"Fuck, is there such a thing?"

  When Gao Shen saw the fax from the Italian Football Association in his hand, he was immediately dumbfounded.

  He even had the urge to storm the headquarters of the Football Association in Rome.

  Damn it, why do they have to py tricks like this when a decisive battle is looming?

  I've prepared everything, and now they're suddenly throwing a suspension at me?

  The fax was a notice from the Italian Football Federation, inf Napoli that Paolo avaro had received a yellow card in the game against Ascoli. Since he accumuted two yellow cards, he would be suspended for the round.

  What the hell!

  This sudden notificatio everyounned.

  Gao Shen and his coag staff were especially fbbergasted. Suspended after just two yellow cards?

  Why not just suspend someoer one yellow card?

  Of course, these are the rules of the Coppa Italia, and they are not specifically targeting Napoli.

  What truly angered Gao Shen was, why wait until the day before the game to notify them?

  "Marino got an expnation from the Italian Football Association saying that due to signifit personnel ges this summer, the FA is currently a bit slow in processing some affairs, so there's been a dey. They hope we uand," Carlo expined with a bitter smile.

  This reason seems legitimate enough; after all, the fallout from the Calciopoli sdal is still bei.

  Paolo avaro's two yellow cards were not all for Napoli. One was received while pying for Parma in the Coppa Italia st season. Since Parma wasn't elimihat yellow card naturally carried over to Napoli, which Gao Shen didn't know about.

  This is quite the trap.

  After all, avaro only received one yellow card at Napoli, so why would he be suspended?

  But who you reason with about such matters?

  What's more, the game is tomorrow.

  Damn it, this is a proper setup!

  "What are we going to do now?" Carlo asked with .

  Napoli's tre-back options aren't too bad. Besides avaro, they have David Luiz, Bonucci, Domic, Maldonado, Savini, and Cupi. Domi py on the left, and Cupi is a versatile defender.

  However, the strength of these pyers varies. Domic is the stro and, at 26, is in his prime.

  From a more reasonable point of view, it would make seo baweeerans and newers.

  However, Domic, Savini, and Maldonado all have something in on: their physical attributes are great, but they ck flexibility and agility. Cupi has good agility, but he is only 1.74 meters tall and already 30 years old.

  This is quite normal. If a pyer were outstanding in all aspects, they wouldn't have ended up at Napoli st season. They would have been snatched up by Serie B or even Serie A teams.

  "I don't deny the potential of Bonucd David Luiz, but at this stage, they're not stable enough. Especially David Luiz, that kid is wild," Carlo analyzed with a wry smile.

  Gao Shen nodded. Not only now, but even in a few years, David Luiz would still be wild.

  In his memory, this guy belongs to the type who feels unfortable unless he makes at least three critical mistakes.

  Of course, he also had his moments of brilliance.

  "I'll go talk to them."

  With that, Gao Shen turned around and walked out.

  ---

  Out of the meeting room, turni led to the pyers' lounge.

  Gao Shen called out Bonucci first, basically telling him about the suspension of avaro.

  The pyers had already heard the news. Whealian Football Associatiohe fax, they also posted the suspension noti the official website. The print media would take a bit longer, but the online media had already reported it.

  Gao Shen asked Bonucci to prepare well; no matter what, he would still start.

  After settling Bonucci, Gao Shen asked him to call David Luiz to his office.

  ...

  The Braziliare-back, with his youthful fad short hair, walked in.

  Yes, at this time, David Luiz had not yet grown his infamous curly "bird's " hairstyle, so he wasn't quite in his stro form yet.

  Gao Shen had been waiting for his transformation.

  If you i with him long enough, you'll find that this guy is quite the edian.

  What do I mean?

  Gao Shen oniamed him the "Happy Bean" of the locker room.

  With his cheerful temperament, David Luiz ied quickly into the team.

  He has almost all the qualities of a top tre-baote, not just a top tre-back for this period, but even by 2021 standards. Whether it's running ce, rec back, spatial awareness, or personal defending, he's exceptional.

  Not to mention his excellent passing vision and le passing skills.

  However, he is also impulsive, reckless, easily excited, and unstable these are his faults.

  Is this good or bad?

  Befao Shen's time-travel, the discussion about David Luiz had already bee stale, with faher loving or hating him.

  Why are opinions so divided about the same pyer?

