The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 384 I Need a Place to Start Over
“Jürgen, I just heard that David Dunn emailed your agent that Liverpool is looking for a new coach. You can’t just abandon Dortmund like this! We’ve been together since 2008, won two Bundesliga titles, and reached the Champions League final last year. We’re just facing some trouble now, how can you think about leaving at this time?”

Zorc's voice sounded noticeably anxious.

Without even asking if the news was true, he directly told Klopp his thoughts after the call was connected.

For him, whether it's true or false is not important.

The important thing is that Klopp cannot leave!

In his eyes, Klopp's significance to Borussia Dortmund is equivalent to Wenger's to Arsenal and Ferguson's to Manchester United!

Before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2008, Klopp almost went to Bayern Munich and Hamburg.

However, Bayern Munich ultimately chose another Jürgen – Jürgen Klinsmann, after all, the name "Golden Bomber" was more resounding, while Klopp did not make much of a splash during his playing career.

Hamburg didn't let him coach simply because they thought his appearance was sloppy.

They eventually arrived in Dortmund.

Hearing Zorc's words.

Klopp was silent for a few seconds, his voice lower than usual, but filled with undisguised exhaustion. "Michael, I didn't want to abandon anyone. You know better than anyone how difficult the past six months have been for us. After losing the Champions League final last year, the club's promised transfer budget didn't materialize. Instead, Mario went to Bayern. Robert stayed, but at what cost? I think about how to keep them every day, how to keep the team competitive, but I can't see any direction."

“But we are Borussia Dortmund!” Zorc’s voice rose and then quickly fell back down. “We don’t have the money to compete with Bayern, but the fans believe in you, and the players believe in you! Look at the last league game at home against Hannover 96, Marco was running even when he had cramps up, they were fighting for you!”

“I know,” Klopp said, his voice tinged with guilt. “It’s precisely because I know that I feel even worse.”

I've been coaching Dortmund for five years, taking them from a mid-table team to one that can compete with Bayern Munich. I thought we could go even further. But what about now?

On the training field, the players were asking if anyone would leave in the winter, but I couldn't give them a definite answer.

David Dunn from Liverpool did contact me. They said they had a sufficient budget to support me and wanted to build a team that could compete for the title.

And most importantly, Liverpool has Gaio.

I told you last season that I wanted him, but Dortmund hasn't even made a single offer since he started shining.

Zorc's heavy breathing came through the receiver.

After a long pause, his voice softened, tinged with helplessness: "So you really want to leave? Jürgen, we've been through so much together. Have you forgotten how the entire Westfalenstadion chanted your name when we won the Bundesliga title?"

“I haven’t forgotten,” Klopp’s voice suddenly turned somber. “I will never forget it in my lifetime.”

But Michael, I've done my best.

I arrive at the training base at six every morning and don't leave until ten at night. I've considered every tactic I can think of and done every possible communication, but the club can't give me the support I need. I see no possibility of leading Dortmund back to the top.

Mario Götze announced his departure from Borussia Dortmund to join Bayern Munich ahead of the Champions League final.

And ultimately Bayern defeated Dortmund to win the title.

These were like knives, piercing Klopp's heart.

He paused, as if he had finally made up his mind, and said, word by word, "I'm sorry, Michael."

I'm sorry to the fans who believed in me.

But I really want to find a place where I can reignite my fighting spirit.

Zorc remained silent for a long time before letting out a soft sigh, his voice filled with undisguised disappointment: "I understand, Jürgen. I won't blame you. I just regret that we couldn't go further together."

“I’m also disappointed,” Klopp said in a low voice, “but I think it might be good for both of us. Dortmund needs a coach who can revitalize the current squad, and I also need a fresh start.”

"Ugh"

The call ended, but Zorc's final, dejected sigh still lingered in the receiver.

Klopp remained seated in his office chair, his gaze fixed on the English newspapers spread out on his desk.

The scenes of my five years of coaching flashed by like a slideshow.

On the day he won the Bundesliga title in 2011, a wave of yellow and black fans swept across the stands at Westfalenstadion. As the players tossed him into the air, he could hear tens of thousands of people shouting "Jürgen".
After losing to Bayern Munich in last year's Champions League final, Reus, with tears in his eyes, said in the locker room, "We'll come back next year." He patted the lads on the back and said, "We will be back."
Last month, after training, Lewandowski secretly approached him and hesitated before saying, "Bayern has contacted me again." At that moment, he could only grip the other man's shoulder and say, "Wait a little longer, the club will give you a reason to stay."

