Chapter 397

At that time, Arsene Wenger sold Anelka, the number one talent in the team, to Real Madrid and used the transfer fee to build a training base for kolni, which has always been cited as a good talk by Arsenal fans.

Now, in the media center next to the gate of this training base, the last press conference before the Carling Cup final is going on, and almost all the media organizations in the UK are represented.

At this press conference, Arsene Wenger announced the team's 18 man squad as a matter of routine.

But journalists with a keen sense of smell have caught a glimmer of change: Ashley Cole is back.

So a reporter soon asked if Ashley Cole would return to the starting line-up.

"Yes, I'm very happy. Ashley's recovery is good. He is a very important member of our team. But at present, I'm not sure whether he can play. It needs further coordination and communication with the team doctors."

Even for the injury has long been in the body of the main centre back Campbell, Arsene Wenger also expressed concern.

As early as before the press conference, Ashley Cole and Campbell did not participate in the team's joint training in the training class open to media reporters. They were doing some simple recovery training on the sidelines alone, and it seems that they have not recovered yet.

No one knows whether that is true or not, whether it is a smoke bomb or the truth.

But the focus of the media is not here.

"Mr. Arsene, this final is still scheduled to be held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and we all know that there is a curse in the dressing room of this stadium..."

When the reporter asked a question here, the audience chuckled.

The curse of the South dressing room of Cardiff Millennium Stadium has a long history.

Since the Wembley Stadium was demolished and rebuilt, England football has arranged some major finals at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, but it is interesting that after that, the teams in the South dressing room often lose to the teams in the North dressing room.

The record was kept until last season's pre-season Community Shield, when Arsenal met Liverpool in the north.

According to tradition, the South team used the South dressing room, the North team used the North dressing room, the Gunners stayed in the South dressing room, but they beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final and won the championship.

The same thing happened in last season's FA Cup final. When Arsenal faced Southampton, Southampton should have used the South dressing room according to tradition, but the latter started the draw, and finally Arsenal won the unfortunate South dressing room.

Surprisingly, the Gunners beat Southampton in the final and the score was 1-0.

But in this season's Premier League, Arsenal are ahead of Manchester United by a large margin, but they were doggedly reversed by Ferguson's team at the last moment and lost their title.

Not only that, in the community shield cup before this season, the Gunners encountered Manchester United, once again entered the South dressing room, but also lost the championship on penalty.

Many experiences have convinced everyone that there is a magic spell in the South dressing room of Millennium Stadium.

Arsene was smiling at the reporter's questions.

"Yes, I've heard about it, but we don't care about it. We just put all our energy into the game and beat the opponent by strength, not the so-called curse."

Speaking of this, Arsene has changed the subject.

"Of course, if our opponents feel that using the South dressing room is not good for them, they can apply again and solve the problem by drawing lots. We all know that it is their initiative to use the draw to determine the South and North dressing rooms."

At the end of the day, Arsene was laughing and relaxed.

Many reporters at the scene applauded one after another, because it was not without allusions that Arsene said.

In the 2001-02 FA Cup final, Arsenal met Chelsea.

According to tradition, both teams are London teams, but Chelsea are in the South and should use the South dressing room. However, they are very dissatisfied with this and oppose it. They hope to draw lots to determine the right to use the dressing room.

At the beginning, the FA didn't agree and rejected the application of Chelsea, but it couldn't stand the blue team's application again and again. Finally, it accepted the blue team's request and held a draw.

As a result, it seemed that there was a providence in it. Once again, Chelsea hit the South dressing room and lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the final to win the FA Cup.

After two years apart, the two London teams reunite at the Millennium Stadium again. Arsene's words are undoubtedly attacking the psychology of Chelsea, hoping to gain an advantage in the psychological war before the game.

As for the media, with their fear that the world will not be chaotic, why not add fuel to the fire?

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Due to the staggered time of the two pre match press conferences, the media reporters immediately went south from North London to Harrington near Heathrow airport after holding the press conference at Colney training base.

Compared with the high-end and high-grade Colney, Harrington of Chelsea is very simple, which can't match the luxurious blue team, but the media reporters are used to it.

What's more, this is not the focus of their attention.

When the high cold routine announced the first 18 people's Congress list, media reporters only noticed that Makelele is still absent from the Carling Cup final, it seems that the French back has not fully recovered.

Then a reporter threw this remark to Gao Han, and then everyone in the audience quietly waited for Gao Han's refutation.

South dressing room curse, this really has a long history, also let a lot of people believe.

