The Ball at Your Feet

"This game was really useless!"

After the 1:1 home draw with Le Havre, the team leader Jiuli finally couldn't help but screamed in the locker room, "Five consecutive draws, how did we do it!"

Sedan, Auxerre, Lille, Bordeaux, plus a Le Havre... a wave of momentum like a rainbow for five consecutive draws, Monaco fell directly from the top of the list and fell to fourth place. What makes them even more dissatisfied is that Paris, Lyon, and Marseille are all strong teams in front of them, and they can't see any sudden decline.

"This game is my responsibility..." Zhao Yaning stood up, "I shouldn't foul."

"You have no responsibility. If you didn't stop him with that ball, he also made it. I'm not sure about saving a single shot." Roma said, "It's all the referee's mistake. He is too amateur. What is the level of penalty."

Zhao Yaning knew that Roma wanted to help him relieve his pressure, but he knew very well in his heart that the action was indeed a violation of the rules, and he had nothing to justify, let alone take it seriously because of the level of the referee.

What made Zhao Yaning even more guilty was that he felt that this matter was probably related to his card. If his teammates are dragged down because of the national team, he also feels sorry.

"It's my responsibility..."

"You shouldn't have to defend." Squelach held him down. "That's why we stood too far forward and were hit back. You have done well enough."

It's not like that... Zhao Yaning wanted to explain, but couldn't explain it.

"I don't think it's all bad."

At the door of the locker room, Deschamps stood leaning against the door, and the participants discussed with the players. Although Deschamps is usually very strict in the team, he is getting closer and closer to the players during this time. After half a season of management, the players now know that they consciously abide by discipline, and there will be no more bad management. Now Deschamps, more hopes to communicate well with the players.

"Although we didn't win five games, we didn't lose. Even if we didn't show the momentum, at least we had the toughness. We have not been defeated by strong enemies in a row. What is so terrible about us?"

Deschamps’ words are not unreasonable, but they still sound awkward. Although the tie is indeed not terribly bad, it cannot be said to be a good thing.

"Over the past period of time, we have had a lot of problems...the tactical mistakes are mine, and some of the specific mistakes in the game are yours. Of course, there are also problems with the referee schedule, but those are not in my control... Don't try to evade responsibility, and face this matter seriously, so that we can make a difference. It is just the first half of the season and the problem has been exposed early. It is not a bad thing."

Deschamps said, paused, "And I am very happy that the game did not win. After returning to the locker room, what everyone was busy doing was not shirking responsibility, but taking the initiative. This made me very happy. Football. It's a man's sport, and what is a man? The black-footed violent man is not a man. The real man refers to those who have the responsibility and the courage. You are all men, and you are not shirking bastards, which is good. ,I am very satisfied."

After saying three times of satisfaction, Deschamps stopped. After seeing everyone’s reaction, he raised his head, "Although we have tied for five consecutive times, it is terrible, but we have a group of real men playing football. So what else do we have to be afraid of? The man is the one who wants to turn things around at this time!"

Deschamps thought for a while and asked the question.

"In our team, no one deliberately plays badly, right?"

"Of course not." Jiuli answered immediately.

"No one patronizes their own performance and ignores the whole, right?"

"Of course not." Roundup also answered.

"Then no one thinks that our strength is nothing more than this, right?"

of course not.

"Then, we still have hope." Deschamps raised an eyebrow, "Confidence, unity, and go all out, we are invincible."

"But we have tied for five consecutive times." Squelach grumbled.

"If we are united enough and confident enough, then we have only one problem, not hard enough."

Deschamps scanned the crowd, "Tell me, who among you thinks that we can't win because Jerome was injured and Joey left the team?"

Almost everyone raised their hands.

"Then any of you have thought about what should we do when we are short of manpower?"

The raised hands fell sparsely.

"Which of you has considered that it has something to do with your own performance after losing, thinking that you can change the situation of the game through your own efforts?"

This time, only Jiuli raised his hands.

"Do you know why he is the captain?" Deschamps looked at everyone again. "We have started this season for a long time. Who can tell everyone, what is your biggest improvement this season? Each of you is training. At that time, did you really use your heart and considered using every tactical detail to its extreme?"

No one said anything.

"None. The team loses two important players and its strength will suffer. Of course, I think so. But what should be done when strength is damaged? Complain about luck? That's a fan's business... Counting on tactics? That’s the coach’s business. And what you should think about is if you change the status quo of the team through your own efforts, how to use your changes to make the team change."

