The God of Football starts with passive skills

Chapter 50 The New Leader: Wang Shuo! Klopp's team is "sick" again! Wang Shuo: I will create miracles!
Mainz.

After the 11th round of the Bundesliga, the season returned to one game per week.

The team had a day off, but the training ground on the north side of Bruchweg Stadium was still bustling with activity.

Wang Shuo is still sweating profusely on the training field, giving himself extra training.

I don’t know when it started, but it wasn’t just Subotic and Schürrle who were helping him with extra training.

Kirchhoff, also from the U19 team, and Roman Neustädter from the reserve team.

Even Nico Bungert, a German U21 international who just joined this summer, has chosen to stay.

Finally, even the substitute goalkeeper, Ischdonat, voluntarily stayed behind to practice shooting and free kicks with Wang Shuo.

Since Timo Wah's return from injury, Ischdonat has lost his starting position and has even become the third-choice goalkeeper.

But having played alongside him last season, he had a very good impression of Wang Shuo.

The 32-year-old Ishdonat wasn't looking to improve, but rather to maintain his form and also to make some good connections.

This meant that even though Mainz was on holiday, there was still a lot of activity on the training field.

"Jurgen, have you ever heard of the saying that outstanding individuals possess an aura of attraction?"

With so many people sparring with him, Kramny, as the coach, stood leisurely to the side.

Thomas Tuchel, the head coach of the reserve team, watched the training session on the field with great interest, his eyes filled with envy and admiration.

He loves simplicity!
Kramny's meaning is clear from his words: outstanding people easily attract those around them who want to grow together with them.

"My teacher, Wolfgang Frank, once said that in the world of football, 95% of people are mediocre."

"95% of the running, 95% of the passing, 95% of the defense... even 95% of the players!"

"Mediocrity is ineffective, but the remaining 5% is decisive!"

After listening, Tuchel pondered for a moment and nodded, saying, "He has captured the essence of professional football!"

"I have carefully studied the team-building strategies of all successful teams over the past 20 years, and they have all basically revolved around core players in building teams and developing tactics."

"Just like Mainz now, isn't it all centered around Wang Shuo?"

Kramny didn't understand the implication of Tuchel's words, so he could only smile and say, "Wang Shuo's performance in the 2. Bundesliga last season proved that he is trustworthy, and so is this season."

“Of course!” Tuchel nodded.

"He is a very special player, and he has always worked very hard and improved very quickly."

At this point, Tuchel changed the subject, "But since Rehhagel led Greece to win the European Championship in 04, and Deschamps' Monaco and Mourinho's Porto met in the Champions League final, it seems like a different trend has emerged."

“A tactical framework that relies too much on a single core player is unstable and too dependent. Once that player gets old or his/her performance declines, the cost will be very high. Therefore, many people believe that we should adopt a multi-core or even no-core approach.”

“You are a fan of Barcelona and Guardiola,” Kramny said with a smile.

This season, Guardiola's Barcelona has caused a great stir in European football, precisely because his Barcelona team doesn't seem to have a very clear core.

Xavi? Iniesta? Messi?

Even later, Yaya Touré, Busquets, Pique, and Puyol?

Barcelona looks like they have a lot of key players.

This makes them difficult to defend against.

"I don't know, I've been thinking about it, but I'm pretty sure of one thing."

"what?"

"Wang Shuo is a very special player. He is only 18 years old now. Once he makes up for his weakness in physical confrontation and can strengthen his left foot, he will be an all-around all-rounder!"

"In addition to his tireless running and output, he can secure a place on any team."

This is precisely what Tuher is most interested in about Wang Shuo.

He always wanted to know what level Wang Shuo could reach.
……

The training session on the field came to an end as the two were talking on the sidelines.

Wang Shuo walked over, panting, and greeted Tuher while drinking water.

"Your dedication is really putting a lot of pressure on us head coaches," Tuchel said, in a good mood, making a rare joke.

This greatly surprised Kirchhoff.

Tuchel is known as a tyrant in U19 matches.

Strange to say.

Both Klopp and Tuchel treated Wang Shuo exceptionally well.

Some people even jokingly asked Klopp why he never criticizes Wang Shuo.
Klopp's response was: "What did I criticize him for? That he runs more than 11 kilometers in every game?"

"Or should we criticize him for scoring 11 goals and providing 5 assists in 11 matches?"

"Or should we criticize him for stepping up and turning the tide multiple times when the team needed him?"

