No one had ever known that on a certain day in early June, Paul Pogba met Gao Shen, the head coach of Manchester City at the time, in a Chinese restaurant that was not particularly conspicuous in downtown Manchester.
He should be a regular customer of that restaurant, so the whole meeting was kept very confidential.
There were only two people meeting that time, Gao Shen and Pogba.
Even Pogba's agent doesn't know.
It was a very interesting meeting, and it was also the first time Pogba had Chinese food in his life. Gao Shen ordered a lot of delicious-looking Chinese food for him. Some of them he also liked, but some of them he really couldn't eat.
tasty.
They chatted while eating and later drank Chinese tea.
I have to say that Pogba feels that Gao Shen is a very chatty person and knows how to chat, especially with him.
In the past, when he was in Le Havre or when he came to Manchester United, Pogba's relationship with the coaches was quite average, because he always felt that he could not talk to each other, but strangely, he did not have this problem with Gao Shen.
They can talk about many things, from iPhones to game consoles to computers, and even headphones...
It seemed like there was really nothing he didn't know.
That day, the two of them chatted a lot, and Pogba even forgot some things.
But then, they talked about Ferguson.
He had no idea whether Gao Shen started the conversation first or Pogba took the initiative. Anyway, the conversation started naturally because Ferguson had already told Pogba that Manchester United would accept the offer from Leeds United.
And Pogba also knew very well that it was because Gao Shen used personal connections to convince Ferguson.
Manchester United's meaning is very clear. Pogba will not get a chance in the first team for the time being. Instead of wasting his time, it is better to transfer to other teams for training first, and then return to Manchester United to play for him when the time is right.
Pogba knows that this is an ideal statement.
If his development at Leeds United does not go smoothly, then he will not have any chance of returning to Manchester United.
While chatting with Gao Shen, Pogba told many stories about him, Manchester United, and Ferguson.
When he was still receiving youth training in Le Havre, many teams were paying attention to him. Manchester United was one of them. He didn't even have any advantage in the first place, but the reason why he joined Manchester United was because Ferguson personally came to persuade him.
He and his family.
"We all believe that I will receive the best training at Manchester United and will receive the highest standard of treatment for a rookie."
Pogba personally expressed his aspirations back then.
This is normal, all young players think this way.
But at Manchester United, many situations are different from what he imagined before.
For example, there are many senior players in this team, such as Giggs, Scholes, and even Fletcher, and they all have a very special relationship with Ferguson.
Giggs would tease Ferguson as "a red nose who likes to joke around". Scholes and others could chat and laugh with Ferguson, as did Rooney and others.
In the eyes of Pogba and others, this is very different.
His fellow Frenchman, Evra, told him that Manchester United was just different from other teams and he had to try to adapt and accept it.
Pogba gradually adapted and accepted it.
This made his relationship with Manchester United very harmonious for some time.
But in the past year, this situation has changed.
"I think that I have the ability and should get more opportunities in the first team. He originally thought so, but after losing a few games, especially the disastrous defeat to Manchester City, he completely changed his mind.
Becoming cautious, becoming conservative, becoming less trusting of young players."
Pogba believes that this is not good news for him.
His contract with Manchester United expires in 2012, and the 2010-11 season is the best time for him to renew his contract with Manchester United.
Manchester United did want to renew his contract, but they were unable to meet his demands.
He doesn't want much. Apart from a decent salary, what he wants most is playing time.
"You know what? I found a lot of agents, but no one dared to defend me even a word in front of Ferguson. They were all submissive and their knees went weak when they saw Ferguson."
"At first, I thought it was a coincidence, so I changed agents, but it still happened. Some people even helped Ferguson and advised me in turn, thinking that I was still young and still had time, so I should continue to wait..."
Pogba said that this is a very incomprehensible situation. Shouldn't the agent he hired be responsible for his interests?
"Gradually, I learned that no one in Manchester United or England has ever dared to say no to Ferguson!"
"At that time, I was thinking, I am different from these people, I dare!"
Gao Shen patiently listened to all his complaints and grievances, but after calming down Pogba's emotions, he tried to interpret Ferguson's influence on Manchester United.
"He runs Manchester United like a family, and he is everyone's 'father', a very strict father."
This is the Godfather of Manchester United!
But Gao Shen also said that Pogba's idea is not wrong, because today's young people are no longer suitable to use the management model of the older generation, and Ferguson has indeed failed to keep pace with the times in this regard.
