If you are a brother, come and play football

Chapter 316 You fucking call yourself Ronnie (Please subscribe)
1997 6 Month 5 Day.

This is important for a small number of players.

However, even among top players, only a small fraction will participate in the finals.

Competitive sports are just that cruel.

For most players, the European Champions League is just a dream. Sometimes it seems within reach, but a single loss can make it seem like the world is just out of reach.

Of course, there was also revenge after Istanbul.

However, both the performance of number 22 and this story are a summer fairy tale that is hard to replicate.

Franco Baresi woke up before 6 a.m., took a shower, and unusually used some skincare products. He was very careful when using Gillette, afraid that he might have missed some areas.

As I tilted my head back and scraped off the foam, looking at the slightly loose skin on my neck, it was hard not to recall the spirited 17-year-old me who first wore a Milan jersey and looked in the mirror.

Twenty years is not a short time.

But for a job, it's still not long enough.

At least he hasn't kicked enough.

It felt as if leaving the restroom meant parting, making Baresi reluctant to leave, staring blankly at himself in the mirror.

It took Baresi about three minutes to come to his senses.

He mischievously stuck out his tongue in front of the mirror, hummed an unknown Japanese song, and occasionally made faces at the mirror.

When he was little, there was an animated film co-produced by Italy and Japan called "Little Black Calimero". He was already in middle school at that time, and he still liked the little black duck with an eggshell on its back.

I also really liked my mother back then, who would often tease me for being such a big kid and still watch cartoons with me.

click -

"Sorry, Franco, I just woke up and didn't expect there to be someone inside."

Wiljoward quickly closed the bathroom door again.

Baresi pinched the corner of his eye, patted his face hard, and once again had a blank expression.

"I'm done."

"After leaving the restroom," Baresi said.

He then opened his suitcase and carefully took out the neatly arranged suit.

It was only after Lu Deyang gave him a reservation slip that he finally decided to buy such an expensive suit.

Baresi slowly took out his suit jacket, as if looking at his lover, while muttering, "34,000 dollars, 34,000 dollars..."

Even after paying the final balance, Baresi still felt the pinch.

As a pragmatist, Baresi rarely indulged in such extravagant spending.

Holy crap, it's so expensive, can it even be bulletproof?

After removing the protective bag, Baresi carefully dried himself off, changed into his underwear and shirt, and then carefully put on his trousers, afraid that the expensive fabric would be torn by the bed sheet.

Gentle and comfortable.

Even though it was just dress pants, the fabric felt very comfortable against Baresi's legs.

After getting up, looking in the mirror, and straightening his shirt, he put on his suit jacket, shrugged, and couldn't help but give a thumbs up, saying, "You look absolutely stunning, Franco..."

Just then, out of the corner of his eye, Baresi saw Wiljoward, who was drying his head with a towel, step out of the bathroom and stood there staring at him.

Oh shit!

After a few seconds of eye contact, Baresi quickly walked out of the room.

"I'm going to the restaurant first."

……

The teammates who woke up almost all ate first.

Baresi immediately became the focus of the entire team.

We won't bother you if you're wearing a suit, but isn't it a bit too early?
We'll have to wait until the afternoon to depart.

Wearing so many clothes, I'm afraid I'll get heatstroke.

For these old guys, the last game was of great significance.

Everyone's saying nice things today.

We go to the stadium in the afternoon and play a match in the evening; there are no mandatory requirements at this time.

The players would gather together to watch TV or play something.

Playing cards is not prohibited in Milan.

However, getting emotionally agitated before a match is not a good thing.

They all chose games that weren't very competitive or confrontational.

Van Basten was drinking black tea from his cup, slurping it down, and hadn't poured any water for over half an hour.

Lu Deyang suspected that this technique was passed down from white people. In Chinese bars, foreigners would buy a bottle of Heineken and drink it endlessly.

Totti, Buffon, and a few others were putting up stickers.

They competed to see who could stick out the longest strip of paper.

