Chapter 330 Say It in Advance

"I intend to resign as the head coach of the Chinese national team."

Gao Hongbo said this in a calm tone, but Zhou Yi was frightened.

He was stunned for a while before saying, "Is someone putting pressure on you?"

He knew that the leaders of the Football Association went to Spain immediately after this incident, and the two parties must have had secret talks.

"Don't make blind guesses, Zhou Yi. It's the pressure I put on myself. I have very high demands on myself, and you know that."

Zhou Yi Moran, Gao Hongbo indeed has very high requirements for himself. He is taciturn but ambitious.

He hopes that he can become the top local head coach in China.

He is always looking for ways to improve himself. In private, he also revealed that after coaching the Chinese team in the World Cup, he will leave his job and go to Europe to study.

"I do have a dream to lead the Chinese national team to the World Cup, and I have been working hard for this. But you must have heard about the recent situation. Sometimes I feel powerless..." Gao Hongbo spoke in a tone of voice The speed is not fast, and he has to rest and pause in the middle. It can be seen that he has not recovered either physically or mentally.

"I hope to be able to innovate in tactics and make more changes. But the new tactics and the new formation training of three central defenders are not very effective..."

In fact, Zhou Yi has indeed heard about Gao Hongbo's tactical formation reform in the national team. He wants to implement a three-center-back system, with Guo Nu teaming up with Feng Xiaoting and Zhang Linpeng to play three central-backs.

Zhou Yi also discussed with his friends why Gao Hongbo did this. Perhaps it was because Yan Min's outstanding performance in Dortmund gave him the inspiration and confidence to do so.

The three-center-back system has high requirements for the two wingers, and Yan Min is the wing player who can meet the high requirements, coupled with Wu Lei, who has performed well in the domestic league.

In addition, the three central defenders are very effective in breaking the opponent's press. The Chinese team has Zhou Yi, so they will inevitably be pressed by the opponent. In this way, the three central defenders can help Zhou Yi break the opponent's press. At the same time, playing three central defenders also requires sufficient ball control ability in the midfield and frontcourt. The presence of Zhou Yi, Yang Muge, He Ying, and Yan Min gives the Chinese team such a foundation of ability. All these make Gao Hongbo want the Chinese team to play three Central defender system.

But it is difficult for players who are used to playing in a four-back system to adapt.

Even Guo Nu showed his acclimatization.

Therefore, the Chinese team's defense was a big problem in the two warm-up matches, and it was almost eliminated by the opponent.

But Gao Hongbo is a stubborn person, and if he sees the right way, he will go to the dark side. Therefore, after the problem of the three central defenders was exposed in the first game, he did not give up the three central defenders' style of play, but continued to promote the three central defenders. As a result, he lost to the "soft persimmon" Bosnia and Herzegovina in the second game...

"...If we can't produce results before the start of the World Cup, then we have wasted time and made useless efforts. I will be the sinner..." Gao Hongbo said with a heavy tone. "The thought of this makes me very uneasy. In fact, a few days before I fainted, I had pain in the heart, but I didn't even think about it at the time..."

"I want to do my best, but I ignore the gap in my personal abilities. The result of constantly putting pressure on myself is that my own string is broken..." Gao Hongbo said with a bitter smile on the other end of the phone. "No one forced me to resign. In fact, after the leaders of the Football Association came over, they advised me to take a good rest and return to work as soon as possible. But after this incident, I lay in bed and thought a lot. I felt that I was very selfish before... "

"I only thought about myself, but I didn't think about the future of the team or the players... I wanted to leave a name for myself in history, but I didn't think about what the team would do. A head coach should focus on the work of the team. The first priority should be to put the team first. If I really love my country's football, then I should hope that the national team will achieve good results in the World Cup. But my personal ability is not enough to complete such a task. , so actually when I reach the World Cup finals, I should give way..."

"You can't say that, Director Gao, your ability is no problem..." Zhou Yi quickly advised.

"You're trying to say nice things to me." Gao Hongbo didn't appreciate it. "I know my own worth."

"But Director Gao, at this juncture, if you resign, who will take over? Changing coaches on the spot is a taboo..."

"If a successor is not found, of course I will not resign." Gao Hongbo said. "Do you think I'm still a fool and will resign on impulse?"

