The UEFA Europa League system was complicated. In addition to the "fake groupings" in the first round of the draw, it also had to "inherit" the teams that were eliminated from the Champions League. In the first round of the draw, the 80 teams included 32 teams that advanced in the second round of the qualifiers, 32 teams that directly qualified for the competition, and 16 teams that were eliminated in the third round of the Champions League qualifiers. After the elimination matches, 40 teams were determined to participate in the group stage. The top three teams in each group, a total of 24 teams, entered the knockout stage. In addition to the eight third-place teams in the Champions League group stage, a total of 32 teams participated in the knockout stage draw. It was not until then that the strong teams that were determined to win the championship began to get into their roles, and it was already the middle of February next year.
It could be said that the UEFA Europa League group stage was a small test for Sporting de Gijón. There were five teams in each group, and they only needed to reach the top three to advance to the knockout stage.
In the eight groups, a total of 24 teams advanced. Then, with the addition of the eight third-place teams in the Champions League group stage, there would be a top 32. The top 32 would enter the knockout stage.
The top 32 knockout stage was the real test for Sporting de Gijón.
Therefore, Li Ang now hoped that the team could be placed in a relatively weak group, which would save more effort.
*****
September 24, 2004, Nyon, Switzerland, UEFA headquarters.
The 20042005 UEFA Europa League group stage draw was in progress.
Li Ang sat in his seat, somewhat distracted.
Some managers of the teams also looked over from time to time. In the European football world, the appearance of Li Ang, a Chinese, was definitely a shocking novelty. It could be said that among the 40 teams in the group stage, there were Bundesliga powerhouses such as FC Schalke 04 and VfB Stuttgart, as well as Eredivisie and Portuguese Super League powerhouses such as Feyenoord and Sporting Lisbon, as well as English Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A powerhouses such as Newcastle United, Villarreal, and Lazio. However, the manager of Sporting de Gijón, who was promoted from the La Liga, was definitely the most eye-catching one.
Everyone already knew that this Chinese man was the manager of Sporting de Gijón, the team that defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey last season as a Segunda División team.
In a European team where Europeans were the absolute mainstream, the emergence of a Chinese player had aroused their curiosity, surprise, and of course, suspicion, scrutiny, and even contempt.
However, no matter what, Li Ang's appearance here was enough to attract the attention of others.
*****
Sporting de Gijón had returned to the European Championship after nearly 30 years, so their European points were close to zero. This led to Sporting de Gijón being listed as a fifth-tier team, which meant that the chances of Sporting de Gijón meeting a strong opponent were much higher.
Li Ang was also helpless. Sporting de Gijón was paying back their debt for the past 20 or 30 years of decline. This was something that could not be helped.
The first team to be drawn was the first-tier team, which had nothing to do with Sporting de Gijón for the time being. It was possible for them to fall into any group.
Then, the team to be drawn was the fifth-tier team, and Li Ang immediately perked up.
Sporting de Gijón fell into Group C. Li Ang shook his head. This was not a good sign, because the first-tier team in Group C was the Serie A powerhouse team, Lazio. At this time, Lazio was not the team that had fallen ten years later. Now, they were a powerhouse team in Serie A and could often reach the top four in Serie A. Although the Serie A league at this time could not be said to be at its peak, it was still the era of the 'Mini World Cup'.
Feeling someone looking over, Li Ang looked over. He nodded in response, but the other party ignored him and turned away.
Li Ang touched his nose. He was being looked down upon.
*****
That person was the manager of Lazio, Domenech Caso. Well, not the Frenchman Domenech who later became the manager of the French national team. This was an Italian. He was originally the manager of Lazio's youth team. After Lazio's manager Mancini went to Serie A powerhouse Inter Milan this summer, Lazio had been busy with the club's financing and registration for the new season. It was only at the end of July when Lotito officially took over the club that the club officially began the selection of a manager. Zoff, Caso, Camoranesi, and the others were all popular candidates, and the cash-strapped Lazio could not offer a high salary to the experienced Zoff or Camoranesi, so they chose the youth team's manager, Domenech Caso, to lead the team in Serie A.
If they really counted, Domenech Caso's experience in coaching a first team might not be as good as Li Ang's. Although Li Ang had only coached the Segunda División team Sporting de Gijón last season, it was still a first team.
Therefore, seeing that he was being looked down upon by Caso, Li Ang was unhappy. My experience is a bit better than yours.
