With Villa's thrilling stoppage-ti winner, Lynn's first official match in charge of Swansea ca to an end.
The supporters in the Liberty Stadium stands were satisfied.
The match itself had been like a roller coaster, leaving them restless and on edge, but once the dust settled, they could finally let out a long, hearty breath and celebrate the team's winning start to the new season with those around them.
Watching Swansea really did test their nerves and ntal endurance.
In high spirits, the fans began preparing to leave the stadium.
Lynn's heart, which had been pounding like thunder, gradually returned to a steady rhythm.
He straightened his rumpled suit, then walked toward the visiting manager, Ray Kennedy.
The post-match handshake was part of football etiquette. Lynn now strode toward him with his head held high, the corner of his mouth carrying a playful smile.
When Kennedy saw him approaching, his face imdiately turned sour. He wanted to turn and leave, but considering his image, he still reached out and shook Lynn's hand.
Kennedy said coldly in a low voice, "You only won by luck. Don't get carried away."
Lynn kept smiling.
He leaned in close to Kennedy's ear and said softly, "I am indeed feeling very pleased right now, but I won't get carried away. Compared to soone like you, who still can't understand the situation, I don't think anyone needs to worry about my state of mind, Ray.
"Originally, you could have beco my assistant. You could have rebuilt Swansea with . You could have witnessed Swansea's rebirth and growth by my side. We might have beco close comrades-in-arms, setting sail together and overcoming countless dangers.
"But you left. Fine, you left. But why did you co back carrying hatred?
"If I were you, once I turned and walked away, I would no longer regard Swansea as so special club. The Liberty Stadium would just be another battlefield. If you truly thought you were so brilliant, then you shouldn't have co back. Never co back! And if you did co back, then you should have returned in glory, far greater than before.
"Unfortunately, you didn't. And I can tell you with certainty that you never will.
"Because the Swansea you faced today is the weakest Swansea there will ever be. Even so, you still lost. That makes feel relieved, and very fortunate. You aren't even qualified to be my assistant.
"Heh. Good luck, Ray."
Ray Kennedy nearly ground his teeth to pieces.
His grip on Lynn's hand gradually tightened, as though he wanted to take revenge through the handshake.
But after Lynn pulled his head back, he stared sharply at Kennedy, and his right hand also began to exert more force.
Without outsiders realizing it, the two n were locked in a contest of strength.
Young and full of vigor, Lynn naturally had the stronger grip. Over the years, he had paid great attention to physical training.
Kennedy's mouth twitched, a faint expression of pain appearing on his face.
Lynn stopped at just the right mont and released his hand. Then he winked his right eye at Kennedy and walked back toward the pitch.
Kennedy, filled with resentnt, turned and stord into the players' tunnel.
Lynn walked onto the pitch and applauded the supporters once again in thanks. Then he embraced every player, praising their performance that day.
Afterward, the manager and players joined hands in a line and went to the touchline together, thanking the fans in the stands.
The reporters on the sidelines were all waiting for Swansea's players and coach.
David Livingstone expressionlessly packed up his belongings, picked up his briefcase, and prepared to leave the Liberty Stadium.
Raleigh stood beside the players' tunnel. When he saw Livingstone walking over, he said, "I'm truly sorry. Swansea disappointed you."
Livingstone stopped beside Raleigh and said flatly, "It's only one match. The season is still very long."
With that, he stepped forward to leave.
Behind him, Raleigh said, "Livingstone, hatred has already blinded you. You can't see the enormous potential in Swansea! Your arrogance and prejudice have taken over your reason. Your bias against Lynn has led you down the wrong path. Perhaps you've already forgotten that you once loved Swansea more deeply than anyone! But now, you're hoping Swansea heads toward destruction!"
David Livingstone's mind trembled violently. He suddenly stopped where he was.
Raleigh's words struck him like a sudden awakening, but the mont he thought of his grievances and conflict with Lynn, he clenched his teeth again.
He turned to Raleigh with a solemn expression and said, "In Swansea's eighty-eight-year history, the club now has its first foreign coach, and he is Chinese. The club has beco a plaything of Chinese capital. This is no longer a pure-blooded Swan!"
"But perhaps this Swan will beco more beautiful than ever before! Perhaps it will make those who love it even prouder! It will shine with a brilliance it has never shown before!"
Raleigh spoke with absolute conviction.
Livingstone shook his head and said, "You still don't understand. Whether it becos beautiful or ugly, it is no longer the Swan I once loved. Now it is rely a twisted monster, wearing the skin of a Swan, while its soul, flesh, and blood have been polluted by Chinese capital!"
Raleigh stared at him, dumbfounded.
Only after Livingstone had left did he mutter, "Hopeless."
When Lynn and the players walked toward the tunnel together, the reporters who had watched the match quickly gathered for interviews.
So went to interview the players, while others surrounded Lynn directly.
For matches at the level of the English Third Division, there was no formal post-match press conference.
Usually, reporters simply asked a few questions on site to add material to their match reports.
But now Lynn was a star. The post-match interview had instead beco the main event.
Carter from BBC Wales held a microphone, preparing to interview Lynn.
