"This is just being unreasonable!" Chen Hero couldn't help but complain after seeing the criticism of Liverpool in the media.

He played only to score more goals, thereby striving to surpass Messi in single-season goalscoring and break Messi's newly established single-season goal record.

He never thought about messing with Preston.

Originally, Martin O'Neill intended to send the entire reserve team, but he insisted on joining. Now it's like this, everyone is saying that a century-old powerhouse is bullying others, disrespecting opponents, and playing with Preston...

This made Chen Hero feel that the brains of these reporters, editors, and experts were filled with shit.

What does this have to do with playing with feelings?

Does Liverpool need the opposing coach's approval for who to send to play? We can send the full starting lineup if we want, we can send the youth team if we want, just like sending a reserve team plus Chen Hero, it's none of your business!

Chen Hero stood up for Martin O'Neill.

Because Martin O'Neill was really innocent—the starting lineup everyone saw was due to him.

He felt that it might not be convenient for Martin O'Neill to say anything, since everyone was in the same profession, and the person complaining about him was the coach of Preston.

But Chen Hero didn't care so much. He felt that Martin O'Neill was a pretty good guy, at least he had no conflicts with him, and he was low-key.

He felt it was necessary to speak up for Martin O'Neill.

So soon he talked about this topic when interviewed by reporters. Actually, it wasn't that he brought it up proactively, but a reporter asked first. After all, Chen Hero was one of the parties involved, and Martin O'Neill remained silent on the matter, so everyone wanted to hear what Chen Hero, the big mouth, had to say.

Chen Hero did not disappoint them.

"Ah, this matter... I have to apologize to the coach of Preston. Actually, the boss's original plan was indeed to send the entire reserve team lineup. But... I felt that this was disrespectful to the opponent, so I strongly requested to start. Not only start, but I also have to go all out. I think that's how we show our respect for Preston... Who knew the Preston coach... what's his name again? Phil? Phil Brown? Right, I didn't expect Mr. Phil Brown to not want me to respect them... Although this fact makes me very disappointed, I will stick to my philosophy of life, and I will take every game seriously. So if there is a chance to meet again in the future, in order to express my respect for Preston, I will still go all out and score more goals!"

Chen Hero clenched his fist.

The reporters were almost unable to hold back their laughter. Everyone knew that Chen Hero was talking nonsense. But his serious way of talking nonsense was really funny, and if Phil Brown heard these words, he would probably roll his eyes in anger...

※※※

In fact, Phil Brown was quite angry. He heard Chen Hero's words on the TV news that night.

Normal people could tell that Chen Hero didn't really want to apologize to Phil Brown, but was using the opportunity to satirize Phil Brown's remarks at the press conference.

And many people did think that what Phil Brown said at the press conference was not good. As a coach, how could he say such unambitious words? Chen Hero starting was bullying them? If being bullied is what happens when encountering strong enemies, then Preston, under the leadership of Phil Brown, shouldn't even think about challenging for the Premier League qualification for a hundred years.

But Phil Brown didn't think so. He just felt that Liverpool's actions were suspected of bullying. You are a big powerhouse, do you have to compete with a small team like us? Winning is winning, but now Chen Hero is still mocking us. This is rubbing salt in our wounds!

Thank goodness for today's society. If it were in the jungle society of the strong preying on the weak, even if the weak Preston was sincerely bullied by Liverpool, they could only grit their teeth and swallow their tears, without the ability and opportunity to resist. But today's society emphasizes equality for all, so even the weak like Preston can make their own voices and criticize the strong.

Phil Brown expressed his dissatisfaction with Chen Hero in an interview the next day.

"I think a player like Chen Hero should be a role model for everyone. Being polite to opponents, respecting every opponent, instead of ridiculing after defeating them... I am very disappointed with Chen Hero. I am also very disappointed that Liverpool actually let such a player be their symbolic figure..."

It sounded like he used to be a die-hard Liverpool fan, but now he is heartbroken because Liverpool chose Chen Hero.

Martin O'Neill remained silent. Chen Hero didn't mind arguing with others anyway. These were all pastimes, and he was idle anyway. A war of words didn't affect his energy. He just needed to respond to other people's words and complain. And this kind of behavior was almost instinctive for Chen Hero...

"Hearing the words of Preston's coach... what's his name again? Phil? Phil Brown? Oh, right, Mr. Phil Brown, I am even more disappointed. So he still thinks that me going all out in the game, pursuing victory and goals is insulting his team. Then, to express his respect for our Liverpool, why didn't he just let his team kick the ball into their own goal from the beginning of the game, instead of fighting with us for victory? Of course, even though he 'insults' us like this, I still want to express my respect for his team, go all out, score more goals, defeat them, and eliminate them."

