Bab 150: Dreadful AC Milan
The results of the second stage group stage of the Champions League are out. The participating teams have to curse the disappointing format while checking their respective groups. Clearly, it could have been determined with just two matches in the round of 16, but instead, they have to play a full 6-match group stage.
Inter Milan's three opponents are Newcastle from the Premier League, Leverkusen from the Bundesliga, and Barcelona from La Liga.
"Headache!" exclaimed Cooper, who received the list. Apart from Newcastle, Leverkusen and Barcelona are both formidable opponents.
After entering December, Inter Milan will also embark on the journey of the Italian Cup. As the second-seeded team, they can start directly from the fourth round of matches, skipping some of the tedious qualification matches at the beginning of the league.
But with their involvement in three competitions in the latter half of the season, they often face the challenge of playing two or even three matches in a week. How to rotate the squad and balance will be a major issue for the coaching staff.
"Reasonable, it's really too reasonable!" Wang Feng, sweating profusely, looked at Shevchenko celebrating the goal and could only think of this word.
The ongoing match is the 11th round of Serie A, with Inter Milan against AC Milan. In the 30th minute, Shevchenko gave AC Milan the lead.
Inter Milan is completely at a disadvantage on the field because AC Milan's lineup is too well-balanced. Whether in the front, midfield, or back, everyone cooperates without any obvious weaknesses.
No wonder they were able to upset Bayern Munich. With such overall strength, they even have the potential to challenge for the Champions League title.
They can no longer be viewed with the same perspective as last year! Wang Feng gritted his teeth, becoming more proactive, constantly making runs and attempting to penetrate AC Milan's solid defense.
In the 43rd minute of the game, Inter Milan controlled the ball in the opponent's half. Di Biagio and Dalma were passing back and forth but found it difficult to find opportunities to get the ball into dangerous positions, so they had to keep possession and observe.
Wang Feng kept running with Maldini and Costacurta, covering a wide area. This strong presence threatened AC Milan's defense, forcing them to remain highly focused.
Seeing this, Di Biagio couldn't help but sigh. Wang Feng is really hardworking! He couldn't fall behind, so he dribbled towards the center for a few steps, then feigned to pass with his left foot, turning his body in the process, seemingly intending to pass back.
Wang Feng's heart jumped. He noticed the subtle movement in Di Biagio's hand. Wasn't this the signaling they practiced during training? This is the moment they've been waiting for! Just as AC Milan's defense relaxed slightly, Di Biagio suddenly rotated 180 degrees and sent a ground pass into the penalty area.
The ball passed through Maldini and Costacurta defending Wang Feng and successfully reached behind the defensive line!
"Di Biagio's through pass has pierced AC Milan's defense. Will someone receive it?"
"It's Wang Feng! He broke free from the defenders and was the first to reach the ball."
"Shooting, it's a goal!! Goooooal!"
"Wang Feng, despite Costacurta's interference, stretched his leg and used his right foot to chip the ball over the goalkeeper Dida, dropping it into the net!"
"Brilliant teamwork! The biggest contributor to this goal is Di Biagio, who, when everyone thought he would pass back, suddenly played a through ball that tore through AC Milan's airtight defense."
"Wang Feng's shot, despite the interference, shows his attacking desire. He could have easily gone down as Costacurta's challenge was somewhat heavy, and it was inside the penalty area, the referee could have awarded a penalty!"
"But Wang Feng says NO to uncertainty! Only a genuine goal can make him feel at ease. He's a perfect frontline warrior!"
After scoring, Wang Feng didn't rush to celebrate. He just slowly walked back to his own half, then shook hands and embraced each of his teammates who came to congratulate him one by one. He needed to conserve energy as there were tough battles ahead.
The first half ended with the teams tied, and in the second half, the situation remained the same. AC Milan was like a spider weaving a web, and Inter Milan was the prey ensnared in it, gradually being bound tighter.
Wang Feng's role was to struggle to tear apart this big web, but lacking support from teammates, the brilliant combination play seen in the first half was firmly contained by AC Milan in the second half. They wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Although this match wasn't a thrilling goal fest, it was a great test of both teams' physical and mental strength.
In the 77th minute, after receiving the ball in the frontcourt, Recoba passed it to Wang Feng on the right, but he fell to the ground in pain as he passed the ball, clutching his thigh.
Wang Feng was startled and quickly kicked the ball out of bounds, then rushed to his side to inquire about his condition, "My thigh hurts like it's torn apart. Could I be this unlucky?"
Wang Feng's heart sank. Wasn't this situation exactly the same as when Ronnie returned and got injured again years ago? He quickly signaled to the coach Cooper to make a substitution and called the team doctor over.
Cooper's heart sank little by little. With Vieri still not fully fit, now Recoba was down again, and it looked like he was injured quite badly. This was really adding insult to injury.
He had no choice but to replace Recoba with the substitute Mo Fiao. After Recoba was stretchered off the field and sent directly to the hospital, Inter Milan, missing another key attacker, was broken through by AC Milan's defense in the final moments, with Rivaldo assisting Inzaghi to score the winning goal.
Inter Milan lost 1-2 to AC Milan, ending their unbeaten streak in the league.
At the post-match press conference, Cooper announced Recoba's injury, a muscle strain caused by fatigue. He would be sidelined for at least four weeks: "This is an unfortunate event, as we've lost another attacking ace."
A reporter from Turin Sports Daily asked, "With Inter Milan's attacking stars getting injured one after another, facing a dense schedule ahead, is the team's goal still to compete on multiple fronts? Aren't you afraid that Wang Feng might also get injured, leaving the team empty-handed in the end?"
Cooper responded, "We will adjust our goals according to the actual situation. There are too many uncertainties."
In fact, Cooper also doubted whether the team could persevere and achieve the feat of winning five trophies. "Wang Feng's physical condition is excellent, this is something we have confirmed repeatedly, so the concern for him is unnecessary worrying."
When asked about how he evaluated Inter Milan's performance, AC Milan coach Ancelotti also praised the opponents: "In fact, we didn't defeat them; injuries helped us."
"Their goals in the first half were really splendid, and it surprised me. So during halftime, I specifically emphasized defense. If we couldn't contain Wang Feng's sharp attacks, we would swallow the bitter fruit of defeat once again."
"Fortunately, the players didn't disappoint me, and with Recoba's injury, Inter Milan can only be said to have lost unfortunately. I look forward to facing them with full strength next time."
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