If you are a brother, come and play football

Chapter 215 Who is the King of London? (Please Subscribe)

"Don't you have any self-respect?"

Hughes turned and asked.

Gullit shrugged innocently.

I don't understand what he means at all.

"You're the best player in the Netherlands, and you keep losing for no reason. Haven't you ever thought about winning just once?" Mark Hughes asked again.

"I'll introduce you to my friend sometime."

"Gullit said with a smile."

He felt that Mark Hughes and Rijkaard must have something in common.

Hughes rolled his eyes.

Gullit passed the ball to Hughes, who immediately passed it back.

He doesn't have the ability to carry the ball in midfield all by himself.

Hughes attributed the pass to Gullit's insult to him.

Ireland's Johnsen launched an attack down the right flank, easily evading Cantona's symbolic pressing.

Scholes made a sliding tackle and sent Johansson and the ball out of bounds.

"Well done, Paul! I knew you were a tough guy!"

Keane shouted excitedly.

Chelsea players rushed towards the spot of the foul, and Lu Deyang quickly stepped in front of Scholes to block him.

"You bastard, do you want to kill someone?"

"I asked excitedly."

“Paul didn’t do it on purpose. You can ask Mark if you don’t believe me.”

Redondo said.

Hughes nodded somewhat reluctantly from the side.

Scholes occasionally makes blunders on his teammates during practice matches.

"That should be a red card, right? A red card?"

Andy Myers said.

Newton also looked at the referee.

The referee, as expected, pulled out a red card and said, "Go and rest, tough guy."

"Oh shit……"

Keane, who was being teased, wanted to swear, but Bruce immediately stopped him.

Scholes said with an innocent look, "I really didn't mean to."

"It's okay, take a break next game."

Lu Deyang advised.

Scholes walked to the sidelines with his head down, completely avoiding looking at Ferguson's expression.

He was clearly heading for the ball, but the opponent stretched out his leg and delivered it right to him.

"Paul Scholes was sent off for a very bad tackle. The game might not go as we expect. Being down to ten men has a big impact on the game. Chelsea might be able to use their numerical advantage to equalize."

"Manchester United's young players always have some problems controlling their emotions during matches. Hopefully, Scholes can adjust his form as soon as possible."

Ferguson, however, did not criticize Scholes.

Scholes walked into the passageway with his head down.

His departure from the field has a significant impact on the game, and he is well aware of this.

There are only two flanks in total. Why is he taking Lu Deyang off the field to defend?

Ireland's Johnson was not injured and took the ball out from the backfield.

Dennis Wise immediately passed the ball to the right wing.

After Newton and Fron played a one-two, Newton passed the ball to Gullit again.

After dribbling the ball laterally in the middle, Gullit simply moved to the left flank and began his breakthrough from there.

Scholes' substitution forced Keane to cover on the right wing.

Gullit did not choose to make a strong run, but instead passed the ball to Wise, who was making a forward run.

Wise delivered a cross from just outside the penalty area, and Mark Hughes' shot, after a slight adjustment, was blocked by Pallister.

The problem of having one less midfielder is gradually becoming apparent.

"Should we make a substitution, Alex?"

"Brian Kidd asked."

"Let's wait until halftime."

Ferguson said.

It would be wiser to substitute a striker.

However, the team's forwards are all a bit sensitive right now, and Cantona has only recently returned.

If they can't replace Cantona, then they can only replace McClair, who was already rotating with Andy Cole.

We can't not let them play for half the game.

Brian Kidd nodded.

Having too many strikers capable of scoring goals is also a problem, as it means each player doesn't get enough opportunities.

It will be fine after a while. The schedule is quite busy, so even three or four forwards won't be a big problem.

Manchester United were forced to start playing defensively.

Fortunately, there were no major problems in the first half, and they went into halftime with a one-goal lead.

This score is not bad considering it's an away game.

The only problem is that the first half was quite taxing.

The atmosphere in the locker room wasn't that great either.

Lu Deyang initiated a conversation, saying, "I overheard some fans discussing during dinner whether Tyson could kill a tiger in a room. What do you guys think?"

"That probably won't work."

