Chapter 107 Quarterfinals
Before the game, Fiorentina and Roma, who were not favored by people, eliminated the La Liga duo through two rounds of competition. It was beyond everyone's expectations. Some Italian fans began to look forward to the grand occasion of four Italian teams gathering in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. , but on the second match day, the Milan duo gave all the Italian fans a solid taste of what is called a cold topping.
The away game drew 0:0 with Arsenal, and AC Milan, who returned home to San Siro, seemed full of confidence, but when the game ended, the blood-red 0:2 on the scoreboard looked so dazzling. Milan finally lost to Arsenal. In this game, the old age of AC Milan players still became a drag on the team. The age of the grandparents directly led to the decline in the running ability of AC Milan players, which formed a sharp contrast with the young Arsenal. contrast.
The butcher Gattuso is the most active runner in the AC Milan team, but the running function is all placed on one person, which will obviously drag this person down. You must know that Gattuso also fought all the way through exhaustion. In the 75th minute of the game, people saw the "running" Gattuso panting with his waist pierced, and in the 83rd minute, when Fabregas accelerated to get rid of the goal, Gattuso just wanted to foul I can't keep up anymore, the gap in running ability is the biggest gap between AC Milan and Arsenal.
The poor running ability also affected the offense. Kaka publicly complained in an interview after the game: "I, Gilardino and Inzaghi alone are not enough to attack."
In the game, both Kaka and Gilardino had successful raids alone, but due to the lack of support points, they could only choose to shoot by themselves in a hurry, and failed to form a better opportunity. The team's running ability is weak, and the two full-backs and three defensive midfielders cannot press up in the offense. This is also the reason why AC Milan lacks support points in the offense and the efficiency is not high.
When it comes to the replacement of AC Milan, people will often mention forwards and defenders. AC Milan does have some problems with the forward line this season, which has dragged the team back. On the back line, Maldini is about to retire, and many players will be out of contract. It is true that new blood should be added when it expires, but if you think that AC Milan's midfielder age structure is relatively reasonable, and with top players like Kaka and Pirlo, there is no need to add new blood, it would be a big mistake.
Although AC Milan's midfield combination has not changed for 6 years since Ancelotti took over, modern football tactics have advanced with the times. From the predicament of AC Milan, it can be seen that a Cambiasso style How much AC Milan needs the all-round players who can attack the opponent's penalty area and return to the arc top of their own penalty area when defending. And this kind of support is on the premise of not affecting the defense.
Pirlo's defensive ability has been greatly improved compared to when he first arrived in Milan five years ago. Now, compared to a defensive champion like Gattuso, he needs an all-around player with both offense and defense. This is also good for the team's possession of the ball. In fact, Ancelotti has mentioned "the need for a player who combines Pirlo and Gattuso" in the past two years. AC Milan got Emerson last summer, but his Age and condition are not entirely satisfactory.
Including the goalkeeper, if all four lines need to be introduced, waiting for AC Milan will be a big change that has not happened in many years. How to arrange funds reasonably, including making full use of the Bosman rule to introduce free players, will be the key to the success of the change.
This time in San Siro, the miracle did not happen again, and Kaka did not become the savior of Milan again, AC Milan lost, they sacrificed in San Siro, a team that broke into the top 8 of the European Champions Cup five times in a row, and reached the quarterfinals four times in a row AC Milan, the top four in the European Champions Cup, fell heroically at the San Siro Stadium, known as the grave of European giants.
After seeing Milan's "last resistance" against Arsenal's new force, there is really nothing to defend. Milan is indeed old. The family-style management has indeed brought Milan glory again and again, but things always have two sides. The reason why sports are "body" is to compare the body. The main contradiction is the body. Without the body, even Pirlo's The pass is accurate to the nanometer, and the catcher is an old man, which is useless.
Football focuses on the whole, why?
Just because he has the largest number of participants, the largest venue, and the longest game time.
Kaka is indeed fast, without a substitute, not to mention the "five crowns" that Berlusconi called out in a high-profile way before the season, even "one crown" is hard to come by.
Pirlo's mind and feet are good, but he is not a machine chip, what do you ask him to do, he will help you calculate the most efficient way in the most accurate way.