A childish yet fun game.

"I want to tell the coach that I won't play anymore."

Van Basten put down his cup and said.

“Worried that you won’t be able to stick it out? Then let’s find someone else,” Lu Deyang said.

He has no way of explaining this.

If the starting lineup can't hold on, it will waste a substitution slot.

Who can guarantee that someone else will play the entire match?

Basten sat there without saying a word.

Lu Deyang, of course, didn't say anything either.

It's quite interesting to just quietly watch them play.

After a short nap following lunch, the whole team prepared to board the bus.

"Ahhh, Deyan!"

"Deyang!!!"

"Watch me, Deyang!"

As soon as they stepped out of the hotel, the entire Milan team was surrounded by a sea of ​​fans.

Munich has seen a lot of tourists these past few days, and it's said that even some locals are turning their homes into temporary guesthouses to make money.

Lu Deyang quickly boarded the bus and sat in a seat towards the back.

As the entire team boarded the bus, it slowly made its way towards the Munich Olympic Stadium.

Today's journey is destined to be slower.

Alas, alas—

Munich police led the way, and Munich police also restricted the fans on both sides of the road.

The Germans actually paid a heavy price in this Champions League final, but they probably made a lot of money in tourism revenue as well.

Germans always try to show that they are no longer capable of resisting.

However, the Germans and British are much more reliable than the countries of other major leagues when it comes to organizing and securing large-scale events.

Looking at the huge crowd of fans outside the window, Lu Deyang wasn't too worried.

It has been a long time since there have been news reports of similar security issues in West Germany.

On the contrary, de Gaulle's descendants were frequently ravaged, and Paris was like a terrorist's backyard, with even gangs causing security problems.

Seeing similar news, Lu Deyang always wondered who would be the one to conquer France after the Black-Green Army.

"Dejan, you've been a bit quiet. Are you thinking about what to do with your old club?" Totti asked curiously.

"No, I was thinking about whether I should lead the singing in front of the South Stand after we win the championship."

Lu Deyang joked.

When did it become the Little Prince's turn to worry about him?

Totti laughed along with him.

At this moment, Lu Deyang remembered the scratch card he had asked the waiter to buy for him.

The 5-mark ticket has already been scratched off; I didn't win.

The 10 marks were just waiting for this moment.

He pulled out a scratch card and asked, "Does anyone have coins?"

"I have."

Maldini turned back and handed it to Lu Deyang, saying, "Don't play this game too often. The return rate is very fixed, and the more you buy, the less likely you are to win."

"Understood, God of Gamblers."

Lu Deyang joked.

These are all words of advice from people who have been through it all.

Maldini looked somewhat uneasy.

He knew that Lu Deyang had read his diary.

He had previously won a prize by calling to buy this item when he didn't have any change. Later, he got carried away and bought several hundred more, losing a lot of money, but he didn't dare tell Adriana.

Lu Deyang took the coin and began scraping off the coating, saying, "I don't know if I'll lose money or not, but I certainly won't."

"Good luck to you then."

Maldini said with a smirk.

He didn't believe Lu Deyang would win the lottery.

Lu Deyang was very efficient; after scraping it open, he handed it directly to Redondo on his right.

Redondo looked down at it, then held the scratch card up to his eyes and examined it carefully.

"Did you get it?"

Costacurta turned around and asked.

“Yes, the grand prize, ten thousand marks,” Redondo said.

"Cut~"

Costacurta felt that Redondo was lying to him.

Redondo shrugged, handed the card back to Lu Deyang, and pointed out the winning symbol to him.

"Pietro, this is for you."

Lu Deyang stood up, stretched out his arm, and handed it to Wiljoward, saying, "I hope you'll have good luck after you retire."

Willjoward accepted it with a smile, and many of his teammates peeked over to take a look.

Immediately afterwards, a commotion broke out on the bus.

"Damn, that's a huge prize!"

"Dejan is really lucky."

