Chapter 609: The Ultimate Battle: The Dog Coach on Manchester United's Substitute Bench

"Uh, Mr. Sitting Like?"

Tang Ye didn't type the word "dog" because he felt he might have gotten it wrong.

"Yes, just take a dog out, a small one, tie it to that pole on the substitute bench—you know where the pole is, right?"

"I know, but... Mr. Sitting Like, this isn't right, is it?"

Tang Ye was astonished.

Because no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand why Ten Hag wanted him to take a dog to play in the match.

Was this correct?

"Do not ask for reasons, just do it."

This was the last sentence Ten Hag said.

"This..."

The call ended; Tang Ye looked at the green training pitch before him and sank into deep contemplation.

"What's wrong?"

Dembélé walked over; seeing Tang Ye's expression, he thought another coach on the team had tested positive again.

"Ousmane, is there a place to buy dogs in Lisbon?"

"Buy dogs? Is this some kind of proverb?"

"No, just a puppy, the relatively small kind."

Tang Ye gestured with his hands: "The kind that has a heartbeat and goes Wang Wang."

"Hmm... what are you going to do?"

"I don't know either."

"You don't know either?"

With only one day left until the Champions League final, the official Champions League social media account released a two-minute video, the promotional video for this season's final.

The video content featured some spectacular goals from the Champions League knockout stages, including all twelve teams participating in the resumed matches; through editing, the officials allowed fans to reminisce about the wonderful goals of the resumed tournament.

And the purpose of these goals was to lead into the content at the end of the video.

The Champions League's Big Ears Trophy slowly rose in the frame; on the left was Messi wearing the Barcelona number 10 jersey, and on the right was Tang Ye wearing the Manchester United number 10 jersey.

Messi and Tang Ye stood face to face, looking into each other's eyes, with the Big Ears Trophy right between them.

【August 24, The Decisive Battle at the Peak of Europe】

Baidu Hot Search No. 1: Manchester United vs. Barcelona Champions League Final.

No. 2: Tang Ye charges for the Champions League title.

No. 3: Tang Ye vs. Messi.

The Sun front-page headline: Barcelona has increased security levels at their training base; any reporter attempting to approach the base perimeter wall will be driven away.

"In the latest training session, Setién had the team try a two-striker tactic; this may be Barcelona's preparation to deal with Manchester United," said a reporter from The Sun.

The Sun was exerting effort again; two reporters hung in trees and managed to film Barcelona's training video.

Of course, The Sun was fair; not only Barcelona, but the situation at the Manchester United base was also leaked.

"Reporters discovered a small French Bulldog inside the Manchester United training base; this Frenchie is a new arrival, suspected to have been purchased by the team to alleviate final match pressure. In the intra-squad scrimmage, Dembélé performed excellently, scoring two goals... subsequently, the tree where the reporters were stationed snapped, so the filming did not continue."

"Currently, both reporters from the newspaper have received scientific treatment and face no risk of disability."

Manchester United Official: Interim head coach McClaren has tested positive for COVID-19.

Mundo Deportivo front-page headline: Ten Hag returns! Manchester United has submitted the final match player and coach roster to the UEFA Committee.

In their new season issue, Mundo Deportivo published the Manchester United head coach change application form that they had secretly photographed.

Sitting Like!

This is the name of Manchester United's final match head coach!

It's that man!

He has returned!

【Respectfully welcome the return of Saint Ten!】

【Wait, is it really this fast? I recall that half a week ago Ten Hag's brain couldn't even turn properly.】

【Half a week is about right; Ten Hag is only fifty years old, no need to panic.】

【Seeing McClaren also test positive, I thought Manchester United was going to explode; now it looks like it's Barcelona that's exploding!】

Barcelona official final warm-up poster: Legends live forever.

Manchester United official final warm-up poster: A new king ascends the throne.

"United!"

"TY! TY!"

Outside the Estádio da Luz was extremely lively; Manchester United fans who had traveled from afar blocked the roads completely, crowding in front of the team bus and shouting the names of their favorite players.

"Go TY!"

"Manchester United are the Champions League champions!!!"

The fans were enthusiastic, yet Tang Ye did not open the curtains as he usually did.

Because he was currently very, very nervous.

Not only Tang Ye, but every Manchester United player on the bus felt the same.

The Champions League final was what they were about to face.

Even if the opponent wasn't particularly strong, for Tang Ye and others participating in a Champions League final for the first time, they still needed to bear considerable pressure.

Crack! Crack!

Pre-match press conference.

Since neither Ten Hag nor Fan Fan Dejiahe was present, Tang Ye had to step forward as captain to accept the interview.

The mask dug into his ears, causing some pain, but it was no major issue.

"This is your first Champions League final, Tom, and you're only twenty-one; have you ever imagined winning the Champions League title at twenty-one?"

"Haha, of course I have. To be honest, I think every football player has thought about this, because the Champions League title is too important."

Crack!

The reporter's interview with Tang Ye lasted a full half hour, ranging from questions about Ten Hag to team tactics, and then to Tang Ye's chances of winning the Golden Boot.

Tang Ye could answer most of these questions fluently (although some were not so easy to answer); it was clear he had indeed learned a great deal from Ten Hag.

"Barcelona's starting lineup value is less than half of yours; what do you think your win rate against Barcelona will be?"

"Well... actually, I think the starting lineup value doesn't represent much, because Barcelona is an excellent team. As for the win rate, I don't know the exact figure, but I feel it should be at least over fifty percent."

"Then I wish you in advance your first Champions League title."

Receiving the reporter's blessing, Tang Ye stood up from his chair and gave a slight nod to the reporters below.

Repost: Champions League Final starting lineups announced; Tang Ye and Messi lead the starters, Rodri versus Coutinho.

In the away team's locker room at Wembley Stadium, the Manchester United players stood shoulder to shoulder, forming a circle.

"This is the last match of the season."

Tang Ye's gaze swept across each teammate in turn; based on his observation, the condition of the players within the team was currently quite good.

"This is the closest we have ever been to the Champions League title; we will, we absolutely will win—there is no other possibility."

"Woof woof!"

The French Bulldog in the locker room suddenly barked, as if it had understood Tang Ye's words.

After Tang Ye's speech, the Manchester United players huddled even tighter; Rodri's hand was pressing so hard on Tang Ye's shoulder it was nearly leaving a mark.

"Three, two, one!"

"Champions!"

"Champions!"

"Champions!"

"Wow!!!!"

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Tang Ye and Rodri led their teammates running out of the locker room.

The staff in the player tunnel were all wearing masks; Tang Ye adjusted his captain's armband.

Messi walked toward him; Tang Ye took the initiative to step forward and offer a hug: "Leo."

"Tom."

After the hug ended, the two shook hands.

This was not the first time Tang Ye and Messi had faced each other; the two were already very familiar with one another, and even for Tang Ye, Messi felt more approachable than Cristiano Ronaldo (if not for Cristiano Ronaldo's sudden distancing from him).

"It won't be an easy match."

Messi sighed; at that moment, Tang Ye suddenly thought of something and sharply raised his head: "Right."

"Hmm?"

Under the bewildered gazes of Messi and Suarez, Tang Ye ran back to the locker room.

Oh, he must have forgotten to take something.