boyutpedia Chapter 1: The Chinese Teenager on the Verge of Being Eliminated at Kirkby Youth Academy
Chapter 1: The Chinese Teenager on the Verge of Being Eliminated at Kirkby Youth Academy
Late October 2017.
Liverpool.
Melwood Training Base.
The sports director's office.
"Mr. Monchi, this is the sixth U18 elite student we recommend to you, Chang-Huan! He is 17 years and 5 months old and joined Kirkby at the age of 8. The Jürgen coaching staff has confirmed that they will bring this Chinese talent to the summer training camp next season."
Liverpool's sporting director, Michael Edwards, caught a glimpse of the familiar, tall figure at the door and called out, "Jurgen, isn't that right?"
"hold head high?"
Klopp, who was passing by, paused, turned to face the office, and with his mouth slightly open, offered a cooperative reply: "Yes."
Roma's sporting director, Monchi, glanced at the two suspiciously but didn't say anything.
At 17 years and 5 months old, and still hasn't skipped a grade, how talented can he be?
If you're so capable, recommend Ben Woodburn, Curtis Jones, and Brewster.
Even if it's just Kelleher, that will do.
I agree instantly!
Ok?
He astutely captured a key word.
Chinese genius!
Upon closer reflection, the fact that one can stay in Liverpool's youth academy up to the U18 age group speaks volumes.
I just don't understand why, in the past two years, the Chinese Super League has entered a period of big spending, why not keep them around to develop and improve their stats?
Forget tens of millions of euros, a few million euros would be nothing to them.
Michael Edwards looked at the youth training director next to the TV: "Alex, you explain the details to Mr. Monchi."
After saying that, Klopp walked towards the door.
"Chang plays as a left winger, left midfielder, or attacking midfielder. His strengths include speed, explosiveness, excellent dribbling and ball control, stamina, and strong passing ability. He is primarily left-footed but equally adept with both feet. These scenes fully demonstrate these characteristics. In addition, he has a high level of defensive effort..."
Alex Inglesorp pressed the remote control, and a highlight reel of Chang Huan's match played on the screen, accompanied by commentary: "Weaknesses include a fear of physical duels, poor heading ability, tendency to hold onto the ball too long, difficulty cutting inside, and a weak ability to directly threaten the goal... These shortcomings can be completely improved through future development..."
"We are very optimistic about his future prospects. If he hadn't returned to China a month ago for training, his professional contract would have already been signed. If Mr. Monchi is interested, everything is negotiable."
After the highlights ended, Michael Edwards returned to his office and noticed Monchi deep in thought: "You know, Chinese football is developing very well now, and there are more and more Chinese-owned teams in Europe, but there isn't a single Chinese player who can play in the top five leagues. Once we cultivate one..."
Monchi served as the sporting director of Seville for 17 years; what kind of tactics hasn't he seen before?
Would such a unique young genius let himself get away with something for free?
He didn't respond, but turned to Alex Inglethorpe: "Your academy's final match in the Premier League U18 Elite A Group is the day after tomorrow afternoon, right?"
Liverpool offered a maximum of €4200 million for Salah, but the player was signed by his predecessor, Walter Sabatini.
Whether you sell a lot or a little has nothing to do with you.
In Liverpool, the real personal KPI is to "snatch" potential talents for free and sell them at a high price.
The final match of Elite Group A can give you a good idea of a player's true level.
Alex Inglethorpe nodded slightly: "Yes."
Monchi turned to look at Michael Edwards, who was sipping his coffee: "I want to wait until this game is over before making a decision."
"no problem."
Michael Edwards is familiar with the U18 results.
Currently at the bottom of the championship group, giving these players a chance to shine in the final match wouldn't be a bad idea, so the topic was strategically shifted: "What about Mohammed (Salah)?"
"I agree to let you contact his agent."
"Since Mr. Monchi is so generous, we will also be generous and allow him to choose one of the six elite players we recommend to sign on a free transfer."
After Monchi and Michael Edwards left, Klopp approached youth academy director Alex Inglethorp.
With the 2016-2017 Premier League season nearing its end, several first-team players are injured or unavailable. We need to see if there are any promising young talents who meet the criteria.
