Chapter 153: Okay, I’ll Do What You Say
Perhaps Rochdale thought Swansea's lead was all down to luck, or that this group of young Swansea players were simply overperforming and could not possibly keep producing such brilliant football.
They were wrong!
Completely wrong!
If time could be turned back, they would never have pushed forward so aggressively while trailing by three goals.
Because that was asking to die!
Cristiano Ronaldo, Nelson, and Badenberg were like three cheetahs galloping across Rochdale's defensive line.
The attacking characteristic of this lineup was that the higher the opponent's defensive line stood, the greater Swansea's attacking power became!
Kalunbel directed play through the middle, and during attacking transitions, two or three passes were enough to form a rapid counterattack.
In the 63rd minute, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kalunbel completed a one-two on the left side of midfield. Then Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly sent a low through ball into Rochdale's penalty area.
Robert Badenberg displayed his speed advantage, surging forward alone and leaving Rochdale's defenders behind. After breaking into the box, he beat the goalkeeper to the ball and lifted it into the empty net behind him!
The Liberty Stadium erupted with thunderous cheers.
Lynn kept clapping on the touchline, shouting toward his disciples on the pitch, "Don't relax! Keep going!"
Rochdale were completely dazed after falling behind 0–4.
Their attacks produced no effect, while Swansea's back line had already found its defensive rhythm and understanding.
In the 71st minute, after Rochdale's large-scale attack broke down, Cristiano Ronaldo received Pedretti's pass on the left side of the backfield and began a stunning solo charge!
At the start, he flicked the ball over a defender, then rushed past midfield, controlled the ball, and began accelerating.
Faster and faster!
When he met the second defender, the rhythm of his dribble suddenly paused. After a sharp stop, he changed direction and broke past, cleanly wiping out the second defender.
Carrying the ball toward Rochdale's terrified defensive line, he shifted it between his left and right feet in front of a defender, changing direction again before shaking off the opponent and entering the penalty area. Facing the goalkeeper, who had already lost his nerve, he calmly curled the ball into the top right corner!
After completing the goal, Cristiano Ronaldo took off his shirt!
Although he was still young, his body already showed defined muscle lines, and that drove the Swansea fans into madness.
"Cristiano! Ronaldo! OMG! At sixteen years old, he's committing a crime on the pitch! He's committing a crime! OMG! An unbelievable goal! An unbelievable goal!
"A magnificent long-distance solo run and finish!
"No matter how much Swansea paid for Cristiano Ronaldo, it was worth it!
"At sixteen, his future is limitless. There is absolutely no doubt about that!"
On the touchline, Lynn gave Cristiano Ronaldo two thumbs up.
Then he walked back to the dugout and sat down, chatting and laughing with the coaches.
The entire coaching staff was filled with pride and satisfaction. Seeing the children they had trained shine so brilliantly on the pitch brought a sense of fulfillment and achievement that was difficult to describe.
Rochdale were ultimately shredded in this match, collapsing 0–7 at the feet of a young Swansea side.
After the match, Rochdale's manager said expressionlessly, "I find what happened over those ninety minutes unbelievable. It was simply an unreasonable match. The strength Swansea showed was completely different from what we understood. We thought they no longer cared about the Football League Trophy, and it did look that way. They didn't field Ibrahimović or Charisteas, nor familiar strong players like James Cook or Grosso. But the players we underestimated caused us enormous damage.
"This was not a typical match. Swansea's performance was phenomenal. Right now, we only want to forget this game."
By the time the Football League Trophy match ended, it was already ten o'clock at night. Lynn praised the players in the dressing room, then went home to rest.
But some players, still extremely excited after winning, were unwilling to go home.
After changing into his casual clothes, Robert Badenberg came to Cristiano Ronaldo's locker. Looking at Cristiano, who was changing clothes, he smiled and said, "Hey, Cristiano, you were shocking today. A long solo run and a hat trick! Heh, interested in celebrating the win with us? Today was an unforgettable match."
Cristiano Ronaldo looked hesitant.
Reason told him he should refuse. He should go home and rest properly.
But today had been the brightest performance of his professional career so far. He still wanted more. He felt more excited than ever before!
He did not want to end the day casually, go home, sleep, then wake up tomorrow and live another ordinary day.
He smiled at Badenberg and asked, "Sure. Who's going?"
Leaning his shoulder against the locker, Badenberg turned his head and looked at Kalunbel and Horatio Nelson. "Thomas and Horatio. The four of us will go together. Come on, you've been in Swansea for so long, and I've never seen you go out to have fun. Today, we'll take you to the liveliest place in Swansea."
