However, despite the confidence shown by Atletico on the outside, the atmosphere in the team is not relaxed at all, and for Atletico, the real enemy is not Dortmund in the Super Cup, but time.

The time to finalise Ginter, Gundogan and Turan was too short to meet the first team until two days before the first team left for Estonia, the host of the Super Cup, and although the three were very professional, meeting everyone in the morning and training in the afternoon, it was clear that it would be impossible to participate in the looming Super Cup.

This is very understandable, it is not a matter of the ability and state of the three, but the complete lack of cooperation with the whole team. Even if Turan is very familiar with Simeone and can quickly understand his tactical intentions, the teammates around him are no longer the same as they were at the beginning, and even if they work hard, it takes time to accumulate tacit understanding.

Therefore, in the 23-man squad announced by Atletico Madrid for the UEFA Super Cup, Simeone did not put three in the squad to fill the number, but copied the previous squad with as many as six B team players who participated in the International Champions Cup. In Simeone's view, instead of bringing some players who are not helpful, it is better to copy this lineup that has formed a certain tacit understanding.

It looks unusual, but the Spanish media, who are familiar with Atletico Madrid's internal situation, are not particularly surprised, but Atletico Madrid's opponent, the German media who support Dortmund, saw that Atletico Madrid's roster had a lot of unfamiliar names, and felt that the "Bumblebee" might have a chance to overturn the Champions League title. Bild used this to boost Dortmund's morale: "Dortmund should feel their chance, Atletico Madrid are repeating the mistake of being defeated. ”

Clearly, the German media dismissed Simeone's pragmatic style as a disparage for Europa League winners Borussia Dortmund.

And this match between the two teams is not only the battle of the Champions League and the Europa League winner, but also the meeting between Spanish football and German football on another level after the World Cup final a month ago.

However, before the nervous departure, his teammates and coaching staff gave him a very heartwarming moment.

On the first day before his departure from Madrid, Simeone deliberately adjusted the time of his afternoon training session, which was close to sunset. Wen Zhihao was about to pack up and leave, but Simone suddenly said: "Everyone gather in the conference room, Wen, especially you, you are not allowed to leave, you must arrive!" ”

Wen Zhihao was wondering what was wrong with the boss, how could he be special to himself, Griezmann also came over and said mysteriously: "Let's go, Wen, it must be a surprise, specially prepared for you." ”

Then Griezmann hurried away.

Wen Zhihao was still at a loss for the second monk, but when he arrived at the conference room, he saw a few candles flickering in the dim environment, and everyone cheered thunderously, and suddenly understood everything.

It's his birthday! Eighteen coming-of-age ceremony!

When I was at Vitesse, I also experienced such a moment when my teammates in a foreign country celebrated their birthdays. Mom and Dad had already sent a congratulatory text message, the eighteen-year-old coming-of-age ceremony, his parents were afraid of his competition task, so they couldn't come over to him, but Dad Wen sent him a sentence of encouragement: both crowned and admired the way of the sages.

Dad expressed it very vaguely, Wen Zhihao also understood, and Dad hoped that he would make persistent efforts.

Listening to everyone sing the birthday song for him, Wen Zhihao didn't bother to ask everyone how he knew his birthday, just enjoy everyone's heart, I have to say, this kind of moment is still very warm.

In the end, Wen Zhihao made a wish on the cake, and then blew it out, and before eating the cake, Griezmann asked: "Wen, what was the wish you made just now?" ”

"It can't be said that, according to the Chinese parlance, if the wish is broken, it will not work." Wen Zhihao said, but then reminded him again: "As smart as you, I don't think it should be difficult to guess." As a player, you should understand what I want most right now. ”

Antoine Griezmann immediately understood: "UEFA Super Cup winner? ”

Wen Zhihao snapped his fingers and said, "Even if it's a good win for the new season." Of course, it depends on everyone's state. At the moment it's just a wish. ”

Griezmann immediately assured: "I'm fine. Wen, look at it! At the critical moment, your plaid uncle is absolutely reliable! ”

"Wen, don't worry, I'm fine! These few games sit on the bench and suffocate to death, and this one should have a chance to move. Ghanaian Little Black Thomas also said.

