There is a dream called football

"Li Qiao, big news."

Raven's tone was excited and eager.

"What news?"

"The former Italian coach Lippi has joined the Chinese team."

…

…

It’s really here!

Li Qiao immediately opened the domestic portal website, and basically the home page was occupied by this news.

"The World Cup champion coach takes over the national football team."

"Welcome, champion."

"Has the savior of the national football team really arrived?"

"Hello Lippi."

All are words of praise, but in fact many people are skeptical, because Zhu Guanghu's success is considered to be the legacy left by Milu, but Li Weifeng and Sun Jihai are getting older. The most important thing for the national football team at this time is

The replacement of old and new, Lippi is indeed powerful, but he can't control the youth training, so...

But no matter what, the fact that a World Cup-winning head coach can come to China to coach is something to be happy about.

*****

Capital Airport.

Lippi did not go through a special passage. This was intentional. He glanced at the reporters, waved to them, and then left. Lippi will hold a press conference tomorrow morning, and he will not accept any private interviews before that.

.

The press conference was held at the Media Center, and reporters from home and abroad filled the press conference room with a capacity of more than 200 people.

Lippi was 15 minutes late, so when he came he apologized in Italian.

"Sorry, there's a traffic jam on the road."

The questions began.

The first was a question from an Italian reporter. Unexpectedly, the first question was quite sharp.

"Did you come to China to teach for the money?"

The first question was quite direct and even disrespectful, which made the people present a little embarrassed. This was a press conference for the national football team. Don’t make the old man angry all of a sudden. What if he walked away?

Lippi paused, then smiled, "Then I want to ask you, why do you do this job?"

"Is it possible that if I don't give you money, what are you willing to do?"

"I don't think so."

"So I really don't know what's wrong with doing it for money. Yes, money is a factor, but it's not everything."

“Why China?”

This sentence does not need any connotation at all, because everyone understands it clearly. It means that there are many rich countries, so why come to China, a country with average football level.

"I want to challenge myself. Asia is a territory I have never been to, so I really hope to challenge the Asian football territory."

"In addition, I think the Chinese team still has potential. My understanding of this team began a few months ago. I think it is not impossible for the Chinese team to create better results in the World Cup. They are just unlucky.

Joined the German team."

"So what are your goals?"

"The first is of course next year's Asian Cup, and the second is the World Cup in four years' time. We are going to South Africa."

"Is this written into the contract?"

Lippi smiled and shook his head, "Of course it's impossible. These are my personal goals. The Chinese Football Association gave me a big goal, but there are no detailed requirements. The results will not affect my salary."

"Do you know the players in the Chinese team?"

"To be honest, I don't know much yet. The only one I know is Li Qiao, who plays for Arsenal. He is great."

"Is your first game after taking office a friendly match in September?"

"Of course, on the international match day in September, we will arrange a warm-up match with the Dutch team. It will be the first time for me to stand on the coaching bench of the Chinese team."

Back at his place of residence, the assistant asked Lippi about his next arrangements.

"Boss, let's take a rest. There are many things to do tomorrow."

"no."

"That?"

"You are right next to me. I am going to call the players one by one now."

"Don't be so anxious."

"Of course it is necessary. My work starts from now and ends after the World Cup in South Africa. I don't want to delay for a minute."

This may be the reason why Lippi is so successful. He has almost strict requirements for work. This is also the work attitude Lippi has adhered to throughout his life, whether he is in the Chinese team or in Italy.

****

"Hi, Li Qiao?"

"Who are you?"

“Marcello Lippi.”

Li Qiao's heart skipped a beat.

"Boss?"

"Haha, boss? I quite like this title. It's like the Godfather of the Italian Mafia."

"Ha ha."

"I'm calling you to tell you that I will be the head coach of the Chinese team from now on. This is a formal notification."

"I'm happy to be your player."

"And I want to tell you that you won't be called for the warm-up match in September. I want to inspect the personnel, but you don't need to inspect them."

"Um."

Li Qiao has been working hard this year. Not flying back for the warm-up matches is to protect him, so this is a very reasonable arrangement.

"And I'll leave you a phone number. If you have anything to do in the future, you can communicate with me directly. I want to know your status every week."

"Can."

*****

In the morning, as soon as Li Qiao showed up at the club base, reporters gathered around him. Judging from his appearance, he should be a Chinese reporter.

"Li Qiao, what do you want to say about the new coach of the national football team?"

"I have nothing to say. This is not my job. My job is to play for the new coach."

"There are many examples in Chinese history of using big names to recruit handsome men, but ultimately failed. What do you think?"

In the 1990s, the Chinese team was obsessed with foreign coaches, first Germany's Slapner, and then Britain's Horton, but in the end the results were mediocre.

This is also criticized by many people, that is, foreign coaches may sound good, but their results are really mediocre.

And is it really necessary to hire a big-name head coach like Lippi? This is the thing that many people say the most.

Li Qiao laughed, "I personally support Lippi very much, but I think everyone should just look at the final results. There will be a warm-up match next month. I hope everyone will be patient."

"Have you communicated with Lippi in private?"

"Of course, the boss called me right away. I think he is a very responsible head coach."

"Will you go back for the warm-up match?"

"I don't know, it depends on whether the head coach will call me."

It is a good thing for Li Qiao that the new coach of the national football team takes office so soon, because his mentality will be stable and he can concentrate on playing for the club. If a less professional coach comes and it is difficult to communicate, it will be troublesome.

Already.

Entering the base, Li Qiao started training. Many newcomers came in the new season, the most conspicuous being Togolese forward Adebayor.

He was transferred from Monaco. Li Qiao remembers that he was a high-flying and low-balling Arsenal player. His level was very good, but his temper was really bad.

For Arsenal, the transfer with the greatest impact was the departure of Pires. The French veteran finally chose to leave Arsenal.