Chen Yingxiong's performance in front of the reporters wasn't something he deliberately put on; it was genuinely how he felt.

With his current abilities, breaking records was simply a matter of whether he wanted to or not.

It was just a thought, so he said there was nothing to be happy about breaking the record.

In most cases, would you be happy that you could breathe? Probably many people wouldn't even think about this question, only when they were about to suffocate would they have such a thought.

For Chen Yingxiong, breaking records was as simple as breathing.

But when the moment to break the record really came, he wouldn't lose his nerve.

It was still quite fulfilling to leave behind a record that would only allow future generations to look up to it, unable to surpass it, and not even able to generate the thought of surpassing it.

A hundred years later, he would be dead, but his record would still be there, which would be the continuation of himself in this world.

But breaking the record was not easy, because in the next game, Liverpool would challenge Tottenham Hotspur away.

Although Tottenham Hotspur was not as good as when Redknapp and Bale were there, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. In any case, Tottenham Hotspur was a little stronger than the average mid-table team.

Plus, this was their home field.

Chen Yingxiong also had a bad relationship with Tottenham Hotspur. Who knew if they would try to trip him up in order to prevent Chen Yingxiong from breaking the record.

During the pre-match preparations, Martin O'Neill specifically talked to Chen Yingxiong. He wanted to not rotate in the game against Tottenham Hotspur, but instead start with the full main force to help Chen Yingxiong break this record.

Chen Yingxiong couldn't laugh or cry after hearing the boss's words.

Of course, he knew that this was O'Neill's kindness, but... doing so was making too big a fuss.

Originally, it had been decided long ago that the team would rotate during the Christmas schedule, so everyone knew that no matter how well you performed, you would have to rotate, and they also knew that everyone would have a chance.

This was a decided matter, so how could it be suddenly changed? Moreover, it was to satisfy his personal requirements, which had nothing to do with the team's results, and would require other players to make sacrifices. Chen Yingxiong felt that it was inappropriate to do so. After spending a long time with the reserve team players, he would sometimes consider problems from the perspective of those weaker players.

He felt that if there was no rotation in this game, it would be too unfair to those players who had worked hard in training, just to play in this game.

This was the first reason.

The second reason was that he felt that breaking a record was such a simple matter, why bother making such a fuss? Wasn't it just Tottenham Hotspur? Even if he was facing Manchester United, he was confident that he could score goals against them in the rotated lineup.

So O'Neill didn't need to do this at all.

Although he didn't need it, he couldn't directly and simply refuse, as that would be too hurtful.

He first thanked O'Neill for his kindness, and then explained his thoughts.

He didn't want to interfere with the team's normal rhythm because of his own affairs.

Besides, he could handle this matter alone, and didn't need to mobilize the entire team.

In fact, O'Neill hadn't thought about really doing this. He was just taking this opportunity to show his goodwill to Chen Yingxiong and make the relationship between the two closer.

Since hearing about Chen Yingxiong's great goal at the Club World Cup, he had suddenly changed his mind and no longer felt satisfied. Instead, he wanted to continue staying at Liverpool, and as long as he stayed, he could win many, many championships.

He wanted to write his name in the history of world football, on the Liverpool's Wall of Fame, and more than once. He wanted to become the most successful coach in world football—of course, measured by championship trophies.

He didn't have this ambition before because he didn't dare to think about it. He knew that thinking about it would be a waste of effort and time, so what was the point of thinking about it.

But now, when he didn't dare to think about it, someone helped him think about it. The most important thing was that he found that his ambition could be realized, although the chances of success were not great, there was always hope. So he planned to give it a try.

Anyway, what he had to do was very simple, which was to serve Chen Yingxiong well, and then let him play without any worries.

Perhaps others would think that this was too simple and could not fully reflect the level of a coach.

But now Martin O'Neill didn't think so.

He believed that being able to use Chen Yingxiong well was also a skill.

There were many coaches in the world, but not many people could use Chen Yingxiong well, so that he could give full play to his strength, or even 200% or 300%. But it wasn't that there were any tactical difficulties. In fact, the tactical problems were very small, mainly from Chen Yingxiong's personality. Head coaches were all very strong people, but Chen Yingxiong was also very strong. This was why those famous coaches often didn't get along well with Chen Yingxiong, because no one wanted to be suppressed by a player.

Only he could put himself in the right position.

