Actually, Hu Lai didn't stay at home for long.
The last round of the Premier League season was on May 11th. At the end of the season, he went to Paris for two more days and returned home on May 16th.
Although the Premier League's pre-season training starts on July 1, it seems that Hu Lai has a month and a half holiday.
But actually this holiday is not complete.
Because there is a World Cup qualifier in between.
On June 16, the Chinese national team challenged the Australian national team away from home. This was the eighth round of the top 12 tournament.
So Hu Lai had to go to Lingnan to join the team for training on June 3.
But he will actually leave Dongchuan a few days early because he has to go to Jincheng to visit his former teammates and coaches.
These days at home, Hu Lai's life is also very regular.
Every morning he and his father Hu Lixin go for a morning jog on the riverside greenway to do simple physical training and maintain their physical condition.
When running, he also brought a football with him. After the run, the father and son conducted simple ball training in the open space by the river.
Hu Lai never thought that his father would take him to play football, but now that he enjoys this kind of treatment, Hu Lai is a little bit sad that he finally got to play football with his father.
On May 28, Hu Lai packed his luggage, said goodbye to his reluctant mother and father again, took the high-speed train to Jincheng, and then went to the Flashing Star training base in Liucheng District.
After sending his son away, Xie Lan suddenly said: "I plan to take a driver's license test."
Hu Lixin was surprised: "You are in your forties, what kind of driver's license do you want to take?"
"I can't drive without a driver's license. If I can't drive, I can't pick up our son, and I can't send him to Jincheng." Xie Lan had obviously thought about it seriously and had a firm attitude. "You are so busy working all day long, so let you go.
It's impossible to learn a driver's license. I have a lot of time at work anyway, and even if I don't go on leave, my director won't tell me. So I'm the most suitable person to learn a driver's license. When I get my driver's license, we will also buy a car, so that it will be convenient to pick up my son in Jincheng.
, we can also drive out to play on weekdays."
Hu Lixin heard his wife say this and knew that she already had an idea. It would be useless to say anything himself, so he nodded: "Then you go and learn..."
“Well, I’ll sign up tomorrow!”
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Generally speaking, the entrance to the Liucheng training base of Flashing Star is the busiest time before and after training every day, especially after training.
Media reporters and fans all gathered outside the north and south gates, waiting for the players to come out. They could take photos of them and conduct very simple interviews with them. If they were lucky, fans could even get autographs and photos.
When training is in progress, it is the quietest outside the training base, with few people around.
This is the most leisurely time for the guard at the training base. Even if he is sitting in the guard room playing with his mobile phone or watching TV series, no one will disturb him.
So when someone walked to the gate, the doorman who looked down at his cell phone didn't notice it immediately.
Until someone outside knocked on the glass window: "Master, please open the door."
“What door should I open? I’m free during training time...” the guard said impatiently, raising his head at the same time.
The rest of his words were swallowed back: "Hu, Hu..."
“It’s me, I’m coming back to see everyone.” Hu Lai, standing in the sunshine, said to the doorman with a smile.
"Ah...ok, please come in, please come in..." The doorman pressed the button, and the electric door swayed and slowly opened.
“Thank you!”
After thanking him, Hu Lai walked into the Liucheng training base that he was once very familiar with, and then walked to the first team training ground with a familiar path.
The guard looked at his back, wanting to follow him to watch the fun, but he couldn't leave his post without permission.
The itching is even worse.
※※※
A crisp whistle sounded over the training ground.
With the whistle, the training on the field stopped. Coach Qin Lin walked onto the field and said to one of the players participating in the training: "Geng Tao, you just saw that after we controlled the ball on the left wing, we immediately started to move forward.
, committing to the attack in the center, this is done well. But when the football moves to Zhang Hao's side, the defense has shrunk to the center. At this time, you should not stay in the front center, but should move to the right.
, spread out laterally, creating an angle and space for Zhang Hao to pass the football to you. Look, you just stayed in front and didn't move. Zhang Hao couldn't pass the ball to you. As soon as he hesitated, the ball was stolen..."
As Qin Lin said this, he pulled Geng Tao around and brought him from the center to the wing. Then he stood here and continued to say to Geng Tao: "As a right midfielder, it's no problem for you to move flexibly to the center.
The forward penetration just now was also very decisive. But you should also make adjustments at any time according to the situation on the field. Don't stick to one position. Either on the wing or in the center... Football games are not so rigid. The forward penetration you just made into the center attracted more attention.
When the defender shrinks to the center, you have to observe and think about whether there will be a gap on the right..."
Geng Tao is only 20 years old this year. He is a young player who grew up in Flash Star's own youth training camp and is quite talented. Before the start of this season, Zhao Kangming transferred him from the reserve team to the first team and asked Qin Lin to take good care of him.
Teaching, hoping that he can successfully realize his talent.
While Qin Lin was patiently explaining to Geng Tao, other players were standing on the court waiting. Some were listening to what the coach said, but some were not thinking about that. Instead, they were looking around and taking the opportunity to rest.
