Lin Hai Ting Tao

Chapter 1186 Trial to Become Captain (Fourth Update Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Liverpool finally responded to Manchester United's aggressive transfer market moves, but to the disappointment of many, they didn't engage head-on by quickly signing a well-known star as a counterattack. Instead, they announced that Liverpool would no longer buy any players, effectively ending their transfer activities.

This greatly disappointed those who were waiting for a good show.

They originally thought Liverpool would fight to the death with a sworn enemy like Manchester United. Since Manchester United had provoked Liverpool in the transfer market, how could Liverpool remain indifferent?

But Liverpool really did remain indifferent!

Manchester media seized this opportunity to mock Liverpool as cowards, lacking courage and afraid to fight. They claimed that starting the new season with such a mentality would lead to defeat against Manchester United on the field.

Other media outlets believed that Manchester United had gained the upper hand in momentum and would unleash powerful combat effectiveness in the new season, dragging Liverpool down from the league champion throne. Liverpool's revival would only last for a short season before coming to an end.

Even Liverpool fans were affected by these media's nonsense and began to worry about Liverpool's prospects. They forgot that this summer, Liverpool was at their strongest, and their future had never looked so promising.

Faced with the Manchester media's provocation, Chen Hero, naturally, had to deliver the stinging slap in the face. He was now the officially-recognized MT (meat shield) by Martin O'Neill, specializing in attracting hatred and reducing pressure for the team.

During an interview, Chen Hero addressed the Manchester media's evaluation of both sides' transfer strategies, saying, "I find it strange, why should our transfers be commented on by others, especially our rivals? If that's the case, I hope Manchester United buys Messi. If they don't, can I say Manchester United has no balls?"

His words were logical and convincing, leaving the Manchester reporters speechless.

However, this was originally unreasonable. The media were just using this opportunity to attack Liverpool. It was just an excuse. So, regardless of whether Chen Hero was right or wrong, the Manchester media would not let it go.

The attacks on Liverpool continued.

Chen Hero responded to the matter a second time, abandoning all pretense of reason and displaying his arrogant and domineering side to everyone.

"Okay, I really didn't want to say this, because it's too hurtful. I know many people will be upset because of my words, unable to eat or sleep, and they'll just wither away... But I still have to say it, because if I don't, the flies won't stop buzzing. What I want to say is... even if Liverpool doesn't buy anyone from now on, with this current lineup, we can still defeat Manchester United and win the league title! Are you satisfied now?"

Looking at a group of reporters who were too shocked to speak, Chen Hero raised his eyebrows provocatively.

It was around this time, but last year, that Liverpool's new season promotional video shouted the slogan of overthrowing Manchester United. At that time, many people laughed at it, because Liverpool at that time didn't seem to have the ability to overthrow Manchester United. But Manchester United was the undisputed overlord, and Liverpool, perhaps, was on the rise, but who knew how long they could last?

So, as soon as this sentence came out, it was ruthlessly ridiculed.

Time passed, and a year later, when Chen Hero released similar bold remarks again, many reporters didn't show disdainful smiles. Instead, their expressions tightened, and the words reminded them of something. They had indulged in ridiculing Liverpool at that time, and as a result, they were slapped extra hard by Liverpool at the end of the season.

Now, no one dared to treat their bold claims as a joke anymore. Because through their performance last season, everyone knew very well that this Liverpool team really had the strength to overthrow Manchester United – didn't they do it once last season?

Chen Hero thought that after he said it, some people would ridicule, some would sneer, and some would try to continue provoking him, so that he could justifiably slap them in the face – it would be a real shame not to hit those who offered themselves up. But the reporters' reactions disappointed him greatly. After hearing his words, their faces actually became solemn.

It seemed that they thought of something that made them become vigilant.

Tsk, how boring!

A bunch of useless trash! Scared by just one sentence from me...

Chen Hero waved his hand, said goodbye to the reporters, and left the training ground.

※※※

After Liverpool announced the end of their activities in the transfer market, Manchester United gradually fell silent as well. With no moves from the two major Premier League powerhouses, the good show in the transfer market naturally came to an end.

However, the Premier League transfer market was still very lively this summer.

The influx of a large number of stars filled the fans with anticipation for the new season.

Liverpool's rise also added a lot of suspense to the Premier League.

Fans couldn't wait for the new Premier League season to start quickly.

