"The game is over! The game is over! We beat Barcelona! We beat Barcelona! We're five points ahead of them! It's amazing! Congratulations to Li Ang! Congratulations to the lads! Congratulations to them! They're the best! "The local commentator of Sporting de Gijón roared excitedly," It was an extremely difficult game! But we won the game. Long live Manager Li Ang!! "
Barcelona's commentator looked extremely depressed, "The game is over. We lost the game. Maybe after leading the whole season, the league title is getting farther and farther away from us. Barcelona lost a game that they shouldn't have lost …"
As soon as the three whistles ended, Sporting de Gijón's substitutes rushed onto the field. They celebrated their victory to their heart's content.
Li Ang did not do that. This time he did not forget to shake hands with the opposing manager.
Rijkaard looked a little depressed. He completed the handshake routine and did not stay long. He went straight to the entrance of the tunnel. In today's game, Barcelona was the loser and Rijkaard was the loser. He did not want to stay in this stadium for a moment longer.
Li Ang was surrounded by reporters. Even if it was a game that was not given so much significance, he deserved more attention as the winner of the victory over Barcelona. What's more, the victory of this game would have a great impact on the competition for the league title.
"We won the game. It's very good. I said that our goal is to be the champion. Now we're going further and further on the right path. " Li Ang laughed and looked a little proud, "(With a five-point lead), does Barcelona have a chance to make a comeback? We just have to do what we're supposed to do! Now we have the initiative! "
Since publicly declaring his desire for the league title, Li Ang changed his previous low-key and moral character. He appeared imposing.
This was because he knew that in such a situation, he needed to use such an aggressive and confident posture to convey confidence to his players: I firmly believe that the title is ours!
Later, Li Ang refused the reporters' requests to continue the interview. He wanted to be with his players. Even though Sporting Gihon was the winning team, the players on the field had lost control of their emotions. Some of the players were in tears, and some of them were paralyzed on the ground. The players were under a lot of pressure, especially after Pepe was sent off with a red card and the opponent scored a penalty kick. Even though Li Ang's' inverted somersault 'had unbelievably relieved the pressure on the players, when the game was over, everyone realized that they had won the game. That huge sense of fatigue still hit them.
This was the embodiment of extreme physical and psychological fatigue and extreme excitement.
Li Ang hugged them, patted them on the shoulder, whispered a few words of encouragement to them, and praised them. They had won the game and were getting closer to the league title. Li Ang had to act like a manager who had lost the game to care for and encourage his players. This was indeed rare in the football world. Who asked Sporting Gihon to be weak and mainly composed of young players with little experience?
*****
The game between Sporting de Gijón and Barcelona was the focus of attention.
As soon as the game ended, the whole football world became lively because of this game.
Marca issued an extra: Sporting de Gijón 5: 3 Barcelona! Five points ahead!
AS exclaimed, "The Gihons have dealt a heavy blow to the Barcelona!"
ABC: Although we can't say how much chance Sporting de Gijón have of winning the title, they are on the road to making history, and it looks like a miracle can really happen!
Catalonia's Mundo Deportivo could not help but lament: Barcelona lost the game that they should have won the most. When the schedule was released at the beginning of the season, no one thought that the away game against a newly promoted team in the 32nd round of the league would be so important!
Daily Sport said with some frustration: Rijkaard was completely defeated by Li Ang. Now, Barcelona's fate is no longer in their own hands. That's the current situation.
Not only the Spanish media, but also the media in other European countries, and even many media outlets around the world, paid the most attention to this game.
Britain's The Guardian: Barcelona, who led for almost the entire season, lost to Sporting de Gijón 3: 5. This is a defeat that could cause them to lose the entire season!
Britain's Daily Mirror: Sporting de Gijón's China coach once again won the game against Rijkaard. The youngest manager in La Liga is leading this newly promoted team on the road to creating miracles and history.
Britain's The Sun: In Spain, something unexpected is happening. After winning this crucial game, China's Mr. Li Ang's team is getting closer and closer to the key of La Liga. The fate of his pursuer, Barcelona, is no longer in their own hands.
Italy's Milan Gazzetta dello Sport: Everything is going on. La Liga's biggest dark horse is on the road to the league title. Coach Li Ang showed a level and strength that everyone admired in this game. His tactics and arrangements were tit-for-tat against Rijkaard's Barcelona.
Italy's Corriere dello Sport focused on Sporting de Gijón's Argentinian striker, Diego Milito. The Argentinian, who had transferred to Sporting de Gijón from Genoa in Serie B last season, was now very close to the top of the La Liga goalscoring list. After recovering from his injury, he had shown an amazing competitive state. The Argentinian was very likely to be awarded the La Liga Golden Boot at the end of the season.
France's L 'Equipe was full of praise for Li Ang from the tactical level. They praised Li Ang's cleverness in this game. Sporting de Gijón's tactics perfectly restrained Barcelona from the beginning. They also used psychological tactics to catch Barcelona off guard. And when Sporting de Gijón was faced with a penalty and a red card combo, Li Ang used an unexpected and resolute attitude to insist on the team's attack. Once again, he caught Barcelona off guard. This China coach actually did a somersault on the sidelines at that time, which was simply amazing. No manager had ever taken the initiative to respond with such a move when the team needed confidence. Judging from the results and the process of the game, Coach Li Ang's behavior was very effective.
Finally, L 'Equipe joked that it seemed that in the future, managers needed to learn difficult moves such as somersaults. When their team was in trouble, such moves might be amazing.
