After getting off to a good start, Dortmund's subsequent performance also started to get better - they have already entered the quarter-finals of the German Cup. However, this time the German Cup is a dark horse, with only three Bundesliga teams entering the quarter-finals.
They are Dortmund, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich. Among the other five teams, there are three Bundesliga teams, namely Duisburg, Aachen and Lubick, a third-tier league team, which is also a team for the Bundesliga.
Dick felt very familiar with Hoffenheim, and what was even more outrageous was that there was also a fourth-tier league team, Greiter Hof!
In the draw, both Dortmund and Bayern drew two relatively strong Bundesliga 2 teams. Dortmund's opponent was Duisburg, Bayern's opponent was Aachen, and Bremen was lucky enough to draw Greithof.
, and Lubick met Hoffenheim.
Against the Bundesliga 2 team, even though Duisburg is currently ranked high in the Bundesliga 2, Dick did not feel that he had to use the main force. In this game, he still sent out all the substitutes, except Weidenfeller who started
Except for this, the other eleven people are all substitutes...
Duisburg put up a tenacious resistance in the away game - they also gave Dortmund's substitutes a headache. Although Donovan and Ricken scored successively in the game, Duisburg tenaciously equalized the score.
, they once brought Dortmund to the edge of elimination. However, in the penalty shootout, Dortmund's substitutes withstood the pressure and defeated Duisburg 4-2, advancing to the semi-finals of the German Cup!
Although the game was a bit ugly, no one said that Dortmund played ugly, because in several other games, the Bundesliga teams also did not perform well. Werder Bremen defeated them 3-2 after a hard battle in the away game.
They lost to the fourth-level team Grethethof, and Bayern lost to Aachen 1-2 in the away game very cleanly, missing the semi-finals...
However, Hoffenheim, which interested Dick a little bit, failed to defeat opponents of the same level. They lost to Lubick 0-1 at home and failed to enter the semi-finals.
"It's good if we can win. After all, the German Cup is not the most important game..." Dick said after the game: "But the most important thing is that we entered the final, right?"
Maybe it's because he is too arrogant, so arrogant that even the German Football Association can't stand it. When the draw was made, there was no Bundesliga team vs. Bundesliga second team, but Dortmund and Werder Bremen were directly drawn together.
, Aachen and Lubick were happily drawn together. If Dortmund and Werder Bremen both enter the Champions League after the end of the season, then no matter which one of them enters the final, even if they lose the final, they will be regarded as the Bundesliga second team.
to participate in next season's UEFA Cup as a team - judging from the rankings of these two teams in the Bundesliga, neither of them has any hope of entering the Bundesliga...
"The draw doesn't matter. No matter who we play against, we will win anyway. Whether it's Bremen in the semi-finals or Bremen in the final, it's the same for us." Dick continued to be tough.
However, Dick's tough words seem to make sense. After the season restarts, Dortmund can be said to be the best team in the entire Bundesliga...
On February 7, in an away game against Wolfsburg, Dortmund conceded a goal first, but Dede equalized the score before the end of the first half. Gomez overtook the score at the beginning of the second half, and Borowski scored the first goal.
Expanding the lead in the 54th minute, Ricken, who came on as a substitute, scored the fourth goal in the 78th minute. Although Wolfsburg pulled back a point later, Dortmund still defeated Wolfsburg with a score of 4 to 2.
Wolfsburg, which has won four consecutive league games, continues to be one point behind Werder Bremen.
On February 14th, Dortmund challenged Munich 1860 away. Even though it was an away game, Dortmund still suppressed the home team. Olic scored twice in the game. Dortmund defeated Munich 1860 with two goals in the away game, extending the league winning streak.
In the fifth game, Bremen's performance was also extremely strong. They defeated Kaiserslautern 1-0 and continued to lead the game with a one-point advantage!
After the winter break, Dortmund has achieved four consecutive victories in all competitions, averaging nearly three goals per game. This excellent state is enough to be praised by everyone.
However, one thing has been noticed. After the winter break, Arshavin, who performed extremely well in the first half of the season, seemed to have suddenly lost his temper. In these games, he started every three league games, but his performance was only
Mediocre - Why did Arshavin, who was extremely vigorous in the first half of the season, suddenly wither?
Dick was mentally prepared for this.
As soon as he joined Dortmund, he performed well. As I said before, that is because the Russian league is different from other European leagues. Their league is not for New Year's Eve, but for natural years. In fact, everyone can understand this.
After all, it is too cold in Russia. If it is a new year, even the Russians will not be able to bear it during the winter months, let alone foreign aid...
