What the author said at the beginning: I admit that I was a little emotional when I wrote this chapter, so friends who don't like this chapter don't need to subscribe, because I also don't want you to spend money only to see something you don't want to see. But some words have been bottled up in my heart for a long time, and I still want to say them. I don't know anything else other than writing books, so naturally I can only vent them through the mouth of the protagonist. Of course, Tony himself was ultimately a Chinese person and had lived in China for 26 years, so his words were very much in line with the setting and character of this character. At the very least, it was much more reasonable than the yellow-skinned and white-hearted Dunn.
That's right, this was a chapter about "China football." Friends who had no love for China football, please skip it and don't subscribe to it.
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What was the difference between the summer of 2010 in China and the summer of 2007 in Tang En's memory? In Tang En's view, there was no difference. The impact of the economic crisis on China was not as great and obvious as in Europe, the United States, and Japan. On the surface, the country was still full of vitality and contained countless opportunities. Even though it had been affected by the global economic crisis in the past two years, the country still maintained an economic growth rate of eight percent.
Although he was a British citizen, Tang En could never forget that he was actually an egg yolk bun with white skin and yellow filling. So, no matter how many times he came to China, he would always feel a sense of familiarity from the bottom of his heart.
Even though Shania claimed that she had one-eighth of Chinese blood, her feelings for the country were clearly not as strong as Tang En's, who looked like a pure-blooded Englishman. To her, China was a tourist country with many interesting attractions and delicious food. Of course, she could also make money. There were already Chinese companies looking for her to be a spokesperson because it was written in her information that she had one-eighth of Chinese blood. Writing this insignificant matter did not rule out the possibility that Fasal wanted to use this to rope in Shania's relationship with the China market. However, as an internationally famous model and a slightly famous actress in Hollywood, it made China's domestic fans very excited.
So, when Tang En and Shania got married in Brazil last summer, the Chinese media complacently said that Tony Twain's family had an indissoluble bond with China. Tang En's good friend and assistant was the Chinese Dunn. Tang En himself claimed to be very, very fond of Chinese culture and was fluent in China. He seemed to know more about China than a Chinese person. There were Chinese players in Nottingham Forest's squad. It was said that he had acknowledged Dunn's parents as his godparents. Now, he had a wife who was one-eighth Chinese.
This summer, Tony Twain, who had a special affinity with China, came to China for a holiday again.
When he and Shania, as well as Tang San appeared at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, they were frightened by the group of reporters blocking the departure hall.
There were about 20 reporters from various media outlets gathered outside the arrival gate, which was obviously different from the ordinary people who came to pick up their relatives and friends. Before Tang En arrived, they had attracted the attention of many people. They were all guessing which celebrity would be coming to Chengdu today.
They also attracted the attention of the airport's security guards. Soon, a team of security guards appeared beside these people to maintain order. They did not know who was coming, but they knew it must be a certain celebrity. As airport staff, they had seen this kind of thing many times.
When Tang En, holding Shania's hand and accompanied by Dunn, pushed the luggage cart over and appeared at the arrival gate. As if they had received a signal, the group of people pressed the shutters of the cameras in their hands. For a moment, the flashes were endless, illuminating the departure hall into a snow-white color.
"I thought we had kept it a secret enough …" He glanced at Dunn beside him. Because in the gap between the flashes being extinguished, he saw Tang Jing in the crowd at a glance.
"The two of you are public figures. How can it be kept a secret?" Dunn did not deny that he had told the news to Tang Jing, but he did not admit it either. He only tactfully expressed that the combination of Tang En and Shania was like a firefly in the night sky. It was so eye-catching and eye-catching that no matter where they hid, they would be discovered …
Shania did not bicker with them. She displayed the true qualities of a celebrity. She immediately put on the best pose and the most suitable smile on her face, waving at the reporters.
So, Tang En could only force a smile and wave to these people. "Hello, everyone," he said in fluent Mandarin.
Dunn clearly did not need to be so pretentious. He pushed the cart and followed beside the two big stars, turning a blind eye to the China reporters.
Tang Jing came up and reached out to Tang En through the temporary human wall formed by the airport security guards. She wanted to shake hands. "Mr. Tang En, Mr. Tang En! How long do you plan to stay in China? Can you accept an exclusive interview with me before you leave? You and your wife, Miss Jordana … "
Tang En turned his head to look at Dunn, who pretended not to see anything, and then looked at Shania. Shania smiled at him. So, he reached out and shook hands with Tang Jing. "I'd love to. Make an appointment, Miss Tang Jing. "
"Let's do it tonight … Are you going back to Dunn's hometown?"
