Juan Carlos!
An unexpected person appeared in front of the goal. He won the ball with a push shot, and the ball flew into the goal guarded by Ricardo for the third time!
“Goooool！”
"Three to one! Three to one! Carlos locks in the victory for Sporting de Gijón! "
"The suspense of the game is almost over! Sporting de Gijón is only one step away from the UEFA Europa League! "
"Two goals in the lead. If there is no suspense, in ten minutes, Sporting de Gijón will win their first UEFA Champions League title in the club's history!"
"This is a historic goal! It can almost sentence the Lisbon people to death! "
This goal was of great significance to the game and to the ownership of the title. The commentators in the commentary box were all excited.
The Estadio Alvalade, which could hold nearly 50,000 people, was only cheering for the away team of more than 3,000 Sporting de Gijón fans. The Sporting Lisbon fans were silent at this moment.
The Portuguese people were completely silent.
Everyone understood what this goal loss meant to Sporting Lisbon. As time passed, they could only watch as the UEFA Europa League title slipped further and further away.
Sporting Lisbon's substitutes' bench and technical area were also dead silent.
Peseiro stood on the sidelines and stared at the field expressionlessly. No one knew what he was thinking.
Whether or not he could win the title was very important to Peseiro. If he failed to win the league title, the UEFA Europa League title would be Peseiro's last straw of hope. The runner-up was bitter for Peseiro. If there were no accidents, he might be dismissed.
*****
When Juan Carlos scored the third goal, Li Ang did not jump up or shout excitedly.
He just raised his arms high and looked up at the sky.
His line of sight was the night sky. It was Lisbon's night sky. Under the illumination of the floodlights, it was as bright as day. Only the stars in the night sky reminded people that it was night.
At this moment, Li Ang had an inexplicable emotion in his heart. It was like a hot spring, moistening his heart, but also like scorching lava, extremely fierce.
It was a surging emotion!
He did it!
Countless Chinese fans could only lead a European team to win the UEFA Champions League in the CM game. But now, he had done it for real!
UEFA Europa League champions!
With this trophy, they would be the kings of Europe!
And Li Ang's name would be added with the most dazzling stroke: European Champion Coach!
Admittedly, there were still more than ten minutes until the end of the match. The Sporting Lisbon players would certainly not accept the fate of failure and would continue to fight. However, Li Ang did not think that the Sporting Lisbon players had the ability to make a comeback!
The championship was his!
*****
When the game resumed, Li Ang began to make substitutions. He replaced Albertini, who was not in good physical condition, with Modric, who was more impactful.
When Albertini left the field, Li Ang gave him a warm hug, thanking the Italian veteran for his outstanding performance.
Albertini was also very happy, a little excited, and a little moved. When he was at AC Milan, the Milan team had won the Serie A title, the UEFA Champions League title, the Coppa Italia title, and the Toyota Cup title. In his club's honor book, the only thing missing was the UEFA Europa League title!
Now, in the twilight years of his career, he had left the Apennine Peninsula, left Milan, which he loved dearly but also hurt him the most, and came to the Iberian Peninsula. In Italy, many people said that Demetrio was old and had left the small World Cup to retire in Spain. But now, he was in Gijón, and under the leadership of the young Chinese coach, he was about to win the UEFA Europa League title. The final piece of his career puzzle was complete!
This made it difficult for Albertini to hide his excitement.
"Congratulations, Demetrio," Li Ang said with a smile.
Albertini showed a happy smile. He understood the coach's meaning. "Thank you, thank you."
Three minutes later, Li Ang continued to deploy the players. He replaced Marcos with Di Natale again to strengthen the defense.
Although this time, Li Ang should not concede a goal, it was better to be careful.
*****
When Di Natale came off the field, he also received a hug from Li Ang as thanks.
Di Natale was also very excited. He wanted to thank the coach!
This Italian striker, who was born in the grassroots, was also brought from the Apennine Peninsula to Gijón by Li Ang. This was a major turning point in the career of this Italian striker. In Gijón, he was trusted, and his performance became more and more outstanding. With his outstanding performance, he was selected for the Italian national team and became a true Italian national football star. For Di Natale, this could be said to have achieved a three-level jump.
