Chapter 97
Cristiano was rested for two match days.
A Carabao Cup semi-final and a Premier League match. Neither the giants nor the Football Association paid much attention to the former. Ferguson did not use veterans, but let the players on the bench and several rotated main players play a round.
In the latter case, because the opponent's team was not too strong, Ferguson did not let Cristiano start, but to be on the safe side, he still put Chris on the bench.
In the end, the league won three points with a score of 2-0, and Cristiano did not need to play and continued to be rested.
Without having to play, Cristiano focused all his time and attention on training.
After finishing regular training, he practiced penalty kicks and free kicks facing the goal, and placed a row of training posts in front of the goal to act as a "human wall".
During this period, Van der Sar wanted to escape when he saw Cristiano walking towards him with a ball. He is not young anymore and should not accept such inhumane torture and training from young people.
However, his teammates not only did not help, but watched with gloating, and even helped Cristiano stop him.
When Van der Sar was about to leave early after the regular training, Giggs put his arm around his shoulders and said with a smile: "Do you have a date tonight?"
Van der Sar: “…”
Ferdinand also came over and squeezed him between himself and Giggs without leaving any trace. He said: "You have been avoiding Ronnie for two days."
"I'm not hiding from anyone," Van der Sar retorted.
Ferdinand raised his eyebrows: "Really? That's even better."
As he said this, he called out in the direction of Cristiano: "Ronniee——!"
Van der Sar's eyelids twitched, he looked over, and sure enough, he saw Cristiano standing not far away holding the ball and hesitantly, with a big smile on his face, trotting towards him happily.
Van der Sar knew that he couldn't escape the boy's devilish training today. He really didn't understand how Cristiano could have so much endless energy and unyielding motivation.
He took a deep breath, put on a stiff smile, and said to the two teammates beside him with gritted teeth: "...Anyway, the extra training won't affect you, right? Are you going to cause trouble for me here? Just wait."
"Ronnie hasn't been able to find you for two days. If you keep avoiding him like this, he might think you don't like him." Ferdinand said, "He's just a 20-year-old kid from a foreign country. It's not easy for him. Be more patient with him."
"...Leo, I'm Dutch, I'm 36 years old, and it's not easy for me either." Van der Sar retorted.
Giggs shrugged: "Anyway, he's here, you tell him what to do."
He pursed his lips, and soon Cristiano ran in front of them.
"Hey Edwin! Let's practice!" Cristiano looked at Van der Sar.
As a goalkeeper, Van der Sar was tall enough, and Cristiano's height had not yet grown to his later height of 1.87 meters. He raised his chin slightly and invited him seriously.
Van der Sar met the young man's focused and enthusiastic gaze. He opened his mouth, but the words of rejection that he wanted to say were stuck in his throat. He could even hear the muffled laughter of Ferdinand and Giggs beside him.
Damn it.
He took a deep breath, then slowly asked Cristiano: "We have trained a lot today, can't you find the second or third goalkeeper to practice free kicks?"
"But I just want to score a free kick against the best goalkeeper in the world." Cristiano looked at Van der Sar, who was holding the ball and watching eagerly.
Van der Sar paused. He had to control the corners of his mouth that subconsciously wanted to rise after hearing the boy's words.
He pursed his lips hard, then cleared his throat: "...I'll go get the gloves."
"Great! Edwin! I'll treat you to dinner after training!" Cristiano cheered, immediately jumped up and hugged the tall goalkeeper, then immediately ran to the goal with the ball and personally fiddled with the posts that acted as a human wall. He had to increase the difficulty.
Van der Sar almost wanted to bite off his tongue. How could he agree so easily? The damn kid really knows how to talk.
Also, he shouldn't have looked Ronaldo in the eyes! It's like this every time! Otherwise, he wouldn't have had to hide from people for two days in a row.
Ferdinand laughed and put his arm around Van der Sar's shoulders, patting him twice: "Edwin, think about it this way, this will help build Ronnie's confidence!"
"What if he can never get into my goal? That will hit his confidence." Van der Sar raised his eyebrows and asked deliberately.
