Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 196

Russell Black, Sunderland's assistant manager, sat dejectedly in the manager's seat for the FA Cup fourth round post-match press conference.

This was the first time in his life that he sat alone in this position to answer reporters' questions, but he did not expect it to be in this situation.

"Russell, Carlo is a tactical master. We can't compete with him on the spot command, but the coaching staff has collectively formulated a tactical plan before the game. What you need to do is to encourage the players, and nothing should affect their desire to win. , they deserved to win this game..."

Anton handed over this important task to him before he left, but he couldn't do it at all.

The whole team is in disarray—

The chaos last time was intentional to interfere with Ancelotti's tactical arrangements. It seemed to be running around, but it was not chaotic.

But today's chaos means that everyone is in chaos from the bottom of their hearts, unable to twist the rope into one strand, and even if there are pre-arranged tactics, they cannot be executed.

And Russell himself was also in a mess, he didn't know how to change people when it was time to change people, and he didn't know how to control the rebellious Zlatan... He had imagined countless times when he stepped into the command area for the first time, as a main character... The situation when the coach directs the game.But he never thought that his first "performance" would end in a 0-3 fiasco.

Sunderland's FA Cup journey ends here, and the previous champion completely lost hope of defending the title.

What they won at Stamford Bridge last time is now all returned in one go.

At this moment, sitting at the scene of the press conference, Russell's mind is full of the back view of Anton when he was taken away by the Football Association officials.At that time, Anton turned his head and smiled at Russell, as if to comfort him and wish him good luck.

But now that the game is directed by him to such a ghost, Russell is so irritable that he wants to scold his mother.

But at this time, no reporter wanted to ask him how he felt, or ask him his opinion on the game.All are asking the same thing.

"Mr. Black, may I ask you, did you know about the investigation of Mr. Antonio Lin in advance?"

"It is rumored that he carried a communication device with him to get in touch with the outside world during the game, so the game he personally directed was actually assisted by outsiders. It is said that the Football Association believes that this violates the regulations and may hold the match at another day." A hearing will be held here, what do you think about this, do you know about it?"

"...You have worked with Anton for so long, it's impossible not to know!"

"..."

Russell lowered his head, and all the sounds were buzzing in his ears.He couldn't bear it anymore. At this time, the irritable old man showed his irritable nature, stretched out his fists, and with all his strength, he slammed on the table and shouted angrily:

"Don't tell me bad things about Anton! I don't believe a word!"

"Bang" with a loud noise.

A bottle of bottled water that was on the table in front of Russell before turned over directly from the table.

There was a room full of reporters, and now they all sat silently.

Russell clenched his fists, blushed and had a thick neck. He gritted his teeth and looked at the media in the room.

He was so excited that his whole body was trembling slightly, his eye circles were red, and he tried his best not to let outsiders see his weakness and fear.

Directing the game with deceit and opportunism... Anton, how is this possible?

How can it be!

After Anton arrived at Sunderland, Russell watched every game he commanded. Russell participated in every pre-match preparation meeting, tactical design and arrangement.

Russell often sits in Anton's office, watching those magical programs on his computer, running out calculation results one after another, rehearsing, simulating...Anton spends so much effort in preparing for each game, no one compares He knows better.

So, how could Anton... What is the need for him...

For a talented coach like Anton, it takes years and months to make achievements, but it only takes one minute to fall from the altar. A scandal is enough.

Russell clenched his fists tightly and lowered his head.

He believed in Anton [-]% unconditionally, but he was also very afraid in his heart: What if...the media doesn't believe it, the Football Association doesn't believe it...the whole world is unwilling to believe Anton, then what should we do?

Ruben Smith sits in a pub preparing to watch Chelsea's four-game draw against Sunderland.

Unexpectedly, he actually saw the "breaking" news broadcast by Sky Sports.

There was only one thought in Ruben's mind: Fuck... tens of thousands of beasts rolled past his mind in an instant.

He was so distraught that he couldn't care less about watching the game, so he walked out of the bar without finishing his beer.

At the door of the bar, he saw the Portuguese brother who gave him his work card last time, still wearing a black coat and black wool cap, waiting for him at the door of the bar.

Ruben was shocked, and reached out to touch his pocket. Seeing that the badge was still there, he was relieved, and tentatively answered the two: "Is it Anton who wants to see me?"

At this time, a tall middle-aged man turned out from behind one of the Portuguese, with a handsome face and a graceful smile.

"I want to see you!" The man reached out to shake Ruben's hand, and said to Ruben with a strong southern accent, "Hi, my name is Jorge, Jorge Mendes."

As a sports news practitioner, Ruben is no stranger to Mendes, but he doesn't know the other party's intentions.

I only heard Mendes say: "...I am in charge of Mr. Antonio Lin's public relations affairs and media image matters."

