Chapter 34

Kirk stared blankly at the soccer ball inside the net, his expression dazed, as if he still couldn't believe that the ball had really been scored by himself.

After Lin Sen almost broke the rules to promote him to the first team and gave him complete trust, the young Kirk had imagined what his first goal would be like, how he would celebrate, and even what he should say in his post-match interview.

But the scene before him clearly left him at a loss, feeling as if he had thrown his heart to the ground and trampled it to pieces.

The sky had fallen? The sky had fallen!

The deafening cheers of the Deportivo La Coruna fans were so piercing.

The young figure standing motionless in front of the goal looked exceptionally lonely and helpless, and for a moment, no Atletico Madrid players came forward to comfort him.

Lin Sen didn't realize that his calm demeanor had become a blank expression in the eyes of the commentator.

When the expected happened, perhaps because he was already prepared, Lin Sen found himself not as disappointed as he had imagined. Compared to Kirk's involuntary own goal, Pereira's failure to mark was completely unforgivable, but Lin Sen didn't intend to make any excuses. If it really needed to be done, why didn't he substitute Pereira at halftime? He knew his mood was already off.

After this goal, Lin Sen knew that there was no longer any talk of victory in this match for him. What made him angry was that no one came to comfort Kirk in the first place.

Lin Sen turned and walked towards the bench, and soon, several players stood up from the bench to warm up.

"It seems that Lin has finally realized that relying solely on defense is impossible to win the game. Thank goodness, Lin has finally decided to make substitutions!" When he saw Lin Sen walking towards the bench, Kosol exaggeratedly said, "I thought he had forgotten that football matches can have substitutions."

However, when Kosol saw the number of substitutes appearing on the sidelines, even he was somewhat surprised: "Three people? Lin plans to substitute three people at once?!"

That's right, three people. Lin Sen played all his cards.

Motta, for Raul Garcia.

Agüero, for Reyes.

Simao, for Maxi Rodriguez.

"Almost all are direct substitutions. Well, at least Lin no longer has to worry about anyone refusing to play. Ha, this is quite a significant improvement. However, the three players being substituted off seem unsatisfied with being replaced. Just watch..."

The first to leave the field was Raul Garcia, who very directly expressed his emotions through his actions. He didn't even acknowledge Motta on the sidelines, but instead walked off the field with his head down from the other side and went straight to the locker room, never making eye contact with Lin Sen. The other two, Reyes hit palms with Agüero as he left the field, but also didn't take the initiative to shake hands with Lin Sen. As for the captain Maxi, after passing the captain's armband to Antonio Lopez, he slowly walked off the field, but his face showed no expression.

Seeing Lin Sen stand by the sidelines again, Lotina frowned. He didn't care whether the Atletico Madrid players being substituted off were satisfied or not; that was Lin Sen's business, not his. However, he didn't understand Lin Sen's substitutions. From the strategy adopted in this match, Lin Sen was clearly not a risk-taker. Perhaps others would think that letting a few young players on the field was a risk, but Lotina didn't think so. Had La Coruna ever had any advantage in the first half? But now, just to level the score, Lin Sen was willing to substitute three players at once? This could almost be seen as a last-ditch effort, and such substitutions were clearly illogical.

Attack or continue to defend?

Lotina couldn't understand Lin Sen's substitution intentions, which wasn't surprising. Perhaps the only person in the entire stadium who could understand was Dina.

"Knowing this, why did you do it in the first place?!" Dina thought fiercely.

The reason Lin Sen used all three substitutions at once was not to strengthen the attack, nor to use attack as a form of defense. In fact, his substitutions had nothing to do with tactics. He just wanted to reassure the three young players, especially the one who had just scored an own goal: I have unconditional trust in you!

This was Lin Sen's substitution intention.

After coming on the field, Agüero walked to Kirk, who had been keeping his head down, patted his shoulder, and whispered something.

The head coach wants me to tell you that you'll start in the next game.

After saying that, Agüero quickly ran off, leaving Kirk struggling to suppress the tears welling up in his eyes.

---

Regardless of Lin Sen's substitution intentions, the players who came on the field ultimately changed the game. Agüero, whose form gradually recovered, broke through a series of defenses three minutes after coming on, earning a round of applause from the Calderon, though his final shot was just off target. Motta, on the other hand, faithfully carried out Lin Sen's instructions: control the midfield!

Speaking of Motta, Agüero indeed acted as a mediator. He had proactively sought out Lin Sen to accept "torture." He knew his own body, and so far, Lin Sen had only given Motta two acupuncture treatments, which had left Motta in awe. Unlike other Atletico Madrid players, Motta, who had only signed a one-year contract and had not yet received a renewal offer, was almost certain to leave Atletico Madrid in the summer. Therefore, his view of Lin Sen was more straightforward. Although he wasn't ready to die for Lin Sen, he had no problem faithfully executing every one of Lin Sen's instructions.

