Chapter 195 Meeting With Conte To Prepare For The New Season
The summer of 2016 was blazing hot, and football fans were treated to an exciting feast.
In the Champions League final, Atletico Madrid drew 0-0 with Manchester City after 120 minutes. Ultimately, Atletico Madrid won the championship trophy in a penalty shootout, marking their second Champions League final appearance and their rise to the top of Europe.
In the European Cup, despite Ronaldo getting injured and leaving the field, Portugal triumphed over hosts France with a 1-0 victory in overtime, winning the European Championship. Cristiano Ronaldo, having had a disappointing club season, didn't expect to win a major title with his national team.
Unfortunately, Messi was not so lucky. Leading Argentina to the final, they once again lost to Chile on penalties. Two years later, Messi tasted the runner-up disappointment again. However, many years later, by the end of his career, Messi had won the Copa America, the World Cup, and other major titles.
The end of the European Cup and Copa America marked the beginning of a new season. Many teams reported to their clubs, preparing for pre-season training.
Before training camp, Su Luo purchased a luxurious £10 million house in the Chelsea district of London. It was slightly less extravagant than his Berlin mansion but had all the essentials. To adapt to England's right-hand drive, Su Luo had to buy a new supercar: the Aston Martin AM-RB-001.
During this period, Su Luo closely monitored the transfer market. Naby Keita's transfer for £50 million caught his attention. Although Keita wasn't as prominent as Su Luo, his midfield playmaking abilities were world-class, and Klopp moved quickly to sign him.
Rudiger, one of Union Berlin's defensive core, attracted major giants' interest. Ultimately, Rudiger chose to join Chelsea to continue playing alongside Su Luo. The Blues spent £29 million to bring him to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester City favored Mahrez, who transferred for £60 million. Kimmich was courted by Bayern, Barcelona, and Paris but chose to stay in Germany, joining Bayern Munich for €25 million. This transfer frenzy signaled the complete disintegration of Union Berlin's previous golden lineup, casting doubts on their future performance.
As a Chelsea player, Su Luo's focus shifted to helping his new team win every game. To offset the nearly £300 million spent on Su Luo, Rudiger, Kante, and Lukaku, Chelsea had to sell some players quickly.
Diego Costa's current form attracted Atletico Madrid, fresh off their Champions League win. Abramovich readily agreed to the deal, and Costa returned to Atletico Madrid for €65 million.
Oscar and Ramirez, previously pivotal players, received offers from China. Shanghai SIPG was willing to pay €60 million for Oscar. Abramovich, surprised by the lucrative offer, agreed to the deal, making Oscar the king of the Chinese Super League transfer bids. Similarly, Ramirez joined the Chinese Super League, transferring to Jiangsu Suning for €28 million. The sale of these three players netted Chelsea nearly €150 million, a significant profit.
With these moves, Chelsea's team-building for the new season was nearly complete. Only a prime central defender was needed to replace the aging John Terry, making Chelsea a formidable force.
The Premier League's "arms race" continued to escalate. Chelsea's spending spree prompted other competitors to bolster their squads to avoid falling behind. Manchester City first signed Mahrez, then spent £22.95 million on Gundogan and £47 million on Stones, rejuvenating their squad.
Liverpool's Klopp, keenly aware of the fierce competition, signed Mane for £35 million, Wijnaldum for £23 million, and Karius for £5 million. Manchester United also splurged, spending £89 million plus nearly £100 million in add-ons to re-sign former youth player Paul Pogba from Juventus. They also brought in Mkhitaryan, Bailly, and veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free transfer.
Judging by the pre-season signings, the upcoming Premier League season promised excitement with big-name players and coaches joining the fray. The title of Europe's top league seemed within reach.
Fans eagerly anticipated the end of August when the Premier League opener would kick off. Until then, it was a long period of preparation and excitement.
On the appointed day, Su Luo put on his training uniform, drove his Aston Martin, and arrived at Chelsea's Cobham training base.
Thanks to Abramovich's significant early investment, the training base before him exuded a sense of advanced technology and professionalism. The pristine training turf and complete facilities were a far cry from what Su Luo was accustomed to at Union Berlin. He couldn't help but sigh.
"Union Berlin will need long-term construction and development to become a truly top-tier team," he thought.
Under the guidance of the staff, Su Luo toured the training base, awaiting the arrival of the coach and his new teammates.
While Su Luo was juggling a ball on the training ground, new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte entered the field in a suit. He watched silently until Su Luo finished his routine, then stepped out, clapping like a villain in a movie.
"You're early today," Conte greeted in English with an Italian accent.
"Well, it's the first day of training after all," Su Luo replied.
Conte nodded and then, somewhat abruptly, asked, "Do you really go to nightclubs a lot?"
Su Luo froze for a moment, then nodded openly. It wasn't a secret, and he knew he'd probably frequent nightclubs more often in the future.
Conte frowned but managed a smile. "I'm not stopping you, as long as it doesn't affect your performance."
Relieved, Su Luo chuckled. It would have been a joke to have tension with the coach on his first day at Chelsea.
They chatted casually about football, though the initial communication was a bit strained. Soon, other players began arriving at the training ground. They eyed the new faces of Su Luo and Conte with curiosity.
Rudiger was set to join next month, so Su Luo didn't know anyone yet. Fortunately, his sunny personality shone through, and he greeted his teammates warmly. The Chelsea players, wary at first, were relieved to find the "top three in the world" star approachable.
Once everyone had arrived, Conte stepped in front of the team, his demeanor stern and commanding, reminiscent of an Italian mafia boss. The Chelsea players stood at attention.
"Forget about last season's results," Conte began. "This season, my goal is simple: the championship!"
The Chelsea players were shocked. After barely scraping into the top four last season, the idea of winning the championship seemed ambitious. But with Su Luo now on their side, they wondered if miracles could happen.
"The Premier League title, the Champions League trophy, the FA Cup—we're going for all of them!" Conte declared. "To maintain your performance throughout the season, we need to focus on physical fitness."
The players groaned inwardly. Physical training was grueling, and it seemed the pre-season would be hellish. Su Luo, however, felt a spark of excitement. He preferred a dynamic, motivated team over a complacent one.
Despite their complaints, the players trained diligently. Su Luo couldn't help but feel optimistic about the upcoming season.
Less than two months remained until the kickoff of the 2016/17 Premier League season, and Su Luo was ready for the challenge.
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