Chapter 440: Lin Quan Steps In, Haaland and His Father Visit
As expected, after the game ended, the same media that praised Paco as Valencia's next Villa the day before, now criticized him harshly for his poor performance and missed penalty. The fickleness of the media was indeed astonishing, changing their tune in just one day.
Poor Paco! He had never experienced such a thing before. The previous day, he was thrilled by the media's praise and the news that Barcelona might scout him for a winter transfer. But the next day, after just one match, the world's opinion of him completely changed.
Paco felt wronged! Players miss penalties all the time. Even Messi and Ronaldo have missed penalties. Although it was a bit outrageous for Paco to miss his first penalty, it was understandable given that he was unprepared and thrust into the situation last minute. The media's harsh criticism seemed overly severe.
If Paco were from another country, he might not face such harsh criticism. But unfortunately, he was from Spain. Spain, the reigning champion of both the European Championship and the World Cup, and the dominant force in football for four years, meant its players received much more scrutiny and higher standards than players from other countries.
Paco was only 22 years old, still very young. Although he was a newcomer to the national team, he had already had two standout seasons at his club. At just 17, he had already played for Valencia's first team. In the 2012-2013 season, on loan to Getafe, he scored 4 goals in 24 appearances, a decent record for a 19-year-old who mostly played as a substitute.
Returning to Valencia in the 2013-2014 season, Paco had a breakout year, scoring 14 goals in 37 appearances. Even without considering his age, these numbers were impressive for a forward from a mid-table team. More importantly, his form was consistent, proving he wasn't a one-season wonder.
In the 2014-2015 season, Paco continued his impressive form, scoring another 14 goals in 36 appearances. For a young player just over 20 years old, these numbers in one of Europe's top leagues made him a rising star in Spain.
Yet this rising star was now being harshly criticized by the media, as if Spain had a surplus of better players ready to take his place. While it was true that Paco's generation wasn't as talented as the previous golden generation, Spain couldn't always produce such high-caliber players. The golden generation would eventually fade, and even if Paco's generation wasn't as talented, they were still the best Spain had. Fans and coaches had to make do with what they had.
The problems in the attack were minor compared to the midfield and defense. With Xavi and Alonso retired, and Silva, Iniesta, and Cazorla likely to retire after the 2018 World Cup, the team would have to rely on Mata, Busquets, and Fabregas. These slightly younger players might last until the 2020 European Championship, but after that, they'd be too old for the national team.
Spain's midfield strength would inevitably decline, and new players like Koke from Atletico Madrid and Thiago from Bayern Munich, while promising, weren't quite at the same level as their predecessors. Without a strong midfield, Spain's famed possession-based tactics would lose their potency.
Despite this looming crisis, Spanish fans and media seemed oblivious, still basking in past glories and believing the Spanish football dynasty would continue indefinitely.
Although this had nothing to do with Lin Quan initially, reporters came to ask for his opinion on the matter after the national team's match, putting him in an awkward position.
"Lin, how do you feel about Spain's forward Paco missing a penalty in the European Championship qualifiers?" a reporter asked.
Lin Quan looked seriously at the reporter, seemingly memorizing the media outlet he represented, deciding to keep his distance in the future. Although Paco was older, he was still Lin Quan's junior in the national team. Lin Quan had no reason to join the media in criticizing him.
So, Lin Quan defended Paco: "It's not uncommon for players to miss penalties. I don't think one missed penalty should define a player's entire performance."
The reporter pressed on, "But according to media ratings, Paco's performance in that match was the lowest, only scoring 5.9!"
Lin Quan took another deep look at the reporter and said, "Paco played well in the previous match. Players are human; fluctuations in performance are normal. Many factors can affect a player's performance, including their own form, team tactics, opponent tactics, and other external factors. I don't think we should judge a player based on one or two games."
The reporter left disappointed. He had hoped to stir up a big story using Lin Quan's influence, but Lin Quan didn't give him the chance. Although the reporter didn't achieve his goal, the interview was still published, drawing attention due to Lin Quan's involvement and sparking some rational discussion among fans.
"Indeed, Lin is right. Even players like Messi and Ronaldo have off days. We shouldn't be too harsh on a young player; we should give him enough room to grow."
"Yes, not every player can be like Lin, peaking from the start and continually reaching new heights."