Ferdinand and Giggs said in unison: "He'll go in."
Giggs added: "Give him time and enough training."
“…Then what about my confidence?” The Dutchman looked at the two people in front of him expressionlessly, “Do you know how difficult it is to save Ronnie’s erratic free kick? The trajectory is totally unpredictable…”
Ferdinand and Giggs laughed and patted his face. "You can do it, Edwin. You are the best goalkeeper in the world certified by Ronnie! Go get your gloves and don't keep Ronnie waiting for too long."
After saying this, the two of them swaggered off the court.
Van der Sar looked at the two teammates who left after causing trouble, and suddenly remembered that his national team teammates told him after he joined Manchester United that Manchester United's main players, led by Ferdinand and others, had a kind of favoritism towards their number seven that did not care about the lives of others. Now he understood.
Van Nistelrooy, who was far away in Real Madrid, sneezed violently.
…
"Tell us the truth, are Ronnie's free kicks really that difficult to save?" Rooney asked Van der Sar loudly while holding a glass of wine during a team party.
They had just won the Carabao Cup final, with Rooney scoring two goals, one solo and one assist from Cristiano's corner.
He happily held the drink and walked over to Van der Sar: "I see he always asks you for extra training, but it's a pity that I don't have the chance to see him use this in the game."
Van der Sar raised his eyebrows when he heard this. He touched Rooney's glass and smiled: "How much have you drunk?"
"I didn't drink much. Edwin, why don't you answer my question?" Rooney waved his hand, he insisted on getting an answer.
Everyone said that Cristiano was more talented than him, and Alan was more threatening than him, but in this game, Alan was injured and absent, and it was him who scored the goal for the team.
Rooney felt that he was fed up with this kind of combination of three people, but he was the only one who seemed invisible and had no name.
He couldn't wait to prove something.
——This championship is proof of that.
Rooney actually wanted to tell Cristiano, but Chris left the party early, which made him somewhat depressed. He wanted to hear Cristiano say: We need you, you are important, Wazza.
He thought with a drunken breath, his head a little dazed, and his steps were a little unsteady.
Cristiano actually also attended the party, but he brought a bottle of mineral water with him. He never indulged himself in alcohol during the season, and Giggs also agreed with this. After drinking the mineral water, the two left together, intending to visit poor Alan who was injured while it was still early.
Alan's condition was not very serious, but to be on the safe side, Ferguson let Alan receive treatment from the team doctor and did not play - the League Cup was not important enough in Ferguson's eyes to risk letting his important players play with injuries, they still had the league, FA Cup and Champions League to play.
"Maybe you'll have a chance to see it with your own eyes in next week's league game. No matter how much I say, it's not as good as seeing him score a few goals with your own eyes," Van der Sar said, answering Rooney.
He also controlled himself and didn't drink much. He stood up from the sofa, took the glass from Rooney's hand, and said with a smile: "Waza, drink less. We are still in the season."
Rooney pursed his lips and said nothing more.
The other players left the field one after another. Rooney drunkenly took a beautiful girl to check into a room. The news was exposed by The Sun the next morning. Ferguson, who was furious, called him into the office and scolded him for a full twenty minutes. He was almost punished and sent to the bench.
The match day arrived in the blink of an eye.
This game is of great significance to Manchester United. If they win, Manchester United will lock in the Premier League championship in advance and defend the Premier League title!
Ferguson still sent out his most threatening lineup. Cristiano's position in Manchester United has always been in the midfield, but in fact he is everywhere. He is a winger and a front midfielder. He can participate in organizing the offense and attack the opponent's goal.
"Welcome to the 36th round of the Premier League, Manchester United vs. West Ham United! I am very happy to broadcast today's game live for you! The second half of the game has begun." The commentator in the broadcast room started working.
"In the first half, neither team was able to score against the other. I wonder if they can play some fierce fast breaks in the second half?"
This was Alan's first game after his recovery from injury. Ferguson was very happy to see Alan return to his pre-injury form. His striker announced his return with a clean and neat shovel to regain possession of the ball.
