Born to be a coach [soccer]

Chapter 90

Scotland's day, baby's face.

The dark clouds that were originally looking very far away suddenly appeared above the head.The sunlight falling from the bay window disappeared in an instant, and within a few minutes, sparse raindrops hit the windowpane heavily.Not long after, large swaths of rain rolled down the glass, and rumbling thunder came from the sky.

The interior looked very comfortable, and occasionally there was the sound of tinkling cups and cups touching each other.Torres was talking to Mrs. Dalglish, Marina, in the kitchen. Marina spoke Spanish and was not fluent, but they could hear their laughter. It should be a very pleasant exchange.

"You want me to be the manager of Liverpool?"

Anton asked this softly.

At the end of the previous season, Liverpool coach and tactician Rafa Benitez had just announced a "peaceful" breakup with the club.Liverpool should be looking for a head coach for next season right now.

But Anton never imagined that the first person who suggested this to him was Sir Kenny Dalglish.

Dalglish sat across from Anton, stared at Anton for a long time, and finally nodded.

"But with my current qualifications..." Anton didn't think his resume could convince Liverpool's board of directors.The only record he has achieved so far is leading a Championship team to the Super League, plus winning an FA Cup.Other qualifications, especially the experience of coaching giants, are zero.

"I said you can, and you can!" Dalgliesh nodded his head with a domineering tone.

——What did you just say?Kenny Dalglish, this one is the king of Liverpool and the emperor of Anfield.He tried his best to guarantee Anton, and Liverpool's board of directors may not be unable to agree.

but……

If the offer had been made to him a year ago, Anton might have actually said yes.

Firstly, Liverpool was the favorite team of his younger brother Bernard; secondly, a year ago, Anton was completely blind to English football, and he had the guts to take this step just because of his youthful vigor— —

But the age of "the ignorant are fearless" has passed, and now Anton knows that past achievements are the best pass for a coach.With his qualifications and resources, airborne coaching Sunderland, who is still in the British Championship, is already the limit, let alone trying to get involved in the traditional giants Liverpool.

——This skinny camel is also bigger than the "cat".

More importantly, in the past six or seven months, he has developed a deep affection for the "Black Cat", got to know that club, and the people of that city... In Sunderland, there are many other reasons. The young players he came here are still waiting for him, wanting to follow him and shine on the stage called the "Premier League"—

Because of them, he didn't want to leave at all.

"My lord," Anton held up the teacup in front of him, which contained the fragrant Earl Gray tea. Anton skillfully took a small slice of lemon and put it into the teacup, then dropped half a lump of brown sugar, and stirred Stir, take a sip, and then say, "I want to hear your opinion on what kind of problems Liverpool is facing now."

Dalglish lowered his eyes, and a moment later, the former Liverpool hero stood up, took out a stack of documents from the desk drawer, and handed them to Anton: "I think you may know more about these than I do."

Anton glanced at the markings and headlines on the cover of the stack of documents, and knew that this was Liverpool's financial statements for the previous year and the first half of the year.

Anton used to manage the family's investment in the past, and it was no problem for Anton to understand these financial reports.He turned two pages, as if he had found something, he flipped down quickly, then raised his head in surprise and looked at Dalglish.

"How could this be?"

Dalglish looked at Anton with appreciation in his eyes.

It seems that this young man really understands the operation of the club.

"Anton, I understand what you mean—" Dalglish continued Anton's previous words, "No matter how good the head coach is, it can't solve Liverpool's current problems."

He stretched out his hand and rubbed the center of his brows, his voice was painful: "I really hope, I really hope... that time can turn back. Those two Yankees never entered Liverpool."

The "Yankees" that Dalglish said are the current owners of Liverpool, the Americans Gillette and Hicks.They are now nicknamed "Double Heroes" by Liverpool fans.The money they bought Liverpool Football Club in the first place was a short-term loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia Bank.

Anton thought to himself: This is really... What a ruthless dude!

Using a short-term loan to acquire a football club, isn't it clear that they want nothing but nothing, without investing a penny, and just waiting for the golden rooster of Liverpool to lay golden eggs?

But the question is, without input, how can there be output so easily?

Liverpool's poor record last season, although it was affected by the injuries of the players in the team, but the team sold Harvey Alonso, the core tactical core of the team, and let go of the old captain Hyypia... For money, what kind of killing chickens and eggs Everything is done.Liverpool's lineup investment is almost zero, and the construction of a new stadium promised by the "dog and blood duo" is now in the foreseeable future.Therefore, instead of reducing Liverpool's debt, it is facing increasing financial pressure.

