Phil Thompson, forty-nine-year-old, was once the legendary captain of Liverpool's peak in the 1980s. After retiring, he stayed at the club and served as the assistant of former coach Evans and later assisted Hollier.

What impressed fans the most was that in October 2001, when coach Hollier had to leave the coach temporarily due to a heart attack, he led the team at a critical moment and achieved excellent results. However, after Hollier returned, he had to return to his role as an assistant again.

Hollier also attaches great importance to this right-hand assistant with outstanding abilities, especially after reading the game report he brought back, he was very sure of his inference.

"You're right, Phil, this is indeed a pretty fatal loophole."

Hollier put down the game report in his hand in surprise and did not hide his excitement.

Defeating Changsheng coach Gao Han and defeating Chelsea in the 200 million army, these two auras are too tempting.

He swears that in the entire European professional football world, no one can resist such temptation.

More importantly, Liverpool's goal this season is to compete for the top four in the league and maintain the qualification for the Champions League.

Manchester United and Arsenal basically won’t have much change, so the remaining two seats, Newcastle, Liverpool and Chelsea, have one of the places to compete for, so the direct dialogue becomes very substantial.

This is not just a three-pointer in the league, but may even determine the qualification of the Champions League.

Phil Thompson also smiled and suggested: "Then I will start to arrange training in related aspects."

"Well." Hollier nodded, "The speed of Irving and Diouf will play a key role in this game. We must firmly grasp this loophole to fight and create opportunities around this area."

"Okay, I understand."

Haji Diouf, Senegal international, became famous in the World Cup in 2002 because he defeated France. After transferring to Liverpool, he performed in a rather average performance, but he was only 22 years old, so Hollier is still looking forward to him.

Like Michael Irving, the top star in the team, Diouf's biggest feature is his lightning speed, which makes him very threatening on the court and good at playing on the left.

Now that he has grasped Chelsea's weakness, then, Hollier and the coaching staff will create targeted tactics based on this weakness, and practice the defensive and counterattack routines to restrain Chelsea in the team.

Fortunately, time is still abundant.

"Gao Han, we will give you an unforgettable meeting gift at Anfield Stadium!"

…………

…………

The Premier League is about to begin, and the atmosphere of Fulham's Magic Thorn Park training base is becoming more and more tense.

The team played badly last season. Under the leadership of French coach Tigana, the team was once deeply trapped in the relegation zone. The management had to fire head coach Tigana later in the season and promote the newly retired young coach Chris Coleman to the position.

As a result, Coleman led the team to successfully relegate and became famous in one battle.

This summer, the team has not invested even a penny in the transfer market, but has sold the team's right-hand player Finnan to Liverpool. The overall strength has not increased but decreased, and even its performance in the pre-season warm-up match was not satisfactory.

However, head coach Coleman seemed full of confidence and promised that the team's goal this season would not be to relegation.

There are indeed many players in the team who believe in him because the second youngest head coach in the Premier League has successfully conquered everyone last season and everyone believes in his coaching level.

Including Dutch goalkeeper Van der Sar.

Van der Sar is 32 years old this year, and even in the goalkeeper position, he is considered a veteran.

Even last season, due to injuries and other reasons, Van der Sar only played in the Premier League 19 times, and many people doubt whether he would retire or return to the Netherlands for retirement.

But he stayed.

Because head coach Coleman told him personally that the team needs him.

It's always a wonderful feeling to be needed, isn't it?

The opponent in the first round of the Premier League in the new season is Middlesbrough. The team has invested a lot this summer. The biggest signing is Mendeta on loan from Lazio. They hope to help this former superstar who failed in Lazio and Barcelona and regain its form back then.

Even if they only recovered half of it, they made a profit.

Van der Sar sympathized with Mendeta's experience, and even felt it a little.

Because of the same experience, he has had it.

He debuted at Ajax youth training. Under the cultivation of Wen Normal Gaal, he became the pillar of the team and helped Ajax win the UEFA Champions League, which was the peak of his career.

At that time, Van der Sar was sought after by major European giants. Many teams were eager to join him. He also went to Serie A with ambitions and joined Juventus. He hoped to prove his strength in the World Cup.

