Chapter 9 The Virtuous Wife
Hearing the ringtone of his mobile phone ringing again, Wang Lie, who was just about to stand up, sighed helplessly, then turned to look at the screen of the mobile phone that was being wirelessly charged.
After the news spread that he could only sit at the same table with the children for dinner, his mobile phone became busy.
People who were in his address book and those who were not in his address book called and sent messages to him for confirmation and inquiries.
His mobile phone was almost out of battery, so he just took it to charge...
Among them are his team members, former teammates, business partners, media reporters who have left contact information, and his friends - the traveler said that he does not have many close friends, but it does not mean that he is completely Even if he doesn't have friends, there are always people who appreciate Wang Lie's character. Moreover, humans are social creatures, and Wang Lie is not the kind of "lone wolf" who can completely break away from interpersonal relationships. He has been alive for almost thirty-eight years, and there are still more or less people involved in the social network.
Everyone cares about him, but everyone cares for different reasons.
Someone really cares about him and scolds Heldon and the club from his standpoint.
Some people just want to get some clues from him that the outside world does not know and make "big news".
Some people are worried about him on the surface, but they are actually worried about the impact on business cooperation and their own money.
Someone advised him to keep his head down and not make things too serious. After all, it was Wang Lie himself who was injured in the end. Now everyone can see that the club provides unconditional support to head coach Heldon. Wang Lie's doing this is tantamount to hitting an egg with a stone.
Wang Lie didn't want to listen to these meaningless words of advice, but he didn't reply to Hall's face like he did to Hall. He just said tactfully that it was useless to talk about it now.
The other party could only sigh and wish him good luck.
Both the Chinese national team leader Shen Dongsheng and the national team head coach He Zhenyong called him to inquire about the situation and were concerned about whether Wang Lie had found a new home. Wang Lie told him honestly: "It's not yet possible." No..."
Hearing this answer, Shen Dongsheng comforted him and said that the door of the national team has never been closed to him.
Head coach He Zhenyong was silent for a few seconds and then asked him: "Are you still not considering returning to play football in China?"
Wang Lie asked after hearing this: "Can I return to the national team if I return to play football in China? How can I guide you?" "
He Zhenyong told the truth: "It depends on your specific performance, but I think as long as you can play the game systematically and stably and regain the rhythm and state of the game, with your ability, it should be easy to return to the national team. Problem. Just like Chu Yu..."
Chu Yu is the main center back and vice-captain of the Chinese national team, and he also played in Europe before. Last summer, he left the Bundesliga club Stars Berlin where he had played for many years and returned to China. He is currently in Nanhe Jiuding.
Wang Lie thanked He Zhenyong for his candor, so he asked more candidly: "Guide He, after I return to China to play football, can I still be the offensive core of the national team after I can play the game systematically and stably?"
Since the Asian Cup co-organized by Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand in 2035, the current offensive tactics of the Chinese national team have basically been developed around Chi Zhen.
Even if Wang Lie is still in the national team, he is no longer the core of the offense. Whether at the forward or center position, the national team's current offensive tactics have more suitable candidates than him.
Faced with Wang Lie’s frank question, He Zhenyong remained silent for longer than before.
So Wang Lie already knew Director He’s answer: “So I want to save myself again, Director He.”
Facing the stubborn to paranoid Wang Lie, this guy who won the Asian Cup The head coach who just took office has nothing to say. When he took office, he was already charged with the task of innovating and changing the national team. There are some things that he must do even if he is scolded by many people.
He knew what Wang Lie wanted, and he understood that Wang Lie had a huge psychological gap after coming down from the top, and it was difficult to accept this loss for a while.
But as the head coach of the Chinese team, he has to be responsible for the entire team, rather than taking care of one individual.
After the Asian Cup the year before last, and now, after a year and a half of adjustments and pains, the Chinese team's offensive tactics are finally decent and produce the results he wants.
So no matter what, the Chinese team cannot go back to the old ways.
Not to mention that Wang Lie, who is about to turn 38, will never be able to return to his peak period, and indeed he will not be able to lead this national team.
After knowing everything that needed to be understood and saying everything that needed to be said, He Zhenyong took the initiative to say goodbye and hung up the phone.
Wang Lie took the time to put the mobile phone he had just finished talking on on the wireless charging pad, but as soon as he put it down, he heard the ringtone of the incoming call again.
To be honest, answering so many phone calls in one night and talking to so many people with different ideas was a huge drain on his energy. Wang Lie was already very impatient.
