Chapter 134

"What? You're going to the gym to train?" 

"Oh, man, you've got to be out of your mind. That place is a nightmare." 

"Seriously, Yang Yang, you're a speed player. Flexibility is your biggest weapon. Focusing too much on strength could make you stiff." 

"And Winston Bogarde? That guy's a monster! Do you even know how terrifying it is in there?" 

... 

When Yang Yang returned to the players' lounge, his teammates had already heard the news. They gathered around him, trying to persuade him not to be so hard on himself. To them, the gym was nothing short of a nightmare. 

It wasn't surprising, though. The average age of Ajax's squad was in the early twenties, and strength training wasn't a big focus for most of the players. The gym was mainly used for injury rehabilitation or specific training sessions arranged by the coaching staff. Under normal circumstances, no one voluntarily went there. 

In fact, for a long time, Ajax hadn't even employed a dedicated fitness coach. It was only recently, under Ronald Koeman's leadership, that they had begun to emphasize physical conditioning, particularly to strengthen the team's physical presence—especially in midfield and defense. 

Central defense, in particular, was an area where Ajax had struggled. The height of the defenders was a factor that couldn't be changed, but their physicality in aerial duels and one-on-one confrontations could certainly be improved. Anti-highball defense had been a weakness for Ajax, and Koeman knew that bolstering the physical strength of the defenders would help mitigate that problem. 

"Bogarde looks intimidating, sure, but he's really more academic than you think. He's actually a pretty good guy," Yang Yang explained, trying to clarify his first impression of the fitness coach. 

That was what had struck him about Bogarde—the man had a structured, purposeful way of speaking and working. Everything he did had a clear objective behind it. 

"Trust me, no one likes that place," Maxwell chimed in, shaking his head. "You're better off staying away." 

Maxwell was one of Yang Yang's closest friends at the club. A laid-back Brazilian with a positive attitude, Maxwell was a great teammate. His work ethic was solid, but he was never one to overextend himself. 

"I get it," Yang Yang replied, "but I really think this is something I need to work on." 

He patted his shoulder and stretched out his arms for his teammates to see. While he wasn't completely lacking in muscle, his frame was definitely on the thinner side. Years of playing football had developed some muscle, but compared to more physical players, Yang Yang still appeared slight. 

"Ever since the end of last season, teams have been marking me more aggressively. This season, they're even assigning a player to stick to me, knowing that my physical strength isn't my strong suit. They keep pressing me, engaging in close physical battles, and it's becoming a problem," Yang Yang said seriously, his tone reflecting the weight of his concerns. 

His teammates could see he wasn't joking. Every word he said was true. 

When he was marked, Yang Yang often found himself relying solely on his movement. But once he created space and called for the ball, there was always a brief delay before it reached him, giving his opponents time to close him down and engage physically. That was where he struggled the most—being outmuscled and losing the advantage. 

There had been several instances where he'd found himself in good positions, only to be shoved off balance and lose out. Worse still were the times when he'd been nudged just enough to knock him off his stride, costing him the opportunity to make an impact. 

In the Eredivisie, it wasn't as pronounced, but Yang Yang knew that if he made the jump to one of Europe's top four leagues, the defensive pressure would only intensify. The physicality of defenders in those leagues would expose his weakness even more. 

With the fierce competition for starting spots in top teams, Yang Yang understood that if he didn't seize his chances early on, it would be incredibly difficult to break into the first team. That's why he was determined to lay a solid foundation while he was still at Ajax. 

He wasn't just content with playing at the highest level; he wanted to be a key player—one of the mainstays for a Champions League team in one of Europe's big four leagues. Anything less, and he might as well stay at Ajax, where at least they played in the Champions League every season. 

His teammates understood the reasoning behind his decision. Yang Yang's slight build was indeed a disadvantage in physical duels. 

"But you're only seventeen," Maxwell pointed out, still unsure if it was the right move. 

"I'll be eighteen soon," Yang Yang reminded him. 

His birthday was approaching on October 25th, and Yang Yang knew that his age meant he was entering a crucial stage of his physical development. 

"As far as I know, eighteen to twenty-three is the prime age for building muscle and developing physically. If I don't push myself during this period, I'll regret it later," Yang Yang added. 

Maxwell heard this and immediately feigned offense. "Hey, hey, what are you trying to say, man?" 

The room burst into laughter. Everyone knew Maxwell was twenty-three. 

Yang Yang grinned and shrugged. "You know what I mean." 

"We have a saying in Chinese," Yang Yang continued. "If you don't work hard when you're young and strong, you'll regret it when you're old and weak." 

Maxwell laughed and shook his head, used to his friend's philosophical sayings. Yang Yang's sense of humor and their mutual respect for one another made them a good duo, and Maxwell knew not to take his words too seriously. 

