Chapter 30: He is the core of Leverkusen

The next morning.

The first team training ground.

Li Kang and Sun Xingmin were doing strength training.

Brandt came over and asked, "Li, you won't go back to Barcelona, will you? It's too boring for me to live in the dorm alone!"

Li Kang nodded.

Then I heard you haven't renewed your contract with the club either?

The club fired Schmidt just for you?

You came to train again at five in the morning?

Brandt chattered on, asking curiously without pause.

Li Kang smiled, unable to explain.

The reason for Schmidt's dismissal had nothing to do with him.

How could a player make the club sack a head coach?

This is the Bundesliga.

It's not the Premier League.

Sun Xingmin patted Brandt's head: "Hurry up and warm up, the new head coach is coming soon..."

Li Kang had just finished a training move.

The system prompt sounded softly.

【Physical Confrontation: 79.9→80!】

【Stamina: 79.9→80!】

【If a single attribute exceeds 80, improving that attribute requires longer training time.】

In an instant.

His body seemed to undergo a qualitative leap.

The slight fatigue from morning training vanished!

While speaking,

He heard the tap-tap-tap of Gaobang leather shoes on the concrete floor.

An old man with an explosive hairstyle, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, walked over.

A young assistant coach followed behind him.

Li Kang smiled and thought, "Isn't this the youth team coach Tuop?"

"Beep!"

He heard the whistle.

The players gathered forward one after another.

Everyone knew the new head coach was a Leverkusen legend!

Sanya King!

Bundesliga runner-up!

German Cup runner-up!

UEFA Champions League runner-up!

Only later in his coaching career did a series of off-field scandals occur; after coaching the national team he fell from grace, wandered aimlessly, and eventually returned to coach the Leverkusen youth team.

Such credentials are beyond Schmidt's comparison.

Tuop straightened his tie and loudly said, "I'm glad to be your interim head coach from now on!"

The players immediately applauded.

The young assistant coach adjusted his glasses: "Let me introduce myself, I'm Dino... put on your bibs, we'll start an intra-squad scrimmage right away!"

Names were called out one by one.

Li Kang appeared in the starting lineup of Team A.

Calhanoglu and Bellarabi led the B team, which mainly consisted of substitutes.

With a whistle from the assistant coach,

the training match officially began!

Team B had possession.

Calhanoglu had just received a pass from a teammate.

He was immediately besieged by frantic pressing from Sun Xingmin and Bellerin.

It seemed everyone... under the "tutelage" of Van Gaal and Magath, had learned how to restrict Calhanoglu at this stage.

After a successful tackle,

Kramer immediately passed the ball to Li Kang.

The ensuing play.

Made old coach Tuop and assistant coach Dino's eyes light up.

Li Kang knew each teammate's traits like the back of his hand.

His passes, most of the time, could comfortably reach his teammates' preferred foot!

His runs always appeared in the optimal spot and could guide his teammates' passing direction.

Under his rhythm control, Team A produced a smooth, flowing attack like clouds and water.

Pressuring Team B to retreat step by step.

"Boss, Li is much stronger than he was in the youth team!"

No no no, it seems a bit stronger than the old Trafford era!

Li Kang received Son Heung-min's pass in the midfield of B team's half.

Bellarabi came rushing in aggressively.

His explosive speed is among the top five in Europe nowadays; chasing a Dragon Descendant is a breeze!

Just about to kick.

Thud!

He was toppled by Li Kang's sideways body check.

Everyone was a bit dazed.

Knocking over a skinny Herrera is normal.

But being able to topple Bellarabi, who is all muscle, tall and mighty, is too fierce!

The key is that Li Kang's appearance doesn't look like that kind of muscular guy!

The match didn't stop because of that.

Li Kang then sent a lofted pass.

The ball lightly floated over the head of the defender still dazed.

It fell toward the penalty area.

It hit Kiessling's head.

It bounced into the goal!

Teammates stared for a moment, then high-fived Li Kang to celebrate.

Captain Bender exclaimed: "Li! Do you usually get familiar with our preferred foot just by watching our internal training matches?"

Kiessling patted his forehead: "You've gotten familiar with my head!"

Everyone laughed loudly.

Calhanoglu looked displeased.

Bellarabi was pondering how he could have been toppled by Li Kang, as if it weren't just a simple contest of strength.

The training match continued.

B team restarted from the midfield.

Calhanoglu began to imitate Li Kang in a noticeable way.

His passing technique is actually quite good.

But his vision and awareness are terrible!

The passes he sends lack threat and can't accomplish quick advancement.

Under his direction, B team teammates found it hard to play.

Soon.

Their midfield began to collapse.

The second half of the training match.

Li Kang and Calhanoglu swapped positions.

The B team players also gradually began to play brilliantly, as if they were a completely different team from the first half.

Finally.

When the assistant coach blew the whistle to end the training match.

Tuopu Laotou's heart already had an answer.

"Calhanoglu's style has been thoroughly studied by Van Gaal and Magath; he's better suited to play for a weak team with thin midfield depth, while Li is our team's core for attack-defense transitions."

"Boss, can't the two of them coexist?"

"No, Calhanoglu hogs too much possession, which would slow Li Kang's attacking rhythm!"

"Although he's stronger than Li Kang in many aspects, his vision, awareness, game-reading ability, and physical confrontation are far too weak!"

"Calhanoglu is Leverkusen's transfer king... his value..."

"Leverkusen isn't some shady club like Porto or Monaco; if we lose another match, we'll both have to scram!"

Tuop and Dino left the training ground, preparing to hold the first round of coaching staff meeting.

Calhanoglu sat on the grass.

He had mixed feelings.

He also realized his own problems: slow speed, weak turning ability, poor physical confrontation, and weak ability to advance with passes...

Before.

When Schmidt was still around, he could mobilize the whole team to serve and protect him alone.

But this also indirectly created a hidden danger of the team collapsing.

Looking at Bellarabi fawning in the distance.

He believed he could not perform any act of flattery toward Li Kang.

Looking across the five major leagues.

It's still Serie A that would suit his style better!

Three days later.

The Bundesliga summer transfer window officially closed!

The second leg of the Champions League qualifiers arrived as scheduled.

Leverkusen hosted Manchester United at home.

The importance of this match goes without saying.

It concerns which of the two teams can break into the Champions League proper!

Fan Jia'er's mood was very gloomy.

Before departing for Germany, in the office he roared wildly at the Manchester United scouts:

"Are you all idiots? Even with the summer transfer window closed, you still can't get in touch with the Dragon Descendant? Damn it, his release clause is only 2 million euros! You missed the best chance to bring him back to Manchester United!"