Chapter 1 The Beginning

Naples hosted Zenit St. Petersburg, a match drawing considerable attention from the Russian media.

This was a contest between two former Zenit St. Petersburg players and their old club.

Prior to the match, many Russian media outlets traveled to Naples to provide firsthand coverage for Russian fans, focusing on the form of Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin.

Meanwhile, back in Russia, Zenit, yet to depart, was also under intense scrutiny.

In interviews, interim coach Davydov was constantly bombarded with questions about Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin.

"At this rate, I'd think Naples only has Yingxiong and Shava…" Davydov joked. "Naples has more than just those two. They're a strong team, and we're playing away, so we'll be very cautious…"

Davydov was unwilling to discuss Chen Yingxiong at length.

He wasn't foolish enough to reveal everything to the media.

While he presented a humble and low-key image in interviews, it didn't mean Davydov was conceding defeat beforehand.

Zenit's poor performance in the domestic league this season didn't begin with him. It was the same when Advocaat was still in charge.

Tymoshchuk's departure was merely a symptom of the team's struggles.

With the Russian league entering its final third, Zenit St. Petersburg's current league position made qualifying for next season's Champions League very difficult. Therefore, Davydov's immediate goal was to ensure the team advanced further, at least making it out of the group stage.

After two rounds, the team had one draw and one loss, with only one point, making their prospects bleak.

Naples was listed as a fourth-tier team solely because they lacked European competition points. In reality, their strength didn't belong in the fourth tier. Before the group stage, everyone considered them at least on par with Zenit.

But after the group stage began, they realized their estimation was completely wrong! Naples was on the same level as Lyon and Liverpool!

With one win and one draw in two group matches, they had four points and were currently first in the group!

It would be difficult for Zenit to win against this team away from home.

Davydov's plan was to secure a draw away and then strive for victory at home. As time passed, it was already late October. The next encounter would be in November, when St. Petersburg would already be covered in snow, with very low temperatures. Their home stadium could become a "devil's home ground" due to their home advantage. A team like Naples, located on the warm Mediterranean coast, would certainly not adapt to that climate, giving Zenit a chance to win.

Furthermore, he had a deep understanding of Arshavin and Chen Yingxiong, which could also help the team, whether it was securing a draw away or winning at home…

※※※

While Coach Davydov had other ideas, the Zenit players weren't thinking that far ahead. They were full of anticipation for this match, especially Anyukov and Denisov, two former members of Zenit St. Petersburg's "eat, drink, and be merry" crew.

"Listen, Yingxiong! After we get there, no matter the result, you're treating!" Denisov said in a phone call to Chen Yingxiong.

"I know, I know, Captain. Even if you didn't say it, I'd still treat you! And it just so happens, you know we went to Liverpool recently for a match and met up with that kid Martin, so this time, meeting up with you guys, I'll introduce you to some friends…"

"You guys started an 'eat, drink, and be merry' crew in Naples?"

"Haha! Exactly!"

"Not bad! You arrange it, but you're paying!"

A match is a match, and friendship is friendship. Such things are normal.

Reporters were also aware of the friendship between Denisov, Anyukov, Chen Yingxiong, and Arshavin, something that was clear back in their Zenit St. Petersburg days.

So, during interviews, they also mentioned the friendship between the four.

"No, no, no, we won't go easy on them just because they're our friends. I won't hesitate when it's time to tackle!" Anyukov said, shaking his head, during an interview.

"Tackling Yingxiong? That's an interesting suggestion; I'll consider it. But I think if I went to tackle him, I might be the one who gets hurt… Haha! Just kidding! But no matter how good our relationship is privately, this is just a match, and we'll do everything we can to achieve our goals. I think Yingxiong and Shava certainly think the same way."

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On match day, the Stadio San Paolo was once again packed to capacity, and the Naples police deployed a large number of officers to maintain order.

These days, every Champions League home match day was a holiday for Naples fans, and a day of suffering for the Naples police…

But everyone enjoyed it.

Inside the players' tunnel, the shouts and songs from the stands outside could be heard clearly.

The Naples players stood in the tunnel, their opponents, Zenit St. Petersburg, beside them.

Chen Yingxiong wasn't standing obediently in the line. Taking advantage of the time before entering the field, he and Arshavin were chatting with Anyukov, Denisov, and other Zenit players. The group chatted happily in Russian.

