Full-level pass, please call me the speaker of the Three Lions

Chapter 253 What I want is not money, but your attitude!

This season, Leicester City's offensive football has swept the entire Premier League and even the Europa League.

Their strong offensive firepower was the foundation for them to finally finish fifth in the league and reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League.

In the 38 rounds of the Premier League, the Blue Fox scored an astonishing 75 goals, second only to Manchester City who scored 82 goals!
The outstanding performance of the frontcourt players is closely related to the team's excellent record.

As the absolute core of the team, Ling Feng is undoubtedly the most dazzling star in the Blue Fox formation.

It is no exaggeration to say that Leicester City's offensive system completely relies on the performance of the Blue Fox No. 7.

In almost every game, his post-game rating was the highest on the team.

Key statistics for an attacking midfielder, such as chances created per game, key passes per game, and cross success rate
Ling Feng is ranked first in the league!

Even in one-on-one dribble success rate, he is second only to Hazard, ranking second in the league!

As the most creative player in the Premier League, he can not only serve as a frontcourt commander, organize the team's offense in an orderly manner, but also continuously deliver cannonballs to his teammates.

And he can also open up situations with his outstanding personal ability when he is needed.

What's even more valuable is that the core value why he is hailed as the "cornerstone of the team" by most media is that as long as he is on the court, he can make his teammates better and contribute better performances!
This season, the three Musketeers of the Blue Fox are still the offensive combination that Leicester City relies on most in offense:

Ling Feng, played 34 times in the league, contributed 14 goals and 24 assists;
Vardy, played 30 times in the league, contributed 18 goals and 6 assists;
Mahrez, played 31 times in the league, contributed 8 goals and 10 assists!
The three of them teamed up to score 40 goals, which is the best offensive combination in the entire Premier League second only to Manchester City's Aguero, Silva and Toure!

In addition, more flowers are also a highlight of the Blue Fox on the offensive end.

Thanks to Ling Feng's unpredictable passing, Lingard, Ulloa, Albrighton, Drinkwater, Cambiaso, Morgan and others besides the Blue Fox three Musketeers have More than three goals scored.

And a total of twelve players in the team scored league goals!
Of course, the full firepower on the offensive end did not cover up the team's problems on the defensive end.

In thirty-eight league rounds, Leicester City conceded a total of forty-eight goals, ranking only in the middle of the league.

Compared to the top four teams, they conceded ten more goals!

Especially when Ling Feng was absent from the game, the team was like a headless chicken, as if it had lost its soul and could not attack effectively.

The inability to suppress opponents through offense magnifies defensive shortcomings.

Among them, with the deepening of the league and the study of opponents, the team's middle defense has become the most frequently used breakthrough by opponents.

When Ling Feng attacks, there will be a huge gap in the midfield.

Although he has rich experience in defensive positioning and awareness.

But bodily functions don’t lie.

Cambiasso, who is about to turn 35, has a significant decline in physical function. His running and coverage area cannot adapt to the high-intensity rhythm of the Premier League, and he is not enough to serve as the first barrier in front of the defense.

Moreover, when switching from defense to offense, neither Drinkwater nor Cambiasso could quickly launch an attack with the ball, which prevented the team's counterattack from speeding up.

Therefore, in the eyes of many people, the defensive midfielder is the most urgent position in Leicester City's lineup that needs improvement.

The Blue Foxes need a defensive midfielder with stronger defense, not only to protect the space left behind Ling Feng, but also to protect the slightly bulky defense behind him!

Of course, this is not the only "flaw" in the Blue Fox lineup.

In addition to the midfielder position, Schlupp, who is the main left back this season, also has many problems.

Compared with right back Danny Simpson, who has a balanced offense and defense, this Ghanaian international player produced by the team's youth training has excellent physical fitness and excellent back-and-forth ability.

However, the defensive awareness and positioning are very average.

Especially the desire to attack is very strong.

His playing style is more like a winger than a full-back!
In Leicester City's tactical system, Lingard will not hug the wing when he is on the left wing, but will flexibly intersperse his movements and attack the space.

