Football giants

Chapter 18 Two lunatics
Some said he was a madman.

But now, the person sitting in front of Yang Huan, wearing glasses, and a slightly plump middle-aged man with a healthy figure, doesn't look like a lunatic at all, but looks like a scientist doing research in a university.

It is also said that he is a scientist in the football world, and he has spent more time studying tactics and formations than anyone else.

He is a football scientist who can become extremely extreme for the perfectionism complex in his heart.

Marcelo Bielsa, a man who doesn't even talk much.

In the just-concluded World Cup, although the results of the Chilean national team were not ideal, their aggressive football has conquered fans all over the world.

And Bielsa is the head coach of the Chilean team.

"I hope you can become the head coach of Southampton!" Yang Huan solemnly extended the invitation.

He believes that Bielsa is the kind of head coach who can bring Southampton a radical change, even though in the eyes of many people, the Argentine lunatic is a freak known for being extreme and difficult to get along with.

But Yang Huan believed in one word, a genius is a lunatic before he succeeds!

"Sorry, I still have a contract with the Chilean Football Association." Bielsa shook his head lightly.

There was no expression on his chubby face, as if nothing could change his mood.

"I know." Yang Huan nodded, "But it's not without a solution, is it?"

The big deal is to pay liquidated damages, this sum of money really doesn't matter to Yang Huan.

"It's not this problem, the main reason is that I don't want to leave Chile." Bielsa said calmly.

This kind of calmness can even be called indifference.

Yang Huan laughed, "What's the reason?"

Before Bielsa could answer, Yang Huan began to speculate, "A contract? I don't think you will be bound by a contract."

"Salary? Chile doesn't seem to give you a high salary, which shows that you don't pay much attention to salary."

"Is that friendship? Oh, yes, I heard that you have a very good relationship with the president of the Chilean Football Association, so it is possible."

Bielsa looked at Yang Huan seriously for the first time. He knew that the other party knew him well, and he didn't know anything about football as described in the news from British and European newspapers.

Just yesterday, he received a call from Hidalgo and drove from his home in Rosario, [-] kilometers away, to Buenos Aires. He also learned about Southampton and Yang Huan.

This team was bought by Yang Huan a few days ago. In the past four days, it has appeared in newspapers and media every day. It is very eye-catching because there are too many topics.

"Can you tell me why you fired Alan Pardew?" Bielsa asked proactively.

Yang Huan thought it was a good start and smiled.

"Do you want to listen to the truth or lies, or, do you want to listen to the superficial or the deep core?"

Bielsa remained calm, "Just say what you want."

"What I want to say is that I don't think Alan Pardew can help me realize my plan, he can't bring the team I want, and he can't bring the style of football that I admire."

Without waiting for Bielsa to say anything, Yang Huan stared into Bielsa's eyes and said with a provocative smile: "I think we are the same kind of people. I don't believe it. You never thought of going to the European professional league. Slap those guys who think you can't play in Europe and wash away the shame of the year!"

Yang Huan's words made Bielsa's eyes flash a strange color.

Back then, Bielsa once landed in Europe and coached the La Liga Espanyol team, but this time his coaching resume only lasted six games, including the pre-season warm-up match, but he failed to win one game. After that, he received an invitation from the Argentine national team and returned to South America to coach his home country team, but ushered in the fiasco of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

This line of the Spaniard is regarded by everyone as Bielsa's Waterloo.

Especially after the disastrous defeat of the Argentine national team in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, almost everyone believed that Bielsa would not be able to play on the top football stage.

After hearing Yang Huan's words, Bielsa lowered his head slightly, "Do you think I can win everything with Southampton?"

"In the short term, you can't win anything, but if you look at it in the long run, what about League One teams? The competitive environment in League One is not bad at all, and the lower leagues can give you ample time to adjust your team. When we return to the Premier League, we will surprise everyone and step on all the big teams."

Bielsa raised his head again, looked at Yang Huan, then lowered his head again, "You are a very competitive person."

Yang Huan was taken aback, and laughed, "Don't you have any desire to win? The professional league is a life-and-death battle. Don't you have the slightest ambition to be competitive? You are not obsessed with this kind of bloody battle at all?"

This time, Bielsa raised his head again.

National teams and clubs are two different fields.

To some extent, the national team is more like a leisurely vacation trip, and there is only a big game every once in a while.

But the professional league is different. It is very tense and deadly. There are games every week. If you are not careful, you may lose everything. Any mistake in decision-making may lead to the collapse of the entire season, so you must be careful and step by step.

To some extent, the professional league is the most fascinating bloody arena in football.

It is also the dream of all professional head coaches and the best stage to show their talents.

There is one in Bielsa's football creed, desperate for a game!
"You are right. After the World Cup, it is difficult for me to bring more things to Chile. That is the limit of this team. I also feel a little empty. Going to England to coach is also an option."

But Bielsa changed the subject, "But I still have a very important question, what can you give me?"

"You don't have to worry about the autonomy in football, player transfers, business operations, etc. You just need to tell me what you want, and I will give you what you want. Even if you want the best star in the world, I will do my best to help you get it!"

