After the first round of the Bundesliga, Hamburg won a lot of praise.
The reason for this is, of course, because Pan Yi's team won the strong dialogue with Schalke 04, and it was also an away game.
Judging from the content of the game, Hamburg even crushed Schalke, making it a one-sided situation.
In the three games at the beginning of this season, the Super Cup against Bayern Munich, the German Cup against Karlsruhe, and the league against Schalke 04, they corresponded to a strong team, a weak team, and a sub-strong team. Hamburg performed well in all of them. Stable form and consistent performance.
This also made the local media in Hamburg extremely excited, saying that they had seen a strong team that is truly maturing.
And that's not all the surprises Pan Yi brought.
A week later, in the second round of the Bundesliga, Pan Yi led Hamburg to a 5-1 victory over Hoffenheim at home!
In the following third round, Hamburg defeated newly-promoted Hertha Berlin with a goal away from home, winning three consecutive Bundesliga starts!
In these two games, Pan Yi also used two different starting lineups.
Taking the midfield trio as an example, the combination of Casemiro + Paulinho + De Bruyne was used when playing Hoffenheim, while the combination of Kante + Makoto Hasebe + was used when playing Hertha Berlin. De Bruyne.
This shows that Hamburg's current lineup is enough for Pan Yi to use different strategies when facing different opponents.
Obviously, this strategy has also achieved results, allowing Hamburg to achieve an impressive record of three consecutive victories.
Although after three rounds, there were five teams that also achieved three consecutive victories, Hamburg still occupied the top spot with a 7 goal difference advantage.
The other teams that achieved complete victories are Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Mainz, and finally, of course, Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich also defeated strong opponents in the first three rounds, defeating Monchengladbach 3:1, Eintracht Frankfurt 1:0, and Nuremberg 2:0.
In comparison, Dortmund's opponents are slightly weaker. They defeated Augsburg 4:0, Eintracht Braunschweig 2:1, and Werder Bremen 1:0.
And judging from the scene, Dortmund is not as dominant as Hamburg and Bayern.
Therefore, even though everyone has three consecutive victories, many media are still more optimistic about Hamburg and Bayern. Many people believe that this year's Bundesliga champion will be produced among these two teams.
However, some people also raised objections.
Because in September, the Champions League group stage of the new season will also begin.
Next, Hamburg will face three-front battles in the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League, including national team match days interspersed in between.
Due to the outstanding performance of Hamburg players in the past year or two, the number of international players in the team is also increasing.
How to deal with the pressure of such a third-line or even a fourth-line battle, Pan Yi will obviously face more tests.
Unlike Hamburg, Bayern, as a giant, obviously has more adequate personnel reserves, and because they have been under such pressure for many years, they will obviously be more comfortable handling it.
"At the beginning of last season, Hamburg also suffered from the impact of the national team match day, which led to a wave of slumps in the league."
"At that time, they were only fighting on a single front. Now Hamburg has to face the test of various fronts attacking at the same time. Can Pan Yi cope with it?"
"What kind of opponent will Hamburg get in the Champions League draw in a few days?"
"If they suffer a setback in the Champions League because they encounter strong opponents, you can imagine that they will not be in a good state after dragging their exhausted bodies back to the Bundesliga..."
…
In fact, it is almost certain that Hamburg will encounter a strong opponent in the Champions League group stage.
That's because the last time Hamburg participated in the Champions League group stage was in the 2006-07 season.
At that time, in a group composed of Arsenal, Porto, and CSKA Moscow, Hamburg actually lost all six games and gained...how many European points?
It seems that you can get 4 points by entering the group stage, but this is meaningless because it is too many years ago.
In short, this year they can finally return to the Champions League, and their European points will definitely be ranked at the bottom, which is the fourth level.
Those ranked in the first tier are all traditional European powers such as Bayern, Barcelona, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester United that have achieved outstanding results in recent years, while those ranked in the second tier include Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Juventus. Strong team.
The Bundesliga's Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen stay in the third tier with teams such as the upstart Premier League Manchester City and the Eredivisie giant Ajax. In fact, they should not be underestimated.
And when it comes to the fourth gear, it's basically all rotten fish and shrimps, such as Copenhagen, Anderlecht, Plzen Victory, Celtic, Austria Vienna... except Hamburg.
Although it is true that Hamburg cannot catch these rotten fish and shrimps, the teams ranked in the top three tiers do not want to be ranked in the same group as the Bundesliga runner-up.
The team that defeated Bayern Munich 4:1 is really scary, isn't it?
Therefore, the media had already created a good momentum before the draw, that is, whichever group Hamburg stays in, that group has a great probability of becoming the death group!