But after waiting and waiting, the transfer budget never came, and Lewandowski's contract negotiations reached a stalemate, with the team unwilling to give Lewandowski the salary he expected.

He suddenly felt tired, not from preparing for the competition and daily training, but from the feeling of not seeing any hope.

My thoughts drifted back to Liverpool.

Dunn's words still echoed in my ears: "We have enough budget to support you, we want to build a team that can compete for the championship, and we also hope that you can bring your football philosophy."

right now,

An opportunity seems to be presented to us.

With a sufficient budget, they can build their own roster according to their own ideas and work with players like Gay.

He even couldn't help but imagine that if he could teach Liverpool his high-pressing tactics, allowing Gai to move freely in the attacking third, and pair him with a few midfielders who could run and press, the team might actually be able to play something different.

At last,
My gaze fell back on Gaio's photo in the newspaper.

The shirt features a photo of Gaio with his arms outstretched after scoring a goal, his red jersey billowing in the wind like a burning fire.

England.

Liverpool Melwood training ground.

Gaio and his teammates proceeded with their training as planned, while Rodgers watched the players train from the sidelines with a blank expression.

During training.

David Dunn, along with Abdullah and a few others, arrived at the training ground, including the new management team, a married couple.

Amanda Staveli and her husband Mehdad Godoosi.

Gaio knew Staveley.

This was the woman who came to Bastia to negotiate with him.

I never expected that she would now be part of Liverpool's management team. It seems the Saudis really like to use acquaintances.

But it must be said that this woman is very capable.

"I didn't expect it to be her." Gerrard's voice rang out from the side. He had just wiped the sweat from his forehead, a towel draped around his neck, and his gaze fell on the new management team members on the sidelines.

Gerald had also heard of this woman.

This woman was also featured in the newspapers when Manchester City was acquired a couple of years ago.

Gaio took a sip of water and nodded slightly.

Gerrard continued, "When the entire management was replaced before, I was always afraid that there would be chaos. Now that she's here, at least she's knowledgeable and won't lead the team down too many wrong paths."

Gaio nodded, recalling the silence in the locker room after the loss to Newcastle a few days ago, and Rodgers' tense face on the sidelines.

He didn't mention the coach, and neither did Gerrard, as if the two had a tacit understanding and both avoided that sensitive topic.

Neither of them wanted the change of head coach position to be driven by the locker room.

This is not good for the team's future stability.

The two chatted briefly.

soon.

Staveley and others also met with the players and exchanged a few words.

Staveley also greeted Rogers with a warm smile, revealing nothing of their intentions.

But Rogers himself seemed unaffected.

After yet another training session.

His gaze swept over Skrtel in front of him. After being sent off last week, the center-back was clearly determined to prove himself in training today.

Rodgers' gaze then fell on Agger and Glen Johnson, and finally settled on the faces of Henderson and Gerrard, the two midfield maestros.

“You guys tell me, what went wrong with that defensive play just now?” Rodgers pointed to the edge of the penalty area. “Glen, you were too hasty in your recovery. The opposing winger was clearly slowing down, but you still had to stick your leg out to intercept the ball. Who covered the gap behind you? Agger, you were two steps behind Martin in positioning. If the opponent had played a through ball, there would have been open space in the middle. Isn’t that how Newcastle’s winning goal came about?”

Skrtel pursed his lips.

Rogers glanced at him and softened his tone: "Martin, I know you want to make up for last week's mistakes, but defense isn't about brute force. When you lunged for the ball just now, you forgot to check the positions of your teammates behind you, which actually gave the opponent an opportunity."

Next, practice defensive positioning. You and Agdo should talk to each other to get the spacing right and avoid any more gaps in your defense.

Agger nodded, and Glen Johnson responded in a low voice, "Understood, Coach."

Rodgers then turned to the midfield, tracing lines along the flanks on the tactical board: "Steven, Jordan, you two need to be quicker in midfield. When the opponent countered just now, our midfield was half a beat slow in retreating. If we had faced a striker like Arsenal who can run, that half beat would have been a one-on-one opportunity."

Rogers spoke, and the players listened attentively.

Gaio couldn't help but think of a recent news story amidst the flood of managerial changes, about Rodgers almost becoming the assistant coach of the England national team.

This news is also related to current England manager Roy Hodgson and Harry Redknapp.

When England changed managers.

At the time, Harry Redknapp, then manager of Tottenham Hotspur, was the most popular choice, as he was the best candidate in terms of both his team's performance and his coaching philosophy.

