If you are a brother, come and play football

Chapter 242 Totti's Geography Exam (Please Subscribe)

After Lu Deyang was substituted, Liverpool held on for a while.

However, it was soon discovered that Manchester United's wing play remained sharp.

It wasn't Giggs who came off the bench, but David Beckham.

Because of Lu Deyang's dominance, Beckham rarely had the opportunity to get the ball and attempt an assist directly, and Lu Deyang didn't need to deliver the ball directly to Beckham's mouth, so many fans overlooked the handsome young man's crossing ability.

After Lu Deyang was substituted, Beckham provided two consecutive assists that completely dismantled Liverpool.

His long passes are almost accurate to the centimeter.

Liverpool's hopes of winning the title this season have been dashed, and the Kop members who remained in the stands covered their mouths and wept.

No football fan in the world would travel to another city to watch a game hoping to see their team get thrashed.

If this match were a derby, and it involved a championship, it would be even more painful.

If you're feeling down, just look at Liverpool.

The KOPs never imagined that this was just the beginning.

After 90 minutes of hard work, the team won the silver medal. This is the cruelest thing about football.

The more brutal thing is for Barak to see.

A player who doesn't break down despite finishing second so many times in a season has a remarkably strong mentality.

Lu Deyang joined his teammates on the field to celebrate.

David James quickly walked toward Lu Deyang.

Cantona paused, and together with Redondo, stood in front of him.

"Relax, buddy, I just want to change my jersey."

David James raised his hands and said, "How about we change jerseys?"

Lu Deyang nodded.

James looked at the two guards and said, "Since your employer has agreed, the gatekeeper doesn't need to stop me, right?"

"That guy really deserves a beating."

Cantona said directly.

Redondo nodded.

He's not the type to make witty remarks, but he enjoys listening to them. However, he gets upset when the target of the jokes becomes himself.

"Could you score fewer goals next time we meet?"

David James handed over the jersey and asked directly.

"You can choose not to play."

Lu Deyang said with a smile, "Scoring fewer goals is a matter of professional ethics, which I can't do."

“Okay, maybe I’ll find a way to skip the next derby, like my grandma passed away,” James said with a shrug.

Lu Deyang: ...

He wanted to ask this guy if he knew Ireland.

That Manchester City prodigy caused the deaths of many family members in order to get a leave of absence.

If this were in China, his elders would most likely sever ties with him.

This guy is quite interesting; he told me to go easy on him.

The local players are so rude; they don't even know that people in the football world need to give gifts before they can get things done.

Lu Deyang glanced at McClair, who was showing off his chest hair to the fans. Older people are more reliable.

It's a pity that McClair won't be able to play for many more years.

Otherwise, Lu Qiuwang would have dragged him down to become sworn brothers.

In all my years playing football in Europe, he's the only striker I've met who's so loyal and righteous.

It's not that he's short of gold watches; what Lu Qiu Wang likes is the feeling of being valued.

"Deyang, come over here and thank the audience!"

"McLair greeted me."

Lu Deyang walked over, put his arm around his shoulder, and they waved to the stands together.

The fans were even more excited.

Gerrard's eyes were lifeless in the stands.

It's worth noting that he did indeed have a trial with Manchester United, but the youth team was too strong, and they weren't very interested in signing him.

Young people also have self-respect, so they left.

But I have a feeling that I made a mistake.

Manchester United is so strong, if he stubbornly insists on staying and lets the Manchester United youth team sign him, they can win the championship in just a few years.

Saying you support the team is just talk.

If he were truly that die-hard, he wouldn't have gone for a trial at Manchester United.

Gerald shook his head.

Even if Manchester United is strong, can they remain strong for another 20 years?

At worst, we can win the championship again in more than ten years.

Who knows, by the time he grows up, Manchester United might not be doing so well anymore.

Liverpool were sweeping across Europe back then, who could have imagined they would fall so quickly?

You can't be sure about this.

The players from both sides received their awards in turn.

British fans are clearly more enthusiastic about the FA Cup than the league.

However, for Lu Deyang, there wasn't much difference between the FA Cup and the League Cup.

If you're not a local, it's hard to understand why they think the FA Cup is more important than the league.

Moreover, the FA Cup later lost its value in the eyes of the British.

The Scottish old man and the professor messed up the cup competition.

No matter how much you boast, it's still just a tournament for other people to practice their skills.

What's even more damn interesting is that a group of kids can occasionally make it to the semi-finals, and then the team switches to its main players to compete for the championship.

With this attitude, things won't go well in the FA Cup either.

