Reverse.

Chapter 176: The competent ones take over

Chi Zhen, Liu Jinxuan, Su Ju and Yue Hang went to have breakfast together. When they arrived at the door of the restaurant, they met assistant coach Cai Bokang who was obviously waiting for someone.

"Xiao Chi, want to chat?" When they came over, Cai Bokang looked straight at Chi Zhen.

Without waiting for Chi Zhen to answer, Su Ju waved at him and said, "Then let's go eat first."

"it is good."

Su Ju and Yue Hang walked in. After taking a step, seeing that Liu Jinxuan didn't seem to react yet, he pulled him and said, "Let's go!"

Liu Jinxuan suddenly realized and followed the two seniors into the restaurant.

But as he walked, he kept looking back and looking at Chi Zhen and Cai Bokang curiously.

The two men did not stand at the restaurant door, but walked to the side.

Soon he disappeared out the door.

"What does Director Cai want from Brother Chi?"

After he could no longer see them, Liu Jinxuan asked Su Ju and Yue Hang.

Yue Hang didn't say anything. Su Ju put his hands behind his head and answered him:

"What else could it be? A tactical adjustment."

※※※

Seeing that there was no one around, Cai Bokang said to Chi Zhen, "Actually, I came to look for you last night, but I didn't expect... It's funny to say that it was because we came to look for you that we found out about Wang Lie's actions. After knowing Wang Lie's goal, what do you think?"

"That's good. I also think the team needs a specific goal."

"But when it comes to winning the championship, isn't it too exaggerated?" Cai Bokang asked while staring at Chi Zhen's face, trying to capture his micro-expressions.

Under his gaze, Chi Zhen smiled slightly: "It is indeed something that only Captain Wang can do. If it were someone else, they would either not dare to think about it, or would not dare to say it out loud if they thought of it."

"You don't dare either?" Cai Bokang asked back in a teasing tone.

Chi Zhen shook his head frankly: "I dare to think, but I dare not say it out loud."

Seeing him so frank, Cai Bokang's worries were largely relieved.

So he followed Chi Zhen's words and praised him: "Actually, it's already very good. Many people don't even dare to think about it."

Chi Zhen smiled bitterly: "I want to say that my dream of playing football since I was a child is to win the World Cup championship one day. Cai Zhi, you won't call me a scammer, right?"

Cai Bokang shook his head firmly: "No, I'm not one of those idiot fans on the Internet."

"Actually, you're right to scold me. I don't have the courage and resolution to say it out loud like Captain Wang. I can only think about it in my heart, for fear that others will laugh at me for overestimating my own abilities. Captain Wang has publicly declared that he wants to win the World Cup before..."

"He was also criticized for being different?" Cai Bokang laughed. "At that time, many people on the Internet were making up stories about Wang Lie. They said things like 'self-proclaimed champion', 'loan champion', 'science fiction', 'parallel universe'... I remember that some mainstream media even wrote commentary articles criticizing Wang Lie's 'champion theory' as being out of date, being overconfident, and not conducive to the long-term development of Chinese football... In fact, everyone was the same, and they were criticized as they should be."

"It's different... Brother Wang was scolded, but he could handle it. I may not..."

Cai Bokang laughed: "You can do it now, after all, you have been scolded by extreme fans online, haha!"

Chi Zhen was also amused by Cai Zhi's words.

It is true. There were many people scolding him online, especially in the second half of this season. Because Wang Ge’s performance improved, Wang Lie’s fans also started to get excited.

Just like Wang Ge's performance was not good in the first half of the season, so his extreme fans were also arrogant...

Seeing that the atmosphere had become much more relaxed, Cai Bokang took the opportunity to tell the real reason why he was looking for Chi Zhen:
"During this national team training camp, we need to make adjustments to the team's offensive tactics. I came to you to tell you so that you can be prepared..."

As he said this, he controlled his tone, trying not to sound "aggressive."

