Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 133

On Friday evening, Sunderland arrived at their hotel in Liverpool.

Up to this time, the Supreme Court of England has not yet made a judgment on the validity of the "Texas Injunction Order".But according to "informed sources", the ruling is likely to be made on Saturday.As for the specific time point, the well-informed person's reply is: a judgment may be made at any point in time.

Therefore, after Anton arrived at the hotel, he received a call from the club CEO Martin.The FA has finally informed that the match between Liverpool and Sunderland in the sixth round of the league at Anfield will be adjusted by one day and will be played on Sunday morning.

Sunderland had an extra day for no reason.

Martin's work efficiency is super high. Before calling Anton, he has already communicated with Liverpool about Sunderland's Saturday schedule: in the morning, he will borrow Liverpool's training base for training, and in the afternoon, he will visit Anfield and the Liverpool team History Museum.During the Sunderland visit, Anfield will be temporarily closed to any public.

Anton was a little speechless: "How come we are like a sightseeing group?"

Martin's voice on the other end of the phone was also very helpless: "You can't let the players go to play in the center of Liverpool, and you can't keep them in the hotel... The other party suggested that, I thought about it, maybe it can only be like this .”

Anton understands Martin's difficulties: Before the game day, the players should not be too nervous, and they must not be too relaxed.Although Liverpool is also a veteran port industrial city, it is much more prosperous than the small town of Sunderland.If these half-grown children are allowed to play in Liverpool for a day... will they be able to play the next day?

It's better to honestly visit the opponent's past record and motivate yourself.

Besides, there are many newcomers in the team, and many of them have no experience of being a guest at Anfield.Just take advantage of this opportunity and take them to visit this old wealthy club.Anyway, the two teams are not mortal enemies, and there is nothing wrong with going to "pay their respects".

That `s a deal.

After dinner, most of the Sunderland players gathered in the hotel's entertainment hall, taking the opportunity to relax.Messi and Godin, two South American fellows, are playing table football, and Hummels is playing flying chess with Kaulbeck. The "local" rich second-generation Flanagan nestled on the sofa and read a book.Anton went over to take a look, and saw that what he was reading turned out to be a monograph on group administration with multiple business divisions.

"If you don't play football well, you have to go back and inherit the family business!" Anton almost laughed out loud, "I understand that!"

Flanagan looked up pitifully at his head coach.This poor boy, because he joined the visiting team's first team, so he can't go home at this time, and he has to be "ridiculed" by the head coach-but why does Anton smile so "sincerely"?

The rich second generation suddenly remembered all kinds of rumors about this head coach - a mysterious rich Italian family, a surname comparable to Agnelli, who had a bright future at a young age, but left them all behind, came to England alone, A football coach...

It seems... there is really a common language!Flanagan's eyes lit up.

But Anton only reached out and patted Fu Erdai on the shoulder, and said, "Go to rest early after reading for a while—even if there is no competition tomorrow, the training intensity will not be too low."

Flanagan quickly agreed.Not long after, he and his teammates went back to their rooms to rest according to their daily schedule.

At this time, the assistant coach Russell came to Anton secretly: "The boys are asleep, Anton, go—"

Anton: "Where are you going?"

Russell stretched out his hand and patted Anton on the shoulder, and said, "Brother, please, today is Friday, and there is no game tomorrow. This is Liverpool. Let's go to the city for a drink?"

Anton was a little skeptical, was this the daily routine of Russell and his wife on Friday, otherwise why did he emphasize the phrase "the boys are asleep"?

"But tomorrow's training..." Anton hesitated.

"I've asked Nick and Charlie to take the team to the Melwood training base tomorrow morning. It's okay if we get up a little later!" Nick Abraham and Charlie Adams are Sunderland's goalkeeper coach and fitness coach.It's actually okay to lead the team with the two of them.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll be like last time..." Anton didn't know what would happen when he went to the bar.What if I play and sing again like last time...

"Hey, this is Liverpool!" said Russell. "If you snatch a guitar and start singing, I'll take off my hat and put it on the ground, and I'll be rich in the morning!"

Yes, this is Liverpool, a city that loves not only football, but also music, and there are talented people everywhere.

After Anton received Russell's assurance that he would be brought back to the hotel "safely", he and his colleague left the hotel and drove to the center of Liverpool.

But he promised Russell that he didn't really want to have a drink, but remembered what Torres had said to him: "You should come to Liverpool to see Lennon's hometown, this is the rockiest city. "Now he's really here.

"Do you know which bar to go to?" Russell, who was unfamiliar with the place, got out of the taxi and immediately couldn't tell the north from the south, with a confused look on his face.

"Of course I know!" Anton stopped a passerby casually, "Excuse me, where is the 'Cave Bar' going?"

Passers-by took a look at Anton, and answered Anton's question with a strong Liverpool accent. Seeing that Anton still didn't understand, he decided to be a good person, and led Anton and Russell to Matthew Street, pointing out They both took the location of the cave bar before leaving.

