As the saying goes, oranges grown south of the Huai River are oranges, while those grown north of the Huai River turn into tangerines.
The training of young players is actually similar to this.
Take the French striker Antoine Griezmann, who is currently performing well for Real Sociedad. If he had been judged by the French youth training standards, he would never have succeeded.
Griezmann was born in a small town called Mâcon, 65 kilometers from Lyon. Influenced by his father, he began playing football at a young age and received basic training at Mâcon United.
It was not until he was seven or eight years old that his family realized his potential. They took him out of Mâcon and tried him out in various clubs across France, including Lyon, Paris Saint-Germain, Auxerre, Saint-Etienne, Sochaux, Montpellier and more.
Griezmann had excellent natural technique and extraordinary football intelligence, but he also had a fatal flaw: his lack of speed and his short, slight build.
The selection criteria for France's youth training are very clear. Professional football must be based on physical qualities. Strong and fast players are more favored, while players like Griezmann are destined to be eliminated.
After repeated setbacks, it was not until 2005, during a trial at Montpellier, that Griezmann was spotted by Eric Olhats, an amateur scout for Real Sociedad. Olhats strongly recommended him to Roberto Orbaiz, the club's sporting director.
In Spanish football, deficiencies in speed, strength, and physique are not considered fatal, even for clubs in northern Spain, which are known for a rough style of play.
So, Griezmann joined Real Sociedad, grew steadily within their youth system, performed very well, and quickly entered the first team. He became their core player and began to shine.
In Gao Shen's previous life, as Griezmann excelled at Real Sociedad and later transferred to Atletico Madrid, he became famous overnight. His story was gradually reported in France, triggering reflection on the country's youth selection system.
"Why do French clubs focus more on what a player is like now, while Spanish youth academies focus more on what a player could become, better at discovering potential and talent?"
This reflection was once well known but gradually faded away.
In fact, Gao Shen had discussed this issue with Zidane and many others in the industry. The conclusion was that French football is spoiled by abundance.
According to official statistics, France's population exceeds 60 million, second only to Germany in the EU. Among them, 6 to 7 million are immigrants from Africa and elsewhere. Only a small portion have obtained citizenship, while millions remain migrant workers.
The book Football Economics notes that almost all successful professional players come from poor families with little opportunity for advancement.
For these children, football is their only path to changing their destiny.
Naturally, this immigrant population from Africa has provided France with a steady talent supply.
Looking back over the past decades, a large proportion of France's star players are of African descent.
Anyone familiar with history knows that West Africa was once a French colony, and immigrants from that region prefer going to France.
When clubs have a constant influx of talent, their selection standards naturally rise.
Even at the youth level, players need not only physical strength but also speed and technical ability.
As for the future? That can be dealt with later.
So, those who win at the starting line, those who are faster and stronger, are often preferred.
On the contrary, players like Griezmann, who have excellent technique but lack speed and strength, have little chance of standing out.
Of course, Griezmann's lack of pace also limits his ceiling.
In professional football, talent is innate.
Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, was born with African heritage. His muscle composition is unique, his speed and explosiveness unmatched. That is just the way it is.
Or players like Mbappé, born fierce and powerful, and rarely injured. What can anyone do about that?
Meanwhile, white players with exceptional speed, such as Gareth Bale, Robben, and Owen, suffer frequent injuries. Yet rockets with African ancestry like Ronaldo and Mbappé can expend their speed and impact recklessly.
That is something others cannot replicate.
But Gao Shen often wondered, what if these players also had more refined technique?
Why did Ronaldo transform into a goalscorer? Why do many people think he can no longer dribble past opponents?
The answer is simple. Speed is a gift of youth.
You can be unrestrained when you are young, but what about after turning 25? What about after 28?
Not to mention aging, even one injury can change everything.
Focusing too much on speed and strength while neglecting technical development is a problem.
This is not alarmist. It is already happening.
For example, this season L'Équipe conducted a survey, pointing out that muscle strains among young players are very common in Ligue 1.
