Chapter 65 Strides Forward

Chapter 65 Strides Forward

Fiorentina defended the league championship, and many old giants in Italian football were in mourning. Everyone could feel that the rise of a new giant was completely inevitable, and this was the last thing they wanted to see.

Moggi, the former general manager of Juventus, said in an interview: "I don't want to deny the strength of Fiorentina, but the strength of Fiorentina does not bring good news to Italian football. It will make Italian football less and less competitive. It will be a disaster for a long time, and the level of football in a country cannot be supported by one team, but Florence is destroying this foundation. "

Berlusconi, the owner of AC Milan, also followed up and said: "The current Serie A has become more and more boring. Fiorentina is the champion, and other teams can only compete for second place. I don't know if it will always be like this. Will anyone in Serie A want to watch it!"

In contrast, Inter Milan seems to be very quiet. Mourinho and his team are now silently licking their wounds, waiting to win the bet with Digan in the coming year.

Someone spoke up, and those meddling media also started to chatter. Generally speaking, Fiorentina is the only one, which has destroyed the foundation of Serie A. A league without competition has no future.

It's just a matter of saying directly that Fiorentina should dismiss all the current players, and then change a group of players to play the game. It is best to start over from the C-2 league.

"I feel that there is a sour smell in the whole Italian football now. Some brazen guys are always talking about not having grapes, talking about sour grapes. The Fiorentina family is dominant. This is what we have worked hard to achieve. , We welcome competition, like Inter Milan's competition, saying that we have destroyed the foundation of Italian football, I want to ask, where is the basis!? Is it because we have defended the championship? A team that has been established for a century, the honor There are only four league championship trophies in the room. I really don't know what we destroyed. If some people really want to say this, let's wait until we embroider a star on the team badge. Well, when Juventus and AC Milan dominated Serie A before, why didn't I hear someone say that they destroyed the foundation of Italian football development."

When Degan fought back, he was full of irony and sarcasm. Although he didn't name the name, everyone knew who he was talking about.

"I think some people can rest, they just don't want others to be good, yes! That's right! We are not rich, we are just a lily in the suburbs of Florence, if they want to overthrow our rule, just come Well, talking about those nonsense won't hurt us, it'll just make everyone in the world laugh!"

When Berlusconi was a guest on a TV talk show, he learned of Degan's words. The old man blushed immediately, and immediately criticized: "I think that young man completely lacks respect for a man. Respect for an old man who has contributed to the development of Italian football!"

Digan immediately retorted: "I will only respect respectable people, like some stinky old men with breasts all over their heads and corrupt morals, I don't have any good feelings for them."

It is said that after learning of Degan's evaluation of him, Berlusconi vomited three liters of blood and almost died.

Of course, it's just rumors, and the more accurate news is that after finishing the recording of the TV program, Berlusconi organized a lot of flesh and blood and held a big meeting at his home. He was admitted to the hospital for treatment, and the final treatment suggestion announced was to abstain from sex one by one!

The Berlusconi family has lost face, and even the overall image of AC Milan has been slumped. This is not Digan's business.

After winning the league championship, they ushered in the second round of the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in the middle of the week.

In the first round, Fiorentina won a 4:1 away game. The suspense of the game has basically ended. The only chance for Hiddink to continue his magic is that Prandelli, because of his carelessness, will face the next intensive schedule. Select a rotation lineup.

But when the game started, all the previous guesses disappeared. Prandelli sent the strongest lineup, but made an adjustment in the position of right back. Macho rested, but it was not Bonuzzi who played. But the teenager De Sciglio.

Hiddink seemed to have grasped Fiorentina's weakness and chose to attack Fiorentina's right flank after the game started. However, with the assistance of the midfielder, De Sciglio's performance made people shine.

The current De Sciglio is no longer the weak boy he was when he first came to Florence. After nearly a season of hard work, his body has gradually become stronger, and his skills have not improved much.

In the 15th minute of the first half, De Sciglio had another wonderful performance. At that time, Ashley Cole assisted in the frontcourt. Drogba and Anelka had already outflanked in place. At this moment, De Sciglio suddenly Killing from the side, a flying shovel made the superstar Ashley Cole suffer a big loss.

