long live football

In the end, Manchester United won the Manchester derby with a score of 3:1.

When the referee blew the whistle for the end of the game, there was amazing applause in Old Trafford, and the Manchester United players on the pitch ran to the sidelines hand in hand and raised their arms to the fans in the stands , both accepting cheers and telling the fans that they have lived up to everyone's expectations.

There was also laughter on the coaching bench, and everyone had a relaxed look on their faces.In this game, Smith was not the only one who felt tremendous pressure on his shoulders. In fact, every member of the coaching staff felt that they had great responsibilities. Because Ferguson was away, continuing to win victories for the team was what they should do and must complete. task.

Cristiano Ronaldo stood near the coach's bench, staring at Karl, hesitating.

Karl saw the shyness in the young player's eyes, he walked up and gave him a gentle hug: "Congratulations."

Ronaldo smiled: "Thank you."

Then the hero of the team was surrounded by his teammates and flocked to the mixed area to be interviewed by reporters.

In the stands behind them, a fan in a red jersey asked those around him: "Who's that handsome guy in the coach's dugout? I saw him hugging Smith and Ronaldo."

"Oh, that's our temporary teaching assistant. It seems to be called Oston. I said man, don't you usually listen to other people's chats in bars? The news is really behind."

……

In the absence of Ferguson's on-the-spot command, Manchester United can still beat their arch-rivals Manchester City, which is really a great encouragement to all Red Devils fans.When Ferguson was judged by the doctor more than half a month ago to "at least be absent from the league for several months", countless fans sadly thought that the team's season might be over, but now they see that the team's discipline is still in order and the game is also played When it was remarkable, their hopes were ignited again-we were the Premier League champions last season. Although it is very likely that we will have no hope of defending the title this season, it is always possible to qualify for the Champions League.

As of the week before Christmas, Manchester United ranked fifth in the standings, No.1 is Arsenal with Arsene Wenger.

Perhaps affected by the good atmosphere of the team, when the reporter of "Manchester Evening News" went to the hospital to interview Ferguson, he accidentally heard a big exclusivity from the rare and kind Sir Ferguson: After consulting with the doctor, Ferguson decided to Surgery was performed around March to install a pacemaker to his heart. The pacemaker can not only help Ferguson's heart beat young and powerful again, but also ensure that he will not have to think about leaving the game early for at least ten years in the future.

In addition, Ferguson also mentioned the team's new assistant coach, Karl Alston, in the interview.

The reporter is very curious why Manchester United hired a temporary assistant coach, because Manchester United is not a small team with a streamlined staff. As a giant, the Red Devils have a whole coaching staff to serve them. Can share his work as a teaching assistant.Considering the reality, Manchester United does not need to hire a new assistant coach at all, and this assistant coach is so young and the contract is temporary.

Ferguson did not answer the reporter's question directly. He just smiled and said: "Karl Alston is a bit beyond my expectation. He is a good young man and is also very helpful to the team's construction."

The Evening News reporter’s rich associative power immediately began to work. He looked at the gray-haired old man in front of him, and then followed the clothes on the other person’s body to think of Ferguson’s poor body. He couldn’t help but speculate: Could this be the successor Ferguson was looking for ?Started training from a young age, and waited until Ferguson retired and the other party just took over the job of Manchester United's head coach?

As soon as this idea came up, it was suppressed by the reporter of the Evening News on the grounds that it was "too wild and unconstrained". After all, although Ferguson is 62 years old, he can still be called a mature man for the coaching profession. In addition, Manchester United's head coach is not something that Ferguson wants to be able to do, it has to be approved by the club owner - the Glazer family.

On the next day's "Manchester Evening News", the reporter truthfully published his interview with Ferguson. Of course, he didn't mention his own wild thoughts. Just out of curiosity and due diligence, the reporter investigated. Karl Oston, the new acting assistant coach of Manchester United, posted the other party's personal information on the headlines of the sports section along with the report.

So the entire top league knew that Manchester United had a new assistant coach, and he was surprisingly young.

