0017 Exhausting Gattuso with Running Laps (Requesting Recommendation and Monthly Votes)

"Hey, buddy, I read in the newspaper that you partied till dawn at the hotel?"

"When I have the time, I'll introduce you to some models so you can experience the passion of Italian girls," Filippo Inzaghi said with a laugh, wrapping his arm around Huang Kaiwen's shoulders.

He had found his kindred spirit.

"Don't corrupt our newbie, you jerk!"

Maldini walked up and kicked Inzaghi in the butt.

After Inzaghi ran off with a playful grin, Maldini came over and said, "Don't hang out with that guy. The coach is right, you need to restrain yourself a bit. You know Ronaldo, right? He's a superb forward, but injuries don't spare you just because you're a superstar. Even though he performed okay at Real Madrid, I don't see a bright future for him. He expended too much energy off the field."

"Yes, Captain, I'll be careful."

Huang Kaiwen nodded in agreement.

"Lads, your performance is truly… astonishing. I think I could run a hundred meters faster than Filippo," Ancelotti said still smiling.

"Boss, you're lying. Try running one then!"

Inzaghi protested dissatisfiedly.

Ancelotti didn't reply and, after looking over the data handed to him by the team doctor, continued to criticize the first team: "It appears you really indulged yourselves over the holiday. I'm going to make sure you guys get back in shape quickly, starting with adaptation training today and increasing the intensity in a few days. By the way, Gennaro, Kevin, and Dario, you guys have injuries, so head to the sidelines or to the gym."

The AC Milan players teased again, having already assumed Huang Kaiwen had been run ragged.

Gattuso, pulling Huang Kaiwen and Simic aside, reassured Huang, "Don't mind those jerks. They don't mean any harm."

"Yeah, I'm not upset — everyone is pretty friendly."

"Good to know. Italians are just like that."

Gattuso commented, as if he weren't Italian himself.

"I'm not a fan of going to the gym. How about jogging?"

Gattuso asked.

"Sure, I think jogging is good too."

Huang Kaiwen happily accepted Gattuso's suggestion.

Dario Simic glanced at Huang Kaiwen, thinking to himself that he was a real brown-noser.

Simic, having played for Inter Milan before and still feeling like an outsider after two seasons at Milan, was hurt to see Huang Kaiwen immediately fitting in with the local players.

…

On the training field, the AC Milan players were playing keep-away.

The new season always started with low-intensity training, letting everyone train joyfully.

Slowly adapting to the training intensity of professional players.

Back around the year 2000, a holiday was just a holiday — not many players trained extra during their vacation and then posted it on Instagram. So, after more than a month off, the players' physical condition drastically declined from during the season, and many even returned with a bit of a belly.

"Damn it, I'm a forward; I shouldn't be doing tackling drills!"

Inzaghi called out, neck strained from being repeatedly outplayed.

His teammates ignored him, continuing to pass the ball around and tease Inzaghi.

Chasing after the ball, Shevchenko tapped it with his right foot, then pushed it with his left to Pirlo on the opposite side.

Pirlo waited for Inzaghi to catch up before passing the ball steadily to Maldini's feet.

Before Maldini could kick, an irate Inzaghi, using his hands and feet, tackled the AC Milan captain successfully.

"Your turn, Paul!"

Inzaghi quickly pushed Maldini forward, fearing Maldini might refuse.

Maldini smiled and shook his head as he walked to the center.

"You cheater."

"Filippo is as dumb as a pig."

"If he hadn't used his hands, we wouldn't be rotating players till the end of practice."

"Rotating players is good; Filippo standing in the middle exerts no pressure at all. It doesn't serve the purpose of the practice."

The others teased Inzaghi.

"You jerks, what are you talking about," Filippo Inzaghi indignantly pointed at his teammates and said, "I've just been in bad shape lately, got it? Otherwise, I would have caught you guys long ago."

"If you're in bad shape, you could run laps with Gennaro and the others."

