Chapter 110: Knockout Draw
In March, the Premier League was in full swing. The League Cup is over, and the remaining teams are all working hard in the direction they are working towards.
Judging from the standings, the top three teams with two reds and one blue have the potential to win the championship no matter which one of them is.
Of course, it was the Gunners who stood out the most.
2-0 away win over Blackburn Rovers and 2-1 home win over Bolton Wanderers.
The 29-game unbeaten streak this season equalled the Premier League's record of 29 games in a single season (Leeds United 1973-74 and Liverpool 1987-88).
Not to be outdone, the Blues were 2-0 Bolton, 2-1 Fulham, two points behind the Gunners.
The Red Devils were somewhat finished, after two consecutive draws, they lost 1-4 to Manchester City in the same city derby, completely leaving the gap between the first two teams. Although they beat Tottenham 3-0 in the most recent round of the league, it didn't help.
Many Red Devils fans have said pessimistically: "Manchester United has given up the competition for the title ahead of schedule!" β
The Blues clung to the Gunners in the league and were not pulled down in the Champions League.
On 9 March, Chelsea held visitors Stuttgart to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge to reach the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League by the narrowest edge of 1-0 over two legs.
Ranieri's thinking for this game is simple: stick to Stamford Bridge.
Ranieri, who is known for his "wedding dress", said that at Napoli, Atletico Madrid and Valencia, he was "a wedding dress", and the team only achieved brilliant results after his departure. He hopes that putting together this team at Chelsea can be an exception: 'For me, building a team and watching it grow brings so much joy. I hope to be able to see the whole process of the team blooming, even once in a lifetime. I hope this time I'm at Chelsea because my contract here runs until June 2006. β
Although the idea of the game was to follow the coach's instructions, the Blues' defensive and attacking scenes still drew boos from the fans.
In the evening, the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League and beyond was held in Nyon, Switzerland.
This Champions League draw has touched the hearts of many fans around the world, especially when there are still some "gift packages" in the top 8.
In the end, Real Madrid won the "big package" and they will face Monaco in the quarter-finals.
The clash between the two teams has also attracted the attention of many fans, for the simple reason that Real Madrid striker Morientes was sidelined at the beginning of the season and went on loan to Monaco due to the need of the Galacticos.
The online edition of the Spanish newspaper "As" immediately ran the headline "Morientes is back", and Morientes re-emerged as a "celebrity" in their eyes after being snubbed by the Spanish media for more than a year.
It's just that this time his identity is Real Madrid's opponent, and I believe that there will be a lot of gimmicks during and after the game.
However, Morientes said that he was not afraid of Real Madrid. Even at Camp Nou, he still has the quality to score for Monaco!
The other "big package" was taken away by AC Milan, and they ran into A CoruΓ±a!
After the draw, Carlo Ancelotti also said: "Compared to last season, Deportivo has not changed much, knowing yourself and knowing your opponent is good for us. β
The online edition of "Milan Sport" also published an article saying: "AC Milan has been blessed again this time. β
While AC Milan were cheering, Deportivo La Coruna also showed confidence in defying the toughest opponents.
Deportivo general manager Alexis Sanchez said: "At this stage of the Champions Cup, I think it's acceptable whatever the result. AC Milan are great champions, there's no doubt about it, but we're not afraid of anyone, we knocked out Juventus and I think we'll be able to knock out AC Milan as well, so it's going to be a good matchup anyway and another conversation between Serie A and La Liga. β
There are four teams left, and for the Gunners and the Blues, there are two less "big" packages left but none of them have been siphoned off by themselves.
Porto v Lyon, Arsenal v Chelsea.
As soon as such a result came out, it immediately caused an uproar in the British Isles.
"It's the London derby again, can Chelsea escape the fateful showdown"
"The Champions League shocked the Premier League civil war, only the strong have the ability to touch the champion"
"The battle between red and blue, igniting the anger into the Champions League"
Such a result surprised British fans, but it was not so difficult to accept.
The reason is simple, this draw not only determines the quarter-final matchup, but also the next matchup.
Porto/Lyon vs Chelsea/Arsenal, Real Madrid/Monaco vs. Sac Milan/Deportivo La Coruna!
In other words, the winner of Chelsea and Arsenal will avoid Real Madrid or last year's champions AC Milan in the semi-finals, and for Premier League fans, the team they are backing will undoubtedly have one foot in the final.
The day after the draw ended, Terry was blocked by reporters.
"John, you said that the team you wanted to meet the most was Arsenal, but now that the results are out, what do you think?"
"Of course I'm very happy!" John Terry is still full of youth, "For Chelsea, Arsenal are the most familiar opponents and the ones they want to win the most. Although we have been at the bottom of the past encounters, in terms of probability, we have a good chance of winning. If we could get rid of the Gunners in the Champions Cup, I don't think there have been so many defeats in the past four years! β
Terry's like-minded man was the gunman's Reyes, who had an early appointment with a reporter from The Times.
"We are so fortunate that this is God's favor for us!" The Spanish golden boy was ecstatic when he faced the camera.
"God sent us straight to the Final Four! Or even the finals! β
'I admit Chelsea are a very strong team but unfortunately they met us!'
"They should know that they can't win when they meet us!"
"This time we meet, I hope the name will be on Arsenal's unbeaten honours book again."
"Also, this time I'm going to make the six-fingered goalkeeper look good. It couldn't be easier to get into his goal! I wonder if his extra fingers will become the tail he grabbed when he ran away after the game! β
Reyes' arrogance has caused displeasure among all the Blues' players.
Tang Wu's left hand was the guarantee of the team's defense, and no one had ever teased or even humiliated Tang Wu about this point from beginning to end.
"He's too young to be humble at all. Sooner or later, he will have to pay for his words and deeds! Lampard said.
"The first thing a La Liga player who has just landed in the Premier League has to learn when he comes to this land is to keep his mouth shut, obviously he hasn't done enough. I think reality will make him suffer! Makelele sighed with a look of a passerby.
Duff, Glenn Johnson, Terry, Goodjohnsen, Crespo and others have also spoken out, accusing Reyes of gratuitous slander and arrogance. But the young gunman apparently underestimated the determination of the London media to fan the flames, and after repeated exaggerated reports, Reyes was completely unable to get off the stage, and had to go all the way to the dark in one interview after another.
Reyes' remarks also caused harassment from many Blues and Tang Wu fans.
Holding signs reading "No Discrimination", they marched in front of Reyes' residence again and again.
It was only then that Reyes realized that Tang Wu, a young Chinese goalkeeper, already had so many senior fans in London.
"Maybe it's too high to pick him as a stepping stone for yourself!" Reyes thought.
But for a young 20-year-old, that's nothing. After all, as long as Tang Wu scored a goal, all the gossip would dissipate with the wind, and his troubles would be solved.
But what really made Reyes angry and angry was what Tang Wu said to the media.
'TO Reyes said he was going to score at least three goals in the Champions Cup, what do you think?
"Reyes?" Tang Wu scratched his head with the two middle fingers of his left hand, "Who is he?" β