"What's written on it?" Jordi asked casually George Li, who was reading the text on the notice board on the wall.
Today is the second day after the friendly match against Queen's Park. After the team finished training in the morning, George Lee gave the team a half-day off. He and Cruyff took a casual walk on the streets of Glasgow.
In yesterday's game, Leeds United still defeated Queen's Park 6-1. All 7 goals were scored by Leeds United players. The only goal conceded was when Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson attacked after the opponent took a corner kick. He didn't see the ball being rubbed by his teammate in front of him, and suddenly it came behind him in disguise. When he reached out to retrieve it, it was already too late, and he managed to get the ball into the goal by some strange means.
Several players who had just returned from the European Cup all appeared on the field, among which Glenchard scored Leeds United's last goal.
"It seems to be an introduction to William Wallace."
"That Scottish national hero?"
"Yes, it's about Wallace being captured by the English at Rob Royston in Glasgow and being driven to London."
"Didn't he agree to go to peace talks and then be caught in a trap?"
"That's a movie. Is there a story with the princess in the movie?"
"Yeah, yeah, Mel Gibson's movie, Braveheart."
Much of Cruyff's apparent knowledge of Wallace came from movies.
"Wallace is most famous for his ability to always defeat the strong with the weak. He led his group of gangsters and mobs to repeatedly defeat England's elite troops."
"Are you thinking about our new season?"
Faced with Cruyff Jr.'s question, George Li did not answer.
"Ambush at Roton Hill, Battle of Lanark, Battle of Doggat Lake, Capture of Danota Castle..." George Li kept reading the text on the notice board.
"He is such a powerful character." Young Cruyff sighed as he listened.
"I heard that there is a William Wallace monument in the Stirling area, which seems to be not far from Glasgow. I would have gone there to see it if I had known about it."
"There is no chance today. Scotland's training camp will be over in a few days. You can go and have a look."
"No, bring Sean with you next time you have the chance. This kid has been saying that he wants to represent Scotland when he grows up, and he has never been in Scotland for a few days."
"He is also a poor child. Fortunately, he met your family, otherwise..."
"What do you think was the reason for Wallace's final failure?" George Lee looked at the sign and asked Cruyff.
"Generally, the failure of this kind of uprising is nothing more than inexperience, inferior equipment, and eagerness for quick success and so on."
"His starting point is too high. For the sake of freedom and Scotland, he can't look back at all. He has not laid a good foundation. He can only win but not lose every battle. Once he loses, he will be doomed."
"George, actually..." Cruyff knew what Li wanted to say.
George Lee is only in his early 30s this year, but he is already the head coach of a Premier League team. His previous coaching career can be said to be almost blank. His previous assistant coaching career at Ajax and Leeds United was not long. Although he made his debut halfway through the season and led the team to avoid relegation, the new season is completely different. His every move is watched by everyone.
"Have you seen the schedule for the new season?" George Li changed the topic.
"Look, you mean..."
"Yes, our first game was at Elland Road, against Arsenal." George Lee said.
"Yes, the Football Association really gave us face."
"Henry, Bergkamp, Pires, Ljungberg, and Vieira, can we withstand their attacks?"
George Li is mainly worried about the first game of the new season. If he prepares all summer and ends up with a disastrous defeat at home, it will be a disaster.
Cruyff Jr. couldn't think of how to comfort him for a while.
"Do you still remember those what-ifs I said in the meeting two days ago?" George Li asked Cruyff when he saw that he didn't say anything.
"Then why do you only use the explanation of British, Dutch and Nordic players?"
"Yes, I think, except for domestic players, there are no big clubs in Northern Europe and the Netherlands... Hey, don't look at me like that, Jordi."
"You played there, and I came from the youth training there... George, don't go too far." Cruyff Jr. glared at him.
"The Bosman bill will hurt Ajax too much, Jordi, you know it."
"Yes." Cruyff Jr. also sighed.
"I continued to say that I want Dutch and Nordic players to have more of a sense of belonging in my team. At least they will not be poached by Spanish and Italian teams at will."
"Yes, relatively speaking, it is more convenient to return to the UK, isn't it?"
"Is that why you went to Manchester United in the first place?"
"That's not the case. I just went for Sir Alex Ferguson. His personality charm deeply attracted me... Haha." Cruyff himself couldn't say any more.
"That day, when I was chatting with Coach Martin, he told me a piece of Celtic history." George Lee said.
"oh?"
"He said that when Celtic won the Champions League, almost all their players and coaches were born within 10 miles of Celtic Park, and the farthest was only 30 miles away." George Lee explain.
"Wow, that's really cool."
"I can tell that Coach Martin was very proud when he said that, even though he was not the one who won the championship."
"He wasn't bad either. He just missed the Europa League that year."
"Jordi, do you think things like that with the Celtics will still happen?" Lee George asked Cruyff.
"No, with the current development trend of football, a large number of excellent players from other countries have poured into the Premier League. By then, a large amount of foreign capital will have entered the Premier League, and the competition in the Premier League will become more intense."
"So, the Celtic thing won't happen again, right."
"Yes, unless you give birth to 11 boys yourself and let them play for Leeds United, they must be born consecutively. Otherwise, after your last one reaches the age, the first child will retire." Cruyff joked. .
"Farewell, none of those three bastards will play for England in the future."
"It's a good thing for children to have their own opinions. You see, I wouldn't have a chance. Otherwise, I would have to live in the shadow of my father for the rest of my life."
"You don't look Surinamese, Jordi."
Many people in the Dutch team are of Surinamese descent, such as Davis, Gullit and so on. What George Lee means is that if Cruyff doesn't want to live in the shadow of his father, he can choose to play on behalf of Suriname.
Cruyff Jr. said to George Lee: "George, actually you don't have to put too much pressure on yourself. What you should be looking at is not William Wallace."
"Oh why?"
"His soldiers are all old aristocrats and rabble-rousers, but you are not. You have excellent players. Behind you are the support of two large consortiums in England and the Netherlands. You just need to take it step by step and lead Leeds United on the right path. Just on the road.”
"Haha, when you put it like that, I think my coaching staff is holding us back." George Lee joked about Cruyff in turn.
"I'll go back and tell Chris and the others that we can't do this to you, but Brian won't let you go." Cruyff immediately threatened.
"No, I'll buy you a drink, whiskey on the rocks, real Scotch whiskey."
"Is it possible that when I drink whiskey in Scotland, I have to drink imported whiskey?"
"Let's go, let's go now." George Li pulled little Cruyff to move forward.
"Wait a minute, George." Cruyff stopped Lee and began to tell George Lee seriously, "You shouldn't look at William Wallace, you should look at King Arthur."
"Why?"
"Because you have a high starting point, and several members of our coaching staff will always help you, just like the Knights of the Round Table, helping you ascend to the throne."
"..." Cruyff's sudden affection made George Li speechless.
"You just have to learn one thing from William Wallace."
"What?" George Li asked curiously.
"Have a brave heart."
