Chapter 3 This Defensive Midfielder Is Just Average [Please Collect and Vote! ]

After arriving in Los Angeles, Li Ang finally received what might be the worst news for him at the moment.

Las Diarra confirmed that he would be out for at least two months, and it was still unknown whether he could return to the game in good health after two months.

So Li Ang really couldn't report to Real Betis before the start of the new La Liga season.

He felt very fucked up, but his old friend Nacho, who was assigned to the same room with him, expressed his 100% envy of him.

There are currently five players in Real Madrid who can play as central defenders.

Among them, Carvalho and Pepe, who started, are basically as stable as a mountain.

Albiol, the third central defender, will not be reused by Mourinho for the time being, but his strength is actually very strong.

At least much stronger than Nacho now.

Ramos will mainly play right back at this time, but if Real Madrid really needs a central defender, Mourinho will give priority to Ramos instead of Nacho.

Finally, there is Gare, who is more experienced and stronger than him, sitting on the bench waiting for an opportunity.

Nacho really doesn't see the possibility of getting too many appearances in the Real Madrid first team this season.

Perhaps after the pre-season preparations, he will have to return to Castilla as a sparring partner and continue to fight in the new season of the Spanish Second Division B.

"Once Las Diarra is injured, your chances will be greatly increased, little lion, I heard that Mr. Mourinho doesn't like Mohamed and Gago very much. Before Khedira came to report, you and Alonso were basically the only ones who could support the defense in the midfield. Why don't you try hard?"

"Little Lion" is the nickname that Li Ang got shortly after joining the Real Madrid youth team.

Because the pronunciation of "lion" in Spanish is similar to the pronunciation of Li Ang's Chinese name, Nacho, who was gradually getting closer to Li Ang at the time, directly gave him this nickname.

Nacho is now trying to tempt Li Ang to stay in the Real Madrid first team to fight for a chance to play, and what he said is also very organized.

But Li Ang is a mature soul in his thirties after all. He likes to look at things in the long run, and naturally will not easily change his decision made after careful consideration.

"Don't test me. I still have to find a way to rent out first. If I can't go out in the summer window, I will go in the winter window. What I want is a stable professional environment and enough opportunities to play. In Real Madrid, you know, Nacho, this is the 'playground' of superstars and reporters. We don't have the opportunity to try and make mistakes. You should play well because you are playing for Real Madrid, and if you don't play well, you won't have another chance to start over."

Li Ang calmly and cruelly spoke of the future of these so-called "young talents" in Real Madrid.

Either you become famous with a very small probability and continue to perform well, matching the high expectations and scrutiny of the club, fans, and all European media.

Or you should face the reality as soon as possible, make the most rational plan for your career, and leave Real Madrid to find a more suitable place to grow.

There are too few players who can play as the main force in Real Madrid at the age of twenty.

Raul's deeds have inspired batches of Real Madrid youth training players who have successfully entered Real Madrid's third team and Castilla.

But the reality is that Real Madrid only has one Raul.

As strong as the Golden Wolf Guti is, he only lost his aura and the future that should have been more glamorous in repeated position changes and rotations.

Li Ang is grateful to Real Madrid for giving him better resources and platforms for growth.

But he doesn't want to be Guti, and he is not a "Real Madridist" like his friend Nacho.

Even if he has a "hack", he has to play more games and get more use from the team to have the opportunity to grow further.

"Tsk, you are still so boring. But I respect your decision, and I believe you can succeed, little lion. I really hope that when I really get promoted to the first team, I can still fight side by side with you."

Nacho smiled and hammered Li Ang's shoulder, and suddenly said with some depression.

He met Li Ang, who was 13 years old, when he was fourteen years old.

They spent six years of youth training together, living and training together.

Promoted to Real Madrid U19 together, entered the third team together, and then entered Castilla together.

Except for his younger brother Alex, Li Ang is Nacho's best brother and friend.

He wanted so much to play with Li Ang from the youth team to the first team of Real Madrid.

