Sports Medicine Master System-Chapter 172 - 123: National Team

Of course, Chen Yu wasn’t going to refuse to treat Donovan.

He had no reason to turn away a patient who came knocking.

Chen Yu was actually quite curious. Donovan was so young, how could he have a recurring groin injury?

That kind of injury was more common in older athletes who had overexerted themselves.

As for being the National Team’s doctor...

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yu nodded.

’Why would I turn down such a great opportunity to boost my reputation?’

’It wasn’t just the National Soccer Team, but also the Dream Team and the Olympics. Once my reputation is high enough, they’ll all want a piece of me.’

’Perfect. I can check out the World Cup, too.’

Ronaldo had been telling him for a while that he wanted to invite him to watch him play at the World Cup next year.

"That’s wonderful," Contiguglia said, his face lighting up. "Chen, in that case, can you travel with the team to Mexico in three days for the next National Team match?"

"Huh?"

Chen Yu was stunned, thinking he must have misheard.

’In three days? Do they have to be in such a hurry?’

’The thing is, I just agreed to be the National Team’s doctor. It would look bad to immediately turn around and refuse to travel with them.’

"Alright."

After a quick thought, Chen Yu gave a helpless nod. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Contiguglia himself seemed to realize it was a bit much. After all, he had just invited Chen Yu to be the team doctor, and now he was asking him to travel with the team for a match in just three days.

But the timing was just that tight.

On July 1st, the sixth round of the final stage of the World Cup qualifiers for the Central and North America Division was set to begin. The United States Team would face the Mexico Team at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.

"Chen, if you think it’s too soon, it’s okay if you don’t go," Contiguglia said.

In the first five rounds, the United States Team had four wins and one draw, placing them first in the standings. Their chances of qualifying were very high, so if Chen Yu didn’t go, it wouldn’t have a huge impact.

After all, the players were all still healthy.

If he skipped this round, the seventh round was two months away, which would be plenty of time.

Chen Yu gave Contiguglia a speechless look. ’Then why didn’t you say so earlier?’ he thought.

’I’ve already agreed. It would look bad to back out now.’

"It’s no problem. I have time. I’ll just treat it as a chance to get familiar with the team," Chen Yu said with a smile, though his heart was bleeding. ’So much for my hard-earned vacation.’

With their official business concluded, Contiguglia didn’t stay long before getting up to leave.

Stern and Chen Yu walked him out.

Once Contiguglia was out of earshot, Stern suddenly said, "Chen, if you’re interested in working with the National Team, should I have a word with Tom? After all, we’re hosting the World Championship next year."

Soccer needs a team doctor, so why wouldn’t basketball?

Next year, the 14th FIBA World Championship for Men would be held in the United States, and the formation of the Dream Five Team was imminent.

Chen Yu quickly caught on. Indeed, next year wasn’t just the World Cup, but the Basketball World Championship as well.

The Tom that Stern mentioned had to be Tom Jeanstadt, the general manager of the United States Basketball Association.

"Sure, I have no problem with that," Chen Yu said, not refusing the offer.

’Anyway, the World Cup and the World Championship are held at different times.’

"I’ll talk to him later, then," Stern said with a smiling nod. He then changed the subject to the election for the president of the Players’ Union.

’This old fox.’

Chen Yu understood perfectly. Stern was doing him a favor first to make it impossible for him to refuse a request later.

However, negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement were still a long way off, so it didn’t really matter who became the president of the Players’ Union.

Back at the hotel, Lexi had just returned from the spa, humming in contentment.

"If you want a massage, you should have come to me." ’When it comes to massages, who’s more professional than I am?’

With that, Chen Yu pulled Lexi toward the bathroom.

’Can’t let the luxury jacuzzi in this five-star hotel go to waste.’

After a passionate encounter, Lexi lay languidly in the tub and asked Chen Yu why he had been so energetic today.

They had been together long enough to be like an old married couple, so that aspect of their relationship wasn’t always at the forefront.

"Alright, spill it. What’s on your mind?" Lexi saw right through him.

Chen Yu moved closer and wrapped his arms around Lexi, his hands starting to wander. He then asked cautiously, "So... what do you say we go to Mexico for a few days?"

「Two days later.」

Juarez International Airport, Mexico.

"Chen, over here!"

Contiguglia was waving at Chen Yu from a distance.

Dressed in light clothing, Chen Yu pulled his suitcase and walked over.

Mexico City is situated in a basin and has a cool climate year-round.

Contiguglia came forward, first giving Chen Yu a hug before introducing the young man beside him.

He was the National Team’s manager, August Martin.

After the introduction, Contiguglia said apologetically, "I’m sorry for making you come on such short notice."

He noticed that Chen Yu’s expression was a little off; his face was tense.

’He’s probably in a bad mood.’

Hearing the apology, Chen Yu quickly explained, "Robert, it’s not your fault. I was just held up at customs."

"You know Acupuncture, right? It’s a special treatment method I use, and it requires all sorts of needles. Security in New York didn’t stop me, but here, they insisted I was carrying weapons and confiscated my equipment."

Before leaving, Chen Yu had made a special trip to New York to buy a set of silver needles and Fire Cupping supplies, thinking they might be useful with the team. Who would have thought that after getting through security in New York without issue, he’d have them confiscated in Mexico.

’Is it because I’m more famous in the United States, and the security screeners recognized me?’

"Needles?" Contiguglia paused, surprised. As someone with a Ph.D. in sports science, he was well-informed enough to know what Acupuncture was. "I’ll go get them back for you," he said immediately.

He told Chen Yu to wait in the car and turned to find an airport official.

A short while later, Contiguglia returned with the set of needles.

Chen Yu didn’t ask how he got them back. He just got in the car, and they headed for the city center.

He heard the team was currently at the training grounds for an acclimatization session, so they decided to head straight there.

’The match is tomorrow afternoon, and this is their only training session. Since I’m here, I can’t just be a bystander. I need to contribute somehow.’

A short time later, the car arrived at the training grounds.

They had borrowed a field from a local team to train. When Chen Yu arrived, the entire 22-man squad, along with the coaching staff, was in the middle of a bustling training session.

"Bruce," Contiguglia called out to a middle-aged man on the sidelines.

The man was in his forties, with thinning hair and a large nose. He was Bruce Arena, the current head coach of the United States Team.

"Chen, welcome."

Arena came forward and gave Chen Yu a hug.

Before coming, Chen Yu had specifically looked up some articles about the National Team, wanting to learn more about this particular soccer squad.

But there really wasn’t much coverage.

Sports coverage was dominated by football, baseball, and basketball. Very few people actually followed the soccer team.

According to the media, Bruce Arena was a strict coach with a tough, unsmiling personality.

That was probably just media nonsense, or maybe Arena was only strict with his players. Toward Chen Yu, his new colleague, Arena was quite friendly. After some brief pleasantries, he started asking Chen Yu about Ronaldo and the others.

It really wasn’t easy to find someone in the United States who cared about international soccer stars.

As they talked, Arena cracked a joke. "Chen, if you didn’t treat Ronaldo and those guys, maybe we’d be able to go even further in the World Cup next year."

The thought of being drawn into the same group as Brazil and having to face a fully healthy Ronaldo was terrifying.