Unfortunately we had two more injuries to worry about, both of them coming from the first leg: Tomislav Djurdjek was going to be out for a month and a half while Maximilano Ceballos was going to be unavailable for three to four months.
Inter vs Viitorul (Champions League Semi Final Leg 2)
Starting Line Up: Nicolas Salva — Henning Valentin, Xavier Dumont, Georgica Dicu, Sebastien Verdier — Yasen Zlatinski, Mike Broadhead, Hector Fernandez — Juan Cruz Argenti, Manoel, Dramane Sow
I had to send in young right back Valentin in such a tense game and that was my main worry since he had Muniain as the direct opponent on that flank. However, it was us who created the first chance after just four minutes but Argenti was denied by a great save from the goalkeeper. We were dominating the game but that wasn’t enough to keep things quiet as Inter caught us on a counter attack and Castaignos scored a great goal. Things went from bad to worse just before the break as Manoel had to leave the field on a stretcher… But it was all square on aggregate at half time, we were still in with a chance.
And it didn’t take long for my strikers to show their class: four minutes after the interval Argenti played a brilliant pass for Benko who fired low into the bottom corner of the net! Inter were in shock and we struck again just one minute later as a long kick from goalkeeper Salva found Sow clean through and the striker rounded the goalie before nesting the ball into the back of the net!
Inter needed to score three goals at that point and they started throwing more and more men forward but we stood firm and didn’t allow them to create more than one clear chance. A fabulous display from my lads and a huge victory against Guardiola and his troops. There were bad news coming after the game though: Manoel was going to be out for two months…
Match Highlights:click here to watch
Real Madrid, the defending champions, went past Manchester United in the other semi final so we’ll have another clash with Los Blancos. In case you don’t remember, it’s them who knocked us out last season in the semi finals…
We did win the last game against them though, 2-0 in the second leg, but not enough to overturn the 4-0 defeat we were handed at Santiago Bernabeu.
Let’s leave the Champions League for a moment and see what has happened on the domestic front as all games were completed before the Champions League final.
In fact, the Romanian Cup final was just three days before the big day. That is why I fielded mostly reserve players in that final but we still won it thanks to a brace from new signing Nahuel Lopez, one of the few first team players that took part. That’s our 9th consecutive Romanian Cup success…
The Romanian League went smoothly as well, even though we dropped some points due to the rather wild squad rotation I implemented in order to keep the important players fit for the Champions League battles.
We grabbed our 10th Liga 1 title in a row, that could be some kind of a record in Romania but I haven’t checked.
The financial situation is getting even better, we have over 25 million pounds in the bank. The shareholders will get dividends again, happy days :)
With just one game left in the season the player stats are looking satisfactory, even great for some lads. I am pleased that all the players in the squad managed to contribute to the team’s success this season, even new boys like under 19 star Richard Hendry who bagged 8 goals in 11 appearances.
But, as you can see, there are problems before the Champions League final. Both right backs are injured while Maximiliano Ceballos and Manoel are still a long way from recovery.
And where’s the Champions League final? Where is it, I hear you cry and shout. Well, I haven’t played it yet :)
Why, why? Because I think it would be nice to live it together. Yes, you guessed it: the final will be played tomorrow (Sunday June 8) and I will try to make a live text broadcast of the event. The broadcast will start at 18:00 (6 p.m.) London time, I hope you will all join me and live the tension of that final together.
Until then, thanks for reading and feel free to voice your opinions in the comments area.
vaibhavc
7 июля, 2012 at 20:40
What a run in the CL! I am so eager to find out what is going to happen, and the best part is, unlike your past text broadcasts, I will be able to attend the broadcast! Can’t wait for it, already putting a reminder on my phone.
Johnny Karp
7 июля, 2012 at 20:48
Thanks Vaibhav, I hope you’ll enjoy tomorrow’s broadcast.
Ivo Knežević
7 июля, 2012 at 20:43
Unbelievable Johnny !
There are no other words to describe what you’ve done.
I believe you’ll win it tomorrow, even tough you play against the current champions.
Where will it be played?
Oh and I suggest you to do a live stream on youtube. ;)
Good luck
Johnny Karp
7 июля, 2012 at 20:49
Thanks Ivo. The game will be played in Athens. I have done some testing with live video streaming before and it doesn’t really work, the image is too small for the user to really understand what’s happening on my computer screen. So I’ll stick to the text format for now.
Sears
7 июля, 2012 at 20:45
I’ll have plenty to celebrate tomorrow night :D I was 18 last Wednesday , so I’m having a party tomorrow night … and what a better way to kick things off by watching you (hopefully) lift the Champions League before my friends arrive :) Madrid will be a stern text but you’re lads have showed that they are capable of pulling off an upset. Best of luck buddy , and congrats on yet another domestic double! :D
Sears
7 июля, 2012 at 20:46
*test (not text)…
Johnny Karp
7 июля, 2012 at 20:47
Haha, thanks Sears. I hope me and my players will provide a good beginning to your celebrations :) By the way, Happy Birthday!
