Chapter 5 The End of Volume Five

ps, the fifth update is here, ending the fifth volume and entering the sixth volume. There are only the sixth and seventh volumes left in this book…

There won’t be five updates tomorrow, but there will be four. That’s almost the same, isn’t it?

On this special day, I’m asking everyone for monthly tickets!

※※※

Liverpool winning the league title early became the biggest news in English football that day, and for many days afterwards.

Of course, the key word in the news was not “early,” but “title.”

This was the first Premier League title in Liverpool Football Club’s history.

What did this mean?

It meant that the king who had swept across England and the European continent, the sleeping giant, had finally awakened from a twenty-two-year slumber! The previously ignored traditional powerhouse had finally returned to where they belonged.

It meant that Manchester United's era of dominance and supremacy in the Premier League was over, and from then on, they had one more opponent that they had to face, and who was extremely difficult to deal with.

“For Manchester United, this is definitely not good news.”

On the evening news, the host, with a “I’m afraid the world is too peaceful” expression on his face, talked about this.

“When the Premier League was first established, Manchester United rose up and established their position as the overlords of the Premier League. But being the Premier League overlords isn't so easy to get. Ferguson had many opponents. At first, he fought with Dalglish's Blackburn. Blackburn snatched one league title from them. Ferguson, being the vindictive person he is, of course wouldn't admit defeat. The second season, Manchester United took back the title from Blackburn… After that, it was Wenger who led Arsenal and tangled with him for ten years, then Mourinho arrived at Chelsea, and then Mancini's Manchester City… The common thing about these people is that they all have the same enemy—Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United empire. But in the face of these opponents' repeated attacks, Ferguson defended them all. His Manchester United is still the most successful team in the Premier League, and a strong enemy that opponents can never ignore. He has come through more than twenty years of ups and downs, but now he is facing the biggest predicament… This may be the most difficult situation he has encountered since he took office—Liverpool is back.”

Chen Hero kept pressing the remote control. As soon as he saw someone talking about Liverpool, he would stop and watch with great interest.

Cabral was very strange: “What are you doing, Hero? Wasn’t the previous channel also talking about Liverpool?”

“I want to hear how other programs are evaluating it, hehe!” Chen Hero said happily. “I just want to see how the media is evaluating us snatching the championship from Manchester United!”

Cabral shook his head helplessly. In her opinion, Hero was really like a child at this time, very playful…

“…Liverpool is back. Yes, the Red Army that once made the whole of Europe pale has passed through the heavy fog of history and finally returned! For Liverpool fans, this is the happiest thing, even more exciting than winning the first Premier League title in history. Liverpool's performance this season has been dominant, which means that in the coming seasons, Liverpool may still continue this performance. They will cause enough trouble for Manchester United. I think Ferguson may have to reconsider his retirement…”

Chen Hero also pressed the remote control.

The screen changed to a picture of Ferguson attending the post-match press conference. He was sitting on the stage, with various microphones, voice recorders, and other interview tools piled up in front of him.

“Liverpool won the league title. Of course, I won’t congratulate them. And there’s nothing to be happy about…” Ferguson sat on the stage, answering reporters' questions with a blank expression. Liverpool winning the championship was such an important thing, so everyone definitely wanted to hear what Ferguson had to say.

Ferguson didn't directly refuse to answer or storm off the stage when he heard the question about Liverpool. Doing so would make him look afraid of the opponent and weaken his momentum. Ferguson would not do this to Liverpool. He would choose to answer the question, even if it was difficult to answer, but Ferguson had his own way.

“Because this is just one Premier League title, while we have…” Ferguson stretched out one finger of his left hand and four fingers of his right hand, “Fourteen.”

Then he retracted his gesture, leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands in front of his chest, looked at the group of reporters below, and also looked at the camera lens, saying: “Do you understand what I mean, everyone?”

At this moment, this old coach, who had experienced many battles and storms, suddenly no longer looked like a dying old man, but like a general whose heroic spirit still existed, exuding a breathtaking and amazing aura!

Chen Hero was originally smiling and preparing to watch Manchester United's jokes, but at this moment, his smile disappeared and was replaced by a solemn and serious expression.

