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Chapter 299 Poisonous Fish Tank

"Why don't you just skip the game this time?"

During dinner, Wang Lie spoke to his wife, Tang Xingmei, in a tactful manner.

Tang Xingmei was somewhat surprised: "Why? I haven't been to Redstone Stadium to watch your game yet..."

Her husband played for Sofia United for nine and a half seasons, but she never went to a Sofia United game to watch.

Now that her husband doesn't mind letting her take the kids to watch the games, she's thinking of fulfilling her wish this time and going to Redstone Stadium to watch one of her husband's matches...

Wang Lie was both amused and exasperated: "You wanted to go to Redstone Stadium to watch me play when I was still a player for Sofia United, not to watch me return to Redstone Stadium as an opponent."

"Aren't they all your matches?"

"The difference is huge. In the former case, I'm a Sofia player, and you can hear the Sofia fans cheering for me at the stadium. In the latter case, I'm a Sofia opponent, and all you can hear are boos and insults directed at me, and all you can see are people giving me the middle finger—that's why I don't really want you to go to the game."

After hearing her husband's reason, Tang Xingmei showed a disdainful expression: "That's it? Then why didn't I go to Dortmund to watch your match against Ruhr United? Didn't I hear boos and curses directed at you during that match, and didn't I see people giving you the middle finger?"

Tang Xingmei was watching the game live when the Ruhr Steel Union team played. The TV broadcasters recognized her and showed her on camera multiple times during the match.

It was normal to show the camera on Wang Lie's wife after he scored.

However, the close-up shot of Tang Xingmei while Ruhr United fans were booing and cursing Wang Lie was somewhat meaningful...

Tang Xingmei remained expressionless and had a blank face throughout the footage.

Wang Lie quickly explained, "How can that be the same? Ruhr United is purely a rival, an enemy. But Sofia United... after all, is my former home team, and there are many fans there who used to like me. They used to cheer for me, but now they want to boo me. How would you feel if you saw that?"

Tang Xingmei shook her head and said, "I'm not as fragile as you think."

Then she turned the question on Wang Lie and asked, "Could it be that you're just being fragile?"

Wang Lie burst into laughter: "Ha! How could that be? Haha!"

Tang Xingmei sensed her husband's unease. She guessed that he might be emotionally affected by his long-standing emotional ties with Sofia United—especially with the Sofia United fans—regarding the possibility of returning to Redstone Stadium.

But given her husband's personality, how could he possibly admit to this?

Tang Xingmei didn't insist that Wang Lie admit it was his fault, and pretended not to notice his guilty conscience. Instead, she went along with it, saying, "I think so too. After all, you beat them 9-0, how could you expect the Sofia United fans to warmly welcome you home? There are very few Sofia United fans who can truly separate Jonathan Hall from Sofia United. So when you decided to provide 'wake-up service' for Sofia United, you must have been mentally prepared to lose all the Sofia United fans..."

Wang Lie remained silent, listening quietly to his wife speak.

He knew that his wife was saying it to him on purpose, probably because she sensed his inner uncertainty.

He was well aware that his actions were, in the long run, for the good of Soforth.

But certainly not everyone understands him.

After all, he was not only attacking the management and owners of Sofia United, but also, in a sense, the fans of Sofia United.

Even if Sofia changes owners and rises again, his feud with Sofia may still not be understood.

After that 9-0 victory, he was expelled from the ranks of Sofia legends.

Very few people can understand and support him.

Not to mention that if he had actually driven out the club owners and replaced them with a new owner, would the problems at Sofia United have been solved?

Therefore, many people believe that Wang Lie was merely using this as an excuse to vent his emotions...

Wang Lie was well aware of how he would be treated upon returning to Redstone Stadium.

But he still couldn't help but fantasize—was there really not a single Sofia United fan who supported him? Was there really no one who could see his good intentions?

After all, this is the team I've played for the longest, and I've dedicated the most successful and glorious years of my career to this team.

He was once a symbol of this team, and even of the city.

Because of him alone, many Chinese tourists receive more preferential treatment in Manchester...

Sofia fans really do love him.

Therefore, his current emotions are probably similar to "feeling apprehensive upon returning home".

He believes that what he did was right, and it doesn't matter if the club doesn't stand by him, but he still hopes that the fans can stand by him, even if it's just a portion of them.

But after that 9-0 victory, he realized that such a thought was wishful thinking... After that game, there were many videos online of people burning his jerseys and cutting up his posters, and he had seen many of them.