However, when he saw the name of the caller on the screen of his mobile phone, he quickly chose to answer the call and turned on the hands-free function.
The voice of my wife Tang Xingmei came from the speaker of the mobile phone: "Oh, I finally got through. I made several calls before and they were all busy. You are busier than the mayor's hotline!"
Wang Lie was amused by his wife's joke first, and then noticed the time. It was now 8:34 pm in Manchester, which should be 4:34 am in China. So he frowned and asked: "You haven't slept yet?"
"I was sleeping, but I woke up again in the middle, and I was thinking of checking my phone, but I saw your news..."
Tang Xingmei lied - she was actually woken up by her mother-in-law sighing in the living room. After she woke up, she came out to care about her, and then she learned from her mother-in-law that her husband had been driven away by the head coach Helden to the child's care. Eat at one table.
A mother is always most worried about her son, even if the son is almost forty years old. During this period, my mother-in-law Zhou Hong actually couldn't sleep well, so she was still checking her phone in the middle of the night, paying attention to news related to Wang Lie. Then she saw the "breaking news" that her son was sent to the youth team by Heldon...
She didn't know who to look for, so she could only sigh in the living room until Tang Xingmei woke up.
But Tang Xingmei didn't tell all this because she was afraid that Wang Lie would be worried about his mother. In July last year, my mother fell at home and was hospitalized. Wang Lie was so frightened that she returned home urgently from Manchester. Since then, she has stayed in China to take care of her mother-in-law and two children. She only goes to the UK once in a while. . It was completely the opposite from before - she had always lived in the UK to accompany her husband, and only occasionally returned to China to see the elderly and children.
There are enough troubles now, and she doesn’t want her husband to worry about things at home.
Wang Lie can be as tough as a rock when facing the likes of Hall and Helden, but facing his wife who always silently supports him behind the scenes, he feels very guilty: "I have made you worry."< br>
"I'm fine, you're under a lot of pressure. Have you completely broken up with them now?"
"Well, they asked me to apologize to the coaching staff today...what coach?" The team actually wanted me to apologize to Heldon, and it seemed that the whole coaching staff was not a conflict between me and Heldon. I didn’t agree, so Heldon asked me to train with the youth team. Not only was I not allowed to train with the first team, I was not even allowed to use the first team restaurant." Wang Lie spoke in a brisk tone, as if he was telling his wife such a big news as a funny joke.
Although he spoke in a relaxed manner, Tang Xingmei knew that this was already a very serious situation - no matter how serious the conflict between her husband and Helden was before, it did not reach the point of openly breaking up.
In fact, she was worried, but she couldn't show it. She called in the middle of the night. On the one hand, she wanted to know the specific situation so that she could reply to her mother-in-law. On the other hand, she wanted to comfort her husband and give him spiritual comfort.
At this time, as a "psychological masseur", she cannot show impatience and anxiety. In that case, her husband will only become impatient and anxious.
So after listening to her husband's story, she laughed out loud: "It's really funny. No wonder the Internet is full of memes about you sitting at the children's table when eating. So did you have dinner at the youth team restaurant today? "
"That's not true..." Wang Lie was stunned for a moment, and then said in a regretful tone, "Oh, I should have known what the youth team's food tastes like. Don't tell me. I have been with Softel United for ten years and I have never had any experience with the youth team.”
"Then you go eat tomorrow."
"Well, I'll take a video then."
"You're still taking a video? Do you think you are a store-exploring blogger?" Tang Xingmei couldn't bear it. Just complain.
Unexpectedly, her complaints inspired Wang Lie: "Hey, don't tell me, the video of visiting the store is not impossible. I will post it online tomorrow to show everyone the food of the Soft United youth team. ”
Tang Xingmei knew that her husband was enjoying himself in hardship, but not only did she not expose him, she also accompanied him to enjoy himself.
But the next second, her husband threw the cruel reality directly in front of her: "What do you think if I really return to China to play football?"
Tang Xingmei did not expect that her husband would take the initiative to mention this matter. I didn’t know how to answer the call for a while.
After being stunned for about two or three seconds, she asked hesitantly: "Aren't you always unwilling to return to China to play football?"
"Yeah, I don't either now. I am willing. I always feel reluctant, unwilling..." Wang Lie murmured and repeated.
Tang Xingmei thought maybe it was because after the complete breakup today, her husband felt that Europe was so big but there was no place for him, and he felt a little depressed, so he showed his weak side in front of her.
