Green Dragon

Chapter 707 You Coward!
After playing two commercial games, Liverpool will also participate in the next International Champions Cup, so they still stay in the United States.

The 2016 International Champions Cup is divided into three major regions:
The main battlefield is located in North America, including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​AC Milan, Inter Milan, Bayern, Leicester City, Chelsea and other teams are participating in the competition here.

In Australia, three strong teams, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Tottenham, will play against local teams.

The China region, which was newly established last year, also invited three popular clubs, the Manchester City duo and Borussia Dortmund, to form a triangular match.

But unfortunately, the Manchester Derby, which is the main event, was temporarily canceled before the start of the game because of the continuous light rain and the poor quality of the bird's nest turf!
Guardiola is okay, he just expressed regret, but Mourinho did not save face for the Chinese organization at all. After spitting wildly, he took the Red Devils back to the UK directly and let the Chinese fans While disappointing, the image of Chinese football in the world continues to deteriorate.

I'm afraid it can't all be blamed on the magic bird's big name-the dignified National Olympic Sports Center, which costs [-] million yuan a year to maintain. Presenting a vegetable field to everyone, if Long Shute was present, he might turn his face and deny anyone!
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There is not much to describe in the warm-up commercial game. Anyway, Liverpool, who did not play Long Shute, can beat Barcelona 4-0, Paris Saint-Germain can easily defeat Real Madrid 3-1, and AC Milan can still win in the points. The tenacious victory over Bayern Munich in the ball game probably reflects that these scores do not contain much gold.

After all, many players who participated in the national team are still going through the recovery period, and young players like Neymar are still participating in the Olympics in Brazil. In the stage of inspecting players and experimenting tactics, winning or losing is not too important.

Although it is not important, Liverpool, which has Long Shute, still won the championship trophy with three victories, and took away more than 1000 million ticket sales, peripheral sales, broadcast revenue, and 200 million US dollars in prize money— —It was Barcelona, ​​AC Milan, and Chelsea who fell at their feet.

Originally, the organizer hoped that Liverpool could participate in the competitions in North America and China successively. After all, they have the inherent advantage of Long Shute, but Long Shute himself rejected such an arrangement.

Because their journey has been long enough, adding more items will only make everyone more tired.

It's really not worthwhile to pay a few million appearance fees.

Of course, if the appearance fee can be increased to tens of millions, I am afraid that no matter how tired Long Shute and his teammates are, they will have to grit their teeth and participate...
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"Congratulations on such a successful preseason and hope you enjoyed your last night in America."

After finishing all the commercial games, Gerrard, as the host, invited the whole team to hold an evening party. Except for a few people who had no relationship with Gerrard, almost the whole team was invited to the appointment.

Gerrard is not a good nightclub master. Although he once fought with others in the bar and even went to court, his talent for picking up girls in the nightclub is definitely comparable to those of Ronaldo, Rooney and Balotelli. Big guys are not on the same level...

So the parties he organizes are relatively boring, that is, everyone gets together, eats some food, drinks some wine, and then chats about Liverpool, football and life.

Fortunately, the overall thinking of the Liverpool players is relatively simple, and their lives are fairly simple, at least slightly better than Long Shute's teammates in Milan.

Three Brazilians like Coutinho, Firmino, and Lucas have almost no similarities with those of their predecessors. They can even embody a stronger professionalism than European players, otherwise they would not Will stay in this little village of Liverpool.

The players gathered in twos and threes, and Gerrard was surrounded by Henderson, his successor who had been appointed and trained for three seasons, and Long Shute, who took only three months to seize the core position.

"Although I only left for one season, there are many new faces in the team than expected..."

Gerrard looked at the players on the field, and there were only 11 teammates who had played with him in the Premier League - and this also included local youth training like Ibi.

Henderson also said with emotion:
"Yeah, a lot of people came and a lot of people left, but we're going from strength to strength now, Steven."

Long Shute did not express his opinion, because most of the transfer decisions were implemented after his consent.

He just called up some information from the system, and then briefly glanced at it:

"Steven, do you remember last winter when you returned to the Melwood training base?"

Gerald thought for a while:

"Which aspect do you mean?"

Long Shute picked a glass of white wine from the waiter's plate and took a sip:
"Of course it refers to my invitation to you. I asked you once half a year ago, and you said that your new contract has just started. Now, I ask you again, can you give me the answer?"

Gerrard was slightly taken aback, and the forehead lines on his forehead unconsciously deepened a lot.

He thinks too much.

You have to consider your physical condition, you have to weigh the pros and cons of returning to Liverpool, and you have to worry about whether you can get a stable playing time...

"Steven, let me tell you a secret."

Long Shute put down his wine glass:

"Liverpool Club's largest shareholder today is named Long."

Gerrard was taken aback, and Henderson who was beside him almost dropped his cup.

Just listen to Long Shute's expressionless face and continue:

"But I invite you not for any other reason, but because, as the captain of the team today, I want to have an experienced Liverpool player at my side, but ... I will not put The burden of destroying the city and turning the tide is all on your shoulders, because, I am by your side, and we can meet all opponents together."

Gerald's body trembled involuntarily.

He seems to have returned to the old Istanbul, the old Wembley, and the old Anfield.

As the captain, I used the same words to encourage the red teammates again and again.

But now, he has become the object of encouragement...

Gerald pondered for a long time, and finally answered:
"The major league and Premier League seasons are not the same, I can't leave in the middle of the season..."

Before he finished speaking, Long Shute interrupted him unceremoniously:
"You coward!"

coward?

Gerald's eyes suddenly froze, because he was extremely unfamiliar with this word.

In his long career, whether it is a teammate or an opponent, he has never heard anyone comment on himself like this!
I, Steven Gerrard, have always been the symbol and symbol of Liverpool, the unyielding fighter wearing the red number 8... how can I be a coward? !

"What are you afraid of?"

Long Shute's gaze was so sharp that it could split him in half:

"Are you worried that Liverpool will lose the title when you come back to the team?
Or are you worried that you won't be able to get the same status and treatment as before? "

"Do not……"

Gerald found that he couldn't find a place to interject in front of the other party.

Long Shute's voice attracted everyone's attention.

Henderson wanted to explain for the old captain, but under the pressure of the current captain, he also didn't have the courage to speak!

Just listen to Long Shute say:

"I will give you ten seconds to make a final decision, Steven, do you want to continue to be a substitute for others in this football desert in the United States, or return to Liverpool to win the most desired and important thing in your life? A trophy?"

The entire party venue suddenly fell into silence.

Everyone closed their mouths, only a heavy gasp could be heard.

Gerrard's brows had never been furrowed like today, but his forehead lines stretched into a wilderness at the last moment.

He raised his chin, and there was a hint of tremor in his thick voice:

"Dragon...I...I want to go back!"

"I want to train at Melwood Base!"

"I want to play at Anfield!"

"I want to wear the red jersey with the Liverpool logo again!"

"Long, if possible, I, I want to play football for Liverpool for another two years! Until I actually retire!"

Long Shute finally laughed.

There was a burst of applause at the party.

Long Shute opened his arms towards Gerrard:
"Welcome home, Steven!"

(End of this chapter)