The 49-year-old Phil Thompson, who was Liverpool's legendary captain in the 80s, remained at the club after retiring as an assistant to former boss Evans and later as Houllier. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

The most impressive thing about the Reds' former legend is that after manager Houllier had to leave the position in October 2001 due to a heart attack, he led the team at a critical moment and achieved quite good results, but then Houllier returned and he had to return to his role as an assistant.

Hollier also attaches great importance to this capable right-hand man, especially after reading the game report he brought back, and he is very sure of his inference.

"You're right, Phil, this is indeed a rather fatal vulnerability. ”

Holier put down the match report in his hand with a look of surprise, making no secret of his excitement.

Defeating the winning coach Gao Han and defeating the 200 million army Chelsea, these two auras are too tempting.

He vowed that no one in the whole of European professional football would be able to resist such a temptation.

What's more, Liverpool are aiming to compete for a top-four finish in the league this season and retain Champions League qualification.

Manchester United and Arsenal will not change much, so the remaining two places, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea, are all in contention for one of the places, so the direct dialogue becomes very weighty.

It's not just three points in the league, it could even determine Champions League qualification.

Phil Thompson also smiled and suggested, "Then I'll start arranging the relevant training." ”

"Hmm. Houllier nodded, "The pace of Owen and Diouf will play a key role in this game, and we have to take advantage of this hole and create chances around this area." ”

"Okay, I understand. ”

Hadj Diouf, Senegal international, who became famous in the World Cup in 02 for beating France, after moving to Liverpool, his performance was relatively average, but he was only 22 years old, so Houllier is still looking forward to him.

Like the team's biggest star Michael Owen, Diouf is characterized by lightning speed, which makes him a very dangerous player on the pitch and good at playing on the left.

Now that Chelsea's weakness has been grasped, Houllier and the coaching staff need to use it to create targeted tactics and practice defensive and counter-attacking routines to restrain Chelsea.

Luckily, there's still plenty of time.

"Gao Han, we will give you an unforgettable meeting gift at Anfield Stadium!"

…………

…………

With the Premier League just around the corner, the atmosphere at Fulham's training base at Magic Thorn Park is getting more and more tense.

Last season, the team played poorly, and under the leadership of French coach Tigana, the team was deep in the relegation zone, and the management had to sack manager Tigana late in the season and promote the newly retired young coach Chris Coleman.

As a result, Coleman led the team to relegation and became famous.

The team has not invested a single penny in the transfer market this summer, but they have sold their right-sided player Finnan to Liverpool, and their overall strength has not increased but decreased, and even their performance in the pre-season warm-up games has not been satisfactory.

However, head coach Coleman appeared confident and promised that the team's goal this season would not be relegation.

There are a lot of players in the squad who believe in him, as the second-youngest manager in the Premier League has managed to conquer everyone last season and everyone believes in his quality of coaching.

Including Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Van der Sar is Chinese New Year's Eve two years old today, and even in the goalkeeper position, he can be regarded as a veteran.

Even last season, Van der Sar made only 19 Premier League appearances due to injuries and other reasons, and many people doubted whether he would retire or return to the Netherlands for retirement.

But he stayed.

Because head coach Coleman personally told him that the team needed him.

It's always nice to be needed, isn't it?

Middlesbrough will face a team in the first round of the Premier League this summer, with the biggest addition being the loan signing of Mendieta from Lazio, who will be hoping to help the former superstar regain his former form, which has fallen at Lazio and then Barcelona.

Even if it's only half recovered, they've earned it.

Van der Sar is sympathetic and even somewhat sympathetic to Mendieta's experience.

Because of the same experience, he has also had it.

He made his debut in the Ajax academy and became a pillar of the team under the tutelage of Ben Fan Gaal, who helped Ajax win the Champions League, which was the pinnacle of his career.

At that time, Van der Sar was sought after by the major European clubs, and many teams were eager to join him, and he also went to Serie A with great ambitions, joining Juventus, hoping to prove his quality in the mini-World Cup.

But unexpectedly, the two seasons at Juventus became the darkest two years of his career.

Poor performances and low-level mistakes have brought him under fire from fans and the media.

Even, after Juventus brought in goalkeeper Buffon from Parma at a sky-high price, Van der Sar was unexpectedly unpopular, and finally had to join the Premier League promotion team Fulham.

This huge drop from heaven to hell is so similar to that of Mendieta.

The difference was that the Dutchman was thirty-two years old, and he confessed.

The only thing he wants now is to play well at Fulham, play well and complete his Premier League contract, then return to the Netherlands and to the Ajax he knows well until he retires.

It's simple, it's unpretentious.

It's like his unpretentious black Volkswagen, and like his low-key life in Morton, south London.

Gradually, he got used to this life.

