The Greatest Manager of All time

Inside the Millennium Stadium, Swansea's players had their arms around one another's shoulders, singing as they celebrated winning the Football League Trophy.

Lynn stood on the pitch with his coaching staff, looking around at the stands.

The scene could not compare to the grandeur of winning a top-level competition, of course, but it was more than enough to make the people of Swansea proud.

The season was almost over. At the very least, they now had a trophy to reward themselves with.

After the award ceremony, Lynn attended the post-match press conference.

Many reporters stood up when they saw him arrive, congratulating him on the achievement.

After Lynn sat down, Walter Raleigh raised his hand and asked, "Swansea destroyed Port Vale 5–0 at the Millennium Stadium today. What was the secret to victory? Did Port Vale make mistakes during the match?"

Lynn answered bluntly, "Yes, you're right. Port Vale made mistakes. They should never have believed that rough fouls and brutal physical confrontation alone could win them the match.

"Swansea defeated them with a footballing philosophy completely different from Port Vale's, and it was an overwhelming victory. When Fabio went off injured, everyone thought Swansea were in trouble today. But what actually happened? The exact opposite.

"Port Vale's little tricks and dirty methods didn't work. In the face of superior strength, we stayed focused on the match. That is the posture a winner should have, and it also proves we deserved the victory more."

Rona Whelan of the Daily Express raised her hand and asked, "Before the match, at half-time, and after the match, you and Port Vale manager Robert Page all seemed to have close conversations. What did you talk about?"

The corner of Lynn's mouth lifted.

"Robert Page came over to express his respect and friendship. He praised me as a gentleman, and naturally, I also believe he is a gentleman. Although I beat his team by five goals today and took the trophy away from the favorites, I don't think he'll hold a grudge. After all, he is a friendly gentleman. After the match, he generously congratulated me as well. We agreed to meet again in the Second Division next season."

The reporters looked at one another, sensing something strange.

Agreed to meet again in the Second Division next season?

It made sense from Swansea's side.

But had Port Vale lost their minds?

The season was not over yet. Port Vale still had hope of entering the promotion play-offs. Were they giving up already? Were they really planning to stay in the Second Division and wait for Swansea?

Lynn laughed inwardly.

He would turn Robert Page into a "polite" loser. On the surface, he had given the man plenty of face, but only he and Robert Page knew the truth.

Just as Lynn was preparing to choose a third reporter for a question, he saw someone sitting among the journalists with one hand raised high, staring at him with a teasing smile.

Lynn's expression froze.

Even his eyes changed.

It was as if a violent wave had suddenly risen from the lake of his heart.

He saw a face he had not seen in a long time, yet one he would never find unfamiliar.

Martin Samuel!

From the Daily Mail!

Him!

How did he dare show up?

Lynn could not help asking himself that inwardly.

Perhaps everyone else in the world had forgotten Martin Samuel, but Lynn absolutely had not.

He still remembered that day in Manchester almost a year ago. He and Martin Samuel had sat in a café, and Martin Samuel had listened to him with a sincere expression. He had even solemnly promised Lynn that he would tell all of Britain about his dream.

And then?

Martin Samuel had described Lynn in the newspaper as a delusional lunatic!

It was him!

He was the one who had turned Lynn into a laughingstock in English football.

How did he still dare appear in front of Lynn?

And how could he smile in such a hateful way?

Lynn originally wanted to ignore him, but he hesitated for a brief moment.

He knew Martin Samuel was where everything had begun. He was the main culprit behind Lynn's near-total public disgrace in English football. Without his contribution, Lynn would never have suffered so many humiliations afterward.

This was a person Lynn had to face.

He had to face his existence directly.

Lynn pointed at Martin Samuel and said, "Last question."

Perhaps he thought his expression was flawless, but the veteran reporters in the room could all sense that Lynn's words and manner had become unusually solemn. The contrast from before was very clear.

They prepared themselves for a good show.

Because Martin Samuel was the first person who had reported that Lynn was a delusional mental patient. As Lynn's fame had grown, this feud had become more and more widely known as well.

Martin Samuel was nearly thirty. He had short dark-brown hair and ordinary clothing, but looking at him now, he was clearly a shrewd and seasoned man. At least back then, he had successfully deceived Lynn. His acting ability was definitely worthy of praise.

