Chapter 41

At the Foshan Century Lotus Stadium, Liu Hao raised his head and looked around the stadium.

The sparse fans were not gathered together but were scattered across the stands.

Generally, fans like to cluster together, but would the fans of Rizhiquan spread out like the lotus flowers in the stadium? But there were indeed too few of them.

As for the fans of Qingdao Zhongneng?

They were all in Qingdao. Who would travel such a long distance to watch a match, especially just a second-tier league game!

Despite this, Li Xiaopeng still smiled.

It was no different from playing at home, because the fans of Rizhiquan were also very few!

After all, the second-tier league is the second-tier league, lacking appeal. Rizhiquan must be very envious of Guangzhou Evergrande.

The matches of Guangzhou Evergrande are almost always full, while their fans only fill one-tenth of the seats.

This is the difference.

However, the fans in green and yellow jerseys were quite eye-catching, making Liu Hao's eyes a bit dizzy.

"Such an annoying green and yellow... it's like poop that can't come out! Our deep orange is much more elegant!" Mao Jianqing muttered from the bench.

This guy was really talkative, never stopping from the beginning. Although Liu Hao agreed with Mao Jianqing's words, he couldn't stand his constant chatter.

From the time they arrived at the bench until now, Mao Jianqing hadn't stopped talking.

Liu Hao only found out that this guy was Mao Jianqing yesterday afternoon. At that time, Mao Jianqing and a few other new domestic players had just arrived at the training ground. Li Xiaopeng didn't introduce them, but after the training, many young players kept calling "Brother Mao, Brother Mao," and Liu Hao realized this guy was Mao Jianqing.

The new domestic players had very little time to train with the old players, so they didn't join the team for the first league match. They only joined for the second match.

Of course, to be safe, Li Xiaopeng only put him in the substitute lineup.

Mao Jianqing was a veteran player, 28 years old, two years younger than Liu Hao.

For many players, Mao Jianqing was considered a young star, but he had achieved little so far.

However, with his reputation, being the starting left winger for Qingdao Zhongneng was more than enough. However, the current left winger was the star player from Costa Rica, Castillo, a new foreign player.

The unfortunate Mao Jianqing could only be a substitute.

Nationality sometimes really matters. He's a foreign player, so why are you a domestic player?

It's like the current policy in our country, where agricultural household registration is better than urban household registration. Envy, right?

Of course, we can't ignore the substitute right winger of Qingdao Zhongneng...

At least now, he is on par with Mao Jianqing, both being substitutes.

"Brother Xiaopang, what position do you play?" After muttering, Mao Jianqing turned his head and wanted to chat with Liu Hao.

He was just such a person, hyperactive! He couldn't stay still anywhere.

From Shanghai Shenhua, Beijing Guoan to Shanghai Shenxin, it was always like this. However, from his tone, Mao Jianqing didn't have any airs.

Me? Liu Hao was a bit surprised.

Speaking of position... he wasn't really sure.

He had the least sense of position.

He played wherever the coach told him to.

However, thinking about it, he had always been assigned to the right winger, so he smiled and answered, "Right winger."

"Oh!" Mao Jianqing's tone was drawn out, frowning, thinking that fortunately, Brother Xiaopang's position didn't overlap with his. One left, one right, there wouldn't be any conflict. However, if Brother Xiaopang crossed over to his position, would it cause a tactical breakdown?

Mao Jianqing was known for his speed, but how could Liu Xiaopang match his speed? His concern wasn't unfounded.

Crossing over between left and right wingers is very common and frequent in matches, but with one fast and one slow, what tactics could they play? When Mao Jianqing runs into the opponent's penalty area, Liu Hao might still be strolling in his own half. If this could be a tactic, it might be called "echoing from afar."

"Brother Xiaopang... if we both come on, I'll focus on the left, and you'll hold the right, okay?" After careful consideration, Mao Jianqing gently reminded him.

He couldn't let Liu Xiaopang hold him back... but his slowness would highlight his own speed. He was bulky, and Mao Jianqing was already calculating in his mind.

Newly joined players often lack a sense of belonging.

The other substitute veterans were watching the game seriously, analyzing the match, but the two of them were chatting intently.

At the 21st minute, Rizhiquan scored, and Qingdao Zhongneng was trailing away from home.