Wen Zhihao nodded: "A good start is half the success, there were only three championships last year, it seems to be a little less." ”

……

As kick-off time for the UEFA Super Cup approached, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund arrived in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. This small Baltic country is one of the largest players on the European football map, with the national team never reaching the World Cup finals and only 88th in the latest world rankings, but it has become the center of attention because of the hosting of the European Super Cup. After hosting the UEFA Super Cup at the Philippe II National Stadium in Macedonia last year, this is the second year in a row that the tournament has been held in Eastern Europe, and with this year's Champions League final also being played in the Eastern European country of Ukraine, it's easy to think that UEFA actually has the idea of finding a balance. Improving the status of Eastern European football within UEFA and even in FIFA.

The traditional impression of European football is that it represents the highest level in the world, in fact, it is only strong in the Apennine Peninsula and the Iberian Peninsula in Western Europe and Southern Europe, relatively speaking, Eastern European football has gradually declined in the last decade, Czech football represents the last glory of Eastern European football, but after the retirement of the golden generation such as Rosicky, Cech, Nedved and Baros, the traditional Eastern European football powers such as the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary have lost their status in European football. Even if there is a world-class individual like Shevchenko, it will not change the current pattern of European football that is strong in the west and weak in the east.

Therefore, a football-rich country like Estonia can host the highest level of European football and attract so many stars, which is naturally very important, and the streets of the capital Tallinn can be seen everywhere with posters of the European Super Cup.

For ordinary fans, the stars to pay attention to in this game are the CG combination of Atletico Madrid's side, Dortmund's Gotze, Schurrle, and Reus, while the Chinese media only cares about whether Liang Xin will play in this game. With Liang Xin's arrival in the Bundesliga, the Chinese media's tracking of him has increased significantly.

What makes these media happy is that Liang Xin's performance in Dortmund is quite good, Dortmund previously participated in another commercial event, the Telecom Cup, in order to prepare for the European Super Cup, head coach Stegel let Liang Xin play for fifteen minutes in the two games, Liang Xin played in the double back position of Dortmund's 4-2-3-1 formation is not excellent, but very stable. Especially in the transition stage of attack and defense, Liang Xin played his own characteristics, running in time, receiving in place, and delivering the ball to the forward line in a very timely manner, as a technical midfielder, Liang Xin's characteristics are exactly what Dortmund needs. Shinji Kagawa, Shahin and Gotze are all options for the central midfield position, while in the defensive midfield position, whether it is Weigel or Dahoud, they do not have the ability to accurately shoot the ball in the first time, and Stegel said after the game that Liang Xin's characteristics are a great enrichment for the team's tactics.

In short, Liang Xin was also quickly appreciated by the head coach, which is why the Chinese media is looking forward to this game, the two may stage a Chinese derby in the European Super Cup, and the former Eredivisie double stars have not seen it for a long time, and they are looking forward to it.

Both sides attach great importance to this game, relatively speaking, the strength of the disadvantaged Dortmund atmosphere is more tense, Stegel's pre-game training focused on the practice of the midfield of the siege and interception, obviously Dortmund coaching staff after studying the game video of Atletico Madrid, very clear in their hearts, and Atletico Madrid, blindly defending is no way out, only take the initiative to fight for the initiative in the midfield, there is a little chance of winning.

Liang Xin's training condition is very good, obviously he has already adjusted his condition and is waiting for this game to compete with Wen Zhihao. During the training break, Stegel deliberately called Liang Xin to the sidelines and asked: "Liang, I know that you and Wen are teammates in the national team, I heard that you have a good relationship, you should know his weaknesses very well, right?" ”

Liang Xin replied: "Boss, to be honest, he really doesn't have any obvious weaknesses. ”

Hearing this answer, Stegel frowned, how can a player not have weaknesses? He said to Liang Xin very seriously: "Liang, I hope you don't have any reservations because of your private relationship with him, the whole team attaches great importance to this championship." ”

Liang Xin assured very seriously: "Boss, I am telling the truth, but I am confident that I will prevent him." ”

Stegger's eyes narrowed: "Really? That proves he can still be prevented? ”

Liang Xin then replied: "But now I am not completely sure. When I was in the Eredivisie, I was in a position with him, and I had a physical advantage, so I just had to compress his space, and maybe the only way to deal with him now was to cut down a big tree and take the ball down. ”

Stegel hesitated, after all, this is a lose-lose style of play, and if you don't master the scale, the player will take a big risk of cards, and he reconfirmed: "Do you have to do this? ”

"Of course the boss can have a better way, but with what I know about him, I can't think of any other way for the time being."

