Chapter 87: Champions League Semi-Final Opponents (130/134)

When Chang Sheng saw the true face of this statue, he was also surprised.

He didn't expect Lotito to choose this position.

He had also thought before that he might make himself crouch and direct the action of the game. After all, that action is most familiar to everyone, and he often does it.

Although he has been criticized by many media as being constipated, this is indeed his signature move.

This fist-raising action, he hasn't done much in the past seventeen years.

It doesn't add up to more than ten times.

Especially in the last few years, I haven't done it at all.

There are many new Lazio fans who may not know that Chang Sheng has such a move.

But Lotito remembers.

And turned it into a statue.

From now on, this action of his own will be fixed forever on the outside of Lazio's home stadium.

He just stared at his statue.

I think back to the first Rome derby I played since I arrived at Lazio.

Before the game, Roma fans had a lot of attacks and insults against him. As a result, before the start of the game, Chang Sheng entered the court alone, and then in the center circle, raised his fist, and provoked the packed Roma fans in public.

I still remember that scene, and I remember the reaction of those Roma fans in the Olympic Stadium in Rome at that time.

At that time, I was still young, young and frivolous, and I didn't stay overnight if I had a grudge.

He led Lazio to Roma six goals in that game!

Since then, he has been on an unbeaten record against Roma.

Not only undefeated, but also a complete victory!

That was seventeen years ago......

In the past 17 years, I have shared the glory and disgrace with this team, and I have a tacit understanding with Lotito.

Can finally ...... How did you become what you are now?

This statue is beautiful, very good, but no matter how beautiful it is, it is just a dead thing. You can't replace yourself.

He could foresee that the decline of Lazio was inevitable when he left Lazio.

Perhaps Lotito wants to bless Lazio with such a fearless image of himself?

That's a joke.

※※※

While Chang Sheng stared at the statue in distraction, the Lazio fans slapped their hands red - since Chang's departure was inevitable, then this statue fixed Chang's most perfect image.

In the future, when fans see this statue, they will think of Chang Sheng, and think of Lazio's 17 years of dominance.

Of course, they will also be saddened......

But this statue itself has nothing to do with whether Chang Sheng is gone or not, even if Chang Sheng does not leave the club, such a statue should be erected for him.

Others even wonder if Lotito has something unspeakable.

Because judging by the choice of action of this statue. Lotito's feelings for Chang Sheng are still very deep.

If you really have a hatred for Chang Sheng, why choose this action that can poke the tears the most?

If you are perfunctory, then choose a random look.

Only true Lazio fans can fully appreciate the significance of the action of winning constantly.

Lotito's choice means that his feelings for Chang Sheng are not as bad as the outside world says.

Re-contact with the previous Chang Sheng's extremely high opinion of Lotito. It's really confusing - what do these two people mean? I don't renew the contract, but I still have to speak for each other......

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The inauguration of the statue ended under the flashing lights, and the players rushed to take a photo with the boss under his statue.

After they dispersed, the fans who remained in the square came to take pictures with the statue of Chang Sheng.

Later in the game, fans of the group "Overthrow Lotito's Tyranny Net" held banners and sang songs in protest against Lotito.

However, the reaction of the vast majority of fans to this has been lackluster.

At this time, they don't care what happens to Lotito. also knows that he can't stop Chang Sheng's departure.

They just want to leave a good memory for themselves, as Chang Sheng said.

When they look back on the past 17 years, they hope that their hearts are full of positive energy.

※※※

Lazio's players also seem to have been inspired by the statue.

They did a great job in the game.

In the end, Lazio beat Torino 3-0 at home.

Got the first win in the last three rounds of the league.

Of course, the victory did not allow Lazio to close the gap between them and Juventus.

Because Juventus also won.

The two sides are still three points apart.

These three points are not too much, but not too little.

If there is another direct dialogue between Lazio and Juventus. Then the three-point gap is meaningless now.

However, both Lazio and Juventus have played both games this season.

The next three points gap is to be erased, and it is not just Lazio's.

Even if Lazio can keep winning, it will have to be something for Juventus. They might be able to catch up.

If Juventus continue to win, Lazio will never be able to catch up with Juventus.

But whether other teams can beat Juventus. That's not something Lazio can decide.