Three questions in a row left everyone speechless.

Regardless of whether he made any contributions, Wang Shuo's attitude alone is impeccable.

"It's all Ibisevic's fault. I suspect he broke up with his girlfriend," Wang Shuo joked.

He was holding back a lot of anger and had no way to vent it, so he desperately scored a goal.

How outrageous is it?

In 11 matches, Ibisevic scored 13 goals and provided 6 assists.

Whether it's goals or assists, he always comes out on top of Wang Shuo.

How could Wang Shuo possibly feel comfortable with this?
So he put all his effort into it, determined to give it his all.

We have a young man with special skills, yet we can't beat Ibisevic?

“Rangnick is also a tactical mastermind. His Hoffenheim is now attacking around Ibisevic, and the key is that Ibisevic is in very good form, so Hoffenheim’s midfield advantage is obvious.”

Tuchel then mentioned a name, saying, "The signing of Gustavo was crucial."

The top-ranked teams in the Bundesliga this season all share a common characteristic: they have all made excellent signings.

Hoffenheim goes without saying.

Mainz's signing of Hajnal can also be considered one of the best signings in the first half of the season.

Bayer Leverkusen's Augusto is also an excellent signing.

Wolfsburg's Misimovic has also been very impressive, while Grafite and Dzeko, the two center forwards, have been scoring relatively little so far.

Behind Wang Shuo and Ibisevic is the unwavering support of Mainz and Hoffenheim.

However, in terms of overall strength, Mainz is far inferior to Hoffenheim.

This puts Wang Shuo at a significant disadvantage in this competition.

It's quite remarkable that they've managed to persevere until now.

Look at Helmes of Bayer Leverkusen.

At the beginning of the season, he was on par with Ibisevic and Wang Shuo, but now he has fallen behind.

Helmes has gone three rounds without scoring.

Clearly, the player was psychologically affected.

But Wang Shuo still persisted!
This indomitable spirit made Tuchel admire him even more.

"I heard you want to compete for the European Golden Boy award?" Tuchel asked with concern.

"They've already made it to the shortlist, so they must want to."

"Then we need to interact more with Bild, Kicker magazine and Süddeutsche Zeitung, they all have voting rights."

Everyone knows that voting is never absolutely fair.

Sometimes they can even be used for exchange.

"It's already being arranged, and we'll be accepting their interviews one after another."

This was jointly organized by Mainz 05 and Thomas Essien.

Off-field factors are only part of the equation; on-field performance is even more important.

Especially for a small team like Mainz.

Only through solid performance on the field can one convince everyone to vote.

"I won't say anything, I'll practice a little longer."

As he spoke, Wang Shuo was about to run back to training.

He had only run a couple of steps when he turned back.

"Thomas, I'd like to treat you to lunch. I need your help with something."

He could tell that Tuchel was in a good mood.

Now, talking to him about Zhao Yifan's trial should be fine.

At the very least, give him six months, or even a year and a half, of opportunity.

……

On the evening of November 7th, in the 12th round of the Bundesliga, Mainz hosted Hannover 96.

Hannover 96 is a very peculiar team this season.

Under the guidance of renowned German coach Hecking, this team has experienced a rollercoaster of results.

Note that "ups and downs" is not a positive term here.

They lost 0-3 to Schalke 04 in the first round away from home.

之后，第4轮主场5比1大破门兴格拉德巴赫，一转头第5轮就在客场0比4惨败给勒沃库森。

接着第6轮主场1比0爆冷击败了拜仁，1比1客场战平了多特蒙德。

Then came a crushing 2-5 defeat at home to Hoffenheim.

过去这一周，第10轮在主场1比1战平云达不莱梅，客场0比3输给柏林赫塔。

In the last round, they defeated Beida King Hamburger 3-0 at home.

What kind of team is this?
Wang Shuo experienced it firsthand at Bruchweg Stadium.

Blackgold fielded a 4-2-3-1 formation in this match.

The two center-backs and two defensive midfielders created a cage that locked up Wang Shuo.

Moreover, they have clearly conducted targeted drills over the past week.

No matter where Wang Shuo runs, there will always be players around him who can immediately mark him closely.

Wang Shuo's attack was contained, and Mainz's entire offensive was frozen.

In the 16th minute, Hannover 96 launched a counter-attack. Finnish striker Forsell delivered a pass, and midfielder Schlaudraf controlled the ball, dribbled past Pekovic, and fired a shot into the net from inside the penalty area.

