Chapter 580: The Template for All Players

Chapter 580: The Template for All Players

Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0, lifting the 2012 UEFA Super Cup!

While the outcome may not seem significant, the message conveyed by the match left many unable to forget. Hence, after the game, numerous media outlets rushed to intercept Wang Feng in the mixed interview area.

Their questions revolved around why he played as a defensive midfielder, whether it was just for this game or a strategy for all future matches, and how he managed to perform so exceptionally.

"This was the result of discussions with the coaching staff," the Chinese superstar replied with a smile. "As everyone knows, the team has been plagued by injuries, with many key players absent, making the situation challenging. Therefore, we had to seek change."

"As for future tactics, I will fully comply with the arrangements of the coaching staff."

"Thank you for praising my performance. Perhaps it's because I've seen many outstanding defensive players, and I've learned a lot from them."

During the press conference, Diego Simeone seemed somewhat impatient. He still had to deal with "punishing" those players who had underperformed during the game.

"Yes, Real Madrid's lineup arrangement exceeded my expectations. Only a genius or a madman would deploy a striker like Wang Feng in the defensive midfield."

"Performed well? Perhaps. It's more likely that everyone is not accustomed to Wang Feng's defensive role yet. We need to see more games before making a judgment."

On the other hand, Carlo Ancelotti couldn't hide his joy. "It's regrettable that those who wanted to see a joke were disappointed. The Galacticos will never give up the pursuit of victory."

Regarding Wang Feng's drastically changed position and role on the field, he exclaimed, "Honestly, doesn't he have the talent for this? Look at the match statistics: a passing success rate of 96% throughout the game, 7 interceptions, 5 tackles. He nearly shut down Atletico Madrid's penetrating attacks entirely."

"Not to mention 8 key passes and 1 goal. He can even score as a defensive midfielder. Ha ha."

In the second round, away game against Osasuna, they nearly stumbled. Less than 20 minutes into the first half, the home team seized the opportunity to open the scoring, and then they got caught in the opponent's rhythm while rushing to equalize.

If it weren't for Pique's crucial block at a critical moment and Loren's interception after stealing from Busquets, resulting in a missed shot, the Catalan team would have been 0-3 behind.

At this point, Barcelona needed to change the pace, using fluent passing and attacking to break down the opponent's defense. Head coach Rula boldly replaced Fabregas with Pedro. At the same time, Iniesta was substituted for Xavi, and Villa replaced Neymar.

This change quickly paid off. With Pedro positioned higher up, Messi was able to retreat appropriately and prepare to strike. With Xavi in midfield, the ball could be passed more steadily, and the attack became more organized and smooth.

In the end, Pedro and Villa respectively assisted Messi in scoring two goals to overturn the score and secure this crucial victory.

After the match, Catalan media turned their criticism towards Fabregas. The Daily Sport believed that Fabregas was ineffective, stating, "The team encountered serious problems in attack organization, and the root cause is Fabregas!"

With Iniesta active in the attacking midfield position and lurking behind the forward line, Fabregas was supposed to be the best alternative under rotation conditions. However, his performance fell far short of expectations and even dragged down the team. In this game, the team's average passing rate was close to 90%, but his passing success rate was only 80.3%.

Seeing Wang Feng's passing success rate reach 96% in the defensive midfield position, more intense mockery and abuse were directed at Fabregas.

Mundo Deportivo was more straightforward, saying, "Pedro replaced the ineffective Fabregas."

The article stated that Pedro's return to form and his efforts were commendable, especially in the first goal for Barcelona. Faced with two defending players pressing him, the Spanish forward calmly controlled the ball at his feet and forcibly turned around to pass it to Messi for a goal.

Not only did he take away two defenders in the penalty area, but he also delivered a precise pass, assisting Messi in scoring.

"The offensive lineup of Barcelona needs to be rearranged. Apart from Messi, everyone else can be rotated. Pedro, Fabregas, Villa, Neymar, Sanchez, and Tello—they all need to compete for playing time!"

Their frontline was indeed crowded, and the competition was fierce.

However, after the match, head coach Rula publicly defended Fabregas: "His performance is much better than when he first joined. Everyone understands that playing at the Camp Nou is not easy. I believe he can continue to improve and keep up with the team's pace."

This defense also reflected the club's top management's intention. After all, they couldn't cold-shoulder a player who they had spent money to acquire. Whether he can become a regular starter still depends on his actual performance.