Chapter 1 Involuntary Pledge

In reality, the four of them didn't need to actively seek out the head coach, because the head coach had already taken the initiative to find them.

After training ended, Dick Advocaat added a sentence before announcing the dismissal: "Oh, right. Anyukov, Kerzhakov, Denisov, and Hero, the four of you come to my office."

Everyone looked at these four unlucky guys. Some gloated, some wore wry smiles, others were expressionless, and still others were deeply worried.

After the dismissal, the team scattered.

The four looked at each other, and finally Chen Hero waved his hand: "What's there to be afraid of? Let's go!"

In Advocaat's office, the four stood in a row in front of the head coach's desk.

Their coach was sitting behind the desk, legs crossed, looking up at the four of them.

"Everyone has read the newspapers, so I'll get straight to the point... This kind of thing has a very bad influence. I'm considering assigning all of you to the reserve team..."

The worst thing had happened. Kerzhakov's face was ashen, while Denisov and Anyukov held their heads in their hands.

At this moment, a voice rang out: "That's not fair!"

Kerzhakov, Denisov, and Anyukov all turned their heads in surprise to look at the bold Chen Hero.

Advocaat didn't seem angry, but looked at the speaker with interest.

"Tell me, how is it unfair?"

"We did go to that... nightclub! Yes, I admit it. But we went during our private time after training. We can do whatever we want during that time, as long as it's not illegal. And we didn't interfere with anyone. We weren't late for training the next day, and we weren't in low spirits or distracted. It was just a normal relaxation and entertainment. Players have personal time, right, sir?" Chen Hero said so much in one breath, and finally passed the buck to Advocaat.

Advocaat was a little surprised that Chen Hero could say such things.

He had seen many players who violated team discipline or were photographed picking up girls, and they always tried to deny it in every possible way, refusing to admit it. But Chen Hero not only admitted it frankly, but also explained their going out to play so well, as if they were the reasonable ones and he was making trouble unreasonably.

"Well... that's right, players have their own personal time... but not at this time, but during the holidays after the game." Advocaat shook his head, denying Chen Hero's statement.

"What you're worried about is that going to nightclubs will affect our performance, right?" Chen Hero was not intimidated and continued to ask. "Then as long as we prove that our performance hasn't been affected, won't that be enough?"

"How do you prove it? Performance isn't something you can just say is good and it really is." Advocaat straightened up, becoming more and more interested in Chen Hero in front of him.

He had seen players who dared to bargain with the head coach, but someone who dared to do so at the age of eighteen... Chen Hero was the first.

"Scoring goals!" Chen Hero replied decisively. "I'm a striker, and my job is to score goals. As long as I can score goals, doesn't that mean I'm in good form?"

A look of astonishment appeared on Advocaat's face at first, then he laughed.

"Ha... ha... hahahaha!"

He laughed louder and louder, until he couldn't stop completely. He simply leaned back in his chair and laughed with his head up.

"Is this funny, sir?" Chen Hero asked amid Advocaat's laughter.

"Ha... no, no." Advocaat finally stopped laughing. He sat up again and looked at Chen Hero. "No, it's not funny. I'm laughing because... of other reasons. You said you want to score goals? After our tactical adjustments, it's simply tailor-made for you. I think scoring goals should be a very ordinary thing for you. That doesn't count as good form."

He was quibbling. How could scoring goals not count as good form? As long as you can score goals, you're in good form. And saying that the tactics were tailor-made for Chen Hero, and that scoring goals was very ordinary. But in fact, scoring goals is not a very ordinary thing for any striker, because... form is uncertain. Maybe you have many shooting opportunities today, and you feel good about your shooting skills, but unfortunately you meet the opponent's goalkeeper who performs exceptionally well and saves all your shots. Can you say that he is not in good form?

"This..." Chen Hero didn't expect the head coach to quibble with him, a player.

Advocaat looked at him with a smile, thinking what else can you say now?

Chen Hero certainly saw the smile on Advocaat's face. In his opinion, this smile had a hint of mockery and ridicule.

He couldn't stand others treating him like this the most. Li Hao had done it, and then he was abused back in training, without mercy!

The head coach seemed to be saying to him: "Aren't you very good at talking? You say it? You say it, convince me!"

