My light shines on Arsenal

Chapter 113 Impossible Challenge
When Ivan Gazidis' bald forehead appeared in front of Chen Yao, Chen Yao had the urge to treat it as a punching bag.

But he restrained the desire to do it, and greeted him with a smile: "Hi, Ivan."

"Hello, Chen. Oh, Tim, you're here too."

Gazidis smiled hypocritically with Chen Yao, and then pretended to hug Tim Lewis in surprise.

Tim Lewis coughed and avoided Gazidis' hug.

Gazidis had no choice but to change the hug into a pat on the shoulder, pretending to be relaxed: "Everyone is here, just right, we can go on vacation."

"On vacation?" Tim Lewis frowned, "Ivan, you are said to be very busy recently."

"No." Gazidis played dumb, "Tim, didn't we just come back from Mr. Kroenke?"

"Then you should know that the task given to you by Mr. Kroenke is to run the team well, not to turn the team into your own toy." Tim Lewis snorted coldly.

Gazidis was shocked. Tim Lewis's words were tantamount to implying that he was not running the business well and was not of the same mind as the Kroenke family.

For a club like Arsenal where management and ownership are separated, the most taboo thing for owners is the principal-agent conflict with management.

If his work does not satisfy the Kroenke family, and even makes the Kroenke family think that their goals and interests have conflicted with them, then Gazidis knows that his time at Arsenal will not be long.

Gazidis is also well aware of the background of Tim Lewis, who can basically be considered the butler and avatar of the old Kroenke, whose friendship with the Kroenke family runs deep.

Although I also have a good personal relationship with Stan Kroenke, it is more of a personal relationship of mutual use, and there is no comparison with Tim Lewis, a character who is deeply related to the Kroenke family.

Could it be that his decision to lay off staff offended Tim?

Gazidis glanced at Chen Yao again, or was this young head coach trying to counter him?

"Don't manage the club with the same mentality as managing the major leagues, Ivan." Tim Lewis said coldly, "What we need is a united, stable team with good continuity. This is Mr. Kroenke's property, not a loose league of thirty teams.”

"Or, if you really have something in mind." Tim Lewis moved closer to Gazidis. "Later, but not now."

"Okay, Tim." Gazidis didn't avoid Tim Lewis' gaze, but greeted him with a smile on his face, "I see."

He looked at Chen Yao with an ambiguous smile again and sighed, "Chen, I'm not targeting you. The club's financial pressure is very great, and we have tens of millions of pounds of loans to repay this year. I just want to It’s just a way to reduce costs, you have to understand my difficulties.”

Gazidis turned to look at Tim Lewis again, "Tim, I don't have any personal desires. You know the team's financial situation very well, and it's impossible for us to get shareholder financing. I have to squeeze money out of wherever." .”

"Our expenses are too huge, so I hope to replace the transfer department with a leaner football director team. And I have purchased services from a data consulting company, which can greatly reduce the expenditure on scouting."

Gazidis looked like he was working hard, "But I didn't expect that this would cause misunderstandings, and Tim, I apologize, I underestimated its impact on the stability and unity of the club."

Tim Lewis smiled and accepted Gazidis' apology.

He also didn't want to have any conflicts with Gazidis. After all, they were both Kroenke's workers.

It's just that Tim Lewis smelled something bad. Gazidis' ambition and aggressiveness were too much. He knew that no club could remain stable under this level of internal turmoil.

If Arsenal suffers from internal and external troubles and plummets not long after he and Kroenke are sent to London, then Tim Lewis knows very well that Kroenke cannot bear the responsibility. He can return to Denver or go to St. Louis. , other properties from Kroenke continue to prove themselves.

Who will bear the responsibility for the loss?it goes without saying.

And his career is expected to be severely damaged.

Appropriate intervention is enough, Tim Lewis said with a relaxed smile: "Chen, Ivan, you are responsible for the sports and business of the team respectively, communicate more when encountering problems, and cooperate well."

Chen Yao could see that Tim Lewis was trying to smooth things over.

He couldn't help but smiled wryly in his heart, even if he moved to Arsenal, office politics still existed.

Or pure football.

Now is not the time to push the envelope. It is unrealistic to drive Gazidis away immediately. Retain your control over the team, and then prove your ability with good records and increasing revenue. Other things will come later. talk later.

Chen Yao also shook hands with Gazidis graciously, and said with a smile: "Mr. Gazidis, I completely understand you, our goal is the same. Um... so, I think the scout team and The transfer team should still be kept, what do you think?"

"That's natural, I can re-draw the contract with them." Gazidis also chuckled, "But Chen, I have to tell you first, the team's financial pressure still exists, and you have to deal with this problem. "

Tim Lewis looked at the happy scene in the office and his mood improved.

He stretched himself, stood up and adjusted his clothes, and said with a smile, "Then you guys talk to each other again, and I'll be leaving first."

"Slow down, Tim."

After Tim Lewis opened the door and left, only Chen Yao and Gazidis were left in the office.

Although this was only the second time they had met face to face, the atmosphere in the air was not friendly.

Gazidis sighed, "Chen, I have no personal grudges with you."

"Neither have I, Mr. Gazidis."

"I don't expect you to understand me, but everything I do is to make the club better."

"Me too."

"The standards for assessing us are different, Chen. I will transform this club in my own way and within my responsibilities."

"I will too, don't question my determination, Ivan."

"Well, it seems that we have made it clear." Gazidis smiled slightly, "Work hard, I hope you can stay here for a while."

He looked around and sighed: "The previous owner of this room stayed here for 16 years."

Chen Yao didn't say anything more, Ghazidis straightened his coat, got up and prepared to leave.

"Oh, by the way, Chen, there's something I forgot to tell you."

Gazidis turned his head, half-smile.

"Your transfer budget for the summer is £500m including wages."

"The club will assign an accountant to help you control your fund expenditures. I hope you will enjoy your cooperation."

"That's it, good luck."

Gazidis opened the door and left quickly.

Chen Yao was the only one left in the room again.

Fifteen million pounds?
This budget may not even be as good as a relegation team.

Chen Yao has seen Arsenal's financial statements. The most difficult time for the team to operate was from 2006 to 2011. The loan of 1 million pounds for Highbury's renovation and the loan of 4 million pounds for the Emirates Stadium, as well as the resulting interest, made Arsenal An average of at least £5600m has to be repaid every season.

At this time, inflation was not so serious, and 3000 million pounds was enough to sign a famous star.

The first five years were also the most serious loss of Arsenal's competitiveness. Therefore, every season, the Gunners have to struggle to keep their qualifications for the Champions League, and they have to sell their stars to make up for the shortfall with tens of millions of pounds in income.

And even if it persists until now, Arsenal still has hundreds of millions of net financial liabilities on its books.

It's hard to say that Gazidis is making things difficult for himself with this budget, after all, the team's financial pressure is real.

With a six-month probationary period and a budget of 500 million pounds, the team is facing major personnel changes, but it must also maintain sufficient competitiveness and even compete for championships in the future.

This is an impossible challenge, but Chen Yao is looking forward to this challenge.

(End of this chapter)