The next morning, at the Sunderland Training Base, in the meeting room.
There were already seven or eight people busy at work.
This team was clearly very professional, with clear divisions of labor; some were setting up camera positions, others were adjusting lighting, and everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Meanwhile, Director Anderson was talking to a middle-aged man with a wide, slightly chubby face: "Sorry, Coach Zhao will be here soon. You know, with the tight schedule of matches now, he has a lot of things to deal with…"
This middle-aged man was Zhang Wenwu, the host and producer of "Ground Football."
"Heh heh, Coach Zhao is a busy man now, it's normal for him to have a lot to do," Zhang Wenwu said, seemingly politely, but in reality, his face was already filled with displeasure, and his words carried a hint of sarcasm.
He was the head of the sports channel at the national television station; in the past, which domestic player or Coach didn't beg him for an interview? How could anyone be as unwilling as Zhao Zhao?
However, to get a firsthand exclusive interview with Zhao Zhao now, he could only endure it for the time being.
Who made Zhao Zhao the most popular figure in Chinese football right now!
"Forget it, let's record the opening remarks first. What a hassle, he really thinks he's hot stuff." Zhang Wenwu waved his hand and said to his staff.
Of course, he said this in Chinese, and Anderson didn't understand it at all.
Then, Zhang Wenwu tidied his clothes slightly and showed a professional smile to the camera: "Hello everyone, this is Ground Football."
"We are currently at the Sunderland Training Base, preparing to interview their Coach, Zhao Zhao, who is from our country."
"Everyone must be very curious why a name we've never heard before would appear here and become the Coach of a Premier League team? And lead this club to significant progress."
"We have the same questions. Today, we will take everyone into Sunderland, get closer to Zhao Zhao, and understand this somewhat mysterious Coach."
"Although we haven't had close contact, it's foreseeable that today's interview will be very pleasant…"
Before he finished speaking, with a "Bang!", Zhao Zhao pushed open the door and walked in.
Actually, he had already heard Zhang Wenwu's words while outside the door.
He was busy today and didn't want to come for the interview in the first place, and now he was even more annoyed.
After entering, Zhao Zhao's gaze quickly swept around the room, but it lingered on a girl.
Oh, isn't this Ma Fanfan, the famous female host of "Ground Football"?
At this time, she was the same age as him, both 25, and at the peak of her beauty; she was truly beautiful.
Tsk tsk, it really is Zhang Wenwu; he even brought Fanfan to England for an interview. Could there really be something going on?
Immediately, Zhao Zhao had an even worse impression of Zhang Wenwu.
At this moment, Zhang Wenwu quickly came over to introduce himself: "Hello, Coach Zhao. I am Zhang Wenwu. Because I usually like to wear number eight when playing football, you can also call me Old Eight Zhang."
"Oh, Old Eight Zhang, my apologies, I've heard so much about you." Zhao Zhao didn't even lift his eyelids, appearing a bit perfunctory.
"Coach Zhao is indeed a man of character." Zhang Wenwu's expression remained unchanged, "Only such genuine character can match the passionate sport of football! No wonder both Mourinho and Karanka fell at your feet!"
Zhang Wenwu had been in the business for a long time; what kind of person hadn't he seen?
In his experience, a young person with a bit of a temper like Zhao Zhao, as long as you follow his lead and then subtly introduce the topic you want to ask about, everything would be resolved.
So, after deliberately complimenting Zhao Zhao, Zhang Wenwu immediately got to the point: "Coach Zhao, our Chinese fans are very concerned about you and want to know how you, at such a young age, became the Coach of a Premier League club?"
"Well…" Zhao Zhao pretended to ponder, "It's because I'm handsome."
"Ah? Haha, Coach Zhao is really humorous." Zhang Wenwu's mouth widened, and he let out a few dry laughs.
He never expected that Zhao Zhao was actually telling the truth!
Wasn't that why the Sunderland owner promoted Zhao Zhao to interim Coach at that time!
Then, Zhang Wenwu used his ultimate move, forcefully elevating the topic: "To become a Premier League Coach, you must have sacrificed a lot. For example, aspiring to be a Coach from a young age, diligently studying coaching courses, giving up a lot to become a Coach, enduring countless hardships…"
"Really? Is it that hard?" Zhao Zhao raised an eyebrow.
