GOAT: All Football Talents Are Mine

024. Genius and the glory of winning the trophy (3)

The next day, Bahafunda training ground.

Carlos, who gathered the players in one place, spoke.

"What we have to do from now on is to stop Corinthians from losing."

Alexandre Pato.

〈If you do not know the boy's name, do not discuss the future of Brazil.〉

This is what Socrates, the greatest star produced by SC Corinthians, said about Pato.

Pato was a top prospect who was already famous in Sao Paulo despite his young age.

Hoyoung also knew a lot about him.

'The head of the family who will lead AC Milan in the future. 'There was a saying in Argentina called 'Messi' and 'Pato' in Brazil.'

The potential that Pato showed during his youth was so great that it was comparable to that of Messi.

However, there was a difference in that Messi followed an upward curve and Pato followed a downward curve.

'Anyway, since Fatu is 3 years older than me now… I think it's worth it.'

Because soccer is a team game.

I thought I could win if I prepared thoroughly.

Carlos, who was explaining the next game, continued.

"Alexander Pato is a player who joined SC Corinthians at the end of April this year and played 14 games. He has scored 18 goals and is currently selected as a strong candidate for the league's Golden Ball. However, since the period is not long, team chemistry is not perfect."

What I was saying was that you can win, so don't be afraid.

"Also, in soccer, the winning team is the good team, not the good team that wins."

It meant that we too could win.

"And we just have to be a winning team."

'Ugh!'

It was a word that made people cringe slightly, but no one showed it outwardly.

That's because Carlos' expression was solemn.

"But we're not going to play a game where we lock up and hold on until a penalty shootout. Even if we do that, it's not like we can stop Fatu."

The finals are a big stage that young people rarely experience.

Carlos wanted to provide players with a variety of experiences while utilizing detailed strategy and tactics.

"That doesn't mean we're playing a losing game. We will prepare for the game as best we can. So, it would be better to make an impression and be confident first."

""Yes!""

"Then we will conduct position training in 10 minutes, so please warm up."

After giving that instruction, Carlos called the head coach aside and talked to him.

"It's obvious that Corinthians will come out with 4321, but is there any way to stop Pato?"

"The best thing would be to trap the opponent's second line from the outside to the inside using the 4141 formation. "The problem is that our team doesn't have the resources to do that."

"yes. "That is tantamount to suicide."

As expected, the problem is fatu.

Whether or not you can stop him will determine victory or defeat.

"And the defense is a problem, but our offense is also a problem. I mean Hoyoung. "There will be intense pressure from Corinthians."

The Corinthians coach must have been thinking the same thing.

How can we prevent the troublesome problem called 'Woo Ho-young'?

Therefore, a way to break through the opponent's defense had to be devised.

"I have something in mind about that. "Woo Ho-young will not be at the front in the next game."

"Then do you plan to resign to second term? "An attacking midfielder?"

"no. "I plan to use him as a defensive midfielder for 41121."

"yes?!"

It was natural to be surprised.

Let alone using the 41221 tactic without an attacking midfielder, it was a difficult decision to use Hoyoung, the team's goal getter, as a defensive midfielder.

"Director? "I know that Hoyoung has decent ball cutting and blocking skills, but isn't that a position for a regista?"

Regista refers to a play style that coordinates the game and connects offense and defense passes from the center.

In other words, it is a tactic tailored to 'Woo Ho-young' whose success or failure depends on the capabilities of the defensive midfielder.

Carlos answered.

"Pato's speed is unrivaled in the league. There are so many things that you can't stop even if you know about it. But who on our team has the resources to keep up with that pace?"

"It's just Dougie and Hoyoung. But Douglas has poor defensive skills."

"yes. "All that's left is Woo."

"… If that happens, it can confuse the opponent, but will the ball distribution be smooth? If that doesn't work, we'll have to give up market share."

"Didn't you see his ability to distribute the ball in the last playoff game? "The guy is talented."

"I saw it. But will the ball distribution be stable despite the opponent's strong pressure?"

"That's why we trained you intensively. "The basics."

"Hmm…"

I didn't know if it was possible.

That is, if Hoyoung can fulfill that important role.

"You want me to see a defensive midfielder?!"

Just as position training was about to begin, Carlos' notice made Hoyoung freeze.

