Chapter 1 Napoli Leads Manchester United 1-0

Chen Yingxiong's unexpected pass helped Cassano score the winning goal, putting Napoli ahead of Manchester United 1-0 on their home turf.

This goal plunged Manchester United into hell, as could be seen from Ferguson's trembling left hand.

Manchester United fans and supporters felt heartbroken and regretful for the old Sir because of Ferguson's trembling left hand. This seventy-year-old man has dedicated twenty-five years of his life to Manchester United. His pursuit of honor has never diminished, but this season he can only stop in the semi-finals. I really don't know how long Ferguson can stay in the position of Manchester United coach...

Napoli fans, however, didn't care what Ferguson's trembling left hand meant. They were all cheering for the team's entry into the final.

"There are still a few minutes left in the game, but I don't think Manchester United can change the current situation! Napoli is about to make their historic first entry into the Champions League final!"

The Italian commentator on TV roared loudly, and in front of the TV, those Napoli players who couldn't go to watch the game in person let out huge cheers.

"Long live Cassano! Long live Napoli!"

Many fans were even tearful, choking up with emotion.

Napoli being able to enter the Champions League final was a dream they had never dared to dream before. Even in the Maradona era, harsh reality told them that they would at most enter the second round of the Champions League and stop there.

They had always believed that Napoli in the Maradona era was the strongest, and almost no one would be able to let the future Napoli surpass the Maradona era.

In fact, this idea is also very normal. Maradona is, after all, the King of Football, and only two recognized Kings of Football have been born in the world, one of whom made his name in Napoli.

Could another King of Football be born in Napoli in the future?

This may be too minimal.

Who would have thought that even without the King of Football, the current Napoli has left the Napoli of the King of Football era eight streets behind in the Champions League...

The Napoli fans, who were crying with joy, couldn't care less about the slight disrespect for the "King of Football" Maradona in their hearts...

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In the remaining time of the game, the commentators were talking about Napoli's possible historic entry into the Champions League final, and at the same time, they were talking about Chen Yingxiong's selfless assist just now.

"Actually, it's not that Chen Yingxiong definitely had no way to shoot. I believe that if he really wanted to shoot, he would still have a chance to score. But obviously Cassano's position and opportunity are better than his. He is unmarked and the angle is not too small..."

"Honestly, I'm quite surprised that Yingxiong would pass the ball to Cassano and give up his own shot. You know, he is currently fighting Messi to the death, and Messi is leading him by one goal. If he can't score in this game, entering the final with a one-goal deficit to Messi, the pressure on him will be great..."

"But Yingxiong's choice is correct. If he doesn't pass the ball and shoots himself, the scoring rate is not high. If he passes it to Cassano, Cassano's chances of scoring are very high. In this case, the team's victory or defeat is obviously more important than personal victory or defeat. Because if Napoli can't get into the final, everything is in vain..."

"Chen Yingxiong's pass shows us a mature side of him. I think just based on this pass, even if he loses to Messi in the top scorer list in the end, he is still a winner!"

But Chen Yingxiong certainly doesn't want to be such a "failed winner"...

In the remaining few minutes, he still wanted to score, but Mazzarri adjusted the tactics—seeing that the team was leading by one goal away from home, and there was little time left in the game, he quickly waved his hand and substituted!

The defensive counterattack was changed to a desperate defense, and the counterattack was no longer needed. As long as they could hold on to this one-goal advantage, no... even if the opponent equalized, they would still advance to the final. If Mazzarri couldn't make such a choice, he wouldn't be able to be the head coach.

Everyone retreated to defend, and Chen Yingxiong had to run back to defend as well. His desire to score could only be suppressed in his heart.

Chen Yingxiong quickly figured it out—anyway, as long as the team can participate in the final, he will still have a chance in one game to compete with Messi. As for now, let Messi be happy for a while longer...

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When the final whistle sounded, Manchester United fans were already numb, and there was no theoretical fluke.

On the other hand, the few Napoli fans were very excited.

Napoli's substitutes rushed onto the field excitedly, hugging their teammates when they saw them.

Cassano, as the hero of the goal, was surrounded by most of his teammates.

There were also people like captain Paolo Cannavaro who directly knelt on the ground, pointing his fingers to the sky, excitedly shouting something.

Chen Yingxiong was celebrating the victory with Arshavin in his arms.

"It's a pity, Yingxiong. You were one goal short." Arshavin felt regretful that his good friend was unable to tie Messi. Of course, he was also happy for the team's advancement to the final, but he would have preferred that goal to be scored by Chen Yingxiong...

