Starting with saving Manchester United

Every Champions League match is like a finely tuned machine.

Both sides in the match followed a fixed procedure.

UEFA will appoint a team of high-level officials to oversee each match.

Especially major tournaments like the Champions League Round of 16, in which a powerhouse like Manchester United participates.

As a regular participant in the Champions League, Manchester United also has its own preparation process.

The only difference from usual was that this morning, after returning to Carrington from the Lowry Hotel, Manchester United held a training session and arranged a tactical video conference.

In the afternoon, after the players had rested, the coaching staff held another tactical meeting.

At 17:30 p.m., the coaching staff and players had afternoon tea at the restaurant.

At 18 p.m. sharp, the team bus departed from Carrington on time, heading to Old Trafford Stadium, 12 kilometers away.

The general affairs department and ground service team are very experienced, and the drivers are also very familiar with the area.

It usually takes 22 minutes by car.

The whole process went smoothly without any major issues.

The south side of Old Trafford is right next to the railway tracks, and the entrance to Manchester United's players' tunnel is located in the southwest corner of the stadium. There is only a pedestrian bridge over the railway tracks, which buses cannot pass through.

Therefore, Manchester United players usually enter from the northeast parking area of ​​the stadium, walk around half of the stadium, and arrive at the southwest corner.

As the bus entered the Old Trafford area, Yang Fan saw the 10-story hotel that Jackie Kay had mentioned.

It's very close to the stadium.

The hotel is surrounded by Old Trafford parking lots.

God knows what methods Class 92 used to bypass Manchester United and get the land approved.

Yang Fan also noticed that the hotel was built by China XX Construction Company, which had previously undertaken the renovation of Manchester Airport. No wonder the construction was so fast!

According to European practice, fans can enter the stadium up to 3 hours before the match.

The peak time for entry begins one hour before the match.

When the Manchester United team bus arrived at the southwest corner of the stadium, a large number of Manchester United fans wearing red jerseys had already gathered there.

Upon seeing the team bus, the enraged fans swarmed around it, blocking its path.

Angry fans even kept banging on the bus windows.

"Get out of Old Trafford, you piece of trash!"

"Chinese kid, you're not welcome here, get out!"

"You are not allowed to desecrate our temple!"

"You are not worthy to sit in that sacred seat, you bastard!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think it was Manchester United fans attacking the away team's bus.

Fortunately, the stadium security guards, who were prepared, quickly caught up and separated the group of furious fans.

With a soft thud, the bus door opened, and Yang Fan got off without lingering, quickly walking into the players' tunnel opposite.

The Manchester United fans around him were hurling insults at him the whole time.

Some people even tried to hit him with their scarves, but he dodged them.

……

"Boss, look at him, doesn't he look like a dog?"

Standing up in the players' tunnel, you can easily see the whole scene outside.

The speaker was Giggs, and standing with him were the other three members of Manchester United's Class of '92, as well as Ferguson.

Gary Neville is a commentator for Sky Sports for tonight's game, so naturally he can't be with them.

And Giggs...

"You're the assistant coach, why aren't you with them?" Ferguson didn't respond to Giggs's question.

Giggs chuckled coldly. "They're treating me like a thief now!"

The truth is, this is Yang Fan's punishment for him not returning to the team last night.

"Boss, they're getting more and more outrageous. Look at them, even some Tom, Dick, or Harry can become the manager of Manchester United. Are you really going to just stand by and watch all your hard work over the years be wasted like this?"

No sooner had Giggs finished speaking than Scholes immediately chimed in.

"Yes, boss, you're the only one who can save Manchester United now. If you just stand up and say the word, everyone will have to listen, including Woodward!"

Ferguson chuckled. "Does everyone really listen?"

"Of course!" Giggs blurted out.

Scholes and the others all nodded in agreement.

"Then tell me, who was that person who was with you in the private room this afternoon?"

Ferguson's question left Giggs and the others speechless.

"A business partner who has always been a fan of yours," Giggs replied with an awkward smile.

"He has a stake in that hotel outside, and in the Salford Club, right?"

