After signing with AC Milan, I will be the king of football!

Chapter 2006: Chapter 524: The Venture Halts Midway (Obstructed on the Road)

Guardiola, lying on the hospital bed, saw three people and was a bit surprised. He immediately greeted them, ”Come in.”

”How’s your back recovery going, coach?”

Huang Kaiwen put down the gifts and said.

Today he brought ham, freshly squeezed juice, and a Beatles album.

These are all things Guardiola likes.

Guardiola thinks canned juice is just industrial sugar water. He not only doesn’t drink it himself but also doesn’t allow Milan Players to drink it.

”To be honest, there’s not much progress.”

Guardiola said with a bitter smile, ”Sometimes I wonder if I should have surgery and temporarily stay away from the field.”

When he was coaching Barca, he often fell ill. Many times the broadcast cameras caught him gritting his teeth in pain on the bench, and during those times, he would choose to stand on the sidelines enduring the pain.

”If you want surgery, just go for it. The club supports your decision.”

Gagliani said.

”Forget it, it’s not time to stop yet.”

Guardiola shook his head and said.

Mourinho was already way ahead of him.

If he stopped, who knows, someone might replace him.

There was a moment of silence in the high-class ward.

Guardiola took the initiative to ask, ”You didn’t come just to visit the sick today, did you?”

Gagliani nodded and said, ”Yes, Clemente is already on the verge of being dismissed. He’s a member of your coaching staff, and I thought I should let you know.”

”Didn’t he just lose one match?”

Guardiola asked in surprise.

”You won’t feel it just by reading the newspapers. The main pressure comes from the first team.” Gagliani explained, ”The first team players are no longer willing to cooperate with him. His tactics are always aggressive and change repeatedly. The players can’t adapt. Now, the atmosphere in the team is very bad. If he continues to coach, bigger problems might arise.”

Guardiola fell silent.

Recently, his sources of information were all newspapers.

He hardly watched TV.

Though he knew about Clemente’s performance, he didn’t expect a mutiny in the locker room already.

How much time has passed!

”I can accept any decision made by the club.”

After about five minutes, Guardiola said.

”We hope he’ll leave the coaching staff.”

Gagliani said, ”The players don’t want to see him, and neither do the fans.”

”Alright, but make sure he’s adequately compensated.”

Guardiola nodded and said.

”Don’t worry, Milan won’t shortchange anyone.”

Gagliani sighed in relief and said.

Ultimately, it’s about Guardiola’s opinion since Clemente was his assistant at Barca.

Now, dismissing Clemente ahead of time solves more than half of the problem.

”So who will be the interim coach next?”

Guardiola looked at Cesare Maldini and asked.

”Just as you thought.”

Gagliani said, ”Cesare was the first Italian to lift the Champions League Trophy. When you return, he will still be part of the coaching staff and help the team get through this season.”

”I have no objections. This is a continuation of the club’s tradition.”

Guardiola said with a smile.

He had met Old Maldini and found him to be a nice person.

”That’s good, take care and recover well.”

Gagliani nodded and said.

The three left the ward together.

Cesare Maldini remarked, ”I never thought I’d be pulled out as a scapegoat at my age. I never imagined that at nearly 80, I could return to work at the club.”

”This means you are capable.”

Huang Kaiwen said with a smile.

Gagliani immediately followed up, ”Yes, Kevin thought of you right away. No one is more suitable than you. Our honor room still has a photo of you lifting the trophy.”

Cesare Maldini stopped walking, stood there, and said to Huang Kaiwen, ”I’m old and can’t keep up with the times. Do whatever you think is best, and if the team doesn’t perform well, I’ll take responsibility. What you’ve done for Milan, for Italy, for Maldini, I can’t thank you enough.”

Huang Kaiwen showed a big smile and said, ”You are overthinking it. We’re bringing you back not to bear the fans’ anger, but because we hope that at the end of the season, Cesare Maldini can once again lift the Champions League Trophy!”

”Alright, when you’re old, you tend to overthink things.”

Cesare Maldini laughed and extended his hand, ”For the next period, let’s work together.”

”Let’s do our best together!”

Huang Kaiwen extended his hand and said.

Later, Milan’s official website announced: ”After our mutual agreement, interim coach and member of Guardiola’s coaching staff, Clemente, will terminate his contract early. We thank him for his contributions over the past year and a half and wish him all the best in his future!”