Football Feast, Starting From the Acquisition of European Clubs

   Chapter 237 Why do you have to compete with the boss?

   "Stephen, tell me, what happened over there in Brazil?"

   Hearing this bad news, Chen Ran, who was in a good mood after winning the Champions League for two consecutive victories, suddenly collapsed.

   "The staff we sent to Brazil to negotiate with Recife Sports in the name of Galaxy Football Group, and the negotiations went well at first."

   "But later, I don't know where the owner of Recife Sports got the news and learned about the relationship between Galaxy Football Group and Crystal Palace."

   "You know, since we won the Champions League and the treble last season, Crystal Palace's reputation has now spread all over the world."

   "So Recife Sports is now open to the lions, doubling the previous offer, from 15 million euros to 30 million euros."

   Stephen looked at Chen Ran with a wry smile, fame is not all good.

   "Does Father Louis know about this?"

   "I know. Dad Luis's people accompanied us to Recife Sports for negotiation. After Recife Sports raised the price, he immediately reported it to Dad Luis."

   "Father Luis also personally called the owner of Recife Sports, but it didn't work."

   "According to the meaning, the owner of Recife Sports is very short of money now, and after selling the club, he has no capital to play football again, so it is not easy for Dad Luis, the big man in the agent industry, to speak."

   Hearing this, Chen Ran probably figured out the cause and effect of the matter.

   The boss of Recife Sports knows that the boss behind Galaxy Football Group is also the boss of Crystal Palace. He is very powerful and naturally reluctant to let this opportunity to slaughter the fat sheep.

   However, is it so easy to take advantage of yourself?

  Chen Ran pouted in disdain.

   "Stephen, tell the people we sent to Brazil to temporarily suspend negotiations with Recife Sports."

   "Chen, you mean, we gave up on acquiring Recife Sports?"

"Not necessarily, let's hang up Recife Sports first. Isn't the owner of Recife Sports waiting to sell the club and use the money to save his career? Then let's wait and see who is more anxious. "

   "Yes, this is a good way. Anyway, Recife Sports is just the icing on the cake for us. If it really doesn't work, we can still buy other clubs."

   After listening to Chen Ran's handling, Stephen nodded again and again. Anyway, Crystal Palace is not in a hurry and can afford to wait.

   "Of course, we can't just wait like this. You ask our people in Brazil to find Dad Luis, ask him to recommend a few clubs, and then go to investigate with great fanfare."

   "Since the relationship between Galaxy Football Group and Crystal Palace has been leaked, it's better not to hide it. Invite a few more local Brazilian media to hype up our plan to acquire a Brazilian club."

   "Let the owner of Recife Sports know that we don't have to. It may not be long before he will honestly lower the price himself."

   "Okay, this is a good way. Haha, Chen, it's still your brains, the owner of Recife Sports wants to take advantage of us, it's really a pipe dream."

   Chen Ran's response made Stephen slap his thigh. To deal with such profiteers who are sitting on the ground and raising prices, they cannot be allowed to succeed.

   After dealing with Recife Sports, Chen Ran turned his energy back to Crystal Palace.

   On September 30, in the seventh round of the Premier League, Crystal Palace played away to West Ham United.

  Because Crystal Palace just finished the Champions League two days ago, Chen Ran made a big rotation in this Premier League game.

   Fortunately, Crystal Palace now has a deep bench, and even a lineup dominated by substitute players is still quite strong.

   With Mascherano's goal, Crystal Palace beat West Ham United 1:0 away.

When    got three points, Chen Ran also got a "Level 1 Healing Card" from the system.

   That's right, another hole card was added. Looking at the inventory that he has gradually recovered, Chen Ran expressed his satisfaction.

   Next, because of the national team match day, there will be no club matches for about two weeks.

   But because Crystal Palace is now a big draw, almost all the main players in the team are international players from various countries.

  The players from Europe are okay, after all, the distance is relatively close. Brazil internationals such as Kaka, Maicon, Alves and Thiago Silva, the game plus the long-distance flight, consumes more than playing in the club.

