Chapter 5 Is it so magical?

Normally, Leeds United ranked sixth in last season, while Manchester City ranked third in the Premier League last season. There is a gap in strength between the two teams, and Leeds is not even stronger.

But……

When the "Blue Moon" was led by their young coach Neil Austin to Leeds, the team's number one star Marshall said in front of the reporter: "Shake is the best player in the world, he is also my idol, and being able to play against him is my pride, but I will do my best to compete with him... Who is stronger? Ha, do you still need to ask? Of course, Shake is stronger! No, it is not enough to describe Shake as a powerful person, he is the god on the green field! In my opinion, he is greater than Bailey and Maradona... No, no, we must not underestimate him because of Shake's age. Even if Shake only has half of his ability at peak state, he is still the best player on this planet! We must be cautious, cautious, and more cautious when facing him!"

Marshal, 27, is a star trained by Manchester City and is also the current international player of England. He has partnered with Shaq many times in the "Three Lions". This forward, which is in the golden period, has always improved. Last season, he reached the peak of his career. He scored 27 goals in 40 games and has become the number one striker of the "Blue Moon". But even he admires Shaq, which shows how high the status of Shaq is in the hearts of England players.

In addition to Maschel, Manchester City captain Moroccan star Marik Benari also said: "Leeds is a very strong team, especially if we want to play away this time, we will encounter more difficulties! In addition, the team is difficult to play in the first few games of the new season. Everyone is not sure about the team's condition. It is not a good thing to encounter a strong opponent at this time."

Manchester City coach Neil Austin said: "It is indeed difficult to play away games, especially when facing a team like Leeds United, but we are not without an advantage. This summer, our personnel changes are very small, and Leeds United have made adjustments from head coach to players. This will affect the team's preparation for the new season to some extent... Well, you are right. Leeds United is in good shape during the warm-up match, but you also said that it is just a warm-up match and does not represent anything. I am confident that my team will win at Elland Road Stadium... That's right. Our goal this season is the league championship!"

Even though Shaq left the Premier League, the entire English football world has entered a chaotic period of the Warring States era in the past five years, but the last time "Blue Moon" became the league champion was also in the 2020-2021 season. Manchester City missed the championship in the past two seasons. Last season, Neil Austin led the team to third place. If he cannot lead the team to win the championship this season, being fired is his destined fate.

For Neal Austin, the first game of the new season is even more unforgettable!

As the coach of the home team, Simon Grayson seemed very calm when facing the reporters: "This is the first game of the new season, and I look forward to a good result... Manchester City is very strong, but it is obviously not that easy for them to defeat us... Champions? No, I think we still need to wait. Everyone knows that the club has changed a lot this summer. We need to restore our strength step by step... The goal of this season, although the management has not given us a certain task, I think that getting the qualification for the European competition next season, or even the Champions League qualification, should be the direction we are working hard."

Simon Grayson did not play sloppy with reporters. He knew the state of his team best. Seeing that Shaq's condition is no longer at its peak, it is impossible for him to continue to push the team forward with his own strength. The overall strength of others still needs to be improved, so it is naturally impossible to compete for the league championship this season.

But……

Some things seem to be beyond Simon Grayson's previous perception of football!

"Brutal Simon" has long seen the strength of the giant teams and has personally created two world-leading coaches, including Manchester United and Barcelona, ​​who have swept Europe's invincible teams.

So Simon Grayson's vision is really high. He thinks that his current team is not strong enough and not enough to become a league champion. That's just that he uses his own standards to measure it...!

On August 20, 52,000 Leeds fans came to Elland Road Stadium to watch the team's first game of the new season, and these fans... became the first group of spectators to witness the revival of the "Youth Guards"!

After the game started, the "Young Guards" who played at home still encountered some difficulties. The 16-year-old player Alex Lens, who appeared in the left winger, seemed very capable. He could not play a role in helping Shaq in the middle, and the German star Murray on the right also seemed a little rough. In addition, Jonny Hausen, Ashley Hood in the midfield and 20-year-old Weather did not cooperate tacitly, and the home team's offense once stagnated.

At this time, the new defense system of Leeds United, composed of Ben Parker, Du Xiaoguang, Kslov and Chen Jinlong, played a huge role. Two 20-year-old and 19-year-old boys led by the world's number one left-back Ben Parker stubbornly withstood the impact of Manchester City.

In addition, Argentine goalkeeper Diego Diaz is indeed worthy of his £7 million worth, and he is worthy of the title of "the No. 1 goalkeeper in Argentina's history". In the past, he represented Boca youth, Schalke only conceded 76 goals in 78 games in 04. The goalkeeper who conceded less than one goal per game is really outstanding.

In the first twenty minutes of the game, Leeds United relied on its own tenacious defense to withstand the "Blue Moon"'s attack. Although the situation was a bit precarious, many times even Shaq retreated to the midfield to help the team's defense, the "Youth Guards" still withstood it!

