On Friday night, some of the Real Madrid players brought their families for a small gathering.
Everyone met in a seafood restaurant. Raúl, Casillas, Ramos, Guti, Reyes, Salgado, Carlos, and Qin Xiong. Some of them brought their families, some brought their girlfriends, and some even brought their children.
It was a group of people with good relationships in the team who had an early Christmas gathering. After all, there would be a winter break during Christmas, so it was impossible for everyone to gather.
Moreover, there was a live broadcast of the draw ceremony for the Champions League knockout stage tonight.
In the restaurant's large private room, everyone was almost done eating. Qin Xiong sat at the table with his right hand held by Sylvia and placed on her lap. Qin Xiong chatted casually with Ramos and Guti.
The topic somehow shifted to Capello. Guti had a lot to complain about and Ramos looked very aggrieved.
"Today, he let me play as a center back. Tomorrow, he let me play as a full back. As long as there is a problem with the defense, I always have to bear the responsibility. Until now, I still don't understand what my role is in his heart!"
Ramos' words almost condensed his current situation in Real Madrid for the past few months.
Qin Xiong comforted, "Maybe the coach thinks that you have diversity and can play different roles in different roles. This actually shows that your value is higher."
Ramos shook his head and said, "What if it's you? Capello let you play as a winger today, an attacking midfielder tomorrow, and a midfielder the day after tomorrow. Are you willing? "
Qin Xiong could not help but laugh. He was really stumped by Ramos.
Diverse players existed, but in general, they were more dependent on long-term stability in roles. This way, they could find the feeling in a position and have better breakthroughs after gradually getting into the good situation. It was also beneficial for future development.
The defender itself was a "high-risk role" because it was too fragile and too easy to collapse.
A striker could not score for a few games, a month, or two months. However, if a defender continued to play badly for a few games, or even a month or two, his career was almost over.
A striker needed to amaze the world with a single brilliant feat, while a defender needed to be tempered into steel!
Gudi, who gave off a feeling of nonchalance, said in a disdainful tone, "Don't make sarcastic remarks here. At least you have enough time to play. What about me? Even the substitutes' appearances are getting less and less. I feel like I've been cheated by Capello!
Qin Xiong seemed to have heard his teammates say that they had been deceived by Capello more than once. He asked curiously, "What did he deceive you about?"
Guti shrugged and said, "To be honest, I had already planned to transfer out in the summer, but Capello talked to me and urged me to stay. He promised me that I would be an important member of the team. And then? There's no 'then', and it became what it is now. "
Qin Xiong was deep in thought. He actually wanted to know if Capello was an honest manager.
The two managers he had experienced in the past, Comain and Wenger, were not absolute gentlemen. At least Qin Xiong was not qualified to judge, but at least they were sincere to the players. There was no problem with distinguishing between gratitude and grudges. They would not make promises easily, but since they had said it, they would do it.
Guti's complaints were not over.
"I don't understand Capello a little. He can be so heartless to Cassano, but he can be so tolerant of Emerson. It's the ultimate contradiction. Isn't it? "
Cassano and Emerson were both Capello's direct subordinates. In the end, when both of them were not in good form, Capello gave Emerson great support and protection, while he seemed to have no tolerance for Cassano.
Sylvia felt sleepy and leaned her head on Qin Xiong's shoulder. Qin Xiong raised his hand and gently stroked her face. His hand was quickly grabbed by Sylvia. He turned his head and said to Guti, "Maybe the situation is different."
Guti looked puzzled.
Qin Xiong explained, "He gave up on Cassano because the team has van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Robinho, and many other players for him to choose from. But if he gave up on Emerson, although he could count on you, who else but you? Is there any other choice? No! So with Emerson here, he doesn't dare to give up or attack Emerson easily. "
Guti thought about it carefully. It seemed that Qin Xiong's words made some sense.
At that moment, Casillas walked over and put one hand on Qin Xiong's shoulder. He said, "The lot drawing ceremony has begun."
The men in the private room immediately turned their gazes to the television screen.
The atmosphere also became more serious.
Qin Xiong's mentality was different from before.
He still remembered the first time at the banquet where Van Der Vaart celebrated his Golden Boy Award. He sat alone in the corner and watched the lot drawing ceremony. At that time, he hoped to meet a strong team, the strongest team!
But now?
He could meet anyone!
It didn't matter!
Real Madrid only got second place in the group. Coupled with the principle of avoiding the draw for the UEFA U-18 finals, the potential opponents were clear at a glance.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and AC Milan.
The media predicted that Real Madrid would most likely fight to the death with one of the top four teams in the Premier League. After all, the probability was too high!
Six potential opponents, four from the Premier League!
But when the results of the lot drawing came out, most of the Real Madrid players in the private room were silent. Qin Xiong's lips curled into a smile.
AC Milan!
An old opponent!
The last confrontation was when he played for Ajax. The memory was still fresh.
The results of the lot drawing came out. Qin Xiong saw that Sylvia was almost asleep. He gently woke her up and went to get her coat to put on. He put on his own coat and turned his head to wave goodbye to everyone in the private room.
"Sylvia and I are leaving first. You guys go home early too. Good night."
Everyone said goodbye to Qin Xiong one by one.
When they walked out of the restaurant, Qin Xiong turned around and buttoned up Sylvia's coat. Sylvia leaned half of her body on Qin Xiong's body. She hugged his waist as if subconsciously to keep warm.
At this time, at least five reporters with cameras rushed in front of the door. They kept taking photos and asking questions.
"Real Madrid has drawn AC Milan. What do you think of the result?"
"Do you have the confidence to beat AC Milan?"
"You used to play against AC Milan twice when you played for Ajax, but you didn't win. Will this become a psychological shadow for you?"
.....
Real Madrid stars gathered. Naturally, it was impossible to be airtight. It was normal for the reporters to hear the news and come to set up an ambush.
However, Sylvia was a little surprised by the scene. She subconsciously hid in Qin Xiong's arms, then straightened up and stood next to Qin Xiong. She held his arm, as if to make the image of the two of them better together.
Qin Xiong did not answer any of the questions raised by the reporters. He took Sylvia directly to the parking lot.
But his face was full of smiles.
AC Milan?
Let's fight!
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