Li Xiaopeng's face turned sour, clearly feeling the pressure increase. A two-game losing start in the league could lead to his dismissal.

The starting 11 were actually very strong. The forward was the famous Daula, who had once set a record for goals in a season in the Chinese Super League. Although he was older now, he was still a formidable player in the second-tier league.

Castillo, as a midfielder, was also one of the best in the second-tier league.

As for the central defender Chavez, he was a Honduran international who had played in the World Cup.

However, without the three Chinese players from the first league match, the overall level of Zhongneng had dropped significantly.

Moreover, the lack of chemistry led to poor performance in the match.

Actually, this goal was caused by Chavez's offside trap failure!

Tracing back further, it was Castillo's fault. The ball he intended to pass to Daula didn't reach him, and the opponent's central defender kicked it to Zhongneng's backfield...

Many fans said that Guangzhou Evergrande succeeded because of their foreign players, but that was only one aspect. Football is a team sport of 11 players, and besides the foreign players, the domestic players also play a role.

Saying this is still narrow-minded. Football is a team sport, and even the entire club is a team, like the moon orbiting the Earth, the Earth orbiting the Sun, and the Sun orbiting the Milky Way...

"Brother Xiaopang, get ready to warm up, it's our time to shine." After the goal, Mao Jianqing wasn't discouraged but excited, his handsome face full of confidence. "Foreign players are actually not that great. I'll use my speed to break them down."

It's only the 21st minute, and he's already preparing to come on. Does he think he's still the No. 10 player in the Chinese Super League?

If he were still the real No. 10, would he be on the bench?

Li Xiaopeng certainly wouldn't make a substitution at this time...

Liu Hao didn't think so, because he knew his time would come in just three to five minutes. He wasn't as impatient as Mao Jianqing.

Maybe because Mao Jianqing's surname is Mao, he's still so impulsive at almost 30...

At the 38th minute, Rizhiquan scored again, making the score 0-2.

"Damn... Brother Xiaopeng still doesn't make a substitution?" Mao Jianqing muttered, looking very confused. "Those three foreign players can't even work with the team."

You haven't integrated with the team either... Liu Hao thought to himself.

Coaches rarely make substitutions before halftime unless a player is injured or playing terribly.

Obviously, the three foreign players weren't playing terribly, so Li Xiaopeng waited until halftime.

During the halftime break, Li Xiaopeng didn't show any intention of making a substitution, which made Mao Jianqing very anxious.

Damn, he said I wouldn't be a substitute when I joined Zhongneng, but here I am, playing two substitute games...

Mao Jianqing, sitting on the bench in the second half, had lost his excitement and was sulking with his chin in his hand.

This doesn't fit my status at all!

Li Xiaopeng then brought on the veteran Zou Zheng and took off the Costa Rican midfielder Castillo.

Damn!

A thousand grass mud horses ran through Mao Jianqing's mind...

Alright, I'll bear it, there are still two substitutions left! Mao Jianqing finally compromised.

"Coach Li must have eaten the wrong medicine today!" Mao Jianqing whispered to Liu Hao.

At the 78th minute, Li Xiaopeng made another substitution.

The newly joined Wang Jun replaced the central defender Xu Jingjie, clearly to strengthen the attack.

Damn!

Mao Jianqing's head drooped again, barely suppressing his anger.

Fine, even if it's the last substitution, I'll accept it!

A tiger in Nanyang being bullied by dogs, that's how Mao Jianqing felt.

"This substitution is incomprehensible. There are still ten minutes left, can I fly up?" Mao Jianqing muttered again. "If I'm not brought on, the game is really over!"

However, just as he said this, Zou Zheng scored, a powerful header into the net.

The goal came late, but there was still time?

Li Xiaopeng quickly ran to the bench and pointed at Liu Hao:

"Xiaopang, warm up quickly!"

Xiaopang? Not me? Mao Jianqing was immediately stunned.

Li Xiaopeng ran over so urgently, but he wasn't calling him on?!

It's actually Liu Xiaopang? Brother Fat? What about me... Mao Jianqing's body trembled, as if he had been stabbed by countless swords, about to bleed to death.

Sigh... When Liu Hao jumped up, he didn't forget to gently pat Mao Jianqing's shoulder to comfort him.

He had just taken off his jacket when the assistant coach raised the board.

He's on, and the old Daula is off!

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