The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 291 We deserve bigger dreams!

With the halftime break over.

Neither side made any changes; they retained their first-half lineups, with the players waiting in the center circle.

drop!
The referee blew his whistle.

The second half of the game has officially begun!
After Inter Milan kicked off, Bastia, as always, dropped deep into the box. Now it's Inter Milan, not Bastia, who are in a hurry.

Stramaccioni arrived at the coaching bench a little later than usual.

His face was calm.

Hagi Begic, on the other hand, had hope on his face, and every defensive play and confrontation on the court made him beam with joy.

The TF1 commentator said during the broadcast, "Inter Milan has no chance anymore."

The Italian commentator remarked, "Inter still has a very slim chance; their only hope is that Bastia will launch a fierce attack when their fitness declines."

however,
Inter Milan's performance showed no signs of a full-scale attack.

This surprised many Inter Milan fans.

"Huh? They passed it back?! Anyone who didn't know better would think we were leading Bastia 4-1!"

"No way, are they giving up? Oh bro, what are you guys even playing? What did Stramaccioni do in midfield? It looks like he hasn't done anything."

“From the recent matches, especially after the last loss to Bologna, I knew that there was a problem with the team. It was definitely not due to injuries, but an internal problem. Our record in the first half of the season was definitely good, but I don’t know when it started to collapse.”

Inter Milan fans had no idea what had happened.

Bastia fans had no idea what had happened.

But the Bastia players knew that Inter's current form would make their victory much easier.

Inter Milan is playing it safe, and Bastia won't press high up the pitch. As long as Inter Milan doesn't go into the attacking third, Bastia won't exert any intensity.

If you're so capable, try lobbing the ball directly into the goal from the center circle.

Bastia originally planned to use the "lying down" tactic to stall for time, but they found that Inter Milan was deliberately slowing down the pace. What else can be said?

Get ready to celebrate victory!

Of course.

That's what they thought, but on the field, every Bastia player was still on high alert.

God knows what dirty tricks Inter Milan is playing.

But as time went on, they realized that Inter Milan really didn't have any strategy, and they just collapsed.

The Italian commentator was dumbfounded, having no idea what Inter Milan was playing. He exclaimed, "Unbelievable!"
Look at Inter Milan's current style of play. Cassano is all alone in the attacking third, while Cambiasso and Kovacic are doing meaningless 'safe ball passing drills' near the center circle. Does this look like a team that is down 1-4 on aggregate and needs at least three goals to come back?
Do not!
This looks more like a team 'running away time' in the final moments of a preseason game!

Has Stramaccioni's move become a complete and utter tactical surrender?!

The director was well aware of everyone's doubts and gave Stramaccioni a close-up shot from the sidelines.

but,

You couldn't tell anything from his calm face.

Inter Milan's decision not to intensify their attack allowed Bastia to conserve energy by playing at a slower pace. Hagi Bejic had initially worried that Inter Milan would launch a counterattack in the second half and had made some contingency plans, but now none of them are needed.

drop!
In the 65th minute, Stramaccioni made a substitution, replacing Alvarez, who started the game, with Guarín.

This appears to be a tactical adjustment.

but,

Less than five minutes after Guarin came on as a substitute, he made a major mistake – Inter Milan finally managed to advance the attack into the frontcourt, but Guarin tried to pass the ball through to Palacio, which Van Dijk anticipated and intercepted with a sliding tackle.

Anguilla, who was next to Van Dijk, quickly controlled the ball and passed it back to goalkeeper Darmian.

Damian had a better view and immediately spotted De Bruyne dropping back to provide support.

Bang!
The ball reached De Bruyne's feet, and Guarin quickly went to chase after him.

De Bruyne was initially receiving the ball with his back to Guarin, but as Guarin approached, he spun half a circle, then spun back half a circle, completely shaking off Guarin.

De Bruyne then turned and took a long stride forward, completing the breakthrough!

Wow!
Many Bastia fans at the Thessaloniki stadium chanted "Kevin!" upon seeing De Bruyne's performance.

De Bruyne's performance in midfield this season is beyond question.

De Bruyne advanced through midfield with almost no resistance.

