The strongest winger

Chapter 547 The Best Forward in the Champions League

When the second-tier team in Group B drew Eindhoven, the shots on the scene were immediately shown on the coaches of Chelsea and Eindhoven.

Mourinho still had an unsmiling expression when he entered the field, but the facial expression of Captain Terry, who was captured by the camera at the same time, had a significant change, because he felt that PSV Eindhoven was a good draw, which was much better than the four second-tier teams of Porto, Roma, Lyon, and Sevilla, and it was much easier to play.

Then the camera switched to Eindhoven coach Koeman, his facial expression changed obviously, and his brows were also frowned. It was obvious that he was a little dissatisfied with his team's drawing in Group B, but he became relieved when he thought that any seeded team drawn was similar.

……

Chelsea and Eindhoven were able to be drawn into the same group in the Champions League group draw this season. In addition to the Chinese fans in front of the TV, the Chinese reporters who came to record the draw quickly pointed their cameras at Aiello, hoping to see a sense of difference in his calm expression.

But to their disappointment, Ai Luo didn't change his expression at all. It could even be said that he was staring at the big screen at the lottery scene. At this moment, he didn't think about the Champions League'Chinese Derby' at all.

If... If the reporters on the scene know what Ai Luo is thinking, then he will appear on the headlines the next day.

Of course, this is just a hypothesis, unless Ai Luo takes the initiative to accept the reporter's interview and disclose it.

But this is not what Ai Luo mainly thinks about. What he wants to pay attention to is who is the opponent in the H group that draws Valencia.

In the second round of the draw ceremony, there was a small peak in Group E. Lyon, who had appeared in the same group as Real Madrid for two consecutive seasons, actually drew the Barcelona group.

The climax of Group E has not completely faded, and the next Group F where Manchester United is located also drew an intriguing opponent-the Red Wolf Roma was kicked by Manchester United 1:4 in the second round of the Champions League quarter-finals last season!
Among the only two remaining second tiers, Sevilla was drawn to Inter Milan's Group G, which means that the defending champion Valencia drew the last second tier team-Arsenal.

Rather than talking about which opponent Valencia draws, it is better to say which team is left, because they are the last group, so in the end... leaving Valencia is the rest, but to be honest, Arsenal is a relatively good opponent!

Why is it relatively good?Because after the end of last season, Henry, the gun king of Arsenal, has moved to Barcelona. Today's striker ability is obviously not as good as Henry's aggressiveness. From the beginning of this season's Premier League, it can be seen how much their current attack power is. In the case of one less game, they only scored 4 goals in three rounds, which is 1 goal less than Ai Luo's three league rounds. This is completely inconsistent with their status as a giant.

For Valencia, this signing is... not bad!
Of course, the two teams are equally divided, and both have lost their star players and their strongest offensive points.

※※※

After all the second-tier teams in the eight groups of the UEFA Champions League in the 2007-2008 season have been drawn, the awards ceremony of last season will continue.

What followed was the selection of the best defender. The three shortlisted defenders were Albiol, Maldini and Rio Ferdinand. The final selection was the immortal legend-Paul Maldini. He performed very well in the UEFA Champions League last season. At the age of 39, he participated in 13 of AC Milan's 11 UEFA Champions League games. While completing his own work, he also contributed 1 goal and [-] assists.

This award is well deserved for him.

After the Best Defender awards were awarded, it was the third round draw of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

When the third-tier team in Group A was drawn, Benitez's expression also became richer, because... what they drew was last season's Ligue [-] runner-up-Marseille, together with Porto, can completely form a small death group.

The third-tier team in Group B is Schalke 04, whether it is strong or weak, it is a regular draw.

At the same time, Huang Jianxiang, who was sitting in the BJ studio, widened his eyes in surprise, because the "China Derby" in the Champions League either did not come, or came directly for two...

Aiello from Chelsea, Sun Xiang from PSV Eindhoven, Hao Junmin from Schalke 04.

However, compared to Chelsea and Eindhoven's UEFA Champions League 'China Derby', Chelsea and Schalke 04 are more like the UEFA Champions League 'China Derby', because Ai Luo and Hao Junmin are the absolute main players of their respective teams, while Sun Xiang is just a main backup full-back, who has the opportunity to play only when the main full-back is injured or in poor condition.

When it was confirmed that Schalke 04 was drawn, Ai Luo lowered his head and smiled and took out his mobile phone from his trouser pocket to send a text message to Hao Junmin, but his mobile phone vibrated first. It was the message from Hao Junmin, and he pressed the 'open' button directly: Haha... Brother Ai, wait for me to abuse you!

Ai Luo grinned and replied two words: small sample!

Then put the phone in his pocket and continue to focus on the drawing ceremony.

