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Chapter 6 When the cheat comes knocking
"...In the FA Cup third round match that ended yesterday, an upset occurred: Sofia United, playing at home, were unexpectedly tied by the Championship team Dretting. The two sides will replay on January 20..."

The news showed scenes of Drettin players celebrating wildly. They piled up in the corner flag area of ​​​​Sofo Union, and even people on the bench and coaching bench came to join in.

In the distance, the Sofia United players fell in front of the goal with their hands covering their faces.

Their frustration and pain were in stark contrast to the Dreatin players.

"In the 98th minute of the game, Drettin midfielder Jayden Hope took advantage of a corner kick and headed the ball into the goal of Sofo United, truly equalizing in the last seconds. Sofo United defended for more than ten minutes, but collapsed at the last moment..."

The camera swept across the stands, which were filled with stunned and speechless Sofia fans.

Next was a close-up of Sofia United head coach Sven Heldon. When the victory turned into a draw, he still kept a stern face, but his brows were furrowed tighter than usual and his lower lip was bitten white.

"…In the post-match press conference, Sofia head coach Heldon said that the eight-minute injury time should not have existed…"

Next is the picture of Helden at the post-match press conference, shaking his head at the reporters in the audience:
"The injury time for this game lasted eight minutes, which is not normal. In the last few minutes, the Red Rock Stadium was full of boos, and it was clear what that meant... I think the result is unfair to us now. If it weren't for these eight minutes of injury time, we should have been the winner."

Then a reporter outside the screen asked: "So you think it was because Wang refused to leave the court that caused such a long injury time?"

Heldon replied expressionlessly: "Everyone knows what's going on."

Wang Lie, who was sitting on the sofa, saw this scene on TV and couldn't help laughing: "Ha! He didn't even dare to say 'YES'."

His agent Fernando Clemente, who was sitting next to him, was also amused and laughed, but soon his expression became serious again: "But I have to say that Helden's move was brilliant. He did this, and now people outside are saying that it was your willful impulse that led to the team's failure..."

"It's a draw, Fernando. To be more precise, Dretin's goal was a draw, not a winning goal." Wang Lie focused on correcting his agent's wording and did not care about being criticized by the entire network. After all, he was used to it.

"In their eyes, Sofia United's draw at home against a Championship team is a failure," Clement explained. "I'm not saying you're impulsive again, Wang. In fact, I know you've been very restrained. But the situation now is that you can't stay in Sofia United anymore. And we haven't found a new club yet..."

Clement was in Dortmund, Germany yesterday. After the FA Cup match, he immediately bought the fastest flight and flew back to Manchester, England overnight because he knew the seriousness of the matter.

To put it bluntly, this could very well lead to the end of Wang Lie's football career in Europe.

But he really couldn't blame Wang Lie for ruining things in a moment of impulse.

Because he knew very well that given Wang Lie's personality and temper, it was already very good that he had endured until now before exploding.

Even when Helden made that outrageous substitution decision, he couldn't help but go to the social media to post a message to curse Helden...

Wang Lie's expression became more serious: "We didn't plan to stay in Sofulian... What did Ganglian say?"

Ruhrstadt is a football club located in Dortmund, a city in the Ruhr industrial region of Germany. It is second only to ESA Munich in German football and is also a top club.

Clement went to Germany this time not just to contact the Isa Munich club, and he shouldn't have come back so early. But who said something unexpected happened?

“They didn’t say no, but they didn’t have the will to move forward either.”

"Then there's no hope." Wang Lie leaned back on the sofa, shook his head and chuckled.

Clement sighed, "Now that I think about it, we should have resolutely left last summer instead of listening to Helden's lies and staying in the team. If we had left at that time, there were still many teams in Europe where we could have gone. After all, you were the team's top scorer last season. Now you've kept Helden on the bench for half a season, and you're not in form or performing well. The teams that were originally interested in you are now hesitant and backing off..."

