Eliminating Tottenham certainly thrilled Bastia fans, but this was just a beginning in the Europa League.
The Round of 16 match against Inter Milan was another hurdle!
Bastia's regional newspapers naturally "reported good news, not bad," highlighting the team's elimination of Tottenham, their 13-point lead over PSG, and Inter's current problems. They were confident about this round—
"We're not tourists on a pilgrimage to San Siro, we're conquerors here to tear down the walls of the elite—Bastia's name must return to the pinnacle of European competition!"
Fans seemed to completely disregard Inter's treble achievement just three years ago, and appeared very optimistic about the team's prospects for advancement.
After the exhausting schedule of two Tottenham legs and the PSG match, Bastia now focused on rotation. Predictably, as they approached the season's end, intensity would increase, and players' physical fatigue accumulation would continuously worsen.
This was also why Bastia internally hadn't celebrated early, because truly, one losing streak could bury an entire season's efforts.
Such examples were countless throughout football.
March 6th.
The entire Bastia squad traveled to Milan, Italy.
When the plane landed and players boarded the bus to their pre-booked hotel, Julien gazed out the window at everything rapidly passing by.
The towering Pirelli Tower, cold modern glass curtain walls reflecting sunlight, the Gothic spires of Milan Cathedral piercing the skyline—this stone epic that took six centuries to complete had frozen time and witnessed countless football legends rise and fall.
Julien knew that in this city stood an even more legendary place. San Siro, or by its other name, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, stood quietly.
There, the Dutch Three Musketeers had left their magnificent dance steps, three generations of the Maldini family their loyal bloodline, Ronaldo's tears and the "Phenomenon" title he left for the world, Zanetti's eternal running...
This stadium itself was a living football history book.
It was the football enlightenment and lifelong holy ground for countless fans.
And tomorrow night, he would become one of the writers of its pages.
Leaning against the bus window, Julien's mind raced with countless thoughts. Milan, beyond football, also bore the golden sign of fashion capital.
All just money's power plays.
Julien thought of future astronomical transfer fees, the combination of oil capital and football.
And Inter Milan's own tumultuous destiny.
The current Inter was in the twilight of the Moratti era, without the Indonesian's decline, not yet changed by Suning, nor experiencing Oaktree Capital's hands-off management.
They struggled through the birth pangs of revival, stubbornly defending the dignity of their treble.
Unfortunately, Stramaccioni, this young "scholarly coach," his idealistic tactics could never bloom in the mire of reality.
Julien knew this young coach's future wasn't smooth.
Starting too high, coaching a treble-winning giant right from the start, deprived him of the mentality to level up, ultimately ending his coaching career hastily and turning to full-time commentary.
However, San Siro still had Zanetti—this legendary captain still held his ground, was still the totem of the Nerazzurri spirit.
At this moment, they were all obstacles he must overcome.
Julien thought again of Deschamps' words.
Juventus, Italy, Serie A...
"Italy."
Julien murmured silently.
This was football tactics' holy land, the art palace of catenaccio defense, but also declined due to economic downturn and lack of youth development.
Honestly, this wasn't a good destination.
Deschamps and others' impression of Serie A remained stuck in the "Little World Cup" era. In Deschamps, Zidane's time, Serie A was absolutely the world's number one league!
Unfortunately, time had changed too many people's appearances.
Soon arriving at the destination, after Bastia settled in, Hadzibegic took Rothen to the meeting room for the pre-match press conference.
Shockingly eliminating Tottenham had already led European media to call Bastia the Europa League's biggest dark horse.
Hadzibegic naturally received various inquiries from reporters.
However, Hadzibegic now handled reporters with increasing ease. Though he answered extensively, it boiled down to a few sentences.
"Inter Milan is a prestigious club with glorious history. We respect them."
"We're ready to give our all at any time."
"The team's injuries are under control for now."
"Julien might start."
"Our defense not only has ability but also Bastia spirit."
Meanwhile, Inter was also holding a pre-match press conference.
Stramaccioni said, "Cassano will be with the team. He's been called into the match squad and trained with the team. I'm certain he'll contribute tomorrow, whether starting or coming off the bench—that's beyond question."
Cassano, due to arguments with Stramaccioni in the locker room, had been dropped from last week's Serie A away squad against Catania.
Without Cassano, Inter came from two goals down to win 3-2 away at Catania, winning a key battle for the top three league positions.
Subsequently, Cassano publicly apologized to the coach and club.
Stramaccioni then smoothly included him in the Europa League squad.
Additionally, Inter's new signing Kovačić, purchased from Dinamo Zagreb for €11 million this winter window, also appeared in the pre-match squad.
Furthermore, Stramaccioni mainly discussed the team's current injury problems: "We're now in an emergency because injuries have given us extreme difficulties. We've called up six players from the youth team. After that era of winning everything passed, we've begun a new project and initiated some important contract renewals. Now Chairman Moratti is leading the team into another great era."
This season, Inter's injuries were ferocious!
Inter Milan's injury list was now very long. Milito, Samuel, Obi, Silvestre, Nagatomo, Mudingayi were all recovering. Although Guarin entered the match squad, his injury hadn't healed either.
Therefore, Inter hosting Bastia at home had to bring young players like Colombi to the forward line.
One could only say Milito's injury and Livaja's departure left the forward line stretched thin.
However, this situation should ease this season. The forward line would be Inter's key recruitment position, and they'd already secured one heavyweight signing.