Tang En nodded. "Okay. You know Dunn's contact information, so you must know where we're staying. When you're coming, give Dunn a call in advance. "He used words to ridicule the current relationship between Dunn and Tang Jing.
Dunn did not say anything, and Tang Jing did not care. Having settled the interview with Tang En and Shania, she looked very excited. "I have a car. Do you want to take my car?"
Tang En shook his head and rejected her. "Thank you for your kindness, but we also have a car."
Tang En and the other two pushed their luggage and walked out. The reporters followed them and kept asking questions, hoping to get answers from the three people. In fact, not all of these reporters were here for Tang En. Some of the media wanted to interview Shania, while others were more interested in Dunn.
Just like that, they were surrounded and walked out of the hall.
"All right, all right, my friends." Tang En felt that bringing a large group of people was too troublesome, so he stopped and turned to the reporters. "I came to China for a vacation this time. I hope to enjoy a quiet vacation. Thank you for specially coming to greet me. Now, please go back! "
With that, they went straight to the outside driveway and lined up for a taxi to pick up passengers.
Tang Jing asked in surprise, "This is your car?"
Tang En turned back and smiled at her. "Don't treat a taxi like a car, Miss Tang Jing."
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"A quiet vacation is an extravagant hope for me." In the car, Tang En complained in English about everything he encountered at the airport.
Shania sat next to him and held his hand. She smiled and said, "I'm used to it. I've never thought that I could go somewhere to play in peace. "
Dunn sat in the front passenger seat and did not say a word.
Seeing him like this, Tang En remembered something he had always been concerned about and asked, "I say, man … How far have you and Tang Jing progressed?"
"Huh?" Dunn did not hear clearly.
"Are you and Tang Jing dating?" Tang En asked in a different way.
"How … How is that possible?" Dunn denied.
"All right. Look, I'm taking Shania back to see our parents. If they ask about your marriage, how are you going to answer? "
"I'm still young …"
"Twenty-nine years old. Is that still young?" In fact, Dunn's actual age should be forty-one, which was Tang En's current age.
Dunn did not speak because he did not know how to answer the question.
"You know … No matter what, they still want to see you get married and hold your child as soon as possible …" Tang En murmured, a little absent-minded.
No matter what, he was not his parents' biological son. It was human nature to be different between those who were close and those who were distant. Although he felt a little awkward, he could only accept this reality. He had obtained the fame and love that he had dreamed of, and he had to give something in exchange for them. Thus, he lost his biological parents.
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In the evening, Tang Jing offered to treat the three of them to dinner. Tang En thought Tang Jing's excuse was very interesting. She was not from Sichuan at all. How could she be considered a "host"?
But he still gladly went to the appointment. He had to give Dunn face, right?
After dinner, they returned to the hotel. In the room, Tang En and Shania accepted an interview with Tang Jing. It was mainly to interview Tang En. After all, Tang Jing was a sports reporter, not a freelance writer for a fashion magazine.
Tang Jing was very concerned about Nottingham Forest's prospects for next season. She wanted to hear Tang En's plans. So, Tang En selectively revealed some. Then, he looked back at last season. Tang En was generally satisfied with the team's performance last season. Being able to squeeze out Chelsea and successfully advance to next season's Champions League was also in line with his expectations.
Next was to talk about his life with Shania after marriage. Naturally, they were very loving and happy. On the football field, Tang En's goal was to pursue championships and victory. In their married life, it was to have a child.
Then, Tang Jing was concerned about Tang En's physical condition. She asked him to talk about his feelings after being bedridden for more than five months because of his heart disease. Tang En felt there was nothing to talk about. Being sick was not a good thing, let alone having a heart disease. So, he made his attitude clear on this part of the question — he would not answer.
Originally, the atmosphere was quite harmonious. It made Tang Jing forget for a moment that she was interviewing Tony Twain, who was said to be "the most difficult person for reporters to interview." But on the issue of Tang En's health, she finally saw the unreasonable side of this man.
She could only enter the last segment — as Nottingham Forest's manager, as well as Europe's most successful young manager in recent years, as well as someone who understood China's football world very well, how did Tony Twain view China's football?
Unlike his previous answers, which were as concise as possible, when it came to China's football, Tang En seemed to have a lot to say.
