Chapter 17

Xiu Anlian ranked in the middle of the League One last season. The team has no star players, and it can be said that their ability to stay in League One mainly relies on the默契 (cohesion) of their group of "blue-collar warriors" who have been playing together for a long time. Their attack and defense are not balanced; they lost almost all the games they should have lost and won the ones they should have won, with an average of about 1.5 goals scored and conceded per game.

Their head coach, Peter Dawson, took up the role after retiring from the team.

There is nothing particularly outstanding about this team; they are just a group that goes through the motions, like a supporting character in a story.

As the opponent in the opening match, Peter had done some research on Millwall. From the significant investment Millwall made in the summer to the introduction of Audrich in yesterday's tabloids, what left the deepest impression on Peter was the statement: "Millwall's young owner, after making a huge investment in the summer, only hopes the team can stay in League One."

Peter thought Audrich was quite self-aware, knowing to focus on securing a place in League One first. However, he deeply despised coaches who were not from the traditional English football system.

Although Audrich has a coaching qualification, he is not a product of the English football system, and he has never played professionally. To other coaches, he is a typical outsider.

Peter casually chatted with his assistant about the team's transfer targets. With over half a month left before the transfer window closed, Xiu Anlian was trying to sign some players from bigger clubs who were not getting enough playing time. Xiu Anlian is not a big club; most of the players have been with the team for a long time and are of average ability, much like a poor family trying to make ends meet: new for three years, old for three years, and patched up for another three years.

Every transfer window is a time for small clubs like this to "patch up."

Seeing his assistant close his mouth and look at him with a strange expression, Peter, a tall and typically middle-aged Englishman, frowned and turned around. He saw Audrich, dressed in a suit like a stockbroker, standing there.

Audrich had a gentle smile on his face and extended his right hand, saying softly, "Hello..."

Before he could finish his greeting, Peter interrupted him.

"Who the hell are you? What do you want?"

Peter, of course, knew who the person in front of him was, but he wanted to give this young man, who had no football background, a hard time.

Audrich was taken aback, not expecting such a bad temper and a curse right from the start.

Thinking back to Peter's conversation with his assistant, Audrich assumed he was mistaken for a spy. He maintained his smile and said, "My name is Audrich, I am from Millwall..."

As he spoke, his extended right hand remained in front of Peter, but he was interrupted again.

Peter, frowning and acting like an old man, pointed to the home team's bench and said, "I know who you are. Now go back to your bench and stay there. Don't bother me. Do you even know anything about football? Do you think this is a party? Coming over here to chat like a sissy? Idiot!"

Audrich's expression froze, and in that moment, he could see the players and coaches of Xiu Anlian on the away team's bench smirking at him.

The stands at the Den Stadium fell silent as the fans watched Audrich walk to the away team's bench, extend his hand to the opposing coach, and have his hand remain outstretched while the coach ignored it and berated him.

What's going on?

Audrich regained his composure in less than two seconds. He did not retract his right hand but raised it to point at Peter's nose and retorted loudly and disdainfully.

"Who the hell do you think you are? I came here to greet you out of respect. If this wasn't the first league match, I wouldn't even bother with you, you piece of shit! You're just a piece of shit! And your team is a piece of shit! Fucking shit!"

Audrich knew he couldn't turn around and go back to the home team's bench; if he did, he would be finished. Not only would it boost the other team's morale, but Millwall's fans would also look down on him as a coach.

Peter, clearly not expecting this young man to curse him to his face, was stunned for a moment before he lunged at Audrich like a raging beast. Fortunately, his quick-thinking assistant held him back.

Seeing Peter about to attack, Audrich also rolled up his sleeves as if to fight. He felt somewhat helpless: I just came to greet you, can't we just chat for a bit? Why do you have to humiliate me?

Regardless of whether Peter was motivated by jealousy of Audrich's wealth or his good looks, or simply acting like an old-school coach, a pointless conflict was unfolding.

Audrich's loud curses against Xiu Anlian's coach and team as "shit" were heard clearly by the fans in the stands behind the bench, as the Den Stadium is small.

Seeing Audrich roll up his sleeves and stand his ground without backing down, the Millwall fans were thrilled.

"Shit! You're all shit!"

The fans behind the bench waved their arms and started cursing at Xiu Anlian, boosting Audrich's morale.

Audrich had no intention of fighting, but now he was in a difficult position. Fortunately, Jason and a few other coaches from the home team's bench rushed over and held Audrich back, pulling him away from Peter.

Neither of the two head coaches seemed to be gentlemen. Peter and Audrich, held by their respective teams, continued to curse at each other.

"Kid, you come over here, I'll beat you to death!"

"Idiot! You piece of shit, touching you would dirty my hands!"

Peter, furious, blurted out, "You call us shit, if you lose the match, you'll prove you're even worse than shit!"

Audrich was stunned!

Even the fans in the stands stopped their curses, looking at each other in confusion, trying to understand the implications of Xiu Anlian's coach's words.

Suddenly, Audrich stopped struggling against Jason's hold, laughed loudly, and started straightening his suit, saying, "Really, someone admits to being shit? Hahaha, looks like you're not just smelly shit, but also brainless shit!"

Hahaha...

The fans in the stands laughed uncontrollably, while Peter trembled with rage, his face red as if it might explode at any moment.

Seeing the referees running over, Audrich quickly straightened his suit, waved to the fans, and walked confidently to the home team's bench.

Behind him, Peter continued to curse, and the head referee came to ask what had happened and warned Peter Dawson. Audrich had already reached the grass in front of the home team's bench.

"Was that on purpose? Provoking the opposing coach?"

Jason and the other coaches were confused; they had never seen two head coaches almost come to blows before the match even started.

Audrich calmly said, "I just walked in the wrong direction, and that guy didn't give me any face, so I had to stand up to him. But it worked out, I think this match will be interesting."

Jason sighed and sat down, whispering to the other coaches, who all looked at Audrich's back with surprise.

The head referee ran over to Audrich, warning him not to provoke the opponent again. Audrich nodded indifferently and glanced at the away team's bench, where Peter Dawson was still glaring at him.

Audrich's lips moved slightly, as if talking to himself.

Peter, though he couldn't hear what Audrich was saying, could see the contempt on his face and easily interpreted his lip movements.

"Fucking shit!"

Peter was so angry he could barely contain himself, but he couldn't rush over and punch Audrich.

As the players from both teams walked out of the tunnel in an orderly manner, the head coaches stood on the sidelines. Audrich, with his suit open and hands in his pockets, had a blank expression, while Peter Dawson called over Xiu Anlian's captain before the kick-off and gave him some instructions, his expression fierce and threatening.

The head referee blew the whistle, and the match began.

Seeing Xiu Anlian's players charge forward like they were on steroids from the first minute, Audrich smiled faintly.

He was actually grateful to Peter; the earlier incident had calmed his nerves, and now he had the confidence to win the first match!