The next day the team had a day off, and it was not surprising that they usually had a day off after the game. It's just that if the team loses in a row and is in a slump, the day off will also be canceled and used for punitive training. However, today they managed to avoid relegation ahead of schedule and completed one of the most important tasks of the season, so manager Fernandes was extra gracious and took two days off.

When Chu Zhongtian returned to the apartment, it was very quiet, there was no one in the building, and he did not see the welcome scene in the corridor, and he did not meet the old man Legov and his daughter, but he saw a bottle of champagne at the door.

The champagne tied with the ribbon rested against the wall outside the door, and the ribbon floated up as the wind as he walked.

He leaned over and picked up the bottle, and looked at the two lines written on the ribbon:

February 21, 2005, round 37 of the league, vs. PSG, best of the match.

He was again Man of the Match in yesterday's game, his second Man of the Match of the season. This bottle of champagne is a reward for the best players.

This time period...... Old man Legov should be resting in his sleep...... Chu Zhongtian looked at the champagne and smiled.

In fact, he has already realized the biggest difference between professional players and amateur players - professional players do not have as much contact with fans as amateur players and fans, just like the training ground of a professional team is fenced with a barbed wire wall. He doesn't have much contact with the fans in Metz, and he won't be like at Wimbledon, when he doesn't train, he just soaks with the fans, and can intuitively experience their joys and sorrows, but here is different, he trains more than in the amateur team, so there is less time for not training, and then he has his own affairs, and there is no opportunity for him to mix with the fans all day long. Naturally, the fans of this team are a little more estranged.

It's just that Old Man Legov and "Broken Mouth" Belmont still let him understand the feelings of these fans.

Chu Zhongtian, who opened the door and entered the house, opened the glass cabinet and put the champagne in. Looking at the four bottles of champagne inside, he laughed.

※※※ Successful relegation will make people feel that the league is over, but in fact there is a final round - on May 28, away to Nantes.

Chu Zhongtian's outstanding performance against Paris Saint-Germain once again attracted large-scale attention from the French media.

On the second day of the game, a large photo of Chu Zhongtian's goal appeared in a number of French newspapers, and Chu Zhongtian was introduced in any newspaper with national influence. Although Chu Zhongtian had also scored an equalizing goal in the game with Lyon before, in terms of importance, that goal was obviously not as good as this goal. That goal is worth one point at most, but yesterday's goal is not only worth three points, but also means that Metz can continue to stay in the top league next season, and from a monetary point of view, Mez's financial budget income throughout the season has been affected by Chu Zhongtian's goal.

Under such circumstances, the media can't praise Chu Zhongtian too much.

In particular, the local media in Metz compared him to "Yao Ming" in Metz, Yao Ming is now the most well-known Chinese athlete in the world, and slightly inferior to him is Liu Xiang, who just won the men's 110-meter hurdles championship at last year's Athens Olympics.

The French media collectively paid attention to Chu Zhongtian, and the Chinese media were naturally excited.

They only need to translate and revise the articles in the French press, and add some more exaggerated and sensational paragraphs to attract the attention of a large number of readers.

That "Mace Yaoming" is naturally also a "concept" hyped up by the Chinese media.

But Chu Zhongtian himself hated this title very, very much...... He plays football, while Yao Ming plays basketball, and the two are not related, although they are both big balls, they are very different. How can they be compared together? What's more, his current influence is not on the same level as Yao Ming, forcibly promoting himself will only make others think that he is not self-sufficient, and it will also put him under a lot of unnecessary pressure. If he loses a game, then someone will be angry: "You are our China's 'Yao Ming' in the football world, representing China's image, how can you lose!" ”

He didn't want to be scolded like that one day.

It's not that he's afraid to take responsibility, he's averse to taking on some inexplicable responsibilities that he doesn't want to be imposed on him.

He knows what kind of person he is, and he never shirks the responsibilities he should take, such as leading the team to victory on the pitch or relegation. But if you want to take other messy responsibilities on him, please forgive him for not being sensitive.

For the sake of this title, he first said to the French media: "I don't like the name 'Metz Yaoming', please change it." If not, I won't be interviewed by you again. ”

To the Chinese media, he said more directly: "Yao Ming is Yao Ming, I am me, I can't be him, and I don't want to be him." A basketball and a football are two sports that are fundamentally different, the French media is talking nonsense, and you are also hyping up? Anyway, I'm disgusted with this kind of footwork, you guys change it. I don't have a nickname to call me 'Lin Danda', I do it, just don't call me 'Yao Ming of Mace' and 'Liu Xiang of football', I can't stand it. ”

This is the first time the media have seen Chu Zhongtian lose his temper. In the past, Chu Zhongtian always accepted interviews politely, tried to answer any questions that could be answered, and told the interviewer very tactfully if it was inconvenient to answer. Everyone still thought that he was a good-tempered person, but in this matter, they saw Chu Zhongtian's stubbornness and stubbornness.

