Almost all have become a routine. Every year at the end of August and early September, Monaco will become the focus of attention of fans around the world.

It was not because of the European Super Cup, but because of the first round group draw ceremony of the European Champions League.

Interestingly, before the annual lottery ceremony, hot news and reports will appear.

It is obvious that UEFA's hype and publicity for the Champions League is largely based on the conventional hype techniques of some Hollywood blockbusters, which is not surprising, because for the sport of football, the annual European Champions League group draw ceremony is itself a blockbuster.

The hot news this year is mainly in Serie A. Juventus, who won the Serie A championship, was treated as a seed team in the first round of the Champions League group stage, which is somewhat controversial. After all, Juventus's Champions League results in the past few years have not been very ideal, especially after the Champions League expansion, Juventus has never played in the knockout round.

AC Milan, which is similar to Juventus and even in a worse situation, is likely to fall into the fourth team this season, which also makes this year's Champions League draw very mysterious, which can be seen from the division before the draw.

According to the list given by UEFA, the eight seed teams are Real Madrid, Bayern, Manchester United, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Juventus, Arsenal and Inter Milan. Many of the eight teams have been questioned.

If the seed team in the first level represents the most powerful teams in European football, then the second level of Roma, La Coruna, Leverkusen, Liverpool and other teams represent the powerful players in major European leagues, and any of their teams have the strength to challenge the seed team.

The most terrifying thing about the third team is undoubtedly Ye Qiu's Ajax.

Many people think that this team should be arranged in the first two levels. The reason is very simple. Ajax has passed the League Cup two years ago and the Champions League semi-finals last year, proving his strength to everyone, but due to points and various factors, Ajax can only be ranked third.

As Ye Qiu said in an interview with the media before the game, his opinion on the team's division, "We won't mind who we draw, because it's the same for us. What we should mind is our opponents. I dare to guarantee that the 16 teams in the first two levels are unwilling to meet us!"

The first and second gears are already very strong and highly competitive teams. According to the previous divisions of the Champions League, the first two gears are also popular in the group qualifying. But if the third gear team has the strength to challenge the first two gears, wouldn’t it become a group of death?

For Ajax, it's not bad. Anyway, since they were assigned to the third level, they were destined to enter the death group that fought against powerful opponents. Not only Ajax, but also Newcastle, Dortmund and other teams, they were also destined to encounter powerful opponents.

But what is even more worrying is that an AC Milan appeared in the fourth gear.

As the French team analyzed, Ajax in the third tier and AC Milan in the fourth tier are definitely unwilling to encounter, because no one is willing to fight against such a strong opponent and compete for the right to qualify.

There are also some head coaches and club officials of the first and second-tier teams complaining that UEFA's division is unreasonable, believing that some teams in the first and second-tier teams, such as Galatasaray, Lyon and other teams, are not as strong as Ajax and AC Milan, but are divided into the first two levels, while these two teams with great strength are divided into the third and fourth levels.

"This has to make us wonder if someone wants to arrange a striking lottery result through this sort of division?"

Before the lottery ceremony, this news was already in the midst of the media around the world and caused huge discussions. Almost even ordinary fans were arguing about whether the division between Ajax and AC Milan was reasonable, and whether UEFA's division method was reasonable.

After earning enough hype and publicity from the media around the world and attracting the attention of fans, the lottery ceremony came late due to expectations, and the results of the lottery surprised everyone.

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When the lottery guest took out the note from the ball, shouted out AC Milan through the microphone, and then a deafening uproar appeared in the entire conference center.

Everyone was shocked by this big move by UEFA, even the parties involved.

Ye Qiu sat in the back row, shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly. He was captured clearly by the live broadcast camera on the scene and placed on the big screen in the middle of the conference center. Everyone could see everything written on the young Chinese head coach's face.

He and his Ajax seem to be dolls who have been manipulated, at the mercy of others. Not only him, but all the head coaches present, all the teams, even the giants who are arrogant, cannot escape the fate of being manipulated.

Bayern Munich, A Coruna, Ajax and AC Milan!

This is definitely the death group in the death group, because these four teams are the strongest teams in the European arena in recent years. Needless to say, Bayern Munich, La Coruña is in the super Laco era, Ajax and AC Milan are both in a strong revival stage. Will these four teams be arranged in the same group? Will not let them fight to the death?

Let’s look at the draws of other teams. Barcelona is so lucky that they are. Galatasaray, Moscow Locomotives and Bruges. Juventus’ luck is also very good. Feyenoord, Dynamo Kiev and Newcastle, and Manchester United met Leverkusen, Olympiacos and Maccabi Haifa.

