My uncle is Inzaghi.

Chapter 81 Let them relive Jukuro’s memories

Last game in January.

It's the FA Cup away from home.

As a result, Arsenal lost 1-0 to Brighton away from home.

This way.

Arsenal was completely eliminated from the two major domestic cup competitions.

There is nothing that can be done about this. With the thickness of Arsenal's lineup, they must make a choice - on the premise that there is still hope of winning the league this season, Wenger even wants to fail in the Champions League.

Enter February.

Champions League month is here.

The UEFA Champions League knockout rounds will begin in late February.

The teams that advance to the top 16 will begin the first round.

Compete for a spot in the quarterfinals.

The predecessor of the UEFA Champions League is the European Champions League.

It was a real competition in which only the league champions of various countries were eligible to participate. However, after much discussion and restructuring, the European Champions Cup was changed to the European Champions League.

The most important change is to expand the scope of participating teams.

This allows many leagues from small European football countries to have the opportunity to participate in this most technologically advanced football event in the world.

Of course.

The result of expanding the number of participating teams is naturally a decrease in the value of the group stage - but it is only the group stage.

Basically, there are some strong teams that can break out of the group and enter the top 16.

Even if they are not traditional giants, they are still strong teams in various leagues, or some giants in small leagues - such as Shakhtar Donetsk.

Although the teams in the minor leagues all know that they come to the Champions League basically just to accompany the prince to study - since the Champions League was restructured, the champions have basically been concentrated in the teams from the four major leagues of England, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The only two accidents.

It happened in Marseille, which won the championship in the 1992-1993 season, and Porto in the 2003-2004 season - that was Mourinho's famous work.

The remaining champions all come from the four major leagues of England, Germany, Italy and Spain.

But why do teams from small leagues flock to the Champions League, even if they only go home after playing in the group stage?

because

This is all money.

Playing in the Champions League may be the most profitable football tournament in the world besides playing in the Premier League.

Take last season as an example.

Even if it’s just six games in the group stage.

You can also get a basic bonus of at least more than 13 million euros.

If we can win in the group stage.

You can get 3 million euros for every win.

Even if it's a draw, you can get 900,000 for a draw.

Yes, these are basic bonuses, and do not include home ticket revenue, broadcast sharing, etc. This part of the revenue is also quite large, but it is not fixed because it depends on the stadium ticket price, stadium size, and ball number of each team. Team broadcast value is linked.

Even if a team loses all six games in the Champions League group stage, it can still receive 13 million.

This amount of money is not small money for super-rich teams such as Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, ​​and Manchester United.

For teams in small leagues in Eastern Europe, 13 million means several years of club operating costs.

And here comes the knockout round.

If you advance to the top sixteen, you will get a bonus of 7 million. If you advance to the top eight, you will get a bonus of 9 million. If you advance to the semi-finals, you will get a bonus of 11 million. If you advance to the finals, you will get a bonus of 13 million.

In other words.

If a team can advance from the group stage to the final, the bonus from the bonus pool alone will be 53 million euros!

Count the broadcast share.

Even if income from tickets, peripherals, etc. is excluded.

As long as you can reach the finals, you will have a net income of at least 70 to 80 million.

Why does Arsenal work so hard to enter the Champions League every year? Because as long as they play in the Champions League for one season, even if they are eliminated in the top 16 like before, Arsenal can increase their income by more than 30 million!

This is really important for Arsenal, who are financially strapped.

Therefore, Wenger's idea of ​​failing in the Champions League only flashed in his mind for a moment, and was quickly rejected by him - although it is difficult to eliminate Real Madrid, it is not impossible.

Especially Real Madrid's situation during this period is very bad.

The conflict between Casillas and Mourinho became public.

Judging from the news disclosed by the Madrid media.

Mourinho lost almost all support in the dressing room.

The Spanish gang does not support him, the Portuguese gang bothers him, and the international gang is already very unhappy with Mourinho.

Real Madrid generals are at odds.

This is a huge opportunity for Arsenal.

therefore.

When Wenger mentioned the Champions League to his players, he also expressed the attitude that we would go all out in the Champions League.

This undoubtedly gave Arsenal's players another dose of stimulant.

On February 2, in the 3th round of the league, Arsenal faced Stoke City at home.

No more cup competition distractions like the FA Cup and League Cup.

