This is the term that has been most frequently reported by media around the world after the Champions League group stage draw.
Almost all media believe that it will be difficult for Naples to break out of the Champions League group stage.
Surrounded by a number of strong opponents, and participating in the Champions League for the first time after its reform, Napoli has no experience in European competitions. Whether it is facing Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, or Zenit St. Petersburg, which has just won the Europa League.
, Naples has no advantage at all.
As the defending champion of Serie A, Napoli may find it difficult to stand out from such a terrifying group of death.
Even Italy's local Gazzetta dello Sport believes that this season's Group H has created the most terrifying group of death since the Champions League was restructured, surpassing the one in the 2002-03 season.
Sacchi also analyzed the Champions League draw in his column. He also believed that Naples' draw was indeed not ideal.
But Sacchi believes that Naples still has a chance.
Real Madrid and Bayern are very famous, but they are far from the strength of the top teams in Europe. Compared with Manchester United, Chelsea and other Premier League teams, their strength is still slightly inferior. This is equivalent to giving Naples a chance.
"Judging from his experience coaching Real Madrid, he has never lacked the ability to lead a team in tough battles. Even every time he faces a strong opponent, it inspires his fighting spirit and desire to win."
Sacchi believes that Napoli's strength still has a chance to qualify, but there is a key point, which is that they must play well at home.
As a fourth-tier team, Napoli's schedule is to visit the Bernabeu first, then face Bayern Munich at home. In the third round, they will go to Russia to challenge Zenit St. Petersburg away. In the fourth round, they will return to home to face the Russian team.
Sacchi said that judging from the past Champions League group matches, as long as we can win three home games, it will be nine points. If we can fight hard for the next game away from home, or there will be two draws, then it will be basically stable.
However, some media believe that what Sacchi said is too idealistic.
In fact, the Naples team is so young, and most of the players are participating in the Champions League for the first time. Away games are inherently very difficult. Even at home, they may not be able to take advantage of experienced teams such as Real Madrid and Bayern.
Cheap.
"The Champions League is not Serie A! Gao Shen and his Naples should practice hard and improve themselves step by step."
The implication is that Naples will still become a stepping stone for wealthy teams this season.
In fact, this is also the norm in the Champions League group stages.
Teams in the fourth or even third tier have always been a supporting player.
Some people even say that the teams that sneak into the third and fourth tiers are here for the bonuses of the Champions League, just like being paid to compete with wealthy teams to please fans around the world.
Looking around the world, there are many media and fans who hold similar ideas.
The vast majority of fans admire the strong ones, but of course the weak teams should become stepping stones and cannon fodder?
All the lights in the world are built for the protagonist, but don’t the extras and passers-by really deserve to have a line and a scene of their own?
…
On the morning before the team set off for Rome, Gao Shen canceled the tactical discussion meeting.
He gathered all the players and employees and showed a movie in the conference room of Fort Volturno.
Hollywood classic epic: Gladiator!
This classic movie is well known to countless people, and many people present have also seen it, but today, it is probably the first time that dozens of people are sitting in a conference room, concentrating on watching this epic movie together.
They watched the protagonist played by Russell Crowe fall from a prominent Roman general to a gladiator fighting for his life, but he did not give in, fought against fate unyieldingly, and finally achieved revenge.
The entire movie, under the lens of director Ridley Scott, shows the grand scenes of war in ancient Rome, and also reproduces the glorious age of the Roman Empire. The wars and fighting in the arena are very fierce and fierce.
, full of a violent aesthetic, and the whole story is also quite tense.
Regardless of whether they had seen it before or not, everyone tensed up and watched it in one go from beginning to end.
This is a legend!
But the real reason why Gao Shen chose it is that it exudes a brave and unyielding male hormone from beginning to end.
Moreover, this story takes place in Rome, in Italy.
This gives Naples a natural sense of closeness, and the experience is naturally more profound.
…
After the movie ended, everyone was still immersed in the atmosphere of this epic masterpiece and the tragic legend of Russell Crowe, but Gao Shen had already withdrawn from his emotions.
He gave Lucas a copy of the book to everyone present.
"When the Human Stars Shine" by Stefan Zweig.
"This book has brought me great power and infinite enlightenment."
Gao Shen told the players why he chose to give them this book.
