Chen Hero wanted to sue those media outlets, which was definitely big news. So the media were particularly conflicted, especially the Moscow media.

Because this was obviously a gimmick worth hyping up, but their names were all on the appendix list drawn up by Chen Hero!

In other words, Chen Hero was suing them! What were they hyping up for?

But you should never worry about the media's integrity and bottom line. They could still find a way to participate in the hype.

That was…

"...Chen Hero wants to sue the media that questioned his use of banned drugs? That's a real joke! Which law says that questioning is not allowed? The meaning of the existence of the media is to question! Question the public, question celebrities, question the government, question everything that can be questioned! Why can't we question whether Chen Hero has taken banned drugs? His condition is too good, so good that it makes people suspicious. Are we not even allowed to say ‘he may have taken banned drugs’?"

"...This is a complete扼杀 (èshā, stifling) of freedom of speech! We have the right to question. This is not a rumor. If we hadn't raised such a question, how would we know that Chen Hero's urine sample in the match against CSKA Moscow was fine? This approach of forcing the truth through questioning should be encouraged, not stifled!"

"If Chen Hero really does this, we will stand by it to the end! Our belief in defending the truth is firmer than anyone else's!"

…

A group of media outlets dressed themselves up as saintly gentlemen bullied and slandered by the villain Chen Hero, and launched a fierce bombardment of Chen Hero on their own positions. Some media even linked Chen Hero with "China," believing that Chen Hero came from that "despotic" country, so it was normal to have such thoughts...

And so on.

Chen Hero didn't bother to argue with them in the media, spitting at each other. Once was enough for him. Next, they could say whatever they wanted in court.

Anyway, Dekura was already starting to help him find a suitable lawyer to fight this lawsuit.

He didn't have to personally appear for the entire lawsuit. When the time came, he could entrust everything to Dekura and the representing lawyer. He could continue to play football with peace of mind, and this matter wouldn't affect his condition at all.

If he really wanted to play with words, he might not be able to match those reporters, but he could use another method to fight back, and that was to score goals.

He knew why the Moscow media desperately rendered the rumors that he might have taken banned drugs, because his existence threatened the status of the entire Moscow football scene, and he was a thorn in the side of the Moscow media.

Since this was the case, he had to be even more of a thorn in their side. He had to nail himself firmly into the eyes of those who didn't like him! Even if he left, he would make these people feel disgusted for a long time.

※※※

On May 8, Zenit St. Petersburg faced Lokomotiv Moscow, their opponent in the ninth round of the league, at home. Another Moscow team.

In this game, Chen Hero scored again, but he only scored one goal.

In the end, Zenit shook hands and made peace with their opponents at home, 1:1.

Seventeen goals in nine games, the goal rate finally dropped below two.

He was still three goals away from twenty goals, and there were two games left. If he could continue the previous state of scoring twice in a row, this goal would be easy to achieve.

But his continuous goal-scoring journey might be terminated...

Because the final against Glasgow Rangers was imminent, Advocaat began to consider replacing all the main players and rotating them, using a substitute lineup to deal with Energiya Vladivostok, their opponent in the tenth round of the league.

After all, they had to fly for more than ten hours, across seven time zones, to play an insignificant league match. There was really no need for the main players to suffer this fatigue.

Which was more important, the league or the UEFA Cup final? Even an idiot could answer this multiple-choice question.

Advocaat not only planned to exclude the main players from the starting lineup, but also planned to leave them all in St. Petersburg to avoid them tossing and turning back and forth, suffering the pain of the journey.

This was certainly kind, and considering the overall situation of the team, there was no problem at all.

But if this was the case, it meant that Chen Hero would not have the opportunity to score goals in the game against Energiya, then his pursuit of the league's top scorer would be shrouded in a shadow...

Advocaat considered that this decision would definitely affect Chen Hero, and decided to talk to him.

Sure enough, his decision was opposed by Chen Hero.

"My physical fitness is not a problem at all, sir! I can handle such a dense schedule!" Chen Hero patted his chest to guarantee. "You've never seen me feel tired or voluntarily ask to leave the field due to physical reasons, have you?"

That's true. Advocaat thought. But this time it wasn't a simple physical problem.

"We have to fly east for more than ten hours first, across seven time zones, and then fly back to Moscow from Vladivostok, another seven time zones, followed by a transfer in Moscow to Manchester... I think such frequent jet lag will have a very big impact on your condition, Hero."