Schmeichel said, "How could a human possibly kill a tiger? The weight difference is too great."

“I remember there’s a tribal coming-of-age ceremony in Africa where they kill a lion,” Gary Neville said.

“You have a good memory, but the Maasai always kill in groups, and they have weapons.”

Redondo said, "If it were just me alone, the Marseilles wouldn't be much stronger than the Parisians."

"What if our bus breaks down in the wild, the doors are broken, and we encounter a pride of lions?"

David May asked.

The locker room fell silent.

"How about we send Peter up to feed them while we wait for rescue?"

Bruce had barely finished speaking when he was punched; Schmeichel's fist was as big as a sandbag.

"Could we use our personal belongings to defend ourselves for a while?"

Beckham said.

“Men who like to look in the mirror shouldn’t talk,” Neville retorted. “Are you trying to scare them with your mirror?”

"Actually, blocking the door is enough; the height of the window is difficult for them to damage."

"Then use Peter to block the door."

"I'll fucking kill you all..."

The atmosphere in the locker room immediately became lively.

Gary Neville found an electric kettle somewhere and started making black tea for his teammates using paper cups.

If it weren't for the halftime break, this tea party would have been much more relaxed.

Schmeichel, who was chasing Bruce, had just sat down when he felt a burning sensation on his thigh.

Gary Neville casually placed the water bottle on Schmeichel's seat.

"Damn Gary, I'm going to kill you..."

Ferguson sat in the corner, watching everything with a smile.

"They really are a group of energetic kids."

Ferguson said.

"Yes."

Kidd nodded in agreement.

He was also a little worried about the atmosphere in the locker room.

Surprisingly, the players were able to adjust on their own.

Kidd glanced at Lu Deyang; this time, it was Lu Deyang who started the conversation.

A locker room leader doesn't always have to be like Rambo, all brawn and no brain.

They also need to know how to create a good atmosphere in the locker room.

Lu Deyang has clearly done a very good job in this regard.

When he later took over as manager of Manchester United, he gave the captain's armband to Lu Deyang.

"It's almost time, children."

Kidd waved and said.

Lu Deyang got up with his teammates.

Ferguson immediately pulled Lu Deyang aside and said, "Let's play about 20 minutes of the second half. Today's game wasn't easy, but we still have Arsenal next. We need to teach that Frenchman a lesson."

Lu Deyang smiled and nodded.

The main theme is the battle between Ferguson and the professor.

"Manchester United made a direct substitution, with Nicky Butt replacing McClair, indicating they are strengthening their defense."

"Being reduced to a lone striker position is the best solution."

Lu Deyang has been observing Chelsea.

Their tactics have changed considerably from last season.

This is the case for some teams that frequently change coaches.

Although Chelsea did not change their manager, their coaching staff brought about a greater change than a change in manager.

Even though they were behind and had a numerical advantage, they still didn't play too aggressively.

A significant number of troops were committed to defense.

Wise attempted to dribble past his opponent but Butt blocked the ball out of bounds. Wise immediately threw the ball in, and Gullit received it and began his breakthrough down the wing.

The tall and strong Gullit broke through like a rhinoceros in heat, and it was difficult to stop him.

Keane tried to cover the right flank but was knocked off balance by Gullit.

Gary Neville opted for a sliding tackle, and Gullit accelerated down the wing before crossing the ball. Frund headed the ball in the penalty area, but it still went over the crossbar.

Many Chelsea fans covered their heads, unable to believe their eyes.

Such a good opportunity, yet they failed to score.

There were some sighs coming from Stamford Bridge.

If he had chosen to kick it, the ball might have gone in.

Schmeichel aimed for the left flank and threw the ball out.

Lu Deyang turned sideways, passed the ball smoothly, and immediately turned and started his run.

Gullit is not in his position, which is a very good opportunity.

Newton simply opted for a tackle.

Anyway, he can't find an opportunity even if he focuses on his core.

However, the tackle was too obvious. Lu Deyang pulled the ball back and flicked it over Newton with ease.

Peacock and Steve Clark charged at Lu Deyang almost simultaneously.

They didn't want Lu Deyang to dribble the ball close to the penalty area again.

