Sorry for the late update.
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From the state of his teammates on the way back to Amsterdam, Qin Xiong could see how important the Champions League was to the team!
The game against AZ Alkmaar was a top battle!
But after winning the game, the whole team did not seem to be very excited. It was completely different from the excitement of conquering the Philips Stadion a week ago!
It was not because winning the game was a matter of course. Everyone was young. It was normal to take this opportunity to be happy and do some activities. It was even a practice in the club's locker room.
Obviously, AC Milan would be parachuting into Amsterdam in a few days. There would be a Champions League battle, so the whole team did not have time to relax. It was just as Manager Comain said.
Perhaps many of his teammates had the same idea as Ibrahimovic.
Conquering the Netherlands?
That wouldn't add much color to their career honor book.
On the stage they were on now, the Champions League was the real one-hit wonder and the big scene of fame!
It attracted the attention of the world!
Perhaps it was because of the imminent big battle and the imminent sense of urgency that made the teammates sit on the bus and chat for a while before falling silent and conserving their energy.
Qin Xiong also planned to take a nap, but Manager Comain walked to his seat and patted him on the shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he saw Comain waving at him with a solemn expression.
Qin Xiong got up and walked to the front row with Comain.
The two sat in the front row on the left-hand side of the bus. No one came to disturb them.
Comain took out a tactical book with the tactical formation drawn on it.
He said to Qin Xiong solemnly, "Qin Xiong, in the game in four days, I will arrange for you to be a substitute."
Substitute?!
Qin Xiong was puzzled. He thought he was qualified to be a starter in a key battle. He should be!
Comain continued, "Don't think that a substitute is a secondary role. Listen carefully, AC Milan is stronger than us. As for why, I don't need to explain. They are the champions of the Champions League. It's that simple. They are stronger than us, much stronger! In the face of powerful opponents, we need to formulate a perfect strategy to defeat them! I need you to be more threatening than usual, so you can't be in the starting lineup. You can't be watched and guarded by the opponent from the start! Next, I'll tell you in detail about our strategy for the competition in four days … "
Qin Xiong patiently and seriously listened to Comain's plan for playing against AC Milan.
Most of the time, substitutes were considered secondary. This was very normal.
But this time, Qin Xiong understood that Comain was betting on him!
Letting him be the substitute was part of the plan.
There were two reasons.
First of all, surprise in terms of tactics!
Secondly, in terms of strategy, Qin Xiong's advantage was magnified!
That was to let his teammates wear down AC Milan first. When Qin Xiong, who was full of stamina, entered the field, his speed advantage could be further exploited!
Even if Ajax had the home advantage, facing the defending champions of the Champions League, AC Milan, it was still a situation of the weak against the strong.
With the weak against the strong, Comain could not go all out for 90 minutes in the planned game. That might not change the overall situation. AC Milan was strong!
Therefore, Comain only intended to let Ajax explode in the offensive in a short period of time and try to catch AC Milan off guard.
Since Qin Xiong was a surprise attack, then the power of the surprise attack must be maximized!
This included creating an advantageous situation for Qin Xiong after he entered the field.
Just like in the Dutch national derby, Qin Xiong's physical advantage in the second half was particularly obvious. He was unstoppable!
"Now the standings of our group are: Celta with 2 points, us with 3 points, AC Milan with 4 points, Club Brugge with 7 points."
"AC Milan has come to Amsterdam. To be safe, they can accept one point, because they will play against Club Brugge and Celta again in the fifth and sixth rounds. In that case, as long as they win the next two games, they will have at least 10 points. Qualifying will not be a problem."
"We will try our best to take advantage of this in the early stages of the game to wear down AC Milan as a whole at the lowest cost."
"That's right. It's our winger, Sikora. I will ask him to charge at the opponent's defense regardless of his stamina."
"I will give you at least 45 minutes. In these 45 minutes, you have to do your best. Your role will change, and most of your organization's tasks will be handed over to Galasek. We still need two defensive midfielders to play AC Milan, and you will play the role of the attacker!"
.....
If Qin Xiong was an insignificant and ordinary substitute, Comain would not have communicated with him for more than an hour on the way back.
Qin Xiong had an intuitive understanding of the importance the manager attached to the Champions League life-or-death game.
