Chapter 0001 I Want to Go Abroad

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, for for these fans, domestic football is an everlasting pain in their hearts

It must be acknowledged that Yang Cheng's words ignited the players' fighting spirit. Over the past two years, they have truly redeemed themselves, no longer being the soft targets in the interschool cup, but instead becoming the formidable champions that instill fear in others. Each of them inevitably feels a sense of pride; how could they tolerate others running rampant on their own territory

... ...

Moreover, I have no desire to stay in the country, let alone associate with domestic football professionals like Hong Bo. I would refuse even a formal employment contract, not to mention a probationary contract, because I fear that one day I might become just like them

The reason for my displeasure with Hong Bo is due to his remarks made before the match in front of the reporters who came in response to the news. He said, "We know that FX University is a well-known strong team, but they are ultimately an amateur team. We cannot expect them to compete like other teams in the China League 1. We simply hope to use this warm-up match to adjust the players' conditions"

Everyone immediately burst into laughter, yet in their hearts, they all admired Yang Cheng's meticulous planning.

Yang Cheng was well aware before the match that there was a significant disparity in strength between the two sides. The only strategy was to defend, holding out until the opponent believed they had the upper hand, their fighting spirit diminished, and their focus waned. The plan was to endure until the garbage time of the match, at which point Henry would be substituted in to attack for a few minutes

After listening, Yang Cheng felt quite excited, as very few people could understand him

The opposing goalkeeper hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to charge forward. Upon seeing Henry take a touch, he immediately rushed up, but little did he know that Henry was extremely fast, managing to poke the ball just before him.

That night, Yang Cheng and his group of friends drank themselves into a stupor. He had just vented his dissatisfaction with reality during the match and, in front of his fellow alumni, spoke grandiloquently. In his excitement, it was inevitable that he drank too much

FX University is a renowned key university in China. Its football level was originally quite poor, often seen as an easy target in intercollegiate competitions. However, since Yang Cheng took over the team two years ago, this team has transformed its previously lackluster style, winning the intercollegiate cup championship for two consecutive years, and has become a formidable force that instills fear in its opponents

After the purple lightning, the dark clouds dispersed, and the bright moon along with the twinkling stars reappeared

The iron barrel formation, the back-and-forth hustle, the poor condition of the venue, and so on, these should all be good excuses, right

2 : 0

If Hong Bo had conducted a thorough investigation into the FX University team before the match, he certainly would not have overlooked Henry, as this player has always been a favorite of Yang Cheng. He and the current captain of the FX team, number 7, Xiao Bei, are known as the sharp duo of FX University, excelling in both assists and goals, making them highly lethal.

Today's match is a friendly, but the opponent is far from ordinary. They are the current leader of the China League One, known as the Real Madrid of China League One, the FX team, which is the professional team of FX University located in this city. The team is currently led by the renowned coach Hong Bo, who has been active in the domestic football scene since the beginning of the professional league.

However, in front of the computer in Yang Cheng's dormitory, the completely inebriated Yang Cheng had already vanished without a trace.

Hong Bo let out a quiet sigh, silently repeating the name Yang Cheng twice in his heart, as if he needed to remember this name firmly.

Indeed, Yang Cheng's speculation was correct; the willpower of the professional team was lacking. They collapsed like a house of cards after conceding just one goal. Coupled with physical fatigue, the professional players appeared somewhat sluggish on the field. Within less than 5 minutes, number 14, Henry, seized another opportunity and scored a goal.

The students of FX University were instantly in an uproar, while Hong Bo, with his head down, appeared utterly ashamed and unwilling to show his face.

Yang Cheng turned his head and saw Hong Bo's expression, which was so gloomy that it seemed he wanted to kill someone. He felt an immense sense of satisfaction in his heart. Turning back, he looked at the substitute bench behind him, where a player wearing number 14 was sitting, and nodded towards him.

Yang Cheng ran to the sidelines, cheering on the players with enthusiasm

Yang Cheng, this time we owe it all to you. In this match, we defeated the professional team 2:0. That old man Hong Bo is a well-known professional coach in the country, and it was truly satisfying to see him make a fool of himself! Little Bei downed two glasses of ice-cold beer in one go and became quite talkative.

Yang Chengzhuo stood at the edge of the court, his eyes following the back-and-forth exchanges of offense and defense between the two teams. He occasionally took a few steps forward, making adjustment gestures towards the group of players in school team jerseys on the court.

Yang Cheng smiled and patted Xiao Bei on the shoulder, "That was also thanks to your two brilliant passes!"

