Lu Ling watched as the 90-minute timer came to an end.

Hans had a sudden fever the night before, and Robert Green started the game, perhaps without playing for too long, and he made a mistake in the third minute. After the Reds took a 1-0 lead, they did not launch an onslaught, and QPR tried hard to equalise, but neither the attacking efficiency nor the luck was good. In the last ten minutes, when both teams were a little close, Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson suddenly scored with a long-range shot from the outside. The goal will make the second leg of the QPR game at Anfield incredibly tough.

And just like that, at the new Queen's Park, in the first game since Patrick's departure, the QPR lost 0-2 to Liverpool in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

This time, Lu Ling didn't communicate too much with Klopp, and after a simple hug, she walked into the players' tunnel.

Sky Sports' commentator for this game is making the final closing commentary:

'Last night, in the first leg of another Carabao Cup semi-final, Everton lost 2-1 away to Manchester City. It seems unlikely that Flores and Lu will meet in the Carabao Cup final. This is the third game of the season that QPR has lost, and the team's number one star Patrick Amber has just left, and the team's form seems to be affected a bit. Perhaps, for Kristen Lu, for QPR, it will be an extremely cold and difficult January. In three days' time, they will play Manchester United in the league. Good luck to them. ”

In fact, Lu Ling didn't pay much attention to whether he could meet Nick in the League Cup final. The vast majority of her attention was on the league game against Manchester United on Sunday. So much so that when she gave a post-match interview to Sky Sports, she was a little absent-minded.

However, Sky Sports also asked questions about playing Manchester United on Sunday.

'We beat them last time at Old Trafford and of course we want to do it again at home. ”

She hurriedly finished speaking and hurried back to the locker room.

Lu Ling, as usual, clapped his hands a few times, ready to make a simple and quick speech, and then went to attend the post-match press conference.

They quieted down.

However, she sensed something unusual.

Previously, Tim suggested that she talk to the players, and he was more tactful, but Lu Ling knew what he meant. The assistant coach believes that the players are upset and unhappy with Patrick's departure, and if she says something, it might help calm those feelings. She agreed. But in the past two days, her energy has been more focused on the arrangement and thinking of techniques and tactics, and she has not had time to do this.

She regretted it a little, because it was clear that now, that emotion had expanded.

Lu Ling thought quickly, she didn't have to worry about Ian, Robert, and Nedham, the three captains were still on her side, at least for now, especially Ian.

Zixiang ...... Even if he was unhappy with Pate's departure, he would never stand directly against her. Although, the sound of him packing things is a bit loud.

Vargas, Dzyuba, Campbell, these three should have no problem. Vargas has always respected her, Campbell has a more gentle personality, and Dzyuba ...... He's got a chance to play more, oh, for all three.

Then there's León, the Uruguayan boy is a striker, and there will definitely be some opinions about the playmaker behind him leaving, and León is an ambitious guy in the first place. He was fiddling with his fingers with his head down.

Also upset or unhappy are Mensah, Jacob, and Mario, all three of whom have joined the team this season, and who either look irritable or absent-minded.

Moreover, John has just recovered from injury recently, and although he did not play this time, he is also in the dressing room, and he looks equally bad. And next to him, Glenn was holding a drink bottle, and his right hand kept pinching, without saying a word.

As for Hans, he was not in the locker room, he rested at home. Lu Ling felt that he should also be the one who was dissatisfied with this. There are two reasons for this, the first is that he has a good relationship with Pat, and the second is especially important, he has always believed that he should play for an ambitious team - in any case, letting him go makes QPR look less ambitious.

Lu Ling coughed, and his sharp gaze had swept over all the players.

She suddenly turned around and said to the coaching staff and the team doctor, "Tim stays, the others please leave, oh, by the way, help me tell Josh, I'll be over a little later." ”

Soon, only the head coach and assistant coach were left in the dressing room, as well as nineteen first-team players. These twenty-one people are actually a little crowded in such a space. And there was tension in the air.

The players don't know what the manager wants to do.

Lu Ling walked to the tactical board and quickly drew a coordinate system, she patted the tactical board after drawing, "Everyone, keep your eyes on here." ”

Then, in the upper part of the coordinate system, she drew a curve that was close to a straight line.

