Manchester United's heir apparent, but can't play football.

Chapter 74 Asian Cup Warm-up?

Chapter 74 Asian Cup Warm-up? (Chinese National Football Team Story)
The achievement of winning the mid-season championship filled the winter in Lower Saxony with a festive atmosphere.

Wolfsburg fans turned this perfectly timed joy into the grandest celebration before Christmas. The clinking of beer glasses echoed in the bars, scarves formed a green sea in the square, and the quiet streets came alive with cheers.

Fireworks were dazzling, and cannons roared in unison.

Business people who frequently travel to Volkswagen's headquarters were shocked: Where were all these people in this small town in the past?

Li Luo's posters are everywhere?

It's unbelievable that a loaned player would be so beloved by Wolfsburg's local fans!

The entire Wolfsburg team left the Volkswagen Arena.

Throughout the journey, the cheers of the fans never ceased. Some waved scarves, while others shouted encouragement, as if a warm feeling was quietly seeping into the bus.

After a while.

Arrived at the training base.

Black Gold made his final speech before the winter break:
Have a wonderful holiday, everyone.

"I will send the precautions for the winter break to each of your email addresses."

"I'm prohibited from participating in high-risk sports like skiing. I don't want to see any injury reports when I return to the team."

"Forget it, I'm too lazy to repeat these words every year. Let's just enjoy our holiday."

"Disband!"

His expression was stern, but his tone was gentle.

clap clap clap!
The team members applauded enthusiastically, their fatigue seemingly vanishing, and they gradually ran back to the locker room to pack their things.

Li Luo didn't go anywhere. He went home early, played a few games, and then started writing in his diary. Before going to bed, he would watch instructional videos of current star players on his tablet.

Drop drop drop.

The phone suddenly rang.

The message came from Wolfsburg captain Benaglio and Gustavo, among other senior players. It shared their experiences from the European Championship, Copa America, and World Cup, and offered advice to the Chinese youth team on how to adjust their mindset and avoid injuries during the Asian Cup. Finally, they offered words of encouragement and blessings.

They seemed worried that I was under too much pressure.

Li Luo smiled and replied to each question carefully, understanding that the other party's intentions were good.

As for the Asian Cup schedule and other trivial matters, he doesn't need to worry about them.

The staff at Manchester United and Wolfsburg will handle everything.

Tom checked very carefully, claiming he wanted to prevent the blunder of booking the wrong tickets from happening again.

Among the top five European football leagues, the Bundesliga has the longest winter break, which has drawn repeated public criticism from several football legends. They believe that this is a luxury that German players cannot afford, leading to a disruption of the season's rhythm and making it difficult for players to maintain their physical fitness and competitive form.

Players don't think that way, especially Bundesliga clubs that are competing in the Champions League and Europa League and lack depth in their substitutes. A long winter break is beneficial for resisting injury waves and relieving fatigue.

The next morning.

Several young Wolfsburg players still came to the training base for training.

"Li, if anyone bullies you during the Asian Cup, just say my name!"

What if reporting it doesn't work?

"Then tell me the head coach's name, he's a famous coach now! Boss, what are you still doing here?"

Maranda turned her head, looking puzzled.

Black Gold said matter-of-factly, "I still need to prepare for the games after the winter break and study tactics! Li, come with me for a moment."

He beckoned and led Li Luo to his office.

He handed me a bottle of mineral water.

He then said earnestly, "The Asian Cup will present you with the toughest challenge of your career. I understand a talented player's desire for the championship trophy, but..."

Black Gold was at a loss for words: For a while, he frequently received invitations from Chinese Super League clubs and had also carefully studied CSL match videos. The talents that Chinese teenagers excelled at in the Wolfsburg framework, such as linking and organizing, constructing space, breaking through defenses, and launching attacks, would be difficult to utilize in the Asian Cup. Whether or not they won the championship was secondary; the key was how the young talents would adjust their mentality when faced with external pressure.

Anyway, keep it up!

"it is good!"

Li Luo smiled and nodded seriously.

After a while.

He returned to the training ground alone.

They found Maranda lying on the grass, looking pained, receiving treatment from the team doctor.

Little Black Egg said dejectedly, "I shouldn't have come back for extra training. I strained my thigh muscle, so I can't participate in the Belgian national team's training camp in South Africa!"

Wolfsburg's heir, Arnold, quickly knelt down to comfort him: "Don't be afraid, maybe Li will come back to play with us soon."

Island country.

The head of the Football Association, Da Ren Kuni, slammed his fingers on the table, his tone grave: "Our 23-man squad for the Asian Cup only includes 10 players who play in Europe? This attitude is disrespectful to Li Luo."

"Immediately! Recall the other key personnel stationed in Europe as well."

"Have you forgotten how he single-handedly tore apart the defense of an elite J-League team?"

"Is this kind of list a clear indication of their contempt for him?"

"Did you see his stride frequency?"

“Continue to study Li Luo’s recent video footage, learn from him, and defeat him again.” The tone was calm, yet filled with chilling intent.

Kuniya Ohno was born in the 1940s and witnessed the fear of the Japanese team being dominated by the Chinese team, even a crushing 5-0 defeat, which was even more exaggerated than the description in the anime "Captain Tsubasa".

"You bastard! What are you standing there for?"

