Huang Hao had been in Cambridge for over a year, and he was already accustomed to such scenes. However, as the Head Coach of the team and one of the most watched figures that night, everything before him still made him a little excited.
Abbey Stadium can accommodate over 8,600 spectators. With over 3,000 people already there, the atmosphere in this small stadium was fully charged. Everyone was curious whether this mysterious Easterner, with zero renown, possessed some magical power to pull Cambridge United out of its predicament.
The opponent was Hull City from the English Championship League, whose strength was far superior to Cambridge United. Even if all the players on the field for this match were substitutes, their strength was still far above Cambridge United’s.
Huang Hao rubbed his temples in some distress. Who on earth arranged this friendly match? To face such a strong opponent in the very first match, without even considering their own capabilities!
Above Abbey Stadium, a light drizzle began to fall at some unknown point...
After the 90-minute match, Huang Hao still sat on the bench, staring blankly at the somewhat crude scoreboard above the stands: 0:8, with the home team’s score first, then the away team’s.
Huang Hao had thought his debut might not be a resounding success, perhaps even a bit difficult, as it was his first time leading a team. Yet, he never imagined his team would concede eight goals in his debut, ending in a crushing defeat.
Cambridge United was utterly helpless on the field. Although Huang Hao did not directly participate in the team's command during this match—Darren was in charge—Huang Hao was mostly observing and understanding the players' characteristics.
But for the over 3,000 Cambridge fans who attended, he was the culprit.
The unbearable insults and boos still seemed to echo in Huang Hao's ears, making his head buzz. Cambridge United's players showed no fighting spirit on their home turf, barely organizing any fluid attacks!
That night, the happiest people were probably Harris and Perrotta, who had been relegated to the reserve team.
“Hahahahaha, Perrotta, our brave Easterner, I heard he lost by 8 goals directly! Do you think he’ll go home and cry to his mom like a baby?”
Harris chugged his beer, slung an arm around Perrotta's neck, and shouted excitedly.
“That damn Hao, in a few days, I’ll let him know just how important we are!”
Perrotta echoed him, and then both of them once again drained their refilled beers!
A cool breeze blew into Huang Hao's collar, making him sneeze!
“Damn it! Which bastard is cursing me again!”
However, professional football is indeed not as simple as imagined! And the opponent was just the substitute lineup of a newly promoted team in the EFL Championship! Last season, one was in League One and the other in League Two, only one level apart. Is the strength gap really that big?
No wonder Cambridge United has been hovering in the lower League for so many years.
Huang Hao tightened his collar, stood up from the coaching bench, and brushed the raindrops from his shoulders. Fortunately, this was just the first friendly match; we still have many opportunities for adjustments later!
The left-back definitely needs strengthening; he’s been shredded. The connection between the midfield and forwards isn’t good either, and the players’ morale is too low...
MD, tomorrow I’ll have the scout find someone! I wonder if the team budget can still squeeze out a bit more...
With a pile of problems, Huang Hao got up and left the now empty Abbey Stadium.
However, the step-by-step progression Huang Hao had envisioned did not materialize.
As beautiful as imagination is, reality is just as harsh.
1:5!
0:3!
1:2!
In the next three friendly matches in July, Cambridge United lost all three, conceding a brutal 10 goals.
In the matches, Cambridge United offered absolutely no hope! Their attack was toothless, their midfield too soft, and their defense like a sieve.
Some extreme fans even began to gather in front of the club’s training ground to protest, demanding Huang Hao immediately resign and leave!
At this point, with less than 2 weeks until the National League begins, the outside world was unanimously pessimistic about the Chinese man's National League journey, and Cambridge United's odds of promotion to League Two had surged from 2.8 to 6.8!
The board also came out at this time, feigning comfort to Huang Hao.
On the surface, Chairman Barry told Huang Hao not to feel too much pressure, as these were just friendly matches, and the club would fully cooperate with any demands.
In reality, the progress was exactly as expected, and for the board and the behind-the-scenes owners of Cambridge United, the current situation was perfect.
As long as this form continued into the National League, Cambridge United's relegation would be imminent! Then they could get rid of this hot potato.
As for Huang Hao, even though these were just friendly matches, the successive crushing defeats were completely unacceptable to him.
If he weren't short on funds and unable to pay the termination fee, he probably would have really slipped away by now!
