Football: The Journey of a Coach

57. First Defeat

  

In the home team's dressing room, Daniel stood in the middle of Crsytal Palace's rested players after the first half ended.

" Stay concentrated!, play it our way. "

" We don't see winning or losing at the moment, for others it may be trivial. But we Crsytal Palace playing in the semi-finals of the league cup is already one step ahead!. "

Daniel eagerly tried to lift the spirit of the team that was left two goals in the first half.

After a fifteen-minute break, both teams returned to the field of play. There was no change of players from both sides, the players who played in the first half came back to play again in the second half.

The 0-2 score continued until the beginning of the game, many home team supporters who still faithfully support their favorite team.

Daniel already knew that against Tottenham Hotspur it would be a tough game, but he didn't expect his team would really not be able to do much.

Actually Crsytal Palace have played quite well at this time, if Butterfield did not make a mistake in passing at the end of the first half, Palace are still able to serve Tottenham Hotspur.

In the 55th minute, Tottenham Hotspur again got a chance. Through the slick performance of Luca Modric in midfield, the Tottenham winger was spoiled with classy passes.

Tottenham winger Lennon dribbled one-on-one with Palace right-back Nathan Clyne.

Nathan Clyne, 19, could not resist the onslaught of Lennon. So with the help of Sean Derry, Lennon can be temporarily muted.

Crsytal Palace managed to stop the attack of Tottenham Hotspur for a while.

Tottenham Hotspur kept Crsytal Palace's defence locked, and returned in the 71st minute.

Peter Crouch took advantage of his height to get a cross ball from the Tottenham flank, with a header from his head, Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni. No power to hold it, the ball into the right side of the goal.

Tottenham Hotspur lead for the third time at Selhurst Park Stadium.

***

The pace of the game against Tottenham Hotspur seemed blurry for Daniel, he was no longer able to concentrate fully again after Crsytal Palace left three goals behind.

Even until the end of the game, Daniel had to know from shaking hands with Harry Redknapp, that the game was over.

England coach Harry Redknapp hugged and patted him on the back. Tell him that he has done his best, and don't fall just because of the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Right after yesterday's game, Joey sent Daniel who was bad mood for the results of another league cup semi-final match. Finding Manchester United against Birmingham City, in the first leg Sir Alex Ferguson's side bulldozed Birmingham with a score of 3-1.

As per league Cup rules, the second leg between Manchester United and Birmingham City will be held again on another day. However, there are already many football pundits out there who have vetoed that the league cup final will bring Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur together. Those who call themselves football experts have already condemned the defeats of Birmingham City and Crsytal Palace.

Maybe it was Daniel's reluctance yesterday that affected the team, or maybe the players also faced the same problems and pressure as their coach. Today at the training ground, everyone was not excited enough.

“What do you guys do ?!” During the training circle, the quality of some groups was not high, the Lawrance in charge today could not bear to gather all the players.

 "What are you guys doing?! How many times have you passed the ball under your feet?!. " Lawrence said with a very unhappy face.

The players looked at each other his teammates around him in a daze, they did not dare to say anything. Moreover, they also really did not know why everyone did not seem to be in such a bad state today.

Looking at the confused expressions of the players, Lawrance could finally just wave his hands helplessly.

"Rear-start the training!"

After training, Lawrence and the team's veteran players gathered together. At this time assistant coach and player, Matthew Lawrance asked Derry, "What happened to these guys today?!"

"I guess the pressure from yesterday's defeat still affects people!, now a little quiet in the dressing room!" Derry touched his chin, stating his speculation.

Lawrance who understood, just sighed. The old players seem to be used to losing, but in the team there are a lot of young players, and they are still not as strong as these old players.

" What about Daniel?, is he still locked up in his office?. " Speroni asked Lawrance.

" Huh...., yeah!. He was still in the office, re-examining the last match "Lawrance replied with a sigh.

" Regardless of that, the defeat to Tottenham seemed like the first time Crsytal Palace had lost after Daniel became coach. " Derry says.

" It seems right!. "

" It is!. "

I heard the approval of his other team-mates.

"Damn, should we hire a psychiatrist?!" Wen Sheng Mumbled.

"Psychiatrist?! This is not enough!"

"Sean, you are the captain, you communicate well with everyone! We are a young team, help them get through this. I'll try to talk to Daniel to get a day or two off. "

Lawrance thinks, if the comfort of a lover, the warmth of family, a trip can make everyone relax.

Seeing Lawrance's left back, Derry could only shake his head helplessly. He also knew that the more critical times, the more likely everyone would lose the chain. However, communication is not necessarily effective.

Teams are made up of over 20 players, and everyone has different abilities in dealing with pressure.

Some people felt no pressure at all, while others were already thinking wildly.

***

At a news conference against Bristol City three days later, reporters were deeply concerned about the fact that Crystal Palace lost to Tottenham Hotspur three goals at home.

"Daniel, the result of yesterday's defeat. Many people think that this is a great adjustment for your team, and some even think that Crsytal Palace's league Cup journey as a Championship team has come to an end!. I'd like to ask you personally, what do you think of this?! "

After the three-goal defeat, Crystal Palace fans themselves are not optimistic, let alone the outside world. Although fans screamed loudly when playing for a comeback, they honestly knew that the team would be difficult to get to the final.

Crystal Palace's current difficulties are concrete and realistic, we all know that these young teams and coaches have always challenged the limits, but they are human, and the limits are always there, he said, and the defeat against Tottenham Hotspur was rated as the limit of Crsytal Palace's team.

Needless to say, football critics predict that it will be difficult for Crystal Palace to challenge Tottenham Hotspur, who have the edge in every aspect.

" This is the team's conference against Bristol City, a question other than the game, I will not respond. " Daniel answered stiffly.

There was a lot of discussion among the audience.

“Daniel do you not feel how the first defeat since becoming coach of Crsytal Palace?!” The Daily Mail reporter did not raise his hand at all, and stood up to ask.

"There's no answer!" Daniel still replied with a flat face. If not obligated by the FA, Daniel would have left.