Chapter 126: Before the game
Inter Milan arrived in Rotterdam three days before the final. This time, head coach Cooper insisted that the players not go out to play, instead conducting training sessions within the hotel they were staying in, with the team adapting to the venue the day before the match.
Wang Feng's family and Lu Yao's family arrived at the hotel where Inter Milan was staying ahead of time. Inter Milan arranged enough luxurious suites for them, showing great care.
Wang Feng took half a day off specifically to meet with his "entourage." After a year apart, his mother still pinched Wang Feng's arm, saying he had lost weight as soon as she saw him. His sister and younger sister smiled silently beside her.
As for Lu Yao's family, it was the first time Wang Feng had met them. Lu Yao was already blushing and hiding behind her younger sister, while her father, Lu Xuexing, was very excited, shaking Wang Feng's hand and saying, "I finally meet you, Wang Feng."
"I'm an old football fan. I've been following Chinese football since the Dalian Shide days. After waiting for so long, we finally have our own Maradona!" At this moment, Lu Xuexing had no trace of his usual corporate executive demeanor; he was completely a football fan to the core.
Wang Feng modestly replied, "You're overestimating me. I definitely can't compare to Maradona." Lu Xuexing said, "Your age speaks for itself. You're not even nineteen yet this year, right?" Learning that Wang Feng wouldn't turn nineteen until July 12th, Lu Xuexing looked even happier.
Lu Yao's mother looked at her daughter and Wang Feng with a puzzled expression, her keen intuition telling her that there must be something going on for Lu Yao to be so shy.
Wang Feng's mother and sister noticed everything, having frequent contact with Lu Yao. They really liked this well-behaved and sensible girl, but they didn't force anything. Children have their own destinies, and success depends on fate.
Finally, everyone had dinner together at the hotel and planned to tour the sights of Rotterdam as a group. Wang Feng was specially allowed to leave the hotel for half a day to spend time with his family.
This treatment made Consigliaco very envious. He wailed, "If I had known, I would have brought my family too, so I wouldn't have to be stuck training at the hotel."
Matrazi joked, "You see your family dozens of times a year, but Wang Feng only gets to see them once. Is there even a comparison? Besides, if your family found out you went out to have fun, they'd probably skin you alive."
Everyone burst into laughter. Head coach Cooper's lips also curved into a smile, but he quickly restrained himself and urged everyone to hurry up and train. He approached Wang Feng and said, "Wang, you're already diligent enough in your usual training. Skipping half a day won't matter much to you."
"Don't worry about training today. Just spend time with your family. That's your task for today."
Wang Feng nodded. He cherished the time he could spend with his family.
Wang Feng had already toured Rotterdam before, so this time, he acted as a tour guide, leading the group to visit all the famous landmarks in Rotterdam and explaining them earnestly.
As for the content of his explanations, it was what Zanetti had told him last time. He just learned it and sold it right away.
They didn't have Chinese food for dinner but tried authentic Dutch cuisine instead. By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already after nine o'clock in the evening. With the match still two days away, Wang Feng couldn't accompany them anymore.
His mother expressed understanding, "Hurry up and prepare for your match. Don't let us delay your business. We have a large group here and can have fun together without any problems."
His younger sister also nodded, taking out a notebook and saying, "I've already planned everything out. I want to shop and eat. That's the essence of traveling, right?"
Wang Feng sighed silently. This little spender had indeed spent quite a bit during their six-month trip in China. So that's where all the money went.
On the morning of the match, head coach Cooper gathered all the players for pre-match tactical arrangements.
The coach of Borussia Dortmund was Matthias Sammer, a former German player who won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1996. However, his coaching career was just beginning and couldn't compare to the experienced Cooper.
Despite this, Cooper's nervousness was heightened by the team's two previous losses in the Champions League finals. He felt like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, unable to sleep all night, with his mind filled with tactical formations.
During the meeting, Cooper repeatedly emphasized the team's defense. Borussia Dortmund would likely use the front trio of Everton, Jan Koller, and Amoroso, with a strong offensive force. It was crucial for Inter Milan not to concede first, as falling behind would put them at a disadvantage both in terms of on-field situation and psychological pressure.
Wang Feng had already experienced a Europa League final once, and that too under extremely unfavorable conditions, yet miraculously won.
So he was actually the most relaxed one in the entire team. Thinking back to last year's Alaves defender Geli's bizarre own goal, would there be any unexpected occurrences this year as well?
The meeting continued until noon, followed by a press conference and the final training session in the afternoon. According to tradition, only the coaches attended the press conference to prevent players from being asked tricky questions that could affect their emotions and performance in the match.
Both teams had won their respective league titles in Serie A and Bundesliga before the final, making this Europa League final highly anticipated. The media believed that their clash represented the highest level of competition between the two major European leagues this season.
"We are evenly matched opponents," Cooper said in an interview. "This match has reached the level of the Champions League."
Borussia Dortmund coach Sammer showed a bit of weakness, saying, "Inter Milan's strength this season is very strong. They not only have the FIFA World Player Ronaldo but also signed last year's Europa League Best Player, Wang Feng. His performance in the league this season has been perfect."
"We need to find a way to limit their performance in order to bring the trophy back to Dortmund."
As the Inter Milan players walked out of the locker room and lined up in the player tunnel, Wang Feng spotted a familiar face, none other than Jan Koller, who also started his career in the Belgian league.
The two greeted each other warmly, even embracing. Their teammates nearby knew about their connection, so they didn't find it strange.
Koller had performed excellently in the Bundesliga this season, contributing 11 goals in 34 league matches and being one of the key players in Borussia Dortmund's title-winning campaign.
He smiled wryly and said, "I didn't expect us to leave the Belgian league and still have to compete against each other." Koller felt quite depressed; his encounters with Wang Feng during their Alavés days had left him with a psychological shadow.
Wang Feng laughed and said, "Not only in the Europa League, but we also have to compete on the Champions League stage. Don't fall behind." Koller felt a chill in his heart; he sensed Wang Feng's strong confidence, shining like the rising sun.
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