Godfather Of Champions

Tang En handed over the matter of Anelka to Allan Adams to deal with. He did not ask further questions. Allan would let him know whether it went through or not.

Meanwhile, Tang En threw himself into the team’s training and other signings.

As Tang En could find no better alternative as a substitute for Forest’s defensive midfielder, he decided not to let Gunnarsson go. Despite his abilities being much too lacking in comparison with George Wood and having a very limited effect on the field when he was required as a substitute, Tang En took into account that his plan barely involved fielding Gunnarsson. Unless Wood was rash, Gunnarsson would likely have very few chances to play. Letting him remain in the team was only to deal with any accidents that might occur.

Although Forest had spent four million pounds to acquire Pepe, Tang En’s reformation of the defensive line was not yet complete. For a team that wished to conquer the UEFA Champions League, Tang En deeply understood the importance of defense. In fact, in the recent decade, almost all the final victors of the Champions League depended on their defense, and not offense, to win. In such league competitions, only a team possessing great defense would go far.

Tang En felt that Forest was still lacking a well-rounded player who could play several positions; in other words, a utility player. Such players did not need particularly outstanding abilities. Instead, they had to be able to quickly adjust to whatever position they were playing and perform at their usual level.

It was challenging to find someone capable of that.

Even after racking his brain and agonizing over it, he could not think of any suitable person to play as a substitute for Forest.

At first, he had had his eye on younger players. Due to Tang En’s habits when playing FM, wherein he often preferred using younger players, he became somewhat youth-oriented in his management. He hoped that the players he purchased were young and talented, with the ability to serve Forest for a long time. However, wasn’t it wasteful to designate such a person as a substitute? Furthermore, if it was truly some football genius, which club would easily give them up to their opponents?

Tang En had been keen on Man City’s young defender, Micah Richards. The youth, turning 17 next year, was still on Man City’s Youth Team. Despite this, he had already attracted a lot of attention. Forest Team communicated their hopes of buying Richards to Man City and immediately got turned down. No matter how good the relationship between Stuart Pearce and Tang En was, it was beyond negotiation. Richards was to be the future star of Man City. Tang En had seen something in him that Stuart also saw.

Over the phone, Pearce honestly told Tang En that he could not sell Richards to any other team; the lad was going to become Man City’s future. Currently, he was the captain of the Youth Team. In the future, however, he might just take on the same position on Man City’s First Team.

Hearing this from Pearce, Tang En knew that he could dismiss all ideas of owning Richards. If he wanted to make a purchase, he might have to wait a few more years. But at that time, whether Richards could still perform up to the same standard and whether Forest would still be interested were both uncertain.

“…If that’s the case, Pearce… I would like to purchase another player from Man City: Sun Jihai.”

Pearce’s brows tightened when he heard the name. “But he’s one of our main players now.”

“Pearce, it’s either Richards or Sun Jihai. You’ve got to at least give one of them to me, right? Or, you could loan Richards to me…”

Pearce paused briefly, and said, “I’ll need some time to consider this, Tony. Wait for my call.”

※※※

Sun Jihai was a name that Tang En casually had brought up. Of course, he knew that Sun Jihai was a main player in Man City. Other than having played only nine matches in the previous season due to his injury and illness, he had always been the leading choice to fill Man City’s position of right back from the EFL to the Premier League. However, his recent comeback from recovery caused some doubt in his ability.

Tang En’s aim was really to add the statement, “or, you could loan Richards to me.” He felt that Pearce would not agree to sell Sun Jihai to him; after all, Man City still needed him right now. Richards, on the other hand, was on the Youth Team. It was not a bad idea to loan him out to Forest.

Tang En’s mind was relentlessly fixed on Richards. However, the news of his intended purchase of Sun Jihai became known to the all-pervasive media. China’s media, naturally, had the biggest reaction to it:

A team who has attained the qualifications for the UEFA Champions League is intending on bringing in Chinese player, Sun Jihai, to enhance the positions of their left and right back. This is something worthy of Chinese pride – should the transaction be successful, Sun Jihai will become the first Chinese player to appear on the European competition scene.

As such, the transaction, which had yet to even be decided, was already being stirred up by the Chinese media. Within a remarkably short time, it had already gotten to the point of the Chinese being utterly convinced that Sun Jihai was going to join Nottingham Forest.

From this, Tang En managed, once again, to experience the passion of China.

“Just this afternoon alone, I’ve had 17 phone calls requesting an interview. There were some who wanted to interview me directly, and some who wanted to get confirmation from the club about the news… On their end, they’re almost at the point of reporting that ‘Sun Jihai has already joined Nottingham Forest.’ Only now do they remember to learn the actual news!”

