After two and a half seasons of the journey of the Western League, Wu Lei in the first season at home in a battle into the UEFA Europa League, the next season, but in the same city derby rivals suffered relegation at home. Today, again in the same venue to witness the relegation of the opponent, the sadness and happiness on the field of view. However, this is the charm of soccer - until the final whistle blows, anything is possible! Wu Lei expressed his love for soccer and his gratitude for the support of the fans. After a season of back-to-back games, he is physically and mentally exhausted and will have a long overdue rest in July.
An up and down season
On August 15, 2021, Wu Lei returned to La Liga with a 0-0 draw against Osasuna in the first round of La Liga and was substituted in the 62nd minute. In his 100th game since joining the Spaniards, he performed well in his debut in La Liga, ranking second in the team's post-match ratings. It is worth mentioning that this match was also Wu Lei's 50th La Liga match.
At the beginning of the season, Wu Lei was full of expectations and unknowns for the upcoming season. After experiencing the ups and downs of relegation and the rush to the first division, he has a clearer positioning of himself, "My goal is to fight for more playing time and help the team win games. If I can help the team with goals, that would be perfect."
In the second round of the league, Wu Lei came on as a substitute and scored a goal in the closing stages of the game, but it was ruled invalid. After receiving a 100-game kit from the club, Wu Lei shared the photo on social media platforms and wrote: "I don't realize that it's 100 games. Any more numbers will be left to time. Thanks to everyone who accompanied me through the storm."
In the next two rounds, Wu Lei did not get a chance to play. In the 5th round of the league, he came on as a substitute again, but his performance was mediocre. The Spanish media pointed out that his performance on the side road was not ideal, neither showing the proper speed nor creating any threat. Facing the challenge of La Liga, Wu Lei realized that he needs more efforts.
The shutout goal didn't lead to any more chances for him
In the 6th round of the league, Espanyol finally got their first win of the season, but Wu Lei was still only able to make a substitute appearance. More than 400 days have passed since his last La Liga goal. After that game, Wu Lei got the lowest score in the media rating of the whole team. In the face of fierce competition within the team and the rapid changes on the field, he only has to be prepared for the opportunity to come at any time.
In the Copa del Rey, Wu Lei scored his first goal of the season.On December 15, 2021, the Spaniard team in the second round of the Copa del Rey away 2-1 reversal of Cristo Athletic, Wu Lei made his debut in the match and scored the equalizer, which is also his first goal of the season, ending the long 342 days of scoring drought.
Due to a toe injury, Wu Lei missed two consecutive rounds of La Liga. Despite then manager Vicente Moreno's opinion that he was not yet at 100%, he still respected Wu Lei's desire to play and get back his scoring touch. However, the Copa del Rey goal didn't help Wu Lei's chances of getting more appearances after that, and he continued to play sparingly for quite some time.
In such a wait, the league goal came unexpectedly. April 10, 2022, in the 31st round of the league in a game, the Spaniards home 1-0 victory over Celta, Wu Lei in the 66th minute substitutes for the field, in the 89th minute to complete the individual season first goal, to help the team to complete a shutout. After the game, he was undisputedly elected MVP of the game, the Spanish media this season for the first time the collective team praised Wu Lei. Before that, Wu Lei has been in the league 13 times substitutes did not debut, "sad and happy since the ferry, thank you!" He wrote a short eight words after harvesting this goal, telling the pressure he has been under for the past period of time. Wu Lei also confessed that the days with fewer matches were tough, but he never gave up trying. At the moment the Spaniards are also getting closer and closer to relegation success, and then manager Moreno was naturally happy, saying of Wu Lei's performance after that contest: "In the face of the totality of what we asked him to do, Wu Lei is facing it very well, and he has been persistent. We're happy for that, it's what he deserves."
However, that goal was Wu Lei's only goal in the league this season.
The team changed the manager Wu Lei will face more challenges in the new season
Wu Lei still hasn't earned more and more consistent playing time, and he's still waiting for a handful of moments on the bench as he has been doing for most of the season, a fact that didn't improve even when he was handed his debut in the 35th round of the league.
In the morning of May 9, 2022, in the 35th round of the league, the Spaniards drew 1-1 at home with Osasuna, Wu Lei made his debut and was replaced after half-time, which was a 197-day interval after Wu Lei got his debut in La Liga once again. Before that game, Wu Lei had been sitting on the bench for 24 consecutive games in La Liga, and the last time he made his debut in the league dates back to October 2021, when the Spaniards drew 2-2 away from Elche in the 10th round of La Liga.
The ups and downs of the situation and the uncertainty of the playing time, all let the age of the growing Wu Lei later to face more and more challenges and problems. 2022 May 13, Spaniard salon released the head coach Vicente Moreno "dismissed", Wu Lei will usher in his own stay in the ocean career of the seventh head coach. Join the team 3 years and a half time, Wu Lei constantly and the head coach to grind, he in his own condition and playing time fluctuations at the same time, also experienced the team's frequent change of command. After the turbulence in the manager's position, the Spaniards completed the remaining two rounds of the league, and Wu Lei only came on as a substitute for 20 minutes in the final game.
The season is over, Wu Lei has experienced the most real and the harshest stadium, now the most important thing for him is to make good use of the holidays to rest and accompany his family, after that, there will be more serious challenges waiting for him. When the team regroups, the new manager of the Spanish team will also take office, Wu Lei will once again face the opportunity and challenge to win the trust.
