No one expected Ethan to directly compare Drogba to Batistuta, the legendary Argentine striker once revered across world football. For a player who could not even secure a starting position in Ligue 2, it sounded almost like an insult to Batistuta.
But in Ethan's mind, he did not think comparing Drogba to Batistuta was an insult to Batistuta. He believed that all fans looking back from 2010 would agree with him, and he greatly respected Batistuta, who had been an outstanding center-forward.
Drogba, sitting beside Mourinho, was also stunned and even a little moved.
He was a player Ethan had personally called to recruit, and he deeply felt the high hopes Ethan had placed on him.
"Perhaps when the season starts, you'll discover, ah, that big guy named Drogba is really strong. But you'll soon find out he's also very agile. Some of you may say Drogba isn't especially tall for a target man, yes, he's only 1.90 meters, but his jumping ability is outstanding. League One center-backs, you're in for a tough time!"
At this point, Ethan burst out laughing.
"Drogba's speed isn't blistering, truly. I've seen it. In training, he definitely can't outrun Henry or Michael. But anyone who thinks they can easily stop him will be very disappointed, because he will completely destroy your defence and let you experience what it feels like to face a heavy tank!"
The "Michael" in Ethan's words naturally referred to Michael Owen, the current English Golden Boy, whom Ethan also knew and was friends with. So, he called Owen by his first name, and the reporters present only found it natural.
"Are you that confident in him?" a reporter jumped in to ask again.
"Of course!" Ethan replied without hesitation.
"Then can you guess how many goals he'll help the team score this season?"
Ethan smiled proudly, shaking his head. "No, no, no, my reporter friend, you clearly don't understand football deeply enough. Goals don't represent everything. We value Drogba's ability. Even if he doesn't score a single goal this season, he will absolutely be a crucial member of our team on the pitch!"
After saying that, Ethan specifically smiled at Drogba, who gratefully nodded back, feeling warmth in his heart.
After asking a few more questions about Drogba, the reporters immediately shifted the topic to Čech.
"Is it worth using such a precious exceptional talent application on a goalkeeper?"
"He is an exceptional talent. You tell me if it's worth it?" Ethan countered with a smile.
"But he's never proven himself!"
"That's why he's called an exceptional talent. Those who have already proven themselves, like Buffon, like Casillas, are called geniuses."
"You're comparing Čech to Buffon and Casillas?"
"Of course. They are all members of the genius club!"
"He's so young. Aren't you afraid such an evaluation will put too much pressure on him?" a reporter kindly asked.
Ethan nodded gratefully at the reporter and replied, "Today's professional players all live under pressure. Whether in the Premier League, League One, or League Two, there is pressure. Goalkeepers have even greater pressure. Some of them stand in the cold for ninety minutes in a match, and then suddenly, a shot comes from nowhere. They have to react immediately, adjust their bodies, and save the ball. If they save it, they've done their job. If a goal is scored, they're blamed for it. Which do you think carries more pressure?"
After speaking, Ethan patted Čech on the shoulder. "He has great potential. I believe he can handle the pressure and will become a world-class goalkeeper in the future, just like Casillas and Buffon!"
The reporters clearly had not expected Ethan to give such high praise to Drogba and Čech, especially with such confidence in his voice, as if he were stating an undeniable fact.
His tone was full of unquestionable certainty.
This immediately caused a stir among the reporters, who all clamoured to ask Ethan this and that. Ethan patiently answered their questions, fulfilling his responsibilities as club owner. He also gave high praise to Senna and Chiellini, believing that Senna would not only fulfill Poulsen's role in the team last season, but would do even better than Poulsen.
As for Chiellini, he directly asked the reporters, "Who is Italy's best center-back right now?"
Someone immediately mentioned Nesta, the Lazio star currently being fiercely pursued by Real Madrid. Ethan then smiled and said that Chiellini was New Manchester United's Nesta, and that he would become a top Italian center-back in the future, just like Nesta.
This again caused a commotion among the media, who grilled Ethan with questions, and Ethan answered every one, maintaining a very friendly attitude.
"Mr. Yu, I heard that after losing Campbell, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in New Manchester United's Curtis Davies. What are your thoughts on this?"
As soon as this reporter's question came out, the entire room fell silent. Clearly, this was the topic they were most concerned about at the moment.
Curtis had already played as a starting center-back for the England under-18s in warm-up matches, performing very impressively, and had been hailed as England's future starting center-back, even being seen as the new Ferdinand.
