Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 102

Messi joined the Sunderland Football Club on loan. Since the moment the news broke, all Sunderlanders have been in a state of half-dream and half-awake. From time to time, they need to wonder whether they are dreaming.

After the official announcement, the news was confirmed, and all Sunderland fans floated into the sky together——

God, this is Messi!

Russell, the club's assistant coach, was about one of the few remaining calm.At the beginning, he was as excited as the others—everyone couldn't believe it, as if in a dream, but Russell believed in Anton very much, knowing that this young man had abilities beyond his imagination.

But after Messi's medical examination was over and the agreement was signed, Russell's enthusiasm gradually cooled down, and more and more questions came to his mind: How should Sunderland use Messi?

Messi has basically only played in one club all his life. He is the core of the club's tactics. Barcelona's entire tactical system is basically built on Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and other players.This set of core is almost invincible in La Liga and European competitions.

But Sunderland does not have such conditions at all. Sunderland's midfielders are very young except for the captain Garner. Compared with Messi's Barcelona teammates, their abilities are not as good.Barcelona's consistent "pass and control" style of play is as smooth as mercury pouring down the ground; while the traditional style of play used by the Premier League underdog Sunderland has been limited to defensive counterattacks and long passes.

The world recognizes Messi's achievements in Barcelona, ​​but once he returns to the Argentine national team, he will often play very hard.In the past World Cup, the performance of the Argentine national team was really problematic.Messi, as the core of the team's offense, failed to score a goal.In the quarter-finals, Argentina lost to Germany 0-4.The head coach Maradona resigned from get out of class sadly.

This fully demonstrates the importance of teamwork and teammate support to Messi.

But for Sunderland, who just took the last train from the Super League and came to the Premier League, their lineup is very different from that of the Argentine national team, and they can't match it.

What's even more embarrassing is that Messi is on loan, and the lease period is only six months.In the past six months, it was not easy for the team to work hard to build a lineup suitable for Messi; but when it was finally easy to work out this lineup, Messi was about to withdraw, and Sunderland still had to rely on themselves .

But if Sunderland just goes its own way and polishes a lineup that suits itself, then where should Messi be placed?He is a world and European double footballer. With such a big name coming on loan, is he on the bench?

The more Russell thought about it, the more he felt contradictory. Messi's joining was a complete surprise to him—it was like inviting a great god, but when it came time to use it, he didn't know where to ask the great god to help him fight.

This thought has been haunting Russell, making him very uncomfortable scratching his head, so he has always wanted to find Anton and ask him: Since Anton has the courage to invite people here, then Anton should have thought about how to deal with his questions right?

Unexpectedly, Anton shook his head and said, "No, I haven't fully figured it out yet!"

Russell in situ petrochemicals.

He didn't know at all that Anton got the news not much earlier than himself in the face of this sudden signing.

But Anton patted Brother Russell on the shoulder and said with a smile: "But the team building and tactical design are still as we have been discussing. Let's go, we will prepare for training in a while, let's go and have a look."

"What about Messi?" Russell asked.

Anton dropped a sentence: "Use it as a plug-in!"

While building the team according to your own plan, give full play to Messi's maximum value, and at the same time let the young players in the team see and learn Messi's skills and sense of the ball-but you have to walk the road and eat by yourself .You can't just rely on Messi.

After saying this, Anton left Russell behind and called the players to start training.Russell stood there in a daze, and nodded for a long time before he seemed to understand, and said in his heart: It seems to make a little sense.As expected of Anton.

The Sunderland players soon ushered in the team's first joint training, but this time it was not a training match, but under the leadership of the coaching staff, they carried out training in attack and defense, ball control, speed, shooting and other aspects.

Contrary to the expectations of the Sunderland players, Messi standing in front of them has such a good temper that he has nothing to say. He is always smiling, but he seems a bit "shy", shy and innocent, and doesn't talk much.The one who communicated with him the most was the Spanish-speaking player in the team, the Uruguayan Godin who transferred from Villarreal.

In addition, Messi has played against Liverpool in the European battlefield before, so he knows Hyypia.The two suddenly became teammates from former rivals, and everyone was a little uncomfortable.

Others saw that Messi didn't talk much, but Messi himself was also very nervous. He had never stayed in any other club since he was 13 years old in his life. No small challenge.

So, on the training ground of Guangming Academy, Messi faced a large group of "new" teammates, and some didn't know what to say.He simply looked around for the ball, and a ball jumped on his toes, which made him feel a lot better, and he immediately felt at ease.

"Offensive and defensive training, offensive and defensive training—Hypia!" Russell, wearing a coach uniform and holding a ball in his hand, called out to Hypia.When the first team conducts offensive and defensive training, it is often commanded by the "half" defensive coach Hyypia, calling the midfielders and backcourt players, and countering the offense of the frontcourt players.

