Leeds United beat Ajax 4-3 away from ho!
This match quickly sparked heated discussion around the world, not only because of the number of goals, but also because the ga was incredibly exciting.
More importantly, both teams were made up mostly of young players, and both perford exceptionally well.
Ajax players such as Van de Beek, Ziyech, Neres, Frenkie de Jong, Tagliafico, and Mazraoui all delivered outstanding performances.
Leeds United, needless to say, also played brilliantly.
Mbappe scored twice, while Vardy, Dembele, Bernardo Silva, and others were all in fine form. De Ligt even scored the decisive goal against his forr club.
The players' energy and talent have injected fresh vitality into European football.
Everyone now realizes that the hottest young talents in Europe are concentrated in these two teams.
Take Mbappe for example.
The 20-year-old forward is currently leading both the Premier League and Champions League scoring charts, shocking dia and fans worldwide.
It's worth noting that the youngest Golden Boot winner in Champions League history was Inter Milan legend Mazzola, who won it at 21. Among modern stars, Cristiano Ronaldo won it at 23, ssi at 22.
Mbappe is only 20 and already leading the race for the Golden Boot. He has a real chance to break records.
The dia and fans across the world are full of anticipation.
French newspaper L'Équipe published an article stating that Mbappe has made rapid progress this season.
"Leeds United created a tailored training program for him, including physical developnt sessions. His stamina has clearly improved, and his footwork and movent frequency have also increased, making him far more dangerous on the pitch."
"But the most surprising thing is his shooting."
L'Équipe noted that although Mbappe had perford well in the past, his shooting was inconsistent and his efficiency was not high.
This season, with focused technical training, his finishing has improved dramatically.
The newspaper also cited a previous interview with Mbappe, suggesting that Leeds United's detailed and structured training thods were crucial in his breakthrough.
Last sumr, many were puzzled as to why he stayed at Leeds during the World Cup, but L'Équipe now states, "We have to admit, it was a very wise decision."
"This season has seen Mbappe evolve from a promising youngster into a superstar. He has beco one of the most lethal attacking weapons in European football and a core figure in Leeds United's success in both the Champions League and Premier League."
L'Équipe also revealed that several top clubs are closely following Mbappe, including Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga, and Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
According to British dia, Leeds United have placed a €250 million price tag on Mbappe, a fee that would break Neymar's world record and beco the highest transfer fee in history.
The valuation is high, but considering his performances this season and the fact that he's only 20, no one doubts that he's worth every cent.
...And whoever finalizes the deal will make headlines around the world.
...
Leeds United's 4-3 win away to Ajax has largely removed the suspense from the two-legged tie.
Of course, based on both teams' performances in the first leg, Ajax are not weak. It's entirely possible for them to overturn the result at the Amazon Stadium and complete a coback against Leeds.
At the post-match press conference, head coach Pochettino said that if the team wants to reach the semi-finals, they will have to give their all at ho and perform even better than they did in Amsterdam.
Dutch youngster De Ligt, who scored the winning goal against his forr team, received a wave of praise after the match. In an interview with Dutch dia, he expressed his gratitude to Ajax but stated that he now belongs to Leeds.
"I'll always be an Ajax fan. But unfortunately, this is the Champions League knockout stage, and I have to give my all for Leeds United."
He also spoke about the changes he experienced moving from the Netherlands to the Premier League, saying that Leeds United's youth developnt system is quite different from Ajax's.
"What exactly are the differences?"
"It's hard to explain. At the AXA Centre in Leeds, we work with scientists every day. So are from Oxford, Cambridge, or Leeds University. They're all professionals in their respective fields."
He shared a specific example. He isn't from Amsterdam, but from a small town called Leeddorf, a suburb of Leeddon near The Hague, over 50 kiloters from Amsterdam. Commuting to the Ajax training ground was inconvenient.
During his youth years at Ajax, he considered moving closer, but the club didn't offer any good housing arrangents.
At Leeds, it's different.
