Wolffat had mentioned Bolt and sprinting, which made Chen Yu think of someone else on the way back.
Liu Xiang!
When he went to China before, he had told Liu Xiang to come and see him about his heel problem whenever he had time.
His was a congenital issue as well.
But he seemed to be preparing for some track and field meet this summer and probably didn’t have the time. He hadn’t been in touch for a while.
But he could ask Yao Ming about it later.
With the number one draft pick secured, Yao Ming was pretty much already a member of the Phoenix Suns.
But the thought was fleeting. Chen Yu was actually more worried about the game.
This game was crucial.
If they lost, they’d be down 1-3. The next game, the Celestial King Mountain, would be at the Lakers’ home court. Things would be really dicey then.
And while they said it wouldn’t be a regret to be eliminated this year, that was just something people said. How could there be no regrets?
After working hard all season and finally making it to the Western Conference Finals, just one step away from the NBA Finals, who would want to fall here?
Even if the others didn’t care, what about Ewing and Olajuwon?
Look at their ages. No matter how closely Chen Yu monitored them, he couldn’t stop the ravages of time. They would be a year older next year, and you could imagine what kind of shape they’d be in.
And then there were the other veterans on the team like Mario Elie. They were all at an age where they could retire on the spot. Where would they find the energy to play another season next year?
Soon, the car arrived at the hotel.
After passing through multiple security checks, Chen Yu got out of the car. Just as he stepped into the hotel lobby, a figure rushed toward him from the left with a SWOOSH.
It gave Chen Yu a fright.
He took a closer look and realized it was someone he knew.
Roger Lemerre, the head coach of the France Team.
"Mr. Lemerre, what are you doing here?" Chen Yu asked in return.
The France Team was in Group A, and their matches were all in South Korea. Moreover, their opening match was on the 31st, just three days away. At a time like this, what was a head coach doing in Japan instead of staying put in South Korea?
"Chen, don’t even ask." Lemerre, looking utterly miserable, grabbed Chen Yu’s hand and pulled him over to a lounge area in the lobby.
Chen Yu was stunned.
In the lounge area, several people who appeared to be staff from the France Team were with a man.
The man was tall with short hair and a rather severe receding hairline. He was in a wheelchair, giving Chen Yu an awkward smile.
Isn’t that Zidane!
However little Chen Yu knew about soccer, he definitely knew who Zidane was.
The key thing was, the opening match was just around the corner. Why was he in a wheelchair?
Beside him, Lemerre let out a long, mournful sigh, his face looking as if he’d swallowed something bitter, unable to voice his misery.
"He strained a muscle in his left leg during yesterday’s friendly match against the South Korea Team. He had an MRI in the middle of the night, which confirmed a mild strain. The doctors in South Korea and our own team doctor all said he’d need two weeks to recover at the very minimum. And two weeks..."
Lemerre didn’t finish his sentence. In two weeks, the group stage would almost be over.
And Zidane’s importance to the France Team couldn’t be overstated.
"So you came looking for me?" Chen Yu was a little dumbfounded.
’It’s the World Cup, about to start, so why are they all coming to me, another team’s doctor, for treatment?’
Lemerre, just like Wolle, had embarrassment written all over his face. "I knew you were in Japan. The moment he was diagnosed, I thought of you, arranged a plane, and rushed right over. Chen, you’re the only one who can save us."
They were the France Team, the defending champions. The pressure on Lemerre to get results was immense.
Chen Yu having healed Pires had already been a pleasant surprise for him. Now, he was hoping that the miracle performed on Pires could be replicated on Zidane.
Chen Yu gave a wry smile. ’This guy even used the word ’save’. Does he have to be so dramatic?’
After a moment’s thought, Chen Yu asked, "Did you bring his medical records?"
’They’re not in the same group, anyway. I helped Germany, so I can’t just favor them and refuse to treat France, can I?’
"We brought them," Lemerre said excitedly, quickly signaling for the records.
Their team doctor, Jean Fei Lei, had also come along. Knowing of Chen Yu’s great reputation, he didn’t dare say much and quickly handed over the medical records.
Chen Yu took the records and, while reading them, told them to ask the hotel for a quiet room.
Once inside the room, he finished reading the records.
A strain of the left rectus femoris.
It was a very common type of thigh muscle strain.
The rectus femoris in the front and the hamstring in the back of the thigh both cross the hip and knee joints. They work together to control the flexion and extension of the thigh.
During movements like running, strains often occur due to fatigue or inadequate warm-ups.
Fortunately, it was only a mild strain, which wasn’t a huge problem in itself.
But getting injured at a time like this? That was a huge problem.
"Pants off." After entering the room, Chen Yu wasted no time and told Zidane to take off his pants.
’The physical examination process still has to be followed.’
Zidane wasn’t embarrassed. He was more than aware of Chen Yu’s reputation and briskly took off his pants to let Chen Yu examine him.
As Chen Yu conducted the examination, he asked about the process of the injury.
Fei Lei explained the situation, his face crestfallen with helplessness. "There was no collision. He just felt something was wrong with his thigh and asked to be taken off."
Chen Yu remained silent. This kind of non-contact injury was actually more troublesome.
It was most likely caused by fatigue.
He had moved to Real Madrid this year. Among Europe’s major leagues, La Liga and the Premier League were the last to finish. Real Madrid also had to play in the Champions League, which only ended on the 15th.
This meant that after playing an entire season, plus National Team matches and various cup competitions, Zidane only had a 10-day break after everything ended before rushing off to play in the World Cup. His physical condition was bound to be poor.
