Chapter 366: Even While Lying Down
"Mr. Mancini, Manchester City was eliminated from the Europa League by Sporting Lisbon, but Southampton won 3-1 against Sporting Lisbon in the semi-finals, avenging Manchester City. What do you think?"
A reporter asked with a smile.
It sounded as if Manchester City was begging Southampton to help them vent their anger.
"I have no opinion. The competitive environment faced by Manchester City and Southampton is completely different. There is no comparison."
Mancini answered with an unhappy look on his face.
The subtext is that we are in the Premier League and they are in the Championship, and I don't take them seriously at all.
"There is really no comparison. The favorite to win the Premier League was eliminated, while the Championship team advanced smoothly. How can we compare?"
The entire press conference hall suddenly burst into laughter.
Even though Mancini was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel angry.
Fortunately, a month ago he was still gloating over Ferguson's slap in the face by the media, and almost added insult to injury.
Now, coincidentally, he also enjoyed the same treatment as Ferguson.
But for the proud Italians, this is more like a humiliation.
But the reporter obviously didn't intend to give up.
It's so hard to create some topics, but if they are not good at making use of them, they really shouldn't be called paparazzi.
"Then let's use comparable competitions, the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League. Manchester City was eliminated in all three competitions, but Southampton either won the game or made it to the final. What do you think?"
Mancini was obviously angry and snorted, "I said, I don't have any opinion"
His temper was better, at least he didn't lose his temper on the spot like Ferguson did.
Because he knew in his heart that these reporters were just waiting for him to lose his temper.
However, when the reporter asked about Southampton for the third time, Mancini finally couldn't help it, stood up angrily, said something harsh, and left the table angrily.
"Southampton, Southampton, just wait and see what they can do in the Premier League next season."
What I mean is that the Southampton you keep talking about is just showing off in the Championship and cup competitions. When it comes to the most brutal competition in the Premier League, they are not as good as our Manchester City.
When Mancini's harsh words at the press conference appeared on TV and in football news, the executives sitting in Yang Huan's office immediately became dissatisfied.
Is there anyone who talks like you?
How did we in Southampton offend you?
If you want to refute the reporter, there's no need to step on us, right?
"This time I was shot even when I was lying down," Yang Huan said with a wry smile and shook his head repeatedly.
"Mancini hasn't even secured his position as a coach yet, so what right does he have to comment on others?"
"That's right, we'll play in the Premier League next season and see if we can't kill Manchester City."
"It's best to beat them till they're left with their teeth broken"
"It's not like we haven't played against each other before. Manchester City lost to us in the cup last season, but they just didn't accept the defeat."
Everyone was talking to each other, but no one was angry.
It would be too cowardly to be completely enraged because of something Mancini said on TV.
Most people just took these words as a joke and just listened to them.
"By the way, have Gareth Bale and Modric's agents arrived?"
Yang Huan looked at the time. Both parties had agreed to meet at 3:00 p.m. It was almost time now, but there was still no sign of anyone.
Ron Gourlay saw Yang Huan looking at him, smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Modric's agent called just now and said that he had something urgent to do and would be delayed for a while, and Gareth Bale's agent called but didn't answer.
After hearing this, Sun Yue laughed and said, "It's the same old trick."
Rosell used the same method when Yang Huan planned to bring Ibrahimovic from Barcelona.
To put it bluntly, it is a means of negotiation.
Modric's agent is the vice-president of Dinamo Zagreb, Zdravko Mamic.
Southampton had dealt with him several times before and had established a good relationship with him.
In recent years, a number of good stars have emerged in Croatian football. Southampton has successively introduced central defender rookie Jedvaj, frontcourt attacking genius Halilovic, and midfield genius Kovacic from Dinamo Zagreb.
They were all done by Mamic and Pini of Li Harvey.
Gareth Bale's agent is the old British agency IaGrc. This company represents more than 500 players all over the world, and they have been his agent since Bale was sixteen years old. It was they who brought Bale from Southampton to Tottenham Hotspur that year.
The company's chairmen, Jonathan Barnett and David Imanas, are both well-known vampires in the European football circle.
Yang Huan had been mentally prepared for this. Both of these agents were well-known and would be difficult to negotiate with.
Especially Jonathan Barnett.
"What is the outside world's reaction now?" Yang Huan asked with a smile.
Since others like to show off, just let them do it. There's no need to get angry.
If Yang Huan really got angry over such a trivial matter, he would have been angry to death long ago.
Because the companies under his command, big and small, conduct business negotiations almost every day. What kind of negotiation tricks has he not seen?
"No reaction." Sun Yue shook his head. "But I heard that Manchester United has contacted Tottenham Hotspur and wants to sign Gareth Bale, but no specific offer has been made, and Manchester United certainly can't come up with that much cash."
Manchester United is now heavily in debt and is planning to restructure its debts. It is afraid that it cannot withdraw so much cash and can only resort to mortgage.
Southampton's offer is not low, and what is even more tempting is the cash transaction, which is something Manchester United cannot compare with.
Peternian, who had been silent the whole time, sighed with regret after hearing this.
"Manchester United finally realised the loss they made after selling Cristiano Ronaldo"
Everyone immediately looked at Peternian.
The former Manchester United CEO shook his head and smiled bitterly: "David Gill's operational ability is OK, but his vision is very poor, even worse than Ferguson's."
"What do you mean?" Nicholas Cortes couldn't help but ask curiously.
He is also the executive chairman of Southampton and is quite interested in this.