Martin Samuel stood with a smile and said to Lynn, "Mr. Lynn, first of all, I would like to apologize for misunderstanding you one year ago."

Apologize?

Lynn gave a casual smile, faintly mocking.

Apologize?

This was not a fucking apology at all!

On the day he had led his team to a trophy, Martin Samuel had come here, stood up, spoken, and apologized?

No.

He was not apologizing.

He was here to cause trouble at the exact moment Lynn could finally feel a little proud.

It sounded like an apology, but it would only make everyone, make the entire outside world, think: why is he apologizing? What happened a year ago? A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?

People would only care more about those things.

As for the apology from Martin Samuel's mouth, it was just two simple words.

The story behind it was what people would be truly curious about.

Once again, once again, he was tearing open Lynn's scar. Even though Lynn had long since become numb to the pain, how many strange looks would there still be? How many mocking snickers? How many careless discussions?

Lynn remained silent, his gaze sharp as a blade as he stared straight at Martin Samuel.

Seeing that Lynn neither accepted nor rejected his apology, Martin Samuel continued, "I know I'm only allowed one question, but since your team won the Football League Trophy today, I imagine you'll be generous enough to answer a few more.

"You once hoped to work under managers such as Ferguson, Wenger, and Houllier. Has that thought changed now?

"If you sold the club now and resigned as Swansea manager, then based on your work at Swansea over the past year, I believe Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, and many Premier League clubs would open their doors to you. Truly and sincerely, they would offer you an olive branch. That way, you could work at a giant club. Would you do that?

"In addition, there is one more matter. Sporting CP in Portugal submitted a complaint to UEFA yesterday, accusing you of using improper methods last summer to take their youth player Cristiano Ronaldo away from the club. What is your view on this?"

The room fell completely silent.

This was supposed to be a day of celebration.

No matter how little attention the Football League Trophy received, no matter how little prestige it carried, it was still a tournament contested by forty-eight teams fighting for a championship.

Swansea had won it.

Lynn had led his team through the battle among forty-eight clubs and carved a path all the way to the summit.

But now, Martin Samuel's appearance had already dragged Lynn's past humiliation back into the light. And with several questions that caught Lynn completely unprepared, he made Lynn's scalp tingle in that instant.

Even the other reporters present were shocked.

He had come prepared!

Everyone looked toward Lynn.

Perhaps the earlier words about working for Manchester United and the others were simply a foot planted directly on Lynn's face.

They were telling him that now he could go lick the toes of Premier League giants like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.

That was naked humiliation!

But the later question was a major scandal.

Using improper methods to lure a player away from another club?

Although this was, in part, an unwritten rule in European and even world football, once exposed and turned into a dispute, it would become something unforgivable.

Because every club, including the giants, had to protect its own interests.

And players were the greatest interest of all!

Before Lynn could speak, the other reporters raised their hands one after another. They wanted to verify Martin Samuel's claim.

Over the past two months, sixteen-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo had broken Swansea's appearance record. He had then come off the bench in four matches, and his flexible footwork had already attracted widespread attention, because he was so young!

Was this player now caught in a legal dispute between two clubs?

Lynn took a deep breath and did his best to calm himself.

He said lightly, "I am Swansea's owner and manager. I will not leave Swansea. I don't care whether Manchester United, Arsenal, or Liverpool are giants. In your eyes, Swansea may not be a giant club. Then let me tell you this: I can spend my entire life outside a giant club, because I am the giant.

"Sorry, my principles will not change for you. I've answered three questions today. Goodbye."

After saying that, Lynn stood and walked out, doing his best to keep his expression natural and his steps steady.

The reporters all stood up and fired questions at him.

"Is the contract between Cristiano Ronaldo and Swansea still valid?"

"If UEFA investigates, will Swansea cooperate?"

"Were there other irregularities in Swansea's transfers?"

Paul Harrison had been sitting in the final row of the press conference hall the entire time. His position and clothing were not conspicuous, and no one paid attention to him.

He was only there as a matter of routine, observing Lynn's performance. Lynn was his boss, and his job was to help Lynn perform better in public relations.

