THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME

After the Barcelona game ended, Zachary didn't immediately go to bed. Instead, he remained seated in front of the TV screen, hoping to learn the results of all the other crucial Champions League matches played around Europe. Of course, he wasn't alone, but still in the company of Coach Bjørn Peters, who'd also stayed awake to watch the post-match show.

"Welcome back from that fascinating game of football between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain," Zachary heard the magnetic voice of the beautiful TV presenter reverberate through the speakers. "I'm Emilia Vasquez, your host for the Champions League Wrap-Up show on ESPN. And for those just joining us, please be informed that Barcelona has just defeated PSG 3:1 with goals from Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez. The result has allowed Barcelona to amass 15 points and top Group F ahead of the second-placed PSG. As such, they will be one of the top-seeded teams during the Champions League Round of Sixteen Draw scheduled for Monday, 15th December 2014."

Turning to glance at one of the in-studio pundits, Emilia Vasquez continued, "Shaka Hislop! The Champions League group stage has concluded satisfactorily for some and frustratingly for others, depending on the team one supports. Isn't that right?"

Shaka Hislop smiled and said, "Except for Liverpool and Atlético Madrid, all the other teams we expected to qualify did qualify. Strong sides like Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea, and Real Madrid all topped their respective groups. So, I can confidently say that this season's UEFA Champions League group stage ended in a satisfactory way."

Emilia Vasquez nodded. "According to you, which teams are the best performers for the just-concluded group stage?"

Shaka Hislop immediately replied, "First on the list is definitely Real Madrid. The Madrid-based side was impressive throughout the group stages. With their phenomenal star-studded line-up, which includes highly-gifted attacking players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Modric, and Marcello, they won all their group games and amassed a total of 18 points. They are by far the best-performing team of the group stages with their six out of six wins and a goal difference of 14."

"Second on the list would be Juventus," Shaka Hislop continued. "The Turin-based club has been in fine form after gaining a boost with the addition of their new playmaker/goal-machine - Zachary Bemba. Similar to Real Madrid, they won all their group games but only fell short because of their goal difference of 12."

"Third on the list is Bayern Munich. The Munich-based side was also impressive during the group stages. They won five of their games and only lost the game against Manchester City. With their goal difference of 12, they are the third-best performing team in the group stages, just barely ahead of Barcelona, who only have a goal difference of 10."

"Thank you, Shaka," Emilia Vasquez said and turned towards another in-studio pundit. "Joshua Morales! The Champions League group stages are over, and the representatives of the remaining clubs will travel to Nyon, Switzerland, for the draw of the round of 16 on Monday. What should we expect from this draw? Which teams could potentially face off against each other in the Round of Sixteen knock-out phase?"

"Thank you, Emilia," Joshua Morales said with a smile. "The rules for the draw are pretty straightforward. The top seeds, or in other words, the winners of each group, will go into one pot, while the second seeds in another pot. Then a chosen UEFA representative will draw the teams from the two pots together to determine who faces who. But please note that a club can't meet an opponent from their own association or from the group stages, and the group winners will be away in the first round of fixtures."

"For this Champions League draw," Joshua Morales continued, "the top seeds are the group winners in the first pot, who are Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, FC Porto, AS Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, and Barcelona. On the other hand, the runners-up in the other pot are FC Basel, Manchester City, Olympiacos, Schalke 04, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain."

"Following that reasoning, potential match-ups for the Round of Sixteen include teams from the first pot, such as Juventus, Real Madrid, or Barcelona, facing off against runners-up from the second pot, such as FC Basel, Manchester City, or Olympiacos."

"Does that mean there's a possibility for a match-up between Real Madrid and Manchester City or Juventus and Arsenal?" Emilia Vasquez, the ESPN TV presenter, chimed in with a smile.

"Yup, there's a chance," Joshua Morales answered. "If fate wills it, we could see Arsenal facing Juventus or Barcelona facing Manchester City. It all depends on how the draw on Monday will go..."

