The morning in Madrid was exceptionally gloomy, with heavy clouds pressing down on the city, much like the gloom weighing on the hearts of every Rayo Vallecano player.
"Generals at odds! Rayo Vallecano's internal strife erupts!"
"Paco blasts management, locker room conflict goes public!"
"Crisis everywhere! Rayo Vallecano's promotion dream may be shattered!"
Overnight, the headlines of major sports media in Spain were dominated by these striking titles.
Paco's words at the press conference instantly ignited the media's enthusiasm. They smelled blood and began to wildly sensationalize Rayo Vallecano's internal conflicts.
Marca's headline was even more alarmist: "A Chinese player cannot save a divided team!"
Lu Chuan sat on the sofa in his apartment, his phone constantly popping up with various news notifications.
Every one described the team's crisis, every word felt like a needle pricking his heart.
"Don't look at it," Esther gently stroked his shoulder, "These reporters only exaggerate."
"But not everything they say is false," Lu Chuan said with a bitter smile, shaking his head, "The team really does have problems."
His phone suddenly rang, and Carlos's name appeared on the screen.
"Lu Chuan, things are not looking good," Carlos's voice was full of worry,
"All the major media are reporting on your internal conflicts, and some sponsors are already starting to worry."
"I know," Lu Chuan rubbed his temples, "We'll handle it."
"Remember, no matter what happens, don't make any statements to the media," Carlos cautioned, "Any words right now could be misinterpreted."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Chuan sighed deeply. As the team's star player, he knew he was at the center of the storm.
The atmosphere at Rayo Vallecano's training ground was more oppressive than usual.
Players gathered in small groups, talking in hushed tones. The air was filled with unease and suspicion.
The arrival of club president Raúl Martín Presa brought this tension to a peak.
The owner, who rarely appeared on the training ground, today walked solemnly towards the coach's office.
"What's coming will come," Trejo watched the president's retreating figure, his brows deeply furrowed.
Presa knocked on Paco's office door.
"Come in," Paco's voice sounded exhausted.
"We need to talk," Presa sat directly opposite Paco, "You went too far at yesterday's press conference."
Paco looked up, a stubborn glint in his eyes. "I was just telling the truth."
"Telling the truth?" Presa sneered, "Do you know how much negative impact your words have had on the club?"
"Then you explain to me why our bench is filled with players who are completely unusable?"
Paco suddenly stood up, "Where are the reinforcements you promised?"
Their voices grew louder and louder, and players outside the office could hear the argument.
At the same time, another heated discussion was taking place in the locker room.
"I think the coach is right," center-back Catena said, crossing his arms, "The club really hasn't done enough in terms of transfers."
"But that's no excuse for our poor defense," young defender Savić retorted,
"Our tactics are too aggressive and simply don't suit our current squad."
"Are you questioning the coach's ability?" Suárez frowned.
"I'm just analyzing the problem," Savić said, unyielding, "Can't we discuss this objectively?"
The argument in the locker room grew more intense, and players began to take sides.
Those who supported the coach believed it was the club's problem, while the other side felt that tactics indeed needed adjustment.
"Enough!"
A firm voice interrupted all arguments.
Lu Chuan stood at the locker room door, his gaze sweeping over every teammate. There was no anger on his face, only a kind of authority that commanded attention.
"Listen to what you're saying?" Lu Chuan walked to the center of the locker room, "We just lost a game, and now we're starting to blame each other?"
The locker room instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on him.
"Now is not the time to argue about who's right or wrong!" Lu Chuan's voice was firm and powerful, "Losing is the responsibility of every one of us who wears this jersey!"
Catena opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but seeing Lu Chuan's determined gaze, he ultimately chose to remain silent.
"If we give up ourselves, then we've truly lost!" Lu Chuan looked around at every teammate, "We are a team, not a scattered mess!"
Trejo was the first to stand up and walk to Lu Chuan's side. "Lu Chuan is right, we can't have infighting at a time like this."
Suárez also stood up, followed by Comesaña, and then Álvaro García… one by one, all the players stood up.
"Very good," Lu Chuan nodded with satisfaction, "Now, all we need to do is unite and prepare for the next game."
Savić walked up to Lu Chuan and extended his hand. "I'm sorry, I spoke too impulsively just now."
"We all want what's best for the team," Lu Chuan shook his hand, "But there are better ways to go about it."
Just as the atmosphere began to ease, Lu Chuan made an unexpected decision.
"Tonight, I'm treating everyone to dinner," he looked at all his teammates, "Just us players, no coaches, no management."
"But for pandemic prevention…" someone reminded him.
"I've already contacted a private restaurant that fully complies with epidemic prevention regulations," Lu Chuan had already considered this issue.
At seven in the evening, in a secluded private restaurant in Madrid, all the Rayo Vallecano players sat around a long table.
The restaurant owner was introduced by Lu Chuan's friend, and the entire venue was exclusively open to them, ensuring privacy and safety.
