Chapter 31

At the pre-match press conference for the game against Deportivo La Coruña, Luo De directly raised his own question. To his surprise, Lin Sen responded with unexpected calmness.

"Contracts are contracts. My contract with Atlético Madrid is until the end of this season. Personally, I respect this short-term contract. As for Atlético Madrid, the contract does not prohibit them from looking for a new head coach during this period. Regardless of whether the rumors are true, I have nothing to say. Players? A player's duty is to play football. I only care about this, and I can only care about this."

In just a few sentences, it seemed watertight, but Luo De had already gotten his answer.

"Nothing to say" clearly carried a less positive emotional tone. Did this mean Lin Sen was a bit dissatisfied with Atlético Madrid? As for the players, as Luo De had guessed, Lin Sen had indeed taken control of the team, because that was what he "only cared about." However, precisely because of this, the silence in the dressing room seemed even more abnormal. Lin Sen had clearly already noticed the issue, but he was obviously powerless to do anything about it.

Luo De did not continue to press the issue. He was not the type to hound people, especially in this area. If you were going to make a living from this, you had to know the principle of leaving room for future interactions. Chasing a news point relentlessly might get you what you wanted temporarily, but in the long run, it was no different from killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. After all, journalism was a profession where you had to be mindful of people's moods, and no one liked someone who rubbed salt in their wounds.

Lin Sen was indeed very calm.

Once Atlético Madrid started looking for a new head coach, whether it was a rumor or not, Lin Sen knew he could not escape such questioning. The more tactful ones would ask something like Luo De's previous question: "What do you think of the contract? Do you think there's a chance for renewal?" The more direct ones would ask, "What do you think about Coach X expressing interest in the Atlético Madrid head coach position?" They would treat him as if he were already the former head coach. Lin Sen really wanted to spray them in the face and curse them, but after being "educated" by Dina, he knew that none of this was necessary or worth it.

Lin Sen had to accept that the Atlético Madrid head coach position was like a snowflake that had accidentally landed in his palm, and now the sun was out.

Only by accepting it could he face it calmly.

---

May 11, 2008, Sunday.

"Goalkeeper David de Gea, defenders Antonio López, Pereira, Pablo, and Barrera lined up. In midfield, Camacho, Raúl García, Koke, Reyes, and Maxi Rodríguez. Up front, it's still Forlán. You didn't misread that. Yes, I don't know if the two consecutive wins have given Lin a lot of confidence, but in this match, he has indeed fielded three players who are not even 18 years old. Among them, goalkeeper De Gea and Koke are making their first starts for Atlético Madrid. Although it's hard to believe, today will clearly be a big day for these two young players!

Atlético Madrid fans would certainly be happy to see such a lineup. Newcomers, and home-grown talent, their own is the best, and the young have hope. However, don't blame me for pouring cold water on Atlético Madrid fans. I just hope this isn't Lin's last desperate attempt to save his position. At the same time, I must also pour cold water on Lin. Selling hope is like playing with fire. Atlético Madrid fans have already seen enough defeats this season, especially just a few days ago, when they saw their arch-rivals celebrating another league title right in front of them."

As the commentator's voice continued, the camera panned to the main stand, where Atlético Madrid's president, Enrique Cerezo, and general manager, Jesús Gil, were seated, having left their box.

Commentator Coso González was a familiar face to many Atlético Madrid fans, having commentated on many of the team's matches. Known for his sharp tongue, Coso's style was critical, and due to the team's poor performance this season, Atlético Madrid had been no stranger to his ridicule. However, privately, he was a staunch supporter of the club.

Atlético Madrid fans who couldn't make it to the stadium would clearly have to brace themselves for another emotional rollercoaster.

Actually, those who didn't believe in Lin Sen's choice weren't just Coso. When Dina saw Lin Sen walk out of the tunnel with a calm expression, she felt a bit helpless. Given that the team had just played a midweek game, some rotation was necessary, which Dina, as the fitness coach, fully understood. But Lin Sen's decision to field three young players was clearly too hasty, almost like a last-ditch effort to save his position. Pleasing the fans was good, but this move seemed more like drinking poison to quench thirst.

