After having a happy New Year's Eve with Nicola, Zhang Xu returned to the intense preparations again.

January 28th was originally the 28th round of the league, but because Sheffield United successfully eliminated their opponents in the last FA Cup match, the league was changed to a FA Cup event with the English Championship team Birmingham.

There is no doubt that Birmingham is powerful and has a large number of stars. Although most of them are abandoned by the giant teams, their strength is unquestionable. Famous stars such as Upson, Melchiott, Pennant, Bart, Husky, and Dunn have all joined this team.

Although Hong Kong tycoon Yang Jiacheng's strength has declined after he acquired a stake in Birmingham, there are still a number of main players from the national team, including Jonathan, the main defender of the US national team and Senegal's high center forward Rikic.

Therefore, despite the home game, Sheffield United was not optimistic about this FA Cup. Moreover, head coach Wilson made the decision to give up the FA Cup in order to allow the team to make every effort to compete in the English Championship.

No matter what decision Wilson made, Zhang Xu was still training diligently and preparing for the next game at all times.

The day before the match against Birmingham, Wilson announced the lineup against Birmingham tomorrow, and Zhang Xu's name was in sight.

Afterwards, Wilson specially found Zhang Xu and explained the reason why he arranged him: "zhang, in the game with Birmingham tomorrow, you will be the opportunity to make an official debut in front of fans! How about it?"

"Thank you, boss, I will cherish this opportunity!" Zhang Xu thought Wilson hoped that he would play a good game tomorrow, so he quickly said there was no problem.

"Uh, zhang, don't pay too much attention to the results of the game. I think it's nothing even if you lose. We must focus our main energy on the league!" Wilson saw Zhang Xu's eager expression, and couldn't help but blush and explained awkwardly.

Zhang Xu was a little confused, and he was a little difficult to understand Wilson's words. Isn't the game just to pursue victory? Isn't it nothing if I lose? How could there be nothing if I lose?

Is Birmingham? Even if you are a champion team, I must fight you to the end! Zhang Xu swears silently in his heart.

On January 28th, although the weather was cold, it still could not stop the crazy enthusiasm of the fans. At 1:30 pm, the Bramo Lane Stadium was already crowded, and countless Blade fans wearing red jerseys rendered the entire stadium into a red ocean.

Before the start of the game, head coach Wilson arranged some tactics casually, and then emphasized two points: one is to feel and experience, feel Birmingham's strong strength, experience the gap between our Sheffield United and the strong team, and learn as much as possible from the game; the other is to protect and safely, protect yourself, try not to do some easy-to-be injured actions, and avoid the opponent from causing harm to you.

At this time, even a fool can understand the intention of head coach Wilson. He intends to give up the game and train the team.

In fact, Zhang Xu didn't agree very much. In his dictionary, there was no word to admit defeat. However, since the head coach has explained to this level, he can't refute it in person, right?

If you can't refute it in person, then discuss it privately.

Therefore, after all his teammates walked out of the locker room, Zhang Xu came to head coach Wilson and whispered: "Boss, I want to give it a try!"

"What to try?" Wilson was puzzled.

"I want to see how big the gap is between myself and Birmingham players. I want to fight, but I feel unwilling to accept it if I don't fight! Is that OK?"

Wilson was silent. He looked at Zhang Xu seriously. The other party's eyes were full of burning fighting spirit. He couldn't help but sigh and said, "Okay, but you have to promise me something."

"That's great, tell me, boss, I will definitely do it!" Zhang Xu was excited and quickly agreed.

"I want you to promise me that you will not be hurt no matter what!"

"No problem!" Zhang Xu patted his thick chest and said loudly: "Boss, it's not me that I'm going to blow. With my physique, the person who can hurt me has not been born yet!"

"You little brat, go quickly! The competition is about to start!" Wilson laughed and scolded Zhang Xu.?

At 150 p.m., Zhang Xu, led by head coach Wilson, came to the court alone to hold his first home meeting with the fans.

The on-site commentator Robin gave a detailed introduction to Zhang Xu's situation and then delivered the microphone to Zhang Xu.

Zhang Xu took the microphone handed over by the staff and said loudly: "Dear Blade fans, I am Zhang Xu, from China. You can call me China zhang or you can call me zhang directly!"

"I'm honored to join Sheffield United in this cold winter! Although the weather is cold, my heart is hot because I'm already in a red ocean!"

"To be honest, I am very excited now because I met a powerful opponent in the first time I met everyone - Birmingham! The opponent is indeed very powerful, but so what if it is strong, I will not surrender because my opponent is strong, because I have become a member of Blade! I can proudly say: I am Blade, I am fearless!"

