Tuttosport even published a highly insulting composite image.
The image featured several warriors trampling five people underfoot.
These warriors were wearing Perugia’s home jerseys.
And the people being trampled had their faces photoshopped into He Tianqi, Modric, and others.
The caption read: “The Death of Pope He Tianqi and His Four Knights of the Apocalypse!”
Because for their next match, Palermo would be playing away against Perugia.
Perugia was obviously very satisfied with Tuttosport’s favorable view of them; they announced their squad for the next match in advance.
All the main starters of the team were listed!
Clearly, this second leg of the Coppa Italia round of 16 had once again become the focus of Italian fans’ attention.
Most people were tuning in with a mocking attitude.
They wanted to know if He Tianqi would change his “title” after Palermo lost.
For instance, some extreme Juventus fans believed He Tianqi should be called the “Judas of Turin.”
Even some Palermo fans thought He Tianqi was being too arrogant.
Brother, wake up, we are in Serie C.
Even if they insulted our players, you can’t fight back this aggressively!
Look at how much trouble you’ve brought everyone!
…
[Ding!
You have won a three-game winning streak, receiving the reward:]
[Basic Outside of the Foot: Player-level skill.
Improves the player’s ability to handle the football with the outside of their foot.]
Without a doubt, He Tianqi assigned this skill to Modric.
A Modric without the “outside of the foot” is incomplete.
In a sense, a player who knows how to use the outside of their foot is like a one-footed cripple transforming into a two-footed monster; their threat level instantly jumps up an entire magnitude.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door of He Tianqi’s office.
“Come in.” He Tianqi wasn’t very surprised to see the visitor, because even if the other party hadn’t come to find him, he had wanted to find him for a chat anyway.
“Please sit, Dani.
Would you like some tea?”
“I remember back in the national youth team, you were one of the few who could accept Chinese tea.”
Daniele Di Donato shook his head expressionlessly: “No need, He.
I came to find you today because I want to talk to you about my playing time.”
He Tianqi nodded, signaling for him to continue.
Di Donato said, “I am the midfield core of the team, and also one of the players with the strongest individual ability on this squad.”
“You can’t always sub me off at halftime.
I can do more for the team.”
“Moreover, this method of substitution is an insult to me.
You’ve been a professional player too; you should understand this logic.”
“So…
do you have a problem with me?
Are you trying to drive me out of Palermo?
Just like how you drove me out of the national youth team back then?”
He Tianqi hurriedly waved his hands: “No, no, no, Dani, you’re overthinking it.”
Di Donato’s expression only looked a little better: “Since you don’t want to drive me away, why do you…”
He Tianqi interrupted, “What I mean is, you leaving the national youth team back then was purely due to your lack of ability, and it had absolutely nothing to do with my personal opinion.”
Countless curses surged in Di Donato’s heart.
You sure know how to explain things.
But he had to admit, it was the truth.
He was only selected for one iteration of the national youth team and barely got any playing time.
Although he was one of He Tianqi’s substitutes, they didn’t form a competitive relationship.
In contrast, He Tianqi’s national youth team resume was extremely brilliant.
In his early years, he was a grade-skipper, squeezing into the national youth team alongside Nesta, Pirlo, and Buffon despite being two years younger, and he won the championship with the team.
Later, he stayed with the national youth team, became its captain, and led them to win the U19 European Championship.
After that, he consistently failed to break into the senior national team, becoming a youth team veteran who was eventually caught up to and surpassed by newly emerging young talents.
Therefore, He Tianqi had national youth teammates all over the world.
From football superstars to first-rate Serie A stars, to the various “has-beens” in Serie B and Serie C, they were all his “classmates.”
Including Perugia’s forward Miccoli and Palermo’s Death Knight Quagliarella; they were all He Tianqi’s national youth teammates at some point.
However, Di Donato, Miccoli, and Quagliarella didn’t know each other; they hadn’t been in the same national youth squad together.
Seeing that Di Donato was almost turning red with anger, He Tianqi stopped joking: “Seriously, Dani, you know your own situation better than anyone else.”
“Do you think you are suited to play as a central midfield core?”
“Do you think you possess playmaking abilities?”
Di Donato’s face stiffened.
He couldn’t lie to himself.
His technique met the requirements of a midfield core, but his vision and awareness did not meet the standards.
Compared to orchestrating the game, he preferred dribbling past people and shooting.
He Tianqi said, “As a former genius, at the very least you should be playing in Serie A, not Serie C.”
“But if you continue to play as Palermo’s midfield core, I think you might even end up playing in Serie D.”
“The problem isn’t your ability, but your positioning of yourself.”
“You chose the wrong track!”
He Tianqi brought over the tactical whiteboard and started drawing with a marker: “Our team’s most threatening player right now is definitely Ribery; he is a massive cut above the rest.”
“You should be able to feel it.”
“Ribery is absolutely dominant on the right wing, but your speed in handling the ball is relatively slow, which wastes this advantage.
Modric, on the other hand, does not.
So to activate Ribery, Modric must be in the middle and must have a massive amount of possession.”
“However, our left wing cannot be completely devoid of attacking power.”
“A one-footed cripple will eventually be targeted.”
“With your technique, you are fully capable of creating a threat on the left wing.
We just need to build suitable teammates for you, and flying with both wings in Serie C, or even Serie B, won’t be difficult.”
Di Donato’s eyes lit up.
Going from the midfield core to a left midfielder—although it was a downgrade in tactical importance, at least he retained a starting spot and wouldn’t be subbed off at halftime.
Moreover, he might actually adapt better to that side and could potentially play even better, perhaps…
not any worse than Ribery on the other side?
But He Tianqi’s bucket of cold water immediately followed: “But there is a prerequisite: the left side will always be our weaker side, so you have to take on a massive amount of defensive work.”
“Of course, it’s not just you.
Our left back, including the left-sided forward Quagliarella, will all need to take on defensive duties.”
“A team’s offensive and defensive resources are never distributed equally; I’m sure you understand that.”
Di Donato frowned.
If he had to take on defensive duties as well, that would somewhat lower his status.
Wait, isn’t the left-sided forward Arturo?
Why did He Tianqi mention Quagliarella?
Could it be?
“That’s right, Arturo’s running is very passive and cannot meet my tactical requirements.” He Tianqi said bluntly.
“I’ve given him many chances, but he hasn’t changed at all.”
“Therefore, starting from the next match, Quagliarella will become the team’s starting forward.”
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends.