The time has just entered July, and Gao Shen has started to get busy.
The newly-joined players have arrived in Manchester one after another. On the one hand, they are undergoing physical examinations from Manchester City, and on the other hand, they are looking for real estate in Manchester and preparing to settle down in this strange city.
Manchester City has dedicated staff in this area who are responsible for connecting with players, and this was specifically requested by Gao Shen.
Currently, the newly-joined players are temporarily living in hotels, but the search for housing is already in full swing.
The renovation of the Carrington training base is also nearing completion, and personnel from various departments have been put in place.
Former AC Milan's Milan laboratory expert Marcos Sala is currently Manchester City's chief team doctor. The medical team he is responsible for has also been fully staffed. Fernando Lucas' analysis team is also full. Currently, including him, the total number
There are five analysts, and the other four are all analysts with extensive experience in the Premier League or the Championship.
Both departments are currently actively preparing. In two days, the team will go to South Africa for preparations for summer training.
This was decided before Gao Shen took charge of Manchester City.
Over the years, the Premier League's preseason games have had a clear division of labor and coordination. It can be said that this is also an important part of the globalization of the Premier League.
For example, every year there is the Premier League's Asian preseason and North American preseason. This year it is the turn of teams such as Fulham. In addition, Manchester United organized an Asian trip in mid-to-late July, including a trip to China.
After their trip to Asia, they went to Germany to compete in the Audi Cup.
Manchester City has no officially arranged tasks this year, but it was invited to South Africa to participate in the Vodaken Cup Invitational Tournament. The participating teams are all local South African teams. It is more to wrap up the Confederations Cup and build momentum for next summer's World Cup warm-up.
After Gao Shen took over the team, he decided to arrange Manchester City's summer training camp in South Africa, taking into account the suitable climate in South Africa, and after communicating and coordinating with the management and local South Africans.
In fact, Mubarak preferred to arrange it in the Middle East, especially Dubai or Abu Dhabi, but the summer temperature here was too high and was not suitable for team training, so Gao Shen voted against it.
However, Gao Shen agreed to stay in Abu Dhabi before the team left for South Africa.
Anyway, I was taking Intihad Airways and had to transfer in Abu Dhabi. I stayed for one day, just in time for the players to meet Mansour. If he remembered correctly, there seemed to be an extra mysterious gift package available in his previous life.
.
Good thing!
Although Manchester City is rich, there are many things that cannot be solved with money.
Especially when training in other places like Manchester City, there is really too much work that needs to be arranged.
The first team is going, the coaching staff is also going, plus the medical team, analysis team, nutrition experts, and other employees. Even if they are reduced again and again, the number of people is still very large.
Not to mention, we have to arrange hotels, training grounds, itineraries in South Africa, and take into account the players’ dining habits, etc.
There are a lot of things that need to be worried about and sophisticated. Although he only controls the overall situation, it is enough to keep him busy.
During this period of time, he was really busy, so much so that he directly delegated many things to others and had no time to personally intervene, such as the introduction of a center.
He even wanted to talk to Robinho for a long time, but he just couldn't find the time.
But some things are still unexpected.
For example, Micah Richards, just two days before the team was about to leave, the Manchester City youth trainee suddenly contracted the H1N1 influenza virus. He had no choice but to stay in Manchester temporarily instead of traveling with the team.
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If he stays, Gao Shen will have to make arrangements again.
It's impossible to just leave him here alone and ignore him, right?
After he finished everything, at noon the day before the team set off, Gao Shen was about to take a lunch break when he received a call from Gary Cook.
The center appointed by Gao Shen is here!
And it's right at the gate of the Carrington training base.
After this unlucky man decided to sign with Manchester City, he ran from Chambéry, France, to Manchester, England. However, he was stopped by Manchester City security at the gate, so he had no choice but to call Gary Cook.
Who told him not to have a sophisticated mobile phone?
…
Sitting in the office, Gao Shen looked at the tall and strong French center opposite him. He still had the iconic mid-length diagonally parted hair. He had less beard than the image Gao Shen was familiar with, but his appearance and outline were exactly the same.
In fact, he looks relatively mature to begin with.
The key is that at this moment, he is standing in front of Gao Shen. Although he is a little reserved, he always has a smiling face. There is a feeling that people can't be angry with him.
He does have such affinity.
So much so that when Gao Shen saw him, he couldn't help but want to shout out a classic slang.
The king of heaven overshadows the tigers of the earth, look at me, great Jilu!
Yes, at this moment, the person standing in front of Gao Shen is Olivier Giroud, the center of Tours in the French Second League.
Speaking of Tours, the club was promoted from French C to French B in the summer of 2007. In the first year, it reached sixth place in the league and almost entered the promotion play-offs. It can be said to be a big dark horse.
