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Chapter 149 Checkmate
Wang Lie said goodbye to his former teammates and did not immediately join in the celebration with his current teammates.

He was pulled away by reporters from official media for a post-match interview.

"This is such an incredible game, Wang! We all knew you would go all out in this game, but the state you showed still surprised all of us. Is this the result you could have imagined before the game?"

Wang Lie shook his head: "I know I will do my best, and I also know that the team will do their best, but I really didn't expect the score of 9:0..."

"What made you keep pursuing goals after the team was leading by seven goals?" the reporter asked again.

In fact, the reporter wanted to ask Wang Lie whether this was because of his hatred for Sofulian...

But Wang Lie shrugged and said, "Because the game is not over yet."

"Ah?" The reporter was very surprised by this answer.

Seeing that the reporter didn't seem to understand, Wang Lie repeated it again and explained: "Because the game is not over yet. As long as the game is not over, as long as I am still on the court, of course I will continue to pursue goals."

"Uh..." The reporter didn't expect Wang Lie's reason to be so simple, yet so correct that he couldn't find any reason to ask back.

So he changed his angle: "No matter what, this defeat is definitely the darkest day in the history of the Sofia United Club. Do you have anything to say to the Sofia United fans? I noticed that during the game, some Sofia United fans were about to cry..."

Wang Lie nodded with a serious expression: "Yes, this is a difficult day for all Sofo United fans. I want to apologize to them because these fans are the only ones who should not have to bear this. As I said before the game, how did Sofo United become like this today? It is obvious that the responsibility is not mine. I just played with all my strength. The problem lies with the management and head coach of Sofo United Club..."

The reporter immediately interrupted and asked, "Do you mean Jonathan Hall and Sven Helden?"

Wang Lie nodded and gave a very direct affirmative answer: "Of course. It's them, but not just them. But they should take leadership responsibility - if the team's performance is not good, the head coach should be responsible. If there is a problem with the club, the general manager cannot escape blame."

"So do you think Helden will be fired after this game?"

"I don't know if he will be sacked, but I hope he will be sacked. This will cause less harm to Sofia fans, although it doesn't fundamentally solve the problem..."

The reporter asked again: "What if Heldon didn't get fired for this?"

Wang Lie thought this question was strange: "Why don't you just end the get out of class like this?"

The reporter explained: "Suppose, if, I mean what if...what if? You know, in the world of football, anything can happen."

Wang Lie nodded and accepted the reporter's statement: "Okay. That means I didn't do enough this time. Next time when Tyne and Sofia play, I will work harder."

At the end of his speech, he stared into the camera lens, as if he was speaking to someone outside the camera.

The reporter had already asked the question he wanted to ask the most, so he decided to end the interview: "Okay then, thank you Wang for accepting our interview..."

Wang Lie raised his hand to interrupt him: "Wait, is this the end?"

"Uh, yes..."

"Why don't you ask about the fact that we are now ranked fourth in the league?" Wang Lie pointed to the Tyne icon on his chest and asked the reporter.

"Ah... yes, yes..." The reporter didn't expect Wang Lie to be so straightforward. He was caught off guard and stuttered. "After defeating Sofia United at home, Tyne has now successfully entered the top four and is only three games away from the Champions League goal. So, Wang, do you have anything to say?"

Wang Lie didn't seem to be embarrassed at all because he asked the reporter to ask this question. Instead, he answered very seriously: "I just want to say to the fans of Tyne: Although there are still three rounds of league games, as I promised, we will definitely go to the Champions League. There will be no surprises."

After saying this, Wang Lie took the initiative to say goodbye to the reporter, ended the interview, and turned to leave.

Now he is going to celebrate the victory with his teammates.

During the game, he does not celebrate goals.

But now that the game is over, we still have to celebrate the victory.

※※※

When Wang Lie reunited with his teammates, Vitini gave an order and everyone rushed forward and lifted Wang Lie up.

Wang Lie was shocked at first - he thought his teammates were going to strip him...

