Chapter 581: Not So Eager for Goals
On September 3rd, at noon, in the third round of La Liga, Real Madrid welcomed Granada at home, with Wang Feng still starting as the defensive midfielder.
During the game, his defensive interception was still very prominent, especially in the 33rd minute when Granada's forward Irini faced Carvajal on the left side of the penalty area.
He first feinted to the right with his right foot, causing Carvajal's center of gravity to shift, and then immediately dribbled the ball to the left, using his speed to forcefully surpass the home team's defender.
The 34-year-old Portuguese's speed and agility had greatly declined, and he couldn't keep up with the opponent after being swayed like this. Irini took the opportunity to dribble into the heart of the penalty area and then made a triangle pass back to the center.
Forward Flores was waiting there, ready to shoot directly once he received the ball, but at the critical moment, Wang Feng suddenly rushed out and stretched his leg to block the passing lane, clearing the ball out of the baseline.
Successful interception! He always stood inside Carvajal to provide protection, so even if the opponent broke through the first line of defense, he could promptly follow up with supplementary defense.
In the 42nd minute, Wang Feng received a short pass from Essien at the back and then dribbled forward between Granada's forward line and midfield line, making it difficult for the opponents to mark him.
Then he sent a lob pass with his left foot to Carvajal on the wing, while he himself moved forward. After receiving the ball, Carvajal dodged a tackle with his right foot and then made a through pass with his left foot to Morata at the edge of the penalty area.
Morata received the ball with his back to the goal and couldn't turn around, so he passed it back to Carvajal. The two formed a wall-like cooperation to pull apart the defense, and the Spanish midfielder then passed the ball to Wang Feng, who was making a run forward.
The Chinese superstar received the ball with a direct right-footed pass into the penalty area, and Gonzalo Higuain, who had been waiting for it, quickly started and scored for Real Madrid this time.
In the second half, Wang Feng orchestrated another attack, assisted by Modric to help Ramos extend the lead, 2-0, and the Galacticos secured their first victory of the league season.
In this game, the Chinese superstar contributed 6 interceptions and 3 tackles. Granada didn't organize many attacks to begin with, and almost all of them were snuffed out by him.
This resulted in the away team having a pitiful 3 shots, two of which were from corner kicks.
In addition, his passing success rate reached 97%, with 7 key passes and 1 assist. This data was comparable to Busquets, making him one of the top defensive midfielders in La Liga!
"Wang continues to shock the world with his magical performances. This time, it's not about fancy dribbles or passionate scoring but calm and solid defense," praised Marca.
"Ancelotti is probably the luckiest coach in the world. Anyone would be at a loss when faced with a shortage of troops, but he has Wang Feng, the Chinese superstar who successfully revitalizes the team in a difficult situation."
On the other hand, with Messi's goal, Barcelona defeated Valencia 1-0 to secure their third consecutive victory, leading Real Madrid by as much as 5 points.
Therefore, many Catalan media believed that the Galacticos were just barely holding on, and Wang Feng's "part-time job" wouldn't last long. "Wang's current outstanding performance is only because the opponents haven't adapted to his new position yet. Once they do, he will fade away," they said.
"He'd better return to his original position as soon as possible. Leo has already scored 4 goals, while he has only scored 3. Continuing like this might make him lose the monopoly on the La Liga Golden Boot and the European Golden Boot that he has held for many years," warned Amodes from Diario Sport.
In response to this, Wang Feng responded to the media during an interview: "I have only one goal in playing football, which is to help the team win! In the original position, I need to score continuously, but in the current position, I need to intercept and defend. It's just different roles."
He expressed his satisfaction with his current achievements, stating that his desire for the Golden Boot was far less intense than his desire for the championship.
The Chinese superstar had enough capital to say this. With one Belgian Golden Boot, five Serie A Golden Boots, six La Liga Golden Boots, eleven European Golden Boots, and an unprecedented Super Golden Boot, he indeed didn't need to be so eager for goals anymore.
After three rounds of league matches, the national team match day in September arrived, and La Liga temporarily halted. With no tasks at hand, Wang Feng could spend quality time at home with his wife and children.
As he leisurely lay on the recliner in the villa's courtyard, enjoying sweet grapes while scrolling through his phone, he found that almost all news websites were flooded with one piece of news.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is not happy! He has decided to leave Manchester United!" In the English Premier League's third round match between Manchester United and Everton, the Portuguese scored the opening goal in the 32nd minute. However, he did not celebrate in any form, with a serious expression and pursed lips.
Teammate Vidic, who rushed to hug him, was obviously taken aback and could only awkwardly pat Ronaldo's shoulder.
And in the 71st minute of the second half, he scored again to complete a brace, but the situation was the same, no "siu~", no enthusiastic response to the fans in the stands, just a stern face walking back.
At that time, everyone understood that Cristiano was not happy, and he was very angry. They believed that the earlier-than-expected end to the UEFA Best Player award had affected the Portuguese star's mood, as he hadn't even made it to the top three, ranking only fourth.
But after the game, in the mixed interview area, what Cristiano Ronaldo said was shocking: "European Best? No, I won't be disappointed because of this, because I am one of the best, and I will always strive for the trophy."
"I am indeed not happy, and some people at the club know why. I don't want to reveal more. This is not a personal problem but a professional one."
Immediately, a reporter asked him if he was dissatisfied with Manchester United, and the Portuguese did not deny it. "I don't want to say anything more. You know," he said. At the same time, he hinted that his poor start was due to the club's "fault".
This interview caused a sensation in England and quickly spread throughout Europe. Cristiano Ronaldo had a high influence worldwide, second only to Wang Feng but higher than Messi, thanks to his attention to and marketing in the online world.
Several hours later, as the situation gradually escalated, British Sky Sports columnist Smith revealed that as early as the beginning of the season, the Portuguese had approached the club's CEO, David Gill, asking for a pay raise, but was ruthlessly rejected.
After forcing out Rooney last year, Ronaldo had publicly stated that he hoped to retire at Manchester United, calling it his home, with mentors and family-like figures there.
But subsequent contract negotiations did not go smoothly. The Portuguese star's last signing was in 2010, with a contract duration of 5 years and a buyout clause of 1 billion euros.
This meant that as long as Manchester United didn't let him go, no other team could poach Ronaldo, so the club didn't want to discuss salary increases and contract renewals at this time.
Entering the new season, Ferguson had already indicated that he would gradually fade away and was likely to retire after the season. The worries about the future and dissatisfaction with the treatment finally made him erupt.
Similarly, in the mixed interview area, Manchester United captain Vidic looked puzzled: "I don't know anything. I just found out from you guys. In the dressing room, both I and other teammates felt he was normal, without any anger."
As for the salary dispute between the players and the club, Vidic said it was their own business. "I will focus on the game and fully cooperate with Cristiano to win," he said.
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