The author said in the previous words: I admit that I was a little emotional when I wrote this chapter, so friends who don't like to read this chapter can not subscribe, because I don't want you to spend money and see what you don't want to read. But there are some words that have been held in my heart for a long time, and I still want to say them. I can't do anything but write books, so I can only vent it through the mouth of the protagonist. Of course, Tony himself has always been a Chinese himself, having lived in China for twenty-six years, so he is still very in line with the character setting and personality, at least much more reasonable than the yellow-skinned and white-hearted Tang.

That's right, this is a chapter about "Chinese football". Friends who don't love Chinese football, please skip it, don't subscribe and don't watch it.

What is the difference between the summer of 2010 in China and the summer of 2007 in Donn's memory? In Donn's opinion, it was no different. The impact of the economic crisis on China is not as great and obvious as that of Europe, the United States and Japan, and the country is still alive and well on the surface, with countless opportunities. Despite the impact of the world economic crisis in the past two years, the country has maintained an economic growth rate of 8 percent.

Although he is a British citizen, Don can never forget that he is actually an egg yolk steamed bun with white skin and yellow filling. Therefore, no matter how many times he comes to China, he will have a sense of intimacy from the heart.

Although Shania claims to be one-eighth Chinese, she clearly doesn't feel as much about the country as Donne, a seemingly purebred Englishman. For her, China is a tourist country with a lot of fun attractions and good food, and of course, she can make money - she has already been asked by Chinese companies to be an endorsement, because her profile says that she is one-eighth of Chinese ancestry, and it is stated that this inconsequential matter does not rule out the possibility that Fassar wants to use this to win over the relationship between Shania and the Chinese market. But as an internationally renowned model and a slightly well-known actress in Hollywood, this has made fans in China very excited.

So when Don and Shania got married in Brazil last summer, the Chinese media smugly said that Tony. Tang En's family has an indissoluble bond with China - Tang En's good friend and assistant is the Chinese Tang; Don himself professes to be very, very fond of Chinese culture. and is fluent in Chinese, and seems to know China better than a Chinese; Nottingham Forest have Chinese players in their squad; It is said that he recognized Tang's parents as godfathers and godmothers...... Now he has another wife with one-eighth Chinese ancestry.

This summer, and China is very close to Tony. Don is back in China for a vacation.

When he, Shannia, and Tang appeared at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, they were frightened by the interview group blocked outside the waiting hall.

About 20 reporters from various media outlets gathered outside the pick-up gate, clearly different from the ordinary people who came to pick up relatives and friends around them. Before Tang En arrived, they attracted the attention of many people, and they were all speculating about which star was coming to Chengdu today.

They also caught the attention of airport security, and soon a team of security guards appeared around them. Responsible for maintaining order. They don't know who is coming, but they know that it must be some celebrity, and as airport staff, they have seen a lot of such things.

When Don took Shania by the hand, pushed the luggage cart around in the company of Don, and appeared at the pick-up gate. As if receiving a signal, the group pressed the shutter of their cameras in their hands. For a while, the flashing lights kept coming, turning the waiting hall into a snow-white color.

"I thought we'd keep it a secret enough......" he glanced at Don next to him. Because taking advantage of the gap when the flash lights went out, he saw Tang Jing at a glance in the crowd.

"You two are public figures, how can you live in secrecy?" Tang did not deny that he had told Tang Jing the news. But he didn't admit it. He just euphemistically said that the combination of Don and Shania is like a firefly in the night sky, so eye-catching, so windy, no matter where you hide, you will be discovered......

Shania didn't argue with them, she embodied the true qualities of a star - immediately striking the best pose, with the most appropriate smile on her face, waving to the reporters.

So Tang En could only force a smile and wave to these people: "Hello everyone." He said in fluent Chinese.

Don obviously didn't have to do this, he pushed the cart and followed the two big stars. Turning a blind eye to those Chinese journalists.

Tang Jing came up and stretched out his hand to Tang En through the temporary wall of people lined up by the airport security guards, wanting to shake hands: "Mr. Tang En, Mr. Tang En!" How long do you plan to stay in China? Can you give me an interview before you leave? You and your wife, Miss Jordana......"

Don turned his head to look at Don, who pretended not to see anything, and then at Shania. Shania smiled at him. So he stretched out his hand and shook it with Tang Jing: "I'm happy." Make an appointment, Miss Tang Jing. ”

"Just tonight...... Are you going back to your hometown in Tangdi? ”

Don nodded, "Okay." You know Don's contact details, so you must know where we live too. Give Don a call in advance when you come. He teased the current relationship between Tang and Tang Jing with words.

