Football: Starting from the Ronaldinho template

Chapter 346 UEFA Men's Player of the Year is—

The final score was 1-6, with Arsenal securing a resounding victory in the second round of the Premier League at the River Trench.

Tonight is also a night of shattered dreams for countless Premier League strikers.

Although it's said that anything can happen in football, and anything is possible until the end, Qin Ming has scored six goals in two rounds. How can they compete?

They felt that they were not chasing a giant at that moment.

It is God.

The Sun: Brutal Gunners! With three goals in the first round and six in the second, the Gunners have a good chance of breaking Everton's record of 30 goals in the first eight rounds of the 1894-1895 season!
The Guardian: Arsenal are the best attacking team since the Guangxu era. Is Europe ready for another sweep?!
Kicker: Arsenal are currently displaying absolute dominance, and Qin Ming will also reach his 100th appearance for the Gunners, but he has already etched his name into the Gunners' history!

All of Europe was captivated by Arsenal's all-out attack.
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What is Arsenal trying to do?
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[No, the pressure is immense right from the start, do they really want to break 50 goals?]
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I feel like I'm about to break the record for 100 goals in a year.
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It's hard to say. There are fewer national team matches this year, so Qin Ming has nowhere to rack up goals except for league and cup games. It's unlikely he'll reach 100 goals.
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【这轮英超结束，曼城1-0埃弗顿、曼联3-0斯旺西、热刺1-2切尔西、利物浦2-0水晶宫，阿森纳净胜球多高居榜首，但等到联赛十轮结束，还得看踢强队结果。】
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[The Champions League group stage and awards ceremony are coming up soon, and I can't wait to see Qin Ming's first major award!]
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[UEFA Men's Player of the Year!]
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Should Arsenal make any more signings? The fact that they've conceded goals in the last two rounds shows there are still problems with their defense.
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Good defenders aren't easy to buy; Van Dijk was a lucky find.
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[Furthermore, if Arsenal buys players like that again, it will trigger Financial Fair Play regulations. They should consider selecting from their youth academy instead.]
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【.】

With only one week left in August, Qin Ming's home received several groups of guests, all of whom were reporters from major sports media outlets.

This includes UEFA staff.

They were going to film a documentary series to be shown at the awards ceremony.

Several cameras were placed in the living room, pointed at Qin Ming who was sitting on the sofa, with staff members sitting next to him.

"Hello Qin, just call me Miles."

Miles adjusted the miniature microphone on his chest. "If you had to choose just one photo from last season's Champions League final that you'd remember vividly when you're old, which one would you choose?"

Qin Ming was reminded of his memories by Miles' words, as if he had returned to the Millennium Stadium.

Which photo?

It should be myself when the final whistle blows.

At that moment, it was as if all versions of him were there: the high school student obsessed with playing football, the fan who loved drinking beer, the youth player who was banned from the cafeteria, and the player who spent his youth in Wolfsburg and won an impossible championship for Arsenal.

He felt that was his truest self.

"I think it should be this one."

Qin Ming selected the photo he wanted from the neatly arranged pictures on the table.

"Okay, so the next question is, if you could only leave one message, the one that touches you the most, what would it be?"

Miles continued to ask.

Qin Ming took out his phone from his pocket and quickly scrolled through the listings: Tintin, Perisic, and Mr. Hannah Scott.

[Don't forget to come back to the tavern for a drink after you win the Champions League; you're an adult now and there are no drinking restrictions.]

This is a text message Mr. Scott sent him before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid two seasons ago.

He felt very guilty after losing the game.

Because he carried the hopes of many people, but failed to deliver a good outcome for them, leaving them as disappointed as he was.

He has done it now.

Mr. Scott, however, went to heaven.

"It seems like this is a difficult question to answer. Qin, when do you feel most powerful, and when do you feel most insecure?"

Miles cleverly steered the conversation away from the topic.

"In the FA Cup loss to Manchester City, I didn't perform very well and missed a lot of good chances. My best performance was probably in the last twenty minutes of the Champions League final."

Qin Ming smiled.

"Haha, talking about yourself is always difficult, but I still have to ask, how does one become a great player?"

Miles asked slyly.

"Your question is indeed difficult to answer, and I don't know either. The voters are journalists. Personally, my passion for playing football has never changed. I want to find joy in football and also bring joy to the viewers."

Qin Ming recalled his childhood when he felt the wind blowing as he ran.

Should I try to get some votes for myself?

Seeing the slightly somber atmosphere, Miles raised an eyebrow and cracked a joke.