Wang Lie waved his hand to interrupt his agent's complaints: "It's no use saying these things now. They are determined to use me to establish their authority. Of course they have to keep me in the team."

Clement remained silent after hearing this.

Wang Lie stopped talking and stared at the ceiling in a daze.

The huge living room fell into silence.

※※※

As Fernando Clement said, after being tied by the Championship team, the focus of post-match discussion was all on Wang Lie.

After the post-match press conference, a series of hot topics appeared on famous social media networks, such as:
"#Dretin's 'Subspace Goal'"

"#Wang&Helden"

“#TheKingrefusestocomedown”

“#OvertimeShouldNotExist”

"#Soflian internal strife"

“#What did the king say?”

"#DretinHonoraryPlayer"

……

If you click on these topics, you will find that without exception, they are all related to Wang Lie.

"#Dretin's 'Subspace Goal' Helden's words are not simply shirking his own responsibility. I specifically calculated that from the time the fourth official raised the substitution board to the time Wang finally left the field, it was a total of three minutes and thirty-seven seconds. How could a normal substitution take so long? As a result, the referee team added all the time he wasted to the injury time, which led to eight minutes of injury time in the second half. And Sofollow lost the ball at the last moment. So Helden is right. Without Wang's willful disobedience, there would be no eight minutes of injury time, and Dretin's equalizer would certainly not have happened! Finally, I declare that I am not a Sofollow fan, I am just saying this from a neutral and objective perspective!"

"I was there! I can prove it! When the fourth official raised the eight minutes of injury time sign, the whole Red Rock Stadium was booing! Why was there such a long injury time? I believe everyone knows it! #InjuryTimeShouldNotExist"

"I am a fan of Dretin, and we are all very grateful to Wang, so I made this picture. (The attached picture shows Wang Lie wearing a Dretin jersey) I just want to say that we welcome Wang to join Dretin! If you have nowhere to go, please consider us Dretin! #DretinHonoraryPlayer"

"#What did Wang say? It is said that Wang said that Helden's substitution was suicide when he left the game. He was right, it was indeed suicide. But it was not Helden's suicide, but his suicide. At least I sympathized with Wang before, but after this incident, I think Wang deserved it!"

……

In addition to these people who are having fun and simply venting their emotions, many professional media reporters also expressed their opinions.

ESPN British commentator Harry Wright: "I know there is a conflict between Wang and Helden. After all, Helden kept him on the bench for half a season. But I didn't expect Wang to choose to explode against Helden in this game... To be honest, Helden's substitution was problematic, but Wang's problem was even bigger! This kind of blatant confrontation with the head coach is unbelievable for a veteran like Wang! This is not a question of who is right or wrong, this is a matter of principle! Players should obey the head coach!"

Karan Kroy, editor-in-chief of Sunday Sports: "Wang had the opportunity to solve the problem in a better way, but he chose to blow himself up. I know Helden deliberately put the blame for not winning on Wang, but who told Wang to give Helden the handle?

"Let's analyze it calmly. Helden's substitution is indeed a big problem. He should have been criticized after the game, but now all the criticism is directed at Wang... You're almost 38 years old, Wang, and you're only six years younger than me. Grow up a little. How can you still act like an 18-year-old kid?"

Veteran basketball columnist and famous "Wang hater" Lawrence Dadome: "I have said more than once that Wang's impulsiveness will ruin him. At that time, Wang's fans attacked me like mad dogs. Now the facts prove that I was wrong?
"Since Wang ignored the game going on, refused to leave the field, and stood on the sidelines yelling at the assistant coach, he has personally destroyed everything he had at Sofia United. If this is what Wang's fans want to see, then congratulations, it's what you wish for..."

Dean Campbell, editor of the 442 website, columnist and veteran football fan, said: "I have some disagreements with Sven Helden. In fact, I don't think the extra few minutes of injury time were the main reason why Sofia United lost the ball in the final moments. I think Wang's dispute with the coaching staff on the sidelines was the decisive factor - but not because he caused a few extra minutes of injury time, but because he did it in front of everyone, which was a devastating blow to the team's morale.

