Chapter 205: Heroic Courtesy
There is no shortage of miracles on the football field. It's just that those superstars who create miracles are usually not Chinese.
Liu Yun proved to the world that Chinese people can also create miracles on the green field.
At the post-match press conference, Liu Yun was once again in the spotlight.
The reporters asked Liu Yun questions one after another. After the barrage, the reporters suddenly realized that they had not yet interviewed the head coaches of the two teams.
"Coach Pochenotti, what do you think of this defeat?" A female journalist asked.
Pochenotti was clearly trying to digress the subject: "Well, congratulations to our opponents, Coventry, who won a brilliant victory. Their captain on the field, Liu, is an excellent player. The game is over and I think my players should look forward. The next round of the league is crucial. The next round of the league γγγγγγ β
Pochenotti brought the conversation to the Premier League, which drew a lot of attention from reporters. The implication is that the cup is not important, but the league is more important? Then why did you Pochenotti send all the main players in this game? This is really three million taels of silver here.
"Dear Coach George. You made a bold decision in this game, replacing the main striker Manla with Huaguo teenager Qu Bai. Was this a risky decision? β
Old George is still an old gentleman who has not changed his face when Tarzan has collapsed: "The English are adventurous. It's the spirit of adventure that has made the UK one of the most developed countries in the world. On the football field, you also have to have the courage to take risks. Qu is a young player who has the advantage of having excellent speed. The downside is the lack of on-field experience. I think in time, he'll be able to grow into a superstar. β
After bombarding Liu Yun like a cannon and asking questions about the two head coaches, the reporters threw one question after another at Qu Bai. Qu Bai's English is average, but fortunately Liu Yun is the translatorγγγγγγγ
After the press conference, the Coventry team went home.
The bus traveled to Highway 3 in Coventry, and it was already past 10 pm.
At an intersection on Highway 3, more than a dozen police cars blocked the bus's path.
The players and coaches on the bus were puzzled. Could it be that there was a bank robbery in Coventry? Police blockade of the road?
The headlights of the police car flashed, and the loudspeaker on the roof of the car sounded: "I am Coventry City Police Commander Hook. On the orders of the City Council, use a police car to clear the way for our heroes in Coventry and escort them home! β
Coventry is a municipality with its own city council. Most of the members of the City Council are natives of Coventry, and naturally they are fans of the Coventry team. Coventry City took on Tottenham Hotspur today, with MPs watching the game directly from the council chamber. At the end of the game, they voted unanimously to send police cars to welcome the city's heroes home.
It's not that the MPs are abusing their private powers. Treat the heroes of the city, naturally, give them the highest courtesy. The citizens will support them in doing so.
More than a dozen police cars drove in front of the road, their lights flashing, followed by the team bus on Route 3.
Half an hour later, the team bus pulled into downtown Coventry.
On both sides of the roads in the city, there are fans who spontaneously greet the heroes in the middle of the night. They wore Coventry uniforms and sang the team song "Forward, Coventry":
"It's a long, long road when you go through life. Through suffering, we will continue to move forward. Kids in this sky blue jersey, keep going! Coventry! Although you have experienced hardships, although the road is long, and your heart beats hard, although you are tired, we continue to move forward. Oh, the glory of Coventry, the sky blue jersey! Coventry! Coventry! β
Those die-hard fans of the Chinese Super League have supported a team for only a dozen years. Some Chinese Super League teams have been around for a few years before disappearing, and their fans have supported them for even shorter periods of time.
These fans in the UK have supported a team for generations. Maybe the team won't get a good result in ten or twenty years. However, they supported the team with the mentality that I am dead and my son, my son is dead and my grandson is gone, and the children and grandchildren are endless. Coventry, for example, last won the FA Cup 30 years ago and last reached the quarter-finals 20 years ago. Today, Coventry City beat Premier League second-place Tottenham Hotspur to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, giving fans nearly 20 years of long-awaited results. How can the fans not be excited?
The police maintained order on both sides of the road. When they saw the team bus coming, they all raised their hands and saluted.
Finally, the team bus returned to Ricoh Stadium. Generally, after the away game, the team bus will take the players back to Ricoh Stadium, take a shower and celebrate, and then go back to their respective homes and sleep with their daughters-in-law.
At the entrance of Ricoh Stadium, a group of people stood.
Liu Yun saw that standing at the front was Mayor Pine.
It turned out that Mayor Pine, a member of the City Council and local celebrities spontaneously greeted the heroes of Coventry at the entrance of Ricoh Stadium.
As is customary, when the team bus arrives at any destination, the first person to get off must be the head coach of the team.
George Sr. was the first to get out of the car, and Mayor Pine stepped forward: "Coach George, all the citizens of Coventry welcome the hero home!"
Next came Liu Yun, who was the captain.
Pine shook Liu Yun's hand again: "Great old lieutenant!" You've scored two classic goals in this game! β
The players stepped out of the car one by one, and Mayor Pine shook hands with them one by one: "My heroes, thank you to the citizens of Coventry!" Thank you for bringing glory to this city! β
Liu Yun and a group of players returned to the locker room, took a shower, and changed their clothes. They just don't have the energy to celebrate. The defense that spared no effort in this game exhausted them.
The bus took Liu Yun back to Mrs. Hudson's house.
Alger is back to work in Manchester tomorrow. But he still led his wife Gloria, and his two sons waited for Liu Yun.
When Liu Yun returned, Gloria and Mrs. Hudson gave Liu Yun two fragrant kisses, one on the left and one on the right.
After Alger's family left. Mrs. Hudson rummaged through the cabinets to find a jersey. The jersey reads "Joey Bryan." β
Liu Yun once saw a photo of Joey Bryan in the team history museum. He was known to be the star of Coventry in the 70s of the last century, and once led the team to the European stage.
Mrs. Hudson said to Liu Yun, "My child, this jersey was in the collection of my deceased husband. Joey Bryan once wore this shirt to lead Coventry City against Bayern Munich. Now I'm giving you this jersey. β
Liu Yun shirked: "This... It's so precious. Not good. β
Mrs. Hudson shook her head: "Boy, you definitely deserve this jersey for your performance tonight!" β