…
On August 28, the UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony for the 2013-2014 season was held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
Pan Yi brought assistant coach Inzaghi to participate.
Mainly because in his previous life, Pan Yi had been watching the bald man presiding over the lottery ceremony in front of the TV screen, and he was quite curious.
There are various conspiracy theories about the draw, whether the ball is hot or cold, and there was a draw accident later and the draw was redrawn. This also gave Pan Yi the idea to come to the scene to observe.
After all, he is also a manager and coach. If he doesn't come, we will have to ask Chairman Yakhov to come.
However, he still didn't have the opportunity to touch the lottery ball with the team's name on it to see if he could feel the temperature.
Because they were arranged to sit in the seats under the stage as soon as the game started, how could they have the chance to go on stage and touch the ball?
"Who do you want to touch?" Inzaghi, who was sitting next to him, suddenly asked.
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, if you want to win the championship, any team must win." Pan Yi replied.
Inzaghi almost jumped out of his seat: "You really want to win the Champions League!"
Wanting to win the Champions League, this was the first time Pan Yi said it, so it was also the first time Inzaghi heard it.
What Pan Yi said before was usually to win the Bundesliga championship and then strive to go further in the Champions League.
Inzaghi really didn't expect that for a new Champions League team like them, Pan Yi would really have such "unreasonable thoughts"?
After all, the Champions League is not as good as the Bundesliga. There are many teams as capable as Bayern!
"We got it in Milan, can't we get it in Hamburg?" Pan Yi chuckled and looked towards the stands.
At this time, the European Player of the Year award was being awarded in the stands.
French star Franck Ribery, who eventually led Bayern to the Triple Crown and won the title of Bundesliga MVP, was elected with 36 votes.
The peerless duo ranked second and third respectively, with Messi having 14 votes and Ronaldo only having 3 votes.
This trophy was handed to Ribery personally by the then UEFA president and French football legend Platini.
Then came Ribery's acceptance speech, and then the top three took a group photo - of course, due to Ronaldo's absence, there were only Ribery and Messi in this session.
After hearing Pan Yi's words, Inzaghi swallowed.
Indeed, who says this is impossible?
In Pan Yi's eyes, it seems that nothing is impossible!
Just say that when the two were in Milan together, who would be optimistic about the young team at that time? But in the end, didn't he overturn a number of strong teams and win the championship? !
so……
"There are still teams I don't want to run into." Pan Yi suddenly laughed again.
"Which ones are they? Milan?" Inzaghi also smiled.
Pan Yi really doesn't want to meet Milan.
After all, he is his old club, and he is an old club with feelings.
Now that they are in bad condition, it would be unbearable to stab them a few times.
"In addition to Milan, there are also Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal..."
"Is it because they are very strong and difficult to deal with?"
Pan Yi smiled and said: "No. It's because we have played against them when we were in Milan. I am a person who likes the new and hates the old. I don't like to play against the same opponents all the time."
Inzaghi almost laughed.
Feeling: You led the team to participate in the Champions League group stage draw just to find fresh opponents?
"But it may be difficult to realize your wish." Inzaghi shook his head, "They are all in the first bracket. We will definitely not be able to draw Bayern from the same country, so the chance of drawing them will greatly increase."
"Then let's see how lucky we are." Pan Yi looked at the stage again, "If we draw Porto, wouldn't it be even more wonderful?"
…
While the two were talking, UEFA staff had already placed the draw ball on the table, and UEFA official Federico Marchetti had also stood in front of the rostrum with draw guests Luis Figo and Michael Owen. .
Marchetti began to introduce the rules of this draw to the representatives of each team present. It was nothing more than classification of grades, avoidance of fellow players, order of draw, and so on.
At this time, Pan Yi was also thinking in his mind.
To be honest, he really wants to lead Hamburg to make a difference in the Champions League, and winning the Champions League is also his biggest goal.
Although it is true that you have to defeat all your opponents in the process of winning the championship, if the journey can be easier at the beginning, why not?
This is why teams that are determined to win the championship will also be very concerned about the draw results.
It's also a first-tier team. It's always more comfortable to play Porto than Bayern, right?
For example, although Hamburg is currently in the fourth tier, there is a high probability that it will compete with many strong teams, but if you are lucky, wouldn't it be great to form a group like Benfica, Marseille, Basel, and Hamburg?
The pressure of the Champions League is reduced, and the pressure of playing in the Bundesliga will also be reduced.
Just like when Pan Yi played FM games in his previous life, sometimes because the opponents in the European group stage were weak, he would even use the main team to play in the league and all substitutes to play in the Champions League.
