Chapter 16

The knockout opponent of the Belgian Cup has been confirmed by drawing lots. It is Bill Short, who ranks in the middle of the league. This is undoubtedly a top draw, because no one wants to face Anderlecht or Bruges in the quarter Wait for all the strong teams.

The Belgian Cup is the only honor Genk can get. As last season's defending champion, it is related to the face of the team, so Genk is very nervous from top to bottom, and the league schedule from the end of January to mid-February is relatively tight. Intensive, so the coaching staff are worried about the state of the players.

At the end of January 2000, Genk played against Lokeren at the Luminas Arena. Soon after the start of the game, Genk intercepted the ball in the backfield and passed it to Carl Beth in the middle. Carl Beth accurately found Nagi through a long pass.

Nagi quickly started to form a counterattack. Lockren's defensive player caught up with Nagi on the wing, one-on-one. pass to the left.

Following up, Caspar Blanche seized the opportunity, calmly pushed and sent the ball into the opponent's goal.

1:0! Genk took the lead, and Nagi also successfully scored an assist. This was his assist in four consecutive games. Under his performance, Genk's side attack was fully activated.

Towards the end of the first half, Nagi seized another opportunity to defend and counterattack. He passed the defensive player who fell to the ground with a shovel, and faced the attacking goalkeeper.

2:0! In the first half, Genk almost sealed the victory, so during the intermission, the players walked into the locker room laughing and playing noisily. The head coach didn't have any new arrangements, just to let everyone focus, to stabilize the defense, and to ensure the fruits of victory.

Shortly after the start of the second half, Nagi was replaced by the head coach out of protection. When Nagi left the field, he received warm applause from the fans of the home team. In just a few games, he successfully conquered the fans of Genk.

Bobby April came on as a substitute. He was always uncomfortable with Nagi replacing him as the starting striker. He wanted to prove that his ability was not inferior to Nagi, so he was very eager to enter the game after he came on the field. ball.

It's a pity that he couldn't play level minded and in a hurry. Because he was too sticky to the ball, the ball was broken at his feet. Lokeren launched a quick counterattack. After several passes and catches, the visiting team's striker found a shot opportunity at the front of the penalty area and volleyed decisively. Genk The goalkeeper tried his best to save the ball to the bottom line, which shocked everyone into a cold sweat.

But the subsequent corner kick was not so lucky. When the ball flew into the penalty area, Genk's defense was very chaotic, which led to a mistake in the rush.

The player who caused the own goal looked remorseful, and the head coach Aimee Antonis stood on the sidelines and kept shouting tactics, so that everyone could defend more actively and attack more decisively.

His face was livid, and he hadn't felt this way for a long time. Since the New Year, because of Nagi's participation, Genk seemed to have returned to the state of the former defending champion.

But what did Nagi play after he left the field?

Only at this time did the coach realize the importance of Nagi to Genk. He can not only drive the team's offensive firepower, but also contain the opponent's vital strength.

Only one goal behind, Lokeren's offense became sharper, and on the offensive end of Genk, April was not as sharp as Wang Feng's threat, and because of the indirect responsibility of the first goal conceded, he seemed to be even more incomprehensible how to play football.

After being in chaos for a while on the defensive end, Genk gradually gained a foothold, but when he was pressed and hit, he was always in danger. Finally, in the 85th minute, Lokeren seized the opportunity. The forward's first shot in the penalty area was blocked by the goalkeeper, but the follow-up midfielder immediately made a supplementary shot.

Genk finally shook hands with Lokeren 2:2, which is obviously not the result Genk wanted. After the end of this round, it is another difficult step away from the goal of the Europa League seat.

At the post-match press conference, many reporters expressed doubts about Antonis' premature replacement of Nagi. A reporter from the "Standard" even asked Antonis if he was at odds with Nagi and wanted to suppress him.

"This is nonsense," Antonis said a little angrily, "I admit that the substitution was a bit early, but it was more based on the protection of Mina. He has experienced many games in a row. Let him rest. It was arranged by the coaching staff in advance."

Regarding leading by two goals but being tied by Lokeren, Antonis seemed a little helpless: "After the players on the field relaxed their mentality, some problems appeared, and Lokeren seized these opportunities. They performed very well and deserved this A draw."