Lu Deyang showed no intention of continuing his breakthrough, instead using his right foot to chip the ball under the ball.

Andy Miles used a tackle to prevent Cantona from getting the ball while contesting for it.

The referee blew his whistle again.

A genuine chorus of boos erupted from Stamford Bridge.

There isn't much difference between awarding a free kick and scoring a direct goal.

"Deyang, Deyang!"

Cantona ignored Miles and instead waved excitedly at Lu Deyang.

Having finally earned a free kick, of course Lu Deyang should take it.

Lu Deyang walked towards the spot where the foul occurred.

Dmitry Harlin glanced at Lu Deyang's position and immediately waved to his teammates, shouting, "Make sure to defend the close-range area, and time your jumps well when the human wall goes up!"

This position is slightly to the left.

The two-person wall at the closest point is very important.

Even with excellent footwork, it's difficult to break through the wall of players, leaving less space for them.

Harlem believes that Lu Deyang is no exception.

Unless you're out of your mind and put yourself under such high intensity, you have to hit a low-angle curveball and go around the wall of defenders.

He didn't guess whether it was closer or farther.

Lu Deyang can take free kicks with both feet, and he has many ways to take them, so we'll have to judge for sure when the time comes.

Both teams' players are looking for positions near the penalty area.

Ferguson then remembered and called out to the bench, "Ryan, get up and warm up."

Giggs took off his training jacket and walked to the sidelines to start jogging.

They didn't even pay attention to the free kicks on the field.

It would be strange if Lu Deyang didn't get in.

beep—

Lu Deyang, standing to the left rear of the ball, began his run-up.

He stepped forward with his left foot and then slid his right foot out.

Damn!

Harlem knew the ball was going to the far post as soon as he saw it. He quickly moved a step to the left, then jumped up with his right foot, extending his arm out in a long motion.

Even though his initial positioning wasn't ideal, his reaction speed made up for it.

But once he was in the air, Harlem knew the ball was going to be difficult.

The ball was higher than he wanted it to be, and he couldn't reach it at all. It nestled into the goal where the post and crossbar met.

"Deyang!"

"It's Deyang again!"

"Dejan extended the lead again with a free kick."

"Ferguson is preparing to substitute Dejan. Manchester United's schedule is not easy, but a two-goal lead should ensure that Manchester United will leave Stamford Bridge with a draw."

Lu Deyang walked to the sidelines again.

He guessed that a substitution would be made after scoring.

"Sit down and rest for a while."

Ferguson said.

Lu Deyang took the towel, wiped his sweat, and sat back on the bench.

Although Gullit scored a free kick, Manchester United still won the game 2-1.

This game was hard-won.

Everyone is happy.

"Deyang, I need to get off the bus early to buy a magazine."

Redondo said.

"Let's go together then, a few steps won't kill us."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

The two people asked the bus driver to stop on the side of the road in advance and declined the driver's offer to wait for them.

My teammates are also eager to get home, and there's no need to delay their journey home.

“I want the latest issue of Dazed,” Redondo said directly.

"Give me a lottery ticket."

Lu Deyang handed over a coin and said. He didn't really want to buy anything; he just wanted to try his luck with a lottery ticket.

“Someone won £1700 million before,” the old lady at the newsstand said with a smile. “I hope you have good luck too, Dejan.”

"Thank you, Mrs. Hamilton."

Lu Deyang said.

As the two walked back together, Redondo said, "Actually, the odds of winning this thing aren't very high."

"Winning the lottery is already pretty good."

Lu Deyang said nonchalantly.

At least it won't cost 10 yuan to buy the same number and empty the prize pool.

This thing is inherently violent, so the payout isn't high.

To even pull a stunt is a bit too much.

“I heard that William Hill recently lowered our odds again, saying that a client from Africa made a lot of money from them by betting on us.”

Redondo said with a smile, "I don't know how he placed the bet; our odds weren't high to begin with."

"The fans really have confidence in us. I guess they added bonuses when we were behind in important games, otherwise there wouldn't be such a large bonus."

Lu Deyang said.

Redondo nodded.

The odds of Manchester United winning are quite low.

