The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 68 Opportunity
  I don’t know what other people were thinking, but Mancini who was sitting on the bench must be very unhappy.

You said you are a midfielder, why did you come to take my position?

It's not just about grabbing a position, but I actually scored a goal so easily. Then what have I become? A clown?

Figo, who had already thought about retiring, smiled and celebrated for the team. The Portuguese veteran no longer cares about playing time.

He just waited until the end of this season to announce his retirement.

As for Inter Milan's head coach Mourinho, he nodded with satisfaction.

This is what he wants to see, and Leo's goal also shows that his decision was not wrong.

This was just the beginning. Leo, who was gradually finding the feeling, continued to attack the home team's goal together with the team.

Leo made a pass from the left, Ibrahimovic passed it with a header, and Quaresma's volley with the outside of his right foot was saved by Panathinaikos goalkeeper Galinovic.

Then a corner kick was taken, Vieira headed the ball to his teammate, and Materazzi shot from far beyond the goal.

Then Leo sent a wonderful direct pass from the left rib of the frontcourt, and Ibrahimovic's single shot into the penalty area missed slightly.

Obviously, Ibrahimovic's condition today is much better than in previous games.

This is a good thing. Da Fengxian, who is in normal condition, is unstoppable on the court, and it is much easier for Leo to get assists.

Cambiaso passed the ball, and Quaresma's lob from outside the penalty area was picked up by Galinovic again.

Leo curled his lips, not quite understanding the Portuguese's playing style.

Indeed, Quaresma's shots look very good, and they are all difficult attacks.

But is the success rate a little lower?
  It’s no wonder that many head coaches hate players who like long shots, because these players waste most of the opportunities created by their teammates’ hard work.

Not only does it mean giving the ball to the opponent in vain, but it also hurts morale.

Of course, if it can be scored, such a wonderful goal can also boost morale very well.

Double matches a week are definitely physically stressful for players who play consecutively.

After a period of onslaught without any effect, Inter Milan also gradually slowed down its pace.

The visitors used their advantage in midfield to maintain possession.

At the end of the first half, the score was still 1-0.

According to Mourinho's arrangement at halftime, Inter Milan went completely defensive in the second half, and the pace of the game was further slowed down.

The main thing the Nerazzurri, who are leading by score, have to do now is to keep the score without conceding a goal, and at the same time save energy to prepare for the next game.

The Greek team, which was at a disadvantage, wanted to counterattack but was unable to do so.

In the 57th minute, Mourinho made two substitutions. Figo and Muntari came on the bench to replace Quaresma and Vieira.

Ibrahimovic, who has been very active in the frontcourt today, finally got a chance in the 65th minute of the game.

Zanetti stole the ball in the frontcourt and passed the ball, and Leo got the ball on the left.

Facing the defensive player, Leo, who is skilled and bold, broke through the home team's right back Moon with one crotch and then passed the ball into the penalty area with a half-high ball!

Ibrahimovic, who was facing the goal with his back to the goal, was closely guarded by the opponent's central defender and scored with his right foot!
  Scorpion tail wagging!

The Swede, who scored his first goal in the Champions League this season, ran to the sidelines, took off his jersey and screamed to the sky!

Ibrahimovic, whose status has been ups and downs since the start of the season, has been questioned by all walks of life.

Today, he is also holding back his energy and wants to perform well in the Champions League to reverse the decline.

And he successfully did it!

Inter Milan leads 2-0, and Ibrahimovic participated in all the goals with one goal and one assist!
  Soon, Mourinho replaced Ibrahimovic, the hero of the goal, with Adriano, letting him go off early to rest.

The few die-hard Inter fans who traveled with the team to the away game also applauded Da Fengxian.

After Ibrahimovic left the field, Mourinho hugged the Swede and patted him on the back to show encouragement. The final whistle blew, and Inter Milan, who played away from home, took home a victory in Athens, Greece.

"I'm happy with the result and the three points."

Inter Milan’s head coach said,
  "For a Champions League game we played well.

In this competition, it is very difficult to win away from home.

We came here, we played as well as we should have, and I think we deserved the win. "

This is also the first time in three league seasons that the Nerazzurri have made a good start in the Champions League.

"I think the team is gradually changing and it's not easy to change the mentality of a team in such a short period of time.

And this is a team that has lost its first game in the past two Champions Leagues.

I talked to my players before the game.

I told them that they are a stronger team than Panathinaikos and we must not be afraid of taking this responsibility.

Towards the end of the game, some players on the field were already experiencing physical problems.

But they held on and I'm happy with what they did.

We are enjoying football and winning games. "

Then a reporter asked, wanting to know what the madman said about the Inter Milan players who played today.

"Everyone is outstanding. Ibra has regained his form. He scored a goal in this game. He also assisted Leo's goal. There is no doubt that he is one of the strongest centers.

Although I asked Leo to appear in a position that he was not very familiar with.

But like Ibra, he also passed and shot, and continued his usual level. "

The Italian media behaved very strangely for the young Inter Milan player who has shown great ability since the beginning of this season and has been helping the team in the offensive period.

There are some praises in their normal reports, but they don't pursue it immediately.

Except for Sky Sports Italy, which followed Leo when he was loaned to the Premier League last season, other media selectively avoided talking about his outstanding performance.

After the game against Roma, they said it was just the Super Cup and a warm-up match was not worth talking about.

After receiving consecutive assists in the league, they also said that their opponents were not as strong as Inter Milan, which was not convincing.

One goal and one assist in the Champions League means that the level of the Greek team is too low to explain the problem.

Logically speaking, performance in one or two games cannot be used as a criterion, but Leo has started four consecutive games and performed outstandingly.

They are waiting, waiting, waiting for that critical opportunity.

And that opportunity is not far away.

On September 9, in the third round of Serie A, Leo continued to start and he returned to the midfield position.

The last game was just a whim against the underdog Mourinho.

Maicon and Ibrahimovic scored successively, and Leo's long-range shot was blocked by the defensive player and counted as an own goal.

In the end, Inter Milan defeated the Bulls Turin 3-1 away from home.

Three days later, in the fourth round of Serie A, the Nerazzurri faced Pepper Lecce at home.

Continuous fighting made Inter Milan's players a little tired and they were at a disadvantage.

Mourinho made continuous substitutions, and Inter Milan, which had been unable to open up the situation for a long time, actually had as many as five forwards on the field.

At the last moment of the game, Maicon sent a long diagonal pass from the right. Ibrahimovic nodded the ball back. Cruz fired a half-volley with his right foot directly from the penalty area line and hit the net!
  Mourinho's team won 1-0 at home!

Who will their opponent be in the next game? City rival AC Milan!

(End of this chapter)