Chapter 184: The Crucial Madrid Derby

The Chinese team won the Asian Cup, which made domestic fans completely boiling.

In the early morning of February 1, when all the members of the Chinese team arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport, the airport was full of fans who had come to greet the team.

The scene was noisy, the national flag was waving, and people lined up all the way from the reception hall to the road outside the airport, so that the local traffic management department had to temporarily close the road near the airport to accommodate so many fans.

The influence of football in China is still quite huge, and the world's number one sport is worthy of its name.

In addition to the fans, there are also officials from the Football Association and the General Directorate of Sports. The Chinese team's victory in the Asian Cup made these bureaucrats of the sports system, big or small, want to show their faces at this time and rub off on the heat.

When the captain Zheng Zhi walked out of the airport passage with the Asian Cup championship trophy in his hand, the scene suddenly boiled. But to everyone's surprise, the team's vice captain, Li Qingshan, the absolute hero of the championship, did not appear in it.

Yes, after the Asian Cup award ceremony, Li Qingshan flew from Sydney to Madrid.

At this time, Li Qingshan was on the plane, sleeping soundly with an eye patch.

It stands to reason that the leaders of the Sports Bureau came to pick up the plane in person, but Li Qingshan was so faceless that he didn't even return to China, and flew directly to Spain. In the past, these officials, big and small, would certainly be unhappy. But now, this group of officials all have smiles on their faces, they have done enough to be close to the people, and they have cordially received all the players and coaches of the Chinese team.

Winning the Asian Cup, these officials, big and small, can make a profit from it.

And Li Qingshan's status today is completely different from Li Qingshan a month ago.

A month ago, Li Qingshan was just a good hairy boy who mixed abroad, and now, Li Qingshan is the biggest contributor to leading the Chinese team to win the Asian Cup. Naturally, the bureaucrats, who have insight into political nerves, are well aware of this change in status.

After winning the Asian Cup, the Chinese national team also received a congratulatory call from the central leadership, and it is said that they had a very happy conversation with Li Qingshan on the phone. Those who have been able to mingle in the bureaucratic system for many years are not fools, and they naturally know that Li Qingshan's current position is already unshakable.

The leaders received and the fans presented flowers. The players of the national team carried gold medals and held flowers and various gifts from the fans. They were greeted by fans holding up their posters and chanting their names.

Such a scene seems to be able to enjoy such treatment only when the Olympic delegation returns home. Chinese football has never been enjoyed since 2001.

There are many problems in Chinese football, such as youth training, bureaucratic management, campus football, etc., but at this time, no one wants to discuss these.

Champions can make everyone happy and make everyone happy.

That's probably what football is all about.

………….

Beijing Airport was jubilant, while Madrid Airport was as usual.

From Australia to Spain, from the hot summer, to the winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Li Qingshan walked out of the airport wearing a hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses, carrying a large suitcase, carrying a backpack, and touching his nose - yes - that's right, the sudden change in the weather Even if he was as strong as Li Qingshan, he had a cold at the moment.

Fortunately, it's not that serious. Non-viral colds, in fact, are mostly self-regulated by the body's immune system, and for Li Qingshan, such a small cold only needs to sleep.

However, as a professional athlete, the body is the capital of his own food, even if it is a small cold, Li Qingshan does not dare to be careless. After leaving the airport, Li Qingshan took a ride to the infirmary of the Atletico Madrid training base.

At this time, the whole team of Atletico Madrid was already in Eibar, and in the twenty-first round of La Liga, Atletico Madrid challenged Eibar away.

At the moment, there are not many people left at the training base, most of them are personnel of the reserves.

…………

Li Qingshan was relegated to the first team members who participated in the 21st round of the league on the second day after returning to Spain.

When he showed up at the training ground, the Atletico Madrid players gave him a collective applause, leaving him a little confused.

"Let's welcome the champion!"

"Oooooooooooooo!!!oo

At the training ground, the players applauded and coaxed.

Li Qingshan then understood, and he smiled at his teammates, "Thank you!" ”

Everyone hugged him.

"Welcome back, Lee!"

"You're going to kill me, big guy."

……….

The last one to come up was Simeone, who looked at Li Qingshan and asked, "It's okay to catch a cold." ”

Li Qingshan nodded: "It's no problem, I slept last night." ”

"Is there a problem with physical fitness?" Simeone asked again.

"Boss, don't you know my physical fitness, there's absolutely no problem."

Simeone smiled. "Welcome back, Lee!"

After a brief pleasantries, Simeone motioned for the team to start training, and the day's training began.

In the month that Li Qingshan left, Atletico Madrid was fortunately not too far away.

Elimination of the Copa del Rey is not necessarily a bad thing for Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid, which did not have the task of Copa del Rey, after losing to Barcelona in the league, faced Granada, Vallecano, and Eibar to win three consecutive league games.

As a result, Atletico Madrid is only four points behind the top team Real Madrid and two points behind second-placed FC Barcelona.

The gap of four points is not a trench.

Especially after Li Qingshan's return, Atletico Madrid's lineup is more complete, and it is not impossible for the league to catch up with Real Madrid.

Without the task of the Copa del Rey, Atletico Madrid can concentrate on the league before the Champions League officially enters the knockout stage.

And Li Qingshan's first game after returning to the team was an important league game - Atletico Madrid faced Real Madrid at home, a key Madrid derby.

For Atletico Madrid, this is a game that must not be lost, if this game is lost, Atletico Madrid will immediately be pulled away by Real Madrid by seven points!

With a seven-point gap, it will be much more difficult to catch up when the time comes.

On the training ground, Li Qingshan also met a new member of the team.

It would not be too accurate to say that he is a new member, as he is the former captain of Atletico Madrid, the darling of Calderón and the Spanish golden boy - Fernando Torres.

Because Mexican striker Jimenez failed to meet Simeone's expectations, Simeone has always hoped that there can be a substitute striker on the bench who can reassure him, otherwise Li Qingshan and Mandzukic alone will look a little thin, especially in the second half of the season in the league and the Champions League.

After leaving Atletico Madrid, Torres went on to play for Liverpool and Chelsea.

In this winter window, Torres was bought out by AC Milan, but instead of playing for AC Milan, he was loaned to Atletico Madrid by AC Milan in exchange for Cerci, an Italian player who has not played at Atletico Madrid.

After going around and around, Torres, the former Madrid golden boy, returned to Atletico Madrid again.

Now Atletico Madrid is fully preparing for the next round of home games against Real Madrid.

The game is so important that the whole team at Atletico Madrid has to be fully committed. 210[.]