Li Ang, who was eating his breakfast slowly, yawned. He did not seem to be in good spirits.
He had studied the video of the game until late last night. Although everything had been arranged, he was still worried about tomorrow night's away game against Athletic Bilbao in the 25th round of the La Liga.
The team had been playing in two consecutive tournaments, and their fitness had begun to suffer. Coupled with the aftereffects of Albertini's injury and Diego Milito's injury, Sporting de Gijón seemed to be in good shape. However, in Li Ang's view, once the team's momentum was hindered, there would be a chain reaction: Sporting de Gijón's lineup was too thin.
Of course, there was another reason why Li Ang paid so much attention to this game. That was, Athletic Bilbao had defeated Real Madrid 2-0 in the away game last weekend. It was not easy to take away a 2-0 victory from Bernabéu. It could be seen that the "Basque Lions" were in a good state.
The news on the TV made Li Ang excited all of a sudden.
"Last night, the star-studded Real Madrid went to challenge Deportivo La Coruna in an away game. Due to Laco's poor form, Real Madrid thought they would win. However, they did not score a single goal. Instead, they were humiliated by their opponent's two goals. In the end, they lost 2-0 to Deportivo La Coruna, making their chances of winning the La Liga title even slimmer. Because they did not expect the home team to win the game so easily, many Real Madrid fans came to cheer for them. However, they were disappointed. After the game, the angry fans launched a fierce attack on the Real Madrid stars. Beckham and the others were almost attacked by rotten eggs. "
Li Ang's eyes lit up. Real Madrid lost the game? They lost to Deportivo La Coruna?
Li Ang did not pay attention to Real Madrid's game last night. He thought that Real Madrid would have no problem taking away three points from Deportivo La Coruna. The Galácticos had just lost 2-0 to Athletic Bilbao at home. It was impossible for them to accept losing twice in a row in La Liga. He did not expect to receive a surprise when he saw the sports news today: Real Madrid lost the game!
Li Ang looked at the TV screen with interest. Even the Spanish sandwich that he was tired of seemed to have become more delicious.
*****
"After the loss that night, the Real Madrid players were subjected to a torrent of boos and insults from the away fans on the pitch. None of them could lift their heads. When they finally got on the team bus and could leave this depressing place as soon as possible, they were chased and blocked by their own fans on the street. They were almost blocked on the street and could not return to the hotel. It was a really embarrassing scene. At this time, the team's accompanying secretary called the police station in time and requested to send police car escorts. The local police also actively cooperated. Within a few minutes, five police cars were sent over. Three were in the front to clear the road, while the other two were at the back. Finally, a bloody path was created. According to bystanders, the tense atmosphere of the police at that time was as if they were about to face a formidable enemy. It was as if they were snatching lives from the hands of football fans.
At this time, the Real Madrid fans who did not get a chance to retaliate became even angrier. Their curses and threats increased by a lot. But even if the fans shouted themselves hoarse, Real Madrid's bus was still silent. No one had the courage to talk back. The fans followed the Real Madrid players to the hotel where they were staying. Beckham and the others covered themselves from head to toe with their coats and hurried into the hotel. At this time, an egg flew out from the ranks of the fans. If Beckham had not dodged quickly, I'm afraid he would have been even more embarrassed. "
Li Ang saw in the news footage that the rain of eggs flew towards the Real Madrid players. The eggs finally landed a few centimeters away from Beckham's feet. If the Englishman had not dodged quickly, they would have hit him.
Looking at the scene of Beckham fleeing into the hotel, Li Ang also sighed. Beckham did not have an easy time playing in Real Madrid. People always talked about his star wife and gossip about him, but ignored Beckham's efforts on the field. In fact, Beckham's professionalism was commendable. It was just that people's attention was always on other things. When the team did not perform well, star players like Beckham, who had a lot of 'gossip', were more likely to be the target of criticism by the media and fans.
Of course, Li Ang was naturally happy to know that Real Madrid had lost the game.
In this way, Sporting de Gijón still led Real Madrid by three points before the league round. However, if they could beat Athletic Bilbao in the away game, Sporting de Gijón would lead Real Madrid by six points!