Tang Xingmei, who had advised him to seriously consider returning to play football in China last time, encouraged him in turn: "The situation shouldn't be that bad. Your agent team has been looking for wealthy clubs in Europe before, so why not try to lower the price?" Standard? Do I have to go to a team that can play in the Champions League? "
"Only a wealthy club can afford my salary - I can reduce my salary, but no matter how I reduce it, my team still has so many people to support. I can play for free, but many people on my team can't work for free. In addition, this is a two-way choice issue. Sometimes it's not me who chooses who, but the other side is also choosing me. Will a top team be interested in me? If they are really interested in me, it will be because of my traffic. This will not do me any good, so why should I go?”
Tang Xingmei did not agree with her husband's explanation: "That's not the case, Lao Wang. Not all non-rich teams are just interested in your traffic, and not all non-rich teams are uncompetitive. The reason why they I didn't contact you, maybe because I thought you wouldn't choose them anyway, so I was too lazy to waste my time. After all, which of the teams you had heard from before was not a wealthy one? Of course they would think that you looked down on them, so why bother? Are you bored?"
Faced with his wife's words, Wang Lie did not refute, but said softly, not knowing whether he agreed or was perfunctory.
Tang Xingmei continued: "I still want to criticize you. It's true that you were a superstar before, and you have created many amazing achievements, but you still have to realize that you are no longer the same person as before. No matter What do you think in your heart? This is indeed how the outside world sees you - they think you are old and can't keep up with the pace of European football. Of course, there is a factor in this that Heldon did not give you a chance to prove for half a season, but it is objective. The facts are there, how many 38-year-old players can still play the main role in a wealthy club?”
She heard her husband's breathing become heavier on the other end of the phone, but she ignored it and continued to say: "Let's just talk about the forward position. How many are there? Those people concluded that 'you can't do it anymore' based on the current objective laws. In conclusion, it seems that we can’t blame them entirely for being ignorant, right?
“What you need now is a chance to prove yourself. Since you are not willing to return to China like this, you must lower your requirements and go to a team. A team that allows you to play, no matter where the team is in the league.
“Play the game first, regain your form and stabilize yourself, prove your ability with actual performance, and then beat those people’s faces to pieces. There is still a year and a half until the World Cup, there is still time, it’s still not too late.
“Your competitive character is a good thing, but sometimes you have to pay attention to the methods of being competitive. Taking a step back does not mean giving in, but it can also mean leaving enough distance for sprinting? Do you think this is true? "
Seeing that Wang Lie had not spoken yet, Tang Xingmei added: "If you think so, just pretend to be a pig and eat the tiger. First, pretend to be a pig, and then eat the tiger. Make a list of all those who are dancing happily now. It is not too late for a gentleman to take revenge in a year and a half. ”
Wang Lie finally reacted - he smiled and said: "What the hell is it that it's not too late for a year and a half?"
When Tang Xingmei heard her husband's reaction, she knew that he had listened to her long speech just now. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, but she still maintained the slightly tough tone just now: "We can't wait ten years. To say 'from morning to night' is not realistic. Your goal is The World Cup will be held in a year and a half. As long as you can perform well in the World Cup, this year and a half can be regarded as a retreat. "
"You are right, my wife, I will let Fernando do it in a while. Expand the range of clubs to contact," Wang Lie said, with no reluctance in his tone.
"Okay." Seeing that her husband was finally convinced by her, Tang Xingmei stopped reasoning.
"Thank you, wife. It has to be you..." Wang Lie said again. "Why are you so polite?" Tang Xingmei's mood improved and she started to joke again, "Have you never heard of the saying 'If you show courtesy for nothing, you will commit adultery or steal'?"
Wang Lie did not accept the joke, but said seriously: "Nothing, I just want to hug you..."
Tang Xingmei was silent.
When her husband was in the most difficult time, she was not by his side. Why didn't she want to give her husband a hug at this moment?
Realizing that a sad mood was spreading between the couple, Wang Lie quickly changed the subject: "Thank you also for taking care of my mother. She is old and is still recovering from the fall. People do have a lot of inconveniences, thanks to you..."
"What are you talking about? She is also my mother." Tang Xingmei said angrily. "Okay, okay, I'm so sleepy. I have to send my sister to kindergarten tomorrow, so I won't talk to you anymore."
"Okay, hardworking wife, go to sleep. I love you!"
>
“Well, I love you too!”
After his wife on the other end of the phone ended the call, Wang Lie watched the screen of his mobile phone that was still charging turn on again.
