Chapter 1 Breaking the Record

Chen Hero actually remembered breaking a record, but he didn't remember breaking this one; he remembered Gerd Müller's record for the most consecutive games with a goal in European competitions.

As for that consecutive home game scoring record, he really didn't care about it…

He didn't expect to break it without realizing it?

But this record was only eight games; the difficulty was too low. It was normal that Chen Hero didn't take it to heart. He reserved his thoughts for those very difficult things.

There was no need to always think about things that weren't difficult and could be completed casually, right?

Moreover, the rewards for this task were also very average. Besides experience, there was nothing else. It was just that to complete that core series of tasks, he had to complete this task first.

So, it was broken, so be it.

※※※

Chen Hero himself didn't care much, but in the eyes of the media, it became something else entirely.

So, in the newspapers published the next day, everyone marveled at and praised Chen Hero's composure and calmness.

"For fifty-two years, no one has ever broken it, only tied. Now Chen Hero has broken it, and he seems so indifferent… But this is not indifference, but calmness. The hero is invincible, so naturally, such a thing cannot cause too many psychological fluctuations…"

"The hero's composure reflects his strong self-confidence. He no longer needs to show off his ability by celebrating this record-breaking excitedly. Everyone knows his ability!"

However, Chen Hero's calmness gave everyone an opportunity for comparison.

With the same record, when Torres tied the record in 2008, he was very happy. When facing reporters, he said that he was very proud to be able to tie the record. He had even specifically learned about the record before the game, and he looked forward to continuing to work hard in the next season to create a new record—at that time, it was already the last home game of the season, and if Torres wanted to create a new record, he would have to wait until the next season.

Unfortunately, after the start of the next season, Torres did not seize the opportunity.

Chen Hero's performance was as casual as going out for a meal today.

"What? I broke a record? Oh."

The most frightening thing is when people are compared to each other…

With such a comparison, coupled with the various comparisons between Chen Hero and Torres before, everyone felt that Chen Hero was more reliable.

The comparison with Torres actually started after Chen Hero transferred to Liverpool. After all, both of them were forwards, both were foreign players, and both were good at scoring goals.

It's inevitable that people would have the idea of comparing them to each other.

In his first season with Liverpool, Torres broke the previous record held by Van Nistelrooy for the most goals scored by a foreign player in his first Premier League season with twenty-four goals. Van Nistelrooy's record was twenty-three goals in a season.

So what about Chen Hero?

There was simply no suspense!

He scored thirty-seven goals in his first Premier League season, not only breaking Torres's record but also winning the Golden Boot that season, while Torres scored twenty-four goals and was only second in the top scorer list.

This gap was quite obvious.

Also in his first season, Torres broke another Liverpool record, that is, for eleven years, no one in Liverpool had been able to score more than twenty goals in a single season, not even the Golden Boy, Owen. The last person to do this was the bad boy Robbie Fowler.

However, such a record was completely worthless in Chen Hero's eyes. Apart from his debut season, 2006, when he only played ten games, in which season did Chen Hero score fewer than twenty league goals?

Starting from the 2009-10 season, in which season did he score fewer than thirty league goals?

Was there even a need to compare? One broke the record with twenty goals, and the other scored at least thirty goals every season…

Now, the only record related to Torres that Chen Hero faced was scoring a hat-trick in two consecutive league games…

But everyone felt that this record was not a problem for Chen Hero at all.

Hat-tricks were too easy for Chen Hero.

This season, Chen Hero has already completed four hat-tricks in the league, and he is only one away from Roger Hunt's single-season hat-trick record.

Everyone felt that Chen Hero breaking this record was also without suspense, not looking at ability, but only looking at mood. If he was in a good mood, Chen Hero would break it; if he was in a bad mood… Chen Hero would break it even more!

So, it was only in Chen Hero's first season at Liverpool that everyone compared him with Torres, who had just left the team.

That was because everyone lacked understanding of Chen Hero.

Now, no one does that anymore. After one season, everyone knew that these two people were completely incomparable…

This record-breaking incident deepened everyone's understanding of this.

There was indeed no comparability…

Chen Hero broke the record silently, without even a hint of excitement, as if it were a matter of course.

This was terrible!

How many surprises can such a Chen Hero bring us in the future?

※※※

Chen Hero didn't have the mind to care about breaking that record of scoring in eight consecutive league home games. Not only him, but other people in the team didn't care either.

During this period, everyone's focus was on vice-captain Carragher.

Carragher said he was going to retire. At that time, there was a tight schedule during the halftime break, and everyone couldn't continue to persuade him.

Now that there was plenty of time, in the past few days, everyone has been trying to persuade Carragher to change his mind.

But it was useless. Carragher was obviously determined this time. No one could persuade him.

In the end, everyone had to place their hopes on Gerrard.