However, Douglas Maicon, who had been listening quietly from behind, wasn't as amused. At twenty-three years old, Maicon had underperformed at Ajax. He had struggled to secure a starting spot, even losing out to Grygera in the battle for the right-back position. Coming from Brazil, where expectations were high, Maicon was all too aware that his career in Europe was at risk. 

Yang Yang's comments hit home for him. Time was running out, and Maicon knew he needed to step up if he wanted to make an impact. 

Yang Yang's determination had struck a chord with others as well. Most of his teammates were young, and few of them were as focused on their futures as Yang Yang was. Many were still enjoying the moment, content with where they were. The gym, with its grueling routines, was something they avoided if they could help it. It was rare to see a player like Yang Yang, actively seeking out the hard work that others tried to escape. 

... 

... 

The intensity of the afternoon training session was still relatively low. 

Ronald Koeman spent half the session focusing on tactical drills in preparation for the upcoming match against Roda JC. 

Roda JC wasn't considered a strong team. Last season, Ajax comfortably beat them twice—2-1 away and 4-2 at home—showing their dominance in both encounters. Ajax had the upper hand in terms of overall strength. 

However, Roda JC's performance this season had been mixed. In their first seven games, they had three wins, one draw, and three losses. Despite their inconsistent form, one notable point stood out: their away record. In three away games, they had won twice, including a 4-3 victory over Heerenveen, which was no easy feat. 

Koeman made sure to remind the players of this. While Roda JC might be weaker than Ajax on paper, they had shown that they could perform well on the road. Ajax couldn't afford to underestimate them. 

One of Koeman's concerns was the condition of his players. Many had just returned from international duty, and the constant travel had left them fatigued, although they were recovering. Another issue was Ajax's offensive struggles this season. 

In the first three rounds, when Yang Yang was in the team, Ajax played well and showed promising signs. However, in the games following his absence, the team's attacking play had noticeably dipped. 

Up front, Ajax had two big names in Angelos Charisteas and Wesley Sonck. Charisteas, a Euro 2004 champion, and Sonck, a Golden Boot winner and Champions League winner, clearly had the pedigree. The challenge, though, was getting them to consistently perform at their best—particularly Wesley Sonck. 

The reason Ajax brought in Charisteas was to reignite Sonck's attacking prowess. The hope was that Charisteas could take some of the pressure off Sonck, allowing him to find his goal-scoring touch again. However, in the first few rounds, Sonck had struggled to replicate the sharpness that made him a star in Belgium. 

The good news for Ajax was Yang Yang's return to the squad. However, for the sake of stability, Koeman decided Yang Yang would start the next game on the bench. 

Players like Ryan Babel, Maduro, and Lindgren had all been promoted to the first team, getting chances to prove themselves. But so far, their performances had been average, and it was clear they were not yet ready to be consistent starters. 

On the right wing, Tom De Mul had seen significant playing time. When Yang Yang was in the team, De Mul usually came off the bench. But with Yang Yang absent, De Mul was thrust into a starting role. Unfortunately, his performances had been underwhelming. 

Still, De Mul was the right-winger most similar to Yang Yang in terms of playing style, and during the tactical drills in the afternoon, Yang Yang could sense Koeman's plan. It seemed likely that Koeman would start De Mul on the right wing, with Charisteas leading the attack. 

On the left, Wesley Sonck would likely be dropped to the bench, with Steven Pienaar filling the left-wing position. This was partly due to Sonck's poor form and his international commitments, which had taken him back and forth between Belgium and Amsterdam during the break. Pienaar would be a more reliable option, allowing De Jong and Galásek to partner as the double pivot in midfield. 

Wesley Sneijder, as usual, would be the focal point of the midfield, pulling the strings as the central attacking midfielder. 

As for the defense, it seemed certain that Grygera would play at right-back, with Heitinga and Vermaelen partnering in central defense. Maxwell would take his usual spot at left-back. This was a logical choice, as Roda JC's strikers were pacey, and Vermaelen's agility would be key in handling their speed. 

From the afternoon's tactical setup, Yang Yang felt confident in his prediction of Koeman's formation. It was cautious, perhaps even conservative, given that Ajax were playing at home. But with the current state of the squad, it made sense. 

In professional football, winning was the top priority. Playing beautifully was a bonus, but without goals, there were no victories. Ajax had already dropped more than 10 points in the league, and their current ranking wasn't even as good as Roda JC's. No matter the circumstances, winning was what mattered most. 

First, secure the win. Then, gradually improve the team's tactics and form. Once the team was in a better rhythm, they could focus on playing the attractive football that Ajax was known for. 

Koeman and his coaching staff had clearly prepared well and had a solid response plan in place. 

As for Yang Yang, his role was simple. 

If the team was leading when he came off the bench, his job would be to increase the score and help secure a more comfortable win. If the team was struggling to score or, worse, falling behind, it would be up to him to turn things around and push for the victory. 

Yang Yang found this realization amusing. After a year with the first team, he had learned a lot about the demands of professional football.