After losing the Champions League play-off, a thick haze hung over Villarreal's sports city. The air was filled with a sense of loss and frustration, as if even the wind carried heavy sighs.
The players walked with their heads down, silently on the training ground. The confidence and determination they once had were gone from their eyes, replaced by endless regret and self-blame. Their steps were heavy and sluggish, as if each step carried the weight of failure.
The coaching staff also fell silent. They stood on the sidelines, staring blankly at the pitch, as if trying to find the root of the failure. Their faces no longer held their usual passion and fighting spirit, only deep disappointment and helplessness.
The fans were also in low spirits. They gathered in various corners of the sports city, discussing the heartbreaking loss. Their voices were filled with anger and unwillingness, but more so with worry and concern for the team's future.
The entire sports city seemed to fall into a dead silence. Even the usually bustling media area became deserted and quiet, with reporters silently packing up their equipment, preparing to leave this depressing place.
The first team's frustration also unknowingly permeated the Villarreal B Team, and the B Team's training ground was also filled with a suppressive atmosphere.
Before training began, several Villarreal B Team players casually kicked the ball around while chatting with their teammates about the first team's Champions League play-off loss yesterday.
It must be said that Villarreal's opponent in this Champions League play-off was the strongest opponent in the entire play-off. In recent years, with increased investment from the club's owner and a series of excellent transfers, Monaco's strength has entered the ranks of Europe's quasi-giants. They are poised and ready to make a big splash in the Champions League.
Lin Feng, wearing his training gear, walked from the locker room to the training ground. He was not affected by the suppressive atmosphere. Since the end of the Champions League play-off yesterday, Lin Feng's mind had been imagining what he would do in those critical moments of the match if he had played.
After completing the "Prove Yourself" system achievement, Lin Feng felt his body and understanding of defense had taken another step forward. Opening the interface, his attributes had also received a comprehensive increase.
His Strength increased from 70 to 72, and Speed increased from 63 to 65. Coupled with the speed training under Pau Torres's guidance a few days ago, he believed he would soon break through 65.
His current attributes are:
Strength: 72
Speed: 65
Tackling: 67
Interception: 70
Composure: 60
Motivation: 62
Looking at his continuously increasing stats, Lin Feng was very happy. Based on his understanding of his own strength, it wouldn't be long before he could catch up with the first team players.
Currently, his performance in the Villarreal B Team is excellent, and he has earned the trust of Villarreal B Team Head Coach Rivaldo.
He is waiting for an opportunity, and if all goes well, he will be able to seize this opportunity to successfully enter the first team.
This season has just begun, and most of the first team players, having just returned from vacation, are full of energy. However, after a period of matches, injuries are inevitable. If he can seize this opportunity, then Lin Feng will be able to go to the coveted first team.
Just as Lin Feng was contemplating his future plans, a new achievement arrived: a new achievement, "Man of the Match" – earn one Segunda División Man of the Match award, reward 5 growth points.
Lin Feng is now full of desire for growth points. With growth points, he can become stronger, and he can get closer to his dream. For the arrival of this day, he can dedicate everything he has.
So, next, let's work hard for Man of the Match!
Lin Feng patted his own shoulder, cheering himself on.
The Villarreal B Team, newly promoted to the Segunda División, is struggling a bit in this higher-level League. The club uses most of its funds for the first team and youth academy system, with only a small amount of money flowing to the Villarreal B Team for team strengthening.
Therefore, Rivaldo has also learned the skill of finding treasures in the trash. Most of the first team players come from free signings or additions from the youth team. However, last year, the team was promoted to the Segunda División, and the club's senior management was very happy. They signed a new contract with Rivaldo, but did not invest a single extra cent into the Villarreal B Team.
Therefore, being able to lead this patched-up Villarreal B Team all the way to the Segunda División proves that Rivaldo also has his own abilities, and it's not as if there haven't been La Liga teams inviting him, even with higher salaries.
But Rivaldo has always taken pleasure in developing players. He seems to have no great expectations for the team's results. This season, his goal is to keep the Villarreal B Team in the Segunda División, provide these players with a platform to showcase themselves, and then give them a better place to go.
Rivaldo's type of Head Coach is actually very easy to understand, much like how many Football Manager players enjoy developing wonderkids.
After the first round of the Segunda División, the Villarreal B Team is about to face its second opponent, Getafe, a stronger team than Lugo. Their star striker, Jorge Molina, scored 19 goals in the 14-15 Segunda División season and is currently Getafe's star striker. He also won the top scorer award in the Segunda División in the 2009-2010 season.
On the training ground, Head Coach Rivaldo's gaze was fixed on the training ground. He watched the players coming and going during training, his brows furrowed, worried about the team's somewhat tricky defense for the next round.
Rivaldo, who has been in professional football for many years, clearly understands that for a team like Getafe, defense is everything. He can even imagine the opposing team pressing aggressively from the start of the match on the weekend.
Getafe has invested a lot of money this season to improve the team's strength, and their ultimate goal is promotion to La Liga this season. It should be noted that although Getafe was unfortunately relegated from La Liga last season, their core player framework largely remained intact, and they also made targeted additions. For Rivaldo, trying to take points after the match has become his biggest challenge.
He looked at the defensive players in training, and finally his gaze fell on Lin Feng. He wondered if this Asian youngster could bring him more surprises.
"Lin Feng, come here!" Rivaldo called out to Lin Feng, who was training, and brought him to the sidelines.
"You will still start in this weekend's match against Getafe. However, I have a special task for you. In this match, you only have one task, and that is to mark their star striker Molina tightly. Do not let him threaten our goal, until he is substituted or the match ends!"
Rivaldo patted Lin Feng's shoulder, motioning for him to continue training, then shouted towards the departing Lin Feng: "Remember to come to my office after training ends. I'll show you some information about the opponent."