"Well done, Antonio!" Antonio! "Li Ang patted Di Natale's shoulder.
Antonio Di Natale was very touched by the gratitude conveyed by the manager. He felt that he should be the one thanking him. The manager gave him a stage that he had never dreamed of.
"Wait to celebrate the victory, Antonio," Li Ang said to him with a smile.
Antonio Di Natale nodded vigorously.
*****
Ever since Carlos's goal, the Sporting de Gijón fans at the Estadio Alvalade were already singing and dancing. They were already celebrating the championship title in advance. The excited Sporting de Gijón fans could not wait. They wanted to start celebrating the championship title now.
Looking at the singing and dancing fans, looking at the players on the field who were fighting for the club's first ever UEFA Champions League trophy on the field, Li Ang suddenly felt very satisfied.
The UEFA Champions League!
Even if he left this team like this, he could leave with a clear conscience. Sporting de Gijón took him in when he was at his lowest and gave him a chance. He only used less than two seasons to return to this team the glory that the club had never dared to achieve in its century-old history!
Thinking of the meeting with the team's owner, Manuel Arango, Li Ang took a deep breath and had mixed feelings. The UEFA Europa League title was about to be in his hands, and he really had to consider leaving.
Before leaving, Li Ang felt that there were still some things to do. He wanted to talk to his old partner first. He could not let the other party feel that he had been kept in the dark. After all, he had poached Banderas to be his assistant. It was reasonable for him to explain to Banderas.
*****
"How do you feel?" Li Ang asked Banderas.
"Great!" Banderas said happily. A year ago, he was only the assistant manager of Real Madrid's under-17 A team. Now, although he was still Li Ang's assistant, Banderas could be considered a champion manager after winning the UEFA Europa League trophy.
"Yes." Li Ang nodded. "The UEFA Europa League title feels so wonderful. Pablo, do you want to go and taste the UEFA Champions League title?"
"The UEFA Champions League title?" Banderas was shocked. The UEFA Europa League title was just around the corner, but Li Ang was already coveting the UEFA Champions League title. The leap was too big, and it was somewhat unrealistic. "Li, with all due respect, the UEFA Champions League title is too far away from Sporting J. Gijon. The UEFA Europa League opponents and the UEFA Champions League opponents are not on the same level at all."
Throughout the UEFA Europa League title process, Sporting de Gijón had only met the fallen Parma and the Russian Super League powerhouse CSKA Moscow. Their only opponents in this final were Sporting Lisbon, who were considered strong teams. However, in reality, these three teams were still far from the strength of the powerhouses. Sporting de Gijón would participate in the UEFA Champions League next season, but look at their possible opponents: Bundesliga overlord Bayern Munich, Premier League giants Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Serie A giants AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan, Roma, Fiorentina, Lazio, and other strong teams from La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona, who were also from La Liga. There was also Sporting de Gijón, the powerhouses of the French Ligue 1, the Scottish Super League, the Dutch Eredivisie, and the Portuguese Super League. It was almost impossible for Sporting de Gijón to compete for the UEFA Champions League. It was no exaggeration to say that with Sporting de Gijón's foundation and strength, it would be quite amazing to succeed in ten years to win the UEFA Champions League.
"It's very difficult for Sporting de Gijón to compete for the UEFA Champions League in a short period of time." Li Ang shook his head.
Banderas heard that Li Ang had a clear understanding and was not blinded by victory. Then he immediately realized something. Since Li Ang also believed that Sporting de Gijón would not be qualified to covet the UEFA Champions League in the short term, then what did he mean by that?
Could it be?!
Banderas suddenly had a guess in his heart. Was that the only possibility?
Banderas looked at Li Ang in shock.
Li Ang seemed to understand the meaning in his old partner's eyes. He nodded and patted Banderas on the shoulder. "Pablo, you have time to think about it. We're old partners. I need your help."
