Chapter 72 Conflict
Entering September, the Netherlands ushered in winter.
In recent days, it has been cloudy and rainy, which really makes people feel a little colder.
After the 2-4 away loss to Breda, from De Tokmost to the Amsterdam Arena, there was a cold atmosphere, and everyone felt the pressure of consecutive losses.
Losing 0-1 away to AC Milan is excusable, but losing 2-4 to Breda and ceding the league leader position to sworn enemy PSV Eindhoven is unacceptable.
In the parking lot, after getting out of the car, the assistant coach of the first team, Luther Carroll, could not help but tighten his black jacket, it was a little cold.
Going straight to the training building of the first team, Carroll gently patted his right thigh with the document bag in his right hand, and kept thinking about things.
Yesterday, after the second team finished the game, assistant coach John Van Schip made a special trip to find him and made an application to him, which is also what the head coach Van Basten meant, and it is difficult for Luther Carroll to be alone. make a decision.
He needs to discuss with the nominal youth training director, that is, the head coach of the first team, Ronald Koeman, and the higher-level technical director Van Gaal before he can give the final answer.
He came early and didn't meet anyone along the way, but just as he ascended the stairs to the second floor, he heard arguments from the head coach's office from around the corner.
"Let me tell you, Ronald, the biggest problem we have now is that the team's offense is very undisciplined, we have completely lost the aggressiveness of the frontcourt, including Ibrahimovic, including Van der Vaart, including Anyone is responsible for the four goals we conceded, including you."
Van Gaal's angry voice came from the office.
"Louis, I respect you, but are you shirking and holding you accountable?" Ronald Koeman asked angrily.
"Is that what you think of me?" Van Gaal asked back. "That's really disappointing."
After a pause, Van Gaal's voice sounded again, "I told you a long time ago that you can't be too indulgent with these players. The most important thing for a team is discipline, everyone must obey the team, and we need a forward line. Instead of strutting around, it gives opponents more threats and oppression."
"Have you ever thought that if Ibrahimovic can actively participate in the pressing and pressing in the frontcourt, the pressure in the middle and backcourts will be much less, and our passing control in the middle and backcourts will be easier, we can put the overall The formation is pressed up, more steals are formed in the opponent's half, and counterattacks are launched on the spot."
"You should understand that with a centre like Zlatan Ibrahimovic in front, this style of play would be a nightmare for all teams."
There was a moment of silence in the office, followed by Ronald Koeman's sneer.
"Yes, Luiz, what you said is right, but have you considered whether the player is willing or not? You yourself participated in the conversation with Ibrahimovic, did he agree to you?"
"Then change the one that can do it." Van Gaal replied unceremoniously.
"What if you can't do it? Did you change the entire team? Or, even the head coach of me? You know, the technical director has this power." Ronald Koeman asked seriously .
This time Van Gaal didn't speak any more, but Luther Carroll outside the door could fully imagine his monstrous anger at this moment.
The same atmosphere of conversation has often happened between Van Gaal and Ronald Koeman in recent times, and Luther Carroll has seen it several times, but the situation is still the same for the team, and it basically does not improve.
As a direct Ajax coach, Luther Carroll is neutral on this.
It should be said that Van Gaal's thoughts and ideas are correct, and they are also in line with the traditional style of Ajax, but Ronald Koeman is a specific player, and he can't treat players like Van Gaal. This is inhumane, and he needs to worry more.
As a successful professional coach, Ronald Koeman is more like a big man in the locker room, which makes it difficult for him to treat his players in such an unethical way as Van Gaal. .
Both knew exactly what the team's problems were, but never came up with an effective solution.
"Forget it, Ronald, the current atmosphere is not suitable for us to continue the discussion, we will let it go, but I hope you can understand that we must reverse the current unfavorable situation as soon as possible, and we need to make good use of the next week, Adjust the team's offense and not lose again."
"I know what to do." Ronald Koeman replied unceremoniously.
Luther Carroll heard this and knew that the time was almost up, so he walked slowly to the door.
When the two core bosses in the office saw him, they immediately changed their expressions, which greatly relieved the rigid atmosphere in the office. Ronald Koeman even took the initiative to greet Luther Carroll.
The assistant coach immediately reported the application he received to the two. "According to the meaning of the coaching staff of the second team, they hope to include Yang Yang on the special training list, and John Van Schip will give him one-on-one special training."
Van Gaal frowned at the documents that Luther Carroll handed him over, surprised.