If he couldn't convince the head coach, all his efforts for more than a month would be in vain. Chen Hero understood this very well. Go to the reserve team? Then the main striker Tyk recovers from his injury and returns. Where will there be a place for him? What will he become like that? Muddle along in the reserve team? Then leave the team after the contract expires in two years and look for another place?

This is the last chance. If you don't go all out, who knows what the future will be like!

A surge of blood rushed to Chen Hero's head, a thought was generated, and a sentence blurted out, scaring everyone present!

"Then will scoring three goals in the next game prove that I'm in good form!"

Everyone's expressions froze on their respective faces.

"Are you crazy?! Hero! Do you know what you just said?!" After leaving Advocaat's office, Anyukov grabbed Chen Hero and roared at him.

"Isn't it just a hat-trick?" Chen Hero appeared very calm.

"..." Anyukov was speechless.

"You know how difficult a hat-trick is to complete, right?" Kerzhakov took over from Anyukov and came to persuade Chen Hero.

"Of course, many players can't complete a hat-trick in their entire lives." Chen Hero replied.

"Then why did you say that?!" Denisov really thought Chen Hero's brain was cramping.

Chen Hero spread his hands: "What else could I say? Isn't it good now? The head coach also said that as long as I can score three goals, he won't pursue our matter this time."

The other three looked at each other. Chen Hero was right. What else could they do if they didn't do this? At least now they have a chance to redeem themselves.

Anyukov put his hand on Chen Hero's shoulder: "Hero, I rarely admire someone. Now I sincerely admire you! Don't worry, I will try my best to pass the ball to you in the game to provide shooting opportunities!"

Kerzhakov also put his hand on it: "Me too! I'll help you attract the attention of their defenders, and then pass the ball to you when I have the chance!"

Kerzhakov and Chen Hero are both strikers, and in theory they are in a competitive relationship. But at this time, it is obviously better to work together to overcome the difficulties. So Kerzhakov also wholeheartedly wanted to help Chen Hero complete a hat-trick.

Substitute Denisov clapped his hands: "The commander is cheering for you below!"

Although Chen Hero behaved calmly in front of his three friends, as soon as he said goodbye to the three of them in the parking lot, his face changed immediately... He wailed with his head in his hands: "I told you to be talkative! I told you to be impulsive! Impulsiveness is the devil! You should be slapped for being talkative!"

How could he not know the difficulty of completing a hat-trick? Even if he has his two teammates to help him, can he score three goals just by saying he can?

Scoring one goal requires luck, let alone scoring three goals!

Besides, he doesn't know anything about his next opponent. Are they strong? Is their defense tough? Can we press them at home or are we evenly matched with them? He is a striker, and scoring goals largely depends on the midfielder creating opportunities for him. If the midfielder is not strong, even if he is in good form, it is useless!

If he wants to kill the enemy but can't, he will die!

Chen Hero, with a mournful face, returned to his dormitory and met Yesenin.

Because Chen Hero's Russian has improved significantly, Yesenin's identity as a translator has basically disappeared. He is now mainly Chen Hero's Russian teacher.

"Advocaat sent you to the reserve team?" Yesenin asked when he saw Chen Hero's appearance.

"I was thinking maybe it's better this way..." Chen Hero replied weakly.

"Expelled from the team? That's not right, it's just going to a nightclub, it's not that exaggerated, right?" Yesenin was still guessing.

Chen Hero said angrily: "Stop guessing! I made a vow in front of the head coach to perform a hat-trick in this weekend's league game, so that he won't pursue our matter of going to the nightclub."

Yesenin's expression was exactly the same as Advocaat's, as well as Anyukov's, Denisov's, and Kerzhakov's at the time...

Chen Hero said to Yesenin: "Maxim..."

"I can't help you with this, Hero. A hat-trick is not just something that can be completed with great talent. It requires skill and luck." Yesenin spread his hands.

Chen Hero suddenly shouted.

This long howl lasted for ten seconds before it stopped.

"Why do I like to be impulsive so much!" he said angrily.

Yesenin looked at him and then said, "Oh, by the way, you have already started doing this task, Hero."

"What task?"

"The task of completing a hat-trick in the weekend's league game."

Chen Hero stared blankly at Yesenin.

"This is a side quest. If you can complete it, the reward will be very generous. If you don't complete it... well, there is no punishment for the task itself, but the punishment in reality, I think you know it, right?"

Chen Hero hugged his head again.

"I know it's useless to say this, but... good luck, Hero." Yesenin patted Chen Hero on the shoulder.