Giggs and the others fell silent again.

"Tonight's match is crucial and attracts worldwide attention. What exactly do you want from me to see him?"

Ferguson's tone grew increasingly stern as he spoke.

Although he had retired, Ferguson's prestige remained, and Giggs and others did not dare to argue with him for the time being.

"I told you before that as long as you behaved yourselves, you would definitely become Manchester United legends. If you wanted, you could become coaches or do other things; you wouldn't end up destitute. But look at you now?"

Ferguson's face flushed slightly with excitement.

"I'll say it again: I can't control what you do, and you won't listen to me anyway, but don't include me!"

After saying that, Ferguson turned and left.

"But, boss."

Giggs, standing behind him, shouted, "Are you just going to stand by and watch them make a mess of things? Watch them squander the wealth we've built up with so much hard work?"

"That's their business, they spent hundreds of millions of pounds to acquire it!" Ferguson was also somewhat annoyed.

Clearly, it wasn't just annoyance at Giggs for bringing it up repeatedly.

"Boss, the money they spent all came from Manchester United's debts, while we..." Giggs pounded his chest, "Only we, through hard work, created Manchester United's Red Devils empire and the club's glory today."

"You may be willing to accept this, but we are not!"

Ferguson took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and looked intently at Giggs.

"Ryan, you're right, but what can we do? We had no choice but to go public in the first place. That's the rule of the game!"

Giggs watched Ferguson leave through gritted teeth.

He could sense that Ferguson was unwilling to accept this situation, but there was nothing he could do about it.

The rules of the game for capital are never something they can change.

But they can learn!

……

As the players were getting ready in the locker room and heading into Old Trafford for their pre-match warm-up, Yang Fan was stopped by John Mottaf in the players' tunnel.

He was accompanied by several strangers.

After being introduced, Yang Fan learned that the person in question was actually the UEFA representative appointed for the match that night, and was the person in charge of the entire game.

Surprisingly, senior officials from the English Football Association were also present.

Generally, when UEFA teams arrive in a match city, the reception standards are strictly defined and are handled by Manchester United.

The FA has absolutely no need to get involved.

They came tonight, which clearly has a special purpose.

"That's right, Mr. Yang. According to the relevant regulations of UEFA and the FA, we have no right to interfere with your position or responsibilities at Manchester United, but you cannot sit on the coaching bench."

The UEFA representative first announced the rules in a very businesslike manner before changing the subject.

"But because Manchester United's situation is quite special, the club made a special request to us and the FA, hoping that you would temporarily take charge of this match, so we made an exception for you."

Yang Fan guessed it.

Then he looked at John Murtaff, who nodded slightly.

For elite football teams, making exceptions for special cases is not a difficult task.

"Someone will explain the rules of the competition, your activity area, and your competition privileges to you later."

"But most importantly, we must remind you."

This reminder was clearly not only directed at Yang Fan, but also at John Mottaf and Manchester United behind him.

"The special permission only applies to this match. If you want to apply for a postponement, Mr. Yang, you must register with the FA for a coaching training course within 3 days after the match and guarantee that you will attend the UEFA B coaching certificate training before the end of this season."

"If you have no objections, please sign this guarantee."

Yang Fan took a look and it seemed to be just as the other party had described, so he signed it directly.

Do I need to attend a Level B coaching training program before this season?

Although I've heard that the FA Level 1 and Level 2 exams are quite easy, the time allotted seems too tight.

However, getting a certificate is a good option.

Just as Yang Fan saw John Mottaf and the others off, he turned around and saw two people standing not far behind him.

One of them was none other than Ferguson!

awkward!

The old gentleman was highly respected and probably never imagined that less than half a year after his retirement, Manchester United would fall so low that a rookie without even a Level 1 coaching certificate would be put in charge.

Just as Yang Fan was about to bite the bullet and go up to say hello, Ferguson, still furious, turned and went into the passage leading to the VIP box.

Is this because they don't like me?

If you're so capable, come back out of retirement!

I'll be your assistant coach!