The goal that decided the game came in the 37th minute. Beckham made a pass from the side, Digan headed the ball, and Mutu shoveled into the net. The Viper, who was ruthlessly abandoned by Chelsea, played two consecutive games The club scored a goal and completed their revenge.

There is no suspense in the next game. Chelsea must score five goals if they want to win. Let alone Chelsea, this task is impossible even if it is to pull the world's all-star team over.

The only thing Chelsea can do now is try to finish the game and save the Blues' face, and before the end of the first half, Ivanovic scored a goal from a corner kick to equalize the score.

But at the beginning of the second half, Fiorentina's fast break scored again, and Degan's lob shot made Cech only look at the ball and sigh.

2:1!

This score was finally maintained until the end. Fiorentina eliminated Chelsea with a total score of 6:2 and entered the final for the second consecutive year. Now they are waiting for their opponents in the final to appear.

The next day, the second round of the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Manchester United and Arsenal started. Manchester United hoped to eliminate Arsenal this time, reach the final and defeat Fiorentina, making up for the regrets of last season. However, Arsenal Previously, the UEFA Champions League has entered the semi-finals six times, and it has maintained an impressive record of all reaching the finals.

Before the game, Beckham accepted an interview with the British media. When looking forward to the final opponent, Beckham expressed the hope that Fiorentina could meet their former club Manchester United in the final.

Beckham said: "It will undoubtedly be a very interesting thing to meet Fiorentina on a stage like the Champions League final. I have kept many good memories there. Turned over, but now the suspicion has been cleared up. Since I left Manchester United in 2003 and joined Real Madrid, I have not played against Manchester United with the team. He has not played in the Champions League since 2007. It would be fantastic for me if Manchester United met."

Regarding the possibility of a good old club meeting in the Champions League final, Beckham, the hero who once reached the top of the Champions League for Manchester United, has mixed feelings: "I have always emphasized that if I can choose again, I will never leave my old club. Trafford. After all, that's where I've always wanted to start and finish my career. But now I have to look back in a different way because I've been there for over 10 years and achieved It has achieved a complete success, and more importantly, it has also formed a deep friendship with many good friends."

For his mentor Sir Alex Ferguson, Beckham is still full of gratitude: "It is a very lucky thing to be able to play for Manchester United under Ferguson, because I learned the ethics of professional players from there. Everything about football from when you wake up to when you go to bed at night, you know, that was an experience I got when I was young, and it was enough to help me throughout my career, even when I was questioned and criticized on and off the pitch , I can sit still, I look forward to him being able to lead Manchester United to defeat Arsenal, yes! Very much looking forward to it!"

The Gunners have the home advantage this time, the Red Devils have never won at the Emirates Stadium, and the Gunners have remained unbeaten in 24 home games in the Champions League. In the past 10 away games against the Gunners, the Red Devils have only won once. In the Premier League this season, Arsenal defeated Manchester United 2:1 at home. In addition, the two sides met under the knockout system before. Manchester United led 1-0 in the first round three times, but only one time they were able to eliminate their opponents and advance.

The coaches of the two teams, Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, are currently the two coaches with the longest coaching hours in the Premier League. "Sir Sir" entered Manchester United in 1986, while "Professor" entered Arsenal in 1996. 14 wins and 10 draws.

However, historical data is not entirely on the side of the Gunners. The Red Devils have not lost an away game in the Champions League for more than two years, and a draw will undoubtedly ensure that the Red Devils advance to the final. In fact, even if they lose, Manchester United also has a chance to advance. Because Arsenal failed to score an away goal in the first leg.

Judging from the fighting power of the two sides, the attacking power of the Red Devils is trustworthy. After the first round, Wenger admitted that he was very lucky to concede only one goal, and this time Arsenal returned to the home court, and they could only deal with Manchester United's fierce attack with a broken line of defense. Offensively, Clichy missed the game, and it is unknown whether Sylvester will be able to play. In addition, Van Persie is injured and may be absent. In this case, Wenger can only plan a change, so that the second round of the two sides will enter the rhythm that the Gunners are used to.