Greeting each other, catching up, exchanging pleasantries.

Although many had left, there were still many players on this Zenit team who were teammates with Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin.

Chen Yingxiong was joking with Denisov and Anyukov: "Let me tell you, the Stadio San Paolo is a hellish home ground. The last team that came here, Lyon, was so scared they lost their form! Don't get weak in the knees."

Denisov scoffed: "You think I'm easily scared?"

Chen Yingxiong didn't reply, just smiled.

The other Zenit players lamented Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin's current situation, and also talked about what others were doing now. Kerzhakov had left Zenit and gone to Seville, but he couldn't find his rhythm in Spain, performing poorly. There were already rumors that Seville might sell him back to Russia, but Zenit had no intention of taking him back, so he might go to… CSKA Moscow.

Hearing this, Chen Yingxiong felt somewhat emotional. He didn't like CSKA Moscow, but he never expected that one of his good friends would one day go to that team…

"Going to CSKA Moscow isn't bad, at least they can participate in the Champions League next season… Unlike us." Anyukov said, pouting.

Zenit St. Petersburg's recent situation was not good; Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin were also aware of this. The team's pillars were leaving one after another, even the coach had left. The Russian powerhouse that once dominated Europe and won the championship in England was no more.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became somewhat silent and awkward.

Just then, the referee walked up from behind, holding the ball. Everyone knew it was time to go out.

So Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin said goodbye to their former Zenit teammates and returned to the Naples line.

"Alright, guys!" Captain Paolo Cannavaro said to his teammates behind him in heavily Neapolitan-accented Italian: "It's our turn to go out!"

"Ooh—!" Chen Yingxiong shouted.

Although he felt sorry for Zenit's fate, he was now truly a Naples player.

※※※

Zenit St. Petersburg coach Davydov appeared low-key and particularly humble in all pre-match interviews. He emphasized that he was only an interim coach, and even if the team ultimately advanced to the round of sixteen, he might not stay. He had only words of praise for Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin.

It seemed he was prepared to lose away from home.

In fact…

To outsiders, it seemed he was there to lose!

"Naples! Beautiful! They've taken the lead at home! 1-0! The goal was scored by Hamsik!"

The Stadio San Paolo erupted, the entire stadium seeming to tremble.

The passion of the southerners seemed inexhaustible. Lyon had witnessed it here last time, and now it was the Russians' turn!

Hamsik clenched his fist and waved towards the stands, greeted by the fervent cheers of the home fans.

"The match has only been going on for twenty-three minutes, this is a very smooth start! Naples has taken the lead again! Last time they took the lead at home, they easily won the match against Lyon, who are even stronger than Zenit. It looks like… today is not Zenit's lucky day!"

Chen Yingxiong and Arshavin went to celebrate the goal with their teammates, while the Zenit players seemed somewhat dejected. Being behind wasn't a good thing.

Denisov looked up at the Naples fans waving their arms in the stands. After Hamsik shot the ball into the net with a long shot, the volume of the sound at the scene suddenly rose to a peak. At that moment, his heart really stopped for a second.

This was the atmosphere of Naples' home stadium. Experiencing it firsthand was completely different from hearing it on TV… No wonder Yingxiong told them not to get weak in the knees.

Just kidding, I'm a professional player!

Denisov suddenly thought of something else. Yingxiong had been facing these passionate home fans for an entire season in this kind of home atmosphere?

This kid… is really amazing!

For some reason, although he knew very well that this was not the time to have these thoughts, Denisov felt genuinely proud of his friend.

"Naples' home stadium often has tremendous energy. They always perform particularly well when playing here. I think this may be related to their passionate fans… Now that they have taken the lead at home, they are already on the road to victory. And Zenit St. Petersburg is in danger! Davydov behaved very low-key before the match. Now it seems that he was not trying to confuse his opponents, but was really clear about the gap between his team and Naples, so he was so low-key—that's right, it is really difficult to beat Naples away from home. With Zenit St. Petersburg's current state… Anyway, I'm not optimistic!"

As the commentator said this, he gave a close-up of Zenit St. Petersburg coach Davydov.

Davydov in the shot looked calm, as if he had expected such a scene.

But in reality…

His heart was bleeding!

Twenty-three minutes!

His careful arrangements only lasted twenty-three minutes!