In the next two days, Gu Ran went to Staplewood Training Base for training as planned.

First, I did morning exercises with a shot put, then I ate the enhanced version of the demon diet, then I trained with the team, and then I did one-on-one targeted training...

Professional life is compact and fulfilling.

The attitudes of most of the main players towards Gu Ran have also changed, especially Luke Shaw. During the two days of collective training, Luke Shaw always followed Gu Ran and became Gu Ran's little fan.

During the breaks in training, Lallana, Lambert and others surrounded Gu Ran, chatting and laughing while discussing the training.

This made the left-back Harding almost crazy, but he could do nothing about it.

And Gu Ran was too lazy to pay attention to him.

After all, we are about to play against Liverpool, and as professional players, everything should be focused on the game.

In the past two days, head coach Adkins' training focus has been on team defense and local counterattacks.

Southampton switched from a rough offensive style to a meticulous defensive counterattack style.

This process is naturally very painful, but fortunately, everyone is a professional player and no one gives up.

Of course, Gu Ran adapted to this change faster than other players.

Firstly, Gu Ran is a reborn person with a football IQ that is 12 years ahead. Secondly, Gu Ran played defensive counterattack in the Southampton High School team, so he is very experienced in running and filling in positions.

The downside is that he still hasn't gotten enough coordination with the team.

Although most of the main players have reconciled with Gu Ran, when faced with pressure, the main players will subconsciously look for people who are familiar with the ball to cooperate with, rather than taking the risk of passing the ball to Gu Ran.

Gu Ran was not in a hurry either. He just followed the movement and provided defensive support seriously.

Even if the ball is on the other side of the sideline, he will defend seriously.

Coach Adkins stood on the sidelines, silently watching the team's collective defensive counterattack, his signature poker face still expressionless.

Southampton...are still a long way off.

Even his assistant coach Andy couldn't help but look worried - as an old professional player, Andy could see that with Southampton's current technical and tactical level, it would probably be difficult for them to even play against the English League Two team.

After the team's defensive counterattack training, Coach Adkins asked the teams to conduct local defensive counterattack training in groups.

Gu Ran was led by Coach Jacob to conduct one-on-one targeted defense and counterattack training.

When it comes to the technical and tactical level, Coach Jacob regained his confidence. After all, he is a coach produced by Real Madrid, and his technical and tactical skills are very Real Madrid.

However, as soon as Gu Ran started the one-on-one training, he took the initiative to start using the shot put.

Gu Ran was obviously more courageous during one-on-one training than when working with a team.

Teamwork requires emphasis on formation, while one-on-one is about training individual abilities, so Gu Ran naturally doesn't need to worry too much.

Real Madrid's coach Jacob was defended and broken by Gu Ran, to the point where he suspected that he was attending a fake Real Madrid training class...

During these two days of training, Gu Ran automatically exchanged for 2 exclusive talent points by taking advantage of his teammates' white dynamic training bubbles.

Elizabeth at home was also very obedient. She would call her two sisters on time every day and weakly tell the two strong and beautiful sisters that Gu Ran was already her boyfriend.

The two sisters were almost mad with anger and scolded Elizabeth for being stupid on the phone.

Elizabeth was naturally very depressed, and she would only feel happy when Gu Ran came back.

Every time Gu Ran returns home, he can easily pick up Elizabeth's red talent point bubbles and also get the benefit of Elizabeth's arm massage.

When he couldn't sleep at night, Gu Ran would hand-draw the storyboard script for an hour.

By the morning of the third day, Gu Ran already had 5 talent point bubbles in his hand, and he also stacked "Close Defense" to +4, "Five-Star Weak Foot" to +4, "Pursue and Counter-Steal" to +3, and "Outside of the Foot Pass" to +2.

It can be said that in just two days, Gu Ran’s progress is very obvious.

On the morning of the third day, Coach Adkins still arranged overall defensive counterattack drills and set-piece offense and defense drills.

At around 10 o'clock in the morning, the club's three giants, old Rice, general manager Mark Frye, and sports director Mark Walker, invited financial director Nicola Cortes to the No. 1 training ground for a meeting.

The high-level meeting was supposed to be held in the conference room, but it was also very pleasant to discuss things while watching Gu Ran train.

When the players on the field saw the arrival of the four senior executives, they also practiced extra hard.

After the four senior executives shook hands with each other, they sat side by side on the bench on the sidelines.

Old Rice and financial director Nicola Cortes sat in the middle, while general manager Mark Frye and sports director Mark Walker sat next to them.

This seating arrangement is wrong, but it is also reasonable.

Old Rice has a very high position in the club, and although Nicola Cortes is currently only the financial director, everyone with a discerning eye knows that it won't be long before Nicola Cortes will become the club's new general manager.