This job is just too damn hard!
But then he thought, this hard-won opportunity as Head Coach, if he gave it up so easily, it would be too much of a pity! Such an opportunity might not come again.
If he left Cambridge United with such a record and coaching tenure, he would probably be a laughingstock for the rest of his life!
It seems it's time to show his true abilities.
How interesting, just because he was an Easterner with shallow qualifications, he could be manipulated like this? Did he not care about his reputation!
Huang Hao slammed his fist on the desk, then opened his laptop and began to plan.
Arthur Apartments, less than 2 kilometers from Abbey Stadium, a room of about 30 square meters on the third-floor corner, was Huang Hao's current residence in Cambridge.
At this moment, Huang Hao sat by the window, his brows furrowed, flipping through the team report provided by assistant coach Darren, quickly analyzing the team's current problems.
Sager Colchester, English, from Sheffield Wednesday's youth academy, 23 years old, plays as a forward.
Ricardo Longolo, Portuguese, 23 years old, the team's main center-back.
Moro Wilhelt, Portuguese, 20 years old, a product of Cambridge United's youth academy, played for Cambridge United at 16, an attacking midfielder.
Iliat Johnson, 23 years old, plays as a left-back.
Dwight Pasquel, 17 years old, plays as a right-back, Huang Hao's favorite player, the team's rising star! He was brought up by Huang Hao from the U18s, one of his own.
Huang Hao smacked his lips, habitually resting his chin in thought.
Although Cambridge United was in the National League, thanks to the foundation laid during many years in League Two, the player configuration was much better than some semi-professional teams!
Especially the right-back Pasquel, who two years ago was exceptionally promoted to Huang Hao's U18 team, and this year was officially moved to the first team. He was also one of the players who welcomed Huang Hao the most.
Currently, in the Cambridge United squad, there are only three players over 30 years old, making it a veritable youth army.
The biggest advantage of young people is abundant physical stamina.
However, Cambridge United's previous playing style was overly conservative, a typical defensive counter-attacking team. They heavily stacked players in the back, relying solely on counter-attacks to find the two forwards up front, hitting the ball aimlessly. But the two main forwards had already been relegated by Huang Hao.
Lack of confidence, no ambition; the problems with the current Cambridge United were more psychological for the players.
In later generations, Barça, PSG, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Bayern—not a single team played defensive counter-attacking football. More often, they relied on skilled technique, high pressing, abundant physical stamina, more like an upgraded version of the 1970s Dutch total football.
Slowly, a series of reform plans for the team emerged in Huang Hao's mind...
The Cambridge United training ground was exceptionally quiet in the early morning.
Sunlight spilled onto the manicured lawn, and the scent of fresh grass permeated the air, refreshing the mind.
Old Jack was not surprised that Huang Hao came so early; after all, he often saw this diligent Easterner in the mornings.
“Morning! Hao~ You’re the Head Coach now, this isn’t the time a Head Coach should be here!”
“Haha, good morning, Jack. To be precise, I’m a Head Coach who hasn’t tasted victory yet~”
Huang Hao said self-deprecatingly.
“Keep it up! I believe that day will come very soon!”
Old Jack was not overly disappointed in Huang Hao.
“Thank you, Jack. I hope in the next match, I’ll bring you something different!”
Huang Hao's mood also improved due to Old Jack's support. He went alone to the lawn beside the training ground, as if his players were standing before him, and all the data he had been analyzing last night came to mind.
“Good morning, Boss!”
It was Huang Hao's favorite player, the 17-year-old right-back Pasquel, who spoke.
“Sounds like you’re in good shape! Go! Run 5 laps first!”
With that, Huang Hao gave Pasquel a hard shove from behind. “No way, Boss! I’m a first-team player now, and I still have to start with running laps!”
Pasquel seemed to want to resist, but Huang Hao followed up with a kick:
“And I’m the first-team Head Coach! Run!”
His resistance failed, and Pasquel ultimately obediently began his laps~
As the assembly time approached, players arrived at the training ground one after another. Seeing Huang Hao, they weren't overly surprised.
Clearly, they were accustomed to this Chinese man's habit of showing up so early at the training ground.
But diligence doesn't equate to results; the team hadn't won a single friendly match so far. If no adjustments were made soon, Cambridge United would probably endure another lackluster season.