Team Spirit

Chapter 213 Confederations Cup Final, Guo Zhong, Footballer of the Year

Sky Sports: "The best chance to strengthen football in the last five years is right in front of us! Dartford's big stage, if you have the money, come on!"

Some fans who were watching the news were puzzled.

Did you see a headline like this last summer?
How come the green gun is so durable after being dug up?

BBC: "Some Dartford fans are shocked by Dartford's decision not to retain their Champions League squad, believing that Lu Kai has lost sight of his original intentions and should voluntarily relinquish his stake in the club at a low price. Several American owners are willing to take over Dartford and bring new glory to the team!"

Capital is like poison gas; it's everywhere.

They attempted to use public opinion to undermine Lu Kai's foundation of control over the Green Gun.

Indeed, some greedy fans were misled.

Calling them greedy is an overstatement, which is an important aspect of any team's rebuilding process and cannot be accomplished simply by raising salaries to retain players or buying them at high prices.

This is definitely not something small players can afford to play.

Many players used Green Gunners as a stepping stone, and this year is the best opportunity to jump ship. A peaceful breakup makes everyone happy.

How incredibly foolish would someone have to be to force someone to stay?

This is similar to agreeing to a short-term job, only to have your boss suddenly tell you on your last day that you have to work for another six months before they let you go, or they won't pay you last month's salary.

Lu Kai later gave an interview to Green Gun Voice: "What was your original intention?"

"When I came here, there were no star players here."

"Or rather, the biggest star here is Victor, a 40-year-old midfield veteran."

"And now, even though many people have left our team, we still have familiar stars like Ashley Young, Barton, and Kyle."

"There are also stars from different countries such as Li Weifeng, Modric, Mertens, and Giroud."

"Moreover, there are future stars such as Sterling and Kane."

“I have always emphasized to everyone that we are not a top club, and we still have a lot of work to do if we want to get to that point.”

"Everything I experienced this summer is just one of them."

"I hope everyone can be more patient with Green Gunners. We need to mature now. I believe that people would prefer world-class superstars who come from the Pond Stadium youth academy to top-tier players.

"I assure you all that we've done this much faster than you think, just like how we sped into the Premier League."

Lu Kai's statement coincided with the continued loss of Green Gun players.

Crouch, a highly distinctive center forward, has transferred.

Liverpool were quite interested in this center forward back then, believing that he had special tactical significance and could enhance the team's ability to win the title.

In addition, the strikers they've bought in recent years have all underperformed, so they're really putting in a lot of effort this time.

The first offer was a sincere price of 22 million euros.

After two rounds of discussions, Crouch finally made it to Liverpool.

The transaction price was 25 million euros.

The Echo: "Third time's the charm! Crouch, the third player to join Liverpool, certainly won't be a flop this time!"

Manchester Evening News: "Crouch's ability as a surprise weapon is helpful for Manchester United in dealing with some special matches, but it's a pity that buying a substitute at such a high price is still too much of a loss!"

The Mirror: "Greens are not concerned about the price in the Crouch deal. They only have one requirement: Liverpool must conduct a fitness assessment of Crouch every quarter and share the assessment report with Greens."

Sky Sports: "Good Premier League owner! Lu Kai hopes Crouch can play healthily at Liverpool and doesn't want a repeat of the Morgan incident!"

……

"There's still the familiar Ashley Young... What do you mean 'still'? What if a team wants to buy me?"

Ashley Young kept sending emails as he looked at Lu Kai's news.

Unfortunately, no top club has made an offer for him so far.

He and Maicon were known as the Green Gun Devil's Twin Wings. Maicon was worth 40 million euros, but no one was interested in him.
Cicinho was just his substitute, and he was sold for 25 million euros. His Transfermarkt price was 15 million euros.
Amorim was just his underling, and he sold it for 42 million euros.

Ding Dong!

Ashley Young received an email that made him very happy.

"Let me see if it's the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 powerhouses, the two giants of La Liga, or the three strong teams of Serie A!" Ashley Young clicked on the message and saw that it was a notification from Lu Kai about the position change for the new season and training guidelines.

