The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 67
  After the game, Leo was called over by reporters before returning to the locker room from the player tunnel.

The Inter Milan youngster accepted a brief interview on the sidelines.

“It was a great game and I’m glad we got the win in the end.

We really wanted to win this game, and when we fell behind, everyone was a little overwhelmed.

The head coach made adjustments during the halftime break, and we quickly regained the initiative in the second half.

Quaresma's performance was great, and we have already seen his skills with his feet in training.

Mario is a great player and I'm not surprised to score goals like that.

I always try to help the team offensively, and I'm grateful to my teammates for turning my passes into assists.

I am quite satisfied with my performance. I would rate it at seven points. I think there is still a lot of room for improvement. "

“We beat Catania 2-1 today and the boys performed very well.

We had a lot of chances in the second half.

He has been with us for two weeks now and he already understands the way the team operates.

He got off to a good start in this game.

I never worry about scoring goals because we have Leo, Ibrahimovic and Mario, they are all good.

The league has just begun. AC Milan has 0 points, Roma has 1 point, and Inter Milan and Juventus both have 4 points.

I think it is too early to say who is the contender for the championship. The current ranking cannot explain anything.

Next we will focus on Tuesday's Champions League match. "

Mourinho appeared at the press conference with a smile on his face, as if he was not the one who cursed with a dark face on the sidelines before.

Victory is the best antidote. After winning, the atmosphere within the Inter Milan team has become better.

Another thing that makes Leo and Bashen very happy is that due to the shortage of defenders in Inter Milan, David Thornton, who performed well in the youth team, was recruited into the first team to participate in training.

"You're fine, you can represent the team.

I don’t know when I will be like you. "

Thornton was a little envious, not to mention that his strength was still far behind Leo and the others.

More importantly, he does not have any advantage in the competition with Maxwell, Maicon, Chivu and other players.

Unless they are all injured, then I might have a chance.

Thornton thought so, but he didn't know that Mourinho had long been dissatisfied with Maxwell, who was strong in offense and weak in defense.

This full-back from Brazil has delicate skills with his feet, good assist ability and accurate passing.

But as clear as his strengths are his shortcomings. Maxwell's defensive ability is really terrible.

Not only is his one-on-one defense not strong enough, he also lacks the ability to chase back.

Every time he presses for an assist, it is difficult to get back to the defense in time.

It can be said that how much threat Maxwell's assists can pose to opponents, then how much trouble his defense can bring to Inter Milan.

For Mourinho, who requires high discipline and pays great attention to defense, you can imagine how dissatisfied he is with him.

Later, if the Inter Milan coach hadn't had enough, he wouldn't have chosen the 17-year-old Thornton as the left back instead of the uninjured Maxwell.

"Since you want to play, then you should train hard and impress the head coach with your performance."

Under Leo's supervision, Thornton and Balotelli "enjoyed" Lee's devil training together.

After the team's training every day, the two of them not only couldn't go out to hang out, but also had to stay and practice with him until dark.

"Anyway, you don't have many chances to play. It's a pity to waste your physical strength. Why not train hard with me.

I'm with you, so don't make excuses. "

Thornton/Balotelli:? ? ?
  Why are you training with us?
  Leo was joking, but the actual training content was approved by head coach Mourinho. Those two guys are different from him. It would be bad if they get injured due to excessive training.

Just two days later, Inter Milan traveled to Athens, the Greek capital, where they would play their first Champions League game of the season.

"Leo, if you were asked to play as a left winger, would you be able to do it?"

"what?"

Due to his age and condition, Figo has indeed not been able to perform at a level that satisfies Mourinho.

Not to mention Mancini, Jimenez? Then why not just let Leo play as a winger?

I have to say that Mourinho was shocked by his thoughts.

When the team was short of wingers before, the result of his discussion with the coaching staff was that if that didn't work, Jimenez, who played as an attacking midfielder, would try to switch to a winger.

But now there is a better choice!

Leo has the ability to break through with the ball, pass the ball to assist, and cut inside to score.

Isn't this appropriate?

It's just that the position is a little further forward than when he played left midfielder at Tottenham last season.

After understanding what the head coach meant, Leo was reluctant.

"I think I am more confident in the midfield position. You see, this is not the position I usually practice in training!"

Mourinho ignored Leo's concerns and waved his hand.

"Very good, try playing as a left winger in the next game. Don't always doubt yourself, you can do it!"

Leo:? ? ?
  On September 9, a focus battle in Group B on the first match day of the 16-2008 UEFA Champions League started at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.

Inter Milan plays away against Greek giants Panathinaikos.

Mourinho continued to arrange a starting lineup of four, three, and three, but Leo unexpectedly appeared at the left winger position for the first time.

Quaresma returned to his more familiar right wing, with Ibrahimovic still at center.

Zanetti, Cambiaso and Vieira formed a midfield three.

Inter Milan has made some achievements in Serie A before, but its performance in the Champions League has always been unsatisfactory.

Fans paying attention to this game also want to see whether the Inter Milan under Mourinho can provide something new and eye-catching in the Champions League.

Zanetti's leading midfielder turned against the visitors at the Athens Olympic Stadium and firmly controlled the initiative on the field.

But on the front line, Leo was obviously not used to it and often made mistakes in his movements.

"I haven't practiced this position at all, so I was pushed out of the position. It's really a headache.

I don’t know what the head coach thinks. "

In the 13th minute, after Ibrahimovic grabbed a header from the frontcourt, he got rid of Nelson's marking with another pick and dunk and then sent a wonderful pass.

The unguarded Leo shot into the net with his right foot from the left side of the penalty area!

"Huh? Is this a goal?"

Leo accidentally discovered a gap to move forward, so he took a walk and walked over.

In addition to his blind movement before, there were no defensive players following him.

Ibrahimovic's pass just arrived, and he took advantage of the situation and hit the goal.

Only thirteen minutes into his first European appearance, Leo easily scored his first career Champions League goal!
  Leo, who was celebrating with his teammates on the sidelines, flashed these two words in his mind.

"It's so fragrant!"

　It's just a temporary cameo, the protagonist will not really switch to winger

　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)