"Too low? You say the goal for the championship is too low?"
Even Cao Baming couldn't be this arrogant!
The head coach frowned. Although he had only been coaching the Tangguo national team for a short time, he had been following Tangguo's football matches for years, and he knew the skill level of these players.
As a head coach brought in from Italy, he was genuinely dismissive of Tangguo's players, a sentiment that was evident to many of them, as his attitude was too obvious.
Fortunately, the players also didn't respect him, but no one dared to say it.
Facing the head coach's question, Cao Baming showed no sign of panic and nodded calmly.
"That's right. As the saying goes, aim high to hit the mark. Our goal cannot simply be to win a championship. Since we've finally made it to the finals, we should at least break a few records."
Although his teammates also felt it was a bit outrageous, they all nodded and applauded in agreement. Most importantly, someone finally dared to stand up to this old man of a head coach!
The head coach was furious, but he had to maintain composure due to the presence of the higher-ups.
Although he wasn't Tangguo-born, he still wanted his team to break through!
But this person in front of him was too arrogant. Hadn't he just won the Golden Boot in the Premier League? Hadn't he just gained some fame?
Did he really think he was a football king?
Cao Baming calmly explained the tactical system he had learned at Arsenal. Combined with the natural enhancement of his "God's Eye" talent, which greatly improved his ability to read the game, his tactical insights were clear and thorough, with his own unique perspectives.
The head coach was stunned. Before he could even start speaking, Cao Baming had already begun discussing tactics.
What was even more infuriating was that everyone seemed to be listening more attentively to Cao Baming's explanations than to his own!
Tangguo's professional players were all selected step-by-step. Those who reached this level were not fools and possessed their own judgment.
Cao Baming, who had been eliminated from Serie B and was unwanted, and this head coach, a starter in a top Premier League team, might truly have different understandings of football.
However, the Premier League style was more practical in comparison!
Cao Baming didn't just talk endlessly. He even left some room for the head coach, considering his face.
After a period of discussion, the overall future direction became quite clear, and the higher-ups applauded from the sidelines.
For the next week, Cao Baming would be staying in Tangguo to train and integrate with the team. Although friendly matches were just for practice, as the World Cup approached, seizing such opportunities for good training with teammates was crucial!
On the training ground, Cao Baming took on the role of captain, a decision made by the higher-ups. Although the head coach was still somewhat displeased, he could do nothing about it.
Surrounded by Tangguo nationals, he felt a sense of isolation.
Over several days of training, Cao Baming imparted all the experience he could. Even with his personal drive, the team's rhythm gradually began to align with the speed of the Premier League, and the intensity increased by a notch.
Within the team, he directly abandoned his defender position and played as a defensive midfielder.
In actual matches, he fluidly switched between defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder. During attacks, he was the sharpest spear, and during defense, he was the sturdiest shield.
After a few days of playing, Cao Baming had firmly established himself as the absolute core of the team. However, he also discovered a critical problem!
There were always a few players in the team who couldn't keep up with the pace, faltered at crucial moments, and couldn't integrate into the collective.
Some of them didn't even have basic skills down, yet they wanted to play.
Although most of his teammates were decent, the issue of going further in the brutal World Cup arena needed to be addressed!
After one training session, Cao Baming sat down on a bench by the sideline.
He fell into thought under the faint moonlight.
After a long while, he finally made up his mind.
This couldn't continue. The current situation needed to change!
Some people in the team had not stood out due to their abilities, but rather through connections and smooth social skills. They lacked skill and effort, so why should they be allowed to coast in the team?
Previously, thinking about such matters made it difficult to change the status quo. But now, things were different. He now had status and money, and he was fully capable of making a stand.
The best way was to get rid of those who were just coasting, and he didn't need to specifically chase them out.
After careful consideration, Cao Baming finalized a plan. It would take some time, but it was feasible.
...
To the anticipation of Tangguo fans, the friendly match against the "bangziguo" (a derogatory term for Koreans) was scheduled to be held in the capital of Tangguo.
On this day, although there were no specific match tickets sold, the game was broadcast live in its entirety, and many fans were still paying close attention.
Cao Baming's eyes flickered as he walked with the team through the players' tunnel towards the stadium.
The head coach stood on the sideline, resting his chin on his hand, watching the field intently.
Friendly matches had less rigid rules and no elaborate pre-game ceremonies. Once all players were present, the referee blew the whistle to start the match.
This match was also watched via live broadcast by Arsenal's head coach, Mikel Arteta, who was in England.
It was 11 PM in London, less than an hour before midnight. In his dark office, he was the only one watching the match under a desk lamp.
His interest was naturally due to Cao Baming.
Specifically, it was because Cao Baming was playing a new position for the first time – a defensive midfielder!
Although Cao Baming's role in the Arsenal squad was somewhat ambiguous, Arteta had never dared to switch him directly to this position. He hadn't expected someone else to discover this potential first.
With the arrival of Messi, the prospect of these two forming a partnership in midfield would be the most beautiful visual feast in history!
On the field, Cao Baming was actively moving, observing his surroundings.
The "bangziguo" were led by Son Heung-min, and they were full of morale, relying on such a superstar!
Son Heung-min's eyes seemed to carry a killer instinct. Every time he looked at Cao Baming, his gaze instantly changed, as if Cao Baming's Premier League Golden Boot award had been snatched from his hands.
Just five minutes into the match, the opposing team had already organized three attacks, and Cao Baming personally intervened to resolve the crisis.
He quickly realized something was wrong. His Tangguo teammates seemed to have not eaten that day, unable to play any coordinated moves, and were as timid as mice.
"Go up and challenge them! Rouse yourselves!"
Cao Baming kept shouting, but they were still being suppressed.