He was asked to master the skills as soon as possible during the summer so that he could be immediately useful in the new season, not to hold the team back, and to set a good example for his new teammates.

Otherwise, people will say that the vice GOAT is only at this level, and then Ashley Young, as the second captain, will not be able to convince the public.
"Second captain?" Ashley Young's eyes lit up. "That's more like it! I should have been the Green Gunner long ago! It's just a right-back, I'm definitely better than Maicon!"

Ashley Young will play as a right-back in the new season.

He refused to believe that after he had performed like a GOAT in every position, no top club would still want to sign him.

The world's second-largest "front, mid, and back" court!

That's awesome!

But Ashley Young didn't know that his constant position changes and learning of new knowledge were making him more versatile... In other people's eyes, he was unable to play as a striker or left-back and was forced to play as a right-back.

If it weren't for his meritorious service in supporting the emperor, Green Spear might have sold him off long ago.

Wealthy families only hire the best; why would they consider a loser like him who keeps failing?
These days, good players don't need to change positions; changing positions is seen as a sign that you're not good enough.

Even though Lu Kai is currently at the height of his career.

But if you ask most fans to choose the strongest lineup, they would actually find it difficult to place Lu Kai in a specific position.

Because there seem to be players who are better or more pure than Lu Kai in every position.

"All-around" is just a polite way of saying that small teams are strapped for cash.

Let alone Lu Kai, even twenty years from now, all-around players will still suffer losses because of their versatility. They won't be able to play their strongest position, will be forced to give way to others, and can only survive in top clubs in a second-tier state, unable to reach their theoretical peak in their careers.

A few days later, a strange transaction took place.

Dartford signed Fulham goalkeeper Van der Sar for three million euros.

This is a goalkeeper who is 35 years old.

In an interview, Van der Sar said, "I've gotten used to life in London and I'm happy to stay here."

"And the Green Gunners are such a glorious team, I really didn't expect them to need me at first."

"When Lu Kai called me and said that the Green Guns desperately needed a successful veteran like me to bring something different to the team, I decided to join them."

“I could feel his sincerity from Lu’s words.”

"I don't have high expectations for playing here. I'd rather be able to help Green Gun in any way!"

It's not hard to see from Van der Sar's attitude that he went to Green Gunners to retire.

What's strange about this deal is that it's one of the rare instances where Green Gunners finalized a deal so early.

Based on the timeline, this was a deal they finalized during the Champions League semi-finals.

If that news had spread at that time, it would have affected the morale of the Green Gunners and the performance of their goalkeeper.

This is risky.

It doesn't seem worth it for a substitute veteran goalkeeper.

But nobody thought there was anything wrong with the deal.

This includes Manchester United, who also had their eye on Van der Sar.

Manchester United have been unable to find a satisfactory goalkeeper since Schmeichel left.

Several of them are unpredictable and their performance is inconsistent.

This has become their biggest problem.

Some Manchester United fans are now complaining that the team didn't sign Schmeichel back then.

However, some fans disagree, arguing that Schmeichel's injury woes at Inter Milan made him a shooting star, no different from Manchester United's flops.

However, the affirmative side believes that if Schmeichel were to join Manchester United, the trajectory of both sides might change, resulting in a win-win situation.

Manchester United approached Van der Sar because of his age; he was seen as a backup goalkeeper who wouldn't fight for position or cause trouble.

As a result, Green Gun beat them to it.

Since a conservative strategy was not feasible, they decided to be more aggressive... This solidified Manchester United's determination to bring in a good goalkeeper.

Manchester United quickly announced their new goalkeeper!

Manchester Evening News: "From Green Gun to Red Devils! England's New Goalkeeper Benjamin Foster Joins Manchester United!"

"The Voice of Green Guns": "25 million euros! Hopefully, Foster will become the new Schmeichel of Old Trafford!"

Sky Sports: "This interview features the wisdom of Foster! See how a lower-league goalkeeper transformed into a superstar through successful selection!"

