Seventy-five minutes into the game, Atletico Madrid won 2:1.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos took the initiative to go inside the goal and pick up the ball, while shouting to his teammates: "Keep up, we still have a chance!" ”

But even the absolute core of the team, Ronaldo, looked at the direction of the goal with his hands on his waist for a short time and slowly shook his head, which was naturally a devastating blow to the psychology of other players.

Especially Nacho, who had just come on the pitch, squatted in the penalty area, his face full of pain, and self-blame was part of the reason, and at the same time, as a Real Madrid player, he had already thought about how big the pot he would carry after the game.

Atletico Madrid's bench was jubilant, Simeone clenched his fists hard, and most of the time he was passive, finally waiting for the moment when the clouds were cleared. Fate is back in your own hands, and that's the familiar feeling.

Simeone feels that it is not only the victory of this game that is choked now, but also the throat of the La Liga champions this season.

At the same time, Real Madrid's adjustment was swift. Zinedine Zidane brought on Asensio. Born in 1996, Asensio is regarded as the latest product of Real Madrid's Castilla Academy. is somewhat similar to Wen Zhihao's characteristics, with excellent skills at his feet, and his skills at the door are also quite good. Asensio's most impressive performance was the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup before the start of the season, against Barcelona, Asensio hit the world wave in the first four minutes, and because Real Madrid won the first leg 3-1, Asensio's goal completely settled the dust on the two legs.

Zinedine Zidane didn't even switch to senior striker Mayoral and form a twin tower with Benzema for simple and effective aerial work, but insisted on walking on the ground, clearly believing that Asensio's appearance would have a positive effect.

And Simeone's response was even more desperate. Augusto Fernandez, the team's last defensive midfielder, was also replaced, Juanfran was brought off, left wing-back Felipe was sent down the middle, and Atletico put on a strangulation of a back three and four midfielders, with Thomas' role reminiscent of a role that has long since disappeared on the football pitch: scavengers. It's just that compared to the traditional scavengers who hide behind the central defenders, Thomas's position has been advanced.

Seeing that Simeone's determination to defend was so great, He Wei also joked: "Simeone is also unscrupulous in order to keep the fruits of victory!" ”

In the final game, Thomas' performance proved that Simeone was the right decision. Throughout Atletico Madrid's midfield, Thomas is like a brick, moving where it needs to be. The brightest performance came in the 87th minute, when Real Madrid's three-man pass the ball in front of the field, Benzema cleverly broke through the Atletico defence with a heel leak, Asensio cut in from diagonally to face Oblak, only to run into position but not get the ball - Thomas chased back behind Savic from midfield and broke the ball off the touchline first.

In addition to winning the full exclamation at the Bernabeu, this positive performance also hit the last sharp spirit of the Real Madrid players, and produced self-doubt: it is not that our army does not work hard, but that the enemy army is too strong.

In front of the TV, fans in their thirties and forties saw Thomas at this moment, and they couldn't help but think of the myth of the Greek European Cup champion that shocked world football in the summer of 2004.

It was the last performance of the scavenger at the World Series as an official role on the court.

Young fans at that time may remember the midfield duo of Kachulanis and Karagunis, striker Charlie Steias and even goalkeeper Nikopolidis. But a true expert in the world will praise the conscientious scavenger Dras, who hangs alone behind the entire line of defense. Without him, there would have been no final victory over hosts Portugal to win the cup.

For longtime fans, it's a piece of history to talk about and the last memories of a class of people who have disappeared on the football field.

Seeing Thomas' performance, these fans are tempted to ask rhetorically: Who said scavengers are not suitable for modern football?

……

In the end, Atletico Madrid withstood Real Madrid's crazy counterattack and bagged this crucial victory 2:1, except for Atletico Madrid fans and Chinese fans who were rejoicing, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia fans were not in a good mood.

Simeone was also proud, and in the post-match press conference, the first high-profile invitation to on-site reporters had to attend Atletico Madrid's championship celebration.

Such a high-profile pretend, naturally some people are not used to it. The media of Barcelona and Valencia both criticized Simeone for getting carried away, and not sinking in the big river does not prove that the clearance was successful, and it is impossible to say that the boat capsized in the small river ditch.

Some of the small clubs in the middle and lower reaches of the last few rounds also jumped out to protest, really when we don't exist?

That is, Wen Zhihao did not pay attention to the reactions of these teams, otherwise it is not ruled out that he dared to say in front of the media: If you don't have the strength, you must learn to keep a low profile, don't come out and be blind!

The next day, Atletico Madrid did not arrange training, after the derby, the coaching staff let everyone rest properly, in the afternoon Wen Zhihao came to Madrid City, a theme café in Real Madrid, he remembered the agreement with Zidane, the reason why he did not care about Zidane's current identity, because Wen Zhihao has his own ideas in his heart, and at the same time he still maintains the original intention of continuous improvement, even if he can get one or two good words from Zidane, he can have a unique understanding.

The midfield position is particularly dependent on the player's own understanding, and the coach's guidance is only the most basic homework.

When Wen Zhihao took off his sunglasses in front of Zidane, Zidane was stunned, and then smiled: "What, are you afraid that the fans here will find out that you are making trouble for you?" That's right, you just won us, you really should be careful. ”

Wen Zhihao replied: "It's good for us, not to mention you, I'm already an acquaintance in front of the media." If those reporters are allowed to photograph us sitting together, it is estimated that tomorrow's news headlines will be Wen Zhihao's secret meeting with the Real Madrid coach, and it is suspected that he is secretly talking about joining Real Madrid......"

"Huh, what? Are you so disgusted with Real Madrid? Ever thought about turning what you said into reality? ”

Wen Zhihao's action of stirring the coffee suddenly stopped, and two strange points flashed on his face.

Here it comes!

I didn't expect Gabi to guess that it was true, and he really wanted to dig into the wall!

There must be demons when things are impermanent, and the words of the ancestors are really great wisdom.

If you can't beat it, dig ...... Well, it's quite like Real Madrid's style of not bad money.

Wen Zhihao smiled and said, "You don't have to test my loyalty to Atletico Madrid, at least for now, it's not in my plan." Maybe in another four or five years I'll think about it. ”

Zidane waved his hand: "I admit that I am really interested in you, because you and I know different Chinese players, you are a genius on the court. I apologize if what I just said made you feel abrupt. But, Wen, you should also know that the love of talent is the normal feeling of every manager, and I also understand that you will not leave Atletico Madrid now, after all, it is not easy for a player of your age to have the current platform. But I hope you can make a good impression of Real Madrid and maybe help you make the right choice in the near future. ”

Wen Zhihao replied after listening quietly: "To make you clear, I have no prejudice against Real Madrid, my only motivation to play is to fight for the title, at least now Atletico Madrid has brought me closer to that goal, and we are confident that we will do the same in the future...... Of course, I can't rule out that in the future, when Atletico Madrid can't continue to compete for the title, I will consider leaving, but not now. I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. ”

PS: Spoiler alert, the protagonist won't change teams until the end of the book, and this chapter is mainly to pave the way for the follow-up after the end of the book