svetikya Chapter 16 What does it mean to conquer Europe in a debut?
Chapter 16 What does it mean to conquer Europe in a debut?
At the post-match press conference.
Having witnessed the team being pulled back from the brink of defeat, Jardim has now regained his calm and collected demeanor, showing no trace of his earlier excitement.
In contrast, Anderlecht's head coach, Hasi, looked extremely grim.
He had just been given a severe dressing-down by DeFol in the locker room, which was how he managed to calm down.
Otherwise, he figured he might just storm off in a rage at the press conference.
"Did your team relax in the final moments of the match, which allowed Monaco to score two goals and equalize?"
A reporter from the French local media outlet L'Équipe was the first to speak, directly challenging Hasi.
Hasi's lips twitched. He got angry whenever this was mentioned, but he suppressed his emotions and forced himself to say, "I think the team did a pretty good job, it's just that there were some minor individual flaws."
We defended with all our might for nearly 80 minutes, and it was truly unfortunate that we were tied at the last moment.
The L'Équipe reporter wasn't going to let him off the hook, pressing further: "When you say 'personal flaw,' are you referring to Defort, who received two yellow cards and was sent off in this match?"
Hasi's face instantly darkened, and he cursed inwardly: Isn't this obvious?
But he still managed a forced smile: "I didn't say that. Defour is a good player and our vice-captain. His toughness has brought a lot of positive influence to the team."
"It was only because I was exhausted at the end that my movements became a bit distorted, which led to an unnecessary physical confrontation. But a reckless foul is a foul, and I have no complaints about the referee's decision."
Upon hearing this, Yaldin's eyes widened instantly, and he looked at Hasi with a shocked expression.
You have no complaints about the referee?
The referee practically blew his whistle while wearing an Anderlecht jersey!
You haven't complained about all those fouls that weren't called before?
"Sometimes, you have to feel sorry about the outcome of a game."
Hasi shook his head, stood up from his chair, greeted the reporters present, and left with a final remark:
"I wish Monaco all the best in their upcoming match against Tottenham."
Yaldin stared at his retreating figure, remaining silent for a long time.
So this guy is being sarcastic?
After Hasi left, a reporter from RMC picked up the conversation: "Since Mr. Hasi just mentioned Tottenham Hotspur, what are Monaco's plans for the final match?"
After a moment's thought, Jardim said in a deep voice, "The first priority is definitely to allow the key players to gradually recover from their injuries..."
"Secondly, we will fight to the very last moment at White Hart Lane and try to give Tottenham a surprise they never expected."
Then, the reporter asked, "Why did you bring Jiang Ming on at the last minute? He's a young player who has never played in an official match before."
Yaldin grinned, not answering directly, but instead asking, "But the effect is very good, isn't it?"
The reporters below the stage fell silent instantly; no one could refute that statement.
Jardim's eyes sharpened, and he added, "Jiang has undoubtedly become the team's hero in this game, and I believe he will have a very bright future."
……
One night passed.
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell on the grass at the Latourby training center.
Jiang Ming arrived at the training center at seven o'clock as usual and began his day's training.
These past few days, aside from preparing for the competition, whenever he has a spare moment, he either spends time at the gym or goes for a jog in the park.
The progress bar in the system has reached 64km.
He drives at an astonishing speed of four kilometers per hour for two hours every day.
In just a few days, I will be able to complete the task of running 100km.
When he gets those 10 points of stamina, he'll be able to stroll around the field...
It should be said that positioning allows for greater ease and control.
"Jiang, what time did you arrive today? Not seven o'clock again, right?"
Caldera, holding a stack of documents, glanced at Jiang Ming inside the gym as he passed by.
Jiang Ming did not deny it and nodded.
"You really work hard, no wonder the media praises you to the skies," Caldera couldn't help but exclaim.
"Huh?" Jiang Ming was completely confused and didn't react.
It wasn't until Caldera pulled a newspaper out of the documents and handed it to him that the matter was resolved.
That was the French newspaper L'Équipe, and the headline on the front page was particularly eye-catching:
Monaco's prodigy emerges! Super-sub Jiang Ming scores and assists on his debut! Changing the game in 15 minutes!
"This...this is way too exaggerated, isn't it?" Jiang Ming looked at the title and felt a little embarrassed.
How did it become his own doing? This is putting him in a very difficult position!
Cardera then pulled out a second one, laughing and saying, "There's something even more outrageous."
This newspaper, however, was published by RMC, a local media outlet loyal to the Monaco region, and its headline was even more outrageous:
"The seeds of a football king are sown! Monaco's rising star conquers Europe in his debut!"
"this……"
Jiang Ming was speechless when he saw the title.
Local media are definitely better at exaggerating.
What does it mean to conquer Europe in a debut?
If it weren't for the fact that the first half was somewhat related to football, he would have almost thought that it was describing an Austrian with German citizenship, not himself.
At nine o'clock in the morning, Monaco's first-team players also arrived at the training center one after another.
However, due to yesterday's high-intensity match, today's training volume was not large.
The main focus is on physical therapy, subsequent adjustments to on-field positions, and new tactical arrangements.
The schedule is too packed right now; Monaco just played Anderlecht.
Just three days later, the team will drive 200 kilometers to the Stade Vélodrome to play Marseille in the 15th round of Ligue 1.
The team has been on a relentless pace for the past month.
We won't be able to take a break until the winter break begins at the end of December.
Adding to the current injury situation, the team is under considerable pressure.
Yaldin, standing on the sidelines, looked at everyone on the training field and fell into deep thought.
The team's current starting midfield trio has already played four consecutive 90-minute matches.
If this kind of back-to-back work continues, it might lead to overwork and illness, resulting in even more injuries.
His gaze unconsciously fell on Jiang Ming.
He actually wanted Jiang Ming to replace Moutinho or Bernardo Silva in a starting game, so that these key players could get a rest.
Unfortunately, Jiang Ming's stamina is lacking. If he were to run like other midfielders, he probably wouldn't even last half a game.
"Sigh..." Yaldin rubbed his forehead, pondering what to do.
On the training field, after Jiang Ming finished passing the ball, he would leisurely move towards the frontcourt.
Just when Moutinho was about to be double-teamed and unable to find a way to pass the ball.
He suddenly realized that Jiang Ming had somehow gotten into a perfect position to receive the ball, just in time to pass it to him.
Moutinho wasn't the only one on the field to notice this.
On the sidelines, Yardin also stopped thinking and began to observe Jiang Ming carefully.
In those ten minutes, Jiang Ming kept controlling the ball, passing it out, and orchestrating play in the attacking third.
His only drawback is his poor stamina. He has never participated in the team's defensive rotations and spends most of his time strolling around on the field.
But the strangest thing is this walk.
Every time, Jiang Ming is able to appear precisely in the most suitable position to receive the ball.
Yaldin narrowed his eyes, and a sudden inspiration struck him.
He finally remembered what kind of kicking style Jiang Ming was using.
This style of play—not retreating to defend, but staying in the attacking third to pass the ball around, orchestrate attacks, and dominate possession—is characterized by a lack of defensive positioning and possession.
"A classic attacking midfielder! This is how a classic attacking midfielder plays!"
In an instant, a bold plan popped into his mind.