Even if he doesn't specifically look for it, there are related advertisements in the magazine.

Housewives were also a significant client of William Hill.

Almost the entire British population are gamblers.

Lu Deyang ate at Lei Dongjia's house before going home.

The princess and Monica, who has a job, went to Milan together.

When he got home, he turned on the TV and saw that a channel was showing Snoopy, so he watched it for a while before going to sleep.

The next morning, Lu Deyang read the newspaper while having breakfast.

The Times: "Dejan missed a penalty, Manchester United won, and Scholes was sent off. It's a shame that Dejan didn't attend the post-match press conference, and we didn't get to hear that Paul isn't a bad guy."

Damn it, they actually made fun of Lu Qiuwang.

Scholes, let's not talk about whether he's a bad person or not.

From the perspective of his playing career, he was simply a role model for professional players.

Low-key, hardworking, never causing trouble, with a simple personal life, and not even having an agent—this is the kind of player the club likes best.

That's why he became so disliked after retiring.

The contrast was so strong; it was as if he had been possessed after retiring.

Everyone else is pretty much the same as when they were players. Take Neville, for example. He was a talkative player, so it's normal for him to become a commentator after retiring.

The second edition includes an interview with the professor, in which he stated that Lu Deyang upheld the fairness of football on the field.

Lu Deyang couldn't help but laugh when he saw this.

The professor is a great coach.

However, he is also very cunning.

When Arsenal are wrongly judged, he always points out the referee's mistakes.

But when he benefits, he always says something similar, such as not seeing clearly.

He even claimed he didn't know anything about the pizza scandal.

Newspapers are already hyping up the match between the two teams.

They completely disregarded Rosenborg and Middlesbrough.

Before facing Arsenal, Manchester United have a Champions League match and a league match against Middlesbrough.

"Deyang, do you want to go out for lunch together?"

After breakfast, Redondo called to ask.

"Let's go, they're not home anyway," Lu Deyang said.

"Let's go get something good to eat, and remember to wear a suit."

Redondo said.

Lu Deyang hung up the phone with a smile.

Artsy young people love French cuisine.

I ate a meal and that's how my day off went by.

On October 27, Manchester United defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 at home.

Two days later, Manchester United defeated Rosenborg 3-0, securing their qualification for the knockout stage. With 9 points after three rounds, they are basically guaranteed to be the group winners.

Even if they don't win the next game, they should still be guaranteed second place in the group.

Next comes the main event of the league.

Manchester United didn't even have much rest before heading to Arsenal for an away game.

In an interview with The Times, Matthäus was full of confidence, telling the reporter: "Manchester United has a certain disadvantage in terms of schedule, as we only have the Premier League, which allows us to prepare for the matches better. But that's football; if you want to win more titles, you have to put in more effort, and everyone understands that. My whole team and I can't wait to play against Manchester United. I didn't come to England for a holiday; I transferred to Arsenal to beat Dejan!"

This statement added fuel to the fire of the match.

Before Lu Deyang could even respond, retired British goalkeeper Hilton launched an attack in the newspapers.

Hilton scoffed, "It's laughable that someone who's never beaten Dejan in his career would say he'll win. Football is played with the feet, not the mouth. Matthäus' move to the Premier League was certainly courageous, but courage doesn't equal victory. The French were once very courageous, but they eventually learned their lesson."

This is clearly referring to World War I and World War II.

This was unacceptable to the French media, who accused Hilton of lacking respect.

Lu Deyang found it quite interesting.

Because Matthäus is German, and the professor is French.

Hilton's words were so damn timely!

Ferguson told the media, "He and his players are a bit neurotic, always talking about Dejan. I don't quite understand it. It's like your neighbors in the community always talking about how your new TV is, even though they're still watching a black and white TV. I told Martin before that all of this would happen because some people always like to watch what others aren't looking at."

The professor said, "Ferguson was uneasy about the challengers, so he tried to put pressure on each one. He wanted to overwhelm us with his words, but it didn't work."

The two head coaches finally started talking in the newspapers.

British newspaper sales have been steadily increasing these past few days.

Soon the whole world will realize that the biggest highlight of the Premier League for a long time to come will be the rivalry between the Scots and the French.

