Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 72: Champions League Qualification Key Battle! Tang Long Makes a Quick Comeback!
Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Champions League Qualification Key Battle! Tang Long Makes a Quick Comeback!
Thanks to his 18-year-old body, Tang Long’s injury recovery was faster than the team doctors expected.
Three days later, the rib bruise was barely visible, and he practiced with the whole team for 20 minutes that day.
After Mancini and head doctor Siris exchanged views, considering the importance of the upcoming match, he decided to include Tang Long in the substitute list and take him to Lazio.
Chiwo, the first-team coach, thought Mancini was too conservative about this arrangement.
"Boss, why not start Tang? He’s only 18, this little injury is nothing at all. Against Lazio, a direct rival for the Champions League qualification, we need Tang’s midfield coordination and command!"
Mancini replied: "Tang hasn’t had systematic training for three days, his physical condition is still unknown, and he hasn’t participated in the coach group’s targeted training for Lazio. He still needs observation, and if the situation allows, I’ll give him 20 minutes."
In the 17th round of Serie A, Inter took the high-speed train to Roma to face Lazio.
Back in the 12th round of Serie A, Inter had already visited Italy’s capital, playing against Rome at that time.
Rome and Lazio, like Inter Milan and AC Milan, are city arch-rivals.
In recent years, Italy’s economy has been deteriorating year by year.
Throughout the league, only Juventus owns its stadium with independent property rights; other teams rent stadiums from local municipal departments.
Like the Milan duo, Rome’s two teams also share one stadium—the Rome Olympic Stadium.
Don’t be fooled by the stadium’s 68,530-seat capacity; it is classified as a big stadium across Europe.
But unfortunately, this is a multi-purpose stadium!
Compared to professional football stadiums, the stands in a multi-purpose stadium are separated from the running field by a wide rubber track.
This not only distances the audience too far from the field, resulting in a poor viewing experience.
More importantly, the stadium’s accumulating sound effect is mediocre, making it difficult to create that thunderous stadium atmosphere.
As a result, the stadium’s attendance is low, and when players play, they lack the adrenaline-spurring roar!
For this reason, the Lazio owner made a statement before the season:
"I no longer want to play in this crappy stadium with Rome, after this season, I’ll rent you a new stadium!"
Although he made a Flag, the stadium was chosen, but the precondition was also set:
Lazio must advance to next season’s Champions League!
Joining the Champions League, even if it’s just playing six group matches before heading home, can harvest fifty or sixty million euros, and there will be future rental fees for the new stadium~
However, Inter Milan is also thinking the same way!
During the Moratti era, he wanted a new stadium, even having contact with China’s China Railway.
Due to funding constraints, the project was difficult to move forward.
Once the new owner Toshihiko arrived, he also painted a big picture to all the club staff:
"We also don’t want to share a stadium with AC Milan, we’ll build our new stadium!"
At this stage, Inter ranks 7th, Lazio 6th.
This focused contest for next season’s Champions League qualification needs no mobilization; players on both sides are full of motivation.
"CCTV!"
"CCTV!"
"It’s now Thursday morning at 3:40, welcome to lock in CCTV5 on time!"
"You are now watching the 2014-2015 Serie A 17th round match, Lazio’s home game against Inter Milan!"
"I am commentator Liu Jiayuan!"
"First, let me introduce the starting lineup of the home team Lazio, the formation is 433."
"German forward Klose starts, the other two forwards are..."
"On Inter’s side, they continue with their 4231 formation used in the last Europa League round."
"Klose himself Podolski as the lone spearhead!"
"A midfield position is Hernanes, on his left, Shaqiri, and on his right, Yuto Nagatomo!"
"Two defensive midfielders are Gualin and Medel!"
"On the defensive line, Ranocchia and Vidic in the middle!"
"Two side-backs, left Dodo, right Mbaye."
"The Slovenian veteran Handanovic guards the gate."
Some slight flipping page sounds came from the TV.
Liu Jiayuan seemed to be checking the information prepared before the match.
"I know everyone is very concerned about Tang Long. According to the latest news from Italian media, Tang Long was injured in the ribs by Dutch defender Van Dijk in the last Europa League match against Celtic, thus failing to start and appearing on the bench."
The TV screen showed the suit-clad Mancini, pre-match hugging Lazio’s coach Pioli.
Then the camera switched.
Focusing on Tang Long sitting on the bench, he was whispering to Berni beside him.
On the shoulders of both men, each had a brand-new white towel.
Seeing this scene, the live broadcast room immediately burst into curses!
-[Damn Van Dijk, elbowed Tang Long’s rib, causing a contusion! Why didn’t he go harder and cause a fracture!]
-[I watched that Europa League match, Van Dijk was messed around by Tang Long like a fool, guess he got emotional!]
-[Mancini too, why let Tang Long in the Europa League, do they really want to win the championship? Wouldn’t reserve for the league be better!]
-[Picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelon, if this match loses, I think Inter can say goodbye to next season’s Champions League!]
-[I watched Lazio’s ball a few times, this team is very characteristic, its formation was extremely tight in defense, without Tang Long on the field, I estimate Inter would struggle to break!]
-[Manchester United fans chiming in, I don’t care if Inter wins or loses, I only care about when Tang Long returns to play!]
-[Same here, Premier League fans, if not for watching Tang Long, who would want to wake up at dawn to see Serie A!]
-[No, can’t Serie A learn from Premier League’s match timings? Serie A’s decline has its reasons!]
Munich, within a riverside small tavern.
Wooden bars and tables, exuding a rustic and elegant atmosphere.
On the walls, perhaps hanging certain vintage Bayern posters and pennants.
Fans gathered in various corners, drinking rich foamy dark beer, eyes staring at the TV screen within the tavern showing Serie A matches.
This match is not just an ordinary Serie A duel, but also a direct contest between two legends of German football—Klose and Podolski.
Lazio’s Klose, nicknamed God K, headshot bombardier;
Inter’s Podolski, nicknamed Prince Podolski.
Both have represented the German national team over a hundred times and were teammates at Bayern.
"I’ll bet 50 euros that Klose can score two headers in this match!"
"I’ll bet 100 euros, Podolski can break through Lazio’s defense, definitely Inter wins this match!"
The referee’s whistle blew, the whole match officially commenced!
Once Podolski kicked off, he rushed forward, brushing past Klose rushing towards him. freēwēbnovel.com
On the substitute bench, Berni took out two binoculars, handing one to Tang Long, both observing the match situation through the binoculars.
"Damn it, every time at the Rome Olympic Stadium, one has to use binoculars to watch the game, this damned track is too wide, can’t see anything clearly!"
