Chapter 40

Events happened suddenly.

For a club president, the football world can sometimes be brutally direct, either poaching or being poached. For a team that has just been promoted to the top league, the likelihood of being poached is much higher than poaching others. Therefore, Fernando Sánchez's feelings about Muniz's departure for greener pastures were not anger tinged with helplessness, but helplessness tinged with anger.

The anger was mostly directed at the poaching Santander, while the helplessness was more towards the poached Muniz. In La Liga, although neither Santander nor Málaga are strong teams, Santander's history in La Liga is undoubtedly much longer than Málaga's, which only ascended to the top league at the end of the last century. Sánchez was well aware of why Muniz abandoned Málaga. Muniz, who had been involved in many major decisions in the team's reconstruction, knew too many things that outsiders did not.

The phrase "promising newcomer" was just a nice way to put it. The reality was that one of the strongest teams in the second division was about to become one of the weakest in the top division. The contrast was not just on the competitive level. Málaga's transfer budget for the new season was destined to be pitifully small. A second-division budget in La Liga was negligible. Worse still, Málaga's debt meant that the club's situation would not improve in the short term. Thus, it was not surprising that Muniz abandoned Málaga for Santander.

"The strengths and weaknesses of both candidates are very clear. Tapia's advantage is his familiarity with the team, which can minimize the adjustment period. Lin, on the other hand, helped Atlético Madrid successfully turn around their slump in the recently concluded season, and it's evident that he likes to use young players, which aligns with our reconstruction strategy," said the team advisor, Aguilar. "Actually, Lin is one of the reasons we are considering a change in management. One direct reason for Santander's change in management was their 1-5 home loss to Lin's Atlético Madrid in the last round. Otherwise, with their ranking, the chances of them changing management would have been slim."

"What does Tapia think about it?"

"We haven't communicated with him yet, but I don't think it will be a problem, even though he likes his current position."

"What's your opinion?" Sánchez looked at the documents in his hand and asked, "Which one do you favor?"

"On a competitive level, Tapia. After all, he's one of us, and except for the lack of top-division coaching experience, he's good in every aspect," Aguilar thought for a moment and quickly answered Sánchez's question. "Lin has top-division coaching experience, but only a few matches. In terms of overall coaching experience, he's not as rich as Tapia. However, I still suggest we reach out to Lin first."

"Alright, let's reach out to him. You know, Lin is a Chinese coach, which is important for the club."

"I understand." Aguilar nodded.

Since Sánchez took office, developing club membership has been one of his key goals. As the second-largest Mediterranean port city in Spain, Málaga has always been one of the main gathering places for Chinese people in Spain. Clearly, if Málaga could welcome a Chinese coach, it would be very helpful in attracting Chinese fans.

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Lin Sen did not expect that he would receive an unexpected interview invitation from a top-division team he had almost given up on—Málaga—just as he was sending out resumes like a recent graduate.

Lin Sen was not unfamiliar with Málaga. This club almost became the "Manchester City of La Liga" in the future, but only almost.

Two years later, in the 2010 season, a member of the Qatari royal family, Abdullah Al-Thani, acquired shares in Málaga and became the club's president. He then hired Sánchez as the club's advisor while maintaining the previous leadership team and made sweeping reforms. Within a few years, Málaga transformed from a relegation-threatened team to one that reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. If not for their bad luck, Málaga might have even gone further, as Dortmund scored two goals in stoppage time to reach the final. However, the club's success did not change the underlying issues. With the withdrawal of the Middle Eastern investors, Málaga fell into financial crisis, and key players were sold off. Málaga's rapid decline, like its rise, was steep and parabolic, evoking much regret. Otherwise, with Málaga's performance, it might have truly become the "Manchester City of La Liga."

Of course, that was all in the future. In the present, Málaga, in Lin Sen's understanding, was still a Cinderella who had not yet seen the glass slipper, doing heavy work without many unrealistic dreams.

From Madrid to Málaga, due to the high-speed rail that opened at the end of last year, Lin Sen received the invitation in the morning and appeared in a café in Málaga in the afternoon. The meeting was not in Málaga's club reception room, and the informal nature of the meeting was evident, but it didn't matter. Lin Sen understood the other party's concerns.