Tang didn't say anything, but Tang Jing didn't care. After the interview with Don and Shania, she seemed excited: "I have a car. Do you want to ride my car? ”

Don shook his head and rejected her, "Thank you for your kindness." But we also have cars. ”

Tang En and his entourage walked out with their luggage, and the reporters followed and kept asking questions. I hope to get an answer from three people. In fact, not all of these reporters came for Don, some media wanted to interview Shania, and some media were more interested in Tang......

Surrounded by this, they walked out of the hall.

"Alright, friends." Feeling that it was too much trouble to bring a large group of people, Donn stopped and turned to the reporters and said loudly, "I'm here for a vacation in China, and I hope to have a quiet vacation." Thank you for coming to greet me, and please come back now! ”

With that, they walked straight to the outside driveway to queue up for a taxi with passengers.

Tang Jing asked in surprise behind her, "This is your car?" ”

Tang En turned back and smiled at her: "Don't take a taxi for a bad car, Miss Tang Jing." ”

"A quiet holiday is a luxury for me." In the car, Donn complains in English about meeting Jiyi at the airport

Shania sat next to him. Holding his hand, he smiled and said, "I've been used to it for a long time." I never thought I could go anywhere in peace. ”

Don sat in the passenger seat and was silent.

Seeing him like this, Don remembered what he had always cared about, so he asked, "I said man...... How far have you and Tang Jing developed? ”

"Huh?" Don didn't hear clearly.

"Are you and Tang Jing in a relationship?" Don put it another way.

"This ...... How can it be? Tang flatly denied it.

"Okay. You see, I'm going back with Shania to see our parents. If they ask about your life's events, what are you going to say? "I'm still young......"

"Twenty-nine years old, is it still young?" In fact, Don's actual age should be forty-one years old, which is Don's current age.

Don didn't speak. Because he didn't know how to answer the question.

"You know...... Anyway, they still prefer to see you start a family and hold your child as soon as possible......" Donn muttered, a little distracted.

In any case, he is not the biological son of his own parents. Intimacy is always different, human nature. Although I feel a little awkward, I can only accept this reality. He got the fame and love he had always dreamed of, and he had to do something in exchange for it, so he lost his biological parents.

In the evening, Tang Jing proposed that she be the east. Invite three people to dinner. Tang En thinks Tang Jing's excuse is very interesting, she is not from Sichuan at all, what kind of "host" is it?

But I'm still glad to go to the appointment - I can't help but give Tang face, right?

Meal. Back at the hotel, in the room, Tang En and Shania were interviewed by Tang Jing together. Actually, it's mainly an interview with Don. After all, Tang Jing is a sports journalist, not a freelance writer for fashion magazines.

Tang Jing is concerned about Nottingham Forest's prospects next season and she wants to hear about Donne's plans. So Don selectively revealed some. Looking back at last season, Donn was generally pleased with the team's performance last season, and was able to beat Chelsea out of the Champions League to qualify for next season's European Cup, which was in line with his expectations.

The next step is to talk about life with Shania after getting married. Naturally, I am very loving and happy. On the football field, Donn's goal is to win championships and wins, and in married life - to have a child.

Then Tang Jing cared about Tang En's physical condition. I asked him to talk about some of the feelings of being bedridden at home for five months and more than a month because of a heart attack. Don felt that there was nothing to talk about, being sick was not a good thing, let alone a heart attack. So he made his attitude straight to this part of the question - he didn't answer it.

Originally, the atmosphere was quite harmonious, so that Tang Jing forgot for a while that she was interviewing Tony, who was said to be "the most difficult for reporters to access". Dawn. But when it came to Donn's health, she finally got to know the man's outrageous and unreasonable side.

I had to move on to the final step – as the head coach of Nottingham Forest. As well as Europe's most successful young coach in recent years, and at the same time a person who knows Chinese football very well, Tony Murphy. How Done views Chinese football.

Unlike the previous answer that was as concise as possible, when it comes to Chinese football, Tang En seems to have a lot to say.

