The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 333 Responding to the Call of the Homeland

Benfica reached the European finals eight times, but after winning the European Cup in 1961 and 1962, they lost all six of their subsequent European final appearances, the most recent being in 1990.

Therefore, this experience makes the Guttmann curse seem exceptionally convincing.

This is also the best opportunity for Benfica to break this curse.

At least in the eyes of Portuguese fans, the biggest enemy in the Europa League was originally Chelsea, the Premier League giants, but Chelsea stumbled against Bastia.

Compared to Chelsea, they would subconsciously think that Ligue 1 teams are nothing special, even if they are the Ligue 1 champions.

French Ligue 1 teams have a far inferior record in European competitions compared to Portuguese league teams.

How about Montpellier, last year's Ligue 1 champions?

Therefore,
At the pre-match press conference, Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus, with a calm demeanor and sharp eyes, exuded the cool composure and confidence characteristic of Portuguese coaches. He said, "Congratulations to Bastia on winning the Ligue 1 title and getting here. Mr. Hagi Bejic has done an excellent job. They have some amazing players, especially Jan Gueão, who is one of the most dangerous strikers in European football right now."

"But tomorrow, at the Amsterdam Arena, this isn't a story about their magical season, but about how Benfica will write its own chapter in history."

"Regarding the so-called 'curse,' I prefer to call it 'history.' Benfica has a glorious history, which we respect, but we will never be bound by it. When the players walk onto the pitch, they are thinking about tactics, movement, and how to defeat the opponent in front of them, not a quote from decades ago."

"As for pressure, Benfica lives under pressure to win the championship every day. This is the fate of a great club. We are used to coexisting with it and turning it into motivation."

“Bastia’s strength lies in their counter-attacking speed and fearless mentality, but the final is different. The final is about experience, details, and who makes fewer mistakes. On this field, we have more players who know how to deal with this level of competition.”

"Our goal is very clear: to add another chapter to the club's glorious history with a European trophy. We will prove on the field that Benfica's desire for the championship is stronger than any destiny."

"Finally, I want to say to our fans, believe in these players. Tomorrow, we will fight for everyone, for the eagle badge on our bodies, and to end all talk that has nothing to do with football."

The 58-year-old Jesus has been in charge of Benfica since June 2009 and is about to become the longest-serving head coach in the club's history. In his first season in charge, Jesus helped Benfica break Porto's four-year league title streak.

Furthermore, his performance has been very consistent, gradually transforming Benfica into a dominant force in the Portuguese league. He is highly skilled, and the team has offered him a contract extension until June 2015, which would bring his annual salary to 4 million euros. This puts him among the top ten highest-paid head coaches in the world.

This is definitely a capable head coach.

Compared to unknown coaches like Hagi Begic, Jesus seems more promising.

Online, Benfica fans are equally ambitious. After years of decline, it's time for Benfica to regain its strength, and they naturally hope to achieve more.

"The heritage of a century-old powerhouse cannot be defeated by a small island team with mere enthusiasm. We will show you what European aristocracy truly is! Curses? Those are just excuses for losers! True champions write their own destiny!"

"We'll show the French what real tactical discipline is!"

"They think this is a fairy tale, but we're here to put an end to it. Glory to Benfica!"

"From Lisbon to Amsterdam, our songs will never stop! We'll make this stadium our home ground! Charge! Charge! Charge! Win the European Championship!"

Bastia has far fewer fans than Benfica, so it naturally doesn't have an advantage in online public opinion.

But they don't care.

In the pre-match forums in Bastia, many people were sharing their thoughts and feelings.

One of the most popular posts featured a slightly yellowed, creased old photograph.

In the photo, a young man wearing a blue Bastia jersey stands in a sea of ​​people in the stands, his arm around his companion, smiling brightly at the camera. Behind him are blurry, huge stadium lights and a scoreboard, 0-0.

The author wrote,
"Dad, look, it's been 35 years."

This photo is your most treasured possession, the one you eagerly awaited when the show began.

Unfortunately, the final result was that you witnessed the team's crushing 0-3 defeat in PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands.

You always say that those were the longest and most heartbreaking 90 minutes of your life, but you never regretted going there because it was the closest you ever got to your dream.

You said that when the final whistle blew, everyone in the Bastia stands cried, but not a single person left beforehand.

You sang the entire team song until your voices were hoarse.

You said that was the first lesson you taught me—how to accept failure with dignity and always have hope.

Tomorrow, I will stand in the stands of Amsterdam, in the country where you once stood.

You will never see this scene again.

But don't worry, I'll take your photo, your old scarf, and your longing that has been dormant for 35 years with me.

This time, we won't finish singing our team song while crying.

This time, we will win back the glory that rightfully belongs to us, for you and for all those who experienced 1978!

Dad, please watch carefully—

This revenge, which has spanned 35 years, is finally our generation's turn to complete!

ALLEZ BASTIA!

The comments section was filled with all sorts of replies, with everyone clearly expressing their emotions and desires.

This is the collective vision of everyone in Bastia.

"History is not for reminiscing, it's for rewriting! Bring all your old jerseys, old photos, and old stories, and go to Amsterdam to create a new legend!"

"Corsican men never cry in front of outsiders, but tonight I allow myself to shed tears for the regrets of my fathers. Tomorrow, we will use the loudest songs to shatter 35 years of silence!"

"My father is in that photo too! He's all white-haired and can't go to the stadium, but I'll watch the live stream with him at home tomorrow and cheer for the team."

It's been 35 years. I hope you can sing "Allez Bastia" with a smile under the Dutch night sky! It's the anthem of our parents' youth!
The best version would be the 1977 version, the one that was written back then, which ended in tragedy. I hope that this time, all the Bastia fans will shout with excitement to this song, "Bastia are the European champions!!"

