Chapter 553: Chapter 552: Moment Card, A Sudden Flash, Head Coach Panel (15th Update, Chasing Rankings)
Why is it that when people praise Ibrahimovic for his skills on the ball, they always add a qualifier... among the big-sized players?
Because even Ibrahimovic’s incredible skills, when placed among the smaller players, are just ordinary.
You can say that Ibrahimovic’s ball control is almost as good as Deng Kai’s.
But you can’t say that Ibrahimovic’s ball control is almost as good as Ribery’s.
The difference is clear!
Ibrahimovic: I don’t mind such comparisons, but I’m afraid Deng Kai...
Won’t get past!
Won’t get past!
Still won’t get past!
The team’s defensive players took turns and even midfielder Tu Lei gave it a try.
Whoever defended Adriano had it tough.
The second day.
Adriano got the hang of it.
He sought out confrontations.
But he found that his teammates also upped the intensity.
In the tackles, they were going to ground, and getting it just right!
Finally, after Maicon’s sliding tackle knocked the football away and past Adriano, Adriano got up and pushed Maicon: "What are you doing? Are we training or killing each other? Do you want to break my legs with tackles like that?"
Adriano was full of aggression.
But in the next moment, brothers-in-law, Chiellini, Grosso, Essien, and Tu Lei immediately came to stand by Maicon’s side.
Adriano immediately realized they were a group.
And in this group, everyone could defend against him.
Adriano’s mentality collapsed.
"Adriano, don’t be like that," said Deng Kai, pulling him aside, "Maicon would definitely not hurt you. His tackle was a fair one in the heat of the confrontation. If anyone is likely to get hurt, it’s him who could easily be stepped on or hit by you."
"It’s not like it was a dangerous flying tackle."
"Right, I feel like recently, your time on the ball has decreased a bit. How about later I pass a few more to you? Don’t worry, if Baggio and the others have any objections, I’ll handle it. It’s important that you find your form."
Tears welled up in Adriano’s eyes: "Kai, you really... I’m so touched! But no need for the passes, I think I also need to calm down."
After training that day.
Adriano knocked on Maxa’s office door.
"Come in," Maxa said while making latte art, unable to free his hands.
Adriano went straight to the point after entering: "Mr. Maxa, I feel like it’s been very difficult to break through recently, and that feeling is awful. If I can’t get past these good-for-nothing teammates, once the season starts, I’m sure to be a flop."
"How should I improve myself?"
Maxa smiled without a word, continuing his latte art.
Adriano saw Batistuta’s autobiography on Maxa’s table and thought, is he hinting at something?
If you were to list players with fierce shots, Batistuta would definitely be one of them.
His Bati GOAL has even become synonymous with long shots.
Apart from his sudden powerful shots while moving, Batistuta is also praised for his quick shots following a light touch after receiving the ball.
Batistuta, also a South American player, certainly didn’t lack dribbling skills, but he rarely tried to prove himself forcefully, like Adriano did.
"What did you just say?" Maxa finally finished the cappuccino.
Tomorrow I could make a live one for young master Kai.
Deng Kai: Um... you might as well make it for Guardiola and Yerola.
Adriano shook his head: "I’ve understood, Mr. Maxa. I know what I need to do now!"
Adriano was full of enthusiasm.
"Play football like Batistuta!"
August 5th.
Manchester City’s warm-up match kicked off.
Their opponents weren’t any significant teams, but rather obscure teams from lower leagues.
In this game, Adriano scored a spectacular long-range goal, helping his team secure a 3-1 victory over the opposition.
After the game, many media outlets described Manchester City’s performance as "exceeding expectations."
August 10th, Manchester City’s second warm-up match, again against a minor team.
Adriano scored in consecutive games, and the team narrowly won 2-1.
Manchester City fans were delighted because it was yet another victory.
But the Manchester City coaching staff were already brainstorming.
Deschamps was worried: "There are too many mistakes; we’re not unleashing the full attacking potential of this line-up on paper. We haven’t even reached ten percent!"
"The front line is making serious errors, and we can only create chances through Deng Kai’s through-balls."
"There’s no chemistry between the players."
"Baggio’s speed and physicality have declined drastically. If we want him on the field, Lahm on the left must push forward."
"The players’ movements are chaotic; Ribery, who should be the attacking core on the right, is running around like a headless chicken. And he keeps overlapping with Maicon!"
"The defense is even worse. Without the full-backs, the center-back pairing is full of gaps."
"Essien is still not quite fitting into the role of a center-back; his tactical understanding falls several notches below Matthaus!"
"Additionally... there’s a big problem with Cech’s clearances; he seems to have lost his love for ice hockey, and leaving the goal makes him feel insecure. In this respect, even Caballero is doing better."
The gap between reality and theory is too large.
Even in their first year, Sporting Lisbon wasn’t as bad as this Manchester City side.
Moreover... the pressure of Premier League matches is incomparable to that of the Primeira Liga.
Despite Manchester City’s back-to-back warm-up victories.
English media have already labeled them as a "relegation team."
And the thing is... they’re damn accurate!
"Don’t worry, it’ll be fine," Maxa reassured everyone, as usual.
After the meeting, he turned to the serene Deng Kai: "Kai, with all these issues they’re reacting to, how should we go about solving them?"
Deng Kai shrugged: "There’s no way to solve it."
Maxa nodded in relief: "I knew it, Kai, you always have a solution... there’s no solution?"
Deng Kai was looking at the system interface that Maxa couldn’t see.
On it, the status, current abilities, potential, skills, proficiency, and loyalty of Manchester City’s various players were displayed in dazzling array.
"Ding! You have defeated Real Madrid, obtaining the superstar drop ’Glory of the Portuguese Golden Generation 5/5’!"
"Glory of the Portuguese Golden Generation 5/5: As the absolute leader and the brightest star of Portugal’s Golden Generation, Portuguese legend Figo sparked a golden era in the otherwise unremarkable Portuguese football history. However, it is regrettable that such a golden generation failed to win any senior team championships, with the national team remaining uncrowned."
"As a leading player of the Portuguese Diamond Generation, you have the duty to pick up where others left off, allowing the glory of the Golden Generation to shine thoroughly! You also have the responsibility to lead Ronaldo through tough times until the next wave of Golden Generation players emerge from Portugal!"
"You have obtained the superstar Moment Card ’Right Flank Sovereign - Figo’!"
"You have acquired the Golden Legendary Skill ’Sudden Dart’!"
"A new system module has been unlocked: Coach Panel!"
At first, Deng Kai only focused on the Moment Card.
This is a peak Figo after all!
But soon, he was captivated by "Sudden Dart."
"Sudden Dart" was made famous by the Japanese street football king Masakazu Okabe, and later became widely recognized as Japanese prodigy Kaoru Mitoma made a name for himself in the Premier League.
