The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 386 Rock and Roll Soccer! The show is about to begin!

[Following in-depth communication and comprehensive evaluation by the Liverpool Football Club management, taking into account the team's recent competitive performance, tactical execution effectiveness, and the club's long-term development strategic plan.]

This is to formally announce that, effective immediately, Mr. Brendan Rodgers has been relieved of his duties as Liverpool first-team manager.

Mr. Rodgers officially joined Liverpool in June 2012 and has been committed to rebuilding the team and refining its tactical system throughout his tenure.

In the 2012-13 season, he led the team to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, laying the foundation for the team to streamline its youth training system and squad structure. At the same time, he focused on developing young players, helping players such as Sterling and Henderson to complete key developments in the first team, and promoting the orderly transfer of club youth training talents to the first team. The club expresses its sincere gratitude for his contributions and efforts during the team's rebuilding phase.

To ensure a smooth transition in the team's competitive state, effective immediately, the first team's daily training, tactical deployment, and the upcoming Premier League matches will be temporarily handled by assistant coach Colin Clark and core members of the first team coaching staff. The club will fully support the temporary coaching staff in their work to ensure that the team's preparations for all competitions are not affected.

The club's management has begun the selection process for a new first-team head coach.

Further information regarding the appointment of the new head coach and adjustments to the coaching staff will be announced as soon as possible through the club's official website, social media, and partner media.

We thank Mr. Brendan Rodgers for his contributions to Liverpool during his tenure and wish him all the best in his future career.

At the same time, we sincerely thank all the fans for their unwavering support and companionship – "You're never alone." Liverpool Football Club will stand with all Kop members to navigate this transitional period and together welcome the team's next journey.

As soon as the news came out.

It immediately became the biggest hot topic in English football!

none of them!

Unless Moyes is sacked.

Simultaneously,

Some reporters immediately realized that the official press release was so meticulously written, and the announcement came right after the competition ended; it was clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

This shows that Liverpool has wanted to replace Rodgers for a long time!
As the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire.

Given the numerous news reports prior to this, it's hard to say that Liverpool's involvement was not involved.

The media also speculated about who Liverpool's next manager would be.

Those who are currently unemployed, as well as some seemingly decent mid-to-lower table team managers, have all been included in the media's list of potential Liverpool manager candidates.

Liverpool fans, on the other hand, were mostly excited.

"Finally! Finally, this day has come! I wanted to smash the TV when I saw him replace Gerrard. Holding on to a 1-0 lead until conceding a goal, the tactics were as conservative as a rag doll! The official announcement came so quickly, it's obvious they had planned to replace him all along. Those previous news reports weren't unfounded at all. The management wasn't blind after all!"

"Hooray! Rodgers didn't know how to use Gaio at all, wasting his talent! Now that we've changed coaches, we just hope the new coach can play attacking football, so that Gaio and Suarez can cooperate well and stop playing so frustratingly!"

"I was cursing after the match ended, but when I saw the official announcement, I jumped up!"

"It should have been changed a long time ago! Look at the standings, we're only two points ahead of Everton. If Rodgers continues to lead, we'll be out of the top four! The official announcement was so meticulous, which means the management had planned this all along. Those rumors about famous managers might actually be true!"

Of course.

Some people dislike Rogers, while others naturally like him.

There are also some fans who still have a good impression of Rodgers.

He also said.

"To be honest, seeing the official announcement left me with a bit of a bitter taste. Liverpool's ancestors played a style of passing and cutting, focusing on controlling the ball and wearing down the opponent! Later, when Owen was in his prime, the whole team played counter-attacking football around him. Although they could win, it always felt like the Reds' soul was missing."

Benitez is impressive, winning the Champions League title with great confidence, but his counter-attacking style relies more on defensive counter-attacks to steal points, which is far inferior to the possession-based style of the old Liverpool.

It wasn't until Rogers arrived that the passing and movement system was restored!

It's a pity he lacked the composure. He always faltered in tough matches, and when he was leading, he wanted to play it safe. Compared to veteran coaches like Shankly and Paisley, he was far inferior in terms of composure; otherwise, he could have truly achieved great things.

"You shouldn't change managers at this time. The next league match is against Arsenal. Whether you want to compete for the title or just finish in the top four this season, Arsenal is definitely a competitor."

Is changing coaches a good thing for the team a week before a match?

