There is a dream called football

Chapter 239 Istanbul

Istanbul, the Bosphorus.

To the east is Asia, and to the west is Europe. This is the dividing line between Asia and Europe. This is also a very beautiful city, the largest city in Turkey, but it is the first time that the Champions League final has been welcomed.

For this reason, the Turkish Football Association attaches great importance to it. This country can join the AFC, but they join UEFA and participate in European competitions, which also shows the country's ambitions in football.

The Turkish official specially announced that on the day of the final, Istanbul will have a day off to ease the traffic pressure on the game, and the Italian and Liverpool fans who came here have also been well taken care of.

It doesn't matter that the hotel is full, many Turks also open their homes for fans to welcome these fans from afar.

The hotel where AC Milan is located has gathered a large number of media. These European media want to get a little news, but unfortunately, Ancelotti is very cautious about this. He does not allow players to show up before the game, and he does not allow everyone to post any news on the Internet.

Benitez is a little better here, and will ask the press officer to ventilate everyone, but he will not show up.

For the Champions League, the three most successful teams are Real Madrid, AC Milan and Liverpool, both before and after the restructuring.

So the duel between AC Milan and Liverpool is very eye-catching.

Pre-match press conference.

Benitez was the first to speak. He first thanked the city for its support for the Champions League and the team.

"This is my first time playing in the city of Istanbul."

"This city gives me a very good feeling."

"I like this city, and I hope that we will be the champions in the end."

As for the opponent, Benitez was very humble, "AC Milan is a very great team, I think the game will be very difficult, we can only think of delaying the game a little longer, so that we may win the final victory."

"Are you ready to kick the penalty at the end?"

"Of course."

"We will be practicing penalties in the last few days, I think this is a very important thing."

"Have you found a weakness in AC Milan?"

"weakness?"

Benitez chuckled, "If I said it now, it wouldn't be a weakness."

"Hahaha."

It's Ancelotti's turn, and he looks more confident, because AC Milan has completed the replacement of old and new in his hands.

The veteran Rui Costa is no longer the main player, and the latest main player is Kaka, who is now a very popular star.

"Kaka will definitely play, and Pirlo will also play. I am very happy that Milan has completed the transition from old to new."

On the forward line, the joining of Crespo is even more powerful for AC Milan. The risk of him and Shevchenko will be very serious.

In short, from the point of view of the card, Liverpool is the weaker side, which is too common this season. Liverpool is always the weaker side, not the stronger side.

So although Liverpool's historical record is very good, everyone is still used to calling it a dark horse this season.

The night before the final.

Suddenly Benitez couldn't fall asleep. He usually wouldn't, because as a football head coach, he automatically has the ability to adjust the jet lag. But tonight is different. When he thinks about tomorrow's game, he is not only excited, but also nervous.

Benitez got up and paced the hotel, and when he came downstairs, he heard someone chirping.

Listen carefully, it seems to be Barosh's voice.

Walking over, he was surprised. It turned out that the hotel gym was full of people, and all the players couldn't sleep.

"Head, so you can't sleep either."

"Haha, I didn't expect you to do the same."

"We originally wanted to exercise, maybe we could fall asleep, but we didn't expect to chat, and we became more and more awake."

"Haha, what are you talking about?"

"Talk about everything."

"Especially how to spend after winning the bonus is the most important thing."

"How do you know you must be the champion?"

Barosh laughed and said, "Even the runner-up has a bonus, it's just a little less."

"Hahaha."

"It's worthless."

Benitez was worried that everyone would lack rest time, so he said: "Even if you can't sleep, lie down early, I think it's better than not sleeping at all."

"It's usually okay, just take a nap tomorrow."

Benitez didn't care about everyone, and went back to the room alone. When he was nervous, he was used to chatting with his family members online. Many times, he felt much better while chatting, and gradually he stopped worrying.

This is the strength of family, Benitez thought.

The same is true for AC Milan. Ancelotti saw everyone in the entertainment room of the hotel.

The feeling of excitement will make it difficult for people to fall asleep, just like the feeling on the eve of the college entrance examination.

Kaka is chatting with several Brazilian teammates, they will talk about some domestic affairs in Brazil, that is a very interesting thing.

"What are you talking about?"

"Head, have you ever been to Brazil?"

"not yet."

"You really should visit once, many cities in Brazil are very interesting."

Ancelotti chuckled, "If a team asks me to coach, I will definitely consider it. Samba football is the best in the world."

"But you have to learn Portuguese first."

"This shouldn't be difficult, I think it's actually quite similar to Italian."

"Hehe, there should be a big difference."

In fact, the origins of European languages ​​are similar. They are all Latin, so they can be intercommunicated, but there will be a few words like this, and most of them still do not understand.

But these are all gossip, Ancelotti knows that it is just a nervous chat, what really cares about is tomorrow's game.

*****
In the afternoon of the second day, after taking a nap, the players boarded the bus and went to the stadium. They were escorted by the Turkish police throughout the process, and fans and media were not allowed to approach.

From far away, Li Qiao has already seen the stadium in the distance. In his previous life, he has seen this stadium countless times in the news and world football. That time it was remembered because of the miracle of Liverpool, but what about this time?

Will there be a miracle?
It would still be an average Champions League final, exciting but not memorable enough.

As a player, Li Qiao is contradictory. Of course, he hopes that everything is simple. It is best for Liverpool to win easily, but if he can play a passionate game, that is also very good.

The bus came into the stadium, and it was about to start.

Li Qiao chuckled inwardly, "Istanbul, I'm here, will there still be the ups and downs of the previous life this time?"

(End of this chapter)