But he couldn't understand why Sheffield United was so difficult to deal with, why a small Championship League could also feel like the Premier League with three or four dominant teams?!
"Just Ma'el."
Neil uttered the na of a Sheffield United player, or rather, the direct cause.
He closed his eyes with a pained expression, as if that na had brought him endless suffering.
As the head coach of a newly promoted Championship team, he was a well-known figure in his hotown city. If he went ho to coach a lower-level team, they'd erect a statue of him outside the stadium.
He wasn't born to be a runner-up; he also had noble aspirations and ideals, fought for this position all his life, and eventually broke through among countless peers.
He could control the locker room of a Championship contender team, could imdiately make signings when the situation was unfavorable, rapidly enhancing the team's strength to maintain competitiveness!
Neil really didn't know what he was lacking, why the sudden ergence of a player could crush his hopes to pieces.
"After this year...."
He took out his phone and ssaged his wife, "I want to take a break for a few years; I don't want to coach anymore. I'm too exhausted."
......
Late at night, a bus slowly drove into the Queens Park Rangers base, players got off and headed to the parking lot, silently got into their cars and left directly.
They were held to a draw by Hull City in this match, ending their six-ga winning streak, and hampering their forward montum.
If it were not for constantly hearing the footsteps of pursuers behind them, they wouldn't feel so dejected, and their nerves wouldn't be constantly at the brink of high pressure.
Current first-team coach Volok and his assistant coaches got off and headed to the office, preparing for a post-match eting.
Speaking of which, Volok's coaching career had a bit of a legendary quality; he took over a team that was a hundred wrecks waiting for revival, last season faced with severe relegation pressure.
After he ca to the team, he rejected all opinions and employed 'madman' Taarabt, giving him the core tactical position, building the attacking system around him!
From fighting relegation last season to sitting atop the league for over a hundred and thirty days this season, he only needed half a year!
Originally, everything was turning around!
The story between him and Queens Park Rangers was about to have a perfect ending, just like in fairy tales.
But....now it seems that they could fall apart at any mont.
"Thud!" While climbing the stairs, Volok was so ntally distracted that he even forgot how many floors were in this staircase he climbed countless tis a day, taking a misstep and falling to the side.
"Watch out!"
"Catch him!"
His assistant coaches quickly caught him, pulled him up, preventing him from losing the deanor and prestige accumulated over the past year.
Volok got up and hung his head, not in a good state, continued walking toward the eting room.
After a few steps, he turned and asked, "How many points does Sheffield United have? What about Norwich?"
First asking about Sheffield United, because their recent montum was indeed too fierce, putting a lot of pressure on him.
On the other hand, Sheffield City is the hotown where Volok was born and raised, and he has been a fan of Sheffield United since childhood.
After achieving success in his coaching career, he also coached this hotown team twice, in 2005 even led them to the Premier League, experiencing a widely praised honeymoon period.
Later on, after failing to stay in the Premier League, with severe conflicts with the team's core player Sean, he was tragically fired!
It can be said that he has the strongest bond with this team; the experience from love to hate makes him never forget!
Volok had long wanted to prove himself this year, return all the neglect and humiliation he suffered before, tell his hotown team - firing him was the biggest mistake they've ever made!
This is also his source of motivation.
This matter buried in his heart, along with his legendary qualities while coaching Queens Park Rangers, makes him desire the championship more than any coach in the Championship.
"84 points, Norwich 85."
An assistant coach told him the news, and he swallowed his saliva, realizing with 8 rounds left, he had a bad premonition.
"Whoosh....."
Looking at the assistant coaches in front of him, heads down and faces heavy, Volok sighed deeply, forced himself to perk up; he couldn't really fall apart, his position didn't allow it.
"My life's been a long, twisted, infuriating prelude."
Volok squeezed out a smile, standing here, self-mockingly joking: "But it seems no matter how long the prelude, it won't necessarily bring better experiences for my fans and myself."
At this mont, he hoped to alleviate the pressure on his companions in such a way.
"Haha...." Soone laughed awkwardly, and even that laughter was sowhat forced.
......
March 20th, Old Trafford, the sixth round of the FA Cup kicked off here, between Manchester United and Arsenal.
After Arsenal was held to a draw by Leighton East in the last round, they regrouped and decisively beat them 5-0 at ho, advancing to the sixth round.
After being overturned by Barcelona in the second leg of the Champions League last Wednesday, this cup had truly beco Wenger's last hope to appease Arsenal fans this season.
"Rooney....!!"
In the 76th minute, accompanied by the passionate English-accented comntary, this historic sports venue burst into sky-shattering cheers, "Wow.....!!"
Rooney received Arsenal's clearance header outside the penalty area, struck the ball directly with an aerial strike, sending it into the net.
Amunia watched with sighs, standing still without any attempt to save; he had beco one of Arsenal's weaknesses.
"Two to nil! Ferguson's team has taken a two-nil lead! Valencia and Scholes are warming up; they're coming on to control the rhythm. Arsenal's situation is worsening!
"The magical Rooney, the magical Fabio, they've beco Manchester United's heroes. After eliminating old rival Arsenal, their FA Cup journey this season will have no more obstacles!!"
In the south stand, Arsenal's loyal fans were ashen-faced, the place was dead silent, they could only watch Manchester United fans celebrate here.
The last hope was shattered; the team would have no more title hopes this season, they had to accept the reality of winning nothing.
"We need a championship!"
A fan emotionally shouted, grim-faced toward the coaching area: "Wenger! If you can't deliver a championship, leave the team early!"
His shout was especially piercing in the silent Arsenal fan zone, successfully stirring other fans' emotions, they found an outlet to vent their pain.
"Arsene! Step down!!"
"Leave our team, look at these years, you've made a ss of it!"
"Leave already!"
"We don't need you anymore, Frenchman!"
In the coaching area, Wenger was already in a low mood, when he heard the shouts from the south stand, he folded his arms and frowned, glanced in that direction, seeing countless pointing figures.
His mood worsened, sorrow floated in his heart, he had to widen his eyes to stimulate his eyeballs to avoid showing a more miserable look.
Sir Alex Ferguson also noticed the commotion over there, he glanced at Wenger, the old man who had been his rival for over a decade, with hints of sympathy.
Maybe, when he retires, he'll definitely speak up for this old friend, right the wrongs.
But now.....he still saw Wenger as an opponent, as his competitor.
He'd only appear before the dia as a victor, proudly holding his head high, declaring Manchester United's victory.
"Beep! Beep! Beep——!"
The referee blew three long whistles, the match officially ended, Arsenal lost zero to two against Manchester United.
"It's hard, isn't it."
Ferguson, at the post-match handshake with Wenger, had a few thoughts to taunt his old rival: "Sell a few more players; maybe, sooner or later you'll have enough money to build the team of your dreams."
Wenger snorted coldly, his lips twitching without a smile, "Take care of your team, no need to worry about ."
"Is Ma'el negotiable?" Ferguson suddenly switched topics to this point, without any prior notice, quite abruptly.
Wenger himself was about to leave, but he turned his head sharply, his face turning stern, recalling Fabregas and then sowhat dejectedly turned away, leaving just one sentence: "See your skills then."
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