"I'll adjust to the jet lag on the plane. I promise not to chat and play with the team leader on the plane. I promise to start sleeping as soon as I get on the plane!"

Advocaat shook his head: "And I'm worried that you'll get injured in the game. You know that your current crazy scoring has made you a thorn in the side of all your opponents. Have you forgotten why you only scored one goal in the last game?"

In the last game, Zenit faced Lokomotiv Moscow at home. Originally, Chen Hero was able to score twice - at least at the beginning, the state he showed was aimed at this goal.

But Lokomotiv Moscow completely used a killing tactic, dealing with Chen Hero like cutting down a tree, using any means, including fouls, to stop him and interfere with him. This tactic made Chen Hero very uncomfortable. In the game, he was also provoked and became angry. If Tymoshchuk and Lombaerts hadn't pulled him hard, he would have punched the opponent's players on the spot - at that time, let alone participating in the game against Energiya, he wouldn't even be able to participate in the last round of the league, and would directly say goodbye to his Russian Premier League season in advance.

In this case, it was already great that he was able to score a goal.

Chen Hero played for seventy-three minutes in the last game, and was replaced by Advocaat, who was frightened.

He was really afraid that Chen Hero would be injured now, or rather, even if Chen Hero was going to be injured, please be injured after the UEFA Cup final... He no longer expected Chen Hero to play in the next league game and the second half of the Champions League group stage. He just hoped that Chen Hero could finish the UEFA Cup final healthily and safely, and help the team win the championship. That would be enough.

As soon as he thought that he would have to experience a long flight to Vladivostok this time, and what kind of treatment he would encounter in the opponent's home stadium, Advocaat felt his heart beating fast.

He was unwilling to take this risk with Chen Hero's health. A healthy Chen Hero must be kept for the UEFA Cup final.

Seeing that the head coach's attitude was firm, Chen Hero knew that it was unlikely that he would start.

Then you should at least put me on the roster so I have a chance to play, right?

This was what Chen Hero thought. As long as he was on the match roster, he would have a way and an opportunity to play when the game came.

He made this request to Advocaat.

"Then I have to be on the roster at the very least! I'm really not afraid of jet lag, and I'm not afraid of long flights. My physical strength is not a problem at all! Don't worry, sir, I definitely won't affect the final against Glasgow Rangers!"

Advocaat was still hesitating.

Chen Hero simply pleaded: "I beg you, sir! Just let me go! I'm really fine! I know this is a very willful request, and I also know which is more important, the team as a whole or the individual. But I promise not to affect the team because of personal goals! Just let me continue this good state! Even if you only let me play in the last fifteen minutes of the game, that's fine! As long as you give me a chance..."

Advocaat didn't know if fifteen minutes was enough to score a goal, but he felt that the probability of injury should be very low if it was fifteen minutes. In addition, it was the end of the game, and maybe the outcome had already been decided, and Energiya might have lost their fighting spirit. If he really only wanted fifteen minutes of playing time, it would be a good way. At least if he didn't score, he couldn't blame himself for not giving him a chance.

"Fifteen minutes of playing time, you said that, right?"

Chen Hero was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that the head coach was using his own words to block him. Could he score in fifteen minutes? He didn't know, he just said it casually... He didn't expect the head coach to take it seriously!

Now, even if he wanted to go back on his word, he had no chance!

Seeing Chen Hero open his mouth to say something, Advocaat pointed at him and said: "Fifteen minutes, you said it yourself. If it doesn't work, then forget it. Fifteen minutes, or watch TV directly in St. Petersburg, which one do you choose?"

"Uh..." Chen Hero felt that there was no choice. He would definitely not watch TV in his apartment in St. Petersburg. He thought for a while, gritted his teeth and agreed. "Then... fifteen minutes!"

He said in his heart, fifteen minutes is fifteen minutes, give Laozi fifteen minutes, and Laozi can turn the earth upside down!

Uh, it doesn't seem like that's what he said?

※※※

In this way, when Advocaat announced the team's eighteen-man roster to play against Energiya Vladivostok away from home, everyone did not see the names of main players such as Arshavin, Dominguez, and Tymoshchuk. All of these people were placed outside the roster.

This was also normal. After all, the UEFA Cup final against Glasgow Rangers was coming up on the fourteenth. For this final, letting the main lineup recharge their batteries was a choice that a smart head coach should make.

But what surprised and didn't surprise everyone was... Chen Hero's name was impressively on the roster!