Karachi's reaction is quick, but he is not a software. He will follow the design of the program. There will always be times when the state is low, although the loss is not entirely Karachi's responsibility.
Milan's style of play is indeed very good and strong, and Milan has indeed combined football and art. But in the final analysis, football is still about physical fitness. Otherwise, go play live.
The score is 0:2!
As long as Milan fans see such a scene, they will feel sad. Milan, which has supported for nearly ten years, was eliminated in this way.
Milan is really old, and it's time to rest. Facing the young Gunners, they seem powerless. Kaka is obviously out of shape in today's game, so what can he do when he comes back from injury? Although he has the ambition of being old, but the years are not forgiving, coupled with high-frequency and intensive games, the players are overworked, and the age is generally too old. Such Milan is lucky to reach the top 16, although this is Milan fans. I don't want to bring it up and face it, but it is indeed a fact and cannot be changed. The reality is so cruel.
The young Cesc Fabregas bid farewell to the Colts, who were 18 years his senior, the end of a legend that no Milan fan wanted to see, although this is the law of any competitive sports.
Arsenal's 90-minute performance was worthy of the final result. After Seedorf's absence, AC Milan had no ability to compete with the opponent's midfielder. After Kaka's drop in the last ten minutes, the failure was written in Milanese face.
There is nothing to sum up the game, just eight words, the skills are not as good as others, and the loss is complete.
It can wake up the management and fans who are still immersed in the dream of winning the Champions League last season. Milan is no longer a pure first-class team. Although he can still release a huge ability on certain occasions, he is too old. Although the fans can still proudly say that "the cold arrow in pippo's hand is still radiating cold light, and the cracked shield on the cavalry's arm is still shining with the brilliance of the knight", there is no reconstruction without pain, and it may be easier to push back!
In any case, although Milan lost a glorious defeat, Kaka has tried his best, Inzaghi has done well enough, Maldini can't fight anymore, all the players performed very well, but, It's a pity that the opponent performed better than Milan.
But even if the result is like this, people should still thank the Cavaliers for his 20 years of excellence. At least in the last few tens of minutes, he was still smiling calmly and running fast.
Maldini really fought hard in this game, but a strong heart is no match for his old body. His body is sinking, his feet are out of control, and his old lungs are struggling to find the deadly oxygen. Everything is suffocating, everything is still. San Siro could only hear the sound of Gattuso's big mouthfuls of breathing, and then there was a gust of wind, and the young Cesc Fabregas stopped the ball, got rid of it, and shot with brisk steps.
I thought this would be a continuation of last year's Red Devils version of San Siro's cold rainy night, but I didn't know that a year was enough to soften a bunch of old bones in Milan. The same Milan, but gradually reduced to its own pirated version in the aging of the lungs. Blurred, stuck, even wobbly, like an endless medical record.
30-year-old Gattuso, 34-year-old Inzaghi, 35-year-old Karachi, 39-year-old Maldini. Old enough to catch a glimpse of the crow's feet that crept up the brow in an instant, so that Arsenal's young people are more like boys next door who come to worship the old hero.
A city can look down on the satellite cities with its old history, but a team can only shake its head and sigh in the face of the yellowed list, which only belongs to a thick wall of the Milan Museum.
Athens, this Milan team blew out the raging fire of Liverpool with their last breath, but this time, they can only choose to use their last breath to watch the young gunmen go up and down. The youth hurricane of Cesc Fabregas swept the San Siro Old arms and old legs.
Rather than a sweep, it is more precise and vivid to say "death".
This is an almost "shameless" war of attrition, a repeated rape of a 20-year-old heart against a 30-year-old **. So, people saw Inzaghi with the aura of the savior buried in the bulging muscles of Gallas and Senderos, and saw the butcher Gattuso chasing from the left sideline to the right sideline with a butcher knife in his hand. The arm has gone numb.
Arsenal wins in control, in physical strength, and in Milan's lack of young talents, but more importantly, Wenger and the Gunners are determined. No choice is the best choice. Wenger dug out the only lineup he could come up with among the ruins. The floods hit the Milan Dam one after another without hesitation. The loud 10-meter sprint whistle is very vigorous, and Milan's expired canned pineapple can no longer withstand the toss of high temperature and pressure.