"Beyond this issue, I would like to say that everyone will think about what they like and then vote for their favorite player."

"If you like Qin Ming, that's great."

"If you don't like me, whether it's me or you, life goes on."

"So just vote for the person you like."

Qin Ming looked at the camera and said seriously.

"Then let's talk about your head coach, Mr. Arsène Wenger."

Miles glanced at it and asked again.

"Okay, before the Champions League final, he told us to enjoy the game because some of the moments might be something we never get to experience again in our careers."

"Also, he always seems very detached, sometimes giving the impression that he doesn't care, but that's completely wrong, because he's an ambitious person."

"But that doesn't stop him from staying calm, always having a smile on his face, and putting all his energy into the team."

Qin Ming knew the professor quite well.

Soon it was August 25th.

Monte Carlo.

The Grimaldi Conference Center, the venue for this awards ceremony, is not a modern glass building.

Instead, it sits on the rough rocks of the Prince of Monaco Palace and is itself part of the Prince of Monaco Palace complex.

The historic stone walls gleamed warmly in the Mediterranean sun.

As the star athletes walked down the red carpet, the spotlights flashed wildly.

"Gianluigi!"

"Leo!"

"Cristiano!"

Messi and Ronaldo, dressed in suits, smiled at the camera.

Nobody wants to be someone else's background character; they wouldn't have come if it weren't for UEFA's requirement.

Isn't that just using someone as a stepping stone?

But no way.

Cristiano Ronaldo turned his head to look at the distant Port of Hercules in Monaco, where the azure sea and the villas built on the hillside on the opposite shore created a stunning picture.

This is a reminder that he is at the very top of the football world.

However, the person who is in the spotlight and being praised by countless people today is no longer him.

The resentment in my heart burned like a wildfire.

Real Madrid is still very strong in the new season, even stronger than last season. They want to win back the Champions League title and reclaim the honors that were taken from them.

Soon, renowned coaches, legends, and current superstars from the football world, such as Zidane, Ferguson, and Wenger, walked by, signing autographs and taking photos in front of the backdrop.

The reporters' attention shifted in unison to the car parked in front of the red carpet.

pat!

The car door was opened by a staff member, and a long leg stepped out first. Qin Ming straightened his suit.

look up.

The spotlight flashed on and off like lightning.

Fortunately, he was already used to it, and amidst deafening cheers, he stepped onto the red carpet leading to honor.

It felt great to be the last one to appear.

Qin Ming could barely suppress his smile, so he simply laughed, signed the backdrop, and took photos with his friends, Ding Ding, Perisic, Sanchez, and Morata.

Entering the venue.

The crystal chandelier casts a warm glow, and classic moments from European football are displayed on the walls.

"Good location."

Qin Ming walked to Ronaldo's left and sat down in the first seat.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi nodded to him.

We're all professional players; our relationship isn't great, but it's not bad either.

We usually greet each other when we see each other.

Of course, Qin Ming completely ignored Griezmann; that guy had been far too arrogant before. He wasn't even on the UEFA Men's Player of the Year shortlist this year.

The lights suddenly went out.

The presenter, Pedro Pinto, took the stage. As a renowned Portuguese sports journalist, he is the go-to English presenter for many of UEFA's major events.

Good evening, Monaco.

Good evening, world.

"Welcome to the Grimaldi Conference Center, welcome to the most glorious night in European football."

"Here, the starlight of the Mediterranean meets the glory of football. We gather here with the same passion for two important things."

"First, we look to the future; second, we cherish the past."

Pedro Pinto said with a smile.

Qin Ming looked at the big screen on the stage, which was playing highlights of last season's Champions League, and he could see many of his own figures in it.

This is a night that connects the past and the future.

It is also the intersection of dreams and honors.

Qin Ming couldn't help but feel excited. Although he came in second place last year, as people say, no one remembers second place unless he comes in second place every year.

Qin Ming had no intention of imitating De Rossi and becoming a perennial runner-up.

"Tonight we are very honored to have a true Champions League legend assist us. He is a Ballon d'Or winner, a super striker who once struck fear into the hearts of all defenders, and he himself is part of the great history of this competition!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome Andriy Shevchenko with the warmest applause!"

After Pedro Pinto finished speaking, Shevchenko appeared and said a few words, followed by UEFA President Fitcherin.

There was less fluff this year.

"Then let's raise the curtain together and begin this magical night for football!"

"The UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony is now officially in session!"

Pedro Pinto waved.

Four transparent glass tanks were carried out, witnessed by countless fans.

