Chapter 65 Go or stay?
The closer it got to the end of the game, the calmer Yang Hao became.
It's a very magical feeling.
He had thought he would get carried away and celebrate wildly, but in the end, he really didn't.
It's not that he's pretending to be calm, but it's his truest feeling.
When the whistle blew at the end of the game, his heart was filled with satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.
He saw with his own eyes that many Atletico Madrid players knelt down on the field, and some even crawled on the grass and cried bitterly.
Even a tough guy like Baraha fell to his knees, just like in the poster of "The Shawshank Redemption", unable to suppress his excitement and roaring to the sky.
Those who have not experienced Atletico Madrid's turmoil in the past few seasons will never be able to understand the players' feelings at this moment.
It was a transformation from hell to heaven after surviving a disaster.
Yang Hao clearly heard Balaha's cries.
In his impression, this tough guy only cried once, which was during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. Baraha performed well, but Spain was eliminated by South Korea. Baraha cried at that time.
Those were tears of sadness, regret and guilt.
But tonight should be tears of joy.
There were also Santi Denia, Aguilera and others, who were obviously very excited.
Belleron stood there straight, wiping his face with his hands, obviously crying too.
The game came to an abrupt end the moment the whistle sounded, and Atletico Madrid's players completely broke down emotionally at that moment.
They won the championship!
More than a month ago, how could they have imagined that they could avoid relegation and win the King's Cup?
This is a piece of cake for top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona, but for Atletico Madrid, especially this season, it is invaluable!
For Atletico Madrid players, this is more than just a championship!
…
Yang Hao slowly walked onto the court.
Raul, who was closest to him, patted him on the shoulder gently. The two had met once at a Real Madrid fan meeting.
I just didn't expect that we would become rivals now.
Yang Hao just nodded at Raul and walked straight towards his players.
"Good job, Juan!" Yang Hao patted Belleron's face and hugged the core player.
Upon hearing this, Belleron could no longer hold back and squatted down, crying.
Before Yang Hao coached Atletico Madrid, Belleron was not recognized and his performance was not very outstanding.
But in the past month or so, he has been in form, with each game getting better and better.
Even tonight, facing the world's top midfielder Redondo, he was able to contribute one pass and one shot.
What could be more convincing than this?
After Yang Hao comforted Belleron, he walked towards Balaha.
"Hey, Reuben, be strong and stand up." Yang Hao tried to pull Balaha up, but couldn't.
"Boss."
Yang Hao squatted down opposite him.
Balaha raised his head, his eyes filled with tears. When he saw Yang Hao, he felt very ashamed and guilty.
"I don't want to be relegated anymore! I don't want to be relegated anymore! I really don't want to be relegated anymore!"
He said it three times in one breath, making Yang Hao feel the inner entanglement and pain he was feeling at that moment.
"Is this the first championship in your career?" Yang Hao put his hands on his shoulders, as if to give him strength and courage.
"Well, I haven't even won a championship before." Baraha said in tears.
He joined the double-champion Atletico Madrid in the summer of 1996, but in that year's Super Cup, Atletico Madrid was slaughtered by Barcelona in two rounds.
Since then, Atletico Madrid has never won a championship again.
Yang Hao could imagine that Baraha came to Atletico Madrid with a desire for the championship. He hoped to make a difference in this double-champion team, but in the end, he was directly thrown into the second team.
After struggling to get a chance, Atletico Madrid still had to avoid relegation every year.
"I made my debut at the age of 18 and have been avoiding relegation every year. It's almost become a nightmare. I really don't want to live like this anymore."
Some time ago, Baraha personally told Yang Hao that he had received recruitment offers from many teams, including Valencia, but he had not made a final decision and was still hesitating.
It is not difficult to guess the reason for his hesitation. He has lived in Atletico Madrid for 4 years and witnessed the team's decline from the double champion to the current relegation team. He is unwilling and afraid.
"Don't think too much now, just enjoy the joy of being the champion!" Yang Hao comforted.
"Wait until tomorrow, or any time, when you've calmed down and think carefully about it. Do you want to stay? Or do you want to leave?"
"I can't guarantee you anything. The only thing I can promise is that as long as I am the head coach of Atletico Madrid, our team will never be relegated again. We will fight for the championship!"
"If you finally decide to leave, I wish you the best. I believe, Ruben, you are one of the best midfielders in Europe. No matter which team you go to, you must remember what I said and have confidence in yourself!"
When Baraha heard the last part, he suddenly raised his head and looked at the head coach in disbelief.
He found that Yang Hao looked at him with a very trusting look.
…
"Father, you saw it too. Am I right?"
In the presidential stand, Hill pointed at Yang Hao who was comforting the players on the field. All he could hear were the cheers of Atletico Madrid fans, and some people even set off fireworks in the stands.