Hong Bo looks down on us, looks down on me, so I want to prove to him that I will not lose to anyone, even if he is a renowned coach in the country; and you all must prove that you do not lose to any professional players, even if they are top stars

After a pause, Yang Cheng let out a cold snort, "However, Hong Bo is too arrogant, too aloof, and too self-righteous. He thinks I would flock to his invitation. The assistant coach he brought along is equally full of himself. I will not be swayed by his arrogance. A defeated opponent is hardly worth mentioning in terms of courage. This is the kind of person that domestic football is filled with, and I am too lazy to associate with them"

2011 China FX University Football Field

That's amazing, Yang Cheng, a professional coach! My goodness, isn't your greatest dream to become a professional coach? If you could spend some time with Hong Bo, accumulating enough experience and connections, transitioning to a head coach wouldn't be just a dream!

"Rejected? Why?" Little Bei had an expression that suggested, "Are you out of your mind?"

As a university student, Yang Cheng coached a team that ranked at the bottom and won the championship for two consecutive years, earning him the title of genius coach. However, only he knows that his achievements today are not due to luck or talent, but rather the result of his hard work and dedication.

Yang Cheng, a student and head coach at FX University! The assistant coach immediately approached.

... ...

The fans surrounding the field erupted in excitement, with students cheering and applauding for a resounding victory, almost wishing to embarrass the professional teams to the point where they could dig a hole in the grass and hide.

There is an opportunity on the left flank. Based on my estimation, with your speed, you can easily take him down. Just be careful not to be offside!

Everyone was taken aback for a moment, but soon erupted into a cheer

Hong Bo felt a twinge of regret in his heart; he believed that the team had not made a wise choice when selecting an opponent for the warm-up match, having picked such a formidable adversary as Tu Shu. This was especially true regarding the young head coach on the other side.

Upon hearing this, everyone was immediately happy for Yang Cheng, congratulating him with words from one and all. Only Yang Cheng remained silent throughout, his face still bearing an expression of indifference.

Under the dim streetlights, more than twenty people raised their glasses and clinked them together. This scene at the outdoor food stall near FX University was quite spectacular. Watching these young individuals, each wearing an excited smile, even the middle-aged, plump chef at the food stall joined in the enthusiasm

... ...

... ...

Young people should possess such vitality and enthusiasm

Watching helplessly as the ball slipped away beneath him, the opposing goalkeeper turned around in a panic, only to see Henry seemingly afraid of missing the shot, who instead carried the ball directly into the net!

Just when Hong Bo thought he had found a good excuse, the situation on the field took a sudden turn for the worse

The four sides of the football field are separated by a track, and the perimeter is packed with students from FX University, both male and female, making the football field completely inaccessible.

This team, renowned for its championship potential even in the Chinese Super League, unexpectedly faced a formidable challenge on this particular field. If this match ends in a draw, it will mark the first draw in all the matches played by Team FX this season, shattering their perfect winning record

Indeed, we all support you, Yang Cheng

After coming on, Henry roamed around the forwards, occasionally causing some disruption, but without much effect

The only constant is that Yang Cheng seemingly never intended to launch an attack from beginning to end

The university team faced off against the professional team, and all the members of the university team were self-aware, except for Yang Cheng

Yang Cheng gazed at the bright full moon embedded in the pitch-black night sky, silently making a vow in his heart

Everyone immediately voiced their support for Yang Cheng, each contributing their thoughts. They were all passionate young individuals, easily stirred by the fervor within their hearts, especially for the Yang Cheng they admired.

Domestic football is a large dye vat. Since I cannot change it alone and cannot cleanse it, I can only escape from here. I hope to go abroad and, through my own efforts, become a professional head coach abroad

After seeing off Xiao Bei, Yang Cheng, under the influence of alcohol, played FM Football Manager for a while. He downloaded the latest scouting tool from PLAYGM, preparing to play through the night. However, past midnight, the entire city fell completely silent. Unable to resist the effects of the alcohol, he slumped over his computer and fell into a deep sleep, leaving the scouting tool installation unattended.

In his understanding, even as a substitute, he could easily defeat this school team

The matters of the football field can be aptly explained through cause and effect; there must be a cause for a result to emerge, and there is no room for luck

At present, the school team is scoring goals, which is a time of soaring morale, while the professional team is experiencing a decline in morale due to conceding goals. If this can be leveraged to create a surge, it is not impossible to score another goal against the opponent!

Number 14, the jersey number of this player's idol, Henry, is the reason his teammates nicknamed him Henry, as he possesses remarkable speed reminiscent of Henry

In the 81st minute, FX University made a substitution, with Yang Cheng replacing a visibly fatigued midfielder with number 14, Henry

This player occasionally gets up to warm up, so at that moment when he stands up to jog for warm-up, no one pays much attention to it

I must go abroad! I must stand out!

