At this time, the camera also gave a close-up of the VIP box in the San Paolo stadium. Maradona appeared in the camera with a serious expression, as if he was worried about Napoli's performance.
As the Neapolitan said proudly, Napoli always had the most sacred position in Maradona's heart, just as they loved and worshipped Maradona.
Napoli was located in the south of Italy. It was the capital of the Campania region and the province of Naples. It was the third largest city in Italy after Milan and Rome. This city in the south of Italy, in addition to the sun, beaches, seawater, Mount Vesuvius, and other natural scenery and a long history, it also had a football legend. He was Maradona. The legendary story between the football king and this southern city was not only deeply imprinted in the hearts of the fans who had experienced that period of glory.
The Napoli club was founded in 1927. Before Maradona's arrival, Napoli had no other achievements worth bragging about except for the two Coppa Italia titles in 1962 and 1976. In the past, Napoli was just an insignificant player in the Italian arena. However, in 1984, Maradona's arrival completely changed all of this.
In June 1984, Napoli brought the Argentinian superstar Maradona from Barcelona for a sky-high price of four million US dollars. Four million US dollars was a small amount today, but at that time, it was a sky-high price that people could only dream of. The Napoli fans did not expect that Maradona would actually come to their side. On July 5 of that year, tens of thousands of fans flocked to the San Paolo stadium in Napoli to attend the meeting between Maradona and the fans. This meeting was destined to be unforgettable for all those who experienced it.
Maradona's arrival completely changed Napoli's position in Italian football. In the past, Napoli was just an insignificant football force in Italy. One must know that in the season before Maradona's arrival, Napoli narrowly avoided relegation with a one-point advantage. In the 1984-1985 season, Maradona's first season, Napoli only ranked eighth in the league.
In the 1985-1986 season, Maradona completely dominated the San Paolo stadium after a season of adaptation. Napoli also began to challenge the top three teams in the north and Rome in the Apennine stadium, but in the end, they lost to Juventus and Rome in the league competition and ranked third.
In the 1986-1987 season, Maradona, who made history in the World Cup, continued to create his own legend in the Apennine stadium. That season, Napoli defeated Juventus and won the league title. At that time, the Italian media could not help but sigh. "It was Maradona who ended the era of Platini." In that season's Coppa Italia, Napoli once again challenged for the title. They won all 13 games and won the Coppa Italia. Napoli witnessed the historic moment of the Double of the League and Cup. And the one who wrote this history was Maradona.
In the following season, although Napoli only finished second in the league, Maradona won the title of the best striker in Serie A. In the eyes of the opposing defenders, Maradona was a terrifying killer.
In the 1988-1989 season, Napoli was defeated by Inter in the competition for the Serie A title, and was the runner-up. But in the European arena, Maradona's Napoli once again reaped the rewards. In the UEFA Europa League, Napoli, led by Maradona, performed a great show of overcoming all obstacles to win the UEFA Europa League. At that time, the UEFA Europa League was also a very prestigious competition. The Napoli fans were excited because this was the first European championship in Napoli's history.
The 1989-1990 season was the most dazzling season in the Serie A arena. That season, the Serie A arena was filled with stars and had begun to take the form of a "mini World Cup." At that time, Inter had the German Troika, AC Milan had the Dutch Three Musketeers, Sampdoria had the twin stars of Mancini and Vialli, and Juventus had Schillaci … At that time, the absolute superstars of the football world were all concentrated in the Italian arena. Compared to the other teams that were filled with stars, Napoli only had Maradona. However, for Naples, having a ball king was like having a nuclear weapon with the greatest lethality. It was also under Maradona's leadership that Napoli launched their attack on their second league title. In that season, whether it was Inter Milan, with the German Troika, or AC Milan, with the Dutch Three Musketeers, they all fell behind in their pursuit of Napoli. Starting from the 30th round, when Maradona scored twice to help Napoli beat Juventus 3-1, Napoli used a five-game winning streak to crush their last competitor, AC Milan. In the final round, Napoli beat Lazio 1-0, and they beat AC Milan to win their second league title. The entire city went crazy because of Maradona.
In the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, the host Italy faced Argentina in Napoli. In this game, the Napoli fans supported Argentina and not their country, Italy. This was also a rare phenomenon in the history of football in the world of football. Because, in the eyes of the Napoli fans, Maradona was their god, and they had no reason not to support Maradona.
In 1991, because he was found to have taken cocaine, Maradona was banned by FIFA for 15 months. From then on, Maradona left Naples and ended his seven-year military career in Serie A. After Maradona left, Napoli's glory gradually dissipated. In 1998, Napoli was relegated to Serie B. Although Napoli returned to Serie A in 2000, they were relegated to Serie B again in the following 2000-2001 season. In 2004, Napoli was even relegated to Serie C. It was not until 2007 that they finally returned to Serie A after two consecutive relegations.