Lukaku and Gaio sprinted forward, drawing away most of the defense.

This caused Inter Milan's back and front lines to become disjointed, with the back players rushing back to defend while the front players hadn't caught up yet.

This gave De Bruyne very comfortable space to advance.

He strode forward.

Cambiasso finally got into position to limit De Bruyne's advance, but it was too late.

De Bruyne spotted Lukaku's run down the middle.

Bang!
He delivered a precise, surgical through ball that bypassed Cambiasso, Jesus, and Chivu's defenses, directly connecting with Lukaku.

Lukaku received the ball with a half-turn, saw a large open space in front of him, and poked the ball without hesitation.

The little monster has no fancy moves, just the heart of a winger, charging forward and getting by!
Chivu couldn't keep up with Lukaku's pace.

With Jesus about to be left behind, he had no choice but to make one last desperate attempt!
He threw himself out and launched a flying tackle, trying to intercept the ball.

however,
Lukaku, weighing 200 pounds, is incredibly fast when he charges. Jesus didn't even have a chance to touch the ball; instead, he brought Lukaku down.

Ah!
Lukaku screamed in agony, a scream that made Jesus' heart skip a beat – it was all over!
really,

drop!
The next second, the referee blew his whistle, and his hand was already reaching for his back pocket.

Jesus quickly stood up, and before the referee could take out his cards, he clasped his hands together and shook his head repeatedly.

But the referee's smooth combo was already in place.

He pulled out the red card and held it high.

clap clap clap!
A cheer erupted from the Cesarian stadium as fans applauded enthusiastically.

This was their most threatening attack in the second half, which actually forced the opponent to play with one less player – what a bargain!

This red card almost means that Bastia has already stepped into the Europa League quarterfinals.

Inter Milan fans have fallen into complete despair.

Trailing by three goals and playing with one less player.

How can we even play like this?!

Stramaccioni seemed to have already resigned himself to his fate; he simply shrugged at the referee and did nothing else.

Gaio rushed over to check on Lukaku's condition. He was knocked down during the high-speed sprint and was therefore more likely to be injured.

Fortunately,
The little monster is very durable.

Gaião helped Lukaku up, and the latter smiled broadly; he had a highlight moment in this match.

Jesus walked off the field with his head down and went straight back to the locker room.

The Inter Milan players looked at his retreating figure with a hint of sadness in their eyes.

Stramaccioni went on to make his second personnel change.

Cassano was replaced by a defender, Ranocchia.

Gaio glanced at the still very young "fleet".

He was familiar with Lanoukville.

The future Inter Milan captain, he was originally a top defender that fans were looking forward to, just like Chiellini. Unfortunately, he encountered the darkest period of Inter Milan's history, the most difficult period. His weaknesses were magnified infinitely, and coupled with injuries, he had no choice but to retire early.

However, he did accompany Inter Milan through this darkest period.

Gaio quietly exhaled; Inter Milan might really be being pushed into this dark period ahead of time by him.

But that's football.

There will always be winners, so why can't it be myself?
Bastia's free kick.

However, the position was a bit far, so Gaio let De Bruyne and Rothen take the penalty. He stood on the edge of the penalty area, waiting for the opportunity.

After the hype surrounding Straight Red.

drop!
The referee blew his whistle again, signaling that Bastia could restart the game.

De Bruyne and Rothen raised their hands to their teammates.

De Bruyne then started the attack.

However, he didn't kick the ball; instead, he bypassed it, and Rothen, almost standing still, swung his leg to curl the ball into the penalty area.

Both teams' players rushed towards the ball.

Bang!
Van Dijk was the first to appear in everyone's sight. Using his height and jumping advantage, he used a back-and-forth motion to throw the ball directly towards the goal.

however,
As the ball headed towards the goal, Chivu rose to contest the header, and one hand opened to maintain balance.

The football hit Chivu's arm and bounced back.

"Hey!! Handball! Handball!!"

When the ball was blocked, the other Bastia players immediately patted their arms at the referee, indicating that it was a handball foul.

drop!
The referee saw it clearly; it was indeed a handball.

So he gave it to them without hesitation.

"what?!"