"You are very confident because we were once the number one in the league. But that was only temporary. Confidence is a good thing, but have you forgotten it? Someone mentioned it as early as the ancient Greek era. It should be the same as the Olympic spirit. A word that every athlete remembers in his heart: Know yourself!"

"If the game is lost, what's the use of blaming others here? Blaming the referee, what is your ability? If you play better, what are you afraid of! When I took the French team to play in the Euro 2000, I could walk away. Win! You are not strong enough, who can you blame!"

In the dressing room, Deschamps roared loudly.

Who said Deshang was not in a hurry? But how can he show it? He is a coach, and it is necessary to not be surprised. But when the team's downturn became the norm, he had to find a way to reverse it.

He counted on Zhao Yaning’s return to be a boost for the team to turn around, but Zhao Yaning is not a **** after all, and he is also powerless, so Deschamps can only choose to do this by himself, using his own methods. Let the team improve.

They will make progress, Deschamps looked at the locker room, but did not say what was in his heart.

The players I choose are all players with excellent professionalism. They will not be angry because of blame, nor will they lose their fighting spirit because of poor performance. After I point out their problems, they will play harder.

Only such a player is a player who can win.

"The only thing that makes me gratify now is that you still have a chance to make corrections in the following games, because you are men, not shirking responsibilities. Immaturity, instability, is inevitable before every boy becomes a man. Stage, but you will grow, because you have not lost the strength and hardness that you should have. As long as you have these, we will be able to come back."

Comeback? This made the players all look at each other. After five consecutive draws, the points have fallen to fourth place, and there is already a tenth gap with Paris, which is the top of the list. There is already such a big gap in the half of the season. How can it be possible to come back?

"Listen, children, we still have opportunities below us."

Deschamps raised his head and looked at the players with a rare serious expression. "The next month is the time for us to turn around: Ramadan is here."

The coming of Ramadan is the most important bargaining chip that Deschamps can rely on. Because every year Ramadan is a huge impact for Ligue 1. It has an impact on the Ligue 1 teams no less than the African Cup. This kind of impact makes Deschamps still looking forward to a comeback.

After the Second World War, France had a serious shortage of labor and had to import a large number of laborers from Africa. This caused a large number of Muslims originally in Africa to flood into France, which quickly changed the composition of France's population. In the 21st century, France has flooded with Muslims, and it has almost become a country of immigrants.

In this environment, half of the French football population is Muslim. France often claims that French football is red, white and blue. White refers to European whites, blue refers to Berbers, and red refers to black players. In these three colors, most Berbers and blacks are Muslims.

With a large number of Muslim players flooding the league, naturally the league will also be affected by fasting. Every year when Ramadan comes, all the major teams in Ligue 1 are sorrowful. No matter who it is, it is impossible to be happy in the face of a hungry guy in the team.

During Ramadan, Muslims are not allowed to eat and drink before the sun sets. Although many people find reasons for them, they say that the players in the game are considered fighters, and fighters do not need to fast. This argument has led to fierce debates in France. Whether sports is entertainment or war is uncertain. And this kind of fallacy doesn't make sense to many religious people. They don't agree with it, and believers dare not violate the precepts. Muslims are very stubborn, and religious issues cannot be negotiated. Many players do not agree that playing football is war, and they will fast at all costs. And even those Muslims who do not fast will have a huge psychological burden and pressure from public opinion because they eat and drink during Ramadan. This pressure is so great that it even exceeds the physical problem. It is one of the most threatening things in Ramadan. One.

In order to make the players feel better, at this time of the year, the team's training volume will drop significantly. In the game, the players' running will also be greatly reduced. After all, as soon as Ramadan comes, everyone's physical strength can't keep up, and they can't run more. At this time, if you emphasize more running, the players will go crazy.

"And this time is when we fight back."

There are also many Muslims in Monaco. Evra, Abidal, Cisse, Pulsau, Nungda are all Muslims. But compared to other teams, they are already more glamorous. Aside from Muslims, Monaco can also form a team that is inseparable, which is very rare. When Deschamps entered Monaco, he paid great attention to signings. There are not many African players in his team, which is a huge advantage for Monaco.

And the few Muslims in Monaco did not insist on fasting fanatically. Although the amount of training will be reduced during the fast, the basic training can be maintained normally, which also allows them to take a lot of advantage.

On the contrary, Lyon, who is also a championship team, suffers a lot: their main midfielder, Mohamed Diarra, is a very pious Muslim. When Ramadan comes, he must insist on fasting. This behavior makes him active. The range decreases sharply. Lyon's defensive system will also be greatly damaged.

In the same way, teams such as Paris and Marseille will also be impacted.

"It's all up to you whether you can seize the opportunity."