"I heard you're planning to bring football back into the national system? I don't know how to rate it. If only to make the national football team produce results. There's nothing wrong with that. Just like table tennis and diving, gymnastics in your country, it is very effective. The whole world knows that China is the strongest in table tennis. Diving is the best in China, and gymnastics is also a traditional advantage in China. ”

"But I don't think football is all about getting a country's team to finish first in international competitions. Football is a competitive sport and a game that anyone can participate in and can afford. At the same time, even a kind of life. I'm the head coach of the club and for my club supporters, I go to the stadium once a week to watch my hometown team play. It's a life. This way of life has been passed down from father to son and then to grandson, and has been passed down for hundreds of years. Do you understand the difference between this and where you are now? ”

"In my opinion, although China was the original place where football was invented, there is still a big gap between China and what I call life. How many years has it been since professional football was introduced to China? How many years has Britain been doing it again? I believe that professional football has a future in China because Chinese are smart and know how to do a thing well. It can definitely be done. The key is whether you want to do it well or not. I've been engaged in professional football for more than ten years, and this thing is still like water without a source and wood without soil in China. I think it's a failure! For smart Chinese, it's just a shame! ”

Don suddenly became a little excited. As if he were the Chinese who was ashamed of it.

"Due to the failure in the Olympic and World Cup qualifiers, your General Directorate of Sports has decided to bring football back to its former national system. I don't deny that this will probably help your country to produce a team that has the right place in world football, and when the time comes, it will be possible to achieve results that are acceptable to your fans. But if I'm an ordinary football-loving fan, I feel sad about living in such an environment. Want to know why? ”

"I want to hear about it." Tang Jing was already unconsciously attracted by Tang En's lofty talk. Even forgetting that this part is just a routine "head-up", and writing a report will not take up too much space. But now. She has a very strong idea in her heart - to make this part of the interview the most important and recommend it to all readers.

"A strong national team, counting all kinds of invitational tournaments and commercial competitions. How many games can there be in a year? And how many high-level games does a mature club team have to play in a year? As an ordinary fan, of course he will support his country's team and cheer for his country on the national team day. That's good, but what about the exception of the national team breakday? How will his love and desire for football be vented? What kind of object can you find to place this kind of faith-like love on you? Foreign teams? ”

Donn let out a laugh from his nose, "AC Milan? Inter? Real madrid? Barcelona? Juventus? Manchester United? Arsenal? Liverpool? Chelsea? Bayern Munich? Or Nottingham Forest? Or the German national team, the Italian national team, the England national team, the Spanish national team, the French national team, the Portuguese national team, the Czech national team, the Brazilian national team, the Argentine national team, the Japanese national team, the South Korean national team...... There will be no Chinese national team anyway. ”

"Of course, they can like the aforementioned teams, there is no problem at all, and no one has the right to interfere with other people's interests and choices. But they are Chinese and Chinese fans. These teams don't perform on their doorstep every weekend, they can't cheer on their favorite team in the stadium, they can only shout at the fans on the Internet. They also couldn't get up close and personal with the stars outside the training ground, ask for autographs, or even buy genuine team memorabilia...... This love. To be honest, I feel sad. He shrugged. I think Chinese are very particular about belonging, but there is no sense of belonging in such love. You love those teams, and those teams don't necessarily love you. Ah, I'm not denigrating European teams, I just think you're too far away from them. They don't care about your love at all. What is the position of those Chinese fans who hold posters to the airport to greet their idol teams in the eyes of European clubs? Donn thought of his trip to China with the team to pan for gold.

Enthusiastic that even some of the Chinese fans worshiped at Allen. What are Adams and Evan Dogerty in their eyes? "Chinese market" only. The exchange rate between the Chinese yuan and the British pound and the euro only.

What is it to the Forest players? Ordinary supporters thousands of miles away. They and Notting fans have a very different place in the minds of these people. They have a duty and an obligation to please the Nottingham fans who come to the City Stadium every week to support them with their wins and their own skills, but they will not please the fans who live far away in China. Although they are just as enthusiastic as the former.

Nottingham Forest receives letters from fans from all over the world every day. Due to the existence of Assistant Coach Tang and Sun Jihai, there are also many letters from Chinese fans. Most of those letters are a few templates, and most of them are postcards and souvenirs. Some of them are just domestic professional "letterworms", while others really like the Forest team. In either case, the postmark date of the plain mail is almost a month different from the date of receipt of the letter.

Isn't the cost of this kind of love a bit high?

"I've said so much, can you understand what I mean, Miss Tang Jing?"