At this time, Li Ang was thinking in his heart. Lazio was undoubtedly one of the strongest teams in the first tier and would definitely not be easy to deal with. However, their manager might be a weak spot.
Domenech Caso naturally did not know that the manager of the newly promoted La Liga team would see him as Lazio's weak spot. He turned his head to the person next to him and laughed softly. "My luck is not bad. I met a fish belly."
In Caso's heart, it was clear that the three points against Sporting de Gijón were in their hands.
"Ha, when the time comes, you can teach the Chinese a lesson and tell them what it's like to play in a European competition." The person next to him, an executive of Lazio Football Club, also laughed and said.
Caso smiled slightly. He valued this opportunity to be promoted from the youth team to Lazio's first team very much. He longed to become famous in one game and lead Lazio to good results and become a famous manager.
*****
After that, the second tier teams were also drawn. The team in Group C was the Belgian powerhouse, Club Brugge.
This team was also a frequent participant in the Champions League. Although it was often at the bottom of the Champions League, it was also a veteran of European competitions and its strength was not bad.
The third tier team in Group C was the Austrian powerhouse, Rapid Wien.
The fourth tier team was the Eredivisie powerhouse, Utrecht.
The results of the draw were all out. Sporting de Gijón's Group C consisted of the Serie A powerhouse, Lazio, the Belgian powerhouse, Club Brugge, the Austrian powerhouse, Rapid Wien, and the Eredivisie powerhouse, Utrecht.
Li Ang took a deep breath. There were no soft persimmons. Moreover, if he really wanted to talk about which of the five teams in this group, Sporting de Gijón was the weakest.
Li Ang could even feel that the managers of the other four teams were looking in his direction, and they all had smiles on their faces.
They obviously regarded Sporting de Gijón as the weakest team in the group. In their hearts, the three points against Sporting de Gijón were all part of their plan.
Li Ang frowned slightly. It would not be easy for this group to advance.
However, when he thought about how the other managers had looked down on Sporting de Gijón, Li Ang rubbed his chin. Although it was not a good feeling to be looked down on by the opponents, perhaps it was not a bad thing.
It was just that he felt a little uncomfortable.
*****
Li Ang did not stay in Nyón for long. After the draw ceremony, he took a flight back to Spain that very night. The team would be facing an away game in La Liga in two days. Their opponent was Osasuna, and it was not an easy opponent to deal with.
On the plane, Li Ang, who was taking a nap, heard a song coming from the headphones of the passenger sitting next to him.
Then he opened his eyes. Shakira's latest album was playing in his headphones. The song he was playing was the song he had sung with Shakira, "Take Me To Your Heart."
She was a young girl with average looks. She had small freckles on her face, but she looked cute.
"Did I disturb you? I'm so sorry. "The girl smiled embarrassedly, revealing her small canine teeth.
"Oh, no." Li Ang shook his head and smiled. "Shakira's latest album?"
"Oh, you like Shakira's songs too?" The girl said in surprise. "I don't like her songs, but this album is really good. My favorite song is' Take Me To Your Heart. 'It's so good. It's so good."
The girl was obviously very outgoing. She seemed to have found someone with the same interests and hobbies. She was very happy and could not stop talking.
"Yes, I like this song too." Li Ang nodded. "Shakira sang it well."
"I think that the man sang well. It's a pity that I can't see his face in the album." The girl was very excited. "But I'm sure that he must be a handsome guy. I'm fascinated by him. His voice is so good."
Li Ang touched his nose. It felt good to hear such praise in such an unfamiliar environment.
*****
When the plane arrived at Madrid Airport, it was already sunset.
Li Ang took the subway to Madrid Railway Station. The mobile TV screen in the subway car was broadcasting entertainment news.
"Columbia's Little Queen Shakira's latest album 'Take Me To Your Heart' is selling very well. It has only been on the market for two days and has sold nearly one million copies. The title song 'Take Me To Your Heart' has successfully entered the top ten on the billboard at midnight on the 24th in the Eastern Time of the United States … Next, I'll bring you this song 'Take Me To Your Heart' …"
Li Ang closed his eyes and hummed the song softly. This song contained his memories of his previous life. Those past loves gently surrounded him, causing ripples in his heart to tremble slightly.
After the song, he opened his eyes, thought for a moment, and sent a short message to Shakira. "Congratulations, the album is selling very well."
Then, Li Ang sent a message to Alice: I miss you.
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