The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 92: The Taste of a Champion Spanning 31 Years
Four to zero!
Anyone who sees a football score like this can say the game is over.

But in the Bastia dressing room, Hagibegic was as cautious as ever.

"Do you think four goals is a lot? No, let me tell you this. In my former country, Yugoslavia, the Mediterranean Sea is on our coast. We call it 'Jadranski zaljev', which is what you call the Adriatic Gulf."

"When I was a kid, my dad used to tell me when he took me to play football that the waves in the Adriatic Gulf could destroy 30 fishing boats overnight. He warned me that defense shouldn't be complacent with just one success; it needs to be consistent."

"Now, I'm telling you this too! We need to become the wind and waves. We won't stop until we've blown them to the end!"

"Defend well, continue to attack, win this game, and advance to the finals with our heads held high!!"

"We have come to this point, there is no reason for us to stop."

Hajibegic's eyes swept over everyone.

The Bastia players all had the same determination in their expressions. At the beginning of the season, or even during the winter transfer window, who would have thought that Bastia would one day make progress on both fronts?

As they thought about it, many people's eyes turned to Gaio.

The "problem boy" they once called him has become Bastia's indispensable offensive core in just a few months.

After Hajibegich finished speaking, Chatham also interjected, "Don't forget your bonus!"

Hahaha!
The Bastia locker room was filled with laughter.

The Diochamps Stadium is not big, and the locker rooms of the home and visiting teams are not far apart, and are not even soundproof.

Bastia's laughter was deafening in the silent Rouen locker room in Quevilly.

The second half.

Gaio was replaced by Hagibegic in the 50th minute.

Sunset Cafe Bistro.

The sound of glasses clinking was everywhere.

The fans watched the game with satisfaction, looking at the reassuring score.

"At the beginning of the season, I was wondering if we could stay in Ligue 2. In the middle of the season, I was wondering if we could make the play-offs. But now, I'm wondering if we can get the double."

"Hahaha, who isn't? Our team has won championships in history, but never the double. This season, perhaps we have a chance to witness history."

"Gaio is definitely the biggest contributor to the team!"

"Need I say this? This is everyone's consensus."

The fans were chatting and drinking.

As the game gradually drew to a close, Quevilly Rouen had no chance of scoring a goal.

Bertrand's movements in mixing cocktails became much more brisk.

As he listened to the customers, the word "double crown" came to his mind.

I also remembered the man with "blue blood" who, at the end of his life, was still muttering about opening the barrel of aniseed wine he made himself on the night Bastia won the championship.

While mixing the drinks, he watched Gaio appear from time to time on the broadcast camera.

A decision was made.

Yelling to the crowd, "Hey guys, listen up, I might have an idea for a great activity."

"Bertrand, are you going to give me another discount?"

"This time Gaio scored a goal, so it's worth a 20% discount!"

Everyone laughed.

Bertrand poured the prepared wine into a glass, pushed it in front of the fans, and said seriously, "No, I won't sell it. I plan to give it away."

Everyone was a little confused.

Bertrand continued, “Jacques’ only wish in his life was to see Bastia win the title.

After winning the French Cup in 1981, Jacques made a barrel of anise liquor and kept it in the basement. He said that when Bastia won the championship again, he would take it out and treat everyone to it, but unfortunately, he did not do so.

So, on the night of the French Cup final, if Bastia wins, I will fulfill his wish, open the barrel of wine, and let everyone taste this championship that spans 31 years! "

Wow!

Everyone was stunned. Jacques Bertrand, better known as Old Bale to Bastia fans, was the best winemaker in Bastia!

He regards football and alcohol as his life.

He devoted his life to alcohol and died from alcohol.

The predecessor of Sunset Cafe Tavern, "Old Bell Tavern", is the collective memory of all old Bastia fans.

Old Bale once said, "The emptiness after losing is like someone digging out my brains with a spoon, but it is this pain that proves that I am still alive."

Did the old man who was the best winemaker in Bastia have one last barrel of wine left?
The pub fell silent.

Some people sighed, some people missed the past of the old Bell Tavern.
That was their youth, that was the youth of their parents.

"Respect old Bell!"

Someone raised his glass and shouted;

Some people silently drank the anise liquor in their cups, which was no longer produced by Old Bell, and missed their old friend.

drop! ! !
In the no longer noisy bar, the whistle from the TV can be clearly heard.

The game is over.

The Corsican broadcaster shouted excitedly: "After ten years, we have reached the French Cup final again!!"

"Should we repeat the championship record of 31 years ago, or accept the bitterness of being the runner-up 10 years ago?

April 29th, the French Cup final venue is in France."

boom! !

No one was listening to the commentator anymore, and there was no suspense in the middle of the game, but when the final whistle sounded, everyone's head was still buzzing.

Really made it to the finals!

Last season, they were still in the French National League!

Now, they are competing for the championship on two fronts!
Everyone in the tavern followed the TV broadcast and looked at the Bastia players at the Diochamps Stadium.

Some were excited, some were shouting, and some were drinking.

There was an emotion building up in Bertrand, and he didn't know what it was.

In a trance,
He seemed to see Jacques sitting in his chair in the tavern, drinking a large glass, and then shouting, "Fight, Bastia!"

Robert Diochon Stadium.

At this time, it has become a carnival place in Bastia.

The players rushed into the field excitedly, hugging each other and celebrating.

They surrounded Gaio.

They surrounded him and walked towards the visiting team area.

"Geo!"

"Geo!!"

Looking at Gaio who was in front of the players, Modoso shouted at the top of his lungs.

Everyone shouted the same name.

In their eyes,
It is the expectation for the championship, the desire for the double crown, and the unremitting pursuit of every victory!

It's not just the Diochamps Stadium.

At this moment in Bastia, every street corner is roaring "Double Crown".

Every drop of rain carries the smell of sea salt and passion.

Gaio is no longer a player—

He is the totem of the isolated island against the continent, and the ladder for mortals to touch the myth.

As the Corsican commentator said, "The Stade de France, the venue for the French Cup final, is trembling and waiting for the hurricane to land."

(End of this chapter)