At 12 noon on December 17, Switzerland Nyon, UEFA headquarters.
UEFA Champions League The draw ceremony for the top 16 is held here.
Host UEFA, secretary-general Gianni Infantino and event director Marchetti stood on the stage. The scheduled guest for the draw, Bobby Sir Charlton, was absent due to flight delays, and there were no legendary guests present for the draw. The draw was completed by Infantino and Marchetti in person.
The rules of the draw are very clear: teams in the same group do not meet, teams in the same Football Association league do not meet, the first in the group will play against the second in the group.
As Infantino draws out the balls one by one, the top 16 matchup list is gradually released.
Roma vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
AC Milan vs. Tottenham Hotspur
Valencia vs. Schalke 04
Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich
Lyon vs. Real Madrid
Arsenal vs. Barcelona
Auxerre vs. Manchester United
Copenhagen vs. Chelsea
As soon as the lottery results came out, social media exploded.
"Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich? Isn't this a replica of last season's UEFA Champions League final?"
"Lyon vs. Real Madrid? Real Madrid was eliminated by Lyon last season! Mourinho's chance for revenge has come."
"Arsenal vs. Barcelona? The final of UEFA Champions League in 2006 and the quarterfinals in 2009. These two teams are really destined."
"Auxerre vs. Manchester United? Zhang Kuang's old club! He just came to the first team Europe joined and met the second team."
"..."
I have to say that UEFA will create topics through drawing lots, and Infantino's marketing level is really good.
"Bild" title. "Bayern Munich Inter Milan meets again, the revenge battle of the Triple Crown"
"Milan Sports Newspaper" title. "The fateful showdown between Mourinho and Lyon, Real Madrid"
"Sport" title. "Barcelona meets Arsenal again, Fàbregas's journey home"
"L'Équipe" title. "Auxerre VS Manchester United, Zhang Kuang faces the old master"
"..."
In the group in Manchester United's locker room, as soon as the lottery results came out, Zhang Kuang's phone kept vibrating.
An unknown number sent a text message. Zhang Kuang clicked on it and saw that it was Hengbart, a teammate from Auxerre's time.
"Zhang Kuang, our luck is too bad. If we run into you in the quarter-finals, wouldn't it be fatal?"
Zhang Kuang replied with a smiley emoticon, "See you on the court, don't cry."
Hengbart replied instantly, "Can you kick it gently and at least don't wear a hat?"
Zhang Kuang:"I'll try my best."
Auxerre's old captain Pedretti also sent a message: "Zhang Kuang, you didn't do it on purpose, did you? You took Golden Boy Award and came back to kick us?"
Zhang Kuang couldn't laugh or cry, "UEFA drew the lot. I really want Manchester United and Auxerre to meet in the finals, but is this something I can control?"
"..."
In fact, the Auxerre team did not have many complaints about drawing Manchester United.
They have already qualified from the UEFA Champions League group stage, creating club history.
Touch Manchester United, there is no shame in losing, but it will be a miracle recorded in history if you win.
After Ferguson learned about the draw results, he just said, "Auxerre is a very disciplined team, don't underestimate the enemy."
Then he couldn't help but turn his attention back to the league. After all, Premier League's Christmas Devil schedule is the most important thing right now.
The league didn't wait, but Golden Boy Award did. On December 18, Zhang Kuang's agent Jonathan called to inform him that "Tuttosport" invited him to attend the Golden Boy Award awards, and hinted that there would be prizes and a high vote rate.
Also receiving the notice was the Manchester United club. The management of the Manchester United club was all smiles. There is an additional golden boy or Ballon d'Or in the team. This is part of the improvement of the club's commercial value.
December 21, Italy Turin.
In a media studio in the "Tuttosport" headquarters building, the Golden Boy Award award ceremony is being held here. The venue is extremely simple: a background board with the Golden Boy Award logo printed on it, a table, a few chairs, and several cameras.
