Chương 717: Shocking the World, the Eternal Myth of Football
At the end of May, Werder Bremen won the German Cup final. This was their second time winning the prestigious trophy in 6 years, a cause for celebration for the club. However, in the grand scheme of European football, it could only be considered a minor achievement.
Because 6 days prior to this, there was a shocking news that rocked the world.
In the 38th round of La Liga, Real Madrid defeated Hetafe 7-1 at home. The match itself was uneventful, yet it attracted global attention. Over two thousand authoritative media outlets were stationed in Madrid, waiting to witness a historic moment.
It's worth noting that according to statistics, there are currently only over thirteen thousand media outlets worldwide, with many being of dubious credibility. This means that these two thousand media outlets covered channels that disseminate all human information, and the news they awaited would quickly spread to every corner of the earth.
What could have caused such a stir?
The answer lies in the fact that before this match, the Galacticos had already achieved 37 consecutive wins in the league. If they won against Hetafe, they would become the only club to win the league title with a perfect record.
Perfect!
How did Real Madrid reach this point? Even the players themselves probably didn't fully understand.
They only remembered following the footsteps of their captain, advancing relentlessly, and actively winning every game, achieving an unprecedented 29-game winning streak.
Although they were held to a draw in the Copa del Rey, breaking their winning streak, in the league, the Galacticos faced little opposition. They continued to win game after game, surprising everyone.
At first, Coach Ancelotti wanted to rotate the squad, perhaps lose a game or two to avoid becoming a target, but Wang Feng's words awakened him: "We have already become the target!"
So the Italian stopped trying to control the situation and focused on winning within the scope of reasonable rotation. However, he probably never imagined that the team would actually end the season with 38 victories.
"Whistle! Whistle! Whistle!" As the referee blew the final whistle, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium erupted into jubilation. The celebration of nearly a hundred thousand people is beyond imagination, the sound reverberating through the heavens, as if to overturn the sky.
The home team's staff rushed onto the field, celebrating this extraordinary victory with the players. Unlike the previous eight championships, this victory was like an epic tale.
Wang Feng became the center of attention, with people constantly touching and congratulating him with enthusiastic expressions.
The Chinese superstar barely managed to smile in response, feeling exhausted and longing to go home for a good rest.
Playing all 38 league matches without rest, with short breaks even for substitutes, while also juggling the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, he felt that this season was the most exhausting since he became a professional player.
Of course, all of this was by his strong request. Wang Feng wanted to stay on the field and expressed his wishes to Ancelotti. He still remembered the coach's troubled expression at the time.
But the Italian understood that the Chinese superstar wasn't negotiating with him; he was ensuring things would be done his way!
Since taking over the Galacticos, Ancelotti had never seen Wang Feng make any "unreasonable" demands. Outsiders may say that the Chinese superstar's current status and achievements had already surpassed everyone in the team, to the point where even Florentino had to treat him with respect.
While this may be true objectively, subjectively it had never happened. Wang Feng treated everyone with respect, fully acknowledging the authority of the head coach, and bonded with his teammates, guiding and mentoring the young players.
He was like a small stream nourishing everyone in the team. Everyone felt that the team was warm and healthy, but they didn't quite understand where the warmth and health came from. Ancelotti, however, could see it clearly from a higher perspective.
And when Wang Feng challenged authority for the first time, demanding to play every game to win, Ancelotti seemed to see a towering wave in his eyes, making it impossible to refuse.
As for why he was so determined to pursue victory, the Chinese superstar felt a flame burning in his chest, not only because he couldn't participate in the World Cup, or because he lost the European Best and Ballon d'Or awards that he had monopolized for so long, but also because he refused to accept being old!
One by one, his former teammates and opponents grew older and left the football world. Wang Feng felt a sense of desolation, but also understood deeply that his era would eventually come to an end.
Everyone feels lost when facing a turning point in life, and the Chinese superstar is no exception. In this situation, he chose to end with the utmost peak, fortunate that luck and strength were on his side.
Encountering the best team, the best coach, the best luck, and combining it with his peak strength, this has created such a mythical record!
After winning the last game, Wang Feng felt his thoughts clear. Even if his strength gradually declined in the future, and he no longer stood at the pinnacle of the world, he could still purely enjoy the joy that football brings.
