Chapter 157: Chapter 156: China Superstar Group?
Even without his connections anymore, Trigella’s years of dedicated work at Lisbon Athletic were not for nothing.
After Augustus got the boot, Trigella could at least serve as an interim coach for a while.
His return to the first team was just a matter of time.
This time, going down to the U17 was a chance to clear his mind.
And also an opportunity to nurture talents like Deng Kai and Ronaldo, reliving the days of cultivating prodigious football stars.
Isn’t that how ancient and venerable officials used to retire to their hometowns?
To step back is to come back stronger.
When the time comes, Lisbon Athletic’s top brass will have to carry Trigella back on a palanquin.
"Then we must congratulate you in advance, sir!" Deng Kai didn’t hesitate, downing a glass of honey water, "I’ve finished mine, you’re welcome to yours. But honestly, playing in the U17 now might not mean much for me and Ronaldo anymore."
Ronaldo agreed, "Yeah, Kai has grown to one sixty-five, only half a head shorter than me."
Ronaldo’s height had increased too, approaching one eighty.
With this kind of physical condition, playing in the U19 was definitely feasible.
Trigella asked, "What? You guys want to play in the U19? Then I’ll make the switch to U19. But I originally thought that U17 would mean less physical confrontation for you guys, and you’re both on the rise right now. If injuries put you in bed for a long time, it wouldn’t be worth it."
"U17 and U19 are more or less the same for you guys, so I picked the safer option."
Deng Kai promptly nodded, "I think U17 is quite good. If we really go by Ronaldo’s ability, he could play in the U21, but there’s no need to ramp up the intensity so much all at once."
Trigella looked at Deng Kai’s quickly turning eyes and laughed, "But?"
Encouraged, Deng Kai spoke up boldly, "But without any innovation, just following the old ways of last season, it’s not beneficial for the adaptability of youth players in the future."
"Real Madrid’s youth players can shine anywhere they go, but Barça’s struggle outside La Masia, that’s the idea."
"I want to learn more ways of playing from you, like possession play, possession play, possession play, and all that."
Trigella sipped some red wine, "You’ve actually given me three choices, should I be thankful for your generosity?"
Deng Kai hurriedly topped up Trigella’s glass, "That’s not necessary, but if you could add some less talented players to our lineup, increasing the difficulty for me and Ronaldo to lead the team, that would be even better."
"Even if we’re playing U17, the challenge would be comparable to U19."
Trigella rolled his eyes, "You sure know how to live a clear-headed life, it’s hard for young players to understand your perspective. Focusing on self-improvement and development without comparing with others."
Having said that, Trigella glanced at Ronaldo.
Because Ronaldo and Deng Kai represented two extremes.
Ronaldo was the kind of player who was very focused on comparing himself with others. This competitiveness could help him quickly reach the ceiling in any environment, but it also prevented him from breaking through the limitations of his surroundings because without stronger rivals, he lost the possibility to become stronger.
Deng Kai, on the other hand, was progressing step by step according to his own plan, regardless of his environment, so his growth remained relatively unaffected.
Therefore, playing in the U17 was just as beneficial for Deng Kai as playing in U19 or U21 would be.
But for Ronaldo, it was somewhat holding back his development.
Deng Kai was not a selfish kid.
Why was he doing this?
Could it be that he was worried about Ronaldo, who was in the midst of growing, getting injured? Did he want to wait until Ronaldo’s body, bones, and muscles were fully formed before swiftly moving past U17, U19, U21, and the reserve team?
Trigella was almost certain he had guessed the truth.
Everyone enjoyed the dinner immensely.
After the meal, Trigella didn’t keep Ronaldo and Deng Kai to watch TV at his house. He said he had some work to handle and politely showed them out.
Ronaldo was a bit reluctant on the way home, "Trigella’s TV is so big! A thirty-six-inch super large screen, I wanted to take the opportunity to watch ’Tokyo Mew Mew’!"
Deng Kai looked puzzled, "I thought you were into ’Sailor Moon’?"
Ronaldo: "All done watching... Sigh, what a pity. Do you think Coach Trigella is reluctant to spend on the electricity bill, so he hurried us out? What work could he possibly have now? He has stepped down from the first team."
Deng Kai said speechlessly, "I thought a guy like you would prefer something like ’Neon Genesis Evangelion’... As for electricity, Coach Trigella can still afford it. He really does have work to do."
Moreover... it was work that Deng Kai had just assigned to him.
Because in Deng Kai’s recent exchange with Trigella, he had offered some "rudimentary" ideas on team roster building.
Trigella had never treated Deng Kai like a child, so he accurately discerned the deeper meaning in his words.
As soon as the two left, Trigella immediately called the Lisbon Sporting U15 team coach: "Hello, it’s me... Tomorrow, have Yu Shihao, Shao Jiawei, and Hao Junmin report to the U17... I know their capabilities, you don’t have to worry about them..."
...
The next day.
Alcochete Base.
When Yu Shihao and the other two arrived at the U17 training ground, they were still somewhat in disbelief.
After all, even among last year’s double champions, the Lisbon Sporting U15, only the best had been promoted to U17.
What about the three of them?
"You’ve arrived," Trigella appeared first, with the rest of the players still in the locker room, "I’m a person who likes to get straight to the point."
"I know how to cultivate young players."
"Bringing you to this team is a recognition of your talent, you have the potential to become professional players."
"But to be honest, there are some areas in tactics and fundamentals where you still fall short, which you should have polished in U15."
"However... Deng Kai mentioned you to me, he believes you can quickly adapt to the rhythm of U17."
"And I, too, believe that under Deng Kai’s leadership, you will deliver performances that are worthy of this level of competition."
Trigella almost explicitly stated the reason these three players were here.
Deng Kai.
As for the three Chinese kids, how could they not understand human sentiments and relationships?
Deng Kai is awesome!
Deng Kai is mighty!
Then, the main group appeared.
The majority had no reaction to the addition of the three.
No one questioned Deng Kai’s success from the previous season.
Especially during the junior European competition, with C’s full-court performance even overshadowing Viana’s and Meireles’, slightly less than Quaresma.
And where was Quaresma this season?
In the first team!
Deng Kai’s success had given the club confidence in Asian players, or more precisely, Chinese players.
Yu Shihao and the others were the club’s tentative venture into China.
But whether it would work or not, they would have to speak for themselves with their performance on the pitch.
From the look of the first day of training.
Deng Kai was just an outlier.
Including Wu Xudong, the four Chinese players’ fundamentals were noticeably inferior to the other players.
But they also demonstrated a unique ability in certain aspects.