Inter Milan's players were really struggling at this point, with red cards and penalties looming.
The key issue is that they are still three goals behind.

I'm about to lose it!

Stramaccioni, no matter how much he tried to remain calm, couldn't hold back any longer.

He kicked away a water bottle on the sidelines in a fit of rage.

Then he sat down on the coach's bench.

His face was solemn.

Haji Begitch looked excited; it was a sure thing!

Hell or heaven, nothing could be more perfect than this.

boom!
Boom boom! !
The penalty kick made the Cesarian stadium seem like a pre-emptive celebration of advancing to the next round. The fans roared, their faces flushed with excitement, shouting and waving their support items.

"Geo!"

The fans were chanting Gaio's name.

Gaião, holding the football, walked towards the penalty spot, ready to face Handanovic.

The penalty kick was unchangeable.

Handanovic has become the last line of defense in the eyes of Inter Milan fans.

however,
When the whistle blew, and when Gaio unleashed a powerful shot straight into the corner.

Inter Milan fans are in despair.

"it's over"

Swish!
The ball flew into the corner of the net, and even with Handanovic stretched out his body to the extreme and guessed the direction correctly, he still couldn't do anything.

The ball went in.

2-0.

Gaio scores twice!

This might just be the game-killing goal, making it 5-1.

At this moment, the TF1 commentators went wild, shouting, "Goal! Top corner! Absolutely top corner! Gaio! Jan Gaio!!! Penalty converted!"

2-0!

5-1 in total score!

The dust settles!

The suspense is over!!
Bastia, the blue army from the small island of Corsica, buried Serie A giants Inter Milan with their own hands in the crater of Thessaly!

I can almost celebrate their historic achievement! Returning to the Europa League quarterfinals after 34 years!

The moment Gaio scored, he turned and ran to the sidelines, his face full of excitement, and opened his arms to the stands.

at the same time,

Thesari Stadium erupted into a frenzied, triumphant celebration, brimming with regional pride and the catharsis of victory!
The fans' reaction was as fiery as a volcanic eruption!
They felt a surge of heat rising from every corner of their bodies, rushing straight to the top of their heads.

Crazy!

Only madness can allow them to be unrestrained and vent their emotions!

"Gaio! Gaio! Gaio!"

Tens of thousands of throats roared the same name at the same time, the sound waves converging into a storm that echoed wildly in the night sky of Thessalon!

His name is no longer just a simple syllable, but a totem of victory and an embodiment of faith!

this moment,
The stadium in Thesari was transformed into a boiling sea of ​​blue!
Songs, shouts, tears, hugs, leaps—all intertwined to compose the most glorious and passionate epic chapter in the history of Bastia football!
5-1!

This scoreline was probably unexpected when Bastia was drawn, as many people thought Bastia wouldn't even be able to beat Tottenham.

Even past Tottenham, almost no one would have expected this score before the match against Inter Milan.

Stramaccioni was already slumped on the coach's bench.

Hagi Begic and his assistants were already hugging each other, celebrating wildly. In the stands behind them, among the crazy fans, Jerónimí and Chatham were so excited that they were about to shed tears.

Around the world, countless people have experienced a variety of emotions because of this score and this scene.

at least,

Fans, teammates, and friends who know and like Gaio were all excited for Gaio at this moment.

For Inter Milan

It's all over!
The players walked dejectedly towards the center circle, waiting for the game to end.

Zanetti wanted to do something, but he found that with his career nearing its end, there seemed to be nothing he could do.

He is no longer the Inter Milan defensive linchpin who could freeze the opponent's key players one-on-one.

Time is not forgiving.

drop!
After the Bastia players celebrated excitedly for a long time, the game resumed.

There are 20 minutes left.

But in the eyes of Inter Milan players, this period of time was too long and too agonizing.

The Bastia players, on the other hand, felt increasingly light on their feet. They were full of passion and fighting spirit, and they wanted to win everything!
They now feel that they have no rivals left in the world!

Hagibis finally substituted Gaio and Lukaku in the 80th minute, bringing on Mane and Palmiri. One was kept for counter-attacks, and the other was mainly for defense.