Cristiano Ronaldo had indeed been "lonely" for too long.
He had almost never gone out to play. On occasional holidays, he would go home to visit his parents. Now that his teammates were inviting him out, and he himself wanted to go, it clicked instantly.
The four Swansea players left together and took a taxi to 411 Nightclub in the Mansel District.
Badenberg was generously treating everyone tonight. They sat in a booth on the second floor. Horatio Nelson was a regular at nightclubs, though he liked the music and chasing girls rather than alcohol.
He did not stay long before going downstairs to find some fun.
Kalunbel was as wooden as a block of wood outside the club. He sat in the booth looking around, still somewhat uneasy.
Cristiano Ronaldo was visiting such a place for the first time. Probably because their seat was not particularly noticeable, no girls came over to chat them up. Badenberg sat between the two of them. He drank himself, and also let Cristiano Ronaldo try some.
Kalunbel was eighteen, so there was not much of an issue.
Badenberg spoke with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kalunbel as if they were old friends of many years, opening his heart and talking about his feelings.
"Have you noticed? We haven't received the attention we deserve in the team. Take you, Cristiano. People say you perform well in training, but what about after we leave the club? When they go out together, do they ever think of you? Why? Because you're a substitute.
"Thomas isn't much worse than Oliver Cromwell at all, but his chances to play aren't even a third of Cromwell's!
"We are all people who aren't valued enough. But when the club needs us, we still give everything, and we show everyone our strength. Today, all of us were brilliant, weren't we?
"We should look after each other more and rise together in the team. We need to fight for starting places, so we should support each other even more. Only when we stand together will we have more strength!"
It had to be said that Badenberg's words easily moved Cristiano Ronaldo and Kalunbel.
The two of them also began opening up. It was not entirely complaining about how unfairly they were treated, but more about their ideas and expectations for the future.
It was as if, all at once, they had formed an "alliance."
Joseph Levin generally did not let his nightlife become too dull. He liked crowded, lively places, and tonight, he was playing darts in a small bar.
He was having fun when his phone rang.
He answered, and in less than thirty seconds, he hung up. Then he patted the passerby he had been "dueling" with and said apologetically, "Sorry, I have something urgent to take care of. I'll buy you three drinks."
After saying goodbye to that person, Joseph Levin went to the bar counter, left a few banknotes, and walked out of the bar.
The bars along the River Tawe were livelier, because they did not only have men drinking. They also had women looking to hook a good catch, always creating a vivid and colorful scene.
After leaving, Joseph Levin got into a taxi and directly told the driver, "411 Nightclub."
It was very close from the River Tawe area to the Mansel District, less than a ten-minute drive.
Joseph Levin looked out at the street scenery outside the window, without even the slightest drowsiness or urge to yawn.
He, Swansea's gold-medal gofer, really was willing to meddle in other people's business.
Before September, Joseph Levin had already thoroughly explored all the entertainment venues in Swansea and had paid off some informants. His goal was only one thing: whenever Swansea players appeared in these entertainment venues, he wanted to be the first to know!
Now, he was going to 411 Nightclub to "arrest" those few players who were not going home late at night.
Lynn had never instructed him to do these things, just as Lynn had never told him to approach Ibrahimović. But he had done all of it!
Lynn did not say it out loud, but when the rumors reached his ears, he would praise Joseph Levin highly!
Joseph Levin had his own way of doing things. Lynn did not want to interfere. As long as it benefited the club, Lynn would silently allow it.
When Joseph Levin walked into 411 Nightclub and a waiter pointed out the location of the four Swansea players, he went straight into the dance floor. Horatio Nelson, who was swaying to the music with a beautiful woman, saw Joseph Levin and immediately turned around and ran without hesitation.
Levin was dumbfounded. He had not expected himself to possess such intimidating power.
Nelson slipped into the crowd and directly escaped through the back door of 411 Nightclub. He was clever. Joseph Levin representing the club on BBC Wales meant what?
It meant he carried real weight in the club!
Nelson, who lived carefully with his tail tucked between his legs, was the same off the pitch as he often was on it. He did not necessarily seek merit, only to avoid mistakes. He did not want to be caught by Levin, so he simply slipped away. If the matter truly came to light tomorrow, at least he would be the first one to stop himself at the cliff's edge. Hopefully, the club would deal with him leniently.
Joseph Levin turned and went upstairs.
