“I don’t think the score of this match is fair. Obviously, from all the data, my team had an absolute advantage.”
“Our opponent was very lucky today. There’s nothing we can do; that’s football.”
“But luck, one day, will run out. Thank you.”
Brown, with a gloomy face, answered the last question, stood up, and left the press conference at Abbey Stadium.
It was clear that Brown was still bothered by the score, especially his last remark, which sounded quite malicious! It made Huang Hao feel uncomfortable.
However, since the team won big and advanced today, Huang Hao couldn’t be bothered to argue with Brown.
But Stewart didn’t think so. Never one to shy away from trouble, he stood up again and asked Huang Hao for his opinion on Brown’s earlier comments.
Huang Hao stared at Stewart somewhat playfully until Stewart gave him a pleading look, then slowly answered his question.
“Some teams, I really don’t like to talk about them. When they lose, they always say it’s bad luck, bad luck.”
Along with this statement, Huang Hao shook his head as if he was disappointed.
“My advice to them is to help old ladies cross the road more often when they have nothing to do. I’ve personally tested it, and this trick works wonders for luck!”
Huang Hao’s answer, naturally, drew another burst of laughter from the audience.
When everyone had mostly finished laughing, Huang Hao leaned closer to the microphone.
“Finally, I want to say that, in fact, luck is also a part of strength. Thank you, everyone.” After speaking, Huang Hao also left the press conference.
It had always been his habit to leave first when he was displeased, but he hadn’t expected to be beaten to it by Brown today!
But it didn’t matter; after all, it was Cambridge United that advanced to the third round of the League Cup. Everyone has their bad days!
Huang Hao quickly put the matter behind him, picked up Lin Kexin, who was waiting for him outside the stadium, and the two happily went to a Chinese restaurant in the Harrow district to buy late-night snacks.
With the team’s victory, a celebration at the apartment was in order.
The next day, Huang Hao truly slept in, waking up at ten in the morning.
Lin Kexin had already left for work at the hospital, and on the dining table, she had carefully prepared breakfast for Huang Hao.
Looking at the breakfast, an unprecedented sense of happiness welled up.
A plan also slowly emerged in his heart, but it would require some time.
Currently, Cambridge United would host Sheffield Wednesday in three days, so they needed to prepare well to let the team build on their momentum and strive to create a formidable home ground in the EFL Championship!
On a sunny afternoon, Cambridge United welcomed their fourth opponent in the EFL Championship, Sheffield Wednesday, at Abbey Stadium.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club was founded in 1867, almost 50 years before Cambridge United.
Not only was it founded earlier than Cambridge United, but in terms of honors, it was far superior to Cambridge United!
They had won the top-tier League four times, been runners-up twice, third place three times, FA Cup champions three times, runners-up twice, League Cup champions once, Community Shield champions once, and second-tier League champions five times.
However, since the team was relegated from the Premier League to the EFL Championship in 2000, finishing second to last, Sheffield Wednesday seemed to have lost its drive, spending years lingering in the EFL Championship and League One.
From the start of the match, riding the momentum of their big home win against Hull City, Cambridge United began to attack Sheffield Wednesday’s goal.
Bennett, on the left side of the penalty area, received a pass from Sun Jihai, and Rosewell, without hesitation, delivered another flying tackle!
Bennett was stunned, and the ball was dispossessed, rolling to McAllister’s feet.
McAllister immediately kicked the ball towards Cambridge United’s front field, passing it to the right winger Armstrong!
Armstrong didn’t hesitate, passing the ball again to the center, to the forward Tugay!
Cambridge United’s hastily retreating defense was instantly scattered!
Tugay easily dribbled past Suxi and faced the goal directly!
Facing the charging Pantilimon, Tugay easily pushed the ball into the near corner of the goal and scored!
0:1! Just 1 minute and 34 seconds into the match, Cambridge United’s goal was breached!
After conceding, Cambridge United launched a frantic counterattack, but it was like Hull City possessed them, all bark and no bite!
Sheffield Wednesday’s fierce defense made Cambridge United truly feel the defensive toughness of the EFL Championship.
Dzeko, Vardy, the substitute captain Sager, and Bennett, who had repeatedly performed miracles last season, no matter how Huang Hao deployed his troops, Cambridge United could never break through the opponent’s goal.
In the 82nd minute, Cambridge United finally found a good opportunity.
O’Connor’s corner kick, after a scramble in front of the goal, was accidentally knocked into their own net by Sheffield Wednesday player McMahon.
The suppressed Cambridge United fans throughout the stadium finally had a chance to shout loudly.
Huang Hao, who had been sitting somewhat helplessly on the coaching bench with his arms crossed, couldn’t help but jump up, bouncing and waving his arms as he ran towards the Sheffield Wednesday bench.
Before the Sheffield Wednesday substitute players could rush out, Darren quickly pulled Huang Hao back.
Lin Kexin, seeing this scene, couldn’t help but cover her face with her hands, unable to watch.
Ultimately, Cambridge United, in front of 6,100 home fans, drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday, thanks to an own goal by their opponent.
After this match, the team would have a two-week break.
Cambridge United’s Pantilimon and Suxi were selected for the Romanian national team due to their excellent performance, to participate in the match against Lithuania.
