Mark's answer, while sincere, was also very clever.
He directly returned the question to Hecking, letting the head coach decide whether he should play on the left or the right.
Of course, he didn't know what Mark was truly thinking.
He just believed that Mark's answer was heartfelt.
"This kid is very sensible..."
Hecking patted Mark's shoulder, told him not to train too long, and then turned to leave the training ground.
Back in the meeting room, Hecking had already made a decision:
There's no need to make Mark a primary starter in one position right now!
Firstly, the team's lineup is very balanced, and their form is excellent.
Although they had consecutive losses to Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich.
However, in direct confrontations with Champions League rivals like Schalke and Leverkusen, they had the upper hand.
Given Perisic's current form and ability, he is the first choice for left winger.
Hecking couldn't possibly bench Perisic or move him to right wing just to develop Mark, thereby disrupting the team's balance.
Secondly, Mark is only eighteen years old and has immense potential for development; there's no need to hastily define his future direction.
He can gradually get more playing time, adapt to the intensity and rhythm of the Bundesliga, and then be observed for a period.
In his opinion, eighteen-year-old Mark, for Wolfsburg, was equivalent to an eighteen-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
Young!
Talented!!!
Limitless potential!!!!
In the early days after joining Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo was also deployed by Ferguson as a right-footed right midfielder, specifically tasked with delivering crosses from the byline.
It was only later that he gradually transitioned into an inverted left winger.
Following Cristiano Ronaldo's template, Mark could first play as a right winger to gain match experience.
Then, once his stamina and physical confrontation improved, it wouldn't be too late to gradually transition.
Since he can play on both sides, he can be deployed according to tactical needs!
In the following days of team training sessions, Hecking sometimes assigned Mark to play as a right winger and sometimes as a left winger.
It's worth noting that both the coaching staff and his teammates noticed that Mark's explosiveness and acceleration were significantly faster than before.
"Could it be that this kid has been secretly doing extra explosive training?!"
Suddenly, Perisic, Caligiuri, and Vieirinha all felt immense pressure.
This kid is handsomer than us, younger than us, and has better footwork than us, and that's already enough.
Now he's also so diligent (and competitive)?!
How are we supposed to live?!
Unconsciously, their attitude on the training ground also became much more active... And seeing the players' enthusiasm in training, Hecking was delighted:
"The Champions League is secured this season!"
...March 22nd, Bundesliga Matchday 26.
Fourth-placed Wolfsburg hosted eighth-placed Augsburg at home.
Under the leadership of head coach Markus Weinzierl, Augsburg, which barely avoided relegation last season, had an eye-catching performance this season.
Traditional powerhouses like Mönchengladbach, Stuttgart, and Werder Bremen were all defeated by them, and they also managed to draw against Borussia Dortmund away from home.
In their last eight Bundesliga matches, they had only lost two, indicating very good form.
The team also had many familiar names in its squad, such as Halil Altıntop, Ragnar Klavan, Alexander Manninger, Arkadiusz Milik, and others.
Arriving at the Volkswagen Arena, Augsburg naturally wanted to secure points away from home to keep their hopes of European qualification alive.
However, the Wolfsburg players, with their formidable home advantage, took control of the match from the very first minute!
Mark continued to be on standby as a substitute for this match.
Perhaps sensing Mark's immense threat in training, the two starting wingers, Perisic and Caligiuri, who felt their positions were in jeopardy, played with great intensity on the field.
It was Caligiuri's aggressive pressing on the wing that forced an error from the opposing full-back, who passed the ball directly to De Bruyne.
De Bruyne immediately delivered a through ball, finding Perisic making a run on the left.
The latter first controlled it with his left foot, then flicked it with the outside of his right foot, and immediately curled a shot!
The ball traced a perfect arc and nestled into the far corner of the goal.
Sword Perišić unsheathed, a fatal strike!
And just ten minutes later, De Bruyne once again delivered a surgical through ball, leading to Olić being fouled in the box and winning a penalty.
Ricardo Rodriguez converted from the spot.
In the first half, De Bruyne was outstanding, delivering several key passes and registering an assist.
Home team Wolfsburg led visiting Augsburg two-nil.
The second half began with a change of ends, and Augsburg, unwilling to accept defeat, fought back and started to push forward offensively.
Wolfsburg, leading by two goals, seemed to have relaxed a bit; Perisic was dispossessed while dribbling, leading to an opponent's counter-attack and a corner kick opportunity from the right wing.
From this corner, Estonian center-back Ragnar Klavan outjumped Wolfsburg's young center-back Knoche to score a header.
Augsburg pulled one back!
Witnessing the goal, Hecking on the sideline burst out of the technical area and immediately started yelling:
"Damn it!"
"First ball! First ball!!"
"Who exactly are you marking?!"
Although they had avoided the situation of conceding first and then having to fight back, failing to capitalize on their lead to extend it was also a nagging problem.
After Hecking's "hairdryer treatment," the Wolfsburg players on the field also perked up.
However, facing a highly motivated Augsburg, Wolfsburg failed to regain control of the game.
For possession, both sides engaged in a fierce battle in midfield.
The 2-1 scoreline remained until the sixty-fifth minute of the second half.
Seeing Augsburg showing signs of taking over, Hecking made a decisive move, substituting Perisic for Mark!
"Wolfsburg is making a substitution!"
"Number 9 Perisic is replaced by Number 45 Mark Lane!"
"This season, Mark has directly contributed to a goal or assist in six of his seven substitute appearances, he's definitely Wolfsburg's super sub!"
Upon seeing Mark enter the game as a substitute, the Volkswagen Arena erupted in thunderous cheers.
Seeing this black-haired teenager who consistently made an impact off the bench, Wolfsburg fans inexplicably felt a sense of reassurance.
Indeed, after coming on, Mark immediately changed the dynamic of the game!
Compared to Perisic, he was much better at holding and protecting the ball; unless it was a direct foul on him, opponents could barely take the ball away.
Moreover, Mark preferred to play one-twos with De Bruyne, unlike Perisic, who tended to go it alone after receiving the ball.
With Mark holding the ball on the wing, unyielding to tackles, Wolfsburg was able to maintain firm control of possession.
The pace of the game also slowed down accordingly.
At the same time, the Augsburg players, trailing in score and seeing no possession, grew agitated, and their defensive actions became rougher.
And their target, of course, was Mark.
As Augsburg players repeatedly fouled Mark, the referee's whistle blew continuously!
In just ten minutes, Augsburg players fouled Mark four times, received two yellow cards, and conceded two set-piece opportunities to Wolfsburg.
Mark, who was fouled and on the ground, simply sat there, still flashing his charming smile.
Playing as a left winger, without speed, relying on changes in rhythm to dribble past opponents;
Keeping possession, then being constantly fouled and obstructed by opponents, leading to set-piece opportunities for his team... Sitting on the ground, Mark couldn't help but think of a certain British superstar who enjoyed dancing and had a transfer value of over a hundred million.
"Oh no, have I become a 'wobbler'?!"
...
Explore 30 more chapters at patreon.com/zeaser