At the same time, Gao Shen also put forward his own planning and training path for Pogba.
Leeds United will play in the English Championship, which will be a very good training stage for Pogba, who is only 18 years old.
At that time, Gao Shen promised that Leeds United would return to the Premier League within two years, and by then Pogba would officially become the main midfielder of the Premier League team at the age of 20.
This is a very tempting prospect for Pogba.
Because at that time, it was impossible for Manchester United to give him such a promise.
As for other teams, some may be able to provide them, but Pogba has never been in contact with them, so he naturally doesn’t know.
While chatting, Gao Shen asked Pogba about his idol.
The young Frenchman said that he has liked many players, such as Ronaldinho, Zidane and Kaká, and now he likes Messi, but his hero is Muhammad Ali.
"He is my hero, and I aspire to change the world like him!"
After finishing speaking, the 18-year-old young man said shyly and a little awkwardly, "I know this wish seems very silly, but that's really what I think."
"No, no, no, this is not perfect at all. This is a very courageous and very confident goal."
Gao Shen believes that courage and confidence are very important and valuable qualities on the court.
"We often say that Zidane, Vieira, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Henry... and even the more distant Maradona, these legends have conquered countless people on the court because of them.
Courage, confidence, and perseverance.”
"All great people insist on doing what they think is right. They never, or rarely, doubt themselves, which makes them look so different."
"So, Paul, remember what you just said, remember your goal, no matter what difficulties you encounter in the future, no matter how big the obstacles are, you must be brave and firm like your idol, Boxing Champion Ali. Pump your fist with confidence!"
That was the first time that Pogba saw light in other people's eyes.
It was also that time that he decided to join Leeds United.
…
London, Upson Park Stadium.
The first half of the game is getting closer and closer to the end.
I don't know why, Pogba always uncontrollably thinks of the conversation he had with Gao Shen in his mind, and his ears seem to be ringing with the words Gao Shen said to him.
Deep in his heart, there was a voice that kept shouting and roaring.
Come on, Paul!
Like your idol Muhammad Ali, pump your fist bravely, firmly and confidently!
You can do it, Paul!
He began to become agitated, and he began to lose his calmness.
One of his passing errors led to an attack by West Ham United, which almost resulted in a goal.
Teammate Schneiderlin shouted anxiously at him from behind, obviously dissatisfied with his mistake.
But Pogba ignored it.
So now his mind is full of thinking about those things and listening to that voice.
Suddenly, the whole world seemed to be quiet.
He decided to try it!
Just like Gao Shen encouraged him to do it, try it bravely and confidently!
…
"here!"
When Schneiderlin got the ball, Paul Pogba suddenly raised his hand to ask for it.
He has positioned himself on West Ham's left flank, but is surrounded by defenders.
The four-three-two-one Christmas trees are really dense and deadly when defending.
Pogba is right in the middle gap between three and two.
Although Schneiderlin had just complained about his compatriot's mistake, he didn't think much and passed the ball directly to him.
The French midfielder's passing is always solid.
Before Pogba could receive the ball, West Ham United's No. 32 defensive midfielder O'Neill quickly rushed in front of him, with the momentum to knock him to the ground with the ball. , and behind him is Kevin Nolan who is chasing after him.
The French youngster was tall, long-legged and fast. He got ahead of O'Neal and stopped Schneiderlin's pass. Before O'Neal could take a shot, he immediately moved the ball back, barely avoiding it. O'Neal's move.
But there is also Kevin Nolan behind him.
As soon as Pogba turned the ball back, he performed a skillful Marseille spin. He turned the ball with his left foot, turned around, and pulled with his right foot, so that Kevin Nolan could not steal the ball from his feet.
And just like that, Pogba relied on a wonderful and sudden Marseille maneuver to dribble the ball through the middle of the two defenders. When Scott Parker rushed over, he tried to force a breakthrough, but he feinted and shot left and right. Skillfully pulling the ball with his feet, he pulled the ball horizontally towards the center, and a gap was created.
At this time, Pogba's men were already at the top of the arc, and he had no other superfluous thoughts in his mind at this moment. He was focused on the goalkeeper Robert Green in front of him and shot straight away.
Center defender Faye went up to grab the ball and raised his foot to block it, but the ball passed right under Faye and went straight into the lower right corner of the goal.
Goalkeeper Green was stunned on the spot, dumbfounded.
The whole process can be said to be done in one go.
Everyone in the audience only reacted when the goal was scored, and they were all stunned on the spot.