'This is our result before the defeat to Arsenal this season, you know I'm not bragging, at that time we had the best record in Europe. ”

But she immediately turned around after the straight line, and the straight line began to go down.

"This is our most recent result......

She pouted, "Not good, right? Not good." Of course, it's not a disaster. ”

The expressions on the faces of the players were a little embarrassed, and some even blamed themselves on their faces.

"I know a lot of you have been wondering lately, why did Pat go? Maybe the boss shouldn't have stopped his game, maybe the boss had a fight with him, maybe ...... I don't care, really, I don't care what you think about it in your heart. But I would say that no matter how much you think about it, or how unhappy you are with Pat's departure, it doesn't help us so far. ”

"You can explain, there must be a reason...... Mensa interjected in a muffled voice.

Lu Ling looked at the Dutchman and stared at him for several seconds without speaking. Mensa didn't avoid her gaze, but he was still a little at a loss.

"Yes, Timothy. Yes, there is a reason. But I won't tell you. Lu Ling shrugged his shoulders.

"Why?" said Glenn this time.

Lu Ling turned her gaze to the Yorkshire boy, she was a little surprised, but she didn't show it.

"Why?" she sneered, "Glenn, if one day you leave the QPR, do you want me to tell all the teammates who stayed behind why you left? It could be your problem, it could be the club's problem, it could be my problem, it could just be because the cleaners didn't get your damn stinky socks away in time...... Do you really want me to tell everyone that? No, trust me, you wouldn't. I'm not going to do that. So put away your curiosity and try to get back to the form we were in before we lost the first game. ”

No one asked any more questions.

"I said last season, it's not Patrick Amber's team, you guys, it's not his team, if you're still a little bit proud and you're still chasing glory, you're going to forget about him. Because without him, we can get back to the top. Yes, you heard it right, that's what we're aiming for next – to get back to the top!"

"Now, tell me, what is our goal?"

"Back to the top!!"

"I can't hear it. ”

"Back to the top !!!"

"What?"

"Back to the top !!!"

"Very well, don't forget what you said, I don't mind letting him spend a week with old Tom when I see anyone slacking or talking about girls in training session. Lu Ling smiled a little after speaking, "If anyone else is dissatisfied with me personally, my office, you know where it is." ”

Then, she clapped her hands with the assistant and walked out of the locker room.

But after the locker room door closed, she stood by the door for a while. The team doctor came to see her and was about to say something, but she had put away all her emotions and said to him, "Don't forget to check on John." After she finished speaking, she walked to the press conference.

****

At the same time. Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain.

Patrick stood in the middle of the pitch in Barça's number 7 shirt, flanked by Jack Amber, Lucy Amber and Anna Amber. It's a tradition in Spanish teams, and the family will be on display at the joining ceremony.

He has a polite smile on his face, and the corners of his lips occasionally curl up. He greeted him in simple Catalan and gave a short speech in English. This was followed by a simple trick show and a number of balls were kicked to the fans in the stands.

More than 60,000 Barcelona fans came to the scene, chanting Patrick Amber's name and even putting up signs in English to welcome the English talent.

One of the young hot Latinas had a slogan in her hand that caught the attention of photographers and videographers. It reads in English:

“iloveyou!pat!”

Patrick didn't think he would really laugh, but when some Barcelona fans sang the song written for him by QPR fans in English, he really laughed and couldn't help it. Especially in the second half of the song, many people can't, the singing becomes uneven, and he laughs more and more brightly.

He looked at the stadium, which can accommodate nearly 100,000 people, and the stands on all sides seemed to stand upright, so brilliant and majestic. This belongs to the talented warriors. He wants to conquer here, no, he has to conquer here. He must.

Whatever he will become, he has already stood in the biggest stadium in Europe wearing the number 7 shirt and will be featured here in a few days – if Enrique puts him in the squad, of course.

Patrick looked up, the night sky over Camp Nou was just as beautiful. It's good here. But he also wondered, West London, if everything was okay?

Did she hear his message?

You have to know, girl, that like you, I want to conquer the world.

****

It was half past eleven that night. Harrington Training Base, Conference Room.