After Chi Zhen understood his intention, he laughed: "Well, that's it... Cai said you don't have to do this. In fact, at the end of this season, I knew that with Captain Wang's performance and status in the club, how could the national team not let him play as a core player?"

"Although, I should still tell you." Cai Bokang said with a serious expression.

After all, Chi Zhen's core position was given to him by the coaching staff of this national team. Chi Zhen didn't want to snatch Wang Lie's core position at the beginning, and it was Cai Bokang himself who was responsible for persuading him.

Chi Zhen did not disappoint them. He indeed took over the core and performed well in the World Cup qualifiers.

The biggest contributor to the Chinese team's ability to qualify two rounds in advance this time is definitely Chi Zhen, not Wang Lie.

But now, because of Wang Lie's outstanding performance, depriving Chi Zhen of his core position would be somewhat unfair to Chi Zhen, even if it is out of consideration for the overall interests of the national team.

Although Cai Bokang was a little embarrassed, Chi Zhen still acted very relaxed: "I'm fine, Director Cai. I know this is for the good of the national team, and Captain Wang's performance is worthy of being a core player. Didn't Coach He say? 'The national team is for the capable.' Now Captain Wang is that 'capable person.'"

Cai Bokang's tone was completely relaxed: "Xiao Chi, your vision is really amazing..."

However, Chi Zhen's next words made him feel nervous again, because Chi Zhen said: "But..."

"But Cai pointed out that this does not mean that I accept the result of losing the competition, because my competition with Captain Wang is not over. From now on, until the opening of the World Cup next year, I will go all out in every training and competition of the national team and the club, and show you my best performance. I want to snatch the core back from Captain Wang."

After hearing what Chi Zhen meant, Cai Bokang first breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "Very good, Xiao Chi. Dare to think, dare to speak, and dare to do."

Chi Zhen, who had just expressed his domineering attitude, felt embarrassed by the praise: "This is also what Captain Wang meant... Doesn't he want each of us to work hard to become stronger?"

This seemed like he was trying to make amends for himself, but Cai Bokang nodded in agreement: "Yes, I think Wang Lie is also very happy that you think so. He is not afraid of competition, he is afraid of no competition, and sometimes I even think that he enjoys competition..."

※※※

When Chi Zhen returned to the restaurant to pick up his meal, he saw Su Ju waving at him: "This way!"

As soon as he sat down with his plate, Su Ju lowered his voice and asked him, "How is it?"

Although Liu Jinxuan didn't ask directly, he pricked up his ears.

"I told Director Cai that I will continue to compete with Captain Wang."

"What reaction does Cai mean?"

“He also encouraged me to do it.”

Liu Jinxuan was a little surprised to hear this answer.

Since the coaching staff has decided to let Captain Wang return to the core position, then the tactics should be built around Captain Wang. What's the point in encouraging Brother Chi to compete with Captain Wang?

He thought that this time Director Cai was looking for Brother Chi, he should let Brother Chi serve Captain Wang wholeheartedly...

Just like before, the team's tactics are built around an offensive core, maximizing the core's capabilities, and then letting this core lead the team to win.

However, although Liu Jinxuan couldn't understand why Coach Cai did this, he didn't ask about his confusion.

As a newcomer to the national team, he should talk less and watch and listen more.

He looked at the two seniors, Su Ju and Yue Hang.

Su Ju clasped his hands together and said, "I will pray to the gods for you."

Yue Hang said with a smile: "I will go back and ask Mazu and see what she says."

Liu Jinxuan felt that the topic the three of them were discussing might be considered a sensitive topic within the national team?
After all, they were discussing the matter of competing with the absolute leader of the national team for the core...

Especially when the coaching staff had already made a decision, Brother Chi still wanted to fight for it. His two friends did not try to persuade him, but instead seemed a little... "gloating"?
Although he had not been selected for the national team before, Liu Jinxuan also knew about the competition between Chi Ge and Captain Wang, especially the mutual attacks between the fans of both sides online...

