Chapter 265

For a long time, Hotspur have been regarded as a second-tier strong team in the Premier League.

Their play is fluid, their attacking desire strong, but their defense is a black hole.

Because they score many goals and concede many, they once became the favorite team of Happy Bean fans.

No one cares about the Lilywhites' win-draw-loss record.

Classic Premier League comebacks:

The Manchester United 5-3 Hotspur match is the most classic.

Trailing three goals, they scored five straight.

Ferguson left a widely circulated quote in the Manchester United locker room: "Kids, that's just Hotspur."

Even when Bale and Modrić played together during Tottenham's history at White Hart Lane, they could not change people's inherent impression of Spurs.

At that time, fans affectionately called the two: Sun Wukong and the Silver Horn King.

But.

After Pochettino took over White Hart Lane in 2014, he showed the fans a Tottenham with the capability to challenge for the title.

The white youth storm he created swept across the Premier League.

When the powerhouses finally came to their senses... Tottenham had already become the leading contender group in the Premier League title race.

Which Premier League team has had the most ferocious attacking firepower over the past two seasons?

Tottenham!

It is said that in 1986, Bielsa and Grifa ventured into the Pampas grasslands, seeking young boys with football talent.

One late night.

The two arrived at a farmhouse, saw the sleeping boy Pochettino, and were instantly astonished as if seeing a heavenly being!

From that moment on.

Pochettino became the spokesperson for the 'Bielsa school'.

What is the Bielsa school?

Another extreme faction derived from the 'All-out attack-defense' concept.

It is charming, crazy, obsessive, radical attacking football!

It is a football philosophy that makes winning the championship difficult to achieve.

However.

Compared to Bielsa himself, Pochettino's arrangement of the overall defensive focus is still somewhat conservative.

A few days later.

Another wonderful Premier League match day.

After Li Kang finished training, he and his teammates boarded the club bus and headed to White Hart Lane Stadium.

They were about to face the season's toughest challenge.

The North London Derby.

Arsenal's home ground and Tottenham's home ground are very close.

One bridge.

Fans have long awaited this match.

No one thought Arsenal had a sure win.

Moreover, many believed the White Lily youth storm could withstand the 'two-hundred-million-pound man'.

He glanced at the posters and slogans outside the window.

Li Kang lowered his head and flipped open a map; he was not yet very familiar with the North London area.

"Li, it's less than a fifteen-minute drive—why are you still looking at the map?"

"Tottenham has been the team with the most fouls in the Premier League over the past three seasons, but it's barely considered dirty, because they like to use their soft buttocks to interfere with opponents."

"You mean Alli? Hahaha!"

Maguire was explaining Tottenham's style to Zakaria and a few other new signings.

It's a pity.

He is the starting center-back for this match.

Because Mustafi had undergone a grueling EFL Cup battle with the youth team youngsters midweek, the coaching staff, concerned about his fitness, made a temporary starting lineup adjustment for the North London Derby.

The only concern is: young Maguire is still not steady enough.

Koscielny thought for a moment and reminded: "Play the ball forward promptly... don't think about teasing the opponent, forget it, just pass the ball to Li."

Morata counted on his fingers and said: "This year's Champions League, several Premier League teams look very strong, capable of boosting the league's overall European coefficients."

This guy has already enjoyed the various benefits brought by the league's high commercialization and wants to stay in the Premier League long-term.

The current European competition coefficient ranking has been affected by last season's Lewokusen's semifinal berth:

La Liga first.

Bundesliga second.

Premier League third.

Ten minutes later.

Arsenal's club bus drove into White Hart Lane Stadium.

Not far away came the noisy sound of renovation.

This stadium was once jokingly called: Stanford Second Bridge.

Because Chelsea had not lost a game here for over ten consecutive years.

Its transportation and capacity have been heavily criticized by fans.

The walking distance to the subway station is too far.

It can only accommodate over thirty thousand spectators.

In May 2016, the new White Deer Lane Stadium officially began construction outside the original site.

It won't take a few years.

Tottenham fans will also have a new home ground comparable to Emirates Stadium.

Wenger and the coaching staff members got off the bus.

"This is truly a noisy neighbor in the real sense."

"Boss, Levy's expansion plan saves far more money than building a new stadium! The preliminary budget is..."

"No, the budget will keep expanding during construction; if they control costs well, they can pull out two hundred million for signings..."

The pre-match press conference scene.

Pochettino stood up and warmly shook hands with Wenger.

This young up-and-coming manager is now a target for many top clubs, especially Paris Saint-Germain.

"Mr. Pochettino, you haven't shown even a hint of the North London Derby's gunpowder in your treatment of Arsenal!"

"The match hasn't officially started yet; do you want us two head coaches to have a big fight?"

The Tottenham manager's remark drew loud laughter from the media reporters.

The question quickly turned to Wenger.

"Mr. Arsène, which team do you most hope to meet in the Champions League round of sixteen?"

"Bay..."

The Arsenal manager blurted out... and hit the brakes in time.

"What is this question?"

"It's clearly the North London Derby, so why are we suddenly talking about the Champions League?"

Wenger smiled and calmly said: "This question should be left until after we advance from the Champions League group stage... I only care about the match at hand."

Inside the player tunnel.

A silence fell.

The tension, swords drawn and bows bent, was still slowly brewing.

Unlike the life-or-death struggles of the early century.

Most foreign players find it hard to quickly absorb the derby atmosphere of the new environment.

Moreover, many of the homegrown players in the starting lineup had already forged deep friendships through the saying 'no fight, no friendship' during their youth team days...

"Li!"

Heung-Min Son excitedly gave Li Kang a hug.

He had finally beaten out Lamela for a starting spot, and his mood was great.

They didn't exchange pleasantries for long.

The Korean forward soon felt his teammates' strange gazes, and only then did he reluctantly let go.

He didn't forget to add: "Come on!"

Li Kang nodded.

He then continued to size up Tottenham's lineup.

White Deer Lane Stadium.

The seats were torn down.

At a glance, there were crazy-waving scarves and slogans!

Blue flags fluttered in the wind over the green pitch.

Tottenham fans sang the rousing anthem in unison.

The referee crew led the players of both teams out of the tunnel.

The four large LED boards above the stadium immediately displayed the starting lineups of both teams.

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers; we are now broadcasting the seventh round of the 2016/17 Premier League season."

"Tottenham home versus Arsenal!"

"North London Derby!"

"A meeting of the Premier League title-contending first group!"

"Next, we will introduce the starting lineups of both teams!"

"Tottenham lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Lloris!"

"Defenders: Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose!"

"Double defensive midfielders: Alli, Wanyama!"

"Midfielders: Son, Alli, Eriksen!"

"Forward: Kane!"