Zhang Kuang When I walked into the studio, I almost thought I was in the wrong place.
"Just... here?" He turned around and asked his agent Jonathan.
Jonathan also looked helpless: "The awards ceremony of "Tuttosport" is done like this every year. It has not changed since its inception in 2003. It is not a theater or a banquet hall, it is held in the interview room of their newspaper office.
It's true that it's a bit tricky to organize, but the reputation of this award is not small, and it is definitely not a pheasant award."
Zhang Kuang looked around: the only people present were the newspaper's editor-in-chief, football editor, a few reporters from this newspaper, and a few Europe stationed writers and photographers.
But there is a huge reporter team in the corner that is particularly conspicuous, including the TV stations and reporter teams from China mainland and Hong Kong, as well as the official reporters from Asian Football Confederation.
The only person who came to receive the prize was Zhang Kuang.
The other four people in the top five of Golden Boy Award: Balotelli, Wilshere, De Gea, Thiago, all did not attend.
This is almost like a clear indication of the result, but Zhang Kuang still feels that this scene is too shabby.
What's even more amazing is that Zhang Kuang has not yet received the award after arriving at the event. The official website of the "Tuttosport" newspaper has announced the total voting scores of the top three in advance, and global media have published simultaneously, confirming Zhang Kuang as this year's Golden Boy Award winner in advance.
This is amazing. The results on the spot were not publicized yet, but were announced on their official website first.
About five minutes later, the editor-in-chief finally arrived and read out the complete voting list to Zhang Kuang and some media reporters, confirming that Zhang Kuang defeated Balotelli, Wilshere, De Gea and Thiago with a total score advantage, and won the 2010 Golden Boy Award.
Then the editor-in-chief personally handed the Golden Boy Award humanoid trophy to Zhang Kuang.
There is no ceremonial tray, no flowers, no reading of the award speech, it is just a bare trophy.
Zhang Kuang took the trophy, looked down at the little golden man, and then at the cameras in the room. He only had one thought in his heart, "That's it?"
Of course, verbal thanks and smiles are still necessary. This is the most basic 'performance' and an ability that all stars should have.
But the interview session is the highlight.
A reporter from China mainland was the first to ask, "Zhang Kuang, you have become the first Asia player to win Golden Boy Award and also the first China player. Is there anything you want to say to the domestic fans?"
Zhang Kuang raised the trophy in his hand. "Thank you to all the China fans who support me. I know many people are still arguing about my place of origin, but what I want to say is that I am wearing the China National Team jersey now, and I represent China. This trophy belongs to China football."
Hong Kong TVB reporter asked, "You have been playing in Europe for a year. From the core of a Ligue 1 championship team to the absolute main force of Manchester United, what do you think is the biggest change?"
Zhang Kuang thought for a while, "The biggest change is that the responsibility has become greater. When I was at Auxerre, I just played my own football. But at Manchester United, hundreds of millions of people are watching every game, and you must be worthy of them."
Asian Football Confederation official reporter asked, "Asian Football Confederation has called you the 'Asia flag of football'. What do you think of this title?"
Zhang Kuang smiled, "Asia has many excellent players, Park Ji-sung, Keisuke Honda, Yuto Nagatomo, Ki Sung-yueng... I still have a lot to learn from them. But if I can make more Asia children fall in love with football through my performance, then I will be honored."
"..."
After other reporters asked several more questions, the media Q&A was over.
The subsequent focus is the one-to-one text interview with "Tuttosport". This kind of exclusive interview rights is unique to "Tuttosport".
The interview content included Yongzhen: from Auxerre's youth training experience, to Manchester United's tactical system, to his views on Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, to his future prospects for Asia football and China football. Zhang Kuang responded fluently throughout the whole process without any scruples.
The entire interview lasted nearly forty minutes.
After it was over, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper personally sent Zhang Kuang out, shook hands and said goodbye, "Congratulations again, Mr. Zhang. You are one of the youngest winners in the history of this award, and one of the most talented."
