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Qin Xiong was very unfamiliar with the idea of a team having a conflict in the locker room.
In the past, in the environment he grew up in, the "locker room" actually meant literally, the locker room.
It was not like the professional football world, where the "locker room" had a richer and special meaning.
Moreover, when he was young, the players were less assertive. Even if there were times when they were unhappy or dissatisfied, they would not casually vent because there were adults suppressing them.
Furthermore, Qin Xiong was an orphan from a young age. Although he lacked the care and love of his parents, he was also rarely indulged in a situation where he was spoiled.
As a result, he almost never criticized others, especially when playing football. Even if his teammates were not good enough and did not perform well, he would choose to tolerate them and not criticize them. From a young age, he lived in a group. Perhaps others were alienating him, but in football, he always regarded himself as a part of the group and the team he was in as a whole.
When the situation was not good, what kind of ability was it to criticize teammates?
How would it help improve the situation?
He never did that. Fortunately, his teammates never criticized him because he was always one of the best players.
But today, he saw a discordant scene in the locker room, which let him see the more complicated side of professional football.
In such a situation, avoiding it was a way to deceive oneself and others, because it could happen frequently throughout his career. After all, the "locker room" was too complicated! The intense and cruel football competition was also ever-changing, which, of course, affected the players' emotions.
Comain "suppressed" the verbal dispute between the two generals in the team. It could be said that Van Der Vaart was the core of the midfield, and Ibrahimovic was the core of the forward line. If the two did not get along, it was bound to be a heavy blow to Ajax's strength!
The verbal dispute had subsided, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that Van Der Vaart and Ibrahimovic were only suppressing their anger toward each other. It did not mean that the conflict had disappeared.
Qin Xiong only stayed in the locker room for three minutes before leaving. Comain ordered him and Snede to the sidelines to warm up.
He warmed up excitedly, but Snede said to him in the players' tunnel, "It's this trick again. The coach has no other way!"
Qin Xiong didn't understand what Snede meant, so he asked, "What do you mean?"
Snede told him that the manager had asked the two of them to warm up at this time. It was hard to say whether he was going to put them on the field or not, but it was definitely a subtle way to put pressure on the starting players!
If you guys continue to cause a ruckus and don't focus on the match, fine, I'll replace you guys!
Did you see that? Some of the substitutes have already gone to warm up.
Qin Xiong felt a little upset.
He was a simple-minded person. He just wanted to play football seriously here.
However, professional football was far more complicated than he had imagined.
Even the manager did not have the absolute authority of a dictator.
After all, not every coach was like Louis Van Gaal, who had the title of "Tyrant" and the authority to rule.
Qin Xiong threw the distracting thoughts to the back of his mind and seriously warmed up on the sidelines.
Although many Ajax fans recognized him in the last Dutch Cup game, it was an away game after all, and there were fewer fans at the stadium. In addition, the influence of the Dutch Cup was low, and now it was halftime. Not many fans in the stands cared about who was warming up on the sidelines. Moreover, because Ajax did not score in the first half, the fans were also depressed.
When the second half of the game started, Qin Xiong and Snede were still warming up. De Jong and Sonke also joined the ranks of the warm-ups.
This was clearly the pressure of the starting players. However, Ajax's starting players did not put all their attention on the game.
Everyone was actually more concerned about the Champions League game in four days!
Because of this, the offense in the first half was impatient. Everyone wanted to lock in the victory early and then slow down the pace to conserve their energy and recharge their energy for the crucial battle in four days!
However, things did not go according to their wishes. The draw in the first half made them even more impatient in the second half. On the other hand, William II was calmer because of the success of his defense in the first half. He methodically blocked Ajax's offense.
In the 58th minute of the game, after Pienaar's ridiculous long shot flew into the stands in front of the penalty area, Comain finally could not take it anymore. He asked his assistant to call back the players who were warming up. Then, he called Qin Xiong and Snede to his side.
The assistant manager had already gone to submit the substitution list.
Comain gave Qin Xiong and Snede their tasks after the game.
As for Sneijder, the task was relatively simple because Sneijder knew how to swap players.
At this time, Snede could play in any position in the front field other than the center forward. He was not fixed. He could play as either the left or right wingers or attacking midfielder.
