God Of Football

Bab 2

Ye Chen could pretend he never came back and take a flight back to Manchester overnight.

But the National Team had no intention of letting him off the hook.

A piece of news appeared on the official website: "Decision on the Punishment of Player Ye Chen."

The meaning was simple: Player Ye Chen disregarded the arrangements of the team leader and coach, refused to participate in team training, and verbally abused team leader Wang Bo, thus he was expelled and would not be called up for any National Team U17 matches, effective immediately.

Wang Bo, the U17 National Team leader, also posted his latest update on his personal Weibo.

"Player Ye Chen is truly disappointing. He demanded to start without participating in team training. Does he really think being a Manchester United academy player allows him to do whatever he wants? The U17 National Team does not welcome such unsociable players!"

As soon as these two articles were released, they stirred up a massive storm on the internet.

Countless people began to verbally attack Ye Chen, and because Ye Chen had previously opened a Weibo account, all the comments under his daily training updates were cursing him...

Those who had encouraged him in the past turned against him. Who could blame them when Ye Chen hadn't met expectations and couldn't even play in the U18 matches?

Ultimately, in competitive sports, weakness is the original sin!

Fortunately, Ye Chen was abroad and didn't check domestic social media; otherwise, someone with a slightly weaker mental fortitude could easily break down...

After sleeping on the plane, Ye Chen arrived in Manchester.

Two hours later, Ye Chen didn't bother adjusting to the time difference and went straight to the training ground... In fact, he was still on England time; he had returned to China without ever adjusting.

When Ye Chen appeared on the training ground, many people were stunned.

"Oh, isn't this Ye? Our China genius couldn't have been kicked out of the team, could he?" The speaker was the team's starting forward, Sam Byerly, who had often scoffed when Ye Chen was called up to the National Team.

He had said that Ye Chen was called up mainly because there was no one else in China; otherwise, how could someone who couldn't even play in Manchester United U18 represent his country!

"Do I need to explain to you?" Ye Chen retorted coldly.

"I guessed right, didn't I! I said it early on, you're not good enough!" Byerly's face showed a sneer. It was normal for him, a dignified U18 starting forward who hadn't been called up, to feel uncomfortable that Ye Chen, a substitute, was going to play in international matches.

Ye Chen, however, didn't get angry.

Was it necessary to get angry with someone who wouldn't even make it in the Premier League in the future?

"Ye, don't mind him! He's just a bully. He wouldn't dare bully you when the captain's around!" Januzaj walked over proactively and whispered to Ye Chen.

"It's fine!"

Having integrated the memories of this world's Ye Chen, he knew that Januzaj had a good relationship with him, and besides that, the current captain of Manchester United U18, Michael Keane, also had a good relationship with him.

However, Michael Keane had recently fractured his collarbone and would be out for two months.

"Guys, gather up!" Just then, Solskjaer appeared on the sidelines, holding a notebook. "Today we're having an internal training match. Players whose names I call, go to Coach Chris to get your jerseys!"

"Goalkeeper Jonathan, four defenders Grimshaw, Luke, McGinnity, and Givens!"

"Four midfielders Jack Barmby, Joe Rothwell, Tom, Liam!"

"And finally, the two forwards are Pearson and Byerly!"

Solskjaer finished calling out the names of the starting Team A players, and Ye Chen was naturally not among them.

The remaining players automatically went into Team B.

"Adnan, do you want some assists?" Ye Chen put an arm around Januzaj and asked with a smile.

In Team B, only Januzaj would likely pass to him, so Ye Chen was being a bit ingratiating.

"Don't try to trick me; you can't fool me this time!" Januzaj said warily, clearly, the naive him had been tricked by Ye Chen quite a few times before.

"Hey, I'm serious this time! Give me the ball, and you'll find assisting is very simple!" Ye Chen said, blinking.

"You said that last time too, but you didn't score a single goal!"

"Hey, I learned a special move this time in China, trust me!" Ye Chen clenched his fist and said confidently.

"Really? It's not Chinese kung fu, is it!" Januzaj showed a puzzled expression, but he still softened. "Alright, don't worry, I'll give you the ball!"

The internal training matches were also divided into two halves, but not the forty-five minutes of an official match, rather thirty minutes each.

Solskjaer looked at the players on the field, his mind troubled by the starting lineup for the next match.

Because the next opponent was their top-ranked arch-rival, Liverpool U18 team.

Especially their super-prospect Sterling.

Though young, he was fast and impactful, hailed as the "England Messi"!

Only seven matches had passed, and Sterling had already scored 8 goals, ranking first in the top scorers' list, and also had four assists, also ranking first in the assist list.

In England, their football system is very complete, and each level is clearly divided.

In addition to the world-renowned Premier League, there are also the EFL Championship, League One, League Two, and other various Leagues. Besides, they have reserve teams and youth teams of various levels. Of course, at the beginning of each season, the Football Association asks teams if they want to participate in Leagues of various levels.

And besides the League, they also have various levels of Cup competitions.