For the fans, victory brings hope. If Lin Sen had brought on De Gea and others when trailing against Villarreal, would the fans have really applauded?

Dina glanced at the stands. Perhaps because of the team's recent improvement, or because this was Atlético Madrid's last home game of the season, the Calderón Stadium was full for the first time in three months, despite it being a disappointing season. When Lin Sen appeared, Dina thought she even heard some applause, though she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination.

I hope this isn't the last applause.

Today, Lin Sen was dressed in a suit, wearing leather shoes, and even a tie, his hair meticulously groomed. As he put it, he had never been so formal in his life, but Lin Sen was indeed formal. So formal that when he appeared on the bench at the Calderón Stadium, even he couldn't believe it. Perhaps deep down, Lin Sen was stubbornly using this to tell everyone: he was a coach!

Lopetegui, also dressed formally, was a "bald genius" Spaniard. Looking at his shiny head, Lin Sen suddenly realized this was a common trait among many Spanish coaches. Not just Benítez, but also Guardiola, who was confirmed to be the next Barcelona coach, seemed to have this tendency. If it weren't for Lopetegui's stable hair color, Lin Sen might have suspected that being smart really did lead to baldness. Lopetegui, who had once led a weaker team, Espanyol, to the Copa del Rey, was a familiar face to Lin Sen. He didn't understand why he had such a connection with Copa del Rey-winning coaches, first Muñoz, and now Lopetegui.

When he saw that Deportivo La Coruña was using a 5-4-1 formation, Lin Sen was a bit disappointed. Lopetegui, who had been criticized by Spanish media for his defensive tactics this season, often used a 5-4-1 formation, which was not popular in the attack-minded La Liga. However, in practice, Lopetegui only used the 5-4-1 against stronger teams, and Deportivo La Coruña's usual formation was a 4-5-1.

So, by using a 5-4-1, Lopetegui was treating the current Atlético Madrid as a strong team. This was a good sign, Lin Sen thought, proving that Atlético Madrid's preparation had been correct.

If you want to play the turtle, don't blame me for using the shell. If you want to play defensively and counter-attack, do I have to play along? Who said the home team must attack?

Don't be fooled by Lin Sen's 4-3-2-1 "Christmas tree" formation. In reality, except for Reyes and Maxi, the other three midfielders were instructed not to cross the halfway line before halftime. In other words, Lin Sen's formation could be seen as a 7-2-1, which was almost criminal.

Otherwise, why would Agüero be sitting on the bench? Before the match, he had strongly requested to start, but when Lin Sen told him that the three attacking players' main task in the first half was to create free-kick opportunities, he quickly backed down. Creating free-kick opportunities? That's just a polite way of saying getting kicked, right?

At that moment, Lin Sen didn't know that the TV cameras were focusing on someone in the stands.

A middle-aged man in casual clothes, with a serious expression.

Abel Resino.

Atlético Madrid fans were no strangers to Resino, as he had almost single-handedly guarded the goal for Atlético Madrid in the late 1990s, and he had dedicated most of his career to the club. In the eyes of Atlético Madrid fans, he was a true insider. Of course, the camera focused on him not just because he was a former Atlético Madrid player, but for another reason: Resino was now a coach.

Resino, who became a coach three years ago, was currently coaching Castellón in the Segunda División.

Seemingly noticing the camera, Resino's serious expression turned into a slight smile, which quickly returned to its serious state as he turned his attention back to the pitch.

"If I'm not mistaken, Resino announced just a few days ago that he would leave Castellón at the end of the season. His presence here today, can we interpret it as Resino preparing for a new job?" Coso didn't hold back, and for Atlético Madrid fans, the choice between Lin Sen and Resino was a no-brainer.

"If the fans can give applause to Koke and others, why not for Resino becoming the new head coach of Atlético Madrid?"

This was the concept of being one of their own.

People always give the greatest tolerance to their own. Whether in Spain or in the entire football world, this was a timeless truth.