Chapter 33 Leader

Since Volendam was promoted to the Eredivisie this summer, he began to upgrade the hardware facilities of the Karas Stadium, which made the originally rudimentary dressing room of the visiting team even more shabby, but there is a place to sit and shower.

Returning to the locker room with a zero-to-one deficit, Almere was extremely frustrated.

This is the first time they have fallen behind in the first half since the competition. Even against AS80 in the first round, they kept the draw, but this time they faced Volendam without any strength to fight back.

They are the newly-promoted Eredivisie, even the strength of the young players in the team is not something that Almere can compete with.

More importantly, the four Ajax youth training in their team are too good.

Yang Yang once heard people say that Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV have gathered the most elite young players in the Netherlands in the three traditional and powerful youth training camps. The players on loan from the Ajax youth academy are powerful, and he has to admit that there is still a considerable gap between himself and them.

Ajax loaned them to Volendam with a very obvious intention, hoping that they could get more opportunities to exercise in Volendam. That is to say, these players are in Ajax's youth academy. Not even outstanding.

But they are already so powerful. It is conceivable, how strong are the famous Babel and Amrabat?

They are all of the same age, but the disparity in strength makes Yang Yang uncomfortable.

The rest of Almere's players were similarly devastated, even Henk Dimel.

He has always wanted to join Ajax, but now he clearly feels that his strength is not as good as those of the players who were loaned by Volendam. How can he get in?

The locker room was dead, so silent that only the breathing of the players remained. Everyone was thinking, but no one was willing to speak, as if speaking would be criticized by everyone.

Yang Yang quickly calmed down the depression and depression in his heart.

He has never been a gifted person. He was dismissed again and again by head coach John Repp more than two months ago, but now, his performance on the court is no worse than that of any player in the team. , including Henk Dimmel.

He is confident that, given him a little more time, he can completely crush the team captain.

In this case, what is the disparity between him and the few players on loan from Ajax?

As long as he has time, and as long as he is willing to work hard, he firmly believes that there is no gap that cannot be bridged.

"Okay, everyone, don't be depressed, don't be depressed." Yang Yang stood up from his seat and shouted loudly.

Everyone in the locker room looked up at him.

In the past few games, whenever he encountered difficulties, Yang Yang would stand up.

It was the same when playing AS80, it was the same when it was playing Franz, and it is still the same when playing Volendam.

If anyone else said that, someone would definitely refute it, but when Yang Yang came forward, no one would do it.

He is the most qualified person in the team to say that.

Without Yang Yang, Almere would have been eliminated by AS80 in the first round; without him, Almere would hardly have a chance of winning if he faced Fraferance in the second and third rounds, or even in the fourth round.

It can be said that Yang Yang led the team into the fifth round.

"Yeah, everyone cheer up, don't be discouraged, we still have time and opportunities." Captain Henk Dimmel immediately stood up after seeing Yang Yang come forward.

Yang Yang nodded slightly towards Henk Dimel, and said loudly: "Volendan's strength is definitely stronger than ours, but everyone must know that we have not encountered such an opponent before, playing AS80 in the first round, The strength of the opponent is stronger than us, and the strength of the opponent is also stronger than us in the fourth round, but what is the result?"

"It's us on the Volendan Callas Stadium!"

Yang Yang's remarks made many players in the locker room raise their heads.

It is not the first time that Almere has defeated the strong by the weak.

Although, this time Volendam is indeed the strongest opponent he has ever encountered since the competition.

"There is still the second half of the game, and there are only two paths in front of us. Either we will fight with them, no matter whether we win or lose, we will leave with our heads held high, or we will lose vainly, but what are we going to face? To those who accompany us to the away game, and those who are waiting in Almere?"

Almere played very well in the amateur competition this summer and entered the fifth round, which caused great repercussions in the city. In addition, the AS80 was eliminated in the first round, and many citizens supported Almere. Players are also more sought after than usual.

In the face of Yang Yang's questioning, all the players also began to become firm.

Losing is not as good as others, there is nothing to say, but if the fighting spirit is lacking, it is not as simple as losing.

Thinking of this, most of the people in the locker room also regained their fighting spirit and determined to fight to the end.

"Brothers, don't give up, I believe there is still a chance." Yang Yang encouraged.

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the door of the locker room being pushed open from the outside, followed by the familiar voice of head coach John Rep, who praised loudly: "Well said, as long as you don't give up, you will definitely still have a chance."

Everyone in the locker room was taken aback, not expecting John Repp to be here too.

