Chelsea face the draw for this season's Champions League group stage ahead of Everton's challenge on 31 August.

Just on August 20 and August 27, the final round of play-offs for the Champions League group qualifiers has been completed.

In this way, the 32 teams that have reached the group stage of this season's Champions League have also been officially announced.

In the play-offs, the most notable is Arsenal from the Premier League.

They also reached the group stage of the Champions League for the 17th consecutive season after beating Turkey's Besiktas 1-0 on aggregate – a feat that only Real Madrid can match.

In other words, Arsene Wenger has not missed a single spell since he took charge of Arsenal in 1996, winning the Premier League and FA Cup double in his second season, and then qualifying for the Champions League in his third season.

This can also be seen how stable Wenger's Arsenal results were when he was in power.

Although everyone later joked that Asina, fighting for the fourth every year, after Wenger left, I realized that the Champions League is not the place you want to come to participate......

And after Arsenal entered the group stage again this season, with their stable performance in the Champions League in recent years, they can also occupy a place in Pot 1 with European points.

In the other key matches, Napoli from Serie A lost 2:4 on aggregate to Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, while Porto in the Portuguese Super League beat Lille in Ligue 1 3:0.

Schalke 04, the fourth place in the Bundesliga last season, swept the Danish team Copenhagen 7:2 and easily advanced to the group stage.

In this way, the classification of the 32 teams has also been completed.

According to the Champions League draw rules, the top 32 teams are divided into four brackets according to UEFA's points system, with the first tier of seeds including last year's champions Hamburg and seven other teams with higher European points.

Namely: Hamburg, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Benfica, Atletico Madrid, Arsenal.

It should be noted that although Hamburg won the Champions League last season and won a lot of games, because the European points are calculated based on the total points of the past five seasons, it is impossible for Hamburg to be in the first pot if they are seeded solely by points.

At most, it can only be ranked in third gear.

Even their points are not much higher than those of the teams in fourth gear, which belongs to the crane tail level of third gear.

This is actually quite normal.

The European points you can get for winning a championship are three or four hundred points, and many teams can surpass Hamburg in total points as long as they can participate in European competitions every year and only need to get an average of about 10 points.

In the second pot of teams, because the three old powerhouses Manchester United, AC Milan and Inter Milan have all missed the Champions League this season, Manchester City and Zenit, who are ranked lower in European points, have become the second tier teams;

Other teams in Pot 2 include Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Shakhtar Donetsk, Basel, Porto, etc.

The teams in Pot 3 are Schalke 04, Olympiacos, CSKA Moscow, Ajax, Liverpool, Sporting Portugal, Galatasaray, Athletic Bilbao.

Liverpool here are worth mentioning, as they have also not played in the Champions League for a long time, so they can only be in Pot 3.

Pot 4 is mostly a regular in the first round of the European group stage, with Anderlecht, Roma, Atletico Greece, Borisov Bett, Ludogorets, Maribor, Monaco and Malmo.

Such a lottery situation is much better for Pan Yi than when he was in Hamburg.

After all, Hamburg was a fourth-tier team, and it can really be said that no matter how you draw it, there will be no good signing.

And now Chelsea is the first team!

This has a natural advantage, they don't have to think about facing Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern and other top teams in the Champions League.

Add to that the fact that Manchester City, the most thorny side in Pot 2, and Liverpool, the toughest Liverpool team in Pot 3, are all Premier League teams, and it is unlikely that Chelsea will be drawn with them due to their own avoidance principles.

If you draw the rest of the teams, Chelsea will not be able to draw the same group of death as before.

"It's good that I won't be able to smoke a burger." Pan Yi said with a smile.

On the evening of August 28, in the Chelsea manager's office, Pan Yi and several coaches were watching the live TV broadcast, also waiting for the start of the draw ceremony.

"According to UEFA's urine, if we weren't in the same bracket, maybe it was really possible." Assistant coach Steve Holland laughed, "Didn't you draw your old club AC Milan when you were in Hamburg last year?" This kind of drama of kicking the old club is the most eye-catching. ”

"And it just so happens that our head is the most eye-catching manager in world football today...... "Another assistant Scaloni also said, "It's a pity, otherwise the topic will be full!" ”

Pan Yi smiled: "Actually, there's nothing wrong with being able to draw a hamburger." This year, Hamburg was bought half of the team, and its strength is not as good as before. ”

In this summer, Hamburg is indeed the team with the worst "blood loss" in the whole of European football.

They have the likes of Jamie Vardy, Kevin De Bruyne, N'Golo Kante, Casemiro, Carvajal and Keylor Navas...... and so that a lump of people were poached.

