I AM the Football Star

Chapter 317: Chapter 99: I, Lu Yang, Crave a Challenge! (Part 4)

Regarding the name of this stadium, foreign fans and Milan’s local fans don’t care that much. Inter chairman Xiaozhang once openly referred to his home stadium as San Siro on social media.

Instead, domestic fans have a strong sense of belonging to the two names.

San Siro is what AC Milan fans call their home ground.

Meazza is more how Inter fans refer to the stadium, even though both names refer to the same stadium.

So, when Inter Milan faces off against AC Milan... this also means Sogel will definitely be able to ”come home.”

This could become a major highlight.

The reason there’s a possibility is because Rome has already stated, the Italian Cup is the only honor they need to strive for this year.

Rome’s current performance is stable, but they have no hope for the championship.

They are in the European competition zone, and the pressure is not great.

Although their top superstar Perrotta is out for two months due to injury, Perrotta can catch up in the final sprint phase.

In two months, Rome won’t fall out of the European competition zone.

And on the European competition front, Rome has already exited early.

So... the Italian Cup is the only championship honor they can fight for this year.

They’re in the semifinals now, and Rome is willing to play the two matches.

On the other side, as for the AC Milan vs. Inter Milan showdown, it’s really hard to say.

Both teams are going to play the Champions League quarterfinals.

If they advance to the Champions League semifinals, then the Italian Cup will have to be abandoned.

Even if they don’t exit the Champions League, both teams have league performance they need to prioritize.

To put it bluntly, Perrotta was injured due to the Italian Cup after all.

AC Milan and Inter are not like Rome, they have no pressure in the league even without their star player.

Both teams need to compete with Juventus and Florence for the league championship.

Additionally, Inter Milan’s starting central forward Juan Gutierrez is also dealing with a potential transfer, making the current team atmosphere tense and the Italian Cup even less in their focus.

But no matter what, the closer it gets to the end of the season, the more major news stories emerge.

Because every upcoming match concerns various honors.

...

Italian Football Association President’s office.

Martivini and Maniero sit facing each other, the atmosphere slightly tense.

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The phone between them rings.

Martivini answers the phone immediately, his face growing increasingly grim.

”Okay, I understand!” Martivini hangs up the phone.

Bam!

He suddenly pounds the table in anger!

”These bastards! For their own interests, they’ve done such things!” Martivini’s veins are about to burst.

This July, the European Youth Championship finals are about to begin.

The Italy National Youth Team had a decent performance before, successfully securing a spot in the finals last October.

But now, with only a few months left, the National Youth Team head coach Calafi suddenly resigned at such a critical moment.

His given reason is health issues.

But actually, it’s because his son got involved in a fatal bar fight.

Moreover, his son was found to have been using illegal substances and was accused by a ”good girl” of raping her that night.

Evidently, Calafi’s son encountered significant trouble.

This might be coincidence.

But it could also be... the deliberate work of some individuals.

Martivini’s strong efforts on the Star of Italy and Italian Cup have significantly raised his chances of reelection.

But his opponents aren’t stupid, they naturally will retaliate in other areas.

And Calafi’s backstabbing can be said to have caused significant pain for Martivini.

Because, so far, his most impactful area is Italian youth training, where he has introduced and implemented numerous constructive reforms.

Yet, youth training rarely shows immediate effects.

Though results aren’t the most crucial thing, what matters most is that people in this sector have been replaced with Martivini’s faction members.

However, if no achievement is presented, it will become a target for others’ attacks.

And the fans don’t care that youth training typically takes five, six, nine, or ten years to show results. They believe since Martivini has complete control over the youth training system, then the current European Youth Championship must reflect corresponding success.

Originally, Martivini had some confidence.

But Calafi’s troublesome son dragged him down.

Calafi has led the National Youth Team for over two years and is the most familiar with Italy’s youth football players.

At the same time, his tactics have formed a system within the National Youth Team and have been implemented for over two years.

Without Calafi, where shall the Italy National Youth Team go?

Sometimes, a head coach is just a mascot, only responsible for taking the blame or offering encouragement, like Sotu.

Sotu: Damn it!

But sometimes, a head coach truly is the soul of a team, leaving an imprint from players to tactics. Once he leaves, the team might instantly fall apart.

Calafi: Understanding football!

And for younger teams, with predominantly young players, the latter is more suitable for them.

Martivini looks at Maniero: ”This is both a crisis and an opportunity.”

Martivini’s idea is straightforward, that Maniero is definitely a more talented coach than Calafi.

The danger lies in Maniero originally having the opportunity to directly compete for the head coach position of the Italy National Team.

But if he takes the helm of the National Youth Team, then should the European Youth Championship fail, he will have no reason to lead the Italy National Team’s resurgence and rise.

Maniero doesn’t hesitate, his presence here today indicates he is ready: ”I can do it!”

Martivini is moved to tears at this moment.

No wonder they share the last name Ma, they’re family!

Good brothers!

”But I want absolute coach authority!” Maniero’s sleepy eyes finally open, ”I will overthrow most of the previous National Youth Team’s elements, tactics, players, and so on. With Calafi’s set-up, we can indeed enter the finals, but it’s hard to win the championship. The last few years, England, France, Spain, are all very strong and each have emerging superstar talents.”

”Also, I need absolute cooperation from the coaching staff and personnel!”

Martivini nods: ”No problem, I can guarantee this. The youth training system is still under my control, Calafi is an exception, I hate that damned foolish son of his, he deserves to be executed!”

Maniero: ”Instead of executing Calafi’s son, I think the most urgent thing for you now is to act quickly. In my plan, Italy National Youth Team’s midfield core is Morici!”

”Whatever method you use, I need to see Morici’s name when submitting the European Youth Championship player roster!”

”I think you should hurry!”

”Additionally, I need these players too, make sure to inform them in advance, try not to get injured in the next three months including Sevajos from Ligue 1, Lam from Premier League, Bundesliga’s...”

As Maniero speaks, Martivini takes notes.

The forward direction of history in Italian Football changes subtly at this moment!