Arsenal played with all their main players.

Easily defeated Stoke City 2-0.

2 month 10 day.

In the twenty-fifth round of the league, Arsenal challenged Sunderland away.

Before the game started, Arsenal got some good news.

Manchester United drew with Chelsea away from home!

and so.

As long as Arsenal wins this game.

The difference can be reduced to one point.

Perhaps due to excessive excitement, Arsenal was unable to open up the situation in this game.

Until the 86th minute of the game, Li Mo received the ball in the penalty area and crossed to the left, giving Podolski a chance to hit an empty goal.

Arsenal had a thrilling victory over Sunderland 1-0 away from home.

After this round of league.

Arsenal's points have reached 51 points, only 1 point behind Manchester United.

Behind them, Manchester City scored 47 points, 4 points behind Arsenal and 5 points behind Manchester United.

After this round of league.

Fans can see Ferguson's livid face at the post-match press conference from almost any media.

But the twenty-sixth round of the league is coming soon.

Arsenal faces Liverpool at home.

Because there is a Champions League game in four days.

So Wenger made a small rotation in the starting lineup - this can also be seen that Wenger neither wants to give up the Champions League nor lose points in the league.

Li Mo started the game.

Li Mo, who has not scored in three consecutive games, opened his scoring account in this game.

In the 19th minute of the game, he scored with a tackle in the penalty area to help the team lead 1-0.

Not long after the start of the second half, Li Mo passed the ball with a header, and Ramsey hit a long shot, opening the Liverpool goal again.

After leading 2-0, Wenger began to replace several main players and planned to call it quits.

结果

Liverpool took their chance.

Scored consecutive goals in the second half of the second half.

Suarez's two long-range shots from the world helped Liverpool equalize the score.

In the end, the two sides shook hands with each other 2-2.

After this round of league.

Arsenal are three points behind Manchester United again.

However, Arsenal failed to win this game, and the commentators were very understanding: "It can be seen that Arsenal's players are already thinking about the Champions League quarter-finals."

at the post-match press conference.

Wenger expressed his understanding of the result of this game: "The players did a good job. Our defense was watertight, but Suarez's two shots were really wonderful. I have nothing to criticize the players for conceding two goals like this." of."

"Champions League? Yes, we are full of aspirations for the Champions League. Real Madrid is a strong team, but we will not be intimidated by their name."

Four days later.

Arsenal are about to go to the Bernabeu to challenge Real Madrid.

Although people say that Arsenal is a wealthy goalkeeper - some people think that Arsenal is a wealthy team, and some people think that it is not. But this argument also proves one point: the size of Arsenal Club is indeed not comparable to that of those super giants.

Real Madrid's salary budget is almost five times that of Arsenal.

In terms of the total value of the team.

Real Madrid is also three times ahead of Arsenal.

In terms of paper strength, Real Madrid is indeed much stronger than Arsenal.

However, being strong on paper does not mean that Arsenal will surrender in advance.

There are many examples of the weak defeating the strong in football matches.

not to mention.

Real Madrid's team's total value is three times that of Arsenal, does that mean their strength is three times that of Arsenal?

This is not how it is calculated.

After all, Arsenal is currently the second-ranked team in the Premier League.

It would be unfair to say that they had absolutely no chance of beating Real Madrid.

But beating Real Madrid requires more than words.

This is based on careful planning and preparation before the game.

The tactics against Real Madrid almost, actually started a week ago.

Everyone at Arsenal is paying close attention to this game.

The English media did not comment too much on the fact that Arsenal took a two-goal lead and was equalized by Liverpool with two world waves because they replaced the main players.

Everyone knows.

Arsenal is trying to stay in the Champions League.

and so.

The focus of many media attention is on "should Arsenal retain the league or the Champions League?"

Some media believe that Arsenal should try their best to keep the league because it is unlikely that they will eliminate Real Madrid.

Even if they try their best to eliminate Real Madrid, how far can Arsenal go in the Champions League?

Some media also believe that Real Madrid has frequent locker room problems, which is a huge opportunity for Arsenal.

There are also media who are offering suggestions and talking on paper, as if the tactical ability of football reporters and media people can equal Wenger, surpass Ferguson, crush Mourinho, and ravage Guardiola.

The uproar in the English media had little effect on Arsenal.

