Chapter 109: Chapter 108: One Crown for Me, One Crown for You, Kairo is Our Good Companion
"If it’s not on, what the hell are you recording?"
As a psychologically mature man, Deng Kai usually did not curse.
Unless he couldn’t help it.
Which godforsaken tabloid was this, the match had been going on for an hour and a half, and you’re telling me your damn camera wasn’t even on?
Are you kidding me?
The photographer was deeply apologetic.
He was a substitute shooter found by The Sun Newspaper in Portugal.
They, The Sun Newspaper, usually don’t shoot serious game footage.
Actually, he was there to take pictures of beauties.
The camera was just for show; he had already taken many photos of beautiful women on his phone.
However, it was comforting that there were plenty of cameras around the corner flag area, which captured Sporting Lisbon’s celebration, including Deng Kai and others’ frustration upon discovering the camera was not turned on.
At this moment, the other three teams playing lost their morale instantly.
Shortly after, less than two minutes after the match resumed, the main referee blew the whistle to end the game.
The Porto fans left in droves, and even though the on-site announcer told everyone there would be a trophy ceremony, they simply didn’t care to watch.
Naturally, as a youth event, the Portuguese Football Federation was professional enough to foresee that Sporting Lisbon U15 had the chance to win the championship this round, and they brought the Championship Trophy over.
But... the ceremony couldn’t be too grand.
They didn’t even set up a temporary podium.
Instead, four staff members hung up a large banner in the background.
It read "Portugal U15 League Champions".
It didn’t even have a sponsor’s name on it.
Clearly, it could be reused next year.
Then, under the lenses of official media photographers, the players gathered together.
"Kairo," Maxa took the Championship Trophy from the organizers and handed it to Deng Kai.
Ronaldo’s gaze was fixed on Maxa the whole time, but Maxa acted as if he saw nothing.
As a sycophantic coach, Maxa knew better than anyone whom he should curry favor with.
Ronaldo was the blade, Deng Kai was the hand holding the blade. A person with a hand naturally chooses the sharp blade, but someone like Maxa, who hardly understands tactics or their evolution, would definitely need to find a strong hand to rely on.
"One, two, three... we are the champions!"
Deng Kai stood in the center, lifting the Championship Trophy above his head.
Ronaldo, on the other hand, stood enviously on the edge, his eyes filled with longing.
His height meant he naturally had to stand slightly back and to the sides.
Damn it!
...
"Caesar’s Kick Decides the Battle! Scorpion Tail Helps Sporting Lisbon Lift the Championship Trophy!"
"Hope for the Future! Deng Kai and Ronaldo Lead Sporting Lisbon Youth to League Championship!"
"Sudden Death! We all knew this match would be fierce, but never expected it to be this intense!"
"City Sympathy? Benfica Beat Guimaraes to Help Sporting Lisbon Clinch the Cup a Round Early!"
"Sporting Lisbon’s Long Wait is Over, as They Finally Welcome Their First Trophy!"
"Deng Kai and Ronaldo Set an Example, Why Wait for the Red Devils to Win the Championship?"
"Deng Kai: This is just the beginning... The Lisbon Miracle is Setting Sail!"
"The First Overseas Player from Our Country to Win a League Championship This Season Appears... Wu Xudong!"
The news of Sporting Lisbon U15’s championship would normally just be a minor update in the football world.
Every year, lots of youth teams win their respective league championships, but none attract much attention.
But this year was different.
Because during the post-championship press conference, Deng Kai called out to Manchester United.
"Manchester United, heard about the championship? Watch closely, I’m only showing this once!" After that, Deng Kai lifted the Championship Trophy in his hand.
Laughter rang out from the audience.
This video quickly went viral online.
Manchester United fans felt both relieved and amused.
This kid... Is he teaching Manchester United how to lift the trophy?
The reporters wanted to interview the Manchester United players about their thoughts on this matter, but they couldn’t get an interview.
Manchester United was now in the final stretch of challenging for trophies on three fronts, and Ferguson had forbidden the players from accepting any interviews.
He even required the players to be celibate for the next ten days of the season, forbidding them from sharing a room with the opposite sex, lest it affect their match condition.
The Manchester United players shockingly all agreed.
Human rights?
Freedom?
Sorry, but in the face of the Championship Trophy, these can all be temporarily set aside.
This is the power of a championship!
Afterwards... The thirty-eighth round of the Premier League kicked off.
Manchester United led Arsenal by one point on the points table.
In their last round, they faced Tottenham, and they had to win the game to become the Premier League champions of the season.
However, in the twenty-fourth minute, Tottenham scored a goal.
Manchester United watched the trophy that was almost in their hands slip away by half because of Tottenham.
This couldn’t help but bring to mind the recently concluded Portugal U15 League.
The champions were Lisbon Athletic’s youth team, and helping them to win were their city "brothers," Benfica.
Tottenham and Arsenal are both London teams.
Could it be that Tottenham also wanted to perform an act of "brotherly love"?
To help their neighbours Arsenal defeat Manchester United and snatch away the Championship Trophy?
Forty-second minute.
Manchester United master Scholes passed the ball to Beckham, and Beckham scored with a shot to level the score!
Forty-seventh minute.
Andy Cole scored the winning goal, helping Manchester United to lead Tottenham two to one, and United returned to the top of the Premier League!
For the rest of the match, both teams switched to grinder mode.
Yet, the score stayed unchanged.
Ultimately, Manchester United, who won this match, edged Arsenal to take the last Premier League Championship of the twentieth century!
After the match, in front of the reporters, Beckham held up the Premier League trophy mimicking Deng Kai’s pose and laughed, "Look at this, Kai! This is the Premier League Championship Trophy! We’ve learned!"
The reporters all laughed like mad.
Beckham was responding to Deng Kai’s lesson on teaching Manchester United to win the championship.
"Manchester United’s biggest contributor to the championship—Deng Kai!"
"You win a trophy, I win a trophy, Deng Kai and Ronaldo are great buddies of the Red Devils!"
"Manchester United to challenge for a treble within ten days! The last season of the twentieth century turns out to be so wonderful!"
"Bayern fans go knife him! Deng Kai is a great prophet!"
"Manchester United players still refuse to be interviewed, to know their status, we might have to ask Deng Kai!"
"The day before Manchester United’s league championship, Lisbon Athletic U15 won the league. The day before Manchester United’s Champions League final, Lisbon Athletic U15 is to play the Youth League final!"
"The Youth League Final—A preview of the Champions League Final?"
A wave of synergy propelled Lisbon Athletic to the pinnacle of popularity.
May 21st.
Although the champion of the Portugal U15 League had been decided, the last round of matches still had to be played.
Lisbon Athletic U15 rested main players such as Deng Kai and Ronaldo, preparing for the Youth League final.
In this match, they lost zero to three to the visiting team from Guimaraes.
Meanwhile, at another stadium in Lisbon, Benfica grew stronger as they fought, unexpectedly beating Porto.
Porto, ultimately, due to the goal difference, conceded the second place to Guimaraes and settled for third.
Although Benfica only finished fourth, they did influence the ranking of the top three to some extent, finally acting like a strong team.
Amorim and Pereira performed exceptionally well in the last two matches, earning open praise from Portugal U16 head coach Violante.
May 22nd.
The committee of the Portugal U15 League announced many awards for the season.