"Don't think about it anymore. Things have already come to this point. Actually, sometimes I think that when the players discuss and play together, it's not necessarily worse than when there's a coach."

But before the official announcement.

The players already knew the news in the locker room after the game.

A staff member came over specifically to inform them of the club's decision.

initial,
Everyone thought it was just a joke.

No one expected the club to act so decisively so quickly.

Ultimately, Rodgers' current record isn't particularly bad; it's at least better than his seventh-place finish in the league last season.

But after it was officially confirmed.

There was a two-second silence in the locker room before Sarko was the first to make a sound.

The center-back who missed Anelka in today's match was currently unzipping his training uniform with his back to everyone. Gaio caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, paused for a moment, then suddenly pulled down, and the zipper slid to the bottom with a "whoosh," as if something heavy had been unloaded.

When Sako turned around, Gaio noticed that the furrowed brow had relaxed, and he even raised his hand to rub his temples, a subtle sign of relaxation in his gesture.

"Finally," someone whispered in the corner, their voice as soft as a sigh.

Suarez leaned against the wardrobe, swiping his phone screen, and muttered to himself, "It should have been done a long time ago."

Gaio only saw a hint of relief in Suarez's eyes when he looked up, as if something that had been weighing on his heart had finally dissipated with the official announcement.

Lucas sat on the bench, looked up at Henderson, and the two exchanged glances without speaking.

Henderson raised an eyebrow, while Lucas nodded slightly.

"Don't just stand there." Gerrard's voice came from the doorway, breaking the delicate atmosphere in the locker room. "Hurry up, go home and get some rest, then welcome a new beginning. The next league match is against Arsenal, and we can't lose that game. First, win the EFL Cup next week, then beat Arsenal this weekend!"

The teammates nodded.

The current turmoil within the team is the perfect opportunity to showcase the value of each individual.

Gerrard walked over to Gaio, raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder, a little harder than usual: "Keep playing, don't overthink it."

As Gaio nodded, he saw Gerrard's gaze sweep over Sakho again, a complex look in his eyes, as if he knew something but didn't say it.

Henderson had already walked out of the locker room first, humming an off-key tune. The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for the people at the door to hear.

Sakho followed behind, casually draping his coat over his shoulder as he walked out the door, appearing much more relaxed than yesterday.

In professional football, some things are never made public.

This night.

The entire English football world is talking about Rodgers' dismissal; he became the second Premier League manager to be sacked.

There was much discussion.

Many people are also wondering who will be Liverpool's next manager.
Many people are speculating that, given the Saudis' current spending habits, he will definitely become a renowned coach.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, former manager Rafael Benitez, former Manchester City sackman Roberto Mancini, as well as Fabio Capello and Frank Rijkaard are all on the shortlist.

The media is hotly debating whether these candidates are a good fit for Liverpool, fan forums are divided into multiple factions, and speculation is rampant in street bars and on official websites. The entire football world is waiting for the answer.

However, Liverpool officially announced the news.

Then there was no further movement.

It seems like assistant coach Colin Clark will really be leading the team in the next game.

Melwood was still shrouded in morning mist at the end of October.

The dew on the grass soaked the training shoes of the first group of players to arrive.

As with every training day before, the iron door of the equipment room creaked as staff neatly arranged the marker discs and training vests by color.

However, Rogers' usual spot was missing from the row of blue seats on the coach's bench.

Colin Clark walked to the center of the training field.

He glanced at his watch, his voice a little deeper than usual, "Follow last week's tactics, practice passing and cutting in groups for 20 minutes first."

The players lined up in two rows, with Gaio and Henderson in one group.

At the start of the group training session, Henderson's through pass went half a meter off course and rolled out of the cone area.

Before Colin could speak, Gerrard had already run over from the other side, kicked the ball back, and said, "Push it in half a foot further inside, Gaio's positioning is faster than you think."

Henderson nodded, and as he stood up straight, he subconsciously glanced in Gerrard's direction.

Normally, Rogers would be the one shouting these kinds of details from the sidelines, but now it's the captain.

When Gaio received the next pass, he deliberately slowed down his turn, waiting for Henderson to catch up. Gerrard raised his hand and gave an "OK" sign from a distance. Colin stood still, nodded slightly, and didn't add anything.

The entire morning's training session felt largely the same as usual.

The only difference is that Rogers' roar is gone.

But Gerrard offered a reminder.