However, Inter Milan was not as resilient or strong as he had imagined.

The score remained 2-0 until the 90th minute.

Inter Milan won 5-1, with their only goal coming from their captain Zanetti.

Four minutes of added time.

In those four minutes, Thessaloniki Stadium was like a balloon about to burst, just waiting for that moment to arrive.

at last!

The moment the stoppage time ended!
drop--!
The heavenly final whistle pierced the sweltering roar of the stadium!

this moment,
Time seemed to freeze, then was shattered completely by a volcanic eruption of ecstasy!

The shouts, roars, tears, and hugs of tens of thousands of Bastia fans created a boiling blue ocean that instantly engulfed the entire stadium!

Thirty-four years!

Thirty-four years!

Bastia, a team from the small island of Corsica, has finally made it to the Europa League quarterfinals again after ups and downs, having suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final last time.

This time, they are leading a brand-new steel army, with burning faith, and are marching steadily and firmly into history!

We're in the quarterfinals!
When Bastia drew this draw—to face Tottenham and Inter Milan—no one would have imagined that Bastia would ultimately advance!
On the field,

De Bruyne, Kante, Darmian and other teammates embraced Gaio. He scored five goals in two games, he is the core and soul of Bastia!
Many people were even moved to tears, as this marked Bastia's return to the Europa League quarterfinals after 34 years, and their first time reaching the quarterfinals in their professional careers.

Haji Begichi clenched his fists and roared to the sky.

His weathered face was now brimming with passion as he rushed to the sidelines and embraced every substitute player and staff member with fervor.

He led the team from the French National League all the way to the Europa League quarterfinals; the experience was something that outsiders could not understand.

At least for this moment, the former Yugoslavian defender has completely released and vented his emotions!

In the stands.

Jerónimín and Chatham excitedly joined the fans in chanting "Long live Bastia! Long live Gaio!"

Such a roar was like the raging waves of the Mediterranean, one wave higher than the next.

gushing.

The elderly fans with white hair were in tears, as if they had traveled back to the same passionate era 34 years ago.
The children rode on their father's shoulders, waving their little scarves, their eyes reflecting the light of a hero;
Amidst deafening shouts, the couple passionately kissed, etching this moment of ecstasy into their very being.
All the emotions were intertwined.

But football,
It's always a mix of joy and sorrow; the revelry in Bastia contrasts with the somber silence of blue-black.

Inter Milan's players collapsed onto the grass, staring blankly at the sky swallowed up by the blue of Bastia.

Zanetti stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the scoreboard, his face silent, sweat and tears of frustration dripping down his face.

Cambiasso covered his face with his hands, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Stramaccioni stood on the sidelines, his figure appearing particularly small and forlorn against the backdrop of revelry. He was expressionless, as if his soul had been ripped away.

Meazza's pride was utterly burned and buried in Corsica.

At the moment the whistle blew, the commentator said nothing more than, "Bastia! Congratulations Bastia!"

Emotions continued to surge.

It has passion, it has tears, it has happiness.
Then came the closing remarks.

The Bastia players walked hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, toward the standings where the die-hard fans were boiling like a volcano erupting.

They bowed deeply.

Modoso stood before the crowd, waving a Moorish flag and shouting, "Long live Gaio!!"

Not only the die-hard fans in the stands, but also those fans in other stands who were unwilling to leave, joined in the cheering at this moment.

"Long live Gaio!!"

It was Gaio who led them to create history step by step;
It was Gaio who allowed them to experience the greatest happiness in football;
It was Gaio who gave them the courage to dream of championships, and more championships!

The fans cheered sincerely and enthusiastically!

Surrounded at the front, Gaio took off his jersey and threw it forcefully into the stands.

Subsequently,

He raised his arms and shouted towards the fans in the stands—

Long live Bastia!

"Long live Bastia!!"

This scene,
The moment was immediately captured by a reporter on the sidelines; it was the most genuine scene between the team's fans and the players.

Bastia shouted "Long live Gaio!" while Gaio shouted, "Long live Bastia!"

This is a story of mutual success.

The response to Gaio was a deafening roar of "Gaio! Gaio! Gaio!"

