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Chapter 120: Speaking from the Heart

"... Now let's assume there is a snail. It moves as slowly as a real snail, but it is invincible, cannot be killed, and has an infinite lifespan. It can climb mountains and ridges, climb over walls and dig holes, and it is absolutely impossible to get trapped. This snail will randomly refresh within a ten-kilometer radius of you at midnight every day. No matter where you are, this snail will move towards you, and as long as you are touched by it, you will die."

Bert Taylor looked at Lawrence Dadomo and said:
"This invincible snail will keep chasing you for the rest of your life. You will either be killed by it or die before it catches up with you. How do you feel, Dadomo?"

Dadomo shook his head: "I know what you want to say. It's nothing more than that Tyne is the snail, and Sofo United is the one being hunted. But your analogy is wrong, Taylor. The hunt in your assumption is endless, and the competition between Tyne and Sofo United is time-limited - as long as five more rounds of the league, the result will be revealed... So for the players of Sofo United, the pressure is not that great, and their fate is still in their own hands..."

Hearing this, the Tyne legend laughed and said, "But the players of Sofia United may not agree with you, Dadomo. They were tied by Waltham in yesterday's game."

"But the initiative is still in the hands of Sofia United." Dadomo insisted, "and we also have to consider that Sofia United and Tyne will have a direct dialogue next. As long as Sofia United can win this game, the difference between the two sides will return to seven points... Oh, sorry, I said it wrong before, it's not five rounds of league, but three rounds of league. As long as Sofia United wins three more games in a row, Sofia United will win the Champions League qualification two rounds in advance."

Bert Taylor asked in return: "Your assumption is somewhat wishful thinking. Why can't it be that Tyne beats Sofia United and narrows the gap to two points?"

"How is this wishful thinking?" Dadomo shook his head. "I'm just following your assumption, Taylor. You said Sofia United are under tremendous pressure. Doesn't Tyne have the same pressure? Only if they can't lose a single game can they 'probably' qualify for the Champions League..."

Dadomo raised his hands and made quotation marks to emphasize the word "maybe".

"Isn't it the same problem for Tyne that they are being hunted by the 'Invincible Snail'? And the pressure on them is even greater than that of Sofia United. After all, they can't afford to lose or draw a game. Even if Sofia United is tied by Waltham, they are still five points ahead of Tyne. What about Tyne? If they lose a game, they can say goodbye to the Champions League early."

"I understand. Mr. Dadomo means that the players of Tyne who have won consecutive games are under more pressure than the players of Sofia United who have just been tied. They may collapse earlier. So, after 'scoring hurts the team' and 'champions hurt the team', is this Mr. Dadomo's new theory: 'victory hurts the team'?"

At this point, Bert Taylor couldn't help laughing.

Not only him, but also host Aaron Thompson and another guest Marvin Block laughed.

The studio was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Only Lawrence Dadomo, the famous "Wang Liehei", did not laugh. He retorted with a straight face and in all seriousness:

"Isn't it? Although being tied by Waltham is not a good result, objectively speaking, the entire Sofia United team has relieved a lot of pressure because of this draw. Next, they can go into battle with ease and start all over again. And what about Tyne? The situation of 'can't lose, must always win' makes their pressure accumulate more and more, like a closed pressure cooker that may explode at any time!"

Bert Taylor turned to Marvin Block and said, "Look, Marvin. This is a 'critic' who has never really played a professional game and can only analyze it based on his own imagination in the commentary booth. Mr. Dadomo, you don't understand professional football at all."

He waved his hands, looking like he didn't want to say another word to this "ball blind" guy.

Marvin Bullock, who was called, felt a little embarrassed. The smile on his face, who was watching the show, seemed a little unnatural...

※※※

Before the smiles of amusement at "victory hurts the team" completely faded from the faces of the people in front of the TV, mother-in-law Wei Qin turned around and asked her son-in-law: "Although that person is wrong, I'm still curious, A Lie... your team has won consecutive games, is there really no pressure?"

Wang Lie replied: "There is definitely pressure. But whether you win or lose, the pressure will exist. The pressure will not be reduced because of a draw. Dadomo is just making specious arguments and changing the concept, so it is not wrong for Taylor to say that he does not understand professional football."

"That means that in the next game, Sofia may not perform well due to too much pressure?" Wei Qin grasped the key point.

Wang Lie nodded: "Of course we may also perform poorly due to excessive pressure. This happens in every game. So professional players must learn to deal with and withstand pressure."

Wei Qin nodded thoughtfully. When she thought about how many people criticized and abused her son-in-law on the Internet and in the media from the end of last year to the beginning of this year, she felt that her son-in-law was right.

