Champion’s Heart

While Shinji Kagawa was chatting with Klopp alone, Zhou Yi was squatting on the ground with an oil-based pen and writing and drawing on the football.

Hey, Zhou Yi, what are you doing? Gotze noticed Zhou Yi hiding in the corner, and he curiously went over to inquire.

Say hello to Manchester City in advance. Zhou Yi said.

How do you say hello? Gotze was surprised.

Didn't you say that the two Carrington training bases are next to each other? Legend has it that a big kick can reach the other side.

After listening to Zhou Yi's words, Gotze straightened up and looked up at the row of dense woods outside the training ground...

Don't be ridiculous, Zhou Yi. This must be a rumor! Even if you kick it, there is absolutely no way it will go to Manchester City!

Even if it's a rumor, I have to refute it myself.

While he was talking, Zhou Yi had already finished writing. He put away his pen, stood up, estimated the distance, threw the football up, and kicked the football over like a goalkeeper with a big kick.

The bang even alerted other people in the training ground, but when everyone looked around, they saw nothing. They only saw Zhou Yi and Gotze standing at the other end, looking at the woods on the edge of the training ground, not knowing what they were doing.

You can't see it at all. I said it was impossible to kick it over. Gotze shrugged.

Damn, it looks like it's really a rumor! Zhou Yi said with a frown.

You also wasted a football.

It's okay, it's from Manchester United anyway. Zhou Yi waved his hand. After saying that, he patted his butt, turned around and walked towards the main army. Let's go, let's go. Don't tell anyone else about this.

It turns out you also know how to be ashamed...

What? I'm afraid that Manchester United will ask me to compensate!

※※※

The game is approaching and both clubs are ready. Both teams have players who are unable to play in this game due to injuries. Dortmund's side is the old injured Owomoyela, who has missed four league games.

Manchester City still has Richards, who has not played a game this season.

Maicon was only injured in the last round of the league.

Unable to participate in this match.

During this period, Mancini has been studying Dortmund, mainly studying Dortmund's core player Zhou Yi.

Think of ways to curb Zhou Yi's performance in the game.

In the last Champions League group match, Ajax used the method of building a wall in front of their home to contain Dortmund's offense. They did not use any special tactics to target Zhou Yi, and even took possession of the ball outside the penalty area. Give in. Their approach is to defend the space in the penalty area and not give Lewandowski, Royce, and Gotze the space and time to get the ball inside and outside the penalty area. In this way, Zhou Yi naturally has no target to pass the ball.

Ajax's approach gave Mancini some ideas. Of course he can't let Manchester City set up a bus at home. This is not his style and it is not Manchester City's style.

But instead of finding ways to contain Zhou Yi, it is better to find ways to contain Zhou Yi's ball goals. This is indeed an idea.

Zhou Yi's movement is very flexible, and it is not easy to contain Zhou Yi, because he can appear in almost any corner of the stadium, and if you find someone to follow him, your team's formation will be messed up. If we use regional defense against him, then in one area, if we focus on defending Zhou Yi, it will be difficult to guarantee the strength of defense against other Dortmund players.

These are not very good practices.

So Mancini felt that maybe he could learn from Ajax's approach, but he couldn't copy it wholesale. If Zhou Yi is in the backcourt, there is no need to worry about him. Once he approaches the 30-meter area of ​​Manchester City, someone will have to mark him closely. At the same time, everyone else must do their job to ensure the integrity of the defense line and try not to leave too obvious gaps so that Zhou Yi cannot What a great passing target. As for the person marking Zhou Yi, he is responsible for interfering with Zhou Yi and preventing him from controlling the ball and observing calmly.

The day before the game, Mancini came to the Carrington training base, where the Manchester City team will have their last training. It is not very intense, mainly offensive and defensive training on set pieces.

As soon as he sat down in his office today, assistant coach Brian Kidd knocked on the door.

Manqiao, the equipment manager is looking for you.

Mancini was surprised: Is there something wrong with the training facilities?

No, actually...well, let him tell you, he is outside. Kidd felt that it would be troublesome for him to talk about it, so he simply handed over the task to the administrator.

Then invite him in.

The equipment manager at Carrington training ground came in, holding a football.

My men found this when they were picking up footballs in the woods, sir. I thought I should show it to you...

Because there are dense trees next to the training base, and it always happens that players kick footballs into the woods during training, so after training every day, the equipment manager always arranges for someone to go to the woods to pick up the footballs.

Mancini saw the huge Nike logo on the football in the hands of the administrator at a glance.

Manchester United's ball?

Nike is a sponsor of Manchester United, and their training balls must be Nike. Manchester City's sponsor is Umbro, so it is impossible for Nike football to appear at Manchester City's Carrington training base.

Because the training bases of the two clubs are close to each other, it is indeed possible to pick up the other club's football when picking up the ball. Although the probability is not high, it is indeed possible.

However, when picking up footballs from the other club, they will temporarily store them, and then return them to the other party collectively after a certain amount. Although the competition was very heated, the working relationship in private was not incompatible.

Yes, sir. It's from Manchester United.

Then just give it back to the other party? Mancini didn't understand why the administrator wanted to come to him with a Manchester United football. Didn't he know that his time was precious? Especially before the Champions League starts...

