"I intend to resign as head coach of the Chinese national team. ”

Gao Hongbo said this in a calm tone, but it scared Zhou Yi a lot.

He was stunned for a moment before he said, "Is someone pressuring you?"

He knew that the leaders of the Football Association went to Spain as soon as possible after this incident, and the two sides must have had secret talks.

"Don't guess, Zhou Yi. It was I who put pressure on myself. I'm very demanding of myself, you know. ”

Zhou Yi is silent, Gao Hongbo does have very high requirements for himself, he is taciturn, but ambitious.

He hopes to become one of the best local managers in China.

He is always looking for ways to improve himself, and in private, he also revealed that when he coaches the Chinese team to the World Cup, he will leave his job and then go to Europe to study.

"I do have a dream to lead the Chinese national team to the World Cup, and I have been working hard for it. But you've probably heard about it lately. Sometimes I also feel powerless......" Gao Hongbo spoke at an unfast pace, and he had to take a break in the middle, which showed that he had not recovered physically or mentally.

'I want to be able to innovate tactically and be able to change a little bit more. But the new tactics and the new formation of the three centre-backs didn't work very well......"

In fact, regarding Gao Hongbo's tactical formation reform in the national team, Zhou Yi has indeed heard of it. He wants to engage in a three-center-back system, so that Guo Nu and Feng Xiaoting and Zhang Linpeng can partner in the three-center-back.

Zhou Yi also discussed with his friends why Gao Hongbo did this, perhaps because Yan Min's outstanding performance in Dortmund gave him the inspiration and confidence to do so.

The three-center-back system has high requirements for two wings, and Yan Min is the one who can meet the high requirements, plus Wu Lei, who has performed well in the domestic league.

The other three central defenders are very effective in breaking the opponent's pressing, and the Chinese team has Zhou Yi, who will inevitably be forced by the opponent, so that the three central defenders can help Zhou Yi crack the opponent's pressing. At the same time, playing three central defenders also requires the midfield to have enough ball control ability, Zhou Yi and Yang Muge, He Ying, Yan Min's existence makes the Chinese team have such an ability base, which makes Gao Hongbo want to let the Chinese team play three central defenders.

But this is difficult for players who are used to playing in a back four.

Even Guo Nu showed that he was not adaptable.

Therefore, the Chinese team's defense in the two warm-up games was a big problem, and it was almost reached by the opponent.

But Gao Hongbo is stubborn, and he will go all the way to the dark if he recognizes it. So after the problem of the three central defenders was exposed in the first game, he did not give up the three central defenders, but continued to promote the three central defenders, and lost to the "soft persimmon" Bosnia and Herzegovina in the second game......

“...... If we can't produce a result before the start of the World Cup, then we will waste time and do useless work. I will be a sinner......" Gao Hongbo said in a heavy tone. "The thought of this makes me uneasy. Actually, I had pain in that part of my heart a few days before I passed out, but I didn't even bother to think about it......"

"I want to do my best, but I ignore the gap in my personal ability, and the result of constantly putting pressure on myself is to break my string......" Gao Hongbo said with a wry smile on the other end of the phone. "No one forced me to resign, in fact, the leaders of the Football Association came and advised me to rest and return to work as soon as possible. But after this incident, I lay in bed and thought about it a lot. I felt like my former self was very selfish......"

'I only think about myself, I don't think about the future of the team, I don't think about the players...... I wanted to make a name for myself, but I didn't think about what the team was going to do. A manager should put the team's work first and should put the team first. If I really love football in my country, then I should want my national team to do well in the World Cup. But my personal ability is not enough to accomplish such a task, so in fact, when I reach the World Cup finals, I should let Hyun ......"

"You can't say that, Director Gao, your ability is no problem......" Zhou Yi hurriedly persuaded.

"You're saying this to me. Gao Hongbo didn't appreciate it. "I know what I'm doing. ”

"But Director Gao, at this juncture, you resigned, who will take over......?

"If I hadn't found a successor, I certainly wouldn't have resigned. Gao Hongbo said. "Do you think I'm still stunned and resign on impulse?"