0 is better than 1!

“Mainz’s form has indeed been getting worse recently.”

"Especially as the season progresses and players' physical strength is depleted, their performance is much worse than at the beginning of the season."

"Now it all depends on whether Wang Shuo can turn the tide once again."

"In the past few matches, Mainz has only managed to break through thanks to Wang Shuo's performance at crucial moments."

……

"Relying on Wang Shuo?"

In front of the away team's bench, Hannover 96's head coach, Dieter Hecking, wore a confident smile.

Under the stadium lights at night, his glasses reflected a faint glow, as if gleaming with a wise light.

"Wang Shuo can't save Mainz in this match, I'm telling you!"

Black Gold spoke with great certainty.

Because three German national team players were positioned around Wang Shuo during the match.

Christian Schulz and Frank Fahrenhorst partnered at center-back.

Both of these center-backs have been selected for the German national team multiple times.

Hanno Balic was once Germany's most promising midfielder, partnering with Bastian Schulz, a product of Hannover's youth academy, to form a double pivot.

The left-back is Konstantin Rausch, a key player for the German U20 national team, and the right-back is Steve Cherundolo, a US international.

As a renowned Bundesliga coach, Hecking is well aware that Wang Shuo is currently the core fighting force of Klopp's Mainz.

Once Wang Shuo is shut down, the other players pose little threat.

"Mainz has reached its limit in terms of its current performance."

"Unless Wang Shuo can fly, he won't be able to break through our impenetrable defenses!"

He had spent a week developing a defensive tactic specifically tailored for Mainz and Wang Shuo, and Hecking was full of confidence.

……

Wang Shuo certainly can't fly.

But he will run.

And it's very fast.

That's a stupid approach.

Sometimes, however, the stupidest methods are precisely the most effective, and also the most difficult to control and counter.

Mainz were a bit disorganized after conceding a goal in the 16th minute.

Wang Shuo managed to stabilize the team with the help of teammates like Calhanoglu and Nowitzki.

He himself was constantly looking for opportunities.

Hannover 96's defensive coordination was noticeably better, and they didn't reveal any weaknesses when switching between man-to-man marking.

The teammates didn't offer much help either.

Even Hainaur was contained.

Wang Shuo kept running, running nonstop.

No flaws?

Then create a flaw!
This requires constant running and constant pulling.

By constantly depleting their physical strength, once they reach a certain limit, their weaknesses will naturally emerge.

Wang Shuo is very confident in his trump card, this "secret weapon".

And it has never failed to work.

as predicted.

As the first half drew to a close, Hannover 96's midfielders and defenders began to tire.

It's not that they're physically exhausted, but rather that they need to conserve some energy for the second half.

Moreover, Wang Shuo had been running for over twenty minutes and hadn't created any decent opportunities.

This proves that Hannover 96's targeted defense was quite successful.

In the 42nd minute, Czech international Steiner received the ball outside the right corner of the penalty area in the attacking third, but was successfully dispossessed by Löw.

After Löw intercepted the ball, he hurriedly kicked it forward with a long kick.

The clearance was rushed and somewhat hasty, but the Hannover 96 players were also caught off guard.

When he landed outside Mainz's 30-meter zone, not a single player around him was able to get to the ball in time.

After bouncing off the ground, the ball landed on the left side of the center circle in Mainz's half.

Wang Shuo had been running around the center line the whole time.

The moment he saw the ball fall, one thought popped into his mind.

The opportunity is coming!

He could clearly sense that the running ability of the surrounding defensive players had declined.

So he sped up and chased after him.

Bastian Schulz, the right defensive midfielder, also chased after the second ball.

The 23-year-old German midfielder wanted to regain control of the ball and reorganize the attack.

Almost at the same time, he received a warning from his teammate, center-back Fahrenhorst, behind him.

"Watch out, someone's behind you!"

As soon as Bastian Schultz turned his head, he felt someone rush past him like a gust of wind.

too fast!
He couldn't see who it was at all.

But it's obvious without even guessing, especially the number 9 on the back of the red jersey.

Bastian Schulz saw Wang Shuo lift his foot the instant he charged forward.

Want to stop the ball?

Bastian Schulz rushed forward in three strides and delivered a scissor-kick sliding tackle.

He wanted to tackle the player and the ball to the ground.