"Usually, muscle strains occur more among older players. This is generally the case worldwide. But in Ligue 1 it is different. It is also seen in reserve teams and U19 youth squads."
"Young players across France are more prone to muscle strains, which is abnormal."
L'Équipe believes this reflects deeper problems in France's youth training, not only outdated physical preparation but also misguided training direction.
Everyone knows England has no shortage of fast and strong players, but their youth system consistently produces players with poor technique.
What Gao Shen did at Leeds United was to establish a foundation in England while developing young talent from all over the world.
Many people thought Leeds United was simply reforming youth training, similar to Liverpool, Arsenal, and others. But it was not the same. Spanish youth training cannot be applied wholesale in England.
Still, some essential things are worth learning, such as Spain's emphasis on developing technique and discovering talent and potential. These are clear strengths.
Whether acknowledged or not, the essence of football is ball control.
This does not mean possession statistics but the ability to control the ball.
Shooting, dribbling, passing... all require control. And behind that is technique.
Leeds United's philosophy is all-round development. Not only physical strength and speed, but also technique and awareness are critical.
The main reason Gao Shen visited Leeds United this time was that Paco Cerullo and Juan Villa had submitted a proposal.
…
"As the name suggests, the Sports Technology Innovation Seminar aims to bring together experts and scholars from around the world to discuss how to use new youth training concepts, methods, and data analysis to improve team training and youth development."
Paco Cerullo introduced his plan to Gao Shen and Su Qing.
"We have been in contact with many peers, and they are very interested in Leeds United, especially our big data center and the AXA Centre we are building."
At the AXA Centre, Leeds United's Big Data Centre collaborated with Huawei to develop an IoT system that monitors and analyzes players' activities at the training base, including gym sessions, providing real-time data support for coaching staff in daily training and youth development.
This is the first of its kind in the world.
Data analysis itself is not new, but the challenge for Leeds United lies in how to build statistical models, how to use data to design tactics, and how to train young players.
These were difficult before, but now Leeds United aims to create a complete system.
Of course, this is just the beginning.
It is not enough for Leeds United alone, so constant communication and attracting talent are necessary.
The Sports Technology Innovation Seminar is a platform and an important step to promote Leeds United.
Gao Shen had already discussed this with Su Qing, Lucas, and Borrell, and they agreed to host a two-day summit. The first event planned to invite 200 to 300 experts worldwide, including from the NBA and NFL.
In this respect, the United States is clearly ahead.
The investment would be considerable.
But as Su Qing, Lucas, and Borrell said, hosting the first summit of its kind at Leeds United's new training base would greatly boost the club's reputation, especially within the industry.
Gao Shen's requirement was simple. If it was to be done, it had to be done well.
"And we cannot just hold it once. It has to continue long-term, becoming a tradition and a golden brand for Leeds United. Our team will benefit enormously from it."
Modern football values openness and communication. A team that only buries itself in training achieves nothing. To improve, it must play more matches, especially against stronger opponents.
The same applies to youth training and coaching.
More communication with global experts, more exchanges with professionals from other fields, will undoubtedly benefit football in the new era.
At the very least, it will keep Leeds United up to date and ensure access to the most advanced science and technology.
Technology is the primary productive force.
Of course, if Leeds United wants others to share, they must also contribute.
It is impossible to hoard the latest research results while expecting others to share theirs.
So Gao Shen's stance was clear, consistent with Leeds United's philosophy.
"We never stand still. On the contrary, we are eager to communicate with experts and scholars worldwide, share our findings, and progress together."
"This is not just about performance and data analysis, but also club management, social responsibility, fan engagement, and more. Anything related to the sports industry can be discussed. We should learn from others' strengths and make up for our weaknesses."
Gao Shen immediately decided that Lucas would lead the development of a three-year implementation plan.
"We are the first to create this summit, and we will make it a benchmark summit in the industry."
This matched Gao Shen's style perfectly: either do not do it, or do it to the highest standard.
In the past, such initiatives should have been led by top clubs. But since they had not done it, Leeds United would take the lead.
(To be continued.)