With thirteen rounds left in the league, six points was not a big difference between the two games, but it was enough to give Sporting de Gijón a chance to breathe.
*****
On this day, there was laughter in the Malaio training base. It was obvious that Real Madrid's loss made the Sporting de Gijón team very happy.
Assistant manager Scott Tri also laughed and said that Sporting de Gijón had been lucky recently. Real Madrid had been stopped by their opponents in two consecutive league games.
Banderas also laughed and joked that maybe the team's luck could be better.
Then, on this night, they arrived at the away game in Bilbao. In the hotel room where they were staying, Li Ang, who was watching the game with his two assistants, looked at Banderas in surprise. "Pablo, do you know how to do divination?"
The game between Sporting de Gijón and Athletic Bilbao was the last game of the La Liga round. It was played on Monday night. It was Sunday, and Li Ang and his assistants watched the league game between Barcelona and Numancia in front of the television.
Numancia's Pagaritos stadium was covered with a thin layer of snow before the game, and the weather was quite cold. Silvinho replaced van Bront Horst as the starting left back, Oleg returned to the center back position, and Marcos once again played the defensive midfielder role. The poor field conditions made it difficult for Barça to play to their technical advantage, and Numancia gained the upper hand with long balls.
Numancia broke the deadlock in the 44th minute. The home team threw a ball from the left sideline into the penalty area. Oleg made a mistake with a header under the interference of the tall center forward Miguel, and the ball went back to the front of the goal. Juan leaned against Marcos on the edge of the penalty area, and a beautiful reverse hook shot into the net from six yards in front of the goal.
But Barça quickly equalized the score in the 47th minute. Harvey kicked a corner kick from the right side, and Marquez made a diagonal shot with his right foot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball went into the net from the near corner.
The final score of the game was 1: 1. Barcelona was forced to a draw by Numancia in the away game.
*****
The powerful Barcelona was forced to a draw. This was definitely something that Li Ang did not expect. He thought of Banderas joking that morning that Sporting de Gijón might have better luck. So, it was no wonder that Li Ang was so surprised to tell Banderas that he could "divine."
Barcelona was forced to a draw by Numancia. If Sporting de Gijón could beat Athletic Bilbao in the away game in this round of the league, then the gap between them and Barcelona would be narrowed to three points!
This would be the first time that Sporting de Gijón had been so close to Barcelona this season, and it would also be the first time that Barcelona had been so close to an opponent this season!
Whether it was Li Ang, Banderas, or Scott Trill, they were all overjoyed. At this time, the post-match press conference was being broadcasted live on the television.
After enduring the pain in the icy and snowy Birdie Stadium for 90 minutes, Rijkaard walked into the press conference.
A reporter asked Rijkaard if the away game was forced to a draw by Numancia, which gave Sporting de Gijón a chance to catch up. Did this mean that Sporting de Gijón had a chance to compete for the league title?
In front of the television, Li Ang's eyes were sharp, but Banderas and Scott Trill were stunned at first, and then their breathing quickened. Other than Li Ang, who already had some ideas, Banderas and Scott Trill had never thought about the possibility of winning the league title. They did not dare to think about it, and they did not have this ambition. However, now that they were so close to Barcelona and heard the reporter ask this question, they could not help but be shocked and excited.
This could be said to be the first time that the media seriously asked Sporting de Gijón about the possibility of winning the La Liga title in front of the Barcelona manager!
*****
"Sporting de Gijón played very well. They are in excellent form, and the away game against Numancia has indeed given them a good chance to catch up."
"In fact, Sporting de Gijón has been threatening us."
Rijkaard was in a bad mood and did not stay at the press conference for long. This was because in this game, Belletti and Giuly were injured, one after the other. This was a big blow to Barça, who had just recovered from the pain of injury. Moreover, both of them were right-footed players. With this injury, Barça's "vacuum" on the right flank became more and more serious.
Fortunately, the X-ray examination after the game showed that Belletti's back injury was not as serious as expected. He would miss the Barcelona derby against RCD Espanyol in midweek. As for Giuly's injury, there was still no detailed report.