As training was nearing its end, the morning mist dissipated, and the long-awaited sunlight fell upon the training field.

Gerrard gathered everyone together, saying, "This week's training will proceed as planned. Don't overthink it."

His gaze swept over each of his teammates: Gaio, Henderson, Suarez. No one spoke, but they all nodded.

Colin stood at the back of the crowd, watching Gerrard finish speaking before adding, "The same time tomorrow, everyone take care to recover."

The players walked toward the locker room one after another.

Gerrard, seemingly unintentionally, waited along the road with Gaio and asked, "How did your shots feel today?"

His tone was like casual conversation during training.

Gaio nodded. He probably knew what Gerrard wanted to say, but he still followed up with Gerrard, saying, "It went a bit better than yesterday, except we couldn't control that last long-range shot."

Gerrard didn't continue on this topic, but instead said with a sigh, "You know I've been here for a long time, coaches have come and gone, and teammates have changed batch after batch."

Gaio didn't respond; he just listened.

He knew Gerald wasn't talking about simple memories.

"That's professional football," Gerrard turned his head, his eyes losing the sharpness of the game and gaining a gentler quality that comes with experience. "No one can stand still forever, and nothing lasts forever."

He raised his hand and patted Gaio on the shoulder. "But all of this will pass."

Gaio nodded slightly.

He was well aware of this; he had already understood the cruelty of professional sports back in Bastia.

As he reached the locker room door, Gerrard stopped. "Liverpool can be a heavy place sometimes, weighed down by past glories and by the expectations of its fans. But it's also resilient; no matter what happens, there's always someone to hold things together."

He looked into Gaio's eyes and said, word by word, "I won't be playing for many more years. The future of the team will eventually be yours. I hope you can adapt to these changes and withstand them."

Gaio looked up at Gerrard, whose eyes were full of expectation.

He didn't say "I will," he just nodded vigorously.

Gerrard smiled, turned and walked towards the locker room door. "Let's go, we have to train tomorrow. Norwich is a tough opponent."

Enter the changing room.

The teammates didn't say much either; everyone was now waiting for the arrival of the new head coach.

Because a head coach can really change the fate of many players.

Different tactics, different preferences.

This could turn a key player into a substitute, and then into a scrapped player that the team might sell off.

Such examples are not uncommon in the world of football.

of course,

Conversely, many players who were once considered hopeless have been given a new lease on life under the guidance of a particular coach.

The importance of a coach to a team is self-evident.

Gaio is also concerned about this issue.

David Dunn seemed to know what he was thinking. After training, as soon as Gaio changed into his casual clothes and slung his training bag over his shoulder, a staff member in the corridor quickly caught up with him: "Yang, Mr. Dunn wants you to go to his office. He says he has something to talk to you about."

When I pushed open the office door, Dunn was sitting behind a large desk, holding a document in his hand. A small statue commemorating Liverpool's Champions League victory sat on the corner of the desk, and the bookshelf was neatly stacked with team picture albums from previous years.

"Have a seat." Dunn looked up, smiled, and pointed to the chair opposite him.

After Gaio sat down.

Dunn leaned forward slightly, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "I called you here to give you a heads-up, the new head coach will be decided next month, guess who it is?"

Gaio laughed, "Jürgen?"

“Haha~” Dunn laughed out loud, “I knew you would understand. Yes, Jürgen Klopp, the coach of Dortmund’s heavy metal team, the talks are almost over.”

"Is it really him?!" When Gaio had mentioned Klopp to Dunn earlier, he wasn't entirely sure that Klopp would arrive ahead of schedule.

"I and the rest of the team's management all love Klopp's style. We want Liverpool to play this rock-and-roll football. I think your intuition was right. I'm glad I listened to you and made that contact."

Gaio smiled and said, "I just said it offhand."

“What you said offhand makes sense,” Dunn said seriously, his smile fading. “Later, when we were reviewing the shortlist, I specifically mentioned what you said. The management watched Dortmund’s game footage and found it increasingly suitable. Don’t worry about the release clause; we don’t need that money right now. We can negotiate as long as he agrees. However, Klopp is a man of principle and said he’ll wait until Dortmund finds a new coach before coming over, so we’ll have to wait.”

He paused, then added, "When I spoke to him on the phone, I specifically mentioned you. Klopp has actually wanted Dortmund to sign you for a long time."

