Chapter 240: I came here just to win!
Speaking of which, CSKA is a team that often participates in the Champions League, but the strength of this team... is really a bit weak!
I don’t know what luck I had last season. I was in the same group with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Napoli. In the end, they even advanced with Real Madrid, and instead eliminated Liverpool and Napoli.
However, when they reached the top 16 in the Champions League, the CSKA's background was suddenly revealed. They faced Porto, which was not strong, and were eventually eliminated.
In the Champions League this season, CSKA Moscow was divided into a group with Porto in the group stage, so their goal in the group stage is not to fight to the defensive Champions League champion, but to hope to qualify with Manchester United and squeeze out Hamburg and Porto, so that they can complete their revenge against Porto.
Therefore, in the first round of the Champions League group stage at Old Trafford, Manchester United played at home but did not use up much. With Martial's double score, Yang Xiaozhuang and Rashford's goals, they finally easily defeated CSKA Moscow with a score of 4:0.
After the game, Solskjaer was still very happy at the post-match press conference: "It is very important for us to win the first round of the Champions League group stage. If we win this game, we can calmly deal with the subsequent games and adjust the plan according to our pace, so that we can maintain a better state to compete in the subsequent games."
Everyone thinks that Solskjaer is saving face for the CSKA Moscow. With Manchester United's strength... do you still need to consider the subsequent plans?
What are you planning?
With Manchester United's strength, is there any suspense in the group's top spot?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is it really good that you are talking nonsense with such eyes!?
In fact, everyone has really misunderstood Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. After all, "babyface" is the first time to bring a giant team of Manchester United to participate in the Champions League. That is really not confident. Winning the first round of the group stage so easily will really make the Norwegians a little excited.
Even in this regard, Solskjaer is actually not as good as Manchester United's players. At least Manchester United's stars have no emotional fluctuations after winning CSKA Moscow. They have already turned their attention to their opponents in the next two league games... Arsenal, Manchester City!
After the start of the new season, the Gunners were in a strange state under the leadership of Benitez. They won both home games in four rounds, but lost both away games. It was normal to lose to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge Stadium, but they lost to Sunderland with a goal at the Light Stadium... This is a bit fascinating!
However, Manchester United and Arsenal will be played at the Emirates Stadium, which means that in this game, the "Gunners" are likely to play in good shape again. Not to mention the final outcome, Arsenal will definitely cause some trouble for Manchester United this time.
After going to the Emirates Stadium to challenge Arsenal, Manchester United will have another third round of the League Cup to adjust themselves, and then they will welcome their city rival "Blue Moon" at home!
Manchester City's strength this season is indeed terrible. Except for a draw with Newcastle away, they won all other games. In the just-concluded first round of the Champions League, they also defeated Leipzig from the Bundesliga 3-0 at home.
The most terrifying thing about this team is that they have too many attack points. Last season's top scorer Aguero has not scored yet, because he was in poor form at the beginning of the season and was simply placed on the bench.
This is Aguero!
If it were other teams, even if it was a green giant like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or a rich team like Paris Saint-Germain, it would be unlikely that a player like Aguero would be thrown out of the 18-man roster, right?
But this kind of thing happened to the "Blue Moon"!
compete!
Cruel in-team competition!
This is what Guardiola wants. This is the case in Manchester City now. Whoever wants to play will show his good form, otherwise no matter who it is, he will have to sit on the bench or simply thrown into the stands.
If you can be so luxurious... it is Guardiola!
The whole Manchester United team also attaches unprecedented importance to these two games. Not only is head coach Solskjaer constantly reminding the players that even the captain Herrera also calls on the players to defeat strong enemies in the future, one is Manchester United's old opponent, and the other is a mortal enemy in the city. These two opponents... Apart from winning desperately, Manchester United has no other choice!
Early in the morning on September 23, Manchester United took a bus to London. Because the game was held at 16 pm, Solskjaer did not bring the team to London in advance. Anyway, the players could have a good rest on the road. Manchester United's bus was modified, with luxurious facilities inside, which was enough for the team to rest in it, and there was no long-distance fatigue.
When Manchester United was still on the way, Benitez held a pre-match press conference at the Kearney training base...
"I don't need to introduce how strong Manchester United is. After so many years, Manchester United is still one of the top champion teams in the Premier League. And they just won the 'Four-Crown Championship' last season. So far this season, they have won all the games. Faced with such a team, we cannot relax even if we fight at home. Even if we try our best in the game, we are not 100% sure to win this opponent. So what else can I say? So... give it all!"
At the press conference, Benitez did not announce the team's lineup, but only announced the 18-man roster, showing the Spanish coach's high attention to this game and his cautious style.
Compared to Benitez's low-key attitude, Solskjaer, who had seemed very cautious before, performed a bit unexpectedly. When the Manchester United bus arrived at the Emirates Stadium, the Manchester United coach was caught by reporters as soon as he got off the car. Solskjaer simply went directly to the press conference.
Chapter completed!