I changed football.

At the press conference the day before the match against Bayer Leverkusen, Li Yuan participated in a pre-match press conference for the first time, having never attended such a press conference in a conference room before.

Today, Jardim and Li Yuan arrived together at the press conference hall to attend the press conference for the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16.

This is the press conference room at Bayer Leverkusen's home stadium—just a very ordinary press conference room.

Bayer Leverkusen's head coach Schmidt brought Hernandez to hold a press conference. After they finished, Li Yuan and Jardim went in.

At this press conference, Leverkusen were asked some very official and boring questions.

Li Yuan thought today's pre-match press conference was very nice.

As a result, when I followed Yardin out, the first question he asked was quite pointed.

"This is a rather broad question about European leagues. Sometimes it seems that internationally, especially among English fans, they don't take Ligue 1 very seriously, even giving it the derogatory nickname 'the farmers' league.' They don't seem to pay much attention to Ligue 1. What are your thoughts on the overall level of Ligue 1 in European leagues?"

This is a really pointed question.

Li Yuan looked at Yardin, ready to see how he would answer the question. Moreover, Li Yuan had a feeling that this question was similar to something he had seen in a news article in his previous life, where a team's head coach had been asked this question.

Yardin's answer was quite sharp.

"The 'farmers' league' you're talking about—last season, a team eliminated Arsenal in the Champions League, and this season we beat Tottenham to qualify. English teams have been eliminated from the Europa League by Ligue 1 teams four times in three years. So what kind of league is the Premier League if it gets knocked out by the farmers' league?"

Jardim kept mentioning the Premier League because the reporter who asked the question was a BBC reporter.

However, Yardin's memory is really good; he can recite data off the top of his head.

Actually, the term "farmers' league" originated from the internet, but it was initially used to describe the Bundesliga.

However, some people later said that Ligue 1 is also a league for farmers.

In fact, this term means that a league dominated by one entity is basically what people call a "farmers' league."

The Bundesliga is basically dominated by Bayern Munich, while the French Ligue 1 is dominated by Paris Saint-Germain recently.

Li Yuan agreed, saying that the Bundesliga's competitiveness was already relatively weak, and the French Ligue 1 was even weaker.

Before his rebirth, Ligue 1 had to make way for Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League campaign, causing the league to be frequently postponed and rescheduled.

Is this something a normal league would do?

That's really quite abstract.

On this point, Li Yuan actually agrees with the saying that Ligue 1 is a farmers' league, but he certainly wouldn't say that now.

Since you're holding this rice bowl, you shouldn't speak ill of it.

Suggestions are fine, but there's no need to say anything purely negative.

Li Yuan was initially worried that reporters would ask him about this issue. However, the reporter asked him a completely different question.

"Your partnership with Mbappe is known as the Monaco Twins. Several teams are now interested in signing you, and according to some reports, your first professional contract expires at the end of June 2018, which is only two years away. What are your thoughts on this?"

Li Yuan had already anticipated that his contract length would be exposed, after all, nothing in modern society is truly airtight, especially information like player contracts that involves multiple parties.

However, Li Yuan will definitely not discuss the contract length; he will try to avoid the main issue.

Since that's the case, let's talk about the first question.

"I will definitely not leave Monaco at this stage. The atmosphere in Monaco is great, the dressing room atmosphere is great, the player lineup is great, the coaching staff is great, we can play in the Champions League next season, and more importantly, we are on the right track. I am only 17 years old, and I can't think of any reason for me to leave now."

Li Yuan's attitude of avoiding the main point but still answering the question earned him a silent thumbs-up from Yaldin, who was standing to the side.

In fact, in today's world of football, most top clubs provide media interview training for their youth players, which teaches them how to handle media interviews.

However, Monaco does not currently offer this course.

Li Yuan's answer was quite appropriate.

Then the reporters' questions came one by one.

A reporter from L'Équipe asked Li Yuan: "Sources indicate that you have a contract with a Chinese club, and if you leave Monaco, you will have to sign with this Chinese club immediately. If you don't sign, you will have to pay a hefty penalty for breach of contract."

Li Yuan listened, utterly bewildered: "Huh? I only signed my professional contract in January. Before that, I was on youth contracts. I've personally reviewed both contracts, and there are no clauses like the one you're describing. Besides, I came to Monaco through a training program between the Chinese Football Association and Ligue 1. My previous youth training contract in China had also expired. Are you just making this up because you're out of ideas?"

At this point, Yardin interjected, "I've also seen Li Yuan's professional contract, and there's no such clause at all. Besides, Ligue 1 doesn't allow for breach of contract penalties, so the kind of clause you mentioned is even more impossible."

The team reporter sat down dejectedly.

The reporters didn't ask any interesting questions after that, and Li Yuan had a smooth first pre-match press conference.

"Actually, it's not much different from the post-match quick interviews and sideline interviews, except this one is done while I'm sitting down."

Li Yuan smiled and said to Yaldin.

"Yes, actually we don't have any conflicts with Leverkusen, so the local reporters didn't ask any particularly pointed questions."

……

The next day.

Match day.

The match is about to begin.

Li Yuan and Mbappe are now regular starters.

The two players naturally appeared in Monaco's starting lineup.

Mbappe was clearly in high spirits.

"Li, I think we have a very good chance of winning big today!"

"Oh? Why would you say that?"

"I overheard the Leverkusen coaches talking outside during warm-up, and from what they said, it seems Tah is still injured. But Tah is in the starting lineup, and he's already tall and slow; now that he's injured, it's a huge advantage for us!"

Upon hearing Mbappe's words, Li Yuan's mind raced: "Toprak isn't fast either, and Tah is a left center-back, so let him move closer to me, okay!"

Li Yuan clapped his hands and exclaimed, "What else is there to say? We'll just go up there and take him down!"

Mbappe smiled and gave Li Yuan a high five, having already decided on their strategy for dealing with the enemy.