Chapter 265: Yellow submarine
Returning to the league, in the 30th round of Serie A, Inter Milan faced Lazio away. Despite the unusually careful coaching staff, injuries are always an unavoidable issue for athletes.
Zambrotta was knocked on the calf in a challenge, screaming in pain on the spot. Mancini quickly replaced him with Samuel and urgently sent him to a local hospital in Rome for treatment.
Unfortunately, Civu also fell injured in a challenge, prompting Mancini to use another substitution to bring Mihajlovic on.
As the familiar faces were carried off the field, Wang Feng's heart sank continuously. They both looked in great pain, certainly not minor injuries. Fortunately, Inter Milan's talent pool in the midfield and defense has been quite well-stocked in recent years; otherwise, they would have suffered a serious blow.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with injuries to some extent affecting the morale of the other players.
At the post-match press conference, Mancini announced with a heavy heart that Zambrotta would miss all remaining matches of the season, with the best-case scenario being a return at the World Cup. Civu, on the other hand, was slightly better off; he could recover around May. If the team reaches the Champions League final, he might be able to play, but his form certainly cannot be guaranteed.
In the first leg of the Italian Cup quarter-finals, Inter Milan hosted Udinese at the San Siro.
From the start, the away team exploited the instability in Inter Milan's defense, launching continuous attacks and creating threats.
In the 14th minute, Mutari and Aquanta executed a wall pass, with Aquanta advancing to break the deadlock with a shot past Inter Milan's goalkeeper.
Conceding a goal so quickly was completely unacceptable to Mancini, who stood on the sidelines directing the defense. After a short period of chaos, Inter Milan gradually stabilized.
Samuel and Mihajlovic were not weak in themselves and often played with a rotated lineup. They just lacked the synchronization with the main lineup, occasionally resulting in defensive mistakes.
Knowing that when the defense is not reliable, strengthening the offensive firepower to deter the opponent is the best approach, Wang Feng actively inserted himself into various attacking routes. His sharp speed prevented Udinese's midfield and defense from fully committing to the attack.
In the 27th minute, Ribery sent a lofted pass from the right flank into the penalty area, where Wang Feng leaped high to head the ball past the outstretched hand of De Sanctis, equalizing the score for Inter Milan!
The first half ended in a draw. In the 61st minute of the second half, a long pass from the back reached the right flank, where Ribery received the ball and forced a cross from the baseline. Inside the penalty area, Wang Feng chested the ball to attract all the defensive attention before letting it drop and then pushing it towards the left.
Adriano rushed out and, with no one marking him, easily slotted the ball into the net, putting Inter Milan ahead.
Unfortunately, this result couldn't be maintained until the end of the game. In the dying moments, Udinese's center-back capitalized on Samuel's long pass mistake, charging into the penalty area to score the second goal for the away team.
2-2! Both sides shook hands, settling for a draw, which wasn't very favorable for Inter Milan.
In the 31st round of Serie A, Inter Milan hosted Parma at home. They conceded early once again, with Parma's defender Gregela assisting striker Rosina to penetrate Torrodo's goal. Neither Cordoba nor Samuel were quick enough to defend alongside Rosina, leaving a gap.
Fortunately, under Wang Feng's leadership, the forward line quickly responded. Just five minutes after conceding, Ribery was intercepted by Bonera on the right flank, and nearby, Wang Feng immediately chose to counterattack on the spot.
Seeing the Chinese player closing in, Bonera felt a bit panicked and hastily passed back to the goalkeeper. However, his pass was a bit weak, and the ball slowed down halfway.
Wang Feng and the goalkeeper, Frey, both rushed towards the ball. Wang Feng, with his faster speed, got to it first, poking it past the goalkeeper's reach with his toe, then calmly slotting it into the empty net to equalize!
This concession severely dampened Parma's morale. A successful defense turned into a basic mistake, especially for Bonera, who was consumed by immense self-blame.
In the second half, Inter Milan got another chance. When Sinede intercepted the ball in the backline, Wang Feng immediately sprinted forward. The Argentine captain sent a straight pass through Parma's defense.
Wang Feng caught up with the ball at the edge of the penalty area, faced with defender Bovo. Wang Feng didn't give him any chance to react, suddenly stopping and then accelerating with the ball, creating an angle for a shot with rhythm changes.
He then unleashed a powerful left-footed shot. Bovo attempted to block, but in the split second of Wang Feng's movement, they had already created a significant gap, making it impossible for Bovo to block. Frey was also surprised by this sudden shot, his save being a bit slow.
2-1! With Wang Feng's brace, Inter Milan turned the game around to beat Parma and secure all three points.
The quarter-finals of the Champions League will proceed as scheduled on the last day of March, with Inter Milan facing Villarreal, known as the "Yellow Submarine."
They are called the "Yellow Submarine" because the team's home kit is strikingly all yellow, and the club's fans sang The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" when the team was promoted in 1967, becoming one of the most classic moments in team history, and the nickname Yellow Submarine has since become popular.
Of course, the "Yellow Submarine" has deeper significance. This team occasionally surprises traditional powerhouses like a submarine surfacing to strike the enemy, and no one knows who their next target will be or how strong their impact will be.
Reaching the Champions League quarter-finals has already equaled the team's best historical achievement. If they can eliminate Inter Milan and enter the semi-finals, it will create a new legend, motivating the players, the club, local fans, and the media.
The local newspaper in Villarreal, "Daily News," boldly proclaimed, "Our next target for a strike is Inter Milan!"
This is not entirely a boast. Villarreal has a strong lineup; 26-year-old Dutch defender Jan Klonkamp is at his peak and reportedly being pursued by Premier League giants Liverpool.
Argentine genius Riquelme, who was not appreciated at Barcelona, became a core player for the Yellow Submarine after being loaned there, rejuvenating his career.
Uruguayan forward Fran transferred from Manchester United to Villarreal in the summer of 2004, shining brightly in his first season, winning the La Liga Golden Boot with 25 goals.
Brazilian midfielder Senna has performed brilliantly, immediately being called up to the Spanish national team after obtaining Spanish citizenship. Juventus veteran midfielder Tacchinardi was loaned to Villarreal, adding stability to the team's midfield.
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