World First Church started from the 02 World Cup

Chapter 69 The Happy Team

8 month 17 day.

Matchday of the first round of the 2002-2003 Premier League season.

Goodison Park, which can hold 40,000 spectators, was packed to capacity, with a lively atmosphere!

The players from both sides are warming up for the final moments on the field.

"CCTV, CCTV..."

With the Chinese team winning third place in the World Cup, football enthusiasm in China is soaring, and the number of new fans is also increasing dramatically.

With Ye Xian coaching Everton and the team having two Chinese players, CCTV took the opportunity to buy the domestic broadcasting rights for the Premier League.

The FA, clearly adept at navigating social situations, scheduled the Everton vs. Tottenham match for the afternoon.

This way, during prime time in the evening Beijing time, Chinese fans can sit in front of their TVs and watch this crucial match!

No wonder the Premier League will become increasingly wealthy in the future; they're just sensible!

"Judging from the pre-match media reports, Everton, led by coach Ye Xian, should be facing a lot of pressure today."

"Their summer signings have been disappointing, and they are considered a strong contender for relegation from the Premier League this season."

"But judging from the expressions of the Everton players, they all seem very relaxed, with smiles on their faces... What do you think, Coach Zhang?"

Following Huang Jianxiang's question, Zhang Lu's voice rang out:

"I still choose to believe in Coach Ye."

"Think about it, we also had doubts during the World Cup, but Coach Ye always proved him right with his ingenious tactics."

"While the coaching philosophies of clubs and national teams do differ, there are also commonalities—after all, they're both about coaching!"

"When we were with the Chinese team, the players were very united and happy. We saw a similar scene at Everton."

"A team that is united and works together will always be a formidable force!"

……

Soon, the players finished warming up and returned to the locker room to make their final preparations before the game.

However, unlike Tottenham, where Hoddle was seriously and loudly outlining tactics.

The home team's locker room, however, was filled with laughter and chatter.

What's Everton fans' nightmare? Waking up in the middle of the night to find yourself at Anfield, still singing "You'll Never Walk Alone"...

Ye Xian is telling everyone a joke!

He knew very well that after a month of training, the young people's skills, physical fitness, and tactics were all in place. What they needed most at this moment was not tactical reminders, but a relaxed mindset.

It's the first round of the league, and they're playing at home, so it would be a lie to say the players aren't under pressure.

Especially now that the team has many young players who are participating in the Premier League for the first time, or even the top professional league for the first time, there will be a lot of invisible pressure on their minds.

Excessive instructions will only increase their psychological burden, making them feel pressured and hesitant to perform effectively.

So from yesterday to today, apart from the most basic tactical arrangements, Ye Xian has not said anything about "we must win the game".

This deliberate pressure-reduction has indeed made the players feel much more relaxed.

This feeling manifests as the relaxed and comfortable feeling during warm-up.

After the joke was told, the atmosphere in the locker room became even more relaxed amidst everyone's laughter.

At this point, Ye Xian added, "I heard that at yesterday's press conference, Hoddle said a lot of bad things about us, and even said that we could easily beat us. Luckily, I'm not the head coach, so I didn't go to the scene to listen to his nonsense."

Everyone burst into laughter again.

That's right, Ye Xian is not officially Everton's head coach at the moment, so he doesn't need to attend press conferences.

That saves us a lot of trouble.

When he played the Football Manager game, he didn't like to personally attend press conferences and argue with those boring reporters.

Let poor Moyes handle this task!

"To be honest, I wasn't angry at all after hearing it; in fact, I thought it made a lot of sense." Ye Xian spread his hands dramatically, his tone playful:

"After all, there are a lot of people in our team who have never even stepped onto a Premier League pitch before. In other people's eyes, they are just a group of newcomers who came to the Premier League for sightseeing."

"But what I want to say is that during the World Cup, our Chinese team was also a newcomer playing in the main tournament for the first time, and all the media were pessimistic about us, saying that we couldn't beat any team."

He paused, looked at the audience who were listening intently, and continued with a smile: "But a football match is not an exam. There are no standard answers. Don't be afraid of answering incorrectly or losing points."

"If our opponents think we are weak, then let them underestimate us; if our opponents look down on us, then we will quietly exert our strength. What we fear most is not that our opponents are too strong, but that we panic first."

"As everyone knows, we defeated many strong opponents along the way and won the bronze medal in the World Cup."

Li Tie and Li Weifeng exchanged a smile.

They were witnesses to China's miracle at the World Cup, so they naturally knew the weight of Ye Xian's words.

"It's the same today." Ye Xian changed the subject, his eyes gentle yet firm. "Hoddle thinks I don't understand the Premier League, and that you guys are too young and inexperienced. Let him continue to think that way."

"Anyway, he thinks he's bound to win, so the pressure is on them. Since we're a relegation-threatened team, we don't need any pressure."

"So, for today's match, I didn't say you absolutely had to win."

"Play freely today, don't think about winning or losing, don't think about what others will say, just treat it as a normal training match in the Premier League."

"Having fun is the most important thing."

"Of course, you need to relax mentally, but you still need to play the game well. You need to be active in your running, aggressive in your tackling, and have the right attitude!"

"You're all professional players; only by playing well can you earn money and women!"

"Uh... to correct you, it's having both a career and love!"

The locker room erupted in laughter and applause once again.

As he spoke, Ye Xian's gaze swept over each player.

From the young and inexperienced Ronaldo and Rooney, to the composed Alonso and Cech, and then to the tough Drogba and Gravesen, the gaze finally falls on captain Stubbs, whose eyes are sincere and determined.

"So my requirement is very simple: put aside distractions and just play football well."

"However, if anyone messes up on the field or doesn't play according to my tactics, I won't give them a good look."

"You might be a starter in this game, but that might not be the case next time. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" the players shouted in unison, full of fighting spirit.

Moyes, on the other hand, marveled at the sight.

This young Chinese coach is truly remarkable.

There were no impassioned shouts, no heavy and strict military orders, only the gentlest comfort and the most relaxing encouragement.

But it was precisely this relaxation that ignited the fighting spirit in the players' hearts.

The fighting spirit that had been hidden beneath the tension now erupted completely, transforming into a burning light in everyone's eyes.

How did he manage to relieve the players' pressure, boost their morale, and simultaneously emphasize tactical discipline?

Compared to someone who only emphasizes tactics, this is on a completely different level.

It's important to understand that judging whether a football coach is excellent involves much more than just tactical and command considerations.

Managing the locker room and understanding the players' mentality during the game are also of paramount importance!

Now it seems that Ye Xian's abilities in this area far surpass mine...

We all have to learn!

At this moment, Ye Xian had already opened the locker room door:

"Alright, take a deep breath and get on the field. Let Hoddle see what our rookie team is really like!"

The players walked out one by one with their heads held high, heading towards the players' tunnel!