But the result of the game undoubtedly disappointed the professor. In the end, the Red Devils Manchester United defeated the Gunners Arsenal with a score of 3:1 in the away game, and entered the final with a total score of 4:1. This is also the second consecutive time for the Red Devils. They advanced to the final last season, and they will meet Fiorentina in the Champions League final for the second consecutive year.

Originally, people thought that this game would be a battle of dragons and tigers, but when the game started, the development of the war surprised the fans. Arsenal made mistakes at home, and Manchester United only took 10 minutes to solve the battle.

In the 8th minute, Manchester United made a cross from the left side of the penalty area by Jin Maoluo. Arsenal defender Gibbs tried to clear the siege, but accidentally fell down. Korean stickman Park Ji-sung scored from the edge of the small penalty area.

In less than three minutes, the Red Devils made a comeback. Arsenal forward Van Persie fouled Kim Mauro in the backcourt. Kim Mauro took a direct free kick 30 meters away and went straight to the Arsenal goal. Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia He couldn't make a save, so he could only watch the ball enter the net.

Manchester United expanded the total score to 3:0. Due to the two key away goals, Arsenal must score four goals in a row to hope to make a comeback at home. For the team, it is almost an impossible task.

Arsenal coach Wenger also admitted after the game that the bad start was the key to the team's loss: "We conceded two goals in 3 minutes, which is really too bad. At this time we knew that promotion was impossible. Now, we continue to insist that the game is only for honor."

But Manchester United's scoring performance was not over yet. In the 61st minute, Manchester United counterattacked quickly, and Jin Maoluo received a pass from Rooney outside the penalty area and pushed the goal.

Arsenal, which has always been fighting for honor, finally saved face in the 76th minute. Fletcher was sent off after uprooting Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas from behind in the penalty area. Van Persie scored a penalty overnight.

In this game, Wenger is undoubtedly the most disappointed person. From the high expectations at the beginning, to the regret and disappointment after conceding two goals in a row, to the despair when witnessing the team's dying struggle, it was a great scene in this game. Afterwards, the Arsenal coach even said frankly, "Manchester United is indeed a better first team and deserves to be promoted."

It is rare to see a professor showing such weakness. It is true that Manchester United did not reveal any flaws at all, making Wenger really helpless to defeat the enemy.

Golden Mauro and Rooney are visible heroes, but Manchester United's steady control of the lead is inseparable from the huge contribution of the midfield, and the contributions of Anderson and Fletcher are also obvious to all.

Anderson, who was once considered "incurable" during the season, has played consecutive good games recently and has become a chess piece that Ferguson often uses and loves to use. The Brazilian is no longer limited to the puzzle of whether to play the midfielder or the midfielder, and now his role is more free. Responsible for stealing and intercepting when defending, relying on excellent awareness to predict the opponent's passing line in advance, even if he competes with Arsenal's midfielder, he will not suffer from foot skills, and his physical fitness also has an advantage when defending Rooney and Evra .

When attacking, Anderson's courage to step in is also the key to Ferguson's daring to let Zhengyin forward. The Brazilian can continue to respond on both wings, and his excellent physical fitness and running are rare among South American players. He often kills the opponent's hinterland like a whirlwind. , Ferguson also allowed him to play. In the game, Anderson kicked a very creative hanging goal, which almost knocked on Arsenal's gate, and several corner kicks were also of high quality. Don't forget that in the Porto era, he was known as "Ronaldinho No. 2" and won the European Golden Boy Award.

As the season draws to a close, Anderson's attendance rate has actually increased. This is actually not surprising at all, because the Brazilian always plays well in key games and is not stage frightened.

In this life-and-death battle against Arsenal, Anderson scrambled wildly in the midfield, completely disrupting Arsenal's offensive and defensive system, and relying on breakthroughs made the Gunners' defenses jittery. His activity even annoyed Fabregas. The photo has become a classic, and Anderson can be reckless at times, but once used well, his double axes can indeed cut all the way.

Anderson's performance can satisfy Ferguson, but his best partner, Fletcher, makes Ferguson full of regrets. In fact, with Manchester United leading by three goals, even if the Scottish midfielder let Fabregas complete the shot, it will affect the overall situation. It was no longer a problem, but Fletcher, who had a strong sense of responsibility, still shoveled. Although he kicked the ball first, his legs locked and brought down Cesc Fabregas at the same time.