Stegel let out a long breath and nodded, "I see." ”

After seeing the head coach leave, Liang Xin stood in place and said to himself: Zhihao, you ask for more blessings, don't blame me, who made you so strong (perverted) (perverted).

……

At 2:45 a.m. Beijing time on August 10, the kick-off time of the Champions League, the 2018 UEFA Super Cup kicked off at the Estonian National Stadium.

In the starting role of Atletico Madrid, Simeone continued to use the main line-up that he was comfortable with last season, with a 4-3-3 formation, goalkeeper Oblak, four defenders from left to right, Felipe, Godin, Savic and Juanfran in order, three midfielders Thomas on the left, Gabi in the middle, and Saul on the right. Wen Zhihao's position is still in front of the back three, with Costa as the forward arrow and Antoine Griezmann playing a shadow behind him. However, it is the norm for Atletico's frontcourt CG combination to often cross and change positions on the field, so the position between these three people is not fixed.

The Chinese media is very concerned about Dortmund's starters, but there is no Liang Xin in the official starting list submitted by Dortmund, and the midfield double back partners are Weigel and Dahoud, which somewhat disappointed the Chinese media, they only want to see the Chinese derby, of course, I hope that Liang Xin and Wen Zhihao will compete together for as long as possible.

After reading out the starting list, He Wei said: "Although everyone has high expectations for Wen Zhihao and Liang Xin's Chinese derby, Stegger will not give this opportunity for the time being. The UEFA Super Cup is different from pre-season training, and it is understandable that Stegel should be cautious. ”

He Wei's point of view is relatively neutral, which does not mean that he has no ideas in his heart. He's also a fan, and with the mentality of a Chinese fan, who wouldn't want two of the best talented players to collide on the same field?

As for Dortmund's victory or defeat, it is really not in the consideration of most fans. Because more fans are still more inclined to support Wen Zhihao's Atletico Madrid. This is the team that is expected to win another treble in the new season.

Liang Xin does not play, Dortmund is still the bottom of last season's Europa League winning squad in most positions, the formation adopts a 4-2-3-1, the starting goalkeeper is the 38-year-old veteran Weidenfeller, the double central defender Papastathopoulos partners Toprak, the two fullbacks are Piszczek and Schmelzer, the double back partners Weigel and Dahoud, and the three attacking forwards are Gotze, Pulisic and Kagawa Shinji, and the single forward position has changed greatly. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund bought Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea on a loan-to-buy basis, and he became the new pillar of Dortmund's attack.

In this game, the fans of both sides were evenly divided in numbers, but as soon as Atletico Madrid first showed the domineering of the treble, using the first ball in the opening game, launched the first wave of attack, Wen Zhihao received Griezmann's pass, and directly launched a long-distance pick pass from the right side of the midfield, Griezmann directly from Dortmund's Greek central defender Papastathopoulos into the offside position, and shot directly near the penalty spot in the front of the penalty area. A sense of desperation rose in his heart, but in the end the ball "popped" and collided with the right post.

This scene made the excited looks on the faces of the Atletico Madrid fans in the stands instantly turn into regret, and the Hornet's expeditionary force fans exclaimed in unison, lamenting that they would not die.

On the Dortmund bench, Shaheen saw the danger that Atletico had just created, turned his head sideways and said to Liang Xin: "My God! Beam, this time it's so hanging! The shot was not the most brilliant, but the pick pass was too imaginative. ”

Shaheen admits that he doesn't have that vision.

Liang Xin said: "So I told the leader that the South Koreans had to use the tree-cutting tactics that the Koreans used to deal with Maradona in the midfield, otherwise this kind of pass will definitely not be one or two times." ”

Sha Xin smiled: "Okay, I believe half of it, although we don't get along for long, I feel that you are not an unreliable person." However, the state of the midfield today is a bit of a big contrast. The other party enters the state obviously faster! ”

Seeing such a dangerous situation at the beginning, Stegel immediately couldn't sit still, walked to the sideline and made a gesture with his hands together, the meaning was obvious, squeezing Wen Zhihao's activity space in the midfield. Hit hard!

The players on the pitch were instructed, and a minute later, Wen Zhihao once again picked up the ball in midfield, and the two Dortmund players around him immediately approached him.