BBC: "Choice is more important than effort! Foster's move to Green Gunners last year was a stroke of genius. He seized a once-in-a-century opportunity and caught the Green Gunners miracle train!"

Foster became a representative figure of the saying "a tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives," and was deeply analyzed by people.

Foster himself is proud of this amazing experience and has talked about the growth he experienced at Green Gun on many occasions.

Just like Lescott and others last year.

The idea that "a green gun produces a superstar" is taking root in everyone's minds.

Manchester United also initiated another deal in their pursuit of Foster with Greenfield United.

They are looking for a successor to Keane.

Carrick, the Green Gunner, seems to be more than capable of the role from any perspective!
Recently, the conflict between Keane and Ferguson has become increasingly apparent.

Keane has repeatedly criticized Manchester United's young players, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way.

These young players were all heavily promoted by Ferguson.

This is clearly a struggle for "power within the team".

Ferguson had been patient with Keane, and the fact that he had driven Beckham away had already disappointed him. He hoped for a good ending with Keane.

If Keane accepts a substitute role, everyone will be happy.

But Keane doesn't seem to think so.

Darren Fletcher, whom Ferguson himself favored, came from the youth academy, but his status and reputation were severely overshadowed by Keane, so Ferguson could not break the deadlock through Fletcher.

However, if Keane were to bring in a young star at a high price, he would have to back down.

This money is unavoidable.

As a key defensive midfielder for Chelsea, Carrick may not be the most flashy player, but his advanced stats are excellent. This generation of players is far superior to older generations like Keane in terms of technique, passing, and shooting.

Ultimately, Manchester United brought Carrick to Old Trafford for 30 million euros.

Manchester United have made no attempt to hide their green hue this year.

On the same day the deal was announced, Keane publicly questioned Manchester United's transfer strategy on the BBC: "I don't know why we need to bring in a midfielder. Scholes and I are still in very good form."

"We also have a rising star like Fletcher. Thirty million euros is enough for us to bring in two good wingers!"

"That's right. Although Vardy is young, I think he's a better fit for Manchester United than the flashy Chris. Chris works hard, but his performance last season disappointed many people."

"Or we could buy Ribery. He may not be the most impressive player, but his footwork is excellent. We could definitely get him for 30 million; he's definitely not a flop."

"Or add some money and bring Arshavin here... In any case, I think this money has been completely wasted!"

Ferguson remained silent on this matter.

Offering Keane a top salary and a year as a substitute is already showing Manchester United's generosity. Keane even refused to have a player in his position added to the squad; does he intend to take another three years of top salary with the Red Devils?

Keep in mind, Keane is already thirty-four years old!
This isn't going to happen twenty years from now, when everyone can kick until they're thirty-five.

English players have always been known for their lack of self-discipline.

……

In June, the England national team began to assemble.

They will participate in the Confederations Cup in the summer of 2005 as the 2004 European Championship winners.

As the defending champions, their roster is attracting attention.

Ultimately, England manager Stanley offered his interpretation.

Forwards: Rooney, Defoe, Joe Cole, Shawn Wright, Owen, Crouch.

Midfielders: Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Hargreaves, Carrick, Barton, Lu Kai.

Defenders: Carragher, Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Upson, Davis, Ashley Young.

Goalkeepers: Robinson, Foster, Klank.

The shortlist also includes: Neville Jr., Darren Bent, Charleson, Alan Smith, Jenas, Andrew Johnson, Campbell, and others.

Some of them were not selected due to their condition, while others were due to injuries.

This England national team has a high concentration of green-haired players.

But everyone agrees, because they just finished the Champions League final and haven't entered vacation mode yet; they're still in match mode.

Players who have already been on vacation for a week or two are more likely to get injured during training camps and matches.

In this Confederations Cup, England has been drawn into Group A, with their opponents being Argentina, Tunisia, and Australia.

Group B consists of Brazil, Japan, Germany, and Mexico.

In comparison, Group A had it easier.

June 16th, Group A, first round of matches.