Cristiano trotted over and high-fived Alan, then covered his mouth and whispered, "Did you see the expression on the face of the guy you knocked down? It was as if he was saying, what the hell, you're a striker!"
He said this and grinned.
Alan sneered, bumped Cristiano's shoulder, and ran away.
Soon, a very good shooting opportunity appeared.
Less than ten minutes into the second half, Cristiano made a long pass with the outside of his foot and sent the ball to Rooney's feet.
Rooney made two adjustments in front of the penalty area, but it was these two adjustments that caused the West Ham United defenders to double-team him. He had no choice but to raise his foot and shoot, and naturally the ball flew over the crossbar and kicked towards the audience.
Rooney covered his face and there was a burst of boos from the Manchester United fans' stands near the West Ham United goal.
Cristiano and Alan had already run to the position to make up for the gap. Rooney could have passed the ball back to reorganize a new attack line, but he didn't do so and instead kicked the ball away.
Alan kicked the grass in annoyance. He didn't say anything, didn't look at Rooney again, and just turned around and retreated.
"Nothing." Cristiano patted Rooney on the shoulder, pulled Rooney back, and while running, he made booing gestures to the audience behind the goal, with his index finger erected to his mouth and kept gesturing a few times, signaling the audience on the sidelines to be patient. He shouted back, "Hey! Stop! Don't boo him! We will score! We will!"
Rooney looked over and saw Cristiano, sweaty, shouting to the spectators outside the goal to help him clear the ball. He felt relieved, but then he thought in frustration -
It's not like you missed the chance to shoot. Oh my God, he will be scolded to death by his boss when he goes back. He just committed a big mistake by his boss not long ago, and he is eager to score a goal on the court to regain some impression points.
Cristiano saw Rooney's frustration. He was very familiar with the expression of this teammate who had been on the front line for two lifetimes.
He rubbed Rooney's short-shaved head, which only had a few stubbles left, and encouraged him casually: "Cheer up, Wazza, we need you."
Rooney opened his eyes slightly and looked at Cristiano, but the number seven who was always running fast on the court had already run to the left side in the blink of an eye. Rooney could only see a big "7" on the back of the player.
But he was strangely in a better mood, and even wanted to smile with some satisfaction - Oh, he said he needed me, Waza, you are important.
Rooney ran forward with his head down, and he began to pay attention to Cristiano's position on the field. Ferdinand passed the ball to Cristiano's feet.
Cristiano seized the opportunity and immediately sprinted towards West Ham United's penalty area, followed by Rooney and Alan.
Cristiano was blocked by two defenders in front of him. He feinted twice, then lightly tapped the ball with his heel and passed it back to Rooney behind him.
"Rooney gets the ball again! Rooney shoots! The ball goes in! Manchester United is leading!" the commentator exclaimed.
Cristiano trotted over slowly, raised his hand and high-fived Rooney, and laughed: "I told you we would score a goal."
"Yes, Ronnie." Rooney smiled and hugged Cristiano tightly. Cristiano's feet were briefly off the ground for a few centimeters before he was put down. Rooney thought to himself, because you said this team needs me.
However, Manchester United's lead did not last long. Just three minutes later, West Ham United scored a goal and the score was tied. Then ten minutes later, a blocking foul in the penalty area gave the opponent a penalty kick.
"The score has been reversed! West Ham United has taken the advantage! There are less than 20 minutes left in the game! If Manchester United wants to secure the championship in advance, they need to score at least two more goals?"
Ferguson paced in the coaching area, then returned to his seat and sat down with a gloomy face, as if a storm was about to break out.
Manchester United's second goal came at the right time.
After Alan broke into the opponent's penalty area with the ball, the West Ham United defender rushed up and snatched the ball from Alan's feet.
Cristiano and Rooney immediately ran to support, but they didn't expect Alan to make a direct tackle. After shoveling the ball, he immediately stood up and quickly jumped over the fallen opponent player to get the ball back.
Turn with the ball, adjust, shoot, and score! All in one go!
