Chapter 60: Chapter 60: I’m favoring Manchester United for this year’s Champions League (Monthly ticket extra)
"Lisbon Athletic Marches into the Champions League Knockout Stage! A Pity It’s Not the First Team, but the U15s!"
"Football Caesar, the God of Last-Minute Victories! Two Game-Winning Goals in Three European Matches, Four Goals and Two Assists to Lead the Team into the Youth Champions League Knockouts!"
"Still Going Strong in Dual-Line Combat, How Far Can Lisbon Athletic U15 Go This Season?"
"Not much further! Deng Kai’s scoring can’t disguise his fatigue! His chronic foot problem may yet prove to be his Achilles’ heel!"
"Chris and his teammates still have significant issues with coordination, he only has chemistry with Deng Kai!"
"Barcelona Defeated by Bayern, Regrettably Exits Champions League. Guardiola with Tears in His Eyes ’Our situation was the same as Kai’s, facing our opponents directly, a win would have meant progression. Unfortunately, while Kai seized the opportunity and killed the game, I couldn’t play due to injury, and couldn’t help the team to victory’!"
Guardiola mentioned "Kai" in an interview after Barcelona was knocked out of the Champions League group stage.
Most media quickly realized who this Kai was.
You wouldn’t know if you didn’t pay attention, but once you do, it’s quite a shock.
The football fraudster who caused a big stir this summer managed to lead his team into the Youth Champions League knockout stage?
And he did so by helping his team pull off a reverse sweep with three consecutive victories in European competition, despite a disadvantageous start?
Four goals and two assists in three European matches?
This is what the hell you call a midfield brain?
More like a midfield assassin, alright!
Soon after, the news that Barcelona’s academy had refused to sign Deng Kai this year was also exposed.
Although the Youth Champions League and the Champions League are in no way comparable, they do both contain the words "Champions League."
As this year’s top seed, last year’s La Liga and Copa del Rey champions, such a powerful Barcelona team was knocked out in the group stage to the great dissatisfaction of the fans.
Several players in the team were criticized because of this.
Many people used "Deng Kai leading the team into the knockout stage" to mock Barcelona’s failure this year.
Suddenly, even some media and fans who didn’t focus on youth football started to turn their attention to Deng Kai.
Deng Kai was frequently surrounded by reporters at the Alcochete Base.
He was quite generous, accepting interviews from the reporters.
Reporter: "What do you think about Barcelona’s Champions League exit?"
Deng Kai: "That’s the charm of football, the charm of the Champions League. Even if you are the top team in Europe, you might be on your way home after the group stage."
Reporter: "Do you think this is Barcelona’s retribution for not signing you?"
Deng Kai: "First of all, even if they had signed me, they wouldn’t have let me play in this year’s Champions League. Secondly, my age and ability do not yet permit me to play in professional leagues. Lastly, I would not go to Barcelona."
Reporter: "So, are you gloating over Barcelona’s elimination this season?"
Deng Kai: "I don’t know how you came up with that conclusion, but of course not."
"Although I did have a conflict with the people responsible for signings at Barcelona, I have nothing against the players of Barcelona. Don’t forget, Figo is a Barcelona player. No Lisbon Athletic player would reject Figo; he is an idol to all of us."
"I also have a lot of respect for Mr. Guardiola; he gifted me some signed footballs that are very precious to me."
"I still have about three of them. Considering they very likely come from the peak of Guardiola’s career, if anyone is interested in buying them, please contact me. Trust me, they’re a bit pricey, but they are worth it!"
Reporter: ???
Deng Kai: "But back to the point, this season’s Barcelona is not weak. They are likely to edge out Real Madrid and achieve back-to-back La Liga wins. While their Champions League exit is regrettable, it’s not unacceptable. Because both Manchester United and Bayern are Champions League final-worthy teams."
"If Barcelona could have eliminated either one of them, they might have been this year’s Champions League winners. Losing in such competition is nothing to be ashamed of."
Deng Kai rattled on.
But the reporter started getting excited.
Ha ha ha!
Children really haven’t had much experience with interviews, coming out with all sorts of nonsense.
Bayern might be excused since they already returned to the top spot in the Bundesliga.