"It's no big deal, Shava." Chen Yingxiong patted him on the shoulder, "There are plenty of opportunities to score goals, but not many opportunities to enter the final. Besides, one goal less is just one goal less, when we get to the final... hehe!" He grinned.

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In fact, the media is also very concerned about this issue.

So in the mixed zone, Chen Yingxiong was undoubtedly surrounded by reporters from all over the world again, and all the questions were related to his lack of goals.

"I don't care about failing to score in six consecutive games." Chen Yingxiong shrugged. "The top scorer competition is about the number of goals, not how many consecutive games you score in."

"But because you didn't score, you are still one goal behind Messi..." A reporter reminded him.

Chen Yingxiong smiled, and smiled very happily, with a look of disdain: "I'm not afraid of being six goals behind, why should I worry about being one goal behind?"

Many reporters felt that Chen Yingxiong was right. He was six goals behind Messi and seven goals behind Eto'o, but he still managed to catch up. So what's so important about a one-goal difference?

Anyway, not many reporters dare to easily ridicule Chen Yingxiong now. Because he has already slapped all those who questioned him and ridiculed him ten times with his actions.

If you ridicule him now, he might slap you in the face in the final?

"Do you regret passing the ball to Cassano and not scoring yourself?"

"What's there to regret about that? Antonio and I are brothers, and the most important thing is for the team to get into the final. As long as we get into the final, I will be able to overtake Messi..."

So everyone knew that Chen Yingxiong was very confident in scoring in the final. In fact, if he wants to overtake Messi in the final, he has to score at least two goals, and he also has to hope that Messi doesn't score a single goal, but given Messi's condition, hoping that he doesn't score a single goal... is a bit difficult.

However, precisely because it is difficult, there is a good show to watch, isn't there?

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At the post-match press conference, Mazzarri admitted that he did not expect Chen Yingxiong to choose to pass the ball. This was very unexpected for him, but the most important thing was for the team to advance to the final. He believed that Chen Yingxiong's choice showed that he was a team player.

His words blocked the mouths of those who had previously criticized Chen Yingxiong for only caring about scoring goals for himself.

What are Mazzarri's thoughts on entering the final and facing Barcelona?

"Being able to enter the final is already a historic achievement for us. But we will not be satisfied with just this. Since we have entered the final, taking the runner-up is definitely not our highest goal..."

His words were a bit crazy, and even illogical. You must know that the opponent they are facing in the final is a team as strong as Barcelona. No team that meets Barcelona in the final would say that they are confident of winning the championship.

But Mazzarri said it.

This is very abnormal.

No, this is very normal.

You must know that he represents Napoli, and Napoli has a feud with Barcelona, a blood feud.

As mortal enemies, it is perfectly normal to say such a thing. If Real Madrid entered the final and faced Barcelona, everyone believes that Mourinho would also say such a thing.

In fact, Mazzarri also thought so.

Since Napoli has a feud with Barcelona, if he still shows weakness and compromises, he may cause some confusion to the players—isn't our coach pouring cold water on us?

This will seriously affect the morale of the team.

And Napoli's ability to fight all the way to the final, he absolutely does not think it is Chen Yingxiong's credit alone. The biggest credit is actually the Napoli team's hatred for Barcelona. The whole team was able to get to this point by relying on the desire for revenge. If they show weakness to their mortal enemies, it is equivalent to venting their anger in advance.

So he doesn't consider whether the team can really defeat Barcelona at all. He only considers maintaining the team's high morale, and must not surrender before the battle!

Besides, Napoli's tradition is to be fearless. Today's Barcelona is called the "Cosmic Team", which means that they are playing football that does not belong to the earth.

But so what about the Cosmic Team?

Didn't they almost overturn their opponents at the Nou Camp? If it weren't for the referee, would you have won against us?

Napoli really has the qualification to say such things.

At this time, looking at Mazzarri "talking wildly" on the stage, some reporters thought of the survey done by the Catalan media before.

Which opponent do Barcelona fans most want to meet in the final?

Manchester United.

Chen Yingxiong's interpretation of this is: "They don't want to play against Manchester United, they are afraid of playing against Napoli."

Perhaps, there is really such a meaning?

Ha, Napoli's revenge battle, the direct dialogue between the two enemies of last year's Champions League, this final held at Wembley Stadium is probably going to be a good show!

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ps, Monthly tickets!