Chapter 794: Ronaldo's Isolation and Helplessness, Manchester United's EFL Cup

Although the second leg was somewhat uncomfortable, Manchester United, missing most of their starting players, still successfully overturned Inter Milan at home.

After this maneuver, Manchester United successfully gave those fans and journalists who didn't understand them a huge shock.

The fact is, when a team's strength is particularly strong, so strong that it exceeds standards, everyone will wait for that team's low point, expecting to see them suffer a defeat during that slump.

As a result, Manchester United was ridiculously contrary; not only did they not suffer a defeat during their low point, but they instead jumped up and punched their opponent hard on the head.

This was extremely uncomfortable, especially for other teams also participating in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Who the hell would still be willing to play against Manchester United?

However!

Actually, those teams needing to participate in the quarter-finals were not the ones who needed to be nervous first.

The team under the greatest pressure right now is actually Liwupu.

Because on March 21, Liwupu will face Manchester United in this season's EFL Cup final!

……

Diario Sport—Transfermarkt provides new season valuation data: TY sees a slight correction, Mbappé rises to second place tying Haaland, while Sancho plummets by 60 million euros.

Transfermarkt Global Football Player Valuation Ranking (2022.3.19):

1. Tang Ye (Manchester United, China), 280 million euros (↓20 million euros).

2. Mbappé (Paris, France), 180 million euros (↑20 million euros).

2. Haaland (Dortmund, Norway), 180 million euros (-).

4. Dembélé (Manchester United, France), 160 million euros (↑20 million euros).

5. Rodri (Manchester United, Spain), 150 million euros (↑10 million euros).

Transfermarkt's experts are extremely deserving of scolding; seeing Tang Ye go without a trophy for a while, they initiated a correction, resulting in there currently being no player in the global football scene with a valuation reaching 300 million euros.

The Chinese national team ranks first in Group B of the Asian qualifiers, but these European experts do not seem very impressed by the situation in the Asian qualifiers.

However, this isn't necessarily the fault of the Transfermarkt experts either. Some fans pointed out that Tang Ye's valuation is just like PPBOND's stock price; every time it rises, it does so extravagantly.

Exponential growth naturally cannot continue indefinitely; at this point, a slight "correction" is inevitable to kill off some of the premium.

Although this slight correction is reasonable, it has sparked opposition from many of Tang Ye's admirers, and unsurprisingly, Transfermarkt's experts have been cursed at.

Sky Sports commentator Jenson: Arguing over valuations is meaningless; TY himself wouldn't care about any changes in his valuation; Transfermarkt will soon realize the mistake they've made; what TY needs now is simply a Champions League final.

"I'm truly fed up."

In the Manchester United meeting room, Tang Ye maintained an incredibly absurd posture: his butt was sitting on the chair, but his feet were not on the floor but on the table.

"What's the point of cutting my valuation by 20 million euros? Did I play terribly?"

"Hahaha!"

Dembélé emphasized to Tang Ye the fact of his own valuation increase: "Do you know, Tom, the gap between you and me is now only 120 million euros; it's just a matter of time."

"This is only temporary!"

Tang Ye was displeased: "Valuations are set by people, you know; as long as it's a person, mistakes will happen, and they made a mistake this time. So the valuation you just saw is wrong, and wrong valuations lead to wrong judgments!"

"……"

After speaking, both Tang Ye and Dembélé fell silent simultaneously.

"Tom, why do you sound so much like Mr. Eric…"

"…I, I don't know either."

Tang Ye naturally realized it as well.

Why did he sound so much like the respected Mr. Eric?

Tang Ye didn't know either!

"That's how it is for a direct disciple."

Rodri made a sarcastic remark, while De Jong gave Tang Ye a thumbs-up: "Direct disciple!"

"Frenkie, you and I played in Utrecht around the same time."

Tang Ye signaled De Jong not to bring up the matter of him being a direct disciple, because De Jong was actually a direct disciple as well.

"Haha, it's different; you were there half a season earlier than me, so only you are the direct disciple."

De Jong added: "I can only count as half."

"Half and one aren't much different; we're all the same, Frenkie, so don't use this matter to tease me."

"Hey, what are you guys talking about?"

Dembélé interrupted Tang Ye and De Jong, who were chatting: "You're drifting further and further off topic; I can't even get a word in."

"How are we off topic?"

"You just are!"

Dembélé insisted, while delivering a punch to Tang Ye: "Every time I chat with you, it's like this; before we know it, the conversation shifts to something else. You really are a talent."

"…Just casually mentioning Mr. Eric; I know we're talking about valuations. Actually, Ousmane, you're only ahead by 20 million euros; there's no need to be so arrogant."

Tang Ye stated that what truly reveals a player's level is neither the Champions League group stage nor ordinary Premier League matches.

It is the Champions League knockout stage and key Premier League clashes.

"Wait until the Champions League semi-finals, and you rookie will be exposed for what you are."

Tang Ye pushed Dembélé away.

"Fuck you! Isn't your current 280 million euros also an exposure of your true form? Come on! You're simply not worth 300 million euros; 280 million euros is the real value."

"We'll know by the end of this season; the valuation at the end of the season is the real valuation."

Tang Ye acted like an elder, repeatedly pointing out errors in his teammates' statements.

However, in reality, Tang Ye is actually a few years younger than Dembélé…

"By the way, um… I still need to tell you something."

Rodrigo looked left and right, then leaned in toward Tang Ye: "He has asked Osman and me for help more than once."

"..."

Tang Ye hesitated for about half a second before realizing.

The "he" in Rodrigo's mouth had to be Cristiano Ronaldo; apart from that Portuguese striker, it could not be anyone else.

Rodrigo relayed Cristiano Ronaldo's request to Tang Ye.

Before Tang Ye could speak, Dembélé voiced his opinion first.

"I feel we can just ignore it. Ronaldo won't renew his contract after this season, so there are only three months left. Let's treat it as a break. He's already played twenty years of professional football; taking a rest really doesn't matter."

The words were a bit rough, but Dembélé and Rodrigo were of one mind: neither intended to offer any response to Cristiano Ronaldo's request.

The Portuguese player wanted to regain his status as Manchester United's starting center forward through his teammates' help; at present, this seemed impossible—at least, most Manchester United players were unwilling to lend that help.

Risk offending Ten Hag to help a temporary worker?

Dembélé simply liked playing games; he was no fool.

"Hiss..."

Tang Ye took a deep breath.

Frequent departures from the club had already created an information gap between him and those players on the team who were participating in the European qualifiers.

He had thought Cristiano Ronaldo could pry open Ten Hag's door with his teammates' help, but now it seemed the Portuguese player's plan had failed.

"... Those three months are still quite important to him, aren't they?"

Tang Ye suddenly added: "I feel he really wants to win the Champions League."

"Winning the Champions League is one thing, but we are enough."