His name resounds through the heavens, echoing the roar of the Mediterranean waves.
No matter how unwilling the fans are to leave, the hustle and bustle will eventually come to an end, and the noise will eventually subside.

As the players and fans gradually leave.

The stadium gradually returned to calm, standing as always under the night sky.

However, more complexities continue to spread out from the Cesarí stadium.

Like ripples, it spreads out in concentric circles.

The stories of Bastia's successful escape from the encirclement of Tottenham and Inter Milan, as told in various news reports, on fan forums, and in clinking glasses at offline pubs, will remain in the minds of fans.

Until an even more legendary story overshadows it.

at the post-game press conference.

Haji Begitch couldn't hide his excitement, his face flushed. The scene of him taking a bow had left a deep impression on him.

What should be the relationship between fans, teams, and players?
He thought Bastia and Gaio had already given the answer.

Haji Begitch's emotions were still churning.

As soon as they returned to the locker room, everyone in Bastia erupted in another round of excited celebration.

In the locker room, Lukaku, the most energetic player, even shouted, "We're going to win the Europa League!"

Hagi Begic, a coach who only talks about avoiding relegation, didn't stop it this time.

even,

When he faced the reporters and the microphone, this time he didn't say any of those clichés or platitudes.

His voice was firm and resounding—

"Tonight belongs to Bastia! To Corsica! To every heart that beats for the blue flag!"

"Inter Milan is a great opponent with a glorious history, but tonight, in Cesare, amidst the roar of 20,000 warriors, our belief is stronger than their history!"

5-1!

This is not an obscure topic!
This victory was won with our own two legs, with our own blood and sweat, and with our own willpower!

"Reaching the quarterfinals is by no means the end; it's just the beginning of a new journey. As for tomorrow's draw? Who will we face? Chelsea? Newcastle? Benfica? Or someone else? We don't care!"

Bastia's path was never decided by lottery! It was decided here—"

As he spoke, he pounded his chest forcefully, "It's all thanks to Bastia's indomitable fighting spirit!"

At last,
He calmed himself down and smiled, “We will enjoy tonight’s victory, enjoy the Corsican moonlight and sea breeze, but when the sun rises tomorrow, our eyes will be fixed on the next goal—the semi-finals! The finals! And even the ultimate championship!”

Because of this team, these warriors, and these fans, we deserve even bigger dreams!

Bastia is pursuing a bigger dream.

All that's left for Inter Milan is desolation.

Only heartbreak remains.

Stramaccioni appeared relaxed, but his disheveled collar clearly revealed his underlying anxiety.

Facing the reporters, he tried to remain calm and composed, saying, "Congratulations to Bastia, they deserved to advance. Gaio proved he's a top player at this level, but tonight's result is a disaster for us."

A complete and utter disaster.

There are no excuses.

As the head coach, I take full responsibility.

I failed.

He spoke the word "failure" very lightly, yet it struck like a heavy hammer, shattering his idealized world of football.

Stramaccioni spoke lightly about the match.

When pressed by reporters about the future, he let out a short laugh, “The future? My future is not important now. What’s important is the future of Inter Milan. This team needs to change.”

New energy is needed.

It needs to be rebuilt.

The club will make the right decision, and I respect any decision.

After answering the question, he turned and left.

The reporters were left standing there, looking at each other in bewilderment.

It was over after only a few words?

Among the reporters present was one from Milan, who shook their heads slightly as they watched Stramaccioni's almost "fleeing" figure.

Stramaccioni was like a sharp wind at the San Siro, bringing with him youthful ambition and a blueprint for change.

Fans may still remember the idealistic gleam in his eyes when he first took office, a testament to his dedication to fluid attacking play, youthful energy, and restoring the glory of Inter Milan!

His team did indeed play some truly exciting football.

That brief flash of light truly illuminated the long-dormant hope in Nerazzurri's heart.

however,
Idealistic blueprints ultimately cannot withstand the cold weight of reality.

Whether it's injuries or his almost stubborn insistence on beautiful football, it doesn't matter.

In the face of brutal competition, it sometimes seems so out of place, even becoming a shackle that binds one's hands and feet.

