Leeds United's youth storm is blowing again across European football.
After six rounds of the Premier League, everyone was surprised to find that Leeds United still firmly held the top spot, 2 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. This may not seem like much, but it is very significant.
Leeds United had scored 5 more goals than Manchester City and conceded 2 fewer. Their performances in the new season have shocked countless people.
Before the season, many fans firmly believed that Leeds United would suffer a Waterloo. Now they were surprised to realize their mistake. It turns out Leeds United are truly strong.
Not only is the core strength still there and much of last season's squad intact, but more importantly, the bench is deep enough.
Players like Vardy and Milinkovic-Savic have filled the vacancies left by Harry Kane and Dele Alli, and Kimmich and Rodri have basically taken over Fabinho's role.
After Kante and Van Dijk, who were considered the most indispensable, left the team, everyone speculated that Leeds United's defense would be greatly affected. Unexpectedly, Pochettino adjusted the team's tactics and had Leeds United play with more control.
The center-back pairing of De Ligt and Ruben Dias, with Militao rotating, ensured defensive stability.
It was precisely because Leeds United had such a strong lineup that they could lead after six rounds.
However, doubts remained.
For example, Watford were ranked fifth in the Premier League, but the team obviously did not have that level.
The reason was simple, they had basically not faced any strong teams.
Many British media believed Leeds United were in a similar situation.
Pochettino's team had not truly faced a heavyweight opponent. The only one that could barely be considered a challenge was Tottenham Hotspur.
Leeds United's real test would be in the seventh round, when they traveled south to London to visit Stamford Bridge and face Chelsea.
This would be the real test.
Before heading south to London, Leeds United first faced Macclesfield Town, a lower-league team, in the third round of the League Cup at the Amazon Stadium.
Leeds United fielded a lineup full of substitutes and young players and beat Macclesfield 8-0 at home.
Rashford, Grealish, Sancho, Kalvin Phillips and others all started, with Sancho scoring twice and performing very well.
In the second half, academy forward Haaland and Brazilian youngster Vinicius came on as substitutes.
Haaland scored a goal.
After this emphatic cup win, Leeds United traveled to London.
Gao Shen went with the team.
…
On the evening of September 29 at Stamford Bridge, London.
This was destined to be a brutal round in the league.
Before Leeds United headed south, Watford, the most eye-catching dark horse at the start of the season, lost 0-4 away to Arsenal and dropped directly to ninth.
It seemed this dark horse was not up to standard.
Pochettino's team faced Sarri's Chelsea, and the match began at a high tempo with end-to-end play.
Leeds United missed a great chance within five minutes.
Mbappé had a very good shooting opportunity in front of goal, but he failed to find the angle and sent the ball straight into the arms of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa, missing a golden chance.
Then Mbappé received a pass from Arnold, dribbled past center-back Rudiger and shot, but still failed to score.
Leeds United started aggressively as always, which left Chelsea embarrassed for a while, and it even looked like a goal was within reach.
But at the critical moment, Leeds United's defense showed a flaw.
In the 22nd minute, a long pass from Koulibaly allowed Willian, timing his run to beat the offside line, to break directly into the Leeds United penalty area. Facing Alisson, he squared the ball to the unmarked Mané, and the former Leeds winger scored easily.
This goal disrupted Leeds United's rhythm.
This group of young players lost control a little.
Just three minutes later, Brozovic played a through ball. Mané again beat the offside trap, broke into the left side of the box, and scored, making it 2-0.
It was Mané's eighth goal in eight league games this season, tying him with Mbappé in the scoring charts.
In the 32nd minute, Leeds United had a chance to pull one back.
On a counterattack, Vardy threaded a pass through. Mbappé shook off his marker and rounded Kepa, but his shot that followed was too casual. Thinking it was an empty net, he did not strike with enough power, and Koulibaly rushed back to clear the ball off the line.
In the second half, Leeds United continued to create chances.
The best came in the 70th minute, when Pochettino replaced Dembélé, who had been mediocre, with Valverde. When the Uruguayan met Robertson's cross from the left, he was completely unmarked, but his shot went wide.