"He opened up the wound of Sofia and showed the bloody picture to the whole world. Imagine if you were a Sofia player, what would you think? 'Oh my God! Our top star is openly quarreling with the head coach!' How can we play this game?"

Liam Adeyemo, a famous football biographer: "I feel that Wang has been somewhat unbalanced since he heard the booing of the home fans at the Red Rock Stadium late last season. He even said after the season, 'If the team's reconstruction starts with me, I can leave, no problem at all', which caused an uproar at the time, because it didn't sound like he was taking responsibility, but was angry with everyone. Of course, there are also views that he is just looking for an excuse to get rid of Sofia United, which can't play in the Champions League... But no matter what, this more or less explains the following problems:
"Wang used to be the 'China Wang' who could do everything on the court, but as he got older and his physical function declined, his mentality became more and more impatient. Perhaps it was because he was deeply aware that he was aging.

"Everyone will age, this is the law of nature. But the problem is that Wang doesn't seem to want to acknowledge this law. He is competing with himself, with others, with the whole world, and even with time.

"He was playing a game that was doomed to fail. He actually knew what the outcome was, but the more it was like this, the more uncomfortable he became. So this can well explain why there has always been negative news surrounding him since the end of last season: causing conflicts during the game, pushing reporters, refusing to accept the penalty, arguing with the opposing fans... and there are many unconfirmed but not groundless rumors.

"There were fans of Wang who questioned his critics online: Did Wang do anything wrong? He has been like this since he entered professional football at the age of 18. He has always been so competitive. All the things that people praised him for before have now become reasons to criticize him. Why is this happening?

“So did the king do something wrong?
"I think if we must say that Wang did something wrong, it is that he refused to accept his age. For a professional player, it is a noble quality to refuse to accept defeat. He can refuse to accept defeat, but he cannot refuse to accept his age.

"If he refuses to admit defeat or to accept his age, then at the end of his career he will be like he is now, ugly and not decent at all..."

Nick Waters, former Sofia star and current well-known football commentator: "...You know I always think Wang is one of the top players in the world and he deserves all the praise he has received. But this afternoon, his performance made the Sofia badge on his chest covered in dust. Our core value has always been 'team first', but Wang did not respect our values ​​this time. If I were him, I would apologize to Helden and all my teammates to prove that he puts Sofia in the highest place in his heart. In short, I am disappointed for him..."

……

Not only foreign media people, but also many media people in China have criticized Wang Lie's actions.

"When Helden decided to replace Wang Lie, Wang Lie's agent Clement tweeted and scolded Helden for publicly humiliating Wang Lie. If I remember correctly, he said the same thing two months ago - when Helden decided to replace Wang Lie in the 93rd minute after he had been warming up for the entire game.

"For this, Clement tweeted to blame Helden, and I also posted a microblog to scold Helden for treating a legendary superstar like this, which was deliberately insulting." What did Wang Lie do at that time? He did not refuse to play, but went on the field. Even if he did not touch the ball once within 40 seconds after he went on the field, the game was over. He did not openly disobey orders. After that incident, many people also scolded Helden. But what about this time? European media almost unanimously criticized him. Shouldn't he think about why this happened?

"In fact, Wang Lie has always been an idol and role model for many people, but now he has set a bad example for all those who like him! This time I really can't stand in Wang Lie's position and speak for him. He really did go too far..."

These remarks by the famous sports journalist Li Qing are particularly representative on the Chinese Internet.

No one thought that Helden's substitution was right, but they felt that Wang Lie's reaction was also wrong. At the very least, he turned a favorable situation into a "disastrous situation."

He could have chosen a better way, but he chose the worst one.

So this time, except for extremely loyal "brainless fans" like Zhao Zhou who will still support Wang Lie, even many of Wang Lie's fans dare not speak online.

