One Hundred and Ninety-Nine, We only Want the Champion!

Via Ferraris 32, Turin.

Deschamps stopped at the entrance of this elegant and dignified building, and lingered for a while.

It was the first time he had set foot in this place in more than two months.

Since the 0-5 away loss to Naples, after the game, the sports director Seco criticized him in the media, and he completely tore up his face with Seco. Since then, he has never set foot in the Juventus headquarters. office.

Today was the first time in over two months.

If it hadn't been for Jean-Claude Blanco's repeated calls to invite him, he still wouldn't have come.

"Come in, Didier, they are already waiting." Blanco greeted at the door.

The French compatriot gave Deschamps enough face and went out to greet him in person.

Deschamps nodded and walked into the office building.

...

Today, the core management of Juventus gathered in the headquarters office for a meeting with only one purpose, which is to further clarify the club's goals for this season and the strategy for the next period, and at the same time make preliminary preparations and transfers for the team's winter break .

Yes, many fans mistakenly believe that the transfer is made during the transfer period, but it is not.

Many transfers were finalized early, some even half a year in advance.

Especially the transfer of some stars, it is even more protracted, and many of them also involve the handover of commercial sponsorship contracts.

Deschamps is a famous player in the club, and when the club was in crisis, he decisively extended a helping hand and came to Turin to coach. This kind of friendship made him admired and respected by many people in the club.

Of course, this does not include sporting director Alessio Seko.

Although he always reiterated his support for Deschamps in front of the media again and again, saying that the club is very grateful to Deschamps, in fact, everyone knows that there is a huge gap between him, Blanco and Deschamps. contradictions and differences.

All the bigwigs from Juventus participated in the meeting, and the chairman Gillette, who usually does not have much management practice, was also on the list.

As the team's general manager, Blanco took the lead in reporting on the club's operations this season.

After falling into the Serie B league, the stadium attendance, match day income and other aspects of income are all plummeting, but on the other hand, in order to preserve the strength of the club to the maximum extent,

A lot of the staffing and institutions from the Serie A days have survived, and that requires spending.

The reduction in expenditure is not much, but the income has dropped sharply, which has also caused Juventus' operations to face pressure.

To some extent, the club's more than 80 million euros in the transfer market is making up for this.

Of course, everyone knows that this is drinking poison to quench thirst.

The most important priority for Juventus now is to return to Serie A as soon as possible, return to the ranks of the giants, and make up for the lost income as soon as possible, and even further increase it.

More importantly, the Fiat consortium behind Juventus has been overwhelmed in recent years, and it is basically impossible to bring more support to the team. The team can only rely on themselves.

Blanco was the editor of L'Equipe at the beginning, and he knew football very well. Later, he participated in the business management of large-scale sports events such as the Winter Olympics, Dakar Rally, Tour de France, and French Open. He has great experience in business operations. one hand.

Recently, he has been actively operating Juventus' new stadium project, but this is still limited to the secrets of the core leadership, and it is not planned to be discussed for the time being.

Although he has worked in the team newspaper, Blanco is not an expert in football, so that the sports director Alessio Seco takes charge of the sports affairs in the team. After Blanco, he also followed up to speak.

Seko summed up the team's achievements since the Calciopoli incident, which he thought was acceptable, but he was not satisfied with the team's performance and believed that it had not really displayed the strength of Juventus.

"We could have been more dominant and convincing in Serie B than we are now."

Although he didn't name him by name, Seko undoubtedly pointed the finger at Deschamps.

Anyone can see that Juventus' internal conflicts are serious.

Seko belongs to the remnants of the phonegate incident, and there is even news that he will learn from the three giants of the phonegate, because they have always had a close cooperative relationship before.

Blanco represents the wishes of the Fiat Group. He is with Didier Deschamps and represents the emerging power of Juventus.

Both sides have not yet torn their faces, but the contradiction is already obvious.

Blanco and Deschamps are not surprised by Seco's current bashing.

At the end of Seko's speech, he said that the team did not plan to sign in during the winter break, because the technical department assessed that the team's current lineup was sufficient for Serie B.

No signings, but Seko asked the team to show a better and more convincing performance.

"I hope everyone can understand that we are Juventus, and falling into Serie B is only temporary. Our goal has never been to upgrade, but to be the champion. We want to return to Serie A as champions!"

Even in the new season, Juventus will be deducted nine points.

Now, Naples is at the top of the list, and Juventus is two points behind Naples, but if these nine points are counted, they are eleven points behind, and Juventus' league ranking will drop directly to fourth.