"Expired" is not only Maldini and Gattuso, but also the cliché of Ancelotti's Christmas tree. The so-called 4312 is just a disguised sale of the Christmas tree. Milan's mechanized operations seem to be raging " Melatonin".
Of course, this is a way to save energy for a team whose age structure is at the master level, but once it encounters a gunner with better control and physical strength, the Ancelotti Christmas tree becomes a nuclear war. The millet of the era plus a rifle is useless.
This group of veterans has been enough to mix up to now, and they are not like young people who are spreading hunger everywhere. In other words, the pain of the Champions League this time seems to be more beneficial for Milan to start upgrading.
We must pay tribute to the veterans, but when the footsteps can no longer keep up with the experience, only Da Vinci can tell you: This will be the classic reproduction of "The Last Supper" in the Church of Santa Maria in Milan, the last Champions League for veterans.
The legacy of the Baresi era, Maldini should also rest.
Before the away game against AC Milan, Wenger often mentioned a game: "We won Inter Milan 5:1 in San Siro, which was a psychological boost. We were in a desperate situation and had to play a big score. We did it. Once again our spirits were high and our confidence was high."
In November 2003, Arsenal swept Inter Milan 5:1 away, and Henry scored two dollars alone to shine. Same as before, before this visit to San Siro, celebrities and public opinion are more optimistic about AC Milan. Lippi and others have expressed their views that Milan is different from Inter Milan. They always seem to have changed teams in the European arena.
San Siro fought again, and at the end of 94 minutes, Arsenal left smiling with a 2-0 result. In terms of technical statistics, Milan has one more shot than the Gunners, and the home team also has an advantage in corner kicks and other statistics, but this does not actually reflect the actual situation on the field. :1.
Fabregas's long-range shot is not an absolute chance, but Milan will never complain about the accidental loss after the game, because Arsenal had too many opportunities to break the deadlock.
In the 28th minute, Adebayor's shot was pushed out of the crossbar by Karachi, blowing the horn of the Gunners' counterattack.
In the 34th minute, Xiaofa's strong shot hit the crossbar.
In the 47th minute, Senderos blocked a shot in front of the small penalty area and kicked into the goalkeeper's arms due to bad luck.
In the 51st minute, Pirlo made a mistake, Adebayor scored the ball, and Eb hit the side net with a one-on-one shot.
In the 74th minute, Walcott went into the gap from the right, but chose a cross instead of a direct shot in a one-on-one situation.
In contrast, AC Milan had very few opportunities, and they basically came from set kicks. They were completely passive in sports warfare.
The shooting statistics of the two sides conceal the truth of the chance comparison. AC Milan's shots are mostly hasty kicks and long-range shots after they can't tear apart the defense line, while Arsenal have much more chances to pass and cooperate.
After the game, the title of the British Press Agency said: "Milan's era is ended by Arsenal".
In terms of ball control, running, physical confrontation and one-on-one fighting, Arsenal has the overall upper hand. Youth has become their greatest magic weapon at this moment. In most cases, I am faster than you and more explosive than you. Hello, physical strength is superior, physical confrontation has the upper hand, and technical performance is naturally more vivid. The Milanese were led by the nose most of the time, and it is not surprising that they were dragged down after entering the second half.
In the first game, Adebayor missed the goal and "released" Milan at home, but Wenger seemed full of confidence. After the first round of the game, he seemed to have touched the bottom of AC Milan.
"We completely dominated the game in the first round, which made us full of confidence." Wenger looked very proud.
After two 90 minutes, whether at home or away, Arsenal did completely suppress AC Milan, and played against the former European defending champion for 180 minutes. The Gunners' advantages in game content and strength actually far exceeded The total score is 2:0 for this "appearance".
Compared with the 5:1 that year, Arsenal's "fly in the ointment" in this game is their grasp of opportunities.
In the game in 2003, the Gunners didn't have much of an advantage. They were stalemate with their opponents in the first half, took the lead in the second half and counterattacked sharply. Almost every hit was sure to hit. Henry's and Pires' goals were all under the counterattack situation. If today's gunners face the opportunity more calmly, it is not impossible to repeat the great victory of the year.