In this way, Schlupp behind him can make full use of the huge space on the left to assist.

The insertion of full-backs is also one of the reasons why Leicester City's offense is layered.

However, the key is that after he quickly assists, he basically can't come back.

And the large space left behind will become a sea for the opponent to counterattack!
Many goals conceded this season have occurred on the left wing where he is guarding.

Therefore, instead of continuing to put him in the full-back position, it is better to let him replace Lingard, who returned to Manchester United, and become the starting candidate on the left wing.

Of course, these are just the personal analysis and thoughts of the media and football commentators to fill in the gaps in Leicester City's lineup.

It is worth mentioning that at the end of the major media's season summary reports, these football experts and commentators will point out that Leicester City must first face the severe situation of personnel loss before making signings and reinforcements!
Professional football is a cruel world where big fish eat small fish.

Many small teams, after performing well that season and reaching unexpected league rankings, will be dismembered by other clubs in the ensuing transfer window.

Parma in the 9899 season and Monaco in the 0304 season
And Southampton, who performed well last season, is a bloody example that is vivid in our eyes!

Not only have almost all the core and main players in the team left, but even head coach Pochettino was poached by Tottenham!

If it weren't for the excellent management skills of Southampton's management, they found Dutch coach Ronald Koeman, and carried out reasonable and targeted signing operations in the transfer market, purchasing Mane, Pellet, Al With strong players such as Deweireld, Southampton is likely to be forced into the relegation quagmire early this season.

Therefore, this summer is a very critical transfer window for Leicester City.

If Leicester City does not want to become a Blue Fox supermarket with player sales like Southampton, they must retain their core players and retain the main structure of the team!

Fortunately, Leicester City has made a lot of money due to its excellent performance in the Europa League and Premier League this season.

According to the team's preliminary financial statements, adding up all bonuses from the group stage and knockout rounds, the Blue Fox, which reached the quarter-finals, earned a total of 3 million euros from the Europa League.

Three million euros is not much.

It pales in comparison to the Premier League’s prize money.

Because, in terms of the league, league ranking bonuses and broadcast fees combined, they received a total of 80 million pounds in revenue!

In addition, due to the team's excellent record, the sales of jerseys and peripherals of the team's stars are also in the middle of the league.

Especially Ling Feng's jersey sales made them a lot of money!
The new No. 7 of the Blue Foxes and Three Lions is not only the player with the most jersey sales in the entire Leicester City team, but also one of the three best jersey sellers among all Premier League players!

Second only to Hazard, the best player of the season, and Red Army legend Gerrard! Behind him, there are also big and small stars such as Arsenal thigh Sanchez, Tottenham striker Kane, and Red Devils captain Rooney.

Considering that he is in a small city and small club like Leicester, such amazing sales are even more commendable.

The huge income gives Leicester City more confidence to deal with the poaching and dismemberment of its core players by major wealthy clubs.

After all, raising salaries and renewing contracts with the team's main players, or buying new players, all require money.
. . .

In fact, as early as the end of April, many transfer rumors began to surround Leicester City players.

Among the starting eleven, except for the older Morgan and Schmeichel, as well as the loaned Lingard and Huth, almost all the main players have had scandals with other clubs.

Among them, the most popular ones are naturally the "Three Musketeers of the Blue Fox" who are in their prime.

The major powers in the Premier League, as well as attention from other league teams, are coming one after another.

"Liverpool is paying attention to Mahrez and intends to improve the offensive firepower of the front line"

"Manchester City is eyeing Ling Feng and is prepared to shell out 60 million pounds to trigger Ling Feng's termination clause."

"Arsenal are disappointed with Welbeck and plan to replace him with Vardy"

In just a few days, transfer rumors are flying all over the Internet and in the media!

For Ling Feng, the various transfer scandals outside have nothing to do with him.

Because I had already made a decision.

However, no one except Mendes knows his inner thoughts.

Almost all large and small media and football commentators believe that Leicester City cannot retain a talented star of Ling Feng's level.

