Li Jianqin quickly finished the wine in his glass, stood up, and patted his shoulder, saying, "If you think you don't need to change, then you can go out and try your luck, but my advice to you is to weigh yourself, then objectively look at Cambridge United's prospects, and finally make the best choice for yourself.
You rest first, I'll go upstairs and change, then I'll take you out to eat. This is my territory, and I'll definitely let you taste the most delicious food. Tonight, let's go to a hot spring hotel to relax and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow morning, we'll go back to Cambridge together. No matter what your decision is, you definitely can't not return to the team, right?"
Ayu nodded seriously, letting Li Jianqin arrange everything. The media believed that internal conflict had erupted within Cambridge United just as the championship sprint phase was about to begin!
And it was a conflict between the general and his subordinate!
After all, Huang Hao changed his usual style and did not protect Ayu after the match, but instead focused on criticizing the Ghanaian midfielder.
At 10 AM on Monday, Huang Hao was leading the team's recovery training on the training ground. As he was deep in thought, he saw Ayu voluntarily approach him.
Huang Hao's expression subtly became more stern.
Ayu came to training as usual today, and Huang Hao did not talk to him separately. Huang Hao had too many things to worry about now, and under pressure, he was not in the mood to consider his personal feelings.
If he didn't mature, he would only be eliminated.
Any player who makes such a mistake in a match needs to reflect on themselves, not rely on others' tolerance.
Huang Hao really wanted to know what Ayu wanted to talk about now.
He hadn't communicated with Li Jianqin before, so he didn't know what Ayu and Li Jianqin had done yesterday.
When Ayu approached Huang Hao, the other teammates all saw it.
He said to Huang Hao in a sincere and serious tone, "Boss, I apologize for my performance yesterday in the match and in the changing room. I've realized my mistakes. Last night, I thought for a long time, and I realized my immaturity. I hope we can clear up any misunderstandings between us."
Huang Hao's stern expression softened slightly, and he said softly, "There are no misunderstandings between us. You are my player, and I hope you become stronger. I hope you can display your abilities in matches, but yesterday, you didn't meet my requirements, nor did you show your true worth."
Ayu nodded and said, "Yes, so I hope to become stronger! Better, able to contribute to the team, and become an indispensable player here. So I need the boss's help, and the help of every coach, to make me better! I need a plan, a plan beyond regular training, to make myself the best player within the next two years!"
Huang Hao's eyes flickered slightly; Ayu's words surprised him a little.
He had prepared for this, guessing that after the conflict between Ayu and him, Ayu's choices were essentially only two.
Either apologize and reconcile.
Or leave and transfer.
Now, Ayu not only apologized but also proactively requested an additional training plan, wanting to make himself stronger!
This was something unexpected for Lin En.
Although many Cambridge United players do extra training themselves, such as Gotze, Mahrez, Kante, Vardy, De Vrij, and others, they all do additional training outside of team training. Some strengthen their bodies, others strengthen their skills, doing appropriate extra training according to their individual circumstances.
But Ayu was not one of these people, and now he wanted to join them.
As the head coach, Huang Hao was naturally very happy.
He reached out and placed his hand on Ayu's shoulder, revealing a relieved smile, and said, "Andre, I'm happy for you to have such drive, but we need to take it slowly. Appropriate extra training is good, but too much will have the opposite effect. I will have the coaching staff and medical department provide training suggestions and a simple plan based on your physical condition. You can decide for yourself, and if you need coaching guidance, you can talk to Darren, and he will arrange for coaches to provide extra guidance and help you in their spare time."
Ayu nodded heavily.
He thought a lot last night and realized that in less than a season, Cambridge United had undergone drastic changes within the team.
When he transferred from Marseille, he carried a hint of arrogance.
Although he was indeed a starter at the beginning and made great contributions to the team's promotion, as the season progressed, the skilled players in Cambridge United each showed their prowess, and he himself became less noticeable, especially in crucial battles where the team's stars had countless brilliant performances, while he only shone brightly against weaker opponents. This made him feel lost, but it also made him realize the high efficiency of talent cultivation within Cambridge United. The stars who stood out in the competition had already been recognized for their strength by the outside world.
If he couldn't catch up, he would be eliminated.
Moreover, if he chose to leave now, it would only mean that he was not successful at Cambridge United, and any club that wanted him would certainly not be as prominent as Cambridge United. In other words, at the crucial age of 21, his professional career was heading downhill.
He wanted to stay at Cambridge United, work hard, and strive to make his own mark! To surpass his father's achievements!
Ayu's proactive admission of error and change in mindset significantly improved Huang Hao's mood.
In the afternoon training, he even actively participated in the players' relaxed ball-stealing game.
This immediately provided new news material for the reporters filming Cambridge United's training outside the training ground.
The conflict between Ayu and Huang Hao had vanished!
The embarrassing scene of Huang Hao personally participating in the ball-stealing game also led Fleet Street to jokingly comment on him: excellent coaching, terrible playing!
Having no playing experience was always Huang Hao's weakness, and it was well-known. For this, Huang Hao himself didn't feel there was any problem, and he naturally wouldn't take it to heart when others joked about it.
With Chen Kexin's help, the physiotherapy team at Northwick Park would go to Cambridge United Training Base after each Cambridge United match to provide appropriate acupuncture physiotherapy services to the players, ensuring their bodies were fully relaxed to cope with the upcoming tough battles.