*****
In the game against Barcelona, the Sporting de Gijón team was under a lot of pressure. The players were mentally and physically exhausted. Even the players on the substitutes' bench did not have it easy.
Therefore, after the game, Li Ang immediately announced that the whole team had a day off.
This was quite a bold and decisive decision. It must be known that just three days after this game, Sporting de Gijón would face the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals. They would be challenging Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium in Madrid's away game. Considering that the Copa del Rey championship was Atlético Madrid's last hope this season, this game was definitely not going to be easy. Under such circumstances, Li Ang actually gave the whole team a day off. It was really surprising.
Li Ang made this decision on the spur of the moment, but it was definitely not a spur of the moment decision. He keenly captured the exhaustion of the whole team. Under such circumstances, the team was fighting on three fronts. They were extremely mentally and physically exhausted. If they were not careful, they could collapse.
Therefore, Li Ang immediately and decisively decided to give the whole team a day off. At the same time, it almost meant that the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Atlético Madrid was basically abandoned in advance.
Sporting de Gijón, who had just experienced a tough game against Barcelona, was not in a good physical state. After winning Barcelona, the whole team was at a point of psychological exhaustion after extreme excitement. This game was really difficult.
Therefore, Li Ang decisively decided to give up the first leg of the away game against Atlético Madrid. The goal he set for the team was to lose as little as possible and leave hope for a comeback in the second leg.
In the end, in the game against Atlético Madrid, Li Ang adopted a large rotation. In the starting eleven players, except for Albertini, who returned from injury, and the center back, Pepe, almost all of them were rotated. The reason why Pepe played was because the Portuguese was suspended from the league.
In the end, Sporting de Gijón lost 0: 2 at the Vicente Calderón stadium. Although the rotated players who were given the opportunity to start worked hard, their strength was not enough. It was normal to lose the game, and only lose by two goals. This was also within Li Ang's acceptable range.
*****
On the second day after the Sporting de Gijón team returned from Madrid to Gijón, Li Ang received a call from his agent, Miss Betti. Sporting de Gijón had defeated Barcelona in the league and were getting closer to the La Liga title. The impact had already been felt. Inter Milan contacted Betti again. This time, the Nerazzurri clearly expressed their desire to invite Li Ang to coach. The most notable thing was that the person who called Betti was not the manager of Inter Milan, Oriari, but the owner of Inter Milan, Mr. Massimo Moratti.
"Mr. Moratti expressed a clear and strong desire. I can see that this gentleman really admires you," Miss Betti said.
Li Ang nodded. Moratti's admiration made him happy and slightly proud, but he did not let it go to his head. He just smiled and said, "Do they have any specific plans?"
"Sign a three-year contract and express their support for you in the transfer market," Betti said.
"In other words, the transfer authority belongs to me?" Li Ang was interested. This was one of the things he valued the most.
"Uh, this … I haven't made it clear to them yet." Betti hesitated and said, "Don't worry, I know what you value the most. I will continue to communicate with them about this."
"Okay." Li Ang nodded and said, "Don't be too anxious. Calm down."
Betti heard and laughed. "Why do I feel that you are not excited or looking forward to it at all?"
"Didn't I say before that everything will be decided after the end of the season?" Li Ang shook his head and said, "So I am not in a hurry to talk to them now. And Betti, you have to have confidence. Whether it is staying in Gijón, going to Milan, or somewhere else, it will be beneficial for us!"
"What do you mean?" Betti said thoughtfully.
"That's right." Li Ang nodded. "Sporting de Gijón is getting closer and closer to the league title. We also have a chance to win the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Europa League. If we wait until the end of the season, think about it. Who will be valued more, the coach who won the treble and the current dark horse coach? Who will be able to get the most benefits? "
Betti was shocked by Li Ang's description of the treble coach. She really did not expect Li Ang to be so ambitious. Because at present, Sporting de Gijón had a slightly better chance of winning the league title. After all, they were five points ahead of Barcelona. In the Copa del Rey, Sporting de Gijón lost to Atlético Madrid in the first round of the semifinals. In the UEFA Europa League, Sporting de Gijón met CSKA Moscow, the powerhouse of the Russian Premier League. Considering the depth of Sporting de Gijón's bench, it would be difficult for them to pass. Betti really did not expect Li Ang to dream of winning the treble.
"Well, I'll wait and see, our treble coach," Betti said with a smile.
Li Ang could tell that Betti did not believe him. He smiled and did not say anything. He knew that Betti's attitude was not bad. If other people heard that he was dreaming of winning the treble, they would probably call him a paranoia patient and a lunatic. There was no point in saying more. Everything could wait until the end of the season.
*****
Two days later, the 33rd round of the La Liga ended.
Sporting de Gijón defeated Levante at home by a score of 1-0. From this game, it could be seen that Sporting de Gijón was tired. Although there was a rotation in the midweek Copa del Rey, it seemed that the game against Barcelona had overdrawn the players' energy. This game was more boring. Fortunately, Sporting de Gijón had good luck. They scored with a free kick from Albertini and defeated their opponents by a score of 1-0.
On the other field, Barcelona massacred Málaga with a score of 4-0. The Barcelona people seemed to have vented all their frustration and anger from their away loss to Sporting Gijon on Málaga. The poor island team had to endure the venting of their anger for no reason.
However, it was useless. Sporting de Gijón still led Barcelona by five points.
In the words of Spain's El País, with another round of the league, Sporting de Gijón was getting closer and closer to the league title …
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