This was his skill. No matter what others said, he could make Chen Yingxiong be honest under his command and still be able to exert all his strength, which was very remarkable.

While serving Chen Yingxiong well, he also had to lead the team well, which was also a test of a coach's ability.

Martin O'Neill wanted to further improve his relationship with Chen Yingxiong, so naturally he had to consider everything from Chen Yingxiong's perspective.

That's why this happened.

Moreover, he also knew that Chen Yingxiong would not accept his kindness. According to O'Neill's understanding of Chen Yingxiong, it was really not difficult to score a goal in the next league game. If he needed the whole team to help him, it would be underestimating him too much.

He just wanted to convey his goodwill to Chen Yingxiong through this matter.

Now, looking at Chen Yingxiong's performance and listening to his explanation, O'Neill knew that his goodwill had been conveyed.

Since Chen Yingxiong had already stated that he didn't need to do this, Martin O'Neill naturally wouldn't insist on his own ideas.

It was really a win-win result...

※※※

Since everything had been made clear, Liverpool would rotate normally in the game against Tottenham Hotspur.

There were no special main players sent to help Chen Yingxiong score.

For those who still had some luck in their hearts, they hoped that Tottenham Hotspur could defeat such a rotated Liverpool lineup and also contain Chen Yingxiong's scoring.

Before the game, many media were reporting on Chen Yingxiong tying his own record again, so everyone knew that if Chen Yingxiong could score in this game, he would break the record.

Those who were dissatisfied with Chen Yingxiong and didn't want Chen Yingxiong to be smug were also fantasizing in their hearts that maybe this overwhelming attention would turn into great pressure on Chen Yingxiong. Under such great pressure, could Chen Yingxiong still perform well?

These people underestimated Chen Yingxiong again.

Chen Yingxiong ended the suspense in the fifth minute.

Because he scored in the fifth minute.

The goal that created the record didn't look awesome, legendary, or great. It was just an ordinary goal.

At that time, Adam Johnson broke through on the wing and then crossed. Chen Yingxiong accurately found the gap in the bustling crowd in front of the goal. Not only did he find it, but he also appeared there at the right time. Adam Johnson's cross bypassed all the defenders and obstacles and appeared there. Then Chen Yingxiong raised his left foot and gently knocked the football into the goal—at that time, the goalkeeper was at the near post and didn't have time to return to defense at all.

Such a goal seemed unremarkable to many people, because there was no wonderful dribbling, no exciting speed sprint, and no brute force collision. Adam Johnson's passing action looked unremarkable, and Chen Yingxiong's shot was also without any skill. Even if an amateur player was placed there, he would score.

But in the eyes of those experts, this was undoubtedly a good goal, because this goal was full of wisdom.

Adam Johnson's choice of passing route was very clever, and Chen Yingxiong's selection and running position were full of wisdom.

It seemed that this goal was very simple, but it was not an easy thing to appear in the right place at the right time. Otherwise, why was Inzaghi so special? Because this ability was very rare.

An amateur player could indeed easily kick the football into the goal there. But the question was, could he find this correct place before that? Even if he found it, could he appear in the right place in time?

This was the difference between amateur players and superstars. It sounded very simple, but it was an almost insurmountable gap.

※※※

"Goal! Goal! This goal has increased Hero's consecutive scoring games to twenty-six! This is a new record! He has broken his old record of twenty-five consecutive league games scoring!"

The commentators shouted.

"A seemingly unremarkable goal! But it is this goal that has created a new record!"

"After Hero surpassed Gerd Muller's record, we all thought that twenty-five consecutive league games scoring was already a remarkable achievement. Who would have thought that it has not even been one or two seasons, and he has refreshed his own record! This is really too terrifying! Hero, he is simply not like a normal human being!"

"Perhaps he is right, breaking records is too simple for him, and there is no need to be excited or excited at all... Just like now, look at him after scoring, he didn't even celebrate specially! He just ran up and hugged Adam Johnson, who assisted him..."

"No matter what this goal is like, this record is really in front of us! It seems that only he can break his record!"

"Five minutes! Just five minutes! Hero completely ended everyone's speculation before the game! It's incredible! In the face of this absolute tyrannical strength, even if Tottenham Hotspur has the advantage of playing at home, I am afraid it will be useless... This is not only the day Hero breaks the record, but also the day they are惨败!"