The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 270 Refusal to Postpone
Bell saw Gaio's lips and understood what Gaio was saying.

Without saying much, he turned and walked towards the locker room.

Tottenham lost this game, that's the result, so Bale doesn't want to say anything. Just like he said, we'll see next week.

The schedule is very favorable for Tottenham.

They have no match the following weekend and can rest for a whole week until they travel to Bastia next week for the second leg.

On the other hand, Bastia has a very important league match this weekend.

In the 24th round of Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain will host Bastia.

The two teams are currently separated by 7 points, making this match extremely important.

Bastia certainly wouldn't want to let go.

So now is the time for Bastia to truly test their resilience.

Can the team withstand three consecutive high-intensity matches?

After the game.

After praising the players' performance in the game, Hagi Bejic also mentioned this point: "Bastia is in an extremely dangerous situation and needs everyone to do their best to help the team. If they can't get through this, the team may collapse. This is not an exaggeration. But, as always, I believe in my players."

the other side.

Villas-Boas, who lost the game, also faced questions from reporters, but the questions he faced were much more pointed.

Reporter: "The first leg at home ended in a 1-2 defeat, especially considering that the opponent was a Ligue 1 team that you may have underestimated before the match, despite being the league leaders. This result is very disappointing. Where do you think the main problem lies? In particular, the team was overwhelmed by an 18-year-old player in the first half?"

Villas-Boas spoke calmly, but with a hint of coldness. "First of all, I don't think we'll underestimate any opponent. This is the Europa League knockout stage, and every team is extremely good. Bastia's current league ranking and the strength they showed tonight prove that they are a rising force in European football. They have a group of very talented players, and their tactics were executed very efficiently tonight."

The problem in the first half was that we didn't get into the game well enough. After committing too many players to the attack, our opponents seized the space we had during the transitions on both flanks.

Gaio

At this point, Villas-Boas paused slightly before continuing, "We knew before the match that he possessed extraordinary speed and one-on-one ability, but theoretical knowledge and the ability to limit him in actual combat are two completely different things."

His breakthrough, shot, and penalty he won capitalized on minor errors in our individual and overall defensive coordination—this is precisely the role of a top player. We must admit, he dominated the game in the first half.

Another reporter asked, "You mentioned knowing Gaio's abilities, but why didn't you make more targeted tactical arrangements? For example, assigning a specific person to mark him or adopting a more conservative opening? We saw that before the halftime adjustments, he seemed to be able to do whatever he wanted on our right flank?"

When assistant coach Reed heard this question, he subconsciously frowned, because he had discussed this issue with Villas-Boas, but Villas-Boas insisted that Ector could defend Gaio one-on-one.

Boas would naturally not admit his own problems.

He said, "We had specific arrangements, requiring the full-backs to push forward cautiously and the midfielders to protect the flanks. But in those high-speed counter-attacks, individual ability sometimes outweighs tactical arrangements."

Hector has speed, but Gaião's acceleration and changes of direction tonight showcased the potential and ability of a world-class winger.

We made adjustments at halftime, strengthening the midfield's defensive coverage on the flanks, and the situation improved significantly in the second half. Of course, this needs to be done earlier and more decisively in the second leg.

Reporters then asked Villas-Boas about his assessment of the team's performance in the match.

Finally, reporters continued to ask Gaio related questions, given Gaio's considerable popularity.

Reporter: "Gio was substituted around the 70-minute mark due to excessive physical exertion, which seems to have relieved some of the pressure on you. In the second leg at Bastia's home ground, how can you ensure that you can better wear down and limit him for the remaining 90 minutes? After all, he is young and has a strong recovery ability?"

Villas-Boas nodded slightly. "That's one of the key points. Gaio expended a lot of energy, which proves that our defensive efforts started to work in the second half, making it more difficult for him to break through every time."

Meanwhile, Bale's attacking prowess in the attacking third forced Gaio to track back, which is exactly what we wanted to see.

