This is the first time George has led a team to Spain.

The current La Liga is in its heyday, surpassing the Serie A in the Mini World Cup to become the first league in Europe. This can be seen in the quarter-finals of this season's Champions League. There are three teams in La Liga, Real Madrid, Valencia, and Deportivo La Coruna.

In the past, the small World Cup Italy, only one Milan represented Serie A alone.

Even Milan is not easy to appear. If it weren't for luck, he would have been eliminated a long time ago.

There is only one Bayern in the Bundesliga.

The impact of the Boseman Act is really huge. European clubs that were full of flowers back then are now left with only the four major leagues.

In addition to the four major leagues, other leagues, including Ligue 1 and Eredivisie, have completely declined. Their clubs are completely unable to compete with the big four leagues. I don't know if this is the inevitability of football development, or the sadness of football development.

At the beginning of April, the sun was already shining in Spain.

Looking at the warm weather, George thought unconsciously. With this kind of good weather, it's no wonder that Spanish players are reluctant to play in wet England. And even when you go to England, you will be very uncomfortable. The so-called homesickness can occur at every turn.

The place where George came was Valencia.

Valencia is a beautiful city, bordered by the blue sea to the east, the vast plains in the background, beautiful beaches, and plenty of sunlight, this land is like a pearl on the western shore of the Mediterranean. Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Arabs have all haunted here like ghosts. Today, Valencia has a well-developed agriculture and is famous for its citrus and lemons, which are exported to Europe and the United States.

It's the third largest city in Spain, and it's home to a La Liga powerhouse. He is none other than Valencia, known as the Bat Legion, an established team with a long history and the third largest number of members in Spain. In the early days, the team wore white shirts and white shorts, so Spain was known as the "White Ghost".

Valencia is a team that is completely different from other Spanish styles. Valencia are known for their sleekness, characterised by quick transitions between attack and defence, and efficient counter-attacks.

Speaking of Valencia's current defensive counter-attacking tactics, it is impossible not to mention one person.

That's Italian coach Claudio Ranieri.

Claudio Ranieri moved to Spain and became Valencia's head coach in the 97-98 season. He spread the Italian-style counter-attack to Spain and blossomed on Valencia. Although he only spent two years in Valencia, his tactical thinking had a deep influence on Valencia. Valencia was able to start becoming one of the Spanish giants in the late 90s, and Ranieri was indebted.

And Cooper, who replaced Ranieri, made Ranieri's defensive counterattack even more perfect.

In particular, Mendieta's talented performance, coupled with Keeley. With the addition of Gonzalez, Valencia's counter-attacking tactics are getting better and better. It has become a force to be reckoned with in European football.

Cooper also took advantage of his performances in Valencia to become a truly world-class manager.

However, in Valencia, George is not afraid at all.

For Valencia, George had done his research early on.

George is confident of a win over Valencia.

………… On April 4, this day was the first round of the Champions League quarterfinals.

George led Blackburn to the Mestalla Stadium.

Valencia's Mestalla Stadium is steeped in history. It's been more than 70 years, but it doesn't seem too old. The stadium, which can accommodate more than 50,000 people, is much larger than Blackburn's Ewood Park.

Every time he saw these courses, George couldn't help but feel a little envious.

Even if it can't be compared to Old Trafford and Wembley Stadium, but at least there are 50,000 or 60,000 seats, which is good. But now Ewood Park can only accommodate more than 30,000 people, which seems a little small.

But when he entered the court, George shook his head.

Speaking of which, Valencia have had a good season of results. And this game is a Champions League knockout round, a very important game. But Valencia's home stadium was not full, and there were seven or eight thousand empty seats.

This came as a surprise to George.

In the Premier League, George plays. Even those relegation teams have a large number of fans. A lot of the pitches are able to fill up. Even when George led Burnley to the lower leagues, there were plenty of fans in attendance.

It's like Blakeburn and Burnley, Preston North End in the same place. Their club is a team in the lower leagues.

After so many years, they don't even know what the top league tastes like. But they have a lot of fans, with 20,000 fans at every game. There are many such clubs in England.

But I really didn't expect that the powerful Valencia would not even have a full seat of more than 50,000 people.

And now in the Mestalla Stadium, there are thousands of fans who have come with Blackburn. In this way, the number of Valencia fans who are here today is about 40,000. There are too few fans.