The chaos on the field lasted for a long time, and in the luxurious box high in the stands, the high-level executives of Real Madrid were all smiles. Florentino was accepting congratulations from many celebrities, including King Felipe VI of Spain.
His smile hadn't stopped since the end of the game. With a perfect victory, oh God, how much credit has Wang brought to himself again!
This great record belongs to the players, as well as the club's management, especially him, the president of Real Madrid!
With his current achievements and status, Florentino's every reform and construction plan would receive full support. He could build the team into a huge commercial football club according to his own wishes.
He had been worrying about Wang Feng's imminent departure for some time, but now he had let go. The Chinese superstar had already won too much for the Galacticos. They could sink for a long time, resting on their laurels.
He beckoned to Balsano and said, "I agree to that plan, but it must wait until Wang's contract expires before execution. Also, the summer transfer work must be started as soon as possible."
Balsano was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "Should we consider any major moves? After all, next year is the time for a huge change."
"Everything should be based on Ancelotti's and the team's needs. We'll talk about next year's problems next year. Let's ensure that the team remains competitive next season first."
The Spaniard nodded. It seemed that the president wanted to "squeeze out" Wang Feng's last bit of value.
Returning to the field of play, the media reporters who had been waiting for a long time were already impatient. They immediately intercepted the key figure, Wang Feng, for an interview.
"Congratulations, Wang, it's amazing! You have once again achieved unimaginable results. Could you share your thoughts at this moment? What exactly allowed you to achieve such a miracle?"
"First of all, I'd like to correct your question. It's not me, but the entire Real Madrid team's collective effort that has achieved the current results," the Chinese superstar said with a smile. "We have the best squad of players in the world, along with the most outstanding coaches and staff."
"These are all indispensable foundations. At this moment, I am very proud and satisfied because I can leave a significant mark in the history of the club."
"We take every game seriously and actively pursue every victory. This is a necessary condition for achieving the current results."
"Of course, I also remember that since the middle of the season, there have been constant predictions that Real Madrid's winning streak would end after how many rounds. At that time, I told my teammates in anger that we must make them anticipate failure in vain. Perhaps this also became the strength that supported us to continue. Ha-ha."
Another reporter asked, "After winning the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, Copa del Rey, and the league, the Galacticos only need the Champions League trophy to achieve the grand slam."
"Facing the upcoming final opponent Barcelona, what is your view on the team's chances of defending the title?"
"Without a doubt, Real Madrid will strive to win with all their might. Barcelona is a formidable opponent, and under the leadership of their new coach, Enrique, they have unleashed surprising strength that has put a lot of pressure on us."
"But in the three encounters this season, whether in the league or in the Copa del Rey final, we emerged victorious. So, we have confidence in continuing our winning streak against them."
The reporter who asked the question nodded satisfactorily. Wang Feng always performed exceptionally well against Barcelona, delivering decisive blows to the opponent. It was believed that his confident words now would ignite a new round of discussion and excitement.
Another reporter asked, "Why haven't you renewed your contract with Real Madrid yet? Are there other considerations and plans?"
The Chinese superstar did not directly answer this question. He said that his main focus at the moment was on preparing for the Champions League final. His agent was responsible for business matters, which were quite complex and required a long time to handle.
This answer obviously did not satisfy everyone, and they wanted to continue asking questions. However, at this moment, Wang Feng said, "Everyone, I have played every game this season without fail, and now I feel very tired. Let's leave other questions for later."
With that, he pushed through the crowd of reporters and walked into the player tunnel without looking back.
Inside the dressing room, everyone was still celebrating. Even the usually modest Modric took off his shirt and sprayed champagne wildly at his teammates, not to mention the more exuberant ones like Ramos.
Wang Feng, who arrived late, couldn't escape either and was soon drenched. The playful antics of everyone even delayed the award ceremony for a while.
Several rounds ago, the Galacticos had already secured the league title early, and the final home game of the season was when the medals and trophy were officially awarded.
Captain Wang Feng and vice-captain Ramos both lifted the championship trophy on behalf of the Galacticos, then led the players around the Bernabeu, showcasing the five major trophies they had won this season.
But they were not planning to hold a parade celebration. It would only be meaningful when they lifted the most coveted Champions League trophy together. This was the team's customary practice and also a testament to their determination to win.
However, a celebratory dinner within the club was indispensable. Many celebrities and stars participated, and the revelry continued until late into the night.
