Chapter 263: Chapter 262: New Season, New Formation, New Starting Lineup (Thanks to Ugly Ban for the Generous Reward)
For example, Veloso, who’d always considered himself unbeatable as a defensive midfielder, suddenly realized after seeing Pepe, "Could a player of this age group really be this freakishly good?"
Yu Shihao believed he could easily navigate around center-backs on a professional pitch, but Barzagli could dispossess him with his body alone, and when he used his strength, it felt like an adult versus a child.
Hao Junmin thought his footwork was quite decent, but then he saw Ibrahimovic, a towering six-foot-five giant, whose dribbling skills were even flashier than his and who had a silkier touch. How could he compete?
Shao Jiawei and Chen Tao both felt that, at the very least, they were physically on par with adult players.
But against Drogba, they realized that beasts could play football too.
No, not beasts, it had to be demons!
Wu Xudong thought his speed allowed him to do whatever he wanted, but it was in front of Terry that he learnt how hard it was to actually sprint past top defenders.
That tackle was insanely accurate!
Indeed.
What the outside world saw as a demotion was, in fact, a "secret joint training" for players like Ibrahimovic.
Before being sent down, Trigella would have a detailed discussion with them.
They were not allowed to divulge any secrets, or they would never return to the first team.
The real purpose of their demotion was to get a head start in adapting to the team’s new formation and playing style for the upcoming season.
The veteran players had seen a lot and were very adaptive.
Whether the new season would be a success mainly depended on how well these young players fared.
Of course, this was also to put on a show in order to sell Jia De’er.
Everyone present believed that no one would oppose Trigella’s move.
Among them, only Ibrahimovic knew the full story.
If Deng Kai thought Jia De’er wasn’t suitable, the club was willing to stage such an elaborate act to cooperate – such was his status in the team...
Moreover, thanks to his sharp football insight, Ibrahimovic vaguely realized that the formation they were practicing was not something that Viana could handle alone in the midfield.
Even judging by Viana’s adaptation, the strategy didn’t seem to fully suit him.
It wasn’t that Viana didn’t play well; he was very talented.
But this formation contained so many elements, with many variant tactics that none of them, including Ibrahimovic and Quaresma, could fully grasp.
The key position that was left open, could it be...
Ibrahimovic had already guessed.
August 27th.
Sporting Lisbon faced their last warm-up match before the start of the new season.
They lost.
The media went into a frenzy.
"Letting go of Jia De’er was Sporting Lisbon’s biggest mistake!"
"Trigella is akin to a war criminal! Not only did he fail to sign a star in his prime this summer, but he also let go of the team’s only true core on the front line!"
"Brazilian War God leads Porto to a resounding 3-0 victory! Porto is poised for the new season!"
"Deco praises: Jia De’er is the strongest striker in the Portuguese league, without a doubt!"
"Jia De’er says: Deco’s passes are genius; he should join me on the Brazilian national team!"
"Sporting Lisbon fans hurl stones at the team’s glass windows: ’Trigella, get back to the youth squad! We want Jia De’er, not 23 million!’"
"The club’s higher-ups are charlatans! They promised to invest ten million, but at the end of the window, they made a profit of fifteen million! And not selling Quaresma, that’s like pocketing thirty million euros!"
"Young players who were demoted return to the first team, their performance in the last warm-up match was abysmal! Their positioning was like dog shit!"
"This team has lost a superstar striker, and now it even needs a superstar like Deco! Sporting Lisbon is beyond help!"
"Last two days! Sporting Lisbon sits on a pile of cash, yet still no purchases?"
"Shock! Disgraced players return to the first team! Deng Kai, Ronaldo spotted in team training! Was the so-called expulsion just this?"
"Porto strongly condemns Sporting Lisbon’s lack of principles! Players like Deng Kai and Ronaldo should have their contracts terminated by the team!"
...
Outside, there was a tumult of confusion.
The Lisbon Athletics’ maneuvers this summer had everyone baffled.
Perhaps some astute observers had already picked up on a clue from the fact that Deng Kai was rejoining the team.
But to confirm their speculation, they still had to wait and see if Deng Kai would appear in the big squad for the first round of the Primeira Liga.
If Deng Kai made it into the big squad, then the previous demotion could very likely have been an act.
It would mean that starting from Jia De’er and Ronaldo’s fight, Lisbon Athletics had resolved to sell Jia De’er and immediately orchestrated this drama.
If true, then Trigella’s cunning depth and clever tactics had played the entire European media and many interested clubs like a fiddle.
No, Trigella had been away from the team for half a year and certainly didn’t have such an in-depth understanding of the first team.
It was very possible that what Trigella provided was just the unconditional support of the club’s executive layer.
The real mastermind was likely someone who understood the team very well and could gain Jia De’er’s trust.
Only they could be confident that selling Jia De’er would not lead to the team’s fall from the ranks of the elite.
Especially with such huge changes to the team this season.
That person was... the Transfer God—Saint Maksa!
Soon, this speculation found a degree of validation.
No... or rather, it was a vindication beyond what some had expected.
August 30th.
Lisbon Athletics, led by assistant coach Maksa, announced their 18-man squad for the first round of the Primeira Liga a day in advance.
Deng Kai and Ronaldo, prominently on the list!
However, just when everyone thought the press conference was over, Maksa said into the microphone, "Of course, with a new season comes a new spirit. To ensure that both the fans and players can prepare in peace, I will announce the starting lineup now!"
"I hope all starting players can invest all their energy into the match."
"I also hope all reserve players are always ready to step up when the team needs them!"
"Ronaldo, Drogba, Quaresma."
"Viana, Deng Kai."
"Matthäus, Deschamps."
"Terry, Feng Te, Barzagli."
Instantly, the media went into an uproar.
Drogba, Terry, and Barzagli—these three newly purchased young players were to start?
That was one thing.
Ronaldo and Deng Kai were also to start?
You have to realize... the previous punishment really seemed to have been in vain.
Matthäus even dropped back, they were basically treating Deng Kai as the core, for goodness’ sake.
This was preposterous!
And that 3223 formation, Lisbon Athletics had never played it before, how dare they switch to a three-back system?
This change was clearly to add one more person to the midfield.
And who might that be?
Do we even need to ask?
It was Deng Kai!
They changed the team’s formation just so Deng Kai could start.
Trigella really spoiled Deng Kai too much.
As if he wouldn’t coach without clutching Deng Kai’s coattails, right?
And to think Deng Kai of that caliber wanted to become the main pillar of Lisbon Athletics?
Just look at Maksa, now that’s what a true renowned coach should look like!
Maksa: So, what exactly does a renowned coach look like?
