I'm 198cm tall. Are you giving me a Maradona template?

Chapter 130 Drawing Lots [15]

The Champions League group stage matches are all over.

Monaco and Sunshine are undoubtedly the most surprising team and people in this season's Champions League.

Monaco won six consecutive group matches with a very strong momentum, got 18 points, and qualified from the group that was considered the most doomed group before the game!

Such results are jaw-dropping.

If the name of the Monaco team was changed to "Real Madrid" or "Bayern Munich", perhaps people would not be so surprised.

Oh.

It is worth mentioning that.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich ranked second in their groups in this season's group stage.

Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Dortmund at home. The first place in the group that they were sure to win was snatched away by Dortmund.

Bayern Munich was in a similar situation. They were in the same group as Juventus, but ended up finishing second in the group, 1 point behind Juventus.

Two "aircraft carrier" level teams fell to second place.

In fact, there are more than just these two "aircraft carriers" ranked second in the group this season.

Paris and Manchester City, the two "oil consortium aircraft carriers", also fell into second place.

Instead, Arsenal ranked first in the competition with Paris Saint-Germain.

Monaco fans were surprised to find out.

Although their team advanced strongly from the group of death.

However, the potential opponents in the draw for the round of 16 include Real Madrid, Bayern and Manchester City, three teams with very luxurious lineups.

So the fans are still a little worried.

The club's sports director Carlson said in an interview before representing the team to attend the draw ceremony at UEFA headquarters: No matter which team Monaco draws, its goal is to win.

But in his heart.

In fact, we are definitely looking forward to drawing a relatively weaker team.

Jardim will also attend the draw ceremony as a representative of the club.

His answer was quite official, saying that the opponents he encountered were all very strong and he should not take them lightly.

Monaco's potential opponents in the round of 16, excluding Atletico Madrid in the same group and Paris Saint-Germain in the same league, may include: Benfica, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern, Porto, Sevilla.

Although Benfica, Porto and Sevilla are also strong.

But compared to Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern.

It doesn't take much thinking to know that it would be better to draw Benfica, Porto or Sevilla.

Six potential opponents.

There are three carrier-class teams.

One-half probability.

One can't help but worry about Monaco.

Sunshine is sitting in front of the TV.

But it wasn't the TV in his own home.

It was the studio of Monaco Television.

This is a special program organized by the local TV station.

Several Monaco players were invited to attend, chat and watch the live broadcast of the draw.

The hosts of this special program are a typical man and woman.

The male host was dressed in a suit and tie, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and pursed his lips, looking very professional.

The female host was wearing a tight skirt with one button of her shirt undone, and she would flirt with the cameramen whenever she got the chance.

From time to time, he looked at several Monaco players.

She was clearly more interested in the sun.

Yangguang smiled at her out of politeness, but she didn't expect that she thought Yangguang was interested in her and kept winking at her in the subsequent programs.

Unfortunately.
After that, Sunshine ignored him.

While the camera was filming the male host, Bakayoko whispered in Yangguang's ear: "This is the sexy goddess of Monaco TV. If you want, you can ask her out tonight."

“Tsk, these days, just by having breast augmentation and buttock padding, you dare to call yourself a sexy goddess?” Yangguang curled his lips.

At the draw site, the camera occasionally gave close-ups of the head coaches of some teams.

The head coaches of each club are full of anticipation and some anxiety about the draw.

The same is true for Jardim.

He was a little nervous.

Who the hell could have thought of that.

I finally got first place in the group.

As a result, teams of the level of Real Madrid, Bayern and Manchester City actually slipped to second place in the group, resulting in a 50% chance for Monaco to draw a carrier team.

Who can I ask to explain this?

But Jardim savored it carefully.

I feel that his team may not be the team that will receive "special attention".

Because Monaco is not a super wealthy club.

Even if UEFA wants to arrange several "focus matches".

I don’t think it will be Monaco’s turn.

And the wealthy families pay a lot of attention to it.

