Until just before the match began, Ferguson was like this. At the final pre-match press conference, he even simply had assistant coach Whelan attend!

When Ferguson told Whelan this news, his eyes widened as big as copper bells.

This was the last match against Liverpool in the Old Sir's coaching career! As Ferguson's assistant, he knew better than anyone how much Ferguson hated Liverpool. Yet, he was giving up such an opportunity to attack his opponents at the pre-match press conference for such a match…

What did this mean?

It meant that the Old Sir's mind was not on this match at all!

Could there be anything more terrifying than this?

"Sir…" Whelan thought he had misheard.

Ferguson waved his hand. "You go."

And so, Whelan sat on the podium at the pre-match press conference.

Facing the surprised reporters below, he also felt a little awkward.

He knew what the media reporters were surprised about.

Perhaps their thoughts were the same as his.

But since he was sitting in this position, he shouldn't think about those messy things.

He coughed, and the press conference host signaled to the reporters that the press conference could begin.

The first reporter called upon asked a question about Ferguson: "Mr. Whelan, why didn't Sir Ferguson attend this press conference? Is he feeling unwell?"

"No, the Sir is in good health," Whelan replied, shaking his head.

"Then what is the reason?"

"I don't know. The Sir just asked me to attend this press conference and didn't explain the reason."

Hearing Whelan's answer, the group of reporters below fell into a brief silence, and then the sound of reporters whispering to each other rang out in the press room.

But no one asked any more questions.

"Quiet! Quiet!" The press officer slapped the table hard and shouted loudly, which restored order.

Next, there was really nothing to say, just asking routine questions. Such as Manchester United's injury situation in this match, the players' condition, and evaluating the opponents…

Whelan was different from Ferguson; he did not show weakness in front of Liverpool.

His answer was very tough.

"Liverpool is indeed very strong, but we didn't come to Anfield intending to leave empty-handed! Because we are Manchester United!"

Some reporters also asked him how to explain Ferguson's words. Whelan dismissed them all on the grounds that he didn't know.

※※※

After the press conference, the fact that Whelan suddenly replaced Ferguson at the press conference became the focus of media reports.

Everyone found it strange.

Why didn't Ferguson attend this press conference himself?

They had to know that this press conference was of great significance to him.

He couldn't possibly not know.

But he just didn't show up. Even Whelan didn't say the reason.

Many people thought, could this be related to Ferguson's recent mood?

The more everyone thought about it, the more they felt that this should be the truth.

Because he was in a bad mood, he didn't feel like attending the press conference. During this time, apart from coming out and saying this one sentence, there was no other movement, and Ferguson never appeared in front of the media again.

It seemed that he was really disheartened…

The Ferguson who was full of lofty ambitions had disappeared. Although everyone had suffered a lot from him in the past, now that they thought about it again, they couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

As for Whelan's bold statement at the press conference that "we will never leave empty-handed," it had long been ignored.

Could an assistant coach's words count? Even if Ferguson's momentum was weak, as long as he hadn't left the position of Manchester United coach, Manchester United would still have to listen to him, not an assistant coach.

So, Whelan's words were considered a desperate struggle for Manchester United to not accept defeat. Although they didn't accept it, this kind of declaration really didn't have any lethality.

No one cared about the meaning behind Whelan's angry words.

※※※

On the day of the match, the Manchester United players had just finished their final warm-up before the match and returned to the locker room.

Everything they had discovered during the warm-up made them gnash their teeth with hatred.

The match hadn't even started yet, and Liverpool fans were already celebrating… the championship in advance in the stands!

Yes, they were not celebrating the victory of this match in advance; they were celebrating the championship in advance!

Many Liverpool fans held up banners and slogans that read "We are the Champions."

Paper models of the Premier League championship trophy were also everywhere.

Having been deadly rivals for so many years, how could Manchester United players not understand the thoughts of Liverpool fans?

Why didn't they celebrate the championship in advance in other matches?

Moreover, this match didn't constitute the conditions for winning the championship in advance.

The reason for doing this was not really to celebrate the championship in advance, but just to provoke Manchester United.

