Football: The strongest post-2000s Chapter 017

Character name suggestions: Li Qing, Zhao Qiangu, Tong Shenbing, · Neil Critchley, · Mike Garrity, · Oliver Morgan, · Glen McAuley, · Rhian Brewster, · Bobby Adekanye

Li Qing, who was not yet sixteen years old, returned to his study week after the match day. Compared to the study cycle of the U 15-U 16 echelon, his school time had significantly decreased after being promoted to the U 18 echelon.

Conversely, training time increased linearly.

His training time changed from weekday afternoons to full days on Wednesday and Thursday, meaning he only had three days for studying: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. The other four days were spent at the Kirkby Academy for systematic training.

Of course, being promoted to the U 18 echelon at the age of 15 already indicated that Li Qing had sufficient ability to become a professional player, and he wouldn’t need to rely on academics for a living in the future. However, the academy had relevant rules: young players’ academic performance still needed to be assessed, and homework had to be completed, though the quantity and quality had decreased.

Getting back to the main topic, Li Qing, who returned to Blue Uniform Middle School on Monday, smiled and slowly sat down next to Zhao Qiangu, who habitually arrived early in the classroom. With his most charming smile, he said, “Classmate Qiangu, going back on your word is not what a good student should do.”

Zhao Qiangu, who had arrived early in the classroom to self-study, put down her book and also smiled. With her well-thought-out words, she easily said to Li Qing, “Classmate Li Qing, I wasn’t the one who agreed to the bet with you. If you want to find someone, find my cousin. It has nothing to do with me.”

By the end of her sentence, a sly smile appeared on Zhao Qiangu’s face.

Li Qing was instantly dumbfounded: “But you didn’t object either.”

“Not objecting means agreeing?”

Zhao Qiangu’s nimble eyes gazed at Li Qing.

“…”

Li Qing wasn’t a fool; of course, he knew that not objecting didn’t equate to agreeing, so he was speechless.

He knew that the clever Zhao Qiangu wanted to renege.

However, he wasn’t depressed, because… there was still Tong Shenbing, who had agreed to the bet.

Compared to Zhao Qiangu, who was the same age, the eighteen-year-old Tong Shenbing was clearly more attractive!

Suddenly, he remembered that Liverpool U 18 had successfully advanced to the Round of 32 in the FA Youth Cup. Their opponent in the 1/16 final was Manchester City U 18, and they had drawn an away game. This meant he would travel with the Liverpool U 18 echelon to Manchester, England’s second most prosperous city, to compete next January.

The city where Manchester City U 18 was located was precisely where Tong Shenbing attended Manchester University!

“Heh heh…”

The corners of Li Qing’s mouth curved slightly upward, and an irrepressible, lecherous smile appeared on his face.

It was as if he was saying, “Little Shenbing, come into my bowl!”

※※※※※※

At nine o’clock on Wednesday morning, Li Qing arrived at the Kirkby Training Academy half an hour early. Compared to his usual feelings, today felt a bit special.

U 18 was the most important step for promotion to the senior team. As long as he continued to perform well, he would be noticed by the senior team and thus move to a higher stage, representing Liverpool’s first team in the Premier League, and even the Champions League!

The 2016- 2017 Premier League season had reached its twelfth round, with Liverpool ranking second in the Premier League with eight wins, three draws, and one loss, accumulating twenty-seven points, only one point behind leaders Chelsea. Therefore, under Klopp’s leadership, the team had a high possibility of participating in next season’s Champions League!

Arriving at the U 18 echelon training ground half an hour early, the pitch was still empty. After changing into his jersey, shorts, and boots, Li Qing jogged slowly around the field to warm up and stretch. It wasn’t until he started training with the ball that someone arrived at the training ground.

Those who came were not players, but U 18 head coach Neil Critchley and his two assistants, Mike Garrity and Oliver Morgan. Mike Garrity was the training assistant, and Oliver Morgan was the sports scientist and fitness coach, responsible for arranging scientific training with Mike Garrity.

Neil Critchley nodded slightly in satisfaction, his affection for Li Qing growing stronger.

With such a talented player also putting in extra work, what reason was there for him not to succeed?

He had a premonition that Li Qing might be promoted to the first team by Klopp before the end of the 2016- 2017 season!

Thinking of this, he was startled by his own thought.

Li Qing was talented and hardworking, which was true, but his physical condition seemed insufficient to cope with first-team matches. However… the FA Youth Cup and the Youth National Super League were more than enough.

After all, Li Qing was still underage, and participating in professional leagues too early would not benefit him.

However, Neil Critchley did not know that Li Qing was already eager to participate in the Premier League!

Aside from not being strong enough physically, Li Qing’s winger attributes were already fully capable of filling a substitute position for Liverpool.

As nine-thirty approached, U 18 echelon members arrived at the training ground one after another. Li Qing had performed exceptionally well during this period, becoming a big name in the academy. It was even rumored that head coach Neil Critchley had said that with Li Qing, they could easily overcome the hurdle of Manchester City, which caused some players within the team to feel dissatisfied with Li Qing.

Advancing to the FA Youth Cup Round of 16 needed to rely on a fifteen-year-old Chinese player?

What kind of international joke was that?

Glen McAuley, who joined Kirkby from St. Joseph’s Boys in Ireland early last year, was Liverpool’s most prolific scorer in the 2016- 2017 National Super League, his prominence even overshadowing local talent Rhian Brewster for a time. He said coldly, “U 18 isn’t that easy! Want to lead us to the Round of 16? Are you qualified?”

Dutch-Nigerian midfielder Bobby Adekanye chuckled and patted Glen McAuley’s shoulder, his gaze, however, fixed on Li Qing, and he smiled, “Glen, Asians can’t be qualified. Don’t worry, I’ll let him know what the gap is in the upcoming training.”

Li Qing, dribbling slowly, felt someone watching him, so he looked up. He happened to meet the eyes of Glen McAuley and Bobby Adekanye.

Out of instinct, he showed a sincere smile.

But Glen McAuley and Bobby Adekanye quickly turned their heads away, their faces cold, acting as if they were hot stuff.

“Seems a bit unfriendly…”

Li Qing muttered quietly before resuming his dribbling.

While some harbored hostility towards Li Qing, others naturally held good feelings. Rhian Brewster, who was promoted to U 18 a year ago, admired Li Qing greatly.

Of course, more players adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

That’s how it is on a football field: as long as you show convincing strength, everyone will hold you in high regard.

Li Qing naturally didn’t know what his new teammates were thinking, but he knew that in a new team, he had to demonstrate a level of strength superior to his teammates. Otherwise… how could he continue to skip grades?