After the French Cup match against CA Bastia, the players focused on preparing for the league and Europa League.
On January 8th, the Europa League Round of 32 and Round of 16 draws were held at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.
According to the schedule:
The Round of 16 would be played on February 14th and 21st; The Round of 8 would be played on March 7th and 14th.
The final would be held on May 15th at the Amsterdam Arena in the Netherlands.
UEFA General Secretary Infantino and Competition Director Marchetti presided over the draw, with final venue ambassador Cruyff serving as guest representative.
Draw principles:
Teams from the same association avoided each other; Teams from the same Europa League group avoided each other; First-seeded teams played away first.
The draw ceremony broadcast achieved decent ratings in Bastia.
Fans had been waiting in various bars, discussing things even before the ceremony began.
At the Sunset Coffee Bar...
Martin was praying very devoutly: "Hopefully it's Sparta Prague or Basel—please don't give us other teams..."
Bertrand, while serving drinks, heard Martin and laughed along with others, "You want weak teams that badly? That attitude won't work. If you're going for the championship, you'll eventually have to beat everyone, so you need the conviction that no matter the opponent, you can eliminate them."
Martin glared at him. "What's wrong with that? My thinking is simple: there's no need to face strong enemies in the Round of 32. Save your strength for later to fight strong teams—that's the way."
Most people around agreed with Bertrand, saying: "Martin, we're Bastia!! We're never cowardly! Your thinking really won't work."
Others chimed in agreement.
Martin didn't argue with them, and continued to pray, "Basel, Sparta Prague..."
The others simply anticipated the results.
Bastia had been away from European competition for so long that fans from other regions didn't even know Bastia existed, let alone that Bastia had once reached a Europa League final.
They hoped Bastia could stand on the top stage. They hoped Bastia's anthem could ring out in Europe's top stadiums!
They yearned to return to the Netherlands.
34 years ago, they ended their only European final with bitterness at the Philips Stadium in the Netherlands.
34 years later, they longed to make up for 34 years of regret at the Amsterdam Arena, about 100 kilometers from Bastia's heartbreak location.
Of course...
This was just fans' beautiful vision. In fact, without this season's group stage double victory over Atlético Madrid, they wouldn't dare dream such dreams.
Because Bastia had truly been dormant for far too long.
As the draw ceremony began...
Some fans stared intently, some held wine glasses and sipped, but without exception, their subtle movements—twitching lips, restless fingers betrayed their nervousness.
One result after another was announced.
BATE Borisov vs Fenerbahçe
Inter Milan vs CFR Cluj
Levante vs Olympiacos
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.
In the bar, there were no other sounds. Everyone's thoughts and eyes were fixed on that screen.
All on Cruyff's hands.
Until—
Cruyff drew Bastia's name.
Whoosh!
In the bar, some hearts broke, some tensed up, and some burned with fighting spirit!
"Tottenham Hotspur vs Bastia!"
The TV announced the final result as Cruyff continued to the next draw.
However...
At that moment, Bastia fell silent at this result.
They didn't reject strong teams, but drawing such a team in the Round of 32 was a bit much for them.
Tottenham Hotspur!
Their historical status in English football was unquestionable as a traditional powerhouse and important force. In cup competitions and European history, especially in the 1980s, they had glorious achievements and were one of England's representative forces in Europe.
However, entering the new century, they too fell into a slump, until Harry Redknapp took over!
This was old Redknapp, father of Liverpool's Jamie Redknapp.
Under his tenure, Spurs made epic improvements.
Particularly with core players like Modrić and Bale exploding, Spurs momentarily became an extremely competitive English team.
The 2009/10 season was their breakthrough season!
They ultimately finished 4th in the Premier League: Spurs' first Champions League qualification since 1990.
They achieved good results in subsequent seasons. Unfortunately, old Redknapp left after last June's season ended due to factors like losing Champions League qualification and failing to get the England national team position.
André Villas-Boas took over.
After losing Modrić, Spurs' attacking ability dropped significantly.
But this season, under Boas's management, the team played extremely entertaining attacking football, spending most of the season in the top four Champions League qualification zone, even briefly being strong title contenders.
Simultaneously...
Core player Bale completely exploded, using epic performances to declare himself among the world's top superstars. He almost single-handedly carried the team forward, contributing numerous jaw-dropping individual performances and crucial goals.
His lightning speed made him the undisputed king of the Premier League flanks.
Now...
Bastia had drawn this Spurs team, similarly led by a single superstar.
They also had Adebayor, Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker, and other talented stars.
At Bastia's training base...
Hadzibegic and the players saw this result and couldn't help but frown.
This draw luck was too bad, right?
Starting with Spurs?
Even the usually optimistic Lukaku... the players were all whispering. Hadzibegic temporarily said nothing, still watching the TV continue the draw.
Julien also frowned slightly. Just the Round of 32, and the difficulty was already this high?
Now Bastia's wing defense pressure was off the charts.
This was Bale.
The player Real Madrid's Florentino Pérez was willing to spend over 100 million euros to replace Ronaldo.
A healthy Bale's ability was unquestionable.
After the Round of 32 draw finished, they continued to the next item: the Round of 16 draw.
The first group drawn was: Napoli/Viktoria Plzeň vs BATE Borisov/Fenerbahçe
Julien and others didn't continue chatting but watched the TV.
The Round of 16 draw was also crucial.
Currently, the Europa League drew the Round of 32 and Round of 16 together, then redrew for the quarterfinals.
Soon...
Bastia had another result.
Whoosh!
