Chapter 1淘汰了拜仁慕尼黑

With Bayern Munich eliminated, only two crucial matches remained for Liverpool: the Champions League final and the last round of the league.

The significance of the Champions League final was self-evident, while the final league match was effectively a farewell game.

Having learned that Liverpool had made it to the final, the next day's semi-final between Barcelona and Real Madrid was particularly intense.

Barcelona wanted to lift the trophy in their own stadium and avenge their defeat against Liverpool.

Real Madrid also sought revenge against Liverpool, aiming for a double victory. Defeating their arch-rivals in the home stadium of another arch-rival was a tantalizing prospect!

Consequently, the semi-final's intensity rivaled a Champions League final preview!

Viewers were thoroughly captivated.

The first leg saw one red card, while this match featured two, along with seven yellow cards.

The teams exchanged blows, scoring a total of six goals.

Early in the game, Barcelona scored, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3.

Barcelona continued their efforts, scoring again to take a 4-3 lead on aggregate.

As the Camp Nou erupted in cheers, Real Madrid countered.

They quickly pulled one back, making it 4-4 on aggregate. However, Barcelona held an advantage due to away goals, so if the score remained unchanged, Barcelona would advance.

Therefore, Real Madrid launched a frenzied attack.

They managed to score again, regaining the lead on aggregate.

Real Madrid then retreated into a defensive formation, disregarding the boos from over 80,000 fans at the Camp Nou, and stubbornly defended.

Barcelona pressed forward and finally scored in the seventy-seventh minute.

But it still wasn't enough.

The aggregate score was tied at 5-5, with both teams having two away goals. Thus, the game would proceed to extra time.

Real Madrid had already prepared for extra time. They had reserved their last substitution, intending to use it during extra time.

Unexpectedly, in the eighty-seventh minute, Barcelona's Quique, amidst the chaotic scramble in the penalty area, suddenly extended his leg for a toe-poke!

The ball somehow squeezed through the crowd and into the goal!

Barcelona ultimately advanced to the Champions League final, held in their home stadium, thanks to Quique's late winner!

The entire Camp Nou erupted like a volcano.

With his two goals in this match, Quique increased his Champions League goal tally for the season to sixteen.

Just a day earlier, Chen Yingxiong had equaled his fourteen goals, but Quique immediately scored two more, widening the gap again.

In the race for the Premier League Golden Boot, Chen Yingxiong had easily dealt with Nacho. However, in the Champions League Golden Boot race, Quique had proven remarkably resilient, never allowing Chen Yingxiong to surpass him.

This highlighted why Quique was a world-class player, while Nacho was merely considered top-tier in the Premier League.

Quique was indeed a formidable opponent.

However, Chen Yingxiong didn't dwell on it.

In his twenty-four-year career, he had encountered countless world-class players.

In his view, Quique was far inferior to Messi, and not as good as Cristiano Ronaldo back in the day.

He could achieve world-class status simply because he had a good team – Barcelona's football could provide him with a constant stream of opportunities, allowing him to score more goals.

If he left the Barcelona team, he probably wouldn't have his current status.

Quique was well aware of this, so he never considered leaving Barcelona.

Even though he himself was not Catalan.

Regarding the top scorer battle, despite being two goals behind, Chen Yingxiong wasn't worried.

He aimed to defeat Barcelona and Quique in the final, achieving two goals with one arrow.

※※※

He was now preoccupied with another matter.

He didn't know how to handle the enthusiastic Chen Xing and Niang.

After the match against Bayern Munich, Niang approached Chen Yingxiong and informed him that the team planned to hold a farewell match for him.

This was, of course, a kind gesture. Holding a farewell match for a player was a sign of respect.

Many players considered it an honor to have a farewell match organized by their beloved club after retirement.

So Niang never expected Chen Yingxiong to reject the offer when he approached him about it…

Chen Yingxiong naturally refused because he had already made a decision.

He had changed his mind and wasn't planning to retire. He wanted to continue playing.

In that case, there was no need for a farewell match.

Otherwise, it would be like spilled water that couldn't be recovered…

It would be awkward for everyone involved.

But Chen Yingxiong couldn't reveal his latest decision to Niang.

