Chapter 707 Where is Su Dong going?
After training in Dubai for ten days and playing a warm-up match, Bayern returned to Europe and went to Basel, Switzerland.
Basel's head coach is called Fink.
Not the Fink who dissects animals, nor the Fink who digs lava, but a defensive midfielder.
He played for Bayern from the late 1990s to the beginning of the new century, helping the team win the Champions League, but his presence in the team was not very good, and he couldn't even make it to the German national team during its trough. It is estimated that even many of Bayern's new fans have never heard of this name.
However, after becoming the head coach, he did a good job. He was sacked from the German second division team due to poor performance of Golstadt. After coaching Basel, this Swedish Super League team performed well, and Fink's coaching ability and technical and tactical ideas have been proven.
Fink's coaching style is very similar to that of Bayern's former head coach Hitzfeld. It is said that after he retired, he learned a lot from Hitzfeld. Later, when Hitzfeld coached the Swiss national team, he strongly recommended Fink to coach Basel. It was also because of Hitzfeld's recommendation that the inexperienced Fink was able to coach a Swedish Super League powerhouse like Basel.
Today, Fink's coaching career can be said to be on the right track. As long as he continues to maintain his performance, I believe he will have no problem coaching in the Bundesliga next, and he may even have a chance to join a top club.
Hitzfeld was present to watch Bayern's warm-up match against Basel.
For this warm-up match, Bayern did not send out all of their main players. In the first half, they only arranged rotation and substitute players to play, but their performance was poor and they conceded a goal to Basel.
After the second half, Bayern made a lot of substitutions, but their performance still did not improve.
In the 70th minute, Su Dong came on as a substitute.
Three minutes later, a direct free kick penetrated Basel's goal.
Interestingly, Basel's goalkeeper Wesels is also a former Bayern player.
Afterwards, in the 85th and 87th minutes, Su Dong scored two goals in a row, performing a hat trick.
In the end, Bayern reversed Basel 3-1.
…
“He is really amazing!”
In the chairman's stand, Hitzfeld couldn't help but exclaim in admiration as he watched Su Dong walk off the field.
"Do you regret it?" Sitting next to him was Bayern chairman Hoeness.
Hitzfeld laughed, he knew what Hoeness meant by regret.
When Bayern decided to change coaches and fire Magath, they actually considered letting Hitzfeld take over.
At that time, Bayern was determined to pursue Su Dong. They discussed the matter with Hitzfeld, Heynckes and others, and studied with them the feasibility and technical and tactical plans for Su Dong after joining Bayern. Both Hitzfeld and Heynckes agreed very much.
But when it came to coaching, Hitzfeld was a little hesitant because he also wanted to take over the Swiss national team at the time.
More importantly, Bayern's investment was too huge and the requirements for the head coach were also high. For example, the team's technical and tactical play. Hitzfeld was not sure whether he could achieve the expectations of the top management, and his hesitation handed the opportunity to Heynckes.
The past few years have definitely been the most prosperous period in Bayern's history.
Su Dong is stronger and more outstanding than when he played for Barcelona, and has entered the golden period of his career. This makes it easier for Bayern to win championships and honors, and Heynckes is also making a lot of money.
Hitzfeld asked himself that if he were to coach, he might not be able to do better than Heynckes, but he probably wouldn't be much worse. He still has confidence in his coaching ability.
"If I say I have no regrets, you won't believe me. I don't quite believe it myself." Hitzfeld admitted with a laugh.
At his age, he is not afraid to admit these things.
Who hasn’t made a wrong decision? Besides, his decision wasn’t wrong.
"In fact, seeing Su Dong, I was really moved. For any head coach, being able to coach such a player is something to be proud of, and even something that they will be proud of throughout their entire coaching career."
Hennes nodded. This was not the first time he had heard such words.
Even if Su Dong stays in Bayern and Bayern wants to change coaches, famous coaches from all over the world will probably line up to come.
"When he was at Sporting Lisbon, I told you to sign him quickly, but you didn't believe me," Hitzfeld complained.
Hennes was unhappy after hearing this, "If that's what you said, then why did you want Roy Mackay in the first place?"
"Su Dong was cheap and relatively young at the time, and Ma Kai was ready to fight..."
Hoeness smiled and waved his hands. "The team's budget is fine, but after you signed Makai, Su Dong wanted a starting position. Can you give it to him? Oh, you wanted to sign Makai, but now you blame me?"
Hitzfeld laughed. After all, he was just feeling regretful.
If he had signed Su Dong at the beginning, he would not have this regret now.
"If you ask me, the older you get, the more conservative you become. Look at Heynckes, he is very willing to take risks. Look at the way he plays now. How well does he play? This is called keeping pace with the times. First revolutionize yourself, then revolutionize others. Take a big step and bravely step out of your comfort zone. You have to learn this well," Hoeness taught.
