RNP Chapter 16: The First Chinese Player to Play in the International Champions Cup!
Chapter 16: The First Chinese Player to Play in the International Champions Cup!
Roma concluded their eight-day summer training camp in Pinzolo and returned home via the same route.
They then conducted three more days of training at the Trigoria training base.
The focus is on tactical cohesion, supplemented by physical training.
Chang Huan's role in Di Francisco's tactical system is becoming increasingly apparent, making him the biggest discovery of this summer training camp.
They are good at both attacking and passing, and they are highly motivated on defense.
It perfectly complements both vertical offensive and high-post defensive systems.
The key is that he's young and has a lot of room for improvement.
Firstly, a slender physique will be more dominant when fully developed, especially if skills such as cutting inside, shooting from a distance, and making through passes are further developed.
"Holy crap! Messi!"
Di Francisco slapped his forehead, gave a wry smile, and thought he was overthinking things.
Local time 10:50 a.m. on July 16.
Apart from Karsdorp and Emerson, who were injured, the entire Roma team took a Singapore Airlines flight from Rome's Fiumicino Airport to Singapore to participate in the International Champions Cup in Singapore.
After a 13-hour flight, we finally arrived at Changi Airport at 6 a.m. the next day.
By filling out the electronic entry card and event registration in advance, participants can enter the country through the VIP fast track for sports groups.
We boarded a pre-arranged bus to the Hao Ya Hotel in the city center and checked into a secure, closed-off floor.
The players stayed at the hotel all day.
The focus is on adjusting to the time difference and recovery.
the next day.
The players stayed at the hotel in the morning to recover their physical condition.
In the afternoon, we took a bus prepared by the organizing committee to the Singapore National Stadium for a site visit.
Along the road leading to the stadium, there were many fans wearing Roma jerseys and holding up Roma fan scarves.
There weren't many people, probably a few hundred.
Although the crowd was nowhere near as large as that of their International Champions Cup rivals Bayern Munich, every Roma fan who came to support them was a true die-hard.
With fiery enthusiasm, they cheered on the Roma players who had traveled from afar to participate in the International Champions Cup.
De Rossi and Dzeko are the most popular.
Banners, slogans, and posters are basically all centered around these two.
Chang Huan, who was sitting in the back of the bus by the window, was very envious.
He knew that he, who possessed the system, would certainly receive the same treatment in the near future!
The training consisted of regular jogging warm-ups, stretching, and light tactical drills to prepare the participants for the grass and Singapore’s hot and humid weather.
"It's so hot and humid here."
Pellegrini, who had only been running for a short while, said speechlessly.
Alisson, who was jogging along, complained, "You can argue with that. Even I, a goalkeeper, feel like I'm about to get heat cramps."
"You two need to work on your physical fitness."
Chang Huan accelerated and overtook the car.
"You little brat..."
The entire acclimatization period should be kept to ninety minutes.
Twenty minutes of that time were dedicated to autographs and photos with paying fans.
Chang Huan was relatively unknown within the Roma team, but his good looks attracted many female fans and online celebrities who entered the stadium.
Pellegrini lightly pinched his chin and clicked his tongue, teasing Chang Huan after dealing with the female fans: "My looks aren't any worse than yours, so why aren't I as popular? This generation of female fans has terrible taste."
Nainggolan nodded: "Exactly."
Another midfielder, Strootman, nodded in agreement.
After getting his hair cut and styled, El Shaarawy slicked his hair back with both hands and said, "Who says otherwise?"
De Rossi chimed in, "Hey, what can you do when female fans in their 90s prefer young, fresh-faced guys to mature men like me?"
"I recorded it, I'll send it to my sister-in-law later."
Chang Huan paused, turned around, and gave a half-smile.
De Rossi's expression froze, his pupils shrinking sharply: "Really?"
"Who in their right mind would bring a cell phone to a venue like this?"
Chang Huan chuckled.
"..."
8 PM on the 19th.
The first match of the 2017 International Champions Cup Singapore Division kicked off at the Singapore National Stadium.
Bayern Munich fielded several key players.
Hummels, Alaba, Ribery, Lewandowski, and James Rodriguez on loan all made their appearances.
Rome also fielded their strongest lineup.