Valencia, what is this place?

This is the third largest city in Spain. As a powerhouse in the world's No. 1 league, the number of spectators did not exceed 50,000, which was very surprising. If it is placed in Blackburn, not to mention this kind of Champions League knockout round, even in the league, 50,000 fans can still be easily summoned.

George doesn't know that Valencia is usually so little fan? Or is it because Valencia fans don't care about Blackburn Rovers at all and feel that this game is a game without suspense?

George let go of the disappointment in his heart and looked at the players on the field. This time I saw Aimar playing there with some envy. A player like Aimar can only play in La Liga. Thin body, if you reach the Premier League, it is estimated that you will retire in a few seasons.

Aimar the Clown, a young player at the age of twenty-one, but with a big name. Not only in Argentina, but even in La Liga, in world football.

Aimar is a talented player from Argentine giants River Plate, having led River Plate to two Argentine Primera Liga titles and a South American Super Cup with Saviola.

Aimar is considered by the Argentines to be the "successor of the king of the ball", of course, there are too many "successors of the king of the ball" in Argentina now. But the one who can be crowned with this title is none other than Argentina's best talent.

The 21-year-old Aimar has just moved to Valencia this winter. The transfer fee is more than 20 million euros.

In the current world football, it is absolutely rare for a transfer fee of 20 million US dollars at the age of 21.

Since his transfer in the winter, Aymar's performances at Valencia have been evident. In La Liga, a league that is highly technical, Aymar's talented midfielder is at ease.

But there is some good news. It's that Aimar was injured not long ago and has not been back for long. Status is hard to guarantee.

George just watched for a moment, then went into the locker room himself. Just came out just to get a feel for Valencia's home turf. In the dressing room George was analysing how to deal with Valencia on the road.

At this time, the players who finished the warm-up entered the locker room one by one.

'We are new to the Champions League, we won the UEFA Cup last year, but few people could have imagined that we would be in the last eight.

The UEFA Cup winner is too watery. Compared with the Champions League powerhouse, the League Cup is completely lower. There are also those giants who look down on Blackburn.

"The quarterfinals, you're already amazing. But are you only satisfied with the quarterfinals? ”

"Of course not." All the players shook their heads.

The quarterfinals, the quarterfinals are also considered goals. All the Blackburn players disagree.

"Yes, the quarterfinals, the quarterfinals are nothing. As long as we win against Valencia, then we can get to the semi-finals. After the semi-finals, it's the final. It's all come to this point, how can we be satisfied with the results of the quarterfinals. ”

"Valencia are a team that is mainly defensive and counter-attacking. Defending and counterattacking, I let him only defend, not counterattack. ”

George began to explain the tactics of the game to the players. It's just a short time, because the tactics in the game are already explained in training.

'Valencia were runners-up in the Champions League last season. Go and tell them why they are runners-up, not champions! ”

There are two matches in the quarterfinals on this day. One is Valencia against Blackburn Rovers and the other is Arsenal against Deportivo La Coruna. In yesterday's game, Manchester United lost 1-0 at home to Bayern Munich and Milan beat Real Madrid 3-2 at home.

Premier League giants Manchester United's qualification situation is already in jeopardy.

So the English media put their hopes on Blackburn and Arsenal.

"Hello everyone, it's a Champions League quarter-knockout game. The match was played by Valencia and Blackburn. ”

"Let's start with Valencia's starting line-up. The goalkeeper is Canizares, the back line is from left to right, Caboni, Perrigrino, Ayala, Angeloma, and the midfielder is Kieli. Gonzalez, Baraja, Mendieta, Aimar, and the forward line is Carew and Juan. Sanchez. ”

"Let's talk about Blackburn's starting line-up. The goalkeeper is Cudicini, the back line is from left to right is Riese, Blanco, Ferdinand, Sagnol, the midfielders are Pire, Deco, Makelele, Miku, Duff, and the forward line is Klose. ”

George did not play Panucci, who was in good form, in this game, and chose to trust the veteran Blanco. Blanco will only miss a lot of games in the second half of the season because of physical problems. But his strength, George did not doubt at all.

Although Blanco is slow to turn, his frontal defense is absolutely first-class in world football. And, importantly, Blanco is extremely experienced. It can make up for Ferdinand's recklessness.

For this match, George has enough confidence to beat Valencia.

(To be continued)