"In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 1/8 final, Chelsea beat Barcelona 4-2 at home and advanced to the ...... with an aggregate score of 5-4"

As the news goes, Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League, with the La Liga leaders at the feet of Chelsea after scoring two goals home and away, and at Stamford Bridge, Barcelona conceded three goals in 19 minutes and were knocked out by Jose Mourinho's side. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

Inside, Leon is reluctant to see Barcelona out of the Champions Cup, not because it causes him to support La Liga, but because if Barcelona remain in the Champions Cup, the two-front battle will inevitably distract Barcelona. However, now, Barcelona is out of the Champions Cup, in addition, in the Spanish Copa del Rey, Barcelona is also out early, which means that Barcelona can concentrate on dealing with the league in the back, which is not good news for Sporting Gijón, you know, Sporting Gijón is still fighting in the Spanish Copa del Rey, the UEFA Cup and La Liga.

Barcelona Champions Cup is out, and now, La Liga is only left with Real Madrid, which is about to usher in the second leg of the knockout round, and just a day later, in the second leg of the Champions Cup 1/8 finals that began at the Alp Stadium, Juventus defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in extra time at home, and advanced with an aggregate score of 2-1, and La Liga's only seed, Real Madrid, also fell again in the round of 16. At this point, the La Liga teams are all out.

All were lost away from home, one heroic, one sad, with the elimination of Barcelona and Real Madrid, the road to the Champions League of La Liga teams this season came to an end. Since the 1992/1993 season, La Liga teams have not missed the quarter-finals of the Champions League (Champions League). In other words, the La Liga team has set the worst record in 12 years of the Champions Cup. It also caused an uproar throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

Garcia, a reporter from the newspaper "As", believes that the "total annihilation" of La Liga teams is related to the direct knockout round of 16 teams in the Champions League last season. As we all know, although the Spanish national team has never had a shortage of star players, it has rarely achieved great results in European and world competitions. As a result, the country's media came to the conclusion that the most unsuitable game for Spanish players was the knockout round. There is some truth to this, since the 1994/1995 Champions Cup adopted the top 8 knockout system, La Liga teams ushered in the "spring" of the Champions Cup.

He also cited some examples in the article, Real Madrid reached the quarterfinals in the 1995/1996 season, Atletico Madrid reached the quarterfinals in the 1996/1997 season, Real Madrid won the championship in the 1997/1998 season, Real Madrid reached the quarterfinals in the 1998/1999 season, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia reached the semifinals together in the 1999/2000 season, and the final staged the La Liga duo, Real Madrid and Valen in the 2000/2001 season and Valen in the semifinals, Real Madrid and Barcelona in the 2001/2002 season entered the semifinals. Real Madrid won the championship and in the 2002/2003 season, Real Madrid Barcelona Valen also reached the quarterfinals. However, after the cancellation of the group stage of the round of 16 in the 2003/2004 season, Real Maraco was eliminated in the quarter-finals, and no La Liga team has reached the quarter-finals this year.

For Garcia's statement, Li Ang scoffed, in fact, Garcia's statement is too far-fetched. Even if there is a group stage of the round of 16, there will still be a knockout stage after reaching the quarterfinals. And this was precisely the strength of the La Liga team in the previous two years. Real Madrid eliminated Bayern, Manchester United and Juventus, Valencia eliminated Arsenal and Lazio, Laco eliminated Juventus and AC Milan. It's just that with the addition of a knockout round, the serendipity of the game increases, which is fatal for the attacking La Liga team.

In fact, La Liga's disappointment in the Champions League has only started last season. Real Madrid and Laco were both eliminated by their opponents in a good situation, and there were also unexpected factors. And this season, Barcelona's prominence once gave La Liga hope, but the slump of Valencia and Laco has made La Liga lose the advantage of collective seeding in the past.

Barcelona's defeat is the reflection of the Catalan media, and the tragic death of Real Madrid is the confession of the Madrid media. Two great teams who have played two classic games for fans around the world and then "died" in the same way, and they faced opponents Chelsea and Juventus, the leaders of the English Premier League and Serie A, respectively, so their departure was not unjust.

***********

For the Spanish media mourning, Li Ang is very disapproving, you know, although all the La Liga teams are out of the Champions Cup, but, in the UEFA Cup, there are still three teams in La Liga, Sporting Gijón, Villarreal, and Sevilla, occupy three seats in the round of 16, which is a relatively good result.

Subsequently, in an interview with the media, Li Ang made a clear statement, hoping that the Spanish media and Spanish football would pay more attention to the UEFA Cup and give support to the three teams including Sporting Gijón.