He obtained his professional coaching license not long after graduating and was then directly pushed into the Coach position, so he indeed didn't feel it was that hard.
And Zhao Zhao was actually quite annoyed by Zhang Wenwu's line of questioning.
As a man of character, he truly disliked such official, value-laden conversations.
Isn't it better for people to communicate more sincerely?! Even during an interview, it's the same.
If two people could chat casually like friends, Zhao Zhao might even cooperate a bit more.
But Zhang Wenwu, who clearly had been in the system for too long, was full of bad habits that couldn't be changed.
"Uh… yes, generally that's how it is. Becoming a Coach in a top League is indeed not that easy," Zhang Wenwu could only say now.
"Really? I don't believe it."
"…"
Zhang Wenwu felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
In his long interviewing career, he had never encountered an interviewee so out of sync.
But Zhang Wenwu was, after all, well-trained and experienced. If this channel wasn't working, he immediately switched channels: "Coach Zhao, why don't you talk about your work here? Can you tell us about the players in the club? What are their hobbies normally?"
"Hmm…" Zhao Zhao frowned, "Can I not say?"
"Oh, okay, that does involve personal privacy. Then, can you tell us about your daily training routine at the club?"
"No."
"I understand. That's team confidential, not to be publicly discussed. Then, when playing against Manchester City, we saw you talked a lot with Guardiola. Can you reveal what you talked about?"
"No."
"Oh." Zhang Wenwu sighed lightly; he was a bit at a loss as to how to continue the interview.
Then, Zhao Zhao suddenly turned the tables and asked Zhang Wenwu: "You're Old Eight Zhang, right?"
"Hmm, yes." Zhang Wenwu was instantly a little happy.
The other party initiated the conversation, which meant they could get closer, and this interview still had a chance!
Then he heard Zhao Zhao ask: "How did you come up with the idea for the Ground Football program?"
Zhang Wenwu replied: "I'm a football fan myself, and I liked playing football in college. After graduating, I always dreamed of creating a football program that belonged to the Chinese people."
"So, has your dream come true now?"
"Yes, it has come true."
Zhao Zhao continued to ask: "Then you must be very happy, right? Is there anything you want to say?"
Zhang Wenwu clenched his fists: "I want to thank CCTV, thank CNTV, thank the leaders of the television station for giving me this opportunity for accelerated growth, and I also want to thank… Huh, something seems a bit off?"
Zhao Zhao stood up: "Okay, time is almost up. Today's interview ends here. Thank you, Old Eight Zhang, for your great cooperation in this interview. Goodbye!"
Then he opened the door and walked straight out.
Everyone: "…"
Every member of the Ground Football crew stared at each other with wide eyes, and Anderson also quickly chased after him: "Coach Zhao, Coach Zhao…"
Zhang Wenwu, on the other hand, looked helplessly at his subordinates and said: "What do you all think of this person?"
No one dared to speak.
But Ma Fanfan's eyes were sparkling: "Of course, I'm staring at him. He's even more handsome in person than on TV…"
"I mean, what's your opinion of this person!" Zhang Wenwu roared!
"Uh… actually, his way of speaking is quite cute." Ma Fanfan tilted her head, recalling, and couldn't help but smile, "His expression when he speaks is really charming…"
"Don't be such a fangirl, alright!!!" Zhang Wenwu roared again.
"Then I have no other opinion." Ma Fanfan pouted, "Otherwise, next time I'll try interviewing him? I feel that your interviewing style today, Director Zhang, was too rigid, and perhaps someone like him doesn't like that."
"Oh?" Zhang Wenwu finally heard some valuable information and perked up, "How so?"
Ma Fanfan said seriously: "Think about it, he's still considered a rookie Coach, but he doesn't back down even when facing world-renowned coaches like Mourinho, and even confronts them directly. This shows that he himself is not a traditional person. Your interview just now… might not have suited his taste, and once he felt resistant, he wouldn't cooperate later."
"That seems to make some sense." Zhang Wenwu rubbed his chubby face, "Damn it, I'll arrange another meeting with their Director, and next time I'll let you do a solo interview. We can't let this exclusive be snatched by other local TV stations!"
Then, he looked up at the sky, and a hint of sadness actually appeared on his face:
"I never want to deal with a guy like that again!"