Darren Smith
7 июля, 2012 at 20:48
Incredible achievement mate, just to reach the final is outstanding but to beat the teams you did along the way is simply brilliant. Your squad seems ready and to not win the final now would be devastating even though you face a monstrous opponent in Real…I will certainly be there for the big event mate, can’t wait!!!
Johnny Karp
7 июля, 2012 at 20:50
Thanks Darren. I can’t wait either, I hope I won’t be tempted to start the game before tomorrow night :D
Kevin
7 июля, 2012 at 21:06
Hi Johnny
Great stuff mate and I’m just delighted that you have reached the final at long last. What an epic journey it has been over these last few seasons. I hope to make it back from church on time for the live event. Awesome!!!
PS That young Scot Richard Hendry looks really decent!
Johnny Karp
7 июля, 2012 at 21:27
Thanks Kevin, it was a great journey indeed. Don’worry if you miss the live thing, the text will still be there after the final whistle.
TheZiggy
7 июля, 2012 at 22:20
Supreme form in all competitions, shredding the domestic competition. Congratulations on reaching the Champions League final. Hopefully the lads will rise to the challenge of taking on Real Madrid and lift the trophy after so many years of trying. If you don’t see a rise in your reputation to continental after this, then SI will really need to give some of their programmers a good kick of the butt.
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:44
Thanks Ziggy. I really hope the reputation will increase regardless of the result in the final.
saltwater
8 июля, 2012 at 00:50
That’s brilliant! I never saw that coming! And I can’t believe it: I’m actually free at 6 tomorrow. But I’ll probably get distracted or something but I’ll do my best to attend this awesome event.
But I must ask for the sake of my curiousity, if you win the European Cup is that the end of this story? Either way its been a joy to read for this last 6? 7? months and now it’s come down to this. The Grand Heavyweight — Live!
Also, what mode will you be playing this in? Extended, key, full match, etc…?
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:45
Thanks mate. The story will not end if I win as I will be looking to grab the European Super Cup and the Club World Championship. About the format, I always play with extended highlights.
Victor
8 июля, 2012 at 01:07
Congratulations for your season and good luck in the Final. I hope you’ll cope with those injuries and I’m sure you will do so because you created a powerful squad at Viitorul.
About the intern competition it looks like you’ll never lose a trophy for many years.
I’ll try to attend the live broadcast, but I want to ask you a question about the time of it: 18:00 London time is 20:00 Bucharest time or am I wrong?
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:46
Thanks Victor. And that is correct, it’s 20:00 Bucharest time.
Malhar Bhadbhade
8 июля, 2012 at 04:22
hey Johnny,
wow, you had a fantastic run in the Champions League!! But devastating news at the end!! haha, i did think you might do something like that with the champions league final..but I won’t be able to watch it since it’s going to be 3am here in Australia :( So maybe I’ll just check what happens tomorrow…Anyway, all the best for the final and hope you win it!! Also, good luck for next season !! cheers!! :D
p.s. — i have stopped mentioning the domestic football. i don’t think you will ever not win either of the league or the Romanian cup :D
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:46
Thanks Malhar. Have a good night in Australia and enjoy the post tomorrow ;)
thefanboy
8 июля, 2012 at 04:55
my nipples are tender
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:46
Huh?
Martin F.M.J.S
8 июля, 2012 at 09:53
Congratulations Johnny on reaching the final of the CL. I had a feeling this was going to be your year of reaching the final. So my day booked F1 then Tennis finished by CL final :D
Good Luck mate.
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:47
Haha, thanks Martin! My schedule is pretty much the same, but I prefer the Tour de France to the Formula 1 race ;)
CsAtlantis
8 июля, 2012 at 10:32
Wow some your team is playing really well, despite having some players out with injuries you have made it all the way to the final!
Good luck against Real Madrid in the final!
Also nice to see some players still playing in your game like Wilshere/Alaba/Muniain/Crisetig :)
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:48
Thanks buddy, we still have some injury problems but since we got so far with them I guess they don’t matter too much any more.
Handelparr
8 июля, 2012 at 10:53
Watch Andy Murray at Wimbledon, then watch your champions league final, safe to say it should be an entertaining sunday now!
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 10:54
Haha, I really hope it will be :)
Ana Garcia
8 июля, 2012 at 13:14
Typical Guardiola a gentleman on and off the pitch. :)
Amazing run to the final its against Real Madrid so you have double support from me! ;)
Its really great to see everything falling into place after such a long road, another title, another cup win, a very strong financial position a great squad and one game away from history, cant wait to see the result.
Best of luck!! :)
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 13:19
Thanks Ana, I was quite pleased to see Guardiola having some nice words to share.
Dan
8 июля, 2012 at 14:48
Hey Johnny,
Great Champions League run and when you’ve got Guardiola complimenting you, you know you’re doing something right! :) Madrid will be a really tough test but if you beat them you definitely know that you’ve taken Viitorul all the way. Good luck.
Johnny Karp
8 июля, 2012 at 14:56
Thanks Dan, we’ll surely need some luck and I hope we will have just enough to clinch it. If not, we’ll just keep trying.