At worst, it'll just be a yellow card!
Wang Shuo did want to stop the ball and turn around, but at the moment Fahrenhorst warned him, he also turned his head to look at Bastian Schulz behind him.

With the advantage of being in the lead, Wang Shuo could clearly see his intentions even with just a glance.

If you stop the ball, you'll definitely be tackled to the ground along with the ball.

How to do?
In that instant, a flash of inspiration struck Wang Shuo.

The foot that was raised remained the same, but the footwork changed.

The ball control technique has changed from stopping the ball with the inside of the foot to flicking it with the instep.

Wang Shuo flicked the ball directly behind him.

He was also tripped by Bastian Schulz's scissor kick.

Just as he was about to fall, Wang Shuo, who was prepared, staggered and quickly stepped out with his right foot. As he slid to the side and fell, he braced himself on the grass with his hands.

If time were to freeze at this moment, everyone would realize that Wang Shuo is like a cheetah crouching in the grass on the African savanna, with the football falling in front of him as his prey.

However, other competitors have also set their sights on this prey.

The next moment, Wang Shuo pushed off with both legs and darted out like lightning, getting ahead of left-back Cherundolo, and dribbled the ball out with one foot, controlling it on his right side.

The Mainz fans erupted in cheers at this moment!
Especially when they saw Wang Shuo and Cherundolo racing on the left.

Standing at 1.8 meters tall, Wang Shuo, when carrying the ball, was surprisingly just as fast as the 1.72-meter-tall Cherundolo.

Little did the fans know, this was because Wang Shuo kept the ball on his right foot, blocking Cherundolo on his left.

But when he entered the 30-meter zone of Hannover 96, Farenhorst blocked Wang Shuo's sprint path.

Wang Shuo glanced at him and immediately guessed what he wanted to do.

The goal was to block himself to the left side of the penalty area, and then coordinate with Cherundolo to double-team him.

What an experienced center-back!
But I'm not going to give in so easily!
Wang Shuo's speed did not decrease at all. While using his left shoulder to block Cherundolo, he made a move to break away from the defense to the left.

Moreover, he was heading towards the left edge of the Fallenhorst defensive zone.

All signs indicate that Wang Shuo intends to use his speed to force his way through the defense from the outside.

Farrenhorst was overjoyed at getting what he wanted and immediately turned to press himself against her.

It's common knowledge that Wang Shuo is not good at physical confrontation.

But at that very moment, Wang Shuo, who was rushing toward the left side of the defensive zone, suddenly stopped abruptly and flicked the ball laterally with the outside of his right foot.

Poor Farenhorst!

The Hannover 96 center-back watched helplessly as the ball rolled past his supporting foot.

At that moment, if he moved his left foot even slightly, the ball wouldn't get past him.

But once he shifted his center of gravity, his supporting foot became completely immobile.

He just watched helplessly as the football slipped away right under his nose.

Even more cruelly, Wang Shuo also made a sudden stop and change of direction, cutting inside laterally.

He reached out to grab it.

At this point, who cares about whether it's a foul?
But Wang Shuo was prepared and blocked Farenhorst's hand.

By the time Wang Shuo caught up with the ball again, another center-back, Christian Schulz, had already come to cover.

But this is no longer difficult for Wang Shuo.

He caught up with the ball, took a series of short, quick steps, then suddenly accelerated, followed by a skillful croquet move, about to break into the penalty area between Schulz and Fahrenhorst.

Once you get there, it's a one-on-one situation!

But Wang Shuo overlooked one thing.

The 1.72-meter-tall Cherendo was very agile. Although he was constantly blocked on the outside by Wang Shuo, he adjusted in time and caught up with Wang Shuo.

Seeing that Wang Shuo was about to dribble past Christian Schulz and break into the penalty area, he decisively reached out from behind, grabbed Wang Shuo's jersey around his waist, and pulled hard.

We can just give them a free kick!
But Wang Shuo moved too fast.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Wang Shuo stepped into the penalty area with one foot before losing his balance and falling to the ground.

The moment Wang Shuo fell to the ground, the entire Bruchweg Stadium was filled with rage!

Penalty kick!!!

"Damn American, he fouled!"

"This is definitely a penalty, an indisputable penalty!"

Especially at the closest stand behind the Hannover 96 goal, the Mainz fans were so enraged that it seemed they wanted to break through the barriers, rush onto the pitch, and tear Cherundolo to shreds.

Cherundolo was also clearly taken aback.

