The God of Football Starts With Passive Skills

Chapter 437 - 93: Unprecedented Double Champions! The One and Only Wang Shuo! An Unexpected Reward! Dortmund’s Tightest Brotherhood

For Liverpool, this match tore away their last fig leaf.

Even before the match, it was widely rumored that Benitez would be fired, even if the Red Army ultimately won the UEFA Europa League title.

But no one could have ever imagined that Liverpool would play so embarrassingly in the final.

The first half ended with Dortmund leading 2-0.

What was truly embarrassing for Liverpool was that they managed only a single shot in the entire first half.

It came in the 38th minute, a rushed long-range shot from Gerrard.

From that distance, it hardly posed a threat to Weidenfeller.

But at least it spared them the embarrassment of having no shots at all.

This left the two Liverpool executives who had traveled with the team, Chief Commercial Officer Ian El and Sporting Director Damian Comoli, feeling utterly helpless as they watched from the stands.

Since the two American owners, Hicks and Gillette, couldn’t care less about the club’s affairs, nearly all of Liverpool’s matters, large and small, fell to Ian El, a Liverpool local.

His title was Chief Commercial Officer, but in practice, he was the equivalent of a general manager.

The thirty-seven-year-old Damian Comoli, who held dual French and Italian citizenship, had previously worked for clubs such as Monaco, Arsenal, Saint-Etienne, and Tottenham Hotspur. He was set to start his new role at Liverpool at the beginning of the upcoming season.

Over the past few years, the entire management model of the Premier League had been undergoing a massive transformation.

With the influx of foreign capital, and especially the incessant scandals of managers and executives accepting Hecking in the transfer market, all investors had come to realize how outdated management in the Premier League was.

Managers had too much power, which meant the risks were also too great.

Thus, over the past few years, clubs began adding a new position between the manager and the board to serve as a buffer.

Some called it Technical Director, others Director of Football, or Sporting Director.

Though the titles varied, the essence was the same: adopting the continental European model of club management.

It was under these circumstances that Comoli had come to Liverpool.

He would also be Liverpool’s first-ever Sporting Director.

"I believe that if Liverpool wants to reclaim its former glory, it must sign a star like Wang Shuo—someone who can truly excite the entire fanbase."

Damian Comoli wasn’t particularly bothered by the first-half result.

Or rather, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

Ever since Torres was ruled out, anyone with a discerning eye in the football world could have guessed that Liverpool’s chances in this final were slim.

"As I’ve told you before, Liverpool’s biggest problem is that their attack is too one-dimensional. Relying solely on Torres is incredibly dangerous. Look at this match—without him, their offense poses no threat whatsoever."

"A Premier League team that has completely lost its pace... The very thought is frightening!"

Ian El’s face was grim as he nodded repeatedly.

Unlike Comoli, he was a Liverpool native, born and bred, with an incredibly deep emotional attachment to the club.

Before the match, he had been full of hope.

But the entire first half was like a bucket of cold water dumped on his head, a stark reminder of one thing.

Liverpool had finished seventh in the Premier League!

Their only reward for the season was a spot in next year’s UEFA Europa League.

But how had they secured it?

Because the League Cup winners were Manchester United and the FA Cup winners were Chelsea, and both teams had already qualified for the Champions League.

By convention, the UEFA Europa League qualification spot was passed down the table, landing on seventh-placed Liverpool.

It was hardly a glorious achievement!

"Wang Shuo is one of the most exciting players in the European Football Scene today and the most anticipated young talent. If he could come to Liverpool and partner with Torres, with Gerrard right behind them, just imagine how much Liverpool’s attacking firepower would explode!"

Hearing this, Ian El smiled faintly. "But many people think he won’t be able to adapt to the Premier League, just like Kuyt."

When Kuyt was in the Netherlands, he was a prolific goalscorer.

But after coming to the Premier League, he was forced to transition into a different role.

Why?

If he truly had what it took to continue his goal-scoring prowess from the Netherlands in the Premier League, why would he have been asked to change his role?

At the end of the day, the defending in the Dutch league is just too weak.

"Anyone who thinks that is kidding themselves. Just look at his performance in the UEFA Europa League," Comoli scoffed.

"Besides, most teams are still taking a wait-and-see approach. He’s only nineteen, after all, and he just renewed his contract with Dortmund. He’ll be playing in the Champions League next season."

"If he plays in the Champions League next season and continues to perform this well, his price tag won’t be anything like it is now!"

Wang Shuo’s current valuation in the German transfer market was 50 million euros.

Ian El looked at Comoli and sighed.

After all, Comoli was new here and didn’t fully grasp Liverpool’s current situation.

"Damian, let me be frank. There is absolutely no way our club can afford to spend that much money to sign Wang Shuo."

"Forget fifty million euros—we couldn’t even come up with thirty million!"

After a pause, Ian El let out a long, weary sigh.

"Those two owners from across the Atlantic couldn’t care less about our performance. Right now, they’re busy scrambling to find a buyer, hoping to sell the club for a good price."

"They’ve been reluctant to spend any money for years. Do you really think they’re willing to start now?"