"The standard for judging the level of a league is also to consider the level of the team as a whole. The League Cup is also an examination room. In the early 90s of the last century, Serie A was recognized as the number one league in the world. While the great powers are crazy in the Champions Cup, the mid-tier teams are also competing for hegemony in the League Cup, and the Serie A Seven Sisters are also strong teams in Europe. This is illustrated by the trileums of Inter Milan and Parma in the UEFA Cup, and we must note that in the UEFA league standings, it is not only the results of the teams that participated in the Champions League, but also the results of the teams that participated in the UEFA Cup. The data shows that the biggest contribution to La Liga's current lead in the UEFA league rankings is not from giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, but from mid-stream teams. They are also an important force in supporting a league. La Liga teams have finished in the Champions League this year, but it is too early to say that La Liga teams have sunset and La Liga is no longer competitive. ”

After the La Liga teams were all out of the Champions Cup, the Spaniards were very unhappy about La Liga being inferior to the Premier League and Serie A.

Then, these Spanish media and some football people immediately felt that the Chinese head coach of Sporting Gijón was good. At the critical moment, it came out as a platform for La Liga, which is reliable.

Li Ang didn't expect that what he said actually aroused the favor of many Spaniards, he said that those words really didn't mean to please anyone, he had only one purpose, to tell the Spanish Football Association, remind them that Sporting Gijon is working hard to earn points for La Liga in the League Cup, the implicit meaning is that I hope that the Spanish Football Association can take care of it within the scope of the rules, the worst, if you don't take care of it, don't be bullied.

This is not Leon's goal, Real Madrid and Barcelona have a huge influence in Spanish football, and if they want to snatch food from their mouths, Leon has to concentrate all his energy and take all the factors into account, among which the team can get a fair chance to compete as much as possible, which is also necessary to strive for. At least on the issue of referee law enforcement in La Liga, try not to suffer losses.

Only children who can shout will be hurt, Sporting Gijón is a grassroots team, don't call it, don't ask for credit, no one will pay attention to you.

***********

There was not a hint of wind, and some dark clouds hung in the sky in a conspicuous manner.

"It's going to rain. Banderas said.

"Remind them to bring spikes. Leon said.

They will host Rapid Vienna in this evening's game. This is the first leg of the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup.

Just looking at the weather, there is a good chance that it will rain during the evening game, and it may even rain heavily, which is not good news for Sporting Gijón, who like to attack on the ground.

After the afternoon training, the players walk back to the locker room, clean up, and then the whole team will gather and head to the hotel for dinner, a short rest, and then ready to head to the stadium to prepare for the game.

Leon glanced at Manuel Arango, the club's president, who was standing on the edge of the training ground, who had come to watch the team train this afternoon, but now that the training was over, the elder Arango had not left.

"Can we say a few words individually, Leon?" said Manuel Arango, who walked up to Leon and extended him an invitation to talk.

Seeing this, Banderas and Scottry took their leave.

***********

In fact, if it weren't for Leon's vigilance, it is very likely that Mr. Chairman would have traded Ribery and planned to have a 'cut before he played', maybe the team owner thinks that the whole team is his, and he has the right to do so, and this move will not anger Leon, but, in fact, this is regarded as an intolerable thing by Leang, and the relationship between the two has deteriorated sharply.

Since then, the two have not had a separate and formal communication.

Leon and Manuel Arango, two people who had worked together very harmoniously, knew that that incident had created a rift between the two men, and it was not a shallow rift. As long as there is a crack, it is impossible to restore the original integrity.

The other party was Mr. President, who took the initiative to talk, and Li Ang couldn't find a reason to refuse, so he nodded.

The two men walked along the asphalt of the training base, and the palm trees on both sides of the road were listless.

"To be honest, I'm amazed by how the team is doing right now. I really didn't expect that we are so high in the rankings and so close to Barcelona. Manuel Arango found a topic first.

"It's the result of the whole team working together. "Li Ang's words are not modest, yes, as the head coach, he has led the team to the current results, and he has made great contributions, but this is also inseparable from the efforts of the players on the field, after all, no matter how good the head coach is, he can't play in person. The whole team of Sporting Gijón is extremely convinced and respects Li Ang, which can be said to be the life of the three armies, and they are united in one heart.

"Is there really any hope for the league champion?" The topic naturally came to the competition for the league championship, and Leon has been 'accumulating character' when facing the media, so the old Arango also wants to know what Leon really thinks in his heart.

