Chapter 517: The Champions League is coming!

Despite only one point from one draw and one defeat in the first two rounds of the league, Ferguson did not burst into a rage like the familiar Ferguson and was furious with his players.

In the post-match press conference of the 0-0 match against Portsmouth. Ferguson admits his team form isn't good, but that's because "you can't expect a team that has just had something bad to do and immediately play at championship level." I'm happy with the game, at the very least, we defended well, I'm happy. ”

Ferguson's remarks surprised some reporters who were familiar with him, when did this old Scottish man lower his requirements for his team so much? They even suspected that Ferguson was just a good thing to say on the surface, and he didn't know how to get angry at the players when he returned to Manchester.

Ferguson didn't really get angry this time, and after the Charity Shield clash, he was mentally prepared for the possibility of a massive ban, and the team had a difficult start to the season in such a situation, which was also planned by him.

Moreover, he believes that this difficulty is only temporary, and with Manchester United's heritage and strength, as long as it goes through this initial difficulty, there will be excellent results. Now what this Manchester United team has to do is to play every game as well as possible, at the end of Tevez's suspension, when Yang Fan and Cristiano Ronaldo return from injury, Manchester United should not be opened up too big a points gap by the championship group!

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On 25 August, after Manchester United's training session, Ferguson left the training base and instead of going home immediately, he drove to the rehabilitation centre at Waterbridge Hospital.

"Good afternoon, boss. Yang Fan greeted Ferguson with a smile, and his love seemed good.

"How's it going?"

"It's good. Mr. Swell said I was able to get to the game against Blackburn Rovers as soon as possible. ”

The match with Blackburn Rovers is the seventh round of the league, because before this game, Manchester United still has a League Cup game, so this game will also be the first game after Yang Fan's seven-game ban is lifted, of course, this requires him to be able to return to the team in time.

Ferguson nodded, which is good news for Manchester United. Former assistant coach Mike Phelan had proposed a proposal for United's current predicament, and then urgently brought in a striker to cope with the temporary difficulties. This proposal was rejected by Ferguson, and Manchester United now have Rooney, Tevez, Yang Fan, three top goalscorers, and Welbeck, a young player, who is basically enough to cope with multi-front battles. At this time, if another shooter is introduced, although it can be used for the time being, but after Yang Fan and Tevez return from injury and the ban is over, the front line will be overcrowded.

In this situation, Ferguson chose to accept another proposal from Mike Ferran, which was to keep Manucho, who was originally going to be loaned out, for half a year, and then loan the player out during the winter break. Manucho is an Angolan footballer who joined Manchester United in January 2008 and was initially loaned to Panathinaikos in Greece due to lack of work permit.

However, Manucho has now been granted a work permit to represent Manchester United in the Premier League, thanks to his impressive record for the national team at the Africa Cup of Nations.

"Has the house been found?" Ferguson asked, knowing that Yang Fan had been busy looking for a house before.

"Found it, it was recommended by Alberto. Yang Fan returned, "It's very close to Cristiano and Alberto's. I'll be able to move when I'm well. ”

It's a wealthy area located in Manchester's Cheshire, where many Manchester United stars live.

"Very nice. Ferguson smiled, the players can help each other, which is also what he likes to see, and he also noticed that after the stadium brawl, the Chinese and the Argentine have really become good buddies, which is a good thing, if the two strikers can become good friends, it will help them strengthen the tacit understanding between them.

"Did you read what was said in the media?" Ferguson asked.

"Are you talking about The Sun?" Yang Fan nodded and said.

"That's right. Ferguson laughed, "I'm angry." ”

Yang Fan grinned and said, "That's right, if that guy is in front of me, I don't mind beating him up." He had already learned from Andy Carroll and others that this guy from The Sun, David Prescott, was the same Newcastle Post reporter with whom he had a grudge when he was in Newcastle. [A lot of good-looking novels] really had a holiday before.

"In that case, I'll beat you up. Ferguson glared at Yang Fan.

"I'm just talking. Yang Fan scratched his head and said.

"You're angry at such criticism, and to be honest, I'm angry too. "You're the player I'm interested in Ferguson, I'm optimistic about you, and when he says that, it's not just questioning you, it's doubting my vision." Speaking of which, Ferguson said to Yang Fan, "Yang, you already know those rumors about me, right?" Ferguson was referring to his violent temper and tough personality that does not suffer losses.

"I heard, boss. ”

"Good. Ferguson smiled and said, "I'll give you a task right now." ”

Yang Fan looked at Ferguson in surprise.

"A task. Hurry up and get back on the pitch and use your goals, keep scoring and slapping the faces of these guys who question you and say bad things about you. When he said this, Ferguson deliberately looked vicious.

Yang Fan looked at the old Scottish man, and he smiled happily, "Boss, I am the best at such a task." ”

Ferguson laughed: "Then I'll see." After saying that, Ferguson looked at his watch, it was almost time, and he was going home.