His mood was the same as the screen, feeling bright again.
Although in front of those who care about him, he acts either tough or indifferent. But in fact, deep down in his heart, he was inevitably affected by this incident.
He was very resistant to returning to play football in China before, but he actually took the initiative to mention it in front of his wife. It's because he really feels like he has no other choice but to feel depressed.
He used the plug-in he just obtained to convince himself that the domestic league level was low and it would be easier for him to score goals. Maybe he could be one or two years younger?
Although he doesn't know how many goals he needs to score to become one year younger, if he can restore his body functions to those before he was thirty... he is really interested in the option of returning to China to play football.
But now after some education from his wife, Wang Lie feels that he should work harder in Europe. At the very least, the European winter transfer window will not end until the end of January, and transfers to the Chinese Super League will be available until March. At worst, wait until the European transfer window closes before considering the option of returning to China.
He was indeed unwilling to return to the country in such despair.
My wife said that a gentleman's revenge is never too late in a year and a half, but the World Cup in a year and a half is still too far away, and he wants to slap those people's faces to pieces now.
Just when he was about to call his agent Fernando Clemente, the phone rang again.
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Looking at Sam McNeil with a solemn expression, Cesar Varro said in surprise: "You haven't gotten through yet? It seems you are not the only one like this. Think..."
Before he finished speaking, he saw McNeil's expression cheered up: "It got through!"
"Huh?"
McNeil frowned again: "Didn't answer... ..."
"This..."
"Yes!"
Varro shut his mouth.
A smile appeared on McNeill's face, and his voice became gentle: "Hi, Wang, good evening! How are you, are you busy now?"
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"Are you also here to ask me what happened in Heaton today? I remember you are not such a gossip, Sam."
Wang Lie saw the caller There was some surprise when it was Sam McNeil.
He and Sam McNeil had been teammates at Soft United, but were not particularly close friends. They have had no contact at all since McNeil left the club.
"Oh no, I'm not a tabloid reporter." McNeil laughed, "I know you don't like nonsense, so I won't beat around the bush. To be honest, I just wanted to ask you, If you don’t plan to stay at Salford United this winter, are you willing to come to Tyne?”
For a moment, Wang Lie wondered if McNeil had tapped his and his wife’s phone calls: Where? What a coincidence! I just used "relegation team" as an example on the phone, but the relegation team really came to visit me.
Real person big data?
Tyne, coached by McNeill, is currently ranked 13th in the Premier League.
It seems that this ranking is quite normal. There are twenty teams in the Premier League, and the thirteenth place can be regarded as a mid-range team.
But they only have 18 points, which is only three points above the relegation zone.
Maybe one game can lead to being dragged into the relegation zone.
It is true to say that they are a relegation team.
Tyne’s goal this season is definitely to fight for relegation.
If it were before, Wang Lie might have politely but decisively rejected a team like Tyne.
However, after talking to his wife on the phone, he was not so impulsive and decided to inquire about the situation first and listen to what McNeil had to say.
McNeil didn’t know Wang Lie’s inner activities. He only knew that after he explained his intention, Wang Lie did not respond. His silence was as if the signal was interrupted—well, maybe it was really a signal. What’s not good?
As he was trying to call out, he heard Wang Lie say: "Sam, I remember you were Tyne who took over in November last year, right?"
"Yes, December 10th Five days, after the fifteenth round of the league.”
"Before you took over, where was Tyne ranked?"
McNeill didn't understand why Wang Lie asked this, but he answered honestly: "Nineteenth. That's why I came. Put out the fire."
"Now after four rounds, you have reached thirteenth. You have done a good job, Sam."
McNeil said with a bitter smile: "Don't. You're kidding me, Wang. I have tried my best, but we are still only three points above the relegation zone. In fact, I would like to boast that the team is on the right track under my leadership, but the fact is that we are still in the quagmire. That's why I need your help."
"I think you're kidding me, Sam. I'm going to be thirty-eight next month and I've only got half a season under my belt. It doesn’t add up to more than four whole games. How can I help you? Don’t you know that the whole of Europe is avoiding me like the plague? They also gave me a new nickname: ‘Yellow Peril’.”
"Hell! Don't compare me with those damn racists, Wang! I'm serious. Tyne needs an experienced and successful top star like you. You are definitely not here to be a mascot. . Whether it’s in the locker room or tactically, I need you 100%.”
McNeil’s stance was very firm.
