Chapter 491: Chapter 490: Alvarado’s Oath
"As for Drogba, forgive me for saying that Ibrahimovic is the most talented. As an apology, when you win the African Footballer of the Year, make sure you invite me to the ceremony, okay?"
"It would be better if I could present the award to you, I hope to witness the pinnacle moment of your career!"
Drogba smiled. He didn’t believe he would have that day, seeing himself as just an average player, but he was very grateful to Deng Kai.
It was Kai who showed him the way forward.
"Vidic, Barzagli, and Terry, who has become the hope of Chelsea, you are the best center-backs I have ever worked with. I cannot imagine what it would be like for forwards facing you."
"If possible, when you meet me years from now, please go easy on me."
"At least don’t always make it so I can’t even touch the ball, okay?"
Ha ha ha!
Everyone laughed again.
"Pepe, I didn’t put you in the category of center-backs because I think you have other potential to be explored. Just being a pure defender or defensive midfielder doesn’t seem to fully exploit your talent."
"I believe you are the next Matthaus in my mind! You will become the cornerstone of the defense for the Brazil national team, or maybe the Portugal national team, for many years!"
"Maicon, Evra, Veloso, Reina, Feng Te... along with Matthaus, Deschamps, Schmeichel, Guardiola..."
Deng Kai kept naming his teammates and felt sorry for comparing Feng Te with the rest.
The expressions of several older players had changed from relaxed and happy to furrowed brows.
This was... the rhythm of parting.
A painful farewell.
Has the moment come again?
The veterans understood why Deng Kai chose this moment to announce the breakup.
Because if they waited until after the team lost and was eliminated from the Champions League, or if there were any slip-ups in the league or the Portugal Cup.
Then there would be no mood for all this.
By then, people would go their separate ways, and there wouldn’t be a proper farewell.
It would be regrettable to end things on such a note.
And such an ending would be a disservice to this affection, and to the experiences and glories shared.
After all, they were five-time champions!
"Wu Xudong, I must single you out," Deng Kai began addressing the last player on the team roster, "you definitely have the ability to make a name for yourself in European football."
"I wish you an incredible journey ahead."
"However, I must also warn you that when you return to your homeland, always stay clean, always stay away from those things that damage and affect the fairness of football."
"Some things I can’t say too directly, I will work to eliminate that darkness, but I also hope you cherish the light when it comes!"
Wu Xudong nodded.
He solemnly promised.
"Alright, alright, I’ve said a bit too much," Deng Kai then looked towards the fans, "some might think what I said is a bit confusing, but that’s not important."
"Because what I’m about to say next is what truly matters to all of us."
"Please, all teammates and members of the coaching staff, come up on stage."
Deng Kai suddenly cued his teammates.
The teammates cooperated and quickly took the field.
The entire Sporting Lisbon team assembled.
"Mutinho, Hao Junmin, Yu Shihao, brothers from the youth team as well, come on up," Deng Kai saw the Sporting Lisbon youth team players who had also come to support the club’s critical match today.
Yu Shihao and others were thrilled and shy as they stepped onto the big stage.
Standing with Deng Kai, Matthaus, Schmeichel, Guardiola, Deschamps, Ronaldo, little Ronaldo—was this real?
Too dreamlike!
But if they could play on the field together, that would be even better!
Deng Kai stood in the front, telling his teammates to repeat after him if they wished.
Then Deng Kai raised his right fist and with the microphone said, "I swear!"
The teammates followed suit, raising their right fists, "I swear!"
Deng Kai, "I will give a hundred percent focus and effort."
Teammates, "I will give a hundred percent focus and effort."
Deng Kai, "To win every possible victory for the team!"
Teammates, "To win every possible victory for the team!"
Deng Kai, "To win every possible championship for the team!"
Teammates, "To win every possible championship for the team?"
Many were stunned.
What is this?
Deng Kai, "To win consecutive league championships for the team!"
Teammates, "To win consecutive league championships for the team!"
Rustle!
The fans at the venue applauded.
Deng Kai, "To win consecutive Portugal Cup championships for the team!"
Teammate: "For the team to defend the Portuguese Cup title!"
Wow!
The fans began to cheer.
Deng Kai: "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
Teammates...
Fans...
No one spoke.
Because this unexpected goal seemed so far from reality...
Was Deng Kai just caught up in the moment?
This kind of talk shouldn’t be thrown around lightly.
The Champions League!
That is the Champions League, after all!
Unmoved, Deng Kai raised his voice and repeated, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
After a silence of more than a second, Ronaldo finally followed with excitement, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
Suddenly, many fans felt chills run up their spines.
It was as if they were listening to a ghost story.
Deng Kai’s voice grew louder, one could even say he was roaring, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
The whole team together: "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
"Louder!" Deng Kai repeated once more, his forehead veins standing out, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
The entire team shouted, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
"Champions!"
"Champions!"
The voices echoed continuously.
Below the stage, some of the older fans could no longer hold back.
Tears streamed down their faces.
On stage, Trigella trembled all over, Maxa’s face was flushed, and the players were uncontrollably charged with excitement.
Yes, we had just made it into the Champions League semifinals.
But why did everyone, including us, think this was our farewell to the Champions League?
We... Can’t we be a little bolder?
"Everyone in the stands!" Deng Kai extended his hand towards the eighty thousand fans onsite, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
The microphone was extended forward.
Eighty thousand fans together screamed, "For the team to win the Champions League title!"
"Champions!"
"Champions!"
Outside Estádio Alvalade, the word ’champions’ shook the earth and resounded throughout the city.
Fans of Benfica, the other big club in Lisbon, looked towards Estádio Alvalade with unprecedented envy in their eyes.
Some Benfica fans even dug out their old Sporting Lisbon jerseys from the bottom of their trunks.
It seemed, it was time to resume their identity as twenty-year-old Sporting Lisbon fans.
They put on the green and white jerseys one after another, ready to go to Estádio Alvalade to see what exactly was happening.
The media people onsite were stunned, unable to speak a word for a long time.
This is...
This is a pledge, isn’t it?
No, how is this a pledge...
This damn thing is basically a declaration of war!
A declaration of war against the whole world!
"The one making the vow, Deng Kai!" Deng Kai raised his right fist to the sky.
"The one making the vow, Cristiano..."
"The one making the vow, Trigella!"
"The one making the vow, Maxa!"
"The one making the vow, Wu Xudong!"
"The one making the vow..."
Over eighty thousand names flew through the sky.
Sporting Lisbon was united as one.
They launched their first ever assault on the Champions League title in their history!
This declaration was destined to shake all of Europe!
History would call it, the Estádio Alvalade Oath!