"I heard you plan to change football back to a national system? I don't know how to evaluate it. If it's just to let the national football team produce results, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just like your country's table tennis, diving, and gymnastics. It's very effective. The whole world knows that table tennis is the best in China, diving is the best in China, and gymnastics is also a traditional sport for China. "
"But I don't think the significance of football is just to let a country's representative team achieve such results in an international competition. Football is a competitive sport, but it's also a game. It's a game that anyone can participate in and play. At the same time, it's even a way of life. I'm the club's manager. For my club's fans, going to the stadium once a week to watch their hometown team play is a way of life. This way of life has been passed down from father to son, and then to grandson. It's been going on for hundreds of years. Do you understand the difference between this and what you're doing now? "
"In my opinion, although China is the country where football was first invented, the current China is still far from the 'life' I'm talking about. How many years has it been since professional football was introduced to China? How many years has it been in England? I believe that professional football has a future in China because the Chinese are very smart. They know how to do something well, and they can definitely do it well. The key is whether you want to do it well. After more than a decade of professional football, this thing in China is still like water without a source, a tree without soil. I think it's a complete failure! For the smart Chinese, it's simply too shameful! "
Tang En suddenly became a little agitated. It was as if he was the Chinese who felt shameful about it.
"Due to the failure in the Olympic Games and World Cup qualifiers, your General Administration of Sport has decided to let football return to the previous national system. I don't deny that doing so may help your country cultivate a team with a corresponding status in the world of football. When the time comes to participate in the World Cup or the Olympic Games, it can also achieve results that your fans will find acceptable. But if I were an ordinary fan who loves football, I would feel sad about living in such an environment. Do you want to know why? "
"I'd like to hear the details." Tang Jing had already unknowingly been attracted by Tang En's eloquent speech. She had even forgotten that this part was just a routine "addition" that would not take up too much space in a report. But now, deep in her heart, she had a very strong idea — to make this part the most important part of the interview and recommend it to all the readers.
"A strong national team, including the various invitational tournaments and commercial competitions, how many games can there be in a year? And a mature club team, how many high-level games does it play in a year? As an ordinary fan, he would certainly support his country's team and wave the flag and shout for his motherland on the national team's match day. Very well, then what about on the national team's match day? How can he vent his love and desire for football? What kind of opponent can he find to entrust this kind of faith-like love? A foreign team? "
Tang En snorted. "AC Milan? Inter Milan? Real Madrid? Barcelona? Juventus? Manchester United? Arsenal? Liverpool? Chelsea? Bayern Munich? Or Nottingham Forest? Or the German national team, the Italian national team, the English national team, the Spanish national team, the French national team, the Portuguese national team, the Czech Republic national team, the Brazilian national team, the Argentine national team, the Japanese national team, the South Korean national team … Anyway, there won't be a China national team. "
"Of course, they can like the above teams. There's no problem at all. No one has the right to interfere with other people's interests and choices. But they are China people and China fans. The above teams will not perform at their doorsteps every weekend. They can't cheer for their favorite teams on the field. They can only argue with their nemesis' fans online. They also can't get close to these star players outside the training ground, ask for their autographs, or even buy genuine team memorabilia … This kind of love, to be honest, I find it very sad. "He shrugged. "I think Chinese people are very particular about belonging, but this kind of love has no sense of belonging. You love those teams, but those teams may not love you. Ah, I'm not slandering the European teams. I just think the distance between you and them is too far. They simply can't take into account your love. What position do those Chinese fans who carry posters to the airport to welcome their idol teams have in the eyes of the European clubs? "Tang En thought of his trip to China with the team to seek gold.
What did the passionate and even worshipping China fans count for in the eyes of Allan Adams and Evan Doughty? It was just the "China market," the exchange rate between the RMB and the British pound and the euro.
What did it count for the Forest players? They were just ordinary supporters thousands of miles away. Their position in the hearts of these people was worlds apart from the Nottingham fans. They had the responsibility and obligation to use victory and their own skills to please the Nottingham fans who went to the City Ground to support them every week. But they would not please these fans far away in China, even though they were just as passionate as the former.
Nottingham Forest Football Club received letters from fans all over the world every day. Due to the existence of Assistant Manager Dunn and Sun Jihai, there were also many letters from China fans. Most of the letters were templates, most of which were postcards and souvenirs. Some of them were just professional "messengers" in the country, while others truly liked the Forest team. But no matter what the case was, the postmark date of the ordinary letter and the date of receipt were almost a month apart.
Wasn't the cost of this kind of love a little high?
