Chapter 1 The Gap

Chen Hero scored two goals in the game against Chelsea, while Van Persie only had one, creating a gap between the two. After the game, the media analyzed that Van Persie was unlikely to win. They knew how terrifying Chen Hero's scoring ability was.

Back then, even Messi couldn't beat Chen Hero, let alone Van Persie. Although Van Persie had performed very well this season, there was still a gap compared to Messi.

This topic was quite discouraging—was Chen Hero really unbeatable now?

At least in the Premier League, it seemed that way.

After this round of league games, the media coverage and discussions about the Golden Boot race almost unanimously supported Chen Hero.

Except for hardcore Arsenal and Van Persie fans, probably no one believed that Van Persie could make a comeback.

A one-goal difference wasn't that big, but it depended on who had the one-goal lead...

If it were someone else, with Van Persie's ability, it wouldn't be impossible to reverse the situation in the final round.

But now that Chen Hero was in the lead, the situation had to be re-analyzed.

Van Persie probably wouldn't be able to turn things around.

What did Van Persie think of these comments?

No one knew; he didn't accept any media interviews.

Only Wenger knew his thoughts, and now he wasn't worried about Van Persie at all. Because he knew that through the competition with Chen Hero, Van Persie had completely matured.

※※※

Before the final round of the league, the suspense of the Golden Boot had lost its meaning. The three relegated teams had also been decided. Only the league title still had some controversy. Manchester United led Manchester City by two points. If Manchester United could beat Sunderland away in the final round, they could lift the Premier League trophy. But Sunderland wasn't an easy team to deal with, especially since they were playing at home.

Manchester City's final game was easier than Manchester United's. They were playing at home, and their opponents weren't very strong—West Bromwich Albion, who had nothing to play for.

Of course, the battle for Champions League qualification also had suspense. Chelsea would face Blackburn at home in the final round, while Tottenham Hotspur would face Fulham at home. The opponents weren't very strong. If both teams won, then Chelsea would only be able to play in the Europa League next season.

The suspense of the final round of the league had nothing to do with Liverpool or Chen Hero. For Chen Hero, who had experienced a noisy season, this was rare.

The reporters had already assumed that he had won the Golden Boot, and he gave up a lot of space in the media.

The season was almost over, and he was finally enjoying some rare leisure time.

At this moment, he received an invitation from head coach Dalglish.

"Are you free tonight? Come to my house?" Dalglish said to Chen Hero after training.

Chen Hero was a little surprised—it wasn't common for the head coach to invite players to his home. Anyway, he had been with the team for almost a season, and it was the first time he had heard the head coach invite players to his home.

In the early days of English football, those outstanding players would be invited by the head coach to his home for afternoon tea as one of the rewards for their excellent performance.

But at that time, players and coaches were very simple. Their amateur activities weren't as rich as they are now. People like George Best, who lived a successful life, were in the minority after all.

Now it's different. In addition to games and training, players have many things to deal with, such as various commercial activities and product endorsements, and accepting interviews. Their entertainment activities are also many times more than they were decades ago.

This has led to players no longer having time to accept invitations to the head coach's home, and nowadays players don't like such things. Being with the head coach makes them feel restrained and uncomfortable. It's like students going to the teacher's home, always a little nervous.

And the head coach no longer thinks that inviting players to his home is an encouragement to them, so naturally no coach will invite players to his home now.

Therefore, Chen Hero was very surprised when he heard that the head coach had actually invited him to his home.

"What, are you busy?" Seeing that Chen Hero didn't answer immediately, Dalglish asked again.

Chen Hero didn't have anything to do. In order to improve himself, he rarely went to nightclubs. The activities of the drinking and playing group now are just eating and drinking. If anyone wants to do other things, they can go, but Hero won't follow. His excuse is to go home and have a long phone call with Cabral.

Every time he says this, he is ridiculed by Skrtel and the others.

Chen Hero is too lazy to argue with them about whether he is really afraid of Cabral. Grinding dungeons is the most important thing.

Besides grinding dungeons, he has nothing else to do. But if someone else invited him, he might still refuse.

But Dalglish is different. Dalglish is very kind to him. If he doesn't go, it means he's not giving Dalglish face, and not giving Dalglish face will hurt his feelings.

So Chen Hero finally nodded and agreed: "Okay, I'm free. Speaking of which, I haven't been to your house yet, boss."

Dalglish smiled and nodded when he heard Chen Hero agree.

※※※

Dalglish's residence is in the wealthy area of Liverpool, but it's an old wealthy area. The decoration style also has a taste of the 1970s and 1980s.

Dalglish and his wife, Marina, currently live in this small house.

"Kelly is a reporter now. She has her own family, and she rarely comes here."

Dalglish said after introducing his wife to Chen Hero.

After Chen Hero hugged Dalglish's wife, Marina, in accordance with Western customs, he presented his meeting gift—a small Chinese handicraft. It wasn't worth much money, but it was very beautiful. For Westerners, it had a powerful lethality and attraction.

Marina really loved it.

Chen Hero has many such small gifts at home, all taught by his father. When he comes to the team, he should be good at making friends. Giving gifts is a good way, so he prepared many small gifts with Chinese characteristics. They are not very expensive, but they are very unique and popular with foreigners.

Marina saw that the most popular star in Liverpool was so unpretentious and even gave her a gift, which made her like Chen Hero even more.

