In fact, the four people didn't need to take the initiative to find the head coach, the head coach had already taken the initiative to find them.
After the training, Advocaat added before announcing the disbandment. "Oh, by the way. Anyukov, Kerzakov, Denisov, and Hero, the four of you come to my office."
Everyone looked at the four unlucky guys. Some were gloating, some were smiling bitterly, some were expressionless, and some were extremely worried.
After the announcement of disbandment, the team dispersed.
The four of them looked at each other before Chen Yingxiong finally waved his hand and said, "What are you afraid of? Let's go!"
…
In Advocaat's office, four people stood in a row in front of the head coach's desk.
Their head coach was sitting behind his desk, crossing his legs and looking up at the four men.
"Everyone has read the newspaper, so I'll get straight to the point... This kind of thing has a very bad influence on team morale. I'm considering sending all of you to the reserve team..."
The worst scenario. Kerzakov looked pale, while Denisov and Anyukov held their heads in their hands.
At this time, a voice rang out. "This is not fair!"
Kerzakov, Denisov and Anyukov all turned their heads in surprise and looked at the bold Chen Yingxiong.
Advocaat did not seem angry but looked up at the person who was speaking with interest.
"Tell me, how is this unfair?"
"We did go to that... nightclub! Yes, I admit it. But we went there in our private time after training, during which we can do whatever we want as long as it iss not illegal. Our presence did not bother anyone. We were not late for training the next day, and we were not in a slump or absent-minded. It was just a normal time of relaxation and entertainment. Players also have personal time, right, sir?" Chen Yingxiong said all this in one breath and finally kicked the ball to Advocaat.
Advocaat was a little surprised that Chen Yingxiong could say such a thing.
He had seen many players who violated team discipline or were photographed picking up girls, and they always denied it and refused to admit it. But Chen Yingxiong not only admitted it openly but also made a very logical explanation of their going out, as if they were the ones who were right and he was just making trouble for no reason.
"Well... yes, players also have their own personal time... but not at this time, but during the holidays after the game." Advocaat shook his head and denied Chen Yingxiong's statement.
"You're just worried that hanging out in nightclubs will affect our performance, right?" Chen Yingxiong was not scared and continued to ask. "Then we just need to prove that our performance has not been affected, right?"
"How do you prove it? You're not in good shape just because you say you are." Advocaat straightened up. He found Chen Yingxiong in front of him more and more interesting.
He had seen players who dared to bargain with the head coach before, but Chen Yingxiong was the first one who dared to do so at the age of 18.
"Score a goal!" Chen Yingxiong answered decisively. "I am a striker, and my job is to score goals. As long as I can score a goal, doesn't that mean I am in good shape?"
A look of surprise appeared on Advocaat's face at first, and then he laughed.
"Ha…ha…hahahaha!"
He laughed louder and louder until he couldn't stop laughing at all. He simply leaned back in his chair and laughed with his head tilted back.
"Is this funny, sir?" Chen Yingxiong asked amid Advocaat's laughter.
"Ha... no, no," Advocaat finally stopped laughing, he sat up again and looked at Chen Yingxiong. "No, it's not funny. I'm laughing because... for other reasons. You said you wanted to score a goal. Our tactics have been adjusted to suit you. I think scoring a goal should be a common thing for you. This doesn't count as a good form."
He was just joking of course. How could scoring a goal not be considered good form? As long as you could score a goal, you were in good form. He said that the tactics were tailor-made for Chen Yingxiong and that scoring a goal was very common. But in fact, scoring a goal was not a very common thing for any striker, because... form was unpredictable. Maybe you had a lot of shooting opportunities one day, and your shooting skills were good, but unfortunately, the opponent's goalkeeper performed exceptionally well and saved all your shots. Was this considered bad form?
"This..." Chen Yingxiong didn't expect that the head coach would argue with a player like this.
Advocaat looked at him with a smile, thinking, what else can you say now?
Chen Yingxiong saw the smile on Advocaat's face. In his opinion, the smile contained a hint of teasing and mockery.
He couldn't stand being treated this way. Li Hao had done this before, and he had beaten him back in training, without mercy!
The head coach seemed to be saying to him. 'Aren't you good at speaking? Go ahead and talk, convince me!'
If he couldn't convince the head coach, all his efforts of more than a month would go to waste. Chen Yingxiong knows this very well. Reserve team? By the time he returned, the main striker Tekke would come back from injury. Where would that leave him? Hang around in the reserve team? Then after two years, when the contract expires, be forced to leave the team and look for another job?