Fernando Sánchez, whom many people called "Little Sánchez," was a rich second generation with ideals and ambitions. His father was the famous former Real Madrid president, Lorenzo Sánchez, who, after creating the glory of three Champions League titles in five years, never forgot football. However, he failed in two attempts to be re-elected as Real Madrid president and even considered joining Parma in Italy. It wasn't until a few years ago that the elder Sánchez bought all the shares from Málaga's former president, Roldán. It was said that the elder Sánchez's wife, Ingrid, who was from the Spanish Asensio family, played a role in this. As for the current Málaga president, Little Sánchez, his path to the presidency was dramatic. Just two years ago, he was the captain of Málaga, and almost overnight, he became the club's president.

Looking at Little Sánchez, who was not much older than himself, Lin Sen felt that he couldn't be considered too young as a coach. Both Little Sánchez and Aguilar were a bit surprised that Lin had come to the meeting alone, without an agent.

"Sorry, I don't have an agent yet," Lin Sen said, noticing their surprise, and added with a self-deprecating smile, "I hope this won't affect my impression score."

"No problem. We can be more candid," Little Sánchez smiled.

First impressions often determine success or failure. Clearly, Lin Sen's joke did not offend them. Not only did Little Sánchez's expression soften, but Aguilar's also relaxed.

"Let's get straight to the point. Mr. Lin, we know you previously coached Atlético Madrid, a big club. Can you share your thoughts on Atlético Madrid?" Little Sánchez, the main "interviewer," asked.

Why do they always ask such questions during interviews?

Lin Sen felt a bit helpless when he heard Little Sánchez's question. Evaluating his former club was both cliché and troublesome. Whatever he said, good or bad, would depend on the other party's mood. However, he had to answer the question. After some thought, he said, "I don't like to evaluate my former club. However, when I left Atlético Madrid, I had a meeting with the club's president, Cerezo. I told Cerezo that one day, he would be proud of Atlético Madrid, and one day, a team would be proud of me. Unfortunately, that team is not Atlético Madrid. That's the exact quote. I think this can answer your question."

Lin Sen deliberately omitted the detail that he did not say the latter part to Cerezo.

Little Sánchez was a bit surprised, and Aguilar, sitting next to him, also gave Lin Sen a surprised look. They did not expect such an answer. Whether Lin Sen's words were true was not the most important thing. The fact that he dared to say them indicated that he was a very confident person, whether arrogant or confident.

"You seem very confident," Aguilar finally said. "If you were to coach Málaga, what would you think about the club's transfer strategy for the new season?"

Aguilar's question was ordinary, as it was a common question for any coach during an interview. However, Little Sánchez's eyes flickered slightly.

When Málaga was promoted to the top division, the then-successful head coach, Muniz, had a meeting with Little Sánchez and Aguilar. Due to several players leaving at the end of the season, the meeting was to determine the team-building strategy for the new season. Muniz's idea was a complete rebuild, as he believed the current players were not sufficient for La Liga. However, the club's management thought the club's financial situation could not support a complete rebuild. This became the trigger or excuse for Muniz's subsequent departure. Of course, Muniz also had the desire to move to a better club.

With Muniz's precedent and Lin Sen's display of confidence, Aguilar's question was now more subtle.

"Stability first, with some adjustments," Lin Sen answered succinctly. He was not a pretentious coach. Since he had come forward, he had to face reality.

Little Sánchez and Aguilar exchanged a glance, both surprised. Aguilar had asked the question to see how Lin Sen would balance confidence and reality, as confident people often forget their position.

However, Lin Sen, who had just shown confidence bordering on arrogance, gave a very conservative answer, which coincidentally aligned with the transfer strategy already established by Málaga's management.

"Similarly, if you were to coach Málaga, where do you think the team's goal should be for the new season?" Aguilar asked.

"European competition," Lin Sen said calmly, as if it were a casual remark.

However, this answer made both men frown.

"European... competition?" Aguilar's eyes widened, and his previously warm tone turned cold. "You mean a top-seven finish?"

The reason for the top-seven finish was that with the current UEFA president, Michel Platini, the Toto Cup would be abolished in 2009, meaning the new season would not have Toto Cup qualification. To enter European competition, the minimum would be the Europa League.

Sánchez, on the other side, still frowned, shaking his head at Lin Sen's clearly unrealistic goal, despite his good first impression.

"Of course, that requires conditions," Lin Sen said, seemingly unaware of the change in tone.

"Conditions?"

"Transfer rights."