Summer had not yet passed in Gijón in September. The warm sea breeze blew. Even in the morning, it was still warm.
Maleo was quiet in the morning. Li Ang arrived at the training ground early. He chatted with the gatekeeper, Vazquez, for a while and took Osgood for a run around the training ground before heading to his office.
Li Ang was watching the game videos. They were clips of Sporting de Gijón's last four games.
After the start of the season's training, he used the skill 'Iron Wall' to strengthen the team's defensive ability.
Even though they had lost all four matches, the team's defense was getting better and better.
Li Ang was glad that he had successfully invited the veteran Hierro to join the team. Hierro's valuable experience was what the team needed the most.
Pepe was still a little rough, but with Hierro as a teacher by his side, he was subtly influencing him.
Hierro was also happy to be a teacher. He taught Pepe by example. Hierro once talked to Li Ang about Pepe. In the eyes of the former Real Madrid captain, Pepe's physical fitness was simply too good. With a height of 188cm, Pepe's jumping power was amazing. His header ability was good, and his actions were decisive. He attacked fiercely, and at the same time, he turned quickly. Such a body was the dream of a defender.
Hierro was also very happy to have such a disciple. In the competition, Hierro was the backbone and leader of the defense. He commanded calmly, and during training, Hierro also spoke from his personal experience, constantly instilling valuable defensive experience into Pepe.
These defensive experiences were the most valuable wealth of a veteran defender. There was a saying that all defenders were abused by the opponent's striker. The process of being abused was the accumulation of defensive experience.
With Yero as his teacher, even though Pepe still had to go through the process of being tortured, it was twice the result with half the effort. Pepe only needed to comprehend one-tenth of Yero's experiences and lessons, and his growth would be even faster.
*****
In the midfield, Carlos was also improving rapidly. Throughout the summer, Carlos continued to study videos of Gattuso's games that Li Ang had given him. The AC Milan star was Carlos's current role model and goal.
Moreover, in the midfield, with the veteran Albertini, Carlos also had a teacher. Albertini was teaching Carlos in his own way.
The team's defense was constantly improving. This could be seen from the game against Valencia. From a 0: 2 away score to a 1: 2 home score, Sporting de Gijón conceded four goals in two games against Valencia, the team that dominated La Liga. It was not too much. One had to know that the opponent was a championship team with a complete lineup and familiar playing style. Sporting de Gijón was still in the adjustment period, so this result was acceptable.
In the first round of La Liga, Sporting de Gijón faced Mallorca. In the players' first La Liga game, they were obviously too nervous and too excited. The two goals were conceded in the first ten minutes of the game. Then, in the remaining time of the game, Mallorca did not score. This also showed the problem. Sporting de Gijón, who had stabilized their position, was not afraid to face a team like Mallorca, who was in the middle of the La Liga.
There was no need to say much about the game against Numancia. There were too many coincidental factors in the loss of a penalty kick.
Therefore, Li Ang was more assured about the team's defense.
Although he wanted the team to play a smooth offense, Li Ang also knew that defense was the capital of a team to stand in the league. Only when the team's defense made him feel assured could he have more plans!
*****
Since the defense was still okay for the time being, then what was the problem?!
The offense!
In four games, Sporting de Gijón only scored one goal. This showed the problem!
Therefore, when he studied the game video again today, the focus was to study the offense and find the problem. Then, he could think of ways to solve the problem.
The team was still in the adjustment period and familiarizing themselves with Li Ang's Lion tactics. Now, there was not enough coordination. However, this was not the reason for only scoring one goal in four games.
Di Natale, Milito, Ribéry, Mata, and Albertini, who was in charge of the midfield. Although Ribéry and Mata were still very young and inexperienced, this lineup was at least at the middle of the pack in La Liga.
So, what was the problem?!
Li Ang stared at the computer screen and frowned.
He narrowed his eyes and stared at the screen as if he was scanning, not letting go of any details.
Milito's performance could not be said to be excellent, but at least it was passable. His impact in the front field, especially in the penalty area, had begun to show. Li Ang felt that his choice was right. As long as he played a few more games to adapt to the La Liga competition, Milito's power would completely explode. The Argentine himself was also working hard to adapt to the team's tactics and the style of La Liga.
Di Natale was still very active behind Milito. Di Natale's footwork was good. Whether it was dribbling to break through, passing, or shooting, he appeared to be very confident.
The performance of these two players was at least normal. The problem was not with the two of them.
Then, what about Mata?
