What ball king, call me ball god

August 2020, 8, Lisbon, Portugal.

Lisbon Stadium of Light.

Due to the impact of the epidemic, this year's Champions League final is the latest to be held in history.

This game is extremely important for both sides entering the final. One is Paris Saint-Germain, which has reached the Champions League final for the first time, and the other is Manchester United, which has re-entered the Champions League final after 9 years.

For both teams, this game is a must-win.

For the two teams that have entered the finals, no one will enter the finals again and say that they don’t want the championship.

At yesterday's pre-match press conference, Manchester United coach Ten Hag and captain Lin Kedi came to attend the pre-match press conference.

In Paris, Paris coach Tuchel attended with Neymar.

It was obvious that the head coaches of both teams attended the press conference before the final with their top players.

At the press conference, both sides were asked a very simple question.

"Do you think you will win the final?"

Tuchel answered from Paris, "Every team that reaches the final hopes to win the championship, and I believe Manchester United is the same. And our goal is very simple, which is to win the first Champions League championship in Paris team history!"

This question is answered by Lin Kedi from Manchester United.He straightened his body and said confidently: "Of course, of course I think Manchester United will win. This is a question I have thought about since I joined Manchester United."

He smiled slightly and continued: "When I was in the locker room, I told my teammates that we can definitely win the Champions League. Because our condition is so good, this is the most important thing. The atmosphere in our team is also very good. Well, teammates support and encourage each other. As players, we know these things best. Maybe we don’t have many people on the team who have won championship experience, but with me, Frankie, and Matthijs here, we can We only won the Champions League last season. We were the championship team last season, so we also have the strength and ability to win the championship again this season."

Lin Kedi's eyes flashed with firm belief, and he continued: "We are experienced. We experienced the finals last season. We know the atmosphere of the finals and how to stay calm in the finals. These experiences will help us a lot." We have made a positive impact on the competition this season. Coupled with our ability, we will definitely win the championship!"

Next, the media reporters who caused the trouble asked the second question.

This reporter is a reporter from L’Equipe.

Although L'Equipe has always had trouble dealing with Paris Saint-Germain, it doesn't have any burden to start an English team.Especially when asking you about transfer rumors before the final.

"There are news reports that Real Madrid president Florentino intends to sign you after the Champions League final. What do you think of this news?"

Lin Kedi curled his lips and replied: "I just want to respond to this news with one sentence. I will definitely not leave Manchester United this summer. That's it."

Reporters are just following the snake. After the team newspaper reporter asked this kind of transfer question to no avail, other reporters asked about other things.

"Mr. Lin Kedi, in a Sky Sports program yesterday, Henry mentioned you and said that your national team career will limit your final historical status. What do you think of this matter?"

"To be honest, I don't care about this. It's useless to talk about things like historical status. When I retire, my historical status will be decided by the public. As for my national team, I care about my status. The national team, I am also the captain of the national team, and I am responsible for the national team. I want to say one more thing here. It is completely different from many traditional football powers. Before me, the players in our country who played in Europe were all It's pitiful. Before me, our country had entered the World Cup once, so when I appeared, fans across the country had high expectations for me. I will always remember this expectation, so there are no restrictions on the national team career. I don’t think it’s worth mentioning my historical status because the national team is very important to me.”

Next, it’s time to ask the question about Paris.

Link can feel more relaxed if he leans back.

After that, several hot-button questions were asked in Paris, such as the relationship between Neymar and Mbappe. Neymar has been in the game for many years, and he has dealt with them easily.

Then, the memory ends.

Back to the present.

On August 8, the sun was blazing, and the summer heat wave filled the air.This is the day of the Champions League final, a football feast scheduled for the world.However, this final is destined to be different from any other in history. It will be the first Champions League final without fans.

In the early morning, the Manchester United bus slowly drove out of the hotel under the early morning sunshine and headed for the stadium not far away.The scenery outside the car window is familiar yet unfamiliar.Familiar streets, unfamiliar silence.At this time in the past, the streets would have been bustling and the fans would have been enthusiastic, holding up red scarves and posters in anticipation of the upcoming game.Today, however, the streets were empty, with only the gentle breeze blowing by, taking away a trace of the heat.

