Chapter 136 The Calm Before the Storm

He ignored the furious roars of the reporters and editors, because they were meaningless. In the end, everyone's attention would return to the football match itself.

It was impossible to hype the pre-match build-up so much that nobody watched the game itself, and everyone only watched the media hype each other up.

As the FA Cup final approached day by day, everyone's attention shifted to the match itself.

The media realized that no matter what tricks they used, they couldn't pry open the mouths of either team, so they had to reheat old news. That was to revisit the love-hate relationship between the referee James and Liverpool and Everton.

That controversial match was dug up again by the media after several months. They kept reminding readers and fans about the special nature of this referee, and his relationship with these two teams. Through this, they told everyone that this match was extraordinary, and there were many focal points worthy of attention.

Under the media's frantic hype, even the FA couldn't sit still. They had to come out again to refute the rumors, saying that the decision to have James referee the match was made long ago, and had nothing to do with Liverpool or Everton. Besides, at that time, no one would have thought that Liverpool and Everton could appear in the FA Cup final, which was really a coincidence… They hoped that some media outlets would not engage in such boring speculation.

The media's hype brought nothing but a warning from the FA. Neither Liverpool nor Everton would comment on the referee issue.

Helpless, the media had to return to the right path, but it was also the most boring one.

They honestly introduced the recent form of both sides to the fans, and analyzed the history of the two teams' encounters… This content was indeed very uninteresting.

But it had to be done. Careful people might be able to see which team had a higher chance of winning.

Liverpool's reserve team had no injury problems. The whole team was in high spirits. Combined with Chen Hero and Carlton Cole, this team was strong enough, as had already been seen in the past League Cup and FA Cup matches.

In addition, they had a long rest and a long preparation time.

The only problem was that they had been resting for too long, and preparing for too long, which might cause the players to lose their touch and form.

Although Martin O'Neill let some reserve team players participate in the last four Premier League games, not all Liverpool reserve team players had a share. There were always half of them who didn't have this opportunity.

Everton's advantage was that they were the first team, and their match experience would definitely be richer than Liverpool's reserve team.

The problem was that they had just finished a long and tense season, and the whole team was very tired. They didn't have time to rest or make any adjustments before having to play the final immediately. This was a severe test of the players' physical fitness and willpower.

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Because neither side took the initiative to provoke trouble, the FA Cup final arrived in a calm atmosphere.

This disappointed many reporters.

Originally, in their view, this was a match full of gimmicks. In particular, James as the referee of this match, made this match full of infinite possibilities.

The media really wanted to see Chen Hero fiercely criticize James before the match, so that the atmosphere would be pushed to a climax before the game even started.

Who would have thought that Chen Hero wouldn't be fooled.

He kept his mouth shut.

But the media didn't believe that Chen Hero really didn't have any opinions on that James.

Okay, you little fox. You don't want to be caught before the match, but you will always show your tail during the match!

Let us wait and see!

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May 20th, four o'clock in the afternoon, the FA Cup final day.

Wembley Stadium was packed to the rafters, filled with Liverpool and Everton fans.

The stadium was buzzing with excitement. Liverpool and Everton fans were singing songs to each other before the match started. This was the traditional way for English fans to cheer for their teams.

The two teams were rivals from the same city. The relationship between the two teams' fans could be imagined. They used songs as weapons to attack each other, and they were especially energetic. For a time, the singing resounded over Wembley Stadium, echoing for a long time.

At this time, in the locker room, the two teams were making their final preparations for the match.

In Everton's locker room, Moyes sternly instructed the players on the final matters that needed attention.

But he couldn't hide the worry between his brows.

The game was about to start in ten minutes. But he still hadn't found his flaw, or Liverpool's conspiracy.

Logically speaking, if he hadn't found it by now, he should give up.

But for a clever person like Moyes, he absolutely couldn't give up. The more he didn't understand, the more he wanted to understand, and he had to get to the bottom of it.

He always believed in his own wisdom. Believing too much, in the end, it was like this - being too clever for his own good.

Although he had tried very hard to hide it in front of the players, the worry between his brows was still clearly seen by everyone.

Players are simple creatures on the football field - they only need to do what the coach tells them to do. They don't need to think too much, anyway, the coach takes care of everything. If the coach tells them to go east, they go east. So they don't need to think too much about other things.

So they didn't understand what their coach was worried about.

They didn't see anything wrong with Chen Hero's low profile.

But they saw the problem from Moyes's expression.

What's wrong with the coach?

What is he worried about? Worried that we can't win the game?

Although Liverpool's reserve team is indeed not weak, it shouldn't be worried to this extent, right?