It was just like Ronaldo. Even after Chen Yu had treated him and he had made such a healthy comeback, he still developed a groin problem after playing a full season.
’I wonder how he’s doing now, if he’s had enough rest to recover.’
Chen Yu stopped, nodded at Zidane, and then motioned for Lemerre to speak outside.
Once they were outside, before Chen Yu could even speak, Lemerre preempted him. "Chen, I know this is a thorny problem, a difficult one. But so many miracles have happened in your hands. You yourself are known as the Miracle Doctor in the United States. And right now, I need a miracle."
"So I’m begging you, no matter the cost, you must heal him and get him ready for the opening match."
He gripped Chen Yu’s hand. The man, in his sixties, had an earnest expression, his eyes red and welling up as if he were discussing a matter of life and death.
And in fact, it was. If the France Team, missing Zidane, failed to defend their title, he felt he wouldn’t be far from getting sacked.
Chen Yu frowned and said nothing.
Chen Yu wanted to say that he didn’t actually know Magic.
Previously, he had turned down Neville with his broken bone, Albertini with his torn Achilles tendon, and Pessotto with his torn cruciate ligament.
The timeline was just too tight, after all.
Zidane’s case was even more rushed. Today was the 27th. The opening match was on the 31st. That was only three days away.
For a muscle strain, the acute phase alone required 48 hours.
But looking at Lemerre’s expression, Chen Yu really couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
"Actually..."
Chen Yu hesitated for a long moment before speaking. "The opening match is too soon for a comeback. How about the second match, against Uruguay on the 6th?"
Three days for a muscle strain was just too rushed, no matter how you looked at it.
If he sat out one game and returned against Uruguay on the 6th, that would give him a full nine days to recover.
’Senegal is in the World Cup for the first time. The mighty defending champions shouldn’t lose to them, right?’
Three days was really pushing the limit. Even if he spammed Diamond Level healing effects every day, it wasn’t guaranteed that he’d be ready in time.
Because after the damaged muscle healed, there was still a process of adaptation and regaining strength.
This wasn’t just about being able to walk. He had to get on the pitch and play ninety minutes of high-intensity soccer.
"Miss one match?" Lemerre frowned and asked again, "Can he not miss any at all?"
Chen Yu rolled his eyes at him. ’Why don’t you just walk out and find someone else?’
’Besides, you’re the defending champions. Do you have that little confidence playing against Senegal?’
’Look at Wolle. His core midfielder was in the same situation, and he didn’t object when I said to sit him out for one game.’
"Also, the fee won’t be cheap," Chen Yu added.
’Before coming here, I prepared a lot of recovery effects, but they were all for the United States Team.’
’Great. The tournament hasn’t even started, and you outsiders are using them all up. I’ll have to find a way to grind for more during training later.’
’So for someone like Zidane, I’d feel bad if I didn’t charge you five hundred thousand US dollars.’
"The fee is not a problem," Lemerre said, shaking his head dismissively.
At a time like this, it was just like with Beckham before. No matter how high a price Chen Yu named, as long as it could get Xiaobei to the World Cup, the English Football Association would have to obediently agree.
"Then let’s do it your way," Lemerre said with a long sigh.
He knew that having Zidane return in three days was asking the impossible. Being able to catch the second group stage match was actually something he was very satisfied with.
Compared to Senegal, Uruguay and Denmark were clearly stronger and more difficult opponents.
’Zidane would be absent, but at least Chen Yu helped me save Pires in the midfield,’ he thought. ’Thinking about it that way, we shouldn’t lose to Senegal, right?’
The thought flashed through Lemerre’s mind and quickly vanished.
Chen Yu nodded and told them to arrange for Zidane to stay in Miyazaki and then go to South Korea on the 6th.
"You don’t need to worry about the training aspect. You should be clear about what I mean by ’recovery.’ It’s to a level where he can play directly without needing rehabilitation training. By the way, did his family come with him? Should they come over?" Chen Yu suddenly remembered that the France Team’s WAGs were quite famous.
Lemerre shook his head. "His wife just gave birth on the 18th of this month. She’s still in France."
Chen Yu broke into a sweat. Zidane’s schedule was insane. The Champions League ended, and he immediately went to be with his wife. As soon as she gave birth, he rushed to the World Cup. No wonder his body was in poor condition and he’d strained a muscle.
"Let’s leave it at that, then." Chen Yu didn’t say any more. He went to coordinate with the hotel to arrange a room for Zidane. Given his condition, treatment needed to start as soon as possible.
’This means I probably won’t have time to go out this afternoon.’
’No way.’
Chen Yu thought it over. He had to find a way to squeeze out some time. He had brought Lexi all this way; how could he just leave her hanging at the hotel?
Not even to make money.
While he was busy getting Zidane settled, the people from the United States Team had already heard the news and come over.
Young players like Donovan were also there, craning their necks to peek into the room.
That was Zidane, the FIFA World Player of the Year.
"Stop looking. He’ll be staying here for the next few days, so you’ll have plenty of time to interact with him." Chen Yu waved his hand, telling Donovan and the others to leave for now.
Alina was there too, saying with a look of exasperation, "Chen, first Ballack, now Zidane... are there going to be other players coming to find you next?"
He felt like Chen Yu had opened a clinic right here at the World Cup.
Chen Yu gave a wry smile, thinking, ’I don’t want this either. Who would have thought things would turn out this way?’
After speaking, Chen Yu suddenly remembered the Western Conference Finals game and hurried back to his room.
"How’d it go? Did we win?"
Lexi was curled up on the sofa flipping through a magazine. Seeing Chen Yu rush in, she smiled and made an OK sign. "Don’t worry, we won."

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