"We will add players according to his needs during the winter transfer window, and then build a team that can run and charge, which will unleash our full attacking firepower. You need to be prepared, Klopp's style is to be able to run and charge, and to press from the opposite direction."

"Of course!"

Gaio nodded.

At this point in time, what is often referred to as high pressing in the attacking third is actually called reverse pressing, which comes from the German word Gegenpressing.

He is well aware of Klopp's style, and some fans who dislike him say that his playing style is depleting the players' resources.

no way,
That's his tactic!

Klopp's rock-and-roll football is not only reflected in the tactical arrangements and player performances on the field, but also deeply integrated with Klopp's personal passion and charm.

Specifically, this means employing high-intensity pressing and high-pressing tactics in the attacking third, requiring players to immediately press after losing possession, attempting to regain possession in the opponent's half. This highly aggressive approach can quickly disrupt the opponent's attacking rhythm and create opportunities for rapid counter-attacks.

This naturally takes a toll on the players.

But Gaio wasn't afraid!
He has an injury-related attribute; the more injuries he sustains, the stronger he becomes!
but,

It's true that I need to work on my physical fitness more.

To play a full match in Klopp's system, you still need some stamina.

After chatting briefly with Dunn, Gaio left the office.

He plans to do some extra physical training in the afternoon!
The fourth round of the EFL Cup will take place on the evening of October 29th.

Liverpool players have not given any interviews during this period and have been spending most of their time at the Melwood training ground.

After all, there's only a two-day interval.

quickly,

After the training session on the morning of October 28th.

Colin Clark's gaze slowly swept over each familiar face.

As the interim head coach, he still had to say something.

He didn't want to talk about tactics, but Rogers had done some research on Norwich before he left, and he could use that knowledge.

After thinking for a moment, Colin began, "Standing here today, I don't want to talk too much about tactics; I just want to say something from the bottom of my heart."

Liverpool needs a victory right now, not for me, the interim manager, but for this red jersey, for the fans at Anfield who have always cheered for us, and most importantly, for ourselves.

He gently touched the team badge on his chest with his fingers, his tone becoming more solemn: "Last week's draw, and the departure of the head coach, have generated a lot of discussion."

But tomorrow, facing Norwich, that will be our chance to respond to everything.

This is a response to the doubts, the expectations, and also a response to our own passion for football. I know that changing coaches at the last minute is not easy, and I know that everyone is feeling emotional.

But don't forget, we are Liverpool.

They are a team that can fight with grit in desperate situations, a team that dares to have the word "win" etched into their bones, regardless of whether they are in good times or bad.

There is no turning back in this game, nor is there any need for a turning back.

I don't need to tell you we must win, because I know you understand the significance of this victory better than anyone else.

When he got excited, Colin took a step forward, his voice becoming more passionate, "When you step onto the court, put aside all your hesitations and noises, and just remember one thing: standing beside you are your brothers who are fighting alongside you, and behind you are millions of fans waiting to cheer for you."

"Win this game and show everyone that Liverpool's spirit never fades because of any changes!!"

Speaking of it.

Colin himself felt his blood boiling, as an assistant coach who had been with Liverpool for many years despite his mediocre player talent.

He loves this team very much.

Colin didn't want to lose!
This has nothing to do with how well he temporarily leads the team, because no matter how well he performs, he can never become the official head coach, and he is very clear about that.

But he wants Liverpool to win!
This team has been in decline for too long, without a single Premier League title in the Premier League era, and is a thorn in the side of Liverpool fans!

"it is good!"

Gerrard was the first to stand up and speak loudly.

Everyone else chimed in.

Looking at his teammates' expressions in the crowd, Gaio sometimes really has to sigh and say that the saying "changing coaches is like changing knives" in football really does make a difference.

Players are human too.

As human beings, we experience fluctuations in our state of mind and emotional changes.

Training is over.

As everyone was having lunch in the cafeteria, someone suddenly shouted, "Young and Luis are on the Golden Globe shortlist!!!"

Wow!

These words were like a thunderclap, instantly drowning out the noise in the cafeteria.

The clinking of cutlery that had been going on suddenly stopped. Some people dropped their forks into their plates, some paused with half a mouthful of bread in their mouths, and even the chef who was serving soup leaned out, his ladle dangling in mid-air.

After a few seconds of silence, the entire cafeteria suddenly erupted in chaos—

"real or fake?!"