Deschamps pointed out the hope that everyone raised their heads. Such an opportunity is indeed worth their hard work.

"But before that, you have to think about one thing clearly: what changes should you make for the team's victory?" Deschamps looked at them, his voice hardened, "Before that, all of you Not allowed to play. The next game against Nice, you, all are suspended."

"It's a derby against Nice..." Gyuri said softly.

"Your future is more important than Derby." Deschamps responded to his words, "You are the hope of the team."

"Did Monaco still not lose?" Looking at the latest game information, Olas let out a soft sigh, "These guys are really not worrying."

"Michel, you don't have to worry about anything, I firmly believe that Lyon is invincible." Beside him, Lacombe, the special adviser of the two teams, took the words.

"Bernard, we love football, isn't it because it is unpredictable?" Olas did not refute him directly, but he still expressed his disagreement. "I don't think Monaco is an enemy that can be despised, whether it is Petit. , Deschamps, or Jiuli, none of them can be ignored."

Coach Petit has a very strong reputation in Ligue 1, which is the reputation he left when he was an assistant coach for Wenger. And Deschamps is the greatest captain in the history of the French team. Even if he retires, no one else dares to despise him. As for Giuly, this short player who followed Tigana to leave Lyon is already a first-class player in France.

Olas looks at football, more often not from the football itself, but from the people. He firmly believes that since football is played by people, people themselves are more important than football.

"Are you thinking about some bad idea to weaken the opponent?" Seeing Olas's contemplation, Lacombe couldn't help but said, "No need, really no need, our strength is very strong, this kind of All you have to do is play every game well, there is no need to think about crooked ideas."

"No, I didn't think about the crooked idea, I was thinking about how to make my team stronger." Olas laughed. He has no intention to provoke Lacombe, and when he speaks, he has always been courteous to the Ligue 1 veteran.

Although he did not agree with Lacombe's views from his heart. Football is round, not necessarily the strong one can win. In order to win the final victory, in addition to strength, you must also consider some off-board moves.

"If you really want to make the team stronger, follow the signings coach Regon said." Lacombe said, "Malouda, Drogba, Essien...we need these players."

"We have to go step by step, we can't be too anxious," Olas shook his head, "Next season, I will buy Essien."

These words made Lacombe immediately overjoyed, "If that's the case, our defense will rise to a higher level."

"Not at all, Essien is also a Muslim. I don't want to see two hungry ghosts playing in midfield." Olas felt upset when he said this. "Diarra still refuses to eat and drink before sunset?"

"Yes, he enforces the canon very strictly." Lacombe said after hesitating, "Moreover, now Gowu has also applied to reduce the amount of training."

This is something that hasn't happened in these years. Since joining the team, Sidney Govu has always been the hardest one on the team.

"Why?" Olas laughed furiously. "That drunkard never suddenly remembered to obey the canon? The canon stipulates that drinking is not allowed. Can he quit?"

"Michelle, you asked too much." This time, Lacombe did not stand with him. "Religious matters cannot be treated so simply. Sidney recognized his religious problems and thought To seek progress, we should not stop him."

Olas raised his eyebrows and said nothing. Although he disagrees with Lacombe's statement, he also knows that when it comes to religion, he must be treated with caution.

Although people on the scene of football all over the world will say that football has nothing to do with politics and the like, everyone knows that it is nonsense. From the time when the lottery was manipulated to avoid political conflict, the football world has not avoided political issues. The national religion of France has always been a major issue, something that cannot be ignored, and the French football community dare not take this issue lightly. In the French youth team, there have even been scandals about the allocation of quotas for immigration: the number of places in the French youth team is allocated according to the number of places in Central Africa, the number of East Africa, the number of Berbers, and the number of indigenous people. In such an environment, if anyone dares to ignore religious issues, that would be a risk to the world.

"It's really troublesome..." Olas shook his head for a long time. "How come these guys are so stubborn?"

But Olas cursed, still knowing why he wanted to use them. After all, compared with others, the professionalism of Muslims is beyond the reach.

There are always people who think that Africans are born in poverty, so they will indulge themselves when they have money. Or think that Africans are from areas with low literacy levels, so they must have very bad minds. This kind of deep-rooted racial thinking is very marketable in football, although this statement has almost no basis at all.

Africans are born in poverty, but not many indulge themselves after they have money. Most of the players who indulge themselves are mainly South Americans and Italy, Spain, and Portugal. It is not so much their wealth that makes them sink, it is more caused by the thinking of the Latin cultural circle. After the African players had money, they had to support them because of the poverty in their hometown and their many relatives and friends. Therefore, most people spent their money in their hometowns.

