The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 376 The situation is stronger than the people

See a close-up of Gaio.

Martin Tyler's voice also turned somber, "Look at this shot, the director really knows what he's doing. Right now, I bet all Liverpool fans are thinking, what would happen if Gaio were on the field?"

Actually, Ki Sung-yueng's shot wasn't particularly tricky, but after Mignolet made the save, no one in Liverpool's penalty area immediately covered, allowing Giaccherini to easily tap the ball into an empty net.

The defensive problems exposed are actually quite serious.

The defenses are too weak.

There may be players, but once they cross the midfield, the opponent has a lot of space to get the ball.

For the first half hour, Liverpool had 69% possession, which seemed like an advantage, but they had very few truly threatening attacks, which stemmed from their disorganized play.

Sturridge's breakthrough was brilliant, but what happens after that?

He wanted to shoot himself, but didn't see that Suarez had already made a run into space in the middle. Sterling was even more anxious, and all three of his cuts inside were only focused on getting to the byline, without paying any attention to his teammates' positions. In the end, he either misplaced his pass or got surrounded.

That's the difference without Gaio.

When Gaio is on the field, he can drop back to receive the ball, and his own threat can also draw opponents away, create space for Suarez, and act as a pivot outside the penalty area.

Now, Liverpool's forwards are all playing their own game.

The camera quickly cuts back to the field, where Liverpool players are kicking off.

Taylor continued, "I previously said that Gaio could be a contender for the Ballon d'Or top ten, not just because of his goal-scoring statistics, but also because of his playmaking ability."

Don't assume that Gaio is a pure attacker just because he scores a lot of goals; that's absolutely not the case.

He can transform a team's offense from disorganized to fluid; that's the skill of a top superstar.

That's exactly what Liverpool is missing right now.

Sunderland's goal wasn't actually unexpected. Their defense relies on stacking players, while Liverpool tried to break through with individual brute force, so it's normal that they couldn't.

It's only been 35 minutes, and they're down 0-1. Rodgers needs to figure out how to break down Sunderland's defensive wall.

I believe that as long as Ball isn't stupid, he will definitely stick to defense to the end!
Sunderland need a victory to boost morale.

If this victory comes from the league leaders, the effect will be greatly amplified.

Boot Room Tavern.

The TV in the crowd had just finished replaying Sunderland's goal.

The clinking of beer glasses subsided instantly, with only the fan creaking on the ceiling.

Ted's voice carried a hint of disappointment: "Look at the way they're playing! Without Gaião, the attacking line is like it's fallen apart. We finally got Gaião back this season, and now we have hope of finishing in the top four. After all, look at how Liverpool were in the previous seasons."

They can fight back against strong opponents, but always falter against weak ones, making them so unstable that people call them Robin Hood figures.

Just when things seemed promising for the new season, Gaio was on the bench, and the team reverted to its old ways – unable to score on offense and unable to defend.

Mick, standing next to him, took a big gulp of beer. "You're right! I support resting Gaio. After all, Gaio isn't an iron man. He had an old adductor injury before, so resting him is necessary. But look at the situation now, we can't win without him. What kind of situation is this?"
He is only 18 years old!

We can't keep winning by exploiting a kid, can we?

It's just domestic competitions now. What will we do if we play in the Champions League next year, when the schedule will be even more packed?
Are we expecting him to start every game and fight until the last minute every game? Are we expecting him to carry the team every game?
That body will break down sooner or later!
Or are we suggesting that we shouldn't play in the Champions League if we have Gaião? That's complete nonsense!

Ted sighed, wiped his face, and looked at the camera on TV showing Gaio sitting on the bench, his expression filled with worry: "I'm really scared. I'm scared the team can't function without him, scared he'll be suffocated by these expectations. When he came to Liverpool, it was €8000 million plus a weekly wage of €30. The club values ​​him, but they should also provide him with a system that can support him! Now, instead of a system, they've made it seem like the team can't function without Gaio. Is this a long-term solution?"

"Rogers!" someone shouted, their voice full of dissatisfaction.

"He played well towards the end of last season, and I thought he could produce something, but this season, it seems that it's all Gaio's individual ability that's carrying the team!"
You say the team needs to bring in new players, but even if you bring in good players, can they make good use of them?
Of those who bought in before, how many have truly integrated into the system?

Now that Gaio is gone, all the tactical weaknesses have been exposed.