Even if they can't play, it's great to get a taste of the Premier League atmosphere beforehand.
……
Kirkby Youth Academy U18 training ground.
Assistant coach Gerrard blew his whistle to end today's training session.
A young man with wheat-colored skin from the East stood with his hands on his hips, his chest heaving. Fine beads of sweat rolled down his skin and onto the grass, glistening in the long-awaited Liverpool sunshine.
His name is Chang Huan, and he comes from China.
He came to Liverpool with his father at the age of 7 and joined the Kirkby youth academy at the age of 8.
The training session that ended was the last training session before the final match of the 2016-2017 Premier League U18 Elite A Group (Championship Group).
Not surprisingly.
They will once again be left out of the 18-man match roster.
After the final match, the U18 team will undergo about a week of low-intensity training.
During this period, the coaching staff will have one-on-one conversations with the players to inform them of their roles for the next season.
Stay in U18, be promoted to U23, be loaned out, or be released.
For a player like him who has barely played since being promoted to the U18 team, the only outcome will be an early termination of his contract.
"Give."
A thin boy with black curly hair handed over a bottle of water.
Chang Huan turned to look at Curtis Jones, one of the few friends on the team.
He took the water and said, "Thank you."
"Chang, don't be discouraged."
Curtis Jones patted Chang Huan on the shoulder: "Even if things don't go well, there's always the Chinese Super League as a safety net. Lots of star players are playing in the CSL these days, like Brazilian internationals Oscar, Ramirez, Hulk, Pato, Gil..."
"Maybe."
Chang Huan unscrewed the water bottle, took a big gulp, turned around, and waved goodbye with her back turned: "I'm leaving."
"Coach Gerrard is going to announce the matchday squad later, don't you want to hear it?"
"No……"
Just as Chang Huan was about to refuse, Gerrard clapped his hands and loudly called to the team members: "Kids, come here for a moment."
Curtis Jones pulled him back: "Hey~ what if there's a surprise?"
Chang Huan, who instinctively wanted to escape reality, sighed and wondered what kind of surprise there could be.
As for the Chinese Super League's guarantee of support, it has completely disappeared.
It all started when I returned to China to participate in the Panda Cup U19 Four Nations Tournament.
As a member of Liverpool Kirkby's youth academy U18 team, their strength is below average. If they were promoted to the U19 national youth team in China, they would be a level above.
He played well in the first game and was excited in the second game against Iran U19. He broke through on the left and played a cross with a rabona, which almost assisted Liu Ruofan to score.
Unexpectedly, he was severely criticized by Yu Hongchen, the vice president of the Chinese Football Association who was supervising the match, and was even asked to write a self-criticism of no less than 800 words.
I retorted a couple of times back then.
The result was a small act of capricious use of power.
He was dropped from the squad for the third match.
Coincidentally.
During halftime of the last game, while watching from the stands, he played a game of King of Glory with his injured teammates, which was captured by a reporter covering the team.
Two days ago, thanks to the manipulation of certain individuals, the Chinese Football Association's official website published a notice of serious disciplinary action for "disregarding leadership," "lack of organization and discipline," and "absolute lack of team spirit."
He will be banned from all levels of the national team and domestic competitions for two years!
This led to Guangzhou Evergrande, which had reached a verbal agreement, and all other interested Chinese Super League teams withdrawing their offers.
"Curtis Jones, Liam Coyle, Jordan Hunter, Abdi Shareef, Chang..."
Gerrard announced the list one by one according to the roster agreed upon by the coaching staff.
"What?"
Chang Huan, looking utterly displeased, was speechless.
What?
"congratulations!"
"Makes the roster!"
Curtis Jones excitedly put his arm around Chang Huan's shoulder.
But Chang Huan remained unmoved, shaking his head and smiling bitterly.
So what if you make the roster, or even start and play the full match?
Its development has fallen far short of the college's expectations and it is on the verge of being eliminated.
Unless they deliver a convincing performance during their theoretically required playing time to win over the coaching staff.
This moment.
His desire for power reached its peak!
It surged straight from the bottom of my heart to the top of my head!
"Ding!"
Just then, a crisp, synthesized electronic voice suddenly rang in my ears.
???