He felt that this old coach did not seem to be speaking to the reporters, but to himself…

We Manchester United have fourteen Premier League titles, and you Liverpool only have one. What’s there for you to show off in front of me? What qualifications do you have to be so happy and excited? You want to surpass us? You're far from it! Do you understand what I mean, kid?

Cabral suddenly noticed that Chen Hero was not smiling, but frowning and staring at the TV screen. After a while, he nodded.

Then, Chen Hero suddenly fell back on the sofa backrest and let out a long breath: "There are still thirteen titles..."

Cabral asked strangely: "What thirteen titles?"

Chen Hero pointed to Ferguson on the screen and said: "To catch up with his current achievements, I need to win at least thirteen league titles for Liverpool."

If Cabral was a qualified fan, she would have widened her eyes and exclaimed: "Surpass Manchester United's league title count? Are you crazy, Hero?!"

Unfortunately, Cabral was not a qualified fan, and her character would not allow her to make such a fuss.

She just smiled and nodded at Chen Hero: "Then do it, Hero!"

Chen Hero rolled his eyes: "You make it sound easy. That means I have to stay on this team for thirteen years and win the league title every year! Do you know how old I will be then?"

“Thirty-nine years old,” Cabral replied, as if Chen Hero was really asking her how old he would be at that time.

"Of course I know! But do you think I can play until I'm thirty-nine, Christine?"

Christine smiled: "Don't you want to challenge something so difficult, Hero?"

This was what Chen Hero liked to say the most in the past. He always advertised himself like this. Since it was one of his life creeds, then he couldn't just talk about it and not practice it.

Now, as long as Cabral used this sentence to block Chen Hero, Chen Hero would definitely surrender. Just like this time, he also raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I'll do my best, Christine."

"You can definitely do it, Hero."

Chen Hero turned his head to look at Christine Cabral's beautiful face: "Are you so confident in me?"

Cabral nodded very seriously: "I'm a bodyguard. My job is to worry about others, worry about other people's safety, always imagine that others are in very dangerous situations, and think about what I should do… If there is one person in this world that I don’t worry about… I think that person is you, Hero."

Cabral looked at Chen Hero and said, "So, being with you always makes me feel at ease."

Chen Hero stretched out his hand and put his arms around Cabral: "Okay, thirteen years, then thirteen years, thirty-nine years old, then thirty-nine years old! But before that, we have more important things to do…"

"What i…um…"

Cabral couldn't speak anymore, because Chen Hero's lips had already pressed against hers.

The TV was still talking about the eternal topic between Liverpool and Manchester United, but Chen Hero no longer cared.

※※※

For a whole week, Liverpool was busy preparing for the championship celebration.

The Premier League trophy would be awarded after the end of Liverpool’s last game of the season, which was at home against Swansea, and then Liverpool would hold a grand championship celebration.

This was the first league title in Liverpool Football Club’s history, so of course they had to celebrate it well. Let Manchester United fans say that Liverpool fans had never seen a league title and were country bumpkins!

This is our celebration, no one can tell us what to do!

Although there were still a few days before the game, the tickets for this game were all sold out. Anfield Stadium would be completely full at that time.

Countless Liverpool fans couldn’t wait to witness the moment when the team held up the Premier League trophy with both hands.

Moreover, it was said that Liverpool Football Club had also invited the little diva Taylor to sing live for Liverpool.

In addition, there was a local Liverpool rock band.

This was really a grand occasion!

※※※

Liverpool's last game of the 2013-2014 season in the Premier League itself was not worth talking about in detail. Swansea was a very good foil, or rather… "air." They were very sensible and did not disturb Liverpool's feast. Before the game, they lined up and applauded the new champions. After the game, they lost a clean 0:2. As soon as the final whistle sounded, they left Anfield Stadium at the speed of light, leaving the stage to Liverpool—the only regret was that Chen Hero only scored one goal in the game, and he was ultimately unable to complete the goal of surpassing Dixie Dean…

Next, the Liverpool players went into the locker room to change into commemorative t-shirts and then came out to receive the championship trophy. The celebration stage had already been set up.

Because it was daytime, it was impossible to use lighting to create a stadium atmosphere.

But even the simplest stage would not affect everyone's mood.

What’s more, there was Taylor Swift singing live!

