Chapter 73 De Ligt's Starting Lineup

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"It was a very exciting game. Aston Villa implemented everything they had, but they could not overcome the mountain of Arsenal after all!"

"For Aston Villa, they failed to hold on to the last 10 minutes despite the favorable conditions in the first 80 minutes!"

Andy Gray still appreciated Aston Villa's performance very much.

Richard nodded and said, "With the decline of physical strength, thinking will become rigid and mistakes will increase. What they lack is the key ability in the last ten minutes, but even so, Aston Villa still brought us a wonderful game!"

"But we also want to congratulate Arsenal!"

At this time, the whistle of the end of the game just sounded.

After 90 minutes of the game, Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 1:0.

After the game, the Arsenal players breathed a sigh of relief.

It has to be said that this game had many unfavorable factors for them, but there were also some opportunities, but they failed to grasp them.

Fortunately, at the last moment, Lucky made a decisive kick.

Based on this goal, Arsenal won a key victory in the League Cup semi-finals, and they can also go to the away game more calmly.

Aston Villa's defense made them very concerned, but the offense was not so threatening.

For this reason, Arsenal has a great advantage in the lead.

After this game, all the events in January are over.

They can smoothly enter the next month. There is still a certain distance from the end of all the events, and they also need to continue to maintain their form.

After this game, Mourinho gave the players a day off, mainly to let the players rest for one more day to recover their physical fitness.

The training will resume after the holiday.

During this day, Arsenal players hardly went out to play.

They also knew what the situation was at this time, and under great pressure, they couldn't play happily.

Most people chose to rest at home, and a few chose to run outside to maintain their form.

For Lekai, he also received a full range of relaxation massage on this day, until the stiffness of his body gradually subsided, and then he returned to the room to rest.

The next day, Arsenal trained again.

Today, there was also good news, that is, Martinez returned.

Although Buffon defended well in this short period of time, for Arsenal, Martinez is the main goalkeeper.

And Martinez's long pass cooperation with the frontcourt is more threatening.

At the same time, Aubameyang also ended the recovery training and officially started the training.

"Hey! Guys, did you miss me?"

Aubameyang seemed very happy.

He actively cooperated with the recovery training, so he completed the recovery in just over a week and started the training.

Of course, Aubameyang was also very urgent.

As Saka's performance got better and better, he had to make some responses.

He believed that Saka had become a player who was enough to threaten him.

This guy is no longer the rookie who made him ignore him, but a real competitor.

After a day of training, Mourinho actually announced the starting lineup for the next game in advance.

Among them, other positions remained unchanged, Aubameyang and De Ligt started.

There is no problem with Aubameyang starting, and after recovery, he performed very well in training.

And De Ligt's debut is a signal.

Mourinho is going to make some changes to the defense.

Although it will not be done immediately, it is obvious that De Ligt's performance has won his recognition, and he decided to gradually replace Hummels.

Hummels is old after all. Although he can perform well at present, it is unknown how long he can maintain his state.

At the same time, Mourinho also began to negotiate with Hummels' agent.

They are not planning to sign a long contract with Hummels, but a one-year contract.

In this regard, Hummels did not respond immediately. After all, for him, he still wants to continue to be active in the top five leagues, and Arsenal is obviously preparing to replace him.

Hummels has no complaints about Arsenal's operation.

This is professional football. When value and interests are inconsistent, they will always be sacrificed.

And Hummels is not a player like Lucky who is worth Arsenal giving up the so-called interests to support.

For this reason, he has already calculated this situation.

For Hummels, his biggest goal at present is to transition this season as a main player. With the blessing of good results, he can have more choices or more financial income when transferring.

The two sides also reached a consensus immediately.

First: This season, Hummels will continue to be the starter, but Arsenal will not implement the renewal agenda.

Second: Hummels can find a new club during the contract period, but this must not affect Arsenal's events.

Third: Arsenal will give Hummels a loyalty award.

The third clause is a gimmick to part ways amicably.

After all, no one wants to make such an unpleasant scene, and the so-called loyalty award is not particularly large.

For this reason, both parties are happy to accept it.

After completing the contact with Hummels, Mourinho found Lukaku again.

Yes!

He plans to clean up this guy.

Lukaku performed very well in his first season at Arsenal, but with the arrival of Giroud, this guy gradually began to become marginalized.

At the same time, his effect in the lineup was not great.

Rather than keeping him, it is better to sell him to make money.

For this reason, Mourinho gave Lukaku two options.

First: Mourinho will provide Lukaku with some game opportunities and ask his teammates to pass the ball to him and score goals for him.

Second: Lukaku voluntarily cut his salary to stay in the team.

Two options, anyone with a discerning eye can see.

The first is to sell Lukaku, and to sell him at a good price, so he will be given game time, let him score more goals, and sell him at a good price.

With Arsenal's current capabilities, as long as the opponent is not a pig, then there is basically no problem.

As for the second one, Mourinho did not think that Lukaku would choose the second one.

But the accident happened.

Lukaku really chose the second one. He is willing to cut his salary to stay in the team. As long as the salary cut is not too much and he can't make a living, he is willing to stay.

At that time, Mourinho was confused. He wanted to pinch this guy's head open to see what he was thinking.

He actually chose the second one?

All this disrupted Mourinho's plan. In the end, he chose to put it aside and think about it later.

At the same time, the day of Arsenal's away game has arrived.

After a week of inspection and advance starting arrangements, these starting players are in better condition and more motivated.

Especially young players like De Ligt, who are full of fighting spirit and ready to do a big job.

After all, Arsenal is currently the best in Europe.

Once De Ligt plays well in Arsenal, it means that the sky is high and the birds fly freely.

Of course, for De Ligt, it is more important for him to get more honors in Arsenal.

At the moment of the game, De Ligt's performance was also amazing.

"De Ligt!

The young player from the Netherlands completely controlled the sky of Arsenal. Burnley's high ball failed even once. I think at this moment Burnley almost hated this young central defender from the Netherlands!"

Paul Merson couldn't help but sigh: "Since the Netherlands missed a World Cup, their new domestic forces have begun to show one after another, first Liverpool's Van Dijk, and now Arsenal's young player De Ligt!"

"These two central defenders will become the future defensive gates of the Netherlands."

Der Ligt became more and more confident in the game.

He began to actively command the layout of the defense line, and his passing became decisive and calm.

There were even several times when he passed a pass with strong penetration, directly finding Giroud in the frontcourt to cause great trouble to Burnley.

Der Ligt's performance also made him widely recognized by Arsenal fans after Saka and Odegaard.

Now Arsenal fans are very much looking forward to what kind of performance these young people will show when they grow up and occupy the main position.

How strong will Arsenal become?

Of course, Arsenal is already very strong now.

But who can resist becoming even stronger?