The midfield can't pass the ball forward, and the wings can't break through. They're relying entirely on the strikers to guess. If this continues, forget about competing for the championship; it's hard to say whether they can even secure a top-four finish!
Sometimes I can't help but wonder if I should try changing coaches?

At the very least, we need to find someone who can mold the team into a cohesive unit, not just rely on Gai to solve problems. We need a tactical system that better unleashes Gai's abilities, allowing him to play more easily, instead of always relying on him to dribble through crowds to create opportunities!

Ted didn't respond.

He could only watch on TV as Liverpool's attack failed once again, and Suarez shook his head in frustration outside the penalty area.

Mick suddenly said softly, "Actually, we're not hoping for a change of coach, we just hope the team can improve, that Gaio won't be so tired, that he'll have reliable teammates around him, and that Liverpool can truly return to its former glory. If we keep relying on him alone, even if we win the game, it won't feel right, don't you think?"

Someone said, "Yes, that's exactly what I mean. We are Gaio's supporters and Liverpool fans. We want to see him shine, and we also want to see the team shine with him."

The television in the pub was still broadcasting the game.

Liverpool's attack remained disorganized, and occasionally a fan would shout "Replace Gaio!" The voice wasn't loud, but it felt like a needle pricking everyone's heart.

"Hopefully Rogers will bring Gaio back in for the second half, otherwise those three-pointers will be gone, but it's a shame to put him back in."

Ted and Mick didn't say anything more, they just stared at the screen.

Old George is very busy tonight.

He didn't participate in the conversation; his gaze swept across the crowd.

Instead, he laughed self-deprecatingly, "It feels familiar."

Yes.

In previous seasons, they watched the games with this same anxiety.

Back then, Liverpool was practically a pushover.

The discussion in the tavern continued. Some people agreed to change the coach, some insisted on bringing in replacements first, and some just hoped that Gaio would come on to save the day. The voices were varied in tone.

drop! !

The whistle sounded.

The first half has ended.

Cheers erupted at the Stadium of Light!

Blackcats fans were ecstatic as they maintained their 1-0 lead over Liverpool at home!
Rogers looked grim. The moment the whistle blew, he immediately turned and walked toward the passage. He was in a bad mood.

Gaio did not go into the locker room.

He continued warming up off the field with his teammates on the bench.

In the stands.

Liverpool fans shouted, "Gaio, save us!"

Gaio heard it, but didn't react in any particular way. He simply continued his simple passing and receiving drills with Lucas and the others.

The ups and downs of a team are normal.

Players are, after all, human.

It's not a machine that's always fully charged.

Playing the entire match in the high-intensity Manchester derby, especially in the final moments where he used all his abilities, greatly exhausted him. To be honest.

Even if he were on the court, he probably wouldn't have the same explosive performance as when he was on the court. Back in Bastia, Hagi Begic always gave him reasonable rest.

In the later stages of the season, they basically gave up on Ligue 1 matches and focused solely on the Europa League.

His current physical condition allows him to play the entire match.

But if he only has three days of rest between two games and still has to play at a high intensity, he can't handle it.

Liverpool dressing room.

The air felt heavy and stuffy, like cotton wool soaked in water.

Rodgers' tone was somewhat heavy, "What kind of play was this in the first half?! What happened to the midfield connection I emphasized before the match? Who should Kante pass to after winning the ball, how should Sterling distribute the ball after cutting inside, have you all forgotten all of that?"

He pulled the tactics board over, circled the midfield area in red, and tapped it twice heavily.

"Suarez dropped back to receive the ball, but no one covered him. Sturridge broke through to the byline, but no one was there to meet his cross. Sunderland just changed managers, and their defense has so many holes. Yet we couldn't even produce a single decent passing combination. Is this how we should be performing?"

Gerrard looked up, about to explain the midfield pressure, but Rodgers' gaze silenced him.

"In the second half, we need to implement the pre-match plan. It's not that we didn't have opportunities, it's that we didn't play the way we should. If we continue to play like this, we won't even be able to take these three points!"

The players nodded in agreement.

Rogers gave a few more earnest instructions, especially regarding tactical details, which he explained very clearly.

He has a very idealized set of tactical positioning in mind.

Rodgers wants the players to follow through.