Well, but this is quite special, so I thought maybe I should show it to you, sir. The administrator was actually a little hesitant about giving this football to the head coach of the first team. Maybe he didn't care at all. What about these things?

However, Mancini still took the football, held it in his hand, and turned it around. A line of crooked English written on the light red ball appeared in front of him.

Hello, Blue Moon, this is greetings from Bumblebee.

The signature is Book of Changes, followed by a smiling face and a V gesture.

Seeing this scene, Mancini was a little stunned. Seeing the coach's strange reaction, Kidd also moved over to take a closer look. After seeing this sentence, he frowned: What... does this mean?

I don't know. Mancini shook his head.

Is it Zhou Yi's prank?

Is he that boring? Mancini didn't quite believe it. He felt that Zhou Yi must have a purpose for doing this, but what the purpose was, he didn't expect for a while.

Regarding Zhou Yi, he has heard some rumors that he has the best brain among young players. Others use their bodies to play football, but he uses his brain to play football. Mancini believes this, because Zhou Yi is not physically dominant, but he is able to achieve such achievements because of his brain.

There is also a rumor that Zhou Yi was called the Oriental Wizard in Germany, saying that he knew mysterious Eastern witchcraft. When Barrios was in a scoring drought and was questioned by public opinion as a parallel import, it was he who saved Barrios. With the blessing of his witchcraft, Barrios scored consecutively. In the end, Barrios won the A cannon-shaped trophy symbolizing the honor of top scorer.

At that time, there were many people in Germany who blocked Zhou Yi outside Dortmund's training base just to get his blessing, which was said to be quite effective.

Mancini had heard that Chinese medical skills were amazing. Acupuncture was no longer a rare thing. Doctors could treat diseases by inserting a needle into the human body. He has also seen cupping. Doctors set a glass jar with fire and then press it on the body. When it was removed, there was a dark circular scar on the body. According to the doctors, there was bad qi in the body. It was pulled out, and the scars prove it.

And the key is that it actually seems to work.

Mancini found this incredible. In his eyes, it was no different from witchcraft.

Now holding the football in his hands, he connected Zhou Yi's nickname with the Eastern witchcraft he had seen. He felt more and more that Zhou Yi's kicking of a football was probably not as simple as a prank.

Is Zhou Yi using this ball to cast spells?

Thinking of this, he handed the football to the administrator: Return this ball over there immediately.

The administrator was surprised: But we picked up this one...

Then return this one. Mancini was so harsh that there was no doubt about it.

The administrator didn't understand why the head coach was suddenly so serious, but he did as he was told, took the football and turned to leave.

As soon as he left, Kidd asked Mancini: Mancho, what's wrong?

Nothing, I'm just a little worried. Mancini muttered.

worry about what?

Well...it's just a baseless guess. Okay, okay, let's talk about today's training content... Mancini realized that he had accidentally let something slip, so he quickly changed the topic.

※※※

The last day of training before the game was over, and the Dortmund team gathered together and prepared to return to the hotel.

Klopp came to everyone with a football.

He turned the football with one hand and called Zhou Yi out of the queue.

Did you write the words on this, Zhou Yi? he asked.

Zhou Yi did not answer the question immediately, but looked at Ge Ze.

Gotze in the team spread his hands: I swear I didn't tell you.

The people at Manchester United gave it to me, Klopp said.

I wrote it. Zhou Yi replied honestly.

Why are you writing this? Klopp continued to ask.

I want to say hello to Manchester City before the game, and see if the training bases of the two clubs are really that close. Zhou Yi explained his original intention of doing this.

You are so boring. Klopp was speechless at Zhou Yi's completely unusual idea, and he threw the football to Zhou Yi. Keep it yourself.

Zhou Yi was very worried when he took over the football: Does Manchester United want me to compensate?

Manchester United said it would be a souvenir for you. Klopp waved his hand and asked Zhou Yi to return to the team, and then began to summarize the training results.

Gotze whispered to Zhou Yi from the side: I told you that you will definitely not be able to kick it over. Didn't you get picked up by someone from Manchester United?

How will you know if you don't try, Mario.

Then you tried it?

I tried it and found that I really couldn't kick it.

whispering sound……

But at least I know that the distance between the training bases of the two clubs is not so close that a big foot can kick the football over. If I don't try, I may never know and I can only follow what others say about Mali. Oh, do you know what the scientific spirit is? The scientific spirit is to make bold assumptions and be careful to verify them!

Zhou Yi described his imaginative behavior in such a high-spirited way that Gotze didn't even know what to say.

The team returned to the locker room and was about to change clothes and get in the car. Everyone came to ask Zhou Yi if this was a provocation to Manchester City, just like shooting a challenge with an arrow.

But Zhou Yi shook his head and denied: No, no, this is literally the meaning, there really is no subtext. I just want to say hello to them.

Really?

Of course it's true. I have no grudges with Manchester City. Why do I provoke them? Provoke them so that they can do something against me in the game? Am I such an idiot? So it's just a failed friendly greeting. Zhou Yi explained very seriously.

Hey, Zhou Yi, you are really boring... Everyone dispersed.

Seeing everyone saying this, Zhou Yi pointed at himself and asked Gece: Are you bored?

Gotze shook his head: No, it's very boring. (To be continued)). If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian.com (). Your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile phone users please go and read. )