Tuttosport indicated Moratti and Sampdoria's management had reached agreement, confirming Icardi would join Inter next season without suspense. He would excellently replace Milito's position, and the player's salary demands were easy for Inter to meet.
Famous Italian journalist Venerato also said, "Inter Milan's advantage is obvious. Icardi hopes to join Inter Milan. He's already refused Napoli."
According to previous Italian media reports, Inter would pay €13 million for Icardi's transfer fee.
But that was little comfort for their immediate troubles.
Yet even in these circumstances, Stramaccioni remained confident about the team's situation.
"This season our team consists of veterans and young players. The young players will be the team's future. Although we also face great difficulties, so far, the team's progress has been very smooth, and tomorrow will be a very important match."
"I believe Bastia's strength isn't just physical. They also have excellent technique, and more importantly, strong spirit!"
He specifically mentioned Julien. "De Rocca is growing into one of Europe's sharpest attacking players. He's proven himself a player with decisive ability. I respect him very much, and also De Bruyne, Kanté, and other Bastia players. Of course, we also have many championship-level players, and Bastia will respect us equally."
When asked how to limit Julien, Stramaccioni answered, "We need to play with more concentrated attention, and we know right now we don't have much space for changes. However, regardless, it's Inter Milan playing Bastia at home. We need to show something."
His words were conventional, also quite fitting with the impression Stramaccioni gave people.
Before coaching Inter's first team, he was best known for leading Inter Milan's youth team to win the 2011 NextGen Series championship, defeating an Ajax youth team full of talents—a victory that made him famous within Inter.
In March 2012, with Inter's poor performance, veteran coach Ranieri was sacked.
The 36-year-old Stramaccioni was personally promoted by club president Massimo Moratti, leaping to become Inter Milan's first-team coach!
This caused huge sensation at the time.
Early in his tenure, Stramaccioni once led the team to defeat Juventus in the "Derby d'Italia." Although they ultimately finished 9th that season; after taking over he produced a decent run of results, showing potential.
The club happily gave him a three-year contract extension.
Stramaccioni's tactical style was deeply influenced by Spanish football. He admired and tried to implement technical, ground-passing football at Inter, emphasizing possession and proactive attacking, using the popular 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.
This differed from Serie A's generally pragmatic style, bearing distinct idealistic colors.
This style of play made many Inter fans happy, and made them feel this was Inter's most attractive period in recent years.
Perhaps this related to his personality.
Compared to many Italian coaches' passion or temper, Stramaccioni was known for being calm, rational, elegant in manner, and articulate.
He was good at clearly expressing his tactical philosophy to media, demonstrating good communication skills.
Unfortunately, the young coach still faced challenges.
Entering the 2012/13 season, due to injuries and other reasons, the team's form fluctuated considerably, league results weren't stable enough.
Therefore, Europa became the key target. He needed to prove himself with the first team. At least winning a Europa League trophy could let him stay longer in Inter's coaching position.
That evening, Julien chatted and rested with teammates at the hotel. Everyone discussed Inter-related news. Inter's current squad was very depleted, which was very favorable for Bastia.
Even more favorable was Inter coach Stramaccioni's tactics, not too different from Villas-Boas's, and looked very suitable for Bastia's counter-attacking tactics.
Finally, De Bruyne said to Julien, "Do you think when the quarterfinal draw comes, we might draw Chelsea?"
Julien looked at the calm in De Bruyne's eyes and smiled. "Want to return to Stamford Bridge to prove yourself?"
De Bruyne also smiled. "Don't you?"
Hearing this, Julien felt memories that didn't originally belong surfaced naturally.
That time at Chelsea, from Julien's current perspective, honestly, Chelsea had done nothing wrong to Julien.
They even kept indulging and tolerating him, expecting him to show talent on the pitch.
On the field, even before Julien's final assault on teammates, he had stable playing opportunities, even chances to enter the first team. Though he didn't play, it proved Chelsea valued him.
Off the field, Chelsea covered Julien's younger siblings' educational expenses and gave a signing bonus, improving De Rocca family's financial situation at the time.
In a word, they were extremely generous.
Rather, Julien himself was too unruly, not only squandering his talent but also consuming Chelsea's goodwill.
Sometimes Julien wondered, was his former self a mentally not sound or something?
Collecting his thoughts, Julien didn't directly answer De Bruyne, instead said, "We have to get past Inter first."
De Bruyne nodded slightly, then turned to look at Milan's night scene outside the hotel.
Julien saw the scattered confusion in his eyes.
Julien's own future was undecided. Wasn't De Bruyne's the same? Although he was Chelsea's player, could he really get playing opportunities at Chelsea?
Especially now with Chelsea's managerial position hanging in the air, De Bruyne, Lukaku and others' futures were even more unknown.
The next day, at seven in the evening, the entire Bastia squad boarded the bus to San Siro.
All along the way, Julien watched the Nerazzurri fans' celebrations and shouts. His fighting spirit grew increasingly intense.
The bus finally stopped at San Siro's parking lot.
The enormous stadium, illuminated by surrounding lights made its oppressive presence overwhelming.
Fan songs had already begun faintly drifting over, carrying the unique rhythm and passion of Italian.
Julien took a deep breath.
Milan's air seemed saturated with history's weight and competition's gunpowder.
Julien walked into the stadium without hesitation.
Here, countless heroic dreams had been buried, and countless legends born.
Tonight, an 18-year-old youth from Corsica also wanted to carve his name here.
When the Frenchman crossed the Alps to set foot on the Apennines, there was only one purpose—he wasn't here to pay homage.
He was here to conquer.
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