"When the composer Handel was at his most impoverished and at the end of his talents, he suddenly caught a glimmer of inspiration and wrote the immortal "Messiah"; the mediocre and cowardly deputy general lacked confidence and did not know how to adapt, which caused Napoleon to lose Waterloo;
After suffering repeated heavy blows, American entrepreneur Field finally built a cable connecting Europe and the American continent..."
Gao Shen held the book "When Human Stars Shine" in his hand and gestured excitedly in front of him with one hand.
Everyone at the scene watched silently and listened attentively.
"There are two sentences in this book that I like very much."
"There is only one thing that makes people tired: indecision and wavering. And every time you do something, you will be liberated physically and mentally. Even if you mess up the thing, it is better than doing nothing."
"A person's greatest happiness is to discover his life's mission in the middle of his life, in his creative prime."
When Gao Shen said this, he stopped and waited for the people in front of him.
He needed to wait for them to chew and digest what had just happened.
From movies to books to the two sentences he just said, in fact, he wanted to tell them one thing.
That is: don’t be afraid!
…
Naples is very small, even insignificant.
But this does not mean that Naples is just a sidekick and a dispensable passerby.
The key to the whole thing has never been what outside media reporters, fans, or even colleagues think, but how Naples themselves think of themselves?
After being drawn into the death group, have you lost confidence? Have you lost your fighting spirit? Have you felt that your future is bleak?
Gao Shen lets them watch movies and read books just to tell them to keep improving themselves!
Blacksmith need its own hardware!
If you can't do it yourself, how can you possibly change everything?
"I know that after seeing the draw of the Champions League group stage, you will feel worried, hesitant, and even scared. These are normal. Frankly speaking, I will too, because I have led Real Madrid and played in the Champions League.
So I know how difficult it is, even if it’s just the group stage, every game is finals level.”
All the teams participating in the Champions League are almost the top teams in each league, and every match is a final level. What Gao Shen said is not wrong, and is even very correct.
Any team, even a tyrannical top club, may be in ruins immediately if they relax even a little bit.
"But," Gao Shen shouted heavily, "I am here to guarantee you and give you a promise. As long as you play the game according to my plans and arrangements, as long as we obey my tactical arrangements and carry out the tasks assigned by me.
, I guarantee that you will be in the best condition to face every opponent in the Champions League group stage."
"I can guarantee that every one of you will appear in the Champions League knockout rounds!"
Gao Shen's sonorous and powerful promise surprised everyone present.
This is a super death group!
This is not in Serie A, but in the Champions League, facing champion teams like Real Madrid, Bayern and Zenit.
But who is Gao Shen?
If it were two years ago, no one would believe what he said, and even the players would scoff at him as soon as they turned around, thinking that he was bragging and exaggerating, which was completely unrealistic.
But today, two years later, no one would question what Gao Shen said.
Many people even believe it.
Because in the past two years, Gao Shen has brought them victory after victory and championship after championship.
In the past two years, all the promises required by Gao Shen have been fulfilled!
Now, what reason do they have to question the head coach?
Gao Shen also had a panoramic view of the expressions of everyone present, especially the players.
He knew that his words had an effect.
After the draw, whether it was public opinion from outside media and fans, or discussions within the team, it was actually not ideal.
No one wants to encounter such a powerful opponent in the group stage.
But as a fourth-tier team, it is inevitable to draw such a lottery.
It's just that Naples is a little more unlucky.
But Gao Shen must completely nip this negative emotion, this pessimistic and negative mentality in the cradle.
He wants everyone to cheer up, surround him, and play hard for him.
That's why he arranged such an event today.
He wanted to take this opportunity to unify everyone's thinking.
Let Naples, from players to employees to coaches to him, all work together to form a joint force.
Only in this way can we have a chance to break out of the death group.
"Believe me, guys!" Gao Shen continued to say loudly.
"The so-called group of death not only speaks of the strength of our opponents, but also proves our own strength."
"Let me ask, if we weren't strong, would we still be a group of death?"
Many people present nodded.
If Naples is not strong, how can this super team of death be super?
"So, we have such strength, and what we should do is to make ourselves stronger."
"As long as we are strong enough, it will be our opponents who are afraid of us, and the death group will no longer be our nightmare, but the opponent's nightmare!"
"I dare to say that if we can break through such group training and win from such competition, then what difficulties can stop us? Then will we only be satisfied with the top 16?"
"No! No! We will want to win more, even win the championship!"
At the end of the sentence, Gao Shen almost yelled with all his strength.
And everyone present felt the power that Gao Shen conveyed and wanted to instill in them!