In the next round, regardless of whether the opponent starts him or plays him as the second option, our defensive strategy must be consistent: maintain a compact defensive formation, limit his sprint space, avoid giving him easy one-on-one opportunities in open areas, and at the same time, keep applying pressure to wear him down.

He is young, but playing in a series of high-intensity matches is also a challenge.

of course,

Bastia isn't just about Gaio; De Bruyne's passing, Kante's sweeping, and Lukaku's attacking prowess are all excellent. We must limit their movement throughout the midfield and attacking third.

Finally, there's the question of whether they are confident of overturning Bastia in the second leg.

Villas-Boas looked directly at the reporter, his tone brimming with confidence: "I am 100% confident that we can advance. Tonight's result is disappointing, but it's a two-legged tie. This match has served as a wake-up call and pointed us in the direction for improvement."

As he walked out of the press conference, Villas-Boas saw Reed looking at him, but he didn't look at Reed and left directly.

The Bastia players rushed back to Bastia overnight after the match.

On the plane, Chatham said, "We have tried to apply to the LFP (French Professional Football League) to postpone the weekend's match against PSG, but of course, as a direct competitor, I think you shouldn't get your hopes up."

Haha.

Everyone else laughed, and Rothen said directly, "After I take a nap, I'll still take them down!"

Angula laughed from the side, "You're already done for? We'll have a tiebreaker right after we land, and I can beat them too!"

Rothen chuckled and looked at Angula, "The kick you're talking about, is it the kick in Muay Thai?"

"Hahaha!"

At that moment, the whole team burst into laughter.

Including Gaio.

He listened to his teammates' relaxed conversation after the game while reviewing the evening's match.

Gaio felt he hadn't managed his energy well.

Some opportunities were not seized.

But as long as we won in the end, that's all that matters. This match added 50 points directly, proving that you really need to play high-level matches.

With that, you now have 85 points.

If we can beat PSG, maybe we'll have a chance to collect 100 treasure chests?

They might have new strengths when they face Tottenham in the second leg.

he thought.

Lukaku, who was in front of him, turned around. The others were already talking about the second leg against Tottenham, and he said to Gaio, "Gaio! My brother! You played so well today, I want to kneel down and beg you! Two goals! At White Hart Lane! You made this place as quiet as a library! That was so damn awesome! Next week when we go back to our home ground, I'll cover for you, you can fly high!" Lukaku's words were a way of steer the conversation to Gaio.

"Gaio, tell me yourself, was that nutmeg on purpose? Haha, you do it at least once in every game," Joplin laughed.

Gaio shrugged. "No, no, no, it's simply because it makes it faster to get past people."

Rothen chimed in, "Guys! We need to protect our precious Gaio when we get back to Corsica! Anyone want to get him some Corsican wild boar meat to nourish him? We still need him to carry the team!"

Hahaha.

There was laughter.

Seeing the excited players, Hagi Bejic couldn't help but say, "Get some rest, aren't you tired from tonight's game? Don't forget you have the game against PSG this weekend, followed by the game against Tottenham."

He shrugs helplessly when it comes to fighting; sometimes Haji Begichi is just that old-fashioned.

But it is precisely because of his old-fashioned nature that he never lets players take the blame. Whether it is the team's failure or the players' mistakes, he believes that it is his own responsibility.

Filled with the joy of victory, the players returned to Bastia late at night.

Because the team's schedule was not announced, no fans came to pick them up at the airport, and everyone went home to get some rest.

Before leaving, Haji Begichi added, "Don't be late tomorrow afternoon, everyone will be there for physical therapy and relaxation."

The players responded enthusiastically.

While the Bastia players were resting, several French media outlets reported on Bastia's away victory over Tottenham.

L'Équipe wrote: "Gaio shines at White Hart Lane! The young prodigy scores two decisive goals!"

"The 18-year-old superstar dominated the first half, scoring one goal and one penalty to destroy the defense of the Premier League powerhouse; Tottenham had the advantage but failed to break the deadlock, and Bale's attempt to save face could not prevent Bastia from winning the first leg."

Before the match, all eyes were on the 18-year-old winger, whose value was as high as 6000 million euros and who was hailed as one of the top five future talents in world football.