For veteran players like Mahrez and Vardy, this had long become a routine, even quite enjoyable. Everyone was guessing who would be the lucky one today to be personally needled by Chen Kexin.
Of course, this kind of gambling had to be hidden from Huang Hao, otherwise, they might have to spend some days in the reserve team.
And Juninho, who had just joined Cambridge United in the winter transfer window, was completely stunned when he saw this scene!
Facing Chen Kexin holding out rows of 40-plus millimeter silver needles, Juninho waved his hands repeatedly and backed away, especially when he saw Tadić next to him already looking like a hedgehog from the needles, his eyes filled with fear!
"Relax, buddy, you'll love this feeling soon."
Kante said enviously from the side.
Ultimately, Juninho became the lucky one today, enjoying the service of Chen Kexin personally administering the needles.
Huang Hao would definitely avoid this at this time, not because he couldn't bear his wife giving needles to others, but because he was especially afraid of Chen Kexin blurting out:
"Come on, I'll give you a few needles too."
In front of his players, once Chen Kexin posed that soul-searching question, he would have no room to avoid it.
So Huang Hao dutifully locked himself in the tactical analysis room, studying countermeasures for the next match.
As Chen Kexin skillfully inserted silver needles one by one into Juninho's leg acupoints, a sensation of soreness and swelling went straight to Juninho's brain, startling him so much that he immediately sat up, only slowly relaxing his guard after Chen Kexin laughingly comforted him.
What Juninho didn't know was that at this moment, several envious gazes were cast around him, wishing they could immediately take his place.
In less than 20 minutes, Chen Kexin successively removed the silver needles from Juninho's leg. After the acupuncture physiotherapy, Juninho was pleasantly surprised to find that his blood circulation was smooth, and the fatigue from the match instantly disappeared by more than half!
For a veteran like him, quick recovery was the most needed. As Juninho was overjoyed, Kante patted him on the back:
"How about it, amazing, right? I felt the same way back then."
"It's incredible! How is this done!"
Kante shook his head, not knowing the secret behind it.
"I'm not sure about that, but do you know who administered the needles for you just now?"
"That beautiful black-haired girl? I don't know, but she looks very charming."
As he spoke, Juninho once again cast his gaze towards Chen Kexin. The unique charm of this type of East Asian girl made him full of praise.
"Stop! Stop! Stop!"
Kante, seeing Juninho's somewhat infatuated gaze, quickly waved his hands frantically in front of him!
"I'm telling you, that's the gaffer's wife! Don't you dare have any other ideas!"
Juninho was startled when he heard this and quickly withdrew his gaze, not daring to look at Chen Kexin again.
If he angered Huang Hao, let alone the reserve team, Juninho probably wouldn't have a place at Cambridge United Training Base.
"Lin Kexin is super nice, and she's been with the boss for several years. Ever since Lin Kexin came, we've had this program. It's unique in the entire Premier League, no, the entire England."
Kante excitedly introduced Cambridge United's secret weapon to Juninho, his words filled with strong pride and self-satisfaction.
After personally experiencing the magic of acupuncture physiotherapy, Juninho also gave a convinced thumbs up.
The English Football Association's schedule arrangements this season were not intentionally difficult for Cambridge United, but sometimes the schedule was just that annoying!
Cambridge United was set to host Wolves at home on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, Huang Hao was eating breakfast at home. With George Ince helping him prepare breakfast, he no longer had to buy a cup of coffee on his way to work and then, depending on his mood, buy some takeout breakfast to eat at the club office.
After breakfast, Huang Hao drove to work, while George Ince cleaned up the house and then took the Rottweiler and Labrador out for a walk.
After a simple training session in preparation for the afternoon match, Huang Hao held a pre-match briefing in the meeting room.
At the meeting, he announced the starting lineup, then solemnly and seriously said to the entire team, "Last weekend, we suffered a defeat at Fratton Park, losing our qualification for the FA Cup. Why did we lose the match? The reason is simple: we were defeated by our opponents in terms of confrontation!
And in the last three rounds, Wolves have performed well. They won against Tottenham at home and narrowly lost to Bolton and Chelsea in two away matches!
What do they rely on?
In the video clips analyzing the opponent's recent form, Emlyn has already pointed out Wolves' recent excellent characteristic: confrontation!
That's right, we are going to face another opponent who will bravely confront us and fight to the death with any opponent for survival!
They will be more aggressive than Portsmouth, because Portsmouth can lose the FA Cup quarter-finals, but every match Wolves lose, they get one step closer to death!
They have been struggling in the relegation zone since the beginning of the season, and now theoretically still have hope of staying up. They will fight to the end for that hope!
Our situation can be said to be very similar to Wolves; the difference is that every mistake we make, losing two or three points, we get further and further away from Europe qualification!
As a team aiming to challenge for Europe qualification, I will not demand perfection from you!
But I must demand that you do not make the same mistakes repeatedly!
What does continuous mistakes mean?
It means we have weaknesses that can be easily seen through. Weaknesses will be exploited by opponents. They will mercilessly and cruelly target our weaknesses and launch attacks, making us unable to get back up after falling!
Guys, making mistakes is not important; what's important is how to face mistakes!
It's time to show your tenacious will. In this afternoon's match, I don't want to see our players being timid or shrinking on the field, nor do I want to see you only retaliate after being bullied by the opponent!
You must teach Wolves a lesson at our home ground!
You must shatter Wolves' dream of survival!
Let them experience what a nightmare is at Park Stadium!"