Chapter 308: Come and Tell Me What You Want

Winter nights came especially early.

As soon as training ended, the sun set quickly beyond the horizon.

The Napoli players returned to the locker room, took showers, changed, and waited. Soon, a member of the analysis team walked in with a stack of reports, and all the players gathered around eagerly.

Each player received their own analysis report detailing their performance in the day's two training sessions.

The reports contained various analytical data, pointing out each player's mistakes and areas for improvement. Each player also received a USB drive containing specially edited video clips from training, created just for them.

Thiago Motta was one of the last to get his report. When it was finally his turn, the analyst only had a single report in hand.

"This is yours, Thiago. You did a great job today. Keep it up!" the analyst said with a smile.

Thiago Motta accepted the report without a word and returned to his seat to read it carefully.

He'd made a few minor errors, but they were small details. As a result, his report was relatively thin.

Overall, he was the top performer in today's training.

"Wow! Star of the day!" David Luiz popped up beside him, his wild curls nearly brushing against Thiago Motta's face. The defender didn't even seem to notice.

"Congratulations, Thiago Motta! You'll be on the Honor Roll tomorrow!"

The Honor Roll was a list displayed prominently at the entrance of the Napoli locker room. It recognized several achievements, including the best-performing player in each training session.

This was a small competition that Gao Shen had introduced to inspire the players. He explained that in China, schools often had similar rankings to motivate students to work harder and compete with one another.

The coaching staff also provided various rewards to those who made it onto the Honor Roll, with each prize carefully thought out.

For instance, the "Star of the Day" was granted a small privilege, they could make a special request during the next day's training session.

It was a perk many players looked forward to because Napoli's training intensity was extremely high. It was a rare pleasure to ask for a break during a grueling session and watch teammates struggle from the sidelines.

"Why don't you look particularly happy?" David Luiz asked, noticing Thiago Motta's subdued expression.

Thiago Motta looked up at his friend, who was flashing his usual carefree smile. He envied David Luiz, who always seemed upbeat, as if nothing could ever bring him down.

Well, except for that brief period when David Luiz worried, "The boss seems like he wants to sell me off." During that time, he'd worked harder than ever. But after the situation passed, his natural optimism returned, and his performance on the pitch improved as well.

With Bonucci also performing well, captain Cannavaro was finding it harder to get playing time and was growing frustrated.

"Come on, if something's bothering you, just tell me," David Luiz said, taking a seat next to him.

Thiago Motta shook his head, then looked down at his report. "It just… feels pointless."

"What? Why would you say that?" David Luiz was surprised.

"You know, ever since I came to Napoli, I've been doing individual training with Lorenzo. He created a lot of specific exercises for my right knee. I feel like I'm fully recovered… but…"

Thiago Motta trailed off, not sure how to continue. Seeing the genuine concern in David Luiz's eyes, he took a deep breath and continued, "But I don't feel important."

"Not important?"

"Yes, I've had opportunities to play, but the boss has never given me any specific instructions. He treats you and some of the other guys differently. With me, it's like he doesn't care whether I play well or not."

"Look at the situation the team's in right now. I feel like I could contribute, but… I…"

"Then go tell the boss. Tell him you think you can play a bigger role," David Luiz interrupted without hesitation.

"Just go and tell him?"

"Yes! Take that report in your hand, go to him, and say, 'Boss, look, I was the best performer in training today. I feel great, I'm ready, and I think I can make a difference in the games. You can count on me,'" David Luiz said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"Just like that? That's all?" Thiago Motta hesitated.

"Yes! It's simple. Say it, and he'll think about it."

"But what if I get onto the pitch and don't perform well? You know, I'm not sure I can really help the team…" Thiago Motta stammered, clearly conflicted.

David Luiz couldn't understand his friend's hesitation. His own straightforward personality couldn't relate to such self-doubt.

Seeing Thiago Motta so wrapped up in worry, David Luiz took matters into his own hands. He grabbed the midfielder by the arm and marched him down the hall to Gao Shen's office. The door was slightly ajar, and inside, Carlo, Lucas, Buenaventura, Pintus, and a few others were discussing plans.

Thiago Motta tried to pull away, but David Luiz held firm and knocked on the door.

