At the beginning of August, the Premier League was still in the preparation stage, and the first round of the league will start on the 11th.
But at this time all fans and media are focused on Leeds United and Chelsea, because the Community Shield is about to start.
This time the Community Shield is between last season's league champions Leeds United and last season's FA Cup champions Chelsea. In particular, Leeds United has returned to the Community Shield for the first time since 1992.
When being interviewed by the media, the head coach of Leeds United was still gentle and gentle, talking to reporters like a gentleman.
Although Leeds United will participate in the Community Shield again after 15 years, and it is also the first time that he has coached the Community Shield, he does not feel nervous and will treat this game as a pre-match training. His main focus this season is The goal is still the league and the Champions League. However, in order to show that he still values this game, he will send his team's strongest lineup to face Chelsea.
The team's captain Smith said that he is ready to lift the Community Shield championship shield at the awards ceremony. He also said that he had practiced penalty kicks hard in the summer, and if there was another penalty shootout this time, he would definitely score the penalty.
Now Smith is becoming more and more like a mature captain, not arrogant or arrogant when facing interviews, and responds calmly. The 27-year-old Alan Smith has won multiple championships with Leeds United in the past two seasons and lifted trophies representing various events many times.
However, in the England national team, his appearance ranking is still behind Gerrard and Lampard. I wonder if the new head coach McLaren will consider Alan Smith as the team's left midfielder.
^^^
In the meeting room at Thorpe Arch, Leeds United's coaching staff were making final preparations for the Community Shield match the next day.
George Li is giving his final explanation for his starting lineup.
"Our central defender combination tomorrow, Woodgate and Matthiasson may be at a disadvantage due to their height. If we face Drogba, our air defense will be at a disadvantage."
"But for the pressure in the frontcourt and the ball in the backcourt, I think these two people are the most suitable. After all, Chelsea's defense is mainly about contraction. We need to push the defense forward, but in order to prevent them from playing behind, Our centre-backs have to turn quickly and track back quickly."
"As for the midfielder, I don't know if Sneijder can adapt to his first Premier League game. I'm afraid he won't be able to withstand Chelsea's midfield defense."
"This is the first time that Robben has been assigned to the right wing position. I'm afraid that he still hasn't adapted to it. Although I have been asking him to attack more independently, it seems that he still doesn't dare to play more. Some balls should be If he comes by himself, he will still choose to pass the ball."
"Kuyt didn't score too many goals last season. I changed some of his tactical requirements this summer. I don't know if he can adapt tomorrow."
"Mills is gone. Milner is now the first choice at right back, but his cooperation with the defense is not tacit enough."
After George Li finished speaking, he threw the pen on the table and asked these questions to several assistant coaches.
"If we solve all these problems, then we can send someone directly to London tomorrow to get the shield back. By the way, let the FA give us the league trophy, League Cup trophy, and FA Cup trophy." Chris Casper said.
"And the Champions League," added Colin McGee.
"Yes, there is also the Champions League."
The two people obviously don't take this game seriously enough, and even most coaches don't take the Community Shield very seriously. In addition to the superstitious curse attached to this game, most head coaches will regard the Community Shield game as a test of their pre-season preparations.
In previous Community Shield matches, both sides would not settle and try their best. Both sides will restrain themselves and try not to cause unnecessary injuries.
Brian Kidd saw that the two brats were dishonest again, so he knocked on the table to signal them to be more serious.
"In tomorrow's game, we still need to pay attention to some of the problems George just mentioned. If they are serious, we must solve the problems in the first few games of the season, otherwise it will really affect the entire season."
"If we really push the overall defense very high, will we be beaten by Chelsea?" asked Gary Kelly, who just joined the coaching staff in the summer.
George Li circled the two central defenders.
"That's why I didn't play Albchesson and Granqvist, because Matteisson and Woodgate are faster at chasing back. And there are no fast players in Chelsea that I can be afraid of."
"Can't the newly joined Malouda do it?" Kidd asked.
"He is far behind Robben." George Li tapped his right winger on the tactical board with his hand.
On the tactical board, Leeds United's starting lineup for tomorrow is arranged.
Van der Sar, Baines, Matthisson, Woodgate, Milner, Barry, Parker, Sneijder, Smith, Robben, Kuyt.
This lineup is basically the strongest lineup that Leeds United can field now.
Except for Van der Sar, the others are all born in the 1980s, and they are basically young players. Either he is in his prime, or he is young and energetic.
Now the media outside have used "Young Guards 2.0" to describe this Leeds United team.
Just when several people were chatting about tomorrow's game, George Li received a call.
When Li returned to the conference room after answering the phone a few minutes later, his face looked a little embarrassed.
"Guys, we may have to play Schmeichel tomorrow. The team doctor just told me that Edwin van der Sar is injured..."
^^^
Just as the coaching staff here at Leeds United is distressed due to the injury of the main goalkeeper, the coaching staff here at Chelsea is also distressed about tomorrow's game.
Mourinho and his four Portuguese assistant coaches analyzed it for a long time, but still found that their team was not sure of winning tomorrow's game against Leeds United.
The main reason is that Chelsea's investment in signings this summer is not large enough.
Although the team only sold one and a half of its main players, Robben.
But the team is really unflattering in terms of signings. Boss Abramovich no longer paid, and Mourinho only used part of the 24 million pounds from the sale of Robben to introduce Malouda and Belletti. Among them, Belletti was also a substitute after Alves went to Barcelona. The Brazilian full-back Mourinho was obsessed with rejected the London team's invitation and chose to stay in La Liga.
The forwards didn't buy players, and there are Drogba, Shevchenko, and Pizarro who just joined for free. It's okay, but this winger cannot be solved by Malouda.
"Damn it!" Mourinho knocked on the table again.
I once again lamented that Robben should not be let go, and besides, he was sold to a competitor. Leeds United will put Robben on the field in tomorrow's game.
Whether this transfer is right or wrong will be revealed tomorrow.
Mourinho was still discussing tomorrow's tactical arrangements with his assistants while watching the media's interview with George Lee on TV.
After the interview with Lee George was broadcast, the interview with Mourinho himself a few days ago was immediately broadcast on TV.
The arrogant and unruly image of Mourinho on TV has disappeared. At that time, Mourinho was more helpless and vicissitudes of life.
If it were Mourinho in previous seasons, he might have said that the championship is already within his grasp and he is bound to win this championship. But now Mourinho has been frustrated by the team's power struggle this summer. He doesn't know how long he can stay at Stamford Bridge.
The image of the “madman” is gone in TV interviews.
"Pa~" Mourinho picked up the remote control and turned off the TV, then sighed.
