Chapter 775: Can This Ballon d'Or Stay in Manchester City?
There has always been a saying in European football that the English Premier League is the most fiercely competitive league among the top five leagues. It is undeniable that due to fair financial distribution, teams in England have seen remarkable development.
However, this level of competitiveness only exists among mid-table teams. They can compete for European qualification one moment and fight against relegation the next.
As for the real throne, there is hardly any fluctuation. Since the establishment of the Premier League in 1992, a total of 24 champions have been crowned, with Manchester United and Arsenal emerging as the main winners, securing 18 titles between them.
Before that, competition in the top English league was much fiercer, with small teams often causing upsets and clinching the title.
This development trend is not unique to the Premier League; it's prevalent across other European leagues as well. Apart from a few dominant teams, it's becoming increasingly difficult for smaller clubs to compete for the title.
The most crucial factor contributing to this situation is financial strength. With substantial investment in the transfer market, clubs can monopolize talent and create a substantial gap in quality.
Among them, powerhouse clubs can rapidly accumulate capital through favorable development conditions and commercial operations. Examples include Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich.
Another type of club rapidly improves through substantial external investment, not hesitating to spend lavishly. Successful cases include Chelsea, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea, backed by Abramovich's investment, tasted success early, winning the Premier League and Champions League titles within a few years, surpassing traditional powerhouses like Liverpool and Tottenham.
Manchester City, unwilling to lag behind, clinched the Premier League title and is now aiming for the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain also broke the dominance of traditional powerhouses like Lyon and established their own Ligue 1 dynasty.
Even if there are miracles like Leicester City's last season, they are just momentary. The team quickly faces disintegration and cannot maintain its former glory.
Standing at the Etihad Stadium, Wang Feng couldn't help but feel emotional. The match between Manchester City and Leicester City had almost become completely one-sided, with the defending champions losing face.
Just six minutes into the game, Fernandinho made a quick interception in the backfield and passed it to the wing. Stones quickly surged forward and passed to De Bruyne.
The Belgian midfielder dribbled past the defense and sent a through ball, and Wang Feng, diagonally sprinting into the penalty area, fired a powerful shot into the net, giving Manchester City a 1-0 lead!
Seven minutes later, with the momentum of Mount Tai, the Sky Blues attacked again. Silva passed to Sané, who forcefully crossed from the baseline, and Aguero scored with a close-range header from 8 meters in front of the goal.
After that, Manchester City continued to bombard Leicester City's defense, while the away team only had one or two counterattack opportunities, all easily snuffed out by the home team's defense.
In the 38th minute, De Bruyne received the ball and sent a diagonal pass. The Chinese superstar controlled the ball in the penalty area, dribbled past defenders, and then scored with a left-footed shot to complete his brace.
With a three-goal lead at halftime, Guardiola decisively substituted in backup players, but even then, Leicester City found it hard to trouble them.
Youngster Sané scored the fourth goal for Manchester City just before the final whistle, sealing their victory over Leicester City.
The 15th round of the Premier League ended with a big win for the Sky Blues. After the match, led by captain Kompany, the players thanked the home fans and received applause and cheers.
Then, they walked into the dressing room in groups of three or four, preparing for post-match recovery under the rain, an essential routine for athletes to prolong their careers and reduce the risk of injuries.
Manchester City naturally didn't neglect this aspect. They hired the world's top therapy experts to monitor the players' physical and mental states in real time.
In addition, there were nutrition experts responsible for healthy diets and sports science experts for rehabilitation training.
It can be said that in terms of player services, Manchester City is no less inferior to Real Madrid. The only thing they lack is accumulated experience, as Real Madrid began building such teams as early as the first Galacticos era.
Detailed support like this is definitely unavailable in mid-sized and small clubs, and players may even encounter problems such as misdiagnosis and delayed recovery.
No wonder more and more talented athletes aspire to join the ranks of powerhouse clubs. They can focus on the game, showcase their talents, and enjoy the sense of achievement brought by competition.
Under the skillful hands of the therapist, Wang Feng felt his muscles relax completely, while De Bruyne couldn't help but hum comfortably.
At this moment, a staff member approached Wang Feng and said, "Wang, there are visitors here. It's a delegation from France Football magazine. Congratulations!"
Upon hearing this, Wang Feng's teammates couldn't help but smile. Kompany said with a smile, "Finally, Manchester City has a Ballon d'Or winner!"
The Chinese superstar showed a nostalgic look on his face. The last time he hosted a delegation from France Football was seven years ago.
Since the Ballon d'Or merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year award, there haven't been advance interviews and photoshoots. Unexpectedly, they are separated again, following the old practice.
After promising to celebrate with his teammates, Wang Feng got up to meet the visitors. The former editor-in-chief, Jér?me Puginastier, has retired, and Fabrice, the deputy editor, has taken over. This time, he personally led the delegation.
"Here we meet again!" The Frenchman reached out and shook hands with Wang Feng tightly. "You still remember me, right?"
"Of course, Mr. Fabrice. When I won the European Ballon d'Or for the first time, you personally received me and took me to the awards ceremony. That was in 2003, right?"
"It's my honor. It's been more than ten years in the blink of an eye, and nothing seems to have changed. You're still you, standing at the top of the world of football."
"It's really exciting for us to witness all this!"
Next was the familiar photoshoot. In several iconic areas within the Manchester City training base, photos were taken of Wang Feng holding the Ballon d'Or trophy or striking poses, convenient for publication in the magazine special issue.
Upon hearing the news, Manchester City owner Mansour also rushed back from the UAE to England. It was not only to congratulate Wang Feng but also to join in the fun. Naturally, Fabrice was generous and readily agreed to take a photo of the two together.
Caressing the Ballon d'Or trophy, Mansour asked, "This is just a replica, right? The real trophy is still being made and will be presented at the awards ceremony?"
After receiving confirmation, the UAE man rubbed his hands, feeling a little embarrassed as he asked Wang Feng, "Can... can this trophy stay in Manchester City?"
"You know, this is the club's first Ballon d'Or, and it has special commemorative value, indicating that we have taken another solid step towards becoming a powerhouse team."
Mansour understood in his heart that his club had almost no contribution to Wang Feng winning the award. After all, Manchester City lacked a foundation in UEFA and could even have adverse effects due to its nouveau riche nature.
The Chinese superstar relied solely on his own strength and achievements to win the award. Therefore, Mansour felt a bit embarrassed to make such a request.
Looking at Mansour's expectant eyes, Wang Feng generously waved his hand and agreed. After all, he had already won 12 Ballon d'Or trophies. Apart from the one he gave to Real Madrid, giving another one to Manchester City didn't mean much.
Besides, the value of the award far exceeds that of the trophy itself. This donated Ballon d'Or could also be permanently displayed in the club's history museum, inspiring countless future generations. Why not do it?
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