Chapter 162
Chelsea players fell asleep amid the noise, hoping to get a good night's sleep.
But every time the lights in the hotel rooms were turned on, there would be cheers, making it difficult to sleep. It was not until dawn that the place returned to calm. The streets were left in a mess after the noise, and the police stepped up patrols.
The next morning, Li Lei came to the restaurant with red eyes to have breakfast. Other teammates also arrived one after another, and everyone looked a little sleepy and tired.
Li Lei, Hazard, Captain Terry, Torres and other core players began to discuss the noise situation last night while eating breakfast.
"It was too noisy, and I didn't sleep well."Li Lei said, rubbing his eyes.
"Me too, those songs and slogans can wake up the dead." Hazard echoed, looking unhappy
"This kind of away game environment does have a big impact on newcomers, but they will get used to it after a few more experiences." Terry said infectiously
"I still remember the first time I encountered such an away game when I first arrived at the Blues. I couldn't sleep all night and my condition was very bad the next day."
"But we gradually got used to it and knew that as long as we were focused, external factors would not affect the game.
Torres added:"We need to be mentally prepared for away games. We need to pay attention to maintaining regular preparations, going to bed early and getting up early, and strictly completing training tasks."
"Tonight's game is our best chance to fight back. We can use goals to resolve all unfavorable factors. This is the mentality that professional players should have."
"Really? Can you get used to this? Captain, I'm still young, don't lie to me!"Looking at the captain with bloodshot eyes, Li Lei said doubtfully
"But this is normal. We have to face such environment when we go to away games." Captain Terry analyzed:"We can't let these external factors affect our state."
"The captain is right." Torres nodded,"We have to stay focused, today's training and game are the most important."
"Alas, it must be difficult to deal with Paris Saint-Germain, they are now the dominant team in Ligue 1" Hazard said with a worried look on his face.
"Don't let our fighting spirit be discouraged just because our opponents are strong!" Captain Terry said word by word:"We are the leader of the Premier League. Who can compare with Chelsea in terms of quality and strength? We are not here to give away points.!"
"Yes, yes, the captain is right.!" Li Lei excitedly echoed,"We should not be underestimated. We have the strength to defeat Paris Saint-Germain."!"
"The key is that we must maintain enough respect and not be arrogant."
"Facing a strong enemy, we need to stay calm and rational and execute the tactical deployment given by the coach." Torres also said,"United as one, we can beat them."
Listening to the words of these two seniors, Li Lei just wanted to say,"You have so much chicken soup!" On
April 3, the first round of the Champions League quarter-finals, which was full of stars, kicked off. Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea lined up in the player tunnel of the Parc des Princes to wait for entry.
In sharp contrast, the two teams were in a very good state, while Chelsea seemed a little lackluster.
Mourinho looked at his anxious disciples and had nothing to say. He could only pray silently in his heart, hoping that they would not lose too badly and could score a goal away from home.
At this moment, the players still had the fatigue caused by the noise last night. Mourinho patted everyone on the shoulder at the end of the team, conveying silent support with encouraging and trusting eyes.
The players also gradually adjusted their state under the reminder of the coach, and their eyes were refocused. The shouts of the fans outside the stadium became louder and louder. They knew that the game was about to start.
Before the game started, Mourinho and Paris coach Blanc shook hands politely. Although the other party is still relatively young and his coaching ability has yet to be tested, Mourinho did not dare to underestimate the enemy.
He looked at the starting lineup of Paris and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Salvatore Sirigu
Defenders: Christophe Jalay, Marcos Oas Correa, Thiago Silva, Lucas Digne
Midfielders: John Cabaye, Thiago Motta, Javier Pastore
Forwards: Edinson Cavani, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi
Looking at the starting lineup of Paris, Mourinho couldn't help but frown and think about countermeasures in his mind.
Paris's luxurious lineup is what he is most worried about. The rich experience of the veteran defenders, coupled with flexible forwards like Cavani and Ibrahimovic, the offensive power is undoubtedly strong.
But it is not easy for Chelsea's young team to get all three points away from home.
Mourinho drew possible formations on his notebook, considering various rotation plans.
He must use his rich coaching experience to reduce the team's mistakes in defense, while also accurately seizing offensive opportunities.
A small mistake may mean failure, and he must strike a good balance between offense and defense.
In order to deal with Paris's luxurious lineup, Mourinho also adopted a similar 4-3-3 formation, trying to suppress the position and give him a head-on collision.
Chelsea (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Defenders: Azpilicueta, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic
Midfielders: David Luiz, Ramirez, Frank Lampard
Forwards: Hazard, Torres, Li Lei
The rich experience of veteran Ivanovic and Terry in the back line can cope with the challenge of Paris's forward line. Midfielders Ramirez and Lampard will play a key role in cutting off Paris's passing and control. Hazard
, Torres and Li Lei form a front trident in the frontcourt, and at the same time, they must seize the offensive opportunities on the field and strive to win valuable goals for the away game.
Looking at the worried faces of the players, Mourinho knew that this tough battle would not only test the players' skills and tactics, but also be an extreme challenge to their mental quality.
Just before the players were ready to go on the field, Mourinho clapped his hands, gathered everyone together and said:���:
" Guys, cheer up! I know you are having a hard time now. The road to the Champions League is always full of thorns, but victory will eventually belong to the bravest and wisest."
" We are as strong as Paris. You are all excellent players and are fully capable of winning here. The most important thing now is to unite, encourage each other, and stay calm and rational."
" I trust each of you and I know that you will win this tough battle. Don't be afraid of strong enemies, but don't be blindly arrogant. As long as we implement our tactics and focus on each role, we will definitely achieve good results."
"Tonight, we will fight it out! I am proud of you, let's keep working hard and fight for ourselves and the team! gloire Chelsea!"