While there are bound to be some mixed-up items here, it can't all be mixed-up items, right?

This somewhat illustrates his current standing in the eyes of Sofia fans—he's probably not a good person.

As my wife said, once you've decided to do this, don't hesitate or overthink things; otherwise, you'll just seem pretentious.

Regardless of what others think, Wang Lie believes he did the right thing.

Although Heldon had overused the phrase "the right track," Wang Lie firmly believed that he was indeed on the right track.

Even if the future is unpredictable, and no one knows whether changing bosses will make things better or worse, we still have to change John Barker's boss.

You absolutely cannot stay in one place.

Just like replacing Heldon as head coach, the replacement, Meler Shapman, seems to have a worse track record than Heldon during the same period.

But does that mean Heldon shouldn't have been dismissed?
You have to keep moving forward for things to get better...

While Wang Lie was deep in thought, Tang Xingmei continued speaking:

"Or are you planning to announce before Tuesday's game that because Heldon has been sacked, you've finally gotten your revenge and wiped the hatchet between you and the Soforth management? Are you happy to be back at Redstone Stadium, letting bygones be bygones, and making peace with everyone at Redstone Stadium?"

Wang Lie was very decisive and answered his wife firmly: "No, no matter how many times you laugh, it won't disappear. Besides, they were the ones who kicked me out in the first place, so why should I take the initiative to make peace?"

Tang Xingmei clapped her hands: "So that's it. You didn't come home at all, you went to fight."

Wang Lie nodded thoughtfully. His wife was right; they were indeed going to fight.

“Since it’s a battle, I’m even more determined to go. I have to see it with my own eyes,” Tang Xingmei said.

Wang Lie still didn't want to agree. He frowned and said, "You know it's going to be a battle, aren't you afraid of the danger?"

Tang Xingmei retorted, "What danger could there be? Football hooligans? We can just hire bodyguards. Anyway, I have to go. I haven't been to Redstone Stadium to watch your game yet, and I'm here this time, so I can't miss it."

The VIP boxes have their own separate entrance and exit channels and are not mixed with regular fans.

Once the agent, Fernando Clemente, arranges the security measures, there shouldn't be any problems...

After thinking about it, Wang Lie finally nodded and agreed: "Okay, I'll have Fernando arrange for you to go to the Redstone Stadium to watch the game."

After saying that, he took out his phone and started sending messages to Fernando Clemente.

When Clement heard that Tang Xingmei was going to Redstone Stadium to watch the game live, he didn't express any concerns and readily agreed.
"give it to me."

Wang Lie didn't add anything, because he knew that with the tacit understanding he had developed with Clement over the years, he would definitely handle the matter properly and wouldn't let him be distracted by his wife during the competition.

※※※

When Wang Lie drove to training, he was stopped by a large number of reporters outside the gates of Northumberland Soccer City. This scene hadn't been seen outside Northumberland Soccer City for a long time.

Such a scene could only be seen outside Northumberland Soccer City when Wang Lie first arrived.

Back then, any little thing that happened to Tyne would cause a sensation in the media.

Reporters from all over the world gathered outside, impatient for training to end. They would often block the Tyne players outside the training base when they came to train, trying to get some information about Wang Lie's new team from them.

They certainly wouldn't ask directly, but would piece together the inside story through various indirect methods.

For example, if they wanted to understand Wang Lie's popularity in the new team's locker room, they certainly wouldn't directly ask the other Tyne players, "How do you get along with Wang?" Instead, they would ask, "What does Wang usually talk about in the locker room?"

If the Tyne players who were asked answered what topics Wang Lie talked about, it means that Wang Lie and the other Tyne players communicated and could chat, indicating that their relationship wasn't too strained.

If the answer is "I don't know," or if Wang Lie doesn't talk much, it means that Wang Lie doesn't have a good relationship with the other Tyne players...

In short, the media went to great lengths to find out what Wang Lie went through after arriving in Taien.

However, everyone now regards Wang Lie as a member of Tyne and is used to seeing him wearing Tyne's dark blue jersey.

Unless something particularly special happens, they won't go to great lengths to block the door before training begins.

Normal questions can be asked at the regular press conference during the week.

Unless there are some very special circumstances.

Now that Wang Lie is about to lead Tyne back to Redstone Stadium, it is naturally a special case.

"My King! Returning to Redstone Arena as an opponent, is something you never imagined before, did you?"

"After Heldon was dismissed, have you put aside your past grievances?"

"How do you view Sofia United today?"