He would replace Sottars to increase the front field's ability to control the field.
Sottars was fast, but his footwork was slightly inferior. Snede was not as fast as Sottars, but Snede's ball control and ability to escape in a small area were obviously better.
When it was time to assign tasks to Qin Xiong, Comain simply said, "When you are on the field, you will be responsible for organizing the offense in the midfield. Tell Van Der Vaart to play as an attacking midfielder. He can even go forward and play as a shadow striker!"
Reality was developing as Louis Van Gaal had told Comain before.
Without Qin Xiong, Van Der Vaart had to play in the midfield.
However, when Comain saw Qin Xiong's ability and performance on the field, he agreed with Louis Van Gaal's suggestion.
They could completely restore the successful technical and tactical system from last season. There was no need to deliberately change Van Der Vaart's position.
It was just that they had not familiarized themselves with the tactics. Now, they had no choice but to push Van Der Vaart to the position behind the striker and remove the organizing task.
They had to win!
Otherwise, not only would they lose points in the league, it would also have a huge impact on the team's morale in the Champions League four days later!
Qin Xiong nodded and accepted the order. He stuffed his jersey into his shorts and tied his belt. Then, he walked to the edge of the center line with Snede.
Van Der Vaart forced a shot out of the goal. William II hit the ball in the goal. The referee blew the whistle to stop the game and signaled for a substitution on the sidelines.
The fourth official held up the substitution card. Pinar and Sottars were substituted!
Most of the Ajax fans in the stands watched the substitution calmly. At most, they were curious about who the number 28 player was. There was also a considerable number of fans who did not know that the number 28 player was Qin Xiong.
Sottars was a new player, so he ran off the field quickly and gave Snede a high-five before quickly leaving the field.
Pinar seemed a little unhappy. He had seen Qin Xiong play in the Dutch Cup.
A strong sense of danger rose in his heart.
He had thought that Qin Xiong, who was just a supporting character, would launch a fierce attack on his starting position!
At least, he did not think that Comain would dare to replace captain Van Der Vaart with Qin Xiong.
And now, Qin Xiong was still a substitute. But what would happen after he was given a chance to perform?
With such worries, Pinar left the field with a grave expression and a heavy heart. When he and Qin Xiong exchanged substitutions, they only gave each other a light pat on the arm.
In the stands, Freddy, who was sitting with the three old men, Dekoizer, Rupert, Manson, and Peter, stood up and shouted, "Qin Xiong, do your best!"
The three old men were not as naive as Freddy. They cared more about Ajax's glory than Qin Xiong's individual performance. Ajax's inability to break the game made them anxious.
Qin Xiong walked onto the field and ran in front of Van Der Vaart. He said clearly, "You go up front and play as an attacking midfielder or a shadow striker. Leave the midfield to me!"
Van Der Vaart nodded slightly. He was more inclined to play as a striker. After all, that would allow him to shine. He was a striker last season.
He did not care if Qin Xiong's words were the manager's orders. In any case, such a change suited his inner desires.
Not far ahead, Ibrahimovic's expression was even more gloomy.
Sottles was a new player and his performance was average. He would take the initiative to play for him, a center forward. What about Snede? The Dutchman was obviously on the same side as the Dutchman!
In addition, Qin Xiong, who was brought on, had some friction with him. Ibrahimovic subconsciously thought that Qin Xiong would be more willing to serve Van Der Vaart than go against him!
After Qin Xiong finished explaining the manager's arrangements, he took the initiative to trot back to the back and said to the veteran Galasek, "If the opposing team's captain assists in attacking from the right, you will defend. Leave the defense in front of the penalty area to me."
Galasek was stunned. He did not know if this was the manager's arrangement, and he did not have time to ask. William II's goal was about to be kicked out, so he nodded and chose to trust this unfamiliar young teammate.
When necessary, Qin Xiong would definitely communicate with his teammates. If a team did not communicate, how could they work together? He believed that the most important thing in the midfield defense was his cooperation with the defensive midfielder. Therefore, he had to make it clear to Galasek. After all, he also knew that the other party did not understand him, and the two of them did not have a tacit understanding.
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