Super Marshal

The 49-year-old Phil Thompson was once the legendary captain of Liverpool at its peak in the 1980s. After retiring, he stayed at the club and served as an assistant to the former coach Evans, and later assisted Houllier.

What impressed the fans most about this former Red Army star is that in October 2001, after the head coach Houllier had to leave the coaching post due to a heart attack, he led the team at a critical moment and achieved Quite a good result, but when Houllier returned, he had to return to his assistant role again.

Houllier also attached great importance to this capable right-hand man, especially after reading the game report he brought back, he was very sure of his inference.

"You are right, Phil, this is indeed a rather fatal loophole."

Houllier put down the game report in his hands full of surprises, and made no secret of his excitement.

Defeating the ever-victorious coach Gao Han and defeating the 200 million army Chelsea, these two auras are too tempting.

He swears that in the entire European professional football world, it is impossible for anyone to refuse such a temptation.

More importantly, Liverpool's goal this season is to compete for the top four in the league and keep the Champions League qualification.

Manchester United and Arsenal will basically not have much change, so the remaining two seats, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea are all able to compete for one of the places, so direct dialogue becomes full of weight.

This is not just three points in the league, it may even determine the qualification for the Champions League.

Phil Thompson also suggested with a smile: "Then I will start arranging relevant training."

"Well." Houllier nodded, "The speed of Owen and Diouf will play a key role in this game. We must firmly grasp this loophole to play and create opportunities around this area."

"Okay, I understand."

Hadji Diouf, the Senegal international, became famous in the 2002 World Cup because he defeated the French team. After moving to Liverpool, his performance was relatively average, but he was only 22 years old, so Houllier still treats him well. Am looking forward to.

Like the team's leading superstar Michael Owen, Diouf's biggest feature is his lightning speed, which makes him very threatening on the court and good at playing on the left.

Now that Chelsea's weakness has been grasped, Houllier and the coaching staff will then create targeted tactics based on this weakness, and practice defensive and counterattack routines to restrain Chelsea in the team.

Fortunately, there is still plenty of time.

"Gao Han, we will give you an unforgettable meeting at Anfield Stadium!"

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The Premier League is about to start, and the atmosphere at Fulham's Spurs Park training base is becoming more and more tense.

The team played very badly last season. Under the leadership of the French coach Tigana, the team once fell into the relegation zone, and the management had to fire the coach Tigana at the end of the season and promote the young coach Chris who had just retired. · Coleman up.

As a result, Coleman led the team to successfully avoid relegation and became famous in the first battle.

This summer, the team has not invested even a penny in the transfer market, but sold the team's right-sided player Finnan to Liverpool. The overall strength has not increased but decreased, and even the performance in the pre-season warm-up It can't be as expected.

However, head coach Coleman seemed confident and promised that the team's goal this season will not be relegation.

There are indeed many players in the team who believe in him, because the second youngest head coach in the Premier League has successfully conquered everyone last season, and everyone believes in his coaching level.

Including Dutch goalkeeper Van der Sar.

Van der Sar is thirty-two years old this year, even in the goalkeeper position, he can be regarded as a veteran.

Even last season, due to various reasons such as injuries, Van der Sar only played 19 times in the Premier League. Many people doubted whether he would retire because of this, or return to the Netherlands to retire.

But he stayed on.

Because the head coach Coleman told him personally that the team needs him.

It's always nice to feel needed, isn't it?

The opponent in the first round of the Premier League in the new season is Middlesbrough. This team has invested a lot of money this summer. The biggest signing is the loan of Mendieta from Lazio. Barcelona's former superstar has regained the state of the year.

Even if they only recover half of it, they have earned it.

For what happened to Mendieta, Van der Sar was very sympathetic, even empathetic.

Because of the same experience, he also had it.

He debuted in the Ajax youth training, and under the cultivation of his mentor Van Gaal, he became the backbone of the team and helped Ajax win the UEFA Champions League, which was the pinnacle of his career.

At that time, Van der Sar was sought after by major European giants. Many teams were eager for him to join, and he also went to Serie A with great ambitions and joined Juventus. He hoped to prove his strength in the small World Cup.

Unexpectedly, the two seasons in Juventus have become the darkest two years in his career.

Poor performance and low-level mistakes made him suffer from fans and media criticism.

Even after Juventus introduced goalkeeper Buffon from Parma at a sky-high price, Van der Sar was ignored, and finally had to join the newly promoted Fulham team in the Premier League in despair.

This huge gap from heaven to hell, how similar is Van der Sar to Mendieta.

The difference is that the Dutchman is thirty-two years old, and he admits it.

The only thing he thinks about now is to play well in Fulham, play well, and after completing his Premier League contract, return to the Netherlands, return to the Ajax he is familiar with, until he retires.

Very simple, very down-to-earth.

