Chapter 104 The determination and the German team in four circles and eight groups.

At ten o'clock in the morning on October 4th, Dublin International Airport, located ten kilometers north of Dublin city center, welcomed the earliest passenger flight from Manchester today.

"Ilkay, will someone come to pick us up at the airport today? Or should we go to the hotel ourselves?"

As a new player being recruited by the national team for the first time, Zhao Jinge curiously asked some details about Gundogan’s schedule.

Gundogan, who is somewhat taciturn by nature, looked at Zhao Jinge, who kept asking him about the national team news like a curious baby along the way, and showed a helpless smile:

"The two of us should be the first to report to Dublin. The team has already contacted the hotel, so we can just go there ourselves.

Most of the players from the national team haven’t arrived yet, and there is no one to pick us up now.”

Having said this, Gundogan paused for a moment. Seeing that Zhao Jinge did not show any disappointment, he felt relieved and continued to explain patiently:

"Normally, someone will pick you up at the airport, but because most of our national team teammates play football in China.

Well, to be precise, they are all in Bayern and Dortmund. Those teammates who are playing domestic games will first go to Frankfurt to gather, and then take a plane to the away game with the coaching staff, so they will arrive a little later, and they will probably not arrive until tomorrow morning.

."

"That is to say, we are the closest and the earliest."

"Yes, but Zhao, you look a little happy."

"Of course I'm happy. The team won't come until tomorrow. Doesn't this mean we can freely visit Dublin today?"

"It seems to be true. Zhao, I was worried just now that you would feel that the team did not pay enough attention to you and would be angry! Now it seems that I am overthinking."

"Isn't it because no one came to pick up the plane? What's there to be angry about?"

Zhao Jinge hugged Gundogan’s shoulders:

"I'm not that petty, but I'm a little worried about whether I'll get a chance to play in the game on the 8th."

"Didn't you read the news a few days ago? Our head coach has praised you to the sky. Don't worry, Zhao, you will definitely have a chance to play. Among the forwards in the team, you are in the best shape."

Perhaps it is Zhao Jinge’s chatty nature that has taken effect, and Gundogan has become more talkative today:

"To be honest, Zhao, before I met you, no player in my career impressed me as much as the 18-year-old Gotze. When I saw his talent, it was unbelievable.

.

As a result, a year later, I met an even more terrifying guy. God always favors certain people, especially you."

Hearing Gundogan say such words, Zhao Jinge also felt flattered.

In the constant conversation, the mutual understanding between Zhao Jinge and Gundogan is also constantly deepening.

Taking a taxi to the hotel booked by the team, the two put down their suitcases and took advantage of their free time to visit Dublin, the "Silicon Valley of Europe" where art and technology intersect.

After spending a leisurely and fulfilling day, most of the players from the German national team also came to this city the next day.

The German national team was assembled that afternoon, because many of the players recruited this time were fringe internationals, and there was also a pure newcomer like Zhao Jinge.

So Loew planned to take advantage of the team dinner that night to introduce the newcomers to everyone.

Before dinner started, Loew specially called Zhao Jinge to his room:

"Zhao, how have you been in Dublin these two days?"

"Relaxing and happy. Coach, to tell you the truth, these two days of vacation have been great."

"Just have a good time, Zhao. I came to you to ask for your opinion. Do you think you are qualified for the next game?"

",Me? Of course! No problem at all!"

"I knew you would say that, confident boy."

A smile appeared on Loew's face:

"Do you know the team's current situation? The next game is very important. Not only is there pressure from the outside media, there are also many contradictions and influences within ourselves.

According to the original plan, Frick and I are going to let Mario play, and Zhao will be the substitute.

The two of us don’t want your national team to have too much pressure in their first game.”

Zhao Jinge couldn't figure out whether Loew cared about him or didn't trust him enough, but he believed that he was absolutely qualified for the position:

"I have been under similar pressure since I moved to Manchester City, and now I have become accustomed to such situations. Coach, if you ask for my opinion, then I will always have only one answer:!"
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After Zhao Jinge finished speaking, he looked at Loew with a confident smile on his face.

Just kidding, as a cheating reborn, if you don’t even dare to compete for a spot, you might as well find a piece of tofu to kill you.

Loew stared at Zhao Jinge's eyes for a long time, as if he had made up his mind:

"It seems that I am really old. I can't even match the determination of a child. There is still a while before dinner time. We can talk in detail."

