Bab 44: Chapter 44 I Want Both The League And The Cup
Back at the club, Josephine drove her Porsche to the training base. Su Luo felt that his life was finally back on track.
To be honest, Su Luo preferred the rhythm of the Premier League, where he could always immerse himself in the game. It was exhausting but fulfilling to train and play matches every week. At this stage, it made him very happy.
During the winter break, however, he felt lost. Even when he returned to Jiang Cheng, he couldn't help but sneak over to the football field at Jiang Cheng University to play with the students. Unfortunately, after two days, they stopped inviting him. A group of upperclassmen found it frustrating to be outplayed by a high school-looking kid. They couldn't even touch Su Luo, who easily bested them in 1v7 games. One junior seemed to recognize Su Luo but hesitated to confirm his identity.
The intensity of amateur football couldn't meet Su Luo's needs. He felt like a fish out of water until he returned to the team's official training camp.
On the first day of training, while other teammates were complaining about their soreness, Su Luo was enjoying himself. Neuhaus, the coach, was furious.
"Did you all slack off during the winter break? You've only won a few games and already lost yourselves?" he shouted. "Forty percent of you have body fat rates above the standard! If you don't get back in shape before the next game, don't expect to make the squad!"
The team groaned in response.
"You're not even as disciplined as Su Luo! He supposedly goes to clubs every night and still maintains his body fat percentage! You should be ashamed!"
Su Luo wanted to protest that he hadn't gone to nightclubs during the break, but he decided it wasn't worth it. Let them believe what they want. "Nightclub Prince" or not, he just accepted the nickname.
The seven-game winning streak before the winter break had become a double-edged sword. While it boosted team morale, it also made some players arrogant.
The second half of the Bundesliga resumed, and Union Berlin faced a week of double matches. On February 8th, in the 18th round of the Bundesliga 2, they would challenge Bochum away. Just three days later, they would face Bundesliga powerhouse Leverkusen.
The Union Berlin coaching staff held a special meeting to discuss their strategy. In facing near-certain defeat, should they prioritize the league or make a daring attempt to win the cup?
Su Luo would have chosen to go all out against Leverkusen, but the coaching staff had other considerations. Their original goal was to avoid relegation. Now, they aimed for promotion to the Bundesliga. According to the German League rules, the top two teams in the second division are promoted directly. The third place plays a playoff with the third-to-last Bundesliga team. Union Berlin was currently in 4th place, only one point behind Kaiserslautern in 3rd but just two points ahead of Karlsruhe in 5th. With half a season left and 17 rounds remaining, every point was crucial.
The optimal strategy seemed to be ensuring league stability. Every point was vital for promotion. The club, not having a solid bench lineup, couldn't afford to fight on two fronts.
Instead of exhausting themselves against Leverkusen, it was better to focus on winning against Bochum and rest key players for the cup. Their only reliable scorer, Su Luo, should also focus on the league.
Strength and conditioning coach Thomas Riddle said, "After the winter break, the players' fitness levels have dropped. They can barely last a full game. Su Luo's fitness has improved, but he's not ready for double matches in a week. We should make a trade-off."
Chief team doctor Hendrick added, "Overexertion increases the risk of injury."
Assistant coach Hofstede suggested, "We should prioritize the league. We can't make it far in the cup anyway. Better to give it up."
Usually, Coach Neuhaus would have agreed and given up the cup. But this time, influenced by the young players, he hesitated.
"We are the Iron League, fearless! If you were a fan, would you want the team to give up any game?"
The coaching staff was speechless. Fans definitely wanted the team to fight hard in every match, even the cup.
"I have a bold idea," Neuhaus declared. "A partial rotation. Cups and leagues... I want both!"
Neuhaus, in his sixties, showed a rare youthful exuberance. Hofstede shook his head with a wry smile.
"This is a big gamble. If we lose, we might lose everything."
Of course, Hofstede understood why Neuhaus was willing to bet. Because they had Su Luo! With him, anything seemed possible!
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