When the players, wearing t-shirts printed with "Liverpool are the Champions," walked out, the stage in the center of the stadium had already been set up. But they didn't go up, but stood below, lined up waiting for someone.

Old Hutson, who had served Liverpool for forty-five years… and this year was his forty-sixth year, was invited onto the stage as the host of today's event. He was the first live dj at Liverpool Stadium, responsible for playing music before the game and during halftime, and leading fans to shout the name of every Liverpool player. Many older fans watched the game listening to Hutson's voice. Hutson's unique sharp voice even became a memory of their childhood and youth.

Later, after television broadcasts appeared, Hutson retired from his position as a live dj and became a commentator. Now, many young fans have also grown up listening to his voice.

So everyone respected and liked this old man very much.

After old Hutson went on stage and said a few words, he invited Taylor Swift up.

When Taylor Swift, dressed gorgeously and carrying a guitar, walked towards the stage amidst the applause and cheers of tens of thousands of people, she passed through the welcoming players, and then she winked playfully at Chen Hero, who was standing at the front.

Chen Hero really had no way to deal with his god-sister. It should be known that Taylor Swift was not invited by Liverpool Football Club, but she took the initiative to apply to come after hearing that Liverpool had won the championship…

Chen Hero naturally knew that this was for his sake.

It's just that the debt of gratitude that I owe is not small, so how can I repay it…

Chen Hero was very distressed.

※※※

After Taylor went on stage, she raised her hands to the fans at the scene and shouted into the microphone: "We are the champions—yeah!!"

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became lively.

It was truly worthy of being a big star who does live concerts, a little diva. Handling such a scene was simply as easy as flipping one's hand.

With just one sentence, she narrowed the relationship between herself and the Liverpool fans, and also brought the atmosphere to a climax.

"This song is for you!"

After saying that, she gently strummed the strings.

There was no accompaniment music, only her guitar sound. She gently sang Liverpool's team song, "You'll Never Walk Alone."

This was a team song similar to a cappella. It was different from the majestic and lyrical version that everyone was familiar with, which was sung by tens of thousands of people at Anfield Stadium.

This version was stronger, clearer, and more melodious. Although it was not as powerful as the fans' chorus, it had another kind of beauty.

Many people were even infected by Taylor Swift's singing and shed tears of excitement again. They also thought of those old and yellowed memories.

They remembered singing this song and following Liverpool to conquer the north and south, sweeping across the European continent in those glorious years. They also remembered the tragedy of the Hillsborough disaster that afternoon, and the grief of losing ninety-six compatriots. They also remembered the era of the Premier League, which had been sluggish since the Hillsborough disaster, and the Premier League trophy they had been chasing for twenty-two years. There was simply no woman in this world harder to chase.

These memory fragments flowed in Taylor Swift's singing and appeared in the minds of every Liverpool fan.

When Taylor sang to the end, she raised her arms.

Everyone understood what that meant.

More than 50,000 Liverpool fans at the scene followed Taylor Swift and sang in unison: "You—will—never—walk—alone!!!"

※※※

"You—will—never—walk—alone—!"

Chen Hero suddenly heard this lyric ringing in his ears. He turned his head to look and found that Captain Gerrard and Vice-Captain Carragher were both closing their eyes and singing this song with great devotion.

He smiled. At this moment, the two captains were really like Liverpool fans, not players.

※※※

"You—will—never—walk—alone—!!!"

In the end, the entire Anfield Stadium echoed with the sky-shattering "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Chen Xing stood on the podium and said to Niang beside him: "Anfield Stadium can only accommodate more than 40,000 people. It's really too small. I suddenly need a bigger stadium now…"

Niang said next to him: "The debt problem of Stanley Stadium is being dealt with. It will be fine soon. Then we can start construction again."

※※※

After a song was finished, Anfield Stadium burst into thunderous and prolonged applause. In the applause, Taylor Swift bowed and stepped down.

Old Hutson returned to the stage and announced that the award ceremony officially began!

The long-awaited climax finally arrived, and the applause and cheers at the scene were even louder.

In the continuous cheers and applause, the Premier League championship trophy appeared in the center of the podium, surrounded by Liverpool players.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the gleaming silver trophy, and their eyes were full of desire. They couldn't wait to kiss Fangze immediately.