And Manchester United fans also learned the life of their new assistant coach by the way: Karl Oston, German-English mixed race, 25 years old.He lived in the UK all the year round when he was young, and lived in Germany as an adult. His education was Oxford Long Primary School, Winchester Public School, and the School of Sociology of the University of Munich.

I have to say that the release of this simple information blocked the mouths of a group of fans who held "Karl Oston is too young, so he must not be a good Manchester United assistant coach", although Karl Oston graduated from university Since then, he has never engaged in any football-related occupations, and he has never even found a formal job, but this education is enough to show that he is a smart, studious and decent person, and he must have come from an upper-middle-class family-Oxford Dragon Primary school is not a place where children from working-class families from the East End can enter, and Winchester Public School is one of the four major public schools in the UK, and the fees are as expensive as the education they can give, while the University of Munich, a city in Germany Sociology is present in the best colleges of the Ivy League schools. (Almost every British person has a keen sense of class, and they don't say it, but they still value it in their hearts)

If Karl Alston is now the assistant coach of the Premier League team Newcastle, then the fans of the Magpies should question him or will question him, and even louder, saying that he "was born to sit in an office, football is not taught by book instinct." Your stuff!" Because most of Newcastle's fans are blue-collar workers, they represent the working class. Jack Milburn, the Magpie star who has made great contributions to the team in history, is affectionately called "the working class" by the fans. son of

But this is Manchester United. Many of Manchester United fans are middle class, or even higher. They may also frown because of the blankness on Carl's football resume, but they are more willing to believe that young people with such a degree will eventually succeed. Do a good job as a teaching assistant.

To cite such an example, Ferguson once said "Manchester United is also a club for the working class" in order to win over fans. After this sentence came out, everyone laughed.

……

The "Manchester Evening News" brought Carl a little popularity, but it didn't affect Carl's life in any way, because his fame was not big enough for fans to sign autographs or follow him.At most, when he went to the training ground to supervise the players' training, he was watched a few more times by the onlookers.

Carl began to work with a feverish momentum, taking his training more seriously and taking more notes.

Smith thought it was caused by his dissatisfaction with Carl. This kind old man went to find Carl one day after training, and said in a somewhat awkward tone: "Karl, I want to tell you that I... er, I'm happy with your job, so you don't have to create so much pressure on yourself."

"It wasn't pressure that made me do it," Carr told him. "I just wanted to take this job more seriously."

Whether Smith believed it or not, Carl was telling the truth.

Against Manchester City, he found his excitement again.

This feeling may be common to others, but to him, the heart always beats steadily in his chest. No matter how big the business is, how much money he earns, or even meeting a beautiful and charming woman, it is also I have never conveyed to him the feeling of "I am happy as if I have returned to the age of 18".

That night in the Manchester derby was his first taste of youth in almost a decade.

Pure, energetic, youth that never stops struggling.

In order to feel more of that charm, how could Carl not allow himself to devote himself to work?

……

During the cold and lively Christmas holiday, there are delicious food and gifts, and you don’t have to worry about work. You just need to enjoy the company of friends and family. If you can watch a wonderful football game with them at this time, it will be even better!

So the tradition of English football came into being, when other league players lay lazily at home to rest, they had to catch up with the Christmas schedule.

Both the League Cup and the FA Cup have important games to be played from the end of December to the beginning of January, not to mention the Premier League where almost every team has two rounds.

Between December 12th and 20th, Manchester United has three games to play, plus the flights of major airlines are full, which means that no matter how close the distance is, the players or staff cannot rush back to be with their families Merry Christmas, unless his home is in England.

Carl's mother, Sarah Rollin, returned to London after divorcing Laurie and started a family again. She invited Carl to spend Christmas with her, but Carl declined on the grounds that he had already received Ferguson's invitation.Then he rejected Laurie with the same reason, and finally checked the express mail, and after making sure that his Christmas present must be delivered to his parents before the New Year, he got up and went to Ferguson's house.

When Carl arrived at Ferguson's home in Lancashire, it was already late. He found that besides himself, Ruud Ruud and his girlfriend were also invited by the Ferguson couple in the first team. , and Ronaldo et al.