Tang Jing nodded mechanically—in fact, she hadn't digested Tang En's words yet.

"The purpose of your country's General Administration of Sports and the Football Association to engage in football is definitely not to give your country's fans a football-cultural way of life - this is not within their care and consideration. Their purpose is to put it nicely. It is to hope that the results of the national team will improve, and to put it mildly, it is just for the achievements of these leaders during their tenure. What are Chinese fans in their hearts? That's an interesting question......"

Maybe it's the "mob" who gather outside the stadium and chant slogans like "Football Association stupid", "Chinese team disbanded" and "Xie Xlong, fuck your mother", or maybe it is the number in the attendance statistics of every Chinese Super League game...... Anyway, it is a group with a hateful face and a vague image, not a living "person" with life, feelings, flesh and blood. So naturally you don't have to care about their feelings, you don't have to listen to their voices, and you don't care about what "football" means to these ordinary people.

“…… The focus of their work is only on the national team, as long as the national team is doing well. They are good officials, even if they have political achievements. As for football culture, football life...... What is that? Can it guarantee their promotion and wealth? Can they be guaranteed to have political achievements? To imperceptibly bring the influence of football into people's lives, it takes more than just the efforts of several leadership groups. How many leaders are willing to plant their own trees for future generations to enjoy? I've worked hard for four years, and I haven't made any political achievements, so let you grandsons make political achievements? Why! Why should I do this kind of that makes myself suffer and others take advantage! ”

Donn suddenly stood up from his chair and walked around the room in an emotional state, oblivious to the fact that he was being interviewed. He just had a lot of things to say in his heart, no matter who the audience was. And where is this?

From the beginning of talking about Chinese football, Tang En has been communicating with Tang Jing in Chinese, because there may be some meanings that cannot be expressed in English. So Shania couldn't understand what her Uncle Tony was saying. Seeing Don suddenly stand up with emotion, walking around the house and muttering non-stop, she was a little worried: "Uncle Tony......"

Tang Jing didn't expect Tang En to have such a violent reaction, she actually wanted to hear Tony when she asked this question. What does Tang En, an outsider, think of Chinese football, which has a bad reputation now, is to let readers know how a foreigner views our own football field. Unexpectedly, although Tang En was indeed talking about this from an outsider's point of view, his emotions were ...... No matter how you look at it, I don't want to be an outsider.

She also stood up, her heart full of contradictions. Do you want to persuade Don to calm down, or do you want him to continue to say this and let himself hear more fierce news......

"Yes, that's what they think!" Don spun around. Stand still and wave your fist. "It is true that you have taken some detours and missteps in the process of developing your professional path, but this does not mean that you have to completely deny everything in professional football and return to the national professional system. Are your football problems professional? Is it a problem of stars making too much money and clubs throwing too much money? Which of those teams in Europe earns less? Which club doesn't invest money? The players of countries with high-level football are moral pacesetters, and the character is exemplary, is it milk that eats grass and is milked? Are all European clubs clean and transparent like a vacuum? Of course, people in the system will not admit that it is the system that is responsible for all this, because to admit this is to cut off their own livelihood. It has smashed their own jobs and ruined their own interests. Therefore, it is pushed to professionalism, to those professional players who are low-quality and make a lot of money, and they actually have no right to speak, using the hatred of the rich in society to transfer everyone's anger towards the Football Association to the professional league. What to say about professionalism for so many years. The players are earning more and more. The level of football is getting worse and worse, so the fault lies in the professionalism of football. But if it's not professional. How can you know how incompetent and pedantic this institution that has managed Chinese football for 55 years is!! ”

"Many years, many years have passed, maybe your national team will be very good in international football, like the Soviet Union before the collapse. But your football level will not improve in a hundred years...... No, there will never be progress. What is football for your masses? It is an Olympic event that is locked in a high-walled compound away from the world and wins glory for the country, but it is definitely not a game for children to play together on the school playground. It's not that the fans gather in the stadium stands and in front of the TV once a week to be happy for it, to cry for it, to be proud of it, to be angry about it, to be worried about it, to become a kind of faith in life, a kind of entertainment, a way of life, a kind of living existence in the people, and take root, sprout, blossom and bear fruit in the people, continue to develop and grow, will not decline for a hundred years, full of vitality, there is a reasonable circulation mechanism, can have its own metabolism, the radiation is vast, the influence is far-reaching, from politicians to civilians like to love...... Culture! ”

"You know what it's like. Miss Tang Jing? After saying this in one breath, Tang En looked back at the reporter Tang Jing, who was already stunned.