Zhang Xu's last sentence immediately conquered all the Blade fans, and the fans' neat shouts came over the Bramo Lane Stadium: I am Blade, I - fearless!

Amid the shouts of the fans, Zhang Xu took the football handed over by the staff one by one, kicking the football into the stands around him one by one.

At this point, the meeting ceremony was all over.

At about 2:00 pm, with the referee's whistle, the game officially began!

At the beginning of the game, Birmingham relied on his strong frontcourt attack to launch a fierce offensive against Sheffield United.

In the 7th minute, Charlton No. 7 Chris got the ball, cooperated with No. 12 Joton, and rushed through Michael's defense, crossed the center line, and advanced towards the area where Zhang Xu was defending.

Williams rushed up first, intending to control the opponent's offensive momentum, but No. 7 Chris did not take him seriously. He cooperated with Jotton again, and got rid of Williams who was pushing him over.

When Zhang Xu saw that the situation was not good, he rushed up immediately, but he did not rush up directly like Williams, but kept a certain distance from the opponent and vaguely blocked the opponent's passing route.

Chris changed his pace several times, but now he could not get rid of Zhang Xu, so he had to give the ball to Kiss behind him. After receiving the ball, he passed it directly and gave the ball to the "Lighthouse" Shikic.

Jikic, who is more than two meters tall, is easy to use for this kind of ball. He first stopped his chest and then easily removed the ball. Matthew, who was defending him, pressed him tightly behind Jikic to prevent the opponent from turning around and forming a breakthrough.

Jikic didn't want to turn around. In addition to shooting, he also had a precise pass. He saw his arch shaking and the ball passed through the right side of Francois's body and came to the open space in the center of the penalty area.

Another striker, Mallon, arrived with a slam and shot with an angry shot!

The shot was fast and fast, and the angle was tricky. Simonson had no time to react, so he could only subconsciously extend his arms and pounce towards the ball.

With a loud "date!", the ball hit the crossbar fans hard in the horrified eyes of all the blade fans, and rebounded and flew out of the bottom line.

Simonson looked at the trembling goal crossbar with his eyes blankly, secretly glad.

Zhang Xu was speechless about his teammates' condition. In fact, as long as Francois was more active in this ball just now, the opponent's Marlon would not have such a good shooting opportunity.

However, Zhang Xu could not blame his teammates, he could only use his active running and fighting to see if he could stop the opponent's powerful offensive and to see if he could awaken his teammates' passion.

When the game continued to start, Zhang Xu immediately expanded his defense range to the entire half. As long as the opponent entered his half, Zhang Xu would immediately rush up to intercept the opponent's attack.

Under Zhang Xu's crazy fight, Birmingham was indeed a little uncomfortable.

If this Chinese player is just good in physical fitness, it is not worth worrying. Unfortunately, in addition to having strong physical fitness, this Chinese player is also very good in technical and tactical skills. Although there are still some shortcomings, it can cause considerable trouble to his side.

For a time, the two sides fought fiercely at the half-time of Sheffield United. Every time they almost broke through the Sheffield United goal in Birmingham, they would see Zhang Xu rushing to rush to clear the football at a critical moment.

Seeing Zhang Xu's dedicated performance, all the fans of Blades were moved by his unyielding spirit.

So, the Bramo Lane Stadium began to echo: "Come on! China zhang! Come on! China zhang!"

Such neat shouts, and the name of a player who just joined the team, have never been seen in Sheffield's history.

This means that Zhang Xu has been fully recognized by fans!

Hearing the fans shouting their names loudly, Zhang Xu's blood was completely burning, his running was more active, faster as lightning, and his steals and positioning were more fierce and accurate.

However, football has never been a one-person sport. Although Zhang Xu did cause great trouble to Birmingham, one person is still alone after all, and his teammates are still faithfully performing the tactics and tasks arranged by the head coach. No matter how hard he works alone, he cannot compete with Birmingham's strong overall strength.

In the 32nd minute of the game, after Birmingham's No. 12 Jotton dribbled the ball across the center line, he deliberately attracted Zhang Xu's attention and dragged Zhang Xu to the left of the court, and then suddenly passed the ball to the right of the court.

Chris easily got the football, took a few steps forward, and before Zhang Xu could return to the defensive position, he immediately passed the ball with a diagonal pass and hung the ball towards the center of the penalty area.

There, the "beacon" of more than 2 meters high, Jikic had already prepared a long time ago and rushed directly to the ball flying over.

Although Zhang Xu arrived in a hurry, Jikic had already hit the football first. The football hit the grass and then bounced and flew into the net!

The ball has entered!
Chapter completed!