Chapter 361: Champions League Semi‑finals (Everyday Transition)

The news of Arsenal eliminating Bayern Munich quickly rose to the top of online hot searches.

Comment numbers, repost numbers, and like counts surged.

-【That brother who dreamed of Bayern 10:2 Arsenal... you were half right, Arsenal's aggregate score is 5:1 Bayern.】

-【The professor finally avenges his past shame +1.】

-【I hope Little Li can have a fulfilling Champions League this year! I can't bear to see him go through hardship again; may the God of Wealth bless him!】

-【Li Mingdeng, keep it up!】

-【It's a pity the Champions League abolished the semi‑final seeding rule; this Arsenal side would be truly formidable if it met Real Madrid or Juventus.】

-【You look down on Atlético Madrid? They just qualified at King Power Stadium, and the second Champions League semi‑finalist has been born.】

-【Drawing Atlético Madrid is a nightmare difficulty; Arsenal would have to fight tooth and nail over two legs, believe it or not they'd collapse on all three fronts.】

Leicester City, King Power Stadium.

The Leicester City miracle did not unfold on the Champions League stage; perhaps it was already fated when they were slaughtered 5:0 by Porto in the group stage.

But they still created the club's European‑competition history and can walk off the pitch with heads held high, proud.

Head coach Craig Shakespeare hugged each player one by one.

He had been Ranieri's assistant; after Ranieri was sacked, he directly set a record of four consecutive wins at the start of a Premier League‑born head coach's career.

No Leicester City player lay on a stretcher.

This era of Atlético Madrid, thanks to the players' individual abilities being off the charts, could sustain Simeone's tactical concept without needing to resort to fouls to enforce pressing defense.

As for their "dirty name"? It's far inferior to Espanyol of the Catalonia region.

The traveling Atlético Madrid fans were overjoyed.

Saul and Koke, the few youngsters who played the full match, remained full of energy, taking turns leaping to grab the crossbar.

"English media always say La Liga stars can't adapt to the Premier League's physicality... After playing the two legs, I feel it's just..."

"Shh! Premier League media are the petty ones; they'll send a lip‑reading expert to analyze what you said! We've already won."

"Scared of nothing."

Command area.

Wearing a black overcoat, Simeone had his hands in his pockets, looking down on the whole stadium.

Media reporters again broke through the security guards' cordon, surrounding Atlético Madrid's 'bandit chief'.

"Which opponent would you least want to meet in the semi‑finals?"

"It's the opponent they least want to meet—Atlético Madrid!"

The story splits into two.

Barcelona is just doomed.

Not only did they not play in the Champions League, but last week's La Liga match saw their full starting lineup actually lose to Deportivo La Coruña.

The opposing team's total transfer value added up to just over 10 million euros.

The new coach Valverde was dazed.

He suddenly realized: being Barcelona's head coach is a hot potato, comparable to the nightmare of coaching Manchester United!

The water's too deep.

"Boss, Enrique and Robert were fired; why don't you urge the higher‑ups to let Li go home?"

"Li won't return to Camp Nou; this isn't his home, I've looked into the whole matter."

"The club might have 300 million euros of summer transfer funds, targeting Liverpool's Coutinho, Borussia Dortmund's Dembélé, and the Chinese Super League's Paulinho."

"Those three guys together are worth 300 million? No… why do we have so much transfer money? Could it be that Neymar is leaving?"

Valverde nodded, then shook his head.

His real transfer target is Paulinho; as for Coutinho and Dembélé...

"Barcelona can no longer sustain its dynasty style of play."

The former star‑studded squad will go through a period of "civilianization."

Madrid.

Kroos saw the news of Arsenal eliminating Bayern and broke into a bright smile.

Casemiro curiously asked: "That's your old club… damn it, I don't want to meet Li in the semi‑finals; marking him would be too exhausting."

They said that's how it is.

Fatty Tiger just felt it would be tiring, but didn't think he'd lose.

In the 16/17 season his fighting power surged, and his understanding with Kroos and Modrić grew ever deeper.

During the ceremony, the three midfielders seemed to have been coated with a layer of lubricant.

"Semi‑finals?"

"Don't let tonight's match be overturned by Napoli!"

"What joke are you pulling..."

In the corner,

Modric cradled the tablet.

Looking at the Arsenal number 10 in the match footage... he stared blankly.

Turin.

Juventus training base.

Smack!

Buffon saved Dybala's shot.

The yellow glove formed the shape of a thumbs-up.

"Not bad! Kid, your era is coming soon!"

The Argentine youngster gave a shy smile.

He has been evolving all season; in the Old Lady's tactical system, he not only retained his agility and creativity, but his physique and awareness also saw a major boost.

Moreover, his forward partners are Mandzukic and Higuain, excellent finishers of this line.

On the other side.

Alves was doing one-on-one training with Cuadrado.

The Barcelona castoff was a bit ill-suited to Serie A, but he performed outstandingly on the Champions League stage.

Not far away, Pjanic's head poked out of the second-floor window, only to be pulled back in an instant.

"I had you watch Arsenal's footage last night! What did you see?"

"Li!"

"And what else?"

"He's taller than he was two years ago!"

Allegri: "..."

He isn't very good at controlling the locker room, doesn't communicate much with the players, but he quite likes dealing with Pjanic.

Why?

He learned the lesson of gelling with Pirlo from his time coaching Milan.

Of course, the Zebra Army's head coach does not consider Pjanic to be Pirlo's successor.

Manchester.

Guardiola was holed up in the office.

Draft paper ruined by pencils was scattered across the desk.

Arteta handed over a cup of coffee and said, concerned: "Our next opponent is Stoke City; no need to study too deeply, get some rest early... huh? Why are Arsenal players' names written down?"

Guardiola scratched his temple, his eyes bewildered.

"How can Arsenal beat Juventus, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid?"

"I shouldn't have advised Li to play as a full-back."

"We should have Morata play as an attacking midfielder and Li as a striker!"

"Their rotation range should be larger! Their positions should be more vague!"

Manchester City's head coach suddenly had a bright idea, as if a child had cleared a game level.

Arteta's mouth twitched.

Manchester City is going through a difficult rebuilding phase, yet its own head coach actually went to worry about Arsenal.

But upon reflection: Guardiola can pull opposing players aside during matches to talk tactics... even calls players in the middle of the night to point out problems; compared to that, paying attention to Li's behavior isn't that strange.