Henderson was the first to stand up, rushing over in a few strides, snatching the phone from his hand. The official website of France Football was clearly visible on the screen, and in the shortlist, Liverpool FC had "Yan Gaio" and "Luis Suarez" side by side, the bold font particularly eye-catching.

"It's true! Both of them scored!"

The other teammates around them were pleasantly surprised, but not particularly astonished.

"This year's competition is fierce, and we've secured two spots!"

Gaio naturally saw the push notification on his phone as well.

He saw Gerrard put down his spoon, a smile playing on his lips, but the smile in his eyes was still palpable.

Suarez, standing next to his teammate, was patted on the shoulder, and his tense face relaxed. "You guys are quick to get the news. I haven't even seen it myself yet."

The atmosphere in the cafeteria became incredibly lively. Even the usually quiet Sako came over with his tray and patted Gaio on the arm: "Congratulations, Yang."

Gaio nodded with a smile.

"Alright, alright, stop crowding around!" The captain's voice drowned out the chatter. Gerrard cleared his throat, his smile fading slightly but still remaining gentle. "The list has just been released, and it's not certain whether we'll win an award yet, but..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, "we have to live up to this recognition, and we need to play even better in the upcoming matches."

"No doubt about it! For the sake of Yang and Luis, we need to win that Norwich game first!"

Someone shouted something, and it immediately drew a chorus of agreement.

Suarez smiled and held up his plate: "Then I'll have to eat more so I'll have the energy for the game."

Hahaha!
A burst of laughter erupted.

The noise in the cafeteria gradually subsided, the clatter of plates mingled with laughter, and the conversation shifted from the new coach to the Ballon d'Or. Even the aroma of mashed potatoes in the air seemed to grow stronger.

Gaio looked at the news on his phone.

Nod slightly.

It was pretty much as he remembered.

The shortlist of 23 candidates is in its final stages, with last season's Champions League winners Bayern Munich emerging as the biggest winner, having six players selected.

Among the top five leagues, Serie A has the fewest entries, with only veteran Pirlo representing the league.

This is also directly reflected in the current ecological niche of the top five leagues.

It's no surprise that Bayern Munich had the most players on the shortlist, with six players including Ribery, Robben, Schweinsteiger, Müller, Neuer, and Lahm.

With the addition of Lewandowski from Borussia Dortmund, who have been creating a yellow storm in the Bundesliga and Champions League, the Bundesliga has a total of 7 players selected this year, ranking first among the top five European leagues.

This breaks the recent dominance of La Liga players in the 23-man squad and serves as a strong testament to the Bundesliga's rapid growth.

La Liga has had a huge advantage in the Ballon d'Or voting in recent years, especially last year with the European Championship, when 12 of the 23 players in the shortlist were from La Liga, and La Liga’s dominance reached its peak.

However, with the rise of Bundesliga power represented by Bayern Munich, the number of La Liga players included this year is only half of last year's, with four from Barcelona (Messi, Neymar, Iniesta, and Xavi) and two from Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale).

The number of Premier League players remains the same as last year, with five players contributing: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool. They are: Gaião, Suárez, Hazard, Van Persie, and Yaya Toure.

Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco's star-studded policies have resulted in four Ligue 1 players making the squad: Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Thiago Silva, and Falcao.

Serie A has further declined, with only veteran Pirlo left to carry the team.

During Serie A's most glorious years in the 80s and 1990s, Serie A players not only swept the Ballon d'Or for several consecutive years, but also took home all three of the top three spots in the Ballon d'Or for three consecutive years from 1988 to 90.

But the glory days are now just memories. Since Kaká won the Ballon d'Or in 2007, no Serie A player has ever been among the top three for the Ballon d'Or.

In the last four years, the number of players included in the 23-man Serie A squad has decreased at an almost arithmetic progression rate: in 2010 there were four players: Sneijder, Eto'o, Cesar and Maicon; in 2011 there were two players: Forlan and Sneijder; in 2012 there were only two players: Buffon and Pirlo; and this year there is only Pirlo left.

金球奖23人候选名单公布之后，国际足联将于12月2日公布三位最终入围的球员名单，最终的颁奖仪式将会于明年1月13日在苏黎世举行。

Along with announcing the Ballon d'Or shortlist, France Football also released its 10-man shortlist for the 2013 Best Coach award.

Jupp Heynckes, the veteran coach who led Bayern Munich to a treble, is undoubtedly the favorite to be selected.

