novelhk Chapter 481
Chapter 481
In the evening.
A bunch of people gathered in Li Shiguang's Dabieye.
Shakira, Simeone's wife Carolina and Rivaldo's wife Rosa were playing with their children on the lawn outside.
Three men were leaning on the sofa, watching TV and chatting.
Today is the day off for the entire Leeds United team.
Gathering at Li Shiguang's house to have a Chinese meal on the night off has almost become a compulsory course for Simeone and Rivaldo.
The TV is playing a documentary about the promotion of the four teams playing tonight.
Simeone threw a grape in his mouth and looked at Li Shiguang with interest: "Boss, who do you think will advance tonight?"
"Manchester United and Barcelona." Li Shiguang, who was looking down at his phone, answered directly without raising his head.
"I think it's them, too." Rivaldo nodded in agreement. "Manchester United has been Roma's nemesis in the past two years. Their defense can't withstand the impact of Ronaldo and Rooney, not to mention that today is the game at Old Trafford."
"As for Barcelona, although the team has been inconsistent on the football field this season due to conflicts in the locker room, Schalke 04 still lacks a lot of hard power. As long as Asamoah is restricted, the Germans won't be able to make much waves in Camp Nou!"
"Ferreira, you know Barcelona." Simeone teased Rivaldo, and then asked Li Shiguang, "By the way, boss, what did Rijkaard say? How did Alan talk to him?"
"We've talked about it...but why are you so concerned about Rijkaard?" Li Shiguang was a little surprised.
"Hehe..." Simeone smiled embarrassedly, "Didn't you say last time that you would let me go out as a head coach? If Rijkaard is fired by Barcelona..."
"Stop it!" Li Shiguang waved his hand to interrupt Simeone's spell, "What the hell do you want? As the only two giants in Spain, will they let you be the head coach? What's the matter, did Laporta contact you?"
"Uh... That's not the case."
"Then what did you dream about last night? Do you think you can go to Barcelona to be the head coach!?"
"Isn't there any famous coach on the market... I think I can give it a try."
Li Shiguang was so amused by Simeone's words that he didn't even look at his phone. He looked up at Simeone: "Diego, you have been with me for so long. Let me ask you, which do you prefer, passing and controlling or defensive counterattack?"
"Defensive counterattack." Simeone answered without hesitation.
"Then it's over!" Li Shiguang spread his hands, "Barcelona has been sticking to its football culture for so long, and has been sticking to the passing and controlling style of play for so long, do you think they will hire you?"
Seeing Simeone still wanted to refute.
Li Shiguang quickly clicked on his phone, and then handed it to Simeone.
"Just wait and see, when Rijkaard is dismissed, he will take over the Barcelona first team. I remember you and him are old rivals, right?"
Guardiola! ?
Simeone stared at the boss with his eyes wide open, with a look of disbelief on his face.
Josep Guardiola.
Current head coach of Atletico Barcelona, that is, Barcelona B team.
Simeone did have many encounters with Guardiola during the three years he played for Atletico Madrid.
He also knew that Guardiola was a native of Barcelona, but didn't Guardiola just return to Barcelona and coach the B team for only a year?
Can he be promoted to the head coach of the first team so soon?
Simeone returned the phone to Li Shiguang and asked in surprise: "Boss, where did you get this news? How come I have never heard of it!"
Li Shiguang has not answered yet.
Rivaldo next to him smiled and spoke first: "If it is Josep, it is really possible."
As soon as Rivaldo opened his mouth.
Li Shiguang remembered that there was a person sitting next to him who knew Guardiola best in this room.
"Yes, Diego, you can ask Ferreira. Guardiola is Ferreira's old captain. In this room, the person who knows Guardiola best must be him."
"Diego, if what the boss said is true, then you are definitely out of luck." Rivaldo also threw a grape into his mouth, "Joseph is of pure Barcelona descent, and the blood of passing and controlling football flows in his bones. Except for Rijkaard, no one in the world knows Barcelona better than Josep. The problems in their locker room can only be solved by Josep."
Putting the phone back in his pocket, Li Shiguang patted Simeone on the shoulder.
"Don't let your imagination run wild, Diego. Instead of wasting your time, you might as well study Barcelona's style of play."
"I'm telling you, I have a feeling that when Rijkaard leaves,In the 2019 Champions League, this updated Barcelona will be our strongest opponent, no doubt about it! "
····
After dinner.
The women took their children home to sleep, and Shakira went to the second floor alone to create.
Only three men were left in the living room, chatting casually.
Eight forty-five.
Two games started at the same time on two TVs.
Rivaldo's prediction was very accurate.
As soon as the game started, the two home teams took the initiative in the game.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United's wave after wave of attacks made Roma breathless.
Occasionally there were some counterattack opportunities, but Roma was defeated by "Wolf King" Totti. The injury caused the team's offense to be unable to connect and really threaten the goal guarded by Schmeichel.
If Roma could occasionally kick the ball across the center line in the game at Old Trafford,
then the game at Camp Nou was completely one-sided.
Barcelona did not give Schalke 04 any chance.
The midfield composed of Iniesta, Xavi and Yaya Toure completely controlled the rhythm of the game.
And they were not in a hurry to attack.
They just slowly controlled the ball, passed the ball, and penetrated, making it difficult for Schalke 04 to grab or not grab.
In this state.
In the 42nd minute of the game, Xavi seized the opportunity to send a straight pass in the middle, Falcao received the pass in the penalty area and passed it back, Yaya Toure followed up with a violent shot and knocked on the door guarded by Schalke 04 goalkeeper Schöber.
1:0, Barcelona leads at home!
A few minutes later.
Both sides ended the first half of the game at almost the same time.
Although Manchester United's offensive was fierce, they did not score a goal for the time being, and entered the halftime break with Roma with a score of 0:0.
Fifteen minutes later.
The second half began.
Barcelona was still slow, Control the rhythm calmly.
At Old Trafford.
Ronaldo exerted his strength.
In the 53rd minute, Ronaldo dribbled the ball along the left side, breaking through the defense of De Rossi and Panucci all the way, and then sent a cross near the baseline. Berbatov, who had been waiting in the penalty area, shot and scored at the front point, helping Manchester United take the lead at home!
In the end.
There were no surprises in both games.
Barcelona and Manchester United both defeated their respective opponents at home with a score of 1:0 and successfully advanced to the semi-finals of the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League!