"Have you ever thought about what kind of treatment you'll receive when you return to Redstone Stadium?"

"Wang, a Sofia United fan group has announced that they will boo you during the match. What's your opinion on this?"

"Wang Lie, if you score a goal in a match, would you choose not to celebrate?"

"Your Majesty, some people are accusing you of merely venting personal grievances. Do you have anything to say in response?"

"king……"

"Wang Lie!"

……

As soon as Wang Lie lowered the car window, all sorts of questions came rushing at him from the outside.

Some asked questions in Chinese, while others asked them in English.

As for English, it also carries accents from all over the world.

Therefore, the reporters waiting for him here are not just from China and England; it can be said that the whole world is paying attention to this League Cup match.

Aside from the final, when has the League Cup ever enjoyed this level of attention?
Wang Lie did not answer the questions one by one, but instead raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

Seeing this, the reporters indeed shut their mouths and just looked at him expectantly.

They knew Wang Lie was about to speak, and while his words might not directly answer their questions, they were definitely what they wanted to hear.

Some people immediately thought of the Champions League match between Ruhr United and Taian last week.

Wang Lie also made a sudden outrageous statement at the pre-match press conference, which ignited public opinion.

So, will Wang Lie fire another shot this time?
Looking at the reporters' gleaming eyes, Wang Lie knew what they were expecting.

Their expectations weren't wrong after all...

He himself was indeed prepared to attack Sofia.

There are some things he didn't actually plan to say now; he wanted to wait until after the game.

Because he knew that once those words were spoken, he might not receive any welcome at Redstone Stadium.

However, his wife's words yesterday solidified his resolve.

Since you've already decided to take this path, don't look back or hesitate.

How the Sofia United fans view me is their business. Whether they understand me or not, I can't change my mind because of their opinions.

Sofia must be rebuilt, and anyone can be sacrificed for the rebuild, becoming the "price of rebuilding," even oneself.

Just like he said before he left Sofia, if Sofia's rebuilding is to start with him, there is absolutely no problem, he can leave the team.

Now that he has left the team for the rebuilding of Sofia United, why can't others—including the club's owner and general manager—sacrifice for the club's rebuilding as well?

If I sacrifice myself but don't achieve the club's reconstruction, and instead others think the problem is solved... wouldn't that make me look stupid and become someone's scapegoat?

At the very least, on the matter of "I am not a problem with Sofia," Wang Lie believes it is like a truth that must be debated with them until it is clear.

It's my problem, I'll take responsibility.

But it's not my fault, so nobody can pin this on me!

After everyone quieted down, Wang Lie finally spoke:

"There are rumors that if we lose to Sofia United, their current manager, Meler Shapman, will be sacked. Frankly, I don't think even if Shapman is sacked, Sofia's problems won't be solved. Because Sofia's problems can't be solved simply by changing a manager. You all know what I mean..."

At this point, he looked at the reporters.

Many of the reporters nodded in agreement.

Of course, everyone knows what Wang Lie meant, because he had said that after the 9-0 victory last season.

"The current Soforth fish market is like a poisonous fish tank. Healthy fish put into this tank will get sick. But people only think that the fish were already sick and just keep replacing the fish. But if you don't change the poisonous water in the fish tank, just replacing the fish is meaningless."

"Back when I was still at Sofia, they said it was my problem that Sofia couldn't qualify for the Champions League. Well, then I left Sofia, so does Sofia qualify for the Champions League now? No, it's me who qualified, not Sofia."

"After that defeat last season, Sofia sacked Heldon. I know many people think Heldon was the culprit—I'm not trying to defend him, but as manager, he should indeed be held responsible for the team's poor performance, but he can't be entirely blamed—has Sofia's situation improved after Heldon was sacked? Look at Sofia's current league performance, and it's clear that no."

"So isn't it obvious where the problem lies?"

Wang Lie shrugged.

"I still hold the same view: Soforth needs a rebuild, a rebuild from top to bottom. In the process of rebuilding, it's normal to have to sacrifice anyone. I can be sacrificed, and I'm willing to sacrifice for Soforth. What about the others?"

Wang Lie stared at the camera lens and posed a soul-searching question.

"Finally, I want to say that Sofia United's current performance is not entirely the responsibility of head coach Meler Shapman. But regardless of the result of the next game, he should be sacked. He is simply not qualified to coach a top team like Sofia United – I had never even heard of him before he came to Sofia United... just like I had never heard of Sven Heldon before."

(End of this chapter)