Ibisevic's serious injury and Eduardo's suspension are not Hoffenheim's only troubles.
What Hoffenheim encountered next was like adding insult to injury.
A few days after everyone visited Ibisevic and returned to Hoffenheim's own training base for training, on January 21, Obasi again strained a muscle during training.
According to the diagnosis, Obasi will have to rest for at least 10 days and will definitely miss the opening ceremony of the Rhein-Neckar Arena, the third round of the German Cup, the first Bundesliga game of the second half of the season, etc.
With the team fighting on three fronts, Obasi is not a substitute but a main player and one of the most important members of Hoffenheim's forward line.
Except that he is not as good as Lu Wenbin who uses cheats, Obasi's role is comparable to that of Ibrahimovic and Demba Ba.
After losing Ibisevic and Obasi, Hoffenheim's main lineup couldn't even play 433.
Therefore, during training, Ralph has changed the team's basic tactics and started to focus on 442. He also tried not to let Lu Wenbin and Demba Ba play at the same time to avoid injuries and no one to rotate.
Voices that were pessimistic about Hoffenheim began to appear in the media, and doubts were raised about Hoffenheim's prospects in the second half of the season.
Fortunately, Lu Wenbin, the most important super shooter, was not injured, and Hoffenheim supporters have not lost confidence.
On January 24, 2009, Hoffenheim's new home stadium, the Rhein-Neckar Arena, held an opening ceremony.
Although the weather was still cold, all of the more than 30,000 seats were packed, and the fans expressed their support for the team with practical actions.
Everyone held banners supporting the team and hoping for a speedy recovery for Ibisevic and Obasi, and prayed for the team and the players.
After club chairman Dietmar Hopp announced the official opening of the new stadium, Hoffenheim held an opening friendly match against the local Rhine-Neckar Regional United, which Hoffenheim won 6-2.
However, although Lu Wenbin performed a hat trick, the level of the two teams was too far apart and it was a friendly match, so the experience gained was negligible.
The first official match at the new stadium will be in the 18th round of the Bundesliga on January 31, which is the first Bundesliga game of the second half of the season after the winter break, when Hoffenheim plays against Cottbus at home.
Before that, Hoffenheim's first official game after the winter break was the third round of the German Cup, which is the 1/8 finals, where Hoffenheim played away against the German Second Division team Mainz.
Fortunately, this game is not in the Bundesliga and is not within the scope of the Football Association's ban, so the main attacking midfielder Eduardo can play in the game.
…
The new season is about to begin. After the opening ceremony and opening game of the new stadium, Ralph announced that the team would take a day off and return to the team for training on January 26.
At this time, Lu Wenbin felt a little homesick.
Because January 26th is the first day of the Chinese New Year, he has to work and train.
According to China's holiday schedule, the Spring Festival is a long holiday, just like the Christmas and New Year holidays in the West.
The night before, the whole family gathers together to eat New Year’s Eve dinner, watch the Spring Festival Gala, and set off firecrackers. The next day, they eat dumplings and glutinous rice balls, and start paying New Year’s greetings, etc.
However, Lu Wenbin is now playing in Europe and cannot celebrate the Spring Festival. Even if the team gives him a day off, he doesn't know where to spend it or with whom.
Although she has her girlfriend by her side, as a German, Lu Wenbin believes that Kate probably cannot understand the significance of New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival to a Chinese person.
The house that Lu Wenbin rented is near the Rhine-Neckar Arena, very close to the game and home.
Just after playing the opening game of the new stadium, taking a shower, being interviewed by reporters, and signing autographs for some fans, Lu Wenbin returned home in a bad mood. He saw Kate, who had returned home early after watching the game, packing up her things.
Lu Wenbin asked, “Kate, where are you going?”
Kate turned around and hugged Lu Wenbin. Instead of answering his question, she asked, "Why, are you unhappy about winning the game today?"
Lu Wenbin shook his head and sighed: "No!"
Kate smiled and said, "Let me guess, are you homesick?"
Lu Wenbin was surprised and asked, "How do you know?"
Kate said, "I knew it! Call the coach and ask for one more day off! Come to my house tomorrow to celebrate the New Year, and we'll be back the day after tomorrow. You can go to Mainz with the team the next day."
Lu Wenbin was surprised, thinking he had heard wrongly, and asked suspiciously: "You mean the Chinese New Year? What Chinese New Year?"
Kate chuckled and said, "Of course it's the Chinese New Year. Otherwise, what's the point of celebrating the New Year? Isn't it New Year's Eve tomorrow and Spring Festival the day after tomorrow? Don't you celebrate the New Year at home?"
Lu Wenbin opened his mouth and said stupidly, "My family is celebrating the Chinese New Year, but aren't you Germans? Why do you also want to celebrate the Chinese New Year? To comfort me? Don't your parents object?"
Kate kissed Lu Wenbin on the forehead, then smiled and said, "Of course my parents won't object. We will celebrate Chinese New Year even without you. We celebrate it every year, and it's more grand than Christmas! I won't tell you the details now. I'll give you a surprise when you get to my house."
Lu Wenbin was confused and felt it was even more mysterious and incredible.
Lu Wenbin knew that Kate was not a mixed-race child. Her parents were both pure Germans from a German family.
What's going on with a German family celebrating Chinese New Year every year, even more grandly than they do their own Christmas
Touching his head, Lu Wenbin expressed that he could not understand.
However, this incident also successfully aroused Lu Wenbin's curiosity, made him feel much more cheerful, and temporarily suppressed his homesickness.
Then, Lu Wenbin called Ralph to ask for leave, and explained to him that tomorrow was Chinese New Year's Eve and the day after tomorrow was New Year's Day, which is equivalent to Christmas Eve and Christmas in the West.
He will go to his girlfriend's house to celebrate the New Year with her, and will come back the day after tomorrow night, so he will not miss the away game against Mainz.
Lu Wenbin's status in the team is naturally different now. Ralph not only agreed to Lu Wenbin's request for leave, but also told the club chairman, general manager and team members about it after hanging up Lu Wenbin's phone.
Everyone agreed that they would call Lu Wenbin to wish him a happy new year the day after tomorrow during the Chinese New Year, and asked the website to prepare an open letter to wish Lu Wenbin a happy new year, but Lu Wenbin doesn't know about it now.
The first time I go to my girlfriend's house, even if it's not Chinese New Year, I have to make it grand.
Therefore, Lu Wenbin also found several specialty stores and bought some high-end watches, belts, cosmetics, women's bags, etc. as gifts for Kate's parents.
As for Kate's 16-year-old brother Milo, Kate said that she would just give him a big red envelope when the time comes. Milo would be very happy to receive the red envelope on the Spring Festival.