But unexpectedly, his two seasons at Juventus became the darkest two years in his career.

His poor performance and low-level mistakes have caused him to be criticized by fans and the media.

Even after Juventus introduced goalkeeper Buffon from Parma at a sky-high price, Van der Sar was ignored and finally had to join the Premier League promoted Fulham team in shame.

How similar is Van der Sar and Mendieta in this huge gap from heaven to hell?

The difference is that the Dutch is already thirty-two years old and he recognizes it.

The only thing he thinks about now is to play well in Fulham, play well, and complete his Premier League contract, return to the Netherlands, return to Ajax, whom he is familiar with until retirement.

Very simple, very simple.

It was like his unpretentious black Volkswagen, and it was like his low-key life in Morton, south London.

Gradually, he became accustomed to this kind of life.

Just like usual, I finished my training class, took a shower and changed my clothes, and drove the black Volkswagen and slowly left the training base.

Magic Thorn Park is located in the south suburbs of London, between Morton and Kingston upon Thames.

The Van der Sar family lives in Morton New District, a community where the upper and middle classes have just developed in recent years.

He rented a three-story villa with a separate garden and spacious rooms.

My wife is at home, and her children are studying in a good school nearby and will go home sooner or later.

He would return home on time almost every day, park his car, and enter the door, and see two little ghosts sitting face to face to do his homework. At this time, his wife should be preparing a sumptuous dinner in the kitchen.

Every time, he would smile at the children and say, "Hurry up, I'll wait for you in the back."

The two little ghosts are always very excited, especially their son, who looks very much like him when he was young.

But today, a sudden call broke the long-lasting tranquility.

Chris Coleman?

Why did he call at this time?

Van der Sar frowned, but waved his hands at the two children, turned around and walked out of the living room, and went to the garden to answer the phone.

"I'm very sorry, Edwin, I have to tell you a sad news." The head coach's voice came from the phone.

Van der Sar frowned even deeper. Is the club not satisfied with it?

One of the reasons why he came to Fulham from Juventus was that the salary he gave was very good.

But now, Fulham has obviously begun to reduce his spending. Should he attack the high-paying class in the team?

"It's okay, you say, Chris." Van der Sar's mind changed sharply, but he was still calm.

No matter what the other party says, he can accept it calmly.

"It's like this, Edwin, I believe you know the current situation of the team."

"Yes." Van der Sar's ominous premonition was even more serious.

"Just just now, the club notified me that this morning, Chelsea sent a quotation fax. They were willing to buy you at Stamford Bridge for 10 million euros. Gao Han also called me personally to ask about your situation."

"What?" Van der Sar was shocked.

Chelsea?

How is this possible?

"I'm not very clear about the specific situation, but I can see that Gao Han really wants to buy you."

Van der Sar still finds it difficult to understand because he is already thirty-two years old.

What's more, his performance in Fulham has never been satisfactory.

Chelsea is known as a 200 million corps. Even if the players they buy are not European celebrities, they are at least one of the top stars in the Premier League. No matter how you don’t have the turn, right?

"Anyway, Edwin, I hope you can understand the difficulties of the club, we need the money, and I have given him your cell phone number and he should call you soon."

Van der Sar took a deep breath and quickly calmed down.

He is a professional player and knows his current situation very well.

"I understand, thank you, Chris." Van der Sar replied lightly, his tone as usual.

Chris Coleman seemed to smile bitterly, and finally sighed, "Good luck, Edwin."

"The same to you."

After hanging up the phone, Van der Sar let out a long sigh.

He was a little confused. Why did Chelsea fall in love with him?

Also, high cold.

He vaguely remembered that in 2001, he had contacted Atletico Madrid for a time, and there were even media rumors that Atletico Madrid wanted to buy him, but later it seemed that Juventus asked for a high price, which scared Atletico Madrid off.

Could it be that Gao Han really wants him?

But it makes no sense!

As a veteran who is 32 years old and has experienced so many ups and downs, Van der Sar is very self-aware and he knows clearly that his performance at Juventus and Fulham is not ideal.
To be continued...