Because Arsenal got on a plane to Madrid the morning after playing the Liverpool game.

They received warm hospitality from Atletico Madrid - because Atletico Madrid is going to play the first leg of the Europa League round of 32 knockout games away from home this week, and it is also away from home.

Therefore, Atletico Madrid's training base was opened to Arsenal.

For Atletico Madrid, they don't mind causing a little trouble for their city rivals.

Arsenal feel right at home at Atletico Madrid's training ground.

But throughout Madrid.

They are undoubtedly considered enemies by most of the media.

In Madrid, the atmosphere felt by Arsenal's players was that this game seemed to be an inspection meeting for Real Madrid.

""AS" said that Florentino will be on hand to watch Li Mo's performance in this game."

In the hotel's conference hall, waiting for the tactical meeting to begin, the players chatted about their experiences in Madrid.

Arteta, the team's vice-captain who was born in La Masia, held up a Spanish newspaper and curled his lips.

"Real Madrid fans can watch Li Mo's ability live, and they can look forward to Real Madrid bringing this super center to the Bernabeu in the future. Damn it, what do Madrid people think this is? This is the Champions League!"

Cazorla leaned over, took a look, and then translated the "AS" report to his teammates in displeasure.

When the Arsenal players heard this, they all frowned.

"Real Madrid fans are too arrogant."

Li Mo shook his head and said.

"That's natural. Real Madrid fans consider themselves nobles."

"To me, Real Madrid is an ordinary team." Li Mo said, shaking his head.

At the media open day the next day.

The Arsenal player that the local media in Madrid pays the most attention to is of course Li Mo.

When Li Mo was asking for autographs from the fans who came to the training ground at the entrance, some media came over.

"Lee, many Real Madrid fans are paying attention to your performance at the Bernabeu, they..."

"I don't care about this. I go all out in the game not to win the attention of some fans, but for my team and to win!"

Li Mo directly interrupted the Spanish reporter who was a bit tongue-tied and spoke.

"Many players dream of joining Real Madrid"

"I don't have such a dream. For me, Real Madrid is not special."

Li Mo responded unceremoniously.

This made the reporter quite embarrassed.

Reflected in media reports

That's why Li Mo's reputation has changed somewhat among the Madrid media and fans.

"arrogant? Li Mo said Real Madrid is not special! 》

"Real Madrid is not my dream!" 》

"The attention of Real Madrid fans is not important to me!" 》

For a while.

These media headlines made those Real Madrid fans who were looking forward to Li Mo's performance a little unhappy.

They are used to players from all walks of life kneeling down on Real Madrid.

"Joining Real Madrid has been my dream since childhood."

"Di Stefano/Santiago Bernabeu/Raul/Cristiano Ronaldo are my idols."

And so on.

This has made Real Madrid fans a little tired.

And Real Madrid’s football status lies here.

Even if there are players who are not Real Madrid fans.

When being interviewed by the media, he would speak politely to some extent, but would not speak so harshly, which would offend Real Madrid for nothing.

"Damn, I quite liked him."

"This is an arrogant guy!"

"Looking down on Real Madrid, we must make him pay the price!"

"He will give in when he feels the power of Real Madrid!"

Real Madrid fans have left messages under these online news.

However, Li Mo's words were very useful to Arsenal players and fans.

On the training ground.

Almost all the topics discussed by Arsenal players were about Real Madrid.

Even now there is a lot of negative news about Real Madrid's dressing room in the media.

But Arsenal players are still very cautious when mentioning this team.

Just looking at the lineup of this team, not many people dare to underestimate them.

"This fortune is really unlucky."

"It took a lot of effort to finish first in the group, but we will face Real Madrid in the top 16."

"Have we offended UEFA?"

"damn it"

Players often complained about the luck of the draw when chatting during warm-ups.

In the top 16, we encountered finals-level opponents.

Who can bear it?

But Li Mo was a little unhappy when he heard these words.

"Brothers, Real Madrid is nothing!"

he shouted.

When he saw the eyes of his teammates, they all turned to him.

He continued: "They have been eliminated in the top 16 for many years. Have you forgotten? They also have the nickname Real Madrid 16th Lang!"

"Our purpose is to let them relive the experience of the Champions League Champions League!"

he said loudly, clenching his fists.

(End of this chapter)