Volume 1: Playing football with me will break your legs Chapter 38 Who is Powell?
"call……"
After practicing passing the ball for an extra half hour, Li Polo's breathing became noticeably disordered.
His legs were not weak, but the long pass he just made was at least five meters away from his ideal landing point. If it were a formal match, such a cross would have flown out of the baseline long ago.
“It’s harder than I thought!”
He ran his hand through his hair, which was wet with sweat.
Cox did not regret it in the end. As agreed, he gave him special training, and gave him detailed explanations and repeated corrections on various aspects such as the technical essentials of passing the ball, the selection of landing points, and the grasp of timing.
However, when he was young, this assistant coach was just an unknown young man who had been playing in the English League One and English League Two for many years. His skills and experience were not enough to make Li Polo immediately realize or open the door to a new world.
But for Li Polo, who was an amateur player, such basic training is what he needs most.
In normal training sessions, Adre and Cox focus more on the overall tactical play and it is impossible for them to provide detailed guidance on the technical movements of each player.
After all, Wimbledon is not a giant like Manchester United, Real Madrid or Barcelona, where the coaching staff alone can form a football team.
The coaching staff of the small team actually only has four people, a head coach, an assistant, a team doctor, and another one is purely a logistics staff...
"Okay, that's enough for today."
Cox checked his watch, clapped his hands, and prepared to end the extra practice:
"Your passing skills can't improve dramatically in a short period of time. It takes long-term training to make your body remember this feeling."
Li Polo exhaled and accepted his kindness:
"I know, you've worked hard today, Coach."
Cox smiled and encouraged him:
"You don't need to be too anxious. Your performance in the team has already satisfied us. If you were not lacking in experience, I believe that with your current strength, you would be fully capable of playing a starting role."
Li Polo also smiled:
"Thanks."
But...if one can go to the next level, who would be satisfied with just being a starter in an English League Two team?
Cox seemed to see his ambition and encouraged him:
"Work hard, we will advance together this season, and there will be higher and bigger stages in the future!"
Li Polo nodded and suddenly asked:
"Uh, coach, are you busy? Can you lend me some money?"
Cox almost jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on:
"Borrow money?"
Li Polo chuckled:
"I just got a girlfriend, and now I'm broke..."
Cox was silent for a long time, then he took out his wallet from his pocket and opened it directly to him:
"Tell me, which one do you want to borrow?"
There are three banknotes in his wallet.
The first one was for 10 pounds.
The second one was also for £10.
The third one was also for £10.
Li Polo was also silent, then he raised his head and said with difficulty:
"Thanks, bye!"
As an assistant coach of a League Two team, Cox's weekly salary is only 500 yuan.
He deeply understands the pain and helplessness of married adult men!
…
Li Polo was about to go home when Cox called him back:
"I thought, maybe you could talk to Powell?"
Li Polo was stunned:
"Who is that?"
Cox was speechless:
"The general manager of the club!"
Li Polo hesitated for a moment, and thought of the pot-bellied guy:
"I have only met him once. Can he lend me money?"
Cox was even more speechless:
"Who asked you to borrow money from him?"
Lee Polo:
"Then why should I look for him?"
Cox couldn't help but hold his forehead:
"You can talk to him about a new contract!"
Li Polo finally understood:
"But... I've only been with the team for two months. Isn't it inappropriate to discuss a new contract at this time?"
Cox shrugged.
"You have to have a new understanding of professional football. As long as you deserve a higher contract, any time is the right time."
Li Polo savored his words carefully:
"I think... I'm worth it."
Cox patted him on the back:
"Yeah, I think so too. You've been with the team for two months, played nine games, lost only one, and... scored seven goals, several of which were crucial goals that turned the tide. You certainly deserve a better contract, don't you?"
Being praised by his coach, Li Polo, who was already very conceited, suddenly became more confident.
He nodded vigorously:
"I see. Thank you again, Coach."
Cox laughed:
"Don't tell our general manager, I told you to increase your contract!"
…
After finishing the training, Li Polo immediately sent an email to Powell, expressing directly his desire to discuss a new contract.
But until he woke up and even started a new day of training, he still didn't receive a reply.
After finishing the morning training session, he finally couldn't help but come to the club's office area to meet the general manager in person.
He was then told by staff:
"Mr. Powell didn't come to work today."
Li Polo could only ask the staff member:
"And what about him this afternoon?"
The staff member answered him sincerely:
"Who knows?"
As the top boss of the club, of course no one would check the attendance of the general manager. Moreover, it is the middle of the season now, and the team basically has no important matters that need Powell to handle personally. He can give himself a long vacation...
Li Polo thought about it and finally decided not to take any euphemistic approach.
[My setting is that of a middle school graduate who is a rough guy on the field. When encountering problems, he will just go for it! ]
He took out his cell phone, asked the staff for Powell's number, and dialed it directly.
Fortunately, the general manager did not directly block unfamiliar numbers.
After waiting for half a minute, a lazy voice finally came from the phone:
"Hello?"
You can tell from the moment you hear it that he is still hungover!
Li Polo pouted inwardly, then finished his words in one breath:
"Mr. Powell, good morning. I'm Polo Lee, a player from Wimbledon. I was wondering when you'd be free, but I wanted to talk to you about my contract."
There was silence for a few seconds, and then a voice came again:
"Oh... Polo Lee? The Chinese player?"
He obviously didn't have much impression of the name, but he still made an inference from the name:
"You've just joined Wimbledon, so there doesn't seem to be any need to negotiate a new contract?"
This was the expected answer, but fortunately Cox had rehearsed it with Lee Polo in advance.
Li Polo responded calmly:
"Mr. Powell, I have performed very well in all the games since I joined the team. As a defender, I even scored 7 goals. I think such performance deserves a more generous contract, at least... not the minimum contract of 300 pounds a week."
"Seven goals in two months?"
After hearing the number, Powell was visibly shaken.
Although he is not a professional, as a team executive, he obviously understands what this efficiency means.
After all, in many English League Two teams, there are probably not many forwards who can score more than 10 goals in a single season, not to mention that Li Polo is a defender!
"You are right, my boy, such performance is indeed admirable."
Powell's tone was clearly softened:
"How about this, tomorrow morning from 11 to 12 o'clock, after you finish training, you can come to my office and we can talk face to face."