But if, on the other hand, Hamburg is placed in a group like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City, it will create a perfect group of death, and every game will be a tough battle, and it will be difficult to have room for mediation.
So after all, Pan Yi still hopes that the god of luck will come to him.
Sometimes the quality of the draw can even determine a team's development and performance in major competitions!
…
Under the operation of Irving and Figo, the teams in the first three gears were eliminated one after another.
At this time, some groups actually began to show signs of being a death group.
For example, Real Madrid and Juventus were drawn into Group B, Bayern and Manchester City were in Group D, and Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund were in Group F.
The most surprising thing is that Barcelona and AC Milan are once again assigned to Group H!
These are the two champions of the Champions League in the past three years, and they are also together again after the 2011-2012 season.
In addition, last season, Barcelona eliminated AC Milan in the round of 16. This is actually the third consecutive season that they have met!
It’s really not like enemies never get together.
Also in Group H is Ajax. This former giant that has won the Champions League four times is obviously not an ordinary team.
Therefore, compared to Galatasaray, the third team in Group B, and Marseille in Group F, Group H will actually have a stronger "breath of death"!
The drawing of lots continues.
Next, Irving will draw the name of the fourth team, and then Figo will draw the number ball to determine the group.
This means that the final matchup situation of each group will also be settled.
As for Hamburg, there are actually only five groups they can fall into now.
Due to the principle of avoidance of members of the same country, it is impossible for Hamburg to go to Group D where Bayern is located, Group F where Dortmund is located, and Group A where Manchester United and Leverkusen are located.
This is a good thing, after all, among these three groups, two groups are potential death groups.
Among the remaining five groups, in addition to Group H between Barcelona and AC Milan, there are Group B between Real Madrid and Juventus, Group C between Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain, Group E between Chelsea and Basel, Porto and Group G where Atletico Madrid is located.
From Hamburg's perspective, of course, it is necessary to try to avoid Group B and Group H, which have two strong teams. The other three groups can enter any of them, at least the pressure is not that great.
So Pan Yi obviously felt that Inzaghi on the side even held his breath.
This new coach, a veteran who has experienced many battles, is actually nervous!
In fact, this is human nature.
Pan Yi is no exception, but he will be calmer.
If he has better luck and goes to a weaker group, then he can be more comfortable and everyone can be more relaxed.
And if he is unlucky and ends up in the so-called death group, he won't be afraid and will just do it with his arms off!
We are all 11 people fighting 11 people, who is afraid of who?
Next, teams in the fourth pot were drawn into various groups one after another.
As a result, bursts of sounds began to emit from the scene, some of which sounded like the kind of rejoicing after a disaster, and some sounded like exclamations when something unfortunate happened.
For example, when the club officials in Copenhagen saw that their team was drawn into Group B with Real Madrid and Juventus, their faces were as ugly as they were.
Anderlecht's manager even pumped his fist in celebration when he found out he would be paired with Benfica.
One after another, one after another...
When Irving finally pulled out the small ball with the name of the Hamburg team written on it, the audience was once again agitated.
Everyone knows that this is the fourth tier team that is the hardest to mess with!
Now Hamburg is left with only two choices, Group G and Group H.
Either with Porto, Atletico Madrid, and Zenit, or with Barcelona, AC Milan, and Ajax.
In the audience, Inzaghi was very nervous, but he didn't notice that the representatives of these six teams were even more nervous than him!
Because everyone knows that if you get a burger, you will definitely lose a lot of money!
Anyone who has watched Hamburg's games this season knows that this young team is really strong!
At this time, Figo began to stir the balls containing the letters "G" and "H".
Although there were only two balls, the former Portuguese superstar still messed around for a long time before finally catching one of them.
After he took out the ball, unscrewed it, and took out the note, many people couldn't help but hold their breath like Inzaghi.
Immediately, Figo smiled and turned the note over, and the letters on it were displayed in front of everyone.
"H."
This letter means that the four former Champions League champions are placed in the same group.
AC Milan 8 times, Barcelona 4 times, Ajax 4 times, Hamburg 1 time.
The members of this group have won a total of 17 Champions League championships. They are truly a super group of death.
Amid the uproar at the scene, Inzaghi also turned to Pan Yi with a wry smile: "Look, those opponents you least want to encounter, but they gave you two at once..."
Pan Yi just smiled faintly.
It's true that signing is not good, but that's really okay.
He has now begun to think about how to defeat these three teams and advance to the knockout rounds of the Champions League!
…
"A group of death suddenly appeared in the Champions League group stage, four former Champions League champions gathered in Group H"
"Hamburg, which is in the spotlight in the Bundesliga, encounters a crisis. Can they break through in the group? 》
"Lack of experience in European wars, Hamburg may be strangled by Barcelona and Milan"...