"Zhao, do you know the current situation of the German team? To be honest, since winning the championship, the cohesion within the German team has declined. With the retirement of a large number of veterans, two huge problems have arisen within the team."

"First, there is a shortage of forward players. I originally thought Mario could take over Milo's position, but since he was about to transfer to Bayern, his performance has gotten worse and worse.

Coupled with the loss of other forward players, we are in the same predicament as Spain with no forward power."

"But God allowed us to discover you. Do you know how happy Frick and I were after seeing your wonderful performance? We both agreed that you are the cornerstone of the continuation of the German dynasty."

"Dynasty, dominating world football like the Spanish dynasty, this is what I want to do most after winning the World Cup again, but the German team quickly declined after reaching the top."

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"You are one of our few hopes. Flick and I are very careful about using you. Because we don't have time for trial and error, there are only two games left in the European Cup qualifiers.

Before the start of the European Cup next year, the national team will only have three to four friendly matches. Now a very embarrassing problem has arisen.

Zhao, you lack the opportunity to express yourself in official matches of the national team, and you don’t have the opportunity to get along with your teammates."

"The current media and German fans all agree that as long as you play, we can solve the hidden danger of our weak forward, but what if it happens?"

"Nothing unexpected!"

Zhao Jinge answered Loew's question in a matter-of-fact tone.

Loew was stunned for a moment, then laughed again:

"I hope so too. No matter what happens, everything will be on the best track."

"But as a head coach, I have to consider the unfavorable situation. Regardless of how much the outside world praises you now, I guarantee that as long as you don't perform well in a game, they will question you."<

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"If you don't perform well in two consecutive games, they will step on you hard and become like a devil!"

"But there are only two games left for our national team. Once you do not perform well, your chances of playing in the next European Cup will be greatly affected. You only have one chance."

"If you are on the stage, you will have to face the situation I just mentioned, so I am a little concerned about gains and losses now. I want you to shoulder the heavy responsibility, but I am also afraid that you will be crushed!"

"But if you come on as a substitute, even if the outside world has high expectations for you, as long as your performance is not too bad, they won't say much to you."

"They will even defend you and say that we should give young people more expectations and opportunities. It will not have much impact on your appearance in the next European Cup."

"And it's not just the outside world. We also have a second problem internally. Since Ballack, we have never had a captain with absolute leadership."

"There are various factions within the team. They were suppressing them before winning the championship, but they were all exposed after winning the championship!

Originally, Ram and I could suppress the situation in the locker room together, but Ram retired.

Neuer's prestige is not enough, and he also has many problems."

"So if you want it, there will be a lot of resistance within the team, and you will be scrutinized like a magnifying glass by both the outside world and the inside at the same time."

"They will keep staring at you, waiting for you to make a mistake. You must show absolute suppression in order to convince the crowd!"

"As I said just now, Flick and I can only give you two chances at most.

Choose, you can have two complete games to show yourself.

Either he will become the core of the German team's offense in the next European Cup, or he will face a very difficult situation in the national team.

No matter how well you perform at the club, you will face a crisis of trust from both inside and outside the next European Cup.

There are too many players in history who performed well in the club but did not perform well in the national team.

By choosing a substitute, you can slowly integrate into the team. I will try my best to ensure that you play twenty to thirty minutes in these two games.

But this also means that in the next European Cup, your competitive pressure will be greater, and you will become one of the forward rotation players.

However, by then, Germany’s forward players will not be the absolute main force, and everyone will rotate and compete for positions.”

Loew analyzed the pros and cons of the two options in detail to Zhao Jinge.

"The former is more aggressive, and you must perform convincingly in these two qualifiers. The latter is more stable, but it may not be until the next World Cup that you can establish your core position."

"Now Zhao, let me ask you one last time, can you bear the heavy burden? Can you inject new vitality into German football and become a pillar?"

Zhao Jinge nodded without hesitation, as he said again, if you don't even dare to fight for it, then what's the point of playing football?

Loew looked at the determined Zhao Jinge in front of him and was filled with emotion, and said with some melancholy:

"Just like Sir Alex Ferguson was optimistic about Ronaldo, betting that he would become the pillar of Manchester United, I also think you will become the pillar of the German team.

But damn, we have so little time. It would be great if you could give me an extra half year and four or five official games!"
To be continued...