Martin, a Spanish tour guide who is fluent in Chinese, takes a group of curious Chinese tourists to a tavern near the Bernabéu.

As soon as I entered the door, I looked up and saw a huge Real Madrid logo on the wall directly opposite.

There's no loud music here, and there's no hot babes to provoke you. It's not quite the same as Martin said, only the big screen TV and a lot of fans who look up at the TV.

"This is my uncle's tavern, and you all come here...... 50% off! "Martin didn't consult his uncle and made his own decision. If his uncle is unwilling, then he will pay out of his own pocket to make up for the difference. In order to watch a Real Madrid game with peace of mind, he can be regarded as bleeding.

After settling in a group of Chinese tourists, Martin huddled into the crowd to grab a beer and watch his television with the others.

On TV, the players from both sides had not yet played, the stands were already full, and those who were able to watch the game were the envy of those who could only sit in front of the TV and watch the game. Martin was still smacking his lips as he watched the TV screen.

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The 80,000-seat Bernabeu Stadium is so full that you won't even find a single empty space. Although the game has not yet started, the fans here are already enthusiastic, they are singing or shouting loudly, clapping, and shouting. Towering flood lights illuminate the stadium, staff are busy spreading the UEFA flag on the centre circle, and reporters wait on both sides of the exit of the corridor for players from both sides, with a gleaming silver trophy in front of them, the European Champions Cup, the highest honour in European club competition.

This is not a replica of the club's Hall of Fame, this is a real big-eared cup.

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The players have warmed up and have returned to their respective lounges. The managers of both sides will make final preparations for the most important game of the season.

Now is not the time to talk about tactics again, and they don't have that much time. At this time, some coaches like to remain silent and leave time for the players themselves; Some coaches like to babble and trumpet. These short minutes often determine the course of the first half of 45 minutes, and the first half of 45 minutes. So in a game like this, players from any team will inevitably get nervous.

Even teams like Real Madrid and Nottingham Forest are no exception.

Raul. Gonzalez entered the locker room for the first time, and since he retired, he hasn't been in the locker room before a game. But he did it today, which shows that today is a really special game.

Michelle stood aside, and it was time for Raul to speak. The former captain's influence in the dressing room remains huge.

Raul didn't go into a tirade. "It's the last game I've ever dreamed of, so it's a shame I can't play with you guys on the field." He looked at his former teammates and said affectionately. "But I'm glad my teammates can finally stand here, looking at you guys, and I suddenly want to be ten years younger...... It has always been a dream of mine to lift the 10th trophy for the club. Now it's up to you to make this dream. ”

After he finished speaking, he said goodbye to Michelle and walked out of the locker room.

There was then a moment of silence in the dressing room at Real Madrid. As Raul's teammates, none of them can forget Raul's unwillingness to retire a season ago. That year, Real Madrid lost the league title and the Champions League ended in the semi-finals. It was the throes of Real Madrid's resurgence, the darkness before dawn, but unfortunately Raul caught up.

He had the opportunity to renew his contract for another year, but at the last minute he chose to give up. At the age of thirty-six, he will be thirty-seven years old if he plays for another year, and he really doesn't know what else he can do on the field. Is it a pet doll sitting on the bench for people to see? He is not the kind of person who is willing to sit on the bench, he has the heart of a champion, and a person with such a heart is absolutely unwilling to accept this reality.

So it's better to retire.

Now he may regret it...... Even if you sit on the bench, as long as you can wait for such a game, you may be willing to sit on the bench for a season.

But these are just speculations, and no one knows what Raul is thinking today.

He walked out of the locker room and slowly walked up to the VIP box in the stands by himself, where he sat with his family, ready to enjoy the game.

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Unlike the serious atmosphere in the Real Madrid dressing room, the atmosphere in the Nottingham Forest dressing room is a little more casual. The players sat or stood, looking at the head standing against the wall. Like a group of soldiers waiting to go to battle, they expect their commander to stand up and shout at them, telling them that there is nothing to fear, and that everything is fine with him. After this battle, we will go home.

Donn stood against the wall, looking at the group of players in front of him, and a different kind of emotion welled up from the bottom of his heart. It seems that he is not leading a team, but an army, and there is a veteran who has fought with him for several years, with a scruffy beard on his face, who has not been home for many years, and has long put life and death aside with a cynical look in his cigarette. There are also baby-faced recruits, who are so nervous that they can't even hold their guns, and their lips are constantly trembling, as if muttering to themselves and as if praying to God. They are facing one of the most important battles of the war, and if they win the war, there will be a fundamental reversal, and their large forces will be directed towards Berlin, and the armored troops will run over all the obstacles on the way like ants, but if they lose, they will be wiped out, and no one will come back.