Every time a short-term loan expires, the "dog and blood duo" will use the method of borrowing new loans to repay the old loans to plug the hole, but it will cause Liverpool to pay more and more interest.If this situation continues, the Liverpool club will go bankrupt in an instant.

Anton closed the report in his hand, and gently pushed it back in front of Dalgliesh.

"Sergeante, I understand your feelings. You hope that someone will lead this team and restore its former reputation. But in my opinion, the revival of the team requires long-term construction, which does not match the short-term crisis that the club is currently facing."

According to Anton's guess, Liverpool's current financial situation will not last for three months.

At this juncture, if you only consider hiring a coach, it can be said to be a headache, and it is not an option.

"The team...but the team really needs a head coach!" Dalglish murmured with his head down.It sounds like Liverpool has encountered a crisis. In the existing market, it is impossible to find a suitable head coach.That's why Dalglish found Anton in desperation...

"Besides, Bernard...Bernard once recommended you to me!" Dalgliesh raised his head, his gray eyes fixed on Anton, "He said, you are the most beautiful person in the world." The right man to be a football coach. I watched all the games you coached last season. I am sure you will be a successful manager."

The Scot, who was used to seeing big scenes in the past, seems to be an indomitable personality, and nothing can stop him.Dalglish's attitude towards Anton at this time was even a little aggressive.

Anton was taken aback when he heard this. He leaned forward quickly, looked at Dalgliesh, and asked loudly, "Have you met my brother? When... when did he talk about this?"

In desperation, Anton showed no modesty at all, or wanted to refute Dalglish's words. From the other party's point of view, Anton accepted all Bernard's comments and acquiesced. .

It's a pity that when Dalglish saw Bernard with his own eyes, it dates back to two years ago, when Bernard just developed the prototype of "Green Life".

"It's a pity..." Seeing that Anton refused to let go, Dalglish had little hope of persuading him to leave Sunderland, and his eyes showed a bit of disappointment.

"However, Sir Dalglish, if Liverpool needs a head coach, I think you should be the most suitable candidate." Anton looked at the old man who was nearly sixty years old.

Indeed, Kenny Dalglish, dubbed "The King" by Liverpool fans, may be the most suitable man in English football to manage Liverpool today.He was a meritorious player for Liverpool back then. After retiring, he turned around and became a coach. He led Liverpool to become the league champion in the first season. Manchester United dynasty" monopoly, boarded the throne of the league championship.

Now that Liverpool is in a difficult situation, there is an even greater need for meritorious figures like Dalglish in the locker room to awaken the blood of the players and fight for honor and pride.

So Anton blurted out, and he really thought so in his heart.

"I?--"

Dalgliesh's shoulders trembled, and he stared at Anton.Immediately afterwards, he clasped his palms together without saying a word, as if he heard an incredible word from Anton's mouth, he was completely shocked and could not speak again.

Anton regretted it only after he said this: he probably knows why the meritorious coach in front of him left Liverpool.

After the Hillsborough tragedy that year, Dalglish, as the head coach, persevered and continued to lead the Liverpool team to fight on the green field, trying to comfort those fans who gave their lives because of their beloved team.But this season, Liverpool regrettably lost to Arsenal with a goal difference of one goal, ranking second.

At the turn of the spring and summer of that year, Dalglish himself may not remember how many times he attended the funerals of fans, how many times he faced the grieving family members, how many times he fought against the media that distorted the truth, and how many times he appealed to the government and the police , calling for justice for the victims of the tragedy...

The coach was finally exhausted physically and mentally. After a year and a half, he voluntarily resigned as the head coach.Although he himself may have never forgotten Liverpool, he did not return to the club for the next 20 years.

Today's Liverpool has reached the brink of bankruptcy and is experiencing the deepest crisis since its establishment.Sir Dalglish, will he come forward to save the club that has the most significance in his life.

Anton didn't know.

After an unknown amount of time, the wind and rain outside had stopped, and the sun once again shone into the living room through the glass windows.There are water droplets hanging on the window glass, reflecting the crystal bright light.

"Thank you for coming to our place!"

Marina Dalgliesh was all smiles as Anton and Torres both ate up her caramel apricot tart.

Before leaving, the Dalglishes sent Anton and Torres out together.Dalgliesh nodded calmly at Anton: "Thank you for visiting the humble house. Your words... I listened."

After bidding farewell to his master, Torres patted Anton on the shoulder, and asked nervously and expectantly, "How is it?"

When he heard that Anton had no intention of finding a "next home" for himself, Torres yelled regretfully: "I even made a bet with them! This is a terrible loss!"

The "they" in his mouth obviously refers to his teammates in the Liverpool team, Gerrard, Dirk, Agger...

Anton: After a long time, you became a "leading party" for this reason!