When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 241 The Red Devils Raise an Army Against Merchants, the Blue Army Marches into Catalonia

On the evening of February 20, 2005, television news was reporting on the progress of American billionaire Malcolm Glazer's acquisition of Manchester United.

The protests by Manchester United fans have escalated, and this time the opposition is coming directly from within the club.

Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has just recovered from injury, has become the first active Manchester United player to publicly oppose the takeover bid.

Solskjaer said: "I am incredibly proud to be a part of Manchester United. I believe the club is in a period of positive development, and it is important to continue on the right track to maintain long-term prosperity. I not only play for Manchester United, but I am also a fan of the club, and I hope that Manchester United can make the best plans for the future."

2005年2月，美国商人马尔科姆-格雷泽对曼联的收购计划进入关键阶段。这位76岁的美国橄榄球大联盟坦帕湾海盗队老板已持有曼联28.8%股份，最新提出以每股300便士的价格增持股份至75%控股权的方案，总报价达8亿英镑（约15亿美元）。

Manchester United's board rejected the offer last Friday, stating that while the offer would not immediately place a heavy debt burden on United, it warned that a completed deal would have a devastating impact on the finances of both parties.

The club's two key shareholders, Irish tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus (who together hold 28.9% of the shares), have not yet made a statement, and their decision will influence the acquisition process.

Solskjaer became the first Manchester United player to publicly oppose a takeover bid, reflecting widespread concerns within the club that accepting the offer would make Manchester United the private property of the Glazer family.

This acquisition plan has sparked ongoing protests from Manchester United fans, and the situation is still developing.

In the post-FA Cup press conference, Mourinho admitted that he made the mistake of rotating too many key players, which led to the collapse of his tactics.

Abramovich then went into the locker room and, in front of the entire team, criticized their performance in a gentle yet threatening tone.

This was the first time the Russian owner had publicly displayed a strong attitude, and his desire for a fourth title made the loss of control of the match particularly serious.

In this timeline, Mourinho, lacking a Champions League title, appears less confident in front of Abramovich.

"Gentlemen, today's performance was unacceptable. We wear the Chelsea shirt and we have to live up to every single game. Rotation is not an excuse; the squad I've invested money in should have enough depth to handle any situation."

"Winning four titles is not a fantasy, but a goal. If you don't even believe you can do it, take off this jersey now. Roman (referring to himself) can accept failure, but he cannot accept giving up."

"Jose, you are one of the best coaches, but your choices today almost cost us the FA Cup. Fortunately, Roy and Fernando stepped up to save the team, and that's the spirit Chelsea should have."

"As for Glenn, I never expected to see you in goal, but that's the beauty of football. But next time, we should probably keep Cech in goal."

Abramovich specifically praised Roy for his goal and assist, and Morientes for his winning goal, while also jokingly complimenting Glen Johnson's crucial saves as a temporary substitute goalkeeper.

This deliberate contrast between praise and criticism suggests his subtle control over team management.

The entire Chelsea team spent the night in Newcastle and will fly directly to Barcelona the following day on a chartered plane to prepare for their Champions League match three days later.

Although the players tried to relax, the atmosphere in the locker room was still thick with the memory of the brutal match.

Some team members began to doubt their previous winning streak.

The team doctor even arranged psychological counseling for the injured Bridge and the red carded Cudicini.

The team was relatively relaxed after the game, allowing Roy to share a room with his girlfriend Cheryl.

After their intimacy, the two were lying in bed watching TV.

The news was broadcasting the latest developments in the Glazers' acquisition of Manchester United, and Roy stared at the screen, lost in thought.

At that moment, Cheryl leaned closer and asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Television news footage showed Manchester United fans holding a large-scale protest in the streets of Manchester.

They held up signs that read "Reject Glazer" and "Defend our club," and many veteran fans were moved to tears.

Protesters filled the streets, chanting Manchester United's traditional anthem "Glory to Manchester United," creating a chaotic scene.

Reporters on the scene pointed out that fans are worried that the acquisition by American businessman Malcolm Glazer will change the club's traditions and affect the team's development.

Shouts of "Americans get out!" occasionally erupted from the crowd, and some fans even burned portraits of Glazer.

"I've been thinking that if I ever retire, could I, like those wealthy people, buy my own football club? It doesn't have to be a big club; even a small team in a lower league would be fine. I want to be personally involved in every major decision, from player transfers to youth development, from stadium renovations to commercial development. I want to watch the team grow step by step under my management, from League Two to the Premier League, and maybe even win a cup title. That way, when I'm in my seventies or eighties, I can still sit in the stands and watch football, living in the world of football until the very last moment of my life."