As the sun sets, Manchester United's 60-year-old coach pushes a wheelchair with a 20-year-old young Chinese striker from Manchester United. The rays of the setting sun cast a golden shadow on the old and the young, stretching their shadows long, long.

Ferguson came to visit Yang Fan on this trip, and it was also to enlighten this young man and stabilize the rear. Manchester United are about to leave for Monaco to prepare for the 2008 UEFA Super Cup, and he is worried that Yang Fan, who will stay in Manchester, will cause some trouble without his control. Ferguson heard that Yang Fan was so angry that he tore up the "Sun", this kid, if he was uneasy and didn't warn, maybe something would happen.

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The next day, the Manchester United squad departed by bus for Monaco to prepare for the 2008 UEFA Super Cup.

However, the day before the UEFA Super Cup, there was another very important event: the draw for the group stage of the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson brought Cristiano Ronaldo, who is recovering from injury, to attend the draw for the 2008/2009 Champions League group stage round of 32 in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The results of the group stage group draw are as follows:

Group A: Chelsea, Roma, Bordeaux, Cluj;

Group B: Inter Milan, Bremen, Panathinaikos, Arnososis;

Group C: Barcelona, Sporting Lisbon, Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk;

Group D: Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, Marseille, Atletico Madrid;

Group E: Manchester United, Villarreal, Celtic, Wolfsburg;

Group F: Lyon, Bayern, Bucharest Star, Fiorentina;

Group G: Arsenal, Porto, Fenerbahce, Dynamo Kyiv;

Group H: Real Madrid, Juventus, Zenit, Borisor;

After the lottery results ended, there was also a lot of discussion at the scene, and two groups of deaths appeared. Premier League giants Liverpool form a "group of death" with PSV Eindhoven, Marseille and Atletico Madrid. Manchester United and Villarreal, Celtic and Wolfsburg formed a group of death, especially Group E where Manchester United is located, Villarreal is the runner-up in La Liga last season, this team with the nickname of "yellow submarine", but it is stronger than Barcelona, and almost overturned Real Madrid The team is naturally strong, and Celtic is the champion of the Soviet Super League, Wolfsburg is the third place in the Bundesliga, only because of the lack of European points, Wolfsburg is listed as the fourth pot team. This is a veritable group of death.

In addition, after the results of this draw came out, some of the guests also laughed, and "going home" became the key word in the group stage.

Bayern and Fiorentina meet in Group F means Tony will face his former club Fiorentina for the first time, and Toney was Fiorentina's leading striker, who scored 47 league goals for the 'Purple Lily' in his two years at Fiorentina. In the summer of 2007, he transferred from Fiorentina in Serie A to the Bundesliga giants for 11 million euros.

Last season, Toney said he would one day return to Serie A to complete his desire to score 100 goals in the Italian league. Unexpectedly, now this wish of 'going home often' has come true so quickly, and he will represent Bayern in the game against his old club.

In addition, Liverpool's Spanish star Fernando Torres has also reunited with Atletico Madrid, who played for seven years. He will return to the lawn where he had spent his tears and sweat a year after a year away from the Vicente Calderón Stadium. Only this time, he will be the enemy of the home team.

There is also Yang Fan's return to the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg!

In the upcoming UEFA Super Cup, Yang Fan will miss the match against Wolfsburg due to injury, but fate seems to have destined him to be linked with Wolfsburg again.

Yang Fan watched the live broadcast of the draw for the 2008/2009 Champions League group stage in the ward of Shuiqiao Hospital, and saw Manchester United and Wolfsburg being drawn in one group.

"I have mixed feelings, but I'm definitely happy to accept this result. Subsequently, Yang Fan wrote on his personal Twitter. "I'm looking forward to welcoming the Wolfsburg fans back to my homeland, because Wolfsburg has given me so much and I have given so much to Wolfsburg. For me, I'm excited to be back at the Volkswagen Arena and to see my old friends and friends there again. ”

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After the draw for the group stage of the Champions League in the 2008/2009 season, it was time for the UEFA Super Cup.

Because the FA's ban on Manchester United players is only applicable to domestic competitions in England, Manchester United can face this UEFA Super Cup match with a relatively complete lineup, except for the injured Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Yang Fan. Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick, who have been suspended in domestic competitions, as well as Gary Neville, will both be able to play in the UEFA Super Cup.

The 2008 UEFA Super Cup kicks off at the Stade Louis II in Monaco, with 2007/2008 Champions League winners Manchester United taking on UEFA Cup winners VfL Wolfsburg.

This European Super Cup match was previously hyped by the German and British media, and after Yang Fan's transfer to Manchester United, the first European game was against his old club Wolfsburg, which was also one of the biggest highlights of this game. It's a pity that Yang Fan will not be able to play due to injury, which also makes many fans, including Chinese fans, feel quite regretful.

Renowned for its majestic and unique design, the Stade Louis II has around 20,000 seats and is home to Ligue 1 powerhouse Monaco and has hosted the UEFA Super Cup since 1998.

