Football: I am only 16 years old, and you want me to retire and make a comeback?

Chapter 763 2021-2022 Manchester United vs. Liverpool: Manchester United's starting lineup averages €100 million each.
The Manchester derby is a clash between the top two teams in the Premier League.

The Premier League recently concluded its eighth round, and Liverpool only lost one match.

Take a quick look at the standings.

If Liverpool defeats Manchester United in the next Merseyside derby, they will jump directly to second place in the Premier League and overtake Manchester City.

The ninth round of the Manchester derby will be very interesting.

With a tiger chasing them from behind, Manchester City is forced to cheer for Manchester United.

If your best friends from the same city lose the game, they'll be the ones who suffer next!
……

Carrington Base.

"I feel you should be the fastest person here to get a ticket to the World Cup finals."

Dembele and Tang Ye were walking towards the training ground.

The Asian Cup qualifiers are progressing faster than the European Cup qualifiers, and the Chinese team has already won 3 and drawn 1, giving people the feeling that victory is just around the corner.

"You're oversimplifying the problem!"

Tang Ye put his hands behind his neck: "Hmm... but I completely agree with you."

"Haha! Fuck you!"

Dembele gave Tang Ye a hard push from behind, disrupting the pose Tang Ye had previously adopted.

"You tell me, even if you keep winning, you'll have to wait until next year. I feel like we can finalize things before the end of this year."

Tang Ye is quite confident about qualifying for the World Cup.

"That's impossible."

Rodri retorted, "Even if you win both games in November, it won't work unless you and Japan pull away from all the other teams."

“I think the problem isn’t with us, it’s with Japan.”

Tang Ye shrugged: "We're sure to win both games in November, but I don't know about Japan."

"Hmm, I don't know."

Speaking of Japan, Dembele suddenly became interested and quickened his pace to walk up to Tang Ye: "May I do a celebration move?"

"Huh? Why are you doing a celebration? Are you out of your mind?"

"No, no, I wasn't talking to you. Rhodes, step aside and let Tom answer my question."

Upon hearing this, Rodri moved aside, clearing the space between Tang Ye and Dembele.

"You can do the celebration if you want, do you want me to take a picture of you?"

After saying that, Tang Ye reached for his phone.

Just as he reached for his phone in his pocket, Dembele took a step forward and bowed 90 degrees to Tang Ye.

"..."

"Fuck you!"

Dembele bowed and ran off, and Tang Ye rushed over to him.

"Hahaha!"

Rodri and De Jong raised their hands: "Wow, Osman! Great!"

"Ha ha!"

De Jong then shouted encouragement to Dembele: "Run faster!"

"..."

Dembele was chased into the goal by Tang Ye.

Tang Ye kicked away the two marker discs on the goal line and approached step by step.

Dembele curled up, looking like he'd been bullied: "No! Tom, I'm showing you respect!"

"A 90-degree bow!"

"What a bastard."

Tang Ye grabbed Dembele's clothes.

"Haha! Don't be like that, I'm not that Japanese person. I bowed at a 90-degree angle, it was out of genuine respect. That Japanese person was the one who was provoking me, I'm not like that Japanese person!"

"Go to hell!"

Tang Ye pushed Dembele into the net.

"Haha! I was wrong, Captain. I won't bow next time."

Tang Ye glanced at Dembele, and was about to curse a few more times when the phone in his hand rang.

"Is that a Japanese person calling?"

Dembele quickly stood up and leaned his head close to Tang Ye's.

"Get lost."

With business at hand, Tang Ye pushed Dembele aside and walked away to answer Eskeriva's call.

"Wait."

Ten Hag and Van der Gaghe appeared out of nowhere. The Manchester United manager stood in front of Tang Ye, looking at the phone in Tang Ye's hand: "Whose call are you going to answer?"

"..."

Tang Ye took a step back.

Ten Hach's malevolent gaze made him feel somewhat terrified: "Uh, a... friend's?"

Ten Hach glanced at his watch: "Training has already started. I don't think it's appropriate for you to take this call."

"Of course, if the call you're about to take has nothing to do with football, then it's up to you."

"It's irrelevant."

Tang Ye nodded, speaking with certainty.

