Beast King Costa

Chapter 386 Zurich Grasshopper

In the middle of the week, Benfica will sit at the Stadium of Light at home and face the Zurich Grasshoppers, the oldest team in the Swiss Super League!
Although the Swiss Super League officially started in 2003, the Swiss Football League has a very long history - the earliest Swiss League (Serie A era) began in 1897, the National League (Nationalliga era) began in 1931, the National League A The league (Nationalliga A era) began in 1944.

Benfica's opponent in this round of the Europa League, Grasshopper Zurich, is the club with the longest history in Switzerland!Grasshopper Zurich is also the most successful club in the Swiss Football League at present, none of them - Grasshopper Zurich has won 1897 championships since participating in the Swiss A-League in 27, which is more than Basel, which is currently the most famous in the Swiss Super League. 7 more times!
Originally, the Zurich Grasshoppers were the Swiss capital team, and they had the best resources in Swiss football. However, after the 20s, another capital team, Zurich, emerged in the National League. Grasshopper's resources in Swiss football have also been divided by more than half of Zurich's rival team in the same city.

In order to distinguish these two teams that have both achieved success in the Swiss Football League, Europe is more likely to refer to the Zurich Grasshoppers as the Grasshoppers, while the other team is still called Zurich.This kind of title also makes the Grasshopper fans very dissatisfied-in their opinion, the Zurich Grasshopper is the team with the longest history in Zurich, and even the entire Swiss football. They should keep the name Zurich Grasshopper, let Another Zurich team Zurich changed its name.

however……

This kind of title has been used by European football.

Therefore, the diehard Grasshopper fans will still call their team "Zurich Grasshoppers", and in the Europa League, they will still call the Zurich Grasshoppers the Grasshoppers.

As the saying goes, when the snipe and clam compete, the fisherman wins.

Since the birth of Zurich, Grasshopper's energy has been fighting with this rival team in the same city, which has given other teams in the Swiss Super League a chance to rise.

Needless to say, Basel has a very deep historical relationship with Barcelona. Basel and Grasshopper are the two teams with the longest history in the Swiss Football League at the end of the 19th century. It is also the best operation of the Swiss Football League for more than 100 years now. Basel is not one of the best teams in the world. Basel has already overwhelmed Grasshopper in terms of fame and performance in European football.

There are also Servette and Young Boys, all of which are teams that have gradually emerged after Grasshopper kept fighting against Zurich.

Although Servetus was only brilliant for a period of time in the 20th century and has now been reduced to a "elevator" in the Swiss Super League and Swiss First Division, it can be said that it has won 17 championships.

The young people of Bern have maintained a good momentum. At present, the young people of Bern have been the regular team in the top four of the Swiss Super League. They also qualified for the Europa League this season, but the young people of Bern are the same as grasshoppers The qualifying situation in the group is very severe, and they are not able to calmly deal with the two-line battle of the Swiss Super League and the Europa League like Basel.

Since Grasshopper is currently at the bottom of the Europa League group, and the results of the Swiss Super League this season are also quite urgent, so Grasshopper does not expect to achieve any results in the Europa League, basically giving up the Europa League ahead of time On the front line, they concentrated all their energies on the domestic arena.

Before the game, Grasshoppers coach and Bulgarian marshal Krasimir Balakov said helplessly in front of the media: "Benfica's state this season is too fierce. We are now at the bottom of the group and the domestic league has already ranked at the top. The sixth place even has the possibility of relegation. So! We are likely to give up the Europa League front and put all our energy back on the domestic arena! At least, we will be able to win all the next games, And if Basel loses the rest of the games, it is still possible for us to counterattack and win the Swiss Super League championship this season."

Ok……

After saying this, Krasimir Balakov himself laughed like a pig—Basel is so strong!Grasshoppers are doomed to miss the Swiss Super League title this season.

It has to be said that Krasimir Balakov, the former Bulgarian footballer and the most successful midfielder in the history of Bulgarian football, still has a lot of connections with the city of Lisbon.

In the player era, Krasimir Balakov left the Bulgarian Veliko Tarnovoeta club, and the first stop when he came to the foreign arena was Sporting Lisbon in Lisbon!

As the most successful midfielder in the Bulgarian League at that time, in the winter of 1990, Krasimir Balakov came to the Portuguese Super League with an ultra-low price of 72.3 US dollars, joined the Portuguese Super League giants Sporting Lisbon, and played in the Portuguese Super League Played for 4 and a half seasons.

Facts have proved that this transfer deal Sporting Lisbon earned blood!

The young Bulgarian Krasimir Balakov became the core of Sporting Lisbon's midfielder and even won the honor of Bulgarian Footballer of the Year while playing for Sporting Lisbon!

Later, due to injuries, he was in a sluggish state and lost his main position. Krasimir Balakov did not continue to stay in Sporting Lisbon.

Although Sporting Lisbon executives expressed their sincerity to renew their contract with Krasimir Balakov at that time, Krasimir Balakov hoped to go to other leagues to accept the challenge.

Since there was only one year left in the contract, Sporting Lisbon sent Krasimir Balakov to Stuttgart, who was playing in the Bundesliga at that time, with a transfer fee of only 250 million euros. Joachim Loew, the German national team across Europe!

Under the coaching of Joachim Loew, who was still very young at the time, the "Stuttgart Troika" composed of Krasimir Balakov, Giovanni Elber and Freddy Bobic, It once posed a huge threat to the old traditional Bundesliga teams such as Bayern Munich!

In the 1996-97 season, Krasimir Balakov assisted the Stuttgart Football Club to win the German Cup.In the award selection at the end of 1997, Krasimir Balakov was once again awarded the title of Bulgarian Footballer of the Year!

