Chapter 1 I Just Want to Forge

After the second half of the match began, Martin O'Neill realized that his words had not worked. Most of the reserve team players still seemed lacking in fighting spirit. They were like sleepwalkers on the field, too lazy to even run.

Of course, it wasn't that all the reserve team players were unwilling to fight, but the negativity of the majority overwhelmed the few who were willing.

Overall, this Liverpool was no different from the first half.

Aston Villa was naturally overjoyed to see this Liverpool, feeling that reaching the FA Cup semi-finals was a sure thing.

Although Aston Villa was currently ranked sixth in the league, only four points away from fifth, there was still a chance to participate in the Europa League next season, but putting all their eggs in one basket might lead to a terrible end. Therefore, Aston Villa still hoped to secure a more guaranteed qualification for the Europa League next season.

That was the championship of a domestic cup.

The champions of both domestic cups in England can qualify for the Europa League next season. Liverpool had already won the League Cup, so the FA Cup became the last chance for teams like Aston Villa, and they were determined to seize it.

Therefore, Aston Villa fielded their full starting lineup for this FA Cup match.

If it were any other wealthy team, they might not have even cared about this competition, fielding a lineup of half starters and half substitutes.

In fact, they were the same as Liverpool, but Liverpool went even further, directly fielding a team of all reserves… Either they looked down on people, or they deliberately gave up on the competition. Who would have thought there would be a Chen Hero, so whether it was the League Cup or the FA Cup, Liverpool had fought their way through.

But now it seemed to be coming to an end.

No matter how great Chen Hero was, he couldn't beat eleven opponents…

※※※

Taking advantage of a dead ball, Chen Hero found the captain of the reserve team, Jay Spearing. Of course, the captain's armband was on Chen Hero's arm now, but in the reserve team, Spearing's word carried the most weight.

He grabbed Spearing's arm and asked him, "Do you still want to reach the semi-finals, Jay?"

Spearing found Chen Hero's question strange. "Hero, even if the team reaches the semi-finals, it has nothing to do with us. But I definitely hope the team reaches the semi-finals. After all, I'm a Liverpool player…"

Chen Hero interrupted him. "Who says it has nothing to do with you? Semi-finals, as long as we can reach the semi-finals, I guarantee I'll still be fighting for the finals with you!"

Chen Hero said fiercely, startling Spearing.

What he said meant that Chen Hero still wanted to participate in the semi-finals with the reserve team players?

"You guarantee it? Hero, you're not the coach…" He shook his head after realizing what he had said.

"Then I'll sit in the stands with you!" Chen Hero waved his hand and pointed to the stands.

This time, Spearing wasn't just "startled," he was "terrified."

If Chen Hero were to sit in the stands, Liverpool's attacking power would be greatly reduced, because now Suarez was injured and not fully recovered. If Chen Hero was also absent, Liverpool would basically have no striker available. There was only one Krashnic, who mostly played with the reserve team. Everyone knew his level, and he could never replace Chen Hero.

If Chen Hero didn't play, Liverpool would likely be eliminated in the semi-finals.

But that wasn't important. What was important was the information conveyed in Chen Hero's words—he, Chen Hero, would advance and retreat with all the reserve team players!

"If the boss doesn't agree to my request, I won't participate in the semi-finals. We are a whole, a team, there's no reason why only one person or a few people can participate in the game. Either everyone goes, or everyone becomes a spectator! But first, you have to help me get to the semi-finals! We have to win this damn game!"

Chen Hero continued to say fiercely.

Spearing gradually came to his senses.

In fact, he didn't care whether Chen Hero would really sit in the stands with them. What he cared about was that Chen Hero had said those words, had that intention—he was different from the others, he didn't discriminate against the reserve team players, he really considered himself a member of the reserve team.

We can't let such a person down!

Spearing nodded. "I will help you, Hero. We will all help you!"

Then he turned and ran away.

In the following time, Spearing seized every opportunity during dead balls to tell his teammates his thoughts, and of course, he also told his teammates Chen Hero's words.

We must help Chen Hero, because Chen Hero still regards us as teammates, so we should help him!

※※※

Spearing couldn't persuade all the players, after all, he had too little time. He could only grab one or a few people, and then quickly repeat Chen Hero's words and his own thoughts, before running to the next place.

