Midfielder

The powerful opponents of the 16 teams in the Champions League have been assigned, but this is just the beginning of another round of disputes. The secret war between each other has just begun.

Especially the showdowns between giants involve the interests of all parties, and they will not let such games go smoothly.

For example, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have already started a poaching war with each other, but everyone knows that it is just to shake the opponent's military morale. Only those who can spend a lot of money to buy people during the winter transfer period, except for the rich , no team has radically transformed its team.

Even if Real Madrid has such a bad defense, it will not make too many adjustments, because most of those capable players have already participated in European competitions. If they are bought, they may not be able to use them, and Players who have never played in European competitions may not be favored by these giants.

The battle between Spain and Germany is just interfering with each other's preparations. After all, neither team can guarantee that they can win this confrontation.

In this peak matchup, a single mistake may cause the entire team's efforts to be wasted. Now Queiroz has become very cautious.

This kind of off-the-table trick is an indispensable and important part of the Champions League. As the German media said, Ronaldo has never won a game in Germany on behalf of the club, so they believe that the severe cold in Munich will definitely freeze him. The fragile legs of the Brazilian.

Ronaldo's response was more straightforward. He had only one answer to the provocation of the Germans. He has not forgotten the feeling of breaking Kahn's goal twice in the 2002 World Cup. He hopes that this time he will be as good as the "Lion King" Kahn. You can enjoy the thrill of scoring a goal.

And Ronaldo didn't seem to care about the cold weather in Munich, "I'm afraid the only one who can trap my legs is my wife."

Ronaldo vowed that even if he abstained from sex before the game, he would win the game against Bayern Munich because the group stage made him too depressed.

However, these disputes between the giants have little to do with the Porto team. With their current reputation, it is obvious that they are not in the eyes of those giants.

Except for those Madrid media, such as AS, who chased and beat them fiercely, the Porto team did not attract too much attention. Most of the time, they were still tied to the eliminated team. Obviously, not many people expected them to break into the quarterfinals.

Since the draw ceremony for the top 16 of the Champions League, this pessimistic mood has been spreading in Portuguese football circles, especially among Porto fans.

This was the Porto team they were most looking forward to. They originally thought they could see the team go further, but now they are a bit at a loss.

They would rather have the team meet teams like Monaco and Real Sociedad in the 16-to-8 match, rather than hit a traditional giant like Manchester United head-on. They also want to watch the Porto team continue to go on, But now it seems that this dream is unlikely to come true.

"I believe that the team led by Mourinho will not disappoint the fans, just like the games they played in the group stage. However, this time, our opponents are a bit too strong, and maybe we will lose the game. But I still wish these boys good luck."

This is what a very ordinary Porto fan said to the reporter responsible for the interview after the draw. This also represents the views of many Porto fans. Although they believe that the Porto team led by Mourinho will not give up. Resistance, but the miracle seems a little far away from them.

Although Porto almost defeated Real Madrid, which is also a traditional giant, in the group stage, they have now entered the knockout round, and it is a home-then-away format. For Porto, winning the game on Manchester United's territory , this is simply a crazy idea.

And many fans, like Manchester United's draw representative Merritt, still remember the disastrous Champions League defeat 7 years ago. Manchester United was like an executioner at the time. Their crazy attacks kept dismembering the Porto team. The defense broke through their defense time and time again.

Will that scar appear again in 7 years? The Englishman's impactful style of play still makes Porto people feel fear in that game. The 4:0 score in the last confrontation has become an eternal pain in the hearts of many Porto fans.

Now even the most loyal Porto fans are begging. In the first round of the game at the Dragon Stadium, Porto must defend the honor of the Dragons. Even if they cannot win the game, they must defend their territory and not let Those English people are running wild here.

Porto fans all hope that Mourinho and his Porto team can give them a hope to look forward to, even if it is just a little bit.

The media and most people in the Portuguese football circle have the same view on this game. Although the Porto team has performed very strongly this season and can maintain an unbeaten record in the Champions League group stage, God gave Porto The opponent I chose is a bit too strong.

Compared with the Porto team, Manchester United's glorious history makes them only look up but cannot look down. The dazzling light of their opponents makes people feel suffocated.

Manchester United's brilliant results and dominance in the Premier League, coupled with a star-studded lineup, look like they are born winners.

And the cunning Ferguson also made Porto fans despair. Compared with Mourinho, Ferguson was too experienced.