Finally, regarding Nagi's performance of passing and shooting in a limited time, Antonis said: "Mina is the most efficient striker I have ever seen in my coaching career. With him in Genk, I believe we are still strong contender in the Europa League "

This praise is very weighty, and it also revealed Genk's league goals this season from the side.

But apparently the media doesn't care about this, they just want to hype Nagi's early departure, some media analyzed that Nagi's recent popularity has caused dissatisfaction among the other players, especially the original striker Bobby April, Therefore, the coach had to make compromises for the harmony of the locker room.

Some media were even more outrageous. The report claimed that Nagi had a quarrel with the head coach, and because he didn't want to follow the head coach's tactical arrangements, he was replaced early, and he wouldn't even play in the next game.

There are also media reports that Genk is evaluating the technical route without Nagi, and they plan to sell Nagi to Mainz to make a fortune.

These reports were all groundless. On the second day, team manager Bill Albert and head coach Antonis called Nagi to the office and explained to him that the team wanted him to rest properly so that he could have a better double-line intent to fight.

"Mina, you are undoubtedly our trump card. We will never sell you, and will not want to reduce your playing time. It's just considering that you are still young and you have been playing for a long time. The schedule can cause problems for your body," Albert said.

Nagi said that he fully understands the team's decision, but he is in good health and should be able to take on more. He can have regular physical examinations by the team doctor. "This is a good way." Albert agreed with this suggestion. At the same time, Antonis also expressed the need to rely more on Nagi. "Your role on the court is not as simple as scoring goals."

The team and the coach's attention made Nagi feel heavy. Although he came here for a short time, he has gradually become the core now, and the team's goals and achievements have become issues that he must consider.

Nagi didn't feel oppressed in his heart, but was very firm. This is the only way for a star to grow. How fortunate I am, in Genk, in the small stage of the Belgian First Division, to achieve this transformation is much better than those young talents who have sunk in the five major leagues.

So Nagi added ball-handling training to his training. His ball-handling foundation was good before, but as his popularity increased, the opposing defenders paid more and more attention to him, and he would be restricted in many cases.

Therefore, Wang Feng needs to practice his ability to break through with the ball. Cycling, deep-fried meatballs, oxtails, and Marseille roundabouts, one by one fancy ball-handling movements are completed under his feet. Gradually engrave them into muscle memory one at a time.

Sometimes he is very thankful for his adventure in Verton Park. Although he doesn't know what it is, it obviously gave Nagi excellent ball sense and ball intelligence, allowing him to use the most correct method and the most economical way. Time has reached the current technology, and there is still huge room for improvement.

Carl Beth was very curious about what Nagi was practicing every day, so he also stayed. Seeing the ball flying under Nagi's feet, as if an invisible tentacle was manipulating the ball, Beth was dumbfounded.

He walked towards Nagi and said hello, "Hey buddy, are you doing magic tricks with your feet? I think you will be better than Ronaldo with such a powerful foot technique." It's far away, how about a game of one-on-one?"

Beth took the ball steadily and said, "Okay." So the two began one-on-one training. After being breached by Nagi for the twentieth time, Beth sat on the ground and waved his hands: "Don't play anymore, I finally understand the feelings of those opponents who were broken by you, I hope we don't become opponents, this is Terrible."

Nagi said with a smile: "It's not so exaggerated. There will be confrontation and tactical fouls in the official game. It won't be so easy."

Beth said seriously after hearing the words: "Yes, Mina, you have to be careful, many teams play dirty, you have to pay more attention."

Nagi nodded. He is a player who has been fouled a lot. He has been tackled and pulled down many times, but his body seems to be relatively strong, and judging from the sensory feedback, he didn't even cause hidden injuries.

Putting aside this serious topic, Nagi said with a smirk: "It's all here, let's continue, your pass is very good, and it will be mine in a second. Let's practice catching the pass."

Beth was helplessly pulled up by Nagi, and began to train the tool man. Nagi found that using a ball to simulate the movement of a real person still has some limitations, because people will be full of uncertainty due to their own judgment.

Now with Beth as a partner, Nagi's passing quality has been further improved. The two practiced until very late before returning to the residence together.

On the first weekend of February in the millennium, Genk challenged La Louvies away. In the 36th minute, the referee's whistle sounded. A yellow card and a midfield set-piece to Genk.