The incident of "Mace Yaoming" was just a small episode and did not affect people's moods. Anyway, it's not a big deal, Chu Zhongtian won't let it be called, so it won't be called. Anyway, in China, there are many fans who think that the nickname hyped by the media is really disgusting...... What "Mace Yaoming"? Are there any similarities between Chu Zhongtian and Yao Ming? Not at all, this far-fetched will only make people more offensive.

The local media in Metz re-nicknamed "Lion", taken from Napoleon's famous quote. It means that Chu Zhongtian's style of playing football is as brave and aggressive as a lion.

For this nickname, Chu Zhongtian had no objection, and was called away.

※※※Before the match against Nantes, Chu Zhongtian still has a German class to attend. In fact, he studied German with Mathilde, and he didn't plan to really learn it well, he didn't learn as hard as he did when he learned French, he just found a reason to continue to get along with Mathilde. Still, he learned a little.

After the lesson, Mathilde suddenly remembered something: "Chu, I heard that you are on loan from an English team. ”

Chu Zhongtian didn't understand why Mathilde asked this, so he nodded.

"So that means you're leaving Metz after the next day's game?"

Chu Zhongtian nodded: "I'm going back to China for a vacation." ”

"Will you come back later?" Mathilde waited a little nervously for Chu Zhongtian's answer.

"I don't know." Chu Zhongtian shook his head honestly, and when he saw a look of disappointment on Madil's face, he laughed again: "But I will try to get it back." ”

"Strive for? What does that mean? Mathilde asked, confused.

"It's about getting a permanent transfer, leaving the UK, coming to Metz."

After Mathilde heard Chu Zhongtian say this, she breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile reappeared on her face.

Seeing the smiling German teacher, Chu Zhongtian was a little distracted.

Today's Delphine. When Mathilde came to teach Chu Zhongtian a lesson, she no longer dressed up like that rustic look. She looks like a normal French girl, pursuing beauty.

This made Chu Zhongtian feel that the German class once a week gave him an opportunity to appreciate beautiful women unscrupulously.

"What made you think like this, Chu?"

"What's the reason...... Teammates, coaches and fans here. It's a perfect place for me, I love it. Of course...... And you, Marty. I haven't learned German yet, so why don't I leave and never come back? ”

Mathilde's mood went through a process from disappointment to happiness and then to regret between Chu Zhongtian's words.

It's just that when those expressions appeared on her face once, she always kept her head down, and Chu Zhongtian couldn't see it at all.

※※※After finishing the German lesson, Mathilde was sent downstairs. Chu Zhongtian turned around, and Mr. Merry also came out of his room and was sitting on the sofa watching TV.

When Merry was here, when Chu Zhongtian was in class, he would consciously go into his bedroom. Wouldn't bother the two of them outside.

"The last lesson of the season?" Merry asked Chu Zhongtian.

"Hmm. After the game the day after tomorrow, the team will be on vacation, and I will go back to China. Tickets are booked. ”

Chu Zhongtian sat in front of the computer and began to browse Kang Jianbo's personal website for himself.

'I just called Chelsea and asked about a possible transfer. Do you know who I'm talking to? Mei Li said to Chu Zhongtian while watching TV.

As soon as he talked about his future, Chu Zhongtian took his attention off the computer screen, he looked at Merry and asked, "Who?" ”

"Jose. Jose Mourinho. ”

"Head coach?" Chu Zhongtian was a little surprised.

"Hmm......" Merry nodded, "he doesn't really want you to move away." He's seen the footage of your match against PSG. He says you have potential, you just need to keep working and he is willing to keep you out on loan next season, but he doesn't agree to you leaving. Chu, I've thought about this before, you did well in Metz, Chelsea must know about it. You make Coach Fernandes value you and Mourinho is not blind. ”

Chu Zhongtian thought about it, Mourinho is optimistic about his potential? He wasn't happy about it at all, because he did have potential and didn't need anyone to look at it. If Mourinho had said that a year ago, he would have been very happy, he was still a little naïve at that time, and after a season, he has been through a lot of things, and he has matured a lot. He also learned to think calmly about what his future should be, and he no longer believed in fame and wealth.

"What if I insist on leaving?" He asked.

"It depends on how he positions you. If they think of you as a player that Chelsea can rely on for the next 10 years, I don't think they're going to let it go easily. If you are just a promising young person, you should not be too embarrassed by this issue. I could tell from Mourinho's tone that he was optimistic about your future, but he didn't think you were a key player for Chelsea to rely on in the future, that is, .......

"In other words, it's actually dispensable, it's good if you can stay, and there's no regret about staying, right?"

Merry nodded: "If you insist on leaving, I don't think Chelsea will stop you. As long as Mace can see the right price for you, I don't think that's a problem...... What we need to worry about is that Metz is not asking for a high price, but other clubs are competing with them and offering a higher price, so that Chelsea only accept high offers and reject Meshes' offer. ”

This is a real possibility.

