Chapter 176: Chapter 175: Leading Them to Promotion
Everyone thought so.
Even Deng Kai had already said goodbye to his fellow academy players, preparing to be moved up by Trigella to the U19 team to play for a month, then on to U21, and then to the reserve team.
By the second half of next year or the year after, he would essentially be able to play in the first team.
He believed that he and Ronaldo had that ability.
Before leaving, he specifically entrusted many things to Wu Xudong and other "Chinese gang" players, telling them to stick with training, think more about tactics, develop their own style, turn their strengths into absolute advantages, and start as role players without setting their sights directly on becoming superstars, and so on.
However, on the fourth day of the winter transfer window.
Sporting Lisbon officially announced... Giuseppe Matrazzi, a famous coach who had managed big clubs such as Lazio, had accepted the team’s invitation to become the head coach.
In an instant, the cheers of the fans erupted.
Even though some die-hard fans thought it should have been Trigella’s turn.
But what was an old club member under the aura of a famous coach?
Moreover, Trigella had one huge disadvantage, he had never coached a first team before; he had always been a youth coach.
Being able to bring up prodigies like Simon and Quaresma doesn’t mean you’re suited for the first team.
The pace of a youth football team is entirely different from that of a professional team.
This announcement also made Trigella completely give up on the club’s higher-ups.
In their eyes, taking sides was more important than ability.
They would rather trust two strangers in a row than someone they thoroughly knew had the capability.
"Standpoint," this book, could be said to be Trigella’s biggest gain from this incident.
Afterwards, Trigella contacted Deng Kai.
The first thing he said was, "Kai, would you like to come play football with me?"
At that moment, it was as if time had turned back a year and a half.
The phrase "Coach, I want to play football" still rang in his ears.
This time Deng Kai did not hesitate at all; he had said that Trigella had made the right bet.
From now on was Trigella’s harvest season!
"Coach, I’m willing to come play football with you," Deng Kai said.
Trigella was somewhat moved. He had thought that Deng Kai would refuse, and he even felt a bit guilty, worrying that this could ruin Deng Kai’s future prospects.
"It’s not exactly a great place I’m going to," Trigella said frankly, "the Portuguese Second Division, Moreirense."
Deng Kai spoke with ease: "Then it’ll only be half a season before going back to the Primeira Liga."
Trigella added, "We’re tied for last in the league with two other teams; might have to stay in the Second Division for another season or two."
Deng Kai’s tone changed slightly: "Then getting back to the Primeira Liga... isn’t that also just a matter of half a season?"
Trigella was taken aback.
"Don’t worry boss, apart from the physical side of the game, Ronaldo and I are already at the standard of professional players, and in many areas, we’re even quite outstanding. I believe we can bring something different to Moreirense," Deng Kai reassured Trigella instead.
"But you’re not even fifteen years old yet!" Trigella exclaimed, "This is the stage when players are growing the most. Too intense physical contact will bring you nothing but the risk of injury."
Deng Kai said, "Ronaldo and I are different from the other players, you must see that. In fact, I can’t stand playing in the youth team anymore. If I can’t make it to the first team next season, I’ll actively seek to go on loan."
"The intensity of youth competitions can no longer bring Ronaldo and me progress. We’ve done all we should in this phase. You’ve seen Quaresma’s performance this season clearly. His technique is indeed outstanding, but his ability to handle the ball under high-pressure tackling and physical challenges is obviously much weaker."
"Only those who can withstand high pressure can become superstars. The physicality of the Second Division isn’t particularly strong, but for Ronaldo and me, it’s a high-pressure environment, and I believe we will make great progress there and truly step into professional football."
"Well, I hope I don’t let you down, and I hope we can create miracles in the Portuguese league," Trigella joked about himself, not quite believing that the team could form a push for promotion in the second half of the season.
The two then hung up the phone.
"Dear? What’s wrong?" Trigella’s wife, having heard about the Lisbon Sporting head coach incident, rushed back immediately. She knew her husband must be feeling terrible right now.
"It’s nothing. A friend said he supports me." Trigella hurriedly wiped away his tears before turning around.
"Well, he must really mean it to remember you in front of Matrazzi. You don’t have many friends like that," Trigella’s wife came over to embrace him.
"Yeah, he’s a good friend," Trigella smiled.
This man had exceptional abilities but was a big gambler.
Between being a youth coach and a head coach, he bet on the former, because he believed that was the only way to develop superstars, which would solve Portugal’s problem of developing talent from scratch. That was most important.
But he was wrong. People didn’t pay attention to youth coaches; the status of a head coach was always higher than that of a youth coach.
Among head coaches, those skilled in organization and operation were not as in demand as those proficient in winning championships and reaping honors.
This was a society that valued results.
Yet, Trigella had a premonition that discovering and unconditionally trusting Deng Kai might be the best gamble of his life.
...
On the other hand, Deng Kai also promptly informed Ronaldo of this news.
Trigella originally felt that it would be more sincere, more respectful, to tell Ronaldo in person.
But Deng Kai said it wasn’t necessary; he was more effective at persuasion.
Deng Kai: "Look, Ronaldo, to be honest, the U17 league is a bit boring. I managed to win both the top scorer and assist leader awards for the first half of the season. Do you think, after you join in the second half, you could overtake me and eventually win both the top scorer and assist leader awards?"
Ronaldo looked annoyed: "I’m only playing for half a season, and you played the entire season, how could I possibly overtake you?"
Deng Kai: "That shouldn’t be right. I think given the difference in our abilities, even if you play half a season, your stats shouldn’t be worse than mine."
Ronaldo: "Of course, they won’t be!"
That was what he said, but Ronaldo was feeling anxious now.
He was confident about surpassing Deng Kai’s goal tally, but assists... that really wasn’t his strong suit.
The key point was Deng Kai was the real playmaker. If Kai didn’t pass him the ball, he might not even score... No, no, playing in the U17 was really unwise.
Deng Kai: "By the way, I heard that Mr. Trigella is going to coach at Moreirense in the Portuguese league and is thinking of loaning a few players from the club to join him."
"Speaking of which, the environment in the Portuguese league is actually quite conducive to the growth of players like us. The players there might not stand out in talent, but they are very professional in their attitude. The pace of the games isn’t fast, but the level of competition is solid. I heard their mid-season top scorer has only twelve goals!"
"With the intensity of the matches increasing later in the season, their top scorer might not even reach twenty goals."
Ronaldo’s eyes lit up, and he interjected: "We could go! Win the golden boot, oh no, play professional football!"
Deng Kai shook his head: "That’s just the Portuguese league; isn’t that starting point too low? It might be okay for me, but I always thought you should be one of those talents who make a spectacular breakthrough in the Premier League at a young age! Going to the Portuguese league would bury your talents."
Ronaldo didn’t mind: "It’s okay, it’s just a loan. As long as we perform well, we might get into the Lisbon Sporting first team next year."
"That’s your thought? You disappoint me," Deng Kai suddenly turned serious, "If you just intend to fool around, if you don’t want to take responsibility, then I won’t let Mr. Trigella take you with him."
"If I go, I have only one goal, and that is to lead them to promotion!"
Ronaldo was taken aback. Was this really suddenly about upping the ante?
"Kai, you know me, once I’m on the field, my goals are always just victory and scoring goals. I’m one hundred percent committed to football," Ronaldo explained, "I want to go to Moreirense, and I hope you will join me too. I just didn’t want you to feel pressured."
Deng Kai looked at Ronaldo: "So how about it then? Shall we go?"
Ronaldo nodded: "Let’s go! Lead them to promotion!"