"Now that we've reached this position, we have to fight for it. Leon said, "Otherwise, I will be unwilling."

This is also his sincere words, seeing that the league championship is in front of him, since there is hope to snatch food from Barcelona's mouth, he is really unwilling.

***********

"Haha, the most correct thing I did was to invite you to coach. Manuel Arango laughed and said, "You were really embarrassed, if you hadn't come to Gijón, you would have returned to China." ”

Leon glanced at old Arango, what does this mean?

"Yes, I want to thank Gijón for this stage. Li Ang smiled slightly, "We have gone from being a relegation team in La Liga to being directly promoted to La Liga, and now we have achieved our current results as a promoted horse, and I didn't expect this stage to be so bright." ”

Manuel Arango stared at Leon: Is this a boast of showing off? You are saying that you have done a great job and you don't owe anything?!

The fact is that two people who have already had a rift in their relationship can become extremely sensitive, just because they have a lack of trust in each other.

"I know that there is a saying in China that seeks common ground while reserving differences, everything must look forward, and I am looking forward to ......"

"Are you dissatisfied with my work, Mr. President?" asked Leon abruptly.

Old Arango, who didn't expect Leon to interrupt him, made his face change and his anger rose.

"Of course not. Mr. Chairman gritted his teeth and said.

"That's fine. Leon said with a smile, "Everything is normal with the team. ”

***********

Manuel Arango stared at the road ahead, as if he was making up his mind, then stopped and looked at Leon, his face was not very good, "Lee, you know what I mean!"

"I don't understand. Leon shook his head, he was a little distressed, did he have to tear his face?

"Don't forget, I'm the owner of this team, I'm absolutely in charge here. Old Arango roared angrily.

Not far away, Scottrie, who was walking over and was about to call Leon to get on the bus, looked at this scene in horror, his face changed again and again, although he didn't hear what the two people said, but he could hear that there was a quarrel.

Scott turned away and told the others not to disturb the meeting between Mr. Chairman and the team's manager. Fortunately, he heard it, and if someone else heard a heated quarrel between Mr. Chairman and Leon, it would definitely cause civil unrest.

Leon grinned, finally said what was in his heart, he worked hard for Sporting Gijón, tried every means to build a team, and with almost no transfer funds, he was able to build a team with Ribery, Modric, Hierro, Albertini, Mata, Di Natale and Pepe, he himself felt that he was simply amazing, he even laughed at himself and thought that Gijón should give him a bronze statue, and now, all because of Mr. President's words, it was cold.

Seeing that Leon was silent, perhaps knowing that his words were excessive, old Arango said, "I know you are dissatisfied with me, Leon, but, don't forget, I am the owner of this team, so please stand in my position and understand me......"

***********

Li Ang didn't speak, just looked at the old Arango quietly, thinking about the close cooperation between the two before, imagining the grand future of Sporting Gijón together, the pride and joy after the team was promoted back to La Liga and won the Copa del Rey, but unfortunately, no one expected the honeymoon period to pass so soon. Leon can almost foresee that in the future, his hard-working team may face the possibility of being sent to the transfer market at any time, can he stop it once, can he stop it three times? four times, nine times, ten times? To put it bluntly, the old Arango is the boss, what is he really going to do, who can stop it? Is it that every time he uses resignation as a threat to stop it? This is really ironic.

Leon even suspects that looking at a player who has performed well is like looking at a cheque now.

What ambition, what to regain glory, is unreliable.

It's too difficult for a small club like Sporting Gijón to develop. First of all, the owner of a small club must withstand the temptation, have a resolute attitude towards development, and have a healthy finance. It's a pity that none of these Athletic Gijón are available.

"Mr. President, please believe in my work ethic. Leon said in a very serious tone, "As long as I am still in the position of head coach of Sporting Gijón, I will do my best to work!"

After speaking, Leon pointed to Scottry at the far end, "The team is still waiting for me, I will take my leave first, Mr. President." With that, Leon turned and left, unilaterally ending the conversation with Manuel Arango.

Looking at the back of Leon leaving straight away, Manuel Arango gasped, he was angry, this person actually dared to leave like this, he dared to leave him directly.

Outrageous!

It's too faceless to give him.

Then he recalled that since the two of them worked together, it seemed that this Chinese had always been such a style, a tough style.

Once people are dominated by emotions, they only recall bad things, and the elder Arango selectively forgets the achievements and glory that Leon brought to Sporting Gijón, the Copa del Rey trophy, the credit for promotion, and the team's current extraordinary achievements.

What a failed meeting.