After hearing Roy's words, Cheryl's eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. She leaned close to Roy's ear and whispered, "Darling, this dream is not difficult for you to achieve at all! You know, some lower-league teams can be acquired for no more than a million pounds, or even just a few hundred thousand."

She gently took Roy's hand, her eyes filled with longing: "When that day comes, I'll sit with you in the stands, cheering you on. How wonderful it would be to watch our team grow step by step!"

"We can start by managing small teams in the fifth tier of the league and gradually build our own football empire! With your reputation and business acumen, you're sure to attract many sponsors and investors."

"Remember to reserve a board seat for me then! We can go watch the young players train at the youth academy together, and cheer for the team at away games on weekends."

Her voice grew lighter and brighter, as if she could already see that bright future: "When we're old, we'll sit in the VIP box and watch the team we built compete in the Premier League."

Roy smiled after hearing this: "That day will come."

But he didn't reveal all his thoughts; his ambitions went far beyond that.

He didn't want to run Valladolid like Ronaldo, nor did he want to be a minority shareholder in Liverpool like James.

His goal is clearer: a Premier League club, and most likely the one he plays for now.

Abramovich's words in the locker room today have further solidified his belief.

The lines between owner, coach, and player are so clear, and what he wants is not only glory on the field, but also ownership of a club.

He was thinking to himself: first accumulate enough capital, and wait for the right opportunity.

One day, he will buy this team and make it truly his own.

By then, all the honors he won for the club will bear his mark and may even be passed down to his descendants.

Roy already had a clear plan in mind.

He knew perfectly well that one day Abramovich would have to let go of his beloved Chelsea.

Perhaps it's for financial reasons, perhaps it's for political factors, but that moment will eventually come.

What he needs to do is ensure that he can be the most suitable successor when the time comes.

As long as he continues to win more championships for the team and his name is forever etched in the club's history, he can return as a legendary hero when the time is right for the acquisition, rather than as a strange foreign owner.

He looked at the angry faces of Manchester United fans on TV and thought to himself that he would never let Chelsea get into such a situation.

Because in the eyes of the fans, he will not only be a potential buyer, but also a Chelsea child.

Someday in the future, when he signs his name on board documents, fans will recognize him as Roy, the man they have trusted countless times.

At that time, there were no protests, only banners welcoming people home.

This plan requires time and patience.

He needs to accumulate enough fame and wealth before retiring, cultivate his influence in the locker room, and build connections in the business world.

Maybe ten years, maybe twenty years, but Roy is willing to wait.

Because in his heart, Chelsea is not just a team, but also the place where he wants to spend the rest of his life.

Cheryl picked up the remote and casually changed the channel, and a BMW car commercial featuring Roy popped up on the TV screen.

On the streets of London at night, Roy drove his silver-grey BMW M3 at breakneck speed, the headlights leaving smooth streaks in the wet asphalt.

The screen displayed the caption: "Precision, like my shot."

Roy's voice was deep and confident: "The BMW M3 handles like an instinct, just like in the penalty area, you always know where to break through."

The image freezes; he leans against the car, smiling, with the city lights dimly lit behind him. The final line of text appears: "When the fastest meets the strongest."

In her upscale London apartment, Roy's business manager, Claire, had just put down her game controller and taken a break to play Pokémon to relax.

She picked up her phone and made a call: "The sample test results are ideal, and Nike Women have also approved them. Arrange for Jennifer Lopez to try them on and give some advice. She's in London these days filming a Pepsi commercial, and she happens to be in the same group as Beckham and Beyoncé."

This women's sportswear line, named VYANA, will officially launch in June.

In the early hours of the morning, a group of wealthy second-generation kids drove modified supercars and caused a ruckus on the streets of Hong Kong.

"Hey! Four-Eyes Qiang got a new watch again?"

His companion stared at his wrist. "Is this the Ballon d'Or limited edition? Awesome! I just saw Roy score and assist to beat Newcastle last night, and he's wearing the same one today!"

The rich kid wearing the watch pulled up his sleeve: "We waited three months at the boutique, and they even threw in two hideously ugly women's watches. I should have told my dad to negotiate with the Chelsea sponsors!"

"Awesome! Chelsea won four titles this season, Roy was absolutely phenomenal!"

"Shut up! Manchester United is the best!"

"Huh? Manchester United is up for sale now! Go buy a couple of pounds! They're way behind by a mile, you'll have to wait until next year!"

Roy's wealth has grown globally as his football career has progressed.

Like a big tree, his main sources of income—club salary, endorsement contracts, and commercial investments—are deeply rooted in the football field.