"I've said so much. Can you understand what I mean, Miss Tang Jing?"
Tang Jing nodded mechanically. In fact, she had not digested Tang En's words.
"The purpose of your country's General Administration of Sport and the Football Association in football is definitely not to give your country's fans a lifestyle of football culture. This is not within their scope of concern and consideration. Their purpose, to put it nicely, is to hope that the national team's results will improve. To put it bluntly, it's just for the achievements of their leaders in office. What do the China fans count for in their hearts? That's really an interesting question … "
Perhaps they were the "mobs" who gathered outside the stadium and shouted slogans such as "the Football Association is stupid," "the China team is disbanded," and "Xie X Long, f * ck your mother." Or perhaps they were the numbers in the statistics for every Chinese Super League game … In any case, they were a group of hateful and vague images. They were not real "people" with lives, feelings, and flesh and blood. So naturally, they did not care about their feelings, did not listen to their voices, and did not care about what "football" meant to these ordinary people.
"… The focus of their work is only on the national team. As long as the national team's results are good, they are good officials and have political achievements. As for football culture, football life … what are those? Can it guarantee that they will be promoted and rich? Can it guarantee that they will have political achievements? To imperceptibly influence the influence of football into the people's lives, it requires more than the efforts of a few generations of leaders. How many leaders are willing to plant trees themselves to let their descendants enjoy the shade? I've worked hard for four years without any political achievements, and now I'm letting you grandsons fish for political achievements? Why! Why do I have to do this kind of thing where I suffer losses and others take advantage of me?! "
Tang En suddenly stood up from his chair and paced around the room agitatedly, completely forgetting that he was being interviewed. He just had a lot of things he wanted to say in his heart. He did not care who the audience was or where he was.
From the start of the discussion about China's football, Tang En had been using Mandarin to communicate with Tang Jing, as there were some things that could not be expressed in English. As a result, Shania could not understand what her Uncle Tony was saying at all. Seeing Tang En suddenly stand up agitatedly and walk around the room muttering non-stop, she was a little worried. "Uncle Tony …"
Tang Jing also did not expect Tang En to have such an intense reaction. She had initially asked this question because she wanted to hear how an outsider like Tony Twain viewed China's football, which had a bad reputation. She wanted the readers to know how a foreigner viewed their own football. She did not expect that although Tang En was indeed talking about the matter from an outsider's point of view, his emotions … did not seem like that of an outsider.
She also stood up, her heart full of contradictions. Should she speak up to persuade Tang En to calm down, or should she hope that he would continue talking like this and let her hear more juicy news …
"Yes, that's what they think!" Tang En said as he turned around and stood still, waving his fist. "You've indeed gone through some detours and forked roads in the process of developing your professional path, but this does not mean that you have to completely deny everything about professional football and return to the national professional system. Is the problem with your football a problem of professionalism? Is it a problem with the star players earning too much and the clubs spending too much money? Which of those European teams' star players earns less? Which club doesn't invest money? Are the players of countries with high-level football all moral pacesetters and models of character eating milk squeezed from grass? Are all European clubs as clean and transparent as a vacuum? Of course, the people within the system would not admit that the cause of all this was a problem with the system. Because to admit this was tantamount to cutting off their own livelihood, smashing their own rice bowls, and destroying their own interests. So, they push the blame to professionalism, to those professional players who earn a lot of money but do not have much say in it. They make use of society's mentality of 'hatred of the rich' to transfer everyone's anger towards the Chinese Football Association to the professional league. They say that 'after so many years of professionalism, the players are earning more and more, but the level of football is getting worse and worse', so the fault lies with the professionalism of football. But if it's not professionalism, how can you possibly know how incompetent and pedantic this organization that has managed China's football for fifty-five years is?! "
"Many, many years have passed. Maybe your national team will be very powerful in the international football scene, like the Soviet Union before it collapsed. But your football level will not improve in a hundred years … No, it will never improve. What is football to your people? It is an Olympic sport that is kept away from the secular world and won glory for the country, but it is definitely not a game that children play together in the school playground, nor is it a belief, an entertainment, a way of life that the fans gather in the stadium stands and in front of the television once a week to be happy, to cry, to be proud of it, to be angry about it, to be worried about it, to become a kind of belief, an entertainment, a way of life, a living culture that exists among the people and takes root, blossoms, blossoms, bears fruit, and continues to develop and strengthen without declining for a hundred years. It is full of vitality and has a reasonable circulation mechanism that can produce its own metabolism, radiating a vast and far-reaching influence, a culture that is loved by politicians and ordinary people! "
"Do you know what that feels like, Miss Tang Jing?" After saying this in one breath, Tang En turned back to look at the stunned reporter, Tang Jing.