[Attached image: Original lyrics to "Allez Bastia" (1977) ↓ Translation follows the author's notes]

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

night.

The Amsterdam night breeze, carrying the dampness of the canals, gently caressed the hotel rooftop.

Chatham and Gaio leaned side by side against the railing, gazing at the distant outline of the Amsterdam Arena illuminated by lights.

Chatham's gaze remained fixed on the distance. He had specifically summoned Gaio to give him a solemn farewell. No one knew the outcome of tomorrow night's game, but he clearly realized that perhaps as early as next month, this young man would be wearing another team's jersey.

Gaião and Pierre have revealed to him their plans to collaborate with the Saudi consortium, which will reshape the Premier League landscape.

All of this seemed distant to him, but he always believed in Gaio's abilities.

now,

His voice was calm as still water: "When I first saw your scouting report, I was very surprised—a real golden phoenix had actually flown out of Bird Spring Town."

To my shame, at that time I was still hesitant about whether to coach a team. Later I thought that maybe the path of coaching was not suitable for me.

When I returned to Bastia, to the club where I had played for many years, and saw that the team was even on the verge of falling out of the professional league, I felt that I had to do something.

So I took action.

later,

When I learned that Nantes had dropped you, I thought, maybe I can give you another chance.

I want to give the children of Niaoquan Town hope, and even more so, I want to give this lost genius of Niaoquan Town a chance to start over, because I really thought you would be the biggest star to emerge from Niaoquan Town!

Of course, it still is now.

He paused slightly, his tone tinged with emotion: "I just never expected that you would end up in prison before you even played for Bastia's first team."

Gaio remained calm; he hadn't done those things, so he could accept it with equanimity.

Just as Gaio was about to speak, Chatham raised his hand to stop him: "The past is no longer important. What matters is tomorrow night, when all of Europe will witness how Bastia's genius conquers the continent."

His tone became serious: "After the season ends, your future is up to you. Whether it's Arsenal, Liverpool, or another team, the club will respect your choice. That's my promise to you."

Gaio nodded.

Bastia is fortunate to have a sporting director like Chatham.

“But before that,” Chatham’s voice suddenly sharpened, “I want you to play this final for all the children and fans of Bastia. Especially let the children of Birdspring, who are watching on TV and playing on the gravel field, see that even those who come from the gravel field can stand at the top of Europe.”

Facing Chatham's gaze.

After exchanging a focused glance, Gaio looked towards the distant court and replied firmly, "I will."

Chatham patted him on the shoulder one last time: "Go and rest. After tomorrow, all of France will be proud of you, because you will become the European champion and the pride of French football."

"Ah."

The two fell silent, gazing side by side at the brightly lit Amsterdam Arena in the distance, the wind in the night sky seeming to quiet down as well.

the next day.

Centered on the Netherlands, the ripples of the European finals continued to spread throughout Europe.

The Europa League final, as the second most prestigious club competition in European football after the Champions League, has always attracted the attention of countless fans around the world.

The final showdown of this season's Europa League features Benfica, a traditional powerhouse with a rich history, against Bastia, a dark horse that has emerged from nowhere.

Of particular note is Bastia's journey to the finals, which can be described as an epic legend.

They defeated European powerhouses such as Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, making a strong run to the final.

Gaião, with an astonishing average of two goals per game, is unsurprisingly leading the race for the Europa League Golden Boot.

Everyone knows that if Benfica wants to win the championship, the most crucial strategy must be to completely shut down Gaio.

Meanwhile, the media continued to hype up Bastia's dark horse miracle and Gaio's genius, creating a great deal of speculation about his summer destination.

From Real Madrid and Barcelona to the Premier League giants, almost every European powerhouse is associated with his name – without a doubt, this French super talent has become the focus of attention and a coveted treasure in the entire European football world.

He has already become known in the media as the "third person in the world" who could break Messi and Ronaldo's monopoly on the Ballon d'Or in the future.

However, there are quite a few people who are ranked third in the world these days.

Time slowly disappeared amidst the various sounds.

until--

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the canals of Amsterdam in an amber hue.

Bastia fans poured from the streets lined with cafes toward the Amsterdam Arena, their blue flags fluttering in the wind like battle banners.

This time,
Their eyes not only burned with desire, but also bore the scars of history and the flames of revenge.

For Bastia fans, setting foot on Dutch soil is like a twist of fate.

In 1978, in the same low-lying country, in the same Europa League (then called the UEFA Cup) final, their fathers witnessed their beloved team suffer a crushing defeat at the home ground of PSV Eindhoven, missing out on their first European trophy in club history.

That defeat is like an old scar etched in the hearts of every Bastia fan.

After that, Bastia completely declined. They didn't even qualify for European competitions, let alone win the European Championship. They were even relegated to the French National League.

now,

Thirty-five years later, fate brought them back to the Netherlands.

For the people of Bastia, the word "Netherlands" is no longer just about tulips and windmills, but a crossroads of glory and loss, a place of redemption that has awaited an entire generation.

They gathered outside the Amsterdam Arena, like a volcano about to erupt.

Every shout of "Fight, Bastia!" is not only for the final match in front of us, but also to transcend time and space and respond to that heartbreaking night in 1978.

This is not a simple football match; it is a decisive battle for dignity and historical destiny that the people of Bastia must win.

The wind from the North Sea brushed against their faces, no longer carrying the salty taste of the Netherlands.

Rather, it was the call from their Mediterranean homeland—a call for them to end that long 35-year wait with victory.

(End of this chapter)