Chapter 144: Crooked Nose

"Now I'm reporting a piece of football entertainment news."

The TV anchor of the BBC News Channel appears calm and confident on the screen.

"All fans know that Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich has always given people the impression of being very wealthy. In the winter transfer window this season, he waved his oil rubles and spent 75 million pounds on Torres and David Luiz, two big players for the Blues."

"Since coming to the UK, the Russian has been using money to make money. Although it is accompanied by controversy, it has been successful. Almost no player or coach he has taken a fancy to can resist the temptation of the oil ruble, and all the assets he has taken a fancy to have been taken by him."

"But today, the Russian tycoon encountered the most humiliating scene since landing in the UK."

A yacht appeared on the TV screen, it was Abramovich's Eclipse.

"In order to be able to supervise the FA Cup focus battle held at Southampton St. Mary's Stadium tonight, Abramovich left London yesterday on his luxury yacht Eclipse and traveled around the southeast coast of England."

The scene switches to a map showing Abramovich's entire route.

From London, go out to sea along the Thames River, then go south along the English Channel and then turn west.

It's really a lot of trouble.

"The Russians probably never thought that when he was about to arrive in Southampton, the entire Southampton yacht club would simultaneously refuse to receive his yacht, which is known as the most luxurious in the world, on the grounds that they would never receive the enemy before the war!"

"According to relevant sources, Abramovich offered a price ten times higher than normal, but still failed to convince the Southampton yacht club, so his Eclipse could not be docked in Southampton. In the end, he had no choice but to choose to dock in Portsmouth, Southampton's arch-rival city in the east, and then take a bus from Portsmouth to Southampton."

The news screen switched to the live broadcast room, and the TV anchor smiled.

“We don’t understand the world of the rich, and we don’t understand their thinking logic.”

"Perhaps in the eyes of the Russians, he just thinks that taking a bus directly from London to Southampton is too common."

"Even if he had to take a car, he would rather take a yacht first, go around half of England, go to Portsmouth, which is about the same distance away, and then take a car from Portsmouth to Southampton. This is what it means to be a rich person."

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As soon as the BBC news came out, it immediately caused a huge response among the fans.

There was an overwhelming amount of ridicule on the Internet, with some people believing that Abramovich was trying to act cool but accidentally got struck by lightning.

In Southampton, this matter was being discussed almost everywhere, and everyone was enjoying it.

Near St. Mary's Stadium, Saints fans even put up a large stand advertisement.

In the ad, the blue-dyed Eclipse hit an iceberg with red and white arrow stripes, and the entire bow of the ship collapsed.

This advertisement foreshadows that the blue Chelsea will suffer a Waterloo in front of the red and white Southampton.

Walking into St. Mary's Stadium, Southampton fans in the stands had pulled out banners and hung them in front of the guardrails of the stands.

There are sarcastic ones, for example:

"Abu, are you mad?"

"No, I'm not mad, my nose is just crooked!"

There were also those who shouted inflammatory slogans, such as:

"Tonight, the city is united!"

"Chelsea, you are not facing eleven people, you are facing the whole Southampton!"

"We need to use people, form a wall, and crush Chelsea!"

There are also some people who use foul language, such as...

Thirteen thousand six hundred words are omitted here.

The game hasn't started yet, but the entire St. Mary's Stadium is already bustling with people and the atmosphere is very lively.

More than 30,000 Saints fans gathered at St. Mary's Stadium, supporting the team in their own ways.

At the same time, in a very rare move, Southampton's political and business celebrities from all walks of life also came to St. Mary's Stadium to support the team.

This has further increased the attention paid to this game.

It can be said that the heat comes before the battle.

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"Did you see just now that even the mayor, Ms. Carol Connie, is here?"

In the home team's locker room at St. Mary's Stadium, the team's captain Adam Lallana sat in his seat, bent down, tying his shoelaces, and spoke in a very excited tone.

"Really? Where? Why didn't I see it?"

"In the Chairman's Stand, sitting with Master Huan, and next to him are the City Councillor and Chief Sheriff Terry Matthews."

Adam Lallana has been in Southampton for many years. Although he was not born in Southampton, this place has become his second hometown and he knows everything about it.

"They should be celebrating." Ravel Morrison said with a sarcastic smile.

A burst of cheerful laughter suddenly rang out in the locker room.

"I heard that it was Master Huan's idea to not let Abramovich's yacht enter Southampton." Neymar said with admiration.

He is about the same age as Yang Huan, but when it comes to doing things, he is far behind.

"I've heard about it too. It's definitely Master Huan. He's the only one who has the ability to make the entire Southampton yacht club act in unison."

"Abramovich deserves to be rejected. Who told him to show off in front of Master Huan?"

"That's right, Young Master Huan always says, don't show off, or you'll get struck by lightning!"

There was another burst of laughter in the locker room.