   And after the national team match day, Crystal Palace will usher in a consecutive week of double games.

  The Premier League plus the UEFA Champions League, plus the upcoming England League Cup, Chen Ran is busy again.

  On October 15th, in the eighth round of the Premier League, Crystal Palace will play Chelsea at home;

  On October 18th, in the Champions League group stage, Crystal Palace will go away to challenge CSKA Moscow;

  On October 22, the ninth round of the Premier League, Crystal Palace is about to face Arsenal at home;

  On October 26th, in the third round of the English League Cup, Crystal Palace will go to Anfield to challenge Liverpool;

  On October 28th, the tenth round of the Premier League, Crystal Palace will go away to challenge this season's dark horse Portsmouth again

  On November 2nd, in the Champions League group stage, Crystal Palace will play CSKA Moscow at home;

  On November 5th, in the eleventh round of the Premier League, Crystal Palace will be visiting Anfield for the second time in ten days to challenge Liverpool.

   Seeing the Crystal Palace schedule in his hand, although the strength of Crystal Palace has changed, Chen Ran still felt that his scalp was numb.

   In the next period of time, Crystal Palace almost played seven games in a row at a rhythm of one game for three days.

   And among the opponents in these seven games, whether it is Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool or the Champions League regulars, the Russian Super League hegemon CSKA Moscow, none of them are good.

   is the dark horse of the Premier League this season, currently ranked fourth, behind Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Chelsea, Portsmouth may be slightly weaker.

  According to the usual practice, Chen Ran called his three assistants over and sent them a copy of the Crystal Palace schedule.

   Although it is not the first time to experience this kind of thing, whether it is Guardiola or Southgate and Simeone, one by one still looks pale.

   "Let's talk about it, how will we play in the next seven games?"

  Chen Ran glanced at the three, and as expected, Southgate and Simeone looked at Guardiola in unison.

   knew it would be like this again.

   Guardiola secretly complained in his heart, and finally took the initiative to stand up.

   "Boss, now it seems that the League Cup away game against Liverpool in the middle of the seven games, we may have to give up."

   "If we give up this game, we can get about five days of rest in the middle of this schedule. This will also allow the players to take a breather and recover their fitness."

   "Yes, boss, I also agree with Josep's approach. After all, the importance of the League Cup is not comparable to the Premier League and the Champions League."

  As soon as Guardiola finished speaking, Southgate stood up to show his support.

   "Boss, in comparison, Josep's approach has the least cost. Also, even if we send substitutes to play in the League Cup, Liverpool may not be able to beat us."

  Simeone also agrees with Guardiola's plan, and he is more confident.

  Because Chen Ran has replenished Crystal Palace with powerful players year after year, the strength of Crystal Palace's current bench lineup should not be underestimated, which is also Simeone's confidence.

   Seeing that everyone agrees with him, Guardiola is more confident to continue talking.

   "As for the remaining six games, it can be divided into two stages before and after. The two Champions League games against CSKA Moscow are definitely the top priority and must be won."

   "Chelsea have been our strongest rivals for the title in the past two years. This summer, the Ukrainian striker Shevchenko and the German international Ballack have been introduced, and their strength has been further strengthened."

   "In this direct conversation, we have to suppress Chelsea's momentum so that we can get a head start in this season's Premier League title race."

   "But in this way, let's fight for Chelsea first, and then go to Moscow to play the Champions League and come back. It's hard to say how much energy the main players have left to deal with Arsenal."

   "If it really doesn't work, we may have to use a substitute lineup to face Arsenal. Boss, I'm afraid you have to be mentally prepared for this."

  Although Guardiola's arrangement is very reasonable, there is still a pit that cannot be avoided.

   "It doesn't matter, we can make adjustments according to the physical condition of the players before the Arsenal game. Most of our players are not young. I guess it will not be a problem to arrange some main players and substitutes at that time."

