Quite a few people were incited to stand up and question Maniero.
In response, Maniero held a press conference before the training camp started, after all the European Youth Championship players except for Lu Yang had arrived.
At the meeting, Maniero faced the reporters and asked, "So, is the phenomenon of Italy National Team players being looked down upon only starting after the announcement of this European Youth Championship roster?"
"If that’s the case, I’m willing to apologize to the public for the decisions I’ve made, but... the facts seem otherwise!"
Below the stage, all the reporters were left speechless.
Because Maniero hit them where it hurt.
"Why is Italy being looked down upon? Don’t we know the reason ourselves? Are we really going to blame Lu Yang? Or blame the young stars who are just in their teens and twenties?" Maniero raged. "I don’t mean to criticize any player in the Italy National Team."
"I know they’ve given everything they could for Italy. The ones who have truly made Italy a laughing stock among the European football powers have never been the players or the fans, but some people who haven’t placed Italian football as their priority!"
"It’s not one person but a group of people, a group of rats, a group of pests!"
"Now, as Italy is barely recovering from a major illness, the first thing we need to do isn’t blindly shouting slogans about restoring glory, but to step by step, retrace the path of our initial rise."
"This journey may not be smooth sailing; perhaps we will face storms, but we must walk it steadfastly to have the chance for Italy’s anthem and flag to resonate and fly again in European Football, in World Football!"
"So, don’t let me hear any more criticism of the kids I’ve chosen. If you want to find someone to blame, then blame me! Remember, they... should only be heroes!"
"Including all the players in the national team, they should only be heroes!"
Wow!
Maniero’s speech was deafening.
The statement was quickly broadcast around the world, especially to countries that have spent considerable effort but whose football is still struggling, like China.
...
China, a high-end residential area.
The lately sky-rocketing popular female host of "Super Football," Tang Yuqin, was preparing materials on her laptop, repeatedly listening to Maniero’s speech to the point where she didn’t notice someone appear behind her.
"Xiaoqin, so serious?" The white-haired elder behind Tang Yuqin spoke.
"Grandpa?" Tang Yuqin was startled and scolded angrily, "Why do you seniors walk so quietly!"
"Haha, it’s just so I wouldn’t disturb my dear granddaughter’s work." The old man pointed at Tang Yuqin’s computer and said, "This is a sensible person. His words should also be heard by certain complacent and self-satisfied individuals on our side."
The old man was quite good at Italian.
"This is Maniero, the Italian football hero. This time, he..." Tang Yuqin knew her grandfather had some interest in football, so she recounted the whole situation to him, which also formed the script for her next program.
After listening, the old man asked in surprise, "So, that Chinese player is now playing in Italy and has accomplished something? This Maniero certainly values talent!"
Tang Yuqin said, "Maniero has always been known for his wisdom, whether on the field or off. By the way, you’ll find it hard to believe, Lu Yang is very much a traditional and typical Chinese. If I met him in China, I would never guess he is a Chinese-Italian!"
"By the way, Grandpa, do you think it’s possible for us to naturalize him into our National Team?"
Tang Yuqin knew very well her grandfather’s influence; if he spoke up, nationality wouldn’t be an issue.
Unexpectedly, the old man frowned, "Ridiculous!"
Tang Yuqin stuck out her tongue, not knowing what she said wrong.
The old man reprimanded, "Learn from others to defeat them—has Xiaolu already mastered everything and returned? Has he experienced Italy’s youth training system, has he felt the Italy National Team’s culture? Has he tasted the top matches of the Five Major Leagues?"
"Since he hasn’t, why bring him back under the guise of national interest to ruin a promising talent?"
"Is the problem with our National Team something that one or two players can solve? Have you not understood what Maniero said? Our football here lacks both the soil and professional offshoots, and there are also some issues structurally."
"If these problems aren’t resolved, even naturalizing eighteen black football players would be useless! This unhealthy shortcut needs to be eradicated now!"
Tang Yuqin nodded.
"I still don’t know you, girl? I’m telling you, don’t influence Xiaolu’s choices, forcibly dragging him into the National Team. There have been many internal disturbances in the National Team recently; it’s not the time to pursue results." A flash of coldness passed through the old man’s eyes.
Tang Yuqin’s pupils shrank, having learned some insider information.
She was quite excited, as this suggested that in a few years, there might be a complete renewal of the National Team’s internal atmosphere.
To create glory and advance with resolve on the international stage, the first thing to do is to break before establishing anew, to handle internal affairs before external ones.
Some football self-media commentator, "Angry Paul," once said that the essence of football lies in its organization. As long as you establish your system, producing results is just a matter of time and will naturally follow.
When your foundation is not strong, yet your eyes are only fixed on the crown on someone else’s head, it will only let you get lost in envy and jealousy.