Chapter 279: Chapter 278 Zlatan Never Fears any Challenge
Maxa gave Deschamps a benevolent smile, "Playing around the opponent, we have a big advantage. The game is ninety to ten in our favor, and the chances of losing are similarly ninety to ten. It’s very hard not to win unless we encounter an extreme situation."
"But now, the game is thirty to seventy, with us at seventy. However, the odds of winning or losing have already reached a sixty-forty split, and we are possibly only at fifty-five percent."
"This is a series of problems that arise from an ineffective offense. So the huge issues we’ve been having on the defensive end fundamentally stem from our offensive struggles. We haven’t been able to overwhelm the opposition."
"We definitely need to improve the state and capabilities of our defensive players. But if we don’t clarify the primary and secondary issues, it will only backfire, and the situation might get worse."
"So all in all, Pinto’s frequent loss of possession is the key to the problems in our defense."
Deschamps felt that Maxa was saying something quite novel.
He didn’t completely understand it, but he knew it was impressive.
So, is this... offense until death, whoever defends loses?
Matthaus, with a slightly sharper brain, started to get the hang of it and asked, "Then why don’t we substitute Pinto? He loses possession too much and can’t hold onto the ball, mainly due to physical reasons."
"Don’t we have another center-forward in the team? That what’s-his-name Scribble-Scrabble Pants-Shitty No Smell But Rather Curious Wonder?"
Trigella couldn’t help but laugh, then replied bitterly, "That’s exactly the problem. Based on all the time and data from when Ibrahimovic has been on the field, our analysis concludes that... if he plays as the starting center-forward, the defensive trouble caused by his loss of possession will be even more serious than Pinto’s!"
"In other words, Pinto is the best center-forward we’ve got."
Matthaus found it hard to believe such an outrageous statement.
But the data don’t lie.
Considering Ibrahimovic’s style of play leaning towards a winger, this damn thing turned out to be true!
...
The training ground.
Ibrahimovic was quite frustrated.
He felt that he was far superior to Drogba, not to mention the old and short Joao Pinto.
Yet these two managed to take his spot on the bench one after the other.
That’s ridiculous!
Does this team have some prejudice against talent?
Dammit!
He shouldn’t have come to this godforsaken Sporting Lisbon.
If he had known, he would have gone to Arsenal.
Although Wenger was rude, he was still willing to give young players a chance.
"Ibrahimovic, what’s up? You’ve been moping around all day." Deng Kai took a seat next to Ibrahimovic.
"Kai, it’s nothing, just taking a break." Ibrahimovic replied without enthusiasm.
Now he no longer calls him Kai Shao or Kai Ge.
It seems like he thinks clinging to big legs isn’t working out well.
You Deng Kai are so awesome, calling the shots in the team, but you still haven’t managed to get your little brother Ibrahimovic into the starting lineup.
Heh, spit!
"The coaching staff had a meeting today," Deng Kai said leisurely.
"Oh," Ibrahimovic replied indifferently.
What’s the defense got to do with him?
Are they planning to make him, Ibrahimovic, play as a center-back?
Don’t even think about it!
Barzagli and Pepe were that kind of dumb material because they couldn’t make it on the forward line, so they gradually shifted back.
He, Ibrahimovic, such a prodigious talent?
No way he would be fooled.
"We discussed the issue of the starting center-forward," Deng Kai said calmly, "I told the coach that I think you can do it. But if you’re not that interested, the coaching staff will probably have to look for Kwame Ayew."
"And Ronaldo, he’s actually quite interested in the center-forward position."
Ibrahimovic jumped up immediately, "Kwame Ayew? No way, he’s not tall enough!"
"Ronaldo is so fast, it would be a waste for him to play center-forward; he’s irreplaceable on the left wing!"
"I can, I’m fully prepared, and I’m ready to start anytime,"
"Uh... Bro Kai!"
There we go, it’s Bro Kai again.
This young lad, always trying to fix whatever hurts, his grudges and affections change too quickly, not solid enough.
"However, Mr. Maxa says if you want a starting spot, you’ll have to pass a test, or rather, a training. I don’t know if you’re willing to accept it... Let me warn you, it’s very difficult and there is a risk of injury," Deng Kai laid his cards on the table.
Ibrahimovic patted his chest: "Zlatan never fears any challenge!"
The next moment, Deng Kai signaled for the football team’s four major defenders.
"Terry and Barzagli in one group, Pepe and Feng Te in another. Take turns trying to snatch the football from Ibrahimovic’s feet, switch every ten attempts. The slower you are, the lower your score will be. This relates to the subsequent starting lineup and rotation list, so you’d better take it seriously," Deng Kai also put pressure on the four defenders, "You can slide tackle, the level of physical contact is quite high, but no scissor kicks, no elbowing vital areas."
Ibrahimovic turned pale.
What did he hear?
No elbowing vital areas?
Does that mean elbowing other parts is fine?
What kind of test is this damned thing?
Well... Is Zlatan a bit afraid of this challenge still okay?
What followed was a massive logging operation.
Ibrahimovic had the ball and had to dribble from the top of the penalty area arc to the penalty spot amidst double-teams.
No method was off-limits.
Deng Kai would blow the whistle for some fouls, but you know the meaning of a high level of physical contact.
At first, Ibrahimovic tried to show off his footwork, but soon enough, there was no chance for that.
After being taken down repeatedly, his face even turned red.
But even if he were a black belt in karate, he alone couldn’t overpower two defensive giants.
Moreover, Mr. Maxa was watching the situation from the window.
Play football for a while, blush for a while, curse for a while, fight for a while.
The training had to continue.
On the first day, Ibrahimovic’s legs were covered with bruises, scratches, and abrasions.
On the second day, his chest and waist also displayed several bruises, and even some bloodstains on his legs.
On the third day, Ibrahimovic’s arms were also full of bruises.
Each day was tougher than the last.
But equally, the time it took for the four majors to snatch the ball from Ibrahimovic’s feet began to increase.
Because Ibrahimovic, who usually favored flair, had to use his body to counter a center-back under the harshness of life and then take advantage of his footwork and upper body strength to dribble past the opponent.
Slowly, he could occasionally manage one or two breakthroughs.
The next round of matches was about to start.
Ibrahimovic also understood the purpose of this training.
It was a toughening up for the defenders, to practice their two-on-one teamwork, one-on-one defense, physicality, tackling, and slide tackling, and so on.
But at the same time, it also forced Ibrahimovic to develop his body.
The blind have keen ears.
A lame man has a strong grip.
A technical player who has never been disadvantaged physically would not think of developing his body, even if sitting on a gold mine.
In the end, when Trigella announced that Ibrahimovic would be the starting forward for the upcoming match, he burst into tears in front of his teammates.
It wasn’t just tears over the starting position.
It was also because his devilish training was finally coming to an end.
He wouldn’t have to keep fighting like this every day.
Back in his little villa room, Ibrahimovic secretly took out his treasure... his diary.
"Darn, Mom has tested positive too... Now there are four people in the house, two positive. Peach and Cicada have to take care of mom’s and dad’s meals, while also preventing infection, not sure how long they can hold on..."