The draw for the Champions League group stage has begun.

One by one, the small balls were opened.

Arsenal in Group A!

Arsenal, as last season's Champions League winners, were placed in Pot 1, and today they happened to be the first team to be drawn from Group A.

The entire room fell silent instantly, all eyes turning to the gleaming glass tank under the spotlight.

That place will determine the fate of many teams.

Nobody wants to face Arsenal, especially second-tier teams like Barcelona, ​​PSG, Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, and Sevilla.

Barcelona president Bartomeu's hand clenched tightly in the shadows.

After the seeded teams are assigned to each group, the teams in the second tier are drawn.

"Sevilla, Group A!"

Other team coaches breathed a sigh of relief, but Montella was on the verge of tears. "Are they really going to keep chasing me down?"
When he was coaching Fiorentina, they faced Wolfsburg in the Europa League. At that time, almost all the Serie A teams were eliminated, and they were counting on Fiorentina to get revenge.

As a result, they were soundly defeated by Wolfsburg.

Now he's coaching Sevilla, and they're facing Arsenal in the group stage.

Isn't Qin Ming just relentlessly chasing after him?
Hopefully, the third-tier teams aren't strong enough to avoid creating a "group of death."

However, this is practically impossible.

Because among the third-tier teams, Roma, Tottenham, and Napoli are considered strong.

But they'll clash with Arsenal and Sevilla.
No, I'm currently coaching Sevilla, a La Liga team, not an Italian Serie A team.

The third tier of teams will be drawn.

"Rome, Group A!"

Montella stared intently at the note in Totti's hand, wishing he could punch the Roman prince.

What kind of stuff did they draw?
He had a conflict with Totti during the 2002 World Cup, and now that Totti has just officially retired, why is he causing trouble for himself again?!

On the stage, Totti and Montella had the same expression.

He never expected that his casual move would deliver Roma right to Arsenal's doorstep.

Group A is now definitely a group of death.

"Greek team, Group A!"

After all the teams in Group A were drawn, the camera focused on the coaches of Group A: Wenger, Montella, and Di Francesco. Only Wenger had a faint smile on his face.

Arsenal have always been unlucky.

This has been the case since 2006, and he was prepared for a bad draw result.

Moreover, he believes that Arsenal's strength should make it out of the group stage without any problem.

Besides Group A, Group H, consisting of Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, and CSKA Moscow, is also a group of death.

Barcelona has been placed in the same group as Juventus and Sporting Lisbon.

Paris Saint-Germain was placed in the same group as Bayern Munich.

The Manchester brothers were quite lucky, with Spartacus and Miners finishing first in their group, so they're practically guaranteed to advance.

This was a real treat for the fans.

This year's group stage was absolutely intense, and they always had this feeling that UEFA was targeting Arsenal.

Don't you want Arsenal to retain their title?
But looking at other death groups, they couldn't find any evidence.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now moving on to the awards ceremony!"

"The first award presented is the UEFA President's Special Contribution Award!"

Francesco Totti!

The host gestured for Totti to come up again.

Totti accepted the trophy and said a few words casually. It was clear that he was not in a good mood, after all, he had given his former team a bad draw.

Next came the selection of last season's best player.

Best goalkeeper: Buffon!

Best Defender: Virgil van Dijk!
Best midfielder: Modric!

Best Forward: Qin Ming!

Qin Ming was a little dissatisfied with the result. He felt that Arsenal should have won all four positions and that the best players in each position should have been them.

But think about it.

While Kante is a strong defender, he is no match for Modric or Toni Kroos in terms of organizing the offense.

After all, the Champions League places more emphasis on technique and control.

And then there's Cech, whose stats aren't actually that great. Buffon only conceded two goals before Juventus reached the semi-finals.

His individual performance was absolutely overwhelming, making him a decisive figure in Juventus' Champions League campaign.

Cech conceded four goals.

Moreover, Buffon is getting on in years, and who knows how many more years he might be able to play.

UEFA Women's Player of the Year: Lik Martens!

"Qin Ming is the UEFA Men's Player of the Year!"

Then Pedro Pinto shouted loudly.

clang clang clang!

The stirring melody echoed through the magnificent venue, while the screen played a replay of Qin Ming's Champions League goal last season and the video of him lifting the trophy.

As the pace gets faster and faster.

All 46 Premier League goals have flashed by.

A gasp of surprise replaced the melody, followed by thunderous applause. Pedro Pinto shrugged. "Qin, you'll have to come up again. There's another trophy to collect. Kevin can keep that for you."

(End of this chapter)