Gotze was gradually integrating into the team, which reassured Martin O'Neill.

In the second round of the league, Liverpool would return to their home ground, Anfield, to face Stoke City.

This was a match with little suspense for Liverpool.

Perhaps the only suspense was whether Gotze would get a chance to play in the game. In the previous league match, Gotze didn't get a single minute of playing time.

That's why it aroused speculation from the media after the game.

But Martin O'Neill didn't intend to let Gotze play. He planned to continue to keep Gotze on the bench, let him feel the atmosphere of the Premier League on the bench first, and also to cool down the recent "Gotze problem."

To prevent Gotze from having any ideas, he also went to Gotze specifically to talk to him, telling him his plans, telling him not to have too many selfish thoughts, to train with peace of mind, and after he was ready and showed it on the training ground, he would naturally see it, and at that time he would let him play.

This was where Martin O'Neill differed from most other coaches.

He was a person who was good at communicating with players. He didn't have the airs of a famous coach, which may have had something to do with the fact that he had never really become a famous coach. Anyway, he didn't want some coaches to put on airs—my words are the imperial edict, you have to listen whether you want to or not!

Besides, after working with Chen Hero for two seasons, even if he had a temper, it had been worn away. So now, no matter who the other party was, he could put down his pride and patiently talk and explain to the players, dispelling their doubts.

In fact, this kind of communication method was the correct one, so that the team could be harmonious internally.

But it was easy to say, but how many people could do it? People, after all, have tempers. If you're not polite to me, why should I be polite to you? If you give me a bad look, I'm sure I'll show you the coach's methods... Once this happens, the relationship will naturally be ruined.

Martin O'Neill's reputation wasn't too big. On a global scale, he was far from being a famous coach.

But precisely because of this, he was low-key and humble enough, and this kind of person was the most suitable coach for Liverpool.

It must be said that Niang's vision was very accurate, and the person he chose was also a good choice.

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Martin O'Neill believed that as long as there was communication, there was no problem that couldn't be solved.

Sure enough, after he explained his thoughts to Gotze, Gotze also expressed his understanding. He also really felt that he was not familiar with English football, and perhaps watching more on the bench and observing more would deepen his understanding of football in this country.

Gotze wasn't worried that he would become a substitute because of this. As long as he was allowed to play, when he was ready, he firmly believed that he would seize the opportunity. At that time, he would never be a substitute again!

Martin O'Neill was very satisfied with Gotze's performance.

Before the game against Stoke City, he first announced the starting lineup in the team. Gotze continued to be on the substitute list. Some people had already turned to look at him, seemingly surprised that Gotze was performing well in training but didn't start.

This situation hadn't happened before. In the past, most Liverpool players didn't care whether Gotze started or not. Because many people didn't think Gotze was one of their own.

Now it was different. With the help of Chen Hero, Gotze's own initiative, and that incident with the reporters, more and more Liverpool players regarded him as one of their own.

Naturally, more people began to care about Gotze.

Hearing that he didn't start, some people expressed concern and surprise.

Under everyone's gaze, Gotze's expression was calm, and it didn't seem like he was hit hard by not being able to start.

Everyone saw that Gotze himself had no objections, and they had even fewer objections.

On the day of the match, after the starting lineup was announced, the media still paid attention to the fact that Gotze continued to be a substitute.

Although Chen Hero didn't allow them to continue to harass Gotze, normal comments were still possible.

Gotze remaining a substitute seemed to further solidify the doubts in the reporters' minds.

Although Chen Hero didn't let them say it, he couldn't stop them from thinking.

Chen Hero couldn't control what people thought. He couldn't possibly run into other people's brains and turn their brains into tofu, could he?

They heard that Gotze's performance in training had improved, so now it wasn't Gotze's problem, but Martin O'Neill's problem... Why did Martin O'Neill insist on not using Gotze? Was it because he had some prejudice against Gotze? This was really worth exploring...

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Gotze didn't play, so the media's minds were still on Gotze, because the game itself had no suspense and there was nothing to say. It was just Liverpool winning again and Chen Hero going on a killing spree...

Everyone was tired of reporting these things last season. There was no novelty at all.

That's why they were so concerned about Gotze, because Gotze was something that had never appeared in this Liverpool team before, and it was worth following.