Reuben jumped up like a cat with its hair blown: "Did Anton tell you to come to me?"

Seeing that Ruben was so upbeat, Mendes smiled and nodded, and said, "Indeed. Mr. Anton asked me to tell you: now is the time to tell the story you know."

Ruben's spirits lifted.

After he met Anton last time, he had temporarily put aside the story about the "glasses".But who knew that at this juncture, this story about glasses, just like the "fake news" that Anton threw at him last time, was cut off from head to tail, and only the most "ambiguous" paragraph was picked Tossed out - what's even more damning is that it alarmed the FA.

Ruben has been immersed in this industry for many years, so of course he knows the means of the industry: they will not throw out all the materials at once, they will only throw out the most shocking and eye-catching part first.After that, there will be all kinds of digging and revelations, such as how the reporter "stealed" in the barbershop to find out the truth about Anton's glasses; and for example, why Anton almost beat him up in the game against Portsmouth The player who stepped on his glasses...

After that, the news will slowly ferment and come overwhelming.

Anton entrusts Mendes to find Ruben, in order to put the "story" on the breakfast table of others before the "opponent".Let the general public know what this touching "truth" is.

At this moment, Ruben suddenly understood.

"It turns out that Anton had thought of it a long time ago..." Ruben asked Mendez.

When he and Anton met earlier, and when they said goodbye at the end, Ruben once reminded Anton to pay attention to "crisis public relations".And Anton once thanked Ruben in particular when he was parting, saying thank you for "helping him" with crisis public relations.

Reuben only thought Anton was a slip of the tongue at the time.Now that I think about it, Anton should have thought about it a long time ago. In this situation, the best solution is actually the report that he wrote himself, and he alone dug up all the stories. people who come out.

"So, Mr. Mendez, there's finally hope for my story?"

Ruben finally figured it out, and knew who it was who "squeezed" the top executives of the "Post".

Mendes smiled and nodded: "Yes, your manuscript has been proofread at the beginning, and now you don't need to make any revisions, and it will be sent directly for publication. Tomorrow, the whole of England will be able to see your 'complete' report. Oh!"

Ruben really didn't expect that the top management of the "Post" was so "flexible" that other manuscripts could be withdrawn as soon as they were said, and let this "highlight" go first.

Reuben rubbed his hands, thinking that his hard work had not been in vain for so long, and at the same time felt sorry for Mark Garry: the kid should have been entitled to the signature treatment with him, but it is a pity that he resigned.

Unexpectedly, Mendes beckoned behind him and called a young man to come out.Ruben took a look: "Mark..."

Isn't this Mark Gary?Ruben thought: That's right, Mark Gary is the key person in the whole news. The barber shop checked glasses and found clues about Bernard, all of which were done by Mark.Only when Mark is there can the Post's chain of stories be completed.

Mark Gary was very embarrassed when he saw Ruben: "Boss, I'm really sorry, the editor-in-chief just asked me to reinstate my post, and I also paid back two months' salary. I promised... I haven't had time to tell you yet!"

Ruben slapped Mark on the shoulder heavily with one hand: "Welcome back..." Then he suddenly remembered: Mark hadn't worked for two months and got so much salary for nothing.

"Before celebrating the two of you on the front page," Mendez smiled, reaching out and giving Ruben and Mark a light push on the back of each. "Today is a very important occasion. I think you should enjoy it too." Let’s take a look at the treatment that important people should enjoy—"

The next moment, Mendes invited Ruben and Mark to a press conference.At this scene, those who were waiting for the interview were all Ruben's colleagues.Relying on his influence in the "circle of friends" in the UK, Mendes invited all the well-known journalists and column editors from various media.

Five minutes before the press conference, Ruben's story was circulated.

The content of his report is detailed, the evidence is conclusive, and the logic is tight. The last part is even more unbelievable, but it is reasonable when you think about it carefully. people resonate.All the people present at the scene were veterans of the industry. When they saw this report, most of them exclaimed: "The Post" is going to be popular.

At that time, a reporter asked Ruben: "How did you come up with the idea of ​​following the clue of glasses?"

Ruben said: "I'm not convinced! Last season, I have been bad-mouthing Sunderland, but no matter how bad it is, I finally saw some suspicious clues. How can I not follow along?"

There was laughter at the bottom: The "grievances" between Ruben and Sunderland last season are well known, everyone can understand Ruben's mood, and what Ruben is saying now is the truth, so many practitioners present Everyone laughed heartily.

Lu Ben listened to everyone laughing and admired Anton: Indeed, he is the one who is most suitable for "crisis public relations".

Without him, because Ruben and Anton had a grudge, so there is no position to put on good words for Anton.Others are more willing to believe Ruben's words.