However, from the perspective of the team's overall ability, Wenger has reason to feel more joyful. Compared with the past, Arsenal now lacks a superstar figure with outstanding individual ability like Henry, but has built a team around Cesc Fabregas. The entire offensive system relies on passing the ball with one foot to establish an advantage, wear down and disintegrate the opponent. If the 5:1 back then was more a manifestation of Henry and other personal abilities, today's 2:0 is the overall Condescending, even a victory on a higher level.
In this peak contest between Serie A and the Premier League, which is positioned as the highest level, Milan's last residual value was squeezed to the end. At the last moment of the game, Maldini fell in the personal competition with Walcott, causing Walcott to cross the bottom line and Adebayor easily pushed into the empty goal, which completely sounded the death knell of Milan. The momentum and status of stars, two teams, and two leagues in the world football trend.
For the losers of this gamble, although they have won enough from this kind of gamble in the past five years, since they are on the gambling table, there will be a day when they lose all their chips.
Experienced and savvy representatives of the technical flow of Serie A, against the vigorous and rising representative of the technical flow of the Premier League, the oldest team with the average age of the Champions League against the youngest team, ended in a complete defeat.
Lao Cheng is only a thin sheet of paper away from his old age, except that there is still a little home momentum in the first 20 minutes of the game, that is because he can still run, and Milan has had to give up the midfield from the end of the first half.
It must be done, but it cannot be done. This is not that Milan is actively retreating, luring the enemy to go deep in order to fight back, this is completely suppressed.
The opportunities created by Arsenal and the effective possession of the ball are twice that of Milan. This was achieved when Arsenal were too hesitant and sticky when they reached the front.
Wenger said before the game that Arsenal would ignore their opponents and play in their own way, which they did.
Arsenal is one of the very few teams that dares to challenge the principle of attacking and defending away in this world. They are not afraid of Pirlo's long pass over the top, Kaka's galloping long drive, and Inzaghi's sprinting behind the offside line all the time. The team's possible counterattack space, they are preparing to attack on a large scale and capture San Siro.
What can Ancelotti complain about?
Ronaldo is far away, Seedorf is close at hand, and he can't use one of the two trump cards that can change the game by himself.
Not long after Kaka's comeback, his state is far worse than last year's semi-final against Manchester United.
Maldini, who played his farewell performance in the European war, was already four cards away. Inzaghi, the goal weapon that Ancelotti trusted and relied on most, was replaced by Ancelotti himself in the end.
The most fierce Gattuso in the past, the poor state of this season has become the first target of An Shuai's modified formation. When seeing Fabregas' long-range shot, did Gattuso follow and run all the way without making any interference actions?
Live by the sword, die by the sword.
In the past few years, Milan began to give up their accumulation in the league, only seeking the top four, making up for their lack of physical strength and experience, important players to save energy for the Champions League, and refusing to make substantial changes to the team. A single underage Pato is not enough to change anything. Refusing to replenish the bench lineup, relying on player experience to support bit by bit, squeezing the last remaining energy of the sunset players, and now it has reached the point when it can't last.
What Milan lost was not only a game, but also the club's operating philosophy. Maldini is about to retire, Cafu, Favalli, Serginho, these players who are definitely not available must be cleared. Milan has half of the lineup of players to buy.
In contrast, Inzaghi, Nesta, Seedorf these players who must support for another year or two are not imminent.
The title of the Premier League nemesis, the experience of the European war, is gone forever.
No matter how old you are, you will always become old, old, and immortal, and the oil in your old bones will always be squeezed out.
When the oil is exhausted, of course it is when the lamp is dry.
The old Milan has finally stopped the pace of marching into Moscow, and there is no regret, because Arsenal, which competes with them, has an enviable youth.
If there is really any regret staying at the San Siro Stadium, it should probably not be able to see the picture of the legendary Colts winning the trophy again.
With the result of 0:0 in the away game, Milan, who returned to the home court, was infinitely close to scoring after the start of the game. When Milan attacked like a wave at the beginning of the game, people might think that Arsenal would repeat the mistakes of Manchester United last season. The memories of the fans were also hooked back to the previous season, but it didn't take long for this scene. With a crossbar from Fabregas, the Milan fans were really awakened.
Since then, San Siro has become a replica of the Emirates Stadium more than ten days ago: the midfield is disordered, the defense is loopholes, the offense is mostly individual combat, and so on.