After the team entered the stadium, the players felt an unprecedented silence.There is no more noise from the fans, no more crazy shouts, only the presence of the lawn, the goal and the players.Although they are a little uncomfortable, they also understand that this is a special measure during a special period and is for the health and safety of everyone.

"This doesn't feel like the Champions League final. Last year, it was so exciting." De Ligt looked out the window and sighed.

Lin Kedi, who was sitting next to him, also looked out the window.

"Yes, last year, it was so hot outside the stadium. They were all fans. After entering the stadium, the cheers of the fans were also very high. But, this year -"

"Hey - Lin, the news just said yesterday that it is possible that next season, the whole season will be played in empty stadiums. This is really unaccustomed!"

"Of course, football matches wouldn't be possible without fans."

The moment you enter the court, the tension of the game engulfs the entire space.In this final, Manchester United, as the home team, has a certain advantage. They wear red jerseys and look particularly eye-catching.As the away team, Paris Saint-Germain wears dark blue jerseys, which are also very eye-catching.However, since the home players of the two teams do not have contrasting colors, the visual effect during the game is not abrupt.

In terms of the locker room, Manchester United is undoubtedly the luckier team.They can conduct pre-match warm-ups and tactical discussions in the home team's locker room.

There is no doubt that the home team's dressing room at Lisbon's Stadium of Light is well built.

After entering the locker room, Ten Hag glanced at the time.

There is still some time before the game starts.

So Ten Hag issued an order to the whole team, asking them to walk out of the locker room and start warm-up training on the field.At this stage, the team's players will perform a series of warm-up exercises on the court, including stretching, passing, shooting, etc., to prepare for the next game.

In the past, many fans who entered early would come to the stadium early to watch their favorite team warm up.However, in the now empty stadium, the players can only warm up silently accompanied by the staff.Although there were no cheers and cheers from the audience, the players still tried their best to complete every action and be fully prepared for the upcoming game.

Lin Kedi stood silently at the end of the team. He had been silently paying attention to everything around him. Although there was not much communication, a passion had already been ignited in his heart.He knows that only through unremitting efforts and indomitable spirit can he win the game.

On the other side, the Paris Saint-Germain players are also warming up.Although they come from different countries and cultural backgrounds, they showed amazing unity and collaboration at this moment.Everyone understands that only by performing at their best in the game can they win the final victory.

After the time was almost up, the players from both teams returned to the locker room to make final preparations.They will change into game jerseys and shoes.

Lin Kedi is stuffing his shin pads into his socks.

Ten Hag announced the starting list as early as last night's meeting.

Now, the starting lineups of both sides have been announced.

"Paris Saint-Germain's starting lineup has come out. There is no doubt that their starting lineup is still 433. At the goalkeeper position, Navas returned to the starting lineup. In the last semi-final, due to Navas' injury and absence, Rico replaced him The starting lineup. At that time, many experts and media predicted that for the sake of stability, Tuchel would also choose Rico to continue to start in today's final. After all, Rico's performance in the semi-finals was quite good, especially considering Navas has just returned from injury, and the specific competitive status is still unknown. But now, looking at it, Navas will be the starting goalkeeper in the Paris final."

"On the defense line, from left to right are Bernat, Kimpembe, Thiago Silva and Krell. These four players are the absolute main force of Paris Saint-Germain's defense. Their The defensive ability and tacit understanding are very high. In the single defensive midfielder position, Marquinhos will play this important role. With his large defensive area and strong stealing ability, he is an important barrier for the team's midfield."

"In the left midfield position, Paredes will assume this role. He is a midfielder with delicate skills and accurate passing, who can provide strong support to the team's attacking line. In the right midfield position , Herrera will assume this role. He is a midfielder with strong running ability and fierce tackling, who can provide strong protection for the team's defense."

