Chapter 1 The Saint Petersburg Zenith Tryout

Gennady Popovich, head of youth training at Saint Petersburg Zenit, shook his head.

"I don't see anything good about him... His level is quite mediocre. Ruslan must have been mistaken," he commented.

Just like countless times before, Chen Hero's performance on the field was very ordinary. He didn't have good coordination with his new teammates, and his own abilities were unremarkable.

"His physique is outstanding, but his footwork is too crude. With the slightest pressure, he can't even control the ball properly..." Another coach, Nikolay Vorobjov, also shook his head vigorously. "His shooting technique isn't that great either... I think this is a waste of time..."

Chen Tao watched the coaches' expressions from afar. When he saw several of them shaking their heads one after another, his heart tightened.

He had only come to Europe to realize the true level of his son, who had always been his pride. Being able to play in matches in China didn't necessarily mean he could do the same in Europe. He knew that the standard of European football was many times higher than that of China, and his son was just an unknown player even in China...

Although he knew that his son's level might not meet European standards, what else could he do besides play football?

Because of this, he was determined to see his son through Europe—maybe a club would take a fancy to him? He believed that the reason his son wasn't performing well wasn't because he lacked talent, but because the training he received in China as a child was too poor. As long as he could stay in Europe and receive high-level training, his son's level would definitely improve by leaps and bounds.

This father, who didn't understand football very well, didn't know that eighteen-year-old Chen Hero had already missed the best period for development. Many of his technical movements were fixed, and the bad habits he had developed playing football in China were too ingrained and difficult to change. In the eyes of those professional coaches, Chen Hero's height was wasted, and he couldn't harness the power of his physique. It was a pity.

Ruslan Panchenko, the scout who brought Chen Hero and his father to Saint Petersburg, was also watching from the sidelines. So far, Chen Hero's performance wasn't good. Based on these performances alone, it would be impossible to impress the team's chief scout.

He even began to doubt whether he had misjudged him. Could that kid's header yesterday have just been luck...? Wait! Heading?

That's right, heading!

He walked towards the coaches.

"Ah, you've come at the right time, Ruslan. Look at the person you brought..." Popovich said to Panchenko mercilessly, pointing at Chen Hero, "I'm not surprised that the CSKA Moscow guys didn't like him!"

"I don't like his performance right now either," Panchenko's words surprised everyone around him—was he also planning to give up on this person and admit that he had been mistaken?

But then he continued: "So I have a suggestion for you—have the team's wingers cross the ball from the flanks and feed him high balls."

"Is his heading good?" Popovich asked. "You know, not all big guys are good with their heads." He pointed to his forehead.

"Based on my observations yesterday... he does have the strength in heading. I don't see why we shouldn't try it."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to assistant coach Vladimir Borovikya, who hadn't said a word.

Borovikya was the team's assistant coach and also the head coach of the reserve team. The real head coach, Vlastimil Petrzela, was only responsible for the first team's affairs. Most of the time, the entire Zenit team was managed by this assistant coach. Moreover, Petrzela was currently being harassed by the media, who were publicizing his conflict with the club's management. A few days ago, his criticism of the club chairman was amplified by them. Petrzela's mind wasn't on the team at all.

Rumor had it that Saint Petersburg Zenit had already found a successor for the Czech coach, the famous Dutch coach Dick Advocaat.

Borovikya, who had been brought from the Czech Republic as Petrzela's assistant when he took office, knew that if Petrzela was fired, his fate would be similar. But as a qualified and professional assistant coach, as long as he was in this position, he had to consider the work. Therefore, he continued to worry about the team's transfers and management.

Borovikya said to Popovich, who was responsible for youth training and first-team training, "Have them change their tactics, focus on the flanks, use crosses as the main tactic, and use more high balls."

Obviously, he believed Panchenko's words.

Popovich walked to the sidelines and signaled to coach Nikolay Larionov, who was acting as the referee, to pause the game. He wanted to rearrange the tactics.