Now it is really impossible to get more people to watch Porto's path to promotion. Most people are already pessimistic that Porto's path to the Champions League may end here, and they will fall again. On the threshold of reaching the top 16, this seems to have become a watershed.

There are always dark horses in the Champions League, but most of them are concentrated in the group stage. Once they enter the knockout rounds, they will return to the rhythm of the giants.

It seems that this time is no exception. Teams like Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad, even if they can make it out of the group stage, still cannot escape the fate of being surrounded and suppressed by strong teams. The fate of Porto and Stuttgart is probably the same. Now, the Champions League is still the domain of giants.

"Portuguese clubs have always been at a disadvantage in the showdowns with European giants in recent years. This cannot be blamed on the clubs. It can only be said that the Portuguese Super League is difficult to attract big-name players to join. And now, we really shouldn't Let’s hope for some miracle from the Porto team.”

"When Cristiano was bought by Manchester United for 17 million euros, we should not have any illusions about our own club's achievements. The claws of those European giants have already reached our land. We There is no money to keep players, so we have to accept failure.”

"The combined value of the opponent's main lineup can buy the entire Porto club. Such a comparison of strength has pushed the Porto team to the edge of elimination. Money is sometimes not everything, but in the world of football, money, Sometimes it can solve a lot of problems.”

Kelly, the famous Portuguese football commentator, bluntly said this on the TV show he hosted. He believed that we should not expect anything now. He could only wish these young guys from the Porto team that they can do their best in the game. to exert their due strength.

Regardless of whether Porto fans are willing to accept this fact, they should know one thing. This match with Manchester United is an unequal duel. From strength to reputation, they are not a team of the same level. Porto More like a challenger.

However, the opinions of fans and media will not affect Porto's preparations, especially Mourinho and Lin Yi. These two guys seem to have no feeling at all about their future opponents. They did not even talk about Manchester United after the draw. game, as if none of this had ever happened.

And in the next domestic league, Porto still maintained its record of undefeated league victories. Under the iron hooves of Porto, the poor Maltimer team was held down by these powerful guys at their home court. The half-time attack lasted for nearly eighty minutes.

A 4:0 slaughter, a score without any suspense. Even at the end of the first half, the Maltimer team only got one long-range shot opportunity that was too far away.

Mourinho still did not use all his main players. Even several main players on the defense began to rotate in batches. People like Carvalho and Valente also got enough rest time. Under Mourinho's polish, fatigue during the season did not invade the team on a large scale.

Except for two or three players who experienced muscle fatigue, the Porto team's overall operation is more stable. Except for Lin Yi, who was suspended for fighting, the Porto team's non-combat attrition is much lower than other players in the Portuguese Super League. Competitors, even red and yellow card suspensions rarely occur.

This is entirely due to their strong offensive ability. Porto rarely commits passive fouls because they put all the defensive pressure on their opponents.

Such a victory somewhat dispelled some of the gloomy feeling lingering in the hearts of Porto fans. Although Porto's future in the European competition is uncertain, at least in Portugal's domestic league, Porto's pace towards the double championship has always been No one can stop it.

But Mourinho did not express any opinion on his team's unbeaten record. In his view, winning the game is a normal thing.

Mourinho is not the kind of guy who is so arrogant that he doesn’t know anyone. He will not easily despise any opponent, including the Portuguese Super League. He will also drive the team to use all their strength to win. He always puts the importance of the game first.

But now there are very few teams in Portugal that can cause trouble for Porto, and he has left more attention to the Champions League.

Mourinho cannot turn a blind eye to such a Champions League knockout match, but he has to use cold treatment to relieve pressure on his players.

Especially when outside public opinion collectively denounces Porto's promotion path, he, the team's head coach, should be more calm. Even if his next opponent is indeed quite strong, he must make his performance better. Can stabilize the psychological fluctuations of his players.

"Actually, there is nothing wrong with meeting Manchester United. The Champions League is like this. You can't always rely on luck to advance. Those strong teams will always be obstacles on your way to advancement. What if you encounter Monaco this time? Could it be that? Who can guarantee that we will win Monaco?”

When Mourinho said this to Brito in private, his assistant coach partner was speechless. Indeed, no one can guarantee that they will win the game, especially a high-level competition like the Champions League. , any opponent is not that easy to deal with.

