"Julien, good evening."
Dein's voice came through the phone speaker, still carrying that calm tone he always used.
"Good evening, David."
"You should know by now what's happened at the club, right? I thought I should have a chat with you before everyone returns to the team, just to make sure you don't let all the outside noise disturb your focus and mentality."
Julien smiled slightly. "I've just learned about the club's changes. I just didn't expect it would all happen so suddenly."
Dein's tone became noticeably more relaxed as he continued.
"I completely understand how this suddenness might create some unease and anxiety. After all, this situation has genuinely blown up into something quite major. The entire previous executive team has been completely replaced, and the outside world has been buzzing with all sorts of speculation and gossip.
But there's one thing I absolutely must make crystal clear to you. No matter how the management changes, Liverpool's objective has never changed for a single moment: competing for championships!
This is the very first point of consensus that the new management and I reached together, and it will be the core foundation of all our work moving forward."
He paused consciously, and his voice took on a more solemn, serious tone. "You are the attacking core of this team. We understand better than anyone that for the team to achieve its objectives, we cannot do without your role and contribution on the front line.
So regardless of whether there are any subsequent adjustments to the coaching staff, the fundamental approach of building the attacking system around you will not change in any way at all. We will not allow off-field changes to impact your rhythm and flow on the pitch."
Julien made a sound of acknowledgment. "Mm."
Dein continued speaking with conviction.
"In any case, at this current stage, we will prioritize ensuring the team's competitive continuity and consistency. Whether it's the support and resources from the training facilities, or the working support from the coaching team, everything will proceed according to the original plan. This includes those transfer signings we've been working on!"
After a brief pause, Dein's voice became even more serious and filled with emotion. "I will not make the same mistake I made at Arsenal again. I will not miss the next Zidane."
Dein's words were delivered in a light, almost casual manner. But Julien understood clearly what this really meant. Dein was treating his career at Liverpool as the final venture of his professional life—his last chance to achieve something truly great.
The ambitions he had failed to fulfill at Arsenal, he hoped to complete at Liverpool!
And when he spoke of not missing the next Zidane, he was referring to a painful episode from his past. Years ago, due to internal conflicts and dysfunction at Arsenal, he had missed out on signing Zinedine Zidane.
When Arsenal's manager was still George Graham, Dein had already set his sights on securing Zidane's signature. At that time, Dein was a high-ranking executive at the Gunners, and he desperately wanted to sign this French international who was dazzling everyone at Bordeaux.
According to media reports from that period, both sides had already begun in-depth contact and negotiations. Because of Dein's sincerity and commitment, Zidane had been very tempted by the offer. They were just finalizing some minor details regarding playing time—things like guaranteed appearances and such before they could complete the signing.
However, George Graham and the transfer department's procrastination and foot-dragging ultimately caused the Gunners to lose the opportunity to sign him.
It wouldn't be accurate to say this situation had no benefits for Arsenal at all. Because just a few months later, Dein dismissed Graham due to disagreements and various other reasons, and hired Arsène Wenger as the new manager.
After Wenger took over, Zidane had already reported to Juventus, and this became viewed as one of Arsenal's great regrets and missed opportunities.
Many people have wondered and speculated that under Wenger who was closely familiar with French football and admired Zidane greatly—if Zidane had been able to become a member of the Gunners, he would have exploded with even more powerful combat effectiveness and brilliance.
Wenger himself later admitted candidly that if he had arrived at Arsenal a few months earlier, he definitely would have fought to secure the signings of players like Zidane.
Of course, in the end, the Professor still managed to bring many French compatriots to Arsenal during those transfer windows—players like Patrick Vieira, Gilles Grimandi, Nicolas Anelka, Emmanuel Petit, and Rémi Garde. He created illustrious achievements for Arsenal that would never be forgotten!
What Dein regretted most was that in his power struggle with Graham, he had missed out on Zidane. And this time, Liverpool's executive upheaval would not shake Dein's determination and resolve.
