Chapter 45 Chen Hero's Ambition

Chen Hero first told his teammates about his goals for the season before going to see head coach Gerrard and the club's upper management.

This was because he wanted to see his teammates' reactions. If they weren't interested in his proposal, or if they directly opposed it, then he would have to readjust his strategy.

If he wanted to complete his mission and achieve his goals, he had to rely on the strength of the team, not just himself.

So he needed to know the team's opinion first.

Only when the team's opinion was unified could he go to the head coach and the upper management.

Otherwise, if the team's opinions were divided, wouldn't he be creating division by running to the upper management?

As a head coach, Gerrard had to consider more issues than the players. He wouldn't blindly nod in agreement just because Chen Hero said something.

The most important thing he had to consider was whether his team could actually do it. For the players, determination meant success.

But for the head coach, determination was far from enough. He also needed a correct and effective plan.

A head coach can't rely on ideals to conquer the world.

So when he heard Chen Hero say this, his first reaction was not to question or agree, but to ask Chen Hero, "How confident are you?"

Chen Hero patted his chest: "As long as we boost morale, you don't have to worry about the team." He had the confidence to say that, and Gerrard believed him.

So the thing he had to consider was the team's tactics.

"Two-pronged approach..." Gerrard murmured. "Our strategy is definitely focused on the league. Now you suddenly say you want to win the Champions League... I'm a little caught off guard, Hero."

Chen Hero smiled shamelessly: "Anyway, I'm only responsible for working hard on the field. I'll leave everything off the field to you, Steven!"

Gerrard rolled his eyes helplessly. Having known Chen Hero for eighteen years, he understood him very well. Their relationship was no longer simply that of a head coach and a player, but more like friends.

Since they were friends, there wasn't so much formality.

"You're making things difficult for me, Hero."

"What's there to be afraid of? No matter how difficult the problem is, I'll work with you to solve it." Chen Hero patted his chest. "Besides, don't you want to win a Champions League title? You've been officially coaching the first team for three seasons. Don't you really want to win a Champions League title? You know, we haven't won a Champions League title for six seasons. Think about it, when you lead the team to stand on top of Europe again, you'll be a famous coach!" Chen Hero was like a demon tempting people to fall, enticing Liverpool's young head coach little by little.

"Alright, alright, stop tempting me..." How could Gerrard not know what Chen Hero was thinking? "I'll try, but I can't guarantee success!"

Chen Hero patted him on the shoulder: "Good brother!"

※※※

After settling Gerrard, he went to see Niang with Gerrard.

Actually, based on his personal relationship with Niang, he could have gone directly to Niang without having to go with Gerrard.

But to show his respect for Gerrard, and to show that he valued this friend, he didn't do that.

Niang trusted Chen Hero even more. He didn't even hesitate. After hearing Chen Hero's grand ambitions, he nodded in agreement. He stated that the club would support the team at all costs. As long as there was a need, it could be raised, and the club would definitely satisfy it.

He also greatly praised Chen Hero's plan.

This certainly showed that he had a better private relationship with Chen Hero, but it was also because his position was different from Gerrard's. Gerrard was the head coach, and the specific method of winning the Champions League had to be determined by Gerrard. Niang was not responsible for that. So he naturally didn't have to consider so many specific things, and only needed to nod and praise.

Niang's agreement was equivalent to Liverpool Football Club agreeing to the matter. Chen Xing was no longer at the club most of the time, as he had to go back to take over his family's business. So Niang was now fully responsible for managing the club's affairs. Niang was now the club's top person in charge.

All that was needed was to make a phone call to Chen Xing.

Niang made a phone call to Chen Xing and told him about Chen Hero's goal. Naturally, Chen Xing had no objections.

"Tell Chen Hero, we'll give him people if he needs people, and money if he needs money."

Niang laughed: "Old Chen, the winter transfer window is over."

Chen Xing also realized that, and then laughed.

"In short, tell Hero, I support him one hundred percent! If he really wins the Champions League title, I will definitely hold the most grand farewell ceremony for him in history!"

As the owner of Liverpool, although he had gradually faded out of club affairs over the years, he was still nominally the owner and chairman of Liverpool Football Club.

He had always been concerned about Liverpool's performance.