However, during the early stages of the Premier League's formation, the fans' recognition of the FA Cup was indeed evident.

Ultimately, it was all due to the schedule.

There is no winter break, and it has four more rounds than Serie A, plus one more cup competition.

If you win the continental championship, you might also be eligible for competitions like the Super Cup or the Toyota Cup.

In the most extreme cases, there was a competition every other day, which even an ironman couldn't withstand.

Lu Deyang and Steve Bruce raised the trophy together.

Cheers resounded throughout Wembley.

"Congratulations to Manchester United on winning the 1995-1996 FA Cup! England has produced an unprecedented sextuple winner, and they're on their way to a seven. It seems likely that England will also achieve good results in this summer's European Championship. A sextuple winner and a European Championship winner—this proves that the English league is the best football league in the world!"

"This summer belongs to England. Football is home!!!!!!!!!"

Martin Taylor shouted excitedly.

Jim Beglin curled his lip in disdain.

Even if Manchester United wins seven titles, it doesn't mean England can win the European Championship.

Who taught you to manage multiple loans?

The main reason is that Ireland failed to qualify for the European Championship; otherwise, he would have spoken with more confidence.

With the expansion to 16 teams, the European Championship has indeed become much more prestigious. When there were only 8 teams, it was like playing house; the champion was won after only a few games.

With 16 teams, it's guaranteed that most of the strong teams will advance. Even if there's an upset, it still means they have the strength to fight their way out of the group stage.

The knockout stage is guaranteed to be exciting.

Many fans watching on television are eagerly anticipating England's performance.

After all, England's strength isn't too bad, and this is a major tournament held on home soil.

The last time England won the World Cup, it was on home soil.

That's why there's the slogan "Football is coming home".

The most obvious change was the increased number of fans wearing England jerseys in the stands, which is quite rare for Manchester United matches.

Lu Deyang couldn't help but shake his head.

If he weren't a football professional, he would have liked to buy some lottery tickets.

England has never disappointed when it comes to being disappointing.

"Deyang, let's go to the press conference together."

Ferguson greeted him.

Lu Deyang nodded and followed him toward the players' tunnel.

When the two arrived, Roy Evans was already seated there; after all, he didn't need to celebrate.

"Alex, will you guys win the Champions League?"

Is Real Madrid a tough opponent?

What did you think of Manchester United's performance today?

"Dejan, what happened between you and Skiles?"

"Which team do you think is stronger, Real Madrid or Manchester United, Dejan?"

Roy Evans was somewhat unwilling, but also relieved.

It's already good enough that the media isn't chasing after him.

Ferguson said with a smile: "I don't want to talk about whether we can win or not, but we are full of desire for victory. Today's performance proved that Manchester United is a team full of honor, and we will continue to fight for the championship in the next game."

"So who do you think is the toughest opponent for Real Madrid?"

The reporter pressed for an answer.

"This is an FA Cup press conference, and I don't want to talk too much about Real Madrid. They're a very strong team."

Ferguson said.

"So what do you think of today's game? And why was Dejan substituted?"

the reporter asked.

Ferguson's face darkened immediately. He said, "I find it hard to understand why someone would do such a thing. Skiles doesn't deserve to play in the Premier League. He deliberately punched Dejan in the mouth. Although Dejan wasn't injured, it's still unforgivable. It's murder. If his hand had been a little lower, it would have hit Dejan's throat. But the referee didn't punish him at all today, not even with a penalty. This makes me doubt the fairness of the Premier League."

boom--

The reporters were surprised by Ferguson's strong reaction.

No wonder he's their favorite coach.

Both the FA and the referee are in trouble.

Even journalists know how dissatisfied Ferguson has been with the FA lately, and Manchester United's situation would be much better if the schedule were adjusted slightly.

Some player injuries are preventable, so it would be strange if they didn't feel resentful.

Do you feel the referee made an unfair call?

The excited reporter pressed for more details.

Ferguson nodded and said, "For such an important game, we need fair referees who can uphold principles, but none of that has been achieved. I don't understand why Gallagher was officiating this game; as soon as I saw him officiating, I knew something bad was going to happen."

The reporters were even more excited.

This is a direct roll call.

He even said he knew something bad was going to happen.

Ferguson and the referee will both face penalties.

They wanted to ask more questions, but Lu Deyang pulled over the microphone and said, "The coach means that the refereeing standards should be consistent. Roy Keane received a yellow card for just one challenge, while Skiles committed a foul in the penalty area but did not receive a card. Perhaps the referee did not do it on purpose, but he did not ensure that the rulings for both sides were on the same level."