So he stepped back reflexively.

As a result, someone got under him from behind and lifted him up.

He looked down and saw the team's goalkeeper, Elliot Goetz.

Seeing Wang Lie looking down at him, Goetz said cheerfully, "Hold on tight, Wang!"

Then he carried Wang Lie and, surrounded by other Tyne players, walked towards the stands to celebrate the victory with the Tyne fans there.

Wang Lie, who was sitting on Goetz's shoulders, became the focus of everyone's attention.

Teammates raised their arms to support Wang Lie, and Tyne fans in the stands also stretched out their hands towards Wang Lie in a gesture of worship.

The sea of ​​people in the stands rose and fell like waves.

Zhao Zhou saw this scene from the stands and said happily while filming:
"Brother Wang is lifted up by his teammates! Look! What does it mean to be a natural leader? What does it mean to be a king?! Brother Wang has conquered all the players of Tyne with his actual performance. He is the 'king' of this team!"

He thought it would be perfect to use this scene as the ending for his football VLOG.

Brother Wang got everything he wanted here - respect, love, victory and goals.

"Set sail again, Brother Wang, hoist the sails and move forward. Just as you said, the Tyne will definitely flow into the sea, and you will enter a wider world from the Tyne! Next season, the Champions League! Next year, the World Cup! They are all waiting for you!"

※※※

Xiao Cheng did not stay in the stadium to see Wang Lie being lifted high by his teammates because he had to rush back to London.

Poor students don't have that much money to stay in a hotel in Newcastle.

In order to save money, he bought round-trip tickets.

Who would have thought that the tickets would be cancelled and re-purchased...

Fortunately, I didn’t have to buy a new return ticket.

So he left the field immediately after the game whistle blew.

At this time, most Tyne fans were still in the stadium.

More people who left the field with him were Sofo United fans.

Most of them walked quickly with their heads down in silence.

It seems like he wants to escape from this sad place as soon as possible.

Xiao Cheng was once one of them. After Sofo United lost the game, he left in despair.

Then he went online to curse at those Scout fans and Clayton Athletic fans and vent his anger.

But now he is no longer a sad and lost person, but a new life - since Wang Lie left Sofulian, he has been like a dead man.

After saving up for a few months, I finally got to watch Brother Wang’s game in person.

More importantly, I also saw Brother Wang score a goal!

Although I have been through so many things, all the hard work along the way is worth it!

The young bird that had already flown away has flown back!

Haha!

Xiao Cheng was so happy that he couldn't help laughing out loud.

He was very conspicuous among the group of Sofa fans leaving the stadium.

Someone gave him an unhappy look.

But after seeing his black hair, yellow skin, and the No. 99 Tyne jersey on him, I chose to look away.

What the Sofia United fans want to curse now is obviously not a Tain fan named Wang Lie, but the management of Sofia United club and head coach Sven Heldon.

※※※

Guo Xuequan and Liu Zhong sat in the press conference hall, waiting for the next post-match press conference.

"Old Guo, do you think Helden will not be able to come to the press conference at all?" Liu Zhong asked his companion.

Guo Xuequan understood what he meant, that Helden might hear that he was fired when he returned to the locker room...

He shook his head. "I hope he can come."

Liu Zhong nodded and said, "I hope he can come, too."

Having let Helden be so arrogant in the post-match press conference for so long, now it’s their turn to fight back!
Not only them, but all the reporters present were looking forward to Helden's arrival.

Everyone also frequently refreshed their phones to see if there was any latest news about Helden.

I am most afraid of seeing the official announcement of Heldon's dismissal from the Sofia League. If so, Heldon won't be able to come to the press conference...

Starting from the second half of the game, all kinds of true and false news started flying around the Internet.

This made the reporters a little unsure.

Before the game was over, some people on the Internet were saying that Sofia United had decided to fire Heldon.

But apart from this sentence, the person who broke the news did not produce any evidence.

Soon someone refuted the rumor that Sofia United had not decided to fire Heldon.

