"Edwin, Nigel, why are you two here?"
George Lee opened the door and found that Van der Sar and the team's goalkeeper coach Nigel Martin came to visit him.
Just now, Van der Sar called and told him that he wanted to visit George Li at his home, but he didn't expect Martin to come with van der Sar.
The two were welcomed into the house together, and Van der Sar looked at Helen in surprise, who was packing her luggage in the living room downstairs.
As Helen, who had worked as an intern team doctor for the team for a year before, Van der Sar knew her. He knew that this young woman was the girlfriend of his team boss.
Martin nodded slightly to Helen. With the "help" of Casper that day, all members of the Leeds United coaching staff knew about George Li's marriage.
"Boss, are you going out?" Van der Sar asked.
"Yes, we are going on vacation and will leave in two days."
"Oh, where to go?"
"Sweden originally planned to go to Norway to find Alf, but there was no time. The team is actually quite busy this summer."
Speaking of this, George Li also looked at Helen and made a face to express that he owed something.
But Helen resolved George Li’s embarrassment with a smile.
George Li invited the two of them to sit down in the living room. Because his house was not big, he could not invite people to the study room to discuss things like Ferguson, because the study room was full of various videos, documents, etc., which was quite messy.
After the three of them sat down, Helen took the initiative to bring three cups of coffee and put them in front of them. Then she left the living room to the three of them and continued to pack her luggage.
"Tell me, Edwin, what do you want from me?"
When Van der Sar saw the head coach being so direct, he was embarrassed to speak.
Martin on the side saw Van der Sar's dilemma and took the initiative to say what Van der Sar wanted to say: "Edwin came to me and expressed that he wanted to retire. I have been trying to persuade him for a few days, but it seems that he has not." What does it do?"
Now 39 years old, Van der Sar is indeed the oldest player at Leeds United. He is even older than several members of the Leeds United coaching staff.
After four seasons at Leeds United, he now has some thoughts of quitting.
George Li picked up the coffee and took a sip. Of course, he was thinking about Van der Sar's retirement at this time.
When he put the cup down again, he saw both Van der Sar and Martin looking at him.
"Will there be any position for you at Ajax?"
"Huh?" Martin was surprised. It was obvious that these things were not discussed when Van der Sar communicated with him.
He then glared at Van der Sar, clearly dissatisfied with the Dutchman's approach.
But Van der Sar didn't take it seriously at all, and he took the initiative to confess to Li George: "It is true that Ajax promised me a high-level position in the club, but you know, coach, that is not what I care about. "
"I know."
Obviously, George Li knew what Van der Sar wanted to say.
Van der Sar sees that the team now has more and more young people, not only in the midfield position, but also in his goalkeeper position. There are also outstanding young people emerging. For example, Schmeichel Jr., who is very suitable for the tactical needs of the team's head coach, and Grant Wall, who is very good at one-on-one and penalty kicks, they all need playing time to train themselves. As long as Van der Sar is here for one day, these two young players will not have much playing time, so in order to allow Leeds United to reform and develop better, he took the initiative to propose the idea of retiring.
As for the invitation from Ajax, it is just an opportunity.
"Edwin, I agree with you going to Ajax. After all, people are very optimistic about you if they can invite you."
"Do you really agree like that?" Martin stood up as soon as he heard this. He obviously disagreed with his team's head coach. He was very optimistic about Van der Sar staying in the team because of his defensive experience. , Defensive command is really important to the team, but his goalkeeping skills are not what the team needs most.
"Listen to me." George Li stopped Martin's move and continued, "But I wonder if Edwin can stay for one more season, just one season."
There was a hint of pleading in his tone, and he urgently hoped that Van der Sar would stay for one season.
"I want to compete for the Champions League next season. After all, it's hard to reach the final but not win the championship this time."
"this......"
"I think if you retire after winning a Champions League and then hold a retirement game for you in our new stadium, it will definitely be more interesting than retiring now."
After listening to this, Van der Sar began to think.
After all, he doesn't really care about new stadiums or retirement games. What he cares about is the Champions League champion that George Li mentioned.
In the 1994/95 season, when Van der Sar was at Ajax, he won the Champions League once. Now 15 years have passed, and he has transformed from a young goalkeeper to a veteran now. If he can win another Champions League and return to Ajax, it will be a perfect ending to his career.
"Can you think about it for me, boss?"
Although he was very moved, Van der Sar still chose to think about it very rationally. Maybe he had made up his mind now, but he was just embarrassed to say it in front of Martin.
"Okay." Of course George Li would not refuse his proposal.
Then, Van der Sar stood up to say goodbye, and George Li sent him to the door. But Martin had no intention of leaving. He was still sitting in the living room of George Li's house, drinking coffee leisurely.
After sending Van der Sar away, George Li returned to the living room.
"Do we need to start looking for a new goalkeeper?"
"No, I believe Edwin will stay. Even if he doesn't stay, we can still bring up Casper and Grant. Compared to the goalkeepers outside, isn't it better to teach them yourself?"
“I think so too.” Martin looked at George Li and smiled slightly.
"What do you say to other players who want to leave or have transfer intentions?"
"Let me see......"
^^^
“Southampton pursue Leeds United striker Kevin Davies.”
"Matheson has arrived in Milan and is undergoing a medical examination."
"Leeds United are about to lose all their forwards. Mourinho and Benitez are also interested in Dutch striker Kuyt."
"..."
Rumors are flying everywhere, many of which are about Champions League runners-up Leeds United. In the eyes of others, Leeds United began to want to rebuild the team after failing to win the Champions League. Faced with these messages, the team's head coach did not come out to clarify, but allowed these transfer rumors to spread outside.
What is even more surprising is that Leeds United, which originally liked to complete off-season transfers after the end of the season, actually made no transfer news at all this time.
This surprised everyone.
In addition, reporters are even preparing to write a report about the dismissal of Leeds United head coach George Lee, and they will publish it immediately if there is any news outside.
Just when the war was going on outside, George Li and Helen came to Sweden together, and their plane arrived at Stockholm Arlanda International Airport.
