Chapter 119: Europa League

Just after taking a shower, Joao Valente, who had changed his clothes, approached Xia Xiaoyu and invited him: "Xia! Come to me at night, I just bought "Black Myth: Wukong"! Let's play together. Only if you are there, I can know the meaning of many things in the game. You know, this game is made in your country and it also tells Chinese myths. You must understand your country’s culture better than me, the Portuguese..."
Unexpectedly, Xia Xiaoyu shook his head and rejected him: "Sorry, Joao. I want to watch the game tonight."
"What game?" Valente froze for a moment, and then he remembered without waiting for Xia Xiaoyu to remind him: "Oh oh oh! Europa League!"
"Yes, we and Leeds in the Europa League 16th final." Xia Xiaoyu said.
"Hu will come too..." Valente understood why Xia Xiaoyu must watch this game.
All the main players in Leeds have come away. As the absolute core of the team, Hu Lai is naturally indispensable.
He is very clear about Hu Lai's position in Xia Xiaoyu's mind, so he will definitely not let this opportunity pass tonight.
But Valente still wanted to work hard: "Hey, where can I not watch it? You come to my house and we watch the game together! You can play "Black Myth: Wukong" for a while before the game starts..."
Xia Xiaoyu still shook his head and refused: "Ke Ruoao, I am going to watch the game live."
Valente was stunned, then frowned: "Live?"
"Yes, I asked the club for a ticket."
Xia Xiaoyu took out a ticket from his backpack, obviously intending to go directly from the training base to the home stadium of Alvara, the Lisbon Arena.
"Ah, hell..." Valente looked very disappointed.
Xia Xiaoyu patted him on the shoulder when he saw this, and comforted: "Tomorrow, after the training is over, I will definitely go to play with you. Bye bye Joao, I have to go eat first..."
He waved goodbye and walked out of the locker room with his bag on his back.
But he soon met Valente with a look of excitement in the club's players restaurant.
"Xia, I also went to the club just now. I didn't expect that they still have more tickets. I got one and we can watch it together!"
Xia Xiaoyu was a little surprised: "Aren't you going to play a game?"
"Uh, I thought about it, when our team is playing in the Europa League, I should still go to the scene to support it. Playing games in my own home may not be good..." Valente explained. "And you will play games with me tomorrow, and I will watch the games with you today, it is reasonable!"
Xia Xiaoyu smiled: "Then quickly finish eating, let's go."
※※※
When Hulay followed the team on a bus to the Lisbon Arena, the home stadium of Alvara, the city was already bright.
Towards the stadium, there will be many Alvara fans along the way.
Some of them walked on the street, some drove a car.
Seeing the bus with the emblem of Leeds City, they would wave their Alvara scarf or flag and shout to them.
Of course they were not cheering on Leeds from afar, but demonstrating to them.
Always remind them not to forget-this is Lisbon, Portugal, the base camp of Alvara!
Alvara's fans hope to use this method to deter the visiting team.
But when Hu Lai saw the jerseys worn by these Alvara fans, he couldn't help but think of Xia Xiaoyu.
There are a total of six Chinese players who have gone abroad to study abroad. So far only Xia Xiaoyu has not played in the first team at all. He has been training and playing in the reserve team.
Of course, this is also because Xia Xiaoyu is the youngest of the six.
But not much younger.
Xia Xiaoyu is 22 years old this year, in fact, he is only one year younger than Hu Lai.
The 23-year-old Hu Lai has achieved unimaginable achievements in Europe, but Xia Xiaoyu has not even played the first team.
But Hu Lai felt that Xia Xiaoyu should continue to persevere.
Brother Huan and the others have guarded the clouds and the moon is clear. He believes that as long as Xia Xiaoyu can hold on, he will eventually live up to his efforts during this period of time. His performance in the Asian Cup has been proven, even in Alvara. He has also improved in reserve training and competition.
The important thing is to stick to it.
Of course, it's easy to say.
It's really hard to do it.
After all, no one is omniscient and omnipotent, and no one knows how the world will change or how things will develop.
So he has no reason to support his opinion, nor can he impose his ideas on Xia Xiaoyu.
Xia Xiaoyu can only decide whether to insist.
Everyone is responsible for their own choices, and can't let others choose for them.