Zhang Kuang is also speechless. You don't even want a meal? This is too stingy.
Zhang Kuang walked out of the "Tuttosport" building holding the trophy. Turin's winter afternoon was dim and sunny, but he knew in his heart that the weight of this trophy was far more than the weight in front of him.
Sure enough, less than an hour after the awards ceremony, the global media had already exploded.
"France Football": "China genius conquers Europe, Golden Boy Award deserves the title"
"Milan Sports Newspaper": "Zhang Kuang defeated Balotelli to win the cup, and Manchester United was crowned the new king"
"Bild": "Asia is the first person, Zhang Kuang makes history"
"AS": "19-year-old golden boy, Europe's hottest star"
"The Guardian": "Golden Boy Award is just the beginning, Zhang Kuang's goal is far beyond that"
"Oriental Daily News": "Zhang Kuang takes the golden boy, creates Chinese history, creates Asia history!"
"Wen Wei Po": "Chinese geniuses are recognized, and with the golden boy in hand, Ballon d'Or has hope!"
"Ta Kung Pao": "With the help of the golden boy, Hong Kong Football Team will eventually shine in football"
"..."
"Good thing, Zhang Kuang won the golden boy, and with the addition of several newly naturalized Chinese, it is said that Hong Kong FA is in contact with several top coaches, Hong Kong Football Team has a good chance."
At present, Zhang Kuang's reputation is being torn apart on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
A United States reporter in Hong Kong was very puzzled when he learned about it. He asked a Hong Kong reporter who didn't like Zhang Kuang and a mainland reporter who hated Zhang Kuang:
"Why do you China produce a talented player and win Golden Boy Award, and you still hate him?
Did he do something to feel sorry for you China? Or is he still unwilling to contribute his strength to China football? Didn't I hear that he has joined Hong Kong Football Team?"
Hong Kong Reporter: "If you can't survive in the mainland, come and grab our resources."
Mainland reporter. "Yes, he is a traitor. He is narrow-minded and very vindictive because of trivial matters."
"..."
What surprised Zhang Kuang the most was China's response from the mainland.
On the night of December 21, Xinwen Lianbo spent nearly thirty seconds broadcasting the news that China Player Zhang Kuang obtained Golden Boy Award.
In the picture, Zhang Kuang is being interviewed while holding a trophy in the studio. The narration is in the standard Xinwen Lianbo accent. "China football player Zhang Kuang recently won the Europe award at Italy Turin Golden Boy Award, this is the first time a Asia player has won this honor, marking that the younger generation of China football is emerging on the international stage..."
Thirty seconds of Xinwen Lianbo time is national-level recognition for anyone.
On social networks, Zhang Kuang's name immediately topped the list of hot searches.
The number of topic views exceeded 200 million within three hours. "Zhang Kuang Golden Boy Award", "China Football Historic Moment" and "Asia First Brother Zhang Kuang" three topics dominated the list at the same time.
In the comment area, although there are still sporadic voices saying that "he has transferred his nationality" and "is not a pure-blood China person", the vast majority of comments are full of enthusiasm.
"Damn it! Xinwen Lianbo has already reported it! This is a front row!"
"Zhang Kuang gave China football a face! In the past, we always watched others win prizes, but this time it is finally our turn!"
"CCTV has been broadcasted. This is stronger than any official certification."
"From today on, Zhang Kuang is China, the number one player in football. Who is in favor and who is against?"
"..."
Hong Kong's TVB, TVB News and other media also reported extensively. Asian Football Confederation's official website even put the news of Zhang Kuang's award on the front page headline, with the title: "Asia's pride: Zhang Kuang wins Golden Boy Award".
On December 22, Zhang Kuang held a small banquet at DoubleTree by Hilton Swinton restaurant in Manchester to celebrate his winning of Golden Boy Award.
