The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 157 Knockout Draw

The top 16 of this year's Champions League have all been announced. The three major leagues, Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, each occupy three places. Ligue 1 and Bundesliga each have two teams advancing. The remaining three places are occupied by teams from Portugal, Greece, and Russia. carve up.

Among them, CSKA Moscow reached the Champions League knockout rounds for the first time in history.

On December 12, the draw ceremony for the Champions League quarter-finals was held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Many people were interviewed before the draw began.

For example, Inter Milan captain Zanetti told a reporter from Sky Sports Italy,
  "Anyone will do, except Chelsea."

The "heartthrob" Beckham, who will come to AC Milan again in the second half of the season, said in an interview with "Gazzetta dello Sport" that he hopes to draw Manchester United.

"To be honest, I even prayed before the draw started that AC Milan and Manchester United would be drawn together so that I could go back to Old Trafford."

It's very interesting that one of them got his wish, and the other one also guessed the result in a sense.

Inter Milan drew Chelsea, and this result was expected by many people.

Mourinho even looked a little excited when talking about the draw results.

"It's an interesting result and I'm looking forward to playing against Ancelotti again.

Now that it's a foregone conclusion, there's no need to discuss satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

What I want to say is that I will let Chelsea Football Club know that they made a big mistake. "

The Nerazzurri's city rival AC Milan couldn't laugh after being drawn against Manchester United.

Putting aside the gap in strength between the two teams, Milan's young coach Leonardo is unlikely to be a match for the experienced Ferguson in the eyes of the public.

Things related to the Champions League have come to an end for the time being. After all, Inter Milan’s home game against Chelsea will not come until the end of February next year.

Mourinho's most pressing task now is naturally the Serie A game two days later.

The long-awaited Christmas vacation is coming, and Leo and the others also ushered in the last game before the winter break.

On December 12, in the seventeenth round of Serie A, Inter Milan faced Lazio at home.

In fact, Inter Milan has already locked up the half-time championship in advance, and facing the temptation of vacation, some players in the team have no idea where their hearts are wandering.

However, even if he wins the real championship in advance, Mourinho cannot easily let his unbeaten record at home end in the hands of Lazio.

Lazio defeated Genoa 1-0 in the last round of the league. It just ended its embarrassment of 13 consecutive rounds without victory, and its morale has recovered slightly.

However, due to participating in the Europa League final midweek, the Blue Eagles' physical reserves are obviously insufficient compared to the home team.

Inter Milan still hopes to take all three points at home in the last game of 2009.

Today, Inter Milan still has a four-three-three formation, with Pandev, Eto'o and Diego Milito as their strike partners.

In the midfield, Leo stands slightly forward, followed by Thiago Motta and Cambiasso. On the back line, Chivu and Samuel continue to be absent, Zanetti and Maicon are on the left and right, Cordoba and Lucio partner as central defenders, and the goalkeeper is Cesar.

The visiting team's lineup is also uneven. Zarate has accumulated yellow cards and is suspended, while Matuzalun, Brocchi and Dabo are recovering from injuries.

"call--"

The breath exhaled from Leo's mouth formed a "white mist", and he couldn't help but rub his numb hands from the cold.

Today, the local temperature in Milan dropped to minus 7 degrees. It is really painful to play football in such severe cold.

Let's run, it might be better.

In the first half, Lazio took the lead in kicking off the ball. Leo aggressively pressed the ball and then scored the ball.

Milito broke through and made a cross. Eto'o's left-footed low shot from the front of the penalty area missed the right post.

Less than thirty seconds into the game, Inter Milan took the first shot of the game.

Two minutes later, Cambiaso passed the ball and Motta volleyed with his left foot from the outside of the penalty area!
  The ball bounced in front of Muslera, causing him to throw the ball away, but Stendaldo destroyed the ball out of the baseline before Milito shot back.

Then came Leo's direct pass. Maicon accelerated and broke through the defense and fell into the visiting team's penalty area, but the referee Russo refused to award a penalty kick.

Leo played very patiently in today's game. On the other hand, he was waiting for everyone to adapt to the cold weather and get into shape.

In the fourteenth minute, Lazio launched an attack!
  Mauri scored the ball. Kolarov got rid of the defensive player on the left and forced his way into the penalty area and shot from a small angle. The ball was saved by Cesar!

After Lazio's left corner kick was destroyed by the home team's defender, Inter Milan launched a lightning counterattack!

Maicon broke through and passed from the right. Leo first made a direct pass and was hooked by the visiting team defender, but the ball bounced back to the front of the penalty area!
  Leo dribbled the ball diagonally to the right and passed the high ball directly to the back post. Eto'o's header from the back point was blocked by Muslera and quickly followed up with his right foot to push into the net!
  One to zero!

The Lazio goalkeeper was stunned. The Uruguayans didn't understand why Eto'o could react so quickly in such a cold weather.

Although Mourinho didn't show much expression on his face on the sidelines, he was already nodding his head in his heart.

Eto'o has been in good form recently, and his scoring efficiency has also greatly improved. This is something the Inter Milan coach is happy to see.

After conceding the goal, Lazio, playing away from home, also had to strengthen its offense.

In the 18th minute, Del Nero broke through from the left and sent a low pass near the baseline. Rocky shot at the near post but was tackled by Inter Milan defender Cordoba.