In fact, all this is normal. When Kaka made Flamini more and more "Gattuso", when Pirlo was struggling to connect the ball and turn around, Milan's offense has become a luxury under the opponent's marking.
More times before, Seedorf would turn out to be out of nowhere, because when the opponent heavily guarded Kacapirlo, the Dutch also gained freedom.
But this time, injuries kept Seedorf bound to the stands. At this time, Milan is caught in a dilemma. Ancelotti can choose to be as safe as an away game, but at this time, perhaps this conservative Italian is also infected by youth, and the congestion of his brain makes him choose to use Gila. Dino replaced Inzaghi instead of Emerson to strengthen the central defense.
Perhaps Milan, who replaced the striker, was still willing to accept the result of 0:0 in 90 minutes, because in the final stage of the game, they had to be tired of defending and unable to attack.
But the mature psychology of the Milan people can only think in this way. They don't know that the young gunman will not let go of any opportunity. Therefore, people saw that at the end of the game, the young gunman only spurted blood once, and the Milan giant fell suddenly. Down. This time Fabregas did not look up to the sky and sigh, replaced by a youthful smiling face.
Youth, this is the biggest charm of the Gunners. Without the golden generation of Ferguson and the inexhaustible rubles of Abramovich, the arsenal has to keep its feet on the ground and continue to cultivate and excavate. Perhaps the process of cultivation will be painful, and the cost of growing up may be high, but one day, the dream will gradually approach reality.
For Milan, there is a saying in China that if you are broken, you will stand up and you will be flat. Perhaps this time the stop at the top 16 will make the club re-examine the current situation of the team. After all, it is time for Milan to change. Last season's Champions League champion How much blinded his eyes, and this time, after being knocked down by youth, Milan may be able to face up to the team's problems.
Even the Cavaliers have to play 90 minutes again and again, which is actually not a good phenomenon. Despite having Kaka and Pato, there are Cafusergios at the same time. It cannot be said that they are cumbersome, but they did let Milan fall behind. Without a suitable substitute, Milan can only choose between the league and the Champions League, but not every time there will be the favor of the goddess of luck, and not every youth is a loser.
AC Milan fell in front of the house, and Inter Milan fell to Meazza, who had just celebrated the centenary of Huadan, the next day.
For Inter Milan, which has not tasted the championship for more than 10 years, many times, it shows people a melancholy temperament.
Last season's league championship, people thought that the era of Inter Milan had begun, and the melancholy would turn into domineering. When this season started, the league was suppressed by Fiorentina, and the Champions League faltered. When the whistle for the end of the Meazza match , People found that Inter Milan can only continue to be depressed.
Telephone Gate helped Inter Milan's re-emergence in Serie A. This is a history that cannot be overturned. Inter Milan seized the opportunity and became the master in Serie A. It changed the embarrassment of years of failed ambitions, but the embarrassment never stopped. An ambitious The giants of China will not let go of the opportunity to show themselves in the world, and the Champions League is a stage that must be conquered.
For Inter Milan, which is celebrating its centenary, this is not only a hope, but even a necessity.
Because, the other teams in Serie A are watching it, is Inter Milan really just strong outside?
The rest of Europe is watching it, is the leader of Serie A so vulnerable?
Nerazzurri fans are watching it, is Inter Milan really lacking in temperament?
Moratti is looking at it, is it possible that Inter can only prove again and again that he is really a football fanatic, and not deliberately pursue the championship?
Now, the answers are obvious.
Foreign war layman, this is all the impressions left by the Serie A champion Inter Milan in Europe last season. In the battle with Valencia, which has long since declined in La Liga, many players lost control and were suspended.
In two rounds with Liverpool, which has only been able to compete in the Champions League in recent years, Materaz and Burdisso are ashamed, and Inter Milan is very sad.
Inter Milan, who was double-killed, couldn't even find a trace of dignity in Meazza. This is the place where they just commemorated their 100th anniversary. Dignity and glory were trampled on the ground at that moment.
Ibrahimovic was worried about the selection of the World Player of the Year last season, and Inter Milan fans also felt aggrieved by it, but it is difficult to perform well in the Champions League, so how can he be coerced into the league's glory? Under the phantom?
