When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 44 I Hate Legendary Narratives Because I'm Not a Legend Yet (Please Read On!)
2003 4 Month 16 Day.

Monaco's team bus slowly approached the Stade Vélodrome, the roadsides already packed with Marseille fans. The roar of the Marseille supporters surged in from the bus windows like a tidal wave. His blue and white scarves fluttered in the sunlight as Deschamps looked out the window, his memories of 1993 merging with those of his past.

Some of them held up vintage scarves from 1993 and photos or newspapers from that time, featuring the iconic image of Deschamps lifting the Champions League trophy.

Roy leaned against the window, witnessing such a scene for the first time—he had seen the fervor of fans before, but he had never imagined that football could transcend victory and defeat and become the faith of a city.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on his knees, his gaze shifting from the window to Deschamps's retreating figure.

The coach's shoulders were slightly tense, as if he were bearing some kind of invisible weight.

Rothen chuckled and nudged Pulso beside him with his elbow: "Hey, they're shouting louder than when they're cheering for their players."

Pulso shook his head, a hint of respect on his lips: "That's what legends are, you know? We'll have ours too."

When Deschamps appeared through the car window, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause and whistles, and someone shouted through a megaphone:
"Merci, Didier! Tu es toujours Marseillais!"

("Thank you, Didier! You'll always be a Marseille!")
Deschamps slowly raised his right hand, as if to respond to something, but then lowered it again.

The Munich Olympic Stadium on May 26, 1993, holds too many legendary stories.

Before 1992, the Champions League was called the European Cup.

After 1992, the Champions League was called the UEFA Champions League, and from that season onwards, it first implemented the "qualifying-group stage-knockout stage-final" format.

Meanwhile, Ligue 1 champions Marseille sank the once-dominant AC Milan dynasty in that final.

That was the era of the Milan dynasty.

Before the match, almost everyone believed that AC Milan could once again reign supreme in Europe. This Milan team boasted a top-class defense with players like Maldini, Baresi, Tassotti, and Costacurta, while Rijkaard and Albertini anchored the midfield.

Even though AC Milan coach Fabio Capello excluded Gullit from the squad due to tactical considerations, they still have a dream attacking line of Van Basten, Massaro, Lentini, and Donadoni.

Papin, Elaneo, and Evani were also on the bench.

They achieved a legendary 58-game unbeaten run in Serie A, which was then known as the "Little World Cup".

Before the final, their record was a perfect 10-0, scoring 23 goals and conceding only 1.

But in the final, Marseille played a perfect game.

At just 21 years old, Barthez made some brilliant saves, denying three golden opportunities from Van Basten and Marcelo.

Captain Deschamps anchored the midfield, making 9 interceptions throughout the match, completely shutting down Milan's midfield maestro Albertini.

Marseille covered 12 kilometers more than Milan, using their superior stamina to wear down their opponents.

This led to rumors after the match that Marseille players had used performance-enhancing drugs, but there was no official confirmation.

In the 43rd minute, Marseille won a corner kick. Ghanaian magician Abedi Pele delivered a curling shot, and Brazilian center-back Bashir Boli leaped up and powerfully headed the ball into the net!
At the moment the goal was scored, Milan goalkeeper Rossi had no chance to react, and the Marseille substitutes rushed onto the sidelines in a frenzy.

This is a rare "winning goal by a center-back" in the history of the Champions League final.

When referee Heinemann blew the final whistle, the Marseille players knelt down and wept, and the French team ended their 37-year wait to become European champions for the first time!

Deschamps, as captain, was the first to lift the trophy, and the camera captured his trembling lips and tearful eyes.

The mayor of Marseille immediately declared: "Tonight, all of France will be blue and white!"

Then an even more controversial scene unfolded. L'Équipe immediately revealed a shocking scandal: six days before the Champions League final, even though Marseille, who were leading in Ligue 1, were almost certain to win the title, Marseille president Tapie did not want his players to face Milan exhausted, as they were struggling in the relegation zone. So he spent a lot of money to buy off several key players from Valenciennes, and Marseille ultimately won easily.

Marseille was subsequently stripped of their 1992/93 Ligue 1 title and disqualified from the following year's Champions League. The Toyota Cup was also contested by Champions League runners-up AC Milan.

However, UEFA did not strip him of his Champions League title.

The team suffered a major blow when its chairman, Tapie, was imprisoned.