From his astronomical annual salary in top European leagues to endorsement fees from international brands like Nike and Rolex, and his own personal brand, all of this wealth growth is based on his performance and influence as a professional player.

Roy closed his eyes, quietly conserving his energy.

Let's take down Barcelona first; the path to redemption lies there.

The next day, Chelsea's private plane landed in Barcelona, ​​immediately causing a sensation.

Roy, who once publicly declared that he would "never join Barcelona," has arrived with his Premier League top team, which will be a direct confrontation between the Premier League and La Liga leaders.

Meanwhile, the rivalry between Mourinho and Deco has become a focus of attention. British media believe that Deco is now Barcelona's midfield engine and the most crucial player.

An article in London's Evening Standard claims that for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the threat to his Champions League dreams will come from his old player and former favorite, Deco.

Mourinho praised his star player, saying, "He's the best player; he's not only brave, but he also dares to step up when others back down."

Mourinho worked hard to mold Deco into the best midfielder in Europe. After taking over Chelsea, he brought in Carvalho and always wanted to bring Ferreira and even Maniche to Chelsea, but he failed to get Deco, who chose Barcelona, ​​who offered less money.

Deco stated that he did not want to live in Mourinho's shadow: "I was not born for Mourinho. I played for Porto. Mourinho is a very good coach. He taught me a lot, and I won a lot for him."

"For me, the key to success is still myself. Mourinho told me how to win, but I have always been full of desire to win. Mourinho has no secrets. He has been a winner for many years. In addition to his ability, he never stops. He focuses on everything as much as possible."

Deco recalled: "When I was at Porto, I beat his Leiria team. If it was a contest between the two of us, he had the advantage. He had 11 players, and I only had one. Later, Chelsea made an offer to me, but I refused. I preferred to go to Barcelona."

This is the fundamental contradiction that Mourinho's teams have always faced: the teams he has built are like precision machines, disciplined, tactically pragmatic, and the whole team serves the goal of victory.

The problem is that the person operating this "machine" is too dazzling.

Mourinho, with his sharp tongue, arrogance, and dramatic personality, has firmly locked the attention of the media and fans on himself.

When they win, people talk about "Mourinho's tactical wisdom".

When losing a game, the discussion turns to "Mourinho's mistakes".

Over time, the players realized that despite their hard work, they had become mere supporting characters in the coach's personal show.

Those accolades that should have belonged to the whole team ultimately became footnotes to the "madman's" personal charisma.

While the world was talking about "The Special One," few people noticed the other side of the coin: the players who gradually became "ordinary players" under his dazzling spotlight.

Mourinho in this world also experienced this feeling. There was an individual in his team who was even more special than him: he was strong, arrogant, rebellious, brave, and fearless, with a flamboyant and distinctive personality, and an anti-heroic charm. He was more like a special one than Mourinho.

It was this innate desire to perform and his dominance that allowed Roy's presence to completely change the team's power structure.

Now, when people mention Chelsea, the first thing that comes to mind is no longer "Mourinho's tactical system," but "Roy's team."

The headlines will no longer feature "Mu's first term," but will instead be dominated by "Roy's era."

Roy proved in the most football-like way that on the pitch, a player's feet are ultimately more convincing than a coach's words.

But Roy must understand one truth: no one can monopolize the spotlight in the center of the stage forever.

No matter how dazzling he is, he must learn to temper his brilliance at the right time, so that his teammates and coaches can also have their own shining moments.

Because what he ultimately wants is not "The Special One," but "The Greatest of All Time."

Rijkaard, a very cautious manager, has spent eight weeks studying Chelsea. He stated, "Just like after our home defeat to Real Madrid in December 2003, I need to analyze Chelsea carefully now. I had been in charge for six months then, and the media called me a coward, believing I was guilty of Barcelona's mistakes. They accused me of being timid and handing over the midfield to Real Madrid. Those accusations didn't hurt me. We did do that, and we believed it was the right choice. Perhaps we'll need to pack the midfield against Chelsea. But if people want me to talk more about Chelsea, I won't."

“I’ve watched a few Chelsea games on TV. They are a great team, a great team, very efficient.”

"Roy? Two individual awards are enough to speak for his ability. Frankly, he perfectly meets all the requirements of a modern striker for a Dutch coach: well-rounded, efficient, and capable of playing in any system. Although we didn't have the opportunity to work together, that doesn't matter. Our midfield control is enough to suppress them, our strikers have first-class finishing ability, and our defense is world-class. At Camp Nou, Barcelona has the ability to beat any opponent, including Chelsea."