In case other teams see that Juventus is too strong and are not willing to give it their all, they will always win.

Even if it is only three points away, the initiative in the league title is now no longer in Lazio's hands.

They want to look at other people's faces.

Lazio had hoped to win three titles this season, only to find out that they were only one Coppa Italia with the most certain thing left.

The league depends on the face of others. What about the Champions League?

In the Champions League, their semi-final opponents were Barcelona who eliminated Bayern Munich.

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Barcelona have won a Champions League title in addition to a Champions League title under Pep Guardiola in the last 17 years.

In general, Barcelona has maintained a relatively high level in the past ten years.

Unlike Real Madrid, with its ups and downs.

Barcelona have a slight advantage in the league and have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League on several occasions.

This team has been so consistent thanks to their Academy system.

Their youth system has been around for a long time. A steady stream of excellent players for the Barcelona first team.

These players come from the same system as the first team, so they can integrate into the team with 'zero run-in'.

This maximizes Barcelona's tactical continuity.

It's rare for a team to continue to use the same style of tactics for so many years.

Barcelona did it.

Even Lazio is constantly looking for change.

Their consistency keeps Barcelona's results from being bad, even when they're not good.

Of course, with Barcelona's status, they will not be willing to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League every year.

For a club like Barcelona, not winning the title is a failure.

So after five consecutive seasons of inaction in the Champions League, they brought on Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola has once again been Barcelona's manager this season.

He has only one goal - to win the championship! But not the league winners, but the Champions League winners!

It's been five years since Barcelona last won the Champions League. Barcelona's best result was reaching the Champions League final, only to be knocked out by Lazio, who have Messi.

It was the closest they came to the Champions League, and their best result since then has been the last four.

After Pep Guardiola regained control of Barcelona, the team's results have indeed improved a lot this season.

In the league they kept Real Madrid at bay. With a lead by so far, winning the league title this season is no longer a problem.

However, Barcelona don't value the results in the league at all now, and after the decline of Real Madrid, Barcelona's league dominance is a natural thing.

Pep Guardiola's Barcelona want to win the Champions League.

Barcelona and Lazio, who are so obsessed with winning the Champions League, met together without any suspense.

※※※

When the Champions League quarter-final draw was drawn, Lazio and Barcelona could meet each other, as UEFA divided the two teams into the top half.

As long as they can knock out their respective opponents, they can definitely meet in the semi-finals.

This is another kind of "double insurance" of UEFA.

If Manchester United can't stop Lazio. And then there's Barcelona.

In terms of Barcelona's strength, it is a little stronger than Manchester United.

It shouldn't be a problem to stop Lazio.

Moreover, Guardiola and Chang Sheng have a good personal relationship, which may also make Chang Sheng a little troubled when facing Barcelona.

The media also liked the arrangement.

The semi-finals were full of all sorts of gimmicks.

Lazio and Barcelona have been bitter enemies for more than a decade - he had a stiff relationship with Barcelona before Chang Sheng came to Lazio. After he went to Lazio, he also brought this sentiment to Lazio.

So every time Lazio and Barcelona played very intensely.

The animosity between Chang Sheng and Barcelona is very deep.

That's what catches the eye.

Not to mention the relationship between Chang Sheng and Pep Guardiola.

They are friends, mentors and apprentices, and enemies.

In the past ten years. They have contributed to the European football scene with a number of classic matches.

There are also many stories about these two people.

Their personal relationship is good. But every time they collided on the court, it was like Mars hitting the Earth.

The two have won and lost each other, but the main thing is to win and win, and against Guardiola, he has more wins and fewer losses.

In terms of past head-to-head records, Chang Win has the upper hand.

If analyzed from this point, it is not impossible for Lazio to eliminate Barcelona.

But football is round.

Lazio will be affected by Juventus in the league and Barcelona in the Champions League?

That's not easy to say.

And in terms of schedule, it is also not good for Lazio.

In this semi-final, Lazio played first at home and then away.

Jose Mourinho's side of Manchester United have complained about fixture scheduling issues since they were knocked out of the competition.

If Manchester United played away first and played at home, it would be much more advantageous.

The first away and then the host is a very powerful schedule.

Lazio enjoyed it once, and now it's their opponent's turn to enjoy.