Twenty minutes later, Leeds United issued orders on the sidelines on Simon Grayson, and the organization of captains Jonny Hausen and Ashley Hood began to gradually grasp the rhythm of the game, and the quality of the offense began to improve.

When the game ended 38 minutes, Leeds United seized the opportunity of a corner kick, and the tall German star Frank Murray smashed the corner kick from the captain into Manchester City's goal... 1:0!

Murray, who is 1.89 meters tall and weighs 170 kilograms, ran all over the field excitedly. In the past two years of playing for Leeds United, Murray scored only three goals for the team. But when he was asked to play the right winger by Simon Grayson, he felt that his condition was getting better and better. Unexpectedly, he scored the first goal of the new season at the Elland Road Stadium, and his opponent was a strong opponent like Manchester City!

It seems... "Brutal Simon" is indeed worthy of the "world's number one head coach"!

"GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Excellent goal! A wonderful tactical cooperation! Use Shaq to attract the attention of the opponent, and then Murray completed a fatal blow at the back point! This is definitely a planned corner kick tactic. Simon is indeed the world's number one head coach. He has not been in charge of the team for a long time. But we have seen hope for the team's revival! Ben Parker led Du, Chen, and Kslov to form a new defense line. Diaz's performance is absolutely worth 7 million pounds, and we now have a high level of set piece tactics. Simon's working ability is really... I can't describe it! Simon is the most magical coach I have ever seen!"

"Ah! And Shaq! It seems that Shaq didn't get much chance in today's game, but none of us can ignore Shaq's contribution to the team. Shaq has done the role of tactical center well in offense. Shaq's contribution in defense is even greater. He has completed 5 steals so far! Oh - is Simon using Shaq's current midfielder again? Hahahaha..."

No one knows whether Shaq was used as a front midfielder again, but Leeds United's set-piece level has indeed improved!

After the two sides ended with a score of 1:0 in the first half, the game entered the second half. Leeds United relied on the opportunity of corner kicks in 55 minutes. This time, Murray made a corner kick on the right. When five Leeds players were running near the front point and entangled with their opponents, Kslov at the back point quietly ran up, then headed the ball and sent the ball into the upper right corner of Manchester City's goal... 2:0!

After leading two goals, the "Youth Guards" performed more calmly, and the relaxed mentality was more conducive to the young team to exert their strength. With the leadership of four "old" players, Shaq, Jonny Hausen, Ashley Hood, and Ben Parker, the team actually began to take the initiative in the game.

In the 78th minute, young player Alex Lens made a cross from the left. Shaq was pulled down by the opponent in the small penalty area by the opponent. The referee also gave a penalty without hesitation... There is no dispute!

Shaq should have taken the penalty kick, but Shaq held the ball and sent it to Jonny Hausen and laughed: "Brother, come and play this penalty kick, let me see how much skills you have left!"

kindness!?

Jonny Hausen was stunned: "Shake, you should play this ball!"

"Hahaha……"

Shaq smiled and patted Jonny Hausen's general helper: "Jonny, if I want to score a goal, do I need to rely on penalty kicks? Come on, let everyone see. You are still the captain who is capable of leading the team to victory! Don't refuse!"

"This... OK, I'll kick it!"

After hesitating for a moment, Jonny Hausen became firm. As Shaq said, the goal...is it still a big deal for Shaq?

After setting the ball, Jonny Hausen took a few steps back. After making a fake move during a short run-up, he sent the ball into the blind corner of the lower right corner of Manchester City's goal with a "bang"... 3:0!

Leeds United, which had already secured the victory with three goals, still did not stop. In the 88th minute, Shaq made a wonderful pass from outside the penalty area in the middle to the right. German Murray rushed up to control the ball first, and the opponent tackled it from behind. The spike whistle sounded again... a penalty kick!

This penalty was given to Jonny Hausen by Shaq again, and Captain Leeds was not weak at all. He kicked the ball into the blind spot in the lower right corner of Manchester City's goal in the same way as the previous penalty...4:0!

This time, Johart couldn't even make a save. He thought his old teammates of the national team would change their ways, but he lost in the psychological battle.

The 4:0 score made the entire Elland Road Stadium boil, and Leeds fans were like they were in a dream!

Last season, the "Youth Guards" won the biggest score by only 4:1, and faced Manchester City with a away game of 0:5 and a home game of 1:4. Now, when Simon Grayson and Shaq came back, they defeated "Blue Moon" 4:0 in the first game of the new season. Isn't this change too big?

This summer, Leeds United experienced major changes from top to bottom. The chairman was replaced by Glenn Oxley, the spokesperson for Shaq, and the head coach was replaced by Simon Grayson. The players also welcomed a group of superstars and rookies led by Shaq, but they beat the runner-up 4-0 in the first game of the new season. Isn’t this change too big?

The role of "Brutal Simon" and Shaq...is it so magical!?
Chapter completed!