Zhang Qinghuan was among them. He turned his eyes to the sidelines in boredom and saw a figure walking out of the sidelines.
He walked out of the shade of a tree into the bright morning sunshine, wearing a casual T-shirt and jeans. The white T-shirt reflected a halo in the sunlight, as if it had given him some kind of holy halo...
When it was clear who was coming, Zhang Qinghuan cursed: "Fuck!"
Then he pointed to the person coming and shouted: "Lao Wang, Xiaoyu, Morikawa, look!"
Wang Guangwei, who was called out, looked at Zhang Qinghuan's hand. He narrowed his eyes. After a second, his eyes widened and he cursed: "Fuck!"
Xia Xiaoyu’s eyes widened and he was stunned. Morikawa Junpei was next to him, just like him.
The movement of a few of them alarmed other people present, and everyone looked over.
"Hold!"
"Hold!"
"Hold……"
Zhao Kangming on the sidelines noticed something strange, turned his head and looked into the distance, and then he froze.
Qin Lin, who was giving Geng Tao individual guidance, also stopped and turned around to look over.
At the center of everyone's attention, the figure raised his hand: "Sorry, Director Zhao, I didn't mean to disturb your training... It's all because Brother Huan has sharp eyes!"
Zhang Qinghuan, who was the first to spot him, pointed at him: "Hu Lai, what the hell..."
Before he finished speaking, Morikawa Junpei had already rushed out and headed straight for Hu Lai!
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The training was suspended, and everyone gathered around Hu Lai. At the end were Zhao Kangming, Chen Mo and Qin Lin, members of the coaching staff, followed by Wang Guangwei, Zhang Qinghuan, Xia Xiaoyu, Morikawa Junpei and others who were related to Hu Lai.
The best person. Then there are the old players of Flash Star, who were teammates with Hu Lai.
The outermost are the newcomers who have only joined Flash Star this season.
Zhao Kangming, Qin Lin and Chen Mo: "Why are you here?"
Zhang Qinghuan, Wang Guangwei, Xia Xiaoyu and Morikawa: "Why didn't you tell us in advance? If you continue to be so out of touch with the masses, we will change the group name to 'Exclude Hu Lai'!"
Other team members: "Hu Lai, did you remember to come back to see us? It's your conscience! You haven't forgotten your roots, haha!"
The newlyweds looked at the scene of Hu Lai's return home with envy. Some of them longed in their hearts that one day they could return with such honors as Hu Lai and receive everyone's warm welcome.
Hu Laixian explained to Zhao Kangming's coaching staff: "Aren't we going to join the national team after the Flash Stars finish the next round of the league? I'm going home anyway, so I thought I'd just come to Jincheng to meet you. When the time comes,
Go to the national team with Huan Ge Laowang and the others."
Then he turned to Zhang Qinghuan, Wang Guangwei and the others: "Oh, I don't want to give you a surprise. Look how happy you are!"
He then handed over to other teammates: "I came back to see you all. I'm so happy to see that you are all still there!"
He also raised his hand to say hello to those unfamiliar faces.
Zhao Kangming looked at Hu Lai, who was dressed in casual clothes: "Are you really just coming back to see everyone?"
"Ah?" Hu Lai didn't understand what Director Zhao meant for a while. "Well...should I bring some gifts?"
Zhao Kangming asked again: "The national team assembly should be on June 3rd, right? Have you been staying in Jincheng these days?"
“Yes, Director Zhao, I don’t have anywhere to go.”
“What Lao Zhao means is that you are idle these days anyway, so why not come over and train with the team to maintain your condition?” Qin Lin smiled and helped Zhao Kangming clarify his words.
Hu Lai nodded quickly when he heard this: "If you don't mind, Director Zhao... of course that's good!"
“I hate you for coming back from the Premier League!” Zhao Kangming laughed and scolded.
The surrounding Flash Star players cheered. Being able to train with players who have played in the Premier League is both a rare thing and a good thing for them. Especially those who are interested in playing football abroad, it is even more urgent.
I want to understand the gap between myself and the Premier League level through close contact with Hu Lai.
“Okay, you can go to the locker room to change your equipment later. For today’s training, you will train alone next to me to adjust your physical condition...” Zhao Kangming said.
Hu Lai said: "Director Zhao, my dad takes me for physical training every day when I go home, so I don't need to find my condition anymore."
“Hey, what a job you have.” Zhao Kangming was a little surprised.
Hu Lai scratched his head: "The competition in the Premier League is more intense, and the requirements are naturally higher. I don't dare to relax."
Zhao Kangming nodded with satisfaction, and then asked Chen Mo to take Hu Lai to the locker room.
As soon as Hu Lai left, he turned around and said sternly to all the players: "Did you see that? Why did they succeed? Follow the training these days and learn from it!"
※※※
Hu Lai changed his shoes and returned to the training ground in his shining star training uniform. After a warm-up, he devoted himself to the team's offensive training.
