Football Giants
Chapter 18: 2 lunatics
Some people say that he is a lunatic.
But now, the middle-aged man with glasses and a fat body sitting in front of Yang Huan doesn't look like a lunatic, but rather like a research scientist in a university.
It is also said that he is a scientist in the football world, and he has spent more time studying tactics and formations than anyone else.
He is a football scientist who can become extremely extreme for his perfectionism complex.
Marcelo Bielsa, a man who doesn't even talk much.
In the just-concluded World Cup, although the Chilean national team's performance was not ideal, their offensive football has conquered fans all over the world.
Bielsa is the head coach of the Chilean team.
"I hope you can become the head coach of Southampton!" Yang Huan solemnly issued an invitation.
He believes that Bielsa is the kind of head coach who can bring about a renewed change in Southampton. Even in the eyes of many people, the Argentine lunatic is a freak known for being extreme and difficult to get along with.
But Yang Huan believes in a word, geniuses are lunatics until they succeed!
"I'm sorry, I still have a contract with the Chilean Football Association." Bielsa shook his head lightly.
There was no expression on his chubby face, as if nothing could change his emotions.
"I know." Yang Huan nodded, "But there is no solution, is it?"
The big deal is to pay liquidated damages. To Yang Huan, this amount of money really didn't look at him.
"It's not the problem, mainly because I don't want to leave Chile." Bielsa still said calmly.
This kind of calmness can even be said to be indifferent.
Yang Huan laughed, "What's the reason?"
Without waiting for Bielsa to answer, Yang Huan began to guess, "Contract? I don't think you will be bound by the contract."
"Salary? Chile does not seem to give you a high salary, which shows that you don't value salary treatment."
"That's friendship? Oh, yes, I heard that you have a very good relationship with the chairman of the Chilean Football Association, but it is possible."
Bielsa looked at Yang Huan earnestly for the first time. He knew that the other party had known him before, and he did not know anything about football as described in the news from British and European newspapers.
Just yesterday, he received a call from Hidalgo and drove to Buenos Aires from Rosario’s home, 300 kilometers away. He also learned about Southampton and Yang Huan.
This team was acquired by Yang Huan a few days ago. For the past four days, it has appeared in newspapers and the media every day. It is very eye-catching because there are too many topics, and this time it’s because Yang Huan became the master. The team fired the head coach on the first day.
"Can you tell me, why did you fire Alan? Pado?" Bielsa asked actively.
Yang Huan thought this was a good start, and smiled.
"Do you want to listen to the truth or lies, or do you want to listen to the surface, or the core?"
Bielsa is still very calm, "Just say what you want to say."
"What I want to say is, I think Alan Padu can't help me realize my plan. He can't bring out the team I want, and he can't bring out the football style I admire."
Without waiting for Bielsa to say anything, Yang Huan stared at Bielsa's eyes and smiled provocatively: "I think we are the same kind of people, I don't believe it. You never thought about going to the European professional league. Go up, slap those guys who think you can't play with you when you arrive in Europe, and wash away the shame of the year!"
Yang Huan's words made Bielsa's eyes flashed with a strange color.
In the past, Bielsa once landed in Europe to coach the La Liga Espanyol, but this time his coaching resume only lasted six games, including the pre-season warm-up match, and the result was not won. After that, he received an invitation from the Argentina national team. , Returned to South America, coached his home country team, but ushered in the 2002 World Cup Korea and Japan defeat.
The Espanyol team is regarded by everyone as Bielsa's Waterloo.
Especially after the Argentine national team's disastrous defeat in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, almost everyone thought that Bielsa could not play at the top football stage.
Bielsa lowered his head slightly after listening to Yang Huan’s words, "Do you think I can win everything in Southampton?"
"In the short term, you can't win anything, but in the long run, what about the League One teams? The competitive environment in League One is not bad at all, and the low-level leagues can give you plenty of time to adjust you. The team that waits until we get back to the Premier League will surprise everyone, and then step all the big teams under their feet."
Bielsa raised his head again, looked at Yang Huan, and lowered it again, "You are a very competitive person."
Yang Huan stunned, hehe laughed, "Don't you have the ambition to win? The professional league is a life-and-death war, don't you have the slightest ambition to be competitive? You are not obsessed with this **** scent. Fight?"
With this, Bielsa raised his head again.
The national team and the club are two different fields.
To some extent, the national team is more like a leisurely vacation trip, with a big game every once in a while.
But the professional league is different. It is very tense and very deadly. There are games every week. One carelessness may be irreversible. Any mistake in decision-making may lead to the collapse of the entire season, so you must be careful. Step by step.
To some extent, the professional league is the most fascinating and **** arena of football.
is also the best stage for all professional coaches to show off their talents.
There is one in Bielsa's football creed, for the sake of a game and do nothing!
"You are right. After the World Cup, it is difficult for me to bring more to Chile. That is the limit of this team. I also feel a little empty. Going to England to coach is also an option."
But Bielsa turned around, "But I still have a very important question, what can you give me?"