Then someone vowed that Sofia United said that despite the team's humiliating defeat away from home, the club did not intend to fire Helden immediately.

And give an explanation:

The reason why Sofia United did this is because there are two very important semi-finals of the Europa League coming up, and the club management does not want to change the coach at this time, which will cause unrest in the team. After all, after losing the fourth place in the league, the team can still rely on the Europa League to survive - as long as Sofia United can reach the Europa League final and win the championship, they can participate in the Champions League next season as the Europa League champion. For Sofia United, who are determined to qualify for the Champions League, it doesn't matter how badly they lose in the league, as long as they can finally enter the Champions League.

This explanation was well-founded and made it difficult for many reporters to doubt it.

During their discussion, they nicknamed Helden "Legendary Life-Extending King".

He was not fired even though they lost 0:8 to the Scots.

After losing to Scouse, he went on to lose four league games and was on the verge of being sacked. However, he managed to survive after defeating Portel FC.

Now after losing 0:9 to Tyne, he still hasn't been fired...

How did he PUA Jonathan Hall, the general manager of Sofia, and John Buckel, the owner, to make them give him chances again and again?
Or is the financial situation of the Sofia United club so bad that it can't even afford the penalty?

Just as the reporters were speculating and discussing this, the side door of the press hall was pushed open, and Sofia head coach Sven Heldon appeared in everyone's sight.

The news hall, which was as bustling as a vegetable market, suddenly became quiet.

It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

All the reporters, without exception, turned their heads and looked over.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but when Helden saw these reporters turning their heads to look at him, he found that there was a light in their eyes.

It's like a group of robots activated by a program...

※※※

Stanley Harris returned to the locker room dejectedly. There was no other sound in the room except the tapping of his studs on the floor.

Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

No one spoke... not even the sound of people shouting or cursing to vent their emotions or throwing things.

The visiting team's locker room was as quiet as a hospital morgue.

This unbearable silence was broken by a question:

"Where is your head coach?"

The silent Sofia United players raised their heads and looked at the club's general manager Jonathan Hall who was standing at the door.

However, no one answered his question because the players seemed to have not figured it out. They didn't understand why the general manager appeared in the locker room after the game and why he asked them about the whereabouts of the head coach.

In the awkward silence, Hall asked again: "Where is Helden?"

At this time, assistant coach Lindsay reacted and pointed outside and replied: "He went to the post-match press conference..."

Hearing this answer, Hall lowered his head and muttered a swear word: "What the hell..."

He had planned to wait until tomorrow to look for Helden.

After a night, maybe the boss will calm down and realize that changing the coach before the Europa League semi-final is not a wise move.

Maybe the decision to fire Helden immediately will be cancelled?

He didn't want to keep Helden - after such a humiliating defeat, Hall knew that it would be difficult for Helden to continue to serve as the head coach of Sofia United. Besides, if Helden didn't leave, who would be responsible for the failure to qualify for the Champions League?

Only by letting Helden go can he greatly reduce the pressure and firepower on himself.

It's just that Hall doesn't want Helden to be fired immediately after this game.

Because this would make everyone certain that it was Wang Lie who fired Helden.

He didn't want to increase Wang Lie's prestige...

But his little trick seemed to be seen through by his boss.

Before leaving the stadium, Mr. Baker specifically instructed him to immediately inform Helden in person of his decision to resign.

At the same time, the boss directly asked the club's press department to draft a press release about Helden's dismissal to confirm the matter.

He looked like he didn't want to wait even a second longer.

So Hall had to come to the locker room to find Helden.

I originally planned to call Helden out of the locker room so that they could talk alone.

Who would have thought that after arriving, Helden would actually go to hold a press conference...

He can't just rush to the press conference to announce the club's decision, can he?

He didn't want to save face for Helden, but he was afraid that it would boost Wang Lie's prestige and bring trouble to himself.

Besides, by the time Helden’s press conference is over, the press release about his dismissal might have already come out…

Why did the boss bypass him and directly ask the club to draft the press release?

