Chapter 301: Chapter 300: Europa League Opponent Revealed
Host: "What about Internazionale? They have so many stars... We have just learned that, as a team in the last sixteen of the UEFA, you could possibly face them this season, right? If Lisbon Athletics encounters Internazionale, what would you like to say to them?"
Deng Kai: "Internazionale is definitely one of the most attractive super clubs in recent years, Real Madrid is on a similar grand path."
"But you have to admit, football isn’t just about investment sometimes. Internazionale doesn’t place enough importance on the midfield. They possess the world’s most glamorous forward line, yet they don’t have even one star midfielder in his prime."
"If we really do meet, they won’t have the upper hand because our team not only has many midfield players but also a lot of talent. From veterans like Matthaus and Deschamps to myself, Viana and even Quaresma and Cristiano Ronaldo who drop back, all can be considered powerful midfield players."
"We might not be able to stop Internazionale’s Vieri, but Internazionale would likely struggle against our youthful storm!"
"In my view, both Seedorf from their bench and Pirlo, who is unreservedly a young talent, are highly promising. If Internazionale doesn’t use them, they might consider transferring them to us at Lisbon Athletics."
The host was quite curious: "What? Aren’t you afraid that after these players join, you will become a substitute for the team? Thinking so much for Lisbon Athletics, truly a product of your own youth system."
Deng Kai smiled slightly: "Don’t say that, even as an iron man I still need substitutes. I think Pirlo would become a world-class midfielder with no problems after learning behind me for a few years."
People laughed heartily, naturally not taking it seriously.
You should know that even though Pirlo couldn’t get a game at Internazionale, he led Brescia to promotion from Serie B four years earlier.
Almost like what Deng Kai and Cristiano Ronaldo accomplished last season.
But different platforms, different difficulties, different levels of recognition.
Considering that Deng Kai and Cristiano Ronaldo were three years younger when they led the team to promotion, essentially you could equate the two.
In that case, Pirlo could be seen as reaching the level Deng Kai would be at in two or three years... assuming Deng Kai develops normally and gets the chance to establish himself at a big club.
Therefore, no one took Deng Kai’s words to heart.
If Internazionale really did meet Lisbon Athletics... wouldn’t that be an overwhelming victory?
...
UEFA didn’t make everyone wait too long.
On January 15, 2001, the FIFA World Player of the Year award ceremony was held.
Zidane triumphed over Figo and Rivaldo to win the award.
This was his second time being honored as the FIFA World Player of the Year.
The Italians felt they had done enough for Zidane.
Little did they know, if it had been a Spaniard coming in, Zidane would not have had to share the two major awards with Figo this year.
To undermine the influence of the FIFA awards, UEFA strategically advanced the UEFA competition draws.
They led people to discuss the UEFA matches, thereby promoting the progression of football events.
Arsenal’s opponent was Valencia, which promised a thrilling clash of titans.
However, people generally favored Arsenal over the magical bats of Valencia, who had reached the UEFA Champions League final the previous year.
Leeds United’s opponent was Deportivo La Coruña.
Compared to Leeds, Deportivo was in better shape; last year they triumphed over Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the first La Liga championship of the 21st century, and they are currently second with aspirations for the top in the league.
Their team has several formidable forwards, such as Diego Tristan, Roy Makaay, and the Golden Generation of Portugal’s Bolaíta.
Leeds United, on the other hand, is only in tenth place in the Premier League, but last summer they signed Rio Ferdinand, the most expensive defender in British transfer history!
This made people feel it was a promising match, a fascinating contest of offence against defence.
The Turkish team Galatasaray, unfortunately, drew Real Madrid.
"This is absolutely the worst draw, Real Madrid were the Champions League winners last year."
"Manchester United, on the other hand, drew their old rivals, Bayern Munich."
"On the Europa League front, things heated up as well."
"Lisbon Sporting’s opponent in the one-eighth finals of the Europa League turned out to be... the star black hole Deng Kai teased at the Golden Ball award ceremony, International Milan!"
For a time, Lisbon Sporting fans wailed and lamented.
"If only we could have sealed Deng Kai’s mouth earlier."
"Now look what’s happened, our team’s European campaign is basically ruined."
The lineup of Inter Milan was luxurious beyond the imagination of the Portuguese.
"Even their bench players such as Seedorf and Pirlo would be the top stars in the Portuguese league if they came to play here."
The fans of Inter Milan were very excited.
"Now that guy named Deng Kai can wait, we look forward to his performance at Meazza!"
"Jokes aside, Inter Milan is not a club that the Portuguese League teams can compare with."
"To be honest, although we can’t win the Champions League, if we can take home the Europa League trophy this year, we of the great Inter would find that acceptable."
"With Matthaus returning to Inter Milan, it all seems a bit dreamy. When I wake up, the great Inter is still the great Inter."
"Let the Portuguese league whippersnappers feel the awesome power of Mr. Nine Hundred Billion Lire!"
"I really look forward to seeing Vieri break through the Lisbon Sporting gate and what that kid’s face will look like. I’ve endured him for three years!"
"Yeah! Three years ago, he said he had a friend also named Ronaldo, and from that moment on, I hated him, always just riding on the coattails of fame? In the end, Manchester United won, and he acted as if he won the championship himself!"
"And his predictions for the awards were all against Ronaldo, as if Ronaldo had a grudge against him. This year he brought out that nauseating Jia De’er, what F1 and go-karting, is Jia De’er even worthy of being called a go-kart in front of Ronaldo? He’s not even worth a tire!"
Good grief.
Inter Milan hadn’t been performing well these past few years, and now it seemed they had taken a dislike to Deng Kai.
The fans were clamoring to teach Lisbon Sporting a lesson.
This brought no small influence to the team within Lisbon Sporting.
At the end of the winter break, some players, including Quaresma, had excessively high body fat percentages.
They had a good year.
A little too good on the eating.
Then came the wave of public opinion from Inter Milan.
With a majority of young players in the squad, most of them became excited, but the problem was that their bodies had not yet fully adapted to the pace of training and matches.
This led to a dip in Lisbon Sporting’s performance at the beginning of the second half of the season.
Key players such as Quaresma and Viana suffered minor injuries.
The former was self-inflicted, while the latter was due to physical constitution.
In fact, Viana was supposed to suffer a major injury this year.
It was Deng Kai’s presence that gave him a more scientifically structured training and playing schedule.
However, the inertia of history still existed, just like Drogba had also been injured before.
