Chapter 154: Building the Foundation, One Match at a Time
The coaches gathered and exchanged a few words. In La Liga, they were fierce competitors, but in the Champions League, they wouldn't face each other early on. Instead, they had a shared goal—competing against teams from other leagues. This made their conversation more relaxed, with no need for unnecessary reservations.
"We won't be drawn into the same group as Real Madrid or Barcelona due to the same-nation rule, but the other seeded teams are all strong. Every opponent is tough," said Vicente del Bosque.
"But whether the group is difficult or not really depends on which team comes from the third pot," José replied with a smile. "As long as we avoid Schalke, Leverkusen, PSV, and Feyenoord, it won't be a group of death."
"Exactly," Javier Irureta nodded in agreement. "And from the fourth pot, Celtic and Fenerbahçe won't be easy either."
"It all depends on what UEFA has in mind... We may be newcomers to the Champions League, but we're not without history. If you ask me, we'll probably end up in a group with that guy's team..."
José tilted his chin slightly, prompting Del Bosque and Irureta to follow his gaze. A tall, lanky Frenchman came into view.
"You mean Arsenal?" Del Bosque asked, then quickly realized. "Oh, right. Mallorca doesn't have many past grudges with other teams, except for that UEFA Cup final a year ago when you beat Arsenal. Knowing UEFA, they might just put you in the same group."
"Or Lazio," Irureta added. "Two years ago, Mallorca lost to them in the Cup Winners' Cup final."
"Both are possibilities." José shrugged.
The conversation continued, but soon, more and more people filled the hall. The Champions League draw ceremony was officially about to begin.
UEFA had always been known for making the draw dramatic. They first drew the first-seeded teams, then jumped to the third-seeded teams—teasing potential "groups of death"—before revealing the second-seeded teams.