Episode【398】: Leeds United’s Club World Cup Opponents

After the match against Birmingham City, Leeds United did not take any rest and boarded a flight directly to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Yes, Leeds United were in such a hurry.

Zhong Cheng didn't want Leeds United to take much rest after arriving in Abu Dhabi and play the game without overcoming the time difference. It can be seen that Zhong Cheng attaches great importance to such an event and wants to win the championship.

To be honest, there are not many opportunities for a player to participate in such a game!

After all, it is very difficult to win the state championship every year. Even so far, there is no team that has successfully defended the Champions League after its reform. Naturally, there is no European championship team that has participated in the World Club Cup for two consecutive years. So, There are actually not many players who can participate in this event.

Although everyone says that this championship is not important enough, the players of Leeds United take it very seriously.

They must prepare and adapt in advance, so that their physical and mental state can reach the best and perfect state, so that they can perform better and be worthy of themselves.

In this way, Zhong Cheng led the Leeds United players to fly to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the United Arab Emirates and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi means "the place with antelopes" in Arabic. It used to be a desert. Later, after development, it gradually became the political, economic and cultural center of the United Arab Emirates because it is home to five oil reserves. Located on the west-central coast of the United Arab Emirates, it is located on a T-shaped island in the Persian Gulf.

The scenery here is quite charming. In the eyes of Zhong Cheng and the Leeds United players, this is a different kind of beautiful scenery.

Leeds United were treated like kings when they came here!

Let’s not talk about the reception staff and size of the airport, but let’s talk about the hotel they stayed in. It was like a palace, and the interior was even more luxurious, as if everything was made of gold.

It's so luxurious here!

The architecture here has very local characteristics, which is from the appearance. After entering the hotel, the contents inside surprised the Leeds United players and Zhong Cheng, because it contained not only their local unique style, but also luxurious products from all over the world, as well as many national characteristics. building, and Zhong Cheng even saw a small building similar to an ancient Chinese garden.

This suite simply makes you feel like you are living in ancient China.

Zhong Cheng nodded slightly, this hotel really put its best effort into it.

Zhong Cheng was placed in this small courtyard. In the local words, this is the "Chinese Suite"!

To be honest, Zhong Cheng still thinks this suite is good, at least Zhong Cheng is very satisfied with it.

Of course, Zhong Cheng is also satisfied. That is that the weather in the UAE is really too hot. Sometimes the sun is shining directly. Even though it is December, it is still very hot at noon.

However, almost no one goes out at noon, they all stay in their rooms.

Albertini came to Zhong Cheng's side and exclaimed: "Sure enough, this is a country built on oil. It is really too rich and luxurious here!"

Zhong Cheng glanced at Albertini and said, "What? You don't want to leave once you're here?"

Albertini immediately shook his head and said: "No, no, no, although it is nice here. But the weather here is really bad, and I can't stay here long!"

Zhong Cheng also nodded slightly. I really wonder what it would be like here in the summer.

Albertini added: "How about it? Are you satisfied with your residence? It has the characteristics of Chinese architecture. It looks very much like your villa!"

Zhong Cheng nodded slightly and said, "Well, overall it's pretty good!"

Albertini immediately said: "As long as you are satisfied, then you have a good rest and we will set off later to train and adapt!"

Zhong Cheng nodded slightly, and then sent Albertini out. Zhong Cheng went to rest.

Tired, really so tired!

They boarded a long-distance plane just after finishing the game, and then after about ten hours of flight, they arrived in the United Arab Emirates. This long flight was really exhausting. Even though they had landed, they still seemed to feel like they were still on the plane.

Rest, the only task for Leeds United people now is to rest.

As for the evening training, Zhong Cheng doesn't care much. In the evening, he just wants to adapt to the weather and atmosphere in the UAE in the evening and prepare for the game.

The Leeds United players really couldn't afford to come, and some even went back to their rooms to rest without even eating.

Now, the outside world is frantically reporting on the news of this World Club Cup.

Kelly Fox, a reporter from Leeds's local Yorkshire Post, made this report: "2009 World Club Cup Top Seven Tour - Elites from Each State!"

In the report here, she introduced the details of each team participating in the 2009 World Club Cup. In addition to the text introduction, she also listed various data of each team and attached each football team. The team’s player list can be said to be the most detailed report.

The seven teams introduced by Kelly Fox are as follows:

The host Al Ahli team, nicknamed the "Red Knights", was formed by three local teams. The team's most glorious period was at the end of the 1970s, but its current results are also good. Last season they won the domestic league championship by one point.

