Manchester United arrived in Japan and entered preparations for the Toyota Cup. At this time, Manchester United's new club CEO David Gill represented Manchester United to attend the draw ceremony of the Champions League knockout stage at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

During the national team match day in September, former Manchester United CEO Peter Kenyon was successfully pried by Russian wealthy people and jumped to Chelsea. This also deteriorated the relationship between the two clubs, and Manchester United fans even regarded Kenyon as a traitor.

After Kenyon switched to Manchester United, David Jill took over the position of Manchester United CEO.

The draw time was held at 8 pm on December 12, local time in Japan, and Manchester United players watched the draw ceremony in the hotel.

As the first place in the group stage, Manchester United and seven teams including Lyon, Arsenal, Monaco, Juventus, Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan all have the advantage of being away and then home in the Champions League round of 16 that will start at the end of February next year.

The second in the eight groups were also released at the end of the group stage, namely Bayern, Moscow Locomotive, La Coruna, Real Sociedad, Stuttgart, Porto, Sparta Prague, and Celta.

Among them, except for Stuttgart, who is in the same group as Manchester United, cannot meet Manchester United in the round of 16 due to the group stage, the other seven teams are potential opponents of Manchester United.

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Manchester United players were all in the conference room watching the live broadcast of the lottery draw, while talking about the upcoming lottery draw.

It is obvious that Bayern is the least willing opponent for Manchester United players to encounter. Although they defeated their opponents in the Champions League final four years ago and thus reached the peak of club history, it has to be said that Bayern is one of the second most difficult opponents in all groups.

In addition, Super Laco, who performed well in European courts in recent years, is also an opponent that Manchester United players are unwilling to meet.

Moscow Locomotive is also an opponent that Manchester United players don’t like, not because of the opponent’s strength, but because of the weather and distance.

At the end of February and early March when the knockout round began, Western Europe could already see the breath of spring, but in Moscow, it was still snowy and ice. You know, when Napoleon was in the weather in Moscow, Manchester United were naturally afraid.

Coupled with a journey of more than 2,500 kilometers, it is a serious test for any team.

As for other opponents, Manchester United doesn't have much inclination. As long as they don't meet the above three opponents, they will be a good draw result.

Of course, it would be better if you could meet a slim fish like Vigo Celta and Porto.

Well, according to the odds offered by major European spinach companies, Vigo Celta and Moscow Locomotive have the highest odds, followed by Porto. The odds of winning the championship of these three teams exceed 1 or 50, which is the recognized bottom team in everyone's eyes.

If the Russian team has weather protection and a long journey, then Portugal and Spain with good climates are paradises in everyone's mind.

Manchester is still a bit cold, but at this time, Vigo, Spain and Porto, Portugal are truly full of spring and are the most suitable season for football.

Yin Jun was also speechless when he heard his teammates regard Porto as the bottom team. These guys still don’t know that this Portuguese Super League team will be the Champions League champion this season in real time and space? And Manchester United is Mourinho’s first flag-sacrificing target for Europe?

Yin Jun doesn’t know what everyone is so optimistic about. Perhaps it was because the Red Devils won their opponent in Monaco in the European Super Cup before the start of the season?

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As everyone talked and laughed, the first group of opponents in the knockout stage was released. Manchester United's biggest opponent in the group stage, Stuttgart, was drawn with the team's championship rival in the Premier League, the Blues Chelsea.

This result made Manchester United very happy. Chelsea draws such a difficult opponent, which will undoubtedly involve a lot of energy, which is undoubtedly conducive to Manchester United's championship in the Premier League.

Then, something that made the Manchester United people happier, and they got together with Porto.

Seeing this draw result, several Manchester United players with more jumpy personalities even celebrating: I wanted to draw Porto and I got it, and everything I wanted!

Seeing these teammates who were a little complacent, Yin Jun couldn't help but think of the Istanbul Night in real time and space, and the AC Milan players who celebrated with champagne at halftime.

Well, when it comes to AC Milan, it seems that in this season's Champions League knockout match, they are going to set a record, which is also regarded as a negative teaching material in football in the future, and is a famous miracle of reversal in the history of the Champions League.

The Manchester United finished the draw in the next draw with a mentality of watching the show.

Real Sociedad draws Ligue 1 overlord Lyon, Bayern draws Real Madrid. Manchester United's biggest competitor in the Premier League, Arsenal, are also very lucky. They draw the recognized big-skinned Vigo Celta, and their luck is even better than Manchester United!

The Locomotive of Moscow drew Monaco, the weakest group, and this pair can be said to be a rogue!

Super Laco and Juventus have become opponents, which is a strong dialogue second only to Real Madrid and Bayern.

AC Milan was also lucky and drew the Czech team Sparta Prague.

Seeing the result of this lottery, Yin Jun sighed secretly: The wheel of history is still rolling forward!

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Not only most Manchester United players think this is a good result, but most Manchester United management also think so.

Merritt, a senior Manchester United official who followed David Gill to attend the lottery ceremony, also said in an interview with reporters after the lottery ceremony: "This is a good draw. Porto performed well in the league. We played there a few years ago. Of course, the European Championship will be held there next summer. It feels great to play at the venue where the upcoming competition is going to be held. To be honest, we really want to repeat the score from seven years ago. That's really wonderful. Of course you have to put in a huge effort to achieve it."

In the 1996-1997 season, Manchester United and Porto's super dominant Porto met in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. As a result, they beat their opponents 4:0 at home, and then played 0:0 against their opponents away, thus advancing to the semi-finals with a huge difference of 4:0.

However, in the semi-finals, Manchester United was defeated by the season's Champions League champion Dortmund with two 1-0 doubles at home and away.

The good memories of the original, coupled with the team defeating their opponents 2-0 in the European Super Cup at the end of August, made Manchester United very optimistic about the draw result.

Yin Jun did not jump out at this time and poured cold water on everyone. Many things, if you don’t pass by and touch them, you won’t know that the pain will be painful.
Chapter completed!