"In Southampton, you're all under my control!"

In England's traditional head coach position, player transfers belong to the head coach's authority, and even head coaches such as Wenger and Ferguson have participated in the team's business operation plan, and the power is very powerful.

However, Yang Huan intends to reorganize Southampton's power structure, because the traditional British team's power structure will lead to the uncontrollable power of the head coach. For example, Ferguson's position in Manchester United cannot be shaken, even overriding the team owner. This is unacceptable to Yang Huan.

If Southampton can only have one leader, it must be Yang Huan.

After hearing this, Bielsa didn't react at all, as if it was very logical, he nodded and said: "Yes, those things are too annoying." He said it as if it was a good thing for him not to have these powers.

"By the way, do you think Adam Lallana should play on the side or the center?" Bielsa suddenly raised his head again and asked seriously.

From his tone and eyes, it can be seen that this is not an exam, but a very sincere inquiry.

Adam Lallana, a local star in the Southampton team, has excellent skills and strong awareness.

"If you play in the middle, I think it's not enough, because the defense at the front of the penalty area is very tight now." Yang Huan replied with a smile.

When Bielsa heard this, he nodded instead: "Well, but if there is a strong center in the penalty area to suppress the opponent's two central defenders, that would be much better."

"I think this route is feasible, but in this way, there is only one Chamberlain on the side, and Lambert can't play on the side, but if Lallana goes to the side, there is no one in the midfield, Schneiderlin can't press..."

Yang Huan finally realized why everyone said Bielsa was a football lunatic.

Don't look at this guy who doesn't talk much, but when it comes to football, he talks endlessly, and even mutters to himself alone, arguing with himself about the team's tactics and the positioning of the players.

Southampton is regarded as the most technical team in English football. This is not difficult to see from Southampton's youth training. Several young players in the team, such as Lallana, Chamberlain, Luke Shaw, Chambers, etc., their skills at their feet are much higher than the average level of England.

Look at the players who came out of Southampton. Shearer and Le Tissier are farther away, and Walcott and Gareth Bale are closer. They are all the type with solid basic skills and good skills at their feet.

Yang Huan chose Southampton because of this.

There is no doubt that taking the technical route of ground coordination of the continental system is the way out for English football in the future.

Bielsa's madness shows no signs of stopping. He started from Southampton, but as he talked, he even talked about the traditional style of English football.

Listening to him muttering over there, if he can integrate England's football passion and tenacious style into his tactical system, the effect will be even greater, and Southampton's outstanding youth training has created such an opportunity for him.

"Well, that's it." Belsaro said a lot in a rambunctious manner, and after talking for a full hour, he suddenly stood up.

"What do you mean?" Yang Huan looked at Bielsa.

"I think that although you may have many shortcomings and problems, at least you are honest. You are not as hypocritical as many high-ranking people in the football field. They have no integrity and make a lot of promises that cannot be fulfilled. When dealing with people like you, at least you can worry less."

Bielsa spread his hands, "I analyzed and analyzed, and then thought about it carefully, and it feels a bit annoying, but I think some of your ideas, some of Southampton's styles, and the challenges of English football are all very interesting."

"So..." Bielsa stretched out his hand, "...I decided to accept your invitation!"

Yang Huan was a little puzzled, what is the structure of this guy's head?

Doesn't he need to think about it carefully and deeply?

Or, wouldn't he want to see Southampton live?
Or, was there another reason why he wanted to leave the Chilean national team?
But everyone agreed, Yang Huan would not study it carefully.

"Let me take care of the Chilean Football Association." Bielsa obviously hopes to negotiate in person. "Then, I will arrange someone to go to the UK to negotiate the contract. You can talk to him about the salary. I will probably fly to London the day after tomorrow. There is not much time before the start of the new season."

Unexpectedly, this madman entered the role so quickly.

"Do you have any players you want?" Yang Huan asked.

Bielsa thought for a while, "I don't know the situation yet, so you can figure it out."

"Oh, you just met Carlos Porter, did you fall in love with James Rodriguez?"

Yang Huan nodded, "Yes, it's signed."

"Oh, it's a bit troublesome, this guy is in conflict with Lallana!" Bielsa shrugged, showing the first smile since we met, feeling that this should belong to his Bayesian humor.

"But it's okay, I can handle it."

But as soon as he finished speaking, he felt something was wrong again, "It's best to introduce a strong center forward, and Lambert alone, I'm afraid he won't be able to handle it."

After hearing this, Yang Huan chuckled, "How about Zlatan Ibrahimovic? Can you hold him down?"

When Bielsa heard this, he laughed, "Thank you for thinking it out, you are really a lunatic!"

"But, I'm starting to like you!"

Yang Huan looked helpless, being praised as a lunatic by a lunatic in the eyes of ordinary people, that feeling...

Zhang Ning has been by Yang Huan's side all the time, and he didn't say a word, but when he heard this, he couldn't help but cover his mouth and laugh.

　What a miserable statistic, brothers, let’s vote! ! ! !
　　
　
(End of this chapter)