Chapter 675: Disappointment of the Giants
Heavy rain poured down in Madrid, sending shivers down the spines of all Bernabeu fans as they incredulously watched the bright red numbers on the electronic display screen: 0-2, Real Madrid nearly defeated at home by Borussia Dortmund.
If it weren't for their significant victory in the first leg, they might have truly been halted here. But now, with an aggregate score of 4-3 over two legs, the Galacticos narrowly defeated the Yellow and Black Hornets to advance to the semifinals.
Ancelotti and Zidane stood motionless on the sidelines, letting the rain soak their entire bodies. They couldn't understand how their team could lose the game so easily.
Except for Morata replacing Wang Feng, Varane replacing Pepe, and Coentrao replacing Marcelo, the rest of Real Madrid's main lineup was nearly all present. Although the rain hindered the players' performance, the conditions were the same for both sides.
Both coaches felt that their players had already displayed their own abilities to a large extent. However, they found themselves at a disadvantage against a fully-fit Dortmund lineup, with players returning from suspension and injury.
The home team got the first chance of the game. In the first half, Coentrao's cross from the left was blocked by Piszczek's right elbow as he jumped, prompting Slovenian referee Skomina to award a penalty.
Di Maria stepped up for the left-footed shot, but his direction was read by Dortmund goalkeeper Weidenfeller, who blocked it.
The side that squandered chances would inevitably suffer a blow. In the 24th minute, Friedrich kicked a long ball from the back, sending it over 60 meters into Real Madrid's half.
Varane won the initial header back to the goalkeeper, but Reus ghosted in like a phantom to flick the ball away with his left foot ahead of Casillas, then calmly rounded him and slotted the ball into the empty net.
The second goal for the visitors came in the 51st minute. Reus intercepted the ball in midfield and broke forward, laying it off to Lewandowski on the left, who fired a low shot from a tight angle 10 meters from the goal, hitting the far post.
The ball rebounded into play, and Reus, quick to react, slotted home the rebound from close range to complete his brace.
Although they didn't achieve a miraculous comeback in the end, Klopp was still very satisfied with his players' performance. To be able to dominate the Galacticos at the Bernabeu was still a remarkable feat.
As he shook hands with Ancelotti after the game, he joked, "Actually, there's not that much difference between us, is there? Gotta say, Wang is truly unstoppable!"
The Italian coach felt his face burning at these words. They not only hinted that Dortmund's overall level was not much different from Real Madrid's but also subtly expressed that his coaching level was not much different from Klopp's.
Without Wang, how could you breeze through to become the globally renowned best coach? When Ancelotti took charge of the Galacticos, they had already won five consecutive league and Champions League titles. After that, he continued the team's glory, winning two more league and Champions League trophies, and now they were aiming for another defense.
If successful, perhaps he should retire gracefully? Now, the Italian finally understood a bit of what Schuster and Benitez felt.
He was still young and wanted to take on more challenging roles. Thinking that even the Real Madrid upper echelons were sparing no effort to groom Zidane beside him, Ancelotti couldn't help but have thoughts of passing the torch.
The coach's face was gloomy, while in the luxurious box seats, Florentino's expression was grim. "How did we play like this? Complacency, or something else?"
Baldano sighed. He understood it very well and knew that Perez understood it too. "This is the real level of the team without Wang Feng, and it's a fact we must face in the near future."
"Maybe everyone has been spoiled by the Chinese superstar, thinking that we'll definitely win important matches with him. But the fact proves that he's irreplaceable. Without him, we lose this miracle."
"Neither Bale, Ronaldo, nor even Messi can match his impact."
Florentino rubbed his temples. "I know, I've always understood, but the closer we get to parting ways, the more anxious I become."
"Speaking of which, Wang is really slippery. He chose to leave after leaving behind a legend. No matter how many years have passed, people at the Bernabeu will only continue to mythologize him."
"Can Gareth really bear the weight of the team?" the Real Madrid president asked unwillingly. Baldano nodded, "Judging from the past season, I don't think so."
"Injuries are one aspect, and the other is spiritual inspiration. Bale can't win over the team, and he hasn't fully integrated into the collective. If it weren't for Wang always guiding him, I'm afraid he would still be isolated in the dressing room."
"Let alone being a role model for young players. I even wonder if the Welshman can recognize all the first-team members. In any case, his personality is not suitable for being the club's leader."
"If that's the case, we must consider new candidates. Perhaps what he said about mercenaries isn't wrong." Florentino muttered to himself almost inaudibly.
Real Madrid fans were disheartened in the rain, and a day later, Barcelona fans plunged into the abyss. Their supported team was defeated 0-1 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, with a two-legged score of 1-2. The Sky Blues created a miracle, reaching the Champions League semifinals for the first time in history!
Amidst the cheers of the entire stadium, Cristiano Ronaldo raised his arms in triumph. At this moment, he was the hero of the stadium, while Lionel Messi, leaving the field dejectedly, had tears glistening under the lights.
Martino didn't wait for the club's response and immediately announced his resignation as Barcelona head coach at the press conference, admitting his responsibility for the club's empty-handed season.
"I failed to control the locker room and failed to unite everyone into one entity. Coaching Barcelona has been a memorable experience but also a profound lesson."
He became the fifth Barcelona head coach to be sacked in recent years, following in the footsteps of Rijkaard, Guardiola, Vilanova, and Luis Enrique. This position really was like a hot potato.
The Barcelona hierarchy later agreed to the Argentine coach's resignation and would be led by the assistant coach until the end of the season.
Although he had left, his notoriety lingered, and many media outlets pinned the main responsibility for the defeat on Martino, criticizing his tactics throughout the match.
In the crucial match against Manchester City, Messi was once again pushed to the sidelines, away from the goal, with Suarez acting as the center forward. Everything seemed perfect, with the visitors enjoying almost 70% possession, but they always lacked the killer blow.
Throughout the game, the Argentine superstar only had four shots, with one on target, but they conceded a staggering nine shots. He was completely lost in an unfamiliar environment.
To be honest, this couldn't all be blamed on Martino. Messi's frequent injuries and poor form this season were facts. He couldn't integrate well into the coach's tactical system and the cooperation with his teammates, becoming a hindrance instead.
Apart from the much-discussed saving himself for the World Cup, there was another little-known reason: Messi had abandoned strict dietary control and became unhealthy.
Since the time of Guardiola, Messi had been required by the head coach to strictly diet, eat less beef and pizza, avoid carbonated drinks, and eat more fish, vegetables, and fruits.
This was one of the important reasons for his robust physique and rare injuries. Later, both Vilanova and Luis Enrique continued this requirement. No matter how difficult it was, they never gave up monitoring Messi.
But with the arrival of his compatriot Martino, whether it was negligence or lack of specialized study, he surprisingly did not force Messi to control his diet. This delighted the Argentine star; he could now enjoy all the pleasant foods like beef, barbecue, and cola.
The direct result of this was muscle degradation, and muscle injuries were not far behind.
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