Gaio, in just 45 minutes, scored twice, proving to the world why he deserved such praise.

It must be acknowledged that Tottenham Hotspur are no pushovers. Throughout the match, they held a clear advantage in possession and shots on goal.

Bale and Lennon created numerous threats on the flanks, and also generated many opportunities in the middle.

however,
Whether it was missing good chances in the first half or facing Bastia's solid defense in the second half, with Van Dijk leading the backline and goalkeeper Damian Martinez making some brilliant saves, Tottenham's finishing lacked precision and luck.

Tonight belongs to Bastia, but even more so to Gaio.

This 18-year-old prodigy proved the value of his "top five in the world" valuation with a near-perfect first half performance at White Hart Lane, a hallowed hall of fame for a Premier League club.

He was like a bolt of lightning, tearing apart Tottenham's defense and illuminating Bastia's path to deeper Europa League contention.

however,
Tottenham's strength should not be underestimated; Bale's goal and second-half comeback proved their depth.

In the second leg a week later, the match will be held in Corsica. Will Bastia be able to withstand Tottenham's fierce counterattack with the support of their home fans?
Can the young Gaio shine again and lead the team to make history?

Alongside these media reports, another news item also appeared—

Bastia seeks league postponement, Paris Saint-Germain rejects the request.

It includes an explanation from the Paris side.

“We have taken note of Bastia’s request and fully understand the challenges they are currently facing with their packed schedule. The Europa League is indeed very competitive, especially against a strong opponent like Tottenham, and they also have an important second-leg match to prepare for next week.”

However, after careful evaluation within the club, we ultimately decided that we could not agree to the request for an extension.

This weekend's league match proceeded according to the pre-arranged schedule.

We, Paris Saint-Germain, just finished a very important Champions League match this week. The fatigue from European competitions is also a factor for us, but we will prepare for and deal with each match according to the current schedule.

All teams should be treated equally in the face of the schedule.

There are clear standards and procedures for postponing matches, and the current congested schedule that Bastia is facing is not an extreme case that exceeds the norm.

Competing on both the Europa League and the domestic league is a challenge that all clubs involved in European competitions must overcome, and we have experienced similar situations.

This falls under the category of regular event planning and in-depth team management.

The league is a long marathon, and every team will face the test of a dense schedule at some point.

Meeting this challenge is an important standard for measuring a team's true strength, roster depth, and management capabilities.

Bastia, currently top of Ligue 1, has demonstrated strong competitiveness, and we believe they are fully capable and have the resources to cope with this schedule.

Postponing matches would unnecessarily disrupt the overall competitive structure and fairness of the league.

Every Ligue 1 match is crucial, affecting the competitive landscape of the entire league. The postponement is no small matter; it not only disrupts our own preparations but also impacts the plans of fans, broadcasters, and numerous stakeholders.

Paris listed a whole host of reasons.

Bastia fans, however, were not buying it. Although the schedule had indeed been set long ago, the fans didn't care about that.
Just yell at them!

"They just played Valencia? Ha! They treated that Champions League match like it was a stroll in the park! Look at our do-or-die game against Tottenham! Gaião was exhausted! PSG won't dare touch us on a level playing field!"

"A 7-point lead is keeping them up at night? They're resorting to such underhanded tactics to steal points?"

"Look at how Gaião destroyed Tottenham, look at our league table! They know that if we were in good physical condition, we could devour them whole. Refusing to postpone? Or rather, refusing to fail. Paris's arrogance hides cowardice!"

"That's too toxic, and we're playing away!"

Paris fans, of course, defended themselves, saying things like, "The schedule is fair," and "Whose fault is it that our squad lacks depth?"

Bastia fans erupted in anger, shouting, "Of course you have a bench built up with a billion euros! Shameless!"

Various opinions and discussions arose.

In the afternoon, when Gaio woke up and was reading the news as usual, he was stunned when he saw these things.

half an hour.

After he had processed everything, he had to admit that this was French football.

What kind of French football fan are you if you don't troll and insult others?
(End of this chapter)