Dzeko, De Rossi, Strootman, Perotti, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Alisson started together.
Both teams were in poor form, clearly in the preseason warm-up period.
Whether it's individual performance or teamwork, the results are rather disappointing.
However, the more than 50,000 fans at the scene came for the star players and were not so interested in the content of the game.
It would be great to score a goal, but it's not something to be forced if you don't.
Bayern Munich has the overall superior strength and should rightfully take the initiative.
16 minutes.
Ribery cuts inside from the left and unleashes a powerful shot!
Alisson was very focused, and he made a diving save to keep the ball out of the net!
A gasp of surprise erupted from the audience: "Whoa!"
Three minutes later.
James Rodriguez received a through ball from Tolisso just outside the penalty area, controlled it, and fired a shot that went just wide of the left post.
After facing a series of dangerous situations in front of the Roma goal, Di Francesco walked to the command area and made tactical gestures to intensify the pressing.
Bayern players, who had only recently resumed training, struggled under pressure, resulting in increased passing errors.
Fortunately, Roma's transition from defense to attack was not smooth, and they were unable to break through the defensive system led by Alaba and Hummels.
For a time, both sides engaged in a high-profile, aggressive attack.
The fans at the scene were thrilled and unleashed their passion.
Chang Huan, like Lorenzo Pellegrini and El Shaarawy on either side of him, crossed his legs and occasionally exchanged a few words about the progress of the game.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, seeing Gerson easily beaten by Ribery, quipped, "If I were here, I would have to fly out and tackle him. Whether I could get the ball or not is another matter, the key is to play with spirit first."
Chang Huan replied casually, "Hmm, your reading skills are really strong, you really have the demeanor of a superstar."
El Shaarawy, seeing Perotti's hesitant breakthrough get intercepted, shrugged and said, "Chang, I'm not bragging, but getting past Hummels is as easy as crossing the street at five in the morning for me. How can I be as sluggish as Perotti?"
Chang Huan, his lips twitching slightly, responded perfunctorily, giving a thumbs-up and praising, "No wonder you're a prodigy who burst onto the scene at 16! With you on the Italian national team, the forward line will be worry-free for the next ten years."
The two were delighted to hear this, but... they felt there was something off about what he said.
In the blink of an eye, the first half of the game ended.
The scoreboard still shows a 0-0 score.
The starting players and those called to warm up at the end of the first half headed to the locker room, while the substitutes entered the field to warm up.
Before the start of the second half.
Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Florenzi all made appearances.
Bayern also made extensive rotations.
Sanches, Thomas Müller, Javi Martinez and other players made their substitute appearances.
Not long after the start of the second half, a confident Lorenzo Pellegrini was easily beaten by Ribery, who cut inside, like a street at five in the morning.
Go wherever you want.
El Shaarawy, who had previously been known for his lofty and boastful remarks, also encountered his strictest father, Hummels.
Chang Huan, who was still warming up in the warm-up area, raised his hand and slapped his forehead: "As expected, they are all masters of verbal combat."
53 minutes.
El Shaarawy's breakthrough was intercepted by Hummels, Pellegrini's sliding tackle from the side was easily dodged by Ribery, whose through ball accurately found Lewandowski, who had beaten the offside trap.
Alisson stepped up at the crucial moment!
He miraculously saved Lewandowski's one-on-one chance!
The sixty-minute mark is a crucial point for substitutions in the game.
"often!"
Chang Huan, who was warming up seriously, was stunned for half a second when he heard assistant coach Tome shouting. Then he was overjoyed.
"Next, do this... then do that... understand?"
Di Francisco did it all in one go.
Chang Huan, with her exceptional tactical understanding, nodded solemnly: "Boss, I understand."
"OK~"
About half a minute later, the ball went dead on the field, and the referee blew his whistle and faced the substitution area.
The broadcast feed switched to the player substitution technology area.
CCTV-5 commentator Shao Shengyi, gazing at the handsome young man on screen, announced loudly: "The player appearing on screen is Chang Huan, a Chinese player. He had a substitute assist in the final match of last season's Premier League and transferred to Roma this June. This is his first appearance in the International Champions Cup! He is also the first Chinese player to participate in this competition!"