It can be said that the situation in the other groups is relatively clear. Even in Arsenal, Eindhoven, Dortmund and Ausselle, Arsenal's strength can ensure that there is no problem in qualifying in the group.

But only in this G group, the four teams are all teams that strive to qualify in the group, and they are also strong teams with certain appeal and influence in European football. However, now being divided into the same group is not only a tragedy or a comedy.

"In the next few months, UEFA will definitely focus on promoting the group you are in!"

Eliza, who accompanied Ye Qiu to participate in this lottery ceremony, sat next to him. Her keen sense of smell made her realize UEFA's idea, because if the strength of each group is very different and the suspense is lost, it will be difficult for the Champions League group stage to attract the attention of fans, and it will be difficult to drive the suspense from the beginning.

"That's why they said that if you want to win the Champions League, strength alone is far from enough. You have to have luck, luck to draw lots!" Ye Qiu shook his head and smiled. He quickly let go, because this itself is part of the European football rules.

Complaints must be complaining, but you have to adapt, accept, and do things according to this set of rules. At least in Europe, no club can compete with UEFA, even the G14 can't do it.

"This is a common trick, but although the teams assigned to this group may have been affected in the Champions League results, they have been benefited in other aspects, such as off-court attention and influence. Moreover, UEFA cannot wear small shoes for you every year. What you lose this year will be compensated for next year and next year."

Eliza has a thorough understanding of this set of unspoken rules, but to do this, the premise is the same, strength.

Without enough strength, even if you are assigned to the best group, you may not be able to qualify.

"Why do I feel that I have been lucky in the lottery for two consecutive years?" Ye Qiu shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"The influence of the Eredivisie teams has always been limited, so from the perspective of business operations, the four major leagues are the protagonists of the Champions League, while the teams in other leagues can always be supporting roles, and cannot escape the lives of supporting roles and green leaves."

Ye Qiu hummed and said nothing, but he was not convinced, but he also knew that this was reality.

With the end of the draw ceremony, the schedule is also listed. Ajax's first round of the Champions League group stage was away challenge AC Milan, then home against Bayern Munich, and then away challenge La Coruña.

"What? I'm a little unconfident when I see the lottery results?" Eliza smiled and gently hit Ye Qiu's arm with her elbow.

Ye Qiu turned his head and smiled, "Don't have confidence? Tell you, I can even kill Manchester United, Juventus and Barcelona. Do you think I will be afraid of a Bayern Munich who has obviously gone downhill? Afraid of an old AC Milan? Afraid of that so-called Super Laco?"

He is not afraid. Since he learned that the team was assigned to the third level, Ye Qiu has been mentally prepared for the Death Group. However, now he has drawn three powerful opponents, and he thinks it is too unlucky.

"Let's see, I will definitely step on their bodies and walk out of the Death Group!"

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If the lottery ceremony only tells Ye Qiu one truth, that is, the four major leagues are the core of European football, then at the award ceremony, Ye Qiu truly realized that the wealthy families are the protagonists of European football.

The best goalkeeper, Kahn from Bayern, and Ajax's old goalkeeper Van der Sar even ranked behind Juventus' Buffon.

According to Van der Sar's performance last season and Ajax reached the Champions League semi-finals, this old goalkeeper definitely outperformed Buffon, but he is the Serie A champion in the first four leagues, and Kahn's performance last season was also very outstanding, because Ye Qiu really can't say about this award.

There is nothing Ajax has to do with the best defender. Robert Carlos won this award, while Roma's Cafo and Liverpool's Hypia won the second and third respectively. This made Ye Qiu very surprised. Why can't Lucio win? Is the Brazilian central defender worse than them?

The best midfielder was Leverkusen's Barack, Manchester United's Roy Keane, and Arsenal's Vieira won the second and third respectively, and there was no Ajax's anything.

The same is true for the best forward, Raul, Trezeguet and Van Nisstruy respectively finished the top three.

The most valuable players are even more of the show for the giants. However, this time, Ajax was mentioned, but it was a tragic foil because they were defeated by Real Madrid superstar Zidane, who won the most valuable player in the semi-finals of last season, scored an incredible flying immortal from the sky.

Raul and Van Nistrui occupy second and third respectively.

Sometimes when I think about it, it's so sad. Ajax reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, won the Eredivisie championship and the Dutch Cup. The team also showed enough competitiveness in the European arena, but they couldn't even get a single award.

Ajax's only award nomination was the Best Coach Award, and Ye Qiu once again became the miserable millennium second.