The next moment, he heard the referee's clear whistle.

Peter Sippel pointed to the penalty spot without hesitation, while also waving to Cherundolo.

More than 2 Mainz fans at the stadium erupted in thunderous cheers.

The Hannover 96 players closest to Sippel realized the danger and immediately surrounded him, wanting to explain to the referee.

But Sippel kept waving his hands and shaking his head, indicating that he would not listen to any explanation.

Cherundolo stated that when he grabbed the player's jersey, the player was still standing outside the penalty area, so it shouldn't have been a penalty.

As for the yellow card, he admits it!

But to his surprise, Sippel pulled out a red card for him!
"why?"

Wang Shuo, who was lying on the grass pretending to be dead, secretly peeked and saw that Cherundolo had completely lost control and was roaring at the referee.

"This is clearly a yellow card, why is it a red card?"

At this moment, the Americans have no time to worry about penalties.
But Sippel's attitude was very firm.

He first stretched out his hands, signaling the Hannover 96 players to calm down, then glanced at Wang Shuo, who was still lying on the ground, clearly trying to determine whether to call the team doctor or even a stretcher. However, after just one glance, he was certain that the guy was faking death.

This almost made Sippel burst out laughing.

“When the foul occurred, you and Christian Schulz were in the same position, both being the last defender.”

"But more importantly, the definition of the last player is based on disrupting obvious scoring opportunities."

"It's obvious that he went over there one-on-one just now."

Sippel's argument was so logical and well-founded that none of the members of Hannover 96 could come up with a strong rebuttal.

Only head coach Dieter Hecking on the sidelines continued to roar and shout, insisting that this was not a penalty, but a biased refereeing decision.

After confirming that there was no problem with the ruling, Sippel walked over to Wang Shuo, who had fallen to the ground.

This is also a routine question from the referee.

Wang Shuo was fine, and quickly stood up with the help of his teammates.

But he always felt as if he saw Sippel smiling.

I really fell down; it wasn't acting, and it wasn't a fake fall!
Hey, if you don't believe me, go back and watch the replay.

I'm aiming for the European Golden Boy Award, not the Oscar for Best Actor!

……

Cherundolo was eventually sent off.

Calhanoglu calmly converted the penalty, leveling the score for Mainz!
There was actually a little incident before the penalty kick was taken.

Calhanoglu wanted Wang Shuo to take the penalty he had won, but Wang Shuo refused.

It's all that damn Virgo's fault!

Anyway, Wang Shuo just doesn't like taking penalty kicks.

Even when competing with Ibisevic for the top scorer title, he still refused to take penalty kicks.

With an extra player, the game gradually tilted in Mainz's favor.

In the 71st minute of the second half, Feulner created a corner kick opportunity.

Hainaul took the corner kick, Noveski headed the ball across, and Subotic scored from close range.

2 is better than 1!

Wang Shuo was under tight defense from Hannover 96 throughout the entire game.

Although he didn't score or assist, he created a crucial penalty and also sent off Cherundolo.

After the match, Wang Shuo once again received unanimous recognition from head coach Klopp and the German media.

After the match, Bild gave it the highest score of 2.

But as Kicker magazine has said in its Bundesliga commentary for each round.

Mainz narrowly retained their top spot, but the situation is now very serious.

"If it weren't for Wang Shuo's brilliant performance before the end of the first half, Klopp's team would probably have been unable to escape the fate of losing at home."

……

On the afternoon of November 16, at Werder Bremen's Weser Stadium.

In the 13th round of the Bundesliga, Mainz will play away against Werder Bremen.

Another early attack failed to produce results, and the opponent stuck to them, leading to a goal.

Hannover 96 scored in the 16th minute.

Werder Bremen started a little earlier than them, in the 15th minute.

However, both teams' goals were scored by players in the number 10 position.

Brazilian player Diego scored against Timo Wache.

The assist came from German veteran Frank Baumann.

Wang Shuo was still under close surveillance.

Nowadays, almost everyone in the Bundesliga knows that marking Wang Shuo tightly is basically the key to breaking down Mainz's attack.

However, Schaaf's 4-4-2 formation and his attacking tactics meant that Werder Bremen was not without weaknesses.

In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Mainz intercepted the ball near the center circle in their own half.

After controlling the ball, Hajnal delivered a diagonal pass that pierced through Werder Bremen's midfield.

Wang Shuo received the ball near the bottom of the center circle in Werder Bremen's half.