"So do you think the referee was instructed by someone or something?"

The reporter asked with a smile.

This question is highly suggestive.

There are only a few organizations that can arrange referees, and they are all under the Football Association, such as the Disciplinary Committee.

He didn't mention the FA's name himself, but wanted Lu Qiuwang to say it.

Don't assume the English Football Association is some kind of fair organization.

It is difficult for any human being to maintain absolute impartiality.

Not to mention that the FA later started using some tricks every season to keep the suspense alive.

When Mourinho later took over as manager of Türkiye, he was targeted, with leaked chat logs showing Turkish football officials saying they would teach him a lesson.

But Lu Deyang wouldn't talk about this.

He already enjoys a certain degree of privilege, so why should he oppose privilege?

Lu Deyang said: "I don't think any organization has any ill intentions towards Manchester United. If you think that, you've probably been reading too many comics. There's no Hydra in the real world. The referee's decisions are inconsistent, which may be influenced by the fans in the stadium or the players from both sides. The circumstances of each decision are different."

This answer disappointed the reporters, but they still pressed on: "What happened between you and Skiles? Did he foul you? Is he a bad guy?"

Lu Deyang rolled his eyes in annoyance.

You're making fun of Lu Qiu Wang, aren't you?

"I was in the penalty area, talking to my teammates, when Skiles reached out and hit me in the teeth. It hurt a lot. I don't know if he did it on purpose, and I don't know him very well, so I won't comment on him."

Lu Deyang said.

Seeing that the reporters wanted to ask more questions, Ferguson said somewhat impatiently, "That's all for today's press conference. We still have to go celebrate."

The players have been waiting impatiently.

The press conference lasted for more than half an hour.

Lu Deyang and Ferguson returned to the locker room and poured champagne over their heads.

When Ferguson wiped his glasses and face clean, he couldn't find the culprit.

Several people were holding champagne bottles.

Lu Deyang glanced at Gary Neville, who quickly gave him a pleading look.

If Ferguson catches him, he'll definitely be in big trouble.

Lu Deyang smiled and shook his head.

This guy.

She was quite clever; she deliberately stuffed the bottle into her younger brother's arms.

However, it was precisely because he did this that Lu Deyang was able to confirm that it was him.

That evening, the whole team went to the hotel to celebrate.

Lu Deyang also saw some fans from the arts and culture community.

Manchester United's big-name fans are mostly from the United States; Julia Roberts later even said she was a Manchester United fan.

However, that all happened after she had children. Her children love Manchester United, and watching games with them made her a Manchester United fan. Guardiola must have quite a few thoughts about his idol's love for Manchester United.

Liverpool has a world-class combination of the Beatles, but McCartney is an Everton fan, while Starr is an Arsenal fan.

This can't be said to be entirely regional; otherwise, they would all have been fans of the Merseyside duo back then. Some people might prefer foreign or regional teams due to their parents' influence, given the high mobility of the European population.

Unfortunately, Bolt hadn't even debuted yet; that guy was Manchester United's biggest star fan.

The whole team stayed in London for one night.

The next day, Lu Deyang woke up to find that Redondo had unusually slept in.

He quietly washed up, changed his clothes, and prepared to go downstairs.

"Are you up, Dejan? Damn it, my head," Redondo said, rubbing his eyes.

"If you have a headache, don't get up. I'll call room service for you."

Lu Deyang said.

Redondo didn't object. He covered his forehead and said, "What has that old drunkard George Best done?"

Lu Deyang glanced at Redondo and said, "You drank too much yesterday. You promised Xia Tian you'd take him to Argentina to compete to see who can pick up more girls."

"I must be crazy."

Lei Dong said listlessly.

He always liked champagne, but after being provoked by Best yesterday, he switched to whiskey.

How could an ordinary person possibly outdrink an old drunkard?
An average person would end up in the hospital after half a bottle of whiskey, while a seasoned drinker would only rinse his mouth after a whole bottle.

This was the first time Lu Deyang had ever seen Redondo so out of control.

Even the best of friends can have a secretly passionate side.

He went downstairs to get a newspaper before going to the restaurant.

Breakfast consisted of simple yogurt, bread, and some sausages.

There was a lot of discussion in the newspapers about yesterday's match, but there was also a fair amount of discussion about the European Championship.

British fans are very interested in who will make the final England squad.

People like Shiller, Seaman, and McManaman are definitely going to be selected, but it's hard to say for the rest.