This was a season worthy of praise. Real Madrid won the title with 38 wins, totaling 114 points. It undoubtedly broke the record for the highest points total in La Liga history and became a new epic data point that would never be surpassed as long as the league did not expand.
Barcelona finished second with 30 wins, 4 draws, 4 losses, totaling 94 points. This result was remarkable, but they were still left far behind by their arch-rivals, to the extent that many speculations suggested Enrique might be sacked after the season.
However, club president Bartomeu backed the new coach. He believed that the Spaniard had done an excellent job, almost single-handedly reviving the Catalan team. Not only did they shake off their decline from previous seasons, but they also reached the Champions League final once again.
"Louis needs a little time and patience," Bartomeu said. He had to demonstrate confidence and trust in the new coaching staff, as this was an important card for him to succeed in the upcoming club elections.
Yes, Bartomeu was actively pushing for club elections. He wanted to use the achievements of reaching the Champions League final once again as capital, as prolonging the situation would introduce too many variables.
Atletico Madrid did not continue their stellar performance from the previous season, finishing with 23 wins, 9 draws, 6 losses, and only 78 points. Dark horses come and go, but Real Madrid and Barcelona always remained at the top.
The final Champions League spot went to Valencia.
Sevilla and Villarreal participated in the Europa League, while Granada, Almeria, and Cordoba were relegated.
On the top scorer's list, Wang Feng once again set a new record with 65 goals, surpassing his own previous record of 62 goals in La Liga. Watching him play and seeing his stats, one would get the impression that scoring goals was as easy as eating for him.
In addition, the Chinese superstar also scored 20 goals in the Champions League and 16 goals in the Copa del Rey. This meant that even if we didn't consider the goals he might score in the upcoming Champions League final, his total goals for the season would still reach 101.
A third season with over 100 goals!
A height that all other players strive for throughout their entire careers, Wang Feng achieved it three times!
Of course, achieving the mythical perfect season was not solely due to his efforts alone. His teammates also contributed with extraordinary performances, making the Real Madrid squad unbeatable this season.
In the forward line, Iguaín contributed 29 goals, while Bale had 19 goals and 11 assists. In midfield, Modric became the king of assists in the league, with a total of 27 assists.
Kroos and Casemiro became defensive pillars, keeping the opponents at bay. In the backline, Ramos, Marcelo, Carvajal, and Pepe performed admirably.
Goalkeeper Navas gradually replaced Casillas as the first choice goalkeeper, even keeping 12 clean sheets.
Therefore, besides the explosive total points, other statistics of the Galacticos were equally astonishing. They scored a total of 148 goals, while Barcelona scored 110, and Atletico even fewer with 67.
The total number of goals conceded was only 19, two fewer than Barcelona's 21. Real Madrid became the club with the most goals scored and the fewest goals conceded in La Liga. Seeing these detailed statistics, one had to admit that their perfect season was simply too normal.
There were many memorable moments throughout the season. For example, in the home game against Granada, they inflicted a crushing 12-0 defeat on their opponents, creating the most lopsided scoreline in La Liga history.
Such a large margin of victory hadn't been seen since the 1930s, when Athletic Bilbao thrashed Barcelona 12-1. No one had expected this record to be broken in today's highly developed football landscape.
In fact, the reason for such a result was entirely due to the visitors being overwhelmed. Wang Feng alone scored six goals in just 30 minutes after the start of the match. Even after he was substituted, the Galacticos, like wolves, continued to tear apart their opponents.
The Granada coach criticized Real Madrid after the game for shattering the dreams of the Granada players. They were too brutal.
It was after this match that he officially announced his resignation as head coach and retired from football forever.
The century-old derby against Barcelona was also worth reminiscing about. When MSN met BYW, when Habibi White clashed with Mocac, the first leg at the Bernabeu saw the Galacticos dominate and attack fiercely, eventually handing their opponents a 3-0 defeat.
In the rematch, Enrique adjusted the tactics aggressively, unleashing the full power of their frontline trio. They indeed posed a significant threat to Real Madrid and even took the lead by scoring a goal first.
However, the Galacticos quickly responded. Modric's precise free-kick found Iguaín unmarked to equalize, and Wang Feng unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box that pierced Ter Stegen's fingertips and into the net. The German goalkeeper got his hands on the ball, but couldn't stop it from going into the goal.
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