Marseille fell apart, Juventus acquired Deschamps, Abedi Pelé transferred to Lyon, Desailly transferred to Milan, Völler returned to Germany, Bokšić joined Lazio, Barthez went to Monaco, Boli joined Rangers, and Stojkovic went to Japan.
Boli, who scored the only goal, was also controversial. His flying tackle struck Van Basten's ankle, becoming the fatal blow in the "White Swan's" injury curse.

At this moment, an eerie silence fell over the car, and even the most talkative young players fell silent.

Giuly frowned, Rothen's smile faded, and Pulso pursed his lips.

Roy simply put on his headphones, squinted, and pretended to sleep, even though no music was playing.

Mr. Luo is kind-hearted and can't stand this kind of sentimentality.

Professional players with a strong sense of honor can easily fall into this kind of legendary narrative, hoping that they will receive the same treatment in the future.

Roy wasn't particularly fond of this kind of legendary narrative at the moment, because he wasn't a legend yet.
At least he's honest, right? When he's successful in the future, he can use that same line on the younger players: "Uncle, back in the finals, you were still..."
The label of legend implies awe, and awe can make people hesitant.

Roy didn't want that, so even though Völler is still in the Marseille squad, if a conflict occurred, Roy would choose to spit on him rather than say anything.

"Holy crap, the legendary German striker! I'm a fan!"

(The Rijkaard and Waller “spit-gate” incident)
Suddenly, Juli spoke, his voice soft but loud enough for everyone to hear:

"We have to win today, not for Monaco, but for the boss."

Roy frowned.

Isn't it normal for the first-place team in Ligue 1 to beat the third-place team?

Deschamps didn't turn around, but his back straightened a bit, as if he had put on his armor again.

As the bus entered the shadow of the stadium, he took a deep breath and said in a hoarse but firm voice:

"Get off the bus. It's time to show them the legend."

The pre-match field inspection session usually takes place two hours before the pre-match press conference, in order to allow players to get used to the field in advance.

Half an hour of basic warm-up (jogging, stretching), half an hour of group sparring (the first fifteen minutes are closed to the public, then open to reporters for filming), and half an hour of set-ball practice (closed to the public).

Of course, Monaco also has special arrangements: Giuly, Rothen and Roy, Pulso have completely different wing-center connection tactics.

Group competition phase.

Giuly made a passing error after breaking through on the wing, shook his head and laughed:

"If Putain and the others are hiding like they have before today, we'll need chisels to pry open their defenses!"

Rothen, panting, interjected while chewing on the collar of his training vest:
"Perrin is definitely drawing turtles in the locker room again! Look over there."

Yes, it's that Perrin.

He pointed towards the Marseille half.

"They've been practicing penalties for half an hour, are they really planning to drag this out to a penalty shootout?"

Max rolled his eyes:

"They fielded five defenders last time we played, are they going to bring six players to block the goal line this time?"

Roy suddenly accelerated past the substitute defender, turned around and finished off the attack:

"That's even better, I'll kick it straight at Perrin's head and let it bounce into the goal!"

The whole team burst into laughter.

"Then he'll definitely hate you! Perrin is quite handsome, and he probably thinks so himself!"

Deschamps stopped training and returned to the locker room, tapping on the tactics board:
"Listen, they'll definitely shrink into shells! Giuly, cut inside and draw a foul, Roy and Pulso take turns making runs to get to the penalty spot."

Bernardie whispered to Max:
"If they really park the bus, we might as well kick into the corner flag area, waste time, and make Perrin have a heart attack."

Evra imitates Perrin's hands-on-hips pacing:
"Everyone back down! Even the caddies, get back into the penalty area!"

The exaggerated physical gestures elicited laughter.

Information captured by reporters on the sidelines:
Monaco's side:
Roy and Giuly practiced 10 extra one-two passes at the edge of the penalty area, specifically targeting the weakness of Marseille's two defensive midfielders in slow movement.

Deschamps stood on the sidelines with a sullen face the entire time.

Marseille side:

Perrin personally stood on the goal line to simulate a save, yelling, "Stop at the near post! Stop them until they question their existence!"

Van Buyten practiced 30 extra goal-line clearances.

Just before going on the court, Roy suddenly looked up while tying his shoelaces:
"Do you think if we scored right at the start, Perrin would immediately change the 5-3-2 formation to a 9-0-1?"

The whole team imitated a turtle retracting its head:

"Bienvenue à Marseille!" (Welcome to Marseille!)
(End of this chapter)