Even if the ridicule, abuse, insults and accusations from the "pretty boys" were ten or a hundred times more unpleasant than usual, they could only remain quiet as chickens, not daring to fight back for fear of attracting even more intense firepower.

The only thing they can do is to vent their anger privately in various Wang Lie fan groups:
Brother, don't you know how unfavorable the current public opinion environment is to you? You have to poop in public!
Big brother, please stop it. We can't stand it anymore if you continue!

Big brother, you have a big heart, but we fans don’t. We are really scared of being scolded…

Brother, why don't we retire? Really, retire. I've made enough money, why are you still hanging on?
※※※

"...Okay, okay, I got it. I will definitely educate Wang Ziqi well...Yes, yes, yes...Thank you, Teacher Sun. I am really sorry to trouble you...Uh-huh, okay, good-bye...Teacher Sun..."

Tang Xingmei put down her phone and looked at her son standing next to her. She changed her expression from smiling just now and said sternly, "Teacher Sun told me that you were the first to hit me. Come with me to apologize to them tomorrow when you go to school!"

Wang Ziqi stiffened his neck and said, "No!"

"You! If you say you won't go again!" Tang Xingmei was furious. The troubles her husband encountered were enough to make her anxious, and now her son came to make things worse.

When school was over, she saw bruises all over her son's body and face, and he told her he fell during physical education class, so she didn't take it seriously.

It was not until her classmate’s parents added her on WeChat and complained that she found out that her eldest son had a fight with other classmates at school…

At that time, she was afraid that the other party was telling her one-sided story and wanted to find out more about the situation from her head teacher. As a result, the head teacher, Mr. Sun, called her directly.

Teacher Sun confirmed what the classmate's parent had said just now, and at the same time told Tang Xingmei some news that she didn't know yet: Wang Ziqi beat more than one person, and even broke one of them's glasses.

So not only did she have to take her children to apologize to each person one by one, she also had to spend money to buy them a new pair of glasses - those were not ordinary glasses, but defocused lenses specially used to correct myopia, and a pair of glasses cost several thousand to tens of thousands of yuan.

Money is not a problem for Tang Xingmei. She is worried that at this critical moment, her son's school affairs will cause unnecessary public opinion disputes, which in turn will make her husband's situation more difficult. Although the high-end private school they attend does a good job of protecting the privacy of students' families, Wang Ziqi's classmates don't know that he is actually Wang Lie's son. But it's better to be safe than sorry. What if someone recognizes them?
Even if Wang Lie protected his family well and never let them show up on social media, in this information age, with information so advanced, who can really leave no trace on the Internet?
As long as you are willing, you will definitely find some clues.

Normally, she always teaches her children to keep a low profile when dealing with people outside, for fear of causing trouble and backlash from public opinion.

My sister is very well behaved, but my seven-year-old son was very rebellious because of his previous study in China. However, after the incident when my grandmother fell, he became obedient and restrained himself. I didn't expect that this time he would cause her a big trouble...

Facing his mother's anger, Wang Ziqi did not give in immediately this time. Instead, he cried out, "Why should I apologize? They should be the ones to apologize! Why can they scold my dad at will, and when I scold them, they say I'm losing my defense! There's no such thing! It just doesn't make sense!"

Tang Xingmei, who was turning her head to look for a suitable weapon, stopped.

My son is still crying:

"They say my dad is a clown, why don't they say what that old Deng did to my dad?! My dad has endured it for so long, so what?! Is my dad not allowed to have a temper?! My dad is a robot, he has to endure everything?! Everyone is saying that my dad's approach is problematic, but what old Deng did is okay?! What coach's authority? What kind of authority does a coach like that have! Why should we respect him?! Who made that rule?! He's a rubbish! He doesn't deserve it! He doesn't deserve it!!"