For a moment, he was in a trance, and when he opened his mouth, he wanted to say, "Survive, I'll take you home after the battle." ”

Don quickly shook his head, dispelling the illusion in his mind.

Everything in front of him was clear again, and the players were still players, not World War II Allied soldiers wearing steel helmets, dirty military uniforms with open collars, a few buttons missing, and a scruffy beard and cigarette rolls. It's a bright, modern dressing room at the Santiago Bernabeu, not a stinking trench where sewage runs everywhere.

However, the feeling of being on the battlefield did not dissipate, but became stronger and stronger.

Don scratched his head, "I really don't know what I'm supposed to say, really." I had a dream just now, and it ended in a short time, but it still sticks in my mind. ”

His words aroused great interest among the players. I didn't see the head sleeping just now, why did he say he had a dream? Do you still dream when you fall asleep while standing?

"I found that we were all on the battlefield, with planes roaring overhead." Donn made a gesture, "Behind him is the sound of the motors of the armored units, and there are explosions everywhere, and it is very noisy. I am surrounded by you, the enemy occupies a high ground, and we are going to make a final charge. Take that place, and the large army behind us will be able to march smoothly, and if we can't take it, we will all die there! ”

"A dream that looks absurd." Don waved his hand, dispelling the foggy dream. "But that feeling is still there, telling me it's not a dream. In a few minutes, the biggest game of our career will begin. Today is a matter of life and death for us, I am not exaggerating, not exaggerating at all. We're either going to live to lift the trophy or we're ...... Dead and forgotten. He shrugged, "It's as simple as that. There is no third way for us to go. To live or to die, here is victory or defeat. Think about how we got here and forgot about those two championships! They didn't help in today's game. ”

Donn pointed to the richly renovated dressing room, "This is the dressing room at the Bernabeu, much more beautiful than the city stadium. But don't be fooled by its glossy appearance. We're in hell right now, guys, trust me. We can get kicked and out here, or we can give it our all and go for glory. ”

Don withdrew his wandering gaze and stared at the players in front of him, staring into their eyes.

"We can walk out of this hell with our heads held high, but now I can't do it for you. In fact, I'm too old......" he stroked his sideburns with gray hair. "Sometimes when I forget to dye my hair, I wake up in the morning and I'm shocked when I see myself in the mirror."

In fact, forty-five years old is not old, but Don had a heart attack, which greatly consumed his life energy, and after that serious illness, he looked older than his actual age......

"And when you grow old like me, everything will be gone, even the championship trophy. Actually, that's part of life. But it is only when you lose them that you will realize how precious they are, because they are a memory in your life that can never be replaced! No matter how many years have passed, you can proudly say in front of people: 'I went through that kind of race and won in the end!' Don raised his head with a proud expression.

"It's like life and it's like football. I mean, whether it's life or football, don't give up on a moment of glory, even if it comes at a very high cost. That's a war, guys. Every minute, every ball, you need to fight! Yes, I don't deny that we don't have the same star-studded squad as Real Madrid, we are like country billies compared to them, but football is an eleven-man sport! It's a teamwork sport! The advantage we have over them is that we are a team! I believe that everyone in this team will be crushed for the victory of the team! Fight for every ball! ”

Don began to wave his arms, and his tone became heavier.

And the players also began to burn with the aggravation of his tone, and the fire in their eyes began to burn.

"I know that the winners of any battle belong to those who unite and fight and are not afraid of sacrifice. It's the same with football, when you're a whole and when you're full of the belief that you're going to win, there's no one in the world who can stop you. I also know that we are a hundred times more powerful than that sparkling light bulb because we are one! I also know that teamwork is the difference between winners and losers! It's the watershed between life and death!! Donn yelled, and his players followed him in making similar noises.

"I tell you, in any battle, the one who always cares about teamwork will win in the end!" He suddenly broke the marker in his hand with force, and with a snap, the sound rang in everyone's hearts.