Werder Bremen's Brazilian center-back Naldo is very experienced.

His imposing 1.98-meter height made it easy for him to suppress Wang Shuo.

Moreover, he always appeared on the right side of Wang Shuo's foot.

This time is no exception.

When Hajnal passed the ball, Naldo was on Wang Shuo's left.

But as soon as Wang Shuo turns around, that's the right side.

Just before receiving the ball, Wang Shuo turned around first, and before the ball hit the ground, he flicked the ball with the outside of his right foot, following its downward momentum, and led it directly in front of him.

Just as Naldo was taken aback, Wang Shuo rushed forward first, using his speed and agility to get in front of the turning Naldo and dribble the ball forward.

Naldo missed his chance, as Wang Shuo held him firmly in his place.

He can choose to foul.

But ahead of him was Mertesacker.

A foul results in a yellow card and a free kick.

Is it to cooperate with Mertesacker?

Or should we commit a foul decisively?

For a moment, Naldo hesitated.

Wang Shuo seized the moment his opponent hesitated and immediately accelerated.
When Wang Shuo charged forward, it was too late for Naldo behind him to foul him.

Mertesacker, who was blocking the way, was at a disadvantage.

Naldo, who is 1.98 meters tall, is not agile, but he is at least a Brazilian player.

The 1.99-meter-tall Mertesacker is the real log!

When Wang Shuo dribbled the ball up to Mertesacker, he didn't even bother with him for long. He simply used a stepover at 1.2x speed to shake Mertesacker off balance.

Then, Wang Shuo dribbled into the right side of Werder Bremen's penalty area and unleashed a powerful shot that pierced the Bremen goal.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Wang Shuo scores again, successfully leveling the score!"

"Wang Shuo made a crucial contribution at the critical moment!"

“In the last round against Hannover 96, Wang Shuo single-handedly created a penalty and a red card, giving Mainz an advantage.”

"Now, Wang Shuo has saved Mainz once again!"

Wang Shuo excitedly rushed off the court to celebrate.

Although it was Werder Bremen's away game, some Werder Bremen fans still couldn't help but applaud Wang Shuo.

"Let's take another look at the slow-motion replay of that goal."

"Wang Shuo's control of the ball was brilliant."

"This demonstrates his exceptional ball control ability."

"The subsequent start and positioning, especially keeping Naldo behind, created an advantage for the next goal."

"As for Mertesacker, we can see that the German center-back, who is nearly 2 meters tall, really has no way to deal with him."

"1 to 1!"

"The race is back to square one!"

"Wang Shuo's goal has given Mainz another chance to stay alive!"

……

Wang Shuo's goal allowed Mainz's players to have a relatively easier halftime break.

Klopp was not satisfied with the team's performance, but a 1-1 draw was acceptable.

However, after the start of the second half, the team's situation deteriorated.

Just three minutes into the game, during a free kick defense in the attacking third, Werder Bremen midfielder Frings assisted Naldo to head the ball into the net.

The Brazilian center-back made amends for his mistake in the final stages of the first half!

Wang Shuo actually felt quite sorry for his defensive teammates after conceding that goal.

当纳尔多和默特萨克这两名无限接近2米的高中卫，再加上1米91的葡萄牙中锋阿尔梅达，还有1米87的中场弗兰克·鲍曼……

It's terrifying to think about so many tall players charging into Mainz's penalty area.

After conceding a goal in the 48th minute, Almeida had another chance in the penalty area just seven minutes later.

3 is better than 1!

Ultimately, Mainz lost the match 1-3 away from home.

Wang Shuo once again scored 2 points for Bild, making him one of the highest-scoring players in the game.

……

Mainz is "sick" again!

This is obvious.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung believes that Klopp's team is entering a new slump.

"His Mainz team always behaves like this: when they perform well, they are incredibly impressive, but more often than not, they become listless after being brought back to their original form!"

"But this is the true level of Mainz!"

Kicker magazine also believes that Mainz's top spot is unsustainable.

As one of the teams that spent the least in the Bundesliga transfer market this summer, Mainz is almost playing in the Bundesliga with a squad from the 2. Bundesliga. Many players, such as Heller and Löw, were acquired on free transfers.

The only one who spent money was Hainaur, and his performance was remarkable.

But that's about all the strength Mainz has to offer.

Moreover, this is not the first time.

Under Klopp's coaching, Mainz always started strong but finished weak.