But he knew Li Ang so well that he had to be depressed and pessimistic about whether his little dream could be realized.

Li Ang has always been determined to do what he thinks is right.

Just as Nacho has been determined to devote his career to Real Madrid since he was a child.

Li Ang is also determined to find the club that best suits his development.

This has nothing to do with loyalty, but only depends on the choice under different development concepts.

"Maybe. There will be such a day"

"What are you mumbling?"

Li Ang looked at Nacho who looked up with some doubts, pondered for a moment, and finally smiled and changed the subject.

"Tomorrow the American training will start, come on!"

"Well, you too, use the last few weeks to fight hard, let's go together!"

With the familiar mutual encouragement, Li Ang and Nacho smiled at each other, swept away the slightly dull atmosphere before, and chatted easily again.

But no matter how the two relaxed their mood in the future,

When they arrived at the training ground by bus the next day, they were still surprised by the enthusiastic fans who came to watch the open training.

Fans from different countries have gathered outside the UCLA campus training venue rented by Real Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema just waved to the fans outside through the car window, triggering deafening wild cheers.

Li Ang may be better off, after all, he officially played professionally last season.

But Nacho really didn't hold back.

Even though he knew that these fans were not here for him, as a "temporary member" of Real Madrid's first team, he was excited and proud of it.

But that afternoon, when Nacho experienced the more rigorous training camp that Mourinho personally participated in formulating, he quickly lost his excitement.

Tired, so damn tired!

After the first training session, Nacho felt that his training clothes could squeeze out several kilograms of sweat!

Seeing Li Ang who had completed the training meticulously and didn't show much discomfort at the moment, Nacho had nothing to say except a thumbs up.

Li Ang's physical fitness is notoriously good in Real Madrid's youth training camp.

Although he usually prefers to complete defensive interceptions through advance judgment of position selection, he does not seem to be a sweeping midfielder.

But every time he plays in a game, he will basically be the player with the longest running distance in the team.

However, Li Ang's personal data is not as outstanding as his physical ability.

Even defensive interception, which he is best at, may not be as impressive as many dark and hard defensive midfielders in terms of statistics.

He is very stable in controlling the ball, does not like to attack forward very much, has good defensive position selection, and is active in defense.

But aside from these good defensive traits, the rest of his court skills are pretty average.

Many Real Betis fans, including many who already support Li Ang, may still not have a "thorough" understanding of Li Ang's role.

Li Ang's performance at Real Betis last season was actually "calm".

Many times after watching a whole game, fans only feel that they can see Li Ang in the backcourt at any time, but they also feel that Li Ang's performance is average, not outstanding, and he does not make any big mistakes.

He is just like an ordinary midfielder who has no achievements and no faults.

Selecting positions to intercept and press the opponent's advancement space, isn't that what the defensive midfielder should do?

Nothing much to say.

However, when Real Betis rested Li Ang for one game in the final stage of the first division, the team's backcourt defense and organizational rhythm were out of control, and they suffered a painful 1-3 defeat.

Real Betis fans no longer have the debate about whether "Leon is important to us or not".

In the end, Li Ang used four "mediocre" performances to help Real Betis score eight points, stabilize the third position in La Liga, and obtain a direct promotion spot to La Liga.

The same goes for how he performs in training now.

He was quite satisfactory and completed the coach's requirements meticulously. Then he practiced short passing within a five-meter range for half an hour, rested, and replenished nutrients.

During the closed training period in the evening, Li Ang successively partnered with Di Maria and Ronaldo's offensive three-man team.

His performance was as good as ever.

Ronaldo's evaluation of him is the same as that of Real Betis and those fans who used to watch Real Madrid's youth team games.

"He was ordinary, even unremarkable."

Ronaldo touched his chin and said this to Benzema and Marcelo first.

But then, Ronaldo looked at Li Ang, who was standing on the sidelines and taking the time to replenish water, and showed a satisfied smile.

"But I love it!"