Even Calhanoglu, Paulinho, Makoto Hasebe and others, who played as rotational substitutes, switched to other teams.

Although Hamburg also added good players like Behrami, Djurou and Adler in the summer window, the decline in strength is still very noticeable.

Their performances in the first round of the Bundesliga just past year also proved it.

Hamburg faced promoted Makoln away and were held to a 0-0 draw by the opponent, showing a certain weakness.

Subsequently, Pan Yi still said to everyone in a relaxed tone:

"Actually, my point of view is still the same as before."

"No matter what team we draw, we have to be fully prepared to win."

"Last year I led Hamburg to Barcelona and Milan in the group stage, so what? It's not about qualifying two rounds early. ”

"Our goal this year is to win the championship as well! Go make history! So all the teams, we have to find a way to beat! ”

Hearing Pan Yi say this, the coaches were very excited.

Everyone knows Pan Yi's level, and they also know that he will not be full of guns.

Since Pan Yi said that he wants to create history, then he really wants to go towards this goal!

As long as we unite closely around the Chelsea coaching staff with Pan Yi at the core, unite as one and work together, it is possible to achieve this great vision!

Isn't it just for this moment that everyone is a professional coach? Lift the most important trophy!

As for Pan Yi, of course, he is also very much looking forward to the start of the Champions League.

After all, although the Premier League is indeed exciting, it is a long marathon, more of a protracted battle, and it is a test of the team's overall combat ability.

But the cup game is different, especially when it comes to the knockout round, which is really a bayonet every game!

Not to mention the Champions League, each of which is a carefully selected player on the European continent.

The masters have made moves, and then eliminated these masters, which will make Pan Yi have a feeling of enjoyment!

This kind of feeling is also something that the league cannot give.

——

Grimaldi Convention Centre, Monaco.

The annual Champions League group stage draw and UEFA awards ceremony officially kicked off here.

Before the draw began, last season's champion, Hamburg captain Westermann, brought the Champions League trophy back to the field.

This was followed by a short video to commemorate the two football legends who passed away, Eusebio and Di Stefano.

The draw ceremony was still headed by UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino and Head of Competition, Marchetti, while the guest of honour was German football legend Riddle.

The reason why the guest is Riedel is because this season's Champions League final will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany.

The seeded teams in the first bracket are drawn first.

Bayern Munich are in Group E.

Defending champions Hamburg were then drawn and moved into Group H.

Then there is Real Madrid, where the Galacticos move into Group B.

Benfica were drawn from Group C, Arsenal to Group D, Barcelona to Group F and Atletico Madrid to Group A.

The last to be drawn was Chelsea, who were drawn to Group G.

It's still not a shock here, after all, it's just a matter of putting the first-tier teams to the corresponding level.

But from the beginning of the second pot of the team, whether it was the representatives of the teams on the scene, or the officials and coaches watching in front of the TV, it was a little nervous.

For example, in the Westphalia director's office in Germany, Dortmund director Michael Salk is staring at the TV screen with manager Jurgen Klopp.

"It could be Real Madrid, it could be Barcelona, but it's better not to be ......," Klopp said through gritted teeth, "Chelsea! ”

As a second-pot team, Dortmund itself is unlikely to meet their fellow Bayern Munich.

In the previous two seasons against Real Madrid, they did not fall behind, so Klopp is not afraid of the Spanish team.

Of course, if it's Benfica, or even Arsenal, Uncle Scum prefers it.

But......

When he faced Pan Yi's team, he couldn't get good fruit to eat!

Last season, the two 0:3 in the league and the cup really made Klopp feel a deep sense of powerlessness when facing Pan Yi.

This season, Pan Yi switched to Chelsea, but he still showed unstoppable momentum, winning two 4:0 in the Premier League, and it seems that the momentum is no weaker than when he was in Hamburg.

I don't know why, Klopp felt in his heart that if he ran into Pan Yi again, it would be a bad ending!

Therefore, he would rather touch a giant like Barcelona and Real Madrid than fight Pan Yi again!

If you really draw Chelsea, it's really a bloody mold!

'Honestly, if we run into Chelsea, what are the odds of winning?' Director Salk asked with a solemn face.

Klopp's mind, he could probably guess a little.

But in his heart, there is also a hope that Klopp can lead Borussia Dortmund to defeat Pan Yi's Chelsea.

In this way, Klopp may be able to get rid of his own demons, which will be more conducive to Dortmund's future development.

"I don't know." Klopp shook his head and smiled wryly.

He really didn't know.