Old Hill's eyes had long been dim.
Since he took over Atletico Madrid for more than ten years, he has invested countless money and introduced many superstars and famous coaches, but has only won four championships, one La Liga and three King's Cups.
Tonight is the fifth one!
At this moment, he had to admit that he had underestimated Yang Hao, and greatly underestimated him.
In the past period of time, when the team was winning games one after another, old Hill couldn't help but wonder if he had fallen behind and couldn't keep up with the times?
Tonight, he was even more certain of it.
He is already 67.
"You're right, Michelle." Old Hill sighed with mixed feelings.
Little Hill felt a surge of ecstasy in his heart, and even Vice Chairman Cerezo beside him was moved.
Because they all knew what it meant when someone as powerful as Old Hill said this.
"From now on, I will withdraw from the management of the club."
Old Hill was as decisive as ever. "Enrique, you will be the club's chairman. Michel will remain the general manager, fully responsible for the club's reforms and the team's restructuring."
In a word, it represents the change of power in Atletico Madrid, and the era of old Hill is completely over!
Paul Futre was also shocked when he heard this.
Who would have thought that old Hill would retreat so easily?
Little Hill and Cerezo looked at each other and smiled.
This was something they had discussed before.
"Then what I told you before, about Yang Hao..."
"I said I would agree as long as the team avoided relegation and won the Copa del Rey, and now I am fulfilling my promise."
After a pause, Hill said with emotion, "I was able to start from scratch and make a name for myself in the real estate industry not because of my own abilities, but because I was able to make good use of the people around me, even my partners."
"As long as he can help me make more money and gain greater benefits, I don't mind giving him shares. I can even directly hand over the management of the company to him. This is the choice a smart person should make."
Before retiring, old Hill decided to teach his son a lesson.
He is also considered a legendary figure in the Spanish real estate sector.
Of course, the dark history of those years when one started from scratch is often difficult to explain clearly, and there are always some gray secrets that cannot be told to outsiders.
"Michel." Old Hill looked at his son deeply.
He found that in recent times, his son had become more and more willing to speak his mind in front of him.
This is a good thing.
"Since you believe Yang Hao is a talent, then I support your decision. I won't even get involved in any discussions you have with him. But I must warn you: if Atletico Madrid's situation doesn't improve under your management, don't blame me when I come back."
Old Hill is obviously still leaving himself a way out: he can come back at any time.
"Don't worry, Father, we will never give you such an opportunity." Little Hill said firmly.
Cerezo is a small shareholder and has always been old Hill's right-hand man. There are some things that the father and son can say to each other, but he can't, so he has been sitting aside, silent, like a stone man.
After becoming the club chairman, he is more likely to appear in social activities and participate in the club's top-level decision-making, but the specific matters are left to the general manager and his subordinates.
This is actually a very good choice for Cerezo, because he can step to the front and take charge.
At this moment, on the court, Yang Hao was thrown into the air again by his own players.
Last time it was about avoiding relegation, and this time it was about winning the championship.
Throughout the stadium, tens of thousands of Atletico Madrid fans were shouting Yang Hao's name in unison to express their gratitude and affirmation for the young coach.
…
"The suit is messed up."
Before going on stage to receive the award, Yang Hao specifically called over Parales, helped him straighten his suit, and complained to the players.
These guys were all grinning from ear to ear, without any trace of the sadness they had just felt when they cried for joy.
"Boss, I'll give you a new set later." Hasselbaink was very generous.
Yang Hao was immediately amused and said bluntly, "Then give me a set of high-end designer clothes."
The players suddenly burst into laughter.
Boss, you are just taking advantage of the situation.
"What are you laughing at? Don't you think this suit of mine doesn't fit me?" Yang Hao asked back.
"Isn't it because you bought cheap stuff?" Belleron said this suddenly, making everyone laugh again.
In front of the players, Yang Hao was also very humble. "What can I do if I don't have money? You guys get paid after every game, but I haven't received a dime yet. Who can I turn to for justice?"
The players also laughed.
Generally speaking, there is a big age gap between players and head coaches, so there is really nothing to talk about with each other.
But Yang Hao is different from them. He is about the same age as them, so they can chat freely and have a lot of common topics.
As for the issue of salary, Yang Hao was really honest in this matter, there is nothing to say about it.
"Okay, we're about to go on stage to receive the award. It would be embarrassing if others heard us. I suggest that we all get together in the dressing room and I can give you two or three haute couture sets. Is that okay?" Kiko said with a smile, putting his arm around Yang Hao's shoulders.
"It's settled then. Remember to embroider your names on the lining of your suits. I want to keep it as a souvenir." Yang Hao said seriously.
Everyone felt uncomfortable when they heard this.
The club remains, but the players change.
This is professional football.