Generally speaking.

For teams like Real Madrid and Bayern, even if they are to draw a strong team in the round of 16, they must draw a roughly equal giant in order to boost ratings.

Teams like Monaco are not very famous, but they are quite strong.

It is generally not assigned to Real Madrid and Bayern.

Think of this.

Yalding felt a little relieved.

He didn't believe in any of that "completely random draw" nonsense.

UEFA does this for commercial gain and television ratings.

There will definitely be some "behind-the-scenes operations".

For example, before the draw ceremony.

People speculated that Arsenal would definitely face Bayern.

Because this has become a "meme".

Fans like to discuss the joke that Arsenal "qualifies from the group stage every year and plays against Bayern and Barcelona", which is widely circulated and highly discussed.

So before the draw.

Many Arsenal fans have given up on treatment.

I think my team will definitely draw Bayern Munich.
Monaco's popularity is much lower than that of the giants, and it has little hype value and gimmicks. It is unlikely that it will encounter a strong team in the first round. In this case, Monaco may be able to enter the quarterfinals more easily. If it performs well in the quarterfinals, it is not impossible to reach the semifinals.

In the semi-finals, you can't rely on luck. You will definitely face a strong team. Whether you can enter the finals depends on your performance on the spot.
The second team in the first group drawn was Paris Saint-Germain.

The camera quickly locked onto the Paris Saint-Germain representative.

Then the lottery guests quickly drew the opponent of Paris Saint-Germain.

“Barcelona.”

The representatives of Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona all looked frozen.

"Hahahahaha!"

Bakayoko slapped his thigh with joy.

"Paris is so damn unlucky."

He said gloatingly.

Several other Monaco players also smiled with gloating.

soon.

The second place in the second group was drawn.

"Bayern Munich."

Now the Monaco players couldn’t laugh anymore.

They were all a little nervous.

Lemar kept muttering: "Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal."

The guest who drew the lottery had a blank expression on his face as he opened the Bayern opponent he had drawn.

Arsenal

I really don't know how the lucky draw guests managed to keep their faces from getting red and their hearts from beating.
“It’s Arsenal!”

Monaco players observed a three-second silence for Arsenal.

Teams were drawn one by one. Real Madrid, which Monaco was most concerned about, was also drawn, and their opponent was Serie A team Napoli.

Atletico Madrid and Sevilla were eliminated one after another.

The opponents Monaco may face are the remaining Portuguese Super League duo Benfica and Porto, and Premier League giants Manchester City.

"Benfica or Porto."

Seat B is praying.

If you don't return home when you are rich and powerful, it's like walking in the night in fine clothes.
He was also thinking about going back to Lisbon to have some fun.

Just now.

Manchester City was pulled out, and a close-up of Manchester City head coach Guardiola appeared on the TV screen.

The Catalan showed a slightly expectant smile on his face.

Many head coaches who have not yet drawn their opponents are also a little nervous.

Which unlucky guy would run into Manchester City, who is at the top of the Premier League standings and has a luxurious lineup including De Bruyne, David Silva, Aguero and Yaya Toure?

next moment.

The guest who drew the lots picked out the unlucky person.

"Monaco!"

Yalding was stunned for a moment.

Then he almost wanted to slap his forehead.

All the attention was snatched away by Bayern and Real Madrid.

Why did we ignore Manchester City?
Yes
Manchester City is a team supported by the UAE oil consortium.

UEFA President Platini has always been unimpressive towards Premier League teams, believing that the money in the Premier League is a pollution to football.

What's more, he is quite dissatisfied with the money-driven football.

The Financial Fair Play policy was jointly promoted by Platini and some "old giants" - beneficiaries of money-driven football such as Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris. From a certain perspective, it is also an infringement on the interests of some old giants.

so.
It is reasonable to assign a team like Manchester City an opponent that is not very famous but very strong.

On the one hand, you are not even given the opportunity to earn a large amount of broadcasting fees, and on the other hand, you are likely to be eliminated in the round of 16.

