Selhurst Park is the home ground of Crystal Palace, located in the London Borough of Croydon, with a capacity of just over 26,000.
Much like Crystal Palace’s status in London, it is quite inconspicuous.
The season hadn’t started yet, but the usually empty stadium saw a rare influx of journalists today.
“I heard Crystal Palace is changing owners today.
Do you guys know who the new boss is?” “No idea, they’re keeping it pretty mysterious.” “Could it be some mysterious foreign billionaire, like when the Russian Abramovich bought Chelsea last month?” “What are you thinking?
Chelsea might not be a top-tier giant, but they’re still a Premier League club.
Crystal Palace is just a Championship team; what billionaire would buy a second-tier club?” “True.
It seems the new owner has limited financial resources; the news value today probably won’t be that high.” “Well, we’re already here, let’s just write something.”
While waiting for the main subject to appear, a few familiar journalists gathered and chatted.
At this time, Chen Ran had already arrived at the stadium entrance with his two good brothers.
“Uncle Henry, long time no see.
How have you been?” Chen Ran had interned at Crystal Palace for three months before and knew Uncle Henry, the gatekeeper.
“Oh, Chen, haven’t you finished your internship?
Why are you at the stadium today?” “I’m here to attend the press conference.” “What?
Did you become a football journalist?” “No, I bought Crystal Palace.”
Having said that, Chen Ran ignored the dumbfounded Uncle Henry and walked straight into the stadium.
At the press conference, the journalists suddenly noticed the former chairman of Crystal Palace walking in accompanied by a young man.
He looked Asian.
Could this be the new owner of Crystal Palace?
The journalists suddenly gained a bit more interest.
After the announcement of Crystal Palace’s change of ownership, a “small forest” appeared at the press conference—almost every journalist raised their hand wanting to ask a question.
“Excuse me, Mr.
Chen, are you Japanese?” “I am Chinese.” “Why did you buy Crystal Palace?” “Because I love football.” “Forgive my bluntness, but Chinese football is quite backward.
Do you have the ability to run an English club well?” “Of course, I am very confident.
In fact, before acquiring Crystal Palace, I interned here for three months.
I wouldn’t have bought it without certainty.” “I see, it seems you came prepared.
Then what is your goal after acquiring Crystal Palace?
Promotion to the Premier League?” “Hehe, very simple.
I plan to build Crystal Palace into the strongest football club in the world.
As for the Premier League, that’s just a small goal.”
“Whoa…”
As soon as Chen Ran said this, the room was in an uproar.
Even the former Crystal Palace chairman sitting next to him couldn’t help but turn his head and give him a couple of looks.
Oh, to be young!
“Since Mr.
Chen’s ideals are so grand, why not directly acquire Manchester United, Arsenal, or Liverpool?
Is it because you don’t have enough money?”
“I didn’t acquire those clubs because they are already championship teams.
Even if I bought them and did a great job, it would just be adding a few more championship trophies.
People would just say, ‘This guy continued the team’s championship tradition, not a bad job.'”
“That’s not what I want.”
“What I want is to start from scratch and personally create a football dynasty.”
“And Crystal Palace has never won any major championships; this is exactly what makes it perfect.”
“OMG, Mr.
Chen, are you sure about what you just said?”
“Absolutely.”
After repeatedly confirming Chen Ran’s statements, the journalists in the audience were like they had been injected with chicken blood.
Today was not a wasted trip; this kid from China was very cooperative, and the news value was completely there!
Standing to the side, Luis and Stephen broke into a cold sweat listening to this.
As soon as the press conference ended, they immediately protected Chen Ran and rushed out of the encirclement of the unsatisfied journalists.
“Boss, you’re crazy.
You’re going to make a lot of enemies this way.” Luis was so anxious his face was red.
Following a boss like this was too much of a test for his heart.
“Scared?” Chen Ran patted Luis on the shoulder and asked in return.
“Chen, what were you thinking?” Stephen was relatively calmer.
“Tell me, what is Crystal Palace’s status in English football?” “Very ordinary.” “And in world football?” “Uh…
unknown, I guess.” “Exactly.
Many people probably don’t even know this team exists.
We need to make a massive amount of signings next, but we’re not a big club, we can’t offer high salaries, and we’re even just a second-tier team.”
Speaking up to here, Chen Ran deliberately stopped and looked meaningfully at his two friends.
“Chen, do you mean to use these journalists to hype up Crystal Palace’s reputation first?” Stephen caught on quickly.
“Smart.
Fame is also a kind of wealth, although in the short term, this fame will likely be mostly negative.
But as long as we continue to achieve one goal after another in the future, the mockery now will just be stepping stones on our path to success.”
Before Chen Ran’s reincarnation, the “lay low and develop secretly” trope was very popular in web novels.
However, he didn’t want to do that.
Chen Ran thought very clearly: he hadn’t traveled to an immortal cultivation world, nor a fantasy world, nor returned to some chaotic era with life-and-death crises everywhere.
In his past life, he was just an ordinary person.
Now that he had a rare chance at rebirth, and a system to back him up, shouldn’t he live a little more freely?
As expected, Crystal Palace went viral, and so did Chen Ran.
As long as it was an English media outlet covering football—whether TV, newspaper, or internet—without exception, they all heavily featured the Crystal Palace takeover.
Even some continental European media reprinted the reports.
Some media even put Chen Ran’s photo on the front page.
“Please remember this face: the creator of a football dynasty, a mysterious man from the East.” “Crystal Palace falls into the hands of a fantasist.” “Confident or arrogant?
This is a psychological issue.” “The Premier League is just a small goal.”
In the Crystal Palace chairman’s office, Chen Ran enthusiastically looked at the various reports Luis and Stephen had collected.
“Tsk tsk, the photo isn’t handsome enough.” Looking at his front-page photo, Chen Ran expressed his dissatisfaction.
“OMG, Chen, now is not the time to talk about photos.” Luis clutched his head, feeling a headache coming on.
“Alright, isn’t this all within our expectations?
And hasn’t our goal been achieved?
When has Crystal Palace ever been reported by so many media outlets?”
“That’s true.
But, Chen, your reputation right now is probably…” “The strong are always envied; get used to it.” “Let’s go, it’s time to meet our coaches and players.”
(END CHAPTER)