"This is the first time I've ever seen someone win the grand prize!"

Van Basten stood up and looked at Lu Deyang from a distance.

There was a hint of resentment in his eyes.

He also wanted some good luck.

Lu Deyang smiled and shrugged.

You'll come to me when you lose money on your investments, what a load of crap.

Sacchi was somewhat surprised, but he reacted quickly.

He immediately stood at the front of the bus, clapped his hands, and said, "Gentlemen, gentlemen!!! Even God is on our side now. It's not a consolation prize, nor is it a few dozen dollars. Dejan's scratch card won the grand prize. Clearly, God also believes we will win everything in Munich..."

With that, Sacchi raised his arm and shouted, "Forza Milan!"

"Forza Milan!!!"

For a moment, the atmosphere inside the bus was incredibly lively.

……

Even Manchester United fans had to admit that AC Milan looked stylish when they got off the bus.

Fortunately, Manchester United is young, and those young players are still young.

Lu Deyang noticed subtle changes in many of his teammates.

Those old guys are all secretly passionate.

If no one asks how much their outfits cost and it doesn't make the news, they'll probably be depressed for a long time even if they win the game.

How do you walk on your tiptoes?

Buffon patted Totti on the shoulder and said.

"Damn it!"

Totti patted his shoulder dismissively and said, "My suit cost over 20,000. If I damage it, even if you, an Albanian, sold yourself, you couldn't afford to pay for it."

I ordered the suit specifically for this kind of occasion.

Totti held back for a long time before making his first appearance in the Champions League final.

Buffon's eyes widened; he hadn't expected Totti to be so willing. Lu Deyang, who was watching the show from the sidelines, was beckoned to by Sacchi.

"coach."

"Let's go, Dejan, to the press conference."

Saki said.

He knew very well who the reporters wanted to see.

The two were startled when they arrived at the press conference room.

Many, too many!
The audience was full of reporters.

They couldn't even close the door to the press conference room.

Is this a clash between the world's top elite families?

Manchester United's commercial development is quite outstanding.

This wasn't done by Sanders; Glazer just happened to get a free pass.

Eduardo developed Manchester United very well, but he didn't live to see the rapid development of the money-driven era in football.

The King of the Road led Manchester United to the Champions League title ahead of schedule, making them seven-time champions.

At this point, Manchester United's influence was no less than that of the 99 treble winners.

As for Milan.

With the lingering glory of the world's top league and Lu Qiuwang (a legendary Chinese football player), there's no need to say more.

It took about three minutes for Ferguson and Cantona to arrive and sit down.

Both of them greeted Lu Deyang.

The reporters, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately began asking questions.

"Mr. Ferguson, do you have any way to limit Dejan?"

"Eric, is Dejan the best teammate you've ever had in your career?"

"Mr. Sacchi, who do you think is the most threatening player at Manchester United?"

"Dejan, what's your opinion of Mr. Ferguson?"

"Deyang, it's said that the princess is pregnant, is that true?"

"..."

Problems came from all directions, and the scene was in complete chaos.

The press officer had to come out and reassure the reporters, gesturing for them to take turns speaking.

"Mr. Ferguson, who do you think has achieved more so far, you or Mr. Sacchi?"

one reporter asked.

British accent.

No wonder he's so good at asking questions.

Lu Deyang became interested.

Judging from their current coaching records, Ferguson is still stronger. Even excluding his time at Aberdeen, his seven titles are quite impressive, and almost no one has been able to replicate Manchester United's achievements.

However, Sács' undefeated record this season is also terrifying. If he can defeat Manchester United, Milan's undefeated season will end in a perfect finish, which is an achievement that will be difficult to replicate.

The Scottish coach pulled up the microphone and said, "At present, I have a greater advantage, but Arrigo is also an excellent coach. He has not been coaching for as long as I have. If he had more time, his achievements would be unimaginable."

Sacchi had no objection to this statement.

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most decorated coaches in football history.