Of the 10 candidates, apart from national team coaches Vicente del Bosque and Luiz Felipe Scolari, the remaining 8 are all from clubs: Carlo Ancelotti, Rafael Benitez, Antonio Conte, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jupp Heynckes, Jürgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, and Arsène Wenger.

Vilanova, who led Barcelona to a La Liga title with a perfect 100-point record last season despite battling cancer, is not on this list.

This has also drawn dissatisfaction from some Barcelona fans.

Gaio was reading these news articles.

He kept looking at news about Ronaldo because he remembered that Blatter should be performing around this time.

soon.

He found it!
really!

Blatter said those words during an interview at Oxford University in the UK: "Messi is a good kid. Every parent would love to have such a good kid at home. He is very fast and unstoppable on the field. He plays like he is dancing on the field."

“The other one is a commander on the field, but he likes to take care of his hair and spends more time on it than other players. I like both of them, but I prefer Messi.”

When he said the last part, Blatt even imitated the gesture of "the other person," touching his hair.

as predicted.

This has angered Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo!

Real Madrid has sent a letter demanding a public apology from Blatter, and Cristiano Ronaldo also shared the video of Blatter online, saying: "This video clearly shows FIFA's respect and care for me, my club, and my country. I wish Mr. Blatter good health and a long life, and I am sure he will continue to witness the success of the teams and players he loves, which he deserves."

Portugal has also publicly stated that, given Blatter's position as FIFA president, these remarks will impact the upcoming FIFA Ballon d'Or selection and seriously damage the value of sports.

If Gaio didn't know the cause and effect...

Regardless of whether he likes Ronaldo or not, he would think Blatter is wrong because this is a basic quality.

Publicly criticizing or belittling players is disrespectful.

But,
After he learned the whole story, he knew perfectly well that it was just a charade put on by both sides.

So I didn't have that many ideas.

I just want to see how things develop.

At the same time, I feel a little sorry for my compatriot Ribery, who is really a bit ugly.
Along with the announcement of the Golden Globe nominees.

The news that Blatter publicly criticized Messi and Ronaldo also became major international news.

Blatter faced a lot of pressure.

Of course.

These things don't have much to do with Gaio. Although he made it this time, he definitely won't be in the top three.

Without a doubt, the top three are Ribery, Ronaldo, and Messi.

You should focus on preparing for your own competition.

The EFL Cup could be his first trophy since joining Liverpool.

So he doesn't want to lose tomorrow's match!

in the afternoon.

Collin attended Liverpool's pre-match press conference.

This was also the first time he had faced various questions from reporters.

"Mr. Clark, the team is in a transition phase after Rodgers' departure. Do you think the locker room is stable right now? Are you worried that the coaching change will affect the players' preparations?"

Colin was naturally prepared for this.

He even knew what the reporters were likely to ask, so he was well-prepared.

Colin nodded slightly, his voice steady, "First of all, I want to thank the players for their professionalism. Over the past few days of training, no one has been distracted by off-court discussions."

We completed our tactical drills according to plan every day, and Gerrard, as captain, consistently boosted the team's morale. While there was inevitably external attention during this transition period, the focus in the locker room was higher than ever.

He paused, then added, "As for the progress of the managerial change, that's the management's job. My task is to lead the team to play well in this EFL Cup match, which is also the common goal of all the players right now."

No sooner had he finished speaking than another reporter followed up: "There are reports that Liverpool are close to finalizing Klopp's deal. Have you discussed the new manager's tactical direction with the management? Will this affect your current coaching arrangements?"

Colin smiled and said, "I don't have any more information to reveal about the new coach. That's not my job. I can only say that for now, I will continue to use the tactical framework that the team is familiar with. This is to keep the players in rhythm and avoid unnecessary adjustments. Whoever coaches in the future, playing well in the current games and keeping the team's chances of advancing are the most important things we should be doing right now."

A reporter then changed the subject, a smile playing on his lips: "Yesterday, the Ballon d'Or shortlist was announced, and Gaio and Suarez were both nominated. This is the first time in many years that Liverpool has had two players nominated. As the interim manager, how do you evaluate their performance? Will this put extra pressure on the team?"

When the Globe nominees were mentioned, Colin's eyes lit up: "I'm proud of them both; it's the best recognition of their hard work over the past year. As for pressure? I think it's motivation."

