Sporting de Gijón lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final.
They only won 1-0 against Levante in the following league match.
These two matches exposed the biggest predicament Sporting de Gijón was facing: the lack of depth on the bench. The team began to have a personnel crisis in the face of multiple competitions.
This also gave the Barcelona people hope. Mundo Deportivo cheered for Barcelona. The newspaper believed that the season had entered the final sprint. Sporting de Gijón, which was fighting in multiple competitions, was actually an arrow at the end of its flight. Barcelona's players' strength and depth on the bench were much better than Sporting de Gijón. Under such circumstances, Sporting de Gijón was bound to be blocked and make mistakes. This was the opportunity for Barcelona to make a comeback.
Another Catalonia media outlet, El Deportivo, quoted the judgment of a famous local sports expert in Barcelona, Vásquez. The expert studied Sporting de Gijón's recent matches and said that Sporting de Gijón's players had obvious physical problems. The running distance of the players had also decreased. The final conclusion was that Sporting de Gijón had encountered a major physical and personnel crisis. The team could collapse with just one defeat.
At the Malaio training base, Li Ang was communicating with the team's team doctor.
"How's the situation?" Li Ang asked.
The team doctor, Mr. Rotalo, was holding a stack of papers in his hand. These were the reports of the players' physical conditions. In the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atlético Madrid, Li Ang made a large rotation of the team. Then in the league match against Levante, Li Ang also made a rotation of some positions to allow some of the mentally and physically exhausted players to rest. Then he asked the team doctor to do a physical examination of the players.
"It's not optimistic," Rotalo said. Then he saw Li Ang's gloomy face and quickly added, "But I'm talking about the ideal situation. Based on the current report, it's not bad."
Li Ang's face turned bright. He knew that Rotalo was a guy who pursued perfection. Perhaps in Rotalo's eyes, running around the field like a calf was a good result.
"Are those smelly black potions really that effective?" Rotalo then asked Li Ang.
Yes, if it was just a rotation, the players' physical conditions would not improve too quickly. There was another factor. Li Ang had asked people to buy a batch of Chinese medicine from a Chinese medicine shop in Madrid, which could improve the players' physical condition. He personally brewed the medicine and ordered the players to drink it.
Smelling the black, smelly potion, most of the players frowned and did not dare to drink it. Carlos was the most straightforward. He went straight up and gulped down a bowl of potion without batting an eyelid. It was good that someone took the lead. Then, Ribéry also drank the medicine. The image of the Frenchman pinching his nose and drinking the medicine, coupled with the scars on his face, was too beautiful.
At that time, when he heard that Li Ang was going to brew the medicine for the players to drink, the team doctor, Rotalo, strongly opposed it. He even suspected that Li Ang was going to use performance-enhancing drugs on the players. Li Ang had to repeatedly explain that the ingredients of the Chinese medicine were normal and would never violate the performance-enhancing drug regulations. Li Ang was not out of his mind and would not touch the red line of performance-enhancing drugs. The prescription he prepared for the players was relatively mild. He had racked his brains to think of it. It was to avoid getting into trouble with performance-enhancing drugs.
Now, from the physical condition of the players, it still had a certain effect.
"Of course. In fact, in China, we have been drinking this kind of medicine since ancient times to cure diseases and improve our immune system," replied Li Ang.
"That's really suffering." Rotalo's face was horrified. He could not imagine how such a disgusting thing could be drunk. However, he had to admit that this kind of witchcraft from the East was very effective.
*****
The media in Catalonia were singing the praises of Sporting de Gijón. It seemed that the team was like a castle made of sand that could collapse at any time.
Two days later, Sporting de Gijón welcomed CSKA Moscow, the powerhouse of the Russian Premier League, at home.
This was the first leg of the 20042005 UEFA Europa League semi-final.
According to the Daily Sports, this game could cause great trouble for Sporting de Gijón, further worsening Sporting de Gijón's fitness crisis. Even if Sporting de Gijón barely won this game, the extremely tired Sporting de Gijón would be greatly affected in the league this weekend.
The other media in Barcelona were also clamoring, bluntly hoping that CSKA Moscow could cause as much trouble for Sporting de Gijón as possible.