Everyone from the Manchester United team who could come, such as Rooney, Berbatov, Giggs, Carrick, Park Ji-sung, Ferdinand, Vidić, Van der Sar, almost all the main players were present.
There are also head coach Ferguson, club CEO David·Gill, etc. Of course, there are also people who can't come, such as Nani. Some conflicts have been made public, and even superficial efforts are embarrassing, so they simply don't come to participate.
Over at Auxerre, there are also a dozen old teammates who flew in to participate. Everyone has a good relationship, such as Hengbart and team leader Pedretti.
At the banquet, Rooney came over with a wine glass. "Zhang Kuang, I won't be polite to you when you treat me. Today I will drink until you cry in your wallet."
Zhang Kuang laughed loudly, "Jazz and David are here, how dare you drink a lot of wine? Do you want to be punished?"
Rooney:"Uh..."
Everyone laughed for a while, and Berbatov slowly held the red wine. "Golden Boy Award? I thought you were an adult long ago."
Rooney patted Zhang Kuang on the shoulder. "I won this award in 2004, just a few years ago. This thing looks good at home."
Zhang Kuang asked, "Wayne, was your award ceremony also in the interview room of "Tuttosport" at that time?"
Rooney smiled and shook his head, "That's not true. Tuttosport This award has been held for almost ten years, and the award venue has never changed. Italy is famous for being picky."
"Haha..."
David: "Wayne, don't say bad things about others behind their backs. Be careful if it leaks out and it will cause you trouble."
Rooney was stunned for a moment and immediately looked around cautiously.
"Everyone, it was just a joke. You shouldn't spread it randomly and pin me in the storm of public opinion, right?"
"No, no, Wayne, everyone knows you are joking."
"Yes, yes, yes, Wayne, don't worry."
"Haha, everyone please give me Zhang Kuang some respect and stop spreading random rumors. Come on, let me toast you all."
"Cheers, cheers..."
Fortunately, the next game has to wait until the 26th, which is still a few days away, and it's Christmas soon, so everyone celebrated and drank some wine. Ferg and David didn't care much.
But you still have to be careful not to drink too much.
Men tend to make jokes when they drink too much, and everyone chats about interesting things in daily life.
He and Rooney also met because of Zhang Kuang. The two had similar personalities and had a very good conversation.
So, after the party...
Rooney and Hengbart were photographed by reporters from "The Sun" and found that they went to a suburban villa in London for a private party.
In order to capture images in the villa, "The Sun" also used an infrared camera. Although it is impossible to tell who is who, it can be distinguished by their body shape.
On December 23, the official website and newspaper of "The Sun" reported on this Christmas melon for everyone to enjoy Christmas:
"Manchester United generals and Auxerre players competed on the battlefield outside the stadium in advance. The two sides fought inextricably, Rooney was slightly inferior"
Then the cause and effect will be reported, and those infrared photos will be released.
The whole public opinion was in an uproar!
As soon as Rooney wandered home, his wife Coleen kicked him out of the house. Then the reporters who were standing in front of Rooney's house took another violent photo. Unexpectedly, a follow-up film was released.
This erotic incident is not a single incident, but a series?
Now Christmas is interesting.
Suddenly, Rooney was speechless, Manchester United was in a frenzy throughout the club, Ferguson was swearing, David vowed to punish the participants, and English Football Association even threatened to severely punish those with moral turpitude...
Next... is the investigation of public opinion and media, fans, clubs, Football Association and other parties, as well as digging into the relationship between Manchester United players and Auxerre players. Will they play tacit football in UEFA Champions League games?
All in all, I ate this melon for several days in a row.
Fortunately, Zhang Kuang did not go because he had other things to deal with and left the banquet early.
Therefore, "The Sun" was also puzzled. "Why did Player Zhang Kuang, the most carefree Manchester United, not participate in the gathering? It turns out there is such a mysterious reason behind it." Such an article immediately attracted a lot of viewers.
As a result, the analysis was as fierce as a tiger, and the actual evidence had no impact.