"As we have said before, professional football has entered a new era, but there are still quite a lot of people who still look at the new era of football with the old way of thinking and perspective, just like the entertainment development of football stars, which is an irreversible trend."
"Around 2009, the three most influential superstars in the world were Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Messi. Kaka was limited by his position, and AC Milan and Serie A were in decline. Therefore, the two most influential superstars at that time were Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.
"Many fans say that there are no superstars in professional football now, and it is not as good as in the 1990s and the beginning of the century. In fact, it is quite the opposite. There are many, many more now, because with the rise of the Internet, the ability to create stars is many times stronger than it was ten or twenty years ago, and football tactics are many times more meticulous than they were back then. How is it possible that there are no superstars?"
Everyone nodded as they listened, saying that the saying that today's football stars are not as good as in the past is just nonsense.
Because you can't refute it.
It's impossible to travel through time and space and have Guan Gong fight Qin Qiong, right?
"If you take away Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, professional football today is more prosperous than in the 1990s and the beginning of the century, with more stars and more competition."
Peternian's statement is interesting.
But we have to admit that Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi's star power is indeed too dazzling.
It is so dazzling that countless fans mistakenly believe that today's professional football talent is fading.
"I still remember that when Ferguson was selling Cristiano Ronaldo, he told David Gill that Cristiano Ronaldo was worth at least 150 million pounds. At that time, David Gill thought it was impossible and too ridiculous, so he offered 80 million pounds, and Real Madrid agreed."
Everyone nodded again.
This matter has been reported by the media and is not a secret.
"Ferguson may seem stubborn, but he is not complacent. He could have managed Manchester United for 20 to 30 years without the ability to increase his value with the times. He has a very sharp vision and can see through the core of things at a glance."
"That is, if Real Madrid wants to compete with Messi from Barcelona, they have to buy Cristiano Ronaldo, and only him."
"This is the only option, even if you bring in Kaka it won't work"
As a midfielder, Kaka's goal scoring has always been a weakness.
To be biased, the most fascinating thing about football is scoring goals. The vast majority of new fans don’t care how big your tactics are or how good the results are. They only care about one thing.
Who has more goals?
Therefore, when Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are increasing their goal tally, they are actually also increasing their own fame.
This one brush directly pushed both of them into the ranks of super football stars.
What is the most attractive news for Southampton fans in the past year?
Ibrahimovic and Drogba's goals
The two top center forwards kept scoring goals in the Championship, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League, competing fiercely.
Today you score one, tomorrow I score two, and the day after tomorrow you score a hat trick.
The media were fascinated by the back-and-forth competition and the fans were also celebrating.
The only regret is that the Championship League lacks some influence.
If it were in the Premier League, that would be a shame.
"Florentino himself knew this very well, so even if Manchester United offered 80 million pounds, even if it was 100 million or 200 million, as long as he could afford it, he would agree, because the higher the value, the more amazing the influence attached, and 150 million pounds was exactly the limit that Real Madrid could afford at that time."
"It can be said that David Gill's stupidity in this transfer caused Manchester United to lose 70 million pounds in vain."
After Peternion's explanation and analysis, everyone suddenly understood.
"Then why do you say that Manchester United suffered a heavy loss after selling Cristiano Ronaldo?"
Nicholas Cortes thought of the question again.
Peter Nian nodded and smiled, "Because after Manchester United sold Cristiano Ronaldo, their commercial value has not increased but decreased in the past few years. If it weren't for the overall increase in the influence of the Premier League in recent years, Manchester United would probably not be able to hold on now."
After hearing this, everyone looked at Peternian curiously, wanting to hear his thoughts.
"Ferguson has a sharp eye, but as a head coach, he thinks about problems from a football perspective first, so he decided to sell Cristiano Ronaldo, which directly led to Manchester United becoming leaderless from the perspective of the entire club marketing."
"If Manchester United is likened to a crown, then Cristiano Ronaldo is the most dazzling gem in the crown. Without this gem, the crown may still be a crown, but it will become less dazzling and lose its core value."
"It can almost be said that after selling Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United's commercial value quickly fell from super first-class to first-class, while Real Madrid, with the help of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, directly transformed from quasi-first-class or even second-class during the Calderon era to super first-class, on par with Barcelona, which has won the Grand Slam."
The business world is like a battlefield. As the commander of Real Madrid's star team, Florentino's vision, means and courage are outstanding and amazing.
On the contrary, Manchester United under David Gill has indeed lost the opportunity to become a top-notch team as Peter Nian said, which is also regrettable.
"Gareth Bale has undoubtedly given Manchester United hope. As long as he is managed properly, he has the potential to reach the same influence and commercial value as Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, so Manchester United will want him."
"Well said," Yang Huan nodded with a smile.
Many of Peternian's ideas coincide with his.
Only someone like Mr. Bald, who is so familiar with Manchester United and has unique insights into football marketing, can say such words.
"It's a pity that Manchester United is now heavily in debt and I'm afraid they are no longer qualified to compete with us."
Sun Yue laughed and ridiculed Manchester United.
"As long as Manchester United does not get rid of the heavy debt crisis, it will be difficult to return to the peak of 2008 and 2009. Chelsea was on the right track, but now Abramovich has turned around. Arsenal and Liverpool can be ignored. Manchester City has not found its business direction and the team is full of problems.
"In the next few years, the Premier League will be leaderless and in chaos, and this is our opportunity to emerge as a dark horse in Southampton"
Peternion said this with great force, and his expression was indescribably excited.
His pair of bright eyes seemed to see a bright future.