Kicker magazine believes this is largely due to Klopp's tactics.

"In fact, if it weren't for Wang Shuo's goal this season, Mainz would be in the relegation zone right now."

"No, without Wang Shuo, Mainz shouldn't even be in the Bundesliga!"

But now, Mainz is still ranked first.

13 matches, 9 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

Scored 29 points.

Hoffenheim is in second place with 28 points.

Bayer Leverkusen is in third place with 26 points.

Bayern Munich's recent performance has improved, earning them 25 points and placing them fourth.

……

As Germany experiences a cold snap, Mainz's condition has also entered a frozen period.

This situation became particularly evident a week later on November 22nd, during the top-of-the-table clash at home against Hoffenheim.

The two teams have very similar tactical styles.

Both teams employ high-pressing tactics and emphasize quickly applying pressure on the opponent after losing possession of the ball to regain it as soon as possible.

Both teams switched amplifiers at a very fast pace.

This resulted in both teams playing at a fast pace from the very first minute in the match at Bruchweg Stadium.

In the words of a TV commentator, "This doesn't look like the Bundesliga at all; it's more like two Premier League teams playing together!"

Klopp vs. Rangnick!

Wang Shuo vs. Ibisevic!
The Bundesliga leaders host the second-placed team!
But in such a high-profile match, Mainz only lasted 22 minutes.

Ibisevic's assist allowed Demba Ba to score against Mainz.

1 is better than 0!

Just 10 minutes later, Salihovic delivered a brilliant pass, and Ibisevic scored again inside the penalty area.

2 is better than 0!

In just about half an hour, Mainz couldn't withstand the pressure and conceded goals in succession.

In the past, when Wang Shuo heard his teammates talk about Mainz's relegation from the Bundesliga and the devastating defeat they suffered against Bayern Munich, he always felt very strange. Why did that happen?

But now, he understands it very clearly.

Physical fitness!

Physical fitness!

It's still all about physical fitness!
Klopp's tactics are too physically demanding.

And it's not just one person who's worn down, it's the entire team.

Under Klopp's tactics, if three players need to "catch their breath" at the same time, the speed and rhythm of pressing cannot keep up, and the effect of high pressing will be greatly reduced.

If the opponent manages to move the ball out, the defense will be in grave danger.

During this period, it was not difficult for Bundesliga teams to score goals repeatedly.

The biggest problem in this match was the two midfielders.

In the 4411 formation, the three midfielders were originally rotated.

But Gunkel was injured.

Calhanoglu and Pekovic are both veterans in their thirties and can't keep going.

Conversely, Hoffenheim's three midfielders are 21-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gustavo, 24-year-old Salihovic, and 23-year-old Tobias Weiss.

They are all in their prime, possessing boundless energy.

Hoffenheim's average age is only 24.2, making them the youngest team in the Bundesliga this season.

none of them.

This is the source of Rangnick's confidence in employing a high-pressing and pressure tactic!
Of course, Klopp can't really be blamed for Mainz's current situation.

Without Klopp, there would be no Mainz as we know it today.

Uncle Beard has played Mainz's hand to its fullest potential.

Although Wang Shuo understood the situation, he still felt unwilling to accept it.

In this match in particular, Ibisevic, taking advantage of Hoffenheim's overall strength, contributed a goal and an assist, continuing to lead the scoring and assist charts.

How could Wang Shuo be willing to accept this?
Who could accept watching the Bundesliga top spot and the European Golden Boy award slip through their fingers?
In the 33rd minute, just one minute after Hoffenheim scored their second goal, Wang Shuo, while dropping back to receive the ball in the middle, turned and got rid of Gustavo, then sprinted forward with the ball.

He was tripped from the side by a Brazilian player.

The referee gave Gustavo a yellow card.

But Wang Shuo was also furious. He pounded the grass with both fists, then pushed away Gustavo's outstretched hand and got up from the ground.

He is not willing!

Really not reconciled!
Wang Shuo felt a raging fire burning in his chest, about to burst forth.

He needed to find an outlet for his emotions!

……

"boom!"

Trailing 0-2, Wang Shuo returned to the locker room and punched the wardrobe hard.

The stainless steel cabinet door was dented with a fist-sized mark.

Everyone in the locker room was startled and turned around to look at Wang Shuo in disbelief.

Since Wang Shuo came to Mainz and joined the team, he has always given everyone the impression of being diligent, hardworking, harmless, and never having any conflicts or arguments with anyone.

