To the First Team?

To the First Team?

For no apparent reason, Tang Ye and Milner, the two midfielders, had their yellow bibs taken off and were moved into the first-team lineup.

Not disappointing Erik ten Hag, Tang Ye began his walking routine in the first team.

Zaka carried the ball forward near the center circle, but Tang Ye did not press him.

Kallon came right up to Tang Ye, and Tang Ye slowly walked toward Kallon bit by bit.

There was less than two meters between them, yet Tang Ye still did not make a challenge.

Seeing this, Merent was practically moved to tears on the sidelines.

Merent did not want Tang Ye to leave the second team, and Tang Ye knew that, so he deliberately put on an extremely passive performance while Erik ten Hag was watching.

A disciple knew exactly what his master was thinking.

What was a deep bond between master and disciple?

This was a deep bond between master and disciple! Tang Ye had talent, and Merent believed he could bring it out.

Just then, Tang Ye, who had been standing still, suddenly started running. First-team player Balazhit intercepted Zaka and immediately spotted Tang Ye peeling away into space.

Unfortunately, because Tang Ye had come from the second team, Balazhit did not pass to him.

"Pass it to him!"

Erik ten Hag shouted. Hearing the coach's call, Balazhit reacted decisively and played the ball straight to Tang Ye's feet.

Smack! Tang Ye cushioned the ball with his foot, then did not accelerate. He merely pointed forward with his right hand.

?

Up front, striker Haller sensed something and suddenly ran forward. Tang Ye seized the moment, struck the ball with the inside of his foot, and slipped a grounded through ball into the attacking half.

"Fuck!"

Amrabat cursed loudly, having never expected Tang Ye to play a pass like that.

He did not even have time to stick out a foot! Smack! The ball rolled past Amrabat, passed through two second-team center backs, and finally reached striker Haller's feet.

It was a perfect chance to score. With the second-team goalkeeper rushing out, Haller swung his leg and shot.

With a bang, the ball flew over the crossbar.

It was a textbook skied shot. "Uh..."

Haller clutched his head, turned to Tang Ye, and gave him a thumbs-up. "My bad, my bad!"

A sixteen-year-old second-team player had handed him a perfect one-on-one chance, and Haller had failed to take it.

Was there anything more embarrassing than that?

"It's fine, it's fine."

Tang Ye waved it off indifferently.

It was only a training match. It did not matter whether they scored or not! Tang Ye might not have cared, but Erik ten Hag on the sidelines had already darkened his expression.

He was a coach who cared greatly about appearances. First-team players holding back second-team players was something Erik ten Hag could not accept no matter what.

"Hmm..."

Erik ten Hag turned to Merent beside him. "Our players aren't in very good form today. Otherwise, the win would belong to us right now."

After making excuses for the players on the pitch, Erik ten Hag looked back at Tang Ye.

This guy had started walking again!

"Cough, cough."

Merent gave two dry coughs, then said to Erik ten Hag, "Tang has always been rather lazy. He was like this last season too."

"Why doesn't he run? Can't he run? Don't you have plenty of endurance training?"

"Every time we have endurance training, he sneaks off."

"?"

Erik ten Hag's eyes widened. "There are players like that?"

Seeing Erik ten Hag's surprised expression, Merent felt a little pleased.

He knew this Dutchman placed great emphasis on discipline. A player like Tang Ye, who had given up on himself, would most likely not catch his eye.

"I think we need to give it a try. The first team has hit a bottleneck too. Have him stop training tomorrow."

"Stop training? Hmm, why?"

Merent did not understand what Erik ten Hag meant.

"I'll have someone take him to register with the KNVB for Dutch Eredivisie eligibility. The transfer window is about to close. If we don't register him now, it'll be too late."

"????"

"Th-this... Erik, listen to me. Tang's discipline is a huge problem, and he's only sixteen. If he goes straight into the Dutch Eredivisie, he won't be able to adapt!"

Merent's voice suddenly rose. Mitchell van der Gaag, on the touchline, thought he was about to make a substitution and deliberately came over to ask. Once he learned Merent was speaking with Erik ten Hag, he left again.

"It's fine, there's no rush. I mean we'll register him for the Dutch Eredivisie first, then have him train with the first team."

Erik ten Hag spread his hands. "Registering him for the Dutch Eredivisie doesn't mean he has to play. This kid has talent. Training with the first team will help him improve faster."

Erik ten Hag's meaning was obvious. He wanted to keep Tang Ye by his side.

His discipline was poor.

Erik ten Hag would personally teach him how to follow discipline!

"Th-this, this..."

Merent looked hesitant.

The first team lacked midfielders, but so did the second team! "Erik, how about we hold off for now? Let Tang stay in the second team until next season, or the winter window this season. The winter window—then we can observe him for another half season. How about that?"

Erik ten Hag did not immediately respond to Merent's suggestion. Instead, he turned around and placed both hands on Merent's shoulders. "Tell me, what is your position?"

"Uh..."

The question was rather strange, but Merent still answered seriously. "Second-team head coach."

"You still remember that you're the second-team head coach, huh!"

Erik ten Hag pulled back his hands. "It's settled. He reports to the first team the day after tomorrow!"

After the morning training ended, Merent took Tang Ye and Amrabat aside.

"After lunch, we'll have another training session in the afternoon, but neither of you needs to come."

Huh? Amrabat's eyes lit up, and uncontrollable joy spread across his face.

Merent looked at Tang Ye again and found that he looked nervous.

"Mr. Merent, I'm not getting kicked out, am I..."

Tang Ye was a little upset. He had coasted through an entire season, and now he was finally about to be settled with.

Although he did not like training, he did not want to be expelled either!

"..."

"Cough, cough!"

After two dry coughs to ease the awkwardness, Merent continued what he had not finished saying. "This afternoon, the two of you will train with the first team. Tomorrow, someone will take you to register for the Dutch Eredivisie."

Amrabat rubbed his hands together. He could already picture himself making an appearance in the Dutch Eredivisie.

More than twenty thousand fans in the stands—heavens!

As for Tang Ye, upon learning that he was joining the first team, he suddenly frowned.

"What's wrong?" Merent asked.

"Is first-team training very intense? How about I stay with the second team and train a little longer first?"

What? Merent's eyes widened, and his heart suddenly felt warm.

Tang Ye might have been unreliable, but he still remembered Merent, the second-team manager! "No, don't come back!"

Merent took a deep breath. "Tang, although I often scold you, I'm telling you now that you are actually a very talented player."

"You should go to the Dutch Eredivisie, not return to the Eerste Divisie. Believe me, I can feel it—your potential can reach a value of ten million euros!"

"Ten million euros? That's way too much!"

???

"...Fuck!"

"Get the hell out of here right now!"

Merent shoved away Tang Ye, whom he had been holding in his arms, then pointed toward the first-team training ground. "Lazy pig! A lazy pig with no ambition! If your value ever breaks ten million euros, I'll stuff shit into my own mouth!"

"Get lost!"