After Lynn walked out, Paul Harrison left through another door and quickly caught up with him. At the place where security stopped him from entering, he took out his Swansea staff identification.

Inside the restroom, Lynn splashed water on his face.

Paul Harrison stood behind him and said calmly, "You lost your composure just now."

Lynn suddenly turned and shoved Paul Harrison against the wall. His right hand pressed hard against Harrison's chest, his face twisted with fury.

"Fuck! I know I lost my composure! Even though I tried my best to make myself look flawless, everyone there could see I took Martin Samuel seriously. They could see my emotions change. They could see I nearly lost control because of his question!

"This is another humiliation from Fleet Street!

"Today? Of all days, it had to be today!

"The day I led the team to our first trophy. Yes, the trophy is garbage. Yes, putting it on my résumé might be laughable. But it had to be today!

"Fleet Street planned this. Martin Samuel didn't appear earlier, didn't appear later. It had to be fucking today!

"He completely ruined what should have been a wonderful day!

"Paul, if you met someone who had deceived you, hurt you, and then hid in the shadows laughing at you, would you not lose your composure?

"Why should I smile at him? Why should I look at him as if he's a person?"

Paul Harrison's back was pressed against the wall. It was uncomfortable, but he did not resist. Expressionless, he stared directly into Lynn's beast-like eyes at close range and said in a low voice, "You had to face him, and your choice wasn't wrong. If you hadn't let him ask that question, then tomorrow's papers would all be full of the story about Cristiano Ronaldo being caught in a dispute between Sporting CP and Swansea. No one would report Swansea's victory in the Football League Trophy final.

"Martin Samuel telling you now is good. Swansea have gained twelve extra hours for crisis management.

"Boss, you must understand that football and the media depend on each other to survive. Neither can exist without the other. Of course, there will be contradictions and conflicts within that relationship.

"Martin Samuel doesn't want you to do well, because the better and more successful you become, the bigger his original mistake becomes, and the more it damages his own reputation.

"So he appeared just as you achieved success. He wants to disrupt you, humiliate you, again!

"If you're angry, you've fallen for it.

"If you care, you've fallen for it.

"If you're afraid, you've fallen for it.

"Boss, things have been too smooth for you recently. You've gone back to the old role of an immigrant.

"You once again treated yourself as part of English football. But in reality, you are not. If you had always seen yourself as an invader, a conqueror, you would not be reacting like this now! When you relax, your enemies in the dark are sharpening their knives."

Water dripped down Lynn's face.

His expression cold, he slowly withdrew the hand pressing against Paul Harrison's chest. Then he extended his right index finger and gently pressed it against the position of Harrison's heart.

In a low voice, he said, "I will drive a knife inch by inch into the hearts of my enemies. I will watch the blood slowly flow out, from droplets to streams, from streams to waterfalls. I will listen to their screams of pain and sing my favorite song, dancing to the beautiful melody.

"Martin Samuel. Fleet Street.

"One day, I will make them crawl at my feet and tremble.

"Now, I must stay calm. So let's do what needs to be done."

Paul Harrison felt the pain over his heart disappear as Lynn moved away. Lynn walked over, pulled out a paper towel, and wiped his hands and face.

Harrison took out his phone and said, "Fleet Street has wide information channels. Swansea can't compare with them. We haven't received any news about Sporting CP's complaint yet, or rather, it's normal that we would receive it a step slower. I'll notify Mo Yuan now and have him deal with Sporting CP to see whether this can be resolved privately."

Lynn and Harrison walked toward the car park together.

No matter what, Lynn had to return to Swansea first. With something like this happening, the first person he needed to see was Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lynn had completely regained his reason.

He said, "No. The first step isn't to find Sporting CP. Last summer, I already gave Sporting CP £1 million in compensation. They're extorting us now. Cristiano has already signed with us. He is a professional player in English football.

"Tell Mo Yuan to go to the FA. The FA must first prove to UEFA the employment relationship between us and Cristiano Ronaldo. The contract must be valid! That is the foundation of everything. After that, we negotiate with Sporting CP."

"All right. I'll call Christa now and have her find Cristiano Ronaldo, including contacting his family. They must stay silent in front of the media. This has to be settled quickly."

"Do it!"