Chapter 95: Unique training
Wang Feng returned to Milan and began reorganizing his training plan. He increased the emphasis on ball control exercises while reducing the focus on endurance and physical training, as he believed his current physical condition was sufficient to adapt to the demands of Serie A.
Therefore, Wang Feng needed to further refine his dribbling skills. It was evident that his one-on-one dribbling technique was no longer sufficient, as he often encountered double-team defenses.
He arranged the cones into various irregular patterns and then dribbled through them, using feints and dribbling moves to navigate through the tight spaces without touching the cones or stopping.
Although the cones did not provide feedback like real defenders would, they served as effective training aids. Firstly, the abundance of cones surrounded him from all directions, simulating the comprehensive defensive coverage he would face on the field.
Secondly, once he entered the maze of cones, he had to make instant judgments to find a way out, simulating the fast-paced and ever-changing situations on the field, as well as the quick decision-making required by players.
While adjusting the arrangement of the cones, Wang Feng continued to decrease the gaps between them after each successful attempt, increasing the difficulty. After half a day of training, the difficulty had become extremely high, leading to twenty-one consecutive failures.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he recalculated the dribbling route and the force and angle of his ball control, preparing for another attempt.
Unnoticed by Wang Feng, head coach Cooper and Ronaldo had arrived at the sidelines. Ronaldo had been discharged from the hospital earlier and was undergoing recovery training. His injury was not severe, so he could return after the new year.
Curiously, Ronaldo asked Cooper, "Mr. Cooper, what training method is Wang Feng using? I've never seen it before."
Cooper shook his head and replied, "I've never seen this training method either. It seems to be a dribbling exercise. Wang Feng often does unconventional training exercises. Last time, I saw him doing passing drills with two footballs."
"I asked him about it, and he said it was his own improvised training method because he often couldn't find someone to train with. His dedication is something we all can't match."
Ronaldo wouldn't adopt such masochistic training methods; he preferred joyful football. If life was all about training besides matches, it would drive him crazy.
"Do you think this training method is effective?" Ronaldo asked curiously.
Cooper grimaced and replied, "I'm not sure. Honestly, I personally don't recommend this unscientific training method. However, Wang Feng only does this kind of training during club breaks, and it doesn't harm his body, so I can't do much about it."
It might not be effective for others, but it was effective for Wang Feng. The feeling of each practice was deeply ingrained in his mind, and all he needed to do was turn that feeling into a subconscious reaction.
He would truly make progress when he could move as effortlessly as Ronaldo did.
In his fifty-first attempt, Wang Feng finally succeeded in dribbling through the cones once again. He shouted in exhilaration before realizing that Coach Cooper and Ronaldo were at the sidelines.
He hurried over, scratching his head apologetically. "How did you two come over? I didn't even notice. I'm sorry."
Cooper waved his hand, saying, "I came with Ronaldo for a routine check-up and to plan some adaptive training. We saw you training, so we came over out of curiosity. Sorry for disturbing you."
Ronaldo chuckled and said, "Seeing you training so diligently, it's rare to find such a young and disciplined player. I'm not as dedicated as you."
"But you also need to balance work and rest. I have lunch plans with another young player later. You should join us and get to know each other." Ronaldo suggested.
Since Ronaldo had initiated the invitation, Wang Feng couldn't refuse. They all went together in Ronaldo's Porsche 911 Turbo to their destination. Along the way, Wang Feng curiously asked, "Which player are you talking about?"
"Antonio Cassano, just one year older than you. He just turned 19 this year."
Wang Feng was surprised. Cassano was the young player hailed as the "future pillar of Italian football," right? He had recently transferred from Bari to Roma for �28.5 million, and Roma was Inter Milan's next opponent. Was it okay to meet the opponent before the match?
Seeing Wang Feng's surprised expression, Ronaldo understood what he was thinking and explained, "Actually, our relationship with Roma is good. Our cross-city rivals are AC Milan, while Roma's cross-city rival is Lazio. AC Milan and Lazio have a close relationship, so we are closer to Roma."
Wang Feng had just joined Serie A for less than half a season and was naturally not familiar with the complex interpersonal relationships between clubs. Ronaldo took the opportunity to explain the three major factions in Serie A.
"We have a close relationship with Roma, Atalanta, and Torino. The fans don't have hostile relationships."
"AC Milan has good relations with Parma, Bologna, Udinese, and Lazio. We always give our all against them."
"Juventus has closer ties with Napoli, Fiorentina, and Lecce, especially with Fiorentina. They have been known to play some clever games together in recent years. You have to be wary of them."
Seeing Wang Feng's bewildered expression, Ronaldo chuckled and continued, "Good relations don't mean match-fixing. It's more about free transfers and harmonious communication between players."
"In fact, every league has clubs with good relationships to some extent, but it's most prominent in Serie A, which also reflects the Italian preference for socializing."
"I actually quite like the atmosphere of Serie A clubs, but unfortunately, the league has brought me too many injuries," Ronaldo said with a touch of melancholy.
Wang Feng comforted him, saying, "Ronaldo, you don't need to be sad. I believe you will return to the peak of your form."
"Haha, thanks for your kind words. After this season, it's the World Cup. I must prepare myself to help Brazil achieve glory again," Ronaldo said confidently.
"By the way, can the Chinese team participate in the World Cup finals? It should be easy to qualify for the World Cup hosted in Asia, right?"
"We've already qualified through the qualifiers. We secured a spot ahead of schedule on October 7th," Wang Feng replied, as he also followed news about Chinese football.
"I look forward to competing with you on the World Cup stage," Ronaldo said.
"Don't get your hopes up. I'm probably not going to be called up," Wang Feng said, shrugging.
Ronaldo gasped, "Is the level of the Chinese team already so terrifying? If even you are not called up, does that mean there are many players better than you? Are you planning to directly compete for the World Cup?"
Wang Feng didn't know what to say and could only shrug.
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