Chapter 395: Substitute choice
When Real Madrid fell at Anfield, another first-leg Champions League semifinal also ended after 90 minutes of intense battle, with Barcelona ultimately shaking hands with Manchester United in a 0-0 draw.
Cristiano Ronaldo, hands on hips, was catching his breath. Throughout the match, he had been very active, creating many attacking opportunities, but unfortunately couldn't convert them into goals.
Not far away, Lionel Messi was also catching his breath. In this game, he was closely marked by Manchester United's defense, falling to the ground numerous times due to fouls.
The two locked eyes, with a burst of fierce determination in their gaze, along with a hint of mutual respect. Ronaldo couldn't help but retract his previous disdainful assessment of Messi; he was indeed a worthy opponent. Messi's superb dribbling skills during the match left Ronaldo feeling somewhat inferior.
So the Portuguese forward took the initiative to approach Messi. "How about we exchange jerseys?" The Argentine rising star didn't hesitate, taking off his jersey and handing it to Ronaldo. "Of course, no problem."
The two chatted for a while, and suddenly Messi seemed to express some emotion or doubt. "I wonder how Wang Feng is doing?" Ronaldo's spirits lifted upon hearing this, striding purposefully towards the locker room to find a staff member for confirmation.
Messi followed closely, inquiring as well. When they learned of the defeat, both wore expressions of incredulity. "Real Madrid actually lost. Will Wang Feng be eliminated?"
Ronaldo was initially shocked; this result greatly exceeded his expectations. But then he breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a surge of joy. They wouldn't have to face such a tough opponent in the final. In his mind, Liverpool was much easier to deal with than Real Madrid with Wang Feng.
But this emotion was quickly dispelled by his fighting spirit. How could he entertain such thoughts? He needed to defeat Wang Feng squarely, to rightfully claim the throne of the world's best player from him. Only then would it be truly deserved!
"Real Madrid will definitely not go down like this, right, Wang Feng? I'll be waiting for you in the final!" Ronaldo silently thought to himself.
Compared to Ronaldo's rich emotional fluctuations, Messi remained much calmer. His experiences facing Wang Feng and the Galaxy Battleship multiple times made him understand that this team wasn't so easily defeated.
Barcelona had already lost the league title and the Copa del Rey this season, leaving only the Champions League. They had no choice; the most important thing now was to eliminate Manchester United. After that, they wouldn't fear facing either Liverpool or Real Madrid!
Back in Spain, the Galaxy Battleship had another league match on the weekend, away against Athletic Bilbao in the 34th round of La Liga. Fortunately, they still maintained a points advantage over the second-placed Villarreal, so Schuster simply let the assistant coach take a rotated lineup to Bilbao.
"Is this really appropriate?" Del Nido asked worriedly. "Can't worry about that much!" Schuster scribbled on paper, pondering the tactics for the match against Liverpool: "Even if we lose this round, we're still top of the league table. The most important thing is to ensure that the players are in their best condition for the second leg."
"We mustn't repeat the mistakes of the Copa del Rey!" Del Nido nodded, and Schuster thought of something else, adding, "Stay in contact before and after the match. I need to hear your suggestions on the lineup, and if any defenders perform well, let me know promptly."
Although he didn't publicly criticize Heinze in front of the media, the Argentine defender had indeed disappointed him. It seemed that changes would need to be made to the starting lineup.
While the regular starters were spared the hassle, engaging in routine training and tactical drills under the guidance of the head coach, the rotated players of the Galaxy Battleship clashed with Athletic Bilbao.
The lineup composed of substitutes and reserve team players didn't want to miss this precious opportunity in the league. Despite conceding the first goal to the opponents, Solerado helped the Galaxy Battleship equalize before the end of the match.
After scoring, the 23-year-old Spanish forward ran wildly, celebrating and releasing his emotions. As the lowest-ranked substitute forward in the team, he not only couldn't challenge the positions of main players like Raúl and Wang Feng but also came after substitute players like Higuaín, Cassano, and Saviola in terms of playing time.
At this moment, he finally made an important decision: to leave Real Madrid, to leave behind all the players coveted by others, and to join the Galaxy Battleship he had longed for! This was a team always in the spotlight, arrogantly overlooking all other giants, but also the most brutal competitive stage.
Solardo came through the ranks of the Real Madrid youth academy, one of the most prominent players in the team since his youth days. During his four years with Real Madrid Castilla, he scored 63 goals.
But in the star-studded frontline of the first team, there was obviously no place for him. Experiencing constant bench roles and even setbacks like being loaned to clubs like Osasuna, he never mustered the courage to leave the place he had called home for over a decade.
Until now, this goal told him that he still loved football, that he wanted to play rather than sit on the bench! More importantly, due to his unstable appearances, he was also excluded from this year's Spanish national team squad for the European Championship.
Considering that he wore the symbolic main player's No. 9 jersey for the national team for the first time, but was now directly left out, this further strengthened Solardo's determination to leave and seek opportunities elsewhere.
Ultimately, Real Madrid drew 1-1 away against Athletic Bilbao, and upon returning to Madrid, Solardo immediately submitted a transfer request. After some symbolic persuasion from the club's top management, they agreed, after all, the frontline of Real Madrid was already the world's best.
But the management would also fully consider and respect Solardo's autonomous choices. After all, he was also from the Galaxy Battleship's main system. Solardo intended to join teams like Hércules or Mallorca that could promise him a starting position.
On the last day of April, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, about 7 kilometers from the city center of Madrid, was buzzing with activity. Whether or not they were football fans, the people living in the Spanish capital knew that there would be a heavyweight match today.
The second leg of the Champions League semifinal, Real Madrid vs. Liverpool!
The Galaxy Battleship was in a trailing position, so as soon as the game began, they launched wave after wave of fast-paced attacks. Compared to the first leg, head coach Schuster made some adjustments to the lineup, benching Heinze and having Marcelo replace him.
Liverpool, on the other hand, wasn't as aggressive as in the first leg. They replaced forward Babbel with defender Riise, maintaining a balanced 4-4-2 formation. Benitez aimed to secure the situation while not giving up on attacking.
In the 3rd minute, Wang Feng and Raúl aggressively pressed in the frontcourt, successfully intercepting the ball from Aurelio. They immediately launched an attack, and after a few passes, the Chinese superstar quickly received the ball near the edge of the penalty area.
He glanced at the penalty area, then suddenly kicked a low shot with his right foot, the ball flying straight towards the bottom left corner of the goal, causing the fans in the stands to excitedly stand up.
"Shot!!"
"Oh, what a pity! The ball was blocked by goalkeeper Reina. The shot was very beautiful, very sudden, and the angle was tricky, but Liverpool's defense was very focused. It seems they really don't want to repeat last year's mistakes."
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