Shidou Ryusei as the lone striker?
Doesn't this mean that he was just a backup, that his ability was inferior to Shidou's?
Itoshi Rin's expression became twisted, looking as if he had something to say but was too lazy to say it. But Ego Jinpachi was not the "gentle" type of teacher and paid no mind to his feelings at all.
"Shidou Ryusei's goals per game average is 2, lower than Itoshi Rin's 2.5."
"However, his goals rely too much on individual skill. In the first and second selections, including the adaptability test, the teammates he encountered did not have the ability to bring out his full potential."
"The only person who can understand this guy's thoughts and control him is Tendou Kageyoshi."
Hearing this, everyone recalled the few adaptability test matches.
It was true. Almost every goal Shidou had scored was completed through his own individual ability, using his dog-like goal-scoring instinct and his body balance and flexibility that allowed him to shoot from any posture.
Including Otoya, all the players who had teamed up with him couldn't understand his goals and couldn't pass him the ball he wanted. Naturally, they couldn't unleash Shidou's full potential.
"If he had been teamed up with Tendou from the beginning, what would Shidou's goals per game average be? Three? Four? Or five?"
"Based on this consideration, Shidou was my first choice for the lone striker position from the beginning."
Hearing this, everyone turned their gazes to Tendou again because even they felt that only Tendou could bring out Shidou's full potential. The two of them together... the picture might be very beautiful.
"The same logic applies to Yukimiya Kenyu. His formidable one-on-one style would be the best choice to tear apart the opponent's left-wing defense, but..."
Ego immediately dropped a bombshell into the hearts of the competing players.
"A few hours ago, I received a call from the JFU's Buratsuta. He said that if I didn't agree to the conditions set by Itoshi Sae, he wouldn't participate in the match."
"If Sae doesn't play, we can't attract an audience. The match will be called off, and then Blue Lock will be destroyed."
Itoshi Sae...
The moment these three words came out, everyone present was shocked.
For Japanese football, Itoshi Sae was the leader of the younger generation. Almost all fans believed that Sae would be the absolute core and leader of the next generation of the Japanese national team.
The status of being a core member of the genius-filled Real Madrid youth team.
The status of a New Generation World XI midfielder.
All kinds of halos added to the weight of the name "Itoshi Sae."
"He only had one condition: to select the forwards he wanted from Blue Lock."
As these words fell, the mood of the forwards in Blue Lock instantly became complicated. Why didn't Sae choose me? Is my ability not enough? Including Itoshi Rin, who was also thinking this.
I can not agree, but you can't not choose me.
Ego also wanted to use this to stir up their competitiveness. He said, "In other words, the people he chose were not you, but Shidou Ryusei and Yukimiya Kenyu."
He thought this group of hot-blooded young men would be furious, but the effect was not as good as he had imagined.
"Mmm... but if he wanted to choose the best forward, why didn't he choose Tendou?" Gagamaru asked blankly, making Ego want to slap him to death. But the four-eyed guy was not so easy to deal with.
He said calmly in the face of the crisis, "Because Tendou was not on the list he could choose from. You can understand it this way: in my heart, besides Tendou, any one of you could be chosen. Do you understand?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was indeed angry, their competitive spirit aroused. Ego began to admire his own quick-wittedness.
...
"There are still fifteen days until the match. Next, I will conduct a training that will guarantee your victory."
"Bet everything and challenge them. The road ahead does not allow for failure."
Tendou, listening, just wanted to complain. This guy was already so old, but his chuunibyou still hadn't been cured. He even imitated Batman when he spoke, deliberately lowering his voice.
Ego sensed Tendou's gaze and felt offended. He coughed and quickly arranged for the players to go for their final training camp.
...
Meanwhile.
On the other side.
The Japan U-20 representative team. The head coach, Sotei Hoitsu, was introducing Itoshi Sae to the team members. (Translator's note: translation issue, some translate his name as Sotei Masatsugu, some as Sotei Hoitsu, I just used one randomly.)
"The final battle will be held in two weeks. This is the newly called-up Itoshi Sae."
"Amazing."
"It's really him."
"Are we going to play with the genius Itoshi Sae?"
Most of the team members were very excited. Of course, there was also a small portion who did not respect Sae. For example, the U-20 team's starting forward, Sendou Shuto, who had already begun to play in the J.League's first division. He didn't think he was worse than Sae, and he couldn't stand the other's "I'm the best in the world, you're all trash" face.
"Is that so? Feels like just an annoying prince."
"Keep it down, be careful Sae doesn't hear you."
A U-20 teammate told him to be quiet and at the same time noticed that besides Sae, there were two other uninvited guests in the team.
"By the way, who are those two?"
"They're wearing the same youth team uniform as us. Are they also selected players?"
"They look very young. Are they even 18? They can't be high school students, can they?"
These two people were, naturally, Shidou Ryusei and Yukimiya Kenyu. The former was as arrogant as ever, while the latter maintained his usual gentle smile. Yukimiya had another identity: he was a model. He was a public figure, big or small, and was very careful about his image in public.
Sendou Shuto glanced at them casually and said with contempt, "They're probably just bonuses that came with buying Sae. Although I don't know who they are, I've never heard of them."
All the famous young players were basically here. The fact that they could appear here... wasn't it through the back door? He could accept Sae being selected for the national team; after all, his reputation preceded him. But what were these two high school students?
After Sotei Hoitsu finished his introduction, he also asked Sae to say a few words.
"I have no interest in any of you. But in your life, you probably won't have another opportunity like this."
"Just be careful not to piss me off. That's all."
Damn it.
This bastard is way too arrogant.
Sendou Shuto's brows furrowed into a knot. We're all geniuses, on what grounds are you so arrogant?
Just because you play in Europe and I play domestically?
Even if European football is stronger, I'm playing in a first-division league, and you're just a youth team player. It's not yet certain who is stronger.
"Don't look down on us, genius," he said, slamming the table and standing up. "You might be a hot topic all over the world, but in the end, you're still at the youth training level. I'm a starting forward in the domestic top league. You'd better watch your tone."
Being a starting forward for a professional team at around 20 years old, Sendou Shuto indeed had the capital to be proud.
But all of this was nothing in Itoshi Sae's eyes.
"So what? Compete for the Golden Boot in the domestic league, get selected for the national team, earn an annual salary of about 50 million, and finally marry a gravure idol and start a family. The peak of your football career is nothing more than that."
At first, Sendou Shuto's face was full of displeasure, but when he heard the future blueprint that Sae had drawn for him, his expression couldn't help but become dazed.
Damn it... isn't that exactly the life he wanted and was pursuing?
No.
This kid is still looking down on us!
...
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