"Last night, outside the hotel where Luton was staying, dozens of Roma fans set off fireworks, creating a huge amount of noise, causing trouble for Luton."
On the Sky Sports morning news, the TV screen showed the scene outside the hotel where Luton was staying, accompanied by the anchor's voice. Then the screen quickly switched to a shot of Gao Bo being interviewed by reporters.
"Our reporter connected live with Luton's head coach, Gao Bo!" the host said.
"I must condemn such behavior!!" Gao Bo, who hadn't slept all night, still looked quite energetic.
"My players couldn't sleep from midnight until almost dawn because it was too noisy outside. Even when the police arrived, these people continued to make even louder noises!!" Gao Bo's expression had now calmed down. "Today's training has been canceled. We originally planned to do some physical warm-ups in the morning, but now it seems we have to cancel. My players are resting. No, no, no, I won't tell you where they are!"
After the football hooligans outside dispersed, Gao Bo had the team's logistics staff rent a bus from a travel agency in Rome and quietly checked into another hotel.
Gao Bo was worried that if they were targeted by these football hooligans again, the players might not be able to rest during the day.
The TV screen switched back again, and the host, dressed in a suit, began to speak: "Even against a third-tier league team, the Romans resorted to such tactics. It seems Luton has indeed put a lot of pressure on them. The reason they did this is because, at this point in the E group standings, Luton is first with three consecutive wins, while Basel, in second place, has six points. This round, Basel will host CSKA Sofia, and CSKA Sofia, who has not yet earned any points, is basically unlikely to get any points away at Basel. If Roma loses again this round and Basel wins, the points situation in Group E will become Luton leading with twelve points, Basel in second with nine points, and Roma only in third with three points. Even if Roma wins their next two league matches, whether they can qualify will depend on the head-to-head results between Basel and Luton. If Basel beats Luton, or if both teams draw, Roma will be eliminated from the group stage!"
"This is certainly not the outcome the Romans want to see, so this round of the group stage is a match Roma cannot afford to lose. They must at least get one point at home, even a draw, which would give them some initiative in the upcoming fifth and sixth rounds."
With so many things happening before the match, it's easy to imagine how much pressure Luton would be under at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
"What I'm worried about now is the safety of our away fans!"
Gao Bo held a press conference at the hotel early in the morning, with reporters from England, Italy, and some major newspapers from other European countries in attendance.
"We have five hundred fans who have come to Rome, and I hope the Roman municipal government can guarantee the safety of our fans!"
"In fact, Rome is a very safe city!"
At this point, a Roman reporter stood up and said, looking very angry, as if Gao Bo's words had shamed the entire city of Rome.
"Safe?" Gao Bo smiled.
He took out his phone and showed the photos he took yesterday: "Then can I still consider Rome the city of romance? Look at dozens of big men setting off fireworks in the middle of the night."
A burst of laughter erupted in the press room.
The matter has now largely escalated. Even the British Ambassador to Rome was alarmed.
"The British Ambassador has communicated with the Roman authorities, and they will do their best to ensure the safety of Luton fans and players."
"The Rome police will increase their presence at this match to ensure the safety of visiting fans in Rome!"
The reason both sides' officials are so serious about this is that there have indeed been multiple instances of mutual fights and even fan deaths among Italian fan groups.
The media was abuzz, while the entire Luton team rested for half a day at another hotel.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, the team began to depart from the hotel for the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
"The players are not in very good condition," John said with some concern.
Gao Bo looked at the players' current state. Although they had rested for a considerable amount of time during the day, a person's biological clock is set for sleeping at night.
At this moment, two words were written on the players' faces—fatigue!
Gao Bo sighed slightly. The players hadn't rested well, and he didn't have any particularly good solutions.
He turned his attention to the football card system, as he still had a blue card redemption coupon left over from winning the FA Cup last season.
Perhaps he could redeem a card that would improve the team's physical condition?
A 15% increase in physical fitness might allow the players to get through this match.
But was it really necessary to use this blue card here?
Gao Bo hesitated for a moment.
"I have a way to temporarily energize the players!"
Haruko walked over and said.
Gao Bo was startled.
"What way?"
"Ammonia!!" Haruko said.
"Using stimulants is against the rules!! That is absolutely not allowed." Gao Bo's expression was very serious.
"Ammonia is not a stimulant!!" Haruko said, "I majored in sports medicine, and I know very well what is and isn't a stimulant."
"The purpose of inhaling ammonia is that the combination of nitrogen and hydrogen in ammonia can temporarily stimulate and improve concentration, and also improve oxygen supply in the human body. Under current anti-doping regulations, ammonia is not considered a prohibited substance and is often used by weightlifters and athletes involved in strength sports."
When Haruko talked about her profession, she showed none of her usual shyness.
Gao Bo was a bit hesitant: "It's really not considered a stimulant?!"
"We just soak cotton balls in ammonia and have the players put them in their nostrils before they go out, letting them inhale a little ammonia. This is beneficial for relieving fatigue. In fact, even ordinary people can use this method to relieve fatigue from lack of sleep in daily life! This is a purely physical method, stimulating blood circulation in the human body through irritating gases!"
Gao Bo thought for a moment and finally made a decision.
"Then let's do it that way!"