The British dinner is prepared very simply, not like the Chinese who prepare a rich table. Although many people will talk about Scottish cuisine, the British are really not good at eating compared to the Chinese.

But Chen Hero doesn't care about this meal. He came at the invitation, but he didn't know why Dalglish invited him.

Dalglish actually wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with him.

At the dinner table, the topic of Liverpool quickly became the theme.

"There's something I have to apologize to you for, Hero," Dalglish's words surprised Chen Hero.

He didn't understand what the boss needed to apologize to him for.

"I prematurely revealed your transfer plan last season, and as a result, it was used by others, causing you to fall into a great disadvantage. I'm very sorry about this. I really didn't expect that my momentary slip of the tongue would put you under so much pressure."

Chen Hero then understood that the reason why he fought with those fans in Naples was because the old man in front of him was too outspoken...

But he never took it to heart. It didn't matter who leaked the news first. He could understand Dalglish's excitement after knowing that he was going to join the team, which instead showed his importance to him.

He smiled and waved his hand: "This matter, hey, it's not worth mentioning. I actually enjoy opposing those extreme fans... I feel a special sense of accomplishment when I see them frustrated."

Dalglish laughed: "You... really fit your style..."

Indeed, since coming to Liverpool for only one season, Chen Hero has hardly ever stopped. He bluntly said at the UEFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony that the trophy was too ugly, and then he was suspended for six games for maliciously retaliating against Richards. During this period, he was also caught up in a scandal about racial discrimination and completely broke up with Manchester City fans. Then he made a scene at the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony...

In short, he is always the focus of the media.

"However, I still hope that you can argue less with the media. You always attract all the firepower to yourself, and I'm afraid it will bring you some trouble. You must know that there are always some crazy people in this world..."

Chen Hero nodded, seemingly accepting the head coach's earnest teachings. But in reality, Dalglish could see clearly that Chen Hero was just perfunctory, completely because of his face. If it were someone else, maybe he would have directly refuted it.

He didn't want to dwell too much on this topic. He invited Chen Hero here mainly to explain his "last words."

He was leaving Liverpool, and the future of Liverpool could only be handed over to someone like Chen Hero.

He was still a little worried. The captain template in his mind was actually Gerrard, tough and powerful, low-key and unassuming. Chen Hero has an indomitable fighting spirit, but he is too high-profile and too arrogant, and sometimes he can be annoying.

But this is a personality issue, and he can't ask Chen Hero to follow his advice to correct this problem. First of all, Chen Hero may not listen, and even if Chen Hero listens, he can't change it in a short time.

All he can do is tell him his experience and then hope that Chen Hero will understand it himself. As for whether Chen Hero can understand it, that is his business and has nothing to do with Dalglish. Dalglish has done everything he can do, but he can't decide the result.

During the meal, Dalglish kept telling Chen Hero about his time playing football, as well as the history of Liverpool and its glorious past.

He felt that the factor that determined how long Chen Hero would stay in Liverpool was Chen Hero's feelings for Liverpool, but Chen Hero was not cultivated by Liverpool itself. Chen Hero joined halfway and lacked affection for this team. He knew nothing about Liverpool's traditions.

If Chen Hero had been trained by Liverpool's youth academy, Dalglish wouldn't have spent so much effort, because he knew that as long as Liverpool treated Chen Hero well, Chen Hero would definitely treat Liverpool well.

If it’s inherently deficient, it can only be made up for later. Dalglish hopes to cultivate Chen Hero's sense of identity with this team through these glorious pasts of Liverpool, so that when Chen Hero faces temptation in the future, he can prioritize Liverpool.

At first, Chen Hero didn't know the boss's intentions. He just thought he was here to listen to stories. He really lacked understanding of the Liverpool team.

In chronological order, the League Cup this season was finally mentioned.

What does the League Cup title have to do with Liverpool's tradition? It really does.

"...This title is very important to Liverpool, you know, Hero, a new generation of Liverpool fans has another memorable moment. Liverpool's tradition is composed of one such moment after another. Each generation of Liverpool fans must have memory fragments that are worth savoring. Since the night of Istanbul in 2005, we have been lacking a memory that can make fans proud. But winning the League Cup changed all this, and we have regained the tradition that belongs to Liverpool..."

Chen Hero disagreed with Dalglish's statement: "I don't think so, boss."

Interrupted by Chen Hero and raised an objection, Dalglish was very surprised, and he looked at Chen Hero in surprise.

"Why?"

Chen Hero explained: "Just a League Cup title is regarded as a precious and beautiful memory by this generation of Liverpool fans. I think... uh, isn't that too unambitious?"

He still looked down on the League Cup title from the bottom of his heart.

"Why do you have such an idea, Hero?" Dalglish heard Chen Hero belittle Liverpool's tradition so much, but he was not angry, because he always felt that Chen Hero had more to say.

Sure enough, Chen Hero said very seriously and matter-of-factly: "Isn't the Champions League title more worthy of cherishing than the League Cup?"

Dalglish spread his hands: "The problem is that the Champions League is more difficult to win than the League Cup. These beautiful memory fragments are not so easy to collect."

Chen Hero laughed: "I must try something so difficult!"

Dalglish's heart moved, but he didn't show it. He suddenly felt that he might not have to worry too much about Liverpool's future...