Chen Hero's statement that he wanted to win the Champions League title was actually exactly what he wanted. Liverpool had failed to win a Champions League title for six consecutive seasons, which was a disaster for Liverpool. Liverpool had been too successful before, which had attracted the envy of countless people. Now that Liverpool was not doing well, they had not been shy about making sarcastic remarks about Liverpool. Although Liverpool was still a super team in England, they selectively ignored this point.

As the owner of Liverpool, Chen Xing had also been subjected to such veiled mockery at gatherings in high society.

So he was holding back a bellyful of anger. It was just that, no matter how angry he was before, there was nothing he could do. This was not a problem that could be solved in one or two seasons, and he didn't think it could be solved in the short term. And Chen Hero was about to retire, and after he retired, Liverpool would have no idea how long they would have to wait. So he didn't have any delusions.

Who would have thought that Chen Hero would take the initiative to propose such an idea, and he was immediately overjoyed, naturally satisfying any requests.

※※※

Chen Xing agreed, Niang agreed, and Gerrard could only agree. In addition, the entire Liverpool team supported it, and Liverpool's goals for the season were revised. Not only did they want their fifteenth Premier League title, but they also wanted their seventh Champions League title!

It was just that no one outside of Liverpool knew about this goal.

So no one knew that Liverpool and Chen Hero were so ambitious this season, and it was definitely not just what they were showing.

In order to prepare for the Champions League, the Liverpool coaching staff adjusted the team's training plan - before, they had planned to directly give up on the Champions League, or let it run its course, and go as far as they could, taking things one step at a time.

Now the team's training had to be readjusted, and after the focus was adjusted, the specific training plan had to be adjusted accordingly.

At the very least, they had to advance on both fronts at the same time.

The Champions League knockout stage would reignite in mid-February.

Before that, Liverpool had to be ready.

Because they only finished second in the group stage, Liverpool's opponent in the round of sixteen this season was Inter Milan, the first place team in Group H.

This was not an easy opponent to deal with. If Chen Hero hadn't returned, relying on that Liverpool team, they would have been eliminated for sure.

The current Inter Milan was not the Inter Milan from more than ten years ago, which couldn't even qualify for the Champions League and could only play in the Europa League, where they were defeated by Liverpool in the final.

After more than ten years of development and adjustment, the current Inter Milan had regained their glory and become one of the most threatening teams in Italian football.

They were regulars in the Serie A league title race, and they were also regulars in the Champions League quarter-finals and even semi-finals.

This team had also won a Champions League title in the past six seasons.

After Liverpool's nine consecutive championships, six Champions League champions were born in six seasons. No team was able to defend their title, and they collectively showed everyone how difficult it was to defend the Champions League title, and how great Liverpool was to be able to defend it eight times.

Now, this great team had to face an important turning point, and they would set sail for the second time.

※※※

For Liverpool fans, it was not a good thing that Liverpool would face Inter Milan in the Champions League round of sixteen, which greatly increased the difficulty for Liverpool to move forward.

But Chen Hero's opinion was completely opposite to that of the fans.

He was "brainwashing" everyone in the locker room: "I'm very happy that our opponent is Inter Milan. Because only when you defeat such a strong team in such an important game will people recognize your ability. That's how it is now. As long as we defeat Inter Milan, those voices that question us and ridicule us will be much quieter! They always worship the strong, and as long as we are the strong, we can make them kneel in front of us and lick our toes!"

It has to be said that his authority within Liverpool was almost unlimited.

When he said this, the Liverpool players really thought it was a good draw, and they were no longer worried about facing a strong opponent like Inter Milan in the first round of the knockout stage.

On the contrary, they began to be eager to try, looking forward to meeting Inter Milan.

They wanted to respond to those who ridiculed them and questioned their poor performance in the Champions League with such actions.

Like the club's chairman Chen Xing, they had been holding back a breath of anger at those ridicules.

No matter how many titles they won in the domestic league, they could not offset the ridicule of their Champions League performance from those outside.

They really needed to prove themselves again in the Champions League.

Six years without a title was unacceptable for a team like Liverpool, and it was certainly not a good thing. But for the current Liverpool players, it was not necessarily a bad thing. Because it made them full of hunger, and their desire for victory and championships might explode at a critical moment, becoming the force that determines the outcome.

They didn't have to bear heavy pressure, just win one game after another.

If they win to the end, they will naturally win the championship!