"On the offensive line, the left winger is Neymar, the center is Mbappe, and the right winger is Di Maria. These three players are all top attackers in today's football, and their speed and skills are very good. Especially It's Mbappe. His speed and breakthrough ability are very strong, and he is a major weapon on the team's offensive end. And Di Maria also has excellent skills and shooting ability, which can provide a powerful force for the team's offensive line. Support. Needless to say, Neymar is the core player of Paris Saint-Germain. He continues to appear as the left winger in this game, but in official games, he will not be limited to the left winger position. "Next is Manchester United's starting lineup. Today, Manchester United's starting lineup has restored the 3241 formation before the semi-finals. This formation can be said to be Manchester United's classic formation. It was originally conceived by Guardiola, but Ten Hag was the first to It was launched and was also the first to be promoted. We don’t need to mention the advantages of this formation. It has proven its effectiveness and power in past games.

However, when facing Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, it was obvious that Ten Hag chose Manchester United's regular formation of 4231 for stability.This formation pays more attention to defense and midfield control to ensure the team's stability.However, in today's final, facing the powerful Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United chose such a radical offensive formation of 3241, which is indeed very bold!
Ten Hag's choice is undoubtedly his full trust in the team's offensive ability.He believes that the team's attackers can exert their greatest power in the game and help the team win.Paris Saint-Germain's defense has had problems many times this season, which has also given Manchester United more offensive opportunities.

This offensive formation requires excellent cooperation and tacit understanding among the players in order to exert its greatest power.Ten Hag believes that the team has been fully prepared in past training and can perform at its best level in the game.This offensive formation also gives players more freedom to use their creativity and skills in the game.

In general, Ten Hag's choice is a risk. After all, Paris Saint-Germain's offensive line is very strong, but it also fully trusts the team's offensive ability.Ten Hag believes that the team can exert its greatest power in the game and win this final. "

"Manchester United's starting goalkeeper today is De Gea. Among the three central defenders, the left central defender is Luke Shaw, the central defender is Ruben Dias, and the right central defender is De Ligt. The double midfielder is Guimarães on the left and Dalot on the right. Special. The left winger is Rashford, the right winger is Perisic, the one on the left of the two attacking midfielders is Bentancur, and the one on the right is De Jong. The one at the front is Lin Kedi."

"From a starting point of view, this is basically Manchester United's strongest starting lineup. Now, the game is about to begin——"
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The players from both sides walked back to their respective locker rooms at the referee's whistle, and the air was filled with tension and anticipation.Coach Ten Hag stood at the door of the locker room, looking at his players, with a trace of expectation in his calm eyes.He knew that at such a critical moment, he needed to say some more motivational words to inspire the players' fighting spirit.

Coach Ten Hag cleared his throat and began to say: "Boys, you all did a great job. Along the way, we defeated many strong teams in the league and showed our own strength and momentum. In the process, we You have gone through many difficulties and challenges, but you have not given up, but have moved forward with more determination."

He walked to the front of the team and his voice became more serious: "Now, we are standing on the stage of the finals. This is our goal all along. This opportunity was obtained with our sweat and hard work, and we cannot give up easily. I know You are already very tired, but at this moment, we need more courage and perseverance."

Coach Ten Hag glanced at every player present, and his words filled people's hearts with motivation and belief. "You must remember that we are here for this goal. There is no other choice but one way - to win the championship! This is our mission and our glory. We have to fight to the end for this goal."

His voice gradually became louder: "Now, I want to tell you: as long as we are united, we are the strongest! Nothing can stop us! This is our opportunity, our stage. We want to dedicate this glory to Our fans, dedicate ourselves to ourselves. For this goal, let us fight together until the end!"

After saying this, cheers erupted in the locker room.

Afterwards, Ten Hahe took the lead and walked onto the court.

At this special moment, Manchester United's players formed a circle and began their routine pre-season ritual.In this sacred ceremony, players always inspire and motivate each other for the upcoming games.

They held hands and stood side by side, forming a tight circle.Lin Kedi stood in the center, raised his head, and met the eyes of his teammates.His eyes sparkled with determination and great anticipation for the upcoming game.

"This moment," Lin Kedi said in a loud voice, "is the moment we long for most before the start of the entire season, isn't it?" His words echoed in the locker room, and every word made the hearts of the players present accelerate.