When Chen Tao saw the game being paused, he thought that this tryout would end in failure again. He was a little frustrated, and the last glimmer of hope was flickering, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

When Chen Hero saw the referee blow the whistle to stop the game, and then another coach walked onto the field... he thought that the other coach must have been unable to stand his performance any longer, so he ended the test early.

A huge sense of disappointment washed over Chen Hero, but it didn't knock him down. He was just unwilling—the game had only started for a dozen minutes. At least let me finish this game, right? After this game, you can look at my performance in fifty minutes, when I'm completely familiar with my teammates. You want me to show results after only a dozen minutes... If I really had that ability, I wouldn't be here. I would have stayed at Feyenoord, Eindhoven, or Udinese!

I've already worked very hard, give me a little more time, give me a little more time, and I definitely... won't let you down! I believe I can score goals, I have the physique, I have the heading ability, pass the ball to me from the air! He really wanted to shout this to his temporary teammates, but he couldn't speak Russian, and he couldn't understand what his teammates were saying.

Unfortunately, Zenit obviously didn't plan to give him that kind of time.

He turned around and walked towards the sidelines. He didn't want to be kicked off the field. If he was going to leave, he would leave on his own terms, with dignity.

When Chen Tao saw his son walking towards him, he knew that it was completely over this time.

He put the large travel bag on the grass on his back and prepared to leave.

Just then, Larionov, the temporary referee, stopped him: "Chinese!"

Chen Hero turned around and looked at him.

"Where are you going?"

"Isn't the game over?" Chen Hero asked, spreading his hands.

Larionov smiled: "It's just a pause. The game is about to restart, go back to your position!"

Chen Hero thought he had misheard, but looking at Larionov's gestures, he was indeed telling him to go back. He was so stunned that he didn't know what kind of expression he should have on his face.

At this moment, his father's voice rang out from the sidelines: "What are you waiting for? Hurry back!"

Chen Hero turned around and saw his father waving at him, signaling him to return to the field.

Only then did he turn around and run towards the front field.

The game restarted, and Chen Hero quickly realized that the game had changed. Before, everyone was looking for ground passes with him, wanting to see how his footwork was.

But now, the ball was quickly distributed to the flanks, and then the two wingers took turns crossing the ball.

When the ball soared into the air from the flank and flew towards the center of the penalty area, something suddenly appeared clearly in Chen Hero's mind—such as the trajectory of the ball, its landing point, and when was the best time to head it… and so on.

Although heading had always been his best scoring weapon when he played for domestic clubs, he had never had such a clear concept of "competing for the header"—before, he had only relied on a very, very vague concept, and then jumped up instinctively. If he could head it, he could, and if he couldn't, he couldn't. Why could he head it? Why couldn't he head it? He didn't know.

But now, he knew that if he did this, he could head the ball…

He was startled by this suddenly appearing feeling, and didn't know what was going on. He had been playing football for twelve years, and this was the first time such a situation had occurred…

Although he knew clearly in his mind how to head the ball, Chen Hero's body didn't move. He was completely stunned by the situation just now, so much so that he forgot what he should do.

The ball was headed out directly by the jumping opponent's center-back, while Chen Hero stood below, looking up, without any reaction.

"Hey, Ruslan..." Popovich pointed to the field.

Panchenko was expressionless and didn't say a word.

The other coaches didn't say a word either. This was just one opportunity, and it couldn't explain anything. More examples were needed to draw a conclusion.

Popovich, who had made a fool of himself, muttered: "Okay, okay, let's continue to enjoy..."

When Chen Tao saw that his son didn't even try to compete for the header, but was just standing there in a daze, he was also puzzled.

What's wrong with my son today?