Luis Borini had been in the locker room the whole time. The coaching staff's locker room was next to the players' locker room, but he had been paying attention to the movements of the players. When he saw that it was almost time, he walked over.

"Okay, everyone!"

As Luis Borini clapped his hands, the players immediately shifted their attention and looked at him.

Bielsa has always been in charge of tactics, and Luis Borini is in charge of pre-match mobilization and the like.

"You are all right. Master Huan made a good start for us and allowed us to suppress Chelsea in terms of momentum. This is something worth celebrating, but now is not the time to be happy."

Luis Borini's words were nodded in agreement by all the players present.

"Chelsea must be feeling very angry right now. I heard that Abramovich has said that they must beat Southampton in this game. It is said that he even said that if they fail to beat Southampton, Ancelotti will be fired."

The players in the locker room all looked solemn.

This made things even more serious.

"Yes, this battle is imminent and we cannot afford to lose. If we lose, not only us, but also Master Huan, the citizens of Southampton, and all the fans who support us will become a laughing stock."

"They will laugh at us for using so many tricks and unconventional methods, but still losing in the end!"

After Luis Borini said this, a solemn atmosphere filled the entire locker room.

No one wants to be laughed at, especially by the opponent who is being laughed at by himself.

"So, in this battle, if we don't succeed, we will die!"

As soon as Luis Borini finished speaking, Ibramovic's tall and strong body suddenly stood up.

"Okay, fuck Chelsea!"

"Fuck Chelsea!"

"Fight them!"

"We must win, we must win!!"

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Yang Huan was not aware of what was happening in the locker room. He was sitting in his own seat in the chairman's stand.

Sitting on the left is the current Southampton Mayor, Ms. Carol Connie, and sitting on the right is the top candidate for the next Southampton Mayor, current Sheriff Terry Matthews.

The latter has made it clear that he will run in the upcoming Southampton mayoral election.

The reason why this competition can attract the participation of so many political and business celebrities is more or less related to this election. After all, the election is coming, and it is inevitable to put on a show in front of the public.

"Mr. Yang Huan, I have always been following Southampton. Every game is packed with people, and the attendance is so high. I have never seen such popularity even when Southampton was still in the Premier League."

Terry Matthews said with a sigh.

When he went on stage just now, the TV station gave him a close-up and he appeared on the big screen at St. Mary's Stadium. There were also many fans and voters who supported him applauding him, which made him in a very good mood.

"Yes, Mr. Matthews." Yang Huan responded politely.

Sitting between two competitors, he was also quite depressed.

It's not so easy to be a sandwich cookie!

"St. Mary's Stadium is still a little small. If it can be bigger and more modern, I believe the fans' experience will be better and the football atmosphere in the whole city will be more enthusiastic and more popular than it is now."

Yang Huan's words were immediately recognized by Mayor Carol Connie beside him.

"We think so too. So when you proposed to build a new stadium, Mr. Yang Huan, we were seriously evaluating it. But please rest assured that the government will not obstruct it."

As soon as Carol Connie finished speaking, Terry Matthews laughed.

"I agree with half of what Ms. Connie O said!"

After successfully attracting Yang Huan's attention, he continued with a smile: "I think Southampton's transformation is imminent. In addition to attracting more high-tech industry investment, building the most livable tourist port city on the south coast will be a great opportunity, and football is undoubtedly crucial."

In the UK, football is a belief and a powerful weapon to attract tourism resources.

"If I succeed in my candidacy for mayor, I will not only not obstruct it, but I also believe that the government should provide the strongest support in terms of policies, land and even funds to cooperate with Southampton's ambitions and make the Saints a well-known strong team in the UK and even Europe, and a beautiful business card for the city!"

Terry Matthews' words were nodded in agreement by Yang Huan, but also made Carol Connie look indignant.

This competitor came with great force and it was obvious that he was here to win votes.

Although Yang Huan is Chinese and does not have the right to vote, there is only one football team in the entire city of Southampton.

Yang Huan is the savior in the eyes of Saints fans.

Moreover, the WeChat company he founded was also nurtured by Southampton in recent years. It is almost the only Internet company that is well-known all over the world and is also a company that Southampton strongly supports.

It would be an exaggeration to say that he can decide the outcome of the election, but it is hard to say how much help he can provide.

At the very least, we can contribute some money to their elections.

"Mr. Yang Huan, you absolutely do not need to doubt the promises I made. I am not a professional politician, and I will not make empty promises. Please believe in my sincerity!"

Yang Huan nodded and said "hmm".

He is a businessman who believes in playing both sides, so of course he will not openly support any faction.

Just at this moment, in the distant aisle, the fat man Cash Harris, who came all the way from London to watch the game, walked over.

Next to him was a middle-aged European man who was about 1.7 meters tall and looked shrewd.

The two men went straight to where Yang Huan was, obviously looking for him.