If we Everton go all out, can't we fight them? We couldn't beat Liverpool before, because Liverpool was the first team, and now the opponent in front of us is the reserve team! No matter how strong the reserve team is, can it be as strong as the first team? No matter how bad we are, we shouldn't even be able to deal with the reserve team, right?

People always easily think crooked, especially after being preconceived.

The more they thought about it, the more the Everton players felt that this must be the case - the coach was worried that they would not be able to beat the Liverpool reserve team, and was worried that saying it would affect morale, so he was particularly low-key in front of the media. He couldn't say it, so he could only worry secretly, and this worry was reflected in some of his details.

He had been a little absent-minded in training before. It must be for this reason!

Thinking that their coach was so worried that they would not be able to win the game, many Everton players felt very sad and unhappy - no matter what, we are your players! This team was brought out by you! Before such an important match as the FA Cup final, can't you give us some confidence and believe in your team? What's so scary about the Liverpool reserve team? Isn't it just a reserve team? It scared you like this! Could it be that losing nine out of ten Merseyside derbies had such a big impact on you?

The Everton players, feeling that they had not gained the trust of the coach, were very hurt. Some were dissatisfied and wanted to prove their ability in the game, to prove that the coach's worries were unnecessary. Some were dissatisfied, thinking that since the coach didn't believe in us, why should we work so hard foolishly? Anyway, losing the game is also a matter of course. Others suddenly felt discouraged, losing the trust of the coach, and also losing the motivation.

For a time, several undercurrents surged among the Everton players.

It was a pity that Moyes's mind was still on "Where did Liverpool discover our problems?" "What problems did we not notice that were caught by Liverpool?" He completely didn't notice the expressions on his players' faces.

Because he wasn't in the mood, his pre-match mobilization was also lukewarm. This scene was seen by the Everton players, which made them more firm in their own ideas - what was much not guessing, but the final conclusion.

Their coach doesn't trust them!

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At the same time, in Liverpool's locker room, the situation was much simpler.

Martin O'Neill waved his big hand to boost the morale and fighting spirit of the reserve team.

"Guys, what have you been working hard for all season? Isn't it for this day? I know that the Champions League final belongs to the first team, and many of you will not be able to participate in the Champions League final."

More than many people… It was basically only one person who could participate in the Champions League final, and that person was Chen Hero. No one else could, even Carlton Cole, whose rise in speed was as fast as his dribbling breakthrough speed on the field, was not qualified to represent the first team in the Champions League final. First of all, he was not even registered in the team's twenty-five-man squad for the Champions League, and secondly, even if he was on the list, with his strength, he shouldn't even think about representing Liverpool's first team in the Champions League final.

Everyone was very clear about their own situation, so when Martin O'Neill told the truth, none of the Liverpool reserve team members felt uncomfortable.

"But, now you have a chance, this FA Cup final, is actually your Champions League final! Treat it like a Champions League final!"

He didn't say anything else, it was that simple, but it was enough. The effect had been achieved.

The Liverpool reserve team players were inspired.

The boss is right! This is our Champions League final!

The reserve team also has the glory that the reserve team can pursue!

※※※

In this way, the two teams, with completely different moods, passed through the player tunnel and stepped onto the grass of Wembley Stadium.

In the stands, the fans on both sides cheered, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

Listening to the deafening shouts, the Liverpool fans looked around and were filled with excitement.

We have all seen the Champions League final on TV.

In the Champions League final, when the participating teams appear, it is nothing more than this.

Wembley is also a stadium that has hosted the Champions League final.

This feeling, this atmosphere, and this stadium…

Isn't this our Champions League final!

In the shouts of the fans, they held their heads high and chests out.

This scene surprised the Everton players next to them - how did the mental outlook of the reserve team players next to them improve again in such a short journey from the tunnel?

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Among the people who were paying attention to these reserve team players was Everton coach Moyes, who had come out early and was standing in front of the coaching bench.

When he saw the reserve team players walking onto the field with their heads held high and full of confidence, his brows furrowed even tighter.

He kept repeating in his heart.

That's right! That's right! They must have some secret weapon! They must have discovered some problem! They are confident, and the reason why they are so unscrupulous must be that we have a problem… But damn it! What the hell is our problem?!

Who can tell me!

What problem do we have that makes Liverpool's reserve team so fearless!

He roared in his heart.

No one could answer his question.

Because there is no such problem at all, if there is no problem, where does the answer come from?

Moyes fell into a kind of inexplicable anxiety.

In his opinion, the confident smiles that appeared on the faces of the Liverpool reserve team players were also a kind of treacherous smile that a conspiracy was about to succeed. Especially Chen Hero, who was leading the way, it was no longer a treacherous smile, but a mockery of himself! He was mocking his own incompetence!