"Nottingham Forest was unfortunately relegated, and half of Nottingham City cried. Notts County was once on the verge of bankruptcy, and the other half of Nottingham City generously donated without asking for anything in return. They donated pound by pound in hopes of saving the team. Because that was their team, the team of their hometown! Even if they were just a nobody who played in England's Third Division and almost never had any hope of winning the UEFA Champions League! "
"But in China now, 90% of the people will say to you half in surprise and half in mockery, 'Yo, you're actually watching f * cking? You're actually watching China football! Even if you want to torture yourself, you idiot! '"After cursing, Tang En spread his hands, and his tone finally eased. "You see, this is the difference between the two. Miss Tang Jing. What's wrong with China's football? There's nothing wrong with it, because it itself is a big problem, and the big problem breeds a large group of medium problems, and the medium problems also involve countless small problems … How great is it, a happy family reunion. "
Tang En smiled. "But is there any way to solve this problem? To be honest, I feel that with the current situation of China's sports system, you can forget about solving it. I sympathize with you, really, I'm not joking. I really, really sympathize with you … Also, don't fantasize that one or two talented players can help you move towards glory. In the future, pay less attention to Chen Jian. I know you're thinking of ways to introduce him to the China fans, to mold him into the new hope of China's overseas players. But I want to warn you, Miss Tang Jing. "
Tang En stretched out his index finger and shook it in front of Tang Jing. "He's definitely not the savior of China's football. He's just an ordinary young man who hopes to rely on football for a living and is a little silly but lucky. If my players are ruined because of your silly delusions, today will be the last time I'll accept your interview. "
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When Tang Jing left, it was obvious that she had not recovered from Tang En's conversation. Clearly, the impact of this interview on her was far greater than any of Tang En's previous conversations in front of the media. She really needed to go back and digest it. Fortunately, although she was in a daze, the interview machine in her hands was still working faithfully, recording every word of Tang En's.
But there was one thing she was very clear about when she left. If this thing were to be published in the newspapers, the impact it would cause would definitely not be comparable to a mere "The Most Successful Young Manager — Entering Tony Twain's World" interview.
To let this thing appear in the newspapers, there might even be some risks …
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Shania did not care what kind of impact Tang En's words would have on the country's football world. She was only puzzled by Tang En's impassioned final moments.
What could make the real-life Uncle Tony so agitated that he could not even control himself?
Tang En hugged her, shook his head and explained with a smile, "She asked a question that was difficult for me to explain in a sentence or two, and this question can easily make people lose their rationality and calm … I'm really sorry for scaring you, Shania. But it's okay now. At least I don't have to continue to worry about that question. Let's have some fun! "He abruptly picked Shania up and threw himself onto the bed.
Shania's scream quickly turned into a gentle moan …
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When Tang Jing came out of the elevator, she found Dunn sitting on the sofa in the hall, facing the direction of the elevator.
"This interview took longer than expected," he said when he saw Tang Jing walk over.
"I'm sorry. The last question made the interview plan go out of control." Tang Jing shook her head. "He became very agitated and said a lot of things."
Dunn was a little interested. "What was the question?"
"I asked him about his views on China's football. I wanted to hear what a foreigner thought about something that we ourselves thought was rotten … The result was beyond my expectations, "Tang Jing said in a low voice, frowning as she recalled the scene just now. "He said a lot, some of which we don't know, some of which we've never thought about, and some of which we know and think about but dare not say …" At this point, she suddenly raised her head and looked at the calm Dunn.
"I've decided! I'll take out his answer and publish it in full. Don't change a word! "
"I can imagine what Tony said. Aren't you afraid there'll be trouble if you publish it?" Dunn asked.
Tang Jing smiled sweetly and combed her hair that hung in front of her eyes. "What trouble could there be? If the higher-ups hold me accountable, I'll shoulder it alone. At worst, I'll just resign and lose my job. It's not a big deal. "
Dunn looked at the determined woman in front of him. He opened his mouth but did not say anything in the end.
Tang Jing raised her wrist to look at her watch. It was already ten o 'clock in the evening.
"Ah, it's so late! I have to go back. "She waved at Dunn." Goodbye, Dunn! "
"Goodbye." Dunn stood at the door and waved goodbye to Tang Jing.
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