Among the current Liverpool team, the player with the best relationship and the oldest qualifications with Carragher was only Gerrard.

Gerrard's answer to everyone was—shaking his head.

※※※

In fact, Gerrard had persuaded Carragher long ago, much earlier than when everyone hoped he would come forward.

He invited Carragher's family to his home for a barbecue, drinking fine wine. The women went to take care of the lively and lovely children, and the two old men got together to discuss this matter.

"I know what you want to say, Steven. But don't try to persuade me. I've already made a decision," Carragher said bluntly.

"Decisions can be changed, as long as they haven't finally become a reality. It's like a football game, Jamie. I won't give up until the final whistle blows. Otherwise, how could we have that great game in Istanbul where we reversed AC Milan? Speaking of that game, you were the biggest contributor to our victory, Jamie."

Gerrard, holding a wine glass, started by reminiscing about the past, hoping to evoke Carragher's nostalgia for the team.

Carragher smiled, "The biggest contributor wasn't me, but that was indeed the most wonderful night of my life, even more wonderful than my wedding night, haha! But I still won't change my decision to retire, Steven."

"If you feel tired from continuous battles, you can continue to be a rotation player, Jamie… To be honest, I think I will have to accept this reality in the future as well. There's nothing to be ashamed of. This is the law of nature. We always have to reach this point…"

"Steven, it has nothing to do with whether I'm a substitute or a starter. I'm already thirty-six years old. Actually, I could have retired earlier. I've already passed the coaching certificate exam in advance. But why haven't I retired all this time? Because I'm waiting. I hope to see the day when Liverpool is revived, even if it's just a hope. I'm afraid that if I leave the team, I won't be able to contribute to the team's revival, and I'll just watch her slide into an even darker abyss… I can't accept this. So I'm still playing football. But now, that's not a problem anymore…"

Carragher looked at Gerrard and smiled, "I'm very grateful to Hero, although I once doubted him. But it looks like he's having a great time here and doesn't want to leave here to go anywhere else. Liverpool's momentum this season is also very good. I think maybe I can really hold up a league championship trophy with my own hands… I'm satisfied, I'm relieved, and I think I can retire and become a coach."

Faced with Carragher's heartfelt confession, Gerrard had nothing to say.

Because he could completely understand Carragher's feelings, worrying that after he left the team, the team would have a shortage of successors, and the results would get worse and worse. Worrying that he would not be able to contribute to the team's revival, and when the team needed him most, he could only sit on the sidelines and be a spectator.

Seeing Gerrard's silence, Carragher smiled and said, "Look, you can't say anything, right? Don't feel any regret for me, Steven. I don't have any regrets at all. In these two seasons, I've seen our hope of revival. Our performance has made many people look at us with new eyes. This season, we even have a chance to win the league championship. There's no better farewell ceremony than this!"

Gerrard sighed. He admitted that he also had Carragher's thoughts, so he couldn't refute… He didn't want Carragher to leave, but he couldn't stop him. He was very conflicted, which was directly reflected on his face.

Carragher raised his glass, "Don't make that expression, Steven. Farewell should be a very happy thing, because it means a brand new beginning. I will be a coach at Liverpool. Actually, I haven't left everyone yet… Come on, drink this glass, and then let's talk about something else."

Gerrard absentmindedly clinked glasses with Carragher, but that sip of wine stayed in his mouth for a long time, until it was bitter before he swallowed it in one gulp.

※※※

No one could change Carragher's mind, not even Liverpool manager Martin O'Neill.

After deciding to retire, Carragher went to see Martin O'Neill and expressed his thoughts to him.

Martin O'Neill heard the news for the second time, but he still perfectly showed his surprise at hearing it for the first time.

"Why is that?"

"No why, boss. I'm getting old and can't fight anymore. You know, my style of play puts a lot of demands on my body…"

In fact, Martin O'Neill knew why Carragher was doing this, but he couldn't let Carragher know that he knew…

He was reluctant to let Carragher go. Although Carragher felt that he was no longer suitable for the fierce Premier League games, O'Neill felt that Carragher was a qualified dressing room leader and an excellent substitute player. He could enhance the team's bench depth. When he was needed, at critical moments, his experience and leadership qualities, as well as his never-say-die willpower, could lead the team out of trouble.

Now that he was gone, he didn't have such a suitable rotation player…

"Can't you reconsider, Jamie? You know, you're still an important part of my plan. I need you, and Liverpool needs you too…"

Carragher shook his head, "I've made up my mind."

O'Neill had no choice. Even Gerrard couldn't persuade him, so who else could persuade him to change his mind?

He sighed, "Okay, Jamie. At tomorrow's regular press conference, you'll go as a player representative. Then you can tell the media your decision in person, okay?"

Carragher nodded.