Vol 2 Chapter 18: Ruhr Derby: FIFA assists

　　The UEFA Champions League group stage is still more than half a month away. For teams with ideas for multi-line combat, they will do their best to grab points in the league. Schalke 04 is one of them. He reached the quarter-finals last season and created the best record in the history of the European stadium. Slomka also clearly understands the team's lineup configuration and wants to exceed the quarter-finals and further estimate. It's difficult, but it's still possible to work hard to tie the quarterfinals. The team's qualifying is just a goal.
　　 Back in the league, in the third round of the Bundesliga, Schalke won 1-0 at home to Bochum, and Peruvian striker Farfan scored the only goal in the game. However, this small victory also has Zhou Tiancheng's credit. At the last moment, he contributed a key front block in the corner kick defense to secure a three-pointer.
　　At the same time, Bayern defeated Herta Berlin 4:1 at home, the Munich media was very happy for this victory. Bayern's royal media "Süddeutsche Zeitung" announced high-profile after the game: the familiar Bayern is back! The Bundesliga Big Mac will start the crushing defending mode!
　　 But a little bit of media can see that Schalke 04 is the most dazzling team in the standings. Three rounds of the league scoring eight goals, and zero goals. The latest issue of the "Kicker" magazine on the second day raised the question with the biggest title: Who can break Schalke's goal?
　　 This is a bit diametrically opposed to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. However, "Kicker" is the oldest authoritative football magazine with 80 years of history. Their opinion orientation has a great influence on the public opinion, and many professional newspapers and sports radios will use their articles for reference. At the same time, most media believe that the Ruhr Derby in the fourth round will be the real touchstone. Dortmund had two wins and one draw in the first three rounds, and was ranked second in the standings after Schalke. The momentum is equally ferocious. Derby, which was full of gunpowder because of historical grudges, plus the situation of the top battle. Everyone is looking forward to it. It is definitely the battle of Mars hitting the earth.
　　At the same time, most of the media believe that the Ruhr District Derby may be full of various variables, because between the third round and the fourth round of the league, there is a half-month FIFA national team match day. Qualifiers on all continents of the World Cup in South Africa started one after another. There are five internationals in the Schalke team. Westman and Kuranyi were recruited by the German team, Rakitic played on behalf of Croatia, Altentop was on the Turkish call-up list, Farfan, who won the last round of the game, will represent Peru in the qualifier in South America In the game against Uruguay.
　　So many people were called, and Slomka was a little worried that after half a month, there would be no injury report sent to his desk.
　　The "FIFA virus" that countless coaches around the world can't avoid can't be ignored. But Sloemka is definitely more than anxious. Bayern and Dortmund have more internationals.
　　 At the same time, Sloemka was fortunate that he found it twice in the national team's mobilization instruction letter. There was no mobilization letter from China, which made him really relieved. His biggest worry is that Zhou Tiancheng is going to return to China to participate in the competition. In case he has a problem, it is really a big loss.
　　Don't say goals, Zhou Tiancheng's running distance in the past three games accounted for nearly 20% of the team's total running distance. If he can't continue his good condition, the impact on the team is immeasurable.
　　 "Huh? When did I rely on a rookie player like this?" Slomka thought of being so attached to Zhou Tiancheng's state, and unavoidably laughed to himself.
　　……
　　 For Zhou Tiancheng, the International Competition Day is an adjustment period. He still insists on coming to the base every day to do a little training to maintain the state, but he did not expect that Chu Yunling would suddenly call him to come to the camp at this time.
　　 "Xiaoling, if you want me to make a phone call, I'll pass, why are you still running?"
　　 Chu Yunling sniffed his nose: "Why, it's not welcome? You have been in the first team for so long, I haven't seen your working environment yet. But it's so far away from my imagination, how can it look so old."
　　Zhou Tiancheng smiled: "This was originally changed from the old stadium. You are not used to staying here. Let's just change places."
　　 did not expect Chu Yunling to simply shake his head: "No. A Cheng, the school will start to divide into professional directions next semester. I think about it, and I will be a sports reporter in the future, so I am adapting to the future working environment in advance."
　　Zhou Tiancheng was surprised for a while and said with a smile: "Isn't it because of me? I'm against it. Reporter Chu should not chase me for interviews in the future. I hate these the most."
　　 "The objection is invalid. My parents all agree to make my own decision, and my future is my decision."
　　 Zhou Tiancheng was helpless, stopped and looked at her, and persuaded seriously: "Xiaoling, I am serious, I don't want you to work so hard, I have an annual salary of more than 100,000 yuan, and I will not be bad in the future..."
　　 "I am happy, you can control it?" Chu Yunling glanced at him with a willful look.
　　Zhou Tiancheng had expected the dissuasion to be ineffective. Chu Yunling's character was not strong, but she was independent. He could only shake his head with a wry smile.
　　……
Ten days later, several internationals who participated in the national team game returned one after another. Westman was arguably the most happy. As a central defender, he scored one goal and two assists in two national team games to help the German team 6 :0 beat Liechtenstein, 4:0 won Azerbaijan. Farfan was also rewarded. He sent key assists to help Pizarro break the goal. Peru beat Uruguay 1:0 at home.
　　 Slomka saw a smile from the bottom of his heart when he saw that all the international players are living and living. As long as everyone is healthy, he will have confidence in the next Ruhr Derby.
　　 Near Derby Day, the number of media outside the Schalke base has increased significantly, and Sloemka has generously allowed everyone to watch the training. The open attitude of UU reading www.uukanshu.com surprised everyone.
　　 Which derby in the Ruhr area should not be strictly guarded against the media? Is it a three-game winning streak at the start, Schalke swelled?
The Dortmund reporter keenly caught the opportunity to attack the dead enemy, but did not expect Slomka to come back with a smile: "Closed training? That's what the weak do. I don't mind telling you, FIFA match day has no effect on us Any impact. We are ready. However, I seem to hear that Jurgen Klopp is not in trouble?"
　　 This question instantly changed the other party's expression, indirectly indicating that Schalke's intelligence work was accurate. Dortmund did hit the FIFA virus. Their situation is not the same as that of Schalke. The German international is only Hummers, but there are many internationals in the world. South Korea international Li Rongsuo, Croatia international Kovac, Poland international Yakub Blashkowski, Egyptian striker Zidan... almost freed up half of the main lineup, and it is more favorable news for Schalke Yes, they have all gone through a hard battle with the national team, and now the state is more or less problematic.
Although Dortmund did not admit that he died from the team to the media, but the person Klopp brought to the press conference before the game was actually goalkeeper Weidenfeller. He was neither a captain nor a tactical core. He actually came to the press conference. It's already very clear.
　　Gelsenkirchen media will naturally not miss this opportunity to make opponents difficult. Although Klopp repeatedly stressed: "What about away? Derby in the Ruhr area, the team will fight in unity to the end!"
　　However, in Schalke's view, Dortmund was like a cooked duck with a hard mouth.
　　Many third-party neutral reporters are joking privately. FIFA assists this wave, and the time is just right!