Rome, Stadio Olimpico.
The Leeds United players who stepped onto the pitch again in the second half did not show much happiness on their faces.
It's as if they are not leading the total score by a big margin now, as if they are the ones lagging behind.
Logically speaking, Leeds United can basically do any kind of celebration during halftime except popping champagne.
If you ask why you can't open champagne, then George Lee can tell you that opening champagne is bad for character. He has heard it in his previous life. In Istanbul, AC Milan was overturned because they opened champagne in advance.
“Stay excited, but don’t get too excited.”
"Conquer Rome, conquer Rome, and then conquer Europe."
"Make sure to win this game first."
"Don't do unnecessary things."
This is what George Lee said to the players when he was in midfield, brief but powerful.
Tactically, George Li already felt that he had nothing to say. If Spalletti had a way, he would have used it long ago and would no longer be secretive.
What Li George has to do now is not to underestimate the enemy, and then to avoid injuries and suspensions. The players need to keep a clear head on the court and play the current game well. But as a coach, he needs to think about the next game. If there are suspensions or injuries at this time, it will be very detrimental to the team.
However, what are you really afraid of?
In the 60th minute of the second half, Leeds United scored another goal through counterattack.
It was Van Persie's ghostly movement again, getting behind Roma's defense, but this time he did not choose to hit the goal.
Because he appeared a little to the side, he could only choose to pass the ball.
Under Mexes' defense, Van Persie passed the ball with his left foot near the right baseline of the penalty area to the penalty spot. Graveson stepped in and headed the ball into the goal.
2-0, total score 6-1.
After scoring the goal, Gravesen also made a gesture to shut up the home fans.
Then this became the trigger for subsequent conflicts.
With no hope of advancement and feeling insulted, the Roma players began to move more aggressively.
After a vicious foul on Milner, Milner fell to the ground holding his ankle.
Graveson, De Jong, and Smith who were nearby immediately rushed over to find the murderer Chivu, and surrounded Chivu with constant abuse.
Then at this time, other Roma players began to step forward and started pushing and shoving the Leeds United players.
The referee quickly came over, drove away the players on both sides, and showed Chivu a yellow card.
This incident was just the beginning. After that, the actions of both parties became bigger.
Mancini broke through and was knocked out of the field without Parker.
De Jong was tripped while advancing.
When Tadei fought for the top, he received an elbow from Matteisen.
When Van Persie played the ball, he was stepped on by Aquilani.
What really had the greatest impact was when Perrotta tackled Albuchesson from behind in the 75th minute of the game.
At that time, Albchesson blocked the ball with his body and grabbed the ball from Perrotta who was breaking through, and then prepared to launch a counterattack. Who would have thought that Perrotta would catch up directly and shovel Albchesson from behind, knocking Albchesson to the ground? .
This is an action that will get a direct red card, and the behavior is extremely bad.
Albuchesson's friends from Leeds United rushed over immediately, and one of them, De Jong, knocked Perrotta to the ground as soon as he came up.
Then Perrotta covered his face and fell to the ground, rolling with Albchesson.
"What are you doing?" De Rossi grabbed De Jong's clothes from behind.
De Jong threw his hand back, trying to break away.
But De Rossi just wouldn't let go.
Then, other players joined one after another, and nearly twenty people gathered around.
"Get up, stop pretending." "Murderer, coward, bah~"
Seeing Perrotta covering his face despite pushing his chest, De Jong was very disdainful.
"Calm down, calm down~" Smith and Van der Sar quickly persuaded their teammates to leave.
"Go away~" Here in Rome, former Leeds United player Dacote is pulling away from his teammates one by one.
"Referee, my teammate clearly didn't attack his face, he was just pretending." Seeing his teammates getting out of the way, Smith began to find the referee to explain.
At this time De Rossi also began to come to the referee.
The referee waved his hand.
Then he took out the red card, first pointed at Albuchesson who had just gotten up, and then showed it to Perrotta who had committed the foul.
Then, he pointed at Perrotta and showed De Jong the red card.
"Hush~" the Roma fans started, partly because they felt that the referee gave Perrotta a red card too much, and partly because of the red card given to De Jong who was sent off.
"Referee, why..." "Is it..." Smith and De Rossi continued to explain to the referee.
The referee then continued to take out cards and gave De Rossi a yellow card.
"Hush~" The boos at the Olympic Stadium became even louder.
"Captains of both teams, please restrain your local players." The referee informed De Rossi and Smith and ran away.
Albcheson indicated that he was fine and could continue.
"Shhhhhh~" The booing started again, on the scene.
Because the two sent off De Jong and Perrotta were arguing as they walked down.
When they finally came to the sidelines, the two of them twisted together again.
George Li and Spalletti quickly came over and took away their respective players.
"Calm down, calm down, forget what I said at halftime."
"Boss, it's them..."
"I know, I know, you go directly to the locker room now, and we will win when you come out, okay?"
De Jong nodded, and Lee George asked John Sheridan to quickly take De Jong back to the locker room.
Then, he looked at Spalletti who was still talking to Perrotta on the other side, and a surge of anger surged up.
Okay, after losing like this, you are still causing trouble for me. Romans, just wait for me.
"Kevin, Dennis, are you done warming up?"
With the appearance of Kevin Davis and Glenciare, it indicates that Lee George does not want to let Roma go just yet.
In the 84th minute of the game, Glenchard used his speed to break through and cut inside, passing the ball to Kevin Davis, who blocked Bovo with his back in the penalty area. Davis moved back to Smith who was following. .
Smith fired a furious shot from the penalty area line, and the ball bounced off the post and into the goal.
3-0, total score 7-1.
After scoring the goal, Smith made a three-finger gesture towards the camera, telling all the fans that today it was not Roma who scored us three goals, but we scored Roma's three goals.
In the end, Leeds United eliminated Roma with two big wins and advanced to the next round of the Europa League.
^^^
After the game, during the interview with reporters, George Li showed a rare lack of cooperation.
It’s “um”, “ah”, “next” from beginning to end.
Only one complete sentence was spoken.
"We at Leeds United don't like to say harsh words, we only play hard football."
These words that Smith said before the game once again came from Li George's mouth.
That night, Leeds United left Rome by plane and flew back to the UK.
"They conquered Rome, but they didn't stop" was the front page news of Leeds United's local newspaper the next day.
There was no Pettu on the first page of the newspaper, only a bright red score, 7 to 1.