   Having gone through so many devil races in recent years, Chen Ran is very experienced now.

   "The boss is right. I think the same can be done against Portsmouth. Although this dark horse is doing well now, its strength is limited. The top half of our Crystal Palace's main force is almost enough."

  Southgate also came up with an idea inspired by Chen Ran's idea.

   After some brainstorming, the Crystal Palace coaching staff officially determined the next stage of the battle plan.

   On the Chelsea side, in the face of a strong lineup, head coach Mourinho was not happy at all.

  Because, the preferred formation in his mind is 433, one center and two wingers, both wings fly together, and the center shoots at the goal.

   In his mind, Drogba is the candidate for the positive center.

   However, this summer, the owner Abramovich bought his long-cherished striker Shevchenko at a price of more than 50 million euros, which set a Chelsea club transfer record.

   This put a lot of pressure on Mourinho, especially after Mourinho still insisted on using Drogba to start and put Shevchenko on the bench.

   This pressure is getting bigger and bigger.

   "José, listen to my advice, let Shevchenko start, it's better for you."

   As Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon, who has worked with Mourinho for more than two years, he did not want to see him and his boss Roman Abramovich stalemate, so he persuaded him bitterly.

   "Peter, Shevchenko is not suitable for the center of the 433 formation."

   "How do you know if you don't try?"

   "Try? What if it doesn't work? Crystal Palace is now at the top of the standings. We don't have the capital for trial and error."

   "How about changing the team to a 442 formation? Shevchenko played a double striker when he was at AC Milan."

   "Peter, please note that I am the manager of Chelsea. It is up to me to decide what tactics Chelsea uses and which players to use."

   Hearing that Peter Kenyon actually wanted to interfere with his tactical play, Mourinho's face sank and he turned back unceremoniously.

  Peter Kenyon also knew that he was a bit overstepping his authority, and he deserved it, so he had to touch his nose to admit it.

   "José, if you continue to be stubborn like this, I'm afraid you won't be able to end the season."

  In the end, Peter Kenyon couldn't hold back and reminded Mourinho.

   Hearing this sentence, Mourinho fell into silence.

   He knew that his impression on the boss Abramovich was probably getting worse and worse.

   If this goes on, there is a real possibility of being fired at any time.

   No, no matter what, he has to grab the Premier League title from Chen Ran before leaving, otherwise he will be really unwilling.

   Thinking of this, Mourinho gritted his teeth secretly.

   "I see, Shevchenko will enter the starting lineup."

   "Haha, that's right. Jose, you're just too stubborn. To put it in a bad way, we just came out to work, why do we have to compete with the boss? It's not good for you."

   Seeing that Mourinho finally compromised, Peter Kenyon was also secretly relieved.

   No one knows better than him that, in fact, the owner Abramovich's search for a new head coach has never stopped.

   It’s just that I haven’t found a satisfactory candidate so far, so I endure it again and again with Mourinho.

It can be said that Mourinho has one foot on the edge of the cliff now. If he continues to fight against the boss, maybe the boss will fire him directly without waiting for the new coach to arrive in a rage one day. .

   Under pressure, Mourinho put Shevchenko in the starting lineup.

   However, maybe Shevchenko really does not adapt to Mourinho's tactical style of play. The Ukrainian nuclear warhead that killed the Quartet in AC Milan is at most a mortar when it arrives at Chelsea.

   Mourinho still insisted that his 433 formation remained unchanged. The starting center tried several times with Shevchenko and found that the effect did not work. He simply re-enabled Drogba as the center, and then let Shevchenko play the right wing.

   So, in the face of the upcoming match against Crystal Palace, Mourinho dispatched a compromised starting lineup.

   Left winger Robben, center Drogba, right forward Shevchenko

   MF Makelele, MF Ballack, MF Lampard

   Left-back Ashley Cole, center-back Terry, center-back Carvalho, right-back Bora Luz

   Goalkeeper Cudicini

   (end of this chapter)