Chu Zhongtian thought for a while and said: "I'll talk to Mr. Fernandez tomorrow, and then I'll tell you what the head coach thinks after the talk, and then you go to talk to the Metz club." ”

Merry nodded. That's all there is to it.

※※※After the next day's training, Chu Zhongtian took the initiative to find Jean. Coach Fernandez. When he told the head coach about his intentions, the old Frenchman laughed: "I'm also going to look for you for this, Chu." I've spoken to the club's president, Mr Molinari, and I hope the club will buy you from Chelsea FC because I think you're a very important part of my plans for the future. ”

Chu Zhongtian is no longer surprised that the head coach attaches great importance to him, because Coach Fernandes has proved it to him with practical actions.

"I'd like to hear your thoughts now, would you like to transfer to us?"

As soon as Fernandez finished asking, Chu Zhongtian nodded and replied, "I do, Mr. Fernandez." In fact, I came to you to tell you that I have decided to leave Chelsea and move to Metz. I hope an agreement can be reached between Metz and Chelsea. ”

"I don't think there's going to be a problem with that, Chu. We will negotiate with Chelsea Football Club as soon as possible. Fernandez nodded, Chu Zhongtian's words made the stone in his heart fall to the ground. With the player himself wanting to move to Metz, what reason is there for Chelsea Football Club to stop him?

In fact, he now regrets that he did not sign a "rent-to-own" agreement with Chelsea in the first place, otherwise there would not be any such problems now, and Metz Club only had to pay a small sum of money to take Chu Zhongtian from Chelsea, and Chelsea didn't care about a small Chu Zhongtian at that time.

Now Chu Zhongtian is doing well in Metz, which makes Fernandes happy, but also gives Chelsea an excuse to raise the price.

"You don't think about anything in the last game, just play well. I believe the transfer will be done soon. Fernandez let Chu Zhongtian relax.

Chu Zhongtian was still a little worried, he couldn't completely relax until the final result of the matter came to an end.

When he went back, he told his agent, James, what he had said to Fernandez. Mr. Merry.

After knowing the attitude of the head coach, Merry talked to the chairman of Metz again, and Molinari also showed interest in Chu Zhongtian, affirming Chu Zhongtian's ability and potential. He also said that he would try his best to buy Chu Zhongtian, hoping that Chu Zhongtian's agent, Mr. Merry, could also exert some pressure on the Chelsea side.

Merry has a bottom in his mind that since the player and the club want to transfer, the only thing left is to get that Jose. Jose Mourinho too.

He analyzed from Mourinho's tone and believed that although Mourinho was optimistic about Chu Zhongtian's talent, he actually didn't care too much, after all, there was a labor certification issue in between-who knew if Chu Zhongtian could get a labor certificate before the contract expired? If he drags on and does not renew his contract with the club at that time, then once the contract expires and he can't play for Chelsea, Chu Zhongtian will be a free body, he can go wherever he wants, and Chelsea will not get a penny.

It would be wise for Chelsea to sell him while there are still people asking for him. Anyway, they didn't spend a pound to buy Chu Zhongtian at the beginning, but they paid half a season's salary - the other half of the season's salary was paid by the Metz club - and now they make it no matter how much money they sell.

On May 28, the final round of the 2004-2005 French Football League kicked off at 8 p.m. Metz travels to Nantes.

Nantes are currently second from bottom in the league with 40 points and will have to beat Metz and depend on the results of their rivals to see if they can stay in the first division.

Chu Zhongtian experienced how the Paris Saint-Germain players felt a week ago, and the whole Nantes team erupted with great energy, making a final push to Metz amid the wild cheers of the home fans.

Maybe the players of Metz have relaxed after the early relegation, or maybe they can't bear to let the opponent really relegate to the second division, anyway, the Metz team played very laxly in this game, and they didn't have the same hard work as they did in the last game against Paris Saint-Germain.

Only Chu Zhongtian is still working hard, but when even Ribery doesn't have any thoughts, what's the use of him playing well alone?

In the end, Nantes relied on striker Mamadou. Diallo (mamadou_diallo) beat Metz with a goal in the 40th minute, 1:0.

After the game, Nantes can accommodate 38,000 people, home to Marcelle. The Sopan Stadium became a sea of joy and fans flocked to the stadium to celebrate the team's victory, as they had already won the results of several other matches that ended at the same time.

The two ahead of Nantes, Caen and Bastia, both lost to their opponents. Easter, who were already assured of relegation, did not give up on the game, and they beat Caen 3-2 at home in their last Ligue 1 game of the season, which was both relegation and a team to be blessed.

The Nantes fans celebrated their victory with chanting "Thank you Metz" and "Thank you Easter".

This scene is not unfamiliar to Chu Zhongtian, because just a week ago, he had also experienced a similar scene.

Looking at the happy smiles of the Nantes fans, although he lost, he was not depressed because of the loss, because he could feel the mood of the Nantes players and fans......

And just like that, his first season in Ligue 1 came to an end.

(To be continued)