Professional football is mainly about people. As long as it's people, there will be all kinds of strange and even unexplained phenomena, such as the so-called curse of the Premier League coach of the month.

But for this, alpine is sniffing.

After he came to the Premier League, he won the coach of the month many times, but he didn't lose.

So the crux of the problem is not the curse.

"For the so-called curse, I will never believe it. Just as I said before that I never believe in the curse of coach of the month, I will not be affected by the curse of the South dressing room of Millennium Stadium."

Alpine light smile, in the face of all the media reporters.

"As for the so-called draw, it's even less necessary, because we don't want to give our opponents any excuse to lose."

"If there is a magic spell in the South dressing room, then we are willing to accept the challenge and defeat Arsenal and the magic spell at one stroke."

Gao has always sneered at the so-called curse, so he thinks that it was a very stupid decision for Chelsea to take the initiative to draw lots, especially when they finally moved to the South dressing room.

Needless to say, before the game started, Chelsea had already lost half of the game.

In the same way, when Arsene Wenger kicks the ball to Chelsea, he still wants to take the psychological advantage.

If Chelsea are serious, they lose psychologically. If they are not serious, it is only natural for Arsenal to enter the North dressing room and get a big name.

Therefore, if anyone says that Arsene is a good man in the future, Gao will fight against him.

Don't be a thief!

Gao Han thought a few circles, but the media reporters are still asking questions.

For example, a reporter from the independent newspaper pointed out that Arsenal striker Henry confidently said that he would score in the final to help Arsenal break through the goal of Chelsea and win a championship first.

Gao Han did not hesitate to sneer at this, only replied, "he said the same thing in the last game."

There was a burst of laughter.

"Go back and tell Henry that he has to keep his strength and keep his top scorer in the league." Gao Han continued to challenge.

At present, Eto'o has caught up with Henry in the top scorer list of the Premier League, which makes the competition for the Premier League top scorer this season more and more intense, especially for the ambitious Henry before the season.

"Mr. Gao, are you going to refrigerate Eto'o in the final?" A reporter asked tentatively.

Gao Han laughed straight and did not give a positive answer, "guess."

The reporters almost fell over. Who can guess?

The thickness of Chelsea's team is very strong, and the rotation of the cold is also good. The cup and the league are different. Even if Eto'o is rotated, it's normal.

For the excellent performance of the blues this season, as well as the stable performance over the past few months, many people not only attribute the greatest credit to the coach Gao Han's training, but also feel that they rely on the strong team of Chelsea.

Almost every position has two strong competitors, which makes the top and bottom of Chelsea form a strong competitiveness, coupled with the cold rotation is appropriate, the team's overall combat effectiveness is amazing.

It can be said that the investment of 200 million euros has all been spent on the blade.

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Arsenal did not respond positively to Gao's provocation at the pre match press conference.

Even Henry, who is the first to bear the brunt, just said he would use the game to prove it.

But this does not prevent the media reporters from hyping this hot topic at all.

The Carling Cup has always been a weak match in the Premier League, and the attention is not good. In addition, the match time is arranged at the end of February, which is the critical period for strong teams to fight on multiple fronts, so there are always calls to cancel the Carling Cup.

But now, Arsenal and Chelsea have reached the Carling Cup final at the same time, which has greatly stimulated the attention of this cup.

There is a saying that is well said, whether there is a champion or not is not usually seen. Only when we really get to a major key campaign, can it be reflected.

And the Carling Cup final is the first game that Chelsea has faced since its reorganization. It is a major event that determines the ownership of a championship trophy. Whether to continue the glory of the cold past or to continue the strength of the outside and the ability of the middle before, it still depends on the game.

Not only media reporters pay close attention to this event, but also the fans of the two teams are very enthusiastic.

Before the game, the fans of the two teams left for Cardiff from London, and the trains and flights from London to Cardiff were crowded. The fans who chose to drive to Cardiff were in a long line along the way.

Even on the day of the match, two cars representing Arsenal and Chelsea collided on a main road into Cardiff. The two groups almost had a big fight and blocked the whole road. Finally, the police were dispatched to ease the situation.

If the fans of the two teams are allowed to fight openly on the main road, it will be one of the wonders of English football.

Before the game, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was full.

In the stands, the blue representing Chelsea and the red representing Arsenal are diametrically opposed.

But different from the excitement and excitement of the blues, Arsenal fans are more gentlemanly, or dull.

This is also in line with the characteristics of Arsenal Highbury.

It's a famous gentleman's court in the Premier League.

But this is a life and death battle!