England narrowly defeated Australia 4-3.

Carragher scored an own goal, almost putting England on the back foot.

Fortunately, England's midfield and attack performed well. Sean Wright and his friend Lu Kai hit it off, with Wright receiving two assists from Lu Kai and scoring twice to decide the outcome of the game.

June 18th, the second round of group matches.

England defeated Tunisia 3-0.

Winning this game was much easier.

One change was the adjustment to England's defense, with Lu Kai moving to the defensive midfield position to direct the defense.

The center-back pairing of Ferdinand and Davies has been very effective.

The former is Ferrari, the latter is their own.

Ashley Young on the left and Neville on the right, both were of high quality and created offside traps with ease.

Lampard and Gerrard's high-quality long-range shots directly broke down Tunisia's defense.

This style of play works against weak teams, but against strong teams...

June 25th, the final round of Group A matches.

England vs. Argentina.

England have won both of their two matches, accumulating six points. A draw would secure their qualification.

Argentina has one win and one draw, accumulating four points. A win would secure their qualification.

Australia has one draw and one loss, accumulating only one point, and has no hope of winning.

Tunisia suffered two losses and accumulated zero points, thus being eliminated early as well.

Historically, the Confederations Cup has not been taken seriously, and Argentina has not fielded its strongest team, but rather half of its players are fringe national team members.

However, England's consecutive victories in the 2003 Confederations Cup and the 2004 European Championship have made them one of the favorites to win the 2006 World Cup.

The experience of fighting against them was invaluable.

As a result, the prestige of the Confederations Cup has also increased, with Argentina, Brazil, and Germany fielding their strongest teams this time, rather than using it as a training ground.

Argentina's starting lineup is as follows:

Crespo
Tevez, Riquelme, Maxi Rodriguez

Demichelis, Cambiasso

Sorin, Samuel, Ayala, Zanetti
Abang Dansheri

-

The bench also features veterans such as Aimar, Cruz, and Saviola, as well as young talent like Lionel Messi.

However, the latter did not get a chance to play.

These players are all famous stars, and they have performed exceptionally well this season.

Argentina scored two goals in the first half, giving them a glimmer of hope for advancing to the final.

However, in the second half, with Lampard and Gerrard being substituted, England's midfield quartet became Lu Kai up front, with Hargreaves, Carrick, and Beckham forming the defensive midfield trio.

Then Cole and Ashley Young, who was playing as a makeshift right-back, launched a barrage of attacks from both wings.

Crouch scores with a header.

After Lu Kai won a free kick, he feinted and Beckham scored with a beautiful free kick to equalize the score.

Ultimately, England drew 2-2 with Argentina, finishing first in Group A with seven points and advancing to the final against Brazil.

Brazil, on the other side, also had a tough time, engaging in a do-or-die battle with Germany, ultimately breaking the deadlock thanks to Adriano's brace.

This immediately excited media outlets in Europe and the Americas.

Sky Sports: "Two years later, can England defeat Brazil again?"

France Football: "The England team has become the representative of European football, and this Confederations Cup is the ultimate collision of two different football styles!"

Bild: "Confederations Cup, European Championship, UEFA Cup, Champions League! Lu Kai is the most dominant player in Europe in the last two years! And Ronaldinho, Adriano, Kaká, and Robinho are the dream four kings of Brazil's young attacking generation!"

"The Brazilian Times: England's team is rather lackluster; apart from Lu Kai, they're all terrible in big games! Ronaldinho leads the charge, and this match will decide who wins this year's Ballon d'Or!"

Voice of America: "After the Champions League title, Kaká has a golden opportunity for revenge! Can Cicinho and Maicon, on the left and right flanks respectively, successfully turn the tables on their mentors?"

The Clarín newspaper: "Compared to the dazzling Brazil, Argentina's new generation is already far behind! England still has a gap to close with the dream Brazil!"

The King of Europe, the No. 1 of the Year VS the Brazilian Dream Team, the Green Gun Wings!
It's too much of a gimmick.

Both teams have All-Star rosters.