The British star must also go to bigger clubs and stages to further develop his career!

Therefore, watching the scandals spread one after another, Blue Fox fans, like "pig heads" who are watching "Swallow" is about to get into a taxi and leave, entered Ling Feng's social media account one after another and posted messages calling for him. Be sure not to leave.

This kind of drama has happened in every transfer window since Ling Feng was born.

There is no way, who makes Ling Feng too outstanding?
In fact, at the club dinner at the end of the season, club owner Vichai took the initiative to find Ling Feng privately, hoping that the best player in the team's youth training history would stay in his loyal Leicester City.

At that time, Ling Feng, who had already made a decision in his heart, did not promise to stay, but claimed that he would consider it.

Of course, this is just the art of negotiation that Mendes taught him.

This ambiguous answer can give him a greater advantage in the subsequent contract renewal negotiations with the club.

Although I have no plans to leave Leicester City.

But as the team is absolutely behind the huge progress and success this season, the weekly salary and bonuses must also increase, right?

The Premier League Rookie of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year, and the record-breaking assist leader in the Premier League only receive a weekly salary of 70,000 yuan a week. It is too cheap and has no reputation!
You know, the player with the highest weekly salary in the Premier League is Wayne Rooney, the top player in Manchester United and England.

Weekly salary, up to three hundred thousand pounds!

Cesc Fabregas, who is second only to him in assists in the league, also earns 200,000 yuan a week.

These players all have maximum salaries for their respective teams.

Of course, they are a wealthy club and Leicester City is a small club, so their income and salary structure cannot be compared.

But a club is a club and players are players.

No matter how much money the club makes, it cannot go into the pockets of the players.

It is a matter of course that players should be paid according to their contribution to the club's performance.

Moreover, this is not a question of money, but a question of attitude!
A salary that is consistent with his status in the club can fully reflect the club's attitude towards him.

It’s the same reason that many girls ask their boyfriends to spend money for them.

What I want is not money, but your attitude!

Therefore, after leaving all the contract renewal matters to Mendes, Ling Feng took his parents away from the troubled British Peninsula on the third day of the season and started his own vacation trip.

As he has to go to the St. George's Park base in a week to join up with his England U21 teammates, and then prepare for the European Youth Championship in mid-June.

Therefore, after all calculations, Ling Feng could only enjoy about a week's vacation.

So, they first came to Budapest, Hungary.

Under the leadership of Barbara, a local tour guide, the family visited almost all the famous attractions in Budapest.

What about Heroes' Square, Petofi Bridge, State Opera House, etc.
Then, after spending a few days leisurely in Hungary, Ling Feng took a private plane with his parents and girlfriend to Berlin, Germany.

The reason why I come here is simple:
This season's Champions League final will be held at the Olympiastadion in Berlin!
And June 8th, the day of the competition, happened to be my twentieth birthday!

It is worth mentioning that the birthday gift Ling Feng gave himself was not a luxury car or a watch, but a VIP ticket to this season's Champions League final!

These final tickets, which he bought two months in advance, were obtained with the help of Mendes.

Just to watch this exciting battle at the highest competitive level in the European League!
On one side is Barcelona, ​​which has scored a terrifying 120 goals in all competitions, and on the other side is Juventus, who dominates Serie A and has an impregnable defense.

From the first second to the last second of the game, Ling Feng's eyes never left the court.

The process and results of the game were no different from what he remembered.

He witnessed the historical trident MSN combination sweep through like a tornado, easily destroying the chain defense that the Italians were proud of.

We also witnessed the last dance of the two midfield masters Pirlo and Xavi, as well as the regret of the young player Buffon who hated the Champions League final.

In the end, watching this dream team Barcelona ascend to the top of Europe, the scene of Xavi holding the Big Ear Cup high made Ling Feng in the stands feel so excited that he could not calm down for a long time.

Soon, he also secretly made up his mind:

One day, he will also stand on the highest stage in Europe and compete with the strongest teams!
(End of this chapter)