What "Liverpool is undoubtedly the most powerful team in European football today," or "Liverpool is the representative of English football"...

Could these words have been heard from Ferguson's mouth before?

Even if they could be heard, they would have a deeper meaning.

For example, in Chen Hero's second season at Liverpool, Ferguson praised Chen Hero before a game against Liverpool, praising Chen Hero as a player of considerable skill, who could already be compared with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

In fact, Ferguson was not wrong. At least, from the current point of view, there is no problem at all. Now, Chen Hero is not only on par with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but even has a tendency to be better than them.

But this was by no means foresight on Ferguson's part at the time, because he was not really praising Chen Hero at all.

He didn't care at all about how far Chen Hero could go.

This praise was just to confuse Chen Hero.

Of course, Ferguson was too impatient and clumsy at that time—who would have thought that a Manchester United manager would praise a Liverpool player?

Such a thing has never happened in the decades-long history of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Ferguson was too impatient and didn't realize this problem. Instead, he was outwitted by Liverpool and Chen Hero, and Manchester United were defeated at home, catching Ferguson off guard.

Afterward, Ferguson realized this problem, so he never praised Chen Hero again. On the contrary, his subsequent performance was the normal performance of a Manchester United manager when facing Liverpool—there was absolutely no good word in his mouth, only curses and attacks.

Unexpectedly, in Ferguson's last English national derby as manager, he would so generously send goodwill and blessings to his mortal enemy.

Although surprised, most people didn't think there was anything wrong.

This is reasonable.

As the saying goes, "A man's words are good when he is about to die." When people are about to die, their words become much nicer, and any grievances are let go. What's the point of carrying hatred when you're about to die? It's better to let yourself go freely.

In everyone's opinion, Ferguson is in this situation now.

He is about to retire, and no matter how much resentment and hatred he had with Liverpool during his tenure, he has to let it go at this time.

Anyway, it's the last game, so instead of leaving everyone with the image of a mean old man, it's better to let everyone remember a kind elder.

This is also in line with many people's mentality.

No matter how much hatred there is, it should be let go at this time.

After all, when you are in a position, you are seeking its governance. If you are no longer in that position, what are you still doing? Let your successor continue the hatred between Liverpool and Manchester United.

Because of this idea, no one even suspected Ferguson's motives for saying this.

Moreover, Ferguson not only praised Liverpool and Chen Hero, but also belittled his own team.

His sentence "Manchester United's task has been completed, and now Liverpool will continue this task" means that Manchester United is no longer good enough in front of Liverpool, so Manchester United should step down from the throne of ruling England and give this throne to someone more qualified to sit on it.

Sir Alex has made countless enemies in his life, and has always been tough. When has he ever said such soft words?

It seems that he is really going to retire. People are particularly weak and prone to sentimentality.

In fact, if Ferguson had made this statement a year earlier, it would have caused countless speculations in the media.

Because the timing is wrong.

But since Ferguson has decided to retire after the end of the season, everyone will instinctively think that there is no problem with what he says now.

No matter what he does or says, doesn't an old man who is about to retire have even this little power?

In the past, he had to maintain the momentum and dignity of the prestigious Manchester United, so he had to wear a mask and make that kind of appearance to scare people. After a long time, the world has long been accustomed to and accepted his masked image. I am afraid that he himself has accepted this mask and feels that this mask is himself.

Now that he is about to retire, he can naturally take off this mask without any scruples, and no longer have to worry about what others say or surprised eyes.

——The above are all outsiders' thoughts.

So, how does Ferguson himself view this matter?

Ferguson didn't say anything. He didn't explain to his closest assistant, Whelan, why he said this, nor did he explain to those Manchester United players who were a little upset.

He acted as if he hadn't said anything, and was still busy with training and analyzing the opponent's information every day.

He was busy, but if you observe carefully, you will find that his back is becoming more and more hunched.

He is just an ordinary old man who is about to leave his favorite job and go home to retire.

If such a back is seen by the Chinese, it will not be unfamiliar, because ten years ago, such a back could often be seen in large and small cities in China—those old workers who had worked in state-owned enterprises for a lifetime would have this back when they were about to retire.