His purpose in calling Julien was precisely this—to give Julien confidence and assurance. To tell Julien that no matter how the team changed, their goal remained aligned and unified: championships!
"Alright!" Julien responded with genuine seriousness.
Dein could hear the seriousness in Julien's tone and laughed heartily. "Good! Well, I won't disturb your rest any longer. You still have training tomorrow."
"You get some good rest too, David."
Just as they were about to hang up, Dein suddenly added one more thing.
"Oh, by the way, Julien—that midfielder from Chelsea, Kevin. I think he can come to the team during the winter transfer window. I've already been in deep negotiations with that woman at Chelsea about Kevin's transfer. Kevin himself is also pushing hard for this move. He's extremely willing to come to Liverpool and partner with you."
"Haha! Excellent!" When Julien heard this news, he couldn't help but laugh.
This was certainly the best news he'd received all evening.
The next morning at Melwood arrived with the cool, misty air drifting in from the Mersey River. But the usual pre-training liveliness and noise were conspicuously absent.
When the players arrived one by one, gone were the usual jokes and arms draped over shoulders. Most simply nodded acknowledgment to each other before lowering their heads and walking toward the changing room.
In the locker room itself, they did engage in some simple conversation, discussing their respective experiences during the World Cup qualifiers.
But regarding what had happened at the club, basically no one brought it up or mentioned it at all.
Steven Gerrard glanced at Julien several times. Julien remained completely unmoved and impassive.
Very soon, training began.
When Brendan Rodgers's figure appeared on the sideline, the quiet atmosphere on the training ground became even heavier and more oppressive.
He wore a dark gray training kit and held a tactical board in his hand. Usually, he would arrive ten minutes early to go around and shake hands with each player individually.
Today, however, he simply stood on the training pitch, waiting for everyone to gather. Once gathered, his voice remained steady as he laid out the day's tasks. "Today we're focusing on practicing passes and cuts through the channels. Pay attention to connecting your movement and positioning."
There were no extra words, not half a sentence mentioning the club's situation. It was as if all the news outside the training ground fence, all the external speculation and rumors, had been blocked and kept outside.
For the final session of the morning training, it was the usual practice match with divided teams.
When dividing up the squads, Julien was assigned to the blue team, partnering with Luis Suárez.
In the very first minute of play, Jordan Henderson intercepted the ball in midfield. He looked up, wanting to call out for teammates to make runs, but the words caught in his throat and instead he simply waved his hand.
Previously, he would always joke around with a comment like "don't drop the ball," but today he only used hand gestures to signal Julien to make a run into the channel.
Julien understood immediately.
As he cut inside from the right flank, from the corner of his eye he caught sight of Rodgers standing by the sideline, his brow slightly furrowed as he scribbled notes.
The pen in his hand moved rapidly across the tactical board, as if he wanted to pour all his concentration and attention into the training session.
After the pace of the practice match gradually picked up, the atmosphere on the training ground finally loosened somewhat.
Julien received a layoff pass from Suárez and sent a through ball directly into the penalty area with one touch. When Raheem Sterling made the run and pushed the shot home, Henderson couldn't help but shout out: "Beautiful!"
His voice carried a deliberately cheerful tone, as if trying to dispel the oppressive mood hanging over the sideline.
Suárez jogged over and slapped Julien on the back, laughing as he said, "If that pass had come half a second later, it would have been offside."
During the water break in training, Julien twisted open his water bottle and heard staff members on the sideline speaking in low voices.
Their conversation included phrases like "new management coming to the facility tomorrow." Their voices were kept very low, afraid of being overheard by the players.
He didn't turn his head. Instead, he tilted his head back and took a sip of water, his gaze falling on the distant slogan painted on the wall—"You'll Never Walk Alone."
The white letters on the red background appeared and disappeared through the mist, seeming to remind everyone silently that no matter what changed off the field, the objective on this patch of grass had never changed.
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