However, no one expected that two days before the finals began, someone would try to ride the wave of popularity.

……

Football News: "Warmest congratulations to Lu Kai on winning the 2004 China Footballer of the Year award!"

"The inaugural Chinese Super League Annual Awards Ceremony and the China Footballer of the Year Awards Ceremony were held in grand style!" (Football Official Website)

In the past, nobody in the football world would have paid attention to this.

Even domestic fans tend to prioritize news related to the Confederations Cup over the award itself.

But the problem is, I, Lu, won the award!

On the day of the awards ceremony, leaders from all walks of life in the footwear industry attended, making it a grand occasion.

The various awards were arranged very clearly, and the awards were presented by senior executives of the footwear industry.

Li Weifeng, An Qi, and other players from Guo's team were also present, giving the shoes a lot of attention.

The first award presented was the Best Young Player in Midfield.

The players nominated for the award include Chen Tao, Hao Junmin, Lü Zheng, Zhou Haibin, and Yan Xiangchuang.

Chen Tao originally had the biggest advantage, but after being sidelined by his former team and missing a lot of games, and having recently been involved in a lawsuit, he has just become a "troublemaker".

Ultimately, Hao Junmin won the award.

He went to Chelsea for a two-week trial last year, played all three games, and almost got signed by Chelsea.

One of the reasons Chelsea ultimately gave up on him was that Hao Junmin mainly played on the wing in the Chinese Super League and with Guo Jia's team, but Chelsea believed he should play as an attacking midfielder or a deeper attacking midfielder to fully utilize his vision and technical advantages.

This misalignment in positioning can affect a player's future development.

Watching Hao Junmin receive the award on television, Chen Tao was filled with emotion.

If he signed a child labor contract with the club, the award would definitely be his.

Posts criticizing Chen Tao quickly spread across various chat rooms and forums.

"Chen Tao has really lost out this time. He was so young, yet he insisted on demanding a high salary, and as a result, he lost his career development."

"Pick up the sesame seeds and lose the watermelon!"

"That's how troublemakers are. Hao Junmin was originally inferior to him, but now it's almost certain that his development path will be superior to Chen Tao's!"

"It is said that Guo's team is also going to blacklist him."

"Chen Tao has no other way to make a living except by playing abroad, but who would want him abroad? Without the help of the Football Association and clubs, playing in Europe is just a pipe dream!"

Ayew won the Chinese Super League top scorer award.

Zhao Junzhe has become the Chinese Super League Footballer of the Year, which is a major award.

Ultimately, Li Weifeng accepted the China Footballer of the Year award on behalf of Lu Kai.

Originally, this award overlapped with the Chinese Super League Footballer of the Year award, but now, because of Lu Kai, they have been separated, and the award is even more prestigious.

My feet are sorely uncomfortable with shoes.

Moreover, Lu Kai was extremely disrespectful and didn't come to accept the award in person.

It's one thing to disregard Asian football boots, but to disregard our domestic football boots as well is downright arrogant!
Preparing for the Confederations Cup final?

It's only been a day, there's plenty of time to fly back and forth!

They just don't take it seriously; their attitude is problematic!
Li Weifeng pulled out a slip of paper: "Although Captain Lu couldn't come in person, he still asked me to pass on some messages to everyone."

"Thank you... Of course, on behalf of myself and Dartford, I hope to provide some assistance to domestic players traveling to Europe."

"We can help find and contact some trial opportunities, and establish a special Green Gun youth training support fund for domestic players to provide reimbursement for trial expenses and other programs for truly outstanding players."

"Due to our limited capacity, this support is limited to British football. And due to work permit issues, this support can only help youth players."

"In short, we hope that more domestic players will be able to play in the top five European leagues in the future."

This statement caused a stir among those present.

Is Green Gun really that ambitious?
They've even set up a support fund?

This……

The owners of major clubs and the top executives of the football clubs looked ashen-faced.

If everyone can freely go to Europe for trials, how can we still act as middlemen and make a profit?
(End of this chapter)