Chapter 156: McLaren's Counterattack
Middlesbrough are a lacklustre Premier League side, with no highlight moments in their more than 100-year history and no top-level title to brag about. But that could change this season, and it was Steve McClaren who single-handedly led to this.www.biquge.info
Although the young coach does not have a truly glamorous resume in the managerial position, his dazzling assistant coaching experience has already made the local media in England, which has historically lacked a famous coach, touted him as a promising future top manager, in the same way that they touted England's countless "superstars".
And the most commendable aspect of Mr McClaren's CV is undoubtedly that he helped United to a glorious treble in '99 as Ferguson's chief assistant manager.
While there are many theories about how much he contributed to this, there are undoubtedly more people who agree with him, at least in England, when Ferguson does not know whether he is genuinely or politely called a "powerful reformer".
So from this point of view, Ferguson and Manchester United undoubtedly have a great support and help for him. It's just that the promising England coach doesn't seem to cherish the "friendship" with Ferguson and Manchester United, and his comments on Li Lei and Ferguson before the game don't sound very polite, and his guiding style seems to really regard himself as a famous coach.
I don't know if he really said this, or just wanted to interfere with Li Lei and Manchester United's pre-match preparations, but when the media unintentionally hyped up the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals between Myburgh and Manchester United, he took the initiative to stand up and provoke the incident, causing the reporters on Fleet Street to jump up and down again.
"Alex Ferguson is undoubtedly a great coach and I learned a lot of valuable things from my time as an assistant coach with him. But when it comes to the handling of the Asian goalkeeper this season, he's really gone awry. He was too partial to the Asian who saved his life, which in my opinion is simply irrational and can easily provoke problems in the team's locker room. The departures of Barthez and Carroll are the stark proof of this, and Sir Alex Ferguson mistakenly chose to believe him when it was heard that there was also a problem between him and Howard, which was a ticking time bomb in the team's dressing room. ”
"Of course, I don't deny that the Asian goalkeeper is really talented, and you can see from the amazing saves. But what the goalkeeper needs to be in this position is stability, from time to time to break out of the penalty area to defend, and sometimes even to temporarily change the position to play as a striker, this young goalkeeper is simply acting in a Hollywood movie, not playing honestly. The most important thing Sir Alex Ferguson should do now is to use his strong hand to help him get rid of these shortcomings, otherwise I don't think this young Asian will have a bright future. History has taught us time and time again that such a goalkeeper will only end up being a cancer for the team, and although they can make good saves, they can't protect the door behind them all season. ”
"What do you think of the first leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final?"
"I've studied the Asian goalkeeper thoroughly and I'm sure his instability will bring us goals and wins as long as he's on the pitch."
"How many goals are you going to score?"
"How about 3, hehehehe."
As soon as McLaren's report came out, his last confident smile went viral throughout England. Thanks to his "blessings," Li Lei, who had not been in a newspaper for nearly two months, once again became the focus of public opinion from the outside world, and his photos once again appeared on the pages of major newspapers.
McLaren's interview remarks are really not very polite, and the whole article seems to be aimed at Li Lei, but there is a faint smell of pointing fingers above Ferguson, and even a smart person can smell it.
Perhaps in recent times, the media has been so hyped about it that it really makes the England young marshal really think that he has reached the point where he can sit on the floor with Ferguson and argue on an equal footing.
In response to his public remarks, the first reaction was not Manchester United Club, nor the protagonists Li Lei and Ferguson who were pointed out by him, but Manchester United fans.
It can be said that almost overnight, the "merit" of the original Manchester United treble winner completely destroyed the good impression he left on Manchester United fans, and even directly became the common enemy of Old Trafford.
If he is only aimed at Li Lei, then maybe Manchester United fans can also see it as the Manchester United striker's "guidance" and "love" for the younger generation, at most, he is not very comfortable in his heart, and it will not be a big problem.
But his tone of vague overriding Ferguson is something that no Manchester United fan can endure, because the real kings of Manchester United and Old Trafford have never been superstars like Cantona or David Beckham, but this old Scottish man with a rosacea nose.
Someone would dare to be disrespectful to the King, which is something that loyal people like Manchester United fans will never accept, even if this person has been a minister who has contributed to Manchester United's red empire.
Among them, the West Stand at Old Trafford, also known as the Stretford part of Manchester United's die-hard fan base, Manchester United fan leader Dewall was quick to respond to McClaren's remarks on social media: "Compared to the great Sir Alex Ferguson, he is a piece of shit that is nothing!" Lee is undoubtedly a great young goalkeeper and I like his character and style and I'm sure he'll teach him a good lesson in the game. ”
"As for us, we'll have a good welcome for him in the great Stretford section!"
Next to this passage, he also accompanied a photo of himself holding a butcher knife with a fierce and eerie expression, which made the meaning of the word "welcome" in his words self-evident.
But just when Manchester United fans were in full swing over McLaren's words, Manchester United Club, Ferguson, and all Manchester United players, including Li Lei, have been eerily silent, as if they were isolated from the world and did not know that McLaren's words had spread throughout England.
This was a big deal for the paparazzi on Fleet Street, and in the end, they couldn't wait any longer, and they all rushed to the Carrington base and the homes of various Manchester United players, but they handed the microphone to Li Lei's mouth, and no one spoke.
If it was one or two diehards like Li Lei, who were already resistant to media reporters, why was the entire club and the whole team so silent all of a sudden, was it a gag order? Shouldn't it, in the face of a mere Rice Burgh, it stands to reason that Ferguson can't give such an ultimate ban?
In the end, the paparazzi reporters, who were puzzled and anxious, even took up the idea of Carrington's staff, but still did not get any effective information.
Just when they were jumping up and down in a hurry, they didn't expect that the origin of the situation that was almost forcing them to death now was just a sentence from Li Lei.
Of course, Ferguson felt uncomfortable with McLaren's words, how could he allow a nobody to pee and on his head with his strong character.
On the night of McLaren's words, the old man lost his temper in his study. But just as he was calculating how to fight back, Li Lei, who also learned the news, suddenly visited his study and calmed the anger in Ferguson's heart with only one sentence.
"Old man, don't say anything tomorrow, just wait and see me beat the dog for you!"
Looking at Li Lei's firm and angry eyes, the old man immediately lost his anger and smiled.
Have fun laughing!
Smile with pleasure!!