Ibrahimovic and Inter Milan can only show off their status as defending champions in Serie A boringly, and they can only continue to remain silent in the European war.
When Torres left Atletico Madrid, who was only ambitious but would only lose the chain, Liverpool ushered in the most powerful striker in the Benitez era. He let Materac eat at Anfield and ended all struggles at San Siro.
Torres, who became famous earlier, adapted to the big stage of the Champions League faster than Ibrahimovic. After all, in Atletico Madrid, Torres can only play the UEFA Cup, but Ibrahimovic has long been a frequent visitor to the Champions League .
Benitez, who was once driven crazy by the badness in the league, once again defended his reputation as the "king of cups". A Champions League can keep him alive for many years. The same applies to the eliminated Mancini, but unfortunately, he couldn't do it. Therefore, he can only say the words of resigning at the end of the season when he is overwhelmed by the defeat.
Inter Milan's performance in this game?
To borrow from Ferguson's catchphrase: what the fuck is this game.
After watching the 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League 1/8 final second leg Inter Milan 0:1 Liverpool game, I can fully understand Ferguson's mood at the time.
This season is another knockout match. In the past, there were various reasons to find excuses for Inter Milan's exit, from the Champions League Milan Derby that was forced to be suspended due to fan riots, and the internal friction between Adriano and Veron The defeat at the Love Song Stadium, until last year's gang fight in Mestalla, caught a straight bridge of Burdisso's nose and did not exchange for a big ear cup, but today's defeat can't find any excuses. Complete failure.
The reality of the 0:2 away game in the first leg is before us. Although the situation is not optimistic, Inter Milan, which has the best time, location, and harmony, still sees the hope of a comeback at home, but unexpectedly loses to Liverpool again.
In the first half of the game, although Inter Milan controlled the situation on the field, there were not many bright spots, and the occasional opportunities were squandered by the impatient forwards, while Liverpool organized counterattacks in an orderly manner. It was resolved by goalkeeper Cesar, but the loopholes in the defense also sounded the alarm for Inter Milan.
In the second half, something terrible happened, and the scene at Anfield was staged again. Apart from Rivas, Inter Milan had no central defenders. The blows came one after another. Torres' goal made the Meazza Stadium a sea of joy for Liverpool fans. No one believes that Inter Milan will reverse their opponents and reach the quarterfinals.
25 minutes, 10 to 11, 4 goals, is it possible?
Inter Milan had no power to fight back, and the players became impatient. Stankovic received a yellow card for his flying tackle after losing the ball, and Qi Wu's stampede on Gerrard.
Finally, the Nerazzurri lowered their noble heads in front of the Red Army. A day ago on this field, Arsenal fans sang good old arsenal and returned to London. Today, Liverpool fans can proudly sing you will never walk alone with their heroes Back to Liverpool, this is a Premier League victory over Serie A.
After the game, Mancini announced his future plans. He will leave Inter Milan: "At the end of the season, I will leave here. I will resign as the head coach of Inter Milan. I have always had this idea. It doesn't matter to Liverpool. I only have two and a half months left in the next two and a half months with Inter Milan, and I hope we can work together to win the Italian league again."
For Inter Milan fans at this moment, it is undoubtedly painful, Meazza's applause is the best birthday gift for the team. However, the cake that Inter Milan used to celebrate its centenary was snatched by the Liverpool people!
Very disappointed! So bleak! !
Inter Milan really will not play such a game, or the current Inter Milan will not play such a game. Inter Milan does not have the spirit of two-shots to play with their hearts and lives.
When the Champions League hits the knockout stage, you have to come up and see the red with the bayonet, and the brave wins when you meet on a narrow road. What's more, the first round is already 0:2 behind, there is no turning back, it's not a one-shot deal, and it's still there to calculate the lineup, calculate the opportunity, calculate the referee, look forward and backward.
At the beginning of the first half, Inter Milan did not put all their efforts to death, but it was Babel who defeated Maicon and received a yellow card first.
After 20 minutes, Inter Milan began to grasp the situation, only a few chances, especially the continuous attack before the end of the first half did not score, it is a pity.
