In the stands of the Estadio Alvalade, some of the Sporting CP fans left in disappointment. However, most of the home team's fans stayed to attend the runner-up award ceremony.
The award ceremony was held on the field. As the Sporting de Gijón players celebrated heartily, a podium was quickly set up in the center of the field.
The runner-up, Sporting CP, went up to receive the silver medal first.
The Sporting CP fans applauded the players. The players had also contributed their efforts and hard work to reach the final of the UEFA Europa League.
Sporting CP's manager, Peseiro, had a gloomy expression on his face. He could almost imagine the fate of being dismissed from his job.
In the VIP box, Sporting CP's chairman, Diaz, had an ugly expression. He had invited the chairmen of more than 30 clubs in the Portuguese football world to watch the match at the Estadio Alvalade. He wanted to show off Sporting CP's feat of winning the UEFA Europa League. At this moment, he had to watch the Spanish team win the title right in front of his eyes. It was too embarrassing. In his heart, he had already sentenced Peseiro, the manager of the team who had caused him to lose face, to death.
In the VIP box, Figo was also in low spirits. His Real Madrid had been double-eliminated by Sporting de Gijón in the league. Real Madrid had failed to achieve anything this season. Now, his beloved mother team, Sporting CP, had lost the UEFA Europa League final at home. Once again, he had to watch the Gijón people happily walk up to the podium to receive the medal. Figo was in a terrible mood. In addition, he was confused about his future. Real Madrid had already planned to clean him up. This made the Portuguese superstar's mood even worse.
*****
In the stands, Inter Milan's boss, Moratti, and the club's chairman, Facchetti, looked at the Sporting de Gijón players happily receiving the gold medal. They sighed and were not without envy.
Inter Milan, a traditional powerhouse in Serie A, had not been able to win the championship in recent years. The most important award they had won in the last decade was the UEFA Europa League. At this moment, Sporting de Gijón, a newly promoted team from La Liga, had achieved what Inter Milan had once been proud of. This made the two giants of Inter Milan sigh.
However, the two men's gazes did not linger on the Sporting de Gijón players. They swept past them and finally landed on Li Ang.
The Chinese man had led his team to win the UEFA Europa League before the age of 30, if Facchetti's memory of the history of the three European Cups was correct. The Chinese coach had become the youngest coach in the history of the three European Cups.
"He is an excellent coach!" Moratti said. "But he is too young!"
"In a sense, being young is not a bad thing." Facchetti said, "Youth means drive. Inter Milan needs fresh air and iron will." He had studied Li Ang and knew that Li Ang was strict with his troops, which Facchetti admired.
Moratti was just sighing subconsciously. He did not expect to hear Facchetti defend Li Ang. This surprised him. This showed that Facchetti had completely accepted Li Ang and praised him.
Moratti could not help but feel proud of his decision to bring Facchetti to Lisbon to watch the UEFA Europa League final. Nothing was more convincing than a European championship trophy.
*****
Li Ang was the last of the Sporting de Gijón team to receive the gold medal.
The UEFA president, Johansson, looked at the young Chinese coach with a smile. Johansson liked geniuses. He had a good relationship with Beckenbauer, Pelé, and other former football geniuses. The fat Swedish coach was now very interested in Li Ang. He was less than 30 years old, Chinese, coached a newly promoted team in La Liga, led the La Liga, reached the final of the Copa del Rey, and had now won the UEFA Europa League. Li Ang's Sporting de Gijón had shocked the whole of Europe this season.
Compared to the Portuguese superclub, Sporting Lisbon, Johansson seemed to prefer Li Ang and Sporting de Gijón. The dark horse winning the championship set off a youth storm. This was a good topic for the UEFA Europa League final this year. At the same time, because the UEFA Europa League would be changed to the Europa League next year, this made the UEFA Europa League even more memorable.