In response, Li Ang made a dig at Barcelona before the game, saying that they were petty. "In fact, Sporting de Gijón is currently the only surviving team in the European competition. We are now fighting for the glory of Spanish football. Under such circumstances, Barcelona's words should not be said. However, it is no wonder that the league title is their only hope now …"
Li Ang's words made the Barcelona people grit their teeth, but they could not refute anything. After all, Li Ang was right. Sporting de Gijón was currently the only surviving Spanish team in the European competition, and they were fighting for the glory of Spanish football.
You can curse and pray in private, hoping that Sporting de Gijón would be in trouble, but please don't say it out loud.
Everyone in Barcelona hoped that Sporting de Gijón would be in big trouble in this game. However, the result of the game surprised everyone. Sporting de Gijón defeated CSKA Moscow 3-0 at home. In the two-legged semi-final, Sporting de Gijón took the lead. In the words of the Spanish media, Sporting de Gijón already had one foot in the final of this season's UEFA Europa League.
It was not surprising that Sporting de Gijón won the game. With the strength that this team had shown, it was not surprising that they beat CSKA Moscow. However, what surprised everyone was that Sporting de Gijón won the game relatively easily. In the first half of the game, Diego Milito and Grosso scored one after another to firmly control the game in their hands. In the second half, Di Natale's goal helped the team secure the victory.
After the game, the Spanish media also praised Sporting de Gijón. They were not stingy with their praise. Real Madrid and Barcelona had already been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, and all the Spanish clubs had been eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. Sporting de Gijón was the only team in the UEFA Europa League. Every game that Sporting de Gijón won, every step that Sporting de Gijón took forward, earned points for La Liga.
After the game, even Barcelona sent a "congratulatory message" to Sporting de Gijón on their official website. They also wished that Sporting de Gijón would be able to reach the final of the UEFA Europa League. They wished that Sporting de Gijón would not fail the heavy responsibility of La Liga and would have the last laugh.
Hypocrites!
Li Ang scolded. Before the game, he was sarcastic and ridiculing Barcelona for being petty and not caring about the big picture. After the game, Barcelona turned the tables on him. This was to create public opinion and force Sporting de Gijón to focus more on the European competition. They knew that Sporting de Gijón's squad was thin. If they put more effort into the UEFA Europa League, the league would inevitably be affected.
This was indeed a hypocritical trick. However, Barcelona did not know that Li Ang was very greedy. The UEFA Europa League trophy had long been in his sights. He would not give up on the UEFA Europa League. That was why Li Ang scoffed at Barcelona's trick.
*****
In the 34th round of the league, Barcelona's game was ahead of Sporting de Gijón's. They welcomed Albacete to their home Camp Nou.
In the end, Barcelona won 2-0 at home with goals from Ronaldinho and Decaux.
After the win, Barcelona held their breath and waited to see Sporting de Gijón's game. They were eager to see Sporting de Gijón be stopped and thought it was very likely. There were two reasons. Sporting de Gijón played the UEFA Europa League game in the middle of the week and their fitness was worrying. In addition, Sporting de Gijón was visiting El Madrigal this round and their opponent was Villarreal CF. Villarreal CF was currently ranked fifth in the league, only one point behind the fourth-placed Sevilla. This team, nicknamed "Yellow Submarine," was fighting for the qualification for the UEFA Champions League next season. They were a tough opponent.
A day later, after Sporting de Gijón's away game against Villarreal CF, Li Ang flew into a rage at the post-match press conference.
"All the pigeons in Plaza Labrador saw the ball go in. Only the referee did not see it. Is he short-sighted? Is he short-sighted? Or is he so poor that he can't afford to buy glasses? I suggest that the referee's benefits and treatment must be too high. It's really too pitiful! "Li Ang mocked and ridiculed.
The reason why he was so angry was that Sporting de Gijón had been forced into a 1-1 draw with Villarreal CF in the away game. There was a huge controversy in the game. In the 89th minute of the game, Sporting de Gijón's player, Ribery's shot was blocked by the Villarreal CF goalkeeper and then blocked by the defender, Peña. Sporting de Gijón's players raised their hands to signal that Peña had handballed the ball and blocked the ball with his hands. However, the referee of the game, Cuasti, was unmoved. His expression was as serious as a rock.
The slow motion showed that Peña had indeed used his hands to hit the ball out of the goal line. This was a clear and unmistakable foul action with a red card!
It was no wonder that Li Ang was so angry. Sporting de Gijón could have won the away game with this penalty, but now they only got a draw. This also meant that Sporting de Gijón was only three points ahead of Barcelona in the standings!
