Chapter 239: UEFA Annual Best Player (Transitional Chapter)

Wenger felt relieved.

Human fear often stems from the unknown.

When the group stage results were announced.

Arsenal's head coach would not fear any team.

He crossed his arms over his chest and began planning personnel rotation and allocation for the congested schedule in his mind.

Eindhoven head coach Cocu showed no trace of disappointment; he even seemed a bit amused.

He is certainly no nobody.

Former Barcelona captain.

"Number 4" was a good partner for Guardiola.

"Diamond Bullfighter" Enrique's good partner.

He not only inherited La Masia's football philosophy,

and also knew well the hidden ailments of Camp Nou at this time.

The spectators suddenly realized: Barcelona wanting to slaughter Eredivisie champions Eindhoven... was not an easy task.

The camera turned to Monaco's head coach Jardim.

This bald young coach's gaze was firm, his arms resting on the armrests trembling slightly.

Facing Barcelona, Arsenal, Eindhoven... is the difficulty as high as double‑killing Paris Saint‑Germain?

Two years.

It took only two years for him to make Monaco a nightmare for Paris Saint‑Germain in Ligue 1!

The lineup not only had superstar wonderkids Mbappé and Lemar,

the midfield was stacked with fierce talents: Bernardo Silva, Fabinho, Bakayoko...

No one dared to underestimate this Ligue 1 powerhouse.

If it weren't for Ligue 1's low UEFA coefficients, Monaco would not have been placed in pot four.

The most fearless one was still Enrique.

He had nothing to fear.

Although he had pushed away Alves, abandoned Bravo, and neglected Mascherano,

but Barcelona this summer transfer window brought in a group of elite soldiers: Umtiti, André Gomes, Paco...

Not to mention the front‑line MSN.

If the team really couldn't break open the game, just let Messi do the work of Xavi and Iniesta.

Who still dares to call him a leashed‑dog champion?

Barcelona's head coach glanced over the three opponents.

It seemed as if he were sizing up lambs ready for slaughter.

Camp Nou had established close ties with the Barcelona Meteorological Bureau.

The draw ceremony continued.

Bale's face showed a hint of regret; he seemed indifferent to the other group draw results, instead striking up a conversation with Li Kang.

"Do you play golf?"

"I recommend a London golf course to you; back when I was at Tottenham, I used to go there often."

"You will enjoy the pleasure of this sport."

While speaking, Bale didn't forget to pull out pen and paper from his suit pocket and leave Li Kang a phone number.

Li Kang nodded seriously and quietly kept the number.

Cristiano Ronaldo likewise didn't care about the group situation.

He looked forward to the award ceremony after the draw ended... the UEFA Annual Best Player!

Thirty‑five minutes later.

The 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group‑stage draw results were officially announced.

Group A: Paris Saint‑Germain, Manchester City, Basel, Ludogorets.

Group B: Benfica, Napoli, Dynamo Kyiv, Besiktas.

Group C: Barcelona, Arsenal, Eindhoven, Monaco.

Group D: CSKA Moscow, Atlético Madrid, Lyon, Rostov.

Group E: Leverkusen, Porto, Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic,

Group F: Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting CP, Legia Warsaw.

Group G: Leicester City, Bayern Munich, Club Brugge, Copenhagen.

Group H: Juventus, Sevilla, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Dinamo Zagreb.

The comment barrage exploded.

-【I feel Group E has a bloodier vibe; regardless of strength, the overall strength of those four clubs is somewhat close.】

-【It's not Li Mingdeng who's unlucky; it's Leverkusen.】

-【This year I favor Juventus to win it all; it's no easy feat, year after year they're either semifinalists or runners‑up.】

-【Is Group H also a group of death?】

-【No, Sevilla surely wants to dominate the Europa League to earn more broadcast shares and prize money; if Mönchengladbach doesn't meet Bayern, their strength is just about that.】

The head coaches of the various clubs had different thoughts.