The next day, headlines like this filled the headlines of major sports media around the world.
Indeed, compared to other groups, Hamburg's Group H is really full of gimmicks.
A super death group composed of all Champions League champions;
Barcelona and Milan have gone head-to-head for three consecutive years;
Pan Yi faced his old club for the first time after leaving Milan...
But it can also be seen from the title that most of the media are still not optimistic about burgers.
At least judging from the experience of the Champions League, whether it is Hamburg as a club or its players, let alone compared with AC Milan and Barcelona, even Ajax plays in European competitions every year.
Let's talk about the players. Except for Westerman, the old captain, Salah, Kante and Van Dijk, who Pan Yi just bought from Milan, have experience in the Champions League. Don't even think about others.
From the perspective of the schedule, Hamburg has no advantage.
They will face Milan away from home in their first game!
Then the second round is a home game against Barcelona, the strongest team in the group on paper, and then Ajax.
In other words, it is not a sequence of easy first and then difficult.
This is really not a good thing for Hamburg, which is dominated by young players.
If Hamburg was beaten by two giant teams in the first two rounds and the young people lost their confidence, they would not be enthusiastic about playing Ajax at this time.
"World Sports Daily" said: "A team like Hamburg, which only won the Champions League once in the 1980s, can only be regarded as a new army in this group. And the new army should have their own positioning, that is Just take the Champions League bonus and leave."
"Daily Sports" said: "Although Hamburg seems to be the strongest team in the fourth tier, the fourth tier is only the fourth tier after all. Let's just play with the rich teams for a formality. Being able to participate in the Champions League is already their success!”
However, even if the whole world thinks that Hamburg has no hope of qualifying, there will be one person who firmly believes that Hamburg can beat them!
That is Pan Yi.
After he returned to the Hamburg training center, he quickly held a team meeting to discuss this grouping.
"This group is very difficult, at least more difficult than other groups." Pan Yi said.
Seeing everyone nodding, Pan Yi suddenly said: "But this difficulty is relative to Milan, Barcelona, and Ajax. They saw that our team was in the group, so they found it very difficult!"
The coaches and players in the conference room laughed.
They knew that their head coach would never have any real difficulties in his heart.
"Most of you haven't played in the Champions League, but I've been there, Inzaghi has been there, Salah has been there, Kante and Van Dijk have been there too."
Pan Yi continued:
"What I want to say is that the opponents in the Champions League are indeed very strong, the atmosphere is also very good, and...the theme song is also very nice."
Everyone was smiling again.
"However, the Champions League is also a football game after all. An 11-on-11 football match is no different from the Bundesliga we play."
"There, we may also meet Bayern, Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen."
"So, have we beaten Bayern? Have we beaten Dortmund? Have we beaten Leverkusen? - Well, it seems not really. We drew with them in both legs last season."
The conference room was filled with laughter, and any tension that existed in everyone's hearts was swept away.
"But anyway, we can beat them. Whether it's Barcelona, whether it's Milan, whether it's Ajax, we can beat them."
"As long as we maintain good form and remember how we defeated those powerful opponents in the Bundesliga, then we can defeat all opponents in the Champions League and move forward!"
"I promise you that we will definitely qualify, we will definitely appear in the knockout rounds, and we will go further!"
Pan Yi's sonorous and powerful words excited everyone present.
Yeah, what about the Super Death Team?
But they are Hamburg, they are the Hamburg Young Guards led by Pan Yi!
What Pan Yi says now, no one will think that he is bragging or trying to spread the pie.
After all, all the things he boasted about before came true!
This is another man after Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has a legal license to show off!
At this time, Pan Yi saw the expressions of everyone present and felt their emotions, and knew that his goal had been achieved.
He just wants everyone to know that Hamburg is now strong enough to compete with any team.
Only in this way can everyone enter every training and game with confidence!
"The last thing I want to say is that our goal in the Champions League this season is definitely not just to qualify in the group."
"Once we get out of a group with Barcelona and Milan, it means we beat the winners of two Champions League titles in the past three years."
"In the Bundesliga, we also defeated Bayern twice, and Bayern was the last Champions League champion. Friends, do you know what this means?"
"If winning the last three Champions Leagues can't stop us, what can stop us?"
"So, we will continue to advance to the quarter-finals, to the semi-finals, and finally enter the finals and go to the Stadium of Light in Lisbon to win the final championship!"
This is also the first time Pan Yi has expressed his willingness to win the Champions League in a semi-public manner.
At the end, he almost yelled with all his strength:
"So, our goal this season is - all championships!"
(End of chapter)