The financial director is from the Liebherr Group. Because Southampton Club had previously encountered a serious financial crisis, Nicola Cortes was appointed as the financial director in order to sort out the chaotic equity and financial situation of Southampton Club.

Once the finances are on track, it will be time for Nicola Cortes to officially take over as general manager of the club.

The female boss Catarina is a hands-off manager, so it is conceivable that Nicola Cortes will definitely be the person in charge of the club in the future.

This meeting is also equivalent to a direct dialogue between the two factions of the club.

Old Rice smiled and said to Nicola Cortes: "Nicholas, we signed Gu Ran, you are not disappointed, right?"

Nicola Cortes quickly smiled and said, "Of course! The whole club is excited! Gu, it's great!"

The sports director Mark Walker next to him also smiled and said: "Gu is the most hardworking person I have ever met. He is always the first player to come to the club, but the last player to leave the club. He is so talented, yet so hardworking, which is rare in the world! He has improved compared to his performance in the open class. He is a player who keeps improving. I believe that as long as he is given more time, he will definitely become the core of the Saints."

General Manager Mark Fry sighed slightly, "Gentlemen, don't just be happy. Don't you know that Liverpool, Manchester United and other giants are eyeing him? Liverpool took the initiative to invite us to tomorrow's friendly match. Moreover, they also promised that they will split the ticket revenue at Anfield with us 30% and 70%! It's 30% for them and 70% for us!"

“Isn’t that great?” said finance director Nicola Cortes.

...Are you an outsider? General Manager Mark Fry smiled and said, "On the surface, it seems that we are getting a bargain. After all, Liverpool's tickets are always sold out. Plus, with our Saints fans, our revenue from this friendly match, even conservatively speaking, can exceed our revenue from five home games in League One... But this is not common sense."

Old Rice also nodded. "Yes, Frye is right. Liverpool probably wants to use this friendly match to focus on Gu Ran, and then use Gu Ran's performance data to convince their transfer committee, so as to increase the price and poach our players. In fact, it's not just Liverpool, but also Arsenal. Arsenal doesn't have the money to poach players, but Wenger's assistant has been sending us emails, asking how to loan Gu Ran. In order to loan Gu Ran, they are even willing to discuss the matter of loaning Bendtner to us... In addition, Chelsea and Manchester United are also waiting for the opportunity to enter the market."

Nicola Cortes suddenly realized and said "Oh", "These bastards! They wish! Gu is not for sale in Southampton! By the way, can we... not let Gu Ran play in the friendly match?"

General Manager Mark Fry shook his head. "No. Even if we know these big clubs want to poach Gu Ran, we can't hide him for fear of being targeted. Besides, Gu Ran needs more playing opportunities to hone his skills, so that he can quickly grow into the core of Southampton."

Nicola Cortes asked in confusion, "Why did those three call me to meet today?"

Old Rice said calmly: "Nikola, now that we have come to this, let's talk frankly. The club belongs to us and to your Liebherr Group. We old guys will naturally withdraw when we are needed, because you spent money to save the club, you arranged your own people, that is also right, you have full control of the club, that is also right. However, the significance of the Saints cannot be represented by capital. It embodies the hard work and loyalty of several generations of us. Gu Ran's arrival has awakened the passion of the Saints that has been dormant for many years! Look at how enthusiastic the VIP fans were in the open class that day! We tell you all this, actually we want to tell you - in the future, more wealthy clubs will offer sky-high prices for Gu Ran, and even use such dirty and despicable means to poach him, but no matter how generous the conditions they offer, you must not agree to sell Gu Ran, you must not!"

The other two directors also looked at Nicholas Cortes silently, waiting for his reaction.

Old Rice smiled and said, “Then we can rest assured.”

General Manager Mark Frye laughed, "And it's almost time for me to retire."

Nicola Cortes smiled and said, "Mr. Frye, it's too early to talk about this now. The club still needs you three! Oh, by the way, I still have some important documents to deal with in my office. If you three have nothing else to do, I will leave first."

Old Rice smiled and said, "Of course, go ahead and do your work. We'll watch Gu Ran's training for a while."

"Okay, goodbye all three!" Nicholas Cortes smiled and stood up and left.

Sporting director Mark Walker imitated Nicola Coster's tone and said, "I have some important documents to deal with in my office...Mr. Frye, I really need you~"

Old Rice and Mark Frye burst out laughing.

As he laughed, Mark Frye said with a hint of sadness: "The future CEO is an outsider, but he is the representative of capital. Capital has no conscience, and you can't believe a single word of what capital says."

Old Rice patted Mark Frye on the shoulder and said, "At least, I'm still here. I will continue to protect Gu Ran."