If I didn't have enough endurance, if I were an ordinary person, I would have been scolded and broken...

No, breaking the defense is considered a light blow.

More often than not, people are scolded to the point of becoming depressed and developing mental problems.

She suddenly understood why Sonny Dean went to the nightclub to get drunk and look for women after being scolded. Because if a person with a weak tolerance does not vent his emotions in time, he may really collapse. Indulging in sensual pleasures is both an escape and a catharsis.

Some people may say: You didn't perform well, so you deserve to be scolded. Who would scold you if you performed well? Not only are you bad, but you are also pretentious!

This is the truth, but using theory to demand that reality should be like this or that is either stupid or bad.

Because no one in this world can guarantee that they will perform well in every game and that they will always perform well. People are not machines. There will always be times when they are not in good shape or perform poorly. They will make mistakes and errors. Not to mention that even machines can make mistakes and have bugs...

In today's era of highly developed and fragmented media information, no matter how well you have performed in previous games, a bad performance in just one game is enough to send you to hell.

With the information explosion and all kinds of information pouring in, the audience will not waste their brain capacity to remember things that happened too long ago. They will only focus on the present and naturally only evaluate what is in front of them.

The performance in this game was so good that it was praised to the sky.

He performed poorly in the next game and was immediately thrown into the abyss.

When Wei Qin looked at Wang Lie again, she felt that her son-in-law was truly amazing. He was able to remain calm under such great pressure and had no psychological problems...

※※※

"FUCK!"

Xiao Cheng, who was passionately arguing with Wang Liehei online, heard his roommate John exclaiming, and took the time to ask, "What's wrong, John?"

"The price of tickets for the match between Tyne and Sofia has gone crazy! The cheapest tickets are ten times more expensive! Damn it, those damn scalpers should all go to hell!"

Xiao Cheng was not surprised or shocked by this. He just asked casually: "So why do you think I haven't been to the game for a long time?"

"I thought you were disappointed with Sofo Union because the club kicked out the queen..."

"That's part of the reason. The other part is of course because I want to save money to watch this game. I knew that the tickets for this game would be very expensive... but I didn't expect it to be so expensive in the end. Fortunately, I saved enough money."

Xiao Cheng said, and then he asked curiously: "John, you are neither a Soflian fan nor a Wang fan, why do you care about the price of the ticket?"

"Oh, I want to go see it too..." John answered him.

Xiao Cheng put down his phone and looked at him in surprise: "As a Kensington fan, shouldn't you be watching the match between Kensington and Bournemouth Athletic?"

John curled his lips. "Kensington is pretty much wasted this season. Can't I just watch how Wang gets his revenge?"

As of the 33rd round of the league, Kensington ranked eighth, not far from the Europa League or the UEFA Champions League, but qualification for the Champions League was basically out of the question.

After hearing what his roommate said, Xiao Cheng had to admit that this reason was impeccable.

Why are the ticket prices for this game so outrageous? Isn’t it because too many people have the same mentality as his roommate?

Ever since Wang Lie was kicked out of Sofo United, these people have been looking forward to this game.

Seeing Wang Lie’s condition recovering and getting better and better, this sense of anticipation becomes even stronger.

Xiao Cheng also saw on the domestic Internet that a domestic travel company was organizing a tour group to come to Newcastle to watch the game. The name was "Wang Lie's Revenge Battle Live Observation Group"...

There are also many international students in Europe who called their friends and made an appointment to go to the scene together to cheer for Wang Lie.

Xiao Cheng could easily imagine that by then, one-third of the fans in the stands at Lize Park might be Chinese...

The last time such an exaggerated situation occurred was probably in the Champions League final seven years ago.

At that time, Wang Lie led SofaSoccer United to the Champions League final and met his old club Barcelona.

Before the game, a domestic travel company launched a tourism project called "Watch the Champions League final live and witness Wang Lie's revenge moment."

That match made Chinese students and Chinese people who were fans of different clubs scattered across Europe put aside their respective positions and all became "Sofa fans", going to the scene to cheer for Sofa - most of them wore Chinese team jerseys, which happened to be the same color as Sofa's red home jersey. From a distance, it seemed that two-thirds of the stands were red.

Every time Wang Lie touched the ball in that game, he received thunderous cheers from the stands.

The neutral ground was forcibly turned into Sofia United’s home ground.

When the referee blew the whistle to end the game, Wang Lizhen helped SofaSoccer United beat Athletic Barcelona and win the Champions League trophy for the second time. The scene turned completely into a sea of ​​red.

Xiao Cheng was still very young at the time, and that past event seemed to him like a legendary story in a history book.

I never expected that I would have the opportunity to experience the same thing in person.