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As minutes passed, Zachary got bored with the progress of the TV show. As a professional footballer, he knew there was no point in dwelling on stuff he couldn't control. So, instead of worrying about the opponent Juventus could possibly face during the Round of Sixteen, Zachary was better off going to bed and resuming his targeted training tomorrow. And with that thought in mind, he quickly got up from his seat, hoping to head back to his room for the night.

"Are you finally going to bed?" Coach Bjørn Peters asked before Zachary could even take the first step.

"Yes," Zachary said, "It's already past one. I can't stay up any longer."

Coach Bjørn Peters smiled and nodded. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead. I'm all ears."

"Which teams in the runners-up pot would you want Juventus to face during the Round of Sixteen?"

Zachary smiled and answered, "Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke 04, and FC Basel."

"Eh!" Coach Bjørn Peters exclaimed. "You only wish to play against the weaker opponents?"

"True," Zachary said with a shrug. "Why would I go hunting a wolf when there's an option of hunting a deer?"

Coach Bjørn Peters chuckled. "Then which team in the runners-up pot would you not want to play against during the Round of Sixteen?"

"Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, and Arsenal," Zachary replied. "I would prefer not to face those in the Round of Sixteen. But again, if the draw pits us against them, I'll still welcome the prospect of competing against them. The games will be tough, but our odds of winning will still be high."

"Okay, then," Coach Bjørn Peters said with a sigh. "Hope you get an easy opponent for the draw on Monday as I really wish to see you progress further into the Champions League. I can then brag to my friends that my client is doing wonders on the top European Football Stage."

"Worry not!" Zachary said seriously. "I'll do my all to win the Champions League at one point in my career. If not this year, then I will try for next year. And if not next year, I'll try for the year after that and then repeat the process until I help Juventus to bring the Champions League Trophy to Turin. That's the minimum expectation of myself at this club."

"Ata boy!" Coach Bjørn Peters said, giving Zachary a thumbs up. "As the saying goes, if you believe in yourself and have dedication, consistency, and pride, you'll be a winner. So, keep working hard, and you'll lift that Champions League trophy sooner than you know."

"Thanks for the encouragement," Zachary said with a smile.

"Just a moment before you go to bed," Coach Bjørn Peters suddenly said solemnly.

"Yes, what is it, coach?"

"You haven't played for any country. Right?" The fitness trainer glanced at Zachary with a glint in his eyes.

"Yup." Zachary nodded. "I haven't represented any country in international competitions, but..."

"You don't have to explain to me your reasons," Coach Bjørn Peters hurriedly cut in. "But if you're still considering a country to represent, could you put Norway in your thoughts?"

"Coach!" Zachary said with a shake of his head. "I have already chosen a country to represent. As I speak, there are people already helping me to process citizenship papers for that country. So, I can't represent Norway in the future. I'm sorry."

"Oh!" Coach Bjørn Peters' eyes widened. "Which country is so lucky to have you represent them?"

Zachary smiled and replied, "I can't say for the moment. But you'll know in a few weeks."

He had already been in touch with the officials from Ivory Coast multiple times. They were working fast to process his papers and had even hinted that they would finalize everything before the end of the year. So, going by that, he would soon be a citizen of Ivory Coast, and he might also be eligible to play for them in January's African Cup of Nations.

"Oh, okay," Coach Bjørn Peters said after hearing Zachary's response. "It's a pity you've already chosen to play for another country. But again, you must have your own reasons. So, let me wish you the best of luck while representing that country."

"Thanks for understanding, coach." Zachary smiled. "I have to go to bed now."

"Okay, goodnight."

"Good night to you too, coach," Zachary said before walking out of the living room. In a matter of seconds, he ascended the stairs quickly and arrived in his bedroom quickly. He then jumped into bed, hoping to enter a deep slumber and allow his body to recover from the fatigue he'd accumulated playing against Atlético Madrid.

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