Brazil Superstar Chest!

Brazil Superstar Chest!

"I can vouch for that."

Amrabat, standing beside them, spoke up. He had known Tang Ye for a year.

"Mr. Merent said he was a possession midfielder!"

After hearing the two of them, Erik ten Hag froze.

I think I'm a possession midfielder.

Mr. Merent said I'm a possession midfielder.

Not only had Tang Ye spoken up for himself, but a reserve-team coach had also backed him.

When put that way, it did seem to make sense?

"Wait, wait, wait!"

Erik ten Hag was nearly led astray by Amrabat. "Tang, just give me a definite answer. Are you a possession midfielder or not? What kind of player are you? Only you know that best."

"Me?"

Tang Ye pointed at his own nose, looking somewhat anxious. "I don't know..."

"Okay, you win!"

Erik ten Hag covered his face with one hand. Only now did he realize that the young genius he had brought up from the reserves was not just a lazy pig.

He was also...

A stupid pig! He didn't even know what his job was!

"Hey!"

Amrabat nudged Tang Ye with his elbow. "You should say you're a possession midfielder. Then Erik will let you play!"

Tang Ye shook his head. "But I really don't know if I am."

Although Tang Ye seemed to have said the wrong thing, his remarks had piqued Erik ten Hag's interest.

In Erik ten Hag's impression, Tang Ye was a young genius who was good at making runs... finding space, and knew a little outside-of-the-foot technique. He had impulsively pulled him into the first team without really considering his overall style of play.

In that case...

"Start warming up now. We'll play a scrimmage later, five versus five on a small pitch. The tempo might be a bit fast, so make sure you warm up properly."

The scrimmage began. Tang Ye's Group C had two midfielders and three forwards, while the other side had three midfielders, one forward, and one defender.

Assistant coach Mitchell van der Gaag had deliberately given Group C one fewer midfielder than Group D, intending to give Tang Ye more touches on the ball.

Didn't you say you thought you were a possession midfielder? Then let's see how you handle all those touches!

Twenty minutes later, training ended. Erik ten Hag picked up a pencil and began scribbling in his notebook.

It was an analysis report on Tang Ye!

1. Decent vision. On a five-a-side pitch, he could find nearly every open space in the final third.

2. Extremely poor discipline. Did not like eating in the first-team cafeteria. 3. Possessed some ability to shield the ball, but not particularly strong.

Conclusion...

As he wrote the word "conclusion," Erik ten Hag's pencil suddenly stopped.

He had discovered a very serious problem.

Even as the manager of an Eredivisie team, he could not determine what type of player Tang Ye actually was!

Two days later, on August 16 Amsterdam time, the second round of the Eredivisie began, with Utrecht hosting Heerenveen.

Thanks to Haller's penalty, Utrecht had taken the lead in the first half. But in the 56th minute of the second half, Amrabat's handball gave the opponents a penalty, making it 1-1.

The sudden goal boosted Heerenveen's morale, and in the seventieth minute, the visitors completed their comeback against the home side.

Two straight losses! They had crashed out in both matches at the start of the season, and Erik ten Hag was pushed into the eye of the storm by Utrecht fans.

Naturally, Chinese fans were also deeply dissatisfied with Erik ten Hag.

Utrecht's attack is complete crap. Seriously, they might as well send Lucky Bro on to take a wild shot.

That Amrabat who got promoted alongside Tang Ye is something else too. He gave away a handball in just his second first-team match!

That night, the lights in an office at Utrecht's training base were still on.

Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag sat together, neither of them looking particularly happy.

"If only we had a little more transfer budget during the summer window."

Erik ten Hag sighed helplessly. "If we had even one midfielder who could hold onto the ball, we wouldn't still be on zero points."

"Uh... we seem to have a possession midfielder."

Mitchell van der Gaag quietly reminded him from across the table. Erik ten Hag hugged his bald head with both hands. "You mean you want me to bring on a lazy pig as a substitute? My God, when the fans see I brought a lazy pig into the first team, they'll curse me to death!"

Erik ten Hag cared deeply about his image, which was why he always "argued his case" for himself during post-match interviews after losing.

"They won't. They won't curse you. Everyone saw Tang's two passes in the scrimmage. The reserve-team fans saw them, so of course the first-team fans will know too."

Mitchell van der Gaag explained, "Promoting a player to the first team because of two brilliant passes is completely reasonable. You really don't need to worry about what the fans will say."

Listening to Mitchell van der Gaag, Erik ten Hag did not immediately refute him.

It was indeed true.

Maybe he really could send that lazy pig out there and give him a try.

Tang Ye was registered in the Eerste Divisie anyway. If he failed to perform, Erik ten Hag could just send that lazy pig back.

"Then... then let's try it!"

Over the next few days, Tang Ye gradually began to integrate into first-team training.

Of course, by integration, this meant integrating into training matches. Tang Ye's coordination with the first-team players was becoming increasingly seamless.

Their understanding had improved, sure, but Tang Ye's lateness had not. That was why, despite having joined the first team for half a month, he still could not enter the first-team cafeteria.

At 37, you still insisted on training with the team. Your football skills have improved.

Ball control: 69→70

Shooting: 44→45

"This thing is seriously hard to improve!"

Tang Ye sighed. He had trained with the first team for nearly half a month, only to gain two attribute points in the end!

"Beep! Everyone, come over here!"

Mitchell van der Gaag gathered the players together, holding a thick notebook in his hand. "Tomorrow, the 23rd, we'll play the third round away from home against ADO Den Haag. Mr. Erik and I have finalized the squad. Take note."

"The squad is being announced!"

Amrabat clenched one fist. He had conceded a penalty in the last match, and he had no idea whether he would make the matchday squad today.

"First, the starting lineup."

Mitchell van der Gaag swept his gaze over the players before him, then began reading from the notebook.

"Goalkeeper: Ruiter!"

"Defenders: Nganioni, Kum, Leeuwin, Van der Maarel, Kleiber!"

"Midfielders: Ramselaar, Janssen, Ayoub!"

"Forwards: Haller and Balazhit!"

There were basically no changes to the starting lineup. Mitchell van der Gaag began reading the substitutes.

This was the moment when everyone was most anxious. Amrabat's palms had already begun to sweat.

But Tang Ye had no need to worry. Erik ten Hag would not even let him into the cafeteria, so how could he possibly let him into the matchday squad?

"The defender is Korte. Just you."

"Forwards Peterson and Luwin, the two of you."

"There'll be slightly more midfielders."

"Diemers, Strieder, Ludwig, and Tang. Hmm, that's it."

Smack! Mitchell van der Gaag closed the notebook. At the same time, a familiar voice rang out in Tang Ye's mind.

My God, at 37, you actually chose to make your comeback in the Eredivisie. This is the best response to the haters! Those hateful haters have been calling you a lazy pig since you were 16. Now is the perfect time to slap them in the face!

You have obtained the Advanced Brazil Chest.

Ding! Old Man Card, your reward has been upgraded.

You have obtained... the Brazil Superstar Chest.