Tang Ye tried to walk around him, but Ten Hach followed him again and blocked his way: "Um... I know, um, well, I'll allow you to answer the phone, provided you promise me that the person on the phone isn't Spanish."

Mata elbowed Rhodes: "I'm talking to you, don't call Tom."

"?"

Rhodesley looked utterly innocent: "What does this have to do with me? I'm not Fei..."

Realizing what was happening, Rodri immediately ended the conversation.

"Yes, not Spanish."

The waiting time had ended, and Tang Ye's iPhone remained silent.

About three or four seconds later, the phone suddenly rang again.

[Mr. Ferran +86]

China Mobile

"Well, as long as they're not Spanish, it's fine."

Ten Hag nodded: "What I dislike the most are actually the Spanish."

Under Rodri's innocent gaze, Tenhach finally let Tang Ye pass.

“Hello, Mr. Ferran.”

"Eh!"

Upon hearing the commotion, Ten Hach immediately gave chase, only to be stopped a second later by Van der Gach: "Don't do this! Don't do this!"

"What happened to the promise that they weren't Spanish?"

Ten Hag tried to break free, but Van der Gach was very strong: "He said it has nothing to do with football, so if it has nothing to do with football, then it's fine!"

"Don't do this, Eric, calm down!"

"Frankie, Rodri!"

Van der Gach called for the players to come and help.

Eric is possessed; if we don't control him, the consequences will be dire.

"I come!"

Van der Gach was already strong, and now with the addition of the even stronger Rodri, Ten Hach was unable to move an inch and had no choice but to compromise.

He glared at Rodri: "As expected, this is the Spanish."

"..."

Rodri touched his nose.

Van der Gach's approach proved to be correct.

The Manchester United manager is now facing a problem, a serious problem that urgently needs to be addressed.

On the adjacent court, Tang Ye squatted down, in front of him was Greenwood, who was receiving individual training.

"Hey Tom, did you see my TV interview?"

"Uh... I haven't looked at it. I haven't been checking my phone news much these past few days." Just as Tang Ye said, he hadn't read the news on the sports website for a week or two.

Now, when I open Dongqiudi (a Chinese sports betting platform), all I get are private messages like, "Tang Qiuwang, please make a movie!"

The pressure from the fans was suffocating him.

It's just that I chatted with someone else's movie star for a while, and this has caused such a mess. I really don't understand the thought process of fans.

"It's okay, it's all the same."

Eskeriva remained nonchalant: "Anyway, whatever I say in front of the reporters, just don't take it seriously."

"Huh? For example what?"

"For example, if I ask you to come back 10 days before the competition starts, you don't have to listen to me. You can come back whenever you want. I won't make any requirements on when you come back."

"..."

Tang Ye's brain began to work at lightning speed.

Tang could feel his body getting warmed up even before the warm-up for today's training session had started.

"If you don't need to come back in the first 10 days, then why did you tell me to come back in the first 10 days?"

"It's nothing, just to fool those reporters. It's part of the tactic, to keep the enemy in the dark about what we're planning."

"..."

Tang Ye's lips twitched: "Alright then."

"but."

Escriva then changed the subject: "If the club's schedule isn't too difficult, I'd like to... well, it would be fine if you came back 10 days before the start of the match. I think that would be a good time."

"..."

Eskeriva rambled on and on, but Tang Ye still couldn't grasp the most crucial information, to the point that his brain almost got stuck in a knot.

Then the problem is coming.

Should we leave 10 days ago or 10 days from now?

"Tom!"

Ten Hag's voice came from afar: "Are you still on the phone with that Spaniard?"

"Oh, here it comes!"

"My question, Mr. Eric, what's the task today?"

……

Manchester United unveiled a teaser poster for their first Manchester derby of the season: [Nine-game winning streak].

Sky Sports Radio.

On the left sits Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher, and on the right sits Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.

"As far as I can remember, Ronaldo hasn't played against Liverpool in a long time."

"Well, that's probably because your grades are too bad."

Ferdinand started with trash talk right from the start.

"Haha! So Manchester United's results are very good?"

"Yes, of course!"