Last year it was Heathfield in Bayern Munich, and this year it was Bosque of Real Madrid. Ye Qiu ranked second in the Best Coach Award in the past two years, but they are all the ones that are pulled far away.

Why do all the players and all the head coaches want to go to the giants?

Perhaps, the clues can be seen from this award ceremony, and even from various award ceremony in various world football.

If you don’t work in a wealthy family and don’t even know your name, who will know you? Who will choose you?

"I should go back and sing a song!" Ye Qiu looked disappointed, but was smiling.

"What song?" Eliza found it strange.

"I am a little bird!" After saying that, Ye Qiu couldn't help laughing.

I am a little bird. I want to fly, but I can't fly high...

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After the draw results of the first round of the Champions League group stage and the results of various awards in European football last season were released, they immediately became the front page headlines in major European and world newspapers the next day, especially for the G group where Bayern Munich, La Coruna, Ajax and AC Milan were located, they were even more popular with the media as the super death group.

"The four teams have the strength of seed teams, but are arranged in the same group to compete for two places. Is there anything more cruel than this? UEFA drew this super death group to please fans who want to see more powerful conversations, but cruelly torture these four teams with great strength."

There are many media comments that give sympathy for these four poor teams who are deeply trapped in the Super Death Group, but these four teams do not appreciate it at all, and no one is willing to show weakness in advance.

Heathfield said in an interview, "This is not a draw. On the contrary, I think this draw is good because we meet some familiar teams. On the contrary, if we are asked to go to Kiev or Moscow in winter, I will have a headache."

AC Milan's head coach Ancelotti said, "This is a very difficult group. Bayern Munich is the strongest team in Europe, and Ajax is awesome opponent. La Coruña is as high as ever and has no strength at all, but we are not afraid. We have enough confidence to stand out from the group."

Super Laco's head coach Iruetta is the same optimistic about the appearance. "The strength of our group is very balanced, and the other three teams are great teams with very high levels. Drawing such opponents will definitely make the game more difficult, but we will do our best and will be able to qualify from the group.

Ye Qiu also accepted an interview with the media after the game and also expressed his opinions and opinions on the group draw lots.

"No matter who the opponent you draw is, I will not be surprised or afraid, because in the Champions League, all teams are not simple and have outstanding strength. If we want to defeat our opponents and stand out from the group, we must use the game and victory to prove our strength."

"Yes, we performed very well last season, but that has nothing to do with us anymore. We still have to start from the group stage, and we still have to win games one by one. We are all ready and we will definitely qualify from the group."

But it is obvious that bookmakers are not optimistic about Ajax at all.

After the lottery results were released, William Hill immediately updated the final championship odds of the top 32, Real Madrid led by 1 with 4.5, Manchester United followed closely behind with 1 with 5, and Barcelona lost 1 with 8.

Judging from the top three players, Real Madrid and Barcelona have introduced superstar players, the former is Ronaldo, the latter is Riquelme, and Manchester United has introduced Rio Ferdinand, further strengthening the defense line that has been criticized for many years. Therefore, it is not surprising that these three teams have become the top three in odds.

Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Juventus all have 10 compensation, Inter Milan has 11 compensation, Liverpool and Roma have 14 compensation, Valencia has 16 compensation, La Coruña has 18 compensation, and AC Milan has 1 compensation of 20 compensation.

So, what about Ajax?

Ajax's odds are 1-00% off 66, ranking 22nd, even behind Newcastle and Eindhoven.

William Hill has his own opinions and analysis on the reason why the odds against Ajax are so low.

"If the performance of this defending champion in the Eredivisie in the past two seasons should be higher. We even think that he should be within 1 or 20, but it is obvious that being assigned to the death group makes it difficult for more people to look forward to this Eredivisie team, because everyone thinks that Ajax should be fighting for the third place in Group G, and then continue to compete in the League Cup."

Moreover, according to the analysis of some professionals, the attacking style presented by Ajax in the past two years and this season has made many people worried about this young team, because they have always paid great attention to defense in the Champions League, and it is difficult to laugh to the end of the day if you pursue offense too much.

"Everyone must remember that since Ajax defeated AC Milan in the 94/95 season, no teams in the four major leagues have ever been involved in the Champions League. Since Ajax reached the finals in the 95/96 season, no teams in the 4 major leagues have ever reached the finals."

"We have to admit one thing, that is, European football has completely changed and become stronger and weaker. The gap between the four major leagues and non-four leagues is constantly widening, especially since the Boseman Act began, this phenomenon has become more obvious."
Chapter completed!