On the day of the game, the Louis II Stadium, which can only accommodate 20,000 people, is full, for Manchester United fans, the team is not very good in the league, the Super Cup team can play with a relatively complete lineup, this is a good opportunity to sweep away the decline, therefore, many Manchester United fans came to France to watch the game, and for Wolfsburg fans, the team can participate in the European Super Cup as the winner of the League Cup, which is also a rare opportunity and stage for decades, Wolfsburg fans are enthusiastic and have gone to the scene to watch the game。

In addition, for many Wolfsburg fans, when they originally bought tickets for this game, they also had mixed feelings, they also came to see Yang Fan play, last season in the last round of the Bundesliga, fans did not know that Yang Fan would transfer away, so Wolfsburg fans did not give Yang Fan a farewell game, now this Super Cup game, it is a coincidence, Yang Fan just transferred to Manchester United, this is also an alternative farewell game.

However, who would have thought that Yang Fan is injured now and will not be able to play in this game, which makes Wolfsburg fans feel a little regretful, and they are relieved, and the reason for the relief is that they are always a little awkward in their hearts when they see Yang Fan wearing other jerseys.

It was Ferguson's third attempt at the UEFA Super Cup, winning the Super Cup for the first time with Manchester United beating Red Star Belgrade 1-0 in 1991, but losing to League Cup winners Lazio in the Super Cup in 1999 after winning the Champions League.

The match was refereed by Denmark's Claus Bolarsen, a 42-year-old veteran referee who was in charge of the 2004 Athens Olympics and has seven UEFA Cup and 17 Champions League games. With Larsson's whistle, the game began.

Manchester United were given the kick-off and they had intended to take advantage of the opening kick-off to launch a fierce attack on Wolfsburg in an attempt to score first.

Unexpectedly, it was Wolfsburg who scored first. It only took three minutes to start. Wolfsburg's Argentine Santana forced a save from the United goalkeeper with a long-range shot, and Wolfsburg was awarded a corner, before Wolfsburg's Bosnia-Herzegovina striker Dzeko headed Marin's corner into the net.

The goal sent the Stade Louis II into a fire and ice in an instant, with the United fans falling silent while the Wolfsburg fans cheered.

The game had just started and the team had conceded a goal. Many people didn't even find their seats, and when they heard the cheers coming from the direction of the Wolfsburg fans' stands, they turned to look at the scoreboard in surprise.

0:1!

Manchester United are behind!

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The camera camera is focused on Alex Ferguson, who is sitting in the dugout, is it possible that the Premier League hegemon, who has not performed well in the league, will also suffer Waterloo in Europe?

Turning his head to look at the live scoreboard, Ferguson didn't get up and rant as one might expect.

"There's nothing to worry about, it's just the beginning. ”

Assistant coach Kemike Ferran nodded. Ferguson was right. It's not good news to concede a goal three minutes into the game, but it's definitely not the worst-case scenario, it's better than conceding a goal three or four minutes before the end of the game and falling behind.

Ferguson was not too worried about the situation on the pitch, but he was interested in Dzeko, who scored the goal.

Yang Fan's strength as a striker partner when he was in Wolfsburg was also very good. Ferguson thought.

Wolfsburg were a bit conservative after the lead. Obviously the first half had just started and they were able to score goals and lead European champions Manchester United, which they didn't expect.

Wolfsburg's players were a little confused, with some players thinking about whether to continue attacking to extend their gains, while others were thinking about holding on to a one-goal lead, after all, it takes a lot of courage to attack against a big team like Manchester United.

In fact, whether to attack or follow the original plan to defend and counterattack, this is also the contradiction of Wolfsburg coach Magath at this time. He couldn't make up his mind for a while.

In fact, at this time, it is okay to attack or defend, and the most taboo is to be indecisive.

Magath's hesitation caused the Wolfsburg players on the pitch to be disunited and thrown into disarray, which gave Manchester United a chance.

Manchester United seized on Wolfsburg's somewhat chaotic moment. At the signal of Ferguson, he attacked in a big way. And it paid off quickly.

Just five minutes later, Nani sent in a sharp cross after a sharp break down the left flank, causing chaos in the Wolfsburg penalty area, and in the midst of the chaos, Rooney swept the ball into the net!

1-1, Manchester United equalised.

"Well done!" Ferguson burst out of the dugout, throwing punches in celebration. Don't look at him just now, he was quite calm, but Ferguson's heart is also a little bottomless, the team is now in a very delicate moment, if this game is lost, it will be a great blow to the whole team. He was naturally worried, but Ferguson knew that he was the backbone of the team, and although he was worried, it was estimated that he was confident and intended to stabilize the morale of the army.

Wayne Rooney equalised in time, much to the relief of the old Scottish man.

The game ended in a 2-1 draw, with Fletcher latching a powerful shot past Benaglio after receiving a pass from Tevez in the second half.

Manchester United won the 2008 UEFA Super Cup with a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg.

At this time, the most anxious thing was Yang Fan in front of the TV, he could only watch his teammates play, watching them lift the championship trophy, he was in a hurry, and he couldn't wait to compete.