Chapter 397: Chapter 396: Portuguese Super Galaxy Battleship, Sao Paulo Substitute Player
Guardiola: "Don’t you have Matthaus and Deschamps?"
In terms of strength in the defensive midfield position, Matthaus beat Guardiola hands down.
Deschamps wasn’t far behind Guardiola either.
People always thought that among the four great defensive midfielders of the 90s, Guardiola was the least impressive, not deserving to be mentioned in the same breath as the other three.
Deng Kai: "Matthaus is simply too old, his playing time next season won’t exceed one-third of the matches."
"While Deschamps is much younger than Matthaus, he’s three years older than you, and his strength isn’t top-notch either. The role he can play on the field is increasingly limited, just enough to make him a substitute."
"You’d be our first choice for the defensive midfield position."
"Others might look down on Sporting Lisbon, a Primeira Liga team, but you should know how strong we really are. This season in the Champions League, we definitely won’t just be making up the numbers."
"Our minimum goal is to make it into the quarter-finals!"
Guardiola furrowed his brows: "Your fighting spirit is indeed impressive, but there seems to be some gap from that goal. Especially since your signings this season are the same as last, focusing on young players."
"These players may have potential, but shining in the Champions League’s arena might still need two or three years of polishing."
"Let’s not talk about the backfield; your midfield and offense still lack one or two players with first-rate strength."
"At the very least, they need to be at your level. Otherwise, relying on you alone, you can’t take control of the Champions League! It’s the most brutal arena in the world, and the place with the highest economic standards."
"Apart from you, most players in your team will perform subpar there. Not because they aren’t good enough, but because the opponents are too strong!"
"Just imagine, under the crunch of players like Zidane, Figo, Raul, Hierro, Carlos, Morientes, Makélélé, McManaman, would you still be able to dominate the entire field?"
"Although it’s tough for a former Barcelona player to say this, I still think that this year’s Real Madrid is almost the strongest team in the world!"
Deng Kai smiled: "I think so too, but our opponents aren’t Real Madrid."
"Regarding your concern about the lack of player strength, we still have two heavyweight signings to come, and I believe these two players can provide a strong boost to the team as soon as they arrive."
"So, how about it, the sun rising at four in the morning in Lisbon, don’t you want to see it?"
Guardiola spat: "I like to sleep until I wake up naturally. Can you grant me the privilege of skipping morning practice?"
Deng Kai: "Of course, that’s no problem. However, our coaching team’s tactical meetings are usually held in the morning, are you sure you want to miss out on the discussions with Trigella, Maxa, Matthaus, Deschamps, and me?"
"Damn it! I’m in, transfer me now!" Guardiola could no longer sit still.
Learning from Trigella and Maxa!
Those are the best mentors one could ask for.
A fool would refuse to go!
But after hanging up the phone, Guardiola sighed again; he knew that Deng Kai had completely got his number this time.
Deng Kai: ???
Deng Kai: Haha, pack up your belongings and don’t dirty my hand, will you!
Then Guardiola called Roberto Baggio to apologize.
Not long after, "Football Emperor" released a piece of transfer news that outraged Barcelona fans.
"Football Emperor": "The Primeira Liga’s very own version of the Galacticos is setting sail! Another Barcelona captain joins the ranks of their fierce rivals, as Guardiola himself moves to Sporting Lisbon!"
Following that, a flurry of related reports came out.
"Guardiola Joins Sporting Lisbon for Free, Further Bolstering Their Squad Depth!"
"Barcelona’s Reject, Guardiola, Eagerly Snatched Up by Barcelona’s Conqueror Sporting Lisbon—What’s Left of His Talent?"
"Trigella: Guardiola was one of the two Barcelona players who caused us the most trouble in last season’s League Cup, the other being Rivaldo!"
"Deng Kai: If Barcelona had not substituted Guardiola in either of those matches, they might have been the ones lifting the Europa League trophy!"
"Maxa: While new generation players like Gerard and Xavi should not be underestimated, at this stage Guardiola is still stronger!"
"Another Judas from Barcelona? Fans Gather Outside Camp Nou, Burning Guardiola Jerseys!"
"Figo shattered Barcelona’s traditions, he produced a lot of traitors for Barcelona, he deserves punishment!"
The fans were in an uproar.
At his home in Barcelona, Guardiola was the target of irate fans, his windows shattered by rocks.
Over this, Guardiola was very angry.
He dialed Deng Kai’s number.
After picking up the phone, Deng Kai handed it to Ronaldo saying, "Guardiola is looking for you."
Then Ronaldo was on the receiving end of Guardiola’s tirade for a good half an hour.
...
The time entered August.
Brazil, São Paulo.
After the match between São Paulo and Fluminense, a young man walked off the field with a solemn expression.
He was a player for São Paulo, coming on as a substitute in the 79th minute, but unfortunately, he could not help the team equalize, ending with a defeat.
He had been living like this for five months.
In fact, had it not been for that accident, he would have already established himself in the team, and perhaps he might have even received an invitation from a European powerhouse club.
He was a football prodigy, joining the Brazilian football giant São Paulo at the age of eight.
Four years ago, at fifteen, shortly after renewing his contract with the team, he helped São Paulo win the state youth cup championship.
On March 7th this year, he stepped onto the pitch as a substitute in the 14th minute of the second half during the Rio-São Paulo Intercontinental Championship final, marked his first-team debut for São Paulo and secured a two-to-one comeback victory for the team with two goals, winning the championship.
Perhaps it was because of this title that the team showed such fondness for him, giving him many opportunities to play.
However, due to concerns and doubts regarding his physical condition, the team only allowed him brief playing times each match, and many fans even viewed him as São Paulo’s super sub.
If he could do it all over again, he would have refused all water-related activities last September, stayed away from swimming pools, so he wouldn’t have hit his head on the bottom of the pool, resulting in a fractured sixth vertebra and risking paralysis of the lower limbs.
This severe injury even led São Paulo to lose faith in him at one point.
If it weren’t for his exceptional performance in training, and the concurrent injuries to other players in the same position, he would not have gotten the chance to play in that final.
All of this was God’s will.
"God, what should I do? Should I continue to persevere at São Paulo? Will persevering give me hope? Please guide me on the path forward..." the young man muttered to himself until someone blocked his way and he stopped, "I’m not buying newspapers, thank you..."
However, the other person was unmoved and even reached out to stop the young man.