Or maybe he wanted to say "the probability of winning is low", but he certainly couldn't say that.

He has also watched Chelsea's Premier League games, and he also found that after Pan Yi arrived in the Premier League, he upgraded his tactical concept and system.

Although the 433 formation at Hamburg was successful, Pan Yi was still very determined to change Chelsea's main tactics to 343, and this style of play even seemed to be more complete than it was in the Bundesliga.

This is also a very scary place to think about!

You must know that when a football coach can form a complete set of his own tactical concepts, he is often able to summarize it after several years of experience in professional football.

And if you can be very proficient in a variety of formations, and be able to switch between multiple playing styles skillfully, you will never be able to do it without more than ten or eight years of skill.

Even if there are so many world-class coaches now, many of them are famous because of a certain formation style they are good at.

For example, Bielsa's 3313, Conte's 352, Pep Guardiola's 433, Mourinho's 4231, and so on.

But now this Pan Yi, who is only 28 years old, says that if he changes the formation, he will change the formation, and he plays so well every time he changes!

Since he was an assistant coach in Milan, and it is the fourth year of his career, he has already used the 4231, 433, and now the 343 formation to lay a corner.

What a terrifying tactical ability! What do you use in Turin!

And now Pan Yi is at Chelsea, a club with plenty of money and perfect club facilities as a solid backing, he can build his own squad according to his own ideas, and use the tactics he has created.

Coupled with his already brilliant ability to arrange troops and command on the spot, no one knows how far he will take this team!

Because of this, Klopp just wants to say: he doesn't want to touch Pan Yi's Chelsea!

So this draw made him feel very worried.

If it really happens, if it is still defeated, how much pressure does Uncle Scum, as the coach, have?

Klopp is now well aware of the gap between himself and Pan Yi, and he is also aware of Dortmund's current strength.

Although they are also recruiting this season, spending 19.4 million euros to buy Italian star Immobile, 10 million euros to bring in Ginter from Freiburg, and 9.7 million to buy Alidry Ramos from Hertha Berlin, and Chi Dongyuan from Augsburg on a free transfer;

There are also two veterans, that is, Shinji Kagawa, who bought it from Manchester United for 8 million, and Sahin, who bought it out from Real Madrid for 7 million......

However, Dortmund has taken Lewandowski for free this season!

It seems like a void that no player can fill.

With Immobile's ability, can he replace Lewandowski's role? This is obviously a big question mark.

So, with the current Dortmund squad to meet Chelsea, he Klopp really has a chance to win?

And how are you going to kick it then?

Attack? It's hard, I'm afraid.

Defend with all your might? It is estimated that he will also be scolded to death by the fans of Westphalia.

You must know that since the first day of Pan Yi's rise in Hamburg, countless media and fans have been comparing him with Pan Yi.

And later, everyone also recognized that such a comparison was meaningless - because Pan Yi had already won a complete victory!

If Klopp chooses to defend against Pan Yi again, it will already be another loss in itself.

Not to mention that if you defend or lose, it is really a loss on top of a loss!

Of course, Klopp is not saying that you should never touch Pan Yi.

He also has a desire to challenge and has the ambition to bring out the best team in the world!

What he thought in his heart was to be able to touch Pan Yi with a more ideal lineup of his own and really beat him!

Instead of when he was building his own lineup, the team's main striker just slipped into the house of the opposite rival......

"Maybe one day, if I am given a Premier League team with enough money to build a strong squad, I can go to England and face him!" This is Klopp's inner monologue.

Of course, he wouldn't say that when he faced the team director now.

And where does Director Salk know what Klopp is thinking?

He could just see that Klopp could touch anyone now, but he really didn't want to touch Pan Yi.

So, Salk gently patted Klopp's shoulder and comforted him with a smile: "It's okay, it won't be so unlucky." ”

Then, on the TV screen, another guest in the draw, Uwe Schiller, a German and Hamburg legend, had already shown the note showing Dortmund.

"Borussia Dortmund, Group G!"

Chelsea are in Group G!

Klopp suddenly had a black line at his end.

What a stinky luck of yourself......

What are you afraid of?

——

The teams in Pot 2 were drawn one after another.

Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian Premier League giant, are in Group C with Benfica.

The next draw was Paris Saint-Germain, who were drawn and were drawn in Group F where Barcelona were!

Then it is Shakhtar Donetsk who make it to Group H, where they will face defending champions Hamburg.

This was followed by Manchester City in Group E and another meeting with Bayern Munich! This also caused a lot of noise at the scene.

Porto were drawn from Group D, Basel to Group B and Juventus to Group A.