The entire conference room erupted in disbelieving exclamations.
Lukaku shouted: "This is fucking trying to kill us!"
One can't blame him for making a fuss.
Almost every Bastia player's brow furrowed at that moment.
It was simply the worst possible draw!
Even pessimistic players felt their Europa League journey's prospects were bleak.
The Round of 16 draw result:
Tottenham Hotspur/Bastia vs Inter Milan/CFR Cluj
This meant that even if Bastia overcame the Spurs hurdle, they'd still face the winner between Inter Milan and CFR Cluj.
Probabilistically, it basically meant their Round of 16 opponent was Inter Milan, with Sneijder and Milito both contributing top-level performances.
Consecutive battles against Spurs and Inter Milan?
After seeing this result, Hadzibegic immediately turned off the TV.
"Everyone knows the draw results. Spurs, then Inter Milan..."
Hadzibegic paused slightly, with a somewhat self-mocking smile, shaking his head: "Well, assuming we can beat Spurs. Perhaps tomorrow's French newspapers will write that we'll be eliminated in the Round of 32. UEFA's draw seems to give 'special care' to us small island team from Corsica!"
The conference room stirred.
The players were also very dissatisfied with this draw result. After all, no one wanted to consecutively face top-five league powerhouses starting from the Round of 32.
"But—"
As the commotion below continued, Hadzibegic's voice suddenly rose sharply.
"They want us to be afraid? They want us to think our Europa League journey ends here? They want us to look at these famous names and bow our heads saying 'well, we tried our best'?
Bullshit!
Look where our name is written on the Ligue 1 standings? First place!"
"Not Paris, not Lyon, not Marseille, US, BASTIA!"
This former Yugoslav defensive rock, even in old age, remained passionate.
"All along our journey, who believed in us? Who thought Bastia could stand on top of the Ligue 1? But we did it! We used our actions to make everyone shut up! Now, the European stage wants to treat us as supporting actors? Wants to use us as stepping stones for the powerhouses?"
"Spurs is strong? Inter Milan is great? That's right! They're powerhouses, they have stars, they have glorious history! So what?! We're not playing against their history; we're playing against those 11 players on the pitch!"
At this point, Hadzibegic's gaze swept below, especially pausing on Julien for a few seconds, saying word by word: "We have our own star! Look at who's first in the Ligue 1 and Europa League group stage scoring charts!"
"Julien!"
Lukaku, easily influenced by emotions, had already become excited during Hadzibegic's passionate "speech." Hearing this, he immediately shouted Julien's name.
Other teammates also looked toward Julien.
Hadzibegic nodded. "That's right, Julien! So, what are we afraid of? We have Julien! Plus, we have Kevin, we have Kanté, we have Romelu, we have Sadio and everyone else, plus our new additions Virgil and Martinez. Are you scared?!"
He looked out the window. "I can already imagine what tomorrow's newspapers will say:
'Bastia's luck has run out,'
'The dark horse will show its true colors,'
'Ligue 1 leaders? Let's see how Europe teaches them a lesson.'
Let them talk! Let them continue underestimating us! But we know in our hearts that we didn't get here today by luck!
We're the rightful Ligue 1 leaders!"
Clap clap clap!
Everyone below applauded vigorously. They agreed with everything Hadzibegic said.
Hadzibegic was about to dismiss the players to wait for the next match against Reims.
But Chataigner signaled he wanted to speak.
Chataigner walked forward, his gaze first sweeping over everyone, then said. "What the coach just said, I believe you understand. But I want to offer you another perspective."
His gaze directly met Julien in the center, along with De Bruyne, Van Dijk, and others beside him.
"Is this draw bad? But from another angle, this is a great gift UEFA has given us!
A gift that lets us shock the world!
Think about it: if we cross Spurs, what will all of Europe say? If we then topple Inter Milan? How will the football world remember the name Bastia? They'll tell our story for decades!"
"And what about you, the miracle makers? I believe each of your names will be placed on the desks of those European powerhouse managers. They'll all want to wave their cash and give you a contract."
Julien met Chataigner's gaze.
He thought to himself, worthy of being someone from management.
Hadzibegic's inspiration came from pure emotion, but Chataigner's was almost "enticement" it was just short of directly saying, if you beat them, your future prospects and financial prospects will be huge.
Indeed...
Julien could clearly feel his surrounding teammates' breathing had grown heavier.
Chataigner understood them too well.
Current Bastia had few veterans, they were mostly young players.
And young people responded best to this dual approach from Hadzibegic and Chataigner.
"Alright, I believe you have your own thoughts about the future. So now, put aside all distractions. Don't think about Milan, don't think about White Hart Lane.
Just remember who we are!
Remember where we're from!
Remember how we climbed step by step to the top of Ligue 1.
Good, I'm done speaking. Everyone rest well—tomorrow we head to Reims."
Clap clap clap!
Amid enthusiastic applause, what could have been called a death draw became an opportunity for young players to prove themselves to the world.
That's right...
How does one become famous overnight?
Naturally by defeating teams stronger than yourself!
Julien looked at each teammate with battle desire burning in their eyes, thinking: was Bastia really weak?
The outside world's perception of Bastia's potential and strength was disconnected.
The "underdog" wasn't weak!
Immediately after the draw ceremony ended, French media published the results online.
Indeed, as Hadzibegic and others had guessed, almost no one favored Bastia's Europa League journey.
"Bastia's Europa League is over!"
"But this isn't good news for PSG, without the Europa League, Bastia will inevitably focus totally on the league..."
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