Grass roots glory

Chapter 242
[PS: Due to the needs of the plot, the lottery here has been slightly adjusted on the basis of reality, and I hope it will not affect your perception. 】

So far, Inter Milan has only lost three games in the third-line battle this season. The 0:1 loss to Siena is considered an upset, and the other two were away losses to Juventus and Barcelona. They are the most powerful in Serie A, with an average of 2.3 goals per game, especially the fighting power at home is even more terrifying. They have not lost at home so far, and their 0:0 draw with Barcelona at home is enough to show that Inter Milan has a terrifying fighting power at San Siro.

At present, in the professional bookmaker's winning odds list, Inter Milan's winning odds ranks third, second only to Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Such a vigorous opponent, even Bayern Munich, Manchester United and other veteran teams in the Champions League are unwilling to meet prematurely.In an interview with the Manchester Evening News, Ferguson regarded Inter Milan as a major threat to Manchester United's return to the top.Barcelona is second only to Guardiola, so when Zhou Tiancheng said this, most of the reporters started whispering, but a few Milan reporters instantly lost their complexions and looked at Zhou Tiancheng unkindly.

Don't take it too seriously?

Zhou Tiancheng is not considered a newcomer in the Champions League. He is already a "sophomore" in the Champions League this season and has experience in the knockout rounds. He can no longer be regarded as a "newborn calf".

Reporters are now immediately wondering what he thinks.Chinese reporters don't think that Zhou Tiancheng did it deliberately to gain attention, and he doesn't need it now.

And Zhou Tiancheng's answer is very concise: "Sooner or later we have to play, it is better to face a strong team earlier, first easy and then difficult, and first difficult and then easy, the latter is more beneficial to us."

These words are full of confidence, and there is no worry about "in case of not being able to advance".

A few Milan reporters showed a hint of sarcasm, didn't they take Inter Milan seriously?very good!With this mentality this season, those who played against Inter Milan have become uglier than the other!
Instead, they now hope that the lottery will be drawn as Zhou Tiancheng wished, and they really want to see his expression after losing.

On the second day, while summarizing the replay of the group stage, Milan’s big and small media also focused on Zhou Tiancheng’s post-match interview. It is worth mentioning that the news section of Inter Milan’s official website used "Giant Ants Challenge Elephants" In response to the headline, it is full of irony towards Schalke-although the achievements in recent years have been excellent, in the eyes of Inter Milan, which once created the "big international era", it is just a slightly bigger ant, and it is no different to challenge yourself Yu giant ants challenge elephants, and mantises are like cars.

There is also a response from head coach Mourinho below this article: "Our whole team is confident to challenge the pinnacle. No opponent is enough to stop us. Zhou hopes to play against us? This is indeed a very good opponent. They are Win the first place in the group with the greatest chance of victory!"

The implication is that Schalke is the weakest among all the first in the group!
Inter Milan's response immediately radiated from Italy at the fastest speed. Naturally, it was received by the German media immediately.

This time even Magath was interested in Zhou Tiancheng's remarks: "Zhou, how sure are you that we will meet Inter Milan?"

Zhou Tiancheng chuckled, and told the truth in front of Magath: "I don't know, I haven't fought with them."

Magath glanced at him suspiciously. Zhou Tiancheng knew that Magath wanted to ask, so why do you have the confidence to make such a statement in front of the media, only to hear Zhou Tiancheng continue: "Although I have never played against Inter Milan, they have big names. The stars, with the experienced Mourinho, it is impossible to count on them to get out early. If we want to go further than last season, we will run into them sooner or later. Since we can’t avoid them, it’s better to be early Come on. And the lottery hasn't started yet. There's no guarantee we'll run into them, so, boss, just think I'm making a joke in front of the media."

Zhou Tiancheng didn't take it seriously, but he didn't know that his teammates were betting on his words in private.

Both the traditional media and the new media in Gelsenkirchen were brought into rhythm by Zhou Tiancheng's words. It seems that the core of the team has said so, and the favorite to win the championship is really just around the corner.

Naturally, it is impossible for the players not to be unaffected, so in the locker room of the training ground, Hewedes was the first to propose, just bet on whether Inter Milan will be drawn next, and the odds of not winning are [-]% One, if you win, you will pay ten for one.