This was the last chance. If you don't give it a try, who knows what the future will be like!
A surge of blood rushed to Chen Yingxiong's head, an idea came into his mind, and a sentence came out of his mouth, scaring everyone present!
"Then if I score three goals in the next game, it will show that I am in good shape!"
Everyone's expression was frozen on their faces.
…
"Are you crazy?! Hero! Do you know what you just said?!" After leaving Advocaat's office, Anyukov grabbed Chen Yingxiong and roared at him.
"Isn't it just a hat trick?" Chen Yingxiong remained calm.
"..." Anyukov was speechless.
"You know how difficult it is to perform a hat trick, right?" Kerzakov took over Anyukov's shift in persuading Chen Yingxiong.
"Of course, many players will never be able to complete a hat trick in their entire life," Chen Yingxiong replied.
"Why did you say that then?!" Denisov really thought that Chen Yingxiong had a brain cramp.
Chen Yingxiong spread his hands and said, "What else can I do? Isn't it all right now? The head coach also said that as long as I can score three goals, he won't pursue our matter this time."
The other three looked at each other. Chen Yingxiong was right. If they didn't do this, what else could they do? At least now they still had a chance to redeem themselves.
Anyukov put his hand on Chen Yingxiong's shoulder."Hero, I rarely admire someone. But now I really admire you! Don't worry, I will do everything I can to pass the ball to you and provide you with shooting opportunities during the game!"
Kerzakov also put his hand up. "Me too! I'll help you attract the attention of their defenders, and then pass the ball to you when there's a chance!"
Kerzakov and Chen Yingxiong were both forwards, and they are supposed to be in a competitive relationship. But at this time, it is obvious that they should work together to overcome their difficulties. So Kerzakov also wholeheartedly wanted to help Chen Yingxiong complete the hat trick.
Substitute Denisov clapped his hands and said, "Captain will be cheering for you from the bench!"
…
Although Chen Yingxiong appeared calm in front of his three friends, his expression changed immediately after he said goodbye to them in the parking lot... He held his head and wailed, "I told you not to be impulsive! Impulsiveness is the devil! You deserve to be beaten for being this stupid!"
How could he not know how difficult it was to complete a hat trick? Even if his two teammates helped him, could he score three goals just by saying so?
It took luck to score one goal, let alone three goals!
Besides, he knew nothing about the next round's opponent. Were they strong? Was their defence strong? Can we press hard or are we evenly matched with them? He was a striker, and his goals largely depended on the midfield creating opportunities for him. If the midfield was not strong, it would be useless even if he was in good shape!
In that situation, even if you want to kill the enemy, you will be powerless and die!
Chen Yingxiong, with a sad face, returned to his dormitory and met Yesenin.
Since Chen Yingxiong's Russian has improved significantly, Yesenin's identity as a translator had basically disappeared. He was now mainly Chen Yingxiong's Russian teacher.
"Were you sent to the reserve team by Advocaat?" Yesenin asked when he saw Chen Yingxiong's look.
"I think maybe that would have been better..." Chen Yingxiong replied weakly.
"Kicked out of the team? That's not right. You just went to a nightclub. It's not that exaggerated, right?" Yesenin was still guessing.
Chen Yingxiong said angrily, "Stop guessing! I swore in front of the head coach that I would score a hat trick in the league this weekend so that he would not pursue the matter of us hanging out in the nightclub."
Yesenin's expression was exactly the same as Advocaat's, Anyukov's, Denisov's, and Kerzakov's at the time...
Chen Yingxiong said to Yesenin. "Maxim..."
"I can't help you with this, hero. A hat trick is not something that can be accomplished with just great talent. It requires skill and luck." Yesenin spread out his hands.
Chen Yingxiong suddenly shouted.
The long howl lasted for ten seconds before it stopped.
"Why am I so impulsive!" he said angrily.
Yesenin looked at him and said, "Oh, by the way, now you have started this task, hero."
"What mission?"
"The mission is to complete a hat trick in the league at the weekend."
Chen Yingxiong stared at Yesenin blankly.
"This is a side quest. If you can complete it, the reward is very generous. If you don't complete it... well, there is no penalty for the quest itself, but I think you know the punishment in reality, right?"
Chen Yingxiong hugged his head again.
"I know it's useless to say this, but... come on, Hero, do your best." Yesenin patted Chen Yingxiong on the shoulder.