Football giants

Chapter 1072

When the news that Inter Milan lost to Southampton [-]-[-] at home in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, as soon as the media spread, it immediately aroused huge repercussions among fans all over the world.

Klopp's team won the Serie A and Europa League championships last season. This season's performance in the Coppa Italia and Serie A is quite eye-catching, especially Serie A, which has won the championship two rounds ahead of schedule.

It should be said that in the past few years, the decline of Serie A is well known to everyone, but the performance of Inter Milan in these two seasons has made everyone feel a sense of hope, especially this season.

Including Cuadrado, Pjanic, Jovetic, etc. Although the names are not particularly famous, but they are absolutely capable players, after joining, the overall competitiveness of Inter Milan has been further enhanced.

But what really makes people believe that Inter Milan will become the hope for the revival of Serie A is this semi-final.

In this semi-final, Klopp's team not only showed excellent overall combat capability and excellent overall strength of the team, but also showed tenacious fighting spirit and resilience.

Especially in the last 20 minutes, the fast-paced match against Southampton was even more impressive.

"At the post-match press conference, Southampton's head coach Ancelotti said that the trip to Milan was very dangerous. Klopp's team not only has the best strength in Serie A, but also has the level to show its strength in the European arena."

Gazzetta dello Sport relayed Ancelotti's answer in a front-page commentary.

The Italian No. 1 coach who once coached Juventus and AC Milan has a very high evaluation of Inter Milan, and he recognizes and affirms Klopp's coaching ability very much.

Not only that, the special football commentator of Gazzetta dello Sport also conducted an in-depth analysis of Klopp's tactics, and believed that after coaching Inter Milan, the German coach not only led the team to improve, but also himself.

"This season, Inter Milan's performance is more stable, which is inseparable from Klopp's self-learning."

"From Inter Milan this season, we can clearly see traces of the essence of Serie A defense. Klopp's coaching team is full of experts in this area, and the Germans have learned these skillfully and integrated them into their own tactical concepts. This is quite a remarkable thing."

"So, we can see that Inter Milan has not only played passionately this season, but also has a more reasonable and balanced performance and scene control. The team's overall offensive and defensive order has also been greatly improved."

"This Champions League semi-final against Southampton is like an exam, which fully reflects the progress of Inter Milan and Klopp in the past two years."

"Even, we have every reason to feel sorry for Inter Milan, because if it weren't for Southampton, which is even stronger, if it is Monaco, or Atletico Madrid, then Inter Milan will definitely have the power to fight!"

Although the comments of Gazzetta dello Sport are slightly biased, they are not unreasonable.

If you want to make a difference in the Champions League, your own strength is certainly a major factor, but luck is also very important, especially the luck of the draw.

If one is not careful and draws an opponent whose style of play is invincible, it will be really dangerous.

Just like Guardiola's Bayern Munich, no one denies that Bayern Munich's strength is slightly better than Klopp's Inter Milan, but because of the opposing style of play, Guardiola's Bayern Munich can only stop at the quarterfinals.

For the same reason, Southampton's overall strength is stronger than Inter Milan, but Klopp's team only lost one goal, and even almost equalized the score, which shows that it is indeed dangerous to play against each other.

But in any case, Inter Milan has won the recognition of fans all over the world by virtue of this semi-final battle.

Because of this battle, Klopp has re-established his status as a top European coach.

While Inter Milan lost [-]-[-] at home to Southampton, which fans all over the world regretted, Atletico Madrid was at home in another glorious stadium in Madrid, the Spanish capital, and defeated visiting Monaco [-]-[-].

Atlético de Madrid and Monaco are both teams that are very holistic and focus on high-position pressing and oppressive play, and both teams are known for their defense, especially Monaco, which was previously known for its strong defense and weak attack.

However, in this game held at the Glory Stadium, the two teams played a very exciting confrontation from the very beginning.

Especially in the away game, Monaco played unconservatively, and even put Atletico Madrid in a very embarrassing situation.

But soon, Simeone's team gained a firm foothold and began to exert strength.

In the 304th minute of the first half, Willian made a diagonal pass to Griezmann, and the French striker crossed to the goal. Isco made it overnight and opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid.

But after Atletico Madrid scored, Monaco also quickly seized an opportunity.

No.309 minutes, after Schneiderlin steals the ball in midfield, Verratti transfers a long pass to Carrasco on the wing.

After the Belgian Magic Wing dribbled the ball in and cut in, it crossed the front of the penalty area, and Kondogbia rushed up and shot directly.

Courtois reacted quickly and flew to save the ball, but Hernandez in front of the goal picked up the leak smartly and pushed through the goal guarded by Courtois, tying the score to one to one.

After that, the two sides had offense and defense against each other, and neither of them could score again.

The game was very intense, especially in the second half, both sides were red-eyed.

Monaco has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second time. Koeman hopes that the team can make a breakthrough. Atletico Madrid is at home and has performed well this season. Not to mention successfully defending the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey has also reached the final. If they can make a breakthrough in the Champions League, it will be the Triple Crown.