He arrived in front of the booth where Cristiano Ronaldo and the other two were sitting. He saw Badenberg with an arm around Cristiano Ronaldo, saying something. Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to have drunk a little too much, his face already red. Kalunbel looked rather bored and was yawning, only to stare in surprise when Joseph Levin appeared not far in front of him in the corridor.
Joseph Levin shouted loudly to the three of them, "Three nightclub knights, it's time for you to go home!"
The moment Kalunbel heard that, he stood up and left without the slightest hesitation.
Badenberg and Cristiano Ronaldo raised their heads and saw Joseph Levin standing there. Seeing Kalunbel leave in panic, Badenberg said to Levin with displeasure, "Who the hell are you? Piss off!"
Inside the club, Joseph Levin had always given people the image of someone hardworking, conscientious, and gentle toward others.
But in the next second, that image collapsed completely in Robert Badenberg's mind!
Joseph Levin walked up to Badenberg. Across the coffee table, a cold smile appeared on Levin's face. Suddenly, he reached out, grabbed Badenberg's head, and slammed it down hard onto the coffee table!
Cristiano Ronaldo had Badenberg's arm around his shoulder and was almost dragged down with him. Already somewhat drunk, Cristiano Ronaldo looked toward Badenberg, his eyes full of shock.
Half of Badenberg's face was pressed against the table. His teeth seemed to have cut his lip, and blood flowed from his slightly open mouth. Against his white teeth, the red and white stood out clearly, making the sight even more frightening.
Cristiano Ronaldo immediately pulled back and leaned against the sofa, looking as if he wanted to escape as well.
"You dare hit me? Who the hell do you think you are? I'm worth a hundred times more than you!"
Badenberg shouted while struggling.
He could not understand it. Joseph Levin looked refined and scholarly, so why was his hand strength so terrifying? No matter what, Badenberg could not raise his head.
Cristiano Ronaldo saw Joseph Levin's expression and was so shocked he could not speak.
Joseph Levin narrowed his eyes slightly. He seemed to be smiling, yet it made people feel endless cold.
With one hand pressing Badenberg's head down, Levin bent slightly and whispered in his ear, "I don't care what your value is. I'm doing my job. At this hour, you should be home sleeping.
"Also, if you shout one more time, I'll immediately call the Boss and ask him to tell me exactly how much you're worth. Especially after bringing sixteen-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to a nightclub and getting him to drink. After doing something this impressive, your value should skyrocket, right?
"Robert, next time I speak, you listen properly. Then you nod and say: okay, I'll do what you say.
"Did you hear me clearly?"
Robert Badenberg said almost pleadingly, "I know, I know!"
He was soberer now, and his heart was filled with fear.
If Lynn were here, he had no idea what kind of punishment he would suffer!
After all, Lynn was the Boss who had made even the "Demon King-level" Ibrahimović publicly bow his head in their eyes!
But Joseph Levin did not let go. Instead, he pressed Badenberg's head down against the coffee table with even more force.
"Robert, you didn't hear clearly."
"I heard clearly! I heard clearly! Okay, I'll do what you say! Okay, I'll do what you say!"
"That's more like it!"
Joseph Levin finally let go, and even helped Badenberg up. Looking at Badenberg, whose tears had come out, Levin saw that he no longer had the courage to look directly at him, and even took a frightened step back.
But Levin reached out and pulled him back. Then he raised a hand to Badenberg's face, wiped away a line of blood, and said, "You should be glad your face wasn't straight down. Otherwise, your nose would be broken, and you'd probably lose at least four teeth. All right, go home. Rest early. Don't be late for training tomorrow morning."
Badenberg felt as if he had been granted amnesty and immediately ran out.
Cristiano Ronaldo was completely terrified, sitting motionless on the sofa as if paralyzed. Levin walked over and helped him up, then said to him, "If your Boss knew you appeared here tonight and even drank alcohol, you would be in big trouble. He has very high expectations for you. I believe today was only a small mistake. Young people can be impulsive and unable to control themselves. I also made many mistakes before, so I hope you remember this lesson.
"Cristiano Ronaldo, your Boss has told the coaches around him countless times that you are different. Don't disappoint his expectations. I won't tell him about today, but you need to behave yourself. Now go home."
Cristiano Ronaldo nodded mechanically, then half-jogged, half-stumbled all the way toward the downstairs entrance.
Joseph Levin stood at the edge of the second-floor corridor, looking down as Cristiano Ronaldo left the nightclub. He rubbed his wrist and sighed for no clear reason.