The biggest fanatic in football

Chapter 18 Remember, don't show off!

Just one day later, a fire broke out in a Valencia backyard.

The player who caused this fire was Negredo, the main forward introduced by Nuno Santo.

After losing to Zenit, the Spaniard accepted an exclusive interview with Marca.

As the sports newspaper with the largest circulation in Spain and one of the four major European football newspapers, "Marca" is best at concocting all kinds of shocking news. But this time, it was Negredo who took the initiative to get into trouble.

When asked "why Valencia's offense always seems to be struggling this season", Negredo admitted frankly:

"There is something missing in the team this season. Last season we were very direct and this season we are always chasing possession."

As an ordinary fan, there seems to be no problem with this answer, but reporters and editors immediately extended it:

"It's useless to control the ball? The forward openly questioned the coach's tactics!"

It is impossible to hide such news. Even if Nuno Santo doesn't read the newspaper, he will hear the news immediately.

September 19th, the 4th round of La Liga.

Valencia vs. Pimbetis at home.

Paco got a long-lost starting opportunity, while Negredo was not included in the 18-man roster for the first time this season!

"Negredo?"

At the pre-match press conference, faced with questions from reporters, Nuno explained lightly:

"He wasn't feeling well, so I let him rest."

However, something more embarrassing to him than the reporters' questions still happened.

When the game was about to end, the score between the two sides was still 0:0, and the loud singing "nuno,vete ya! nuno,vete ya (Nuno, get out now)" rang out in the Mestalla Stadium!

There have been boos at the Mestalla this season, but this is the first time such large-scale taunts have been directed at the head coach.

As a bystander, Li Polo actually didn't quite understand.

He neither understood why Nuno was so sensitive and stubborn, nor why Negredo ended up like this.

Take a look at Negredo's statistics last season, with 6 shots and 1 pass in 34 games. Such performance can earn him a transfer fee of 28 million, and he has been the main forward. Why shouldn't he be grateful to the head coach?

He played 5 games this season, started every game, and only scored 2 goals in total. The starting position is not stable, so why does he still have time to do these things?

Three days after the draw with Betis, the fifth round of the league.

Valencia even lost to Espanyol 0:1 in an away game, and Negredo still did not appear in the squad.

It wasn't until September 26, the sixth round of the league, that Negredo finally entered the starting lineup.

The Spanish striker played for 88 minutes and produced 4 shots, 1 shot on target, 2 fouls, 0 dribbles and 0 threats, which greatly disappointed the fans who supported him.

On the contrary, Mustafi performed brilliantly. With his header in the 26th minute, he helped the Bats win three points with difficulty.

The team won and Negredo performed poorly, which would have made Nuno Santo's life easier, but public opinion changed its direction and continued to attack him:

"Why was goalkeeper Matthew Ryan, who had been performing solidly before, put on the bench?"

And in the third round of the Champions League group stage on September 29, when facing Lyon, Negredo's data was even worse:

1 shot, 0 shots on target, no goals, dribbles, and even 0 violations!

Although Parejo scored an early goal for the team, the Zhengyin striker performed so poorly that Nuno Santo finally couldn't help it.

He glanced at the bench and asked his assistant Volo:

"Lee Polo, can he play forward?"

Volo was stunned for a moment, but Rui Pedro on the other side reminded his boss first:

"Paco is in good condition, and Mina..."

Before Pedro finished speaking, he saw the anger on Nuno's face and quickly stopped persuading him.

The assistant couldn't help but sneered:

[You basically...want to humiliate Negredo, right?]

Volo flipped through his notebook:

"The young man played 4 league games in the reserve team and scored 7 goals in total. He will soon become the league's golden boot..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Nuno:

"Rui, let him warm up!"

Just like that, Li Polo, who almost fell asleep on the bench, was called up from the bench by the assistant coach.

"Warm up, come out in three minutes, play forward!"

Knowing his language proficiency, Pedro's words are also very simple.

Li Polo raised his head and glanced at the large electronic screen hanging high in the sky. The time on it had just reached 65 minutes!

This means...even if there is a delay in the middle, I can still play for at least 20 minutes!

He immediately jumped up and jogged on the sidelines!

While he was warming up, Volo quietly walked over and gave a thoughtful reminder:

"Don't just focus on being in the limelight and forget about the tactical training I gave you!"

Li Polo nodded repeatedly:

"I know, Coach!"

"drop!"

As Feguli was brought down at the edge of the penalty area by Umtiti, the referee blew the whistle briefly and pointed to the sidelines to indicate that one side was requesting a substitution.

Negredo glanced outside the court and showed a frustrated look:

The red one is my number 7, but the green one is my number 4!

The first reaction in his mind was:

"Who is No. 4?

Does our team have this number?”

But when he saw the excited Li Polo jumping up and down next to the fourth official, Negredo's face became even more ugly.

[Replace me, the Zhengyin forward, with a defender to preserve this victory... Although it is a bit conservative, who can criticize such a practical tactic? 】

Negredo, who was unhappy, walked off the field with his head lowered and politely high-fived his teammates before sitting back on his bench.

Then...he watched helplessly as Li Polo trotted all the way to the edge of the penalty area...

Negredo quickly shook his head and comforted himself:

[This is a free kick opportunity in the frontcourt. This kid has a good header. It’s normal to run forward!]

Then...he saw DePaul shoot directly with a powerful kick!

The shot of the team's leading passer bypassed the wall, but hit the door frame firmly!

Seeing this scene, Negredo was actually a little happy.

[That kid ran so far in vain, and ended up not even having a chance to fight for a header!]

Before he could laugh, he saw Li Polo take a quick step and appear at the far end of the goal. With no one around him to watch, he jumped lightly and flicked his head towards the bounced ball!

"Whoosh~~~"

Goalkeeper Anthony Lopez only had time to move a step to the left and saw the football jump into the net behind him!

2:0!

Li Polo, who had just come on as a substitute for 25 seconds, expanded the score for Valencia!

Negredo opened his mouth wide, and there was endless despair in his eyes!

Is this okay?

He saw head coach Nuno Santo jump up in the command area and punch the air three times. He was as excited as if he had won the Champions League!

[Negative sentiment from Alvaro Negredo, 20!]

Volo, standing next to Nuno, couldn't help grinning.

[I think I said something to him just now?]

【Don’t just care about being in the limelight?】

【Horse riding!】