Seko said that the team will return to the San Paolo Stadium in Naples at the weekend, and he hopes that this will be a battle of shame.

"Even in the Coppa Italia, a zero-to-five defeat is unacceptable to Juventus. We must show better performance to wash away this shame."

Seko's words were echoed by Chairman Gillette.

As the chairman elected by shareholders and fans, the owner of the supermarket chain is not satisfied with the team's results this season, mainly because of the 0-5 defeat to Naples, and the subsequent fall behind Naples in Serie B.

"This is unacceptable to the fans!"

On weekdays, Gillette is more of a peacemaker between Blanco and Seco, but in this matter, his attitude is also very clear, that is to stand on the side of the fans and demand that the team It must be regrouped as soon as possible.

And all the pressure naturally fell on the head coach Didier Deschamps.

...

"You know, at this stage, we can't fight against Naples. We don't have such conditions."

After the meeting, Deschamps frankly expressed his true thoughts in the general manager's office.

Or rather, he was complaining.

"Those two outside don't understand football at all. One just wants to please the fans, and the other just wants to..."

Deschamps was halfway through speaking, when he saw Blanco raised his head, he held back immediately.

In fact, the general manager in front of him doesn't necessarily know much about football.

"Didier, I'm on your side in other matters, but you must be prepared for this weekend's battle. We must win, and if we lose, the consequences will be disastrous." Blanco reminded solemnly.

Unbelievable?

Does it mean... get out of class?

This is the first time that Deschamps has faced such a crisis since he coached Juventus.

"Do you think we have the strength to compete with Naples?" Didier Deschamps asked.

"Why not?" Blanco asked back, without waiting for Deschamps to answer, he continued: "We have Buffon, Nedved, Camoranesi, Del Piero, Trezeguet, Sarajeta , Billindley, Kovacs..."

"Gianni Keida, Paro, Zanetti and others are all main-level players of the top-ranked teams in Serie A. Chiellini, Marchisio, Marchioni, Bojinov and others , are all rookies with outstanding strength, such a lineup, do you think you don’t have the strength to fight against Naples?”

Deschamps was really speechless.

He really didn't know what to say.

He has no way to say that Naples under Gao Shen's coaching is playing a very advanced tactic, so far, he has not thought of an effective way to restrain it; he also has no way to say that although Naples players are young, they are all outstanding. He can't even say that Juventus' players are famous, but together, they may not be as good as Naples.

There are a lot of things that I understand, but I can't explain them clearly.

If Deschamps said some things, the consequences might be worse than losing the game, or even dismissing get out of class.

It seems that Gillette and Seko were asking him just now, why Juventus has such a strong lineup, but they can't play like Naples?

It is not required to be aggressive, but at least play more dominant and aggressive, isn't it difficult?

Deschamps couldn't answer, because he couldn't say he couldn't.

In the eyes of many people, isn't tactics just to gather players together and tell them how to play, how to cooperate, how to run, and how to pass?

Naples presses and oppresses in a high position, and Juventus can also press and oppress in a high position. What's wrong?

If you are not fit enough, practice more!

Can't pass and cut technology?

Nonsense, Naples can even make precise passes to the central defenders, and even launch long passes. Do you think Juventus players are not skilled enough?

Paul Cannavaro, when he was in Parma, he knew how to pass and control the ball, but in Naples, didn't he also play well?

Others can do it, why not Juventus?

Is it the Juventus players who can't do it, or the head coach?

You see, no matter what, it comes and goes, and in the end it is the head coach who is responsible.

This is the logic of European football club operators.

Deschamps even felt that Blanco, who has always supported him, felt that he should try his best to defeat Naples, win this victory, and counterattack in the standings (not counting the nine points deducted in the case of).

That being the case, what else is there to say?

He really regretted why he had to soften his heart and take over this mess.

But in any case, he is now the head coach of Juventus, and he has to finish the appointment with tears in his eyes.

"I will do my best!"

After Deschamps left such a sentence, he turned and left lonely.

Blanco stood behind him and watched him leave with mixed emotions in his heart.

He can feel the difficulties of Deschamps, but who has no difficulties?

What Juventus has to do now is to keep the breath of the rich team as much as possible and return to the ranks of the rich as soon as possible.

Once this breath dissipates, it won't come back for many years.

Without this tone, is Juventus still Juventus?

…………

…………

When Deschamps left 32 Via Ferraris, in the south of Italy, someone who had been waiting for a long time came to the door of the training center of Castel Volturno in Naples.