He quickly showed that he was a step above other Flash Star players.
When he was in Flash Stars, whether in training or in games, he could find gaps, and so could others. He didn't need to say anything, Zhang Qinghuan could always pass the football. But at the same time, defensive players would also move to fill the gaps.
Now, he can even find the space first, and then shout when running towards the space: "Brother Huan, pass the ball!"
Because of his early movement, Wang Guangwei, who was guarding him, was a beat slower and was left behind by him.
Hulay, who ran into the space and received the pass, almost turned around and shot without being marked.
The football bypassed the fingers of Shining Star goalkeeper Yu Zhiming and flew into the goal.
“The whole person’s rhythm has become faster...” Zhao Kangming, who saw this scene on the sidelines, said to Qin Lin.
Qin Lin nodded in agreement: "Both the physical speed and the speed of thinking have improved. The Premier League is indeed one of the fastest-paced leagues."
"Zhang Qinghuan and Wang Guangwei are both top-notch in the team. They were not much different from Hu Lai in the past. But Hu Lai has been playing in the Premier League for half a season, and I feel that the gap between them has widened...and in the past six months
Zhang Qinghuan and Wang Guangwei worked harder than before in training." Chen Mo also came up with his observation.
Zhao Kangming said: "There is still a big gap between our country's football level and the world's top football level. There is nothing we can do about it. That's why young players should be encouraged to go out early. The sooner they go out, the bigger and faster they will make progress."
Just as he was talking, a new round of attack came.
This time Hu Lai did not find an opening in advance, and Wang Guangwei followed him step by step.
For a moment, Xia Xiaoyu thought he was back in the stands of the Anton Cup final, when Wang Guangwei defended Hu Lai so closely...
Only this time, Hu Lai did not distract Wang Guangwei by chatting with him, nor did he use his teammates' pick-and-roll to temporarily get rid of Wang Guangwei.
In the process of running, he directly raised his hand to ask for the ball. Even if he had not thrown away Wang Guangwei.
When Zhang Qinghuan saw this, he shouted to Xia Xiaoyu who was holding the ball: "Pass the ball to him, Xiaoyu!"
Xia Xiaoyu, who was still hesitating at first, quickly passed the message obediently.
Seeing the football coming, Wang Guangwei gritted his teeth and said in his heart: Don't underestimate me, Hu Lai, I haven't relaxed for a moment in the past six months!
The moment Hu Lai caught the ball, he speeded up and hit him.
Hu Lai's body did stagger slightly after being hit by him, but he still raised his right foot and used the instep of his outer instep to stop the football at his feet, and used his body to block Wang Guangwei on the left.
“Yes, the confrontation ability has been significantly improved!” Qin Lin’s eyes flashed on the sidelines.
Then I saw Hu Lai swinging his right foot to hit the door!
Wang Guangwei also reacted very quickly. He immediately went out and shoveled the football with his feet, trying to destroy Hu Lai's shot. Or even if he didn't scoop the ball, he could use his legs or other parts of his body to block Hu Lai.
Shoot.
But after Hu Lai raised his right foot, he didn't shoot. When it came down, his ankle turned inward and kicked the football to the left!
Just passed Wang Guangwei!
Then take off your right foot again and shoot cleanly!
The football once again broke through Yu Zhiming's interception and rushed into the net.
Wang Guangwei, who was shoveled to the ground, was facing the goal. The moment he saw the football rolling into the goal, he lay on his back on the turf.
All star players on and off the field can be seen without any coaching perspective. After half a season of training in the Premier League, Hu Lai has become stronger than before, and much stronger.
It has only been half a season in the Premier League, and the changes have been so drastic... Many people are fascinated by playing abroad, and that impulse has become stronger.
Hu Lai turned to look at Wang Guangwei, who was still lying on the ground, and stretched out his hand to him: "Okay, Lao Wang. After you stick up, you can go around and tackle, the connection is really fast!"
Wang Guangwei said in a low voice: "No matter how fast it is, it's useless, I still let you score the goal!"
“Hey, look away, it’s not the first time you’ve been scored by me, ha!”
Hearing this, Wang Guangwei opened Hu Lai's hand, got up from the ground, looked at Hu Lai and said, "I want to go to Europe too!"
I want to go to Europe too!
Xia Xiaoyu, who saw the whole process of Hu Lai's goal, clenched his fists and swore secretly in his heart.
Chen Mo, who has been observing the reactions of other players, said to Zhao Kangming: "The Football Association always talks about encouraging young players to go abroad and go to Europe. I have seen their slogans said 10,000 times, but they are not as good as Hu Lai and domestic players.
Let’s train together for a class.”
Zhao Kangming smiled slightly: "It must be useful to those who are willing. Those who don't want to go out will never go out."
Chen Mo said with emotion: "I suddenly look forward to the day when our Chinese players can perform the 'Chinese Derby' in European football."
Looking at the training ground in the distance, Zhao Kangming said: "There will be a day."