But his grinning expression at the phone just now was captured by the camera, so when the camera was transmitted to BJ studio, Huang Jianxiang smiled and said: "If I guess correctly, Ai Luo should have received a text message from Hao Junmin just now, let us congratulate the two on their encounter in the two rounds of the group stage, and at the same time hope that they will contribute a classic game to the Chinese fans in front of the TV..."

※※※

The results of the subsequent draw became even more interesting. Groups E and F, which had the potential to become the group of death before, became the real group of death.

Last season's Bundesliga champion Stuttgart was the third team drawn in Group E with Barcelona and Lyon, and Sporting Lisbon was drawn in Group F with Manchester United and Roma.

Two death groups were drawn in a row, and the scene of the lottery was in an uproar. The shutters in the hands of the reporters kept pressing, and the targets were all the head coaches of the teams drawn into the death group.

According to Huang Jianxiang, the commentator of CCTV-5, who is explaining the UEFA Champions League group draw ceremony: "This season's UEFA Champions League is interesting..."

It's really interesting. Counting Group A, there have been three death groups in this season's UEFA Champions League. At that time... Naturally, there will be a lot of fighting and fighting for a qualifying place.

The third team drawn in Group H is Steaua Bucharest, a little-known team from Romania.

This opponent may be a bit unfamiliar to many people on the scene, but it is still fresh in the memory of Aiello, because this team is his opponent in the first European match. It was the second round of the UEFA Cup 2004/2005 finals in the 1-8 season. Ailuo scored twice to enter the UEFA Cup quarter-finals and finally defended the UEFA Cup champion.

This sign is also good.

The next award was the best midfielder, and the finalists were Albelda, Ballack and Kaka.

If there is no suspense for the best goalkeeper, the last defender and the best forward left at the end, then the competition for the best midfielder is the most intense.

Because the midfield combination of Albelda and Ballack contributed a lot to Valencia's three championships last season, no matter who is selected as the best midfielder in the Champions League last season, it is difficult to choose. In addition, there is Kaka, who has scored more goals than the striker, making the competition for the best midfielder more intense.

It's a tough decision to let go of anyone...

But after all have to choose a best midfielder.

In the end, the best midfielder award was awarded to Kaka.

In fact, many people at the scene questioned Kaka's selection as the best midfielder, or did not agree, because he was more like a second striker than a midfielder in AC Milan last season, so Kaka's selection of the best midfielder is a bit of a bad name, but if you think about it in a deeper level, there is nothing wrong with Kaka being awarded the best midfielder.

Because the best striker will definitely be awarded to Aiello, he scored a record-setting 13 goals in 21 UEFA Champions League matches, and the best player in the Champions League finale is definitely in Aiello's pocket...

Therefore, Kaka led AC Milan to the Champions League final last season with his personal ability. When he lost the title of best striker and best player, awarding Kaka the best midfielder is undoubtedly the most moderate choice.

※※※

What followed was the draw for the fourth-tier teams, and the results came out soon.

Group A: Liverpool, Porto, Marseille, Besiktas
Group B: Chelsea, PSV, Schalke 04, Rosenborg

Group C: Real Madrid, Werder Bremen, Lazio, Olympiacos

Group D: AC Milan, Benfica, Celtic, Shakhtar Donetsk

Group E: Barcelona, ​​Lyon, Stuttgart, Rangers

Group F: Manchester United, Roma, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev
Group G: Inter Milan, Sevilla, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce

Group H: Valencia, Arsenal, Steaua Bucharest, Slavia Prague
In fact, when Schalke 04 was drawn to Group B, it was no longer attractive to Chinese fans. They just didn't want to miss the next best striker and best player in the finale award, and continued to watch the draw of the fourth-tier team.

The 2007 teams shortlisted for the UEFA Champions League in the 2008-32 season are divided into four grades and divided into eight groups, with a total of 96 games. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout round, and there will be 16 teams.

As time passed, Aiello also became tense, because the next award was about him - the best striker!
As for why he was nervous, it was because of what UEFA President Michel Platini, who had not taken office last season, once said: "The task of a striker is not only to score goals, but also to help his teammates score."

It wasn't until the Dutch star Bergkamp, ​​the guest of honor for the award for the best striker, stepped onto the podium, and there was a burst of applause at the scene, that Ai Luo came back to his senses and looked up.

It just so happened that Bergkamp tidied up the microphone on the podium, he coughed lightly, and then said with a smile: "Actually, you don't have to wait for me to tell you about this award, because everyone can guess it accurately..."

Suddenly, there was a burst of laughter at the scene.

"--Ai!" Bergkamp opened the sealed card in his hand and turned it over.

(End of this chapter)