From the overall strategic situation to the analysis of the opponent's domestic situation, to the opponent's techniques and tactics, to the characteristics of the players, he told Qin Xiong everything in detail, trying to let Qin Xiong be fully prepared to maximize his role in the game.
When they returned to Amsterdam, Qin Xiong got out of the car and went back to Wardle Street alone.
He did not feel the joy of winning the league tournament, scoring an individual goal, and assisting an assist. Instead, he could not help but feel a little nervous. That was probably infected by Comain's serious state.
Amsterdam was imperceptibly filled with the aura of a coming storm.
When they returned to Wardle Street, Sylvia took the initiative to run out of the restaurant and congratulated Qin Xiong with a gentle smile. This made Qin Xiong feel less nervous, and he chatted with her for a while.
She watched the game live in the restaurant in the afternoon, and when she saw Qin Xiong again, she was very surprised. She seemed to feel that the Qin Xiong on the television was not the Qin Xiong in real life.
In real life, Qin Xiong's state was quite aloof from worldly affairs, but on the field, he was sometimes free and easy, sometimes wild and unrestrained, and sometimes determined and brave …
During dinner at the restaurant, many locals came to Qin Xiong's place to ask for his autograph, and tourists who liked football asked him to take a picture with them. This made Qin Xiong feel a little flattered and a little uncomfortable.
He did not want to be treated specially in life, as if every passerby would look at him differently. However, there was no other way. This was the path he wanted to take, to become a successful player on the green field, and naturally, he would become a star player.
After dinner, Freddy said to Qin Xiong with a smile, "Guess who called me just now?"
Qin Xiong raised his eyebrows and said helplessly, "How would I know?"
Freddy grinned and said, "Someone asked you to shoot an advertisement and be a brand ambassador!"
"Huh?"
Qin Xiong was stunned and felt incredulous.
So soon?
He had only been in Amsterdam for two months.
Freddy said with a smile, "In Amsterdam, you are already the number one star player worshipped by the Chinese football fans. Don't think it's impossible. In the Dutch national derby, the top of the Eredivisie, in seven days, in two key games, you scored two goals and three assists. Your limelight has overshadowed many local stars. Of course, you are famous."
Qin Xiong thought about it and felt that it was reasonable.
"What advertisement? What endorsement? "
He asked curiously.
Freddy suddenly shook his head and said, "They are all Chinese who do business in the Netherlands. Small business, they only have a little influence in the Netherlands. They want you to be their spokesperson and shoot an advertisement to promote their products. I guess, it's nothing more than letting you eat two bites of their snacks and then praising you. However, I have already rejected it. I feel that it will affect your job. If you are interested, I can contact the other party again."
Qin Xiong immediately shook his head seriously.
At this stage, he only wanted to play football wholeheartedly.
Freddy shrugged. He also thought that Qin Xiong's growth would be better if he did not participate in business activities so early.
In view of Qin Xiong's background, especially in the emerging market of China, as long as Qin Xiong became a star player, he would inevitably be involved in business activities. However, he was only 18 years old, so it was better for him to focus on football as much as possible.
Qin Xiong was used to sitting at the outdoor table and chairs after dinner these days, quietly admiring Sylvia's busy figure going in and out. If the restaurant closed early, he might even help.
After Sylvia walked into the restaurant, he suddenly looked at Freddy and asked, "How much can I earn from shooting an advertisement?"
Freddy raised his right hand and stretched out his five fingers.
Qin Xiong frowned and said, "Only 500 euros?"
Freddy laughed and shook his head.
"5,000 euros? That's more than two months of my salary. "
"Haha, 5,000 euros? You look down on yourself too much. 50,000 euros! "
Qin Xiong took a deep breath and immediately smiled. "Then am I now a player worth 50,000 euros?"
Freddy frowned and thought for a moment, but still shook his head and said, "Based on your recent performance on the field, I think you should be worth at least two million euros."
Qin Xiong did not know whether to laugh or cry. "My net worth and yours seem to be different. I said I can earn 50,000 euros. You said two million euros, who would give me that? "
Freddy was silent for a moment. It seemed that what Qin Xiong said made sense.
Zidane was the world's most valuable player, but the transfer fee was so high, and it was not for Zidane.
He waved his hand and said, "Then you have to work hard. You can earn two million euros sooner or later."
Qin Xiong rolled his eyes and smiled as he carried his shoulder bag back to the apartment.
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