Martin O'Neill thought Chen Hero’s request was outrageous, but deep down, a different voice seemed to whisper. On closer inspection, it wasn't that outrageous…

Given Chen Hero's personality, he was indeed quite suited for this sort of thing. Even if he remained silent, people would actively seek trouble with him because of their impression of him. He had become a magnet for hatred, unable to shake off this identity.

Thinking back, Chen Hero had quarreled with fans—in Naples; with UEFA—also in Naples; with the media—everywhere; with FIFA—in Liverpool; and with his peers—Richards still hated him to this day.

Reviewing this, Martin O'Neill realized that Chen Hero was someone who couldn't stay still. Even if he didn't actively look for trouble, others would bring it to his doorstep. He was a controversial figure precisely for these reasons.

The media had also recognized this, and they loved to find Chen Hero. No matter what happened, looking for him was always the right choice. Under the media's coaxing, Chen Hero often couldn't control his big mouth…

For a person like that, making him shut up was harder than asking him to die…

What would it be like if he really shouldered the task of attracting fire for the team and O'Neill himself?

O'Neill thought about it and felt that it wouldn't be much different from the current situation. Because that's how things were now: any unfavorable remarks against Liverpool would eventually converge on Chen Hero. Whether Chen Hero was proactive or passive, he would always take on this hatred, then everyone would focus on bombarding him, as if defeating Chen Hero was equivalent to defeating Liverpool.

Since when had Chen Hero become the spokesperson for Liverpool?

Thinking of this, Martin O'Neill was a little surprised, snapping out of his own analysis.

※※※

Chen Hero left Martin O'Neill's office, resisting the urge to immediately open the task description. Instead, he walked all the way to the parking lot and got into his car.

Throughout the journey, the exclamation mark was in the upper right corner of his vision. Because it didn't take up much space, it didn't obstruct his view or affect his walking.

Once in the car, Chen Hero finally opened the task description.

"I'll Be the MT: Although you made this request to O'Neill, he rejected it for various reasons. Is that the end of the matter? Not so. Some things cannot be changed. All you need to do is make this situation clear to him. Make him realize that this has become a fait accompli. Regardless of whether he accepts it, you are, in fact, the MT (main tank - a player that attracts the most damage) who attracts all the hatred for Liverpool. To enhance your persuasiveness, you must score a hat-trick in the game against Sunderland. Playing at home, in good form, this task shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"

This was the task description. The task requirement was to score a hat-trick in the game against Sunderland.

As for the task reward… in addition to a certain amount of experience, it was an achievement title: "I'm the MT."

This title didn't just exist as a virtual achievement, it also had very practical value. There were related explanations under this title.

"Although O'Neill won't admit it, you have actually become Liverpool's spokesperson. Those who seek trouble with Liverpool will come looking for you. Because you are Liverpool's well-deserved MT! Your ability to attract hatred is unmatched, they are all firmly entangled with you, and have no time to pay attention to others."

In other words, as long as he completed the task and obtained this achievement title, then in reality, he would be equivalent to blocking bullets for Liverpool. Although Martin O'Neill wouldn't admit it verbally, he wouldn't object either… Wasn't this tacit approval?

Chen Hero smiled.

He didn't expect his head coach to be so tsundere (possessing both proud and endearing qualities) at his age.

Wasn't this still the same as betting with Martin O'Neill? It's just that O'Neill didn't say it directly, but he couldn't change the fact.

Okay, Sunderland, in order to complete this task and get this achievement, your fate has been decided by yours truly!

※※※

O'Neill had been struggling with the fact he had discovered for the past two days. That was, whether he agreed or disagreed, he couldn't change the fact that Chen Hero had become Liverpool's shield.

He could forcibly prevent Chen Hero from stepping forward, but if a large number of reporters and opponents with ulterior motives came to his door, shouting abuse outside, could he turn a blind eye? Everyone had a temper. For example, he was annoyed and unhappy by the unreasonable trouble caused by the Preston coach. When he saw Chen Hero helping him vent his anger and mocking the other party, he was actually very happy.

So, if he really encountered something more serious than this, was he really confident that he could keep Chen Hero silent all the time?

Completely impossible.

Because if the other party openly cursed by name, if you cowered and didn't go out, you would be called a coward, and all sorts of dirty water would be thrown at you. They would really think you were easy to bully.

