From Arsenal to the Ball God

”I originally wanted to handle this issue internally and not escalate it to the public level, but I didn’t expect things to burst out.”

Deschamps wore a regretful expression, calmly saying, ”A team must share its honors and disgrace together, especially a team that carries so much attention.

”If someone doesn’t realize this, it means they are excluding themselves from the team.

He leaned closer to the microphone, decisively saying, ”Since someone has made such a decision, I feel deeply sorry.

”Because the France team will no longer call upon someone who does not help the team.”

A clear statement!

The reporters on-site frantically pressed their camera shutters; the newly appointed France team coach admitting he will no longer summon the Bayern Munich star is certainly big news.

These figures, who are usually in the spotlight, once conflicts burst out, the confrontation is unusually fierce and relentless, which more neutral fans certainly find entertaining.

”What about Ma’el?” A reporter shifted the focus to Ma’el, asking, ”Any response to Ribery’s comments on social media?”

Ma’el approached the microphone; before attending the press conference, he had a rough discussion with Deschamps, knowing what could and could not be said.

He is also one of the main figures in this event, now under much attention.

One wrong word, and he could be in a place of no return.....giving the opponent a chance to instantly reverse the situation.

”I’m not too concerned.”

He spoke softly, with a hint of a smile in his voice, ”But I really don’t understand why many people judge players using such...such strange comparison methods.

”Comparing awards accumulation with young ones, comparing current season performance with the old ones.

”I will never do that, nor will I shy away from the fact that I have few championships, but I believe I will achieve everything in the future.”

”Everything?” A reporter emphasized, asking, ”All of it?”

Ma’el considered and straightforwardly said, ”Yes, everything you can think of, in fact, I have always been trying to do so.

He recalled a saying from Ten Hag, which is something many players and coaches like to say, ”We are on the right path, whether in the national team or the club.”

Reporters noted what he said, and soon someone else asked, ”Anything you want to say to Ribery? What you just said was just a response for the fans.”

”I have nothing I want to say to him.”

Ma’el answered calmly, always with a smile, ”We are not the same type of player, no common topics.”

These words had an implicit meaning, a reporter probed, ”Are you implying his scoring efficiency and various data aren’t as good as yours? Or that his talent and debut performance don’t match up to yours?”

”No.” Ma’el shook his head, wittily saying, ”I mean I have no championships, while he has six or seven.”

”Haha...” A small wave of laughter erupted in the room, though most people didn’t laugh; they could feel the tense atmosphere of this press conference.

Someone quickly asked Deschamps again, ”Mr. Deschamps, you just said you will no longer summon Ribery. I want to ask, how long will this last?

”Will it be just the next period, or before the European Cup, after the European Cup? Or forever?”

Deschamps glanced at him, wanting to correct the loophole in his words.....he didn’t specifically name Ribery earlier, but on second thought, at this point, it seems trivial to haggle over it.

He thought for a while and said, ”I don’t know, perhaps until the day he can help the team and is willing to contribute to it.”

”I take the core interests of the France team as the starting point, without any personal vendettas.

”I also officially state here that anyone who does not contribute to the team, regardless of their price or strength, will not enter my team!”

Taking this opportunity, he also gave a stern warning to the other French National Team players to establish his authority.

He is not afraid of media opinion!

Not afraid of doubts!

Stubborn?

Perhaps Deschamps is such a person, maybe this will eventually harm him, but for now, this team needs someone like this to reform it.

Ma’el sat beside him, watching the media below.....knowing that he had already been labeled as part of Deschamps’ loyal brigade, they had experienced something unforgettable together.

Is this a difficult start?

Not entirely, they just defeated Belgium 5-3, completing a successful debut, he scored a hat-trick in his first game.

But to say it was a smooth start is certainly not true; they were dragged into a media battle from the very beginning and, even before participating in the European Cup, will carry the burden of ’stubbornly excluding a superstar.’

This might be a good thing, or it might be a bad thing.....Ma’el hopes he can hit the former, reversing the situation in the ongoing unfavorable conditions as he enters the national team.

It’s not just a reversal of a game, but a reversal of his entire national team career!

Tomorrow, he sets off back to the club, continuing to prove himself in the league and Champions League, contending for championships in cup matches, and improving his skills on the training ground!

When he truly becomes a Ball God, surely his world will be much quieter.

...

”Deschamps clearly states Frank Ribery will be excluded from the national team, Ma’el responds to no-championship remarks. Has the France team returned to the internal conflict vicious cycle of the 2010 South Africa World Cup?” — ’French Football’

”Ma’el hints Bayern star’s stats aren’t as good as his, stating their comparison method is flawed, they are different players.” — ’L’Equipe’

This press conference quickly sparked the entire world of football; not only French fans and neutral fans catching the drama joined in, but even Bayern and Arsenal fans entered the fray.