Chapter 15 Well done, Modric!
“I must succeed in the UK!”
As early as in Zagreb, when he decided to join the Bayswater Chinese, Modric had already made up his mind.
This is a huge gamble he made on his career and his life.
At the hearing in London, when Yang Cheng described him as a genius in front of everyone, Modric really felt an unprecedented trust.
At the same time, he also felt grateful.
Except for the youth training coach when he was very young, no one, no team, has ever given him such trust.
In return, he tried his best every day at Bayswater Chinese.
During the team’s summer training camp, he had cramps every day for a long time.
Even though he has experienced it many times, Modric still feels a sense of pain every time he thinks about it.
Coach Thad Fawcett from the United States told him that the muscle cramps were a sign that his body was too young and was gradually adapting to high-level and high-intensity training.
The coaching staff specially arranged stretching training and strength training for him to improve his muscle strength.
As well as his diet, and even the water he drinks on daily basis, he is different from others.
This keeps him progressing and improving.
Professional players are the most sensitive.
Modric understands his situation best.
However, he still underestimated the difficulty of the English league.
When he came off the field after playing West Ham United in the warm-up match, his kneepad was directly pierced by the opponent's spikes.
Would the official competition be better?
No!
Referees in England often turn a blind eye to rough moves that endanger players' personal safety.
Especially the away players.
They call this bloody nature.
Roy Keane of Manchester United and Vieira of Arsenal, these two big players with rough moves, turned out to be the spiritual symbols of their respective teams and were praised by countless fans.
This is what Modric did not expect.
But he was undeterred.
Because he is from the Balkans.
That place is called the powder keg of Europe.
Having experienced war, he knows that timidity and cowardice are worthless.
Only get stronger! Only stronger!
Thad Fawcett and Oliver Bartlett arranged a series of special training sessions just for him.
Flexibility and durability are his biggest advantages.
Body and size are his natural shortcomings.
Especially in official matches, opponents can easily discover Modric's natural shortcomings as a skinny player.
They always rush to hit Modric the moment he catches the ball.
This made him make frequent mistakes and was very distressing.
Under the instruction of head coach Yang Cheng, two physical coaches specially designed targeted training for him to help him learn how to quickly escape from physical confrontation and try to avoid the fierce collision of his opponents.
Not only that, Brian Kidd also told Modric.
To adapt to the English league, he needs to make every move he makes leaner, faster and more threatening.
Croatians work hard every day.
He also clearly felt the trust and support from the head coach.
Although he said nothing to anyone, he was always holding a breath in his heart.
"I must succeed in the UK!"
"I must help the Bayswater Chinese and the head coach to succeed!"
Modric I don't know what others think.
But for him, this belief became increasingly clear.
The more you are in the team, the stronger it becomes when the head coach encounters difficulties!
Today, when the team fell behind Brighton 1 to 3, and when the head coach replaced two players at once, Modric's feelings became stronger than ever.
Replaced by Steve Jenkins and Tony Capaldi.
Both full-backs consume a lot of energy.
Replaced by Ricky Lambert and Lee Williamson.
Needless to say, Lambert is going to play center.
Lee Williamson is capable of playing in the center and on the right.
Having a Jamaican ancestry, he has very good running and defensive abilities. He is very dedicated every time he plays and passes the ball well.
According to the latest instructions from the head coach, Huddlestone's position has been moved further back.
Without the full-backs, the defense adopts a playing style similar to three central defenders.
This is the determination that the head coach is instilling in the players!
He doesn’t want to lose!
Even though it was already 1-3, he was still thinking about scoring goals and winning!
The midfielder must be suppressed.
Otherwise, as soon as the ball reaches the back line, it's basically over.
Burn the cauldron!
Fight!
Captain Martin Rowland is also aware of this. He is leaning back and, together with Lee Williamson, forms a configuration similar to a double midfielder, firmly occupying the center.
Modric also moved his position to the right.
He was constantly observing.
Without the support of the full-backs, Ribery on the left and Martin Devaney on the right relied more on their individual abilities to fight alone.
The head coach has bet all his money on Ribery.
The Frenchman's personal ability is indeed the strongest in the team, especially when it comes to breaking through with the ball, almost no one can beat him.
But Brighton also deployed defense against Ribery to block Ribery's side.
Ricky Lambert is the center, but after coming on the court, he does not always play in the front, but often pulls out to get the ball.
His skills are very good, his body is strong, and his ball-playing ability is excellent. He mainly supports Ribery. Steed naturally leaned in this way.
In the 73rd minute, the third goal was conceded. By the 80th minute, in just about 7 minutes, the Bayswater Chinese attacked from the left.
