Ground football: Ronaldo thought I was going to assist him

"Benfica is a rare team driven by a dual-core system. Their midfielders, João Vilera and Amorim, are both all-around players, excelling in both attack and defense. Their defensive midfield position is filled by Fernando Alexandre, a player who is extremely tough defensively… Lorenzo, what are you laughing at! Stand up!"

Triglar was a bit angry. These U15 players were quite sensible when they played football, otherwise they would have been fired by the team long ago. But they had huge problems when it came to listening to lessons, thinking, and learning tactics.

Basically, only Deng Kai in the whole class understood what Trigla meant, and then he would actively explain it to Cristiano Ronaldo next to him.

Those around them could listen to Trigla and Duncan's analysis if they wanted to, and those who didn't could just stand there in a daze.

Looking at Lorenzo, who stood up dejectedly, Deng Kai could already feel the powerful inertia of history.

Aside from the results, he hasn't brought any other changes to this U15 team so far.

Even Cristiano Ronaldo, who was most influenced by him, was already dominating at that age. Deng Kai at most changed a small part of Ronaldo's growth environment, namely his brother Hugo.

Lorenzo was arguably the most successful player on the team besides Cristiano Ronaldo, as he was the only one among them to later play for the national team.

However, it wasn't for Portugal, but for Angola.

Because he was never selected for the Portuguese national team, Lorenzo acquired Angolan citizenship in 2011 and began playing for Angola.

This once again proves the failure of Sporting Lisbon's youth training program at this stage.

Because when these youth academy players grew up, they couldn't even make it into the Portuguese national team, which was already in a slump after Portugal's golden generation.

Meanwhile, Benfica and Porto, the teams next door, are far ahead of Sporting Lisbon in terms of contributing national team players.

Of course, quite a few of these players have the opportunity to join the Portuguese youth team.

This also indirectly confirms Trigra's observation about the "learning ability" of the students in front of him.

These players were quite talented when they were young, but as they grew older, their lack of continuous learning ability caused them to falter.

Including Lorenzo, their highest-valued player in the future is only four million euros, and most of them are only one or two million euros.

Cristiano Ronaldo is truly one of a kind when it comes to emerging from such an environment.

Back in the classroom, Lorenzo stood up to answer Triguera's question: "They have Alexander the Great on the other side, while we have Julius Caesar. I think Caesar is better."

puff!

Lorenzo's answer, which had absolutely nothing to do with the lesson, made the players burst into laughter.

Trigra waved his hand speechlessly.

I'm not going to talk about it anymore.

What a load of crap!

I've explained so many positioning tactics and boxing details, and you're talking to me about history?

Deng Kai didn't seem to feel anything.

These teammates are already considered to be honest kids.

Young players like that in England, playing for top clubs, have already started frequenting nightclubs, and some even have children by now!

"Mr. Triglav," Deng Kai chased after him, "I'd like to talk to you about Ronaldo's position in the next match."

Trigra stopped in his tracks.

"I think your analysis is very accurate. Benfica is definitely a dangerous team. Their overall strength is far superior to ours, while we are tactically inferior... cough cough..." Deng Kai was not in a good position to criticize Maxa's coaching level.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down! You're the smartest kid I've ever taught!" Trigra's mood instantly brightened. "Speak, say whatever you want, speak your mind!"

As a teacher, if even one student listens attentively, the lesson is worthwhile.

His hopes for Duncan are even greater than the club's hopes for Ronaldo's future.

"Ronaldo's speed is his strongest weapon in the league. But I know João Pereira, who will be facing him in the next game, very well; he's a speedster," said Deng Kai. "Plus, Benfica's three midfielders all have considerable defensive capabilities."

"If they focus their efforts on containing Ronaldo, it will be difficult for him to have a standout performance in the next game."

"If he can't perform to his potential, we're almost guaranteed to lose."

"So I think we might be able to move Ronaldo to the center forward position."

Trigra frowned: "Center forward?"

Why didn't Ronaldo play as a center forward when he was young?

Is it because he can't kick?

No.

It's a pity.

These days, all sorts of shady businesses have figured out their tricks for deceiving customers.

If the future of deception is to help a player rack up huge stats, making their goals and assists look amazing.

So the deceptive tactic of the past two years has been to cultivate speed-type players.

As long as the player is fast, put him on the wing and let him charge forward; whoever charges will look like a superstar.

All the shortcomings such as poor physical strength, lack of dribbling and ball control skills, poor shooting skills, inaccurate passing, poor heading ability, and poor vision can be covered up.

If you can combine speed with a decent curveball, then you're set!

Simão and Quaresma are examples of this type of product.

With a little effort, a transfer fee of 15 million US dollars should be achievable.

Last year, Betis bought Denilson for £22 million, and this year Lazio signed Vieri for £22 million. These are the most expensive transfers in the last two years!

Fifteen million is already a superstar's price tag!

Cristiano Ronaldo has speed and is naturally suited for being developed and packaged.

But if he plays center forward, regardless of whether he has the core qualities to be a target man, he can't easily make runs into key positions.

If you can't get going, your speed advantage can't be shown, and you can't package it properly.

Moreover, the central area has always been heavily guarded, so even if Ronaldo gets going, it's difficult for him to replicate his dominance on the flanks.

The defensive strength in the middle and the flanks is absolutely different, greatly reducing the visual impact.

Therefore, Trigra could not understand Duncan's proposal.

"My passes can now tear apart most teams' defenses," Deng Kai boasted. "And Ronaldo and I have enough chemistry; he can handle my passes."

"The closer he gets to the goal, the greater the threat his shots and my passes become."

"If he's on the wing, my pass is theoretically not very meaningful."

"While Benfica's center-back Miguel Veloso comes from a football family and is quite capable, his height limits him; he is not as strong or tall as Ronaldo."

"Facing a center-back like this, Ronaldo is perfectly capable of playing as a center forward."

Deng Kai persuaded Trigra.

However, new problems arose during subsequent team training sessions.

The team's original center forward, Lorenzo, was unable to adapt to working in the left winger position and played very awkwardly.

Without Lorenzo's pivotal role in the middle, the team's midfield and attack showed signs of losing control of their coordination, and some routine tactics became less fluid.

This shows that Ronaldo is also not suited to this position.

Finally, Maxi had to restore the team to its original formation in order to face the strongest team in the league this season... Benfica!

Normally, Maxa might take the risk, but not this time.

Thanks to the hype surrounding the match, Sporting Lisbon vs. Benfica has become the most watched U15 match in all of Europe.

Benfica U15 – The first battle in a full-scale mobilization for the first team's season title win!

Sporting Lisbon U15 – just defeated the in-form Feyenoord.

Countless scouts and fans flocked to see Chris, who could defeat Van Persie, and Duncan, whom Van Persie said was no less than the Dutch midfield duo!

November 30, Benfica, Estádio da Luz.

The match is about to begin!