Raleigh also took out his notebook, ready to record Lynn's words. T
here were also reporters from Golden Radio, the Western Mail, Swansea Voice, and several others.
Surrounded by reporters, Lynn raised his hand before they could even ask questions and said, "I don't have much goodwill toward all of you, so I only intend to deal with this interview as a formality. I still have other things to do. Let's finish this quickly. I will only answer three questions."
As soon as Lynn finished speaking, Lewis Russell from Golden Radio sneered, "You've only won one match, and you've already beco this arrogant?"
Lynn smiled. "All right. I'm not going to answer your question. Miss Carter, what would you like to know? First question."
Carter smiled and held up the microphone. "This was your first match in charge of Swansea, and the team won in dramatic fashion. How would you evaluate the ga?"
She handed the microphone to Lynn.
Lynn answered calmly and naturally, "The match was indeed full of suspense. Barnet created many problems for us, but Swansea defeated them through unity, hard work, and superior strength. This match gives us a good start to the new season. However, we cannot ignore that Swansea still has shortcomings. We need to go back, review the match carefully, and learn from it. The season has only just begun."
After saying that, Lynn raised his eyebrows at Raleigh.
Raleigh knew it was his turn to ask.
He imdiately said, "Swansea's seventeen-year-old captain Cromwell scored today, but he was substituted not long into the second half. Will that shake your trust in him? For example, would you consider changing the captain?"
Lynn shook his head and said firmly, "Cromwell's performance today left absolutely satisfied. When he was on the pitch, his presence was extrely strong. In attack, in defense, in every aspect, he did very well. For a seventeen-year-old lad to perform like that, I am happy for him. He is a qualified captain. On the pitch, he showed fighting spirit, ambition, and the ability to inspire his teammates. He is Swansea's captain — a captain who makes us proud!"
For the final question, Lynn pointed at Liam Hans from the South Wales Evening Post.
Hans asked, "Ibrahimović and Villa both scored today, and they are both new signings. Ibrahimović scored twice, while Villa delivered the match-winning stoppage-ti goal. Could you talk about those two forwards?"
Lynn nodded. "First of all, victory was the result of the whole team's hard work. Every player played an important role. But the performance of our forwards was certainly the key to our coback.
"Zlatan and David both possess very high footballing talent, and they already have excellent technical foundations. What they lack now is richer experience.
"And I must give a thumbs-up to Charisteas as well. When the team was behind, he ca on in a difficult situation. After entering the match, he forced the goalkeeper into a spill, giving Ibrahimović the chance to score the equalizer. Then, at the final mont, he headed the ball across and assisted Villa's goal.
"Overall, our attacking players were outstanding today. But this is only the beginning. Wait until the end of the season, then take another look!"
After finishing, Lynn pushed through the reporters and walked toward the players' tunnel.
Three questions.
Once he had answered them, he left imdiately.
Post-match interviews were required by the Football Association, and as head coach, he had to complete them. But there were no strict rules on exactly how many questions he had to answer or how much ti he had to spend.
Lynn walked into the dressing room. Many of the players were in good spirits as they showered.
Kerry McConnor and fitness coach Ernie Shackleton pushed in a large food cart, filled with a dazzling variety of food and drinks.
They reminded the players to eat and rehydrate after a short rest.
Taking in fluids and food within thirty minutes after a match was the most effective way to recover.
Lynn noticed Cromwell sitting in front of his locker in a daze. He had taken off his shirt, shorts, and boots, and now wore only his underwear.
It was rare to see him like this. Most of the ti, he wore a bright, sunny smile and actively chatted with his teammates.
They had won today.
Logically speaking, he should have been lively.
But now, he seed sowhat down.
Lynn walked over and sat beside him. "Oliver, what's wrong? We won the match. Aren't you happy?"
Cromwell turned to look at Lynn.
With a serious expression, he said, "Boss, the mont I was substituted, I felt terrible. I still wanted to keep playing, but my body couldn't hold on anymore. I almost cramped up. And at that ti, we were still behind."
Lynn put an arm around his shoulder and said, "You're still young. You're only seventeen. You already did very well today."
Cromwell said quietly, "But I want to beco better."
"Then stop sitting here overthinking things. Eat. Drink water."
Cromwell took a deep breath and nodded.
Without even going to shower, he walked over to the food cart, picked out the food he liked, placed it on a tray, then returned to sit in front of his locker and began eating.
Lynn stood up and watched the players discuss the match, laugh about the victory, and even sing.
Ibrahimović and Villa ca out together after showering, towels wrapped around their waists.
The two glanced at each other, smiled, then lightly bumped fists.
Then they saw Lynn and took the initiative to greet him.
"Boss, how did we perform today?"
Lynn nodded. "Not bad."
"That's only not bad? We scored four goals!"
"Of course. You can still do better. Right now, you haven't even shown one-tenth of your true ability. You two can beco the best footballers on this planet."
Everyone burst into laughter when they heard that.
Lynn felt that everything was wonderful.
Of course, it would have been even better if that fellow Brunel would put his trousers on.
He was walking back and forth around the dressing room stark naked, even swinging around that male symbol of his, which looked thick and long even in its limp state.
Damn it.
How enviable!
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