Starting with playing defensive midfield for Evergrande

Chapter 22: My First Touch of the Ball in My Debut! (Please Add to Your Favorites)

The press conference room at the Saitama World Cup Stadium at 7:00 PM on February 26, 2013.

The two head coaches appeared before the reporters on time, as scheduled.

After all, Lippi's experience speaks for itself, so there was absolutely no tension at the press conference!
During the brief 20-minute press conference, Serbian Mihajlo Petrovic mostly praised the old man and the strength of the team he led.

However, what no one knew was that Mihajlovic, who acted like a big fan of Lippi at the press conference, immediately became a different person once he returned to his own locker room.

"Midfield! I want you to control the midfield at all costs! Mark that Conca closely!"

"Remember, this is our home ground. I don't want to see our opponents score a single goal here!"

"Do not be afraid of confrontation!"

"Don't give them any chance to kick!!!"

"Don't be afraid to get the cards!"

Mihailo hysterically gave his players tactical instructions.

Meanwhile, the Urawa Red Diamonds players sitting around him gradually became more and more breathless amidst their coach's roars.

Yes!

What do these Japanese players think about having Lippi?
Chinese people are okay at table tennis, but when it comes to football!

They were ravaged by Japan for over a decade.

A pre-match pep rally was underway in Urawa Red Diamonds' locker room, while in the away team's locker room on the other side...

The old man, however, maintained his calm and composed expression.

After simply repeating the tactics once, the old man leisurely sat in the corner and started smoking a cigar.

The old man is suffering!
As a heavy smoker with 60 years of experience, the most painful part for him was those 45 minutes of the match.

The old man lit a cigarette, while the entire Evergrande team joked with each other with relaxed expressions.

Someone said whoever scores the first goal will treat everyone to a massage that night.
The joke was going quite well, but Su Hao, who had just put on his sneakers, was startled.

Whoever scores treats!

After thinking about his meager 6750 yuan (250 of which he bought a few Japanese magazines on health), Su Hao decided it was better for him to help out!

"Zhuang Dian'er Tai!"

"Zhuang Dian'er Tai!!!"

"This is a live broadcast of the first round of Group F in the 2013-2014 AFC Champions League!"

Guangzhou Evergrande away game against Urawa Red Diamonds!

"The players from both teams are now in their respective halves of the field!"

"The referee is checking his watch too!"

"Beep!!!"

"With the referee's whistle!"

"The match has officially begun! Urawa Red Diamonds have possession!"

"First, let's look at the starting lineups for both sides!"

"Zeng Cheng, the starting goalkeeper for Guangzhou Evergrande, dressed in the traditional yellow away jersey, attacks from left to right!"

"Defenders: Sun Xiang, Feng Xiaoting, Kim Young-gwon, Zhang Linpeng!"

"Double defensive midfielders: Captain Zheng Zhi and 16-year-old young talent Su Hao!"

"Single attacking midfielder: Conca!" "Three forwards: Muriqui on the left, Gao Lin in the center, and Elkeson on the right!"

"On the other side, Urawa Red Diamonds' starting goalkeeper, wearing their traditional red home jerseys, is attacking from right to left: Jun'ichi Kato!"

"Back line: Nasu Dairyo, Moriwaki Ryota, Makino Tomoaki, Ugagami Yuya!"

Midfielders: Keita Suzuki, Yuki Abe, Marcio Richards, Yosuke Kashiwagi!

"Two strikers: Shinzo Koroki and Genki Haraguchi!"

"Facing Guangzhou Evergrande, Serbian Mihajlo Petrovic fielded his most favored 4-4-2 formation."

"Urawa Ruby are playing very cautiously. In the first minute of the game, they have been passing the ball around in their own half!"

Just as Huang Jianxiang said, things were just like they were at the Saitama World Cup stadium.

After the referee blew the whistle, Urawa Red Diamonds did not blindly launch an attack just because it was their home ground.

The skillful Japanese players leisurely passed the ball from midfield back to their own half, and then from the backfield to the wing.

On Evergrande's side, Gao Lin, who was at the forefront, initially tried to press forward, but after being outmaneuvered several times, he gave up.

The players from both teams seemed to be playing a coordinated game, each strolling around their respective halves of the field.

However, just as Guangzhou Evergrande slowed down their pace, Urawa Red Diamonds' midfield maestro Marcio Richards, who had just received a cross from his own winger, suddenly accelerated.

Right in front of Conca, Massior Richards quickly turned around and, the instant he received the ball, shoved it forward hard.

Conca was not good at defense, and he didn't expect Marcio Richards, who was back to the goal, to suddenly make that move.

In just a split second, Marcio Richards tore a gaping hole in Guangzhou Evergrande's central defense!

"Danger!!!"

"That was a really clever shot!!"

"Marcio Richards' trip has really picked up the pace for Urawa Red Diamonds!"

"Keita Suzuki on the left and Yosuke Kashiwagi on the right are both sprinting with all their might!"

"Genki Haraguchi is already asking for the ball!!!"

Marcio Richards is very fast.

Huang Jianxiang, who was almost at the commentary booth, exclaimed in surprise.

It wasn't that Huang Jianxiang was making a fuss; the main point was that right behind Conca, and directly in front of Marcio Richards as he sprinted at full speed, was Su Hao, the complete rookie who was only 16 years old and making his professional debut.

If it were Zheng Zhi, Huang Jianxiang was very confident that Zheng Zhi could intercept or at least delay Massio Richards.

However, for a 16-year-old complete novice, facing foreign players who are among the top in Urawa Red Diamonds and even the J-League, Huang Jianxiang could almost see Marcio Richards making a solo run and completing a dragon.

Huang Jianxiang was frightened, and the more than 5000 Evergrande fans who had come to cheer for Evergrande in the stands also looked at their team's 16-year-old newcomer with worried expressions.

Even in a 1v1 situation against an opposing foreign player, that's...
Everyone's hearts were in their throats!
However, soon, a scene unfolded that widened the eyes of everyone, even those Japanese who had been excitedly standing up and shouting.

All that could be seen was that Marcio Richards, sprinting at high speed with the ball, only entered Su Hao's defensive range for a fleeting moment!

He fell to the ground after making a simple flicking motion to change the direction of the ball!
It wasn't a tackle!

It's not a foul!

In a very short reaction time, the 16-year-old Chinese player with unusual height first used his body to block Marcio Richards' position, and then, with a little force, he pushed Marcio Richards down while hooking the ball with his right foot, twisting his body and then pushing the ball forward with his left foot!
Less than a second!

Su Hao then executed a series of midfield individual defensive moves with unparalleled smoothness, including lowering his center of gravity to close the gap, exerting force to interfere with the opponent, gaining possession with his right foot, and launching a counter-attack with his left foot. It was like a teaching demonstration!

Moreover, while making a clean and decisive interception, they launched a counterattack against Evergrande from the spot.

(End of this chapter)