svetikya Chapter 14: New Teammates, New Coach, and New Recruits' Gathering
Chapter 14: New Teammates, New Coach, and New Recruits' Gathering
Chang Huan walked side by side with local Lorenzo Pellegrini toward the first team restaurant, listening to interesting stories about what was happening at the Trigoria training ground.
We walked to the restaurant.
The two chose their preferred flavors from the breakfast prepared by the chef.
Chang Huan used tongs to pick up two slices of whole wheat bread, a small amount of turkey breast, a boiled egg, a banana, some cucumber slices and tomato slices, and finally a cup of slightly warm low-fat milk.
Not long after, a middle-aged, rugged man with a dark brown buzz cut, a thick beard, and tattooed arms entered the restaurant.
His calm, sharp gaze swept over the two young men who were having breakfast, and he smiled as he walked over to them: "Good morning, Lorenzo, Chang."
"Team... team leader."
Lorenzo Pellegrini stood up instinctively, looking somewhat nervous.
Chang Huan naturally put down his fork, smiled, stood up, and extended his hand, saying in Italian, "Good morning, Captain De Rossi."
"You speak Italian very well."
Hearing that De Rossi spoke relatively standard Italian, he asked happily, "How was your month in Rome?"
"Very fulfilling."
"Huh? What's going on?"
Lorenzo Pellegrini was completely bewildered.
De Rossi, who was officially promoted to captain this season, explained: "I heard from Uncle Pino and other staff members that Chang came to Trigoria a month ago with a private coach for extra training, and he would go to various tourist attractions in Rome to practice his Italian when he had free time..."
"This... I admire you!"
Lorenzo Pellegrini and his staff couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.
About half an hour later, the restaurant welcomed the other first-team players.
These players are mainly new signings.
Karsdorp, Kolarov, Dzeko, Juan Jesus, etc.
Apart from Karsdorp, who is somewhat well-known in the Dutch Eredivisie and seemed a little reserved, the other players greeted De Rossi warmly.
Most of the players who came to the restaurant were out of shape, clearly due to their unrestrained six-week vacation.
Nainggolan, Alisson, Manolas, and Florenzi arrived at the restaurant almost at nine o'clock.
After finishing their meal, Chang Huan, De Rossi, and Lorenzo Pellegrini headed straight for the conference room.
The team changed its coaching staff for the new season, and the process was different from daily training.
9:30 a.m.
New head coach Di Francisco and his coaching staff first introduced themselves, followed by captain De Rossi (second generation), vice-captain Florenzi (third generation), veteran players, and new signings.
After everyone finished introducing themselves, Sports Director Monchi, who was waiting at the door, entered the conference room.
He first reviewed everyone's performance last season, and then looked ahead to the new season.
It emphasizes teamwork, discipline, and ambition.
Di Francesco and captain De Rossi each delivered important speeches.
The whole process was very efficient and finished in less than half an hour.
As is customary, the players headed to the parking lot for their routine preseason medical examinations at the Stewart Medical Center.
Chang Huan was not yet of driving age, so he traveled there in a Volvo V40 driven by his personal assistant and driver, Dino Matteo.
Compared to the physical examination before joining a club, the physical examination for preseason training involves far fewer items.
Its main function is for the coaching staff to arrange targeted training based on the medical examination report, so that the players' bodies can recover to a state suitable for the game as soon as possible.
Veteran players like De Rossi, Dzeko, and Nainggolan will need to have their knees and ankles examined, especially areas that have suffered serious injuries.
Team doctors and physiotherapists recorded the entire process and marked high-risk areas to prevent unnecessary injuries before the start of the new season.
Players who have completed their medical examinations are able to go home early to prepare for an eight-day closed training camp starting tomorrow.
Chang Huan and Lorenzo Pellegrini, having completed their medical examinations, were preparing to leave the Stewart Medical Center when De Rossi called out to them, "Chang, Lorenzo, do you have any other plans for tonight?"
"no."
Chang Huan shook his head without hesitation.