Take the two most famous people as an example. Ronaldinho had money and started to play around, while Eto'o had money and established his own youth training school in his hometown: Compared with South Americans, Africans have much better professionalism. . Although they were born poor and uneducated, they are not those in South America who only know how to play. From Weah, to Eto'o, to Yaya Toure, the professionalism of Africans has always been commendable.

There are very few football players from Africa who are not self-disciplined. Because of the strict religious beliefs of Muslims, their lives are more regular than ordinary people, and the problems of many South American players will not appear in them. Muslims are not allowed to get tattoos, no fiddling with their heads, and a more regular diet. These are strict requirements for others, but for them, they are very simple things. It is precisely because of this that they will be favored. Players who are well managed and disciplined are always loved.

Now that I have received the benefits of religion, I will bear the troubles of religion in general: everything has a duality, and you can't just look at one side.

After thinking about it for a long time, Olas smiled again, "I suddenly thought of a good idea. Bernard, let the team have a medical examination tomorrow, and in the medical examination, I hope there will be such a little accident: I hope A small scratch appeared on Diarra's arm."

"Michelle!" Lacombe's face changed suddenly, "Do you know what you are talking about?"

Muslim doctrine stipulates that you are not allowed to eat anything during fasting, but if you are a sick person, you can disobey this rule. Diarra fasting, the problem caused by his lack of physical strength, but if he suffers a little injury, he can eat and drink instead, without affecting training and competition. Especially the scratch on the arm, which has no effect on the game at all.

But doing so is in a sense provoking Muslims. Lacombe has had more contact with Muslims, and he knows the terrible stubbornness of Muslims. This kind of thing cannot be done.

"I didn't say anything more, I mean, let him accidentally get some injuries. If he thinks it is necessary, he can continue fasting after the injury, I have no objection." Olas laughed "I just show him a possibility. If he is really a very persistent Muslim, he can ignore this kind of thing and continue his practice."

But you have given him an excuse to do evil... hand a bottle of poison to a person who is dying of thirst, and let him decide for himself, this kind of thing is not something that a kind person can do.

"He wouldn't do it," Racombe muttered, "and if you do this, you will attract Muslim siege."

"The premise is that Diarra accuses me, will he? I have read the teachings of Muslims," ​​Olas said in his own opinion. "Their doctrines are very clear. If you are deceived, you should not eat Food does not violate the doctrine. Then, I will lie to him once and let him continue to be his good person."

You are not lying to him, you are giving him a chance to go against the doctrine... Lacombe's heart is chilly, is this kind of thing even the gods have to deceive?

Lacombe shook his head, really feeling a little bit, "Michelle, you are a villain."

"I'm a bad boy." Olas laughed.

Lyon's nickname is Kids, and their biggest fan organization is also the Bad Boys organization. What Olas said was like a confession, but more, it was just a ridicule.

Lacombe shook his head and said nothing.

Yes, Olas is a badass. However, he is Lyon's badass. Without him, maybe what Lyon looks like now, in the 1980s ~www.ltnovel.com~ Lyon was reduced to the second class. It was Olas' continued efforts that gave Lyon what he is today.

What can be blamed for such a chairman? He invested in Lyon when he was at its worst, and has insisted on injecting capital into Lyon for more than ten years. He established Lyon’s youth training base and established Lyon’s status as a strong team. With his connections and influence, he sent Lyon, who had never had a league championship, into G14. He is indeed a bad guy, but for Lyon, He is an absolute hero.

And Lacombe himself couldn't accuse him of anything. Although Olas called him the team's star, in fact, Lacombe played more than just Lyon. Although the highest achievement in Lyon's history: a French Cup was won under his leadership, for Lacombe, the peak of his career was won in Saint-Etienne.

Bring back a man who has played for the mortal enemy of the Derby, let him take the important position of the team, and even let him remain as the consultant of the team when he failed consecutively as a coach-Olas’s trust and appreciation for him, Let Lacombe not be able to say any dissatisfaction with him.

Maybe he does have a purpose, but so what? At least he is worthy of Lacombe, and Lacombe will not care about his wickedness towards others. What about the infamy for him? Isn't this done for Lyon? Lacombe knew very well that if Olas carried out these evil methods, they would definitely be pointed out by thousands of people, but if he carried them out, no one would say anything.

The football circle is so strange, their xenophobia is too strong. In this case, it is a blessing for the team to have a boss who is willing to pay and hide behind the scenes.

"I really hope that this kind of life will last longer." Lacombe thought, "It's best to be as old as possible, forever."