In the past few decades, their life has been work, and work has been life. It has long been integrated into their blood. They are used to going to work after getting up in the morning and going home after work. It is boring and simple, but satisfying.

Suddenly one day, when they don't need to get up early to go to work, they will suddenly find that their lives have lost their goals. People, once they lose their goals, lose their energy and motivation, and their spirits decline sharply.

Therefore, many elderly people's spirits decline year by year after retirement, and their bodies also decline year by year. There are even cases of eccentric tempers, which make their families avoid them like the plague. But how many people know the depression and loneliness in the hearts of the elderly?

Now, in the eyes of everyone, Ferguson is actually such an old man who is about to retire, and any changes in his psychology are normal.

You must know that people claim to die on the coach's seat... Now, surrendering to time like this is such a big blow to a proud old man?

※※※

Before long, a few days after Ferguson's speech, everyone knew that Ferguson had accepted his fate.

In the last few years of his coaching career, he encountered such a perverted combination of Liverpool and Chen Hero, which led to the end of his dream of leading Manchester United to continue to dominate English football.

No matter how unwilling he is in his heart, he can only let go of it along with hatred at this time.

Because it is very simple, he no longer has the ability to lead Manchester United to end Liverpool's rule again.

He started his coaching career at Manchester United with the goal of ending Liverpool's rule, and he did it.

Unexpectedly, at the end of his coaching career, his rule was overthrown by Liverpool again.

What a good cycle...

So, shouldn't the resigned Ferguson be like this?

It's just that the dissatisfaction in the eyes of those Manchester United players is getting stronger and stronger, and more and more obvious.

It's so obvious that even a fool should be able to see it.

Ferguson still didn't say anything, as if there would be no one and nothing in this world that would make him pay attention anymore. Now he is just an old guy waiting for the last game to come, and then he will leave class and retire.

As for why the Manchester United players are dissatisfied, he doesn't care at all, and doesn't even ask Whelan.

Why are the Manchester United players dissatisfied?

At first, they felt hurt because their manager looked down on them. But later, they discovered that this was not the case, but that Ferguson had become disheartened. Their dissatisfaction with the manager shifted its target and aimed at Liverpool.

They naturally know who made Ferguson so decadent, it is that group of Liverpool people!

If it weren't for the strong rise of Liverpool, their Manchester United would still be the overlord of English football and still be the Premier League champion.

It's all because of this damn Liverpool that they now have to live with their tails between their legs. When have the players of the dignified Premier League hegemon Manchester United lived such a life? This is still tolerated. What's even more annoying is that they made our boss look ten years older all of a sudden!

This is the last national derby that the boss is leading the team, can we watch him leave so decadently?

No!

We should bring him a victory!

Although we all know it's difficult, we always have to work hard to fight! In our own home court, didn't we almost do it?

Yes, as long as our whole team works together, we can always do it! We are Manchester United, and the gap between us and Liverpool is not as big as everyone thinks!

The entire Manchester United team even held a special internal meeting for this matter, closing the door in the locker room to hold a meeting, and no one outside knew what was said.

However, what can be seen is that the players' training enthusiasm is higher, their training attitude is more serious, and they can endure more hardship.

On the sidelines of the training ground, looking at these high-spirited Manchester United players, assistant coach Whelan couldn't help but be high-spirited: "Even if we face Liverpool with Chen Hero away, I believe that our Manchester United is not completely without a chance! Look at these high-spirited players, they will definitely surprise Liverpool at that time!"

After speaking, he turned his head and glanced at Ferguson who was standing next to him.

He didn't get any response from Ferguson.

Ferguson just stood there, but his eyes were erratic, and he didn't know what he was looking at. In short, he didn't focus on the training ground.

Whelan is no stranger to his appearance these days.

Naturally, I also know why.

Although he knew it, he felt heartache and regret every time he saw Ferguson like this.

He sighed in his heart and turned his head back again, and buried it down.

He remembered the game last season when they lost to Liverpool at Anfield. After the game, Ferguson said to Whelan: "I know what the media will say after the game. But I will not give up, Manchester United will not give up."

Manchester United has not given up yet, but where did that you who will not give up go?