However, Hong Bo placed great trust in him and entrusted him with the important role of team captain on the field, which is why no substitutions were made

The discipline of these professional players is too lax, and they lack the willpower to fully commit to the match for 90 minutes. Moreover, it is a warm-up match, and all of this was anticipated and exploited by Yang Cheng.

Glancing at the manual scoreboard, Yang Cheng turned his head and saw Hong Bo in the distance, flustered like an ant on a hot pan. He couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude, coldly laughing to himself, "So this is all there is to the so-called renowned coach's composure and self-restraint!"

Looking out from the dormitory window, the bright moon and the dazzling stars are gradually shrouded by dark clouds, replaced by the continuous rumble of thunder, as if a torrential downpour is about to unleash its fury.

However, if it were merely this, it would be somewhat acceptable. Yet, this team, which is known for advocating attacking football in the inter-school cup, has now fortified its defenses and adopted a strategy akin to an ironclad defense, effectively rendering the FX team unable to make any progress in the first 60 minutes.

The opponent has replaced him with a younger right-back, who is likely to be more eager to attack and wants to showcase himself in front of the head coach. I observed that he attempted to push forward several times but couldn't retreat. Pay attention to this and take him out directly

Upon seeing that no one came to pressure him, he realized that these professional players looked down on him, which made him quite angry. He immediately adopted Beckham's stance and swung his right foot to deliver a lofted pass.

Indeed, that is correct. Hong Bo is a renowned head coach in the country, and such opportunities are rare

If it were me, I would choose to stand up like a man, defeat them, and then step heavily on them after they fall, telling those bastards not to underestimate any opponent, even if it is just an amateur school team

For Yang Cheng, a draw signifies a victory, but for Hong Bo, it is undoubtedly a humiliating defeat. Therefore, he is unwilling to accept this and is making every effort to adjust.

Cheers

The scene appeared calm and undisturbed, yet no one was aware that Hong Bo and Yang Cheng had already competed for two rounds off the field. Hong Bo had substituted twice, while Yang Cheng had substituted once, and the score remained 0:0, with the time having reached 78 minutes.

With a crack, the entire city seemed to be startled!

In terms of market value, any player selected at random would surpass the entire school team; in terms of skill, they can easily toy with their opponents in one-on-one situations; in terms of experience, each of them is a seasoned veteran with many years in professional leagues

Hong Bo over there is also preparing to make substitutions in the warm-up match. It is permissible to change a few players in order to provide some experience to the young athletes and to maintain the condition and fitness of the first-team players. Hong Bo intends to bring on some substitutes.

After completing his final year of university, enduring hardships to graduate, he finds himself with at best a job that keeps him from starving but does not allow him to prosper. In this reality where he cannot afford a car, cannot pay for a house, and even struggles to marry, he feels truly exhausted. He sincerely hopes to engage in work that he is passionate about and loves.

However, although Yang Cheng is young, he possesses a level of maturity and composure that is not in line with his age. This early maturity was cultivated from a young age when he helped his family earn money through work. Therefore, whenever Hong Bo makes an adjustment, he immediately adapts as well, plugging the gaps in the team's tactics

Perhaps others may find it difficult to explain the events on the football field, where anything is possible. This match, up to this point, may be seen as a stroke of luck for Yang Cheng; however, for an experienced coach like Hong Bo, they would not think in such a manner.

This person's skill is truly impressive; at the very least, they have managed to coach the amateur team of FX University to this level, which can be considered a talent

He is mocking us, belittling us, and even from his tone, we can sense a kind of disdain towards us. I don't know what you all think, but after hearing that, I felt very uncomfortable, I am extremely displeased. This is our territory, yet they don't even have the most basic respect for us

Indeed, Yang Cheng, I believe that with your intelligence and talent, even if you go abroad, you will surely make a name for yourself. When the time comes, you will return in glory, leaving those football miscreants in shame

Yang Cheng shook his head, stood up, and took a deep breath. "I also understand that in the profession of head coach, the most important factors for gaining opportunities are experience and connections. Therefore, it is relatively easy for players and coaches with formal training to make a name for themselves. However, for someone like me, who has no experience even with amateur teams, it is undoubtedly a very difficult task"

Only when everyone had stopped speaking did he finally say: "I refuse!"

Hong Bo surveyed his players on the field, including an MVP from the Brazilian league, a top star with an annual salary exceeding that of Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, second only to Messi in global earnings; there were also veteran national team players, the foremost striker in the country; and seasoned foreign defenders with years of experience in top European leagues.