England does have a lot of defenders, but they are either too old or too young. Apart from 29-year-old Tony Adams, there are no top-class defenders in their prime.

Steve Bruce is qualified, but at 36 years old, coaches definitely have some doubts.

It's not like there's absolutely no one available.

What if Bruce doesn't perform well?

Lu Deyang sat there lost in thought, and looking at it this way, Italy still seems to be the strongest in recent years.

Germany, Spain, and even the Netherlands all have problems in some positions, while only Italy, with its abundance of talent, has players who can perform well in every position.

The old guys haven't even retired yet, and Totti and his ilk are already making their mark.

While their attacking line may not be top-tier, Vialli and Ravanelli are quite versatile and can hold their own against the number 9.5. As for the defense, Maalho and his teammates are among the strongest in Europe.

Even a few years later, Italy will still be quite strong.

No wonder Del Piero isn't very popular.

2000 was a year when Italy came very close to winning the championship, but he missed it.

In 2002, things got even more outrageous; they were completely eliminated through a blackmail scheme.

If it weren't for the redemption in 06, this generation of Italian players would have had a terrible time.

The Financial Times is once again touting how much the European Championship will bring to England.

This served as a reminder to Lu Deyang.

We need to communicate with UEFA about the stadium snacks.

Selling Monica burgers at the stadium is better than fans paying exorbitant prices for bread and sausages.

The Sun: "Something unspeakable happened between Clinton and White House intern Monica Lewinsky."

What the hell!

The Sun is really powerful.

Such a short sentence contained the most explosive news.

Zipperton certainly had his share of scandals; he earned that nickname because he couldn't control his lustful desires.

The key point is that the intern was quite ordinary-looking. Is the US president really so indiscriminate in choosing his clients?

In the second edition, they interviewed the famous Roma prince Totti, who said that Manchester United would definitely beat Real Madrid. Totti said: "Real Madrid may have several Champions League titles, but Manchester United also has one. Manchester United is also a team with a rich history. Under Dejan's leadership, Manchester United will soon catch up with Real Madrid."

Lu Deyang: ...

Manchester United and Real Madrid have a significant difference in the number of Champions League titles.

Lu Deyang suspects that the young prince doesn't know exactly how many Champions League titles Real Madrid has, which is why he said that.

Italian legends overwhelmingly agree with Totti's viewpoint.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Cruyff also said: "Real Madrid has no advantage over Manchester United. They were able to reach the final only because their schedule was better than others. Connections are also part of football."

This is considered a direct attack by Ke Sheng.

Lu Deyang doesn't know how Real Madrid fared in Europe during this time, but they have always received preferential treatment in Spain.

It's normal that Ke Sheng couldn't stand it.

Given Catalonia's situation, they'd be lucky if they weren't rigged in La Liga.

At noon, Lu Deyang and the whole team flew to Rome.

This season's Champions League final will be held at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

"Deyang!!!"

"Deyang!!!"

"Deyang!!!"

The entire Manchester United team received a warm welcome as soon as they stepped off the plane.

Although not as fervent as in Japan, they are still more enthusiastic than the average European fan.

"Dejan is quite famous in Italy."

Beckham looked at the fans and said.

He was quite famous in England, but things were completely different in Italy.

“Perhaps Italians are more sophisticated and don’t like pretty boys like you,” Gary Neville said seriously, rubbing his chin.

"Fuck off!"

Beckham punched him in annoyance and said.

Although some fans greeted him, the contrast was still quite significant.

"You don't need to worry too much, Dejan is more popular than Italian players."

Redondo said, "Even Baggio isn't as popular as Dejan."

"It's really impressive to play football at this level," Beckham nodded and said.

The group finally managed to board the bus.

Even with the police clearing the way, it still took more than an hour to get to the hotel.

Enthusiastic fans gathered at the hotel entrance and refused to leave.

The Manchester United team, who were already starving, went straight to the restaurant to eat after putting down their luggage.

Later, an interview with Maradona was broadcast on television.

The Argentine superstar said: "Real Madrid? They are famous. But they can't beat them unless I'm there. I have never beaten Dejan, but I am the closest I've ever been to beating him. I'm even considering playing in the Premier League and trying to beat Dejan once before I retire."

"Is he really coming to the Premier League?"

Redondo asked curiously.

"That's nonsense."

Lu Deyang said with a smile, "The British aren't that magnanimous. If Maradona came to the Premier League, wouldn't the referees and fans target him?"

"I think so too."

Redondo said.

Even if the British are magnanimous, they probably won't forgive Maradona.

Just look at Hilton.