"Before the start of the season, I also doubted whether we could go all the way and finally stand on the stage of the Champions League final." He admitted that they did not expect to achieve today's achievements at the beginning of the season.They have been in good form, winning consecutive games in the league and setting a new record in points.But even so, there are still many people who are not optimistic about their performance in the Champions League. They believe that Manchester United has not yet returned to its peak.

However, Lin Kedi said firmly: "They are all wrong. This is not our peak, this is just the beginning of our return to the top!" His words echoed in the locker room, inspiring everyone present.

Lin Kedi continued: "I want to tell you that today's opponent is not stronger than Bayern Munich. Along the way, we have defeated many strong enemies. Today's game is just another strong enemy in front of us. We If we have the ability to win Paris, we will definitely win!" His voice echoed in the locker room, full of confidence and determination.

This confidence and determination will be passed on to teammates.

Everyone sees that the captain and the top star of the team is so confident, and the strength in their hearts will naturally increase infinitely.

It couldn't be more obvious.

Players from both sides will be waiting in the player tunnel at this time.

When they were in the tunnel, the players on both sides stood very straight, mostly looking straight ahead.

In fact, many players from both sides are acquaintances or even friends, but in such a crucial game, they will definitely not communicate.

The two sides have already taken their positions in the player tunnel. The referee is standing in the middle of the two teams. Next to him are the two linesmen for this game.

As soon as the players exit the tunnel, a vertical pillar stands there, and the Saint-Bride Cup, the UEFA Champions League trophy, is placed on the platform.It is also commonly known as the Big Ears Cup among Chinese fans.

In previous seasons, there were performances before the Champions League finals, but this year due to the impact of the epidemic, all pre-match performances were cancelled.

In previous seasons, there would be a series of exciting performances before the Champions League finals, bringing a warm atmosphere to the audience.However, this year due to the impact of the global epidemic, all pre-game performances have been cancelled.Although the lively atmosphere of this session was lost, when the players from both sides were already standing in the tunnel before the Champions League final, the Champions League theme song still sounded.The passionate tune instantly ignited the enthusiasm of all the fans, and they seemed to feel the upcoming tension and excitement.At the same time, the team logos of the two teams appeared on the court, as if two warriors were about to enter the battlefield and start a fierce competition.

After all procedures are ready, the referee enters the field first.

Most of today's referee team are from Italy. The referee is Italian referee Osato. He has officiated in Serie A for 14 years and is a very experienced referee.He also won the honor of Italian Golden Whistle.

The two assistant referees are also Italians, one is Manganelli and the other is Galadini.

The fourth official is Khatganj from Ukraine, and the video referee is also from Italy, Ilardi.There are two video assistant referees, one of whom is also Italian and is Gedda.The other one is from Spain and is Hernandez.

This referee team has also officiated 4 Champions League group matches and 2 knockout games this season. It can be said that they are experienced and have played the most in the Champions League.

Both sides also understood the characteristics of this referee in the pre-match meeting.

The referee Osato's penalty decisions are usually very resolute and decisive, and he almost never hesitates. He will give the penalty at the first opportunity, leaving no room for excessive protests by the players.

Therefore, the referee hates the behavior of players besieging the referee.

When he was officiating a Serie A game, he once had a player question his decision and speak rudely to him. He directly sent the opponent off the field.

Therefore, the coaching staff of both sides told the players about this matter in the pre-match meeting and reminded the players to pay attention.

Referee Osato walked onto the court.

Players from both sides then filed out.

Players from both sides have lined up on both sides of the referee.

When the Champions League theme song ended, the two sides began a handshake ceremony.

After the handshake was completed, the players from both sides stood in each half of the court, preparing to take a pre-match photo.

Lin Kedi stood in the first right position in the back row of the team.

After the filming was completed, the Manchester United players handed all their training coats to the staff, and then the players ran onto the court to get active.

Lin Kedi, the captain of Manchester United, walked to the sidelines and stood in front of the referee together with Thiago Silva, the captain of Paris Saint-Germain.

Choose a side and guess first.

The referee tosses the coin.

In the end, Manchester United took the lead in the first half.

Lin Kedi ran back to the center circle.

Waiting for the referee's whistle. (End of chapter)