He didn't even say a harsh word.

As his role in the team grew, he also began to take on more responsibility.

But what he talked about most was asking for the ball on the court.

Everyone has gotten used to this kind of Wang Shuo.

Therefore, when they saw Wang Shuo punch the wardrobe, they all felt very unfamiliar with it.

At the same time, it also revealed the anger in Wang Shuo's heart at this moment.

It wasn't just directed at them, nor at the team; it was a complex anger mixed with feelings of defiance and resistance.

"In the second half, you all pass the ball to me!" Wang Shuo said firmly.

His words carried an undeniable firmness.

This isn't a discussion, it's a demand!

"I will definitely break through Hoffenheim's goal!"

"I don't believe that the weak are born to be slaughtered!"

"Jürgen said that Mainz is a team that believes ordinary people can create miracles."

"Now, it's time for us to create miracles ourselves!"

Klopp stood at the doorway and heard Wang Shuo's roar with his own ears.

This felt very unfamiliar to him.

Because this is not the Wang Shuo he knows.

But soon, he felt incredibly gratified.

Because this is exactly the Wang Shuo he wanted to see, and the one he could trust and rely on!

In a football match, the head coach is destined to be just a spectator.

Ultimately, the players are the ones who decide the outcome of the game!

Mainz desperately needs someone like Wang Shuo to step forward.

A leader is not just someone who works silently on the field.

He needs to influence more people, to influence everyone!

At that moment, Klopp saw leadership qualities in Wang Shuo.

He's only 18, but he really can.

Because he has a deep desire for victory and for scoring goals!
"This kid has impressed me once again!" Kramny exclaimed.

From the moment he first met Wang Shuo, he shone almost every day, every moment.

And it's getting more and more dazzling!
"So, I'm willing to bet on him again!"

After Klopp finished speaking, he strode into the locker room, clapped loudly, and gestured for everyone to look over.

"We will make substitutions in the second half."

"Tim, I'm sorry, we need to step up our offense."

"Andrei, you go up there and play as a right winger."

Upon hearing this, André Schürrle stood up with great delight and nodded in agreement.

Then look at Wang Shuo.

As Wang Shuo's close friend, he felt the unwavering strength in Wang Shuo's eyes.

After Tim Hoogland was substituted, Heller dropped back to play right-back.

Heller is a versatile player, capable of running down the right flank and even filling in as a midfielder.

Klopp also instructed Kirschhof to prepare.

This young midfielder has performed well in the U19 team, but has not made any outstanding contributions in the first team, mostly appearing in cup competitions.

"In the second half, all of our team's attacks will be led by Wang Shuo. After transitioning from defense to offense, everyone will do their best to cooperate with Wang Shuo. I believe he can break through Hoffenheim's goal!"

Klopp's expression was incredibly resolute as he finished speaking.

"He's right, we at Mainz are a team that firmly believe that ordinary people can also create miracles!"

"Therefore, we must let Hoffenheim feel the terrifying power from the Black Forest!"

In the end, Klopp practically roared out his last words.

Wang Shuo is competing with Ibisevic, and so is Klopp.

Despite being Wolfgang Frank's direct successor, Rangnick is now enjoying great fame.

Competition is competition, and friendship is friendship.

Klopp has also considered that if the investment he made in Hoffenheim had been replaced with that of Mainz, he could have built a much stronger Mainz team than it is now.

Would we still be in such a predicament now?

But in life, many things are predetermined.

Mainz was born into poverty.

But Wang Shuo is right: being poor doesn't mean you have to accept your fate!

Being weak does not mean you have to be bullied!

……

After the break in the second half, Mainz made one substitution.

Led by Wang Shuo, Feulner, Schürrle, Hainauer, and others charged towards Hoffenheim like tigers descending a mountain.

Wang Shuo, in particular, was more active than in the first half.

In the 51st minute, Wang Shuo dropped back to receive the ball, got past Gustavo, passed it to Feulner with a sideways turn, and then quickly moved forward.

Foyle understood perfectly and knocked back to Wang Shuo.

Wang Shuo sprinted forward and took control of the ball before Gustavo could react.

But the next moment, Gustavo delivered a vicious scissor kick, slamming Wang Shuo and the ball to the ground.

In the stands, countless fans were exclaiming in surprise.

At the same time, they were also worried about Wang Shuo, who had fallen to the ground.

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(End of this chapter)