As the curtain rises on the 24/25 Premier League season, the 20-team competition is getting fiercer and fiercer. This past Sunday (26th), Southampton edged out Leeds United by a slim 1-0 margin, joining Lister City and Yeatswich to advance to the Premier League ranks. The victory not only brought in at least HK$140 million (approximately HK$1.4 billion) for Southampton, but also gave Russell Martin, a Godiva loyalist, the confidence to implement his pass-control style of play and compete with the strongest rivals, the Deer, in the Premier League.
The winner of the promotion clash at Wembley Stadium will receive at least £140 million, including TV rights and prize money, in what has been described as the "most expensive" final in history. Before the game, United were in the spotlight as the third-placed team in the Championship, but the creativity shown by Southampton was even better. They made a number of effective passes in real time over the course of 24 minutes, creating a chance for Adamantis Don to get on the end of a one-two. Despite a fierce counter-attack from Leeds United, Daniel Jimbo's shot just missed the frame of the goal, and Southampton held on for the win.
Swansea FC invited 38-year-old Scottish coach Russell Martin to take charge of the team after Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last year. Russell Martin has been a loyal follower of Godiva, with his tactics and style of play heavily influenced by Barcelona and Manchester City. This season, he averaged 66% possession per game in the Champions League. He was once questioned last September when he lost four consecutive league games, but then set a new club record with 25 consecutive unbeaten games (including all competitions) and earned trust again. This promotion to the Premier League has made his reputation even louder.
After the game, Russell Martin said, "I've never experienced such a positive feeling in my soccer career, and it's best to win games the way I believe in. There is no right or wrong for me. With ideas I strongly believe in, I finally won something and I'm sure I can convince more people. I know the ball control system is like winning a game, but the ball control system allows me to increase my chances of winning. If someone talks about it, you can play in the Premier League, but I will prove with my actions that I can survive by implementing my ideas."
