Gao Bo was woken up the next day by the sunlight reflecting off the windows of the building opposite his apartment.
The team's schedule had been packed recently, which had kept Gao Bo under constant mental stress. The position of head coach is inherently demanding, and without considerable resilience, one cannot succeed in this industry.
However, proper rest is also the best way to recharge.
After finishing the tenth round of the league against Southampton, the team's next match would be a week later, giving the players a rare short period of rest and adjustment. Gao Bo, naturally, gave the team a day off, and also took time off for himself and the coaching staff.
Gao Bo rubbed his eyes as he woke up from his sleep. He had some breakfast first, then read the newspaper for a while.
Afterward, Gao Bo checked the results of other League One teams' matches.
Leeds United and Charlton won again...
Gao Bo pursed his lips. These two teams were quite resilient. Leeds United had been winning consistently since losing to Luton, and the points difference between them hadn't changed.
Gao Bo didn't expect other teams in League One to pose much of a threat to these two. It seemed everything still depended on himself.
For lunch, Gao Bo invited Haruko and Lin Sen to eat at a local Chinese restaurant. In fact, the owner of this Chinese restaurant wasn't Chinese, but a true Englishman. This guy had stayed in Singapore for a while and learned some half-baked Chinese cooking skills from somewhere.
Two Chinese and one Japanese person, in the dietary environment of England, could only reluctantly accept this small place called "Conner's Chinese Restaurant", run by the half-baked Chinese chef Conner Chaplin.
"Conner,
Why is the Kung Pao Chicken sweet?!!"
Gao Bo ordered Kung Pao Chicken today, and he complained as soon as he took the first bite.
Conner Chaplin, despite sharing a surname with the comedian Chaplin, was definitely more than twice the comedian Chaplin's weight, and Chef Chaplin, the Chinese cook, was a person who was absolutely serious about his profession.
"Isn't Kung Pao Chicken sweet?" Conner said, holding a wok spatula.
"Isn't Kung Pao Chicken sweet?" Lin Sen from Jiangsu also looked up and asked.
"Uh... isn't Kung Pao Chicken savory?" Haruko also looked puzzled.
"When I was learning Chinese cuisine in Singapore, my teacher told me very clearly that Kung Pao Chicken is sweet!!"
"But I'm Chinese!! Chinese cuisine should be based on Chinese taste!" Gao Bo raised his hand in protest.
"Lin is too!"
Conner pointed at Lin Sen, who shrugged, indicating he couldn't help.
The few of them couldn't settle the debate on whether Kung Pao Chicken was sweet or savory, and in the end, the chef's opinion prevailed.
So Conner Chaplin left with the posture of a victor.
After lunch, Gao Bo decided to visit the youth academy. He wanted to check on Li Yuanshan's situation.
Haruko immediately said she wanted to go along, and Lin Sen was also somewhat interested in the youth academy.
The few of them soon arrived at Luton's youth center.
This youth center located in the suburbs had now begun expansion work. Since the team didn't spend much money in the summer transfer window, Gao Bo decided to upgrade the youth academy.
First was the addition of personnel. Sufficient funds allowed Luton to hire more high-level youth coaches. At least compared to last season, the scale of the youth academy had expanded significantly.
The entire youth academy was divided into two parts. One part was maintaining the academy's operation, while the other part was undergoing vigorous construction.
The youth base was much quieter than the first team base. There weren't many fans who came here to watch the players train on weekdays, mostly relatives and friends of the young players themselves, unless there were youth team matches.
And to prevent the construction from affecting the players' normal training, the team even used light box cloth to separate the training ground from the construction site.
Youth Director Steve Powell received Gao Bo with a beaming face.
"What are they building over there?" Lin Sen asked, pointing at the construction site in the distance.
"Two new training pitches, youth player dormitories, and physiotherapy rooms and a gym!"
Gao Bo said. These were all things he had decided on. Anyway, the investment wasn't too large, and compared to the team's income last season, these new facilities wouldn't cause financial pressure.
"In the future, the scale of the youth academy will continue to expand. If possible, we can even build the first team's training base here, so that the youth players can see the first team training. This will be their goal!"
Gao Bo stood with his hands on his hips, like a small leader inspecting a construction site in China, and the bowing and scraping Steve beside him was clearly the lackey.
Steve's eyes were also full of anticipation for the vision Gao Bo described.
However, Lin Sen quietly furrowed his brows.
"Any gains from the youth academy recently?" Gao Bo finished looking at the construction site. The most important thing, of course, was to see the performance of the young players.
"Of course, the academy is full of great lads," Steve said, blinking.
"Haha...." Gao Bo laughed, and the group walked into the youth base.
At this time, the U18 players were training on the largest pitch, and Gao Bo spotted Li Yuanshan among them at a glance. Although only fifteen years old, Li Yuanshan was now training with the U18 players, and his physique was sufficient to adapt to the intensity of the U18s.
Gao Bo nodded with satisfaction. Li Yuanshan was very focused on his training, completing every drill thoroughly.
"How is his training going?" Gao Bo said, pointing at Li Yuanshan.
"Very good. I really don't know what he eats to grow up like this. His body is enviably good..." Steve Powell said. "If I hadn't tested his bone age during the medical examination, I really wouldn't believe he's only fifteen, Gao."
"It is indeed hard to believe, but it is happening," Gao Bo said.
"How about his other aspects?"
"In terms of basic training, he usually trains alone on pitch three in the afternoon, starting with the simplest basic exercises... If he had trained with us since he was a child, I would even be confident in developing him into a new Drogba," Steve Powell said with a sigh, shaking his head.
"It's not impossible to become Drogba now!" Gao Bo turned his head and said, "As long as he works hard enough."
Steve Powell also nodded.
"Let's take a look at the training of the others. Maybe we can find something else," Gao Bo said, standing by the field and observing the youth team's training.
Gao Bo watched by the field for two hours. When the youth team players saw the head coach on the sidelines, they trained even harder.
Gao Bo did leave an impression of several players. He wrote them down in his small notebook. If the team needed manpower in the future, he could always call up players from the youth team.
On the way back, Lin Sen seemed hesitant to speak.
Gao Bo saw what Lin Sen wanted to say: "Just say what's on your mind."
"Are you going to stay in Luton forever? Brother Bo??"
Gao Bo thought for a moment, then shook his head: "No, it's not twenty years ago anymore. There won't be a second Ferguson, and the current football environment can no longer accommodate a figure like Ferguson."
Lin Sen nodded. Chelsea's rise was a sign that the future would be a world where capital influenced football, and head coaches... perhaps would return more to technical roles.
"Then why are you investing so much in Luton's youth academy?"
When Lin Sen saw the construction of the youth academy, he really thought Gao Bo intended to stay with this team forever.
"After working here for so long, I should leave something truly meaningful behind," Gao Bo smiled.
In Gao Bo's view, if Luton is truly to rise in the future, the key is not how many championships they win now, but their foundation, whether that youth academy can continuously provide them with fresh blood.
Just like Southampton.
Of course, unless they can get investment from a wealthy owner, like Chelsea and Manchester City...
At this moment, Haruko suddenly walked up to Gao Bo.
She looked like she had gone through a great struggle of thought, then mustered up the courage to look up, but her eyes didn't dare to meet Gao Bo's: "Gao Bo-kun, if... if you are leaving Luton, please... please make sure to take me with you!"