After the loss, the Neapolitans remembered and missed the glory and glory that Maradona brought to Napoli. To this day, in the streets and alleys of Napoli, the older generation of Napoli fans still told their children and even their grandchildren about the glory days. They would not forget that Maradona brought Napoli two league titles, one Coppa Italia, and one UEFA Europa League title in his seven years in Napoli. They would not forget the glory and pride that Maradona brought to the team and the city.
In this city, Maradona had unparalleled influence.
"The Argentinians are convinced that with Maradona leading them, they will definitely win the 2010 World Cup," Banderas said.
Li Ang smiled and did not say anything.
Maradona was the king of football, but his ability to coach the team …
Not to mention winning the 2010 World Cup, if Li Ang remembered correctly, Argentina stumbled in the World Cup qualifiers and almost did not qualify for the World Cup finals.
*****
The first half ended with a score of 3: 1.
As the halftime interval came to an end, the players returned to the field one after another. Li Ang was also preparing to walk through the corridor of the locker room. When he walked back to the field, he met Maradona.
"Hello, Diego!" Li Ang greeted him.
"Ha, hello, Li!" Maradona was very enthusiastic. "I know you. You are very good. You have won glory for China!"
Li Ang smiled. Maradona's words were like the tone of some domestic leaders.
However, he could guess one reason. Maradona himself had a good impression of China. There was a media report that Maradona had a good impression of Gongchan.
The domestic media also reported that Maradona was very concerned about China's football. He even said something like "the future of football is in China."
The two men then chatted for a while.
In Li Ang's Inter Milan team, there were many Argentine players, including the Inter Milan team captain Javier Zanetti, the center backs Samuels and Burdisso, and the striker Diego Milito. Of course, there was also the young striker Agüero.
It could be said that several of Maradona's most important players in the Argentina national team were under Li Ang's command.
One of them was Agüero.
Maradona thanked Li Ang and expressed his gratitude for his careful training of Agüero.
This was because Agüero might not only be a member of Maradona's national team, but he might also be the son-in-law of the king in the future.
Because of the good relationship between Riquelme and Maradona, Agüero and Riquelme's younger brother, who was also his good friend, Cristian, met Maradona's youngest daughter, Gianina, and fell in love with the king's daughter at the same time. Between the two, Gianina chose Agüero. But Cristian did not want to lose this love so easily. He continued to call Gianina, hoping to win back his lover's heart.
In response, Maradona publicly expressed his appreciation for Agüero. He believed that Agüero was worthy of his daughter.
Well, in a sense, Agüero was Li Ang's' apprentice. 'Agüero was Maradona's prospective son-in-law. The two of them were even related by marriage.
*****
The second half changed sides again.
Diego Milito was still active. In the 61st minute, he sent a wonderful pass in the penalty area, assisting David Silva to score.
While the commentator praised David Silva's goal, he was also generous with his praise for Diego Milito.
"Two goals, one assist! Although this game is not over yet, we can already say that this game, this night, belongs to Diego Milito! Obviously, under Maradona's gaze, the Argentine national football player is very excited! "
Then, the tenacious Napoli pulled a goal back.
The goal was scored by the veteran Zalayeta. His powerful shot in front of the goal helped Napoli to level the score at 2-4!
Under such circumstances, Li Ang decisively made a substitution. He brought on the young Agüero and replaced Adriano.
At the same time, Li Ang replaced Arshavin and replaced him with Evra.
These two substitutions also meant that Inter Milan had changed their formation again.
Evra – Chivu – Samuels – Zanetti. The team changed back to the four-back formation.
Diego Milito and Agüero formed the Argentine two forwards. The team returned to the 4-4-2 formation.
The substitution and adjustment quickly had an effect!
*****
"Diego — — Milito!!!" The commentator, Ferrari, shouted loudly, his voice filled with excitement.
Li Ang also stood up on the substitutes' bench. He was also a little surprised. Milito's form was simply off the charts today. He scored a hat-trick!
After Carlos intercepted Hamsik's ball in the midfield, he quickly sent the ball out. Modric sent out a straight ball. After Agüero dribbled the ball into the penalty area, he continuously spiked the ball in the narrow area. After shaking the Napoli penalty area, he sent out a horizontal pass. Diego Milito held on to Contini and shot the ball into the goal guarded by Gianello.
This time, in the VIP box of the San Paolo stadium, Maradona also had a smile on his face. The Argentine players performed well. Diego Milito scored a hat-trick, and his son-in-law, Agüero, also performed well after coming on as a substitute and sent out a wonderful assist. This really made him very satisfied.
In addition, on the Napoli side, the Argentine player, Ravi, also scored a goal. The Argentine players all performed well.
However, the smile on Maradona's face flashed. After all, his beloved Napoli was now behind by a large margin. His mood could be said to be mixed with sorrow and joy.
In the end, the final score of the game was 5-2. Inter Milan defeated Napoli in the away game at the San Paolo stadium with three goals. They won the 27th game of the Serie A season and continued to lead the Serie A standings with their head held high.
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