Although Rijkaard did not directly answer the reporter's question, it was almost equivalent to admitting what the reporter meant: Sporting de Gijón did have a chance to compete for the league title!
*****
After turning off the TV, Li Ang saw that Banderas and Scotteri were both looking at him.
"Why are you looking at me?" Li Ang asked.
"Well, the TV just said …" Scotteri said.
"The league title? Are we really going to win?" Banderas also said with some eagerness.
They had not thought about the possibility of winning the league title before, because they were afraid of the strength of the powerhouse club Barcelona. They did not think that Sporting de Gijón had a chance to touch the La Liga crown.
But now, after this layer of window paper was poked open, they suddenly realized that maybe their Sporting de Gijón really had a chance to fight for it.
Of course, Li Ang was the backbone of the team, the soul of the team. Li Ang's opinion was crucial.
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Li Ang shrugged. "I never said that we didn't have a chance to win the title."
Hearing Li Ang say this, Scotteri and Banderas' eyes widened, then they cheered in unison.
"That's right, we also have a chance."
"Yes! Yes! Yes! "
"I said that we have a chance, and you really believe me that much?" Li Ang asked in surprise. "Don't you think that I'm boasting shamelessly?"
"How can you say that about yourself?" Banderas said. "Of course we believe you."
"Yes, you said that we have a chance, so we dare to fight for it," Scotteri said.
Li Ang was stunned. He did not expect his two assistants to trust him so much. He was a little touched. Looking at the two of them, Li Ang's face broke into a smile. "Haha, very good, let's fight for it!"
Their faces lit up, and they nodded vigorously.
In fact, Li Ang had underestimated his powerful role in this team. At Sporting de Gijón, he was the spiritual leader, leading the team to its current success. Whether it was the players or the coaches, they all trusted and admired him. They also trusted his words.
Just as Banderas and Scotteri said, when Li Ang said that they had a chance to fight for it, they really felt motivated and confident.
*****
If Sporting de Gijón really wanted to fight for the title, then they had to win the game against Athletic Bilbao.
Although they did not know Li Ang's attitude towards the league title, the entire La Liga suddenly began to discuss the possibility of Sporting de Gijón getting a share of the La Liga title.
If this topic had been discussed two months ago, even though Sporting de Gijón was already second in the league, no one would have thought that they had a chance to win the league title. Talking about this topic would have been laughed at.
But now, with Barcelona losing points, Sporting de Gijón's threat to the La Liga title that Barcelona coveted suddenly became the focus of attention.
The game between Sporting de Gijón and Athletic Bilbao suddenly became the focus of the whole of Spain.
February 28, 2005, Athletic Bilbao, New San Mamés Stadium.
“Goooool！”
“Goooool！”
"The ball is in! It's in! An unbelievable result! A final shot at the last minute! From Javier Blanco! This kid has created a miracle! He has scored a goal that may have an extraordinary meaning! "
On the turf of the New San Mamés Stadium, Javier Blanco ran like crazy, yelling and waving his fists like crazy. Behind him were Sporting de Gijón's players who were just as crazy.
The game had reached the last minute of injury stoppage time, and the score on the field was still 1: 1. At this time, Di Natale's pass created chaos in front of Athletic Bilbao's goal. Javier Blanco scored a goal in the chaos in front of the goal!
Just as the commentator had said, this goal was a true final shot. Sporting de Gijón had scored a goal at the last minute. They were leading their opponents by a score of 2: 1, and they would win the game with this score.
*****
On the sidelines, Li Ang and his assistants hugged each other excitedly. The substitutes' bench was also in an uproar.
Then, the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the game. All the substitutes rushed onto the field like crazy and hugged their teammates.
The commentators of the game were also very excited. They talked about Javier Blanco's goal at the last minute, about Sporting de Gijón, who had won the three points. They were only three points behind Barcelona. This was a great thing. They talked about the possible impact this newly promoted team could have on this season's La Liga title.
In the locker room after the game, Li Ang looked at the excited players. He made a gesture to signal everyone to be quiet.
Everyone looked at him.
Li Ang took a deep breath with a smile on his face.
He opened his mouth and said, "I think it's time."
He paused for a moment and continued, "It's time to talk to everyone about the league title."
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