Nathaniel Lawrence sat at the back of the conference table with his feet crossed over the conference table, his suit pants a little wrinkled and his socks showing a large section.

Lu Ling glanced at it, the dark green was patterned, she only thought the color was strange, but when she looked at it again, the corners of her mouth moved.

Nathan Neal noticed her gaze and expression, and tilted his neck to look at his stockings. Then he winked at the manager, "Oh, I love alligators." ”

He wears alligator socks. He wears a gray haute couture suit and leather shoes, but wears a pair of socks that a high school boy would find childish.

Lu Ling pulled out his chair and said casually: "I like normal crocodiles, they are more powerful than alligators." ”

"You still have research on crocodiles?"

"That's all I know. Lu Ling's movements paused for a moment, and then, she sat down and added, "I once accompanied Pat to see the Discovery Channel." ”

"He watches Discovery Channel? Oh my God, I thought he only liked women and video games. Oh, and football, of course. Don't tell me he was a nerd when he was in school, I don't believe it. ”

He likes a lot of things. Lu Ling smiled.

"He's not. He is adventurous and sometimes sees the Amazon jungle, some animals in Africa, etc. ”

Nathan Neal nodded, but his expression told Lu Ling that he was still in shock.

Lu Ling looked at his watch and said, "Nate, you know I've had a tight schedule lately. If you just want to make small talk to me, I don't have time. But I guess you should have something serious to talk to me, so let's hurry. ”

The American then put down his long legs and leaned his chair back on the long table, "Winter reinforcements, do you have any new ideas?"

"It's unlikely that Atletico will release him and I'm a little bit skeptical about Correa. For the rest, you can talk to Rice. I haven't had time to scout players lately, and that's what Rice does. Of course, if Rice can ......" Lu Ling said this, and did not continue, she had no interest in complaining to the owner about the ability of the football director at this time.

Nathan Neal nodded and asked, "How's the locker room?"

"I'm in control. Lu Ling thought about the expressions of most of the players after she said that, and said: "If the locker room is messed up, I know very well what will happen." I think they've understood that this isn't Pyter's team. ”

"That's good. The American boss nodded again, and then he stood up, "I'll stay in London until after I play Manchester United." ”

Lu Ling tilted his head and stood up.

They looked at each other across the long table, and for several seconds, neither of them moved.

"There's one thing I have to make clear. The American suddenly spoke.

"Speak. ”

'If you don't get a Champions League place this season, you're sacked. It was a decision I made in agreement with Tony. ”

Lu Ling was still staring at Nathan Neil's turquoise eyes.

"Christine, I'm sorry......" Nathan Nill said again, seeing that she didn't speak.

However, she interrupted him, "If I don't get a Champions League place, I'll resign myself, saving you and Toney a hefty liquidated damages." ”

Nathan Neal burst out laughing.

"You seem to be satisfied, I thought you didn't care about those millions of pounds. Lu Ling said sarcastically.

'I'm a businessman, millions of pounds, and the club can buy a nice young player. ”

"I really like this spirit. Lu Ling raised his eyebrows, "It's late, so I'm here today?"

Nathan Neal smiled at her, "Good night." ”

"Good night. Lu Ling turned around.

He suddenly said behind her: "Look, since Pat is gone, maybe you and I ......"

She didn't look back, leaving him with the back of his head and a middle finger.

The door was opened and the manager walked out.

If a person is arrogant, even the back of her head is arrogant. Nathan Neal thought.

He looked down at his socks again.

Is alligator really that inferior?

****

"Still mad at me? That's not fair. You said so many things that broke my heart, and I wasn't mad at you. So, promise me that when you're not mad at me, give me a call. Plus, Anna will take care of Zoe, don't worry. If you're free, remember to check out Luca, it doesn't matter if you're not available, Amy promised me to tell me about him every week. His voice paused here for half a second before it sounded again: "I think that's it." Goodbye, Tina. See you in the summer. ”

Lu Ling thought he was finished, but it was just a longer pause, and in the mobile phone, his affectionate and sincere voice rang again:

"Love you, I'm going to go crazy with what you think. ”

She listened to it again, listened to it again, listened to it again, tried to delete it, and finally chose to save the voice message.

She put down her phone and turned off the lights.

Good night, Pat. 166 Reading Network