Monaco
He became the unlucky one in Platini's fight against the money-driven football.

A bitter smile appeared on Yalding's face.

"Manchester City?"

“It’s Manchester City”

Inside the studio of Monaco Television.

Several Monaco players were also stunned.

Yangguang felt a little regretful.

"What a pity, why not Real Madrid?"

"Stop talking!" Bakayoko rolled his eyes.

Sunshine shook his head.

He is actually looking forward to playing against Real Madrid.

After the lottery results come out.

Guardiola accepted an interview on behalf of Manchester City Club: "Monaco is a very strong opponent. It is not a good signing for us."

"Just look at the results of Tottenham and Atletico Madrid. I think Monaco's strength is underestimated. In short, we will prepare seriously for these two games. No team that can reach the knockout stage is a weak team."

Yalding was also surrounded by reporters.

He said in front of the camera of reporters: "We don't think about the game in February next year. What lies in front of us is the league. Manchester City is very strong, but they are not our immediate problem."

The French media were somewhat disappointed.

They also hope that Yalding will say something harsh.

Who knows..
He is so low-key.

The English media believed that Jardim was "cowardly".

But Yalding didn't care about it.

The Champions League has reached the knockout stage, but the game is three months away.

He won't think about things so far in the future - who knows what changes will happen to the opponents and Monaco in three months?

Even if you value your opponent, you can't study him three months in advance.
Therefore, it is normal that the focus will be shifted to the league next.

After the lottery ceremony is over.

Media from all over the world are analyzing and reporting on the results of the draw.

Two matchups that have attracted much attention.

They are Paris and Barcelona, Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Relatively speaking.

The match between Monaco and Manchester City is indeed not a very focus-oriented one.

In England, the media were busy observing a moment of silence for Arsenal.

As for Manchester City
Most of the English media think so.

Manchester City has a greater chance of advancing.

Monaco performed very well in the group stage.

But the group stage and the knockout stage are different.

in history.

Many Champions League champions have struggled in the group stage - in the season when Manchester United won the treble, they almost got eliminated in the Champions League group stage.

To the knockout round.

It still depends on the team's basic strength and competition experience.

In terms of strength.

Manchester City need not be doubted.

Their lineup is so luxurious.

The forwards are Aguero, Sane, Sterling, the midfielders are De Bruyne, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Gundogan, Fernandinho, and the defenders are Kompany, Stones, Clichy, Zabaleta, Otamendi.
After years of investment.

Manchester City has become a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.

Plus their new head coach Guardiola is also considered one of the best head coaches of this era.

Manchester City's on-paper strength seems to be much stronger than Monaco.

The second thing is competition experience.

In terms of historical background, Monaco may not be afraid of Manchester City.

But in recent years, Manchester City's European experience is much stronger than Monaco.

Last season they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, achieving their best result in the Champions League.

Both strength and experience are superior.

There is no reason why Manchester City should not advance.

Many Manchester City players also appeared very confident when being interviewed.

Aguero: This is a good signing for us.

De Bruyne: I think Monaco is very strong, but our goal will not change, we will advance to the next round.

Stones: Their striker Sunshine is very good and I am looking forward to playing against him.

Compared to the liveliness of Manchester City.

It seems that not many people are paying attention to the voice from Monaco.

After the Champions League draw.

In the 17th round of the league, Monaco played away against Bordeaux.

The team rotated some players in this game, and Yang Guang still started.

He scored a goal in the game, helping the team win 2-0 and get three points.

The team then faced Caen at home.

Sunshine did not score a goal in this game, but he assisted Mbappe to score, and the team narrowly won 1-0 at home.

Next was a French League Cup match, where Monaco played against Rennes at home. Monaco, who played entirely with substitutes, won 3-0 and advanced smoothly.

And after this game.

It is the last game of the first half of the league.

February 12, the 22th round of the league.

Monaco will challenge Lyon away.

　First update

　　
　
(End of this chapter)