Fletcher did not commit a deliberate foul. It was no problem to award a penalty kick. He was directly issued a red card. It seemed that the sentence was too heavy. It was also because of this that Ferguson had repeatedly negotiated and complained with the fourth official during the game.

Fletcher's excellent defense in this campaign is obvious to all. The Scot not only has a header, but also is a top master in ground steals and interceptions. His absence will definitely have an impact on Ferguson's formation in the final.

After the game, the slow motion showed that Fletcher's tackle was indeed the first to tackle the ball. The penalty had little effect on the result of the game and whether Manchester United would advance, but this red card probably decided Fletcher's Champions League fate.

Fletcher is Ferguson's favorite player. Ferguson does not want him to miss such an important game. In an interview after the game, Ferguson said: "The referee's law enforcement in this game is quite fair, but this red card is still regrettable. We will On appeal, Fletcher is undoubtedly one of United's most important players in the game and it is undoubtedly a huge pity that he cannot play in the Champions League final."

Even Arsenal's Frenchman Arsene Wenger thought the red card for Fletcher was too severe.

The Champions League final will be staged at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on May 27. Manchester United still has some time to appeal for Fletcher's red card suspension. Maybe with luck, Fletcher's suspension can be pardoned. If there is no way to change the penalty, then Fletcher can only follow the path of Scholes and Keane, and helplessly miss the Champions League final.

If Fletcher can't play, Anderson probably can only step up, but his combination with Carrick and Scholes has been recognized as out of sync before. Manchester United's few losses are mostly due to the Brazilian. Two passers are paired.

If the final still uses a three-middle midfield formation and arranges Giggs or Scholes to organize the offense, Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to continue to appoint Park Ji-sung in order to achieve balance and consolidate the midfield and solid defense.

The Champions League final is still a little far away. After deciding on their final opponent, Fiorentina immediately shifted their attention to the next game, the thirty-sixth round of the league, against Sampdoria at home.

Although he has won the championship ahead of schedule, Prandelli still stated before the game that he would win the game at home.

Although Digan, Beckham and other main players did not enter the starting lineup, Fiorentina, who played in a round of lineup, was still in the game. With the goals of Cavinaghi and Arteta, they defeated Sampdoria and won. a victory.

Then in the middle of the week, they had to face their opponent Chievo in the Coppa Italia semi-finals. Degan still did not enter the starting lineup. With a header, Fiorentina beat their opponents 4:0, and they have entered the final with one foot.

Then on the weekend, Fiorentina had to go away to challenge Lecce again. Degan made his debut and finally scored a hat-trick with overhead kicks in the first half. Reached 40.

Then in the middle of the week, they will face the second round of the Coppa Italia against Chievo. In this game, Prandelli has sent substitute players in all positions and even recruited several youth team players. The players sat on the bench, and the main players such as Digan didn't even go to the away game with the team.

In the end, Fiorentina still won 2:0, and Cavinaghi scored twice to help Fiorentina defeat their opponents and enter the final of the Coppa Italia with their heads held high.

Next is the last round of the league, the home game against AC Milan, the duel between the Wright brothers will start again, and there are constant transfer rumors about Kaka, and some media even asserted before the game that this game will become a match between the Wright brothers in Serie A. swan song.

During the game, the Wright Brothers also became the focus of the field. Every matchup can attract everyone's attention. Kaka advanced a goal and a long shot from outside the penalty area. Hand surrendered, but immediately after Degan received a pass from Arteta, he scored with a header and equalized the score.

In the next game, both sides tried their best, and AC Milan must score a point to ensure that they can enter the UEFA Champions League next season.

Degan's goal in the second half poured cold water on AC Milan. The news came from another venue that Roma had already led Cagliari 3-0.

If this result is maintained until the end of the game, AC Milan will miss the Champions League for two consecutive years, which is completely unimaginable for AC Milan.

The 2:1 score continued until the end of the second half. This time Kaka became the hero of AC Milan. His breakthrough caused a foul by Kompany, and the referee decisively awarded a penalty.

AC Milan took its destiny into its own hands.