In addition, after meeting Brother Xiaofeng, he could also feel that Brother Xiaofeng had some "personal grudges" against Captain Wang. This made him think that the relationship between Brother Chi and Brother Wang should also be tense and delicate.

So after finding out that his roommate was actually Brother Chi, he did not reveal his identity as a fan of Captain Wang in front of Brother Chi - he was not the kind of brainless fan who only saw things in black and white, but he was afraid that Brother Chi would care... As a newcomer to the national team, it is better to mind his own business.

But now it seems that Brother Chi and his friends' views on competing with Team Wang are not quite what he imagined.

He said something that was unclear whether it was encouragement or a joke, or perhaps both encouragement and a joke.

He didn't know how to describe his feelings when he saw this scene. He only knew that this was a little different from what he had imagined about the national team before he came.

They are definitely not a harmonious and friendly "family", nor are there the numerous factions and rivalries as rumored by the outside world.

He thought about it and realized that in essence, the national team was very similar to his own club team, both of which were made up of a group of people with different ideas and goals.

So how to ensure the combat effectiveness of this team?

After all, the club is still maintained by naked financial interests.

What about the national team?

There is no money to be made from playing for the national team, and there is also the risk of getting injured in national team games, which will affect the club's interests and status.

Then why are people still proud of being able to join the national team?

He thought again of Captain Wang’s speech at the meeting yesterday.

He still feels excited.

Brother Xiaofeng must think that he is a young man who is impulsive and easily fooled by others.

But Liu Jinxuan knew very well that it was not only because he really wanted to make achievements... Captain Wang was the captain of the national team, and he was also the captain of Chongshan Qianfan. As the captain, he also agreed with Captain Wang's approach.

If a team wants to be completely united and unleash its strongest fighting power, it does need a goal, an honor and an achievement to motivate everyone.

So what honor and achievement can compare to winning the World Cup?
That's why Liu Jinxuan applauded Captain Wang and thought that Captain Wang's move was truly brilliant.

Now his only worry is the attitude of the coaching staff and the Football Association.

After all, if the coaching staff and the Football Association don’t support this, it will be useless…

He even worried that if the coaching staff did not support him, it would hurt the enthusiasm of the team and also dampen the morale of the team. After all, this could be considered a "split".

Maybe their performance in the World Cup will be worse than before...

Just when Liu Jinxuan was daydreaming, his cell phone rang. Not only him, but also his deskmates Chi Zhen, Su Ju, and Yue Hang's cell phones all rang with new message alerts.

The four of them picked up their phones almost at the same time.

Liu Jinxuan saw a new message @everyone pop up in the [203706 National Team Training Group]:

"Shen Dongsheng: The meeting will be held at 9:30 am in Conference Room 1 on the third floor. Also, what happened last night must not be spread outside. @Everyone"

※※※

When Liu Jinxuan saw the team leader's notice, he was extremely glad that he had not fallen behind in terms of ideological awareness and had consciously kept it a secret from his parents last night.

If he had told others about the content of the meeting out of excitement, he would be sweating profusely when he saw the notice now, and the scene of being expelled from the national team and never being recruited again would start to replay in his mind...

Although he avoided the tragic fate of being kicked out of the national team for violating team discipline, Liu Jinxuan was not relieved because he didn't know what Team Leader Shen meant by this meeting.

Conference Room No. 1 is much larger than Conference Room No. 4 where the meeting was held last night. Conference Room No. 4 is just a small conference room that can't even accommodate 35 people, and some people have to stand.

Conference Room 1 can accommodate twice the number of participants as Conference Room 4.

In such a large conference room, the voices of people talking are not as concentrated as in a small conference room, so you can't hear what others are saying if you are a little further away.

Liu Jinxuan looked around. Before the formal meeting began, everyone was whispering. Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, Liu Jinxuan guessed that it was all related to Team Wang's World Cup goal.

This meeting should also be related to this.

This should indicate the attitude of the coaching staff and management, right?