Just like Real Madrid did not expect that Porto would create so many troubles for itself in the group stage before the start of the group stage.

"We dare not guarantee that we can definitely beat Monaco, so no one can guarantee that we will definitely lose to Manchester United. Football matches are never absolute. Those who say that they will definitely win or lose are real idiots. Football is round."

Lin Yi, who was struggling with free kick training on the side, followed Mourinho and Brito's words. It can be seen that this is not only Lin Yi's idea, but also Mourinho's, because he did not refute Lin Yi's statement, and even the expression on his face showed that he agreed very much.

Brito could only say that the two guys in front of him were crazy, because they never knew what fear was. It seemed that they wanted to win any game. As for who the opponent was, it seemed that they didn't care at all. In their minds, there was only the concept of winning.

"Your personalities are simply carved from the same mold. God has endowed you with the same madness." Brito decided to stay away from these two guys in the future, otherwise, one day he would be infected by the arrogance from their bones.

"This season, I led Porto to two goals in the European war. One is to qualify from the group, and the other is to run into a giant team in the knockout round. We may go further if we run into Monaco, but now I would rather run into Manchester United, because I really want to kill these English people!"

Mourinho's words roared in Brito's ears like a bomb. Brito knew the character of this partner very well. This sentence was definitely not just a casual remark from him. As long as he said this, it meant that he would do it. This matter sounded really crazy.

"Hey, uncle, you are really a very cunning guy. In fact, when you run into a team like Manchester United, you are the one with the least pressure now."

When Lin Yi heard this, he was obviously not as shocked as Brito. He stopped his training and turned his head to talk to Mourinho.

"Anyway, we're facing Manchester United, and no one is optimistic that we can win the game now, so it doesn't matter if we lose, and no one will say there's anything wrong with your command. At most, they will say that our Porto team is not strong enough, as long as we don't lose too badly."

"If we win, it will definitely be explosive news, but you won't suffer no matter whether you win or lose. God, you really shouldn't be a football coach. You should be a businessman like Mendes. You are so calculating. This business is for you."

Mourinho didn't answer what Lin Yi said, but from the guy's expression, it can be seen that he definitely thought so in his mind.

"You seem to be very idle. In this case, practice shooting for an extra hour. With such a poor hit rate, it's hard to kick down those Englishmen."

"Hey, uncle! You can't do this! This is retaliation! You are destroying the future of Porto!" Lin Yi looked at Mourinho's dead face and he was speechless again. It seems that the heart of a middle-aged uncle cannot be easily peeped into, otherwise, you will pay a painful price.

Mourinho did not deny what Lin Yi said, because that was indeed his idea. In such a game, Porto can play freely without any burden. If they lose, it means that the team is not strong enough. If they win, it is another miracle created by Porto.

As long as they don't lose 4:0 like 7 years ago, Mourinho can accept any result, even if they play at home first and then away. Will Old Trafford eat people? Anyway, he will play at the Dragon Stadium in the first game, so he is not afraid that those English people will bite him to death.

Let those guys who are used to winning in the Portuguese Super League go head-to-head with their opponents. There is nothing wrong. This is much better than hitting a soft persimmon first and then hitting a stone. In the Champions League, you can't always think about running into a team similar to yourself.

Trying your best to challenge the giants is sometimes a kind of enjoyment, but this kind of enjoyment is more like a madman's idea in the eyes of others.

But if you want your team to successfully break into Gelsenkirchen and go to Schalke Stadium for a crazy performance, you have to be like a madman. You have to be ready to compete with any opponent. Manchester United is just the first level of Porto. Mourinho is ready.

Mourinho looked at Lin Yi who continued to compete with the free kick training on the court. The kid started to run up more than 20 meters away from the goal, stepped on the ground, and swung a heavy kick on the football. The football scraped a beautiful arc, bypassed the simulated human wall in the air, and went directly into the corner.

"Just like the little guy's sudden appearance, in the world of football, nothing is impossible, isn't it?" Mourinho looked at Lin Yi who raised his hands in front of the goal to celebrate his free kick and finally scored. He whispered in a voice that only he could hear.

There is always the possibility of creating miracles in this world. No one can predict what will happen tomorrow, and no one will know the result of the match two months later.

On the football field, everything is possible. . .

(I pray to the heavens... my Rossoneri must not stage another tragedy at the San Siro Stadium, at least you have to qualify from the group stage!)