In a cafe in Stuttgart, Yun Sheng sat across from a handsome German guy.
"Man, I've traveled nearly 800 kilometers this day, and I'm about to fall apart now." Yun Sheng rubbed his arms and chatted with the German opposite.
"Coach Yunsheng, when you called me yesterday, I really didn't expect it." The handsome German man said honestly.
Yun Sheng took a sip of coffee and said with emotion: "Man, you are the most popular goalkeeper in Germany, the perfect successor to Kahn. If it weren't for you leaving Stuttgart, I would never compete with the defending Bundesliga champion."
The handsome German guy was still a little puzzled: "Coach Yunsheng, thank you for your favor to me, but I feel that I am not suitable for Cottbus. Although I want to leave, I have no intention of joining Cottbus."
Yun Sheng smiled: "Because Cottbus is a relegation team, so it's a bit unworthy of you, right?"
"Well, I didn't say that."
"It doesn't matter, this is a fact," Yun Sheng didn't care. "Cottbus was just a relegation team last season. We are not strong, so we must be self-aware, otherwise we will be self-righteous and it will not do the team any good. For us For such a team, it is indeed a bit unfair to invite you here. After all, you are a strong contender for Germany's number one goalkeeper, right, Timo."
The person sitting in front of Yun Sheng is none other than the German team's third goalkeeper, Timo Hildebrand!
In the past 0607 season, both Hildebrand and Stuttgart were brilliant. They emerged in the Bundesliga era when all the heroes came together and won the Bundesliga championship. Hildebrand, as the team's main goalkeeper, played an important role. The 28-year-old German genius is experiencing the peak period of his career.
Hildebrand's rise can be traced back to the 2003-04 season. At that time, no one doubted that Hildebrand would become another great goalkeeper, and many people even thought that he would directly replace Kahn as Germany's No. 1.
Before the 8th round of the 2003-04 season, the Bundesliga record for the longest time without conceding a goal belonged to the "Lion King" Kahn; but the steel defense line led by Mela and Hildebrand made this record obsolete: facing a desperate need to win For the Cologne team, Hildebrand made a high pass and a low block. In the end, the two sides drew 0-0. During the game, when Hildebrand successfully surpassed Kahn's record of 803 minutes without conceding a goal, a congratulatory message was printed on the scoreboard: "Timo, you are the best."
In the following seasons, Hildebrand's condition got better and better, until he won the Bundesliga championship last season.
But at the national team level, Hildebrand has always been unsuccessful.
From the sudden emergence in 2004 to the Bundesliga championship in 2007. Although Hildebrand has enjoyed success in the league, he has always been the third goalkeeper in the national team, behind Kahn and Lehmann.
And when Lehmann left England to join Arsenal, he fought for his No. 1 goalkeeper and won the opportunity.
In the 2006 World Cup, Lehmann, who was in better shape, finally became the German team's number one goalkeeper.
Kahn waited for 6 years and Lehmann waited for 8 years on the road to wearing the No. 1 jersey of the German team.
But what about Hildebrand?
No one can answer this question.
The main position of the national team is not inherited. Even though the media once regarded Hildebrand as the future patron saint of the national team, the eager eyes of Enke, Wiese, Weidenfeller and others still made Hildebrand. Lan felt like a light on her back.
Hildebrand needs a change of environment, new tests, and continued growth, just like Lehmann did back then.
Before 2003, Lehmann could only wait in the shadow of Kopke and Kahn. It was the training of the Premier League that gave him the capital to "rebel".
And now if Hildebrand wants to surpass Lehmann, he must take the same path as Lehmann did back then - go abroad!
So in the summer of 2007, Hildebrand ended up going to Spain and joining Valencia.
But when Hildebrand first arrived in Valencia, he was at a disadvantage facing the competition from Spanish veteran goalkeeper Canizares and spent most of his time on the bench.
With the Dutchman Koeman taking charge of Valencia in the middle of the season, Canizares was purged, and Hildebrand finally won the main goalkeeper position. However, Valencia faced serious internal and external troubles, and Hildebrand Lan could only experience the team's disastrous defeats again and again. At the end of the season, Valencia, who wanted to make a difference, was lucky enough to avoid relegation in the final stage.
In the new season, new coach Emery brought in Renan, the main goalkeeper of the Brazilian Olympic team. Hildebrand was completely relegated to the sidelines and eventually left the team sadly. And this failure experience made him never return to his peak state.
Yun Sheng knows all this well, and he now knows very well that what Hildebrand needs is a challenge and a main position in the national team.
Therefore, when he cast the [Good Birds and Woods] spell, he had already thought of a recruitment strategy.
"Timo, if I'm not wrong, your purpose of leaving Stuttgart is just for a bigger adjustment, right? You want to follow Lehmann's path and help yourself win the position of the German team's number one national goalkeeper, that's right. Right?" Yun Sheng said slowly.
Hildebrand was stunned: "Coach Yunsheng, how do you know?"
Yun Sheng smiled slightly: "I have been observing you for a long time and know your situation very well. This is just a guess."
"You're right, that's what I thought, so I reluctantly left Stuttgart," Hildebrand said truthfully, "If possible, I don't want to leave Stuttgart, I don't want to leave Germany, after all, I have been here The Bundesliga, I still prefer the football environment here.”
Yun Sheng nodded: "Timo, you are a real person, but have you ever thought that if you leave the Bundesliga, you might not be able to adapt to the rhythm of foreign leagues?"
"It is possible, but I am willing to take the risk for the sake of the German team's No. 1 goalkeeper position." Hildebrand said firmly.
Yun Sheng was very aware of Hildebrand's determination.
It was because of the contract extension with Stuttgart that Hildebrand paid a lot. He refused the club's contract extension and the fans' good intentions to stay, just for the sacred goal in his heart - the number one goalkeeper of the German national team!
Looking at Hildebrand's firm eyes, Yun Sheng organized his thoughts, then gently knocked on the table, and said slowly to Hildebrand: "Timo, I have a suggestion, I hope you can Take some time and listen. If you want a change of scenery, the place you should go is not Spain, but Cottbus!”
Hildebrand was shocked when he heard Yun Sheng's words!
"This matter is very private, how did you know about it?!"