"Nottingham Forest was unfortunately relegated and half of Nottingham City was weeping. Once on the verge of bankruptcy, the other half of Nottingham City generously donated money in the hope of saving the team. Because that's their team, it's their hometown team! Even if she's just a nobody who plays in the English Third Division and almost never hopes to win the European Cup! ”

"But in today's China, 90 percent of people will say to you, half surprised, half mocking: Yo, you still fancy? You still watch Chinese football! Masochism is not so masochistic either. Stupid! After scolding this foul language, Tang En spread his hands, and his tone finally eased. You see, that's the difference between the status quo of the two. Miss Tang Jing. What's wrong with Chinese football? There's nothing wrong with it, because it's a big problem in itself, and the big problem breeds a large group of medium problems, and the middle problem involves countless small problems...... How wonderful, a family reunion. ”

Don smiled: "But is there any way to solve this problem?" To be honest, I think in the current situation of China's sports system. You don't expect it to be solved. I sympathize with you guys, really, I'm not kidding. I do feel very, very sympathetic to you...... Other than that. Don't be under any illusion that one or two talented players will help you get to glory. In the future, I will pay less attention to Chen Jian, I know that you are trying to introduce him to Chinese fans and shape him into a new hope for Chinese overseas players. But I want to warn you, Miss Tang Jing. ”

Tang En stretched out his index finger and shook it in front of Tang Jing's eyes. "He is definitely not the savior of Chinese football, he is just an ordinary young man who wants to make a living from football and is a bit stupid but lucky. If you ruin my players because of your boring delusions, today is the last time I'll be interviewed by you. ”

When Tang Jing left, it was obvious that she still hadn't recovered from Tang En's conversation. Obviously, this interview has had a far greater impact on her than any of Donn's previous conversations in front of the media. She really needs to go back and digest it. Fortunately, although she herself was stunned, the interview machine in her hand was still working faithfully, recording every word of Donne's every sentence in full.

But there was one thing she was very conscious when she left—if this thing was in the newspapers. The impact is definitely not just a "most successful young marshal" - walking into Tony. Donn's World" interview can be compared to this.

You may even have to take some risks to get this thing to the news......

Shania didn't care what impact Donn's words would have on the country's local football scene, she was just puzzled by Donn's last-minute impassionedness.

What is it that makes Uncle Tony in life so excited that he can't even help himself?

Tang En put his arm around her, shook his head and explained with a smile: "She asked a question that I could hardly explain in a sentence or two. And it's also easy to lose your mind and calm when it's a question...... I'm sorry to scare you, Shania. But now it's okay, at least I don't have to worry about that anymore. Let's have fun! He jerked up Shania and threw herself onto the bed.

Shania's screams quickly turned into gentle moans......

Tang Jing got out of the elevator. only to find Don sitting on the sofa in the lobby, facing the direction of the elevator.

"This interview. Longer than expected. He saw Tang Jing walking straight over and said.

"I'm sorry. The last question made the interview plan spiral out of control. Tang Jing shook his head and said. He became very agitated and said many, many things. ”

Tang was somewhat interested: "What is the problem?" ”

"I asked him what he thought of Chinese football. I would have liked to hear what a foreigner thinks of what we all think is rotten...... The results were beyond my expectations. Tang Jing groaned, frowning and still recalling the scene just now. He said a lot, a lot, some we didn't know, some we never thought about, and some we knew and thought about but didn't dare to say it......" Speaking of this, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Don with a calm face.

"I decided! Take out his answer separately and publish it in full, without changing a word! ”

"I can imagine what Tony said, you're not afraid of sending it out in trouble?" Don asked.

Tang Jingyan smiled and pulled the hair that hung down in front of her eyes. "What's the trouble? The boss held me accountable, and I carried it alone. It's a big deal to quit your job and lose your job, and it's not a big deal. ”

Tang looked at the determined woman in front of him, opened his mouth, and finally said nothing.

Tang Jing raised her wrist and looked at her watch, it was already ten o'clock in the evening.

"Ah, it's so late! I have to go back. She waved to Don, "Goodbye, Don!" ”

"Goodbye." Tang stood at the door and waved goodbye to Tang Jing.

When Tang Jing got into the taxi and left, he muttered, "Good luck......