Mark Frye and Mark Walker nodded.

The three giants all looked at Gu Ran who was training on the court...

After the training that morning, the players had their meal and rest.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, all the players came to the tactical classroom and started the last tactical analysis class before the game.

Before every game, players of professional teams will take a tactical analysis class to analyze the opponent's tactics and strategies and determine their own tactics and strategies.

Football is never just about breaking through and shooting on the field. Intelligence work and tactical strategies off the field are very important.

Coach Adkins first analyzed the problems that the players had encountered in defensive counterattack training in recent days, and emphasized on praising Gu Ran's serious attitude in training.

After explaining the defensive counterattack tactics, Coach Adkins began to talk about tomorrow's tactical arrangements against Liverpool.

"Liverpool is undoubtedly a top club."

"Liverpool's attacking lineup can be described as luxurious. Any coach who gets even one of Liverpool's stars can build a team around this star."

"At the moment, we are only a League One team, and our strength is two levels behind Liverpool."

"We are playing away tomorrow, so I don't have high hopes for the result of tomorrow's game."

"Of course, Liverpool won't field all their main players."

"Many of their main players, including Gerrard, Torres, Joe Cole, Kuyt, Maxi Rodriguez, Carragher and so on, have just finished the World Cup and I am afraid they have not yet started to resume training."

"According to the information I received, in Liverpool's 22-man squad tomorrow, Gerrard and Carragher are both substitutes, and Torres, who just won the World Cup, is not even on the squad for this pre-season game."

"Even if Gerrard and his team play in the first pre-season game, it will probably be symbolic and they won't play for long."

"So, there is no need for everyone to have too much psychological pressure when playing tomorrow, just play normally."

Coach Adkins first gave the whole team a set of preventive measures.

"Of course, even though this is just a pre-season friendly, even though many of the other team's star players may not appear, and even though I don't expect us to win, we must not let our guard down."

"I've said before that the six pre-season warm-up games are not really for you to play with a warm-up mentality."

"I allow you to lose to Liverpool by one goal, or even two goals, but if you don't perform seriously, then forget about your chances and playing time in the new season."

"No matter what your past was, no matter how important your position is, I only look at your performance on the field."

"Yes, I can accept you losing to a strong team, but I will never accept you playing rotten on the court."

All the players present sat solemnly.

They have all experienced the new head coach's thunderous tactics, and no one dares to play badly in front of the new coach.

What's more, performing well against strong teams can not only greatly increase your popularity, but there is even a great chance that you will be spotted by wealthy clubs and poached.

Are you a die-hard Southampton fan? Come on! This isn't Bilbao Basque Country!

Most of the players in Southampton Club have the idea of ​​changing their position.

For now, Gu Ran is the only one who remains unmoved.

It’s not that Gu Ran has to be loyal to Southampton, nor that Gu Ran doesn’t like to go to a wealthy club, but that Gu Ran has a very clear career plan.

Then Coach Adkins continued: "Now, let's analyze Liverpool's formation and tactics in detail—"

"Liverpool's head coach this season is still Coach Hodgson."

"According to the data intelligence provided by our enemy scouts, Liverpool's formation this time is likely to be 451."

Coach Adkins then drew Liverpool's 451 formation on the whiteboard.

“We have to pay close attention to the offensive power of this formation.”

Coach Adkins pointed to the formation structure on the big whiteboard and said, "If you look closely at this formation, you will find that Hodgson's formation is different from the traditional 451 formation."

"The traditional 451 formation is a conservative formation with two defensive midfielders and three midfielders."

"However, Hodgson's 451 has moved the positions of the double defensive midfielders and three midfielders forward, turning it into an attacking formation of two midfielders and three forwards."

"Hodgson is an expert at defensive counterattacks, but Liverpool is full of attacking midfield stars, so Hodgson adopted the tactical strategy of counter-attacking in the midfield."

"Hodgson, this old fox, is very impressive. Liverpool is an offensive team, and Hodgson's 451 formation is obviously an offensive formation. He put Lampard, Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez in the front court, which is scary enough just by looking at it. But in fact, this 451 formation is an offensive formation."

"That is to say, they started defending from the front court."

"Whether it's Gerrard, Kuyt or Rodriguez, they all have defensive responsibilities in the midfield and frontcourt."

"This will be very detrimental to our breakthrough offense and will suppress our depth and width, so our defenders must be resolute, decisive and accurate when passing the ball, make good preparations in advance, and never lose the ball."

"To deal with this formation and strategy, it's simple. Just compete with speed and physical strength, attack their two flanks, and penetrate their ribs."

"As long as we are fast enough and strong enough, it will be easy for us to kick them."

“Otherwise, it will be difficult.”

…

(End of this chapter)