章 3: Chapter 3 Farewell Ceremony
After the match ended, Barcelona Football Club held a farewell ceremony for Guardiola.
The entire stadium, with a hundred thousand fans, stood up collectively, singing the song of Guardiola.
For them, today was a day of both joy and sadness.
They were happy because they had Messi, who was only 25 years old and at his peak.
They were sad because the club's change in presidency led to the departure of the legendary coach Guardiola.
This made them somewhat pessimistic about the team's future prospects.
It's hard to find someone like Guardiola, who came from La Masia youth training system, was familiar with Barcelona's tactical style, and fully utilized Barcelona's characteristics to develop a brand new tactical system, maximizing his own advantages as a coach.
Under Guardiola's leadership, Barcelona once achieved the feat of having all 11 players from the youth academy on the field.
But after Guardiola left, could his successor still utilize La Masia's youth players in the same way?
Could they achieve the same brilliant results as Guardiola?
The more they thought about these questions, the more reluctant they felt towards Guardiola.
The fans waved Barcelona flags, held up various pictures with Guardiola's image, and loudly sang praises for Guardiola.
Guardiola walked alone towards the field, lifting his head to look at the stands, looking at this stadium.
Here, he led the team to achieve brilliant results and left behind their legend.
But after today, he would no longer belong here.
The next time he came back here, it would most likely be as an opponent.
By then, would these lovely fans still welcome him and cheer for him as they did today?
At this moment, the big screen in the stadium began to play highlights of Guardiola's achievements during his four-year tenure as coach.
The first league championship
The first Champions League title
The first sextuple
On the big screen, Guardiola celebrated with the players when they scored goals,
He stood on the sidelines commanding the game in pouring rain,
He dashed and cheered when the team won the game,
He ran around the field when they first won the championship,
In every game, he diligently took notes, studied tactics, and opponents' weaknesses...
In the end, the screen froze on the scene where the team won the Champions League last season, with him being thrown up high by the players.
With excitement in his heart, Guardiola took the microphone handed to him by the staff.
He put it to his mouth several times but couldn't speak.
Afraid that if he spoke, the fans and players would hear his choked voice.
This was his home, but he was about to leave.
People often say that homesickness is stronger when one is close to home. But what would the mood be like for someone leaving their hometown with an uncertain future?
He took a deep breath, tried to adjust his state, and began to speak:
"Here, I want to express my gratitude to everyone!"
"Especially to those around me, players, coaching staff, club staff."
"I'm also very grateful to the fans who support us. We may not be close in distance, but every day I can feel your support."
"You know I will miss you. When I leave Camp Nou, having your support makes me very excited!"
The fans waved various banners and slogans supporting and thanking Guardiola, sending him applause and blessings.
"As for the reason I am leaving, I have mentioned it many times on different occasions, but here I think I still need to explain it to you again."
"In the four years of coaching Barcelona, we have achieved very good results, but during this time, my work pressure has been very high, and I have not been able to spend time with my family properly."
Here, I apologize to them, and I promise that I will spend time with my family well in the coming period!"
Guardiola looked towards the players' tunnel, where his girlfriend Cristina Serra was smiling with four children.
Lin Quan was among them!
Yes, the couple who adopted Lin Quan were Guardiola and Serra.
Although not his biological son, Guardiola and Serra had always treated Lin Quan as their own, treating him the same as their other three children.
Guardiola waved to them, and Serra immediately walked over with the four children.
"You've worked hard, Pep, and now we can finally start our vacation!"
Serra hugged her partner while smiling, noticing Guardiola's somewhat low mood, she tried to distract him with the idea of vacation.
"Thank you, Cristina, I'm sorry I haven't been able to spend time with you and the children properly these years!"
Guardiola felt guilty in his heart and apologized sincerely again.
"No need to apologize. If you really feel indebted, why not show it through practical actions?"
"Well, that's a good suggestion, I'll consider it!"
Guardiola thought about getting married. He felt it was time to end this long-distance relationship.
When it was Lin Quan's turn, Guardiola hugged him actively, patted his shoulder forcefully, and said to him:
"Lin, you are already sixteen years old. It's time to think about your future career plans. Do you have any ideas?"
Lin Quan thought seriously for a moment and replied:
"I plan to continue training with Barcelona and then find a team to loan or transfer to!"
"You want to leave Barcelona?"
Guardiola was somewhat surprised by Lin Quan's idea.
Players from La Masia youth academy rarely have the initiative to leave Barcelona.
But from Lin Quan's appearance, it seemed that he didn't have such a deep affection for Barcelona.
Could it be that the incident of his resignation due to his strained relationship with the club had influenced him?
"Yes, Barcelona's first team is full of talent, and I don't have much opportunity here, so I have to leave!"
Lin Quan said so, but in his heart, he thought Barcelona was not worth staying for.
Looking at the operation where Barcelona rushed to expel Messi at the last minute of the transfer window ten years later, this club had no humanity at all.
A legendary player who had served the team for 21 years, scored over 600 goals, and led the team to countless honors, was humiliated and driven away by them in such an heartless, even playful manner.
Who would want to stay in such a club?
Guardiola thought for a while, and indeed Barcelona's midfield was rich in talent.
Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, and others were at their peak and very strong.
Young players probably couldn't compete with them, even though when he was the coach, he planned to develop Lin Quan as the heir of Xavi.
For this, he even gave him the number four jersey of the youth team, which was the jersey he wore when he played for Barcelona back then.
But after he left, he didn't know how Barcelona's tactics would change.
Every coach has their own ideas. Some like to use their own youth players, while others like to buy famous players from outside.
So, the development plan he had previously formulated for Lin Quan might not work anymore.
"Well, I respect your choice. Let's talk more after you go back!"
Lin Quan nodded, and Guardiola was currently the hottest legendary coach on the planet.
His opinions would definitely be considered.
After hugging family, colleagues, and team players one by one,
Under the send-off of the club staff, Guardiola left the field quickly.
From that moment on, Guardiola and Barcelona severed their ties.
Many, including fans and club executives, thought this was just a temporary parting.
They believed that once the club's presidency changed and tensions between Guardiola and the club eased, he would return.
But no one anticipated that this farewell would be permanent.
クリエイターの想い 
Johanssen10
Johanssen10 Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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