To tell Manchester United that Liverpool was now very likely to win the championship in advance, and what about you? You are only worthy of following behind us and eating shit!

The Manchester United players were so angry at this discovery that their eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.

Before the match, because of Ferguson's decline, they were not favored. Now, on the field, they were humiliated and provoked by the opposing fans, and the fire in their hearts could not be suppressed no matter what.

On the short road from the field back to the locker room, they couldn't wait to discuss how to celebrate a goal in the match in order to slap the Liverpool fans in the face and cut their face severely.

Whelan followed behind the team, watching everyone so high-spirited, he was happy in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face.

In his opinion, this was a good sign.

If Manchester United fell into decline because of Ferguson's departure, then it would be unknown how long it would take for this team to rise again. Only when a team ignores the change of coach and can still maintain competitiveness can it become a true hegemon.

Ferguson's decadence could not be suppressed, so in this case, the fighting spirit and confidence shown by the players was even more precious.

As long as there were these players, even if Ferguson retired, Manchester United could still start again next season and pose a huge threat to Liverpool!

The players who returned to the locker room also did not receive any encouragement from coach Ferguson—according to the situation in the past few days, this was also normal.

Now everyone no longer expected Ferguson to give them any instructions. Ferguson was completely waiting for retirement. Anyway, there was no hope of winning the championship this season. What was driving them and becoming their strength was completely their hatred for Liverpool, which was from the heart and integrated into their blood and bones.

From the time everyone returned to the locker room until they finally took the field, Ferguson only said one sentence: "I will not give you any pressure in this match. You can play as you like. You all figure it out yourselves."

※※※

It seemed like a coincidence.

In Liverpool's locker room, Liverpool coach Martin O'Neill also didn't say much.

All the signs before this match indicated that Manchester United had no fighting spirit. Even the toughest Ferguson had bowed his noble head under Liverpool's power.

What else was there to worry about?

Even if he was cautious, Martin O'Neill's heart had already swelled with the improvement of his performance.

Now that the situation was so good, he really couldn't think of anything to worry about in the match.

Even if there were unexpected circumstances, there was Chen Hero!

He had now completely leaned towards Chen Hero, and there was nothing shameful about relying on Chen Hero. He had to know that many coaches didn't even have the chance to rely on him!

Because he was full of confidence in this match and full of confidence in Chen Hero, Martin O'Neill didn't say much before the match.

It was also a sentence that gave the players encouragement and relaxed them.

"Your strength is stronger than Manchester United, and you should win this match. I'm waiting for your good news of victory!"

No one felt that there was anything wrong with Martin O'Neill's words, whether it was the assistant coach or the players.

Because they were sure that their strength was indeed stronger than Manchester United, and it was indeed a matter of course to win.

What was there to worry about?

With our state, let alone Manchester United, even if Barcelona and Real Madrid came, they would have to submit!

To become the seven-time champion this season, you must have such domineering spirit!

※※※

In this way, the Manchester United players stepped onto the field with full of anger and the fighting spirit that had been transformed.

And the Liverpool players next to them seemed very relaxed and casual, as if they were not going to Anfield to play a match, but to spread a plastic tablecloth on the grass of Anfield, and then put a table full of delicious food, while tasting the food, while enjoying the rare winter sunshine…

Yes, the weather was very nice today.

In the weather in early March, there was still such warm sunshine. You had to know that it had been raining continuously for a week before, although the rain was not heavy, it was annoying to always rain.

Such wonderful weather, and being able to see a cup match that defeated their deadly enemy Manchester United at home, was it not equivalent to a picnic for Liverpool fans?

As for the Manchester United players' ferocious expressions, no one cared at all.

In their opinion, this was the last struggle of the Manchester United players who were unwilling to lose but could not help but lose. The more ferocious their expressions were, the more painful their hearts were. The more painful their hearts were, the happier these Liverpool fans were.

To defeat their deadly enemy in their own home and bury them completely was simply the best revenge!

After being suppressed by Manchester United for more than 20 years, Liverpool could finally hold their heads high.

From now on, they would make all Manchester United people recognize a reality—the world of English football today belongs to us Liverpool!