A reporter followed up with the question: "As a young player nominated for the Ballon d'Or for the first time, will you specifically remind Gaio to keep a calm mindset?"

“He’s very clear-headed without me having to remind him.” Colin said with admiration. “He stays behind for extra practice every day after training. I don’t see any restlessness in him. Steven has also been guiding him and talking to him about how to balance external attention with game focus.”

Towards the end of the press conference, Colin brought up their opponent Norwich: "The EFL Cup is a knockout stage, and no opponent can be underestimated. Although Norwich's league performance this season has been mediocre, their counter-attacks down the flanks are very threatening, and we have made targeted preparations. In tomorrow's game, we will do our best to win, not only to advance, but also to respond to all the fans who support Liverpool, including those who cheer for Young and Luiz."

It can be said that his words were virtually flawless.

Liverpool fans are also looking forward to this match. Meanwhile, discussions about the team being nominated for the Ballon d'Or have been ongoing since noon.

After all, only Michael Owen has won the Ballon d'Or in Liverpool's history.

There are many stories worth telling behind this.

Back then, it was Houllier who led the team to win the "five-time champions," although this five-time champions were rather unusual.

It includes the League Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Community Shield, and UEFA Super Cup, but it lacks the most prestigious league titles and the Champions League title.

It was precisely because of his key performance in this series of competitions that Irving won the Ballon d'Or, a once-in-a-lifetime award for the team.

In addition,

Houllier also holds special significance, as he was the first non-British manager in Liverpool's history. It was from him that Liverpool began its continental transformation in terms of team style and management model.

However, Liverpool only has this one Ballon d'Or, mainly because the early Ballon d'Or selection process clearly discriminated against British clubs, and Liverpool was the target of the most severe discrimination.

Since George Best, only Kenny Dalglish has ever finished in the top three for the Ballon d'Or in the entire Second Division over the past two decades.

Even during Liverpool's six-year reign in the Champions League from 1977 to 1982, the team's players rarely even made it into the top ten of the Ballon d'Or, let alone the top three.

The most representative example is Liverpool legend Kevin Keegan.

During his time at Liverpool from 1971 to 1976, he scored goals in a spectacular fashion and won numerous titles in various competitions, yet he never won a single Ballon d'Or, and never even finished in the top three.

After Keegan transferred to Hamburg in 1977.

Despite a significant drop in goals scored in the following two years compared to his time at Liverpool, he only managed to win one Bundesliga title.

Surprisingly, he won the Golden Globe Award for the second consecutive year.

This stark contrast highlights the unfairness of the selection process for Liverpool players back then.

the next day.

On the morning of the match, Gaio saw the news notifications he was following as soon as he woke up.

really!

Blatt apologized!

He posted an apology on his official website: "Dear Cristiano, I am deeply sorry if any joke I made at a private event offended you. I had no intention of offending you. There are many extremely talented players in the world of football, and you are one of them. I wish you all the best."

Gaio shook his head slightly.

He checked again last night what Blatt had said at the event.

This was an Oxford Union forum hosted by Oxford University. The forum moderator posed a question to Blatter that was both lively and not too difficult to answer: Between Messi and Ronaldo, who do you think is more likely to win the Ballon d'Or that year?

To be fair, this kind of problem is not a problem at all for someone of Blatter's caliber.

I don't know how many times I've prepared my answers, or how many similar questions I've faced. It's nothing more than spouting some official jargon and giving meaningless responses like "Messi and Ronaldo are both great, and I find it hard to choose between them."

Although this answer is worthless, any rational fan can understand Blatter's position.

after all,

As the president of FIFA, his position is far too sensitive to be considered a matter of personal opinion.

however,
This seemingly simple, easy question was turned into a major controversy by Blatter.

Who would believe that this wasn't intentional?
Gaio tossed his phone aside.

They went straight out to the training base to prepare for the final recovery training session of the morning.

Upon arriving at the training base.

There were many fans outside the gate, all wearing Liverpool jerseys, and some were even wearing old jerseys sponsored by Carlsberg.

English football fans love old things because they represent their history.

English football places the greatest emphasis on history.

Gaio greeted the fans and finally managed to get into the training base.

The staff came over and found him immediately.

"Yang, Mr. Dunn wants you to come to his office."

"it is good."

Gaio couldn't help but wonder what Dunn wanted from him this time.
(End of this chapter)