Because he knew the magnitude of this decision. If he told one person, it would be known to a second person, then spread to ten, then a hundred…

Even if Niang was his friend, with whom he had a close personal relationship, it would be difficult for him to keep this secret. Otherwise, how would the news of his transfer from Napoli to Liverpool have leaked in advance?

Chen Yingxiong wasn't afraid of others knowing that he didn't plan to retire. For the fans who camped outside the Melwood training ground every day, it would be good news.

But he couldn't say it.

Because it wasn't good news for his team.

The current team had a "mourning army" (an army driven by grief) aura. Everyone knew that Chen Yingxiong was retiring, and Liverpool without him next season would have to embark on their own path, facing unknown and known difficulties.

The Liverpool players felt sentimental and full of fighting spirit, not wanting to leave any regrets for their captain in the last season of his career.

That's why they were so determined this season. In the first half of the season, when Chen Yingxiong was absent, they worked hard to catch up. If it weren't for them, it would have been difficult for Liverpool to reverse their fortunes against Arsenal in the second half of the season.

Similarly, in the Champions League, the Liverpool players were determined to give their captain the best farewell gift.

At the same time, many people had their own agendas. They knew what Liverpool would be like after Chen Yingxiong retired. At that time, not to mention the Champions League, it would be difficult to retain the league title. Other Premier League powerhouses were already gearing up, waiting for the end of the new season.

So they were very clear that if they still wanted to win the Champions League, this season would be their best and last chance in Liverpool.

Therefore, they were particularly committed and motivated. They had an attitude of "either succeed or die trying."

It was this spirit that allowed Liverpool to unleash amazing energy, capable of sweeping across those European football giants, like Juventus, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich… none of them were a match!

The foundation of this spirit was the fact that Chen Yingxiong was retiring.

If Chen Yingxiong didn't retire and continued playing next season, what would happen? Many Liverpool players would think: Anyway, Chen Yingxiong will still be there next season, we still have a chance, we can always win a championship…

Once this idea appeared, it would devour a person's fighting spirit and energy like a demon.

Then the entire Liverpool team would slump at an exaggerated rate.

Chen Yingxiong was willing to bet that if the news of his not retiring was leaked, this would definitely happen.

Because people are all lazy, and the power of laziness is very great. It's just like procrastination – they won't act until the last moment.

He believed that his teammates would work hard for him on the field, but he didn't dare to put all his hopes on his teammates' minds.

He had to win the league title and the Champions League title this season.

In fact, he could also think like others – anyway, there's still a future, why bother working so hard this season? He even missed half a season compared to others.

But Chen Yingxiong had already made promises, saying that he would win the Champions League Golden Boot and the European Golden Ball.

If he lost his nerve in the end and let all this go to waste, wouldn't he become a laughingstock in the entire football world?

There were too many people waiting to laugh at him.

He wouldn't give those people the chance.

So this season, only success was allowed, not failure.

To ensure this, he could only choose to believe in himself and keep this matter a secret.

Now, to keep his mouth shut, he had to give Niang a reasonable explanation as to why he didn't want a farewell match.

"My status doesn't need a farewell match to prove it, Niang. I've already won so many championships, what's the point of a farewell match for me? It's just troublesome, and the most important thing for the team now is the Champions League final and winning the league title. I'm afraid that thinking about the farewell match will distract people…"

His words were reasonable, well-founded, and very much in Chen Yingxiong's arrogant style. Niang had nothing to refute. He just felt that it would be a pity not to have a farewell match.

Seeing Niang's troubled expression, Chen Yingxiong knew that he was doing this for his own good. He had to appreciate the gesture and not make him too sad, so he said, "No farewell match, let's have a farewell ceremony instead, after the last round of the league."

Niang nodded quickly: "That's fine! But are you really sure you don't want a farewell match?"

Chen Yingxiong shook his head firmly: "No. I'll hold a press conference at that time, and that'll be it."

Of course, he would have to hold a press conference at that time, but not to announce his retirement, but to announce… Old Hu Han San is back!

At that time, I don't know how many people would be happy and encouraged, and how many people would be scared out of their pants…

That day, would be truly fascinating!