After speaking, Rodgers told the players to rest. Then, assistant coach Phil Thompson quietly approached Rodgers and whispered, "Gaio is still warming up outside. If we still can't break the deadlock in the second half, bringing him on early might help."

After a few seconds of silence, Rogers shook his head. "No rush. Gaio will be rested for this game. Let him get some rest. His physical management is also very important."

"But we're behind now, and the team's offense is indeed..."

Thompson wanted to persuade him further, because losing to a relegation-threatened team in this kind of competition affects not only Rodgers, but also their entire team.

"As I said, there's no rush. We need to find our rhythm and execute our tactics first. We'll see how things go in 70 or 80 minutes."

Rogers glanced back at the locker room.

He quietly let out a breath.

the other side.

Ball continued to motivate the players.

He stood in the center of the locker room, his gaze sweeping over every flushed face, his voice burning with passion, "You played brilliantly in the first half! That's Liverpool! The hottest team in the Premier League right now! But you completely shut down their attack! Every time you tracked back, every time you tackled, the fans in the stands were chanting your names, did you hear that? The Stadium of Light was boiling over for you! This is what Sunderland should be like! This is what you should be like!"

Someone in the corner shouted, "Yes!"

Ball immediately raised his hand and shook it, "But don't get carried away! It's okay to be happy, but don't let your guard down! Liverpool will definitely launch a counterattack in the second half! They still have Gaio who hasn't played yet, and I believe you all know his ability."

The players nodded.

Right now, Gaião is the hottest player in the entire Premier League; he's an absolute star.

How could they not know?

Ball's gaze swept over everyone. "So, when you go out later, stand tall! Show Liverpool that the Stadium of Light is not to be trifled with! Let them hear how loud Sunderland's roar is! Fight for another 45 minutes! Fight until the very last breath! Fight until you can't run anymore! Victory is ours! For yourselves! For the fans! For Sunderland! Can you do it?"

"Yes!" the players practically shouted!
Five winless rounds had left them somewhat numb, but this match completely ignited their morale.

Liverpool, who are at the top of the table, are nothing special!

This game wasn't just about winning against Liverpool; it was about letting everyone know that Sunderland's fighting spirit has always been there!

soon.

Halftime has passed.

As soon as the whistle blew at the start of the second half, Liverpool players seemed to have been put on accelerator, launching a counterattack against Sunderland.

Sunderland, on the other hand, is very determined to park the bus!
Even at home, they showed no intention of attacking; the area around the penalty area was packed with players!

The forwards all retreated to defend.

Liverpool's attack showed some improvement, but they still struggled against Sunderland's solid defensive formation.

Five defenders and three midfielders formed an impenetrable net, giving Liverpool players no room to turn and adjust.

Liverpool had possession of the ball but no real control.

In the 55th minute, Liverpool executed a fairly smooth passing move. Gerrard played a through ball, Henderson passed it wide, and Enrique crossed the ball. However, before the ball even reached the penalty area, Sunderland's forward Johnson leaped up and headed it away.

Three minutes later, Suarez received the ball outside the penalty area and tried to create space for a long shot, but two defenders immediately closed in behind him. Just as he raised his foot, the ball was snatched away by the defensive midfielder Cattermole who made a sliding tackle.

as time flows.

Liverpool players are starting to get anxious.

In the 60th minute, Liverpool made eight consecutive passes but couldn't penetrate Sunderland's defense. The ball was passed back and forth between the midfield and the wings, and finally Henderson unleashed a long-range shot.

The kick was of poor quality.

It was caught by goalkeeper Westwood.

After securing the ball, Westwood deliberately delayed for a few seconds before restarting the game, giving the Sunderland players a chance to catch their breath. They may not have played fancy, but their determination to park the bus was stronger than Liverpool's attacking desire.

Rogers paced back and forth on the sidelines, his shirt collar open.

His expression gradually changed.

At the Stadium of Light, the deafening cheers felt like sharp knives stabbing directly into his heart.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look at the warm-up area.

Gaio, Aspas, Lucas, and others were all doing their regular warm-up.

My heart is filled with conflicting emotions.

How to do?
Rogers sighed and turned to say a few words to Thompson.

Thompson smiled slightly.

Thompson then immediately ran to the warm-up area and called over Aspas and Gaio.

The camera quickly shifted to this scene.

"Gaio!" Martin Tyler exclaimed with a hint of joy. "Is Gaio going to play?"

(End of this chapter)