The professor held his own in the verbal sparring, making the atmosphere in Carrington tense.

Ferguson's stern face intimidated the players.

Professors also became a major topic of conversation in the locker room.

“He really angered the boss; he looks pretty tough,” Gary Neville said, sitting down with his tray.

"Yes."

Bruce nodded and said, "Even Dalglish didn't make the boss this angry."

"That's because King Kenny's mouth isn't sharp."

Schmeichel said.

“It’s not that they’re not good enough, it’s that there are even better people,” Gary Neville said.

He remembered that when Dalglish was around, Ferguson's emotions also fluctuated considerably.

That old Scottish man is always getting angry.

"Anyway, just be careful. If you make another mistake tomorrow, your boss won't let you off the hook even if I don't have to lift a finger," Schmeichel said gloatingly.

Anyway, he rarely makes mistakes.

"Anyway, with Deyang, we won't lose."

Gary Neville said nonchalantly.

"Don't say that, Mr. Wenger's team is not easy to deal with."

Lu Deyang said after swallowing the beef.

“No way, Dejan, you’re actually on the other side,” Gary Neville said.

"Idiot, that's called caution."

Redondo retorted, "If you had watched Monaco's previous matches, you would know the coach's level; he's no ordinary player."

Lu Deyang nodded.

The professor is also in his growth stage.

It's hard to say whether the current Arsenal or the former Monaco was stronger.

However, the current professors are definitely of a higher teaching standard than those before, that's for sure.

After training ended in the afternoon, Ferguson appeared on the sidelines with his coaching staff to announce the starting lineup for tomorrow's game.

Ferguson then reminded them: "As you know, the new Frenchmen want to challenge us. I don't want to see the team lose to them. If we lose, they will move to second place, and our lead will shrink. This is a six-point game, understand?"

"understand!"

"Alright, go home and get some rest. If I see anyone going to a nightclub tonight, they're dead meat."

Ferguson reminded him.

Many people looked at Sharp.

Sharp quickly put on a serious face and said, "Although I'm not in the starting lineup, I will definitely maintain my best condition. I'll even be precise about when I need to hydrate, down to the second. I'll bring my best to face Arsenal and teach that Frenchman a lesson!"

This made Ferguson laugh.

He waved at Sharp.

This guy may not be very reliable, but he is indeed very good at reading people's expressions.

The whole team gathered in Carrington early the next morning.

The match is at 12 o'clock, so you need to arrive early, and there isn't much time to take the bus.

Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened on the way.

The entire Manchester United team arrived at Highbury Stadium around 9 a.m.

Arsenal's recent performance has clearly given their fans a lot of confidence, and as soon as the team bus stopped, they booed Manchester United.

From avoiding relegation last season to returning to the title race this season, the manager has brought about a significant change for Arsenal.

"Everyone, get into the stadium, but don't get into any conflicts with the fans."

The Scottish-accented English served as a reminder.

Manchester United players walked quickly onto the pitch with their heads down.

"Let's go, Dejan, to the press conference together."

Ferguson pulled Lu Deyang aside and said.

Lu Deyang nodded.

The two went to the press conference together. The professor was already seated there, and Matthäus was sitting next to him.

The audience was packed with reporters, and many were even standing in the aisles.

Ferguson and Lu Deyang sat down.

The reporters couldn't wait to start asking questions.

"Alex, are you accusing Wenger of being overly focused on your team, are you trying to say he's a voyeur?"

"Mr. Ferguson, are you afraid of the challenge that Mr. Wenger brings?"

"Mr. Wenger, do you think you can win?"

"Lothar, you've never beaten Dejan, where does your confidence come from?"

"Dejan, you once said that Matthäus is one of the best players in the world, so will he pose a threat to Manchester United?"

"..."

Surprisingly, the reporters didn't ask any questions about off-site matters.

Because this match is captivating enough.

Ferguson picked up the microphone and said, "I don't really want to blame others, and as for what you call a peeping tom, that's an even harsher accusation. But every coach should focus on their own team."

"It's normal for a coach to pay attention to the opponent."

"That's what the professor said."