The teaching assistants immediately became enthusiastic, as if they had been injected with adrenaline, and began to work busily.

When head coach Aguirre, who was on the verge of being sacked, heard the translator's words, his eyes widened in surprise. He quickly waved his hand and retorted, "No need. We've played against Lee before. I know him. He beat the J-League elites, but he can't compete with our semi-European squad at all."

Nobody paid any attention.

At this point, the Japanese translator seemed to have forgotten Spanish as well.

gradually.

The news of the call-up of the entire European force spread like wildfire from the building, reaching every corner via the internet.

It seems that fans across the entire island nation have become wildly enthusiastic.

After their crushing defeat in the last friendly match, they had witnessed Li Luo's prowess, and their current feelings were like those of people in the 80s who wanted to trample their American "father" underfoot: "Japan Can Say No: Generation Gap Theory".

South Korea.

The Paju National Football Training Base was shrouded in a light mist in the early morning.

The silence was abruptly shattered by the loud clanging of the metal lockers in the changing room.

"Heungmin, are my socks washed yet?"

Hear this.

Son Heung-min, who was studying offensive positioning on the tactics board, quickly straightened up, bowed slightly as he spoke, and said with great respect: "Alright, senior! It's already in a well-ventilated place, it should be completely dry by the afternoon."

"Hmm, good, well done. Hmm? Car keys? Son Heung-min, how could you drive such a nice car to the base? Don't you know how to consider the feelings of your seniors?"

The other South Korean players who were about to start chatting immediately shut their mouths and turned to look at them.

Son Heung-min took a deep breath: "Senior, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was immediately interrupted by the other party's forceful voice: "Do you think you're superior just because you play in the Bundesliga? You've been playing football in Germany since you were a child, so do you think you've become a foreigner? Have you forgotten the rules of Koreans?"

The Leverkusen winger's face flushed red instantly, and his Adam's apple bobbed a few times before he was unable to speak.

The South Korean teaching assistant who was passing by ignored it.

The atmosphere gradually froze, and a veteran player ran out to smooth things over: "Never mind, never mind, the head coach values Heinmin a lot. He is our hope for winning the championship. If we want to beat Lee Chang-ho, we have to rely on Heinmin."

The South Korean team experienced internal conflicts off the field in 1990, 1994, 2002, and 2010 due to the issue of seniority and hierarchy. However, when they stepped onto the green field, they still displayed excellent teamwork.

A few days later.

Campbell, Australia.

The training base of the Chinese national team.

A sea breeze swept across the ground, carrying a cool sensation as it brushed against my shoulders.

"Brother Luo! Have you adjusted to the time difference yet?"

"Are you feeling unwell? The team doctor brought some medicine for traveler's diarrhea, it's very effective!"

"What are you all standing there for? Can't you see Brother Luo wants some water? Bring him some water."

The staff members eagerly surrounded the Chinese genius.

Li Luo felt a little uncomfortable. Why was he being treated like a prince even more than at Manchester United? And even more like a key player than at Wolfsburg?

Even her teammates treated her with a cautious yet warm concern.

Translator Zhao came running over excitedly with a stack of documents: "Brother Luo, the boss said this is his tactical deployment and he wants to hear your opinion! Don't refuse, Mr. Black Gold gave us advice before."

"Don't call me Brother Luo, I'm not used to it."

"Okay, Brother Li."

"."

Tom, who arrived late, gaped at the sight: Jazz, Van Gaal, Blacking and others' worries were unnecessary; Li was having a great time with the Chinese national team.

The atmosphere of the Asian Cup is already as strong as the sea breeze in Sydney, with major media outlets vying for attention and related topics quickly sweeping the online trending lists.

Li Luo has arrived in Sydney ahead of schedule to join the national team coaching staff!

Japan's top football team assembled for the European tour; the Japanese Football Association announced unprecedented emphasis on the Asian Cup, canceling previous training plans.

North Korean Football Association official Ri Kang-hong: Welcome Ri Rak to North Korea for football exchanges.

South Korean media: Football is a team sport; our real rival is Australia.

The number of comments and reposts skyrocketed.
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Am I dreaming? Time flies so fast, the Asian Cup is already here? And the Chinese national team even has a midfield maestro from a Bundesliga powerhouse?!
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Why did Li Luo sneak off to Sydney ahead of schedule? And why did he ask the fans not to hold a welcoming ceremony a week in advance?
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[The spirit of Manchester United! Bobby Charlton: "Public figures must take on social responsibility, not disrupt public order, not occupy public facilities, not obstruct others' travel, and prevent accidents involving fans. If you want to hold a grand ceremony? Let's talk about that after I win the championship."]
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This behavior is much better than those cheapskates who hire temporary workers to pose as fans at the airport and block the way! Damn it, I encountered that at the airport last time. Those idiots, those cheapskates' lackeys even dared to push me and tell me not to block the way.
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The competition to win this Asian Cup is fierce, so the team has stopped using it for training and has called back all its key players who are currently playing in Europe.
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[The Chinese national football team, led by Li Luo, faces three formidable rivals on its path to the championship: Australia, Japan, and South Korea.]
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Needless to say, Australia has also seen a surge in the return of South Korea's main European travel force.
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Please don't put too much pressure on Li Luo. No matter the outcome, I will always support Li Luo.
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[Li Luo, keep going!]