Although Benitez doesn't like to communicate with players very much, he knows the importance of Gao Xiaodong in Inter Milan, and there are a lot of rumors about Gao Xiaodong's want to transfer, so less than a week after taking office, he came to Huaguo to meet Gao Xiaodong in person.

When Benitez and his assistant arrived in the imperial capital, Gao Xiaodong had just returned from his hometown, and the two sides had their first meeting at Gao Xiaodong's home.

I don't know for what reason, Benitez didn't avoid reporters when he came, and when Gao Xiaodong came out to greet Benitez, he saw many reporters following behind Benitez, and he was a little unhappy. This is his new home, and Gao Xiaodong doesn't want fans and reporters to bother.

However, Gao Xiaodong did not show it, he still warmly welcomed Benitez to his home.

In the face of a celebrity like Benitez, Gao's father and mother obviously felt a lot of pressure, and the two said hello to Benitez and left, leaving only Xiao Le to translate for Gao Xiaodong.

Benitez is a workaholic, even when his father died, he only went back after playing the Club World Cup, and when he met Gao Xiaodong for the first time, Benitez did not find topics of interest to get closer to each other, but talked about work straight to the point.

"Gao, I chose Inter Milan between Juventus and Inter Milan, mainly because of you, and it's a pleasure to be able to coach you. ”

Benitez's sycophant shot was too blunt, Gao Xiaodong's embarrassment was about to be committed, and he hurriedly said: "The coach has won the award, I am not so good." ”

Benitez did not smile and said very seriously: "I have not won the award, you deserve this praise, but because you have not renewed your contract, there are a lot of rumors about your transfer now, I hope you can stay at Inter, I can help you win the Ballon d'Or." ”

When it came to the topic of contract renewal, Gao Xiaodong was even more embarrassed, and reluctantly smiled: "Coach, Mr. Mendes is already talking to the club about contract renewal, and I believe there will be a result soon." ”

Benitez said: "That's good, if you stay, we have a guaranteed result, but if we want to continue to be brilliant we need to bring in more quality players, Inter Milan did a perfect job in terms of results last season, but we can do better in the process." ”

The new coach will definitely find the shortcomings of the old coach, there is nothing wrong with this, Gao Xiaodong said: "Coach, what are you going to strengthen from now?"

Benitez said: "Balotelli had a very stiff relationship with the fans last season and he is very likely to leave, so we also need a young striker. He can't shake Samuel Eto'o and Milito's main position, but he has to be able to contribute five or six goals and assists a year. ”

Gao Xiaodong interjected: "Does Balotelli have to go?"

Benitez said: "Manchester City's offer is very strong, Chairman Moratti has the intention of letting go, Mancini and Balotelli are like father and son, Balotelli is also willing to go, it is possible to leave, even if we don't leave, we also need a reliable striker, Kuyt, Torres are our targets." ”

Gao Xiaodong didn't speak, he listened attentively, he felt that Kuyt had hope to come, but Torres was difficult to say.

Benitez continued: "Cambiaso and Stankovic are old in the midfield, and it is very difficult to play the main force, Muntari is too frizzy, the main midfielder only has Motta, Mota's running and sweeping ability is not strong, I hope to be able to buy Mascherano, he and Motta are matched. At the back, Samuel and Lucio need to rotate, Ager wants to come with me to Inter Milan, we will also watch the World Cup to see if there are any good centre-backs, although Inter Milan is treble-winning, but I think we need to strengthen at least four positions, otherwise it will be difficult to guarantee results. ”

Gao Xiaodong asked tentatively: "What does Chairman Moratti think?"

Benitez did not doubt him, saying: "Chairman Moratti has no objection to my request for reinforcements, but he wants me to make the best use of the current squad. ”

Gao Xiaodong nodded and asked, "What should Inter Milan look like in your mind?"

Benitez said proudly: "My tactical style is actually different from Mourinho, although I am also good at playing defensive counterattacks, but I prefer Barcelona-style passing and Liverpool-style impact, which is better-looking, for a giant team like Inter Milan, winning can not be the only goal, but also to please the fans, we should press high in the front, the combination of passing and control in the middle and back, to implement such tactics, you need to put more effort into physical training." ”

Saying that, Benitez asked his assistant to turn on the computer and explain to Gao Xiaodong the tactical play of Inter Milan after he coached through an animated demonstration.

is worthy of being a workaholic, really dedicated, but Gao Xiaodong scratched his head, but he was still complaining in his stomach, learning from Barcelona? Barcelona was beaten by us.

Benitez went on to talk about Gao Xiaodong, "Although the style of play will change, but you are still the most important one in the team, last season you did very well, but in fact you can do better, I think it is a waste to let you defend, you should focus more on organization and attack, the whole midfield is your position, organization and scheduling, front ** Goal, that's what you do, it's not to help defend at the back or to play up front, Sneijder has a long ball and I think he can assist you or drop back to the midfield, provided Mascherano comes. ”

Gao Xiaodong understood that this was to take back his power to be a free man all the time, and specifically let him play in the midfield, that is, the position of Gerrard in Liverpool, the difference is that he is free in the midfield.

Gao Xiaodong asked: "Coach, the players of Inter Milan are older, and if they press in a high position, can they use their physical fitness?"

Benitez said: "I don't think age is a problem, the main thing is the physical reserve and distribution, once the ball is first, we control the ball and can rest completely. Actually, my biggest concern is not the fitness, but the loss of the motivation and the desire for glory, so we have to bring in new players, promote young players and keep the pressure on the competition at all times. ”

Gao Xiaodong generally understands Benitez's thinking, it should be said that as a world-class coach, Benitez is still very expected, and the reinforcements are also on the right path, and also takes into account the psychology of the loss of aggressiveness of the players after the peak, but what makes Gao Xiaodong feel uneasy is that Benitez is too eager to get rid of the shadow brought to him by Mourinho, and the tactical style of play has changed too much, Gao Xiaodong doubts that his teammates can adapt, in case the players object, Benitez can't control the locker room, and there will be trouble later.

In addition, Gao Xiaodong is not sure whether Moratti will recruit and replenish fresh blood after winning the championship, and these uncertain factors determine whether Inter Milan can achieve better results this season.

Benitez is indeed not a person who likes to gossip, his conversation with Gao Xiaodong is all about football and tactics, until Gao Xiaodong invited him to eat Juquande roast duck, he and Gao Xiaodong are still talking about football, so that Gao Xiaodong, a person who loves football, feels a little unbearable, although it is only the first time to meet, but Gao Xiaodong feels that Benitez's emotional intelligence is indeed not so high, the factions in the Inter Milan team are complicated, and the players have just won the treble, Gao Xiaodong is a little worried about whether Benitez can control the locker room.