"Do you agree, Mr. Sacchi, that if you win this match, you can surpass Alex?"

The reporter persisted, asking the same question.

Saki shook his head and said, "I'm still a bit behind. Even if we win this time, I still won't be able to catch up with Mr. Alex Ferguson, but I'd be happy to learn some lessons from him."

This was one of Sacchi's more low-key moments.

Ultimately, Ferguson had more confidence.

"Deyang, do you think so too?"

The reporter continued to change targets.

Lu Deyang shrugged and pulled over the microphone.

He really didn't want to answer that question if he could.

Just like Sacchi's answer, even the answer he used was a problem.

The same words can have different effects when spoken by different people.

Saying that your team's head coach is inferior to the opponent's is just asking for trouble.

Lu Deyang began, “This is a very tricky question. When you have works by Van Gogh and Monet in front of you, you don’t think about whose technique is better, but rather which side you prefer, which painting. It all depends on your own aesthetic sense. I know you will continue to ask me who I like, so I’ll say it in advance: I prefer the coaches who have been coaching me. When I was at Manchester United, I liked Mr. Ferguson more, and currently it’s Mr. Sacchi more.”

Many reporters laughed along with him.

Lu Deyang does indeed like to rush to answer questions at press conferences.

"Could you tell me about your relationship with Cantona?"

another reporter asked.

"Huh?" Lu Deyang blurted out, "Eric and I have a great friendship, and Eric isn't a bad person..."

boom--

The reporters were in stitches.

Some reporters were laughing while clutching their stomachs.

Cantona looked at Lu Deyang with a hint of helplessness.

Such an answer is really perfunctory. The most important thing is that he had actually heard similar answers before, and more than once.

Cantona clearly knew he would be the next question at the press conference, and he said directly: "I have a very good relationship with Dejan, and I hope to introduce him to my friends so that he can showcase his talent in the film industry. After all, AC Milan doesn't rely on him too much, so he should have a lot of free time."

Hahaha……

There was another round of laughter.

Lu Deyang gripped his thigh tightly, managing not to laugh.

Damn, this guy really has guts to tease Saki.

Do you really think Sacchi is as magnanimous as Lu Guo?

Fortunately, Sacchi was not angry. Instead, he pulled over the microphone and said, "After your questions, I've been thinking about who is in more danger at Manchester United. Now you know, it's Eric Cantona."

The laughter at the scene was constant.

The atmosphere today is very good.

Reporters also enjoy this kind of banter; at least it gives them plenty to write about.

A reporter reached out and asked, "Deyang, is the princess pregnant?"

Lu Deyang: ...

He didn't want to deny it, but he also didn't want the matter to be exposed so soon.

These bastards have absolutely no evidence; they're just guessing.

After all, when someone changes some habits, it's easy for people to associate it with pregnancy.

Lu Deyang really couldn't answer the question, so he nudged Saki's leg, hoping Saki could help him out of the predicament.

Sacchi clearly realized this as well, and slammed his fist on the table, saying, "Today's press conference is about the Champions League final, so questions outside of football are not welcome."

Lu Deyang silently gave Saki a thumbs up in his heart.

That's really impressive. Not only did they solve the problem, they also got to the root of the problem.

A reporter quickly asked, "Dejan, who do you think is the most threatening player on the pitch for Manchester United?"

"David Beckham!"

Lu Deyang said: "Ronaldo is very good, he is excellent, just like Eric. However, Beckham's passing ability will cause us a lot of trouble. Anyone who has watched Manchester United's games will know that David's passing ability is excellent and can help Manchester United quickly get the ball and advance."

Who is your favorite player on this Manchester United team?

The reporter pressed for an answer.

“Mr. Alex Ferguson often told us in the dressing room that he, as a striker 30 years younger, needed to make way. He was clearly the best striker in the Manchester United dressing room.”

Lu Deyang joked.

The Scottish manager likes to use his own achievements as a player to put pressure on his players.