As usual, I finished the training session, took a shower and changed my clothes, drove the black Volkswagen, and slowly left the training base.

Magic Thorn Park is located in the southern suburbs of London, between Morton and Kingston-upon-Thames.

The Van der Sar family lives in the new Morton district, a neighborhood that has developed in recent years with a concentration of upper-middle-class classes.

He rented a detached three-storey cottage with a separate garden and spacious rooms.

His wife is at home, and his children are studying at a good school nearby, and they come home early and late.

Almost every day, he would come home on time, park his car, and enter the door, only to see two imps sitting facing each other doing their homework, while his wife should be in the kitchen preparing a hearty dinner.

Every time, he would smile at the children and say, "Hurry up, I'll wait for you in the back." ”

The two imps are always very excited, especially the son, much like him when he was younger.

But today, a sudden phone call broke this long-term tranquility.

Chris Coleman?

Why did he call at this time?

Van der Sar frowned, but waved his hand at the two children, turned and walked out of the living room to the garden to answer the phone.

"I'm so sorry, Edwin, I have to tell you sad news. "The manager's voice came over the phone.

Van der Sar's brow furrowed even deeper, could it be that the club was not happy with himself?

In the first place, one of the reasons why he came to Fulham from Juventus was that Fulham offered a very good salary.

But now that Fulham has clearly begun to cut back on spending, is it going to take a shot at him, the highest-paid member of the team?

"It's okay, you say, Chris. Van der Sar's mind was racing, but he was still calm.

No matter what the other party says, he can accept it indifferently.

"That's right, Edwin, the current situation of the team, I'm sure you know that. ”

"Hmm. Van der Sar's sense of foreboding was even worse.

"Just now, the club informed me that this morning Chelsea sent me a fax of an offer and they were willing to buy you at Stamford Bridge for 10 million euros, and Gao Han called me personally to ask about your situation. ”

"What?" Van der Sar was shocked.

Alpine?

How is this possible?

"I don't know the specific situation, but I can see that Gao Han really wants to buy you. ”

Van der Sar still finds it difficult to understand because he is thirty-two years old.

What's more, his performance in Fulham has not been satisfactory.

Chelsea is known as a 200 million army, and even if the players bought are not European stars, they are at least one of the best stars in the Premier League, so why can't they take their turn?

"Anyway, Edwin, I hope you can understand the club's difficulties, we need this money, and besides, I've given him your mobile phone number, he should call you soon. ”

Van der Sar took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

He's a professional footballer and knows exactly where he is.

"Got it, thank you, Chris. Van der Sar replied lightly, in the same tone as usual.

Chris Coleman seemed to smile wryly and finally sighed, "Good luck, Edwin. ”

"You too. ”

After hanging up the phone, Van der Sar let out a long breath.

He was a little puzzled as to why Chelsea were looking for him.

Also, the high cold.

He vaguely remembered that when he was in 01 year, he had also been in contact with Atletico Madrid for a time, and there were even media rumors that Atletico Madrid wanted to buy him, but then it seemed that Juventus was asking for a high price, which scared Atletico Madrid away.

Could it be that Gao Han really wants himself?

But it doesn't make sense!

As a 32-year-old veteran who has been through so many ups and downs, Van der Sar is self-aware and knows that his performances at Juventus and Fulham are not ideal.

Of course, he knows better why, but as a professional, he has no escaping and no excuses.

Why me?

Van der Sar asked himself.

But soon, another call came in, and the caller ID was an unfamiliar number.

Van der Sar took a deep breath, spit out again, and then connected the phone.

"Hello Edwin, I'm Gao Han. ”

A simple sentence made Van der Sar's heart tumble into a monstrous wave.

On the other side of the phone, it was a European coach who spent 200 million euros on a transfer fee in the summer!

"Hello, Mr. Gao Han, it's a pleasure to receive your call. ”

"Thank you. Gao Han seemed very polite, without the majesty of some famous marshals.

It probably has something to do with his youth.

Van der Sar thought to himself, he has also seen some Atletico Madrid reports from newspapers and magazines.

"If it's convenient for you, I'd like to be able to meet with you, sit down and have a good chat, you know, a lot of things are not clear on the phone. ”

"Okay, when? where?"

"Hmm...... The sooner the better, now it's fine, where, whatever, I'll go right over. "Gao Han seemed eager.

This made Van der Sar's heart warm slightly, and he thought for a moment, "Then let's just be in Morton, there is a good coffee there." ”

"Well, okay, I'm in Harrington, I'll be right over. ”

After hanging up the phone, Van der Sar exhaled heavily, his eyes somewhat confused.

But he quickly walked home.

Before going out, he had to explain to his wife, and by the way, appease the two little ghosts.

I definitely won't be able to play with them today. (To be continued.) )