Before Johansson hung the gold medal around Li Ang's neck, he said, "I've been to China. It's a wonderful country. I didn't expect China to send a genius coach like you to Europe. You're so young that it makes people jealous. Li, you're only 30 years old. Many people are still players at this age, but you've already led a team to create legends. Congratulations, Li. You're now the youngest coach in the history of the UEFA Europa League. Congratulations! "
Johansson's words were full of praise and appreciation for Li Ang. After he finished speaking, he raised the gold medal.
Li Ang bowed his head slightly and let the other man hang the heavy gold medal around his neck.
The two men shook hands. "Mr. President, thank you for your praise. This is the greatest encouragement for me!"
"I'll continue to pay attention to you. I have a feeling that your future will be very great!" Johansson said. As the president of the UEFA, his words of expectation were absolutely extraordinary.
"Come on, Li. European football and the world of football need new blood like you," Johansson said at the end.
"Thank you! Mr. President. "Li Ang said with a gracious smile.
The exchange between Johansson and Li Ang attracted the attention of the media and the stands. The exchange between the two men was obviously longer.
It seems that Johansson seems to admire Chinese people. This thought flashed through everyone's mind.
In the VIP box, Moratti and Facchetti looked at each other and smiled. This was good news.
*****
In the end, Johansson held up the UEFA Europa League title.
The UEFA Europa League was also called the "Bertoni Trophy." It weighed 15 kilograms and was made of silver. The base was a yellow marble. It was designed and made by Milan's Bertoni Shops. This trophy worth 23,000 euros debuted in the 1972 UEFA Europa League final. The UEFA Europa League did not have a handle. It was beautiful in its simplicity. Above its base, there was a group of players fiercely fighting for the ball. They were the supports of the octagonal trophy. The trophy was decorated with the UEFA logo.
Some people thought that the UEFA Europa League had a domineering beauty. It was more beautiful than the World Cup.
"Congratulations, Fernando." Johansson smiled at Sporting de Gijón's captain, Fernando Hierro, and handed the trophy to him.
Hierro took a deep breath. Although he had won many titles with Real Madrid before and had won the more important UEFA Champions League trophy, at this moment, the former Real Madrid captain was still a little excited. He did not expect to be able to win a UEFA Champions League trophy in the twilight of his career!
The moment Hierro raised the trophy, red and white confetti and ribbons, which symbolized Sporting de Gijón's main colors, sprayed out from the roof of the Estadio Alvalade. The live broadcast played "We Are the Champions."
Only about three thousand Sporting Gihon fans had obtained tickets for the final. At this moment, these three thousand plus fans had become the happiest people. Their players cheered together. They shouted in unison, "Now, we are the European champions!!!"
The atmosphere at the scene finally reached its peak.
*****
After Hierro raised the trophy, the other players wanted to hug the trophy and kiss it. However, captain Hierro and team vice-captain Albertini looked at each other. The former Real Madrid captain and the former AC Milan vice-captain handed the trophy to their manager, Li Ang.
"If it weren't for you, there wouldn't be any of this. Manager, you raise it," Hierro said to Li Ang very seriously. Albertini and the other players nodded at the side. The captain was right. The manager was most qualified to raise the trophy.
Li Ang laughed. He was not pretentious, and he did not refuse.
He took the UEFA Europa League trophy from Hierro's hands and raised it high again.
The players followed him and shouted and cheered loudly. The atmosphere was even more enthusiastic than when the captain raised the trophy. The atmosphere at the scene reached its peak again.
"The youngest champion in the history of the UEFA Europa League, Manager! Li! Li Ang! Li Ang from China! He won the UEFA Europa League title at the age of 30 … It's incredible! From coaching Sporting de Gijón's B team in Segunda División to coaching this Segunda División team to miraculously lead Sporting de Gijón back to La Liga and take the Copa del Rey title from Real Madrid at the Bernabéu stadium to obtain the right to participate in this season's UEFA Europa League. No one would have thought that this newly promoted team in La Liga could win the UEFA Europa League to the end! However, the fact is that they are now the UEFA Europa League champions! They are the king of Europe! "
"Sporting de Gijón is now the king of Europe! They are leading the Segunda División and are in the finals of the Copa del Rey. This newly promoted team can even dream of winning the treble! Even though it sounds so incredible, they are now the king of Europe. A championship trophy is in their hands! The players gave the trophy and the glory to their manager. They are grateful for the manager's work! This is not surprising at all. This is the team that Li Ang built single-handedly. He is the soul and king of this team! "
The commentator gave all the praise to Li Ang. At this time, the championship title was everything. It was capital!