Is this a sign that I no longer trust myself?
This set off alarm bells in Hall's mind.

Compared with making Wang Lie more powerful, it was obvious that losing the trust of his boss was more unacceptable to Jonathan Hall.

If he really waited until the news came out before he successfully announced the news to the public...would the boss think that he was trying to confront him and be unwilling to fire Helden?

Or do you simply think that you are in cahoots with Helden and are doing something behind the boss's back?

Anyway, Helden's ending is already determined and cannot be changed, so why not just skip the process and make the official announcement directly!
Be sure to let your boss know your efficiency and loyalty to him!
Thinking of this, Hall simply stood at the door of the locker room and said to the silent players and coaches:

"I have an announcement. From now on, Sven Helden will no longer be the head coach of the team. That's it."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The locker room behind him was silent for a few seconds and then suddenly it started to boil over like a pot.

※※※

"Mr. Helden, after leading the team to another humiliating defeat in the club's history, would you consider resigning?"

"I will not resign voluntarily. I will continue to lead the team forward. The victory or defeat of one or two games cannot judge my work this season. I firmly believe that the team is on the right track under my leadership..."

“Is losing 0-9 to Tyne away the right path?”

"This is not a normal game and has no reference value. We all know how special this game is. I never avoid questions, but I won't exaggerate either..."

"So what do you think caused the team to lose nine goals away from home without being able to fight back?"

"We lost four goals right after the start, which I think is the most crucial. No team can come back from such a situation..."

"Then why did the team lose four goals just after the start? Did you anticipate the difficulty of this game? As the head coach, did you make targeted arrangements?"

"We really underestimated the difficulty of this game. The players were not focused enough after the game started and did not get into the game right away... but we adjusted ourselves afterwards. It was just that luck was not on our side. We just started to lose the ball in the second half..."

"So the failure was due to the players not getting into the game, not a problem with your tactical arrangement?"

"I want to repeat it again: we lost four goals at the beginning of this game. It is very difficult for any team to face such a situation. Of course, we made targeted arrangements before the game, but the four goals conceded in the first 16 minutes made it impossible for us to show what we had prepared..."

"Do you regret driving Wang away? You once thought that Wang could no longer meet your tactical requirements... May I ask how sophisticated and complex your tactics are that they cannot even satisfy a player who can score six goals in a single game?"

"Of course I am surprised by Wang's current state. I don't know how he did it... But judging from his performance in my team, he really doesn't meet my requirements, and it is normal for him to leave the team... I don't understand what the fuss is about? Isn't it common for players to perform well after changing teams? Do we have to complain about every player who performs well after leaving the team?"

At the press conference, Helden was being targeted by reporters.

Every question asked by the reporter was aggressive and relentless.

No matter what the question was, Helden always found an angle to respond and was never in a "checkmate" situation.

Even Liu Zhong had to admit that he was really good at press conferences...

"He should apply for the position of press spokesperson instead of head coach. He has chosen the wrong career!"

He complained to Guo Xuequan.

Guo Xuequan smiled, looked down at the phone screen, and then his face froze.

"What's wrong?" Liu Zhong asked curiously.

Before Guo Xuequan could answer him, there was a commotion at the press conference.

"The official statement of the Sofia League: Heldon has been fired!"

After Guo Xuequan finished explaining to Liu Zhong, he immediately stood up from his seat and without waiting for the press officer to call his name, he asked loudly in the noisy press conference:

"Mr. Helden, how do you evaluate the fact that you were just fired by the Sofia United Club?"

"I said I wouldn't..."

Helden reflexively wanted to repeat his position, but before he could finish his words, he realized what question the Chinese reporter had just asked, and the rest of his words were choked back.

He stared at Guo Xuequan who asked the question with wide eyes, unable to believe what he heard.

This time he was finally speechless.

He was "checkmated".

※※※

PS, I will resume updating once a day from today. I only have one chapter saved. I will try my best to keep updating...

(End of this chapter)