"Lin's presence has spoiled us, making us think Spain can constantly produce top talents. But that's not realistic. Even La Masia, known for producing top players, has been quiet in recent years. It's tough to produce top talents consistently. Both Barcelona and Spain may struggle to reach their previous peaks again."
Spain's peak closely coincided with Barcelona's peak. The Spanish national team was built around Barcelona's core players. In reality, Spain should have declined after Barcelona did in 2013, but Lin Quan's emergence extended their dominance. Despite Lin Quan's incredible talent, he couldn't prevent the inevitable decline of the team as players aged and their performance dipped.
Currently, Spain remains strong with few rivals in the football world. However, this won't last forever. Spanish fans need to prepare for a future where their team's strength diminishes and they might lose their top spot. The era of Spain's dominance will eventually end.
...
"Lin, thank you for speaking up for me!"
Paco, feeling criticized by everyone lately, was deeply touched after reading Lin Quan's supportive comments. He called Lin to express his gratitude. The media's harsh words had shaken his confidence, and Lin Quan's support felt like a beacon of light in the darkness.
"You're welcome. The media thrives on sensationalism, creating exaggerated stories. Don't take their reports too seriously. Just focus on training and playing well," Lin Quan advised.
Paco was somewhat similar to Villa—short, quick, with excellent positioning and a sharp goal-scoring instinct. However, his fundamental skills, especially his shooting, were not as refined as Villa's. If Paco could improve his shooting, his scoring ability would significantly increase. This is something he could learn from Benzema, who had greatly improved his shooting in the past two seasons.
Listening to Lin Quan's advice, Paco nodded firmly. "Got it, Lin. I'll watch your goal highlights and try to learn from you!"
Lin Quan's lips twitched at the awkward flattery. It felt forced. After ending the call, he changed clothes and prepared to head out for training. As he opened the door, he found a middle-aged man and a teenager standing outside.
"Hello, who are you looking for?" Lin Quan asked, seeing the man about to ring the doorbell. He glanced at the boy, finding him vaguely familiar but unable to place him immediately.
The man smiled and introduced himself, "I was about to ask if this is Coach Guardiola's residence, but seeing you, I guess it is! I'm Alf-Inge Haaland, and this is my son, Erling Haaland. We're here to visit Coach Guardiola."
Recognizing the names, Lin Quan realized why the boy seemed familiar. He was looking at the future football star, Erling Haaland. Imagining the legendary player's feats and his rumored appetite for defenders, Lin Quan couldn't help but smile.
Meanwhile, Haaland was curiously staring back at Lin Quan, wondering how someone who looked not much older than him could be so skilled. After a brief staring contest, Lin Quan broke eye contact, worried that it might escalate.
Alf-Inge, noticing his son's intense gaze, quickly reprimanded him, "Erling, be polite. Greet the senior properly!"
Erling grinned, his smile a bit unsettling. He introduced himself confidently, "Hello, I'm Erling Haaland, 15 years old, and I'm a forward. One day, I'll surpass you!"
Alf-Inge felt both proud and embarrassed by his son's bold declaration. While it was good to have ambition, saying such a thing to a top player like Lin Quan could be seen as disrespectful. Worried that this might ruin their chances with Manchester City, he was relieved when Lin Quan laughed instead of taking offense.
"Why are you laughing? Are you mocking me?" Erling asked, his face reddening with anger.
Lin Quan, thinking about Haaland's future achievements and playful goal celebrations, chuckled, "No, I'm not mocking you. I just remembered something funny."
Curious, Haaland asked, "What's so funny?"
Lin Quan decided to change the subject, "It's nothing important. You're here to see my father, right? He's probably at the club. I'll take you there."
Alf-Inge quickly declined, "No need to trouble you. I know where the club is."
Lin Quan insisted, explaining that the club had moved to a new training base, and he led them there. Despite Alf-Inge's familiarity with the old base, the new location was unknown to him, so he agreed to follow Lin Quan.
Alf-Inge wasn't a City legend, but players like Sun Jihai, who spent more time at the club, often returned for events. As they walked, Lin Quan thought about Haaland's potential and how securing such talents early could be a strategic move for his uncle's agency.
This unexpected visit had sparked an idea. Lin Quan was considering investing in his uncle's agency to recruit young talents like Haaland, who had the potential to become future stars.