Cooper introduced the tactical changes for the new season and lineup to the team, earnestly explaining theoretical knowledge on the tactical board.
However, football ultimately requires practice. It is a sport, and soon the players began drills under the scorching sun.
Except for Cao Baiming, all the players of Nottingham Forest Club were drenched in sweat and welcomed a break.
During this time, head coach Cooper found Cao Baiming and said what he had been wanting to say, though Cao Baiming had already anticipated it.
"You want to pass on some experience, right? No problem!" Cao Baiming agreed, then took a bottle of water and went to rest.
Cooper hadn't expected Cao Baiming to agree so readily. Was it that straightforward?
Soon, the players reassembled. This time, the coach arranged tactics with Cao Baiming at the core, dividing the entire team into several groups. Each group, however, had to cooperate with Cao Baiming to execute the same set of plays.
After the regular training, Cao Baiming approached the goal to begin shooting practice. Cooper understood that formations and coordination would take time to develop and wasn't aiming for perfection in one afternoon.
Therefore, the coaching staff was eager to get Cao Baiming to this stage. They were greatly anticipating witnessing his breathtaking shooting skills up close on the field.
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Cao Baiming as he prepared.
They knew how terrifying his shooting technique was, a level none of them could reach in a lifetime. Yet, the coach had instructed them to observe Cao Baiming's movements closely.
They couldn't understand why they were being asked to compare someone divine with mere mortals.
The field suddenly fell silent. Cao Baiming stood with a white football at his feet. In fact, he was intimately familiar with the ball's inflation, every indentation on its surface, and even any specks of mud.
Facing an empty goal less than thirty meters away, there was no challenge whatsoever. It would be truly strange if he missed.
As expected, three shots resulted in three goals, all hitting the very corners and executed with different techniques.
One was a powerful blast, another an extreme arc, a banana kick, and the last a potent, dipping 'elevator' ball. He showcased his shooting prowess to the surrounding players.
This level of training was far too simple for Cao Baiming. The team soon arranged for a goalkeeper to participate, but the distance remained unchanged!
At this point, the team's two main goalkeepers were Navas and Henderson. Navas was on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
Upon receiving the instruction, Navas slowly walked towards the goal, disbelief in his eyes. His legs seemed to tremble as he walked.
"Am I really going to face Cao Baiming's goal?" he thought.
Having played for Paris Saint-Germain, Navas was familiar with Ligue 1, but he hadn't faced Cao Baiming much.
Despite this, he was well aware of the terrifying power of Cao Baiming's shots. News reports about goalkeepers being hospitalized after facing Cao Baiming's strikes were common. At the time, he'd read them with a schadenfreude, never expecting to be in that situation himself!
If he had to face thousands of Cao Baiming's shots during training, who could possibly endure that!
In an instant, Navas's legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.
"Really? What do you want me to do?" Navas turned back to look at Cooper.
His expression was innocent and bewildered. The unspoken implication was clear: "I'm only on loan; I might leave after a while. I don't want to risk my life here!"
Cooper wore a helpless expression. Just then, Cao Baiming walked over.
"Back at Arsenal, we had special protective gear for goalkeepers, a tight suit, like the kind the military wore. You should try to get a set."
Cooper listened to Cao Baiming's words with a bewildered look. He knew nothing about such things. That suit was produced by Arsenal's official team and was never made public.
Currently, that goalkeeper's protective suit, tailor-made for Cao Baiming's shots, had been patented and was being mass-produced, though now its application was as body armor!
This was why Cao Baiming suggested looking to the military for it.
Upon hearing this, the higher-ups immediately put it on their agenda. If such a matter could be expedited, it should be. Meanwhile, Navas remained frozen on the spot.
"Alright, alright, don't go in yet! You can stand down for now!" Cooper called out to him.
Although Navas couldn't clearly hear what Cao Baiming had told Cooper, he had a vague feeling that Cao Baiming might have just saved his life.
At this moment, something that shocked everyone occurred! Henderson stepped forward with strides and looked at Cao Baiming.
"I'll do it, is that okay?"
Everyone was genuinely impressed by his courage. Navas was utterly bewildered. What was this guy doing?
The head coach hesitated, then finally agreed. After all, the team still had Navas; if something happened to him...
Cao Baiming agreed to reduce his power, trying not to use his full force, focusing instead on accuracy. Henderson stood on the goal line, arms spread wide, looking fearless.
He had faced Cao Baiming's shots before. In the sixteenth round of the Premier League last season, he was the starting goalkeeper for Nottingham Forest.
In that match, Henry was absent, Cao Baiming and Messi each scored a goal, and Elneny scored one more, leading to a glorious 0-3 defeat.
During that game, Henderson had successfully saved a shot from Cao Baiming outside the penalty area!
This left a deep impression on him, and he would boast about it to anyone he met.
Once ready, Cao Baiming's sharp gaze swept towards the goal. With a flick of his calf, he struck the ball with the outside of his foot!
He chose to shoot with the outside of his foot for safety reasons, to ensure Henderson's well-being.
Cao Baiming knew that his current power was completely different from when he last faced Henderson; it had at least doubled!
If he used his full strength, let alone a person, even a wall might be directly breached. Now, he wasn't entirely sure he could control his power.
It would be terrible if he accidentally injured a teammate.