Chapter 631: Eager Anticipation
Another highly anticipated team in the football world, Barcelona, also assembled around the same time, preparing for preseason training and warm-up matches. The new head coach made his official debut as well.
It wasn't the personnel left by Guardiola or the former Bar?a captain, Enrique, who had been heavily rumored by the media before. Instead, it was Martino, the head coach of Newell's Old Boys, a powerhouse team in the Argentine Primera Division.
He had led Paraguay to the quarterfinals, making history in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Last season, he helped Newell's Old Boys secure the league title one round in advance and reach the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores, only to fall to Brazil's Corinthians.
The last Argentine head coach for Barcelona was Louis Menotti, nearly thirty years ago, known for his attacking football philosophy. Fans were eager to see if Martino could bring a different style to Catalonia, but some were pessimistic, believing he might leave after the season.
It's worth mentioning that Messi joined Barcelona from Newell's Old Boys, so there shouldn't be any communication problems between him and the new Argentine coach.
Barcelona dazzled the world with a 7-0 victory over Valerenga of the Norwegian Premier League and a 9-0 thrashing of FC Utrecht from the Eredivisie. The trio of Messi, Neymar, and Suarez stunned everyone, with fans marveling at the footballing spectacle.
During the post-match press conference, Martino mentioned that Suarez's addition brought a qualitative change to the team. "The three players up front complement each other. They all have the ability to decide games. Opponents can only focus on two of them at most, leaving the other completely liberated."
Messi also stated that he found a way to win, praising both Neymar and Suarez as outstanding players who would bring more to Barcelona, making the team even stronger.
Regarding the much-discussed locker room issues, the Argentine star believed there was no impact. Everyone in the team was united in their desire to win championships, and the atmosphere in the locker room was harmonious.
Meanwhile, in China, Real Madrid coach Ancelotti faced questions from the media, mainly about the fierce attacking lineup of the Catalan team and whether it caused any concerns.
"Oh, an excellent combination, spectacular goals. The three players are all world-class stars today, showing their strong abilities. This is a new challenge for Real Madrid."
"But we never fear challenges, do we? I think Wang has a lot of experience in this regard. Barcelona has always used the traditional front three lineup, whether it's the combination of Ronaldinho, Messi, and Eto'o, or Henry, Messi, and Ibrahimovic. He has confronted them head-on and emerged victorious."
"Plus, with the help of many outstanding teammates, the Galacticos' goal remains the championship. We will never give up on this belief!"
The new season hadn't even started yet, but both sides were already eager and impatient.
Aside from the high anticipation for the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona clash, last season's impressive Atletico Madrid also attracted a lot of attention, especially with the departure of their stalwart, Falcao. His replacement, Vi?ctor Viera, signed for a tenth of Falcao's price, but the management still prepared a grand welcome ceremony for the Spanish forward, spending only 5.1 million euros in transfer fees to bring him back to the Calderon.
However, even with the reduced fee, the club prepared a grand welcome ceremony for the Spanish forward, with about 20,000 Atletico Madrid fans coming to witness the unveiling. Even Falcao didn't receive such a grand reception back then.
Wearing the number 9 jersey, Vi?ctor Viera couldn't help but shed tears of emotion, healing the wounds inflicted by Barcelona: "You have given me the support and love I need. From today onwards, Atletico Madrid is the best club in the world."
As soon as he finished speaking, deafening cheers erupted from the stands, with hundreds of extreme fans even breaking through the barriers and rushing onto the field. A few "lucky ones" reached Vi?ctor Viera, forcibly embracing and kissing him.
Stadium staff had to seek help from local authorities in Madrid, mobilizing a large number of security personnel to control the situation.
"I will give my best to the club. I feel full of fighting spirit now. Let me start training!" Vi?ctor Viera said with a flushed face when facing the media.
"Simeone is an excellent coach. He will fully consider tactical arrangements and give me tasks. But personally, I prefer to play as a striker."
"Yes, this position used to belong to Falcao. I know what kind of tough tests await me next, but I hope to make the fans forget about his departure."
As for why he chose Atletico Madrid, Vi?ctor Viera didn't hesitate to explain that he initially planned to go to the Premier League, but Atletico Madrid solved all his personal life issues in just three days, which touched him deeply.
Moreover, Atletico Madrid had Champions League qualification and decent competitiveness. As for the grudges with Barcelona, Vi?ctor Viera didn't want to say much, only indicating that everything would be revealed on the pitch.
The first-round match of the "International Champions Cup" was the first game played by Wang Feng and his teammates together, facing their former club, Inter Milan, at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, which could accommodate 62,000 spectators. Tickets were in high demand, and major sports channels both domestically and internationally broadcasted the warm-up match live.
Coach Ancelotti deployed his ideal 4-3-3 starting lineup in the first half, with Morata temporarily replacing Bale. The Chinese superstar, returning to the frontline, was very active.
In the 7th minute, Modric sent a through ball from the center, and Wang Feng, at the left side of the penalty area, received it, took a low shot, and the ball passed through Inter Milan's goalkeeper, Handanovic's legs, finding the net.
Just four minutes later, Campagnaro made a mistake in interception. The Chinese superstar intercepted the ball with a leg and dodged the counter-press, then passed it to the back point. Iguaín, facing an open goal, scored with a shot.
In the 37th minute, Alonso intercepted the ball in midfield, passed it to Di Maria on the wing, who dribbled past the defense, and, at the right moment, made a slanting pass to the edge of the penalty area. Wang Feng, following up without stopping the ball, shot and scored into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Two shots and one assist in the first half! The satisfied first-team players were all replaced in the second half, and in the rotational contest, both Real Madrid and Inter Milan scored one goal each. The final score was set at 4-1, with Real Madrid securing the advance.
This game resonated deeply within Spain. Although Real Madrid didn't win as dominantly as Barcelona, the fact that they could defeat a Serie A powerhouse exceeded the expectations of the fans.
According to a post-match survey conducted by Marca, Wang Feng was still the best in the hearts of Real Madrid fans. Over 90% believed he was the undisputed "MVP," while the rest were scattered in support of other players.
"Wang Feng's excellent performance no longer surprises anyone, but we are still amazed by his tactical execution, quickly transitioning from defense to offense."
The matches of the "International Champions Cup" were unexpectedly popular, with almost every game sold out. The enthusiasm and appreciation of domestic fans have been cultivated and improved over the years, and it's evident that the Chinese Super League can no longer meet their demands.
For this reason, DreamStar Sports specifically added a loser's bracket for head-to-head matches, with each team playing three full games to determine the final ranking from first to eighth.
Real Madrid won the championship trophy in the last two matches, defeating AC Milan and Chelsea successively, with Wang Feng scoring three goals and providing two assists again.
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