In this way, players who are accustomed to playing in the Russian league are in good shape in the summer, but in winter, their status will decline - this is a natural reaction formed by the body over a long period of time, because for them
Winter is a time for vacation. In fact, Arshavin's condition had already begun to decline before the winter break. However, Dortmund's overall performance was excellent at that time, and his condition would not decline immediately, so it was not
However, after the winter break, the continuity of his state will be even worse, and his performance will naturally decline slightly.
The Russian league usually starts in March and ends in early December. Dick is not worried that Arshavin will sink like this. Now is the time for him to adjust his condition. In the next time, his condition will naturally improve slowly.
When it comes to the late sprint, he will also be an important member of Dortmund.
The key now is not to let Arshavin lose confidence - Dick has already talked to Arshavin during the training camp, saying that I know that your poor state next is not because you don't work hard, but because you are used to it.
I have this rhythm, so don’t worry, I will use you no matter what. All you have to do is adjust slowly and get back to your best condition as soon as possible...
In fact, when players' status fluctuates, the important thing is that when their status fluctuates, their own efforts and the support of the coach must be equally strong, so that they can get through the difficult period as soon as possible.
Arshavin knows this very well, so he does not worry when he performs poorly on the field, but runs more actively to make his body tired, which is also a shortcut to get back the feeling of the game!
For Dick, everything is under control, and he will have more confidence in the next game.
However, he can master the things on the field, but he may not be able to master other things.
Having lived under the same roof with Charlotte for more than a month, Dick was extremely indifferent and polite. Except for that awkward meeting in the morning, Dick had never done anything rude at all, and this time
He hasn't gone out to look for a woman for more than a month, but he doesn't feel that he's holding back any bad feelings, and he's quite a bit stoic...
"Well, have I achieved enlightenment enough to become a monk?" Dick sometimes thought like this.
However, Charlotte didn't seem to have any awkward feelings when she was with him. She wandered the streets of Dortmund naturally every day. When Dick came back, she would go out to eat with him. Sometimes she didn't go out and just stayed at home and watched TV all day.
Slowly, Dick seemed to get used to having such a person around him.
He even felt that it might continue like this until one day...
On February 18, after a day of training, Dick returned to his home, but was surprised to find that his home was empty.
This kind of thing has happened before, because sometimes Charlotte will run out to play by herself. Sometimes she forgets the time and comes back a little late, but not too late. When it is time for dinner, she
You'll always get home.
So Dick didn't pay attention, but went to take a shower by himself, preparing to go out for dinner with Charlotte later.
After taking a shower, Dick sat on the sofa and watched TV, waiting for Charlotte to come back. However, as he waited, he felt something was wrong, because it was already seven o'clock in the evening and Charlotte had not come back yet.
"Where did it go?" Dick stood up anxiously, and then walked around the room. He soon discovered something was wrong - because sometimes some of Charlotte's personal belongings would be scattered around.
Yes, I didn’t see it today!
He rushed into Charlotte's room like the wind, and then looked at an empty corner in a daze - that was where Charlotte kept her luggage, but now Charlotte's luggage could no longer be seen.
After staying for a while, Dick immediately rushed out of the room, and then he discovered something he had overlooked before - there was a piece of paper on the coffee table, which he had not noticed after being placed under his nose for such a long time.
!
He picked up the paper with some confusion, and then Charlotte's font appeared in front of his eyes.
"Di, I'm leaving... After staying for so long, my family finally found me. It took them more than a month to find me. Hehe, they are so stupid."
"No way, I have to go back now. I have had a lot of fun in the past month or so. I am very happy that you can be with me so naturally, just like I am your family... There is nothing interesting in Dortmund.
But with you, I feel very good about this place."
"I'm about to go back, but this is not a life-and-death farewell. Don't worry that you won't be able to meet me again. If you have time, go to Monaco and Monte Carlo Casino for vacation. I will wait for you there. Remember not to mess around in the future.
Run, remember to come to Monaco to find me, do you understand? I’m sorry that I didn’t win your money this holiday.”
"Goodbye, Dick, remember to come find me!"
Looking at these short lines of words, Dick was a little dazed, then he sighed, folded the paper carefully, and put it into his pocket.
Then he looked at the suddenly empty room and let out a sigh of relief.
He had never felt that this room was empty, but at this time, he felt that this room was empty like never before!
"It's so boring..." Dick lit a cigarette, then leaned against the wall and started smoking - he rarely smoked in the living room when Charlotte was here, because after all, Charlotte was very fond of cigarettes.
I don’t have much good feelings, but now at this time, I am finally free!
Is it really...free?
Thinking of this, Dick stood motionless for a long time with a cigarette in his mouth, and then suddenly stood up straight.
"Ah, it's so boring! Since I have nothing to do this evening, let's go to the bar and have fun!"
After saying this, Dick put out his cigarette butt in the ashtray and strode out.