Krasimir Balakov is obviously not a fickle person. After joining Stuttgart in the summer of 95, Krasimir Balakov played for Stuttgart until 2003!
On May 2003, 5, 29-year-old Krasimir Balakov announced his retirement.

Boot hanging ceremony and farewell match for Krasimir Balakov at FC Stuttgart.

Former team-mates Freddie Bobic and Giovanni Elber also rushed back to participate in this game. Teammates sent the jersey with the words "Balakov = free kick" printed on the chest. The departure of the meritorious veteran.

When Krasimir Balakov took a free kick in the front court during the game, the opponent even lined up a double-high wall to show respect for him.

After retiring, Krasimir Balakov first stayed in Stuttgart U19 as an assistant coach, and then went to the first team of the German second team Plauen as an assistant coach. In the summer of 2005, the Swiss super giant Zurich Grasshopper officially announced that Krasimir Balakov will become the team's new head coach!

and so!
Grasshopper Zurich is the first stop of Bulgarian footballer Krasimir Balakov as head coach!
Last season, the "honeymoon period" between Krasimir Balakov and Grasshopper was still very good-last season, Krasimir Balakov overwhelmed his opponent Basel with the power of Grasshopper and won the Swiss Cup. Super champion, but also won the new season UEFA Champions League qualifying tickets.

But this season, it can only be hehe~
Krasimir Balakov obviously hit the "rookie wall". Not only did he lose two rounds of the UEFA Champions League qualifying round, he automatically entered the Europa League group stage, and he has not won a single game in the Europa League so far. It has already ranked in the bottom half of the Swiss Super League...

But fortunately, Grasshopper Club executives are still very supportive of Krasimir Balakov. The club executives publicly stated: "We have great confidence in Krasimir Balakov! So we will give Krasimir More time for Mir Balakov, more patience, and if Krasimir Balakov needs to buy players, the club will fully support his needs."

Grasshopper club executives also said euphemistically: "At present, it is very difficult for the Europa League front to have a chance to qualify for the group stage, so! We still hope that the team can concentrate on trying to qualify for the European competition next season. We completely We can strive for better European results next season!"

Now that Krasimir Balakov and the top management of the Grasshopper Club have stated in front of the media that they want to give up the Europa League front, and the current situation of Grasshopper really does not need to continue to die on the Europa League front—— Even if Grasshoppers win all the subsequent games, it will be difficult for them to win the top three seats in the group.

and so!
In this game, Fernando Santos did not ask his coaching team to investigate various information about Grasshopper. Anyway, without collecting any information, it can be basically guessed that Grasshopper will come to Lisbon with an all-substitute lineup , Let’s just go through the motions very hastily.

For this game, Fernando Santos was not too concerned. Even the Portuguese coach proposed a "big rotation"-apparently, Fernando Santos was more concerned with another Portuguese coach this weekend. He is currently having an affair with Porto Straight talk with the hot Jesúardo Ferreira!
Although Simao, Diego, and even Pettit were able to obtain the permission of the team doctor to play in this game, in order to preserve the state of the core players, Fernando Santos does not intend to let these players who have returned from injury play in this game. Inconsequential games played.

"Petit, Simao, Diego, you all should rest well! The game against Braga on the weekend is the highlight of your performance. During this period, you just continue to observe your injuries. This time For the game, I will still play Fabrizio Milico, Beto and Mantolas."

Fernando Santos thought that the players would agree with his decision, but to Fernando Santos' surprise, Diego actually stood up and expressed his opposition.

"No! Coach Santos, I want to play this game! I have already taken a league break! You have to let me play the first half of this game!"

"Oh??? Diego, do you really want to play this game?"

Fernando Santos was not angry about Diego's opposition, and even Fernando Santos was very pleased-head coaches like players who are full of fighting spirit and will take the initiative to ask to play, especially for old-school coaches like Fernando Santos.

"Yes! I think you can let me play half-court and play as a substitute in the second half!"

Diego didn't hide his little thoughts: "Because! I really hope to win the Europa League Golden Boot this season! So! I don't want to miss any Europa League games! Now that my concussion injury has been confirmed If you have any problems, you can play healthy and healthy, then! Please allow me to play in this game!"

"That's it!"

Fernando Santos nodded with satisfaction: "Since Diego's fighting spirit is so strong, then Diego will play half of the game! Let me say it first, I will only give you time to play in the first half of the game. 45 minutes in the second half was left to Mantolas."

"Great!"

Hearing that Fernando Santos allowed himself to play, Diego grinned happily - facing a weak team at the bottom of the group like Grasshopper, that was a precious opportunity to score goals!How to put it, you have to score three or four goals on Grasshopper!Otherwise, there is no way to widen the gap with the second place on the scorer list.

After confirming that Diego returned to the starting lineup and Simao and Pettit took a break, Fernando Santos continued to make a list of rotations, including the Greek international Carter Solanis, who was basically full during this period, and Nuno. Gomez, David Luiz.

Due to Nuno Gomez's rotation, Fernando Santos will also change to a 4-3-3 formation in this game.

Moreover, Fernando Santos is going to make a bold attempt in this game-put Paul Jorge in the central defender position and see how it works!
Anyway, Luisson will start this game and will wear the captain's armband. With Luisson next to Paul Jorge, even if Paul Jorge doesn't play well, Fernando Santos doesn't have to worry too much about the defense. The problem.

There is still some time before the winter transfer window opens, and whether the winter window can introduce suitable immediate defenders is still a big question.

That being the case, then take the opportunity to tap the potential in the team!

Paul Jorge can also be regarded as a generalist attribute. Now that he can adapt to the left, right, front and back of the wing, let's continue to try!Anyway, Paul Jorge is very young, let him try other positions more, maybe he can break through his talent ceiling and grow into a better player.

(End of this chapter)