42 The Role of the Veteran (Part II)
"Frederick, how about we talk?" Looking at Ljungberg at the end of training, Mitchell King greeted with a smile.
Ljungberg even underestimated Burnley's first team, let alone the youth team. As soon as training was over, Ljungberg went straight to the dressing room. I don't get along with that group of youth team players at all. It wasn't until Mitchell called himself that he stopped.
Ljungberg was born in Sweden, and the official language of Sweden is Swedish. In Northern Europe, with the exception of Finland, the languages of several countries are very similar. But because English is unimpeded in Sweden, almost all Swedes speak English very fluently. So when George bought Ljungberg, he didn't think about language at all.
Ljungberg saw Mitchell King, but nodded slightly, and said nothing else.
Mitchell shook his head with a wry smile. "Frederick, you go change your clothes first. Then let's find a place to chat. Mitchell already knew a lot about Ljungberg's surname, so he didn't blame Ljungberg at all.
Ljungberg's mood is also very depressed right now. It's been nearly two months since George relegated him to the youth team, but he still doesn't care about himself.
Ljungberg will also watch Burnley's first-team games, and sometimes they are very anxious for the team. What would have been the case if he had been, but that could only be in the imagination of Ljungberg.
"Here, have a drink." Mitchell looked at the arrogant Ljungberg, and suddenly felt that Ljungberg was very cute.
Unlike some others, Ljungberg had almost any expression on his face that came to mind. Although the current Ljungberg has a bad temper, he is only a nineteen-year-old child.
Ljungberg picked up the glass, took a slight sip, and then put it down again.
"Frederick, do you have a dream?" Mitchell, on the other hand, is different from Ljungberg, who drinks the wine in his glass in one gulp. Then he wiped his mouth and asked with a smile.
'To play at the best club in Europe is to be like Nodal's. Ljungberg replied confidently.
Mitchell looked at this young man with such a conceited smile on his face.
"Hmph, you don't believe it." Ljungberg looked at Mitchell's smile and felt that Mitchell was laughing at himself. This feeling made Ljungberg very uncomfortable.
"No, I believe you." Mitchell replied in the affirmative. Mitchell's reaction made Ljungberg stunned.
From a young age, Ljungberg has always aspired to be a player like Gunnar Nodal. Nodal is one of the greatest players in Swedish history, perhaps not one of them, but the greatest. Nodal was the best striker in Europe in the 40-50s. A couple of stats speak for themselves, with his goal rate in Italy being the highest of any player who has scored more than 100 goals in Italy at 0.875. He scored 225 goals in 257 Serie A games, and in this Italian football, which is known for its defense, every newcomer is amazed.
Ljungberg grew up listening to Nodal's name, although the two men were in different positions. Nodal is the greatest centre-forward player in Milan's history, while Ljungberg is a wide player. But Ljungberg has made Nodal his goal since he was a child.
In the past, when I talked about this wish to my friends and coaches in Sweden, I always got ridicule from them. But Ljungberg was not at all discouraged, and did not pay any attention to their ridicule. In Ljungberg's opinion, Mitchell would have reacted in the same way, but Mitchell said so categorically that he believed in himself.
"Frederick, I don't believe you. I believe in George's vision. Mitchell laughed and explained to Ljungberg. Last summer, Burnley had just been relegated from the First Division and were demoralized. George was only twenty-seven years old at the time and took over as head coach of the club. A large number of veterans were purged, and eight players were bought successively. Some of them even play in amateur leagues, and Michael is. ”
Mitchell poured himself another glass of wine and began to tell Ljungberg the story of Burnley last season. Ljungberg has also heard about Burnley's last season, most of the important things. But this is the first time that it has been so detailed.
"The last thing you know, the club's undisputed advantage was promoted to the first division. Both Darren Hackby and Poboski were sold for ten times the price. When George bought Poborski, the price was 400,000 pounds, and at that time, many media jokes were made about whether there was a football in the Czech Republic. But George was right, and Poboski became the top scorer and assist in the second division. Mitchell's words made Ljungberg also admire George's achievements last year.
"You know what? How high George's expectations are for you. £800,000, which is the highest price in Burnley's history. And you're only a nineteen-year-old young player, and if George isn't sure, there's no way he'll buy you. ”
Ljungberg nodded, but quickly shook his head again.
"But he doesn't know how to use me. I'm never going to apologize to him. Ljungberg drank the glass of wine in front of him as if he had emboldened himself. He muttered to himself afterwards. "Yes, I will never apologize. Yes, he won't use me. ”
Mitchell smiled and poured Ljungberg a glass of wine, remembering George. Thinking about George and Ljungberg was like two children being angry, so I couldn't help but laugh.
"Frederick, do you know what you've been messing with?" Here Mitchell suddenly spoke to Ljungberg very seriously, and did not call George's name, but shouted his head directly.
"What can I do?" Ljungberg said disdainfully.
"Your career will be completely ruined." The expression on Mitchell's face was solemn. "At just 28 years old, he is currently recognised as a talented coach in English football. You've probably heard that Blackburn Rovers invited the head this summer. But it's precisely because he's so young that he won't be as good-natured to the players as those old coaches. As long as you don't apologize, the head will keep blocking you. ”
"Don't think I'm serious, the head is definitely made. Our club has been relegated to the third tier since 15 years ago, and only once last season. If the head can stay in the first division this year, then the club will definitely renew the contract with the head. You have a four-year contract with the club. ”
'The head will keep you in the youth team for four years, neither getting you into the first team nor letting you leave.
"Do you think that if you paid 800,000 pounds for the head buy, it must not be. If you can buy Poboski for £400,000 and £800,000 for you, then he will also find other good players. In order to maintain his prestige, you may become the target of the head's prestige. ”
The more Mitchell spoke, the worse Ljungberg's face became, and the more solemn he became. If Mitchell really did what Mitchell said, Ljungberg knew that his career would really be ruined. Most players are from the age of seventeen or eighteen to the age of twenty-three or four, which is the golden time for growth. If he really stayed on the bench for four years, Ljungberg would not dare to think about it.
"Last season George cleaned up the old guys on the team, and a lot of them played with me for years and had a good relationship. But I only gave George a slight reminder and did not object. You know why? Mitchell regained his old smile and began calling George's name again.
"Why?" Ljungberg's mind was a little confused now, and he asked without thinking.
"Because George looks suave and has a good surname. But he is very strong in his bones, and if I stand up against it, George will even put me on the list. Mitchell laughed and explained to Ljungberg.
Ljungberg's eyes widened at hearing this. Although he has only been at the club for a few months, he has a clear understanding of Mitchell's position in Burnley. Mitchell is a Burnley Meritorious Player, and his status in Burnley City is very high. George even dared to list him, and it was really possible to abolish himself.
Finally, Mitchell patted Ljungberg on the shoulder. "Frederick, George expects a lot from you. If you think about it yourself, it's George who doesn't know how to use you. Or have you been disobeying your coach, are you right? I hope you've thought it through. With that, Mitchell stood up on his own.
"Frederick, George is not a man with a small belly. As long as you admit your mistakes, there will be no problems. ”