"A plate of loose sand is like this pen! When you are in a difficult situation, when you are facing the most powerful enemy, when you are facing the worst situation, you can always rely on your teammates! Now, look at your teammates around you, look at him, look into his eyes! They will be your most trustworthy person in those ninety minutes! You are comrades-in-arms in the trenches, partners in life and death! When you're running, you know they're going to be able to get the ball to you. When you lose the ball, you know they're going to get it back for you. When you're facing the onslaught head-on, you know you're not alone because you still have them behind you! If you give up, you're putting them in a very dangerous situation. You're willing to do everything in your power to protect your teammates, not because I asked you to, but because you know you're in danger, they! Your teammates! And they'll do that too!! His voice was short and powerful, as if it were striking metal with a sonorous sound, and with his gestures, it was uplifting.

"That's what it is...... Team, gentlemen. ”

Don spread out his hands and looked at everyone, his tone softening slightly. The continuous excited speech made his face redden, and his wheezing became thicker. However, it seems that his nuclear-powered heart is still very strong, and his life is not in danger at this moment.

As he spoke excitedly, the players turned their heads to look at their teammates and read the same message in their eyes – hey, man, we're teammates.

"Now, you have the opportunity to leave one of the most precious legacies in your life. You have the chance to fight for the same goal with the best players in the history of professional football! It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and if you miss it, you'll never come back! Play it like the last game of your lives! Donn pointed to the locker room door, "No matter how strong an enemy is, it's no match for you. Because they're just a piece of loose sand and you're the best team in the history of professional football! ”

"We are the strongest!!" Some of the players couldn't hold back their excitement and shouted.

"I love football so much and love the sport. Because you always bring me back to my younger days, and seeing you running and fighting in races, I think how meaningful my life is, because I can still enjoy such passion! That's all I motivate my work! I hope that tonight, you can still bring me back to being young ...... Don't worry about my heart. Don shook his head on his left chest, "It's still beating as powerfully, as powerful as yours." It's hungry for victory, it's hungry for championships, and that hasn't changed! Remember, folks, this is a nuclear-powered champion heart! And you are the source of all the power of this heart!! Donn pointed to his heart and to the players in front of him.

"What's out there...... Today's Nottingham Forest is not qualified to win the championship, and is not qualified to achieve the Treble! Because we don't have big stars, we look weak. Now I'm glad we had the opportunity to laugh at their ignorance and stupidity to their faces. Don laughed, "We're born against people, and if we don't qualify for the championship, then who else is there in this world!" Donn's eyes widened and he looked around, "Who else is qualified!?" Who else is more qualified than us!? ”

After a pause, he continued: "Now, take our championship and let them say go." I'm done, what are you supposed to do? ”

The seated players rose from their seats, raising their arms and shouting, "Go win the championship!" Champion! Champion! ”

"Triple crown! Triple Crown! We're going to do the Triple Crown!! ”

A huge roar echoed in the locker room, amplified by the small space, stirring in everyone's hearts. Don looked at the excited players, his expression still serious.

Even George, who has always been cold. Wood turned his head to look at his teammates who were too excited to control themselves, pursed his lips, and there was a raging fire burning in his eyes. In fact, deep in his heart, the flame burned even brighter.

He started out playing football to earn money to treat his mother, but now he enjoys the passion to win.

As Donn said: he loves football because he loves it. It's like a drug in his life, and he can't get rid of it......

※※※

Perez. Florentino on the rostrum at the Bernabeu with Evan. Dogetty shook hands, and in his own stadium stands, although he was polite, he could not hide the visceral superiority and arrogance, after all, he was the best president of Real Madrid in the last two decades, Calderón, Boruda, and Sanz were like clowns in his glory.

Real Madrid and Nottingham Forest are indeed not a class of teams, and in this dazzling white palace made of marble, he is like a proud king, sitting on his throne, quietly waiting for the other to be seen.

Evan. Dogetti is a foreign envoy who comes on pilgrimage, humble and courteous, and inferior.

Evan didn't like it. He's in a place where almost everyone's desire is to see Real Madrid win, and Nottingham Forest had better be a good opponent and then be a foil to Real Madrid's ten-time winners. It's like safflower needs green leaves.

This feeling makes Evan. Dogotty felt lonely and sat beside him, Alan. Adams didn't give him the slightest sense of security. The two of them are like sheep trapped in a wolf pack, and they can only be slaughtered.

Until he saw Tony. Don was the first to emerge from the corridor below and walk to the away team's dugout, and his discomfort faded away.

We weren't here to make a pilgrimage to the greatest club of the twentieth century, and we weren't interested in visiting the five-star toilets. Tony, you remember that, don't forget. Ninety minutes later, stop asking me to shake hands with Florentino like that!

Pull him off that damn throne for me!!

(To be continued)