It’s just a little ironic that the “home team” that once brought everyone together has now become the “villain” that brings everyone together.

It really made him, a former Sofia fan, sigh.

He raised his eyebrows and said teasingly, "It seems like you won't have the chance to go to the game. Don't worry, I will bring your photo with me. When I go, it will be the same as if you went..."

His roommate gave him the middle finger: "FUCK, Xiao!"

Then, as Xiao Cheng laughed, he said, "I will go to the school cafeteria to watch the game. I have seen posters posted saying that the school cafeteria will broadcast the game live. Maybe I can see you on the live TV, Xiao!"

Xiao Cheng smiled and said, "Then I will bring your photo with me. If I am photographed by the camera, I will introduce you to the audience all over the world. This way you will become famous, John!"

John rolled his eyes at him and didn't continue the topic.

Xiao Cheng turned his attention back to the battlefield on his mobile phone and continued to argue with those supporters of Dadomo.

Ah, my extracurricular life is so fulfilling...

※※※

As soon as Wang Ziqi entered the classroom, he shouted at Shi Bo: "Shi Bo, it looks like you want to 'turn from darkness to light'!"

Shi Bo, who was chatting with other students, heard Wang Ziqi's words and immediately stood up to refute: "What do you mean by 'abandon the dark and join the light'? Sofia is still leading by five points!" Wang Ziqi snorted, "It's hard to say after the game this Saturday!"

Hearing Wang Ziqi say this, Shi Bo became happy as if he had found a flaw: "Ha! You don't still expect Feng Qiyuan to help Wang Lie, do you? The two of them don't get along!"

"Haha, if they don't get along, will they exchange jerseys after the last game?" Wang Ziqi sneered at Shi Bo's statement.

The scene of his father exchanging jerseys with Feng Qiyuan was captured live after the game and everyone saw it. At the time, commentator Luo Jin said that this scene shattered the rumors on the Internet.

He didn't explain in detail what the rumor was, and those who understood will understand.

Who would have thought that his father's haters, both at home and abroad, could interpret other meanings, such as the reason Shi Bo is giving now:

"Wang Lie took the initiative to come to Feng Qiyuan, how could he refuse? He couldn't slap him in the face, right? So exchanging jerseys doesn't mean anything about their relationship. Besides, why did Wang Lie take the initiative to find Feng Qiyuan, and not the other way around? It must be because Wang Lie also knew that you brainless fans had gone too far, so he went to apologize!"

Wang Ziqi laughed and said, "Shi Bo, you won't be able to keep your mouth shut for much longer!"

He is now very confident that his father will qualify for the Champions League next season, and is already watching Shi Bo with the mentality of a loser.

"Who is being stubborn?" Shi Bo said this, but he was indeed a little panicked in his heart.

Because Sofia United were tied by Waltham in the last round of the league, the lead was reduced from seven points to five points.

Although five points is still a considerable lead, Shi Bo is always unsure.

Because five points is too sensitive for him, a Chi Zhen and Scout fan...

Last season, the Scouse team was only five points ahead of Clayton Athletic in the league, but Clayton Athletic won the final league championship.

The five-point advantage did not stop Clayton Athletic's relentless pursuit.

Can Tyne be stopped now?

※※※

"Old Guo, do you think Feng Qiyuan can attend today's pre-match press conference?"

Liu Zhong, who was sitting in the press conference hall waiting for the players and coaches to come out, asked Guo Xuequan next to him.

"I hope he can, but I don't think so..." Guo Xuequan said. "You see, all the Chinese reporters are here for him. The pressure is too great. There is no need for him to show up at this time and attract fire..."

He pointed around and behind him, and looking around, he saw that almost half of the people sitting in the hall were Chinese reporters.

It's normal to have Chinese reporters, because there will be Chinese players in tomorrow's game, but it's a bit abnormal to have so many Chinese reporters...

It is no exaggeration to say that there may be more Chinese reporters here than at Lize Park Stadium at this moment.

Logically speaking, Feng Qiyuan is not a traffic star like Wang Lie and cannot attract so much media attention.

Why is this happening?

Because in the eyes of football journalists all over China, the most crucial match in the 34th round of the league is the match between Sofia United and Witton Hill at home.

Sofia United were tied by Waltham in the midweek league, just two days ago, and their players may not have recovered from the impact of the points loss.

Everyone hopes that Witton Hill can also cause some trouble for Sofia United in this game.

Especially Feng Qiyuan, as a Chinese player, can he help the big brothers of the national team?
Although there were rumors that they had some conflicts before, the exchange of jerseys in the previous game seemed to prove the rumors wrong.