In the third pot of teams, the most interesting team is, of course, Liverpool, who were drawn from Group B, that is, with Real Madrid!

Of course, at this time, there was no so-called "there are a few accounts to be settled" between the two teams, so it did not cause a great response.

Mainly because the team in Pot 2 of this group is Basel of Switzerland, there is no real so-called group of death.

And the group drawn in Group G with Chelsea and Dortmund is the Portuguese sports team.

This is actually the relatively strong team in Pot 3.

"Is my luck really that bad?" Pan Yi in front of the TV couldn't help but laugh dumbly.

Although Chelsea is the first team, which means that no matter how bad their signing luck is, it will not go anywhere, but now, almost all the strong teams that may be drawn in every bracket have been drawn!

In the second pot, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Dortmund are undoubtedly the strongest potential opponents, and then they drew Dortmund;

In the third pot, the stronger ones are Sporting Portugal, Ajax, Athletic Bilbao, and then draw Sporting de Portugal.

"The last one won't be Rome, right?" Scaloni glanced at the list of teams in Pot 4, that is, Roma is relatively strong.

"You crow's mouth!" Steve Holland cursed softly, then pointed to the TV screen.

There, Riddle had already held up a note with the word "Rome" written on it, and then pulled out its grouping: Group G!

"I'll rub it, that's." Pan Yi really laughed.

This is to forcibly make it difficult for yourself to make a theoretical "group of death".

But since they are all smoked like this, who will Pan Yi be afraid of?

Even groups like Barcelona, Milan, and Ajax have been kicked out, and they are really not afraid of this reduced version of the group of death!

"Okay, let's get up to the next challenge! The stronger the opponent, the happier I am! Pan Yi said to the coaches, "Moreover, the preparations for defeating them will start today!" ”

"Yes, sir!" Everyone responded in unison.

Under Pan Yi's hands, everyone has such a spirit!

If you change teams, you don't know how long you'll have to wear the mask of pain.

After all, who wouldn't want to pinch a few more soft persimmons in the group stage?

——

With all the teams in Pot 4 being drawn, the grouping for the 2014-2015 Champions League group stage has been finalized.

Group A: Atletico Madrid (Spain), Juventus (Italy), Olympiacos (Greece), Malmo (Sweden)

Group B: Real Madrid (Spain), Basel (Switzerland), Liverpool (England), Ludogorets (Bulgaria)

Group C: Benfica (Portugal), Zenit St. Petersburg (Russia), Schalke 04 (Germany), Monaco (France)

Group D: Arsenal (England), Porto (Portugal), Galatasaray (Turkey), Anderlecht (Belgium)

Group E: Bayern Munich (Germany), Manchester City (England), CSKA Moscow (Russia), Maribor (Slovenia)

Group F: Barcelona (Spain), Paris Saint-Germain (France), Ajax (Netherlands), Atlético Greece (Cyprus)

Group G: Chelsea (England), Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Sporting (Portugal), Roma (Italy)

Group H: Hamburg (Germany), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), Athletic Bilbao (Spain), Borisov (Belarus)

Overall, defending champions Hamburg are in a good group, after all, the other three opponents are not very strong, and perhaps their biggest headache is the long away road from Ukraine and Belarus.

Group F, where Barcelona and Paris and Ajax are in Group F, as well as Group G, where Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting and Roma are located, is considered to be a more difficult group.

Especially in Group G, everyone thinks that all four teams have a chance to qualify, and it is the real group of death in this season's Champions League!

However, Pan Yi said at a press conference the next day, before the start of the third round of the Premier League, that Chelsea did not think there was anything special about the group.

'As everyone knows, I've always been not picky about Champions League opponents, as long as I don't play the same team all the time.

"What, you say Dortmund is my old rival? Hehe, now I'm in the Premier League, Klopp is in the Bundesliga, and it's already fresh again. ”

"There is no doubt that we have only one goal in the group stage, which is to win the group. Because our ultimate goal is to win the championship, I have to win the group stage as well. ”

"So, the other three teams are embarrassed, you have to fight for second place in the group."

Pan Yi said this very confidently, which also made the media reporters at the scene a little uproar.

But it doesn't seem to be faulty, after all, Chelsea are indeed the best in terms of the strength of these four teams on paper and their recent form.

Although a football game is not a game where the winner can be decided by looking at the strength on paper, Pan Yi can always let his team play the strongest ability in the game and win!

The facts of the past few years have been proving this.

Finally, Pan Yi said that whether it is the Champions League or the next Premier League game, his team is ready.

Chelsea have the ability to play on multiple fronts at the same time and try to get the best results!

(End of chapter)