"so……"

"I still have to thank Guangzhou Hengyuan Club..." Gao Hongbo sighed. "They contacted the Football Association immediately and said that if I could not complete the task of leading the team, they were willing to let their head coach be the firefighting coach. Their club would be responsible for all the salary and bonuses in the national team."

Zhou Yi was startled: "Lippi?"

"It's him."

"Can Lippi agree to this? Become a firefighting coach?"

"He agreed."

"..." Zhou Yi didn't know what to say. He felt that someone as proud as Lippi shouldn't accept a sudden decision to change coaches and end up in a mess... Although he is coaching a Chinese club, he shouldn't be so passionate about Chinese football, right?

"Actually, I think he accepted it because of you."

Gao Hongbo's words surprised Zhou Yi even more: "For us?"

"Yes, because of you, He Ying, Sun Pan, Yang Muge, and Guo Nu."

"What does this have to do with us?"

"Don't you know how many coaches want to coach you? It's really happy and fulfilling to work with you." Gao Hongbo suddenly sighed. "Of course there is pressure. If you have players like you and can't win, or even win well, then it must be the head coach's problem. Ha!"

"Uh..." Facing Gao Hongbo's compliments, Zhou Yi didn't know how to answer.

"Okay, don't think so much. My historical mission has been completed. Let Lippi take you to the next World Cup. He is a world-class coach and his ability is much higher than mine. It will be up to him. Leading the team, I am much more confident about the team's prospects in the World Cup. I am here to tell you in advance. If I had known earlier, I would have prepared earlier, and then play your core role in the team and cooperate well with the new head coach. Coach, let's let our Chinese football create a new history in the World Cup."

Now that the matter has been decided, Zhou Yi did not continue to dissuade him pretentiously, but nodded and promised: "Don't worry, Director Gao. I will definitely not let you down."

"Okay, I'm relieved with your words. Then I won't disturb you. You can have a good rest."

"I won't disturb you anymore. You can have a good rest, Director Gao. Don't be too excited when watching the World Cup, and be careful with your health."

"Okay, I will follow the doctor's advice, haha!"

Gao Hongbo laughed, and amidst his laughter, the two hung up the phone.

※※※

When Zhou Yi finished the call, he turned around and found Cortana sitting next to him reading a book.

"Have you been here all this time?" Zhou Yi was surprised.

"Did you finish the phone call?"

"Um."

"What did we talk about?"

"We are going to change coaches on the spot."

"This is what it should be. The sooner a decision is made, the better. But has the candidate been found?"

"Lippi."

Cortana was stunned for a moment when she heard the name. It seemed difficult to connect the name with the Chinese national team.

"Marcelo Lippi?" she asked.

"Yes. 'Silver Fox' Lippi."

"Big deal," Cortana sighed. "So that phone call just now was made to you by the former head coach?"

"Well, he told me the news in advance, and it hasn't been announced yet."

"Why should I tell you in advance?"

"Because I am the core of the team."

Cortana rolled her eyes at him: "You're so rude."

Zhou Yi grinned.

His mood suddenly improved.

If Lippi was to be the firefighting coach, Zhou Yi would be more relieved.

In addition, he could also hear the inner changes of Director Gao from the phone call just now. It was obvious that at the end of the phone call, Director Gao, who had put down the pressure and responsibility, was still able to joke.

Although it is a pity not to be able to lead the team to participate in the World Cup, to a certain extent, this kind of willingness and letting go may be a relief for the high coach.

At least if the Chinese team performs poorly, no one will blame Director Gao anymore.

Zhou Yi logged into QQ on his mobile phone and left a message in the group: "Let me tell you, guys. We really have to go all out this time. If we fail, there will be no reason or excuse."

"?"

"What do you mean?"

Others were surprised by Zhou Yi's meaningless words.

"It's nothing, I just have to go all out and never have any regrets about staying in Brazil..."

"Isn't this nonsense? Of course we will not allow regrets!" Sun Pan said.

Zhou Yi couldn't tell them. Since Director Gao only told it to himself, he certainly didn't want to tell it out to avoid causing complications.

One day later, explosive news came:

The Chinese Football Association officially approved Gao Hongbo's application to resign as the head coach of the Chinese national team and announced that Marcelo Lippi would take over as the head coach of the national team.

...