Now is not the time to be distracted on the field! This is the real last chance. If we can't seize it, we, who have no money, will have to buy two tickets and fly back to China overnight…

Chen Hero came back to his senses. He patted his forehead, feeling annoyed at his inaction just now. No matter what that situation was, it was always helpful to him. He didn't have time to dwell on why this situation appeared, how it appeared. He just needed to try to head the ball into the goal now. He still had to prove his ability to the coaches on the sidelines.

Next time, he will definitely not miss the next opportunity!

So, pass me the ball, guys!

When the ball came to the flank again, Chen Hero raised his arm high.

His temporary teammates faithfully carried out Popovich's instructions, created an angle, and then crossed the ball directly!

That feeling reappeared in his mind!

Chen Hero was sure that this was not a coincidence. He didn't bother to delve into why this was happening, and just followed the instructions of his senses and rushed to the best spot.

This time, when Zenit youth team's center-back Alexandr Korotkov was just about to jump up to head the ball out, he found a behemoth suddenly appearing beside him!

Chen Hero was high above!

He almost flew up!

"Wow—" Some of the coaches on the sidelines couldn't help but exclaim.

Panchenko, who had been expressionless before, smiled.

Chen Hero thought he would encounter obstruction. When he jumped up, he was ready to knock away all the obstacles in front of him. He didn't care if it was a foul or not. Anyway, whoever dared to block his way would die!

But nothing happened. There was only the ball in front of him. The opponent's center-back had just started to jump, and was far from threatening him.

He swung his head almost instinctively…

He felt the frustration of his forehead hitting the ball, and this feeling disappeared instantly.

The next second, he caught a glimpse of the ball already in the goal…

Zenit youth team's goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov made a save—he waved his arm, as if greeting the ball flying into his goal: "Hi, hello, little ball!"

Popovich was not overwhelmed by Chen Hero's header. He was dissatisfied with the performance of his players, and he roared at the field: "Alexandr! What are you doing? Defend! Defend him!"

Alexandr Korotkov wanted to defend himself. It wasn't that he didn't defend, but that he didn't have time to defend—when he was still looking for the landing point of the ball, the opponent had already jumped up, as if he had already judged the landing point and went straight to the ball…

He didn't have time!

But Popovich obviously didn't want to listen to his explanation, he waved his hand and shouted: "Next time, don't let him jump so easily!"

But the situation did not improve as Popovich had hoped.

When the ball was passed high in front of the goal again, Korotkov jumped up this time, but he was blocked behind by Chen Hero—in terms of judging the landing point, Chen Hero was obviously better than him.

Being blocked behind by a behemoth who was 1.92 meters tall and weighed 93 kilograms, it was obviously impossible to head the ball unless… he fouled.

But before he could foul, Chen Hero had already swung his head and directed the ball to the far post!

This time the ball didn't fly into the goal, but smashed directly on the crossbar!

A crisp "clang!" echoed in the hearts of everyone present.

Some people even involuntarily shuddered slightly when the ball hit the crossbar…

"Damn it…" Popovich was annoyed to see his players performing so poorly. He had lost face in front of the assistant coach this time…

Seemingly really dissatisfied with Korotkov's performance, Borovikya turned to Popovich and said: "Tell the players to strengthen the defense in the center of the penalty area and create trouble for him at all costs. Also…" He considered it for a moment and added. "Allow and encourage the defense to use fouls to stop him."

The other coaches were stunned when they heard this sentence—they agreed to strengthen the defense. The youth team's defense was really bad just now, perhaps due to complacency. But in any case, they shouldn't have made such a mistake under the eyes of the assistant coach. But allowing and encouraging the use of fouls to defend… wouldn't that be too much?

Popovich didn't have any doubts about this decision. He walked onto the field with a gloomy face.

"Pause! Pause the game!" He shouted loudly at Larionov, who was in a very bad mood.

Seeing Chen Hero score a beautiful header, and another header hit the crossbar, only a hair's breadth away from a goal, Chen Tao clenched his fists happily on the sidelines.

Good job, son!

The game was paused again, but he was no longer worried that this was to end the test early and drive them father and son away.