All he can do is to give Xia Xiaoyu some confidence...
Or tell the Alvara club: Chinese players are very powerful, as long as you give him trust and opportunities, he will definitely not let you down!
For example, Hu Lai is the best proof!
※※※
When Xia Xiaoyu and Valente walked into the Lisbon Arena, this professional football stadium with a capacity of 50,000 people was almost full.
Fortunately, all the tickets in their hands were obtained from the club.
For each home game, the club will have the right to distribute a batch of tickets. These tickets are usually given to the family members of the players, but also to the small players of the echelon, allowing them to watch their own team's games on the spot, which will help cultivate their sense of honor and increase their ownership of the team. feel.
In some important games, the echelon even organizes the entire team to come to the stands to cheer for the first team.
This is how Xia Xiaoyu and Valente got the tickets.
Especially the latter, he decided to watch the game only temporarily.
If he decides to watch this game on a temporary basis like a normal fan, then he will not be able to enter the stadium because he will not get a ticket at all.
As Portugal's top wealthy family, Alvara has a large number of fans in this capital city.
Today's game is another European game, and the fans are very enthusiastic.
So when the two came to the stands, Alvara's fans were singing together to create a breathtaking home atmosphere.
"Oh! It's really fascinating!" Valente exclaimed such admiration at the crowded stands after he stepped onto the stands. "Sorry, Xia. But I want to say, this will definitely be a terrifying night for Hu and his Leeds!"
Xia Xiaoyu looked at Valente who had entered the Alvara fan mode and smiled, but did not refute it.
※※※
In the locker room, Leeds coach Tony Clark is mobilizing his players before the game.
"Guys, this is our first UEFA Europa League game. It's sad to say-we were in the more advanced UEFA Champions League in the first half of the season. As a result, we are now mixed to the point where we can only play the Europa League. NS……"
When Clark said this with an exaggerated expression of frustration, the players roared in the locker room.
"Well, despite this, we can still come and stay in the European game, which is great enough in itself. After all, think about the North London Rangers. They have already been eliminated in the Europa League group stage!"
The players laughed again.
"This is very important for us. Being able to stay in the European arena allows us to fly to various places in Europe in the middle of the week and fight against opponents that we have never encountered before... It's like a trip. We Came to a strange country, met a beautiful woman in a strange street and alley, and then we fell in love at first sight and spent a wonderful night together...this feeling is great!"
Everyone kept laughing.
After everyone laughed almost, Clark said a little serious: "I hope you know that even if the Europa League is not as good as the Champions League, it is still a European-level event. A ball that can reach the knockout stage in this game. The team is not good. Otherwise, think about it, even the Rangers will not be able to enter the knockout stage... This is definitely not a game that can be won by just kicking, as some people think. "
The players' smiles disappeared, looking at their head coach intently.
"But at the same time, I still want to tell you, don't think that we are rookies that others can bully just because we are the newcomers to the Europa League for the first time...If anyone has any questions about this, you can think about it. How did we beat Catalonia at the Sagrada Familia Stadium!"
Clark's volume increased, and a proud look appeared on the faces of Leeds City's players.
That game was indeed Leeds’s masterpiece in the European war this season.
And it is precisely because of the loss to Leeds at home that Catalonia lost the group first in the Champions League-they lost to Vesuvius away in the final round of the group stage. In the end, he could only enter the knockout round as second in the group.
He was then drawn together with Bundesliga giants Blue and White Munich in the knockout draw.
That is a very, very difficult opponent.
Although the UEFA Champions League knockouts have not yet started ~EbookFREE.me~, if Catalonia is finally eliminated by the blue and white Munich, then it can be said that their tragic fate is derived from the original loss to Leeds at home.
It is a great honor for the Leeds City team.
"So, guys, don't underestimate your opponents, but don't underestimate yourself. Play with a fearless mind, even on the away game... When it comes to away games, which one do you think is more terrifying at the Lisbon Arena or the Bay Stadium?"
The players looked at each other and smiled.
They felt the enthusiasm of the Alvara fans when they warmed up, but to be honest, compared to the Turkish stadium, which was crazy to them for 90 minutes, the Lisbon Arena is too gentle...
Seeing the smiles of the players, Clark slammed a punch in the palm of his hand:
"So, we have seen a big scene!"
(End of this chapter)