Rakitic wondered why there was such a big difference in odds, and Hewedes responded with one sentence: Do you want to play against Inter Milan?

As a central defender, he naturally doesn't want to face Inter Milan's luxurious offensive line.

"I think it's good to run into Inter Milan. I think there's nothing wrong with Zhou's statement. If one dies, one will die. I bet [-] Euros on meeting Inter Milan." Rakitic was the first to express his support.

"Actually, I don't want to touch Inter Milan, but betting on small odds has high odds and low wages. I have no choice but to bet on higher odds. I will also support Zhou." This is the treatment for a rookie in the team. If he wins this bet, he will have income for half a year, which is very attractive to him.

"I'll also bet on Inter Milan." Jiang Hao naturally would not hesitate. In this regard, he believed in Zhou Tiancheng unconditionally.

"I forget it, Inter Milan is not a good choice." Westerman chose the other side.

"I am the same, we are the ones who got abused." Neuer and Westermann united front.

The offensive players basically want to draw Inter Milan, and killing the giants is a hero, but several main defenders and goalkeepers are unwilling.

"By the way, Zhou, are you coming?" Zhou Tiancheng had just finished his set-piece practice and returned to the locker room to pack his things. Hewedes immediately asked.

"Come what?"

"Everyone bet on what you said that day, whether we can draw Inter Milan, ten if we win, ten if we don't win, and one if you don't win, you can also have one, you said it."

Zhou Tiancheng was a little surprised, and shook his head resolutely: "You guys play, but first agree, don't come to me if you lose."

……

On the second day after the UEFA Champions League group stage ended, UEFA presided over the draw at the headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. The time was exactly [-] pm Berlin time. After the training, everyone did not leave immediately. They all ran to the lounge of the base. There is a big TV there, and you can watch the live draw of the lottery—according to Hewedes, the "banker", whoever wins and who loses will be cashed on the spot, and no one can cheat.

Zhou Tiancheng was naturally also drawn away, but he knew that no matter whether he won the draw or not, his image in the hearts of some teammates would be affected...

The draw ceremony is still presided over by UEFA Secretary-General David Taylor, but this time the draw guest is quite big: David Beckham.A football heartthrob who once played for Manchester United and Real Madrid, he left the Bernabeu for the Los Angeles Galaxy of the Major League Soccer.Due to the current difficulties of AC Milan, Leonardo chose to rent this legendary midfielder to solve the team's troubles.

The draw for the top [-] still follows the two basic principles of cross-match and no encounter between league teams from the same country. After the upper and lower halves corresponding to the respective numbers are drawn, the next step is the return of the specific teams.

The most exciting moment has arrived!

The top eight teams in each group are Bordeaux, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Schalke 04, Fiorentina, Barcelona, ​​Sevilla, and Arsenal.Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Chelsea, Lyon, Inter Milan, Stuttgart, Olympiacos are the second in the group.

Beckham had only drawn two rounds, and the draw reached its first climax. In the second half, AC Milan and Manchester United met!
As soon as the result came out, there was applause at the scene, and Beckham himself laughed.The current team and his famous old club are drawn together!
Marcel Leif, commentator of German TV [-], joked: "AC Milan is really unlucky, the league is suppressed by Inter Milan, Leonardo bets all his treasures on the Champions League, but in the top sixteen he encountered the wily Ferguson ... the guy he's eager to solve for the team is probably digging his grave, lol!"

Leonardo was sitting in his own villa, watching the TV screen and breaking out in cold sweat. Now that the hope of the league is getting smaller and smaller, Galliani clearly told him that the Champions League is his last chance and he must come up with convincing results. , but he did not expect to be dug a huge hole by his players.

AC Milan was in the lower half, and then Inter Milan was drawn out, also in the lower half.

The people standing in front of the TV were not calm anymore. Zhou Tiancheng heard several teammates shouting after Inter Milan was pulled out: "Schalke! Schalke!"

He really wanted to say that he was so excited and won a small bet.

In fact, he regretted it a bit and didn't want to draw with Inter Milan in the bottom half.Already with Manchester United and AC Milan, this lower half is a bit scary!

"Haha, Inter Milan! Let's see if Zhou's prediction can come true."

Beckham then drew the label of Inter Milan's opponent: G1.

La Liga team Sevilla.