Ferdinand emphasizes Manchester United's current Premier League standings – Nanba Maru!

“Alright, Leo, but I must remind you of something, something Ten Hach once said.”

Carragher had a malicious look on his face, his wrinkles furrowed together.

"What?"

"No team can dominate an era forever; it's only a matter of time before a new era arrives."

"Oh, fuck!"

Ferdinand shook his head: "You don't have the potential to create an era like we do. Your squad is too weak."

Ferdinand did not shy away from Carragher's provocations, because he had found a very good angle to counterattack.

What is the approximate total value of your starting lineup today?

"Hmm... 5 million euros, maybe, around 5.2 million?"

Carragher was incredibly proud, but what he received in return was Ferdinand's disdainful mockery.

"Oh! Haha!"

A Manchester United legend held up three fingers: "The combined value of our three starting midfielders is more than 5 million euros, the whole team is 5 million euros, haha!"

"..."

……

A pinned post on Dongqiudi (a Chinese sports betting platform): A comparison of the lineups of Manchester United and Liverpool in the Manchester derby.

Manchester United (home team), starting lineup valued at €11.25 billion, average age 25.4 years.

Liverpool (away), starting lineup valued at €5.30 million, average age 27.8 years.

In fact, Ferdinand shouldn't bring up the starting lineup's value, because Manchester United's value is a bit too inflated, making a truly objective comparison impossible.

Let alone the Premier League, there are probably no more than a handful of clubs in the world whose starting lineups are worth more than the Devil Three midfielders.

Moreover, this price tag is a weakened version.

Manchester United's starting lineup suffered a massive reduction of tens of millions of euros after being eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals last season.

If we add back the portion that was cut, Manchester United's current starting lineup would be worth around €12 billion.

11 players + 1 head coach, each gets 100 million!

There's only one United!

"There's Only One UNITED!"

Manchester United are Champions again.

"TangYe! TangYe!"

"Running in the middle!"

"Oh, Tom, his amazing and sudden pass!"

"Feared by the opponents, loved by the RED!"

"Rod! Rodri!"

He is Tom's good helper!

"..."

Manchester United fans have somehow come up with a new cheering song, specially made for the 20 Manchester United Champions League squad.

Unfortunately, Ronaldo arrived a few steps too late and wasn't part of that group of players, so there was no way to force elements related to him into the song.

But Manchester United fans are optimistic.

The reason they didn't include Cristiano Ronaldo in the song is because they believe Manchester United can continue to replicate their miracles this season.

With the new treble-winning squad emerging, it will be the perfect time for Ronaldo to join the song!
China Media Group!

"...Now I will introduce the starting lineups of both teams."

Liverpool (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Alisson
Defenders: Robertson, Van Dijk, Konaté, Alexander-Arnold

Midfielders: Milner, Henderson, Naby Keita
Forwards: Diogo Jota, Firmino, Salah
Head Coach: Klopp

"Wow... the Manchester derby only happens twice a season in the Premier League!"

"Yes, last season in the Champions League, Dortmund faced a siege from four Premier League teams, including Liverpool. Unfortunately, Liverpool lost to Chelsea, so they couldn't meet Dortmund in the final."

"That means Tang Ye didn't play against Liverpool last season, and neither did Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"Hey, I have to say something here."

"Liverpool this season, well, don't let their current third place in the Premier League fool you, their strength is not much worse than the top two teams."

"Hmm? Coach Zhan, to be honest, I don't really agree with your point of view."

"It's true that Liverpool and Manchester City are not far apart in strength, but comparing Liverpool and Manchester United and saying that the two teams are not far apart in strength is a bit inappropriate. After all, Manchester United's starting lineup is worth a lot. Manchester United in the 19-20 season and the 21-22 season should be in a class of its own in the Premier League."

I don't think so.

As a Liverpool fan, Zhan Jun clearly expressed his support for the away team.

While Manchester United won four titles in the 2019-20 season, fans who watched the games know that their Premier League victories weren't as easy as many imagined. In fact, they were initially overshadowed by Manchester City and Liverpool.

What is Romance of the Three Kingdoms?

When the three teams are evenly matched, that's what you call the Three Kingdoms!

……

(End of this chapter)