Chapter 15: Genius? Or a piece of XX?
In the player tunnel, Chen Xiaoliang was walking towards the bench when someone pushed him from behind, cursing, "Get lost."
Before Chen Xiaoliang could get angry, Phils gently pulled him to his side.
"Don't mess with him, he's just like that."
Chen Xiaoliang looked up and saw one of the team's main players, Northern Ireland captain Davis. The 35-year-old did not start this game, but another midfielder Jack was rotated to play as a defensive midfielder.
Davis is one of the most experienced players in the team. He has played more than a dozen seasons and nearly 400 Premier League games for Aston Villa, Fulham and Southampton. Only the 38-year-old veteran Defoe can compare with him in this respect.
In the history of the Northern Ireland national team, he is ranked second in history, with only the Ballon d'Or winner and legendary star George Best above him.
Not only is he aggressive on the court, he also has high demands on his teammates in training, often yelling and cursing after his teammates make mistakes.
The young players called him "old monster" and would stay away from him when they saw him.
"I'm not afraid of him." Chen Xiaoliang said loudly.
"What did you say?"
Davis turned around and looked at Chen Xiaoliang angrily, "Say that again, damn it?"
"What did I say? Did I say you can't play?" Chen Xiaoliang showed no sign of weakness.
The two men's bodies were pressed against each other. Although Davis looked domineering, he was only 1.7 meters tall and could only look up at Chen Xiaoliang.
"Do you think an underage kid who got into the team with sponsorship wants to play in the game? Go back to your parents!"
"What if I go on stage?"
The two of them kept talking and pushing each other hard with their bodies.
Phils was anxious and wanted to pull the two apart, but Davis used the greeting starting with F several times to ask him not to ruin his wonderful moment of educating young players.
Several other Rangers players who came out late from the player tunnel stood far away, laughing and making noises.
"If you don't get beaten to a pulp by the opponent when you get on the field, I will retire immediately!"
Chen Xiaoliang glared at Davis and retorted: "Okay, then this will be your last season."
"If you can't do it, then get out of here and apply to leave the team. The team doesn't need a loser like you."
After saying that, Davis hit Chen Xiaoliang's chin hard with his head and left angrily.
Phils held Chen Xiaoliang and advised, "Chen, ignore him. He didn't play today and he's just worried about having no place to vent his anger."
Behind the two of them, Gerrard was communicating with club chairman Dave about team affairs. Originally, the two were having a good conversation, but they happened to see Chen Xiaoliang and Davis arguing.
Dave's face immediately fell.
"Steven, I thought the relationship in the team's locker room was harmonious and united, but I didn't expect it to be like this." He said, pointing to the place where the quarrel had just taken place.
“A week ago, you came to me with a stack of information and told me that the first team needed this red country kid. I asked you why. What did you tell me?
You bastard, you told me this kid is a genius!
Steven, I believed you, I signed your application without even watching any video of this kid!"
Hearing this, Gerrard couldn't help cursing in his heart: You were able to sign so readily because this lease doesn't cost you a penny, and even Tottenham will continue to pay your salary. And after he comes, the club may receive sponsorship from Red Country companies in the future!
But Dave was the club chairman after all, so Gerrard could only swallow his saliva and force it down.
Dave continued: "But now? More than one staff member and player in the club came to me and said that this kid is a piece of shit! A piece of shit who can't do anything!
It’s been two years since you came to the club. We lost to Celtic by 10 points last season and 13 points last season. How about this season? How many more points are you prepared to lose?!”
Dave probably realized that he was getting more and more excited, so he paused to calm down.
"Steven, please don't let me down and please keep the promise you made to us when you came to the club!"
With that, Dave turned and left, taking the elevator to his private box in the stands.
Watching Dave walk away, Gerard kicked a folding chair next to him hard.
Fortunately, there wasn't a handsome blond guy who was good at free kicks sitting next to him.
"Fuck!!!"
Gerard cursed.
It wasn't just because of what Dave had just said, but because he had indeed been holding a grudge in his heart because he had failed to win the championship in the previous two years.
He has been at the club for two years, and Dave has done everything possible to meet his needs within his financial means. In two years, he has bought a total of twelve players in order to lead Rangers to regain the Scottish Premier League championship and win back the reputation for the Rangers fans in this city.
But for two consecutive years, every time at the critical moment, the team's defense always failed for some unknown reason.
Today he rotated Davis, also considering that Davis is 35 years old and needs to allocate physical strength reasonably at the beginning of the season. After all, there are still a series of cup competitions such as the Europa League and the Scottish FA Cup to play.
Being a football head coach has always been a high-pressure job. Even though Gerrard is a world-famous football superstar, after switching his identity to head coach, the pressure still makes him feel suffocated from time to time.
He glanced at the score, 1-0.
"1-0, 1-0, it's 1-0 again, damn it."
Gerard couldn't help cursing.
In the first two seasons, the team lost the championship because of many 1-0 draws and reversals.
He thought of the first round of the game last week. After taking a one-goal lead, the opponent Aberdeen launched a crazy counterattack. If it weren't for their excessive action and one player being sent off, the final outcome would most likely have been equalized.
Outside the tunnel, the shouting from the stands was getting louder and louder, and it was obvious that the second half was about to begin.
Gerrard walked towards the player tunnel exit.
The closer you get to the exit, the louder the fans cheer and the brighter the lights coming in from outside.
When he stepped out of the tunnel and re- entered the fans' field of vision, a unified cheer rang out. This cheer was for him and for the fans' beloved head coach.
Gerrard raised his hand and waved to the stands on both sides to respond to the fans.
He walked to the bench and glanced at the substitute players who were watching every move on the court.
When his eyes swept over Davis, this experienced veteran pretended not to notice Gerrard's gaze and continued to look ahead with a calm expression.
When I looked at Phils, I saw a bit of nervousness and shyness.
He glanced at Chen Xiaoliang who was sitting at the edge.
Chen Xiaoliang also looked back.
"Come down and warm up."
Gerrard waved to Chen Xiaoliang and asked assistant coach McAllister to change Chen Xiaoliang's jersey for him.
Without thinking too much, Chen Xiaoliang took off his coat and put on the jersey handed to him by McAllister. This was the new jersey printed for him by the club when they registered him this season.
The big English letters "Chen" are on the back, and below is the first number of his football career:
No. 33!
"Be prepared at all times and don't be nervous!" Although McAllister said this, the sudden order issued by Gerrard obviously greatly surprised him .
After all, they were only leading by one goal. Was it a correct decision to replace Chen Xiaoliang, who had never had any actual game experience, at this time?
Gerrard asked McAllister to explain to Chen Xiaoliang the area and responsibilities he would be responsible for after he came on the court.
He wanted to bring Chen Xiaoliang on in the 55th minute.