45 Football Above Life and Death
On January 12, 2012, Zhang Xu, accompanied by Alan and Gill, stood in front of the ancient Bramall Lane Stadium.
Bramall Lane is the world's oldest major football ground, where the first football match was held on December 29, 1862, between Sheffield and Hallam, resulting in a 0-0 draw after three hours. An international match between England and Scotland on March 10, 1883, made Bramall Lane the world's oldest surviving ground to host international matches. Previously accommodating up to 68,000 spectators, its capacity was reduced to 30,936 in 1994 after becoming all-seated.
Now, Bramall Lane has become the spiritual symbol of Sheffield United. The sight of this ancient stadium makes every fan salute spontaneously.
Sheffield United boasts a glorious history as a powerhouse originating from modern football. Starting as a cricket team in 1855, it's one of the world's oldest football clubs, with a 117-year history. It received a special honor from FIFA in 2004.
Additionally, Sheffield United is known by a fierce nickname – The Blades! Its badge features two shining crossed swords.
Now, Zhang Xu has become one of The Blades!
The first thing upon arriving at the club was, of course, a medical examination. This was a routine procedure that couldn't be skipped.
Having just arrived in England, Zhang Xu was still acclimatizing, but such a minor medical examination was no trouble for him.
When Alan handed the test results to head coach Wilson, the data made Wilson nod in approval.
Next was a press conference to officially announce Zhang Xu's joining to the society and all Blades fans.
At 2:00 PM, the press conference began.
First, head coach Wilson officially announced Zhang Xu's joining and displayed his number 25 jersey. Zhang Xu had to settle for 25 as his preferred number 15 was already taken by Neil Collins.
Then, Zhang Xu gave his joining speech.
"First, I sincerely thank the Belgian Second Division Club White Star that nurtured me!" Zhang Xu began in fluent London-accented English, standing solemnly and bowing towards White Star, the first club that accepted him when he was unknown.
"They took me in and trained me, allowing me the opportunity to stand here, so I thank them!"
Zhang Xu's ostentatious thanks to his previous club baffled everyone. What was he doing?
All the journalists, including head coach Wilson, looked at Zhang Xu, puzzled by his actions.
"Maybe some people don't understand my actions just now. They might think, didn't you want to join Sheffield United? Disliking the English weather already? Afraid you can't establish yourself in Sheffield United or the EFL League One1, giving yourself a backup plan? Actually, it's none of these!"
"It's because in China, there's a saying 'repay kindness.' If someone helps you, you should be grateful and try to repay them. White Star helped me, so I thank them."
"Now, Sheffield United has given me an opportunity to stand on the League One stage and experience the British leagues. I'm proud to become one of The Blades!"
Upon realizing Zhang Xu was expressing gratitude towards Sheffield United, everyone was moved.
Head coach Wilson nodded in satisfaction. Zhang Xu's clever way of thanking impressed him and also made him appreciate Zhang Xu's character more.
"Meanwhile, I want to say another thing: I, Zhang Xu from China, from White Star, have come here, to Bramall Lane, for victory! Yes, for victory. I hate losing, and I believe everyone here feels the same. So we all make great efforts for victory."
"And I will give everything, even my life, to help the team win! Football isn't about life and death, but it's above life and death! If victory requires the price of my life, I'm willing to dedicate everything for The Blades! This is my declaration of victory as a member of The Blades!"
Zhang Xu's tone was calm, but the passion and energy resonated with everyone. Once upon a time, they, too, thirsted for victory like Zhang Xu; once upon a time, they fought for their dreams with all their might; and once upon a time, they faced formidable opponents with bravery and no fear!
A clear clap broke the silence, followed by a second, third... until the entire room erupted into thunderous applause!
The rest of the press conference was open for journalists' questions.
With Zhang Xu's moving declaration of joining, the journalists' interest was piqued. Perhaps such an interesting Chinese player would bring a different change to the EFL League One!
"Hello, Zhang, I'm Delly from 'Sheffield Daily News.' Your declaration just now was touching! Can you talk about the various difficulties you faced in France and Belgium in pursuit of your dream? I know it's not a happy thing to recall, but I want all young people to understand that pursuing dreams requires a price. If you don't pay, there's no success. Like you, you worked hard and eventually succeeded, joining The Blades. I think it's very instructive for many restless young people in our country!"
"Heh, I have nothing to hide about those times. Everyone who wants to succeed goes through some pain, me included. Although I'm not successful enough yet, I'm on the path to success, aren't I?" Zhang Xu chuckled in response.
"Hello, Zhang, I'm Harris from 'Sky Sports,' pleased to meet you! Also, thank you for your declaration earlier, reigniting my pursuit of dreams. You grew from an amateur to a relatively successful professional player in just half a season. What did you experience during that time? How did you achieve it?"
"Ha-ha," Zhang Xu smiled at Harris: "How did I do it? Actually, it's simple. Training. When others trained, I trained too, and I aimed to double their workload. When others weren't training, I was still training. My life was monotonous, between the training ground and home. Every day I only cared about whether I improved, by how much, and what I lacked. I didn't concern myself with much else."
"Wow, incredible! You're so diligent! Perhaps, that's the secret to your success!" Harris exclaimed, and the other journalists also showed surprised expressions.
"I can vouch for that!" Head coach Wilson interjected: "According to our club's scout Gill, Zhang's training intensity is beyond your imagination! Likewise, his growth speed is beyond your imagination, which is an important reason we signed him!"
"Hello, Zhang, I'm Roman from BBC. You played as a midfield core in White Star. So now, what position do you plan to play in The Blades?"
"You might be asking the wrong person!" Zhang Xu smiled and pointed at head coach Wilson: "I think you should ask Mr. Wilson. It's not for me to worry about where I play. I just need to carry out the coach's tasks resolutely!"
Head coach Wilson was very pleased with Zhang Xu's response. He nodded and took over: "Zhang's abilities are outstanding. We've assigned him several tactical positions, but we can only truly determine his position after he officially joins the team and goes through training and tactical drills. So, I can only apologize to everyone here about the position issue."
The press conference was originally planned to last only half an hour, but the journalists' interest, spurred by Zhang Xu, extended it further and further, eventually lasting up to an hour before concluding.
Since accommodation arrangements were yet to be finalized, Zhang Xu had to temporarily stay in a hotel arranged by the club.
After having dinner, Zhang Xu indulged in a relaxing bath and then, as usual, sent messages to both Yang Zi and Nicole.
Nicole responded quickly, congratulating Zhang Xu on officially joining Sheffield United and mentioning her plan to visit him over the weekend.
As for Yang Zi, it was unlikely she would respond since it was around 4 AM her time due to the time difference.
Sighing deeply, Zhang Xu clutched his phone. Ever since returning to Belgium, his contact with Yang Zi had become somewhat sporadic, with the last contact being three days ago.
His feelings for football were clear and determined, but when it came to personal relationships, he once thought he had found the one to pursue for a lifetime. Now, it seemed things might not be as he thought. Had he made a mistake?