"It's really enthusiastic!" Russell muttered, and the next second he was frightened by the crowd on Matthew Street, "Is this bar so famous?"

Anton nodded and pointed to Russell: "This is the bar where the Beatles performed for the first time!"

There was a live band playing in the bar, and Anton echoed softly: "Cometogether..."①

Russell: No wonder...

"There is a wall of celebrities in front of the bar, and there are many bricks engraved with the names of rock celebrities on the wall, so countless music fans come here to make a pilgrimage." Anton continued to explain.

Russell only cared about one question: "Is the beer expensive here?"

Anton rolled his eyes at him and said, "I invite you tonight!"

Russell was overjoyed immediately, and stretched out his arms to hook Anton's neck: "Anton, my good buddy, I know you are a generous and magnanimous person!"

"Mr. Black, I am very happy to serve you!" Anton deliberately acted like an English gentleman, which made Russell laugh: This assistant coach has long forgotten Anton's inner discord when he first came, and he wholeheartedly treats him as a man. A close friend, even as if he was his own family... It's just that Russell himself may not be able to realize this on his own initiative.

The two were about to enter the cave bar, but they were suddenly attracted by the loud speech of a man in another place on Matthew Street.Just listen to the man shouting loudly: "Save our team!"

Don't think about it, it must be a Liverpool fan.

The man jumped onto a wooden barrel the bar had placed on the side of the road and shouted again: "Brothers, ladies and gentlemen, please contribute your strength. Save our team!"

This is an unremarkable middle-aged man with a hairline as high as Russell, wearing a set of shriveled khaki jacket and trousers, and a pair of football shoes of an unknown brand, which are very old.

"In the past year, each of us has seen how greedy and hypocritical the current owners of the club are, how they use the club as a tool for them to make money. The investment they promised has so far not been fulfilled... "

Many tourists gathered on Matthew Street, but most of them were locals from Liverpool.Hearing such heartfelt shouts and accusations, more and more people gathered in front of the wine barrel.

"When they bought the team, the club was worth 7000 million pounds, and now someone wants to buy the club for [-] million pounds, and they are trying to stop it, saying that the price is too low."

Obviously full, but still greedy, asking prices, no wonder the fans are angry.

Russell, who was standing next to Anton, obviously heard of such a thing for the first time, shook his head and cursed: "You greedy Yankee!"

"Just because of this incident, let's take a look at the standings. We have only accumulated 4 points in five league rounds. This is the worst start in 50 years..." The middle-aged man on the wine barrel said bitterly.

"Everyone, tomorrow's game has been postponed. Everyone is waiting for the Supreme Court's decision. If the Supreme Court rules that this transaction cannot be carried out tomorrow, this team will go bankrupt..."

"How can we help?" Someone in the crowd asked immediately.

"We launched a petition online asking for this legal deal to go through without conditions. Signatures are being collected now. If we collect [-] signatures, the government will have to respond to our request. There have been nearly Fifty thousand signatures."

The leaflet was sent out immediately, with the website address and petition number printed on it.

"Guys, please, hurry up! We have no choice, maybe this is the only way to save our team..."

"In addition, there will be a live petition in front of the town hall tomorrow. No matter which team you are a fan of, even if you support Everton or Manchester United, please join us. Capital can support a club , can also destroy a club... At this time, only everyone stands together and unites..."

The cave bar continues to play the familiar tune: "Cometogether..."

The crowd responded immediately: "Please pass me a flyer, please!"

"Although I support Toffee②, I will definitely come tomorrow!"

"..."

Russell also received a flyer, but this irascible old man seemed very nervous at the moment, and he took out his mobile phone from his pocket tremblingly: "Anton, how can this thing go online and petition!"

He pushed the people around him with his elbow, but Anton was looking up at the fan who was standing on the wooden barrel and distributing leaflets, as if there were stars shining in his eyes.

"The Starway deal will proceed normally," Anton said suddenly, with a little excitement in his voice, "Liverpool will be saved."

In this city, rock'n'roll doesn't die, and neither does football.

Russell was not the only one who heard it, and several people turned their faces with excitement and stared at Anton.

"Why? Because of the effort of the fans?" Russell asked. "Would it work?"

At this time, Anton had completely recovered his usual elegant and gentle temperament, turned his face and said to Russell: "Actually, it's because... those two unscrupulous businessmen really overestimated themselves and the US court. jurisdiction."

The author has something to say: Note time:

① This song is the first song on the Beatles' "Abbey Road" album, which Anton just bought in Chapter 91.

② "Toffee" is the nickname of Everton, Liverpool's city rival.Although KOP will call her "cousin", but it is really the enemy.

In addition, the process of the acquisition of sleepers by a certain Wei Group in this article basically happened in reality, and the timeline has been slightly changed, so I hereby explain.