Chapter 131: Chapter 130: This is the Respect You Wanted (Seeking Monthly Pass)
"Violante: We are a youth team, and the health of the players is paramount. I won’t let Postiga play with injuries, and I wish him a speedy and complete recovery!"
This news made Postiga very anxious.
Almeida, on the other hand, was very happy.
Although Postiga was more outstanding, sometimes the competition among players is mainly against oneself.
If your body is fine, no one else can replace you.
If your body is constantly having problems, then no one can help you.
The incident of Almeida taking Postiga’s place happened right before Ronaldo’s eyes, causing him a considerable shock.
He gained a deeper understanding of the impact a healthy body can have.
It seemed that Deng Kai definitely did not refrain from having his family make him braised pig trotters or sweet and sour ribs just because these ingredients were expensive—yes, it must be so.
Soon, the quarterfinal draw for the group stage was announced.
Portugal’s draw was terrible; they drew the championship seed of this youth tournament... the Netherlands!
Now there was no need to compare the four great talents of the Netherlands with the Lisbon Quartet.
Because the results of the match would directly tell people the answer.
Both teams’ players were raring to go and wanted to have a match against each other.
Sneijder: "Perhaps this is the arrangement of fate. I made a mistake in the Youth Champions League, and the heavens have given me the opportunity to make amends. The training at the end of the season is very important, and I think I now possess the qualifications to challenge Deng Kai and beat him."
Van der Vaart: "I’ve analyzed that match again with the coach, and I’ve seen my shortcomings. This time I won’t give the Portuguese a chance, especially not Deng Kai."
Robben: "I hope this time Ronaldo won’t switch to another flank out of fear of me."
Fan Peixi: "At the club, I lack the support of top midfield teammates, but it’s different for the national youth team. Here we have the best under-16 midfielders in the world. I will eliminate Portugal with my goals."
Faced with the boasts from the Netherlands team.
The Portuguese were not to be outdone.
Quaresma: "It’s ridiculous to talk about the best in the world at the U15 stage, but once they’ve played in the U19, U21, or even the first team, they will have a profound respect for the term ’world’s best.’"
Viana: "Van der Vaart is excellent, and he’s called the most talented attacking midfielder in the Netherlands. Coincidentally, some also say that I am Portugal’s most talented attacking midfielder. I believe Portugal’s best is the real best."
Ronaldo: "I’m eager to score against the Netherlands, and I believe I have the ability to do so. Because when facing the teams of the four great young talents, I have scored goals. Deng Kai and I are the Dutch nemesis!"
Deng Kai: "Personal competition is meaningless. I hope Portugal can eliminate the Netherlands and advance to the semifinals. As for comparisons with Sneijder and Van der Vaart, I don’t value them. They are strong, they are strong, they are the strongest—happy now?"
The last sentence of Deng Kai’s interview directly hurt the hearts of the four great young talents of the Netherlands.
Are you kidding me?
Can’t you show a little more respect?
The authoritative Dutch football media ’International Football’ made a serious criticism of Deng Kai’s attitude: "A player who does not respect his opponents will never earn the respect of others."
"Deng Kai could have remained silent, but once he speaks, he should take responsibility for his words."
"Does he truly not care about individual performance? If so, then why not let the more balanced Meireles play in his position, and start with the better defender Semedo or Veloso? That would be the most correct formation for the Portuguese team."
"We hope that Deng Kai will take more responsibility in his future interviews, and not brush off the media or the fans!"
Dutch fans fervently liked the post.
Aside from Barcelona and Atlético Madrid fans, Dutch fans are probably the ones who dislike Deng Kai the most.
As for the reason...
Deng Kai replied mercilessly to ’International Football’: "I’ve defeated Feyenoord in the club team, eliminated Groningen and Ajax. In the Youth Champions League, both Ronaldo’s and my goals and assists surpass every single one of the four great young talents of the Netherlands."
"I don’t know why those who have already been defeated by us are always considered by the media to be better than Ronaldo and me."
"Of course I will be wary of or look forward to the opponents, but if you want me to be timid in the face of a bunch of losers, sorry, I truly can’t do that."
"The Avengers are even more favored, which is in itself a disrespect for victory."
"So, who really should show a bit more honesty and respect to the fans? How long will the Dutch media continue hiding the truth that the Portugal team is stronger? How long will they keep the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo and I are stronger than the Dutch ’Fantastic Four’ a secret?"
"Now I’ve said it all. Dutch people, is this the respect you wanted?"
Deng Kai opened fire.
The Dutch media were suddenly speechless.
Neighboring countries like Spain and Germany’s media quickly reprinted Deng Kai’s quotes.
Because what Deng Kai said was the truth.
As losers, why would anyone think that the Dutch fabulous four were better than the Lisbon quartet?
Is the information that the Dutch media is passing on to domestic fans really truthful?
Or, are Dutch fans just deluding themselves?
There’s no doubt that Portugal has won this pre-game war of words.
In public, Portuguese fans could completely overpower the Dutch fans, forcing them to take a detour.
...
"Hathaway, what about it, have you decided?" a member of the crew came over to chat with Hathaway.
"Decided what?" Hathaway looked confused.
"About whether to go to the football match tomorrow or not," the crew member said, "It’s the quarterfinals of the Young European Championship! Netherlands versus ..."
"But I’m not interested in football at all." Hathaway truly couldn’t understand why, just a few days ago, Director Marshall had asked her the same question.
The crew member seemed a bit disappointed: "But if we don’t go tomorrow, we won’t be able to see the Young European Championship."
In recent times, due to closed filming, The Princess Diaries’ shooting schedule had rapidly progressed.
With Anne Hathaway’s outstanding acting performance, the crew had made huge strides, completing all the scenes scheduled in Czech Republic.
Next, they were heading back to the United States to carry out the final shooting and post-production work.
The crew had booked flights for the day after tomorrow.
Director Marshall was very satisfied with Hathaway’s state of acting and, being someone who held an open attitude towards young people’s romances, he didn’t mind giving Hathaway some rewards.
For example, letting Hathaway meet her boyfriend.
Marshall certainly didn’t want Hathaway’s condition to plummet due to lovesickness upon returning to the United States.
This movie needed Hathaway to have that feeling of being in love.
"We’re leaving the day after tomorrow? But me and..." Hathaway felt a strange emotion welling up inside her.
She couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful.
What on earth was Deng Kai doing?
Why hadn’t he visited the set yet?
Hadn’t he said he’d come over after his team’s matches were finished?
How can a tournament last so long?
Or had his matches finished long ago, but he was too busy following the Young European Championship to make time to visit?
Was she really that unimportant to him?
Hathaway felt emo.
