Since Li Ang became a professional manager, there was a long list of world-famous managers who had played against him. Rijkaard, Benítez, Ranieri, Ancelotti, Wenger, Spalletti, and only Mourinho and Ferguson had not played against him.
Now, he had finally met Ferguson, and it was on the stage of the Champions League final.
As the Godfather of Manchester United, the greatest and most successful manager in today's football, he was the idol of countless people.
In his previous life, Ferguson was the manager that Li Ang admired and worshipped the most.
Now, Li Ang was looking forward to being able to have a real showdown with Ferguson.
Li Ang and Ferguson appeared at the press conference. Before the press conference began, the two managers hugged each other affectionately. The cameras flashed, recording this moment.
It looked like the two of them appreciated each other.
However, after the press conference began, this touching emotion was gone.
"We have done everything we can for this game. Manchester United is the best team. My players also believe that they can stand at the top of Europe." Ferguson's performance was very strong, directly announcing their determination to win the European title.
"But Inter Milan is very strong. They were the European champions two years ago, and now they have won three consecutive Serie A titles," an Italian reporter said, raising his hand.
"Manchester United is also the European champion," Ferguson said proudly. "As for three consecutive Serie A titles? This only shows that the competitiveness of the Serie A league is not as strong as before. "
As he said this, Ferguson shrugged and showed a disdainful expression.
Li Ang sat there, and when he heard this, he was naturally very unhappy. The old man was mocking Inter Milan for being strong among the weak, saying that Inter Milan was not as strong as they appeared to be.
This old Scottish man was arrogant.
However, Li Ang suppressed his anger. He knew that the old fox was good at psychological warfare. This was deliberately provoking him and Inter Milan. If he could anger him and make him lose his cool, then Ferguson would have succeeded.
"We met Arsenal and Liverpool and finally made it to the finals. Against the Premier League teams, we have a psychological advantage," Li Ang said, curling his lips.
The Italian reporters at the scene all applauded Li Ang's words. Wasn't Ferguson mocking Inter Milan and the competitiveness of Serie A? We beat Arsenal and Liverpool all the way to the finals.
The two managers were at each other's throats at the pre-match press conference. Neither of them was willing to show weakness. The fans in front of the TV were also enjoying themselves. The clash between the two highly personal and famous managers was a major highlight of this European showdown.
*****
May 21, 2008, the 20072008 UEFA Champions League final day.
The image of Inter Milan's hotel appeared on the screen.
"Inter Milan hasn't set off yet, but in the hotel lobby, the figures of Inter Milan's players have begun to appear. They may set off for the Luzhniki Stadium at any time."
The camera swept across the Inter Milan's players, searching for the figure of Inter Milan's manager, Li Ang.
Finally, the Chinese manager was found on a sofa near the corner. Beside him were coaching staff members Banderas and Mihajlović.
"It looks like Manager Li Ang is relatively calm." The Inter Milan manager appeared on the screen with a calm face. He communicated softly with his assistants and smiled from time to time.
Seeing this scene, the Inter Milan fans in front of the TV cheered. In the hearts of the Inter Milan fans, Li Ang was the backbone of the team. At the moment when the finals were about to start, the smile on Li Ang's face made them feel at ease.
Stramaccioni walked over and bent down to say something to Li Ang. Then Li Ang raised his hand to look at the time on his watch. Then he stood up.
This was the signal.
As Li Ang stood up, the players who were scattered in the lobby, either chatting, listening to music, or resting with their eyes closed, immediately got up and began to move toward the Earth team's bus parked outside the gate.
"They're coming out!"
Outside the hotel, a dense crowd of reporters waited there. When they saw the movement inside, they became excited.
The reporters carried their cameras and rushed toward the bus. They rushed to the line of defense formed by the security guards, wanting to get a close-up shot of the players getting on the bus.
And the Inter Milan fans waiting outside the hotel also became excited. They waved the flags in their hands and shouted loudly:
Inter Milan!
Champions!
Champions!
We are the champions!
No one from Inter Milan, including Li Ang, stopped to be interviewed. They filed into the bus. Then, after Banderas, who was the last to get on the bus, counted the number of people, the door of the bus slowly closed and the bus started.
"They're off!" The reporter from Italian National Television, who was in charge of reporting at the hotel, shouted excitedly.
The camera zoomed out, and amid the flashes, the cheers of the Inter Milan fans became louder.
At the same time, outside the hotel where Manchester United was staying, a BBC reporter was proudly announcing: They're off! Manchester United is off!
*****
Luzhniki Stadium, full name Luzhniki Integrated Olympic Large Sports Arena, was currently the largest stadium in Russia, with a total of 84745 seats. It was once named Lenin Stadium. This stadium was the main venue of the Russian Premier League teams FC Torpedo Moscow and Spartak Moscow. It was one of the famous stadiums that used artificial turf.
Luzhniki Stadium was the main venue of the 1980 Summer Olympics and the venue for the 2008 Champions League final. It was the first stadium in Eastern Europe to host the Champions League final.
On Mount Lenin by the side of the stadium, helicopters were hovering above with flashing lights, filming from above.
Two buses of different colors were heading toward the brightly lit Luzhniki Stadium. Police lights flashed along the way. Moscow had provided state-level security for the Champions League final. Traffic was controlled along the way. In the front row, there were more than a dozen motorized police officers clearing the way. In the middle, there were five police cars guarding the front, back, left, and right. Behind them, there were six motorized police officers. The scene was spectacular.
"This is the final of the UEFA Champions League. It's a showdown between Europe's highest football powers. Just looking at such a scene makes one's scalp tingle with excitement."
*****
When Inter Milan's bus arrived outside Luzhniki Stadium, the scene was in an uproar. The Inter Milan fans burst into loud cheers and shouts.
The curtains of the air-conditioned bus were pulled open, revealing a black face and white teeth.
Balotelli's eyes widened as he looked outside. The black man seemed to be very agitated. He was shouting something incoherently.
At this moment, there was a burst of cheers not far away. Manchester United's bus had arrived.
The red Manchester United bus and the blue and black Inter Milan bus met at the entrance less than 300 meters away from the stadium. Then, one to the left and the other to the right, respectively, headed toward different entrances.
In the night, Luzhniki Stadium was brightly lit. It was spectacular and beautiful, as if shrouded in colorful light. On this night, it was the highest temple in the football world. The two shining protagonists had arrived. The scepter at the top of Europe stood silently, waiting for its new owner.
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