"Boss! Thiago says he won Star of the Day and has something he wants to tell you!" David Luiz announced loudly.

…

Even after sitting down in the office, Thiago Motta kept his head low, avoiding Gao Shen's gaze.

Though he looked strong and composed on the outside, the Brazilian midfielder was actually quite vulnerable inside.

Since joining Napoli, he had made gradual progress, but deep down, he was still plagued by self-doubt.

He hadn't suffered any injuries recently and had even gotten playing time, though he rarely stood out to the media or fans. However, the coaching staff had been observing him closely. His overall performance had been average, restrained even, though occasionally he'd have a standout game.

Everyone knew that defensive midfielders often didn't draw much attention.

As Thiago Motta sat there, unsure how to start, Gao Shen waited patiently. He even poured a cup of tea, remaining silent for two or three minutes, making the Brazilian even more nervous.

It was a sign of his lack of confidence.

All of his self-assurance had been eroded during his time at Barcelona.

Even now, at Napoli, he played cautiously, afraid of making mistakes.

Gao Shen didn't want to push him too hard. After a few minutes, he stood up, walked to his desk, took out a thick report, and placed it in front of Thiago Motta.

"This is the report from Lorenzo and Antonio over the past few weeks. Physically, you're doing well because you haven't played many games this season, and your knee has fully recovered. But the real issue is your mentality."

For many injury-prone players, the problem is often psychological rather than physical.

"Lorenzo and Antonio have prepared a specialized training plan for you, particularly to strengthen your leg muscles. They believe it will help you avoid injuries, and I agree with them."

Thiago Motta nodded quietly, taking it all in.

"Do you remember when I met you in Barcelona? I told you that Napoli needs you—always!" Gao Shen said, his tone serious.

Hearing this, Thiago Motta finally looked up at him.

He'd chosen Napoli because of Gao Shen's words.

"I was very impressed with your performance against Roma. Everyone was focused on David Luiz, but the coaching staff and I felt you were the best player in that match."

Thiago Motta felt a wave of emotion. He realized now that the coach had been paying attention all along.

"In that game against Roma, I saw glimpses of the Thiago Motta I remembered from La Liga, the fearless player who once shone for Barcelona alongside stars like Ronaldo and Zidane."

"I've been waiting for you to come to me. Not because I'm trying to prove a point, but because I wanted you to take that first step. I was hoping you'd come to me and tell me directly what you want, what you think you can offer."

"Only by doing this can you truly find yourself and regain your confidence."

Thiago Motta's eyes filled with tears.

Since joining Napoli, he hadn't felt special or important, whether he played well or not. He had feared that Gao Shen might be like other coaches, who praised him before he joined only to abandon him later.

But now, he understood.

Gao Shen didn't just want to heal his injuries, he wanted to heal his heart.

"Come on, Star of the Day. Be brave and tell me—what do you want?" Gao Shen encouraged him with a smile.

Thiago Motta managed a faint smile, rare for him, but it was a start.

"I want to play. I want to help the team get through this rough patch. I feel ready. I feel like I've recovered!" he said, his voice firm and steady.

Gao Shen smiled, extending his hand to shake Thiago Motta's with a firm grip.

"I'm glad you had the courage to say that, Thiago."

But then Gao Shen quickly added, "However, I have to tell you that you're not in my plans for the midweek game."

Thiago Motta froze, feeling a surge of panic, but Gao Shen raised a hand to calm him.

"Listen. You're not in the lineup for midweek, but I want you ready for the weekend. We have two back-to-back games against Lazio, and we need to win both."

"If we want to stay in the title race, we can't let Inter Milan pull too far ahead. The league game this weekend is crucial."

One game would decide their fate in the cup, while the other could determine the future of their league standing.

There was no room for error in either of these matches.

"I understand, boss. I'll be ready," Thiago Motta replied with determination.

Gao Shen nodded approvingly. "Good. I trust you, Thiago. Keep working hard in training, follow Lorenzo and Antonio's plan, and keep your confidence up. Remember, you're not just filling a position, you're a key part of this team."

Thiago Motta's face softened, a newfound sense of purpose filling his eyes. The uncertainty and self-doubt that had plagued him seemed to lift, replaced by a quiet determination.

"Thank you, boss. I won't let you down."

***

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