Chapter 97: 2 situtations
Wang Feng didn't score in this match, and he made quite a few mistakes, but overall his performance was still decent. He contributed with an assist, earning the third-highest rating in the team after the game.
Coach Cooper noticed some changes in Wang Feng's playing style, but as long as it didn't affect the overall game, he didn't intervene. In his view, Wang Feng is already a star player within Inter Milan and naturally enjoys certain privileges.
On the other hand, Casano had a tough time as he didn't get a chance to play throughout the match. He could only briefly embrace Wang Feng on the field after the game before heading to the locker room with his teammates.
At that moment, the Roman prince Totti walked over, wanting to exchange jerseys with Wang Feng, saying, "I believe your jersey will become a legendary symbol, so I've collected it in advance."
Two days later, Inter Milan headed to the Netherlands to prepare for the second round of the Europa League group stage against Feyenoord.
On the day of the match, the entire Fislan province was hit by heavy rain, forcing both teams to face a rainy battle. The slippery ground posed a challenge for the players.
In the 25th minute, Wang Feng received the ball on the right edge of the penalty area, feinted to take it to the flank, drawing the opposing defenders towards the sideline. However, he swiftly cut inside with his right foot and scored, opening the scoring for Inter Milan.
After halftime, in the 59th minute, Inter Milan won the ball in their own half, and a long pass from Mazzarri found its way to the front. The wet grass slowed the ball down near the edge of the penalty area.
A Feyenoord defender reached the ball first, but with Wang Feng chasing closely behind, he panicked and attempted a clearance, only to slip and fall.
Wang Feng, who had caught up, angrily shot the ball into the net.
After the shot, Wang Feng lost his balance and fell to the ground, but he quickly got up and celebrated near the corner flag, paying no mind to the mud covering him.
In the 81st minute, Inter Milan launched another attack. Rekoba dribbled down the left flank and crossed, but Vieri's attempt lacked power.
Feyenoord goalkeeper Jamal Blatter could have easily caught the ball, but he seemed to forget the slippery surface, causing the ball to slip from his grasp.
Wang Feng, lurking in the penalty area, capitalized on the opportunity and effortlessly scored.
Inter Milan won 3-0 against Feyenoord, with Wang Feng completing a hat-trick once again! With six goals in two Europa League group stage matches, he was unmatched on the top scorer's list.
Back in Serie A, in the 12th round, Inter Milan visited the Frankie Stadium to face Fiorentina. Fiorentina faced financial crisis this season, and despite initially ranking sixth, they plummeted due to the loss of key players and salary issues. They suffered eight consecutive defeats and were currently at the bottom of the table, facing relegation for the first time since 1938.
The encounter between a demoralized Fiorentina and a weary Inter Milan was destined to be a dull match. It wasn't until the 88th minute when Grazesco assisted Rekoba to score the only goal, helping Inter Milan secure all three points.
In the third round of the Europa League group stage, Inter Milan hosted Reims. Reims had performed exceptionally well in Ligue 1 this season, currently leading the league ahead of Lyon and likely to appear in the Champions League next season.
The match started with Reims taking the initiative, scoring a goal in the 5th minute by forward Hadley Bashirian.
Although temporarily behind, Inter Milan gradually launched threatening attacks amidst the cheering of the home fans.
In the 41st minute, Wang Feng received the ball in the midfield, turned past a defender, and fired a long-range shot from 35 meters out, slicing through Reims' defense and finding the net.
1-1, Inter Milan leveled the score before halftime!
In the 71st minute of the second half, Inter Milan launched a counterattack from their own half. Zanetti's pass reached the front, where Wang Feng flicked the ball over a defender and passed it to the middle.
Vieri, rushing forward, chose not to control the ball but volleyed it directly, helping Inter Milan turn the game around.
Ultimately, Inter Milan defeated Reims 2-1, securing their place in the next round with three wins in three games.
In Serie A's 13th round, Inter Milan faced Atalanta. Atalanta, known as one of Serie A's elevator teams, last promoted in 1998. However, their performance this season has been impressive, currently ranking 9th with little pressure of relegation.
At the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Atalanta's players displayed a high-level game. In the 31st minute, forward Giovanni Shovolti broke the deadlock for Atalanta through continuous cooperation in the frontcourt.
In the 77th minute of the second half, Shovolti scored again with a long-range shot, sealing Atalanta's 2-0 victory over Inter Milan and causing the biggest upset of this Serie A round, ending Inter Milan's unbeaten streak of twelve rounds.
Moreover, due to Inter Milan's recent four-point performance in three league matches and Juventus maintaining a perfect record, Juventus successfully surpassed Inter Milan, taking the top spot in the league.
Wang Feng's form also raised concerns, with Milan Sports newspaper writing, "In the past four league matches against Lecce, Roma, Fiorentina, and Atalanta, Wang Feng failed to score and only provided two assists. What's wrong with him?"
"Although such performance is common for other forwards, like Juventus' Trezeguet, who hasn't scored in six consecutive matches this season,"
"But this phenomenon feels particularly strange when it comes to Wang Feng. Compared to his excellent performance in the two Europa League matches, where he scored four goals and provided one assist, this is inconsistent with his strong start in the league."
"Different types of matches have led to completely different situations. Could it be that Wang Feng has encountered the so-called 'newbie wall' in the league?"
Inter Milan's senior management also paid close attention to Wang Feng's mental state. Technical director Horacio Boehm originally wanted to have a chat with Wang Feng together with head coach Cooper to see if there was any problem.
However, Cooper rejected this approach, sensing that Wang Feng was undergoing a transformation. "Give him some space, Horacio. Didn't we agree before the season started that we would give Wang Feng plenty of time to adapt to Serie A matches, even considering skipping this season?"
"It's just that Wang Feng gave us a big surprise. He quickly settled into his role and brought Inter Milan to this level. He has already done well enough."
"Now just consider his adaptation time to be a bit late. The season is still long, and we can fully trust him."
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