When Pearson walked into the press room, he was surprised to find it packed with reporters.
Looking at the room full of reporters, Pearson knew in his heart that these people were not waiting for him, but for the other protagonist to arrive.
Just as he pulled out a chair and sat down, the Blues manager Mourinho strode into the room.
In the next second, all the video cameras and cameras turned towards him.
Click, click, click!
Camera flashes went off one after another.
At this moment, in the entire press room, he was the only true protagonist!
But it was no wonder the media reporters flocked to Mourinho.
Ever since his debut, this “Special One” manager had been a controversial figure full of personality and talking points.
He often made shocking statements at press conferences and provided the media with plenty of explosive quotes and news material.
Mourinho’s relationship with the media was like a zookeeper and the animals.
The media were like animals who were hungry all the time.
As soon as they saw the zookeeper Mourinho appear, they would stare at him intently.
Then they would wait for him to reach his hand into the bucket and toss fresh flesh and blood into their mouths!
Mourinho was already used to such scenes.
Dressed in a suit with a long trench coat, paired with his cold, stern face, Mourinho exuded an aura of sharp competence.
He didn’t sit down immediately, but first extended his hand, shook Pearson’s hand, and didn’t forget to say:
“Sorry, I’m late.”
Hearing this, Pearson was slightly stunned, and then casually replied: “It’s fine, I just got here myself.”
This was his first contact with Mourinho.
Originally, through the image portrayed by the media, this Portuguese manager with the nickname “The Special One” was supposed to be a difficult, very stubborn person to deal with.
He didn’t expect the other party to be quite polite…
With both managers present.
The pre-match press conference officially began.
Called upon by the press officer, a reporter from the Mercury took the microphone first and asked Pearson a question: “I would like to ask Mr.
Pearson, what is the difference between facing higher-level Premier League teams and Championship teams?”
“There’s really no difference.
No matter who the opponent is, we give it our all!
Moreover, this isn’t our first time facing a Premier League team either.”
After briefly asking Pearson two questions, a reporter from the Daily Telegraph got the chance to ask a question.
“First of all, José, happy birthday to you!” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
The day of the match was January 26, 2014.
Which was exactly Mourinho’s 51st birthday!
Hearing the birthday wishes from a familiar reporter, the corners of Mourinho’s mouth turned up, and he immediately made a joke:
“Morris, you are the seventh or eighth person to say happy birthday to me today.
So…
thank you.”
“However, compared to wishes, I’d rather celebrate today with a victory!”
As soon as he said this, the photographers started snapping their shutters continuously, and the reporters began typing rapidly on their laptop keyboards.
This kind of answer was very Mourinho!
Delighted with this answer, the reporter did not forget to press the advantage:
“You look very confident about this game?”
“Of course I hope to control the game from the first minute.
But, this will not be an easy task.”
“Leicester City is a team that cannot be underestimated; the fact that they are at the top of the Championship says it all…”
“Mr.
Mourinho, do you know about that number 23 from Leicester City?”
Hearing this question, Mourinho wasn’t surprised and answered directly: “I know him, I’ve watched his match videos.
He is a good young player, especially the way he handles the ball on the pitch, it leaves a deep impression.”
“In the last round of the FA Cup, Leicester City relied exactly on his two assists off the bench to come from behind and defeat Stoke City.
Do you think this eighteen-year-old youngster will cause trouble for your team?”
“I trust my players…”
…
The entire pre-match press conference almost turned into a Q&A session between Mourinho and the reporters.
And Pearson was happy to be left in peace, not having to answer so many questions.
After the press conference ended, both managers returned to their dressing rooms for a final pre-match pep talk, and the curtains of the match slowly opened.
The players of both teams walked out of the dressing rooms one after another and gathered in the player tunnel.
Entering the starting lineup for the first time, Ling Feng stood at the back of the line, his expression calm, but his heart was surging wildly.
His gaze couldn’t help but drift towards the Chelsea lineup next to him.
An hour before the match, he had learned Chelsea’s starting lineup. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
And this starting eleven consisted entirely of names that he, as a hardcore football fan, was intimately familiar with: “King Hazard,” Lampard, “Former Best Premier League Left-Back” Ashley Cole, “Ivan the Terrible” Ivanovic, “El Niño” Torres, David Luiz, Matic, Willian…
Even with a massive rotation, Chelsea’s starting lineup was still star-studded.
The transfer value of Hazard alone was almost equal to the entire Leicester City squad!
Standing inside the player tunnel, Ling Feng suddenly felt a surreal sensation, as if a lifetime had passed.
These Premier League stars that he used to only see on TV broadcasts were now standing right next to him!
They were so close that he could even hear them talking to each other.
And he was actually going to share the pitch with them!
Wasn’t this essentially every fan’s dream?!
While feeling excited inside, he suddenly noticed something worth paying attention to: Matic, who was standing in the next line over, kept glancing at him from time to time, and was unashamedly looking him up and down!
From the other party’s gaze, Ling Feng could draw a definitive conclusion: In this match, Matic was definitely going to pay “special attention” to him!
Looking at Matic’s towering physique, and then looking at his own slender frame, Ling Feng suddenly had a premonition: This match is definitely not going to be easy…
…
Accompanied by the home stadium DJ’s introductions, both teams lined up and walked out of the player tunnel onto the pitch.
The cameraman immediately shifted the camera, capturing Ling Feng standing at the back of the Leicester City starting line!
When Ling Feng’s face appeared on the stadium’s big screen, King Power Stadium immediately erupted with an overwhelming, tsunami-like roar.
Clearly, his substitute performances in recent matches had earned Ling Feng the recognition and approval of the Leicester City fans.
And their appeals to the club for him to start had also been answered.
How could this not make them feel excited and thrilled?!
Many fans felt the club’s respect towards them.
This is my beloved Blue Foxes!
Seeing Ling Feng on the big screen, Ling Shan and Julia in the VIP section, just like the other Leicester City fans, waved their scarves to cheer for their son.
“Come on!
Feng!”
“Good son, go destroy Chelsea for me!”
As soon as he said that, Julia’s expression changed, and she said to her husband:
“Hey, watch your language!”
The scolded man surnamed Ling immediately stood at attention and saluted:
“Yes!
Madam Wife!”
(END CHAPTER)