Chapter Two Seamless Integration

Höwedes has been in the first team for half a year, everyone is familiar, and people who have a good relationship in private need to say hello when they meet.

Hewedes also introduced these people to Zhou Tiancheng one by one.

"Chow, this is Gerald Asamoah, the team's winger."

"Levan Kobyashvili, the main midfielder."

"National player Kevin Kuranyi."

"Winger Khalil Altintop."

Speaking of Altintop, Hewedes felt a little strange, because in addition to Khalil Altintop, there was another midfielder Hamet Altintop that he didn't see. This duo of brothers is a feature of Schalke's first team. But today I only saw my younger brother, but not my elder brother.

After asking one more question, Altintop Jr. told the truth: his brother has joined Bayern Munich freely, and both clubs have made official announcements.

A trace of surprise flashed in Zhou Tiancheng's eyes. Judging from the fact that the elder brother successfully landed in the wealthy family, the strength of the two brothers should not be weak!

While he is paying attention to others, everyone is paying more attention to him. Soon everyone knew that a strange Asian face came to the club, and he was also Chinese. This was the first time in the first team. Zhou Tiancheng suddenly became the person everyone wanted to know.

This reduced Slomka's workload, at least Zhou Tiancheng's self-introduction before the joint practice could be omitted. In the process of introducing each other, Zhou Tiancheng not only knows that the main goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is his U19 predecessor, everyone also knows that he is a player promoted from U19. For most foreign players in the first team, Zhou Tiancheng Tian Cheng can also be regarded as a direct descendant of a wealthy youth training family, so he unconsciously has a higher evaluation of him in his heart.

And Zhou Tiancheng actually wanted to take a look at the all-round midfielder Mesut Ozil that Elgort often mentioned, but Neuer told him that Ozil had moved to Bremen, Zhou Tiancheng could only express regret, and at the same time I sighed in my heart: Sure enough, I couldn't keep it.

Zhou Tiancheng couldn't help thinking about his future...

Slomka's whistle calling for everyone to concentrate pulled Zhou Tiancheng back to reality, and he quickly put aside all distracting thoughts and followed the first team training.

In the first three days, the team’s training did not increase in intensity, and it mainly focused on physical recovery training such as jogging and stretching. This is something that all first-team coaches must do after the holiday, so that everyone can enter the new state as soon as possible from the holiday. Season preparation status.

The level of training in the past few days can't be seen, but from the combined technical and tactical training after that, it is the decision for everyone, especially when new players like Zhou Tiancheng are in the coach's mind.

For newcomers who join the first team, they don't really need to show high skills and talents. The head coach often pays more attention to the degree of integration of the players into the tactical system, because this determines how much the player can bring to the team's existing tactical system. positive contribution.

Of course, except for a few super giants like Harvey and Messi, if they leave Barcelona and go to any team, the existing tactical system must be overthrown and rebuilt to adapt to their abilities, otherwise it will be a waste of money.

Slomka was not very strict with Zhou Tiancheng originally, as long as he can keep up with the team's current training rhythm. As for meeting the requirements for playing the game, it has to be done step by step. What is the warm-up match before the season starts? It is used to adapt the new players to the rhythm of the game.

However, Slomka didn't know that Zhou Tiancheng had the secret of the system, and he didn't know that Zhou Tiancheng was not idle during the holiday break. He had already familiarized most of Schalke's players in the system, including their positions. , foot preference, and which data stand out, everyone's characteristics are in his mind.

In fact, the most important function of the system is not to quickly improve Zhou Tiancheng's ability. Instead, it gave him a channel to predict opponents and teammates in advance. Not only in the game to cope with ease, but also when entering a new environment,

It's easy to be popular.

Zhou Tiancheng looked at these teammates on the field, as if old friends reunited after a long absence, and they are very familiar with each other. Left winger Asamoah's sprint speed and acceleration reached 81 and 82. Zhou Tiancheng released a half-high ball to the left with a certain amount of advance, which allowed Asamoah to sprint to a high level, while Schalke midfielder Ke Biashvili and Kristajic belong to those who need the ball at their feet when attacking. Zhou Tiancheng's passing is very strong, try to pass the ball on the ground, so that they have more opportunities to catch the ball. It just so happens that the team's rookie Rakitic also belongs to this kind of midfield player. Zhou Tiancheng's choice is very suitable for him, and the speed of his integration into the team has also been accelerated.

In the beginning, Zhou Tiancheng didn't have many chances to get the ball, but what is commendable is that when he didn't have the ball, Zhou Tiancheng didn't stand still on the court as a spectator. Elgort once told him a very important principle: not having the ball is more important than having the ball, and only running can create opportunities.

However, Zhou Tiancheng seized a few limited opportunities to get the ball and passed a few passes that made his teammates feel comfortable. Gradually, the teammates began to pass the ball to him more, because they found that the newcomer from China Man is indeed quite capable, and I can feel a little more relaxed if I leave the ball to him.

On the sidelines, Slomka and assistant coach Mike Biskens watched Zhou Tiancheng's performance, and this familiar attribute couldn't fail to attract their attention.

"It does seem like a good player," Mike Biskens said.

Slomka glanced at the assistant slightly, and then turned his gaze to the field: "But he seems to know our tactical system and these players very well. What do you think of this?"

Biskens didn't take it seriously: "U19's tactics and playing style are completely in line with ours, which is not surprising. It just proves that our youth training is effective. Mirko, what do you think?"

The corner of Slomka's mouth curled up: "Maybe this is part of the reason, but it would be interesting if the truth goes beyond that."

Slomka once again refreshed his understanding of Zhou Tiancheng. He can almost seamlessly blend in with a group of unfamiliar teammates in the first training session, and there is almost no sense of awkwardness. In his coaching career, this is the first case! Slomka admitted that the edification of the same tactics will be helpful, but Zhou Tiancheng is not the first player promoted from U19. Why is his first time so amazing?

This is definitely a personal reason!

Zhou Tiancheng's first training session scored high in Slomka's heart. He has a body, physical fitness, and a very high golf quotient. According to Elgort, the training is still very hardworking!

What does it all add up to?

Slomka felt excited just thinking about it. It was a big loss not to convince the club's top management to keep Ozil, but Zhou Tiancheng made him see more possibilities in the future.