He only does three things on television: criticize current British players, criticize Maradona, and lavish praise on Lu Deyang.

That evening, I saw many Serie A players' opinions on the Champions League final on TV.

Many people even said they would watch the game live.

People are willing to give up their holidays to watch the game live, which shows just how popular this Champions League final is.

The next day, Lu Deyang saw an interview with Pelé in the newspaper.

Pelé said: "I don't want to predict the outcome, but I have to say that beating Dejan is very difficult. Dejan is a super talent, he is the most talented winger I have ever seen, he is better than Garrincha, and he is more ruthless in his pursuit of victory than Garrincha. I'm not criticizing him, but it hurts me to see such a talent playing boring football."

Rivera refuted Pelé's words that afternoon.

The Milan legend said, "Winning is the key in football, and Dejan's style of play is not boring. Pelé thought that fancy dribbling was everything in football, but Dejan's goals or passes, even without those fancy techniques, can still please the fans."

What started as a prediction about the outcome turned into a discussion about Samba football and European-style football.

More and more renowned figures have joined in.

Both sides stuck to their own views.

They kept hyping up the match.

Three days before the Champions League final, Lu Deyang finally saw the little prince after a long absence.

"Long time no see, Francisco."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

Totti is finally showing some of his later traits; he looks much more mature.

"Deyang!"

Totti gave Lu Deyang a hug, somewhat excitedly.

"How did you play in Rome?"

Lu Deyang asked with a smile.

"It's alright. I don't really like Mazzoni. He's not very strict about discipline, but the locker room is too lax," Totti muttered, pursing his lips.

Lu Deyang: ...

You may have conflicts with a strict coach.

You're still not satisfied with a coach like Mazzoni who lets his team run wild?

Why don't you just become a part-time coach yourself?
Although Totti is a good friend of the King of the Road, he is also known for being difficult to deal with.

"Oh, right, Roberto even asked me if I knew any connections for him. He wants to retire and coach Roma, so he asked me if I knew anything about it," Lu Deyang joked.

"Mancini? What kind of coaching ability does that guy have?"

Totti said irritably.

He never really thought much of Mancini.

“Haha, you can talk to him yourself when you have time. He’ll come to the hotel later,” Lu Deyang said.

"There are really a lot of people."

Totti said with lingering fear, "There were fans and reporters at the entrance, as well as TV crews in their vans. I tried to disguise myself when I came in, but I was still recognized."

"That means you're a superstar."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

Totti stood to the side grinning foolishly, quite pleased that Lu Deyang had acknowledged him as a great star.

However, he wanted to invite Lu Deyang to go out for a stroll, but given the current situation, they couldn't go out.

Having already started his vacation, Totti simply booked a room at a hotel.

The little prince, who failed to make it into the national team, didn't have much to do.

As the group was preparing to eat dinner that evening, they heard a familiar voice.

"Deyang, the three of us have finally reunited once again."

As the sound faded, a head emerged between Ludwig and Redondo, and Mancini wrapped his arms around their shoulders.

"Are you gay? Why do you like hugging other people so much?"

Totti muttered to himself from the sidelines.

“Damn it, I already have a child, but you seem to like men,” Mancini shouted at Totti.

"The girls who like me could line up from Rome to Sri Lanka!"

Totti retorted, unconvinced.

"Why Sri Lanka... Do you mean Istanbul?" Mancini asked suspiciously.

"Nonsense, it's Sri Lanka!"

Totti, with his neck stiff, said, "I meant to say it's very far away."

He actually meant to say Constantinople, but couldn't remember the correct answer.

"Alright then, tell me where Sri Lanka is?"

Mancini asked with a wicked grin.

Totti instinctively looked at Lu Deyang.

Lu Deyang pointed to himself.

"Asia?"

Totti said uncertainly.

"Are you sure, or do you want to think about it some more?"

"Mancini asked."

Totti scratched his head and said, "Africa?"

Redondo, listening from the side, rolled his eyes.

However, Lu Deyang felt that this question was a bit difficult, as most Europeans were not sure where Sri Lanka was.

Mancini looked at him without speaking, a gesture that made Totti even more uncertain, and he looked at Lu Deyang again.

Lu Deyang pointed forcefully at himself.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Totti clapped his hands hard.

He understood, he understood!
Although I considered China.

However, he still knew that place names in China wouldn't be that long.

So Dejan was referring to the upcoming matches.

Manchester United's rivals!
and so……

Totti exclaimed excitedly, "Sri Lanka is in Madrid, Spain!"

(End of this chapter)