Hyypia immediately greeted several central defenders, and at the same time asked the full-backs to come up to help defend - he knew what Russell's voice meant: Sunderland's defense was about to face Messi's attack.

Hyypia was very nervous, but the other guys on the back line were very excited.Uruguayan Godin, when he was in Villarreal, had seen Messi's extraordinary performance. At this time, he knew that he could not stand alone, and shouted to his teammates to help him, but found that no one around him paid attention to him. Only Messi smiled at him.

Only then did Godin realize that he actually yelled a few words in Spanish, so he had to switch the channel quickly.

Hummels and the others are all eager to try. After all, Messi is famous, and the young people have not yet had the opportunity to face Messi in the Champions League or in the national team competition.At this time, when the opportunity comes to the training ground, is there any reason not to see it well?

The next moment, the ball in Russell's hand fell lightly at Messi's feet.

Messi took the ball and took two steps forward slowly.

The eyes of the audience were all focused on him, and several central defenders were on the verge of a formidable enemy.At this time, the newly promoted first-team goalkeeper Pickford, who was staying at the goalkeeper position, was even more nervous and almost held his breath.

Messi stopped the ball and brought it back.

what the hell! ——The Sunderland player in charge of defense suddenly became a little confused.This one doesn't look like he's playing football seriously, but looks like he's kicking his feet casually. Even Messi's expression looks casual with a smile on his face.

But Godin spoke again and reminded his teammates loudly: He has seen a lot in La Liga. Messi's seemingly lazy style of play is the most confusing. This guy may start at any time——

Unexpectedly, Godin's "channel" was only switched halfway, and he said something mixed with English and Spanish.

At this time, Messi started without any warning. At that time, the closest to Messi was the young right back Flanagan.He thought he was concentrated enough, but he only felt that Messi was about to shake him away in the blink of an eye.And that ball was like sticking to Messi's toe——

How could this be?

Flanagan was indeed concentrating enough. He was so focused that Messi swayed, and he immediately followed suit. He lost his center of gravity and fell to the turf with a "slap".

Messi is just a start, and in a flash, he has already passed a defender.

It was a bit late for the other central defenders to come up to block again, but under Hyypia's order, they were still trying their best to block Messi and block his way to the goal.

Unexpectedly, Messi slowed down again at this time. Hummels, who had already run in place, ran half a body away. He tilted his head, and Messi's body barely swayed past him. Hummels The only thought: This... except for fouling, there is no way to stop him...

Indeed, there is no way to keep Messi except for Hummels flying a shovel at his feet, or simply stretching out his arms to hug him.

But when Hummels thought about it, Messi had already run away, continued to pass Godin and Hyypia, faced the goal, and shot——

Pickford, who was very focused, leaped and dived, and the fingertips of the glove touched the ball. The ball changed direction slightly, but it still rolled into the net.

So far, only a few seconds have passed since Messi performed a "casual" kick just now.

After the defender announced that the "goal" was lost, all the Sunderland midfielders who were watching from the sidelines jumped up and cheered loudly-Messi seemed to have performed a magic trick, and others could hardly see his movements clearly. He has already passed everyone else.

Messi stretched out his hand and extended his thumb to Pickford who picked up the ball angrily, praising him for his concentration. The ball was saved very well just now, but it was a pity that he missed it a little bit.

Pickford had a dejected look on his face, but when he saw Messi stretching out his hand to praise him, he stayed for a while, then smirked like a child, picked up the ball, threw it out, and then clapped his hands vigorously, smashing the gloves "Crack" sounded.Pickford said loudly: "That was nothing just now, come again, come again, I don't believe I can't guard against..."

The ball he threw just rolled to Vardy's feet.

At this moment, Vardy is also in a dream. He saw Messi's ghost-like extraordinary just now, and now he is a little bit unwell——

As a speed forward, Vardy has always been diligently running, running, running on the field until he can run the best running position.Before this, he has never seen anyone who can suddenly start it so leisurely, and the speed after starting it is still so frightening.

Vardy suddenly felt a chill in his heart.He is about the same age as Messi, and sometimes when he thinks about it, he feels that Messi made his debut at the age of 13, and he has been delayed because of the dust.

But when he saw it before him, Vardy felt mixed feelings. This skill, this gap, obviously everyone played in the same position... This is too shocking!

Vardy pushed the arch of his foot and pushed the ball to Messi.When he looked up, he saw Messi nodded slightly to him, then looked behind him, and gave a sneaky wink...the wink was very sly.

This guy's little eyes are not pure at all.

Vardy suddenly felt that once Messi arrived on the court, he immediately became very cunning.