The glimmer of hope he had once ignited flickered and dimmed like a candle in the wind in the face of continuous setbacks and a cold leaderboard.
finally.
It drifted away silently.

The sea breeze from Bastia swept through the empty passageway, carrying away the last trace of Stramaccioni's voice at the press conference, and also taking away the grand vision that had promised to bring about a resurgence of Inter Milan.

Those left behind
There is only one figure whose ideals have been shattered by reality.

There was also a long, drawn-out sigh about "what if".

If there are no injuries
If the team makes high-quality signings
如果
"If we draw Chelsea, we might be eliminated in the quarterfinals. We need to be in even better form. They're really strong this season, with players like Hazard and Mata who are simply unstoppable."

When Gaio and the others returned to the training base, Lukaku was still talking about their next Europa League opponent.

All Europa League matches have now concluded.

Chelsea thrashed Steaua Bucharest at home, successfully coming from behind to advance.

Chelsea, with their full-strength squad, also demonstrated top-level strength, living up to their reputation as a favorite to win the Europa League.

The top eight teams have been determined.

England has been eliminated from the Champions League, but two English teams are represented in the Europa League, making it the league with the most teams from the same country, while other national football associations have at most one representative.

Bastia, Chelsea, Rubin Kazan, Benfica, Newcastle United, Lazio, Basel, Fenerbahce.

Premier League, Ligue 1, Russian Premier League, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Italian Serie A, Swiss Super League, Turkish Super League.

All seven major leagues have reached the Europa League quarterfinals!

It can be said that the distribution of strength is quite balanced.

Chelsea have been incredibly strong this season after a series of signings. After all, talented young players like Lukaku and De Bruyne have never had a chance to play in the first team, otherwise they wouldn't have been loaned out.

De Bruyne chimed in, "When we draw Chelsea, we have no choice but to fight to the end, so there's no need to overthink it. Just go out there and aim to win. If we win in the end, we'll be the champions."

"Haha." Gaio laughed.

De Bruyne turned and glanced at him, his expression somewhat reproachful that Gaio was laughing in a situation that should have been filled with energy and enthusiasm.

Gaio shook his head and explained, "I wasn't laughing at you. I was just thinking that if we could go back to Chelsea and beat them ourselves, I think that would be really exciting, right? At least the media would love it. They'd write, 'Look, the guy who was released by Chelsea is back!' Just imagine, wouldn't that be awesome?"

"Ha, that's right! They're unwilling to give me a chance to play in the first team, at most they'll let me train with the team. If I can dominate them, I can prove them all wrong! I can do it!"

Lukaku immediately echoed Gaio's sentiments.

His thought process is relatively simple; sometimes he doesn't buy into De Bruyne's approach and prefers Gaio's way of speaking.

Lukaku was trembling with excitement just thinking about such a scene.

Thinking about it that way, drawing Chelsea doesn't seem like a bad choice.

De Bruyne smiled helplessly in response.

He is relatively reserved.

He disliked Lukaku's loud and boisterous personality, but he found Gaio, whom he got along with very well, always managed to have very congenial conversations with Lukaku.

It always gives Lukaku the energy to sprint at full speed during the game.

Sometimes, when De Bruyne thinks about it, he feels that Gaio might really be a born captain.

It can unite everyone.

As De Bruyne pondered this, his thoughts continued to wander. If Gaio were to join a top team in the summer, would he still be able to demonstrate such leadership?
As for whether he can adapt to the new environment, De Bruyne has no worries.

He and Gaio practically spent every day together, and he knew Gaio's strength all too well.

As long as someone can create some space for Gaio, Gaio can tear a huge hole in the opponent's defense!

Inter Milan were completely crushed by Gaio tonight.

I haven't encountered anyone who can defend Gaio one-on-one yet.

Perhaps Zanetti could have done it if he were ten years younger, but he can't now.

The group returned to their respective dormitories, chatting and laughing.

Get a good night's sleep.

Many of them still have World Cup qualifiers with their national teams, matches they absolutely must win.

After all, this is related to next year's World Cup!

Clubs have their own honors, and national teams have their own World Cups.

This is every player's dream.

Gaio was no exception.

(End of this chapter)