Lorenzo Pellegrini hesitated for a moment and then shook his head as well.
Having known his girlfriend Veronica Martinelli for five years, he can put off even the most important things, so the captain's question must mean something important.
as predicted!
"How about coming to my house for dinner tonight?"
De Rossi looked at the two of them.
"sure."
"no problem."
The two spoke almost simultaneously.
I'll send you the address later.
After Drogba finished speaking, he went to find the other new signings.
Kolarov, Karsdorp, Mario Rui, Hector Moreno, Gonalons, etc.
Around 5 p.m., Chang Huan took a Volvo V40 to De Rossi's penthouse in the city center.
The car drove onto Corso Avenue.
This is the longest and busiest main street in the center of Rome.
The place that local young people like to visit the most.
Chang Huan snapped out of her thoughts and asked Dino Matteo, who was driving, "Uncle Dino, what kind of gift should I bring when I visit Captain De Rossi's house?"
This life assistant, who is also a driver, nutritionist, and chef, is very reliable. She doesn't talk much, but every time she does, it's very helpful, so I asked her for advice when I was completely clueless.
"I remember De Rossi often took his actress wife and daughter to the SAID Dal 1923 factory outlet to shop; perhaps giving them a box of fine chocolates would be a good choice."
"Okay, let's go to this factory outlet store then."
Half an hour later, Chang Huan arrived at De Rossi's penthouse duplex with gifts.
"Chang, you have such good taste! This is our family's favorite chocolate brand."
De Rossi accepted the exquisite box of chocolates and happily gave him a warm hug: "Lorenzo and Rick are playing FIFA 17 in the living room. Do as you please. I'll go prepare some ingredients for my wife."
"Yes, Captain."
Following De Rossi's directions, Chang Huan walked to the luxuriously decorated living room, where Lorenzo Pellegrini and Karsdorp were engaged in a fierce battle of FIFA 17, occasionally laughing and cursing at each other.
One used Roman, the other used Feyenoord.
The score was very high.
5-3
Rome is in the lead.
After the match ended, Karsdorp, who had lost, let out a long sigh.
He saw Chang Huan standing to the side and handed him the controller: "Want to play a game?"
"okay!"
"Um?"
"OK!"
The fastest way to integrate into a team is to get along with them first; as for the other person's character, that's a decision to be made after getting to know them.
Chang Huan took the game controller and selected Liverpool.
He easily tortured and killed Lorenzo Pellegrini using a unique method.
"I refuse to accept this!"
"I still refuse to accept this!"
"Brother, you've lost three games in a row. Let me avenge you."
The seven-minute match ended, and Karsdorp, just like Lorenzo Pellegrini, got carried away: "Again!"
Time flew by in the game, and when Kolarov, who had taken the wrong route, arrived, De Rossi clapped his hands and announced that the dinner party was about to begin.
Chang Huan ended the game with a perfect record.
Lorenzo Pellegrini deliberately sat next to Chang Huan: "Chang, could you teach me sometime?"
"sure."
The group sat around a long marble table about two meters from the huge floor-to-ceiling window. The host, De Rossi, stood up, holding a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice: "Joining Roma means joining family, like brothers. I hope everyone will cooperate fully in the future and give their all for Roma! Cheers!!"
"Cheers!!!"
Chang Huan, Pellegrini, Kolarov, and others stood up one after another, clinking glasses with their favorite freshly squeezed juices.
Considering that they would be heading to Pinzolo town the next day for an intensive closed training camp, the meal consisted mainly of low-fat, high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables.
After eating and drinking their fill, everyone played a few more rounds of FIFA 17.
The undefeated Chang Huan was "banned" from playing against the new signings. In Karlsdorp's words, "Playing against Chang is just not a fun game."
De Rossi didn't believe it until he lost three games in a row.
He then feigned anger: "Chang, if you're so good, why don't you go play professional esports? Why are you playing professional football?"
"Sigh, what can I do? I'm a professional esports player whose talents were wasted on professional football."
Chang Huan shrugged.