The next day, all major sports newspapers were naturally filled with news of Sunderland overturning Manchester City away from home.
"Manchester City's Control Play Fails, Sunderland Conquers Etihad 1-0!"
"Anichebe's Header Secures Last-Minute Win, Gets Yellow Card for Elaborate Celebration!"
"From 5-4-1 to 4-4-2 to 4-5-1, Coach Zhao's Tactics Are Something Else."
"Bayern is the King of London, and Sunderland is the King of Manchester!"
Guardiola's praise for Coach Zhao naturally attracted even more attention, with many media outlets using almost the same headline:
"Guardiola: Coach Zhao is a Genius!"
After all, in today's world of football, Guardiola is definitely considered a top-tier figure.
There are truly very few people he would praise so publicly!
Well, actually, none at all!
This was like Guardiola using a loudspeaker to promote Coach Zhao in the town square.
Coupled with Coach Zhao's recent three consecutive wins, which indeed gave him a legendary aura, this young Chinese genius Coach's reputation can be said to have soared!
Of course, the newspapers weren't just about Sunderland and Coach Zhao.
After yesterday's 33rd round of the Premier League, the results of the other matches were also out.
In a clash between two struggling teams, Watford narrowly defeated Swansea 1-0.
While moving themselves away from the relegation zone, Watford also kicked Swansea down.
In the other two matches, Middlesbrough drew 1-1 at home with Everton, while Hull City lost 1-3 away to Stoke City.
As a result, three-time winning Sunderland rose another spot, now reaching third from bottom, which is 18th place!
Currently, the points and rankings of the bottom four are as follows:
17th place Hull City, 30 points.
18th place Sunderland, 29 points.
19th place Swansea, 28 points.
20th place, Middlesbrough, 27 points.
In other words, Sunderland is now only one point away from escaping the relegation zone!
Recalling two or three weeks ago, Sunderland, with only 20 points, seemed to be stuck in the abyss of last place, never to recover…
This team now seems to have been reborn, soaring upwards!
It's practically a newly built team!
This points situation further made everyone look at Coach Zhao, this rookie Coach, with new eyes, and better understand why Guardiola would call him a "genius"!
Of course, for Guardiola, Manchester City's loss also put his team in a passive position.
Due to Arsenal, Liverpool, and other teams winning their matches, Manchester City has now been pushed down to fifth place.
They must catch up in the upcoming matches to snatch that damned Champions League ticket!
-----------------
Afternoon.
When Coach Zhao arrived at the Coach's office, he found the team's Director Anderson waiting for him.
With a name like that, one could tell he was Scandinavian at first glance.
And indeed, Anderson was a Director from Sweden.
"Ah, Coach Zhao, you're here? I need your support for something," Anderson said, greeting Coach Zhao politely as soon as he saw him.
Although he was the Director, there wasn't a very close subordinate relationship between him and Coach Zhao, so he could only discuss things rather than directly command.
In England, a football club's Coach should accurately be called a manager, not a Coach as in other Leagues, and their authority is quite extensive.
In many teams, the position of Director isn't even set up!
Anderson, as Director, was actually more responsible for external relations and the arrangement of some daily club affairs, and had no command authority over the team itself, including Coaches and players.
Coupled with Coach Zhao's rising prestige within the club, even if the Director had real power, he couldn't act recklessly!
"Oh, what is it?" Coach Zhao was also very polite.
Despite Coach Zhao having already offended several clubs outside, his reputation within Sunderland was excellent.
Besides getting along well with Coaches and players, he was very friendly when facing club staff and high-ranking officials, making it impossible to tell that he was considered a troublemaker by many!
That's why some commented on Coach Zhao, saying, "Whether he's arrogant or not mainly depends on how others treat him and whether it affects the outcome of the match."
"It's like this," Anderson handed over a business card, "There's an interview request…"
"Refuse it," Coach Zhao waved his hand, then explained, "I'm currently actively preparing for the next match against Leicester City and don't have time."
"But Mr. Short has agreed to this," Anderson said with a wry smile, "And it's from a television station in China. Mr. Short hopes you can accept this interview, as it will help open up the Chinese market."
"Oh?" Coach Zhao could only helplessly take the business card and glance at it.
"China National Sports Channel, Zhang Wenwu? Ground Football?"
Anderson chuckled, "Yes, I heard this is China's best and most famous football program. You're Chinese, so you should know about it, right?"
"I know about it… but I just don't have time."
What Coach Zhao said was true.
In a few days, they would be playing Leicester City at home. Although this opponent was not as strong as Manchester United or Manchester City, they were still the previous League champions!
Carrying the lingering prestige of the "Leicester City Miracle," they would undoubtedly be a tough opponent to deal with.
So Coach Zhao needed to seize the time in these few days to develop an ideal tactical approach.
Time was tight! After all, the relegation battle had reached its most crucial moment!
"Just squeeze it in, just a little bit, it'll be quick," Anderson was almost in tears.
Coach Zhao shrugged.
He also knew that Anderson was a good-natured person, and being caught in the middle at this moment was difficult.
"Ground Football" is a flagship program of China National Sports Channel, holding a significant position among Chinese football fans.
And as a struggling Premier League team, if they could use this interview opportunity to expand their popularity in China and then open up the Chinese market, it would clearly be a profitable venture!
This was the world's largest market! All major clubs wanted to explore the Chinese market.
The club's owner, Short, was American, and American owners paid the most attention to the commercial development of the sports industry.
And now that they had come knocking, it was naturally a godsend.
Of course, everyone knew that the most crucial factor in Sunderland attracting China's national television station was definitely Coach Zhao.
Without this Chinese Coach, they certainly wouldn't be interested in a small club like Sunderland.
Wouldn't it be better to interview Manchester United or Manchester City?
So Coach Zhao had to agree; his interview was the main event!
At this moment, Anderson, as the Director, was caught between the owner's orders and Coach Zhao's refusal to be interviewed, naturally looking quite pitiful.
Although Coach Zhao didn't like dealing with the media too much, and he even disliked Zhang Wenwu himself…
But since the owner requested it, he could only deal with it for now, also as a favor to Anderson.
So he nodded and said, "Alright then, Mr. Anderson. But I can only give you half an hour at most. Tomorrow morning, half an hour!"