Chapter 18 2 Mad Men

Some say he is a lunatic.

But now, the man sitting in front of Yang Huan, a fat middle-aged man with glasses and a fat figure, doesn't look like a lunatic, but looks like a scientist doing research in a university.

It is also said that he is a scientist in the football world who has studied tactics and formations more than anyone else.

He is a football scientist who can become extremely extreme for the perfectionist complex in his heart.

Marcelo Bielsa, a man who doesn't even talk much.

In the just-concluded World Cup, although the performance of the Chilean national team was not ideal, their offensive football has conquered fans all over the world.

Bielsa is the head coach of the Chilean team.

"I hope that you can become the head coach of Southampton!" Yang Huan solemnly issued an invitation.

He believes that Bielsa is the kind of manager who can bring about a transformational change in Southampton, even if in the eyes of many people, the Argentine madman is a freak known for being extreme and difficult to get along with.

But Yang Huan believes in one sentence, geniuses are lunatics before they succeed!

"I'm sorry, I still have a contract with the Chilean Football Association." Bielsa shook his head lightly.

There was no expression on his round face, as if nothing could change his mood.

"I know." Yang Huan nodded, "But it's not without a solution, is it?"

The big deal is to pay the liquidated damages, which is really nothing to Yang Huan.

"It's not the problem, it's mainly because I don't want to leave Chile." Bielsa said calmly.

This calmness can even be described as indifference.

Yang Huan laughed, "What's the reason?"

Without waiting for Bielsa to answer, Yang Huan began to speculate, "A contract? I don't think you will be bound by the contract."

"Salary? Chile doesn't seem to give you a high salary, which shows that you don't pay much attention to salary."

"Is that friendship? Oh, yes, I heard that you have a good relationship with the president of the Chilean Football Association, but it is possible."

Bielsa looked at Yang Huan seriously for the first time. He knew that the other party knew him, and he didn't know anything about football as described in the news from British and European newspapers.

Just yesterday, he received a call from Hidalgo and drove to Buenos Aires from Rosario's house, 300 kilometers away. He also got to know Southampton and Yang Huan.

This team was acquired by Yang Huan a few days ago. In the past four days, it has appeared in the newspapers and media every day, and the limelight is very eye-catching because there are too many topics, and this time it was because Yang Huan took over The team fired the head coach on day one.

"Can you tell me why you fired Alan Pardu?" Bielsa asked actively.

Yang Huan thought this was a very good start and smiled.

"Do you want to hear the truth, or the lie, or do you want to hear the superficial or the deep core?"

Bielsa was still very calm, "Just say what you want to say."

"What I'm trying to say is that I don't think Alan Pardue can help me with my plans, he can't bring out the team I want and the style of football that I admire.

"

Without waiting for Bielsa to say anything, Yang Huan stared at Bielsa's eyes and smiled provocatively: "I think we are the same kind of people, I don't believe it, you never thought about going to the European professional league. Go up, slap those guys who think you can't play when you get to Europe, and wash away the shame of the past!"

Yang Huan's words made Bielsa's eyes flash with a strange color.

Bielsa once landed in Europe and coached the Espanyol team in La Liga, but this time his coaching resume only lasted six games, including the pre-season warm-up match. As a result, he did not win a game. After that, he received an invitation from the Argentine national team. , he returned to South America to coach his homeland team, but ushered in the fiasco of the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

This line of the Espanyol is regarded by everyone as Bielsa's Waterloo.

Especially after the Argentine national team was defeated in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, almost everyone thought that Bielsa would not be able to play at the top level of football.

After listening to Yang Huan's words, Bielsa lowered his head slightly, "Do you think I can win everything with Southampton?"

"In the short term, you can't win anything, but in the long run, what about the League One teams? The competitive environment in League One is not bad at all, and the lower leagues can give you plenty of time to adjust yourself. , when we get back to the Premier League, surprise everyone, and stomp all the big teams under their feet."

Bielsa raised her head again, looked at Yang Huan, and lowered her head again, "You are a very competitive person."

Yang Huan was stunned, hehe laughed, "Don't you have the will to win? The professional league is a life-and-death battle, don't you have the slightest ambition to be competitive? You are not obsessed with this kind of bloody game. fight?"

This time, Bielsa raised his head again.

National team and club are two different fields.

In a way, the national team is more like a leisurely vacation trip, with a big game every once in a while.

But the professional league is different. It is very tense and deadly. There are games every week. If you are not careful, you may be doomed. Any mistake in decision-making may lead to the collapse of the entire season, so you must be careful. Step by step.

To a certain extent, the professional league is the most fascinating and bloody arena in football.

It is also the best stage that all professional coaches dream of to show their talents.

There is one in Bielsa's football creed, for a game regardless of everything!

"You're right, after the World Cup, it's hard for me to bring more to Chile. That's the limit of this team. I also feel a little empty. Going to England to coach is also an option."

But Bielsa's words changed, "But I still have a very important question, what can you give me?"