  It's quite simple: David Luiz's strengths and weaknesses are both obvious, and they have different impacts in different tactical enviros.

  In a team that employs a high defensive line, David Luiz's advantages are signifit, and his weaknesses are almost negligible. It's like Real Madrid not w about Ramos' occasional mistakes or Bara not fretting over Puyol being unreliable.

  But if he's in a low-block team, then sorry, David Luiz is a tig time bomb. His weaknesses are magnified, and it's difficult to make the most of his strengths.

  Some say the ten-plus meters in front of the defensive line is where tre-backs make most of their errors.

  So generally, for a tre-back like David Luiz, no team will easily give up on him, but they will pair him with a suitable parto cover his weaknesses.

  Think of Bonucd Chiellini at Juventus.

  Yes, Gao Shen's pn was to have Bonucd David Luiz partner up.

  But now, this sudden situation forced Gao Shen t that pn forward.

  ...

  "David, I remember when you decided to sign with Napoli, you called me. We talked for a long time, and you told me that you wao fulfil your father's dream, right?"

  After greeting David Luiz, Gao Shen spoke slowly.

  "Yes, boss," David Luiz smiled and nodded. He has always been a sunny boy.

  "He used to be a prodigy that many people had high hopes for, but at the age of 20, he gave up football for the sake of the family and became a middle school teacher. He taught me how to py football since I was a child."

  David Luiz joihe Sao Paulo youth academy at nine and had to travel three times between home and the academy but persisted.

  At 14, Sao Paulo refused to sign him because of his small size, f him to move to the lower-tier team Vitória, 2,000 kilometres away.

  "You've heard about Paolo's suspensiht?" Gao Shen asked.

  "I know, boss," David Luiz said, somewhat excited.

  Although the retionship is good, they are still petitors. avaro's suspension represents an opportunity for David Luiz.

  Especially at this critical time when Gao Shen called him to talk.

  "Let me be straightforward; I want you to start in pce of Paul and partner with Bonucci."

  Befao Shen could finish, David Luiz was overjoyed and said quickly, "Thank you, boss."

  "Don't rush," Gao Shen said, smiling bitterly in his heart. This kid is always so rash. "The coag staff still has s about you. You know your performances haven't been reassuring, with quite a few mistakes."

  Whether in warm-up matches or training, David Luiz made many mistakes.

  While Napoli hasn't ceded many goals, the oppos haven't been strong enough to capitalize.

  But the oppo is Juventus, and David Luiz will have to face strikers like Trezeguet, Zayeta, Del Piero, and Bojinov.

  The smile disappeared from David Luiz's face. He felt a little down, knowing what his problem was.

  "I'll be careful, boss. Trust me."

  "I defirust you, David; otherwise, I wouldn't be here talking to you," Gao Shen reassured. "But the coag staff's s are not unfounded. I have to sider everything because this is a single-elimination match. The oppo is Juventus."

  David Luiz khe importance of this game and the challe posed.

  Never lose!

  Now, he was also feeling a bit nervous. He wasn't sure what Gao Shen was implying.

  "I assured the coag staff that I believe you will not let us down in this game. You won't make any mistakes, and you won't cede. I want you to be the startire-back for this game."

  Upon hearing this, David Luiz became excited.

  With Gao Shen's assurance, his emotions were like a rollercoaster ride, but now he was filled with excitement and gratitude.

  "Thank you, boss!"

  "Don't let me down, David!" Gao Shen said early.

  "I swear, boss, I won't let you down!" David Luiz stood up from his seat and assured him solemnly.

  Gao Sheured for him to sit down.

  "You know, I'm very, very optimistic about you, David. I believe your dream e true, that you will bee one of the best tre-backs in the world, and I'm willing to keep giving you these opportunities..."

  David Luiz was excited again, but Gao Shen didn't let him interrupt aured for him to calm down.

  "But," Gao Shen's tone shifted, "I have to sider the eeam, the locker room, and the coag staff. You o show your best, or eveer than your best, to vince everyone and earn more starting opportunities."

  David Luiz nodded vigorously, thhly vinced by Gao Shen. He believed that Gao Shen truly valued and trusted him, and was eager to prove his worth.

  He felt a strong urge to excel for his coach!

  "Show your best performance against Juventus, with zero mistakes, and I'll make sure you start in the first Serie A match!" Gao Shen urged him with determination.