He has worked with Wang Lie before, and he knows Wang Lie’s character. What this person needs is for others to trust him and support him unconditionally, making him feel needed and valued.
So when dealing with him, it is very important to have an attitude of unswervingly trusting him.
"And you know, the club bought a lot of people before. Although a lot of investment was wasted, there is still no shortage of good players. We have the hard power, but the previous coach did not take them very seriously. Together, I have been doing this work since I came to Tyne, and I have achieved some results, but it is not enough, far from enough. In the process, I feel more and more that Tyne needs a real one! A leader, come and inject soul into this team. And you, Wang, the World Footballer and the winner of the European Ballon d'Or, are the perfect candidate."
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Varo pointed to his arm and said to McNeil: "I have never seen you so numb, Sam, I just got goosebumps here. You are like Coaxing children..."
McNeil was in a good mood after Wang Lie said he would seriously consider his answer. He laughed and said: "In a sense, Wang does seem like a person who needs to be coaxed. Little kid. But I'm not just saying that to cheer him up. I mean it, Cesar. If Wang really comes, of course we can't take away the captain's armband directly, but I will let Wang become the captain. One of the captains, he has all the qualities to be an excellent leader."
Varro joked: "Are you so impatient?"
"I have played with him. Get to know him.”
"Don't say it, you only played with him for one season, Sam."
"One season is enough. Cesar, you don't know Wang. He is the kind of consistent person. , you can know what he is like after just one season, and you don’t need to spend ten seasons with him day and night. Do you think that the things he has been criticized by the media only happened in the past six months? In fact, he has never changed, it’s just people. The criteria for evaluating him have just changed... When he stood up for his teammates on the court, he was praised for his 'leadership', but now he has become 'unbalanced', ha!"
Mike! Neil took on a mocking tone as he spoke, and it was obvious that he felt grievances for Wang Lie.
“But he has never been a captain in Soft United.” Varro pointed out the blind spot.
“That’s because the captain of Sofos United has always been voted by the players.” McNeil said, “and people are not willing to vote for Wang - he does not have the captain’s armband. , he just likes to give orders in the locker room. What if he is given the captain's armband? You must know that some things are really difficult to do without the captaincy. "
< br>
Varro suddenly realized: "No wonder he is neither a direct descendant of Sofo United, nor is he top-notch. Murphy, who transferred halfway, will be the captain of Sofo United for many years... He is well-known as a 'good old man'."< br>
“The decline in Softball United’s performance over the years has a lot to do with the gradual loss of control in their locker room. The previous head coaches before Heldon were unable to control the great men in the locker room. How can we expect this team to continue to fight for wins and championships as before? They can only break out in the contract year and then settle down after getting a big contract..."
Haha. , McNeill shook his head and sighed: "Of course, I also had a 'double standard'... When Soft United performed well, this tradition was always praised as a 'model of democracy' to prove the harmony and harmony of the locker room atmosphere. It can even be regarded as the secret to their success in winning the unprecedented 'Seven Crowns'. So whether the same thing is right or wrong, in fact, it just depends on whether you are the winner..."
He looked at his assistant. : "Isn't our team criticized by the media as 'mercenaries'? What they said is actually not wrong. There are many people in the team now who could have better choices based on their strength. Why did they come here at that time? Tyne, who is ranked in the middle and lower reaches of the Premier League? Isn’t it because our Middle Eastern boss is willing to give money that is far beyond their ability?
“So our boss has gained such a lot. A team that is very strong on paper, but its actual performance is hard to describe... We all agree on this: Tyne's actual performance does not match its true strength, and there is still a lot of potential that can be tapped. So I need Wang Lie, a paranoid man with an abnormal desire for victory, to influence this team with his competitiveness that is far beyond ordinary people. Wang joked on the phone that he was the 'plague' that everyone was afraid of avoiding. I think it's great. I just want his "competitive gene" to infect the whole team like a plague. ”
Although Varro's jaw dropped when McNeil told it, he still had a question: "How can you ensure that the 'mercenaries' in the team can be infected by the king? Wouldn't they be like Sofo?" Are they the same as those players in the United? "
McNeil snorted: "They are neither Arthur Elon nor Ronil Nascimento. Many of them have not even looked decent in their careers. If you don’t even have a championship, what qualifications do you have to be arrogant and unable to position yourself correctly in front of the king?”
Cesar Varro’s mouth was shut.
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PS, during the new book period, please also collect, vote and read more, thank you very much!
(End of this chapter)