I almost helped Manchester United revive, but I chose to run away

Chapter 1: Madman's accomplices land in Manchester
Since joining Mourinho's coaching team through Boas' introduction in 2009, Li Chen has actually thought about leaving Mourinho and working on his own.

But to be honest, the best start he could have imagined was to officially take charge of a mid-level team in one of the four major leagues.

So now when Manchester United's invitation was placed in front of him, he was somewhat confused.

"So, Woodward is desperate and trying all kinds of methods? Last week's interview was a complete farce. Old man, I criticized their team-building policies in recent years in front of their five senior executives and blasted them to pieces. And you still think I can pass?"

"It's hard to say. Maybe they really realize the serious problems of the club this time and want to make serious improvements. Maybe they even think your criticism is justified."

Li Chen listened to Mourinho's teasing reply and shook his head with a smile.

"Then why did they kick us out of the club in the first place? Shouldn't they just give up the power and continue to build the team according to our ideas?"

After hearing this, the madman finally put down the injury report of Roma's first-team players in his hand and motioned Li Chen to sit down opposite him.

"Why do you keep bringing up the past? Honestly, this is a good opportunity. If it was two seasons ago, I would definitely not want you to go to Manchester United, but now, I think the Theatre of Dreams is a good place for you."

Mourinho seemed to not care at all about being abandoned by Manchester United's top management. Instead, he advised Li Chen to put aside his prejudice and seize this opportunity to return to Manchester United.

"Well, even if this is a good opportunity, if I leave now, then the team's tactical analysis work..."

"I may be old, but I am not senile. These tasks have naturally been arranged for the next people to take over. You can go to Manchester without worry."

When Li Chen heard this, he naturally understood that Lao Mu had already made arrangements for the handover of related work, so he stopped talking and changed the subject to chat with the old man.

There is naturally a feeling of reluctance, not only Mourinho feels reluctant to part with Li Chen, but Li Chen also feels reluctant to part with Mourinho.

From 2009 to the end of 2021, except for one or two brief unexpected departures, Li Chen spent most of his working time with Kuang Ren.

From reaching the top of Europe with high spirits to the unfulfilled ambitions of Real Madrid and Chelsea, and then to the mess in recent years, Li Chen has experienced it all with Mourinho.

The laughter and tears, the joy and pain, the entire team has shared and borne them together.

They were said to be in a working relationship of superior and subordinate, but over the past decade or so, the two had already become close master and disciple, and close friends regardless of age difference.

This departure means that Li Chen has to truly take charge on his own, which is completely different from the second half of last season when Li Chen took over Burnley and led the team to avoid relegation.

How could two people who have long been accustomed to working around each other not have mixed feelings?
However, Mourinho felt reluctant to let go, but was also sincerely happy for Li Chen.

As long as the Manchester United management can truly give enough trust this time, he believes that Li Chen will achieve some results in Manchester United.

Even if we take a step back, Li Chen also fell into the deep pit of Manchester United.

But with his record of successfully helping Burnley avoid relegation in the second half of last season and coaching Manchester United in the second half of this season, if Li Chen does not make too many tactical mistakes, he will at least be able to gain a foothold in the Premier League.

A 32-year-old coach of a wealthy club. Even after strong recommendations from him and Mendes, Li Chen was qualified to interview for the position of Manchester United head coach.

But the fact that he successfully passed the interview of Manchester United's management is enough to show Li Chen's accuracy in looking at problems and his coaching potential - at least in the eyes of "San Dezi" and a group of Manchester United's senior executives, Li Chen has this potential.

While Li Chen was still discussing important matters with Mourinho in Rome after taking over the position of Manchester United head coach, the English football world had already exploded because of this sudden news!

Manchester United may be in a slump in terms of performance now, but in terms of attention and topic popularity, they are still the undisputed overlord of the Premier League!
There is no need for too much publicity at all. As soon as the British media broke the rumor that Manchester United executives were interested in hiring Li Chen as the team's interim head coach, fans from all walks of life heard the news and began to eat up this big football news with relish.

It is not true that Li Chen is just an unknown figure as a member of Mourinho's coaching team. When Villas-Boas left Mourinho to work alone, the media called Li Chen, who took over Villas-Boas's job, "Little Villas-Boas".

Since then, Li Chen has left a vague impression in the minds of many fans who have read related reports.

In the summer of 2010, Mourinho led Inter Milan to dominate Europe. As one of the madman's important assistant coaches, Li Chen had many opportunities to appear in various reports.

In the summer of 2013, Mourinho, who had resigned as Real Madrid coach, left a special "gift" to his successor Ancelotti.

No one knows what the two coaches communicated during that summer offseason, but all Real Madrid fans clearly remember that Mourinho finally left Li Chen to Ancelotti.

Li Chen, who continued to serve as Real Madrid's tactical analyst, assisted Ancelotti in winning the La Liga and Champions League titles in the 13-14 season, fulfilling the dream of all the Real Madrid fans to win the tenth Champions League title!
In the middle of the season, he persuaded Ancelotti to reuse Casemiro, and in the Champions League final, he assisted Ancelotti in recreating the classic Christmas tree formation, allowing Ronaldo, who played as an attacking midfielder, to score twice!

Just these two pieces of news revealed by the Spanish media are enough to make all Real Madrid fans "obsessed" with Li Chen.

At the championship parade after the end of the season, the celebration action of Real Madrid's main players letting Li Chen hold the trophy alone made the Real Madrid fans understand the important role of Li Chen in this double championship season.

It is precisely because of this that, to this day, there are still many Real Madrid fans who believe that if Li Chen had not left the team to follow Mourinho in the 14-15 season, Ancelotti with his help might have created another successful season for Real Madrid.

However, Li Chen never regretted giving up the opportunity to stay in Real Madrid.

Even though he is not actually a "native" of this world and knew that Zidane would lead Real Madrid to establish three consecutive dynasties in the Champions League, he still chose to continue to assist Mourinho.

From Inter Milan to Real Madrid and then back to the Premier League, when it comes to collective honors, Li Chen is actually very good.

Champions of the three major leagues, two Champions League titles, and three major cup titles in three leagues.

As an assistant teacher, he is undoubtedly a leader in the industry, and no one can deny that.

But his only record as a head coach is last season when he successfully led Burnley out of the relegation zone.

As a young coach, this achievement is not bad, but he is now very likely to become Manchester United's interim coach!

Can a young coach who has worked as an assistant coach for more than ten years be qualified for the position of head coach of a traditional giant?
Isn’t this just... nonsense!

Manchester United fans, who were arguing endlessly over the resignation of head coach Solskjaer, are now forced to "stand united against the outside world."

Even though they did not have a bad impression of Li Chen, they, like the vast majority of the English media at the moment, had preconceived ideas and did not believe that such a young coach could control Manchester United's complicated locker room.

By then, let alone leading the team back into the top four, the entire locker room might be in an uproar, and the team could go straight to the bottom half of the standings!

Unfortunately, Manchester United's top management is destined not to consider their opinions.

On the afternoon of November 2021, 11, Italy's Turin Sports Daily was the first to break the news that Li Chen had accepted the position of interim head coach of Manchester United and would take the nearest flight directly to Manchester!

Less than an hour after this news came out, Manchester United club officially announced the hiring of Li Chen as the team's interim head coach. The two parties have completed the signing and the contract will last until the end of this season!
As soon as the official announcement was released, Manchester United supporters wailed.

The next morning, the Manchester Evening News directly released a questioning report representing the voice of Manchester United fans.

"Serious dereliction of duty by the top management! The madman's accomplices landed in Manchester!"

(End of this chapter)