"It's normal to pay attention to your opponents, but you keep talking about Manchester United. I haven't seen you mention Tottenham or Chelsea. Arsenal's derby rivals are in London. Judging from your behavior, I think Arsenal is a Manchester team!"

Ferguson scoffed.

The professor smiled and said, "Our goal is the championship, so we pay more attention to teams with good results. Strong teams often face challenges, but they are not bothered by challenges from others. If challenges from others put you under enough pressure, it may be because you are not strong enough."

"Football is played with feet!"

Ferguson said.

The two coaches got into an argument, without even needing any guidance from reporters.

This was the first time they had ever seen a press conference like this.

Many reporters realized that this new French coach was no ordinary person.

This is only his first full season, and the results so far look very good. Arsenal's playing style has also undergone a huge change, which delights Arsenal fans.

Off the field, he could easily argue with Ferguson, something rarely seen in the past.

"Arsena, what do you think is the secret to Manchester United's victory?"

one reporter asked.

The professor smiled and pulled over the microphone, saying, "I don't want to deny the abilities of other coaches, but there's no doubt that Dejan is the most important player for Manchester United. Before and after Dejan's transfer to Manchester United, the team's performance improved significantly, transforming them from a title contender into a treble winner. So when I see some news in the media saying that Manchester United is very reliant on Dejan, I think there's nothing wrong with that."

"Damn it!"

Ferguson shouted, "Do I have to deliberately keep my players off the field to prove our strength? Dejan is a Manchester United player, of course he should play for Manchester United."

“That’s not what I meant,” the professor said with a smile. “I was just stating a fact. The newspaper data comparing Dejan’s appearances and absences wasn’t done by me.”

Ferguson snorted and glared at the professor.

He was growing increasingly disgusted with the Frenchman.

Seeing that both teams' coaches had lost their composure, the reporter finally turned his attention to Lu Deyang.

"Dejan, do you think you're Manchester United's most important player?"

the reporter asked.

Lu Deyang said with a smile: "Yes, I am Manchester United's most important player. I can win the game by myself when I come on, and I don't even need a goalkeeper."

Many reporters laughed.

Lu Deyang continued, "It's very stupid to ask this kind of question in a sport where 11 players are on the field. Even the best player is only one in eleven. Whether it's Peter, Roy, Eric, or Gary, they are all very important. I can't win any game on my own."

Do you think you'll continue to win today?

The reporter pressed for an answer.

"Let's talk about this after the match, but I can tell you that we've made a lot of preparations."

Lu Deyang stood up and said, "That concludes today's press conference."

If he sat any longer, Ferguson would probably be driven mad by the professor.

He was still panting heavily as he walked back.

He was clearly not in a calm mood.

Back in the locker room, many teammates looked on with curiosity, wanting to know what had happened at the press conference.

Lu Deyang didn't say anything but sat down to change his clothes.

I'll also be doing a lucky draw.

[Your good friend Pietro Viljoward was an iron man, playing until he was 41 before retiring, so we're drawing a player whose career was plagued by injuries. Ding! You've obtained a 1997-1998 FA Cup Final, Arsenal vs. Newcastle, Mark Overmars single-match trial card.]

Dutchman.

Overmars had this title before Robben.

Moreover, he is known as a man who can play football in two ways.

Van Gaal once commented: He plays Garrincha on the left wing and himself on the right wing.

This is already very high praise.

As a Dutch winger, Overmars is fast and has excellent dribbling skills.

Moreover, he was a signature signing for the professor, not only winning numerous honors at Arsenal but also leaving behind €3600 million in revenue upon transfer, which was far more than what Fabregas earned more than a decade later.

"Let's go, let's go out and warm up."

Bruce said after watching Lu Deyang change his equipment.

Lu Deyang then got up.

I had just stepped outside when I saw Arsenal's players and managers leaving the locker room.

The professor smiled and nodded at Lu Deyang.

The two weren't exactly strangers; they had even communicated before.

Lu Deyang suddenly remembered something and asked, "Mr. Wenger, there's a Monica Burger not far from Arsenal's training ground. Would you like to get a membership card..."

(End of this chapter)