After Burdisso was sent off in the second half, Inter Milan was forced to a dead end, and only then did they have the momentum to win the game. The continuous attack during this period was also good-looking, and it was once very threatening.
But a goal from the opponent caused Inter Milan to need four goals to come back. Time is running out, Mancini has also given up, Pele and Gimenez's playing is a signal: We start to let the newcomers have more experience in the last time, Champions League, see you next year.
That's the fact, everything disappeared, when the centuries-old fireworks were still looming in the night sky of Meiazza, Inter Milan's dream of the Champions League this year was once again shattered.
Applause, applause to captain Zanetti who kept sprinting and fighting until the last moment, he brought the morale of the whole team never to give up. Applause was given to Chivu who persisted in fighting with a shoulder injury and risked another injury from the back line to the front of the opponent's penalty area to win a free kick. He was very confident in both defense and offense. Applause for Rivas who debuted in such an important event for the first time, he did not give the Liverpool people more opportunities. Applause to the whole team. As long as it is a human team, the state will have ups and downs. After all, four main guards cannot play, and the guard who played was sent off. They have done enough to keep the game from becoming one-sided.
But even so, it is difficult to conceal the disappointment of the Inter Milan people. Three days ago, Inter Milan ushered in its 100th birthday. In this game, the Meazza viewing stand was packed with fans of the Nerazzurri. They were looking forward to their team repeating the 1:3 loss in the first round in 1965, but they reversed the history of the Red Army 3:0 in Meazza. Birthday gift.
But there is often a gap between reality and dreams. The Nerazzurri failed to reverse Liverpool, and the centennial celebration failed to save him.
Inter Milan's centennial celebration was such a "gift" from Liverpool. I don't know when he will be able to return this "favor". Will he return it in two years like his brother AC Milan?
The smoke cleared in the 1/8 final of the UEFA Champions League. The Milan duo, which people had high hopes for, fell tragically and naturally. Florence and Rome moved forward unexpectedly and reasonably.
Among other airport games, Schalke 04 saved the last dignity for the Bundesliga. The Turkic iron rider Fenerbahce killed last season's UEFA Cup champion Sevilla and broke through. In the remaining two games, Manchester United and Chelsea also defeated their respective opponents and entered the quarterfinals.
Eight seats, half of which are occupied by the Premier League. In the former small World Cup Serie A, there are still Florence and Roma to save face. The Bundesliga, which has long since declined, even has a Schalke 04 as a signboard, but the most popular in recent years However, after the 1/8 finals of the Spanish league, they all went home.
The strong rise of the Premier League seems inevitable. Half of the top eight seats are occupied. The glory once enjoyed by Italy is now all transferred to the Premier League.
When the smoke cleared in the 1/8 finals, the next round of matches will be produced immediately. The next opponent of Fiorentina will be Chelsea from the Premier League.
Roma met last season's bitter host Manchester United, Fenerbahce ran into Benitez's Liverpool, and Arsenal will have a fierce collision with Jalke 04.
Now it is the turn of England fans to be excited, because they are likely to see the first civil war between the four English teams in the semi-finals, as long as they can eliminate their opponents.
Manchester United has a psychological advantage in facing Rome, and after reaching the quarter-finals, Rome's energy is basically exhausted. If they want to move on, Lafayette will not agree.
Liverpool will play against Fenerbahce. If there is no accident, Benitez's team will advance smoothly. Although the Turkish team's hell at home is troublesome, Liverpool has had a star since the day this team was born. big heart.
The collision between Arsenal and Schalke 04, Professor Arsene Wenger will definitely not allow an accident in such a match. Schalke 04's elimination of Porto was an accident, and now their good luck is almost used up.
The last is the duel between Chelsea and Fiorentina. The two teams have never had the experience of confrontation before, but people are obviously more optimistic about Abramovich's Ruble Army before the game. Although Fiorentina eliminated Barcelona, they compare the strength of Chelsea and Fiorentina. , it seems that no matter which aspect it is, Chelsea has an absolute advantage.
Now that the quarter-finals have not yet started, some British media have already shouted in a high-profile manner that this season's Champions League semi-finals will be turned into a civil war in England.
Regarding this, Degan just sneered when he was interviewed, and then said: "I don't feel angry. It is very humane to let the other party retain a little fantasy before despair!"