The two managers share some commonalities: both are extremely shrewd and worldly-wise, fluent in multiple languages, and both are 42 years old. However, their differences are also obvious: Mourinho never reached the top tier as a player, while Rijkaard was one of the renowned "Dutch Three Musketeers," winning the European Championship three times, twice with AC Milan and once with Ajax.

Regarding Rijkaard's illustrious record as a player, Mourinho said: "Nevertheless, Rijkaard has never won a single game as a coach, while I have had many successful experiences. I have never met him in person. All I know about his career comes from television and newspapers."

Upon hearing Mourinho's cunning taunt, Rijkaard laughed heartily, "Thank you, thank you. That's exactly the kind of game I was hoping for. What else did he say about me?"

Mourinho later added, "When we played against Arsenal and Manchester United, Barcelona was all alone; they couldn't find any opponents."

As for the suggestion that Chelsea are playing in a more competitive league, Rijkaard scoffed: "Really? Let him think that way."

"The only time I faced Roy was in the 2003 Copa del Rey, Mallorca vs. Real Madrid. We won that game 4-1, and Roy came on as a substitute in the 75th minute, receiving a pass from Morientes and scoring a goal. But it didn't change the result, and afterwards he was sold by Real Madrid to Monaco. In terms of the score, I won."

"Chelsea are currently plagued by injuries and their squad is incomplete. The Camp Nou will give him another taste of defeat. Someone who couldn't even make it at Real Madrid back then has even less right to criticize Barcelona now. His humiliating remarks about Barcelona are nothing more than the resentment of a loser. He couldn't make it at Real Madrid, so what makes him think he's some kind of legend?"

In this Barcelona team without Ronaldinho, Eto'o has become the undisputed core and leader of the team.

As the team's top scorer and La Liga's top scorer, this striker, who once struggled to find his place at Real Madrid, has finally found his own stage and dignity at Camp Nou.

In response, Roy said: "Is he crazy? Calling a match where I only played for 15 minutes a head-to-head duel? I don't know what he suffered at Real Madrid, but if you want to prove yourself in the world of football, you should let your strength speak for itself. Eto'o thinks he's better than Ronaldo and deserves to play more? Okay, go win a Ballon d'Or and see."

“My experience in Real Madrid’s youth academy and my current playing for other teams are not contradictory. Just like lovers eventually part ways, we have simply chosen the path that is most suitable for us at the moment. Eto’o certainly has the right to prove himself to Real Madrid. He can certainly say ‘Real Madrid, salute to the champions’ while holding the Barcelona championship trophy. That is his freedom, but he has no right to criticize my career.”

"If he wants a challenge, Chelsea and I are ready anytime. When we win, I'll stand in the center of Camp Nou and say, 'Barcelona, ​​salute to the victors.' Denying my years at Real Madrid? That makes me very unhappy, so I don't mind cleaning house for my old club."

A Marca reporter, who interviewed Roy, wrote excitedly: "In this era full of betrayal, Roy showed us what the true Real Madrid spirit is! He not only avenged his former club with a goal, but also upheld the dignity of the Bernabéu with his 'clean house' attitude. While other academy players distanced themselves from Real Madrid, only he dared to publicly declare 'I am still a Real Madrid child,' which is more exciting than any transfer rumor!"

Roy calmly analyzed at the end: "Eto'o's behavior is a typical case of 'overcompensation for traumatic obsession' in psychology, like a child desperately trying to prove to his father 'you misjudged me back then,' which eventually evolves into a distorted obsession. But the essence of professional football is an equal cooperative relationship. There is no father-son subordinate relationship between Real Madrid and me. The youth academy nurtured me, and I repaid with goals and transfer fees. We are even."

“I only got one appearance for Real Madrid, which shows that I wasn’t good enough back then. Later I improved and achieved success, but that doesn’t mean I have to frantically try to prove ‘Real Madrid was wrong back then.’ That kind of obsession is dangerous, like constantly going back to the past to rewrite history, which will only trap you in a vicious cycle. Psychologist Freud called it ‘compulsive repetition,’ which is being in pain but not being able to stop.”

“A truly healthy mindset is to acknowledge: that experience did cause me pain, but it's part of life, and it's over now. I'm stronger now because I've let go, not because I'm always thinking about revenge. Football is like life; those who are always looking back won't run fast.”

This statement directly ended the pre-match war of words.

Eto'o didn't fully grasp the deeper meaning of Roy's psychological analysis at first. It wasn't until the reporter explained it to him in plain language that he realized he had been subjected to a sophisticated insult. This kind of "humiliation that requires a translator to understand" was precisely the greatest insult.

This shows that the two people are not even on the same intellectual level when they are talking.

(I'm flying out today to Hangzhou to start writing about the competition. I'll update by tomorrow at the latest.)
(End of this chapter)