"Mr. Rip, why are you here?"

"Oh, Mr. Van Poole is here too, that's great."

Everyone was overjoyed, the two head coaches came, and they could help them make plans.

Without a head coach, they feel disoriented and headless flies on the pitch.

John Rip and Dick Van Poole didn't inform the team before they came, but after seeing the team's predicament in the first half, they couldn't hold their breath and decided to go to the locker room. Thinking of it, hearing Yang Yang's words of encouragement to his teammates made them sigh with emotion.

Who would have thought that Yang Yang had been sentenced to death by the team more than two months ago?

But now, they suddenly felt that Yang Yang was more suitable to be the captain than Henk Dimmel.

But this idea was only fleeting. After all, Henk Dimel is a direct descendant of the team's youth training and a native of Almere. He has natural advantages. If Yang Yang is the captain, it may not be very suitable. .

But it is undeniable that Yang Yang is the leader of this team.

"Well, as Yang Yang said just now, we are only one goal behind, and there is still a chance." John Repp said with great certainty.

Everyone trusts the first-team manager far more than Dick Vample, and everyone is more convinced when the former international says so.

John Rep also came prepared. He had been watching the game in the first half, and he knew the situation of the two teams very well. He immediately made adjustments in response to the various problems exposed by the team's defense in the first half. And gave the game strategy in the second half, especially how to play defensive counterattack.

"We have to make substitutions, just keep one in the frontcourt." Henk Dimel turned to look at Yang Yang, "Yang Yang, your task is to stay in the frontcourt, we don't need you to defend, you have to stand up to the opponent. two central defenders."

Yang Yang was taken aback, is he going to hand over the burden of the attack to himself?

John Repp didn't have time to explain, "The midfield and backfield are configured with four backs and five midfielders, and everyone must keep their positions firmly at all times. Genk, even you, don't have enough grasp and opportunity. In any case, try to minimize forward insertion.”

After hearing this, everyone looked at John Repp in disbelief, and then looked at Yang Yang. This is to put all the bets on Yang Yang alone. Can he do it?

But soon, everyone was relieved.

The team has made it to this day, and Yang Yang has contributed a lot, and he is also the team's best player. If he can't even do it, who else can carry this burden?

"We all know where Yang Yang's crux is. Therefore, in the second half, we changed our strategy. All passes to Yang Yang were as big as possible and passed directly in front of him."

Yang Yang's weakness is that his basic skills are too poor, and he makes a lot of mistakes in stopping the ball in the first foot, especially when he is closely guarded by the opponent, but his advantage is his speed and high-speed dribbling. Rush up, then no one can stop it.

John Rep's adjustment and arrangement can be said to be sharp and targeted, and Yang Yang admires it very much.

He even began to feel that he might have to learn this knowledge, after all, it would be better for him to understand the game and even control the game.

…………

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With the arrival of John Rep, Almere regained his footing and regained his sense of direction.

When the two sides returned to the football field, Volendam, who was one goal ahead, was obviously more morale, but Almere was also not to be outdone.

Soon, everyone noticed the change in Almere's formation. The formation was changed to four-five-one. The two lines in the midfield and the back were kept more compact and tight, especially in the midfield, Henk Dimer and The two teammates built a defensive wall in front of the defense line, firmly guarding the defense line behind them.

Yang Yang ran in the front court without hesitation. When his own team got the ball, he constantly interspersed in the front court, looking for opportunities. When Volendam got the ball, Yang Yang kept harassing the opponent's defenders, especially the two defenders. Central defender.

At this point, Yang Yang obviously has to do better than the previous No. 11 center, which makes Volendan's defenders complain secretly, and even some can't adapt.

The back defense was unstable, and the attack in the midfield and frontcourt was difficult to exert at will. Coupled with Almere's meticulous defense, the two sides fell into a stalemate. I have to say that John Repp's on-the-spot command is still very skillful .

The only unsatisfactory part is that it is difficult to pass the ball to Yang Yang with big feet in the middle and backcourt. The pass is always not in place, either the distance is unsatisfactory, or the passing line is wrong, which makes Yang Yang in the frontcourt. Positive, but never got the chance.

But since the tactical adjustment of the midfield has worked, Almere is full of confidence and firmly believes that opportunities will definitely appear.

Especially Yang Yang, who was still meticulously performing his tasks in the front court, did not dare to slack off in the slightest.

This tactical execution is also very appreciated by Van Gaal in the crowd on the sidelines. His favorite is this type of player.