Phil Brown felt that his lungs were about to explode from Chen Hero's anger. And he couldn't refute it. What was he going to say? Was he going to admit that he did think Chen Hero's all-out approach to pursuing victory was disrespectful to Preston? As long as he said this, he wouldn't get any support, and even Preston fans wouldn't agree. This is a universal value—professional players must go all out in the game. This is respect for football, for themselves, and for their opponents.

No one has ever denied this, and anyone who tries to deny it will be treated as an idiot...

Phil Brown wouldn't be foolish enough to admit this.

But he was very unhappy with Chen Hero. He felt that Chen Hero was despicable, winning against them, still being so arrogant, and constantly attacking himself by seizing on this point. This approach was very unethical.

So he didn't mention respecting opponents anymore, but just clung to Chen Hero and continued to criticize Chen Hero for not having the demeanor of a big club, being too petty.

He planned to force Chen Hero to shut up and stop arguing with him because of the style of a big club, so that he could declare victory. After all, it was really boring to bully the small, and public opinion would stand on his side, as it is human nature to sympathize with the weak.

But he overestimated Chen Hero's sense of shame...

"I'm sorry, Mr. Preston coach... what's his name again? Phil? Phil Brown? Oh, right, Mr. Phil Brown... I believe in 'equality for all', so in my eyes, whether you are a big club or a Championship relegation team, you are equal. So I respect you, and I have never regarded you as a weak team..."

Phil Brown vomited blood. He discovered a problem—he was wrong to bite Liverpool from the beginning, because he provoked a mad dog who would use any means and had no shame!

In the end, he could only drop a sentence: "That a player like Chen Hero can be compared with Messi? This is simply an insult to football!" Then he remained silent.

And Chen Hero still held on to his sore spot: "I am defending the basic professional ethics of football—taking every game and every opponent seriously. But the Preston coach... what's his name again? Phil? Phil Brown? Oh, right, Mr. Phil Brown thinks that everyone seeing his team and deliberately letting them win is respecting him, hahaha!"

Chen Hero laughed three times and stopped talking about this matter.

Phil Brown was scolded by Chen Hero one last time. He wanted to jump out and fight, but he thought that he had already said that it was the last time he talked about it. If he spoke again, he would inevitably be suspected of slapping himself in the face, which would be embarrassing...

※※※

"You actually had a war of words for a week with the coach of a Championship relegation team. You are really bored!" Suárez was also speechless at Chen Hero's performance.

Chen Hero shrugged, "Just adding a little fun to life. And such a shameless person took the initiative to come to me and ask me to slap him. I really couldn't bear to disappoint him..."

The two were talking about this when they saw Martin O'Neill walking over.

"Hero, can you come to my office after training?"

Chen Hero nodded: "Okay, boss."

As soon as Martin O'Neill left, Suárez said to Chen Hero: "It seems that the boss is looking for you because of this... be careful."

"Careful about what? Maybe the boss wants to thank me."

"Dream on!" Suárez rolled his eyes.

※※※

Chen Hero guessed half right. Martin O'Neill did express his gratitude for his help, but only in one sentence.

This thank you was more like a way to soothe Chen Hero's emotions in advance for what he was about to say...

"Although I am very grateful to you for speaking up for me, Hero, I still have to offer... uh, criticism of your behavior." Martin O'Neill tried to make his tone less severe. "You and the coach of Preston... what's his name again?"

Hearing this, Chen Hero couldn't help laughing out loud. Because he knew that Martin O'Neill was actually very unhappy with that guy, but because he was the coach, there were some things he couldn't say. Players could act recklessly and still do a lot of ridiculous things under the guise of "youthful ignorance", but coaches couldn't. There were many restrictions.

How could Martin O'Neill not know the name of Preston's coach? He still accidentally revealed his true feelings. Since he knew that Martin O'Neill really hated that Phil Brown, Chen Hero didn't care so much about his criticism.

Seeing Chen Hero burst out laughing, Martin O'Neill also knew that his thoughts had been guessed a little by the other party.

He was a little embarrassed, he had inadvertently revealed his true thoughts just now...

But he quickly adjusted his emotions, coughed to cover up his embarrassment, and then said to Chen Hero: "I think your war of words with him has affected your state and training. I hope you don't participate in this kind of war of words in the future, just do your job!"