In this case, not only Simeone, but everyone at Atletico Madrid did their best.

In the end, in the No.703 minute of the second half, Griezmann knocked back, Koke put in a wonderful pass, and William scored another leading goal for Atletico Madrid in front of the goal, [-]-[-].

That is to say, relying on William's lore, Atletico Madrid narrowly beat Monaco [-]-[-] at home.

After the two UEFA Champions League semi-finals, fans all over the world were hooked, not only because these four teams played very well, but also because these two games were full of tenacious struggles of the players and the wits of the head coach.

Even a super first-tier team like Southampton is in a predicament in the overall battle against Inter Milan. It is conceivable that the gold content of the Champions League is indeed quite high.

More importantly, the two games in the semi-finals not only showed the level of the Champions League, but also basically satisfied the fans' impression of the four teams, and at the same time left enough suspense.

In the second round of the competition, if anyone is not careful, the ship may capsize in the gutter at any time.

Facts have proved that the eyes of fans are discerning.

A week later, Atletico Madrid was a guest at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, away to challenge Monaco.

As a result, at the beginning, Monaco gave Atletico Madrid a sap.

In a chance to take a corner kick, Mitrovic beat Godin and Otamendi, and a lion shook his head in front of Atletico Madrid's goal, opening the scoring for Monaco!

This goal only happened in the 6th minute, but it directly sent Atletico Madrid into hell.

Because according to the total score, Monaco will rely on away goals to eliminate Atletico Madrid and successfully reach the final.

But Simeone is not a fuel-efficient lamp. He immediately regrouped, adjusted his tactics, and counterattacked frantically.

Ronald Koeman is worthy of being an old fox. After succeeding in the opening attack and sneak attack, he began to play a defensive counterattack steadily.

Not to mention, Atlético Madrid couldn't attack madly, and they really seized several opportunities. If it weren't for the outstanding performance of central defender Otamendi and goalkeeper Courtois, Monaco would have expanded the score long ago.

But at this critical moment, before the end of the first half, Isco dribbled the ball continuously in the middle. With his short and flexible body and skillful foot skills, he just passed the three defenders of Monaco in a row.

The French striker didn't miss a chance, scoring an equalizer for Atletico Madrid.

This time, the situation changed again.

The two sides entered the second half, and Koeman's team had to press out again, while Atletico Madrid switched from offense to defense, focusing on counterattacks.

After all, Simeone was born in Serie A, and he played very well in defensive counterattacks.

No.603 minutes, Monaco was unable to attack for a long time and made a mistake. After the ball passed to Mitrovic by Fekir was intercepted by Otamendi, he quickly launched a counterattack.

After Griezmann attracted the attention of the defense at the front of the penalty area, Cork stepped in behind, entered the penalty area, and picked up the pass after getting the ball.

Vietto headed in front of the goal and made another victory for Atletico Madrid, two to one!

After completing the reversal, Atletico Madrid's morale was like a rainbow, but Monaco attacked Atletico Madrid like crazy, which directly caused panic in front of the Sheets.

No.801 minutes, another Belgian teenager, Carrasco, was suddenly assigned to the left after a continuous passing from the side. Kurzawa, who inserted in the back, made a pass. Mitrovic flew the header from the penalty area to the back point. Hernandez made it overnight and equalized the score again!

Two to two!
After that, although both sides made great efforts to attack, especially Koman's Monaco, they launched an offensive against Atletico Madrid desperately, but in the end they still failed to score again.

The two sides ended up in a two-to-two draw.

Atletico Madrid therefore eliminated Monaco with a total score of [-] to [-]!

Although it failed to reach the final, Monaco has entered the Champions League semi-finals for two consecutive seasons, and its strength is impressive.

As a result, head coach Ronald Koeman was invited by teams such as Manchester United, Chelsea, and even Bayern Munich, but Ronald Koeman officially renewed a three-year contract with Monaco before the second round of the semi-final match.

This also makes all the teams that intend to poach corners completely give up.

In the Glory Stadium in Southampton, England, although Klopp's Inter Milan performed very tenaciously away, they were still unable to fight against Southampton in the end.

Relying on the goals of Suarez and Messi, the Saints beat Inter Milan [-]-[-] at home and reached the Champions League final again.

When the list of matches for the Champions League final was released, the whole world exclaimed.

Southampton vs Atletico Madrid!

Isn't this the matchup in the Champions League final two years ago?

What's more, both teams have had impressive performances this season.

Needless to say, the Saints, as long as they win the FA Cup and the Champions League, it will be a Grand Slam and a seven-time champion.

Atletico Madrid also performed well. The La Liga title and the Copa del Rey have already been won. As long as they win the Champions League, they will be the triple crown. Simeone's team will also create the historical peak of the Sheets.

Such two teams, such a duel, is worth looking forward to!

(End of this chapter)