But Chen Hero's thoughts were completely the opposite.

He now wished the Premier League would be postponed for a few more months.

Because he hadn't yet helped Götze adapt to life in Liverpool.

Whenever this issue and this person were mentioned, Chen Hero felt a headache.

Götze was a genius, but why wasn't he a language genius?

To this day, the two of them could only communicate with very, very simple phrases.

Götze didn't know much English, and Chen Hero didn't know a single word of German.

When the two of them chatted, they basically used both their hands and mouths, speaking while gesturing with their hands.

Watching the two of them chat was like watching two toddlers communicate with each other. They seemed very expressive, but no one knew what they were saying.

If they couldn't even communicate properly, how could he help Götze adapt to life in Liverpool?

Chen Hero had once considered recruiting Götze into the eat-drink-and-be-merry gang. The eat-drink-and-be-merry gang had become the best way for new players to adapt to Liverpool, improve their relationship with their teammates, and cultivate teamwork.

But Götze was an exception. He wasn't interested in the eat-drink-and-be-merry gang's activities at all. He didn't touch alcohol. At the welcome banquet held by the whole team for the new players, Götze didn't drink any alcoholic beverages.

People who don't drink are even less interested in the eat-drink-and-be-merry gang.

He only liked football, and his mind was full of football, football, football. After training, he went straight back to his hotel. The media had been squatting at the hotel entrance for almost half a month, rain or shine, without interruption for a single day, but they never discovered Götze going out to play at night...

Chen Hero couldn't help but complain privately, "Are Germans all this boring?"

And Gerrard and Reina expressed their sympathy to Chen Hero while gloating and refusing to offer help.

Actually, it wasn't gloating. The two old captains had reached a consensus – Chen Hero still had a long way to go to become a true leader. It wasn't just about scoring goals constantly in the game, or clapping his hands and shouting loudly when they were behind.

A captain encompasses many aspects, and his responsibilities during the game are only part of his task.

Off the field, he has to care about his teammates' lives, take care of the new players, and regard himself as a leader at all times.

Chen Hero didn't seem to be aware of this yet. So, helping Götze this time was considered a test and exercise for Chen Hero.

If he could pass this level, then in the future, the Liverpool captain's armband could really be handed over to him forever with confidence.

If not, it would mean that Chen Hero was still too young and lacked experience.

※※※

Seeing that the new season was about to begin, the Community Shield was only four days away. Once the Community Shield was played, it meant that the new season's games had officially started, and the first round of the league was a week later.

But Chen Hero and Götze had made no progress.

Götze certainly knew that Chen Hero was there to help him adapt to life and football in Liverpool. However, the language they could communicate in was extremely limited. After a day, they were exhausted, and they couldn't say a few things, let alone the fact that life is actually very trivial. It's not easy to communicate even if there are no language problems...

Several times Chen Hero invited Götze to go out and play, but Götze politely declined. He really wasn't used to the things that Hero and the others played with – a group of people getting drunk and groping girls.

He preferred to stay alone in his hotel room, thinking about how to adapt to Liverpool's tactics.

Liverpool's tactics required fast advancement, the midfield didn't need to control the ball too much, he was required to be more decisive when rushing forward, pass the ball decisively, and after stirring the opponent's defense into a mud pit, pass the ball to Chen Hero or Suárez for them to complete the shot. In addition, when defending, he was required to counter-press on the spot after losing the ball, and cooperate with his teammates in the frontcourt to form a two- or three-person siege and double-team on the opponent's ball-holding player, and find Chen Hero or Suárez as soon as possible after intercepting the ball.

This wasn't difficult, similar to the work he did at Dortmund.

However, he lacked teamwork with the players, he wasn't familiar with his new teammates at all, and the language barrier made it impossible for him to communicate with his teammates, and everyone lacked understanding of him. Reflected on the field, it was a complete lack of teamwork.

But what other way is there to increase teamwork besides accumulating it over time?

This was what Götze was worried about.

※※※

Götze was troubled by how to form teamwork with his new teammates.

Chen Hero was also troubled by how to help Götze adapt to everything in the new environment.

After several days of hard thinking, he finally came up with an idea – let Götze move into his house!

You're not familiar with it, you're not used to it? I'll be with you twenty-four hours a day, and I don't believe I can't make you familiar with and adapt to this place!