Before the end, young substitute Félix had another decent chance, but his long-range curler struck the crossbar and he was just inches away.
In the end, Leeds United lost 0-2 away to Chelsea.
…
Gao Shen sat in the stands at Stamford Bridge. He witnessed Leeds United's defeat and felt speechless.
Judging from the flow of the match, Leeds United played better, with 53 percent possession, 6 percent more than Chelsea.
Remember, this was Sarri's Chelsea.
In shots, Leeds United had 16 to Chelsea's 7.
However, Leeds United collected two yellow cards, while Chelsea had none.
The data reflected the story of the game, which was that Leeds United had the advantage but could not score.
The reasons were clear on the pitch.
This was why people say that competition is ultimately about results.
For example, Mbappé failed to convert two very good chances early on. That showed the young Frenchman's shortcomings in finishing.
Conceding two goals in quick succession and losing control for a few minutes showed that Leeds United's players were too young and lacked emotional control. This should be seen as a necessary test for a young team.
In Gao Shen's view, the real issue was reflected in the 32nd minute. Mbappé's build-up was excellent, but the final shot was too casual, with little power and slow pace, allowing Koulibaly to catch up and clear.
This was definitely a reflection of many Leeds United players' mentality.
Consecutive wins this season had made the youngsters proud, even arrogant.
They seemed to forget they were facing Chelsea.
Thinking of this, Gao Shen sighed.
Losing this key match was not necessarily a bad thing for Leeds United. The key was how Pochettino adjusted next.
Especially considering that three days later the team would visit Camp Nou to face Barcelona.
If they failed again, things would get dangerous.
At this moment, Pochettino needed to regroup quickly.
…
"Over the past period, we have been driving on the right highway. The players have been very focused on the pitch, and the progress of each player has been obvious. The team achieved very good results."
"But at Stamford Bridge we lost that focus. Our concentration disappeared and the performance was very disappointing."
"Today, Sarri's Chelsea played a wonderful game in their own way. They deserved this victory. Congratulations to Chelsea. Congratulations to Sarri."
After the match, Gao Shen updated his Twitter, which quickly caused a strong reaction.
The media generally welcomed his tweets, and most fans agreed. Some, however, felt that after the team lost and gave up the league lead, his message was adding insult to injury.
In response, Gao Shen immediately posted a second tweet.
It was simple, just one sentence.
"The league lead is not given by others, it must be won by ourselves."
This statement was once again recognized by almost all fans.
After all, what you take yourself is more convincing than what you are given.
Leeds United took the title from Manchester City last season.
What was more, Leeds United's performance at Stamford Bridge was indeed poor, especially Mbappé, who missed so many chances in a row. That was not the display expected from the team's core player.
Young?
Yes, he was indeed very young, only 19.
But on the football pitch, age is the last thing to discuss.
If you perform well, it is good. If you perform badly, it is bad. Will your opponents show mercy because you are young?
Since you want to be the best player in the team, you must bear the responsibility and pressure that comes with it.
You cannot enjoy the privileges without fulfilling the obligations. There is no such thing.
Gao Shen went south with the team but did not return with them. The media and fans interpreted this as him being very dissatisfied with the performance at Stamford Bridge.
This was also the pressure he deliberately wanted to leave for the team.
Not just for the players, but for Pochettino as well.
Flowers that bloom in a greenhouse are fragile. They must endure wind and rain.
After arriving in Cheshire and returning home, Gao Shen posted a third tweet.
"As far as today's game is concerned, we lacked energy and concentration, and we failed to trouble the opponent."
"So now we have no right to complain, nor to feel guilty or ashamed."
"We were once the strongest team in the Premier League, but tonight we lost to a team stronger than us. I hope the Leeds United players show a strong attitude and accept this defeat."
"On October 3, I will go to Camp Nou in person."
"Don't let me down, boys."
That night, many Leeds United players who used Twitter, including Mbappé, also posted.
Clearly, they were all hurting from the defeat at Stamford Bridge and reflecting on themselves.
But everyone also understood that Gao Shen hoped they could perform better, or even their best, at Camp Nou.
(To be continued.)