The God of Football Starts With Passive Skills

Chapter 465 - 97: Top Star of the Bundesliga! Scoring Goals Like Crazy! Fighting for the Championship! Heynckes: Wang Shuo, I’m a Dog If I Praise You Again

"Coach Gao, Coach Ma, Old Jiang."

After the match, Wang Shuo showered, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and immediately went to the stadium stands, where he met Gao Huairen’s group waiting for him.

According to their itinerary, they were heading to Munich after this match, then to Frankfurt. They might also make a trip to Mainz, which meant they probably wouldn’t have time to come back to Dortmund, especially since the new season was about to begin.

Seeing Wang Shuo, Ma Yongcheng was filled with gratification. He clapped Wang Shuo on the arm and praised him with a smile, "You’ve really made something of yourself, kid!"

"Yeah, I never would have thought a player from China could not only get a foothold in the Bundesliga but also perform so well. Keep it up, Wang Shuo," Jiang Pengju added, full of praise.

Only Gao Huairen kept a straight, stern face.

"You’ve definitely made a lot of progress, but there are still plenty of issues. Your heading needs more work. If that first header had gone in, the match would have been completely different. And you missed another header later on."

"Also, you need to build up your physique. You were at a disadvantage in several physical challenges during the match. With a frame like yours, you’d be in for a world of hurt if you went to the Premier League."

"Furthermore..."

Just as Gao Huairen was about to continue, Ma Yongcheng secretly tugged on his sleeve from the side.

’Dude, the guy just beat Bayern. Aren’t you being a little too harsh?’

’Besides, Wang Shuo isn’t the same kid he was three years ago. You really think he’s just going to sit there and take a lecture from you?’

Gao Huairen realized this as well and immediately stopped talking.

Unexpectedly, however, Wang Shuo just chuckled and nodded. "I understand, Coach Gao. I’ll be sure not to get complacent and will keep working hard!"

His attitude and tone were as sincere as ever.

Just like before he went abroad.

For Wang Shuo, who understood Gao Huairen, this kind of lecture was nothing. In fact, it even felt a bit familiar and comforting.

Besides, everything Gao Huairen said was true.

How should I put it?

Gao Huairen was a proponent of what you might call ’tough love’ or ’frustration education.’ He was always finding fault, afraid his players would grow complacent and stop trying to improve.

Ma Yongcheng was his assistant and assistant coach, and he was far more popular than Gao Huairen.

But after truly going out to play professionally, Wang Shuo realized just how rare and valuable it was to have a coach like Gao Huairen constantly pushing him.

Especially after coming to Europe.

Many coaches just treated football as a job. They rarely bothered to find out what their players were thinking or what problems they were facing, let alone care about the progress and growth of their young players.

Klopp was actually quite similar to Gao Huairen, but he was more tactful in the way he spoke, which made his criticism easier to accept.

"Wang Shuo, don’t mind him. Before you got here, he couldn’t stop singing your praises. He was talking you up like you were the greatest thing since sliced bread."

"He just likes to play the part of the strict taskmaster in front of you guys."

Ma Yongcheng moved next to Wang Shuo and whispered to him.

"Take that header from earlier. He said himself that even Ronaldo might not have scored that."

After speaking, Ma Yongcheng gave Wang Shuo a look that said, ’You get what I’m saying.’

"I know, Coach Ma. Coach Gao has always been a repressed softie."

"A repressed softie?" Ma Yongcheng froze on the spot.

’Is that really an appropriate way to describe a fifty-year-old man?’

"That’s a more fitting description than just ’saying one thing and meaning another,’" Jiang Pengju said, giving Wang Shuo a thumbs-up with a laugh.

Ma Yongcheng, on the other hand, was taken aback.

’I got good grades in Chinese class back in the day.’

’Did I just not learn Chinese properly? Or have the times changed?’

’Can you really use a term like that in this way?’

"Coach Ma, you should still try to persuade Coach Gao to take better care of his health. Why has all his hair turned white?" Wang Shuo asked with a frown.

Seeing Gao Huairen again this time, he really seemed to have aged a lot.

"I’ve tried, but he won’t listen. The pressure has been immense these past few years, with endless social obligations. He’s always smoking and drinking. He has all the ’three highs’ common in middle-aged men. Lately, he’s gotten busy again and is full of energy, which makes him even less likely to listen," Ma Yongcheng sighed.

Ever since they took on the research project, they had been running all over the country with practically no intention of stopping.

Things at Huairun Football School have stabilized, at least financially.

"I went to see it. They said a large conglomerate from Hu City donated a building, paid to upgrade our training facilities, and sponsored our school’s jerseys. They give us a sponsorship fee every year."

Wang Shuo was also happy to see his alma mater doing better.

At the very least, a lot of the pressure on Gao Huairen would be relieved.

"Yeah, that conglomerate was even asking before if we’d considered forming a professional team. Even though they’re a private enterprise, they’re incredibly powerful. They’re involved in real estate, logistics, retail, financial investment, the internet, new energy... you name it. They’re very well-known in the country."

"Did Coach Gao agree?"

"No, isn’t he busy with the research project?"

Wang Shuo wasn’t surprised.

Knowing Gao Huairen, he would definitely be extremely cautious about something like this.

Wang Shuo escorted the group out of the stadium and saw them off to their car.

Before getting into the car, Gao Huairen made a point of looking at Wang Shuo and admonishing him in a heartfelt, serious tone, "You have great momentum right now. You must stay focused on football. Don’t get distracted, and don’t think about useless things. You have to be able to resist all kinds of temptations."

"The European football scene is a veritable Vanity Fair. Every year, countless young talents shine brightly, but countless prodigies like Fang Zhongyong also fall from grace. Injuries are only part of the reason; more often, it comes down to the players themselves."

"Remember: don’t forget why you started, and forge ahead relentlessly!"

Wang Shuo nodded solemnly. "I’ll remember that!"