freeallnovels Chapter 443: Welcome to Hell
Chapter 443: Welcome to Hell
Chapter 443: Welcome to HellIstanbul, Turkey
Once known as Constantinople, the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul is now the capital of Turkey. This city, once the political center that ruled over Europe, is rich in complexity and conflict, encompassing economics, culture, and religion. Positioned on the boundary between Europe and Asia, it is clear that the city is anything but a simple, clear sky.
As the day gives way to night, the light fades, and on the road to Galatasaray's home ground, Ali Sami Yen Stadium, the Millwall bus draws closer to the stadium, where the number of "welcoming" fans on either side of the road increases.
Aldrich barely has time to admire the city's unique scenery, but the thumping sounds awaken memories from years ago.
Outside Galatasaray's club, fans dressed in red and yellow jerseys display fierce expressions as they wave banners. Some even hold torches and set off fireworks, bare-chested and hoisted by the crowd, wildly shouting at the Millwall bus, "Welcome to hell!"
Henry leans against the window to watch the scene outside when, out of nowhere, a small stone flies toward him, thumping against the glass with a loud bang. Startled, he instinctively ducks his head, provoking a chorus of raucous laughter from the fans outside.
Not only did the fans outside laugh, but Larson, sitting next to Henry, chuckled at the sight of Henry ducking.
Still shaken, Henry knows that the bus window offers some protection and that he isn't really in danger, but who wouldn't be scared to see an unidentified flying object coming at them?
He turns his head and sees Larson laughing at him. With a hint of trepidation, he says, "Those people outside are like a bunch of demons. Do you think the stadium security will hold up?"
Having played in England for over a year, Henry has gleaned from the media reports the intense football atmosphere in Turkey.
To put it nicely, it's called passion, but in the eyes of the British media, it's just chaos, criticized and condemned.
The situation is grim; the British media has their own biases. A few years ago, Manchester United visited Turkey, and both inside and outside the stadium, there were massive disturbances. The foreign press attributed the chaos to English football hooligans, but both governments denied this narrative. Investigations revealed that poor management by Turkish officials escalated the situation. However, British fans were painted with the same brush as hooligans, leading to years of focus on security whenever Premier League teams traveled to Turkey. Everyone hopes to avoid any trouble—it would be a tragedy for football.
Larson closes the book he had been reading on the way and turns to Henry with a smile. "If you had come to the team earlier, you wouldn't be so affected by what you see now. Look at Pavel, Gareth, and Bernd. They're all quite calm."
Curious, Henry asks, "Earlier? Millwall hasn't been to Turkey before, right?"
"Yeah, it's our first time, but we had a rival in the past. Their fans weren't like those Turkish fans outside. They truly hated us; you've missed the East London derby, and I think that's a regret for you. Maybe you'll have a chance to experience it later. I'm not sure if West Ham has been relegated from League One yet."
West Ham?
Henry ponders this; indeed, when he joined Millwall, he had done some thorough re
Nedved nodded seriously, saying, "Stay focused on the game. If you keep complaining to the referee, and your attention gets diverted by the fans, isn't that exactly what Galatasaray wants to see?"
Ronaldinho understood and followed Nedved's advice. The seasoned Nedved had accumulated a wealth of experience from his battles in the East London derby. This "rain of coins" was nothing to be alarmed about; players sometimes had to endure hostile fans' attacks, insults, humiliation, and even threats. Withstanding the pressure and remaining unfazed would forge a big heart and an impenetrable psychological defense.