Just like the U18 Youth FA Cup that Manchester United U18 is about to play, which is a branch of the FA Cup.

Of course, youth team matches will not be like adult teams with two or even three matches a week.

Youth teams have a maximum of four matches a month and a minimum of two. Their purpose is for the better development of young players, thereby allowing the entire League to develop healthily!

Both teams' players entered the field. Team A wore red vests, symbolizing the starters, while Team B wore blue vests for the substitutes.

Byerly looked at Ye Chen in front of him, a smirk on his lips as he mocked, "China boy, take a good look at the strength of the team's starting forward. How can a waste like you even dare to play forward? Go sell DVDs instead; that way you won't starve to death!"

【In earlier years, there were a large number of East Asians in the East London area who made a living by selling DVDs. They looked down on these East Asians, so they used 'DVD' as a derogatory term for them.】

Ye Chen's lips curled into a disdainful arc, but he didn't speak.

It was still the same saying: there was no point getting angry with a player who wouldn't even play in the Premier League in the future.

"I heard you Chinese people are super tolerant, you don't even dare talk back when you're bullied... But that's right, trash has no right to speak!" Byerly, seeing Ye Chen not speak, started mocking him wantonly.

"Say that again!" Ye Chen's expression hardened, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

You can insult me, but not Chinese people!

"Listen clearly, you Chinese people are! All! Trash!" Byerly said with extreme arrogance.

Ye Chen's fists clenched.

"Ye, calm down, he's deliberately provoking you!" Januzaj quickly ran over and whispered.

"What, angry? If you have the guts, beat me. If you can win, I'll even call you Dad!" Byerly continued to scoff.

"Alright!"

"What?"

"You don't need to call me Dad. If you lose, just say 'Chinese people are all my Dads' three times!" Ye Chen said calmly, unhurriedly.

"What if you lose?"

Byerly didn't think he would lose, but since it was a bet, the other party naturally had to have a penalty too!

"You say!" Ye Chen answered calmly.

"If you lose, you shout 'Chinese people are all trash' three times!" Byerly said mockingly.

"No!" Ye Chen shook his head. "If I lose, then only I am trash; it has nothing to do with others!"

"Then if you lose, shout 'Irish people are all my Dads' three times!"

"Deal!" Ye Chen nodded.

Although this kind of competition was a bit childish for him, he had to let him know that Chinese people were not to be easily bullied!

Of course, if it were before, he definitely wouldn't dare to compete, given the clear strength disparity.

But today was different from the past.

When scholars part for three days, they should be looked at with new eyes!

Byerly smiled and said to Pearson beside him, "Pearson, you heard it, he's the one who wanted to bet with me, it's not me bullying him!"

Ben Pearson glanced at Ye Chen and said disdainfully, "I don't see this as a bet, but rather self-humiliation!"

This wasn't sympathy for Ye Chen, but genuine contempt for him.

Ye Chen didn't even look at Pearson, but instead said to Byerly, "We'll just compare who scores more goals, no problem, right?"

"You said that!" Byerly said arrogantly.

"Ding, random mission issued: Score more goals than Byerly in this match!"

"Mission success rewards one Bronze Treasure Chest. Mission failure deducts five shooting attribute points!"

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow. Originally, he just wanted to prove a point, but now it was different!

It was about attribute points!

"Beep!"

Team coach Chris acted as the temporary referee and blew the whistle directly.

Such bets among internal team players were very normal; they wouldn't interfere.

Moreover, he also felt that East Asians were not suitable for football...

And at this moment, Solskjaer on the sidelines had already opened his notebook and began to record the players' performance.

He hadn't told the players before the match that only players who performed well enough in the training match would have the opportunity to represent Manchester United against Liverpool.

It should be noted that this U18 Youth FA Cup was going to be held at Manchester United's home ground, Old Trafford!

The match officially began, with Team A, as the main force, dominating the field.

But everyone was a member of the youth team, and the gap was not particularly obvious. Team B's defense was also well-organized.

Time quickly came to 5 minutes and 32 seconds of the first half. After Byerly's shot hit Jack Rudge's foot, the ball rebounded into an open area on the right.

The quick-reacting Januzaj appeared on the right wing and controlled the ball.

After getting the ball, Januzaj decisively dribbled forward, but Grimshaw, Team A's left-back, had already rushed over and blocked his path.

"I'm here!"

Just then, Ye Chen dropped back and raised his hand for the ball.

Hearing Ye Chen's voice, Januzaj passed the ball directly across, and it landed at Ye Chen's feet.

Because he dropped back to receive the ball, the two center-backs didn't follow him, and Ye Chen was suddenly in open space.

Looking at the goalkeeper's positioning, Ye Chen didn't hesitate and shot directly!

"Bang!"

The outside of his right foot struck the bottom of the football fiercely, and the ball flew towards the goal like a cannonball.

Solskjaer on the sidelines was still noting that Byerly's shot was too rash when he looked up and saw this scene.

A hint of surprise flashed in Solskjaer's eyes. Since when could Ye Chen kick such a beautiful long-range shot?