Ferguson's wife, Katie, opened the door to welcome him into the house, and gave him a hug filled with the smell of pastries: "I heard Alex said you did a good job in the club, Carl, you really should come more." Visiting, usually only the two of us old guys are at home, it is really deserted to death. Are your parents okay?"

"They are all in good health." Carl kissed her on the cheek: "Merry Christmas, Katie." In Carl's few memories of visiting the Fergusons when he was young, Katie has always played an important role. The old lady, treats people kindly.

"Merry Christmas, Carl."

The other guests gathered in the living room, and when they saw Katie entering the room with Carl with an intimate expression, their expressions changed in unison.

"There's tea and biscuits in the living room, and I'll bring you some freshly baked pies later. Keep talking, lads, without having to stand up to say hello." Katie waved and went downstairs to the kitchen.

Carl said Merry Christmas to everyone, then found the couch and sat down comfortably.

Van Nistelroone and his girlfriend, Leontien Slatz, sat across the living room, smiling and chatting with Louis Saha and his girlfriend in what looked like a foursome.Near the window, three club managers who were relatively unfamiliar to Carl were holding a document and talking in low voices.Counting the people who came to the appointment alone in the living room and did not join in any conversation, apart from Carl, the only one who was sitting not far from him was Cristiano Ronaldo.

"Where's the boss?" Karl spoke to him.

"In the study." Ronaldo replied.

The two chatted a few words casually, and when they mentioned the game, they lowered their voices very low, because everyone knew that Katie didn't like Ferguson bringing his work home, and he didn't like the football-related discussions everywhere at home.

A strong aroma suddenly filled the living room, and it turned out that Katie came over with a plate.

"Today's pie is baked just right, look at the crust, it must be extremely crispy!" Katie said proudly: "The main ingredient is nine sea bass, which is very fresh, and the meat must be very delicious."

This is a famous traditional dish in England, looking up to the stars pie.

The method is probably to stuff the whole fish into a pie and bake it with the head up... This is Carl's simple guess based on the appearance of the pie.

Katie is right, these are indeed a few majestic sea bass, but this majesty makes them look very ugly after being roasted, and they will not die.

The three club managers who were standing at the window walked out while admiring. They took a knife and cut a piece, stuffed the fish head mixed with cheese into their mouths, and made a vigorous chewing sound.

"This is the biggest pie I've baked in half a year!" Katie looked at Carl with encouraging eyes: "Try it!"

Carl was forced to tear open a piece of pie, pointing the head of the fish to himself.Frowning slightly, can he tell Katie that the fish head is not in line with the aesthetics of his tongue?

Katie had already turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Carl immediately stuffed the piece into Ronaldo's mouth.

Ronaldo choked and whined.

"Swallow it," Carl ordered him, "and tell me what it tastes like."

Ronaldo's face was tightly wrinkled at the beginning, and he could barely speak after he swallowed everything in his mouth: "It's the smell of fish and oil mixed together..."

He licked his mouth and showed a strange expression: "Although it's a bit fishy, ​​it's not bad. Do you want a piece?"

"I'll help Katie in the kitchen." Carl said dryly, then turned around and fled out of the living room.

……

It is said that the three thinnest books in the world are the history of victory of the French, the joke book of the Germans, and the recipes of the British.

It wasn't until Karl arrived in the kitchen that he realized what the sentence meant.

He volunteered to help, although it was more for his own appetite, but Katie never stopped praising him from the beginning to the end, and even at the dinner, she said to Ferguson in front of everyone: "Karl has changed." I almost didn't recognize him, handsome and friendly, and he helped me in the kitchen all night! Thank goodness he's not like you and Laurie when you were young."

Then Karl noticed that other people looked at him a little weirdly, especially several managers of the club.

He smiled and asked Katie for the salt shaker, interrupting her.

A sumptuous Christmas dinner followed, with roast goose, suckling pig with apples in its mouth, mashed potatoes, dried fruit pies, broth, ham and pudding and Christmas cake for dessert.

Louis Saha secretly asked him after the dinner: "Why is Mrs. Ferguson so kind to you?"

Carl touched his nose and asked, "Maybe it's because I'm handsome?"