I AM the Football Star

Chapter 517: Chapter 141: Missing Out on the European Cup? (Part 3)

This is fundamentally different from Sotu having Naji as a substitute.

Under Sotu’s death stare, Naji felt guilty.

Seeing Naji react, Sotu slowly began to speak, ”As the head coach, I inherently don’t need to explain why I put a player on the bench. That’s my absolute authority.”

”But since you know what mistake you’ve made, I can give you a little hint.”

”Your performances in matches and training do not satisfy me. Your physique has enough talent to support you in becoming a decent central defender, but your mind isn’t clear enough.”

”You’re not distinguishing priorities in some matters, and that’s not the awareness of a good central defender.”

”You’ve scored the most own goals in the league, and your elementary mistakes are the highest on the team. You should be forgiven because you’re a product of the club’s youth system, you’re still young, and you’re worth everyone’s investment and wait.”

”But the premise is that you have to show everyone your change. One year is like this, two years are like this, what about three or five years? By then, what reason will the fans have to convince themselves?”

”As the head coach, I need to show you what behavior is right and what is wrong. I can’t let you walk further down the wrong path, because that’s not being kind to you, but being irresponsible.”

”Alright, now you can get out! I hope you disappear within five seconds, or you won’t even sit on the bench!”

Sotu tactfully sent him off.

Naji staggered out of the office.

Watching Naji’s back, Sotu fell into deep thought.

Hopefully, Naji could grasp the underlying meaning of his words.

Morici... is by no means a fool.

As a commander with both high emotional intelligence and intelligence, perhaps Morici, who had just fallen in love, was a bit confused, but over time, what Naji did would be hard to hide from Morici.

Then...

If a choice had to be made between Morici and Naji, Sotu would undoubtedly choose Morici.

The issue between Naji and Morici must be resolved subsequently.

Maybe Naji was just joking, but this joke was clearly a bit over the top.

On September 8th, the second round of the Italian Second Division started.

San Remo was still playing at home, against a regular Serie B team, Pisa.

Pisa, as in the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Since Latu Yidi and Bernulin had just returned from the national team, both of them were not in the matchday squad for this game.

San Remo’s current bench can allow them some rest.

Due to personnel changes and other issues, Sotu still opted for San Remo’s relatively assured 433 formation.

Frontline trio of Bai Zhami, Sogel, and Fernandez.

Midfield trio of Morici, Lam, and Lu, with Lam continuing as the defensive midfielder.

Backfield quartet of Camihong, Palacios, Matias, and Canyes.

It’s Matias’s first time serving as center-back in a four-back formation, which surprised many fans.

Logically, shouldn’t Naji be playing?

Of course, some speculate this could be Sotu’s reward or consolation for Matias.

After all, he was the main right-back last season, but this season he visibly became a substitute, which isn’t easy for anyone.

Without some emotional care, Matias could easily make a quick exit.

There are teams interested in Matias even outside of Serie B.

Even Serie B had a few teams inquire about Matias’s transfer after Canyes’s transfer.

Due to considerations of squad depth, San Remo refused these inquiries.

This match allowed San Remo to further understand the level of Serie B.

They found out, apart from Serie B strong teams, other teams don’t put much pressure on San Remo.

Although Pisa is stronger than Chitadella from the last round, they still found it hard to cope with San Remo’s attack.

In the 23rd minute of the match.

Canyes and Fernandez cooperated on the wing, Fernandez pulled wide to the end line and then passed back to Canyes.

Canyes passed the ball without stopping to Lu, then chose to cut inside off the ball.

Lu dribbled diagonally from the right to the center from outside the large penalty area.

Because of his teammates’ movement, he was not closely defended.

Thus, Lu unleashed a powerful drive, blasting open Pisa’s goal!

San Remo led one-nil.

This goal came easily because after the last match, Lu received a random gift package.

Upon opening it, he gained the player-level skill ”Stepping Ball Skill.”

His ball control attribute also, therefore, rose from 83 to 84, nearing a critical value.

Stepping Ball Skill isn’t actually a specific skill, but a kind of ”ball feel.”

So it’s actually very important.

Especially when a player is dribbling sideways, this ball feel can make the dribbling with the instep of the foot more fluid.

And the difference between dribbling with the instep of the foot and other dribbling methods like tapping or nudging the ball is that it maximizes control over the football.

In essence, dribbling is just losing the ball, only to regain the football yourself.

But dribbling with the instep is different, it allows the instep to almost always be in contact with the football.

Many times you see defensive players unresponsive to players not even that fast in lateral dribbling, letting the opponent pass easily because the attacker is using instep dribbling.

This method is extremely deceptive and precise in control.

If a defensive player takes a step, they are likely to be nutmegged by the opponent.

If they don’t step, they can’t keep up with the opponent’s next move.