"How much does this meal cost?" Trejo whispered.
"Don't worry about the money," Lu Chuan waved his hand, "Tonight, we only talk about unity."
The crisp clinking of glasses echoed in the restaurant. Although there was no alcohol, fruit juice and soda were enough to create a warm atmosphere.
"Do you remember my first time at Rayo Vallecano?" Young forward Antoñín raised his glass, "Captain Trejo showed me around the locker room."
"You were just a young lad back then," Trejo recalled with a smile, "Now you can stand on your own."
"We are all growing," Lu Chuan interjected, "Including myself."
As the night deepened, the players' conversations fully opened up. They talked about their families, their dreams for football, and their hopes for the future.
The grievances on the field and the conflicts in the locker room slowly dissipated in this warm atmosphere.
"To be honest, I initially had some reservations about Lu Chuan," midfielder José Pozo admitted somewhat awkwardly, "After all, he's from Asia and so young."
"And now?" Lu Chuan asked with a smile.
"Now I just want to say, it's an honor to be your teammate," Pozo looked at Lu Chuan sincerely, "You've proven what true leadership means through your actions."
The other players nodded in agreement.
"Then let's make a pact," Lu Chuan stood up, raised his glass, "Starting tonight, we are true brothers. On and off the field, we will support each other."
"For Rayo Vallecano!" Everyone responded in unison.
The next morning, Lu Chuan went to Paco's office alone.
A knock on the door sounded, and Paco looked at Lu Chuan standing at the door with some surprise.
"Come in and sit," Paco gestured to the chair opposite him.
"Coach, we need to talk," Lu Chuan said directly.
"About yesterday's press conference?" Paco gave a bitter smile, "I know I spoke a bit too aggressively."
"No," Lu Chuan shook his head, "I want to tell you that all of us believe in you."
Paco was taken aback, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.
"But…" Lu Chuan changed the subject, "Perhaps, at certain times, we could play a bit more pragmatically?"
These words made Paco fall into contemplation. As a coach who advocated attacking football, he had always adhered to his philosophy.
But Lu Chuan's words made him reflect on whether he should make adjustments based on the team's actual situation.
"What do you mean?" Paco asked.
"Our defense does have problems, which is not an issue of player ability, but a systemic one."
Lu Chuan analyzed, "Perhaps we can adopt more stable tactics in certain matches."
Paco slowly nodded, realizing that Lu Chuan made a lot of sense. Stubbornly adhering to one tactical style without considering the actual situation was indeed unwise.
"You're right," Paco took a deep breath, "Perhaps I really should make some changes for this team."
Seeing Paco's change in attitude, Lu Chuan showed a relieved smile. The effect of this conversation was even better than he had expected.
After returning to his apartment, Lu Chuan eagerly called Esther.
"How did it go?" Esther asked with concern.
"Smoother than I imagined," Lu Chuan recounted in detail what had happened over the past two days.
Esther listened quietly on the other end of the phone, occasionally uttering exclamations of praise.
"You know what?" Esther's voice was full of admiration, "You handled a crisis that could have destroyed any team in the most mature way."
"I just did what I had to do," Lu Chuan responded modestly.
"No, not everyone can do that," Esther analyzed seriously, "You not only resolved internal conflicts but also re-united the team's fighting spirit. That's true leadership."
Hearing Esther's praise, a warmth surged through Lu Chuan's heart. To receive recognition from his loved one was more precious than any award.
"Next, we face Zaragoza," Lu Chuan's tone became serious, "This will be the real test."
Esther could feel the tension in his voice. "A strong opponent?"
"Second in the league, aiming for direct promotion," Lu Chuan explained, "And they have Shinji Kagawa and Luis Suárez, both in great form."
"Shinji Kagawa?" Esther was a little surprised, "The former Borussia Dortmund Japanese star?"
"That's him," Lu Chuan nodded, "This will be a truly tough battle, and the ultimate test of our unity."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Chuan walked to the window, gazing at the night view of Madrid.
After two days of effort, the team's internal crisis had largely been resolved. But the real challenge was just beginning.
Zaragoza was not only strong but also at a critical moment in their bid for direct promotion.
They would put forth their full strength against Rayo Vallecano.
And for Rayo Vallecano, this match was equally significant.
If they could defeat a strong opponent, it would not only put them in a favorable position in the standings but, more importantly, prove that the team had truly reunited.
But if they lost, the freshly healed wounds could very likely tear open again.
Lu Chuan clenched his fist, his eyes becoming resolute. No matter what kind of opponent he faced, he would lead the team to fight to the end.
This was not just for promotion, but to prove that Rayo Vallecano was a true team, not a scattered mess.
The storm had passed, but the real test had just begun.
It was late, and the streets of Madrid gradually quieted down.
But in a certain corner, a young Chinese player was still preparing for the upcoming challenge.
He knew that only through one victory after another could he prove his leadership.
And Zaragoza would be the best touchstone.