After the start of the new season, Li Ang moved Mata's position back and appeared on the right flank. Mata was the team's "veteran." This 16-year-old kid had a more thorough understanding of Li Ang's tactics. He was very smart in his breakthroughs, passes, and cuts inside. His performance was also normal.
Mata's side was also normal.
Then, next … there was only Franck Ribéry left.
*****
Li Ang stared at the screen and stared at Ribéry for a while. Finally, he found the crux of the problem.
The problem was Franck Ribéry!
Li Ang's brows furrowed at first, and then relaxed.
Li Ang saw it.
When the football was at Franck Ribéry's feet, it seemed to be stuck to his feet.
This guy, who came from a low-level league in France, had excellent footwork and was very fast. He dribbled the ball on the left flank and had begun to become a favorite sight for Sporting de Gijón fans.
It was a game against Numancia. Ribéry dribbled the ball on the flank, and Numancia's first tackler was bypassed by Ribéry like a wooden stake.
Then, the second tackler was unable to stop Ribéry's breakthrough.
At this time, at the top of the penalty area arc, Di Natale had already run out of the space. If Ribéry passed the ball at this time, Di Natale, who received the ball, could create a threat whether it was a shot or an assist to Milito.
However, Ribéry did not pass the ball. Instead, he continued to dribble the ball. Then, faced with the Numancia players' defense, he cut inside horizontally and chose to shoot. The quality of the shot was not bad, slightly higher than the crossbar.
However, if this guy had passed the ball earlier, it was clear that the attack would have been more threatening.
Li Ang continued to watch.
It was another attack by the team. Mata suddenly passed the ball back to Albertini on the right flank. The latter showed his superb coordination and the threat of a long pass, passing the football directly to the right flank.
After Ribéry received the ball, he chose to cut inside again. He dribbled past two defenders in a row, and then continued to dribble the ball to break through. Immediately after, he was surrounded. At this time, he chose to pass the ball. At this time, Milito, who received the ball, had missed the best opportunity to attack. If Ribéry had immediately chosen to pass the ball after receiving the ball, Milito would have had a great opportunity.
He was too independent!
*****
Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief. He could see that Ribéry was too attached to the ball and too independent. When the football was at his feet, unless it was absolutely necessary, he would not pass it out. He would choose to do it alone. What he liked most was to break through the opponent and then look for a chance to shoot.
Li Ang's offensive tactics pursued speed, whether it was the speed of pressing up or the speed of defense. When the football was at Ribéry's feet, the guy seemed to be showing off his footwork, but it was uncomfortable. Then the team's offensive speed paused for a moment. Even if Ribéry then dribbled the ball to break through at high speed, with this pause, it was already somewhat difficult to connect. The opponent also took advantage of this opportunity to adjust the defensive line as soon as possible when they surrounded Ribéry.
Li Ang rubbed his temples. He was most optimistic about Ribéry, but he had become a troublesome point for the team at present.
Ribéry's breakthroughs were indeed what Li Ang relied heavily on. This was also the player's biggest characteristic.
However, this was the problem. Ribéry needed to follow the footsteps of the team and integrate into the team. When it was time for him to break through and play his football talent, he could naturally do it. However, when it was time for Ribéry to pass the ball to his teammates, or to cut and run after passing the ball, he could not do it!
Li Ang rubbed his temples. He began to "recall" Ribéry's growth process. What were the characteristics of this guy when he first debuted? Was he also so attached to the ball and so independent when he was at Metz?!
Li Ang shook his head. He could not remember. When he began to pay attention to Ribéry, it was at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. This young French national footballer with a terrible scar on his face lit up the world. His breakthroughs on the flank, passing, cutting inside, and passing the ball were all praised. At that time, Ribéry was already the most dazzling young star player in the French national team.
It seemed that Ribéry in 2006 was not so independent when he played football. His cooperation with the French national team was also very good. To be precise, it was quite good.
Well, although he did not know what Ribéry's situation was when he was at Metz, whether he was also very independent when he started to play football, or whether he slowly began to "improve" under the "training" of the Metz team manager, Fernandes.
The problem now was that he was Ribéry's manager. He was the one who poached Ribéry from the lower French leagues. Now, how to "train" Ribéry was his job, Li Ang.
Li Ang thought about it and decided to "make an example" of Ribéry to calm this hot-headed kid down.
Of course, he also felt that it was necessary to talk to this kid.
Ribéry was the player he valued the most among the players under his command.
Among the current players on this team, if only in terms of future achievements and heights, Ribéry should be the first.
It was more interesting to "train" such a good seedling. Li Ang imagined that these young people would continue to grow in his hands, from small saplings to towering trees that would amaze the world, and he inexplicably looked forward to it.
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