"So, which Manchester United player are you currently linked with the most?"

The reporter asked again.

"David Beckham."

Lu Deyang said with a smile, "You should know the relationship between David and me. When I was at Manchester United, we often hung out together. Even after I transferred away, we still kept in touch by phone."

"Eric, do you agree with Dejan's opinion?"

the reporter asked.

"He and David are the closest?"

Cantona feigned ignorance and asked.

"Do you think David Beckham is the bigger threat?"

The reporter asked with a smile.

Cantona nodded and said, "Since it was Dejan who said it, then there is no problem. David's long passes are excellent. He often puts the ball in the right position at the right time. When playing against him, as long as you grasp the timing, it is easy to receive a well-placed pass."

At this time, Beckham was extremely important to Manchester United.

"Eric, can you tell me about Dejan on the field?"

the reporter asked.

Cantona didn't refuse, but thought for a moment and said, "Then I need to go to college to study first, because I can't describe Dejan's performance on the field at all. He seems to be able to do everything. If I had to say what Dejan's greatest strength is, it would be his ability to read the game. Dejan often gives advice on how to deal with tough opponents before the coach does."

"Dejan, what do you think are Manchester United's problems?"

The reporter turned and asked.

Ferguson also pricked up his ears and looked at Lu Deyang.

Lu Deyang rolled his eyes.

These guys just have to find something to talk about with him.

Lu Deyang said: "Manchester United's biggest problem is Manchester. The fans in that city are great, but it rains a lot. If Manchester were by the sea, I might choose to stay and play for Manchester United, even if the wages are lower."

"Are you saying AC Milan is not as good as Manchester United because of dressing room problems?"

The reporter's eyes lit up as he pressed for an answer.

Lu Deyang was so angry he laughed. After a couple of seconds, he said, "What I mean is that I was very happy at Manchester United. I left Manchester United not entirely because Milan offered better terms. The main reason was that I didn't like the continuous drizzle in Manchester. As a British journalist, you should know this very well."

Ferguson, unable to bear it any longer, said, "This last question can only be asked to one person."

The reporters, on the contrary, fell silent.

After they looked at each other, a reporter asked, "Mr. Ferguson, you know Bobby Charlton very well. Who do you think is the best player in Manchester United's history?"

“Dejan, this is what Sir Charlton himself said.”

Ferguson stood up immediately after speaking.

Lu Deyang nodded to the Scottish coach.

Cantona asked in a low voice, "Would you be interested in playing the male lead in the summer? I have a friend who admires you."

“Unless he can get Isabelle Adjani and Sophie Marceau to kiss me on the big screen for 90 minutes,” Lu Deyang declined.

Don't be fooled by the fact that the French only make lowbrow films; their standards for cinema are quite high.

If a layman like Lu Qiu Wang is used as a gimmick, he'll probably get tortured beyond recognition.

He has no acting skills.

Then that junior director can rise to power by stepping on Lu Qiuwang.

Things like treating everyone equally, not giving preferential treatment to big names, and having strict requirements.

Lu Deyang could guess it.

We can't just let Lu Qiuwang perform whatever he wants.

Cantona got up with some regret.

Lu Deyang left with Saki.

The two returned to the locker room.

The locker room was quite lively.

Many players were chatting, and Lu Deyang saw that Totti had placed the crucifix in the cabinet and was praying there.

It's his first time playing in a Champions League final, so he must be a little nervous.

"Change your clothes, Dejan."

Buffon gestured and helped place Lu Deyang's shoes on the ground.

Lu Deyang sat down to change his equipment and then chose to participate in the lottery.

[Your good friend Roberto Baggio isn't particularly assertive; he rarely retaliates even when criticized. Therefore, you've drawn a top player with a strong personality. *Ding!* You've obtained a single-match trial card for the 14th round of the 2007-2008 Premier League season, Manchester United vs. Portsmouth: Cristiano Ronaldo.]

(End of this chapter)