The Day I Played with Ronaldo

After the game, the atmosphere in the Sao Paulo dressing room was good. I don't know who connected the MP3 to a small speaker to play the music, and the Brazilian players played the samba to the sound of the music, celebrating the team's climb to the first place.

Osvaldo did not stop the players from celebrating. He watched from the sidelines with a smile, and discussed the gains and losses of the game with assistant coach Mauro in a low voice.

After most people had showered and changed, Osvaldo began to comment on the game. Generally speaking, it is a compliment. After all, it is a win. It is impossible to scold the players after winning the ball.

He didn't say anything about Ricardo's performance. It is normal for a substitute to not score a goal, but it is not normal for Ricardo to score or assist almost every time he came off the bench.

The whole team was immersed in an atmosphere of joy. Although Ricardo also talked and laughed with his teammates, he was not satisfied with his performance in his heart.

No one else could see it, but only Rico, who was most familiar with Ricardo, noticed Ricardo's depression. "Hey, brother, get up, why are you still looking listless after winning the game?" He twisted the samba and moved to Licado, and bumped Licado with his butt.

Licado smiled and said, "Don't make trouble, I was just thinking about something."

"Wow, who's the beauty I'm thinking of, is it Ambrosio?" Ricko said loudly in a strange voice, "Brothers, big news, Ricardo is in love!"

Fabiano and others also surrounded him, and the short Ricardinho put his arms around Ricardo's neck on tiptoe, and said affectionately: "Hey, little Ricardo, have you slept with Ambrosio yet?" How does it taste! That is a top-notch beauty, I really envy your beauty!"

"However," Fabiano looked Riccardo up and down, "Ambrose is so tall, what position do you use with her?"

Ricardo didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Can't you stop for a while? Ambrosio and I are just ordinary friends, you think too much."

"Ordinary friends?" Fabiano yelled, "Do ordinary friends come to see you every game at home in Sao Paulo?"

"She's a Sao Paulo fan."

"Haha!" Captain Cheney interrupted at this time, "This is really the funniest joke I have ever heard. Ambrosio admitted in an interview that she is a Flamengo fan, just to show you I came to the Sao Paulo game to cheer."

"When did it happen, why don't I know." Licado's expression became a little unnatural.

"It's today's newspaper."

Ricardo had no choice but to spread his hands: "Anyway, I really didn't have anything to do with her. If you really want to think wildly, just use your imagination."

"You enviable boy!" Fabiano grabbed Riccardo's hair and rubbed it for a while, and other teammates followed suit. A minute later, Riccardo's hair became a messy bird's nest.

Osvaldo has been watching from the side with a smile, not interrupting the laughter of the players.

After a while, he clapped his hands and said loudly, "Boys, stop, stop, stop!"

After everyone stopped and the music was turned off, he continued: "I know you are all excited, and so am I. But it's not time to celebrate yet, we have to win the last game, and then there is Playoffs. Yes, we are number one in the regular season, but that doesn't bring us a trophy. I hope you guys can keep up the game and don't let up until you get the trophy. Can you do it? "

"Yes!" the players yelled together.

Osvaldo nodded with satisfaction: "Now Fluminense ranks 7th, Cruzeiro ranks 8th, and Santos ranks 9th. Of course, after the last game, the ranking may still change. Although in In the regular season, we drew with Cruzeiro and Santos, and we won a big victory against Fluminense, but Fluminense's strength is stronger than Cruzeiro and Santos. You all agree.

So we have to keep the first place, try to play Cruzeiro or Santos, avoid the 7th Fluminense, tell me loudly, can you win the last regular season game? "

"Yes!" the players shouted in unison.

"Very good, then let's go back to rest first. We will only rest for half a day tomorrow, and train as usual in the afternoon."

...

In training, Ricardo was in good condition, so in the away game against Gama, he returned to the starting lineup again. Osvaldo obviously didn't have the idea of ​​pressing him to death on the bench.

But in today's game, his performance can be said to be a complete disaster.

3 breakthroughs, 1 success. 4 shots, 1 shot on target, 0 goals. Of the 42 passes, only 30 were successful, with a success rate of 72%. 1 threat pass, 0 assists. He was replaced early in the 65th minute.

Ricardo didn't know what happened to him either. Obviously in such a good state in training. It can only be attributed to not finding the rhythm of the game.

This is also common. Even Ronaldo, even Messi and Ronaldo, it is impossible to perform well every game.

Osvaldo didn't blame him for anything. At the post-match press conference, faced with reporters' doubts about Ricardo's status, Osvaldo said: "I am very satisfied with Ricardo's performance. He has completed my tactical deployment. Obviously he lacks a little bit. Luck, didn't score, but I can see his efforts."

"No one can score one or two super goals every game, not even Pelé. Ricciardo is just a 16-year-old kid, you are asking too much of him. In my opinion, even without scoring And assists, his performance is good enough."

"You're questioning a young man who scored 17 goals and assisted eight in 12 starts and nine substitutes in a national championship. I don't know what to question about stats like that."

Ricardo was somewhat grateful for Osvaldo's support. But this can't dispel the idea in his mind: Osvaldo is not a good head coach. Something has to change if Sao Paulo is to claim some credit.

After this round of competition, the regular season of the Brazilian National Championship has all come to an end. In the end, Sao Paulo ranked first, and Santos won the last game with difficulty, but Cruzeiro was unexpectedly tied. Santos won a playoff spot by virtue of its goal difference advantage.

The eight teams participating in the playoffs are: Sao Paulo, San Caetano, Corinthians, Juventus, Gremio, Atletico Mineiro, Fluminense and Santos.

The other four relegated teams include the Portuguese, Palmeiras, Gama and Botafogo. Palmeiras, with its glorious history, will be relegated, which no one could have predicted before the start of the season.

The eight teams participating in the playoffs have all started their final preparations. The playoffs are imminent.

Sao Paulo will face Santos, the opponent who tied in the regular season, first away and then host.