Support or oppose?

Liu Jinxuan turned his gaze to Captain Wang and saw that he looked normal, without any worry or dissatisfaction on his face.

Considering that Captain Wang was called over by the coaching staff last night, they must have communicated in advance.

So does Captain Wang’s expression now mean that he has confidence?

Captain Wang was confident, and Liu Jinxuan also felt confident.

Captain Wang is the sky of the national team, and now it seems that the sky has not fallen.

The meeting started on time at half past nine.

The first person to speak was team leader Shen Dongsheng. He got straight to the point: "I called everyone together because the meeting last night was not completed. I have to criticize Wang Lie here."

Shen Dongsheng looked at Wang Lie with a serious expression.

Liu Jinxuan's heart skipped a beat when he saw this - could it be that Captain Shen did not agree with Captain Wang's goal?
He quickly looked at Captain Wang and saw that Wang Lie still had a calm expression.

At the same time, Shen Dongsheng continued, "... For such an important meeting, why didn't you notify us in advance? The team is a whole, not just the players, but also all the coaches. Anything about the team should be discussed together. At least we don't need to hold a special meeting today, because the coaching staff can announce their support for your goal on the spot!"

When all the players heard the first half of their coach's words, they thought that the coach was really criticizing Captain Wang.

But who would have thought that the team leader would drift around a corner in the end, then change the subject and finally come up with the goal of supporting Captain Wang!

"Ah?" Liu Jinxuan's brain didn't react. He turned his head and looked around in amazement, and found that most of his teammates had the same expression as him. They were caught off guard by the leader's words.

He even went to see Captain Wang, and found that Captain Wang was also a little surprised.

Well, this shows that the coaching staff and Captain Wang did not deliberately play a double act in front of everyone...

When everyone was still confused, He Zhenyong stood up and expressed his opinion as the head coach:
"What Lao Shen said is a bit exaggerated. Even if we were at the meeting yesterday, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to make any statement right away. I believe many players didn't sleep well last night. In fact, no matter what you think, I can understand. After all, the World Cup championship is really too grand for us now... So even if I was at the meeting yesterday, if you asked me to express my opinion, I can only say that I will study it further."

What He Zhenyong said was exactly in line with other people's first impression of him - a nice guy who is not good at speaking and is easy to talk to.

But if you know what he has done in the past two years since he took over as the head coach of the Chinese national team, you will no longer think that he is a good person who is easy to talk to...

After all, carrying huge pressure and insisting on removing Wang Lie from the core position of the national team and supporting the young Chi Zhen to take over is definitely not something that any good person can do.

If he looks honest and simple like an old farmer, he is also a tough and stubborn old farmer who dares to swing a hoe and compete with others for water when he gets ruthless.

"...After careful study and discussion last night, we all agreed that we could give the World Cup champion a try - this is of course not because we are ready. How can we prepare for this? Moreover, if we have to wait until everything is ready before doing anything, then I am afraid we will not be able to do anything. Because success is not prepared. So although Wang Lie's proposal was a bit sudden, after repeated consideration, we all think it is worth a try."

As the head coach, these words carry a lot of weight. They are the final word and endorse Wang Lie's personal goals.

"The reason for this statement is that we feel that since we want to win the championship, we should be open and honest with everyone about the coaching staff's ideas. This will allow everyone to unite better without guessing. So I will say it here directly. In the coming year, the goal of all the national team's preparations, including tactics, personnel deployment, and logistical support, is this - the World Cup championship!"

He Zhenyong raised a finger and showed it to the left and right.

"Like Wang Lie said, everyone must work hard for this goal. The national team does not evaluate players based on whether they play in Europe, how famous they are, or how long they have been in the national team... I have said before that the national team is for the most capable. I am afraid that some people will not take it seriously, so now I emphasize again that the standard for 'capable' has been raised - 'those who can fight hard for the World Cup championship' are the 'capable' that the Chinese team needs!"

(End of this chapter)