The referee didn't say anything and the visiting team's players thought it was a penalty kick.

Russo remained indifferent to complaints from Lazio players. Then Motta kicked Baronio down in defense and was given a yellow card by the referee.

Baronio then tackled Lucio from behind and also received a yellow card.

Leo shook his head, what are these people doing so defensively, aren't they afraid of getting hurt?

Kolarov passed a free kick from the left, and Rocky pushed the shot from a small angle and missed the left goal post.

In the counterattack, Leo passed the ball over the top and Milito's right-footed volley from the sideline of the penalty area was bravely blocked by Muslera and blocked the right post!

Baronio made a diagonal pass from the left, and the ball bounced in the penalty area and hit Maicon's right hand.

Lazio's players excitedly raised their hands to signal the referee for a handball.

However, the referee Russo thought it was an unintentional handball and did not express anything.

Lazio continued to organize the attack, Megni knocked to Mauri, and Mauri's low shot from the left was slightly wide.

At the end of the first half, Inter Milan leads 1-0!

Muntari, who had just returned from injury in the second half, replaced Motta who had received a yellow card.

Leo got rid of Meloni's defense and moved to the wing.

After Eto'o and Milito hit the wall and cooperated, they cut into the penalty area from the right and volleyed from a small angle and missed the near post!
  Two minutes later, Leo once again sent a direct pass. Milito knocked back with his back. Pandev was blocked and moved to the right. Eto'o's low shot with his left foot was firmly saved by Muslera.

In the 53rd minute, Lazio, who was lagging behind, also made substitutions.
  Cruz replaced Magni, and the Inter Milan fans on the Meah viewing platform gave the old player a friendly applause.

Replacing a midfielder with a forward, Ballardini's intention was obvious. They were unwilling to lose to Inter Milan in an away game and wanted to further strengthen their offense.

The Nerazzurri would not give in. Just as they were about to fight back, Muntari fell to the ground in pain with a muscle injury.

Mourinho's face instantly became ugly, and he cursed secretly about the damn weather.

Vieira came out for emergency warm-up, while Muntari got off the field with the help of the team doctor.

He was injured again not long after his comeback. The Ghanaian was in a very bad mood. After coming off the field, he kicked his coat off in a fit of vent on the bench.

Alas, Leo also sighed, there was nothing we could do about it. The cold weather and stiff body would indeed lead to injuries more easily than usual.

It can only be said that Muntari may not have warmed up properly before playing, or it may have caused an old injury.

Baronio passed the ball, and Kolarov's volley from the outside of the penalty area missed.

The outstanding performance of the Lazio left back made Mourinho couldn't help but take a second look.

Today, apart from central defender Radu, the best player in the Blue Eagles' lineup was Kolarov.

While the Serbian is solid defensively, he can also provide considerable help to the team on the offensive end.

The Inter Milan coach shook his head. His defense was impressive, his crosses and long-range shots were good, but his desire to attack was too strong, which was not in line with his tactical system.

But then Mourinho couldn't help but wonder, with Kolarov on the left and Maicon on the right, did these two wings just take off?

The most important thing is to adjust the current tactics and give full play to the offensive capabilities of the two wings.

Inter Milan's left-back position has always been a relative shortcoming, whether it was Maxwell last season or Chivu this season, plus teenager Thornton and Zanetti's guest appearance today.

Mourinho has never been satisfied with the Nerazzurri's position.

If Kolarov is really bought, Chivu and Zanetti can still shine in other positions, and the team will have more changes.

The eyes of the Portuguese are getting brighter and brighter. It seems that it is indeed feasible?

Maicon passed three people and was brought down by Stendardo. The referee showed a yellow card to the Lazio defender.

Then Leo took a free kick, and an unpredictable falling ball went straight to the dead end of the goal!

Unfortunately, it was just a hair’s breadth away, and it missed the crossbar and flew out of the bottom line.

Lazio counterattacked quickly. Kolarov broke through from the left and passed diagonally to the front of the penalty area. Cruz's kick went wide due to Lucio's interference.

Mourinho liked Kolarov more and more as he watched him on the field, and he wished he could buy him into the team tomorrow.

Then Eto'o was tackled by the Serbian for a vicious foul.

The Inter Milan coach came to his senses and replaced the goal hero with Balotelli.

This is also to prevent Eto'o from being injured, and has no other meaning.

However, after Bashen came on the field, he ran very actively.

In the 85th minute, Leo passed the ball into the penalty area. Balotelli's right-footed backslash volley from the right side of the penalty area was blocked by Muslera!

Milito didn't grab the point, but his movement successfully interfered with the Lazio defender. Pandev crossed the goal line with a light kick in front of the small penalty area!
  Two to zero!
  Inter Milan expands its lead!

Mourinho then replaced Milito with Materazzi, and until the end of the game neither side had any good scoring opportunities.

In the end, Inter Milan defeated the Blue Eagles 2-0 at home and won the last game of the year. While remaining unbeaten at home, they continued to lead the league standings!
  　In fact, according to the rules of the Champions League, Inter Milan and the Blues cannot be drawn together for the first place in the two groups. But anyway, in the book I wrote, if I want them to be drawn together, I will let them be drawn together. The other things are not important.

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)