Like his unpretentious black Volkswagen, or his low-key life in Morton, south London.

Gradually, he got used to this kind of life.

As usual, after finishing the training session, taking a shower and changing clothes, he drove the black Volkswagen and left the training base slowly.

Stinger Park is located in the southern suburbs of London, between Morton and Kingston upon Thames.

The Van der Sar family lives in Morton New District, a community that has just developed in recent years and gathers middle and upper classes.

He rented a detached three-story villa with its own garden and spacious rooms.

His wife lives at home, and his two sons and daughters study in a good school nearby, and they go home sooner or later.

He would return home on time almost every day, parked the car, walked in, and saw two little ghosts sitting there facing each other doing homework. At this time, his wife should be preparing a sumptuous dinner in the kitchen.

Every time, he would always smile at the children and say, "Hurry up, I'll wait for you at the back."

The two little ghosts are always very excited, especially the son, very much like him when he was young.

But today, a sudden phone call broke this long-term tranquility.

Chris Coleman?

Why is he calling at this time?

Van der Sar frowned, but still waved his hands towards the two children, turned and walked out of the living room, and went to the garden to answer the phone.

"I'm very sorry, Edwin, I have to tell you a sad news." The head coach's voice came from the phone.

Van der Sar frowned even deeper, could the club be dissatisfied with him?

At the beginning, one of the reasons why he came to Fulham from Juventus was that the salary given by Fulham was very good.

But now, Fulham has obviously begun to reduce expenses. Is it necessary to take him as a high-paying member of the team?

"It's okay, tell me, Chris." Van der Sar's thoughts changed sharply, but he remained calm.

No matter what the other party said, he could accept it calmly.

"That's right, Edwin, I believe you know the current situation of the team."

"Hmm." The ominous premonition in Van der Sar's heart was even worse.

"Just now, the club notified me that this morning, Chelsea sent an offer fax, they are willing to buy you to Stamford Bridge at a price of 10 million euros, and just now Gao Han personally called me to inquire about your situation. "

"What?" Van der Sar turned pale with shock.

Alpine? Chelsea?

How is this possible?

"I'm not very clear about the specific situation, but I can see that Gao Han really wants to buy you."

Van der Sar still finds it incomprehensible because he is thirty-two years old.

What's more, his performance in Fulham has not been satisfactory.

Chelsea claims to have a team of 200 million players. Even if the players they buy are not famous European players, they are at least one of the best players in the Premier League. Why can't they get their turn?

"Anyway, Edwin, I hope you can understand the difficulty of the club. We need this money. In addition, I have given him your mobile phone number. He should call you soon."

Van der Sar took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

He's a professional footballer and knows exactly where he's at.

"Understood, thank you, Chris." Van der Sar replied lightly, with the same tone as usual.

Chris Coleman seemed to give a wry smile, before finally sighing, "Good luck, Edwin."

"You too."

After hanging up the phone, Van der Sar let out a long breath.

He was a little hard to understand, why did Chelsea take a fancy to him?

Also, alpine.

He vaguely remembered that in 2001, he also had contact with Atletico Madrid for a time, and there were even media rumors that Atletico Madrid wanted to buy him, but it seemed that Juventus' high asking price scared Atletico Madrid away.

Could it be that Gao Han really wanted him?

But it doesn't make sense!

As a thirty-two-year-old veteran who has experienced so many ups and downs at the same time, Van der Sar is very self-aware. He clearly knows that his performance in Juventus and Fulham is not ideal.

Of course, he knew the reason more clearly, but as a professional player, he had no escape and no excuses.

Why me?

Van der Sar asked himself.

But soon, another call came in, and the caller ID was an unfamiliar number.

Van der Sar took a deep breath, and after exhaling heavily, he connected the phone.

"Hello, Edwin, I'm Gao Han."

A simple sentence caused a huge wave in Van der Sar's heart.

On the other side of the phone is a famous European coach who spent 200 million euros in transfer fees in the summer!

"Hello, Mr. Gao Han, I'm glad to receive your call."

"Thank you." Gao Han looked very polite, without the majesty of some famous marshals.

This may have something to do with his youth.

Van der Sar thought to himself, he also saw some Atletico Madrid reports from newspapers and magazines.

"If it's convenient for you, I hope to meet with you and sit down and have a good chat. You know, many things can't be explained clearly on the phone."

"Okay, when? Where?"

"Well... the sooner the time, the better, now is also fine, the location, whatever, I'll go there right away." Gao Han looked very eager.

This warmed Van der Sar's heart, and he thought for a while, "Then why not stay in Morton, there is a good coffee there."

"Well, okay, I'm in Harrington, I'll be there right away."

After hanging up the phone, Van der Sar let out a heavy breath again, somewhat confused in his eyes.

But he still walked home quickly.

Before going out, he had to explain to his wife and appease the two brats by the way.

I definitely can't play football with them today.