Full-level pass, please call me the speaker of the Three Lions

Chapter 22 Keep an eye on that number 23!
1 month 26 number.

Leicester, King Power Stadium.

Even before the game started, the stadium was packed.

Leicester City fans in blue jerseys sang the team anthem loudly while waving the blue fox scarves in their hands, creating a lively atmosphere before the game.

It was also the first time for Ling Shan and his wife Julia to come to the VIP stand area of ​​the King Power Stadium.

The loud and clear singing that surrounded the entire stadium made the two feel surging.

This is not the first time they have come to the King Power Stadium to watch football.

However, this time was different from every previous one.

Because, their baby son is about to make his first career start in this stadium!

Yesterday, after learning that he was on the starting list, Ling Feng immediately called home and shared the good news with his parents.

Then, he asked the club staff for two tickets.
The first start of his career, such a milestone moment, of course must be witnessed by his relatives in this world.
The loud singing in the stadium also spread into the visiting team's locker room.

The Chelsea players who were changing their clothes looked relaxed.

And Pistachio Hazard in the team, even with his upper body naked, only wearing shorts, stood in the middle of the locker room, following the music on his mobile phone, constantly twisting his body.

Such a funny dance move made the teammates laugh out loud.

Several teammates also imitated his appearance and danced together.

The most recent battle between Leicester City and Chelsea was two years ago.

The battlefield is also in the FA Cup.

At that time, Chelsea won a 5-2 victory.

Moreover, the two teams have met five times in history, and Chelsea has won all five!
Perhaps it is the Chelsea players who have never lost and have a psychological advantage that can be so relaxed.
Due to the comprehensive rotation, in Chelsea's starting lineup, only Hazard and Lampard are the absolute main players of the team.

The rest of the positions, including the goalkeeper, are substitute players who rarely play in the league and the Champions League.

It is worth mentioning that the defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic, who was transferred from Benfica with a transfer fee of 100 million pounds in the winter window, got his first chance to start.

As a newcomer who had just transferred, Matic, who was sitting in the corner, just changed his sneakers silently and did not participate in the "dance".

In fact, this silent tall midfielder was bought by Chelsea for 2009 million pounds as early as 150.

However, due to fierce competition in the team and lack of strength, Matic was loaned to Tevez in the Eredivisie after spending a year in the reserve team.

When the time came to 2011, Matic, who had no chance to play at Chelsea, was sent to Benfica as an addition to Chelsea's purchase of David Luiz.

The Portuguese Super League giant Benfica serves as one of the springboards for many South American potential new stars to go to the five major leagues. It is a famous "black shop" in football.

Their business model is to vigorously cultivate these little monsters with potential, and then sell the leveled little monsters to the teams of the five major leagues at a high price, and get huge profits from it.

Di Maria, David Luiz, Coentrao.
All of them are famous giants!
And Matic, who came to the Portuguese Super League, was like a fish entering the water, quickly gained a foothold and became the team's main midfielder.

Last season, he helped Benfica win the runner-up in the Portuguese Super League, Portuguese Cup and Europa League.

With his outstanding performance throughout the season, he was named the best player of the Portuguese Super League season.

Such a performance was also recognized by Mourinho, who entered the palace for the second time, and bought him back.

As the midfielder designated by Mourinho for the winter window, Matic is the first step for Mourinho to build a new tactical structure at Chelsea.

And this FA Cup match against Leicester City was Matic's first start back to Chelsea.

He must perform well enough to repay Mourinho's trust and to take a place in the highly competitive Chelsea midfield!
Just as his thoughts were turning, the team coach Mourinho walked into the locker room quickly.

"Turn off the music! Sit down!"

Under Mourinho's unquestionable tone, Hazard immediately turned off the music on his mobile phone.

The other players also hurriedly returned to their seats.

After looking around for a week and seeing everyone's eyes focused on him, Mourinho slowly said:

"Listen, what I want to say and the tactics I want to deploy were all discussed in the tactics room yesterday."

"I just want to repeat, no matter what opponent we face, as a team, we must be tough and full of energy!"

After some lectures, Mourinho looked at Matic who was silent in the corner, and said in a deep voice:
"Nemanja, your mission is very simple, just keep an eye on No. 23 for me!"

Hearing this, Matic nodded abruptly with a solemn expression.

"I see, boss!"

. . .

Meanwhile, inside the home locker room.

Compared with the visiting team, the atmosphere in the home team's locker room is much calmer.

The starters, headed by Ling Feng, are all concentrating on their own work.

It is rare to get the chance to start, and the opponent is the Premier League giants Chelsea, even if they are inevitably a little excited and apprehensive.

Even if the head coach told them "don't have pressure, just play to your heart's content.", it still couldn't completely relieve their inner ups and downs.

After all, for substitute players, this game is a rare opportunity for them to perform.

However, both Pearson and the players understand that the purpose of this game is mainly to train troops and allow the main players to take a rest.

As for winning or losing, it really doesn't matter
After a brief lecture, Pearson was ready to attend the pre-match press conference.

As soon as he walked out of the locker room, the assistant coach Walsh next to him suddenly asked

"By the way, Nigel, the press officer just asked me if I would like to bring Ling to the press conference."

"how do you feel?"

Hearing this, Pearson couldn't help but frown.

Since the FA Cup came out, Ling Feng's performance was amazing, which made him very happy and gratified.

However, such an outstanding performance also attracted media reporters like hyenas.

In the football world, Pearson has seen too many young players who have just debuted, because of their good performance, they have been over-hyped by the media.

Then he lost himself, and finally became an example of Shang Zhongyong.

He didn't want Ling Feng to become like this.

Ever since, Pearson shook his head and rejected this proposal that could increase the team's attention and traffic:
"He's still young, I don't want the media attention and shit hype to get him carried away!"

(End of this chapter)