I AM the Football Star

Chapter 516: Chapter 141: Missing Out on the European Cup? (Part 2)

But Maniero wants to be non-stick, and the people behind Vincent would not agree.

When the time comes, all sorts of internal disclosures will surface, and it’ll turn into a complete mess.

This makes it hard to understand Maniero’s motivation.

Even Martivini told Maniero, this is not the best time for you to stand up, why do you want to respond to Vincent? Pretend you’re offline, wouldn’t that be better? I’ll handle this for you!

To this, Maniero had only one thing to say: ”Because I really can’t accept a European Cup without Italy’s participation!”

Martivini was speechless.

After more than ten seconds, Martivini sighed: ”Alright, I will do my utmost to fight for your power within the coaching team. But... you should be prepared, the most you might do is drink water on the coaching bench.”

The implication is that you might inevitably suffer a loss.

Maniero knew his decision somewhat disrupted Martivini’s plans, and he consoled him: ”Thank you for your understanding. Of course, you don’t need to worry too much.”

”Even if we indeed fail, and Italy fails to qualify for the European Cup, I will not become the biggest culprit, the eyes of the fans are clear.”

”Moreover, if San Remo continues to perform brilliantly this year, and the miracle you’ve created moves from the Italian Cup to European competition and achieves some results, then we will still become the rulers of next summer’s Italy National Team.”

”The initiative has always been in our hands. Or rather, the initiative has always been in San Remo’s hands! And fortunately, San Remo has always been on our side.”

Martivini’s eyes widened.

European competition?

San Remo?

Miracle?

A bold idea suddenly emerged in his mind.

Could it be that Maniero thinks San Remo has a shot in this year’s European competition?

Unbelievable at first thought, but startling upon realization.

Martivini glanced through the records of past European competitions; currently, the best performance by a first-time Europa League entrant is held by Premier League’s Wolverhampton Wanderers.

They reached the Europa League quarter-finals.

But Wolverhampton is a Premier League team, a top division team!

And in the lower divisions, the best result for a first-time Europa League entrant is third in the group stage!

Yes, none has gotten past the group stage into the knockout rounds, none!

If San Remo, as a lower division team, can reach the knockout rounds, it would be a huge success and would cause a stir throughout all of Europe with their strength.

San Remo now has a bit of a reputation across Europe.

But how strong they truly are, nobody knows, and few have recognized them.

European competition is an arena for leagues to understand each other’s strengths.

No matter how timid you are domestically, if you’re formidable in European competitions, your reputation is bound to grow. Your fans will increase, your fans will become more passionate and when you buy players, your competitiveness will be stronger.

Even if you’re formidable domestically, underperformance in European competitions leads to being seen as merely a domestic league failure.

Profound in internal battles, inept in European ones, only to be despised.

If Martivini can build such a San Remo, as the president of the Italian Football Association, as one of San Remo’s supporters, by consecutively creating Italian Cup miracles and European competition miracles, Martivini’s say would definitely be powerful enough to dominate the choice of the Italy National Team’s head coach.

Even if Italy loses its qualification for the European Cup, even if that head coach had once been an assistant coach in the failing national team of that year.

”What you said makes a lot of sense, I will work to secure the best schedule for San Remo.” Martivini had already made up his mind.

A day later, the Italian Football Association announced that Maniero joined the Italy National Team’s coaching group, becoming the chief assistant coach.

It is said that after Maniero became the assistant coach, he did not make any changes to Vincent’s national team, he only had one request, and that is... next time, meaning the last call-up for the European Cup qualifiers, in the last two games, bring Lu Yang along!

...

While most fans were still following closely whether Italy’s European Cup dream was shattered.

In the San Remo head coach’s office, apart from Sotu, there was another loud voice.

”Why? With Bernulin not playing, shouldn’t I be starting?” Naji was full of reluctance.

As Sotu had just told him that in the next match, he would be on the bench.

Naji could accept being a substitute, but... losing out to Bernulin was one thing, why is the starting center-back combination for the next match Palacios and Matias?

Matias is a right-back!

Sotu looked at Naji for a full three minutes without saying anything.

During this time, Naji realized, had he just lost his temper at the butcher?

That was the butcher!

Not to mention that Sotu is also the head coach.

Perhaps Lu Yang and Sotu’s way of communicating misguided Naji, making him think anyone could interact with Sotu like that.

Lu Yang and Sotu are straightforward, and many times Sotu enjoys listening to Lu Yang’s opinions because what Lu Yang says is worthwhile. Sometimes, Lu Yang would even defy Sotu’s arrangements, such as playing through injury etc., and Sotu would always compromise for Lu Yang.

Even when Sotu wanted to substitute Lu Yang, as long as Lu Yang didn’t want to, Sotu would rescind his decision.

Over time, Naji, through earshot and observation, grew somewhat casual.

To the point where he forgot why Lu Yang could have such privileges.

Lu Yang’s refusal to be substituted, Lu Yang’s playing through injury, it’s not that Sotu didn’t want to let him play, but rather, Sotu couldn’t bear it.