If Agüero's entry strengthened Atletico Madrid's attack, then Motta brought stability to the team. At the start of the second half, Atletico Madrid, which had been under constant pressure, became more stable. Although La Coruna still dominated the attack, they no longer completely ceded control of the midfield. At least, after gaining possession, they began to launch some meaningful counterattacks. Motta's coordination, combined with Agüero's speed and Forlán's support, and perhaps the youngest player's frenzied pressing, after a few threatening counterattacks, La Coruna finally dared not continue to attack recklessly.

The game once again entered a stalemate, and this time, the stalemate lasted until the end of the match.

When the referee blew the final whistle, the Calderon was filled with both applause and boos.

Lin Sen was more accustomed to the boos than understanding them. But the applause? Was it for Agüero?

"For you!" Dina walked up to Lin Sen and whispered.

"For me?" Lin Sen was taken aback.

But after Dina said that, Lin Sen suddenly felt that the fans on the stands who were clapping were looking at him. Still, he was a bit uncertain, so he tried to wave to the clapping stands.

The not-so-enthusiastic applause seemed to grow a bit louder.

Really, for me?

A part of Lin Sen's heart seemed to be touched, and his raised hand trembled slightly. When had he ever expected the fans to give him applause?

"Not all fans are so harsh." Seeing Lin Sen's suddenly stiffened movements, Dina's heart also stirred, and she said.

"This won't be my last game at the Calderon." Lin Sen took a deep breath and said.

"I believe you." Dina nodded slightly.

She didn't believe it at first, but now she really did. Not to mention the first two matches, the four matches that followed—drawing away to Villarreal, easily defeating Huelva and Espanyol, and now drawing with La Coruna at home—no one could deny that this Atletico Madrid was getting better and better. And the one who changed everything was the much-criticized Lin Sen.

If this were the Atletico Madrid at the beginning of the season, if Lin Sen were not coaching Atletico Madrid, and if Lin Sen had not previously been a team doctor... There were too many "ifs" that made Dina believe that Lin Sen's words were not just empty talk.

---

"A draw is not an unacceptable result. I am satisfied with the team's performance, especially in the first half. I particularly want to praise Kirk. This was not an easy match for him, but I am glad he held up under the pressure. I hope the media will not focus on the own goal and give the young player a relaxed environment. Anyone who watched the game knows that such a goal could happen to anyone. I brought him to the first team, I included him in the squad, and I put him on the field, so if there are any issues, they should be directed at me."

At the post-match press conference, what Lin Sen actually wanted to say most was that he wouldn't answer any questions unrelated to the game, but for the sake of the young players, he had to say something. Indeed, after his speech, the free-for-all questions turned into his personal press conference.

The stands where Rexach was, the unconventional Raul Garcia, the expiring contract, plans for the next season... Lin Sen, who had almost become accustomed to the media constantly speculating about his successor, answered the journalists' questions one by one.

"Rexach? I don't mind anyone watching the game, and I can't stop anyone from watching the game."

"Raul Garcia? No player likes being substituted, and I don't see any necessary connection between his actions and his dissatisfaction. In my view, he saved the game a lot of time."

"Contract? Yes, if the club has a better candidate, I will leave Atletico Madrid after the contract ends. This isn't a mystery novel; either I will renew or I will leave, no third option. This is the last time I will answer this question."

"Whether I am at Atletico Madrid or not, next season, I will still be a coach!"

Lin Sen answered the journalists' questions with unprecedented patience, but just as the questions were about to end, someone broke his patience.

"I want to ask, Kirk scored an own goal in this match, which undoubtedly will have a significant impact on his confidence. Do you regret putting him on the field in this match? Because, in this match, we really can't see any outstanding qualities in this young player." The question was asked by a young journalist, who sat down after asking the question, but Lin Sen still noticed his badge.

As.

Lin Sen was instantly annoyed. He gave the journalist a cold look and said, "If I refuse to answer your question, will your boss regret sending you here? Because, from this question, I really can't see what qualifications you have to be a journalist for As. I'm sorry, if As is full of journalists like you, then from today, I will not answer any questions from As."

With that, Lin Sen stood up, completely ignoring the reactions below, and left the press room.

---

Lin Sen's mood was clearly not good.

It wasn't just because of Kirk's own goal. Rexach's appearance in the stands, despite Lin Sen's unexpectedly magnanimous attitude at the press conference, ultimately shattered his last hope of staying. He had once mistakenly thought that the person most likely to replace him would be Flores, but he never expected it to be Rexach, whom he had almost forgotten. After all, after Aguirre resigned, the person who was supposed to take over was Rexach. So, in a way, it was Lin Sen who had taken Rexach's chance to save the team.

The world, after all, is fair.

The next day, As's revenge came, with an exclusive front-page headline: Lin Sen, OUT! Rexach, IN!

Two English words, bold and black, so prominent. Of course, As's certainty couldn't be just because Rexach appeared in the Calderon stands, but because of a more convincing photo. The photo's subjects were, one, Atletico Madrid's general manager, Hill, and the other, Rexach. The two met at a coffee shop not far from the Calderon stadium, and a journalist who had been following Rexach captured the moment.

The suspense was over.