Bab 162: Rise to fame
On January 19, in the 17th round of Serie A, Inter Milan welcomed Perugia at home. In this game, Cooper continued with the lineup from the previous round, with the only change being Ribery appearing in the starting lineup. It seems that the Frenchman's performance in the last game earned the coach's approval.
After the start of the game, Inter Milan's first attack posed a threat, with Di Biagio breaking through on the left and crossing the ball low into the box. Wang Feng attacked the ball with a header, but despite the perfect power, the angle was slightly off, hitting the crossbar and going out of play.
Subsequently, amidst the cheers of the home fans, Inter Milan launched wave after wave of attacks against Perugia. In the 21st minute, Wang Feng received a pass from Ribery on the right and faced defender Maria. He used a feint to get past him, dribbled horizontally into the box.
Once inside the box, Wang Feng flicked the ball to evade the defense of center-back Tedesco, took a shot with his right foot, but the deliberate angle made the ball hit the post and bounce out of play, leaving him frustrated.
The commentator on-site lamented, "The ball had already passed the defenders and the goalkeeper. If it had been slightly more inward, it would have been an unstoppable goal. Such a pity."
"Wang Feng's performance in this game is still very active, and Inter Milan has been maintaining pressure on Perugia. In my opinion, it's only a matter of time before they take the lead."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a change in the score on the field. Wang Feng launched an attack from the right, using a quick stop to shake off the full-back's block and sending a cross.
In the penalty area, Vieri, relying on his physical advantage, broke through the two defending players and headed towards the near corner of the goal. Despite the efforts of the Perugia goalkeeper, Mazzantini, the ball bounced into the net after hitting the ground.
1-0! Inter Milan finally scored!
In the second half, in the 71st minute, Di Biagio sent a through ball from midfield, and Wang Feng's timing was perfect as he sprinted through the opposition's defense. His shot was saved by the Perugia goalkeeper Mazzantini.
At this moment, Ribery demonstrated his ability to read the game. He appeared in the best position, controlled the ball that was parried away, and slotted it into the empty net.
Inter Milan defeated Perugia 2-0!
On January 23, in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, Inter Milan faced Napoli. Wang Feng was placed on the bench, with Ribery partnering Vieri in the forward line.
In the 16th minute of the first half, Inter Milan's defense made a mistake. Cannavaro's clearance went directly to Napoli's center-back Wyatt, who initiated an attack, and forward Groneve scored, breaching Inter Milan's defense.
Coach Cooper on the sidelines shook his head in frustration. If this continues, the captain of the Italian team would lose his trust.
The first half ended with Napoli leading. In the second half, Cooper decisively substituted Wang Feng onto the field. In the 66th minute, Ribery broke through on the left and sent a cross with his right foot.
The ball had a significant arc, bypassing Napoli's defenders at the near post and finding Vieri in the penalty area. The latter used his head to equalize the score.
Five minutes later, Wang Feng received a pass from Di Biagio, faced Napoli's center-back Brennek, suddenly shifted the ball to his right foot, and then unleashed a powerful shot.
The long-range shot was powerful and unstoppable, hitting the inside of the post and into the net.
2-1! Inter Milan eventually overturned Napoli to advance to the semi-finals of the Italian Cup. The semi-finals of the Italian Cup are played over two legs, with Inter Milan facing their old friends Juventus.
Three days later, in the 18th round of Serie A, Inter Milan faced Empoli away.
The gap in strength between the two teams was evident, with the away team dominating the game. Shortly after the start, Ribery sent a clever through ball from the right, which Wang Feng received and broke through, calmly finishing into the empty net after bypassing the goalkeeper.
After scoring, Wang Feng came to the area where the Inter Milan fans were sitting, gesturing to them that this goal was thanks to the French lad.
After several rounds of games, Ribery gradually adapted to the rhythm of Serie A, and his performance improved. Wang Feng didn't misjudge him; he indeed has the potential to become a superstar!
In the 61st minute of the second half, Wang Feng received a pass from Di Biagio, used his speed to sprint down the flank, and crossed. Vieri followed up and scored with a shot, further extending Inter Milan's lead.
In the 81st minute, Wang Feng once again made a brilliant pass, Ribery broke into the right side of the penalty area and scored, helping Inter Milan secure victory.
3-0! Inter Milan secured a comfortable away win against Empoli!
On February 2, in the 19th round of Serie A, Inter Milan welcomed Torino at home. With only one victory so far in the league, unless a miracle happens, Torino has already secured a relegation spot.
The Torino players had no intention of resisting, and in preparation for the Italian Cup semi-final midweek, Cooper rotated the Inter Milan lineup. Key players like Wang Feng were on the bench.
The game was uneventful, and Inter Milan won 2-0 in the end, with goals scored by Carlon and substitute Martins.
In four league matches and one cup match, Inter Milan's performance was commendable. Not to mention Wang Feng, many media outlets focused on the new face Ribery, whose reputation was rising.
Italy's "Evening Mail" even dug deeper into the background of this player who gained the coach's trust and a starting position shortly after arriving: "This 19-year-old French youngster is three months older than Wang Feng. In the five matches he represented Inter Milan, he contributed three goals and two assists."
"According to our reporters' in-depth investigation, he was playing for Alez in the French third division before the winter break, and Inter Milan only spent 80,000 euros to acquire him."
"Rumors have it that since the start of this season, Inter Milan's forward line has been plagued by injuries, and it was Wang Feng who suggested to the club's top management to sign this rugged forward. As for how they met, it is still unknown."
This report immediately caused a stir in Italian football. Many legends came out to comment, with Lazio's legendary star Kinallia saying in an interview, "Serie A has declined; now any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come and show off."
Obviously, he looked down on Ribery, a player from the French third division. Why should he? He even hinted at the rising star Wang Feng because he's not Italian, causing dissatisfaction among many older generation players in Serie A.
Of course, most people still hold a rational attitude. Italy's legendary forward Mancini said, "Several of Ribery's goals were created by Wang Feng. Obviously, this player has sharp football intelligence; he always appears in the right position."
"But it's still too early to talk about his future. In fact, I believe he's not yet qualified to be a starting attacker in Serie A. He lacks physical confrontation, the ability to create chances, and his technical skills are still immature."
"I can conclude that only with Wang Feng by his side can he show sharp attacking performances."
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