"Oh! The two Europa League champions played against the Nerazzurri. This group of opponents is also good. You don't have to worry about the confrontation between Schalke and Inter Milan anymore."

In the lounge, those who failed to bet could only watch their money go into the pockets of their teammates. Rakitic was silent for a moment, then suddenly turned around and said, "Zhou..."

Zhou Tiancheng got up quickly, and retreated far away from him: "Why? As I said, don't look for me for winning or losing, it has nothing to do with me."

"No, Zhou, I just want to say...it seems that this result is not bad, and the Inter Milan area is not easy to deal with."

Zhou Tiancheng thought to himself, don't be too happy, what if there is another Real Madrid...

In the CCTV studio, He Wei looked at the lottery situation and said: "Although Zhou Tiancheng is not afraid of playing against strong teams, we still hope that they can go smoothly. It will be much easier if they can be drawn into the upper half."

Judging from the current situation that has been drawn, several weaker teams Olympiacos and Fiorentina are in the upper half.

But the final result of the draw was that Schalke's luck was not so good. They still fell into the lower half, and their opponents were the Russian Super League giants CSKA Moscow.

CCTV commentator He Wei saw this match and immediately shouted: "The lottery! It is a very good lottery for Schalke 04. Although CSKA Moscow is a giant in the Russian Super League, this is the first time they have entered In the knockout stage of the Champions League, although they won the Europa League once after the reform of the UEFA competition, the teams that performed well in the Europa League may not necessarily be able to play in the Champions League. Sevilla is an example... Schaal Ke has one more season of knockout experience than them, and has advantages in terms of lineup and experience, and it may be time for the opponent to pay them tuition."

On Schalke's side, the tense expressions on everyone's faces quickly receded, and they clapped each other's hands to thank each other for good luck.

A group of people were celebrating, and the door of the lounge was opened with a "squeak". Everyone turned their heads and saw that Magath walked in. Many people stopped their movements, and even their expressions were restrained.

"What's up? Who did we draw?"

"Boss, CSKA Moscow."

Magath was stunned for a moment, and then his teammates smiled when they saw him: "Great. Haha, God gave us a chance to conquer Moscow!"

……

In less than half an hour, the draw ceremony was all over, and all the matches of the top sixteen were announced.

In the first half, Barcelona VS Stuttgart, Olympiacos VS Arsenal, Inter Milan VS Sevilla, Bayern Munich VS Fiorentina.

The top half decided the result almost from the draw.Strong dialogues are almost exclusively concentrated in the lower half.

AC Milan, Manchester United, Real Madrid... So far, Real Madrid has won the most Champions League championships, with a total of nine championships, and then AC Milan has won seven championships, Manchester United has three championships, and from the 1999-2000 season UEFA has won the championship. Since the biggest reform of the "three major competitions", (that is, the cancellation of the European Cup Winners' Cup, which is participated by the cup winners of various countries, and the allocation of the Champions League seats to 1-4 places by each country according to the league ranking, the author's note), the three giants have divided up. More than half of the champions since the restructuring of the Champions League.With the gathering of the three giants, the lower half is undoubtedly the dead half!
Magath, who was delighted to have drawn a good opponent just now, turned serious and looked at the players. He thought of the team's next situation. It is really a big deal to make a difference in such a half area. challenge.

Magath frowned, and the players were not happy for a while. After the group draw, they also realized the problem. With Magath beside them, everyone stopped celebrating, and the atmosphere became a little depressed.In this situation, as long as he is not insane, no one can be happy.Even if they made it past the top sixteen, none of those giants were easy to deal with.

Westerman cast a questioning look at Zhou Tiancheng, boss, what do you think of this situation?
If Zhou Tiancheng is still so confident at this time, he is really convinced.

As a result, Zhou Tiancheng walked directly towards the gate.

"Hey, Zhou, where are you going?" Westerman asked.

Zhou Tiancheng glanced back at him, then at Magath: "Isn't the show over? Go home! Boss, can you get off work?"

"Of course," Magath replied.

Zhou Tiancheng smiled, opened the door and walked out.

This expression was seen by everyone, and he was speechless in his heart.

Is he really confident or is he pretending?

Hewedes has known Zhou Tiancheng for the longest time, he thought for a while, it seemed that he had never noticed Zhou Tiancheng was anxious.

Is there really no word "fear" in his dictionary?

(End of this chapter)