As early as a high-level meeting not long ago, the assistant coach in front of him had proposed to include Yang Yang on the special training list, but Van Gaal considered many factors and finally did not agree. .
After this kid joined the team, whether it was training or competition, he performed very well.
Van Gaal was secretly happy in his heart, but on the surface, his anger and anger were invisible.
Ronald Koeman took the document from Van Gaal and opened it to see that it was Yang Yang. A scene he had seen many times appeared in his mind. Ibrahimovic of the first team. After training, Maxwell and Maxwell often went to the training ground of the second team to find Yang Yang and Fermalen for additional training.
It is said that these four little ghosts are neighbors, and their relationship is very good on weekdays.
Looking at the report submitted by the coaching staff of the second team, Yang Yang and Vermaelen had a tacit understanding, especially in the corner kick cooperation.
Similarly, Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are also a first-team combination with a very tacit understanding. When Van der Meyde was in the past, Ajax's two wings could not be without the Brazilian left-back.
Arranging Yang Yang on the special training list means that Ajax has to invest more resources in this player. In addition to arranging a coach to give him targeted special training, there are also a series of other packages, such as strengthening physical fitness, etc.
It is also because of this that Van Gaal and Koeman are needed to nod.
However, for them, this is a trivial matter. Generally, the second team proposes it and the technical department passes it. When they come to them, it is just a passing game, and naturally it will not be difficult.
"Luther, let the scouts take a good look at the games of the second team recently, and give me a brief report for each game." Ronald Koeman exhorted suddenly on a whim.
"Is there a point?"
"This Yang Yang, as well as Babel and De Moore, the Crohn in the midfield, the Vermaelen and Lindgren in the back line, pay close attention."
"I understand." Luther Carroll nodded in agreement.
The current problems of the Ajax first team are still in the same place, and even to a certain extent, to solve the conflict between Ibrahimovic and Van der Vaart, we still have to go back to the thinking of last season come up.
The right side of the frontcourt must be reactivated.
Koeman has always adopted a strategy of attacking the middle, mainly due to the lack of wing players.
Daniel Dreidel is very fast. He performed very well in the second team before, but he can't make breakthroughs. The speed is not enough in space, so he has basically not been taken seriously by Koeman this season, and has always been a substitute.
Victor Scola was a right winger brought in by Ajax from Waiters a year ago. He was previously a substitute for Van der Meyde and has been righted this season, but his biggest problem is that his performance is not stable enough, with great fluctuations. Technique and ball feel are his weaknesses.
It should be said that these two players have their own problems, subject to the current status of the team, Ronald Koeman temporarily entrusted Scola to reuse, often arranges him to start or substitute, and he often shows performance , but in general, neither of them are reassuring players.
This is also a kind of sadness for a team of this type Ajax.
Finally, Van der Mede was cultivated. As a result, the Serie A giants only spent more than 10 million euros to take people away, which directly led to heavy losses for Ajax and the team's performance was greatly affected.
It's easier said than done to find a player who can fill VanderMede's vacancy as soon as possible?
"If I remember correctly, is that Fermaelen left-footed?" Ronald Koeman asked suddenly.
Luther Carroll thought for a while, then nodded and said, "It's the left foot."
"Well, then pay more attention."
The head coach of the Netherlands has always been fond of details. The two central defenders like to use a combination of one left foot and one right foot.
The current first team's Escud is a left-footed player, but his right foot is also extremely flexible, while Heitinga and Pasanen are both right-footed, so Ronald Koeman is very concerned about Fermaelen.
Van Gaal remained silent, but that didn't mean he wasn't listening.
Before he came to Ajax, he had already anticipated the hidden danger between himself and Ronald Koeman. To put it bluntly, the two were in different positions and had different coaching concepts, which would inevitably lead to their conflict. conflict between.
If the team is smooth sailing and the management does not exert pressure, he is willing to let it go, but now the team obviously has serious problems, and he feels that he needs to give the young coach a wake-up call.
It's good to be able to get along with the players, but only if it doesn't become condoned.
On the contrary, it was Yang Yang. He was so busy recently that he didn't have time to pay attention. I didn't expect this kid to perform well in the second team.
To have Van Basten and the coaching staff of the second team propose to include him in the special training list is enough to illustrate the progress Yang Yang has made, and it also proves that he has established a firm foothold in the Ajax youth academy.
Even, if there are some changes in the first team, he might have the opportunity to enter the first team.
Of course, the premise is that Yang Yang has to fight for himself.
I'm really sick. The tickets in your hands are my medicine. The genius doctors of Xuanhu, please give me medicine!