourinho took the lead in making changes in the second half.
He first replaced the starting left winger Hazard and replaced him with winger Andre Schurrle, who had just transferred from Leverkusen in the summer.
Then the attacking midfielder Oscar, who performed averagely in the first half, was replaced by the defensive midfielder Ramirez, who had stronger defensive capabilities and wider coverage, and guarded the midfield with Matic.
Finally, Lampard in the midfield was pushed directly to the forward position, playing as a double forward with Torres.
From 4231 to 442, Mourinho is obviously not willing to take away a draw from the King Power Stadium!
For Mourinho, this game is dispensable.
Strategically giving up the FA Cup and focusing on the league and Champions League is the wisest choice for Chelsea with an aging lineup.
Especially after Christmas and a series of devilish schedules in January, Hazard's physical reserves have already had problems.
If Hazard is injured, they will lose a sharp blade that can tear apart the opponent's defense.
That is definitely a fatal blow to Chelsea, who is expected to compete for the league championship!
Therefore, this is also the reason why he replaced Hazard and changed the formation.
In the FA Cup match before entering the quarter-finals, if the winner cannot be decided within 90 minutes, a replay will be required!
Replaying will only waste time and players' physical fitness, and will disrupt their game plans.
Therefore, in this game, you either win or lose!
But it must not be flat!
. . .
The game begins again.
When Mourinho made substitution adjustments and switched to a double forward, Pearson thought the opponent was finally going to take the initiative and try to win the game.
However, when he saw Hazard sitting on the bench with ice packs on both thighs, he immediately understood something, and ripples began to appear in his heart.
There seems to be a real chance in this game!
In his opinion, Mourinho replaced Hazard, the best performer, and changed the formation, not with the intention of winning the game, but with the intention of strategically giving up the game.
Because, according to his research on Chelsea games, Chelsea has never played a 4-4-2 formation in the past half season!
This is why Pearson believes Mourinho intends to give up.
Compared with Chelsea, Leicester City's bench is deeper.
Moreover, after discovering the big treasure Ling Feng internally, Leicester City's midfield reserves can fully cope with both the league and the FA Cup.
The desire to win and morale of Leicester City's generals are much higher than those of Chelsea's stars.
Under the circumstances, Pearson felt more and more that his team might really be able to win this game and advance to the next round!
Thinking of this, he began to discuss with the assistant coach Walsh sitting next to him:
"Steve, why do I feel that the Portuguese is going to give up this game? What do you think..."
While Pearson was excited, Ling Feng, who was standing on the court, also noticed Mourinho's substitutions and formation changes in the second half.
This surprised him but also made him feel a little funny.
Making arrangements on the spot?
He is indeed Guagua’s lifelong enemy!
As the whistle sounded for the second half, Torres and Lampard in the frontcourt, Schürrle and Willian on both sides, and the physically energetic Ramirez suddenly pressed forward like an arrow from a string.
Chelsea's tactics changed from defensive counterattack in the first half to high-position pressing!
Faced with the sudden press, Leicester City's players were obviously somewhat unprepared.
Fortunately, Ling Feng showed the basic abilities of a midfield commander in time.
"Focus!"
"Give me the ball!"
While calling his teammates, he moved to an open position to provide support.
In terms of player quality, Leicester City is still slightly inferior.
However, under the command of Ling Feng, the Leicester City generals were united and showed a strong desire to win and teamwork.
Every Leicester City player spared no effort in running on the turf, using active running to make up for the strength gap between the players.
With great difficulty, Leicester City was able to keep the ball at their feet.
Even so, Chelsea changed its defensive posture in the first half and began to suppress Leicester City and bombard them in the half.
Chelsea's style of play is very simple and crude, just cross the ball at 45 degrees - explode!
In the 49th minute, Chelsea gained the ball and launched a surprise attack from the right.
After William swung left and right, he opened up space for a cross and sent a 45-degree cross.
Morgan, who was well prepared, jumped up and pushed the ball out of the dangerous area;
In the fifty-seventh minute, Chelsea launched an offensive from the left!
Xuerle directly used his speed to make soup. After passing De Wright, whose physical fitness was declining, he directly used his left foot to send an arc cross into the penalty area.
This time, although Lampard, who was interfered by Moore, hit the ball, the ball did not hit the goal range, but slid out.
"Chelsea obviously changed their style of play in the second half. They became very proactive and continued to put pressure on Leicester City's defense through crosses from the wing..."
"Leicester City's defense looks in jeopardy..."
However, as the formation presses forward, spaces inevitably appear in Chelsea's backcourt.
The opportunity comes quietly.
And Ling Feng was also very keen to capture fleeting opportunities.
During the high-pressure press, Ling Feng once again struggled to get the ball near the center arc.
Feeling Ramirez's heavy breath behind him, Ling Feng pushed the ball out as if he had eyes behind his back, creating a space for passing the ball.
Then, he raised his left arm and sent a long diagonal pass.
There was only a "bang" sound, and the ball shot out and flew straight behind Chelsea right center back David Luiz!
Judging that the ball landed behind him, David Luiz immediately chose to turn around and chase after it.
However, there is someone faster than him!
Forward Vardy, who had been silent for nearly seventy minutes, finally had a chance to sprint with all his strength!