Five points and three points were completely different concepts. In a five-point situation, it meant that Sporting de Gijón had room and leeway to make mistakes. Even if they lost the game, they could still continue to lead Barcelona. However, in a three-point situation, Sporting de Gijón had almost no room for mistakes.
*****
Referee Cuesti's controversial enforcement of the game caused a huge discussion after the game. The Spanish media generally believed that Sporting de Gijón had suffered a loss and that the referee had missed the penalty. They expressed their understanding of Li Ang's anger after the game. After all, this controversial decision could affect Sporting de Gijón's championship.
Only Catalonia's media covered it up and said that the referee's decision was the only standard on the field. Even if there were occasional controversial decisions, it was also a part of the football game. The coach should learn to adapt and not be ungracious and noisy.
This caused Li Ang to be greatly dissatisfied. In an interview with Telefonica 3, he said fiercely, "As the side who benefited, the words of the Barcelona people are really disgusting. They still come out and say such things after gaining an advantage. Tsk, tsk. If Barcelona were the ones who suffered a loss, they would have been furious. Maybe the whole Spanish football world would be shaken. Of course, they would not suffer such a loss!"
The most direct response Li Ang's words received was the Spanish Football Federation sending a letter to the Sporting de Gijón club, asking Li Ang to explain his words and whether there was any suspicion of gratuitous accusations and malicious speculation against the referee's unsuitable enforcement of the game.
At this moment, Li Ang's old rival and old grudge, the people of Madrid, stood up. The Madrid media rarely stood on Li Ang's side and questioned the main referee, Cuesti, for not daring to give a penalty kick at the crucial moment. It was because he was afraid of being under pressure and being criticized and attacked by the people of Barcelona that he would rather let the people of Gijón suffer a loss than give a penalty kick.
Marca directly raised a question mark. Did the Spanish Football Federation not want a grassroots team to win the championship? Was that why there was a decision in favor of Barcelona?
Li Ang and Marca had an old grudge and the two sides had fought many times. However, this time, he wanted to give Marca a thumbs up. There were some words that he could not say as the manager of Sporting de Gijón, but the people of Madrid could. As a person of Madrid, it was common to scold Barcelona. It was also common to attack the Spanish Football Federation because they were dissatisfied with Barcelona's profits. There was nothing wrong with that!
Now, with Marca's remarks, Li Ang only hoped to put pressure on the Spanish Football Federation to some extent so that Sporting de Gijón would no longer suffer a loss because of the referee's enforcement. He did not expect his team to profit because of the referee's enforcement. It would be good if they did not suffer a loss. Take the missed penalty kick in the game against Villarreal as an example. As the people of Madrid, Barcelona's arch-rival, said, the referee was afraid at that time and did not dare to blow the penalty kick! If it had been Barcelona who got a penalty kick at the last minute, would the referee dare to blow it? Even if it was a suspected penalty kick, he would definitely blow it! Of course, if Barcelona were Real Madrid, the situation would be the same. The powerhouses were always taken care of, not only in La Liga, but also in the English Premier League, Bundesliga, and Serie A.
*****
Three days later, in the second leg of the 20042005 UEFA Europa League semi-finals, Sporting de Gijón lost to CSKA Moscow 1: 2 in the away game. In the end, they still advanced to this season's UEFA Europa League final with a total score of 4: 2!
Another three days later, in the 35th round of the 20042005 La Liga season:
Barcelona away game 2: 0 against Valencia.
Real Madrid home game 5: 0 against Racing Santander.
Sporting de Gijón home game 2: 0 against Real Sociedad.
There were three rounds left in the league. Real Madrid was nine points behind Sporting de Gijón. Considering the outcome of the two sides, Real Madrid was completely out of the league title.
Sporting de Gijón continued to lead Barcelona by three points!
Another three days later, in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, Sporting de Gijón welcomed Atlético Madrid at home. In the ninety-minute game, Sporting de Gijón scored 2: 0 against Atlético Madrid, leveling the overall score to 2: 2. In the overtime, neither side scored. In the end, in the penalty shootout, Sporting de Gijón won 4: 2 and successfully eliminated Atlético Madrid. They advanced to the final of the 20042005 Copa del Rey season with their heads held high!
Copa del Rey!
UEFA Europa League!
La Liga championship trophy!
In May 2004, Sporting de Gijón finally completed the construction of the final puzzle to sprint toward the treble …
PS: Asking for a monthly ticket.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
