After Li Ang said goodbye to the female reporter, Hua Hua, he did not return to his residence. Instead, he went to the Maleo training base. The team was resting in the morning and did not have any training scheduled. However, the manager did not rest. In the afternoon, Sporting de Gijón would start training again. Three days later, on March 20 * * * *, at La Romareda Stadium, Zaragoza, the capital of the autonomous region of Aragon in the northeastern region of Spain. They were going to challenge their opponent in the Copa del Rey semifinals, Zaragoza.
Currently, in the 20032004 Spanish football season, Zaragoza was ranked 12th in the league. With nine rounds left in the league, they were basically in a situation where they did not have to worry about relegation and had no hope of entering the European competition. Therefore, this team could really put all their energy into the Copa del Rey.
Sporting de Gijón's away trip at La Romareda Stadium would be extremely difficult. This was a game that Li Ang absolutely needed to go all out to face.
Li Ang spent most of the morning watching and analyzing the video of Zaragoza's game. This team had been in good form recently. They had already been undefeated for five rounds. In the 25th round of the league, they had defeated Villarreal with a score of 4: 1 at home. Then, in the away game, they had defeated Valladolid with a score of 2: 1, defeated Malaga with a score of 1: 0, and forced a draw with RCD Espanyol with a score of 1: 1. Especially in the last round of the league, Zaragoza had forced a draw with the powerful Real Madrid at the Bernabéu Stadium with a score of 1: 1! From this recent record, it could be seen that this team was very good.
Li Ang watched the video of the game while making notes in his notebook. He frowned. The difficulty of this opponent was beyond his expectations.
This team could not only defend and counterattack in the away game and force a draw with Real Madrid, but they could also play passionate offensive football at home and slaughter the powerful Villarreal with a score of 4: 1. From this, it could be seen that this team was quite mature. Such a team was very pragmatic. The chances of winning by "opportunistic" means against such an opponent were slim.
Li Ang kept writing and drawing on the tactical board. He thought of some tactical routines, then rejected some, then continued to think.
After a whole morning of thinking, he felt his head hurt.
Looking at the time, Li Ang left his office. He went to settle his lunch and returned to the office for a nap.
*****
After the lunch break, Li Ang rushed over to Team B's training ground. The reserve team's training started earlier and was already underway.
On the sidelines of the reserve team's training ground, Li Ang greeted Fernandez. He did not disturb the players' training. He stood on the sidelines and observed the players' training. Seeing Li Ang appear on the sidelines of the training ground, the boys in the reserve team were in high spirits. Every one of them wanted to show their best side to Li Ang. They were eager to be like their former teammates Marcos, Juan Carlos, and Javier Blanco, who were valued by the coach and promoted to the First Team. Now, the three former teammates were these children's goals and role models.
Li Ang's observation targets were the three "overage players", Juan, David Gordon, and David Reuben, who had just been sent to the reserve team.
The three of them also saw him. They looked over with different expressions. Juan's face was full of resentment, David Reuben's head drooped, and David Gordon was somewhat silent.
Among the three, Juan was the first "felon" who took the initiative to feign injury. Li Ang would not reduce this guy's sentence.
David Reuben's attitude in the game was very problematic. Now, his drooping head made Li Ang shake his head.
Only David Gordon. Li Ang had done some research on him later. This guy's usual performance was not bad. This time, he was completely instigated to be the idiot who stood out. Moreover, according to what he learned from Team B's head coach, Fernandez, David Gordon's attitude during training was relatively proper.
Li Ang observed for about 20 minutes. David Gordon's attitude in training was indeed very positive. In addition, the player's performance in training also made Li Ang relatively satisfied. David Gordon's speed was very fast. His "Speed" attribute value was 80, especially his "Explosive Power" attribute value was 81. Therefore, although David Gordon's "Shooting" attribute value was only 65 and his "Technique" attribute value was only 66, which was not outstanding. However, this was the reason why Li Ang came here to observe David Gordon's training. He needed such a pure speed player, especially in the game against Zaragoza. This player could be used as a surprise attack.
*****
Li Ang nodded to the B Team manager, Fernandes, who stopped the training and called David Gordon down. Then, he pointed to the sidelines.
David Gordon was stunned at first. Then, he glanced at Li Ang before running in front of Li Ang. After that, he did not say a word. Li Ang was amused. It seemed that he had a little complaint and a little temper.
Li Ang looked at David Gordon standing in front of him and asked, "How do you feel about the B Team?"
David Gordon glanced at Li Ang and replied, "Not bad."
"Not bad?" When Li Ang heard this, he smiled and turned to leave. "Well, you can continue to stay here."
"Coach." When he heard Li Ang say this, Gordon, who still wanted to "stubbornly" because of the little grievance in his heart, quickly surrendered. "I —"
Li Ang stopped in his tracks and turned around. He looked at the unlucky lad who had been put into the cold palace by him with a serious face. "Now, I'll give you two choices. One is to return to the First Team with me now. However, if your performance doesn't satisfy me, then you can wait to stay in the reserve team forever. I'm referring to the day when your contract with the team completely expires! The other is that you continue to stay here until the end of the season. When the summer transfer market opens, you can request to leave. "
Li Ang's expression and tone were very stern. This player had to be taught a lesson.
Even a fool would know to choose the first of these two choices. Even if he did not perform well when he returned to the First Team, he would still be relegated to the reserve team. However, this was still an opportunity! As long as he worked hard to train and compete, he would not give this person a chance to relegate him again. David Gordon was thinking.
Li Ang turned around and took two steps. When he saw David Gordon still standing there, he frowned and shouted, "Looks like you're going to stay in the reserve team?"
Gordon, who seemed to have woken up from a dream, trotted to catch up with Li Ang. Then, he followed behind Li Ang without saying a word. The player, who had been "convicted", was now very nervous and did not dare to throw a tantrum anymore. He was now very much in awe of Li Ang.
*****
The two men walked to the side of the First Team training ground. At this time, the players were already on the field preparing to warm up.
Everyone saw the manager arrive with David Gordon behind him. They all looked at the scene in surprise.
Li Ang stopped on the sidelines, while Gordon consciously ran to the training ground to meet up with the rest of the team.
"Juan's injury is serious, and Reuben's situation is also worse. I think, unfortunately, maybe we won't be able to wait for them to return to the team until the end of the season." Li Ang's first sentence was murderous, which immediately made these players deny the possibility of the manager's "amnesty" and made them alert.
"It's gratifying that David Gordon's injury has recovered well and he can return to the team." Li Ang said with a smile, "Gordon is eager to help the team. I understand his urgency. Everyone, welcome Gordon back to the team after his injury."
The players were silent at first, and then the captain, Miguel Cobas, applauded. There was a burst of applause on the field.
Li Ang used his words against David Gordon and his declaration of the "unpardonable" sins of the other two unlucky players to beat the players again. For a while, the atmosphere of the whole team was better in the following training. Everyone showed a side of high spirits. The fans who came to watch the team training also nodded and applauded. This was the spirit that a team that avoided relegation should have. Manager Li Ang was really good. In such a short time, he had led the team to a record of three wins and one draw. The whole team was now in good spirits. They were really capable!
PS: Today's condition is really bad. My ears just started to turn, and now they are noisy again. So, there are only two chapters today. This is an extra chapter, and there is a guaranteed chapter at the back.
An extra chapter for the Udon leader.
Asking for a monthly vote. Today's monthly votes are really bleak. Thank you, everyone.
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