Tang Xingmei suddenly felt very tired, so she sat down on the edge of the bed. She neither scolded nor beat her son, but let his heart-wrenching voice fill the entire bedroom.

Listening to his brother's muffled cries in the bedroom, Wang Zilin, who was standing outside the door, turned his head to look at his grandmother sitting in a wheelchair behind him and asked in confusion: "Isn't my brother helping Dad? Why does Mom want him to apologize?"

Grandma Zhou Hong raised her hand and touched her granddaughter's head: "It's always wrong to hit people..."

Wang Zilin was even more confused. She tilted her head and frowned. "Those bad guys called Dad a 'clown'. Isn't it wrong for my brother to beat up the bad guys? Then should my brother scold people first in the future?"

Zhou Hong opened her mouth but didn't know how to explain the reason to her granddaughter. What's more, she also felt that her grandson was right...so in the end she could only sigh.

※※※

Clement had left, and Wang Lie sat on the sofa, watching the TV that had been turned off.

Before leaving, Clement hesitated to speak. Although he left without saying anything in the end, Wang Lie could guess what he wanted to say to him.

In fact, the same thing happened when he was talking to his wife Tang Xingmei on the phone after the game last night.
"Why don't you come back to play football?"

How did you answer your wife at that time?
Oh, it’s “Okay, I will definitely consider it seriously.”

My wife must think that I am just being perfunctory, right?
But he did think about it seriously all night.

There is still a year and a half before the 2038 World Cup in England. If I return home now, I can still play for another season and a half. I should definitely be able to play in the games and maintain my form.

But on the one hand, the level of domestic leagues and European leagues is indeed incomparable.

On the other hand, he needs a more convincing performance to prove to the national team coach He Zhenyong that he can return to the national team and that he can still play as a starter in the national team.

There are many outstanding players in the national team now, some of whom are even well-known figures in European football.

For example, Chi Zhen, a striker who is already a main player for the Premier League giants Skrtel, if he leaves Sofia, then Chi Zhen will be the only Chinese player currently playing for a top European club.

There is also Fu Xiaofeng, the attacking midfielder who is currently playing as a pillar in Lille in Ligue 1, Feng Qiyuan, the main central defender of Wittenhill in the Premier League, and Su Ju, the main defensive midfielder of Ligue 1 Liard, nicknamed "Iron Lung"...

These are the absolute main force or even the core of their respective teams. Moreover, most of them are of the middle and new generation, and most of them are capable, knowledgeable and ambitious.

If Wang Lie wants to continue to be a leader who can lead such a group of people to participate in the World Cup, it is not enough for him to just return to China and play in the game.

There is another very important reason, that is, Wang Lie himself is unwilling to accept it.

No matter what he thought, there were several times when he almost convinced himself to accept it... Deep in his heart, there was always a voice saying:
No, I am not reconciled!

The anger in his heart could not be released, and it kept raging in his chest, causing Wang Lie to sit up in bed in the middle of the night, clenching his fists and cursing. He cursed very ugly words, so ugly that the sound of his curses would be muted.

A night has passed. Although Wang Lie doesn't seem to be so depressed now, he still feels unwilling whenever he thinks about it.

Tsk. Damn it...

Wang Lie leaned back and rested his head on the back of the sofa.

Then he heard a knock at the door.

At first Wang Lie thought he was hallucinating, until a few seconds later he heard three more voices:

"bang bang bang"

The sound is not loud, but clear.

He thought it was Clement who had returned. After all, now only Clement could pass through the courtyard gate and come directly to the house to knock on the door.

Another agent, Ran Hanming, is also available, but he is in China now.

Besides that there was his wife Tang Xingmei, but she didn't need to knock on the door and could just open it and come in.

"You forgot your lighter here..."

Wang Lie, who was teasing Clement while opening the door, was completely stunned when he saw the familiar yet unfamiliar face at the door.

When the other party saw Wang Lie, a bright smile appeared on his face:
"Hello, Wang Lie."

(End of this chapter)