Chapter 652: Can't I Enjoy Some Leisure After Fighting for a Lifetime?
The international break dealt a blow to Real Madrid with the FIFA virus, as Alonso, Varane, and Khedira all suffered injuries of varying degrees during the matches.
Varane was affected by a knee issue, with French coach Deschamps revealing swelling in his knee, although the young player's recovery was relatively fast.
The most serious injury was to the Spanish midfielder Alonso, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament, requiring at least six months of rest and likely ruling him out for the season, with an optimistic estimate suggesting he might make it back in time for next year's World Cup.
This posed a headache for Ancelotti, as Alonso was one of his most relied-upon players and a vital part of the midfield trio. Who could replace him now?
Khedira, on the other hand, suffered an ankle sprain, not too severe, but after a year of rehabilitation, he still harbored fears of injuries.
On November 23rd, at the Mediterranean Games Stadium, in the 14th round of La Liga, Real Madrid faced Almeria away.
Casemiro replaced the injured Alonso, while Isco replaced Modric in the starting lineup.
In the 3rd minute, Isco broke through on the right and crossed, and Wang Feng poked home from 10 meters out to give the visitors a dream start.
After a period of stalemate, the Galacticos extended their lead in the 51st minute, as Casemiro provided a through ball, and the Chinese superstar unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from the edge of the Almeria penalty area, once again breaching their defense.
A brace! This was Wang Feng's 24th league goal so far, with three braces and four hat-tricks to his name.
Apart from not scoring in the match against Rayo Vallecano, he had found the net in all other games.
Such attacking efficiency led to media and fans alike exclaiming that they had been "spoiled" by the strikers. Their standards for appreciating forwards were getting higher and demands more stringent.
As soon as a promising young star experienced a goal drought, many would immediately leave comments online saying they were "finished," oblivious to the fact that form fluctuates in most cases.
Wang Feng was planning to complete his hat-trick, but in the 61st minute, Trujillo tackled him defensively from behind.
Wang Feng felt a sharp pain in his right foot and attempted to stand up but failed. He realized he was injured, and with the team having such a big lead, he signaled to the coach that he would no longer endure it and asked for a substitution.
Ancelotti immediately replaced the Chinese superstar with Hesse. The situation on the field did not change afterward, as Iguaín, Bale, and Isco each scored a goal for the team, and in the end, Real Madrid swept aside the opponent with a score of 5:0.
After a detailed diagnosis post-match, it was confirmed that Wang Feng had a muscle injury and would need to rest for one to three weeks. Due to his consistently excellent physical condition, the team doctors couldn't pinpoint the exact time frame.
"This season, the team's overall performance has been good. You just focus on resting more," Ancelotti said, concerned. He knew very well that the Chinese superstar was not as young as before, and his physical vitality and recovery ability were declining year by year.
So his usage should not be as reckless as before; if he couldn't play at a crucial moment, it would be a huge regret.
After thinking for a moment, Wang Feng agreed with the coach's suggestion. With the current depth of the Galacticos' squad, it seemed that there was no need for him to play through injury to turn the tide.
After a lifetime of fighting, can't I enjoy some leisure?
The news that the Chinese superstar was only lightly injured also relieved all the players and fans of the Galacticos. Di María and others patted their chests, expressing that they would take care of the team, and the captain should focus on recovering well.
The current situation made the players feel extremely confident, as if they had a huge backing behind them, allowing them to boldly move forward and call upon the backing when they encountered problems they couldn't solve.
As expected, in the 5th round of the Champions League group stage against Galatasaray midweek, Bale opened the scoring with a free-kick, and Arbeloa contributed with a goal and an assist, while Di María and Isco each scored a goal.
Real Madrid defeated their opponents 4:1, securing top spot in the group with a round to spare.
And in the 15th round of La Liga against Real Valladolid at home on November 30th, Bale even scored his first hat-trick since joining La Liga, combined with a goal from Iguaín, the Galacticos won 4:0.
Seeing this scene, Wang Feng completely settled down and focused on recuperating at home.
He would sleep until around 8:30 in the morning, wash up and have breakfast, then play with Wang Haoxin for a while. Since his younger son was about to start kindergarten next year, he took this opportunity to bond more with him.
By then, Si Yao would start elementary school, and it was incredible how time flew.
After completing the regular recovery training in the morning, Wang Feng would rest on the recliner in the courtyard. Although it was getting colder nearing Christmas, Madrid's climate was not cold, and coupled with the careful design by the architect, this area had a hint of warmth in winter and coolness in summer.
At this time, Lu Yao would accompany her husband, either dealing with some company business, reading books and newspapers, or checking her phone. The two would occasionally share their recent experiences, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
In the afternoon, they would relax even more. Sometimes they would cuddle up on the sofa and watch TV, and sometimes they would play video games with their younger sister and cousins, utilizing the Nintendo Wii.
Of course, when teammates had their days off, Wang Feng would also organize gatherings, especially since many players lived nearby.
After arriving in Madrid, Bale listened to everyone's advice and also rented a residence in the affluent area of La Finca. His residence was only a little over 500 meters away from the Chinese superstar's estate.
Casillas, Ramos, Arbeloa, and Iguaín were also nearby, so it was very convenient for them to interact with each other.
Later in the day, Wang Feng would occasionally touch the football to maintain his feel for the ball. The slight soreness in his leg muscles didn't affect his movements. In the past, he could even ignore it and go directly into a match.
Regarding Real Madrid's continued dominant performance, the external media erupted with excitement. They all exclaimed that the Galacticos were about to usher in a new era and continue to dominate European football.
France's "L'Equipe" praised Real Madrid for spending nearly 100 million euros to bring in the Welsh superstar, saying it was worth it, as he could perfectly take over the attacking mantle from the Chinese superstar.
Britain's "Daily Mail" lauded Bale's performance since coming from the Premier League, quickly finding and adapting to his position in the Galacticos, proving that the Premier League's standards were fully compatible with La Liga.
Argentina's "Ole" said that Bale's performance temporarily made fans forget about Wang Feng's absence, which was not good news for Messi, as in the future, he would likely face the peak Welsh superstar leading the Bar?a team.
Spain's "Marca" fully affirmed Florentino's operations, whether it was spending 100 million euros to bring in Wang Feng or investing 91 million euros in Bale, it showed his keen vision and astonishing courage.
When interviewed, the Welsh superstar said there was still a considerable gap between himself and the team's requirements, not to mention the gap between him and Wang Feng. "Only Wang's opponents and teammates can clearly feel the energy he possesses."
"What I can do is continue to learn and grow, on such a broad stage as La Liga and Real Madrid," Bale added with a smile, "Of course, this also includes learning Spanish, to be honest, it's a bit difficult, but I'm trying my best."
"I study three times a week, at least two hours each time, so I hope everyone can give me more time."
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