Hitzfeld kept smiling and did not refute.
Hennes didn't say anything more.
In fact, some things are easier said than done.
Everyone knows that they need to bravely step out of their comfort zone, but how many people can actually do it? Did Heynckes do it? But wasn't he also forced into a corner at the time? Even the fans of his hometown team, Borussia Mönchengladbach, who erected a statue for him, began to curse him. If he didn't change himself, could he continue to coach?
Hoeness even joked that he might as well come to Bayern as a scout.
Hitzfeld does not have this pressure, and he is not worried about not having coaching opportunities, so he is happy to stay in his comfort zone.
As for regrets, there is nothing we can do about it.
"You really don't plan to renew the contract with Su Dong?" Heathfield asked with concern.
This is also the focus of media and fans across Europe and even the world.
Su Dong did not renew his contract!
When this was mentioned, Hoeness shook his head and sighed, "Su Dong's willingness to renew the contract is not very strong, and you know, according to our plan, if Su Dong's contract is renewed, Ribery and Robben are likely to leave the team, freeing up some salary space and reducing the team's financial pressure. At that time, it will be difficult to guarantee results."
"Aren't you not short of money now?" Heathfield asked in confusion.
Hennes shook his head and sighed, "It's not bad now, but it may not be so in the future."
After a pause, the Bayern chairman explained: "We plan to pay off the loan for the Allianz Arena to reduce the debt pressure and accumulate some funds. We have a hunch that in the next few years, more and more hot money will flow into European football. At that time, the players' value and annual salary are expected to increase. It is hard to say how much it will increase, but we must be prepared and stockpile enough food and grass."
What makes Bayern different from other teams, even Real Madrid and Barcelona, is that they have to be responsible for their own profits and losses.
If you have money now and spend it lavishly, it would be fun, but what if you have no money in the next few years?
What to do? Should we do what Dortmund did in the past, tightening our belts and almost going bankrupt?
Before coaching Bayern, Hitzfeld coached Dortmund and has a deep understanding of this point, so he can especially understand the Bayern management's sense of crisis and preparedness.
As long as Bundesliga teams are under pressure to be self-sufficient, they will not be able to spend money on signings as lavishly as other teams in other leagues. Instead, they must act within their means and even plan for the long term.
As for Bayern and the Bundesliga, let alone the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, even players like Ribery, Robben, Modric, Pepe, etc. are not as useful and safe as their own players.
At the very least, Bayern's status in the minds of German players is extremely high.
"Sudong is indeed strong, there is no doubt about that. I can even say that he is the strongest player I have ever seen. But it is enough for such a player to play for Bayern for three or four years. If it is longer, we will be under too much pressure." Hoeness said with a sigh.
If Bayern were a team like Real Madrid, he would renew Su Dong's contract no matter what.
Unfortunately, Bayern is not.
"Sudon's departure will free up a lot of salary space, where Berg and Robben can stay. With Klose and Thomas Muller, if we can introduce another center forward, it will also be very competitive." Hitzfeld knows Hoeness very well.
The Bayern chairman smiled and nodded. This was indeed the management's plan.
Not only the forward line, but also the midfield and defense are not untouchable. After all, Bayern's young generation is rising very fast.
"Where will Su Dong go?" Heathfield asked with concern.
He was not worried that Su Dong had nowhere to go. After all, many teams would spend all they had to get a player of this level.
"I don't know, it could be Real Madrid or Manchester United, it could be Chelsea or Juventus, maybe even Manchester City."
"Manchester City?" Hitzfeld was a little surprised.
"Nerlinger said that during his stay in Abu Dhabi, Manchester City owner Mansour personally talked to him about bringing in Sudon, Modric, Pepe, Marcelo and Neuer."
"What?" Hitzfeld was full of surprise, and then burst out laughing, "He is simply trying to hollow out Bayern."
Hoeness smiled bitterly. Who said it wasn't true? Damn, you poached most of the starting lineup. Why didn't you poach Ribery and Robben as well?
"However, Manchester City does not lack money."
This is what Hoeness is worried about.
With Chelsea in front and Manchester City behind, and with Florentino's second stint in charge of scouting for superstars, the players' values and salaries have skyrocketed, which is already visible to the naked eye.
If other tycoons enter the football world in the next few years, the competition for superstars will only become more and more intense, and the salaries of stars will become higher and higher. When that time comes, Bayern will have no money on hand, let alone recruiting players. It will not even have the ability to keep the current group of players. What can it use to compete in European football?
This is also the reason why Hoeness, Beckenbauer, Rummenigge and others are so determined to increase efforts to train the younger generation of German players. Only they are the future that Bayern can rely on.
(End of this chapter)
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