Tadić was selected for the Serbian national team, Dzeko went to the Bosnian national team, Lewandowski also went to Poland, Bola returned to Guinea, and several young players were also selected for their respective U19 national teams, making the Cambridge United Training Base much quieter.
On September 1st, the transfer window for the English Championship League officially closed, followed by comprehensive reports from various authoritative media regarding the transfer period.
First to be released were the team weekly wage statistics, and Cambridge United, without suspense, took first place.
Last place.
Derby County proudly led the pack, with the entire team’s weekly wages reaching an astonishing £625,000.
Wolves ranked second with a slight difference of £600,000.
The median weekly wage for EFL Championship teams was £345,000.
Cambridge United, with £69,000, stubbornly existed at the bottom of the rankings.
Seeing this report, Huang Hao really wanted to give a big hug to each of his players; what immense temptation they must have resisted this summer!
Immediately following were the heavyweight transfer summaries, also a moment for each team to showcase their financial prowess.
Wolves, this summer, issued a check for £22 million, becoming the undisputed No. 1.
They spent £8.75 million to acquire central midfielder David Jones from Derby County, £5 million to acquire Leicester City defender Richard Stearman, and signed Charlton forward Chris Iwelumo.
Birmingham City also signed renowned stars Kevin Phillips and Lee Bowyer on free transfers, spent £4.5 million to acquire Coventry defender Scott Dann, and £3.75 million to acquire Cardiff City defender Roger Johnson, expressing their determination to gain promotion to the Premier League.
On this list, the most striking, apart from the two teams mentioned above, was Cambridge United.
Player acquisition cost: £300,000.
This was simply bizarre in the EFL Championship, where teams constantly needed to wave their checkbooks, whether for promotion or relegation!
Smallest stadium, lowest wages, least transfer investment—everything about Cambridge United seemed unworthy of a dignified English second-tier League, no wonder all media experts unanimously predicted Cambridge United’s demise, believing relegation was an inevitable outcome.
But it was precisely such a team that, in the first four rounds of the EFL Championship, achieved two wins and two draws, ranking second.
Huang Hao and the lads from Cambridge United had long adapted, even enjoyed, the skeptical glances from others.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have earned the resounding title of “Face-Slapping Maniac” in China.
Two weeks passed quickly, and on September 13th, Cambridge United welcomed their fifth-round opponent, Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace was founded in 1905, and for a hundred years, this team had not achieved many astonishing accomplishments.
The team only achieved third place in the top-tier League in the 1991 season and was the FA Cup runner-up in the 1992 season.
The reason this team is well-known to Chinese fans is that in 1998, Chinese players Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai successively joined Crystal Palace, initiating the first wave of Chinese players playing abroad.
General Fan, after joining Crystal Palace, even served as captain and was awarded the Player of the Season.
Sun Jihai, after playing for one year, eventually joined Manchester City after several transfers.
This season, Crystal Palace, under the leadership of Neil Warnock, had a sluggish start, with two draws and two losses in four matches, ranking third from bottom in the standings.
With a major battle imminent, at the pre-match press conference held at Abbey Stadium, it was still Stewart and a few familiar old faces.
Huang Hao sometimes even wondered why the media couldn’t send out a few attractive female reporters; perhaps then his answers wouldn’t be so sharp and harsh!
Simon from Sky Sports was the first to pose his question:
“Head Coach, Crystal Palace under Warnock is very good at passing and control, and their play is very beautiful. What is your strategy for this?”
Huang Hao rested his chin on his hand, as if thinking, then said:
“Mr. Reporter, are you implying that Cambridge United’s play is not very good to watch?”
“Uh…”
Simon was momentarily speechless, thinking, “Don’t you know whether it’s good to watch or not yourself?!”
Huang Hao didn’t pay attention to Simon’s explanation and immediately added:
“I greatly appreciate Mr. Warnock’s passing and control style, as the reporter said, it’s very beautiful.
What can I do? I can only let my lads try their best to seize opportunities when Mr. Warnock’s team loses possession!”
Connor from BBC, keenly sensing the topic, immediately raised his hand and asked: “It sounds like you are very wary of Crystal Palace. Do you think the opponent is more likely to win this match?”
Huang Hao’s brows instantly furrowed upon hearing the question.
“Wary? Do I need to be wary? Everyone can look at the standings: Cambridge United is second, and Crystal Palace is twenty-second.
Cambridge United has scored 10 goals, while Crystal Palace only has a paltry two.
Warnock’s Crystal Palace is just a mere show, a paper tiger, nothing to be afraid of.”
“Cambridge United is a team fighting to avoid relegation. We haven’t successfully avoided relegation yet, and we will fight with all our might in every match!”
Stewart saw that he had material, and quickly stood up to add fuel to the fire: “Huang, currently, Cambridge United ranks first in the EFL Championship’s tackling statistics.
Everyone believes your team is the best tackling team in the League. What are your thoughts on this?”
Huang Hao looked at Stewart with a smile; the young man was starting to catch on!
“He who tackles wins possession, and he who wins possession, wins the world!”
“I am very proud to have a group of lads who are good at tackling, brave, and fearless! They are the best in the EFL Championship.”
After speaking, Huang Hao genuinely grinned.
“Huang Hao Says Crystal Palace is All Show”
“You Are All Useless, Cambridge United Leads EFL Championship in Tackles”
“Sissies Who Can Only Pass But Can’t Tackle”