Mainz.
After matchday 11 of the Bundesliga, the schedule returned to one ga a week.
The team had a day off, but the training ground on the north side of Bruch Road Stadium was still bustling with activity.
Wang Shuo was still on the training ground, drenched in sweat as he put himself through extra practice.
At so point, it wasn’t just Subotic and Schürrle accompanying him for the extra sessions.
There was also Kirschhoff from the U19s and Roman Neustadter from the second team.
Even Germany U-21 international Nico Bungert, who had just joined in the sumr, voluntarily stayed behind.
Eventually, even the substitute goalkeeper, Ischdonat, stayed behind of his own accord to help Wang Shuo with his shooting and free-kick practice.
Ever since Dimo Wache returned from injury, Ischdonat had lost his starting spot and had even been relegated to third-choice goalkeeper.
But having fought alongside him last season, he had an excellent impression of Wang Shuo.
At 32, Ischdonat wasn’t exactly looking to improve; he mainly wanted to maintain his form and, at the sa ti, build a good relationship.
This was why, even though Mainz was on a day off, their training ground was still far from quiet.
"Jurgen, have you ever heard the saying that excellence has its own gravitational pull?"
With so many people to practice with, Kramny, the coach, was actually standing idly by the side.
The second team’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, watched the training on the pitch with great interest, his eyes filled with a mix of envy and admiration.
He loved purity!
Kramny didn’t have to guess; he understood the aning. Excellent people easily attract others who want to improve alongside them.
"My teacher, Wolfgang Frank, once said that in the world of football, 95% of everything is diocre."
"95% of the running, 95% of the passing, 95% of the defending... even 95% of the people!"
"diocrity is ineffective. It’s the remaining 5% that’s decisive!"
After hearing this, Tuchel pondered it carefully before nodding. "He’s described the very essence of professional football!"
"I’ve carefully studied the team-building strategies of all successful clubs over the past twenty years. They basically all build the team and their tactics around a core player."
"Just like our current Mainz team—isn’t it built around Wang Shuo?"
Kramny didn’t quite grasp the underlying aning of Tuchel’s words and could only smile and say, "Last season in the 2nd Bundesliga, Wang Shuo’s performance proved he could be trusted, and it’s the sa this season."
"Of course!" Tuchel nodded.
"He’s a very special player, and he’s always worked his tail off. His progress has been incredibly fast."
At this point, Tuchel changed the subject. "But ever since Rehhagel led Greece to victory in the 2004 European Cup, and Deschamps’s Monaco t Mourinho’s Porto in the Champions League final, there seems to have been another school of thought."
"A tactical frawork that relies too heavily on a single core player is unstable. The dependency is too great, and once that player gets older or their form declines, the price is enormous. That’s why many people feel it’s better to adopt a multi-core, or even a no-core, system."
"You’re a proponent of Barça and Guardiola," Kramny said with a smile.
This season, Guardiola’s Barça was making huge waves in the European football scene, precisely because the team under his managent didn’t seem to have a single, clearly defined core player.
Harvey? Iniesta? ssi?
Or even the players further back, like Yaya Toure, Busquets, Pique, and Puyol?
Barça seed to have many core players.
This made them difficult to defend against.
"I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about it, but there’s one thing I’m sure of."
"What’s that?"
"Wang Shuo is a very special player. He’s only 18. Once he shores up his weakness in physical duels and if he can strengthen his left foot, he’ll be a complete hexagonal warrior!"
"Add to that his tireless running and output, and he could find a place on any team."
This was precisely what interested Tuchel most about Wang Shuo.
He had always wanted to know: just how high could Wang Shuo’s ceiling be?
...
As the two were talking on the sidelines, the training session on the pitch ca to a temporary halt.
Wang Shuo walked over, panting, and greeted Tuchel while drinking so water.
"You work so hard, you’re really putting a lot of pressure on us head coaches." Tuchel was in a good mood and made a rare joke.
This took even Kirschhoff by surprise.
In U19 matches, Tuchel was a notorious tyrant.
It was strange.
Both Klopp and Tuchel treated Wang Shuo exceptionally well.
Soone had even jokingly asked Klopp why he never criticized Wang Shuo.
Klopp’s reply was, "What am I supposed to criticize him for? For running more than 11 kiloters every match?"
"Or should I criticize him for scoring 11 goals and getting 5 assists in 11 matches?"
"Or maybe for stepping up and turning the tide multiple tis when the team needed him?"
The series of three questions left everyone speechless.
Contributions aside, Wang Shuo’s attitude alone was simply impeccable.
"It’s all that Ibisevic’s fault. I suspect the guy must have broken up with his girlfriend or sothing," Wang Shuo griped jokingly.
He must be all pent up with nowhere to vent his frustration, which is why he’s scoring like a madman.
How absurd was it?
In 11 matches, Ibisevic had scored 13 goals and also had 6 assists.
In both goals and assists, he was one step ahead of Wang Shuo.
How could Wang Shuo possibly feel good about that?
So, he was giving it his all, determined to fight back.
’I’m a young guy with a cheat system, and I still can’t beat Ibisevic?’
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