But Brighton's defense is very tight.
Modric has been cruising around the outside of the right front of the penalty area.
He was patiently waiting for an opportunity.
Finally, in the 81st minute, the opportunity appeared.
Still attacking from the left, Ribery tried to pass from the bottom.
The ball reached the small penalty area and was cleared by the central defender and pushed out.
Lambert fought for the top twice near the left side of the top area of the arc, and then pushed the ball back into the penalty area.
There was a scuffle in the penalty area.
Steed failed to grab the spot and the ball was pushed out again.
But in a hurry, the ball was pushed high and fell to the right side of the unoccupied penalty area.
Modric, who had been ambushing on the periphery for a long time, waiting for an opportunity, did not hesitate. He suddenly took a step forward and rushed into the penalty area. He got ahead of the defensive player and dumped the ball with his right foot. own left side.
The defensive player pounced too hastily, but he was still very experienced. He immediately stabilized his center of gravity, adjusted, and blocked Modric's left foot.
If the Croatian's stoppage had been worse, and if his mentality at the critical moment had been worse, the error in this offload would have been greater.
But at the critical moment, Modric unloaded the ball just right. He unloaded the ball with his right foot and adjusted his whole body. Seeing the defensive players rushing over to block the ball in a hurry, he used his left foot again. The ball went to the right and forward.
The defensive player has completely lost his center of gravity and is helpless as he watches the football slide past him.
Modric took a step forward to catch up and pulled out his right foot forcefully.
Everything happens in the blink of an eye.
Modric's powerful volley hit very fast and stunned everyone.
Brighton’s defenders and goalkeeper didn’t even have time to react before the ball hit the net.
2:3!
In an instant, more than 2,000 fans in the entire stadium erupted!
All of them stood up excitedly and clapped and cheered with all their might!
Modric was stunned for a moment, feeling a little surprised himself.
But soon, he turned around excitedly, rushed towards the fans in the west stand, rushed to the side of the court, did a backflip, and finally cheered and shouted at the sea of red in the stands.
……
“This goal is so beautiful!”
Brian Kidd praised in disbelief.
Although, he didn't see clearly how the goal was scored.
But as a top professional player, he can still guess some things.
Yang Cheng was also very happy.
Well done, Modric!
This goal is so important to the Chinese team!
Even if we fail to win this game in the end, as long as we have this goal to boost our morale, it will be worth it!
"Substitute again and let Andy Holdsworth go up."
Martin Rowland consumed too much today.
……
After another substitution, Andy Holdsworth and Lee Williamson felt like playing a double midfielder.
Yang Cheng pushed Modric's position forward.
He could see that Modric was in very good shape.
As expected, after getting a wider space for activities, Modric's threat on the offensive end also came into play.
After Brighton lost the ball, they were directly forced by the Bayswater Chinese and had to retreat to defend.
They were already thinking in embarrassment, as long as they held on to the 3-2 victory.
But the morale of the Chinese people in Bayswater has been completely knocked out.
Not only the players on the field, but also the fans on the sidelines were excited to watch.
After Modric scored, they stood up to applaud and celebrate him.
After that, these 2,000 fans could never sit back.
They kept cheering for the players in the stands and kept calling the players' names.
In fact, they are not familiar with the players and often call them wrong.
But that’s not important.
Everyone in the entire stadium, from the stands to the green field, from the players to the coaches, wants to win.
And when everyone has the same belief, they can always burst out with amazing strength.
In the 89th minute, when Modric received the ball and got rid of the defensive player, he quickly released the ball and transferred the ball from the gap to the feet of Ribery on the left side of the penalty area.
The Frenchman didn't stop the ball, took advantage of the trend and started immediately. After throwing away the defensive player, he knocked on the goal near the baseline.
Both forwards Lambert and Steed rushed over to grab points at the same time.
Lambert took the lead. Although he was a little slower, he interfered with the opponent's goalkeeper and defender.
Steed in the middle dribbled the ball into Brighton's goal.
3 to 3!
The stadium burst into crazy cheers again!
Yang Cheng couldn't contain his excitement and rushed out of the coaching area.
On the way, he saw Steve Koppel looking disappointed in the visiting team's coaching bench.
Although his defense is very tight, even though his team is very strong and the players work extremely hard.
But they ultimately failed to hold on to their lead.
High school forward Jonathan Steed excitedly rushed to the stands and accepted the cheers of the fans.
As a local center, this is already his fourth goal this season.
Scored 4 goals in 5 league rounds, this efficiency is great!
Especially considering that he is only 20 years old!
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(End of this chapter)