Some were happy.

Some were sad.

Only Guardiola still had his head buried in the draft paper, scribbling away.

Still the old saying: It's better to have a good draw than to play well.

Ranieri was miserable; he couldn't figure out how Leicester City, clearly a top-seed team, ended up drawing the Bundesliga runners-up Bayern Munich, who had been double-killed by Lewokusen!

Tuchel was confident: no team could counter Dortmund, not even Real Madrid.

Zidane let out a yawn.

He looked around and suddenly realized: these club representatives could be assembled into a historic strong lineup!

Goalkeeper: Brugge head coach.

Defenders: Tottenham head coach-Pochettino, Basel head coach-Fischer, Barcelona head coach-Enrique.

Midfielders: Manchester City head coach-Guardiola, Juventus head coach-Allegri, Eindhoven head coach-Koku, Atlético Madrid head coach-Simeone, Bayern Munich head coach-Ancelotti.

Forwards: Lewokusen sporting director-Wo Le Er!

What about me?

Obviously I'm the head coach of this group!

Faint boos could be heard in my ears.

Pedro Pinto didn't dare to say too much nonsense.

Immediately announced the start of the awarding segment.

Various lights intertwined and responded.

The long-silent Champions League anthem sounded again.

The first award presented was: UEFA Best Female Footballer!

No suspense was created. The host directly announced the name.

The Lyon women's football striker who scored 54 goals in 34 matches in a single season: Hegerberg.

A sturdy, tall young girl stepped onto the stage briskly.

"What are your goals for the new season?"

"Score 60 goals."

The whole venue fell silent for a moment... then thunderous applause.

The impact was comparable to Li Kang's women's football prodigy.

Next up was the men's football evaluation.

UEFA Player of the Year!

The camera quickly panned to Cristiano Ronaldo, Li Kang, and Gareth Bale.

The stage music's tempo grew faster and faster.

The winner will be chosen from among the three.

Cristiano Ronaldo took a deep breath.

Gareth Bale had a smile on his face.

Li Kang's expression was calm.

When the Spanish FA chairman, Villar, tremblingly stepped onto the main stage,

The answer lost any suspense.

The LED big screen began to play highlights of Spain's championship journey in the 2016 European Cup.

Finally.

It froze on the image of lifting the trophy after victory.

"Bundesliga: 22 goals, 21 assists; he brought the German Cup and the salad plate back to Bei lai yin."

"Champions League: 9 goals, 2 assists; he led Lewokusen all the way through thorns and brambles to reach the semifinals."

"European Cup: 11 goals, Golden Boot, historical top scorer; he is the sword-bearer of European champion Spain, the commander of the invincible armada."

"I announce, the UEFA Best Male Footballer of the Year."

"Li Kang!"

When Villar shouted the last name, he was almost startled by the exclamation from the audience and almost dropped the small card.

In an instant.

The huge venue rang with thunderous applause.

The awarding result had no controversy.

At 19, winning UEFA's Best of the Year, comparable to the young Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo's expression stiffened for a few seconds, then he smiled, clapped, and voluntarily stepped aside, gesturing for Li Kang to go on stage to receive the award.

At the same time.

Buffon, in a suit and leather shoes, solemnly ascended the main stage.

He is the sign-language interpreter specially invited by the organizers.

When Juventus' goalkeeper puts on a stern face, he looks very handsome; the temperament revealed in his words and deeds is not inferior to any Hollywood male star.

Li Kang received the trophy from Villar's hands.

Pedro Pinto immediately began the interview.

"Li, please share your feelings about the award."

The most interesting moment in UEFA history was born:

Li Kang's hands were still holding the trophy, while Buffon had already started translating!

"Thank you, Grandfather Wo Le Er."

"Thank you, Grandfather Tuop."

"Thank you, Grandpa Bosk."

"Thank you to all my club teammates and national teammates who fought side by side."

"And my most revered opponent, Buffon!"