Sixty minutes have already passed, yet the score on the manual scoreboard at the sidelines remains 0 : 0

... ...

"By the way, Yang Cheng, what did Hong Bo's assistant coach want with you just now?" Henry, having just clinked glasses with a teammate beside him, suddenly recalled the scene he had witnessed after the match and asked curiously.

Hong Bo did not pay much attention; he had not investigated the situation of the FX school team and did not know Henry. He simply thought that this was just a routine substitution. His mind was filled with a single thought: if this match ended in a draw, what kind of excuse should he come up with?

From the very beginning of the match, both sides engaged in a fierce contest, which was something Hong Bo had not anticipated

The right back of the professional team indeed surged forward as Yang Cheng had anticipated, but the pass was intercepted, and the ball quickly came to the feet of number 7, Beckham

If it were not for the astonishing drinking capacity of Xiao Bei escorting him back to the dormitory, it would likely be a problem for him to even return to the dormitory.

Alright, no more celebrating, the match is not over yet. We must continue to maintain this style of play, strengthen our offense, and push forward to score again.

Yang Cheng simply smiled and clenched his fist, for he had long known that a goal would be scored, as he believed that the opponent would surely make a mistake

Yang Cheng comes from a humble background. He has always been strong and independent. He has contemplated the matter of going abroad for a long time and is currently raising funds to prepare for studying coaching courses overseas. He has temporarily kept all of this from his parents, fearing that they would worry and oppose his decision. They are simple, honest farmers and would not understand Yang Cheng's aspirations.

He is also a current student at FX University. During his freshman year, he was the most outstanding player on the school team. However, due to a serious injury, he had to leave football. At that time, the head coach of FX University resigned due to the team's poor performance. Yang Cheng attempted to lead the team, and as a result, their performance improved dramatically, leading to his immediate hiring by the school

Yang Cheng pulled Heng Li to his side and quietly explained the tactics

"Little Bei's responsibility is to pass the ball, to deliver it into the open space. Whether the ball can be received or not is not his problem, but yours, Henry," said Yang Cheng, as he firmly patted Henry on the shoulder. "I place great importance on this match; I believe it is the most significant match I have played in my career."

After two years of inter-school cup competitions and warm-up matches, Henry had long been convinced of Yang Cheng's arrangements. Even in this match, Yang Cheng claimed before the game that he would prevent the professional team from scoring. Looking at the scoreboard, it was still 0:0. What more could Henry doubt?

And tonight, the encouragement from these teammates undoubtedly provided Yang Cheng with a dose of reassurance

... ...

Oh my, a goal! The FX University team has scored!

Although he wears the number 7, Xiao Bei does not play on the right flank like his idol Beckham, but rather in the center. However, his passing skills are exceptional, making him the best passer in the FX school team and the top assist provider in the inter-school cup

Well said, Yang Cheng, you are no less capable than Hong Bo, you will definitely be able to become a professional coach

All students at FX University know that it all depends on him, 23-year-old Yang Cheng

Everyone immediately widened their eyes in disbelief

What is his name? Hong Bo furrowed his brow; his assistant had mentioned it earlier, but he had forgotten.

After listening, Henry felt a surge of hot blood rising from the soles of his feet, coursing up to the top of his throat, his whole body burning with heat, and he nodded emphatically

... ...

He invited me to join Hongbo's coaching team, stating that he could offer me a six-month probationary contract

... ...

The ball traced an arc, landing slightly off target. However, Henry's speed was remarkable; immediately after passing, he leveraged his speed advantage like a sharp knife, slicing through the opponent's defense. He stopped the ball, but it was somewhat heavy, revealing that, after all, he was an amateur player, lacking the solid fundamentals of a professional.

However, Yang Cheng has never thought this way. Caution and carefulness are his style. He has been paying close attention to the right center-back in the professional team, who is a veteran with many years of experience in domestic leagues. He has previously played abroad, but he is now 33 years old. Time is unforgiving, and after nearly 80 minutes of play, his physical condition has declined significantly

Little Bei took the ball but was not subjected to much disturbance. The professional team's defense line did not even retreat significantly, and no one from the midfield came up to press him, allowing him to calmly control the ball. His gaze swept across the opponent's defense line and landed on the position of the right-back, where the recently substituted Henry was situated.

After gathering momentum for more than 1 hour, the heavy rain still did not arrive. Instead, the dark clouds in the sky appeared to be twisted, swirling into a vortex, from which a purple lightning bolt struck out from the core of the vortex

Time passed second by second, yet the situation on the field did not change significantly