People no longer talked about his youth and criticized him for this and that!
Even Li Ang's youth and inexperience had become something to boast about. The youngest manager in the history of the three UEFA Europa League titles was enough for Li Ang to be recorded in the history of European football!
At this time, no matter how these people praised Li Ang, it was not excessive.
Even those who used to scold him had now shut their mouths.
Only a fool would come out to provoke a new European champion manager at this time!
The winner enjoyed flowers and applause. There was no doubt. This was the privilege of the winner!
Those who were unhappy with Li Ang could only smile and praise him. Unless Li Ang made a mistake at some point later, they could only continue to praise the champion manager for a period of time in the future.
*****
The celebration of the championship title lasted for a long time. The players ran wildly on the field, holding the trophy and running around the field. They were so excited that they ran one round, two rounds, three rounds around the field. They rushed to kiss and hug the trophy. Taking a photo with the trophy was like stroking his lover. It was extremely emotional and passionate.
After returning to the locker room, the players continued to celebrate wildly. Li Ang was sneakily attacked by the players with champagne and doused from head to toe.
He even wore a suit with the smell of wet champagne to attend the post-match press conference.
After winning the championship, Li Ang was in a good mood. He continued to praise Sporting Lisbon and Portuguese football. Anyway, the Portuguese people, who were sad after losing the championship title, could not blame the visiting manager.
This made the Spanish reporters, who were familiar with Li Ang, feel a headache. Listening to the Portuguese people praise Li Ang for being gracious and polite, they really felt a headache.
After the press conference, the Sporting de Gijón team returned to the hotel where they were staying. The club president, Manuel Arango, praised the team and said that the championship bonus would be paid as soon as possible.
Li Ang then announced that the team could party to their heart's content in the hotel. Those who came to Lisbon with their girlfriends could also go out to reunite with their girlfriends and their wives' families, as long as they returned to the hotel before tomorrow morning.
After being forced to drink some wine by the players, Li Ang stood on the balcony of the room. He felt a little more awake as the sea breeze of Lisbon blew on him.
When he was happy, he wanted to share his joy with the people he loved the most. He was about to call Alice when his phone rang.
At that moment, Banderas pushed the door open and entered. He kept thinking about what Li Ang had said in his mind. If he did not ask clearly, he would keep thinking about it.
*****
"Li —" Banderas was about to ask, but he saw that Li Ang was on the phone. He could only keep his mouth shut for the time being.
"Hello, may I ask if this is Mr. Li Ang?" The caller was from an unknown number, but the fact that it could reach Li Ang's relatively private phone explained everything.
"Yes, I'm Li Ang. And you are?" Li Ang asked.
"I'm Massimo Moratti. I wonder if I have the honor of inviting Mr. Li Ang out for a drink. "The person on the other end of the phone introduced himself and went straight to the point.
Li Ang's expression changed. The sea breeze blew on his cheeks. He only hesitated for a few seconds before he seemed to have made a decision. He smiled and said, "I'm honored by your invitation."
After hanging up the phone, Li Ang was a little absent-minded.
"Li." Banderas could not wait to ask.
"Pablo, I know what you want to say." Li Ang considered his words and suddenly had an idea in his mind. "Someone asked me to go out and meet him. Let's go together."
Banderas held his breath and understood a little.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"Mr. Massimo Moratti from Inter Milan," Li Ang said softly.
PS: I wish everyone good health during the Dragon Boat Festival.
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