"There's a dedicated relocation departnt. After you sign, the staff reach out in advance to prepare everything for you. They even help with your daily life and are very friendly."
De Ligt believes this is sothing Ajax could improve on.
Football-wise, while he's grateful to Ajax for giving him a foundation, it's at Leeds that he's made the biggest progress. At his current age, he's now a regular starter in both the Premier League and Champions League, sothing unimaginable before.
Thanks to his standout performances this season, top clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Chelsea, Bayern, Juventus, and PSG have all shown interest in signing him.
But De Ligt said he hasn't thought about the future yet.
"I just want to help Leeds achieve better results in the Premier League and Champions League."
With his rising value now exceeding €80 million, he is becoming another star centre-back developed by Leeds United.
...
As Leeds United sits top of the Premier League and continues their excellent run in the Champions League, the players' hunger for success continues to grow.
...After Gao Shen took over as Real Madrid's technical director, Spanish dia revealed that the club had prepared over €500 million to sign several Leeds players in a major youth recruitnt plan.
His appearance at the Bernabéu and the interview after Real Madrid's win over Athletic Bilbao all confird one thing: Gao Shen is getting closer and closer to Real Madrid.
But just after Leeds United's 4-3 win over Ajax, The Sun broke an even bigger story.
Gao Shen would also be taking over Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
This news sent shockwaves across European football.
Just days ago, reports erged that he was joining Real Madrid as technical director. Now, suddenly, he's also heading to Paris?
Which story is true?
L'Équipe quickly followed up, citing insider sources at PSG, stating that Gao Shen would be serving as technical director for both Real Madrid and PSG simultaneously, a first in European football.
"Previous statents from FIFA and UEFA have already confird that they will not interfere with club personnel matters. Their focus is on fair competition between clubs."
According to L'Équipe, "Originally, Paris didn't want Gao Shen to work for two top clubs at the sa ti, but since he signed with Real Madrid first and persuaded PSG's board, they finally accepted the plan."
"Gao Shen will assemble teams in both Madrid and Paris, working for two of Europe's elite clubs, sothing never seen before."
L'Équipe also revealed that Gao Shen had a special mission at PSG: to "Frenchify" the dressing room.
"This has very strong and specific significance for PSG's managent," the article stated.
It's been ntioned that the French governnt and football association were instruntal in Qatar's successful World Cup bid. PSG's participation in Ligue 1 is seen as a way to give back and help rejuvenate the dostic league.
Both the governnt and FA want more French stars to remain in the country, and PSG is the ideal platform. Gao Shen's appointnt cos with that mission.
Players like Mbappe, Dembele, Griezmann, Pogba, Varane, and Giroud are all within PSG's potential selection pool.
"More importantly, as the best manager in world football, Gao Shen is also known as the best team builder. PSG hopes that with his arrival, the club can finally undergo reform, restore order, and beco a true European powerhouse."
The paper noted that despite massive spending in recent years, PSG's competitiveness has not grown significantly.
Club managent believes Gao Shen's arrival marks the beginning of a new era.
...
As more dia reports erge, coupled with the montum built by Real Madrid and strong support from L'Équipe and France Football, the news of Gao Shen joining both clubs is gradually being confird.
Fans, however, are more concerned about whether he can manage two teams at once.
Another major question is whether his arrival will disrupt the current squad hierarchy.
For instance, will Neymar, who has been trying to leave, finally depart?
After clashes with Leonardo and Andro Henrique, can Tuchel still remain in charge?
A new king brings a new court.
No one knows what kind of storm Gao Shen will stir up after arriving in Paris.
But Gao Shen himself doesn't need to worry about external matters. Real Madrid and PSG have already hired the best PR firms in Europe to handle all communications. He just needs to cooperate.
What he is really concerned about is the workload for the new season. This includes not only player recruitnt, but also a full range of support operations.
In war, logistics is everything.
To his complete surprise, on the day he arrived in Paris, an uninvited guest showed up.
(To be continued.)
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