"You don’t have to worry about autonomy in football, player transfers, business operations, etc. You just need to tell me what you want, then I will give you what, even if you want the best star in the world, I will Do your best to help you get it!"
"In Southampton, you are my only control!"
In the traditional position of the head coach in England, the transfer of players belongs to the authority of the head coach. Even the head coaches such as Wenger and Ferguson are involved in the team's business operation plan, and the power is very large.
But Yang Huan intends to reorganize Southampton’s power structure, because the traditional British team’s power structure will result in the head coach’s power being out of control. For example, Ferguson’s position in Manchester United is unshakable, even above the ball. Above the team owner, this is something Yang Huan cannot accept.
If there can only be one leader in Southampton, it must be Yang Huan.
Bielsa heard it, but didn't react at all. It seemed logical, and he nodded and said, "Yes, those things are too annoying." It seemed as if he didn't have these powers, it was a good thing for him.
"By the way, do you think Adam Lallana should play on the side or in the middle?" Bielsa suddenly raised his head and asked seriously.
From his tone and eyes, it can be seen that this is not an exam, but a very sincere inquiry.
Adam Lallana, a local star in the Southampton team, has excellent skills and strong awareness.
"If you hit the middle, I think it's tough, because now the frontier defense of the big penalty area is very tight." Yang Huan answered with a smile.
Bielsa nodded instead: "Well, but if there is a strong center in the penalty area to suppress the opposing center back, that would be much better."
"I think this route is feasible, but in this way, there is only one Chamberlain on the wing. Lambert can't play the wing, but if Lallana goes to the wing, there will be no midfielder, and Schneiderlin will press Not coming up..."
Yang Huan finally realized why everyone said Bielsa is a football lunatic.
Don't look at this guy who doesn't say much, but when it comes to football, he talks endlessly, even mumbling to himself, arguing with himself about the team's tactics and the positioning of the players.
Southampton is considered to be the most technical team in English football. It is not difficult to see from Southampton’s youth training. Several young players in the team, such as Lallana, Chamberlain, Luke Shaw and Chamberlain Si wait, their skills are much higher than the average level in England.
Look at the players who came out of Southampton, Hiller and Le Tissier who are farther away, Walcott and Gareth Bale who are closer, are all types with solid basic skills and good skills at their feet.
Yang Huan chose Southampton because he actually took a fancy to this point.
There is no doubt that taking the technical route of ground coordination of the continental system is the way out for English football in the future.
Bielsa’s madness showed no signs of stopping. He started from Southampton, and while talking, he even talked about the traditional style of English football.
Listening to him muttering to himself over there, if the passion and tenacity of England football can be integrated into his tactical system, the effect will be even greater, and Southampton’s outstanding youth training will be created for him. Such an opportunity.
"Well, that's it." Bielsaro spoke a lot of words for an hour, then suddenly stood up.
"What do you mean?" Yang Huan looked at Bielsa.
"I think that although you may have a lot of shortcomings and problems, at least you are honest, unlike many people in high positions in the football field, who are hypocritical and have no integrity. Promises that cannot be fulfilled at all, deal with people like you, at least feel relieved."
Bielsa spread his hands, "I will analyze it, and then think carefully, it feels a bit annoying, but I think some of your thoughts, some styles of Southampton, and the challenges of English football are all Quite interesting."
"So..." Bielsa offered to extend her hand, "...I decided to accept your invitation!"
Yang Huan is a little confused, what is the structure of this guy's head?
Doesn't he need to think carefully?
Or, doesn't he want to go to the Southampton scene to have a look?
Or, is there any other reason why he wants to leave the Chilean national team?
But everyone agreed, where Yang Huan would go to study it carefully.
"I'll take care of the Chilean Football Association. UU reading www.uukanshu.com" Bielsa obviously wants to discuss it in person. "Then, I will arrange for someone to go to the UK to negotiate the contract. You can talk to him about the salary, and I will probably be there. Flying to London the day after tomorrow, there is not much time left before the start of the new season."
Unexpectedly, this madman entered the role so soon.
"Do you have a player you want?" Yang Huan asked.
Bielsa thought for a while, "I don't understand the situation for the time being, you can figure it out."
"Oh, you just saw Carlos Potter, did you fall in love with Hames Rodriguez?"
Yang Huan nodded, "Well, I signed it."
"Oh, it's a bit troublesome, this guy is in conflict with Lallana!" Bielsa shrugged, showing a smile for the first time since they met, feeling that this should be his humor.
"But it's okay, I can handle it."
Just finished speaking, he felt wrong again, "It's better to bring in a strong center, Lambert alone, I'm afraid he can't handle it."
Yang Huan listened and smiled, "How is Ibrahimovic? Can you hold him down?"
When Bielsa heard it, he laughed, "Thanks for you to figure it out, you are such a lunatic!"
"But, I start to like you!"
Yang Huan has a look of helplessness, being praised as a lunatic in the eyes of an ordinary person, that feeling...
Zhang Ning has been by Yang Huan's side all the time, without saying a word, but at this time, he can't help but laugh.