But Manchester United... Last year, United’s King Cantona suddenly announced his retirement, leaving the team dispirited.
This year, their performance in the league was quite poor, dropping to around tenth place in the Premier League.
Such a team has no competitiveness in the Champions League.
It’s not just Manchester United; the entire Premier League has been lackluster in the Champions League.
But now, there’s this brat who says Manchester United is a Champions League final-level team?
Who else would they trick if not him?
Reporter: "If both Bayern Munich and Manchester United are teams of Champions League final caliber, does that mean you think both of them will make it to this year’s Champions League final?"
Other journalists around looked at the reporter who asked the question and silently shook their heads.
The quality is so poor!
To set up a thirteen-year-old child for news like this?
Looking at the other party again, oh, it’s a Bola newspaper journalist.
That makes sense.
Bola newspaper’s coverage has always been targeted at Deng Kai.
Rumor has it that this has to do with the Bola newspaper management’s discrimination against Asians.
Of course, Bola newspaper doesn’t admit this.
Deng Kai didn’t seem to notice the cues from the other journalists and answered, "Yes, I think they can both make it into this year’s Champions League final."
The Bola newspaper reporter almost laughed out loud, "Then, between Bayern Munich and Manchester United, who do you favor more? That is, who do you think will become this year’s Champions League champion?"
Deng Kai raised his eyebrows confidently, "Of course, Manchester United!"
The Bola newspaper reporter laughed outright this time, "Then which Manchester United players do you like?"
Deng Kai said, "I like them all, but if you’re talking about this year... Beckham, Sheringham, Solskjaer."
At this, even the other journalists became curious.
Being able to name these three... doesn’t seem like someone who doesn’t understand football.
But strangely... saying these three names this year feels like he doesn’t understand football!
Yes, it’s that complicated.
Sheringham and Solskjaer are Manchester United’s substitutes, such players don’t have many fans, and if they do, they are mostly old fans, they belong to a level of players that filter out the ignorant.
Deng Kai liking them indicates that he has been following Manchester United for more than just a day or two.
However, Beckham...
There’s no denying he’s very handsome and achieved fame at a young age, having a huge influence among teenagers.
But in the recent World Cup, Beckham had become the scapegoat for England, a national enemy.
After being knocked down by Argentina’s defensive expert Simeone, his deliberate kick that earned himself a red card is believed by many to be the main reason for England’s exit from the World Cup.
His fans turned into his enemies overnight.
Was Deng Kai from a village that didn’t have internet access?
Watching the Bola newspaper journalist continue to snicker, Deng Kai furrowed his brows, "Do you find this funny? Are you laughing at what I said, or do you think Manchester United is laughable?"
Bola newspaper reporter: "Both are funny. What, are you angry? Just because you’ve made it to the Champions League knockout stage, oh, the U15 Champions League, you think you’re above yourself?"
Deng Kai shook his head, his gaze cold as he stared at the other party: "You find me laughable, and that will become my motivation to work hard. When the season is over, I will shut your mouth with a trophy, so you won’t be able to laugh anymore."
"You think Manchester United is laughable, and that will also become Manchester United’s motivation to work hard. When the season is over, Manchester United will shut the mouths of the mockers with a trophy, so you won’t be able to laugh anymore!"
"Not just the Champions League, the league, the FA Cup, I’m backing Manchester United for all of it!"
"Manchester United might not be the strongest football club, but this year’s Manchester United is the most kick-ass!"
"Remember this phrase, if someone asks, make sure you tell them... Manchester United first, I said so!"
"Similarly, Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy might not be the best in Europe, but this year’s Sporting Lisbon U15, we’re damn well going to take first!"
"First, get it?"
Having said this, Deng Kai turned suavely.
The surrounding Sporting Lisbon fans quickly caught on and followed, shouting, "First! First! First!"
Ronaldo, who had been waiting next to Deng Kai for his interview, shouted even louder, "Manchester United rocks! Sporting Lisbon first! Screw Bola newspaper! You’re all idiots!"
Click, click, click!
This scene was recorded by his colleagues in the media, turned into videos and articles, and appeared on the Manchester Evening News.