Banderas was stunned and nodded subconsciously. Then he looked at Li Ang, who had walked to the side of the technical area to direct the game. He was still in a trance. This news was too explosive. Although he knew that Li Ang had a conflict with the team's boss, Li Ang still could not imagine that Li Ang would leave Sporting de Gijón, because Banderas knew best how much effort Li Ang had put into this Sporting de Gijón. He could not imagine why Li Ang would finally decide to leave the foundation that he had built with his own hands …
Perhaps it was the temptation of a rich family? Banderas could only guess.
Then his mind was filled with this matter. Even if the UEFA Europa League title was close at hand, it could not let him enjoy the joy of being a champion.
*****
Sporting Lisbon's players were still making their final effort.
Sporting Lisbon was a more typical Latin team. They were stronger than Sporting de Gijón in possession. However, due to the height restriction and the lack of a center point between the two wings, Sporting Lisbon focused almost all of their energy on breaking through along the sidelines of the penalty area in this game. Although Liedson's goal was scored by this method, the overly monotonous route made it easier for the opponent to deploy the defense and constantly destroy Sporting Lisbon's efforts to penetrate.
The result of Sporting Lisbon's final effort — the closest moment to a goal occurred in the 89th minute of the game, when Rogerio's cut inside shot hit the post.
Then Sporting de Gijón's goalkeeper, Valencia, directly hugged the football and threw the ball to launch a quick counterattack.
Sporting Lisbon's rear back, Roosevelt Ncacere, was forced to commit a tactical foul.
Roosevelt Ncacere received his second individual yellow card in the game. Two yellow cards turned red, and he was sent off with a red card.
This red card completely destroyed Sporting Lisbon's fighting spirit.
It was ten against eleven, and they were still two goals behind. There were still three or four minutes left in the game, including injury stoppage time. They were simply not afraid of a comeback.
In the final stages of the game, both Sporting de Gijón and Sporting Lisbon had no interest in continuing the game.
Sporting de Gijón's side could not wait to cheer for the championship, while Sporting Lisbon's side was not in the mood to fight.
Although Peseiro did not want to give up, there was no other way. There was nothing he could do.
When the main referee, Merkel, saw the situation, he directly blew the whistle to end the game with more than forty seconds left before the three-minute injury stoppage time.
*****
When the whistle sounded, the Sporting de Gijón players and coaches, who had long been waiting on the sidelines, rushed onto the field.
Some of the Sporting de Gijón players on the field ran wildly to celebrate the victory, while others knelt down excitedly with tears streaming down their faces to welcome the UEFA Champions League trophy!
Li Ang rushed out of the technical area and rushed to the Sporting de Gijón fans' stands. He kept waving his arms and shouting.
The fans responded to him with wild cheers and shouts.
"Li!"
"Li!"
"Li!"
Banderas was also very excited. He saw this scene after he hugged Scotri. Others might have thought that Li Ang was excited after the team won the UEFA Europa League title, but Banderas felt something different from Li Ang's previous words.
Are they already saying their goodbyes? Banderas thought to himself.
Li Ang was then surrounded by the excited players who rushed up to him.
"What are you doing?" Li Ang roared. "Don't —"
The players ignored the coach's protests. They lifted him up, threw him into the air, and then caught him again. It was the same three times!
"Catch him!" Li Ang shouted in panic.
Then, by the time Li Ang stood on the ground, his heart at ease, his hair was a mess and his suit was a little wrinkled, as if he had been molested.
The players had already run away. They did not want to suffer the manager's "anger."
In the live broadcast, the commentator's excited voice was playing loudly.
"Congratulations to Sporting de Gijón, congratulations to Li Ang, congratulations to them. They defeated the host, Sporting Lisbon, with a score of three to one! A new king in the history of the UEFA Europa League has been born! They are now the UEFA Europa League champions! They are the European champions! Congratulations to them! "
Li Ang tidied up his suit and scratched his hair. He looked around the huge Estadio Alvalade, opened his arms, and embraced the first European champion of his coaching career!
PS: Asking for a monthly ticket.
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