At the time, Redknapp was confident that he could become the manager of the England national team. He even approached Rodgers, who was then the manager of Swansea City, and wanted Rodgers to be his assistant coach in the England team.

According to Redknapp, Rogers agreed to his request at the time.

Rogers, however, offered a different account. He admitted that Redknapp had indeed invited him, but at the time he did not give Redknapp a clear answer, neither agreeing to nor refusing his request.

of course,

In the end, the FA did not choose Redknapp, but instead chose Hodgson, and the story ended there.

Perhaps someone deliberately brought up the past to show their support for Rogers?

Do you think he is actually capable?

Gaio had no way of knowing.

soon.

After training, as Gerrard walked towards the locker room, he bumped shoulders with Gai and said, seemingly casually, "The next game is at Anfield, we can't afford to lose again."

Done.

Without waiting for Gaio's reply, Gerrard strode towards the locker room.

Gaio sighed upon hearing this.

In their last match, Newcastle United weren't actually that strong.

Skrtel's red card could have been avoided.

But Gaio didn't want to think about it too much.

Melwood's training proceeded as planned.

Meanwhile, various speculations and rumors about Liverpool are rampant outside.

German media reports suggest that a major change may occur at Borussia Dortmund, with head coach Jürgen Klopp potentially taking over a Premier League team.

This news was quickly linked by fans to the current Premier League duopoly.

Manchester United and Liverpool!

This news has once again sparked discussions among Manchester United and Liverpool fans.

There are those who support it and those who don't.

"Moyes should be sacked! What kind of rubbish is this? Passing the ball around the whole game without attacking. Rooney and Van Persie are practically standing like statues!"

"Klopp's arrival will at least get the attacking third moving. Dortmund's championship level is a hundred times better than Moyes'!"

"Don't be silly! Klopp's system is suitable for Dortmund's young team. Our team has a bunch of players around thirty years old who can't run high press! Then both the attack and defense will be in chaos. It's better to keep Moyes as a transitional player, at least it won't cause any trouble!"

"Klopp coming? Let's not even talk about tactical compatibility! With our current midfield of Henderson and Lucas, can they withstand his high-pressing style? They'd be out of breath after just half a game! Even if Rodgers is conservative, he at least got the team into the top four. Changing managers now would just lead to the same old mess every year, wouldn't it?"

"I dream of seeing Klopp lead Liverpool in fast breaks! Dortmund's attacking runs and positioning, with Gai and that tactic, would absolutely take off."

"Have you forgotten Hodgson's lesson? The media hyped it up, but he was sacked in less than six months! The new management took over and immediately changed managers, and the players have to readjust again. This season's league season is probably doomed! Can't you just play it safe?"

But no matter what the fans say.

There is an undeniable fact that, apart from Di Canio, Moyes, and Rodgers who have already been sacked, the other three players in the Premier League are currently the top two on the odds list for being sacked.

Amidst all the commotion and confusion.

The ninth round of the league is about to begin!
Amid the turmoil in the league, Gaio, as the captain of the national team, still kept track of the situation for next year's World Cup.

Because the French team is expected to be placed in the group of death.

In FIFA's latest national team rankings, France is ranked seventeenth, failing to make it into the top tier of teams.

There's no way around it; the hole that France dug earlier was just too big!
It can't be filled back.

The eight seeded teams for the 2014 Brazil World Cup are now basically confirmed. In addition to the host Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Switzerland, Belgium, and Colombia are the seeded teams. The last seed will be decided between Uruguay and the Netherlands.

Strong teams like Italy, England, France, and Portugal are definitely out of contention for seeding.

The draw for the group stage of the Brazil World Cup will take place on December 5.

As the host country, Brazil rightfully secured a seeded position.

Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, and Belgium occupy the top five spots in the latest FIFA rankings and have thus become seeded teams.

The most unfortunate team is the Netherlands. In the latest FIFA rankings, the Netherlands is ranked eighth, but because Brazil, ranked 11th, has taken a seeded spot, the Netherlands may be relegated to a second-tier team.

Although the group stage draw is still more than a month away, the Brazil World Cup is already filled with the atmosphere of a "group of death"!

After the message is confirmed.

Deschamps also called Gaio to discuss and prepare for the tough battles at next year's World Cup.

10 month 26 number.

By 2 p.m., Anfield Stadium was fully active.

The shouts of tens of thousands of fans resounded throughout the stadium.

Liverpool and their rivals West Bromwich Albion players were already standing in the center circle at exactly two o'clock.

drop!
The referee blew the whistle to start the match!

The game officially begins!
(End of this chapter)