When UEFA Secretary General David Taylor pulled Zenit St. Petersburg from the third pot, the atmosphere ihe venue and even in Gao Shen's office as he and the coag staff watched on television was suffog.
Zenit St. Petersburg, the reigning Europa League champions, was arguably the stroeam ihird pot. With their high European coeffit points, sed only to Marseille, and a squad featuring Russian superstar Andrei Arshavin, they were a force to be reed with.
Not only was Zenit as strong as many sed-tier or even top-tier teams, but traveling to Russia during the Champions League group stage brought its own challenges. Fag Zenit meant dealing with harsh ditions, especially iumemperatures in St. Petersburg could already drop below freezing. Drawing them was akin to drawing a nightmare.
Gao Shen, Zidane, Carlo, and the other staff exged uneasy gnces.
Of course, everyone hoped Zenit would end up in the group with Inter Min, A, or Roma, but they also khat avoiding such a dangerous oppo wasn't guaranteed.
Even if Zenit were avoided, the remaining third-tier options included formidable teams like Marseille, the 1993 Champions League winners, and Bordeaux, Ligue 1 runners-up st season. Both teams were no weaker than Lyon and preseheir own dangers.
There truly were eams in the Champions League, a reality that was being all too clear.
…
Once Zenit St. Petersburg was drawn, Roma's teical director, Bruno ti, took the stage to tihe draw.
Representing Rome, which would host the Champions League final this season, ti stirred the small balls left in the bowl for the third-tier teams.
I years, the Champions League draw had faced accusations of being rigged, so UEFA went to great lengths to demonstrate its transparency. The live broadcast camera zoomed in on ti's hand as he reached into the bowl, carefully unscrewed one of the capsules, and unfolded the note inside.
When ti flipped the paper to reveal the letter "H," a collective gasp echoed through the venue.
Gao She out a low chuckle, equal parts bemused and resigned.
Group H, which already tained Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, had just been joined by Zenit St. Petersburg.
Real Madrid, with their illustrious history as the most decorated club in the Champions League, and Bayern Munich, perennial German champions, were shadows of their former selves but still giants of European football. Zenit's inclusion in this group solidified it as the "Group of Death."
"Group of death," Zidatered with a wry smile.
The group was shaping up to be absolutely brutal.
Adding to the difficulty was the scheduling. Away games in Russia during October or November would be grueling for any team. While much of Europe would still be experieng mild autumher, temperatures in St. Petersburg would already be h around freezing or below.
Traveling to such ditions wasn't just physically demanding; it was mentally exhausting as well.
But such was the nature of the Champions League: every away match brought its ow of challenges.
…
As the draw progressed, more third-tier teams were pced into their respective groups, a another potential death group emerged.
Group D, led by Liverpool, added PSV Eindhoven from the sed pot and Marseille from the third. With three strong teams, it was shaping up to be another minefield.
For Napoli, there were only a few groups left where they could be pced, but it didn't matter. Whether they nded in Liverpool's group or Real Madrid's, both options were daunting.
Between the five remaining groups, Napoli's fate was sealed. The only question was whether it would be "death" or "super death."
"I've never been lucky when it es to draws," Gao Shen admitted with a self-depreg smile. "I don't even buy lottery tickets because I've never won anything."
He shrugged as if accepting his fate. "So, don't bme me if we end up in a group none of you want."
The room chuckled, though it was a nervous ughter.
There was little fort in their situation. For a team like Napoli, every potential draw was going to be difficult. The best-case sario was nding in a group that was "just" a death group rather than an ht nightmare.
…
After a brief pause for the awards ceremony, the draw resumed.
The entators took the opportunity to refle the emerging groups.
Group H was already being dubbed the toughest group in the draw. With Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, a St. Petersburg, it was a gau even before the fourth-tier team was added.
"Ba the 2002–2003 season, Bayern Munich found themselves in what many sider the toughest Champions League group of all time," one entator noted. "A, Lens, aivo La a made up the rest of the group. A advanced a on to win the Champions League, while Deportivo stunned everyone by ing sed."
"Bayern? They finished dead st with only two points, marking the beginning of their dee after their 2001 Champions League triumph."
That period marked a rough stretch for Bayern, but Gao Shen was keenly aware that the German club had spent the st few years rebuilding. Their signings of Ribery and Luca Toni showed i, and their squad was quietly being one of Europe's best again.
Bayern's approaa stood in stark trast to clubs like Inter Min or even Real Madrid. While teams like Inter poured money into instant fixes, Bayern took a more measured approach. They chose to endure several years of stagnation to develop their infrastructure and strategy, biding their time until they could make a calcuted resurgence.
Now, that resurgence was taking shape. Ribery and, iure, Robben, were cost-effective signings that would serve as the erstones for Bayern's dominan the years to e.
It was this strategic fht that made Bayern's board one of the best in world football.
…
Gao Shen had plenty of thoughts swirling in his mind as the award ceremony ed up and the fourth pot draw began.
This was the moment everyone had been waiting for. Napoli was in the fourth pot, and the draw would determiheir group.
Nerves were palpable. Zidane and Carlo both looked visibly tense.
Everyone kneoli was destined for a tough group. Still, there was a flicker of hope, maybe they'd get lucky.
Human nature gs to optimism, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Gao Shen, however, had already accepted the iable. He wasn't oo rely on luck or fate to determine his path. If Napoli nded in a tough group, so be it. If it was the toughest group imagihey'd just have to fight their way through.
The first team drawn from the fourth pot was Atletiadrid.
Their fate? Group D, alongside Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven, and Marseille—a group already shaping up to be another brutal test.
Shakhtar Dosk went to Bara's group. Dynamo Kyiv joined Arsenal.
Finally, it was Napoli's turn.
David Taylor reached into the boulled out the capsule taining Napoli's he entire room seemed to hold its breath.
The draw was handed over to Bruno ti, who had only two groups left to choose from.
Oion was Group E, which featured Maer United, Vilrreal, aic. A difficult group, but manageable.
The other option? Group H: Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, a St. Petersburg, the very definition of a super death group.
ti, seemingly aware of the stakes, took his time stirring the two remaining capsules.
Eventually, he pulled o, unscrewed it, and unfolded the note inside.
For a moment, his expression faltered. Then, with a resigned smile, he revealed the o the cameras.
The letter read: H.
"Fuck!" Zidane shouted, leaping to his feet.
The coag staff groaned audibly.
Maer United's group would have been hard, but it was nothing pared to the gauhat was Group H.
Real Madrid. Bayern Munich. Zenit St. Petersburg. And nooli.
This wasn't just a death group; it er death group.
Gao Shen, however, felt oddly calm.
He'd never had much luck, and this was no different. But instead of frustration, he found himself already strategizing.
The moment the draw was finalized, his mind raced through sarios: how to prepare for Real Madrid, how to nullify Bayern's strengths, and how to hahe hostile ditions of an away mat St. Petersburg.
***
Support me on patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon./Blownleaves.