In this way, the players could only understand for themselves. Some were skeptical, while others were excited.

Although not everyone was high-spirited, the team's mental outlook was still better than before. At the very least, many people felt genuinely warmed by Chen Hero's statement.

※※※

Chen Hero was even more high-spirited, desperately trying to score.

First, score a goal, equalize the score, boost the team's morale, and by the way, dampen the morale of the opponents, Aston Villa.

Just need one goal…

When Chen Hero received the ball with his back to the goal in front of Aston Villa's penalty area, he only had this one thought in his mind.

Now the opponents all knew that Chen Hero's turning technique was superb, just like Dalglish at Liverpool back then. So they were all careful and cautious in guarding against Chen Hero's turn.

At the same time, they were guessing what technique he would use to complete the turn, whether it was a feint with his upper body or a foot skill?

At this moment, Erik Pieters, the Aston Villa center-back (erik_pieters) defending Chen Hero, was intently staring at Chen Hero's feet. Whether it was an upper body feint or foot skills, it would eventually come down to the ball. If the ball didn't move, then it was all a feint and didn't need to be paid attention to, just keep an eye on the ball.

The ball didn't move, but Chen Hero moved.

He leaned back and slammed into Erik Pieters.

Pieters didn't expect Chen Hero to do this, to break through himself in this way! He stumbled from the impact, his body leaning to one side, and Chen Hero seized this opportunity, turned sharply and dribbled past him!

He entered the penalty area!

"Hero! Isn't that a foul?"

"Not a foul! Not a foul! Hero broke through Pieters' defense! He's in!" Harry Levy raised his voice sharply in the last sentence, shouting.

Chen Hero, who had easily knocked Pieters away, broke into the penalty area. Next, for a center forward of his level, it was much simpler!

He raised his foot and shot hard!

The ball flew along the grass towards the lower right corner of the goal, a near post shot!

The goalkeeper Given tried his best to save, but it was too late, because Chen Hero shot at the near post, and it was very fast. In almost the blink of an eye, the ball had already drilled into the goal!

"Goal… Goal!!"

The commentator paused for a moment before reacting!

Chen Hero scored!

Liverpool scored!

Anfield, which had been silent and somewhat suppressed, suddenly erupted in huge cheers!

Because Chen Hero's goal was too sudden. When Chen Hero had his back to the goal, no one thought anything of it, and when he suddenly bumped into Pieters from behind, no one would have thought that Chen Hero would break through like this…

Perhaps it was because the process before this game was too terrible, Liverpool showed no fighting spirit, and they were not active at all, making the fans want to sleep. So the fans in the stands were still a little numb, and didn't react for a while.

It wasn't until he shot the ball that everyone woke up as if from a dream and shouted. Immediately afterwards, the shouts turned into cheers.

Because the ball was lying obediently in the net…

※※※

"Liverpool equalized the score! They equalized the score!! They have come back to life! Beautiful, this is completely Chen Hero's personal performance! Brilliant!"

The commentator threw all the best praise he could think of at Chen Hero. After scoring, Chen Hero did not celebrate wildly, nor did he rush into Aston Villa's goal to grab the ball and bring it back to the center circle so that the opponent could kick off quickly.

He rushed to Spearing's side and then called the surrounding teammates to come over.

He had something to say.

After almost all the teammates on the field, except for the goalkeeper, gathered around him, he said, "We must win this game, guys! Only by winning can we participate in the League Cup! It's us, these people, these reserve team people! I want to see you in the semi-finals, not a single one missing!"

He roared at these special teammates.

The teammates looked at each other, a first-team superstar, currently one of the top three superstars in the world, saying such things to them, these humble reserve team players… moved them.

Let's do it! For this Hero who values ​​us so much, let's fight, even if we can't appear on the semi-final field in the end… At least we have fought side by side with Hero in so many games!

What a high honor this is!

Many people can't even play together with Hero! We are qualified to be Chen Hero's teammates, isn't this a reward in itself for us?

※※※

Aston Villa's players were still annoyed that their goal had been broken by Chen Hero, but they did not expect that the entire Liverpool team had reached a consensus.

As long as someone provides assistance to Chen Hero, Chen Hero can fire at will.

And Aston Villa… is going to be unlucky!