Chapter 577: Hellish Death Group, Is the Champions League Also Lost?
"Real Madrid falls 5 points behind Barcelona after two rounds, their chances of winning the title drop to zero!" Unknowingly, this season's La Liga started in an unexpected way. From the media to the fans, everyone was fiercely discussing one topic: Have the Galacticos lost the La Liga championship in August?
Looking at historical data, they have never won the league after only getting 1 point in the first two rounds, especially with strong opponents like Barcelona lurking.
"Daily Sports" pointed out that the root cause of Real Madrid's problem was very obvious. The absence of two main defenders made their defense extremely unstable, especially without Khedira. The midfield lacked effective protection, leaving the defenders exposed directly to opponents' attacks.
Moreover, with Carvajal and Varane, the defense was too weak to withstand strong attacks. Even Milan Deportes could easily penetrate their front, let alone other La Liga teams.
Furthermore, the absence of Di María made it even more difficult for Real Madrid to attack. Even though Wang Feng was sharp, the disconnection between the midfield and the frontcourt, coupled with opponents' double-marking defense, made it very tricky for him. What's most worrying is that while they may score one in the front, they may concede two in the back.
"Vanguard" wrote an article predicting the collapse of the Galacticos' dynasty, with the blame squarely on coach Ancelotti and Florentino.
"They are too arrogant! Sending away players like Granero, Altintop, Sahin, and Diarra in the summer, leading to the current predicament of having no one available."
"Ancelotti may think that as long as Wang Feng is in Real Madrid, they are an invincible perfect machine. This is simply a big mistake. Besides discussing the Chinese superstar nearing thirty, can this sieve-like defense stop any opponent?"
"Out-of-place Essien, mediocre Carvalho, and Carvajal, these people are not at fault themselves, but they are likely to be nailed to the pillar of shame in the club's history because they destroyed a great era!"
It was too late to remedy the situation. Even though there were still a few days left before the summer transfer window closed, there were no midfielders on the market who could carry the team. Six consecutive titles would be the limit for La Liga.
In the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup, returning to the Bernabéu, the Galacticos still struggled. Wang Feng seemed to be back in the world of the World Cup two years ago. Just like then, he frequently moved between offense and defense, having to manage both attack and defense.
Tired, really tired! He was young and full of faith back then, what about now? Only an aging body.
To outsiders, the Chinese superstar remained strong, showing no signs of decline. However, he himself keenly felt the traces left by the years.
His speed was still fast, but running throughout the game became increasingly difficult. His physical confrontations remained strong, but the forceful collisions gradually decreased, leaving only his technical skills untouched.
In the 27th minute of the match, Wang Feng intercepted the ball in midfield and dashed along the sideline. Evading two defenders with consecutive feints, he stormed into the penalty area.
Facing the defender trying to intercept him, he suddenly stopped and dribbled, catching the opponent off guard, then cut inside and shot with his right foot from the far corner to open the scoring.
In the 42nd minute, it was Wang Feng again, dropping back to receive a pass from Alonso, then turning and sprinting forward into the attacking half.
Modric immediately understood and chipped the ball forward. Wang Feng, speeding into the penalty area, leaped to head the ball into the net once again, 2-0!
The situation seemed to be improving, and although he was extremely exhausted, Wang Feng felt satisfied. At least his efforts were paying off.
In the 63rd minute of the second half, as Alonso pushed forward with the ball, the opposing center-back slid in for a tackle and accidentally brought down the Spaniard. Seeing him rolling several times without getting up, everyone's heart sank.
Another injury! Could it be that Real Madrid was really cursed?
Although Milan Deportes only managed to pull one goal back in the end, with the Galacticos winning the Spanish Super Cup 4-3 on aggregate, there were no smiles on anyone's faces. After hastily ending the award ceremony, everyone waited for Alonso's injury report.
The consolation was that Alonso's injury was not as serious as the previous three. He "only" needed two months of rest, so at least he wouldn't miss the crucial second half of the season.
With heavy hearts, the Real Madrid squad flew to Monaco to participate in the UEFA annual awards ceremony, the draw, and the UEFA Super Cup.
Regardless, due to their excellent performance last season, they would be the absolute protagonists at the ceremony. To boost their morale, Wang Feng deliberately booked a Michelin-starred restaurant to invite everyone for a hearty meal.
In times of difficulty, as the team leader, he had to encourage everyone and boost their morale.
In the award ceremony, both Real Madrid and Barcelona had multiple players selected for the season's best lineup, and the question of who would be the best player in Europe was full of suspense.
As soon as the three candidates were announced, Barcelona began to lobby for Iniesta. They should have a unified voice within the team, even Messi publicly supported his teammate in interviews: "Andrés has performed excellently both in the national team and the club. Many of my goals are planned by him."
The Argentine star knew that if he also stood up to compete, it would definitely split the votes for Iniesta, allowing Wang Feng to benefit, and he could easily win the award without pressure.
Although he felt somewhat uncomfortable, Messi's overall perspective prompted him to do so, but he didn't notice the eager look in the young Neymar's eyes beside him.
After a tense and exciting live vote, UEFA President Platini took the stage to open the envelope containing the final result. His face showed surprise as he announced the winner.
The strong curiosity of the audience was aroused. Who could make him so surprised?
"I announce that the UEFA Best Player of the 2011-2012 season is Wang Feng!"
As soon as his words fell, the entire venue fell silent, and then erupted into deafening applause.
It's still Wang Feng! Iniesta's straightened waist suddenly softened, then he forced himself to congratulate the Chinese superstar. Messi's expression was also desolate. Even at this stage, he couldn't break the monopoly.
Although there was suspense before the announcement, Wang Feng definitely deserved this honor. A hundred goals in a season, five-time champion, six consecutive La Liga and Champions League titles, who else could claim to be the best in the world?
It can only be said that Iniesta was unlucky. At the peak of his career, he encountered opponents who were ascending. Missing out this time might be the closest he has ever been to the European Best Player award.
As for the surprise on Platini's face, he explained afterward that it was because the votes for Wang Feng and Iniesta were really close, with only a difference of three votes.
After the awards ceremony, the highly anticipated Champions League group stage draw followed. As the top-seeded team, Real Madrid was drawn into Group D, and the strongest team in the second tier was undoubtedly the newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City, and surprisingly, they were also placed in Group D!
Everyone couldn't help but gasp in shock. When it came to the third tier, Ajax, a familiar opponent of the Galacticos, was drawn. This result was neither good nor bad. At least they avoided Juventus.
When it came to the fourth tier, teams like Celtic and Club Brugge were acceptable opponents, but they ended up drawing the formidable Borussia Dortmund!
Truly a hellish death group: the champions of La Liga, Premier League, Eredivisie, and Bundesliga gathered together.
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