Or even if there were conflicts, they are definitely over now.

The reporters who chose to come here to attend the press conference obviously hoped to ask Feng Qiyuan this question on the spot.

But precisely because so many people are paying attention and so many people want to ask this question, Feng Qiyuan probably won't be able to appear at the pre-match press conference.

After all, too much pressure would make him the target of public criticism, and there was no need for him to put himself in danger.

That's why Guo Xuequan said that he hoped Feng Qiyuan would come, but he also felt that Feng Qiyuan would not come.

If Witten Hill head coach Carlo LaManna knew about protecting his players, he would not have chosen Feng Qiyuan to attend the press conference.

If Feng Qiyuan knew how to protect himself, he would not have come to the press conference.

But when the visiting team's head coach Ramanna and representatives of Witten Hill's players appeared at the door of the press conference, Guo Xuequan and Liu Zhong both widened their eyes.

There was even a suppressed exclamation in the press conference hall.

Because the person who appeared at the door with Ramanna was Feng Qiyuan!
※※※

Feng Qiyuan sat in his seat, looking at the eagerly waiting reporters in the audience, especially the Chinese reporters, many of whom were familiar faces to him.

They were looking at him with expressions of surprise and confusion on their faces.

Apparently they had no idea why they were there at the pre-match press conference.

Feng Qiyuan knew what they were expecting.

Feng Qiyuan also knew what they were worried about.

But he came anyway because he had something to say to them.

In fact, he didn't have to do that.

But ever since he exchanged jerseys with Brother Wang, he felt that he should be more proactive, braver, step out of his comfort zone, and push himself harder.

For example, at such an important moment, facing so many reporters, speaking from the bottom of your heart, no matter what others think or how they evaluate it.

This can also be considered as... making myself better, right?

Head coach Ramanna turned on the microphone and pointed at him and said, "This pre-match press conference was requested by Feng. So let him speak first."

When they heard Ramanna say that it was Feng Qiyuan who asked to attend the event on his own initiative, all the reporters, especially the Chinese reporters, turned their attention to Feng Qiyuan.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Feng Qiyuan leaned closer to the microphone and raised his eyes to meet the dense gazes of the audience.

The gazes seemed to become physical, like swords stabbing at him.

Feng Qiyuan took a breath and said in English: "It was indeed me who took the initiative to ask the head coach to attend this pre-match press conference. Because I knew that many journalists wanted to ask me questions. And coincidentally, I also had something to say to everyone, so I came.

"The match against Sofia is very important for us, so we will go for the win in this away game. We are not afraid of Sofia, even away from home."

Before this round of the league, Witten Hill had 48 points and was ranked seventh. This ranking had already entered the European competition zone, but it was not safe.

Because Kensington, ranked eighth, has 47 points, just one point less than them, and Brighton & White Hill, ranked ninth, has 45 points, three points less than them.

Waltham, in sixth place, has 50 points, just two more than Witton Hill.

This means that regardless of win or loss, Witten Hill's ranking will probably change.

It will also affect whether they can finally qualify for the European competition.

"... From a team perspective, we will do our best to win. It has nothing to do with anyone else. This is our game."

Hearing this, Guo Xuequan and Liu Zhong looked at each other and saw what was in each other's mind:
Standard answer.

But considering the "story" between him and Wang Lie, is there any hidden meaning in this standard answer?

- Don't think I'm helping someone like you think. I'm fighting for my own interests, not for favors...

Is there something like this in there?

At least there is no way to say "definitely not".

So many Chinese reporters came to report on this game, actually they came not for him, but for Wang Lie.

If you think about it carefully, do you feel that you have become Wang Lie's foil? Do you feel unwilling to accept this? Do you have any opinions about Wang Lie in your heart?

Just like the game last year, it was clearly the defender's job to defend Wang Lie, which was a good thing for him. But the Internet was abuzz with it, as if he had committed a serious crime and was the real culprit...

Who dares to say that Feng Qiyuan was not angry at the time? And would not blame Wang Lie for this?
As the two looked at each other, Feng Qiyuan changed the subject:
"...Personally, I know that Tyne is competing with Sofia United for the Champions League..."

These words stopped Guo Xuequan and Liu Zhong from thinking about it. They immediately became excited and looked up at Feng Qiyuan intently.

He looked very serious.

"I know what this game means to both teams. If I had to choose, I certainly hope that Tyne can enter the Champions League. I would be particularly happy if I could help Brother Wang. Brother Wang is my idol, and I have some opinions about the way he left Sofia United... So I personally want to seek justice for Brother Wang."

All the reporters, both Chinese and foreign, were stunned after hearing Feng Qiyuan's words:

what?
(End of this chapter)