"You don't have to worry about football autonomy, player transfers, business operations, etc. You just need to tell me, what you want, then I will give you what, even if you want the best star in the world, I will Do your best to help you get it!"

"In Southampton, you're all mine!"

In England's traditional head coach position, player transfers belong to the head coach's authority, and even head coaches such as Wenger and Ferguson have participated in the team's business operation plan, and the power is very large.

But Yang Huan intends to reorganize the power structure of Southampton, because the traditional power structure of the British team will lead to the uncontrollable power of the head coach. Above the team owner, this is unacceptable to Yang Huan.

If Southampton can only have one leader, it must be Yang Huan.

When Bielsa heard it, he didn't have the slightest reaction, as if it was logical, nodded and said, "Yeah, those things are too annoying." He said it as if he didn't have these powers, but it was a good thing for him.

"By the way, do you think Adam Lallana should play on the wing or in the middle?" Bielsa suddenly raised his head again and asked very seriously.

From his tone and eyes, it can be seen that this is not an exam, but a very sincere inquiry.

Adam Lallana, a homegrown star in the Southampton team, has excellent skills and a strong sense.

"If you play in the middle, I think it's not enough, because now the frontier defense of the penalty area is very tight." Yang Huan replied with a smile.

When Bielsa heard this, he nodded instead: "Well, but it would be much better if there was a strong center in the penalty area to suppress the opponent's two center defenders."

"I think this route is feasible, but in this way, there is only one Chamberlain on the wing, Lambert can't play on the wing, but if Lallana goes to the wing, there will be no one in the midfield, and Schneiderlin will press can't come up..."

Yang Huan finally realized why everyone said Bielsa was a football lunatic.

Don't look at this guy who doesn't say much, but when it comes to football, he talks endlessly, and even mutters to himself over there, arguing with himself about the team's tactics and the positioning of the players.

Southampton is regarded as the most technical team in English football, which is not difficult to see from Southampton's youth training. Several young players in the team, such as Lallana, Chamberlain, Luke Shaw, Chamberlain Wait, their foot skills are a lot higher than England's average.

Let's look at the players who came out of Southampton. Shearer and Le Tissier from farther, Walcott and Gareth Bale from nearer, are the type with solid basic skills and good foot skills.

The reason why Yang Huan chose Southampton was actually because of this.

There is no doubt that taking the technical route of ground coordination of the continental system is the way out for the future of English football.

Bielsa's madness shows no signs of stopping. He started from Southampton, but he talked about the traditional style of English football.

Listening to him muttering to himself over there, if the football passion and tenacious style of England can be integrated into his tactical system, the effect will be even greater, and Southampton's outstanding youth training will create for him. such an opportunity.

"Well, that's it." Belsalo said a lot, talking for a full hour, and suddenly stood up.

"What do you mean?" Yang Huan looked at Bielsa.

"I think that although you may have many shortcomings and problems, at least you are very honest, unlike many people in high positions in football who are hypocritical and dishonest, and promise a lot of things at every turn. A promise that cannot be fulfilled at all, when dealing with people like you, at least you have some peace of mind."

Bielsa spread his hands, "I analyzed and analyzed, and then I thought about it carefully, I felt a little annoying, but I think some of your ideas, some of Southampton's styles, and the challenges of English football are all Interesting."

"So..." Bielsa stretched out his hand, "...I decided to accept your invitation!"

Yang Huan was a little puzzled. What is the structure of this guy's head?

Doesn't he need good, in-depth consideration?

Or, doesn't he want to go to Southampton to see it live?

Or is there another reason why he wants to leave the Chilean national team?

But everyone agreed, where would Yang Huan go to study it in detail.

"I'll take care of the Chilean Football Association." Bielsa obviously wanted to discuss it himself. "Then, I will arrange for someone to go to the UK to negotiate the contract. You can talk to him about the salary. I will probably fly to London the day after tomorrow. There's not much time left to start the season."

Unexpectedly, this lunatic entered the role so quickly.

"Do you have any players you want?" Yang Huan asked.

Bielsa thought for a while, "I don't know the situation yet, you can figure it out."

"Oh, you just met Carlos Potter, did you like James Rodriguez?"

Yang Huan nodded, "Well, I signed it."

"Oh, it's a little troublesome, this guy has a conflict with Lallana's position!" Bielsa shrugged, showing his first smile since meeting, feeling that this should be his Beth's humor.

"But it's okay, I can handle it."

But as soon as he finished speaking, he felt wrong again, "It's better to introduce a strong center, Lambert alone, I'm afraid he can't handle it."

Hearing this, Yang Huan laughed, "How about Ibrahimovic? Can you beat him?"

When Bielsa heard this, he laughed, "Thank you for being able to figure it out, you are really a lunatic!"

"However, I'm starting to like you!"

Yang Huan had a helpless expression on his face, being praised as a lunatic in the eyes of an ordinary person, that kind of feeling...

Zhang Ning was always beside Yang Huan and didn't say a word, but when he heard it, he couldn't help laughing.