"You can do it. "Don't be scared."

"Uhm… yes."

'I guess you're doing this because you have something in mind.'

Hoyoung nodded.

Because I trusted Carlos.

Moreover, I agreed that this game needed variables.

"Then follow me."

"yes? "What about training?"

"You are out of line."

"If you are outside the group…?"

"It's special training."

Hoyoung was not the only one classified as a recipient of special training.

A total of six people came together, including Casemiro, who will play the center back in the next game, and Douglas, who will play the lone top player in the front.

Carlos said to Hoyoung.

"When you get the ball from Casemiro, you have to spread the ball to Douglas. "But it will be too far to get there."

"yes."

"Then what should I do?"

"I think we should build up by passing the ball briefly to the side midfielder or have the wing forward come down and receive it."

Unless you have outstanding passing skills like Spain's Xavi or Alonso, it was inevitable.

"yes. So from now on, we will practice ball distribution for each major pattern."

A day and two days passed after those words were said and the training continued.

Carlos instructed players to learn various patterns of ball distribution routes, saying, "Do this until the connection becomes natural."

Even as basic training was drastically reduced, attention was paid to ball distribution.

This is because Hoyoung's role as linker was that important.

Thanks to that, Hoyoung's talent improved tremendously day by day.

[Knife-like ball distribution (C+)↑]

That was the day when Carlos was satisfied, saying, "It's over now," when his talent grew.

It was also the day when training on defensive strategies and offensive developments to block Pato began.

Afterwards, training for the entire team began and intense training continued for the remaining three days.

It was natural to express dissatisfaction with the repetitive training, but everyone focused on the training.

To decorate the end of the season spectacularly.

And to lift the Campeonato Paulista Championship trophy today.

"We will be the winning team today."

Sao Paulo Municipal Estadio do Pachembu Stadium.

These were the words Carlos uttered in the locker room of Sao Paulo FC.

I've said this a few times at the training ground, but right now, I have a sense of solemnity and a burning desire to win.

Hoyoung joined hands with the players, recalling the special training of the past week.

""Bring the king's majesty to the field!""

Chicken skin appeared on his forearms.

It's not because I'm embarrassed.

It was always a chant before the start of a game, but it had never been this solemn.

Moreover, since SC Corinthians was one of the biggest rivals in the region, their attitude towards the game was quite different from usual.

Before leaving the locker room, Carlos added one last word.

"The stadium is a stage where we show our training. Show it all. "Then it's done."

"yes."

My heart felt like it was going to explode.

Hoyoung entered the stadium, trying to calm his nerves.

I shook hands with the opposing players and checked their talents one by one.

What to watch out for.

What else can you covet?

"!"

For an instant, Hoyoung's eyes stopped.

To a boy who appears to be around 160 cm tall and has impressive dark eyebrows.

[Alexander Pato]

Talent

– Soccer genius (A-)

– Fast legs as fast as a Lamborghini (A+)

– Simple and delicate sense of ball touch (B)

– Brilliant individual skills (B-)

– Decent goal-making ability (C+3)

(Conditions) You can covet one talent when you satisfy.)

(Condition 1: Win the final of the Campeonato Paulista Championship)

(Condition 2: Be selected as the Golden Ball of the Campeonato Paulista Sao Paulo Weekly League)

(Condition 3: Attack Points 2 Record the dots)

A boy born in 1989 who would later be called Little Pele.

We finally met.

'genius…!'

My heart, which had calmed down at best, began to pound again as I was told that I was a soccer genius and not a soccer prodigy.

What would happen if you coveted the talent of that soccer genius?

Can we all be equally genius?

It was truly a battle between a genius full of talent and a devil who coveted talent.

Hoyoung took the field half worried and half excited.

Then it was that moment.

"…?!"

The faces of the SC Corinthians players hardened and the atmosphere suddenly became cold.

The SC Corinthians coach, who was sitting on the bench, frowned and jumped up from his seat.

"What is that?"

I was taken aback by Hoyoung's appearance.

Because the guy who was supposed to be at the forefront was standing in the defensive midfield position in charge of the midfield.

"Why is he there?"

"… I don't know either."

The head coach had no way of knowing what the director did not know.

The fact that it was a surprise attack by Coach Carlos that left him defenseless.

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