Chapter 633: Chapter 632: Dream Lineup, Pre-Season Training Camp
"If Villa is a mini killer, then Silva is a mini mini midfielder! He’s as tall as Deng Kai was two years ago! But while Deng Kai grew from 1.7 meters to 1.83 meters, can Silva do the same?"
"Total victory! La Liga took away one David (Beckham), and Manchester City snapped up two Davids from Spain (Villa and Silva) in return!"
"Are Manchester City gathering twins? David Villa, David Silva, Thiago Silva!"
Media soon dug up some of David Silva’s past.
The kid was a Real Madrid fan and had once tried out for Real Madrid’s football school in 2000.
Although he got a photo with Anelka, he didn’t manage to stay on himself.
It is said that he was rejected by Real Madrid due to his height.
Deng Kai had also been viewed with skepticism by the big clubs for his height and even faced personal attacks.
People speculated that Silva’s experience was the main reason he joined Manchester City.
Deng Kai liked to lend a hand to players of shorter stature, like the Argentinean youngster Messi, who conquered everyone at the La Masia academy.
There were rumors that Messi might be promoted to Barça’s first team next season, though it was unlikely he’d get much game time.
"Manchester City strikes again! For 500,000 euros, they took center back Vincent Kompany from Belgium’s Anderlecht youth team! They took Radja Nainggolan from Beerschot’s youth team for 150,000 euros!"
"Deng Kai believes Kompany has the ability for the Premier League level!"
"Maxa thinks Nainggolan has the potential to become a first-rate midfielder in the future; he likes Nainggolan’s aggressiveness!"
"The recruitment continues! Manchester City paid a high price of 900,000 euros to bring goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from Schalke 04’s youth team!"
"Deng Kai: Neuer is full of talent; he will bring surprises to the team! I hope he continues to work hard!"
"Bizarre! Desert gold rush? Manchester City brought back a forward, Mario Mandzukic, for 300,000 euros from Mallorca!"
"Manchester City took player Arturo Vidal from Colo-Colo’s youth team for 200,000 euros!"
The wave of recruitment left the European football community numb.
They later became unwilling to report on Manchester City’s signings.
Because there really wasn’t much hype.
Apart from having a famous name, most of the players Manchester City signed were unknown to most.
And when one looked into these players’ histories, they were basically all from youth teams, with nothing much to hype up.
Among them, Nainggolan, Vidal, and Fabregas were terrifyingly young.
Vidal, Neuer, and Mandzukic were a bit older, yet still "kids."
Manchester City really seemed intent on taking the youth storm to the limit.
This season’s Manchester City team, compared to last year, had many players who were one year older.
But the average age of the team had actually decreased further.
Aside from Roberto Baggio, who was confirmed to be retiring after this season at the age of thirty-six, and the newly-signed Desailly, who would soon turn thirty-five,
The oldest player at Manchester City was Sun Jihai at twenty-six.
Next was twenty-three-year-old Caballero.
Then came the twenty-one and twenty-two-year-olds: Cech, Maicon, Villa, and Essien.
Feng Te, who people thought of as a sly old player, was just twenty this year!
Holy moly!
Can you believe it!
Feng Te looked like he was in his thirties.
Yet at twenty, he had already mastered the art of skating by, which was truly startling.
He bypassed decades of life’s detours!
Thus, the assembly of Manchester City’s players was complete.
Up front, they had Baggio, Adriano, Ribery, Torres, Villa, Mandzukic, and others.
In midfield, Deng Kai led the way, joined by Yaya Toure, Essien, Mascherano, David Silva, Fabregas, Vidal, and Nainggolan.
They completely relieved the crisis of not having midfield substitutes.
Though Nainggolan and Vidal might not be ready for immediate action, Mascherano, David Silva, and Fabregas were fit to play.
In defence, there was Maicon, Chiellini, Lahm, Thiago Silva, Feng Te, Sun Jihai, Ashley Young, Desailly, and Kompany.
Several of the full-backs were versatile and capable of playing multiple positions.
Goalkeeper up, Cech, Caballero, Neuer, Kasper Schmeichel
Young Schmeichel being promoted to the first team early was the happiest thing for old Schmeichel.
But he was a strict father; he didn’t think Kasper had the ability to play for the first team this season.
And indeed that was the case.
The starting goalkeeper for Manchester City this season was Cech.
The second goalkeeper was... Neuer.
Caballero: ???
Caballero: In terms of age, in terms of seniority, I should be at least the second, right?
Maxa: Is there a possibility that we are judging by strength?
...
In August, major teams successively started their training camps.
Manchester City welcomed the reports of several new members.
The advantage of young people is that they really have the right attitude.
Basically, no one arrived on the dot; they all arrived at the club ahead of schedule.
This situation is not so common in other European clubs because if the players come early, there is no supporting equipment and facilities.
Other staff are not at work yet, so your arrival would be pointless.
But Manchester City was different.
Mansour paid double wages to have some of the club staff start work early.
And he made sure to communicate this message to every young player.
It meant something simple.
We’re starting to work overtime.
Whether you roll up your sleeves or not, it’s up to you!
The young players had never seen such a sudden call to action fall from the sky.
They were so dumbfounded that they could only report to the team ahead of time.
Mansour himself was surprised by the method Deng Kai suggested.
Isn’t this a bit inhumane?
As for this, Deng Kai said: It’s mainly for the good of the players.
If you want to succeed, you have to toil like oxen and horses.
Otherwise, where would Mansour’s Ferrari come from?
Mansour then realized, when Deng Kai visited Mansour’s palace over the summer, he showed special interest in a LaFerrari.
Could it be that Master Kai is hinting at me, Boss Mansour?
Afterward, Mansour had someone deliver the LaFerrari to Deng Kai’s villa garage.
It was said that Deng Kai was overjoyed when he saw the car; he expressed with a club chairman like this, what else could the players aspire to?
That would definitely be to train hard as long as it doesn’t kill you, to train to death!
And to strive to bring more honors to Manchester City in the new season!
Manchester City’s training camps, upping the ante again and again!
The Manchester City players were all dumbfounded!
Manchester City players: Master Kai, be a little human!
...
Of course, Deng Kai was indeed doing what was best for everyone.
Manchester City’s lineup, if you look five years into the future, would probably be fearsome!
But for now... there are too many fledglings.
Without scientific and well-planned training reinforcement, they would struggle to adapt to the current Premier League tempo.
And keeping these talented players actually focused on training wasn’t easy.
[PS: I’m in Sanya, don’t ask why I went to Sanya, because my brain’s gone soggy. There’s one more Chapter after this, then sleep. Tomorrow’s updates might also be late. Peach is trying her best, wuwuwu.]
