How much can two months of training really influence a soccer player?
Not much!
But what if multiplied by three?
Six months of training actually makes a difference.
And what if you add the talent level of a "once-in-a-generation genius"?
It might just surpass the accumulation of many mediocrities over a decade.
Reviewing his own attribute chart, Deng Kai knew his growth better than anyone else.
Offensive positioning +1, 62
Dribbling +1, 63
Ball control +1, 56
Shooting +1, 51
Long passes +2, 54
Short passes +6, 70
Defensive positioning +1, 56
Speed +1, 55
Explosiveness +1, 55
Strength underfoot +1, 51
Physical strength +1, 47
Right foot +1, 7
That's an increase of seventeen attribute points, comparable to the growth many players achieve in an entire season, if they don't win any championships or individual honors.
That right foot proficiency growth represents a qualitative improvement.
Moreover, Deng Kai's training was focused.
He intensified his pass training, not aiming too high with long passes, but practicing short passes specifically.
A short pass of 70 is already a badass existence among young players.
This also reflects Deng Kai's current positioning of himself.
Either be a utility player in the midfield, linking short passes,
or seize the opportunity in the frontcourt to deliver a delicate final pass.
With the "Black Panther Hunt" special effect, Deng Kai was also more inclined to play in the attacking midfield.
In addition, although he had not participated in matches, Deng Kai still received modest system rewards after each game.
Nine games in total, plus previous accumulations, finally allowed him to gather twenty blue fragments.
"Ding! You have spent 20 blue fragments to obtain the blue player-level skill Fierce Tackle."
"Fierce Tackle: Slightly enhances the success rate of tackles and reduces the chances of getting injured from sliding tackles. There is a certain probability to directly retain possession of the ball upon executing a successful tackle."
Wow, haha!
Deng Kai was a bit excited.
What a divine skill!
Is a blue skill also this reliable?
Although the enhancement is not significant, this skill in fact serves three functions.
Enhance tackling.
Protect the player making the tackle.
Chance of gaining possession.
All are what Deng Kai needs.
For others, that possession might be normal, but for Deng Kai, it could be converted into a shot on goal.
The two can't be spoken of in the same breath.
To turn a normal possession into a shooting opportunity would require central relays, wing breakthroughs and flanking cooperation, crosses or cut-ins… but Deng Kai only needs one steal in the attacking half.
The efficiency gap is too wide.
If a coach knew about this, perhaps they would build tactics around Deng Kai's strength, specifically setting up the team for high pressing.
...
"Get him off the pitch! Send him back to the U14, he's only ruining our children!"
Outside the Alcochete training ground, quite a few parents were holding banners and yelling words that would be censored.
They had reason to do so.
The team's poor performance directly hurt the children.
Everyone was looking forward to a chance to shine in European competition, hoping their child would become famous off one kick.
Instead, it turned into a joke.
After being labeled as "not good enough," could these kids expect a contract renewal from the club at sixteen?
Could they anticipate competitive offers from other teams?
Absolutely impossible!
In the office, Maxa's face was grim.
Not because of the insults from the parents outside, but because he had received an email from the higher-ups.
The higher-ups were extremely disappointed with the performance of the U15 youth team and had already severely reprimanded the youth coach.
Trigella, who had promoted Maxa, had his salary for the month docked as a result.
The email was clear: if he lost the next game, he would be immediately packing up and leaving.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in."
"Coach, I want to play on the field." Deng Kai got straight to the point as soon as he entered.
Maxa's expression turned even uglier.
He was struggling to save himself.
How could he care about Deng Kai?
"I have a way to help the team defeat the next opponent!" Deng Kai didn't give Maxa a chance to refuse and said directly, "Next round, our opponent is Qadsia SC."
"Andoya, whom you dismissed, has now secured his footing in this team and has become a starting player."
"This is also a point many parents criticize you for."
"Even if we just win the game, they can still criticize you, unless Andoya performs very poorly, which could prove that your initial decision was correct."
"And I've watched all of Andoya's game videos during this time; I'm very familiar with his playing habits."
"I can definitely limit his performance."
After Deng Kai finished speaking, Maxa showed no obvious excitement.
Deng Kai understood in his heart.
It seemed Maxa was also aware of this issue, and he probably had figured out Andoya's weaknesses and could instruct the midfielders on the team to execute the freezing task at any time.
It was time to up the ante.
"I can also fully activate Ronaldo!" Deng Kai said, "The influence of a superstar is stronger than that of a hundred ordinary stars combined."
"What's the harm in letting go of ten ordinary starters like Andoya, if you can cultivate a Golden Boot-level Chris?"
"I know Ronaldo's running habits the best, and he understands my passing thoughts."
"You've seen my short passing skills during training. Let me play, and I will show everyone what an excellent super forward you have coached!"
"Ronaldo is the next Quaresma, and you are the next Trigella!"
As soon as these words came out, Maxa couldn't hold back any longer.
"I knew you wouldn't disappoint me, your passing is reminiscent of Figo!" Maxa nodded in agreement, "As the most talented midfielder in Sporting Lisbon's history, you should let everyone witness the fruits of your special training."
"You'll start in the next game!"
Deng Kai left, satisfied.
In fact, through Trigella, Deng Kai could also ask Maxa for a place in the lineup.
But after all, he was one of Maxa's men; frequent intervention by Trigella would be an encroachment on Maxa's authority.
No one would like that feeling.
Trigella couldn't possibly come to coach the U15; his goal was to be the head coach of the team.
Deng Kai and Ronaldo could not just jump to the first team overnight.
So he had to manage his relationship with Maxa well, as they would at least be together for three or four years.
A strong backing is not as good as one's own strength.
Advance cautiously.
Cover all bases.
Only then can you sweep the world!
...
As expected.
The news that Deng Kai was going to start in the league game soon spread.
This was definitely related to the young midfielder whose starting position was taken by Deng Kai.
But what could Maxa do?
Punish him?
On what grounds?
There were none.
As a youth coach about to be dismissed, who would care?
Apart from Deng Kai, Maxa, who was already a parachuted-in coach, felt no respect at all in this team.
People are naturally rebellious.
This directly strengthened Maxa's determination to arrange for Deng Kai to start.
Even before the game, he gathered all the players and said, "In this game, Deng Kai will be the core of the midfield, his commands supersede those of anyone else on the field."
"The other midfielders should pay attention to protect Deng Kai's back."
"I will take note of every one of your performances. As long as I'm your coach for a day, I have the right to take you off the field, do you understand?"
"And my successor will certainly consider my evaluation of you carefully."
"For the forwards, pay attention to Deng Kai's passes, especially Chris, I believe you two have a good understanding."
Ronaldo smiled knowingly and nodded.
Deng Kai immediately declared, "Thank you, Coach Maxa, for your trust. I will definitely bring a victory to the team with my teammates. For the glorious tradition of Sporting Lisbon and for the bright future of every one of us!"
"Let's go, Sporting!"
Ronaldo immediately responded, "Let's go, Sporting!"
Deng Kai looked at his teammates once more, "Let's go, Sporting!"
The atmosphere had built up to this point; the teammates could not help but respond in unison, "Let's go, Sporting!"
But with this chant, they had boarded the proverbial pirate ship.
At the very least, it added a layer of acknowledgment to Deng Kai's leadership in an imperceptible way.
On the field, a great battle, with new grievances and old vendettas, slowly unfolded!