"Coach, I'll play as a substitute in the next game."

After winning Copenhagen at home, Zhang Chaoqiang took the initiative to find Fournier at the end of training and applied for a substitute himself.

"Why? Hurt? Fournier asked worriedly.

"No, it's just that I've been feeling unwell lately, maybe I accidentally ate it and broke my stomach before."

"Have you seen the team doctor?"

"After reading it, he said there was no problem."

"Then I'll arrange for you to rest for the next game."

"No, I'll just substitute, the next game is a derby, I don't want to miss ......"

After some lip service, Zhang Chaoqiang finally moved Fournier to accept it and let him play as a substitute in the next game.

This is Zhang Chaoqiang's deliberate decision.

The next game is the Rhône derby, and Lyon are away to Saint-Etienne.

The game will definitely be difficult to play, especially if Zhang Chaoqiang does not start.

When he comes on the field, he will directly trigger [Mr. Key], which is no better.

Because he didn't want to wait any longer, this feeling of being dissatisfied all the time made him very unhappy.

Although the starter also had a chance to trigger talent, he was worried that it would be self-defeating again and he would be substituted in less than 80 minutes as before.

So it's safer to substitute.

※※※

On November 30, in the 15th round of Ligue 1, Lyon came to the next small city of Saint-Etienne to prepare for a new round of Rhône derby.

Zhang Chaoqiang did not make the starting line-up, which is undoubtedly important news.

Not only Chinese journalists, but also French journalists were curious.

As long as there are eyes, Zhang Chaoqiang is a key player in the Lyon team second only to Alexandre Lacazette.

In such an important game as the Rhône derby, he was actually "abandoned".

You must know that Zhang Chaoqiang's first appearance for Lyon was in the derby last season, and he finally became famous in stoppage time.

At the pre-match press conference, Fournier explained that Zhang Chaoqiang did not start due to gastrointestinal reasons, but he could not convince the public.

Journalists have their own minds and are already preparing their manuscripts.

Just wait and see how the game turns out.

At 8 p.m. local time in France, the start of the tournament arrived.

'It's a very important game for both sides, not only because it's a Rhône derby, but also because both sides need to take points.

"Saint-Etienne wants to secure their top six and Lyon wants to hold their top two, and they need three points."

"In addition, Lyon are unbeaten in Ligue 1 for nine games since losing away to Metz in the fourth round of the league."

'If they continue their unbeaten run, they will be on a 10-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 for the first time since the 07/08 season, the fourth-longest unbeaten run in the league in their history.

"The last time we went 10 games unbeaten in Ligue 1, Lyon was led by Alain Perrin and he is currently coaching the Chinese national team.

"At this time in China in the far east, Coach Perrin may also be paying attention to this game, but Super Zhang did not start......"

Amidst the shouts of the Saint-Etienne fans, the match officially began.

Ivory Coast striker Gradel has been in excellent form, using his personal dribbling to attack the Lyon backline.

This guy was also a teenage genius, known as the African Robinho when he debuted, and was known for his dribbling and speed.

But he is even more unreliable than Robinho, he will only lead to death, and he doesn't know how to turn dribbling into a team advantage.

But in the past two years, as he has hit a wall and aged, Gradel seems to have opened up and slowly learned how to cooperate with his teammates.

This season, he has become the star of the Saint-Etienne family.

With Gradel spearheading the attack, the Lyon defence could not hold out for long.

In the 28th and 40th minutes, Lyon's goal was broken in succession.

It was all Gradel who passed the ball and Saint-Etienne used the same trick to break through the Lyon gate twice.

"In the last round, Umtiti received a yellow card for elbowing an opponent, and he was suspended for accumulating yellow cards."

"With two key players missing at the same time, Super Zhang and Umtiti, Lyon are likely to suffer a heavy defeat in the derby......"

In the lament of the French commentator, the first half ended, and Lyon returned to the dressing room with a score of 0:2.

※※※

"Coach, shall I go warm up?" Ten minutes into the second half, Lyon remained passive.

So Zhang Chaoqiang took the initiative to ask.

"Well, go ahead." Fournier nodded in agreement, but was a little sluggish.

Zhang Chaoqiang knew that the coach might have plans to give up the game.

It doesn't matter if a game is won or lost in a season's overall results, even if it's a derby.

But Zhang Chaoqiang is different, he wants to use this opportunity to pull his form back.

And the two-goal deficit is not a dead end, there is a complete possibility of reversal.

In last season's Carabao Cup final, Lyon was also two goals behind, but finally came back to win the title.

But just when Zhang Chaoqiang was warming up on the sidelines, the situation on the field changed again.

In the 64th minute, Saint-Etienne pressed again and won a corner.

Dutch centre-forward Van Wolfswinkel scored with a header over Bedimo, and the Gichal Stadium was filled with a roar.

'This is the first time in the 21st century that Saint-Etienne have managed to lead Lyon by three goals in a Rhône derby.'

"There is not much suspense in this game, although Super Zhang is warming up on the sidelines, but I think it will be difficult for him to change the situation even if he comes off the bench......"

Not only the French commentator, but even the Chinese commentator had similar thoughts, and even faintly hoped that Zhang Chaoqiang would not play.

It's already three goals behind, what can you do at this time except for the back pot?

"Zhang, do you still want to play?" Fournier looked at the Chinese who stood in front of him after warming up, and asked suspiciously.

Fournier really doesn't plan to let Zhang Chaoqiang play again, but he still respects the player's wishes.

After all, Zhang Chaoqiang is from the Lyon academy and may have a special affection for the derby.

"Coach, I'd like to go up and give it a try."

Zhang Chaoqiang didn't expect the game to be like this.

But regardless of whether he wins or loses, he has to go up and trigger the state.

"Okay, you and Joan go together, let's fight again!"

※※※

After Lyon applied for a substitution, Zhang Chaoqiang and Gourcuff stood on the sidelines together, waiting for a dead-ball opportunity on the field.

At this time, the singing sound sounded in the stands of Gichar, and the core lyrics were one sentence:

"The storm of youth is dissipating!"

The Saint-Etienne fans were a bit of a loss, with Lyon topping the Ligue 1 table and La Progress' praising that the storm of youth was taking off.

Now that Lyon are three goals down in the Rhône derby, they have made up songs to mock the so-called storm of youth.

In the 71st minute of the game, with Lacazette's long-range shot hitting an anti-aircraft gun, Lyon used up two substitutions at once.

Zhang Chaoqiang came on to replace Benzia, and Gourcuff came on to replace Gonallons.

"Lyon's substitution choice shows that they haven't given up yet, and they will continue to fight to the end."

"Gonaronse is not only the captain of Lyon, but also the team's defensive midfielder."

'Bringing him off now and replacing him with a more aggressive midfielder, Gourcuff, shows Fournier's attitude......

Benzia walked to the sidelines with a look of wistfulness and symbolically touched Zhang Chaoqiang.

He was not happy to start in an important game like the Rhône derby, but the team was down by a wide margin.

Gonalons hugged Gourcuff and greeted him, then removed the captain's armband from his arm and put it on Zhang Chaoqiang.

"Go up and do them well, even if you lose, you can't make them feel better!"

Compared with Zidane's successor, Gonarons believes more in Zhang Chaoqiang, who is also from Lyon's academy.

"Zhang Chaoqiang took over the captain's armband from Lyon captain Gonarlons, which is the first time in his career, and it is the first time in our Chinese football."

"Following South Korea's Park Ji-sung and Japan's Yuto Nagatomo, our Chinese players also wore captain's armbands in the five major leagues and became captains on the field......"

The Chinese commentator keenly grasped the key points.