Al Ahli means "famous family" in Arabic, so there are many teams here called Al Ahli. There is even a team in Egypt in Africa whose leader is Al Ahli. Team. Therefore, many Europeans cannot tell the difference, and the media is talking about the Al Ahli team.

However, only the current Al Ahli team is the strongest and most representative in the United Arab Emirates. Many people even call them the "Sheikh's team."

After that, Kelly Fox attached Al Ahly's results in recent seasons, some strong signings, etc.

Atlante, the champions of the CONCACAF Champions League, was founded in 1916 and has a long history. It is a powerful team in Mexico and has the reputation of "Iron Horse". Historically, Atlante has won three Mexican top domestic league championships. Last season, Atlante once again won the CONCACAF Champions League after 26 years, and thus qualified for the current Club World Cup.

Because their uniforms are also based on red and blue jerseys, they are called "Mexican Barcelona".

The Asian champion Pohang Steel is a powerful team in South Korea. It was founded in 1983 and has a short history. However, their achievements are very brilliant. They were acquired by a large consortium at the beginning of their establishment and their early results in the early stage of professionalization are very good. good.

After officially changing its name to Pohang Steel in 1997, this South Korean powerhouse began its journey to dominate Asia. In 1997 and 1998, Pohang Steelers won the Asian Club Cup, the predecessor of the Asian Champions League, twice in a row and became the best team in Asia for a time. In 2009, Pohang Steelers once again dominated the AFC Champions League and qualified for the World Club Cup.

Libertadores of South America was defeated by the champion Estudiantes of La Plata. This team may not be well-known around the world, but they are still very famous in Argentina and South America. They have won the Liberation of South America many times. He has won the Cup and even produced many Argentinian internationals.

In 1968, the team reached the highest peak in world football. They defeated the Manchester United team with star players such as Bobby Charlton and George Best at Old Trafford and won the Intercontinental Cup.

African Champions League champion Mazembe. The Mazembe team, established in 1939, ushered in its glory days in the 1960s and won the African Champions League for two consecutive years in 1967 and 1968. It is worth mentioning that , it wasn’t until 35 years later that another team defended the title. After 2000, the long-dormant Mazembe team returned again. In the new century, it has participated in the African Champions League six times and won the championship again in 2009.

Oceania Club Cup champion Auckland City is the youngest team among these seven teams. They were established in 2004. Yes, it was a new team that was only established 5 years ago. It can be said that it is a new team. A newborn team.

But the development speed of this team is very, very fast, which is very, very surprising. Because this is not the first time they have participated in the World Club Cup. In 2006, Auckland City represented Oceania in the Club World Cup as the first non-Australian league team, but was eliminated after losing to Al Ahly of Egypt and Jeonbuk Hyundai of South Korea.

Finally, there is the UEFA Champions League champion Leeds United. This team is the team that everyone is most familiar with, but Kelly Fox also introduced the situation of Leeds United in detail. However, she focused on introducing the situation after Zhong Cheng took over Leeds United.

Because Leeds United made a qualitative leap after coming to Zhong Cheng's hands, allowing the team to leap from a relatively well-known team in Europe to the current wealthy team in one fell swoop. She listed in detail the championships Leeds United has won in recent years. Now, in addition to the World Club Cup, Leeds United has a championship Grand Slam.

Yes, now Leeds United are just one short of a World Club Cup championship.

From 2004 to now, Leeds United has won all the championships it can win, except the World Club Cup.

That's why Leeds United attaches so much importance to this kind of competition now. Leeds United must become a veritable Grand Slam king!

Now all Leeds United fans are looking forward to the arrival of this event.

This event has actually started. The first round of qualifying has already ended. The champion Auckland City team from Oceania defeated the host Al Ahli team 2-0. This team was founded in 2004. It’s really It's eye-catching.

And the second round of this year's World Club Cup is also over.

First, the mysterious team Mazembe from Congo, Africa lost 1 to 2 to Pohang Steelers from Asia and missed the semi-finals. Also, Oceania champion Auckland City, which won the qualifying round, lost to the Mexican team Atlante 0-3.

To be honest, Mazembe from Congo surprised everyone. This team from Congo, Africa is very strong, but they were slightly unlucky and lost to Pohang Steelers.

Now, the third round of competition is about to begin, which is the semi-finals.

By this time, it should be time for Leeds United to appear. Leeds United will face the Atlante team that defeated Auckland City in the semi-finals; while the South American Libertadores Cup champion Estudiantes La Plata will It’s time to play against the Asian champion Pohang Steelers.

The winners of the two games will advance to the finals to compete for the 2009 World Club Cup championship.