Chapter 230: Defending the title ahead of time, surpassing the legend !
Morientes' face turned pale when he heard this, filled with embarrassment, anger, and a hint of regret. Why did he provoke Wang Feng for no reason? The Chinese superstar exerted immense pressure and threat, showing why he is the best shooter in the world!
In reality, Morientes didn't have any grudge against Wang Feng; he only said those words out of displaced anger. Morientes used to be a key striker for Real Madrid, but since Florentino built the Galacticos, he had been subjected to the club's disdain, gradually losing his starting position and eventually being loaned out to Ligue 1.
So, Morientes harbored deep hostility towards renowned global stars. He felt that many of them were just names without substance and might not necessarily be better than him. Beating Real Madrid in the quarterfinals allowed him to vent his frustrations and further fueled these thoughts.
But Wang Feng was no pushover. His pride and desire to win were no less than Morientes'!
In the second half, Inter Milan didn't give Monaco any chance. The entire defensive line was focused, determined not to concede another goal, while the attacking side continued to press mercilessly.
In the 71st minute, Ribéry assisted Adriano in scoring another goal, sealing the final score at 4-2. Inter Milan lost the first leg but won the tie with a lead and four away goals, confidently returning to San Siro.
On April 25th, in the 31st round of Serie A, Inter Milan hosted Lazio.
The Nerazzurri continued their positive momentum, catching Lazio off guard from the start. In their first organized attack, Ribéry swiftly cut inside from the right flank and received a high-quality pass from Dalmat. He then delivered a precise cross.
Adriano, intending to head directly towards goal from the edge of the penalty area, noticed that Lazio's goalkeeper Peruzzi was too close to him, risking a save. Instead, he leapt high and flicked the ball towards the edge of the box.
Wang Feng was waiting there, deceiving the defender Stankovic with a fake shot, shifting the ball to his right, and then unleashing a powerful right-footed shot.
"Goal! Wang Feng's long-range shot from the edge of the penalty area!"
"The powerful shot caught Peruzzi off guard. Based on our data, the speed of this shot must have exceeded 150 kilometers per hour!"
"It's well known that the most representative player of long-range shooting is Brazil's Roberto Carlos. His shots usually reach speeds of around 150 kilometers per hour during open play, even faster during direct free kicks. Wang Feng's shot can already rival his!"
After taking the lead, Inter Milan didn't abandon their intention to attack further, while Lazio also didn't back down. The two sides engaged in fierce confrontations.
In the 41st minute, Lazio capitalized on a defensive counterattack opportunity, with Corradi assisting in equalizing the score.
In the second half, Inter Milan initiated another attack through the middle. Ribéry dropped back to receive a pass from his teammate, then turned and sent a through ball to the defense.
Wang Feng quickly surged forward, reaching the ball near the edge of the penalty area. Despite Ferarri's desperate attempts to obstruct him, Wang Feng managed to push the ball to the left and create some space.
Arriving near the edge of the penalty area, Wang Feng suddenly performed a dribble-stop move, deceiving Ferarri and then sending a horizontal pass with his right foot. Adriano, exploiting the moment when the defenders were focused on Wang Feng, made a forward run and slotted the ball into the net.
2-1! Inter Milan took the lead again! This score held until the final whistle, and Inter Milan secured the victory!
Just half an hour after Inter Milan's match ended, another high-profile game concluded, with Roma suffering a shocking 0-1 defeat away to relegation-threatened Empoli, marking the biggest upset of this round.
The outcome of this match had a significant impact. After 30 rounds, Inter Milan had 25 wins, 4 draws, 1 loss, totaling 79 points, while Roma, with 21 wins, 7 draws, 2 losses, had 70 points, trailing by 9 points. With four rounds remaining, there was still hope.
However, after the 31st round, Inter Milan's points reached 82, while Roma remained at 70 points. Regardless of the subsequent results, the 12-point difference couldn't be erased in three rounds. Inter Milan successfully defended their league title in advance!
Upon learning this news, Inter Milan's locker room instantly turned into a sea of celebration. Some players, still in their towels from the showers, came out dancing and singing, looking ecstatic.
The staff promptly brought champagne for the players to spray on each other. Wang Feng's dry clothes were soaked again in no time, and even the jubilant head coach Mancini got soaked, but he didn't mind. Instead, he actively joined in the revelry.
The pressure on the Italian shoulders had finally eased a lot. They hadn't let Inter Milan deteriorate further!
The next day, major Italian and European media outlets prominently featured Inter Milan's early championship win on their front pages.
The Milan Sports Gazette headlined with "Surpassing Legends," pointing out that Inter Milan's best league record was two consecutive titles, but they had now broken that record, achieving a legendary third consecutive title.
"They become the fourth club in Serie A history to achieve a three-peat. It's worth mentioning that the other clubs to achieve this feat are Juventus, Torino, and AC Milan."
The Rome Sports Gazette believed that Inter Milan's three-peat had transcended eras, stating, "Since the 1980s, Serie A has almost always dominated European football. Its level and influence in the world of football are undeniable."
"Only two clubs have completed a three-peat in Milan. If the 1990s belonged to AC Milan with the Dutch trio, then the early 21st century belonged to Wang Feng's Inter Milan dynasty!"
The Turin Sports Gazette expressed deep frustration, commenting, "When Inter Milan rose strongly, Roma refused to lag behind, while AC Milan chased closely. What is Juventus doing? They are still competing with Parma for the last Champions League spot!"
"Have the Bianconeri completely become a second-rate Serie A team? The club's top management needs to step up this summer and avoid repeating last year's mistakes!"
The British Telegraph labeled Inter Milan as "ascending to true giants," stating, "When talking about Serie A, Juventus and AC Milan must be mentioned. Inter Milan's reputation was slightly lesser, but after this season, such controversies will disappear. They are one of Serie A's true giants."
Germany's Kicker newspaper invited football emperor Franz Beckenbauer to comment on Wang Feng and Inter Milan, "Inter Milan's three-peat is of great significance, and Wang Feng played a crucial role."
"I've said it a long time ago, Wang Feng will become a legend. Now I want to add that he has become a great player."
"Coming from the largest continent, Asia, Wang Feng has achieved such great success. His influence in football is now comparable to mine in the past. If I am the football emperor of Germany, then he is the football emperor of China, and even Asia!"
The French Echo Newspaper believed that Wang Feng was still a strong contender for the 2004 dual titles. "Although this year is the European Championship year, if no prominent player can lead their country to victory, then Wang Feng will effortlessly claim these two awards."
The Spanish Marca boldly declared in big red letters, "The Galactic Ship needs the world's best team, and we need the world's best players!"
The article repeatedly emphasized that Real Madrid must target Wang Feng for recruitment this year to fully demonstrate the value of the Galactic Ship.
The Catalan World Sports Report also echoed Barcelona's call to "sign Wang Feng." Although it was originally proposed by the outgoing president, it didn't prevent it from becoming Laporta's strategy. He believed that Wang Feng's value surpassed everything.
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