stonecrandall Chapter 420
Chapter 420
September 9, 2006.
Manchester City, at home, welcomed the challenge of the "Hammer Gang" West Ham United.
Last season, West Ham United finished ninth in the Premier League, which also made the management see potential and hope in the team.
Before the end of the summer transfer window on August 31, West Ham United completed two sensational transfers in the Premier League after much twists and turns.
Argentine international midfielder Javier Mascherano was brought in from Corinthians in the Brazilian league on loan.
Carlos Tevez was also brought in at the same time.
Compared with Mascherano, Tevez's joining West Ham United shocked European fans even more.
Born in 1984, Carlos Tevez became the main force of the Argentine giants Boca Club at the age of 18, and won the South American Footballer of the Year and the Argentine Footballer of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
It's no exaggeration.
This guy was the No. 10 successor of Maradona that Argentine fans had high hopes for before Messi came out of nowhere.
Last season, Tevez joined the Brazilian League for $24 million, led Corinthians to win the league championship, and became the first man to win the Brazilian Golden Ball Award with Argentine nationality.
At the age of 22, he has such a brilliant resume. Everyone thinks that Carlos Tevez's next stop must be Real Madrid, Bayern, Manchester United and other giants.
Result.
This guy actually joined West Ham United, which is in the middle of the Premier League, with his national team teammate Mascherano.
However.
The two Argentines who made Stewart go to great lengths to study before the game did not play in the game that day.
They just sat on the bench as "nuclear weapons" to act as a deterrent.
On the Manchester City side, in order to deal with the two big battles between No. 13 and Eindhoven and No. 16 and Arsenal.
Stewart also rotated the main players and put Su Fei, Modric and Cannavaro on the bench to rest.
So.
The scene of Croatia vs. Argentina that the media prepared before the game and the fans expected did not happen.
The game ended in a slightly dull situation.
The two sides shook hands and made peace 0:0.
And Manchester City was temporarily overtaken by Manchester United, who won four consecutive games, with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw and 10 points, and fell to the second place in the Premier League.
In this regard.
Stewart did not show too much concern.
With such a dense schedule and the main players having to rotate and rest, it is unlikely that the team will be able to replicate last season's nearly undefeated league championship.
As long as the first Champions League match on the 13th can be won, the temporary league lag is nothing.
In the locker room after the game, Stewart comforted several players who looked a little depressed.
"Let the red-nosed old man be happy for two days."
"We beat them twice last season."
"When we meet Manchester United this season, we will beat them twice more!"
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On the morning of September 13, Su Fei and his teammates landed at the Hilton Hotel in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
The direct flight from Manchester to Eindhoven only takes 1 and a half hours.
This is good news for Manchester City, which is playing away games abroad, and it is even easier than taking a bus to London to play games occasionally.
Not only Manchester City came to the Netherlands, but also many Premier League media who followed Manchester City to play.
That afternoon.
In the Hilton Hotel banquet hall, Manchester City held a pre-match press conference for this Champions League trip.
The press conference was packed, and Stuart saw many familiar old faces, as well as other sports media from all over Europe.
Whether it is the size of the venue or the number of reporters, it is several times that of the league.
This is the popularity of the Champions League.
The league is just a domestic excitement, while the Champions League is a carnival for the entire European and even world football world.
On such an important occasion.
Stuart originally wanted to maintain his demeanor and show the style of the coach of the Premier League champion last season.
The result.
The old man was still annoyed by the question of a reporter from the Dutch Common Daily.
"Mr. Stuart, PSV head coach Ronald Koeman said in an interview at the training base yesterday that he believes that compared to Manchester City, PSV has more experience in the Champions League and has won the Champions League. Manchester City, as a new recruit in the Champions League, may not be able to adapt to the Champions League. What do you think?"
The question itself does not sound big, but when Stuart thought about it, he smelled the contempt from Ronald Koeman.
What does this mean when translated?
Isn't it just that we Manchester City are a new recruit in the Champions League and are easy to bully!Stewart has never been afraid of anyone when it comes to playing dirty tricks before the game.
Stewart answered the reporter's question with a smile.
"PSV Eindhoven did win the Champions League, but that was in the late 1980s."
"Since 1995, in more than 10 years, the Dutch Eredivisie team has not been able to lift the Champions League trophy."
"It is indeed the first time for Manchester City to participate in the Champions League, but not for the Premier League. As representatives of the Premier League team, we will definitely show the influence of our English football in the European arena in the Champions League!"
The expressions of the Dutch reporters at the scene collapsed instantly, while the Premier League media were brightened.
The old man is good.
He is worthy of being a Premier League player.
This speech is not only crazy, but also praises the Premier League and steps on the Dutch Eredivisie.
With this question as a prelude.
Next.
The Dutch media naturally tried every means to embarrass Stewart, but they were all strongly retorted by Stewart.
"Winning is our only goal today."
"PSV is the Dutch champion, and we Manchester City are the Premier League champions!"
"We will use today's game results to prove that the Premier League champion is greater than the Dutch champion!"
Manchester City's first pre-Champions League press conference ended amid the cheers of the Premier League media.
First time.
European media also released various news reports related to this game.
"Arrogant Stewart, threatening to lead the team to easily defeat PSV! 》
"Manchester City vs PSV, Premier League vs Dutch League! Which league championship is more valuable? 》
"The collision between English football and Dutch football! 》
"Koeman responded to Stewart on social media through the team reporter: They are 0, and we are 1! 》
《The first match of the Champions League group stage must-see series, Manchester City vs. Eindhoven, Lyon vs. Real Madrid! 》
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Seven o'clock in the evening.
The Manchester City bus slowly drove into the crowded Philips Stadium outside the stadium.
The PSV fans wearing red and white striped autumn clothes waved flags and shouted provocatively at the Manchester City bus.
"Look! The Premier League dark horse is here!"
"Victory belongs to us!"
"PSV will win!!!"
"Proud of you!!!"
"Je moeder!!!" (Dutch: Nima!)
On the bus, the Manchester City players closed the windows and turned a blind eye.
Su Fei wore headphones.
He was fiddling with the latest Apple iPod nano 2 he bought, which was the latest MP3 that was just released in early September.
"If you have forgotten your name, please follow me~ Now let's worship happiness~"
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