Chen Hero was right. Now that Liverpool was doing well, they would always face this or that kind of criticism. What should they do then? Always remain silent? This would only damage their morale.

He sighed more than once, feeling that this matter was truly unsolvable, and it seemed that they could only follow Chen Hero's approach.

He wasn't good at it and didn't like it, Chen Hero was very good at it and liked it, so he would go and take his place, acting as a shield for the team.

O'Neill also felt that this would make him feel that he, as the head coach, was incompetent, and actually needed a player to protect the team.

In short, he was in a dilemma.

Even during the game against Sunderland, as long as he saw Chen Hero, his mind would occasionally wander, thinking about the problem that troubled him.

Moreover, this game deepened his understanding of this problem.

Sunderland fans' ways of dealing with Chen Hero had evolved from booing to various personal attacks, and some people shouted, "We don't need your respect!"

This was obviously referring to the verbal battle between Chen Hero and Phil Brown some time ago—they hoped to disrupt Chen Hero's emotions and affect his performance.

Martin O'Neill had known about this situation before, but he had never paid attention to it. Now, because of Chen Hero's proposal, he was particularly concerned about this situation.

It seemed that even the enemy knew that to deal with Liverpool, they had to deal with Chen Hero first. As long as Chen Hero was finished, Liverpool would be finished.

And he was a bit slow to realize this. He had only considered this issue from a technical and tactical level, thinking about how to use technical and tactical means to avoid such a situation. But he didn't expect that psychological warfare was also a major way to freeze players.

There were many technically skilled players who were ruined because they didn't have good psychological qualities. When they encountered difficult situations, they didn't know how to cope.

But Chen Hero had never had these problems. The more the opponent tried to provoke him, the worse they would die.

So, his worries seemed to be unreasonable?

Like in this game, his condition looked good. In the first ten minutes, he already had two shots on goal, and both were on target…

The noise from the stands was like green leaves, setting off his increasing power.

※※※

Chen Hero was really in good shape today. Because he was highly motivated and had a task that must be completed.

Three goals!

He had to hurry up.

He heard the boos, curses, and shouts from the Sunderland fans in the stands. He also knew what they meant. He was very happy, even regretting that this wasn't an away game, but Liverpool's home game.

If the Sunderland fans' booing noise was even louder, and he could still score three goals, wouldn't that prove to Martin O'Neill even more that he was right?

These people couldn't affect him at all, so the voices of those other people were even less of a threat to him. I beat them out of pure interest, it doesn't affect my condition at all, boss!

※※※

In the seventeenth minute, Chen Hero scored the first goal for Liverpool, his first goal of the game.

"Goal! Hero! Beautiful! This is his twenty-second goal in the twelfth consecutive league round!"

"Hero! Hero! Oh oh oh! Hero!!"

"There's really nothing to be excited about. Hero scoring goals is no longer news. And it's at his home stadium. How could he not score?"

After scoring, Chen Hero ran to the stands where the Sunderland fans were gathered, then raised his right hand, four fingers up, thumb down, constantly opening and closing, like a person's mouth.

This gesture in Europe and the United States is used to describe the other party as very gossipy, talkative, and annoying. To put it bluntly, it's telling the other party: "Shut your mouth!"

Using the index finger to the mouth to tell the other party to shut up is too common, often seen on the court, and there is nothing new about it.

Chen Hero's action was more insulting and the emotions were stronger.

The Sunderland fans were indeed provoked by him, and they all raised their middle fingers and cursed.

Chen Hero ignored them, turned around, and looked at the home team's coaching bench. He saw Martin O'Neill.

Martin O'Neill was also looking at him.

Chen Hero shrugged at the head coach: You see, this is the end for trying to provoke me.

※※※

Martin O'Neill curled his lips. Although this scene was really convincing, the head coach still couldn't accept it!

※※※

Chen Hero saw O'Neill's tangled expression, and he smiled—the task description was really right. O'Neill didn't admit it on the surface, but he already knew the result in his heart. This was tsundere, boss!

He was hugged by his teammates who ran over, and could no longer see Martin O'Neill's expression. But he already knew that after this task was successful, O'Neill probably had no reason to object to him.

Okay, then let's keep going!

Score goals!

Chen Hero was full of fighting spirit.