"...... so"

"I still have to thank Guangzhou Hengyuan Club...... Gao Hongbo sighed. "They contacted the Football Association as soon as possible and said that if I can't complete the task of leading the team, they are willing to let their head coach be the firefighting coach, and their club is responsible for the salary and bonus in the national team. ”

Zhou Yi was taken aback: "Lippi?"

"It's him. ”

"This ...... Can Lippi say yes to be a firefighting instructor?"

He agreed. ”

"......" Zhou Yi didn't know what to say. He felt that a person as proud as Lippi should not accept a decision to change the commander on the spot and pick up a mess...... Although he is coaching in a Chinese club, he shouldn't be so passionate about Chinese football, right?

"Actually, I think he accepted it because of you. ”

Gao Hongbo's words surprised Zhou Yi even more: "For us?"

"Yes, because of you, He Ying, Sun Pan, Yang Muge, and Guo Nu. ”

"What does this have to do with us?"

"Don't you know how many coaches want to coach you, and it's really fun and rewarding to work with you. Gao Hongbo suddenly sighed. 'Of course there's pressure and if you have players like you and you can't win or even win beautifully, then it has to be the manager's problem. Hah!"

"Uh......" In the face of Gao Hongbo's praise and praise, Zhou Yi didn't know how to answer.

"Well, don't think so much, my historical mission has been accomplished. The next road to the World Cup, let Lippi take you along. He's a world-class manager, he's so much better than me, and with him in the team, I'm a lot more confident in the team's prospects at the World Cup. As for me, I'm here to tell you in advance, know and prepare early, and then play your core role in the team, cooperate with the new head coach, and let our Chinese football create a new history in the World Cup. ”

Now that the matter has been decided, Zhou Yi did not continue to dissuade him hypocritically, but nodded and promised: "Don't worry, Gao Gui." You won't be disappointed. ”

"Okay, I'm relieved to have your words. Then I won't bother you, you can rest well. ”

"I won't bother you, you can rest well, Director Gao. Don't get too excited to watch the World Cup when the time comes, be careful. ”

"Okay, I'll follow the doctor's instructions, haha!"

Gao Hongbo laughed, and in the midst of his laughter, the two of them hung up the phone.

※※※

When Zhou Yi finished calling, when he turned around, he found Cortana sitting next to him reading a book.

"You've been here all along?" Zhou Yi was surprised.

"Finished calling?"

"Hmm. ”

"What did you talk about?"

"We're going to change the manager. ”

"That's as it should be, the sooner you make a decision, the better, but is the candidate right?"

"Lippi. ”

Cortana was also stunned when she heard the name, and it seemed that it was difficult to associate this name with the Chinese national team.

"Marcelo Lippi?" she asked.

"Yes. 'Silver Fox' Lippi. ”

"Generous. Cortana sighed. "So that call was given to you by the former head coach?"

"Well, he told me the news in advance, and he hasn't announced it yet. ”

"Why did you tell you in advance?"

"Because I'm the heart of the team. ”

Cortana gave him a blank look: "You're really welcome. ”

Zhou Yi grinned.

His mood suddenly improved.

If Lippi was to be the firefighting instructor, Zhou Yi would be much more relieved.

In addition, he can also hear the inner changes of the high director from the phone call just now, and it is obvious that at the end of the call, the high director who has let go of the pressure and responsibility can still make jokes.

Although it is a pity that I can't lead the team to the World Cup, to a certain extent, this kind of reluctance and letting go may be a relief for Gao Gui.

At the very least, if the Chinese team does not perform well, no one will dump the pot on the head of the high director.

Zhou Yi logged in to the mobile phone QQ and left a message for everyone in the group: "I said, guys. We're really going to go all out this time, and if we fail, there's no reason or excuse. ”

“？”

"What do you mean?"

Others were surprised by Zhou Yi's words that had no beginning or end.

"It's nothing, it's just to give it your all and never have any regrets to stay in Brazil......"

"Isn't this nonsense? Of course we won't allow any regrets!" Sun Pan said.

Zhou Yi couldn't tell them either, since Gao Gui only said it to himself, of course he didn't want to say it himself, so as not to cause extraneous complications.

A day later, the explosive news came:

The Chinese Football Association officially agreed to Gao Hongbo's application to resign as head coach of the Chinese national team, and announced that Marcelo Lippi would take over as coach of the national team.