Logically speaking, the team's first captain should go to receive the award on behalf of the entire team.

So Liverpool should have Gerrard going, but Gerrard patted Carragher and then pushed him out!

Carragher looked back at his teammates in surprise.

Gerrard smiled at him: "This is what Hero gave you, Jamie."

Carragher thought that Gerrard was angry because of Chen Hero's words, and he explained: "He was just saying it casually, Stephen…"

Gerrard shook his head: "Hero and I have talked about it, Jamie. We both agree that you should be the Liverpool captain and be the first to lift this trophy." Gerrard pointed to the championship trophy in front of him and said to Gerrard: "Look, Jamie. She's right there, waiting. We chased her for twenty-two years, and now you have to help us bring her over. This honor belongs to you, Jamie. Not only do Hero and I think so, but everyone thinks so too."

After saying that, he turned sideways and pointed to his back. Carragher then saw that all his teammates were looking at him and saying to him: "Go ahead, captain!"

Usually they used "captain" to call Gerrard, and "vice-captain" or "deputy team leader" to call Carragher. This was the first time they called Carragher captain, but it was also the last time…

Carragher looked at Chen Hero again, and Chen Hero was winking at him.

Carragher turned his head back and looked at the silver championship trophy, and all the teammates he had ever met in his career, who had fought side by side with him, had pursued it as their goal.

But they all failed.

Unexpectedly, he now had the opportunity to touch it, lift it up, and kiss… it with his own hands.

He took a deep breath and walked towards the championship trophy that all Liverpool people dreamed of.

The official in charge of presenting the award next to him did not lift up the trophy and hand it to Carragher. Obviously, he also knew what this trophy meant to Liverpool players and fans, so there should be a different award ceremony than usual.

He stepped aside and smiled at Carragher: "Jamie, now, it's yours!"

Carragher nodded to him and said, "Thank you."

Then he walked to the front of the trophy.

At this time, the cheers at the scene suddenly stopped, and everyone stared at the center of the field with bated breath.

※※※

Gerrard looked at Carragher's back and thought of what Chen Hero had secretly said to him, and what he had not said to Carragher.

He said to himself: "The vice-captain is about to retire, and this championship is for him. But you won't retire so early, captain, so we will have many more league titles to win together, until you are tired of it."

Thinking of this, Gerrard turned his head to look at Chen Hero again. He was smiling happily and clapping with his teammates around him.

This kid is really dare to say.

Win many, many league titles? I'm afraid even Ferguson wouldn't dare to say that…

However, I suddenly want to see it, Hero. Can you really deliver on your promise?

The cheers suddenly became much louder. Gerrard was awakened from his contemplation and saw Carragher reaching out his hands towards the trophy.

His teammates, including Chen Hero, were all making noise, cheering and whistling.

※※※

Carragher stretched out his hands, but when his fingers touched the handle of the trophy, he suddenly shrank back a little and trembled. He finally grabbed the handle.

But he did not lift the trophy up immediately. The cheers, however, grew much louder.

He had lifted trophies such as the European Champions Cup in his eighteen-year career, but why did he feel that this trophy was so heavy…

But how could he stop at this time?

Carragher gritted his teeth and used force fiercely, directly "pulling" up the trophy that symbolized the highest honor in the English Premier League!

Yes, it was "pulling"! Not "lifting"!

※※※

"He lifted it up!"

Such cheers came from the stands.

Then it converged into a torrent that swept across the entire Anfield Stadium stands!

Just as Carragher "pulled" up the trophy, his teammates behind him swarmed up and surrounded Carragher in the middle, while countless red and white confetti spewed out from behind the podium.

The atmosphere reached its climax at this moment.

Carragher's emotions were also completely released. He took the lead and shouted: "We are the champions!"

"We are the champions!!!"

His teammates around him also shouted together.

All the fans shouted at the same time: "We—are—the—champions—!!!"

Yes, Liverpool is the champion, but only for this year.

For those Liverpool fans who were cheering and jumping for joy in the stands, even just one summer of being champions was enough to make them happy.

But for Chen Hero, who was cheering in the crowd, being the champion for only one year was of no help.

He needed many, many more, more and more championships!

(End of Volume 5)