Pirlo, not giving any quarter, still held a grudge from the hundred-meter test.

Inzaghi looked towards the sidelines and suddenly exclaimed, "Look, they're still running; haven't they stopped?"

The other players also looked over curiously, they had already been training on the field for over 20 minutes, and even jogging was a significant strain.

Originally following Huang Kaiwen and Gattuso to the sidelines, Simic had already sat down to rest—only Huang Kaiwen and Gattuso continued to sweat profusely on the track next to the training field.

Inzaghi waved to Simic and shouted, "Haven't they stopped yet, how many laps?"

"Six and a half laps."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked.

The track in Milanello is 1200 meters per lap; six and a half laps were nearly 8000 meters.

They had only been training for half an hour, and they had already run that far?

Although for athletes, 10,000 meters is just over 30 minutes, and world-class long-distance runners can even hit around 27 minutes, they were not professional track and field athletes.

Simic voluntarily came over to explain to the main players, "The two of them found it interesting to run, they were competing with each other, trying to see who could win."

"Really? He's actually trying to compete with Gennaro in endurance?"

Upon hearing this, Inzaghi's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Yes, I couldn't keep up with them, so I rested for a while, and I have injuries too," Simic said, a bit annoyed.

"Hehehe," Inzaghi waved to Pirlo and said, "Aren't you upset? Let's bet on who will win, 100 bucks."

"I bet on Gennaro."

Pirlo said first.

"Hey, jerk, I wanted to bet on Gennaro!"

Inzaghi protested, slightly annoyed.

The other teammates also started to join in the fun.

Initially, the personal grudge between Inzaghi and Pirlo turned Inzaghi into the bookmaker by default.

And they all thought Gattuso could win.

Inzaghi was inwardly bleeding.

Money was a minor issue; losing to so many people at once, was he going to lose face?

The coaching staff was also attracted by their noise. Upon inquiring, Ancelotti and the others joined in as well.

Inzaghi, his expression gradually numb, yelled at the side of the field, "Kevin, you have to push harder, no one other than me believes you can win, don't disappoint me!!!!"

By the 9th lap, Inzaghi shouted, "Kevin, push it, crush Gennaro!!!!"

By the 10th lap, an excited Inzaghi shouted, "Kevin, Gennaro is already behind, you have to hold on!!!!"

By the 11th lap, Inzaghi started urging Gattuso, who was losing his rhythm, "Gennaro, stop insisting, you're no match for Kevin."

By the 13th lap, Gattuso's legs were obviously faltering, his steps uneven, but Inzaghi, thrilled, continued to urge, "Gennaro, just stop, look at Kevin still full of vigor, you might injure yourself if you continue."

Just as Gattuso was about to give up, hearing this, he continued to grit his teeth and run.

However, by the time he got back to the starting point, Huang Kaiwen had already lapped him. Realizing there was no hope of victory, Gattuso simply gave up and squatted down, hands on his knees, panting, "Okay, okay, you win, you're impressive."

Inzaghi cheered, rushing toward Huang Kaiwen and jumping onto his back, nearly causing Huang Kaiwen to stumble.

"You lost, you jerks!"

"Hahaha, you bunch of idiots, short-sighted fools."

"Only my insight is the best, I knew Kevin could win."

"Kevin, you really did great."

At the edge of Milanello's training field, only Inzaghi was arrogantly laughing at his teammates.

Ancelotti was also very happy.

He hadn't realized before how good Huang Kaiwen's stamina was.

A player brimming with talent and also physically excellent, is too important to the team.

This season, perhaps they could let Huang Kaiwen play 45 matches.

With Huang Kaiwen and Kaka, Milan could possibly remain unbeaten and win the championship, and they might even have a chance at breaking Milan's previous record of 58 matches unbeaten.

Back when Milan set the unbeaten record, he, Ancelotti, was a Milan player.

To break the unbeaten record he helped set as a player now in a coaching role would be exceptionally glorious.

In the world of football, apart from him, Ancelotti, probably no one could achieve this.