Chapter 348: Haven't seen you in a long time
On the day of the final, Real Madrid players were immersed in a tense atmosphere from early morning. Florentino, along with the senior management, came to the restaurant as usual to cheer everyone up.
When Wang Feng approached him, the Spaniard patted the Chinese superstar on the shoulder and said, "You've done brilliantly. Your performance has far exceeded our expectations. Do you have confidence in bringing the trophy back to Madrid?"
"Of course, I don't want the record of consecutive wins in the final to be broken," Wang Feng's reply made Florentino burst into laughter. He then encouraged him a few more times, hoping he wouldn't feel pressured and would perform normally. Their exchange was the longest among all players, highlighting Wang Feng's status in the team.
Meanwhile, on the city streets, lively fans gathered everywhere, discussing animatedly. Athens was already a tourist city, and the influx of visitors for the Champions League final multiplied, especially many faces from Asia. With increasing economic power, numerous domestic fans formed groups spontaneously to come and watch the game.
Fans and media from all over the world had their eyes on this event, wondering whether the Galaxy Battleship, absent from the Champions League final for four years, would return to glory, or if Liverpool's resurgence would surpass them.
The last final between the two teams dated back to 1981, at the Parc des Princes in Paris, where Liverpool narrowly defeated Real Madrid 1-0, securing their third Champions League trophy in the club's history.
Since then, the Reds only won their fourth title in 1984 and had been missing out on this top European honor. Two years ago, they were on the verge of eternalizing the trophy, only to be thwarted by Mourinho's Chelsea.
So this time, Liverpool vowed to seize the precious opportunity and keep the European Cup at Anfield forever!
Real Madrid, on the other hand, was determined not to repeat the tragedy of the past, watching glory slip through their fingers. Revenge and clinching the double crown were the best outcomes!
The Olympic Stadium of Athens was once the center of the Olympics, capable of accommodating 55,000 people, making it one of the largest stadiums in Europe. But for passionate fans, it was still not enough.
All tickets were sold out in no time, with requests flooding the internet. Early in the morning, numerous fans with signs reading "Looking for tickets" wandered near the stadium, hoping to meet someone willing to sell. However, the chances were slim.
In the afternoon, the Real Madrid team boarded the bus to the stadium. The Athens City Hall deployed hundreds of security guards to maintain order. The roads were lined with enthusiastic fans holding various banners of support. Wang Feng appeared most frequently, and many even chose to write his name in Chinese.
Seeing the Chinese characters like mystical symbols, Wang Feng was deeply moved. Madrid had fully embraced the Chinese superstar, even sparking a "Chinese fever" due to his influence.
Many people spontaneously started learning Chinese characters, eager to cheer for him better on the field. Madrid TV produced documentaries on Chinese history, and city councilors actively promoted friendly relations with cities in China.
Never underestimate the influence of a football superstar in Europe. Even though Wang Feng had left the Nerazzurri, Milan was still actively promoting exchanges with Chinese cities. Inter Milan would still choose to visit China.
Milan City Hall even planned to erect a life-size statue of Wang Feng next to the road leading to the San Siro Stadium, to commemorate his contributions to Inter Milan and Serie A.
Even Italy, now in the past tense, did so. Not to mention Spain, which is currently ongoing. Except for the Catalonia region's deep aversion to Wang Feng, his popularity remained high in most other regions.
Before the match's press conference, Schuster brought Wang Feng along. "With your mindset, you definitely won't be affected by tricky questions. As the top player of Real Madrid, many reporters want to see you before the match."
This was also the difference between Real Madrid and Inter Milan. The Galacticos always maintained a high profile and exposure.
Underneath were numerous media from various countries. Wang Feng saw many familiar faces from domestic journalists. Since he made a name for himself in Europe, domestic media had also fared better in Europe. Many times, they received invitations to major events.
Wang Feng gave standard answers to all questions. Everyone was particularly interested in his predictions for the match. "I've always had confidence in the team because we are Real Madrid!"
Regarding opponents Liverpool, Wang Feng regarded them as a team with a long history and tradition of strength. Reaching the Champions League final twice in three years proved this. However, the Galaxy Battleship did not fear them, or any opponent.
A considerable part of the media was also concerned about Wang Feng's wedding, making the Chinese superstar a bit embarrassed. He quickly waved his hand, indicating that this was a private matter and not convenient to answer.
Media from China asked about the Asian Cup. Considering the 2008 Olympics, the AFC moved the originally scheduled Asian Cup from next summer to this summer.
"I will definitely respond to the call-up. In recent years, the number of national team members playing abroad has increased sharply, and their growth is obvious to all. We will do our best to defend the title!"
Before the match, both sides would have their final adaptive training sessions on the field. The two teams arrived at the venue almost simultaneously. Wang Feng glanced at Liverpool's lineup, finding few familiar faces. However, team captain Gerrard was a player Wang Feng remembered vividly.
The former English prodigy was now over 27 years old. He came through Liverpool's youth academy, making his debut for the Reds' first team at just 18 in 1998.
Lady Luck favored this young man. Due to a main player's injury, Gerrard had a total of 12 appearances, impressing then-manager Houllier. In the following year, he became a regular starter for the team.
In the millennium season, the team reached its peak, winning four trophies in a row, with Gerrard playing a pivotal role. It was a pity that due to Wang Feng and Genk's failure to achieve the feat of winning five trophies, they gradually fell silent.
In the 03-04 season, Gerrard took over the captain's armband from Sami Hyypi?, becoming the team's leader. He inspired both old and new players with his hardworking spirit, and Liverpool rose again, making it to the Champions League final twice in three years.
Looking around, he had been fighting for the same team for so many years. Like Zanetti and Maldini, he was a respected pillar of the team's spirit.
Gerrard felt Wang Feng's gaze and smiled as he walked over. "Long time no see. I didn't expect us to meet again on the stage of the Champions League final."
This English star also felt a myriad of emotions. Back then, Wang Feng was just an unknown young player who scored four goals in a match, snatching away their League Cup.
Now he was a well-established figure, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA World Player of the Year. Such glory made all opponents look sideways, but Liverpool was no longer the same. They would be stronger than before, and past mistakes would never be repeated!
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