"A talented center-back. It's normal for Spurs to be interested in him!" Ethan said with a relaxed smile.
"Aren't you afraid Curtis will be tempted by Spurs? I heard his parents are quite supportive of him returning to London to play for a London team!"
"First, I have to say that Mr. and Mrs. Davies and I have a deep friendship. They did indeed hope Curtis would return to London, but that was a few years ago. At least since last year, they've already dropped that idea. And if they had any thoughts, they would tell me immediately. We are friends!"
At this point, Ethan smiled with obvious confidence. "The current situation is that Spurs are wishfully thinking that, as a Premier League team, Curtis would come running to them. But the reality is, Curtis has never planned to leave Manchester!"
"What about Manchester United? Ferguson also once expressed interest in Curtis. What do you think about the possibility of Curtis transferring to Manchester United?"
"There's no such possibility!" Ethan denied it unequivocally.
"But the Curtis family are die-hard Manchester United fans, and joining Manchester United wouldn't require him to leave Manchester!"
"But now they are die-hard New Manchester United fans. He won't transfer to Spurs, he won't transfer to Manchester United, and he definitely won't transfer to any other team. His future is at New Manchester United, and I believe both he himself and the club are very clear about this!"
"But if a Premier League team offers an astronomical fee, it would probably be hard for New Manchester United to refuse, right?" a reporter muttered.
Upon hearing this, Ethan immediately straightened his face and asked coldly, "Excuse me, how high a fee can they offer?"
The reporter was startled by Ethan's tone. "Maybe £5 million, or even £10 million!"
In his impression, £10 million was already considered an astronomical fee for a player who had only played half a season of professional league football for New Manchester United.
"Then I'll tell you, my reporter friend. Curtis's new contract with our team has a release clause of one hundred million, in pounds. Whoever can afford that price can take him. Of course, even if someone is willing to pay that price, he might be a little tempted and call me to say, ah, boss, some fool offered £100 million for me, should I go?"
Ethan's words immediately amused the reporters below, and they all burst into laughter.
However, from these words, the reporters understood that Curtis had no intention of leaving New Manchester United, and Ethan had no intention of letting him go. They were like a couple in love, neither wanting to part with the other.
"What about John Terry?"
This center-back had delivered very stable and excellent performances during his season with New Manchester United, attracting the attention of many clubs.
"He is another Curtis Davies!"
The two center-backs were the most prominent focus of New Manchester United's summer, while Essien, who participated in the World Youth Championship and scored for Ghana, did not attract as much attention. Only Manchester United called to ask whether New Manchester United were willing to sell Essien and Sulley Muntari to them.
However, New Manchester United had already clearly rejected Manchester United's offer because Ethan knew Ferguson's intentions. Manchester United's current squad could not accommodate these two players, so he planned to buy them and then loan them out to play in Belgium, recalling them to England once they developed into top talents.
Essien was currently a key player in New Manchester United's first team. He had an emotional connection to New Manchester United, and his mother also worked in Newton Heath, while his siblings attended nearby schools. The club had treated him well, and he had signed a long-term contract with New Manchester United, so he would not leave the team.
As for Muntari, he would continue his loan spell at Droylsden this season. He had been Droylsden's starting defensive midfielder last season, performing well, and would compete in the Football Conference for Droylsden this season.
Besides these players, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, and Hleb also attracted interest, but New Manchester United had no plans to sell them because they were all important parts of Mourinho's tactics.
Among the entire squad, perhaps the only player no team was interested in was Olić. This Croatian workhorse was a substitute for New Manchester United last season, getting a fair amount of playing time, and his performance was only average. However, he had no dissatisfaction with his substitute status, and he got along well with his teammates. He was the kind of player who would not complain if he did not get a chance, but once given an opportunity, he would fight fiercely on the pitch.
Mourinho was very fond of Olić, so he repeatedly told Ethan that Olić's salary should be increased, and Ethan had already offered Olić a higher salary to keep him happily at New Manchester United.
It was precisely because Ethan had already settled the players' minds before they went on holiday that he could calmly observe the changes in the transfer market during the chaotic summer window, watching those transfer dramas that he could once only follow from afar through the news with a relaxed and leisurely attitude.
For example, Zidane's transfer to Real Madrid, Verón's transfer to Manchester United, and so on!
(To be continued.)
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)