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In the summer of 2008, Giroud performed well at Instre in the French third division, scoring 14 goals in 33 league games. His tall and strong body gave him a great advantage, so he was recruited by Tours for a price of only ten
Thirty thousand euros.
After joining Tours, he played 23 times last season, scoring nine goals and two assists. His performance was also very good.
Of course, this so-called good thing needs to be looked at separately.
As a center, this performance is a bit unqualified in terms of scoring efficiency, but his tactical role is deeply recognized by head coach Daniel Sanchez. He is Tour's second center after Mali forward Ndiaye, and he is also the team's second center.
’s leading scorer.
This summer, Ndiaye moved to Ligue 1 Nantes, and Giroud became the team's veritable top center.
Also leaving with him was Giroud's friend, the team's main defender Koscielny, who moved to Lorient for 1.35 million euros.
Just when Giroud ambitiously wanted to make a big splash in the new season, to establish himself as the main force in Tours and achieve success, he suddenly received a call from the club. Manchester City, the upstart from the Premier League, was eyeing him.
Then he received a call from Manchester City CEO Gary Cook.
"Boy, you're lucky, Gao Shen wants you by name!"
Giroud was completely stunned at the time.
profound!
That’s profound!
After experiencing success with Real Madrid and Naples, he is now a veritable world-class coach, with two Champions League titles and a head coach who has trained famous Serie A centers such as Cavani and Pellet.
He wants me by name?
how can that be possible?
But soon, Manchester City signed Giroud from Tours for one million euros with almost no bargaining.
…
"Olivier, do you speak English?" Gao Shen asked.
Giroud scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and shook his head.
He was blocked from the door by the security because he didn't speak English. Otherwise, if he had just reported his name and the security had contacted the coach's office, nothing would have happened.
Gao Shen winked at Lucas, who quickly went out, and a translator came in after a while.
"Didn't I ask them to tell you that you don't have to rush to report? I'll give you a week to prepare and you can go directly to South Africa later?" Gao Shen asked.
"I know, but I think it's better to report earlier." Giroud said with a smile.
"Why?"
"I read in the newspaper that the training plans of Buenaventura and Pintus are very rigorous, and full attendance is very important, so I feel that this precious training time should not be missed." Giroud said very much.
Said seriously.
Gao Shen blinked, looked at Carlo, Lucas, and then Buenaventura and Pintus, and found that they were all a little embarrassed.
"Actually, if you report later, we will also arrange special training for you." Buenaventura said.
It was the first time for him to be praised like this in front of his face.
Giroud sighed, "But summer training is very important. I hope to be able to integrate into the team faster and earlier."
Everyone was embarrassed.
Is this guy too impatient?
However, it is also a good thing.
Gao Shen noticed that his assistants were all suppressing their smiles, and he understood.
"But you also see that we will leave tomorrow. If you come here now, we..."
"I have a passport and can leave tomorrow," Giroud said.
"The luggage..."
"I just have a suitcase and nothing else." Giroud added, "I don't have any other needs, just a few sets of clothes. Then, the club will prepare a jersey and sneakers for me. I will bring them myself. If the club
There is a unified arrangement, I can wear it, and there is no problem with anything else."
When he heard this, Carlo raised his head directly, and Lucas turned around, obviously smiling.
Gao Shen also smiled and said, "You have to know that the contract has not been signed yet, and Tour's side..."
"It's okay. I've already called them. They're all OK. I don't have any requirements for salary. As long as I can join your team and participate in training and competitions, I'll do it."
Gao Shen was a little confused. He didn't want anything from this guy.
"Then at least a physical examination is required. We didn't have any arrangements before." Gao Shen was a little embarrassed.
If it is the team's own physical examination, it can be completed within the Manchester City team, but for players like Giroud who have just joined, they need to go to the hospital for the most detailed examination.
"There is nothing wrong with my body. If possible, the physical examination is not necessary. Of course, I respect your opinion. If you think it is necessary, we will do it now."
When Gao Shen heard this, he finally understood.
This guy is stuck.
Thinking of this, Gao Shen grabbed the mobile phone on his desk and said, "Marcos, come to my office."
Within a minute, chief team doctor Marcos Sala arrived.
"You should communicate with the hospital right away and arrange a temporary physical examination in the afternoon. You can take him there."
Marcos Sala had already noticed the stranger in the office, and he looked at him carefully for a while. It felt like a breeder was looking at the piglets in a pig pen, which made Giroud feel uncomfortable all over.
.
"Pretty strong."
After saying that, he asked Giroud to go with him.
After Giroud kept thanking Gao Shen, he left Gao Shen's office and chased Marcos Sala.
Behind him, a burst of cheerful laughter came from Gao Shen's office.