"Alan scored to equalize the score! And this was less than five minutes after West Ham United's last goal!"
"As expected of him, he is the most ferocious striker. He actually tackled the opponent's defender in the opponent's penalty area... Hahaha, this move is also a highlight of this game."
Alan's playing style is like choking tobacco and gunpowder, which is inconsistent with his appearance.
Cristiano and Rooney were stunned for a moment when they saw this, then they rushed forward and jumped up excitedly to celebrate!
After the three of them briefly vented their excitement, they quickly got back into the game.
Seven minutes of injury time were given in the second half. Manchester United's attack was like a storm, violently hitting West Ham United's goal frame.
After Rooney received the ball, West Ham United players immediately pressed forward. Without hesitation, he passed the ball to Cristiano who quickly appeared on the left side.
He appeared too quickly, more than half a field away from the penalty area. The West Ham United defenders came forward only after seeing Cristiano get the ball. However, before they could run up, Cristiano directly hit the ball with his chest. Before the ball even hit the ground, he raised his foot and made a violent long-range volley!
The speed of the ball was incredibly fast, drawing a smooth and strange arc in the air, and suddenly fell when it was near the goal! There is even an incredible and strange change of direction!
West Ham United's goalkeeper missed the ball as he had no way of predicting the trajectory of the ball.
There was an uproar in the audience!
All the fans stood up subconsciously, like a wave!
"GO-GO-GO-GOOOOOOOOALLLL! The ball goes in! Manchester United overtakes West Ham United 3-2!! There are three minutes left in the game!!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo! A long-range shot! It pierced through the opponent's goalkeeper's fingers and smashed through West Ham United's goal like a battering ram!!!" The commentator couldn't help but stand up from his chair, pointing excitedly at the goal replay on the big screen -
"The trajectory is as erratic as a falling leaf! The heavy bullet falls straight down suddenly! There is no solution to this ball!"
"This will be every goalkeeper's nightmare!"
"Good job, Ronnie!" Ferguson suddenly jumped up from his chair, ran to the sidelines, and excitedly gestured to the linesman, "See! That's my child!"
Rooney widened his eyes in surprise. After passing the ball to Cristiano, he ran forward a few steps and saw the arc of the ball directly hit the opposite goal!
He gasped, startled and slowly uttered a curse word.
He thought about that party when he took advantage of his drunkenness to deliberately provoke Cristiano's shot, but Van der Sar just told him indifferently to wait and see.
Now that he saw it, Rooney let out a deep breath that was like heavy artillery.
Van der Sar was so excited that he couldn't help but pump his fists twice across half the stadium. He had experienced this ball too many times! And now, he saw Cristiano's half-court shot hit the opponent's goal!
He even saw the opposing goalkeeper's empty expression on the big screen at the scene.
Van der Sar grinned, already sweating for the future goalkeepers, and at the same time thinking to himself, fortunately Ronnie is theirs.
Cristiano grinned and ran towards Rooney who was assisting not far away. He jumped heavily on Rooney. Rooney, who had not yet come to his senses, subconsciously hugged him and was knocked back two steps before he caught the ball.
Rooney smiled happily, and Alan came over from behind him, supported his shoulders with both hands, jumped, and hugged Cristiano.
Rooney suddenly felt like a hopeless sandwich, the kind that was about to have the filling squeezed out.
In the remaining three minutes, West Ham United tried desperately to press into the opponent's frontcourt, but after an unsuccessful attack, the ball was confiscated by goalkeeper Van der Sar.
The experienced goalkeeper fell to the ground with the ball in his arms, hesitated for a while before getting up, then walked to the front of the penalty area with the ball, slowly directing his teammates to run back.
After such a delay, at least forty seconds had passed. Van der Sar kicked the ball with a long foot, and as soon as the ball hit the ground, the referee blew the whistle to end the game!
"The game is over! Cristiano Ronaldo scored a long-range goal in injury time! He secured the Premier League championship trophy for Manchester United in advance!"
"Congratulations to Manchester United! Congratulations to the Red Devils! Defending the Premier League champions!"
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