Chapter 377: Let's Play with Fire!
"Manchester United have enjoyed a recent back-to-back of wins, which has also made Ferguson dare to put Chinese Dong on the bench recently. He gave him plenty of time to rest for China, and the United captain hasn't scored for a long time, so he was still on the bench for today's game, and he can rest assured that his United team-mates should be able to complete the task of scoring goals. Saha could have a career turnaround, he has scored frequently lately, and Rossi Jr. has also shown excellent form, I wonder if Dong is feeling the pressure? ”
Before the game, Manchester United owner Glazer said to the media that there is no one in the Manchester United team who is not for sale, as long as the price given is right, the club will consider it. Less than an hour after Glazer's words were released, Real Madrid from Spain immediately asked Manchester United Club, and it was said that the object of their inquiry was the Manchester United captain. ”
"Let's just say that the price offered by Glazer is £30 million. In other words, if Real Madrid wants to get the captain of Manchester United, they will have to shell out at least 30 million pounds. David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Chinese Dong, are they planning to buy a star from Manchester United every year? ”
However, Manchester United's reply ultimately scared Real Madrid away, because the value of the Manchester United captain is too high, according to market valuations, the United captain is now worth around £20 million. However, if you take into account the value of the Chinese market, the Manchester United captain is actually worth £30 million. ”
"It's just the business-minded Glazer, who is really willing to sell the young Manchester United captain? It's unthinkable......"
Dong Fangzhuo sat quietly on the bench, his face was very calm, he was not worried about the so-called goal shortage. Manchester United win, team-mates scored, and that's a good thing. He also feels that he has been a little tired lately, and he is obviously not in the same form as he was at the beginning of the season.
Ten days ago, Manchester United won 3-1 away at Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup. This league game is once again playing away from home, and Manchester United are also full of confidence.
With four games to play in eight days, Ferguson made three changes to his starting line-up. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was not included in the game list in the last round, started and Smith also returned to the main line-up, while Brown and Rio Ferdinand did not make the game due to injury, Vidic and the young Pique partnered in central defence, and Richardson played as the main left-back.
It is worth mentioning that Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came to the bench and finally returned after a 10-month absence due to injury.
Right from the start of the game, Manchester United got off to a perfect start. In the 4th minute, Richardson broke through on the left side, crossed at the moment of falling to the ground, and Rooney grabbed the point in the middle to push the goal, and Rooney scored three goals in a row. Manchester United lead the home team 1-0.
"Manchester United are going to win again!"
Lineker set the tone for the game.
With the opening goal and United's recent red-hot form, anyone has reason to believe that United will have a big win.
Birmingham immediately counter-attacked after conceding the goal, and in the eighth minute, Heskey received a long pass from a team-mate to create a corner. Pennant's cross from a corner was headed back by a team-mate, and Clemens scrambled to shoot unguarded at the back post, but his header was cleared by Scholes. Manchester United escaped. Birmingham then won two more corners, one with Wayne Rooney dropping back and another from the touchline by Fletcher, and the Reds were in the dark for a while.
The plot of the game did not go as everyone imagined, and Manchester United did not continue to press Birmingham City to play.
In the 11th minute, Heskey shook his head in the middle of the penalty area, but it was too far and there was not much power, and Van der Sar got it. A minute later, Birmingham's header from the right flank was straight to Heskey, and the former Liverpool hitman followed up with a volley that went wide.
"The style of painting is wrong, Manchester United is choked?"
And Manchester United began to channel fouls.
First, Paul Scholes and former Chelsea big man Jarosik grabbed the ball in midfield, and Scholes fouled. Birmingham then moved wide to play on the left and Richardson quickly fell to the ground to clear the ball.
Smith then swept down the opposition at the back and Birmingham won a free-kick on the left side of the pitch, and Jarosik fired straight through the wall with great power, but the angle was too good to be saved by Van der Sar.
Luo was brought down on the right side of the fast break, the referee did not judge, the home team launched a quick counterattack, Jarosik passed, Heskey made the ball, Clappen inserted and shot into the near corner, Van der Sar was not focused enough, and after a pounce, the ball rolled into the net from the armpit, 1:1!
Rooney ran to protest against the referee's missed foul, which the referee ignored.
In the 20th minute, Fletcher knocked down Bart at the back, and Jarosik hit the goal with another powerful shot that went over the crossbar.
After Manchester United cooperated in front, Rooney crossed Smith on the left, Smith saw that there was no chance to get up and pushed to Ronaldo on the right, and Ronaldo's shot was blocked by the defender who returned to the defense with his body. One minute later, Scholes made a long-distance diagonal pass from the backfield, and Ronaldo broke through quickly, but the cross did not get up......
Birmingham were even more imposing after the equaliser, and they were almost equal with Manchester United. Both sides are squandering their chances like crazy!
At the beginning of the second half, Ferguson's expression was serious, and he began to let Dong Fangzhuo warm up on the sidelines, and Manchester United regrouped to launch an attack.
Dong Fangzhuo didn't take off his coat immediately, he knew that the lord was just preparing in advance.
In the 47th minute, Rooney's header was crossed, and Saha followed up with a long-range shot, which was saved by Taylor. It was Saha's first shot of the game!
"If it hadn't been for his shot, I would have forgotten that Saha was the starting centre-forward?"
'The Manchester United captain has started warming up and it looks like he's definitely going to play and there's not much time left for Saha.
Three minutes later, Richardson went down, Martin Taylor tackled the bottom line, and Rooney's corner was confiscated by Taylor.
Birmingham City are also reluctant to settle for a 1-1 draw and they can lose to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, but in the league they don't want to miss out on a win at home.
It didn't take long for them to have good shots, and in the 50th minute, Paul Scholes was fouled and awarded a free-kick, but Clappen couldn't threaten the penalty and the ball was still in the back of the field, when Clapin crossed again and Heskey headed over the crossbar from near the penalty spot.
Missing such an opportunity, United immediately hit back. Smith's pass from the right was cleverly slipped by Rooney, and Saha followed up at the back post to score with ease, and the whole process was done in one go.
2:1!
Ferguson finally smiled and Saha finally scored. This also means that Dong Fangzhuo will not be able to play for the time being.
Manchester United fans are finally relieved.
But they didn't have to laugh for long......
1 minute later, Birmingham counter-attacked, Pique and Van der Sar "humbled" in the penalty area, Heskey quickly cut in, Van der Sar quickly fell to the ground to save the ball, Heskey confiscated his foot, stepped on Van der Sar's shoulder.
Perhaps for this reason, in the 77th minute, Smith fouled on the left, Kilkenny took a free kick to the penalty area, Fletcher failed to clear the ball in the first time, Johansen crossed in front of the goal, Van der Sar did not attack in time, allowing Pantiani to tackle in the middle.
2:2!
At this time, Ferguson finally replaced Saha......
"Just ten minutes for the captain, is that enough?"
"If Manchester United had taken more chances, it wouldn't have been a draw now!"