The match between Liverpool and Stoke City was indeed as the media said, there was no suspense at all.

Liverpool beat Stoke City 4-0 at home!

Only five minutes into the game, Liverpool scored. Sanchez scored first, with a volley from the far post in the penalty area, opening the scoring for the team.

Stoke City completely surrendered.

Liverpool's performance last season was too scary. When many teams came to Anfield to face Liverpool, they basically couldn't muster any fighting spirit or confidence. They only thought about losing as little as possible.

Stoke City was such a team.

After Sanchez scored, everything was simple. The game once again entered Liverpool's familiar rhythm.

Stoke City had no fighting spirit to begin with, and their performance after that was even worse.

Liverpool's goals came one after another.

Chen Hero scored twice in the match, scoring his third league goal of the season.

But what the media was most concerned about was still not this, but Gotze sitting on the bench. The TV broadcast gave Gotze many shots, and basically all of them were close-ups, just to find clues from the expression on Gotze's face.

But they were disappointed. Gotze's performance was no different from any ordinary Liverpool player—watching the game seriously and attentively, occasionally chatting with teammates next to him, and when Liverpool scored, he would also rush out of the bench with his teammates, raise his arms to cheer for the goal, and then applaud the teammates who scored.

You really couldn't see anything wrong with him.

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In the end, relying on Chen Hero's two goals, as well as Sanchez and Skrtel's goals, Liverpool won 4-0 against their opponents at home.

At the post-match press conference, as soon as Martin O'Neill sat down in his seat, countless arms were raised.

The press officer pointed to a person, and that person stood up and was about to speak.

But Martin O'Neill interrupted him and said preemptively, "I'll state in advance that I won't answer any questions about Gotze. Okay, now you can start asking questions."

The reporters under the stage looked at each other.

In Martin O'Neill's view, his approach was a kind of protection for Gotze. But in the minds of these reporters, it was ironclad proof that O'Neill was impatient with Gotze.

It wasn't that Martin O'Neill's reminder worked, but that this reporter suddenly thought of Chen Hero's threat.

So he shrank back, and his question became: "Two consecutive wins at the start of the season, Mr. Martin O'Neill, do you think your team is on the right track?"

This was nonsense among nonsense, and the most worthless of all questions.

Even the reporters could have guessed the answer in advance—could O'Neill possibly say "No, our team is in the most difficult period in history, and we may be finished at any time"?

From this, it could also be seen that everyone's minds were actually still on Mario Gotze.

How could Martin O'Neill not know? He felt that it wasn't a good thing to always have this group of flies thinking about it.

But was Gotze really ready to push Gotze to the forefront too early?

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While Martin O'Neill was considering this issue, Chen Hero had already asked the question directly: "Mario, do you want to play now?"

"Of course I want to," Gotze nodded without hesitation.

"Are you ready?"

This time Gotze thought for a moment before nodding and saying, "I think so, I'm ready."

Chen Hero didn't ask him questions like "Why do you think you're ready?" or "How do you prove that you're ready?" Instead, he slapped the table and said, "Okay, then I'll go talk to the boss!"

This time it was Gotze's turn to be surprised.

Looking at Gotze's surprised expression, Chen Hero explained: "I think the only way to convince those die-hard idiots is to let you play and use your performance. It's not up to me who plays and who doesn't, so I have to talk to the boss and see if he's willing to give you a chance so soon."

Gotze thought of what Martin O'Neill had said to him, saying that when the time was right, he would naturally let himself play. But when would the "time be right"?

Would now be considered the right time?

Maybe it's a little early?

But he couldn't wait any longer.

He asked himself, and felt that he wanted to play. Although Martin O'Neill had explained it to him, and he had expressed his agreement, there was always a fire burning in his heart.

I want to play, I want to play, I want to play...

In the fire, a voice kept murmuring.

He clenched his fists, forget it!

Regardless of whether the time could be considered ripe, he, Mario Gotze, couldn't wait any longer.

If the time isn't ripe enough, that's because you never do it. How do you know if the time is ripe if you don't try?

Even if it's not ripe, as long as you try a few more times, won't it be ripe?

There was originally no road in the world, but as more and more people walk it, there is a road.

There is no so-called ripe time in the world. As more people try it, there is.

Isn't that the way things are in this world?