Nagi sat on the ground and rubbed his right calf, which was already a little purple, and his senses clearly told him that there were some slight kick injuries. Just now when he was catching the ball and preparing to attack, the opponent's defensive player stepped forward to grab the ball and kicked it directly on his calf. This is the third time in this game, so the home referee couldn't stand it anymore, so he decisively showed it. yellow card.

Beth came over and said, "How about it? Can you hold on? Do you want the coach to replace you?" Nagi shook his head and said, "No, it's a minor injury. We must win this game." So Beth pulled Nagi stood up, Nagi jumped twice, without any serious problems, he went into the competition again.

At halftime, the score was still 0:0. Although Genk had the advantage, Louvies' continuous fouls on Nagi also hindered their offensive momentum.

The team doctor was using spray to treat Nagi's leg injury. The head coach asked about Nagi's injury with a worried face. After learning that it was not serious, he felt relieved. Louviez's defense is too dirty! He intends to replace Nagi, but the team has no way out.

So he could only emphasize again and again that Nagibpay attention to safety, "Lie down when it's time to lie down, as much pain as you can, this is also a way to deal with violent defense." Head coach Aimee Antonis seriously warned Nagi .

After the opening of the second half, Nagi was still deeply involved in the opponent's high-pressure defense, but he did not give in. The backfield was in the middle and the front field, the left, the middle, and the right. As long as he still had strength, he would keep running to get a opportunity.

In the 80th minute, Genk intercepted the ball in the backfield. The defensive player accurately found Nagi in the midfield with a long pass. He quickly turned and chased the ball.

The defensive player originally wanted to stretch out his hand to hold Nagi, but suddenly realized that he already had a yellow card on him. After a moment of hesitation, Nagi accelerated and rushed a long way.

At this time, there was only one defensive player in the backfield Louvies, and he quickly came to follow up the defense. After Nagi approached him, he suddenly stepped on the ball with one foot, then turned 180 degrees and pulled the ball with the other foot , getting rid of the defender.

"Marseille roundabout, Mina used a wonderful Marseille roundabout to sway the opponent's No. 5 player, and now the only thing standing in front of him is the goalkeeper!"

"The goalkeeper made a decisive attack... beautiful, gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! , easily swayed the goalkeeper past the goalkeeper and scored the ball in the face of an empty goal."

"In the 80th minute of the game, Nagi stood up again. He played an exquisite defensive counterattack, used his personal ability to pass three players in a row, and finally sent the ball into the opponent's goal."

"In this game, Louvies fouled Mina at least 20 times, but they still couldn't completely stop him. He is a real striker, as long as they reveal a flaw, he can hit it with one blow." The commentator is sparing no effort to praise Nagi.

Naturally, Nagi couldn't hear all of this. After scoring the goal, he rushed to the corner flag and roared vigorously, as if venting his depression of being fouled repeatedly.

The head coach Antonis immediately made substitution adjustments, replacing Nagi with a defensive player. When he was off the field, some fans of the home team also applauded Nagi. They were also moved by Nagi's tenacious spirit.

The final score was locked at 1:0, and Genk won a valuable victory. At the post-match press conference, Genk coach Antonis first severely criticized Louvies' approach, "This is simply against the spirit of the competitive sport of football, it is too dirty."

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the referee on duty, thinking that Louvies should have received at least two red cards, but they only received one yellow card.

Speaking of Nagi, Antonis said: "Mina is undoubtedly our key man. Even if he is kicked in the calf, he can lead Genk to victory." Will start the crucial game against Standard Liege.

On the other hand, Louvies's head coach David Gary believes that the referee's penalty is not a problem, and his players are playing under the rules, but he admits that they are not thorough enough to restrict Nagi. "We lost to Mina," he said.

The next day, there was another uproar in the Belgian football world. Many newspapers reported the game in detail, and the post-match interviews of the coaches of both sides were also written out intact.

"Sports Daily" believes that there is indeed a problem with the referee's penalty scale, which has caused Nagi to suffer too many fouls, which is undoubtedly unfair.

The "Standard" felt that Genk coach Antonis's practice of bombarding the referee after the game was not advisable and should be punished.

Soon, Genk received a penalty order from the Belgian Football Association. Coach Antonis was fined 5,000 euros, but he was not suspended. This is good news.

At the same time, for malicious fouls, the referee's penalty seems to be heavier. In the national derby between Anderlecht and Bruges, the referee showed a total of 5 yellow cards and 1 red card.