Tang En patted the stack of papers in his hands as he spoke to Dunn beside him. “Your Chinese comrades are sure full of passion…”

Dunn smiled. “Aren’t they also yours?”

“Ah. My apologies. I got too much into the role.” Tang En scratched his head.

Dunn turned back to retrieve a videotape from the recorder labeled “Sun Jihai” on its side. He passed it to Tang En.

“He fits your requirements very well indeed. He can play almost all the positions on the defensive line, as well as defensive midfielder and side midfielder… If you’re willing, he can even play as a forward.”

Tang En took the tape and shook his head. “Of course, I know all that. I watched him play earlier than you did… But, I don’t think that Pearce would be willing to give Sun Jihai to us. They don’t have that many player options for right back.”

After a look from Dunn, Tang En hastily raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, fine. I’ll be honest. I didn’t want Sun Jihai. My mind is set on Richards. I only want to make Pearce understand that while they can’t do without Sun Jihai for now, they are able to loan Richards to us…”

“Then what are you frowning about?”

Tang En pursed his lips. “I’m worried about how I should manage the Chinese media. Their passion is hot. Should I tell them honestly that I was just kidding?”

“Deal with it perfunctorily,” Dunn said as he busied with choosing a tape. In response, Tang En just shot him a look.

※※※

The next day, Tang En called on Barbara Lucy. She was the person in charge of managing media calls.

“There are so many of them… We can’t possibly hold a press conference over a transfer that hasn’t even come to pass. Why don’t you pick one of the media companies and invite them to Wilford? I’ll speak to them on my own. You can just turn down all the other requests.”

“Alright, Mr. Twain.”

Barbara Lucy was extremely experienced and decisive. What she had promised Tang En to do in the morning was accomplished by afternoon, with two Chinese reporters arriving at the Wilford Training Grounds. They showed their identification to Old Ian at the guardhouse and were let in after Ian’s confirmation over the phone with Ms. Lucy.

The two reporters walked into the training grounds and looked around curiously. They were probably the first two Chinese reporters to step foot in Forest’s training area.

Ms. Lucy did not let their Chinese guests wait for too long and swiftly came out of the building, bringing them to Tang En’s office.

Tang En was not present when they arrived. Lucy arranged for them to sit while they waited. After serving them both tea, she left.

The two Chinese reporters, a man and a woman, rose from the sofa immediately after Lucy’s departure. They scrutinized the modestly-sized office. An entire wall was filled with books, all sorts of books related to soccer. The office desk appeared rather messy and on it sat a computer currently in sleep mode. The computer case emitted a soft whirring sound.

A glass cabinet stood on the side of the wall where the sofa was. The numerous honors received by the manager of the team were displayed there: three “Football League First Division Manager of the Month” (now EFL Championship), two “Premier League Manager of the Month,” and last season’s “Premier League Local Manager of the Season.”

On seeing the final trophy, the male reporter laughed.

“Last season’s ‘Premier League Manager of the Season’ was Mourinho. I heard that many people in the English football circle then believed that Tony only lost to Mourinho because he was not famous enough; because Nottingham Forest was not as influential as Chelsea…”

The female reporter on his side replied, “If Forest had the same kind of influence as Chelsea, but only attained fourth in the League, I’m afraid Tony Twain would be fired by the board of directors.”

The man looked back at her and laughed dryly. “I say, Tang Jing, you’re a football journalist now, not Mourinho’s groupie. Maybe you should take note of your own status.”

The female reporter referred to as “Tang Jing” ignored her colleague and walked to the front of the enormous French window. She looked towards the training grounds not far away. From her position, she could clearly observe the team’s situation during training. Tang En’s back was to the window. As usual, he did not demonstrate personally on the field but stood by the side supervising.

The male reporter walked over to Tang Jing. He gave the group of people a quick scan and pointed out a tall, bald player, saying, “That’s Pepe. He cost four million pounds and used up the sole ‘Exceptional Talent Clause’ quota per season for Forest. I wonder what kind of performance he’ll have in the new season.”

The woman’s focus, however, was not on the team. She had been looking at Tony Twain, whose back was to them.

Ms. Barbara Lucy, who had led them in, made her appearance at the training grounds. She walked over to Tony’s side and said something; she was probably informing him about the arrival of the media’s representatives. Tony nodded, but did not turn to look at the office behind him.

She left after relaying the message. Tony continued standing at the sidelines, supervising the training. It seemed like he did not have any intention of leaving the grounds to return to his office.

“That’s George Wood. He looks so stern; it fits the media’s evaluation of him. It’s not so easy to get an opportunity to observe Forest Team’s training this close up.”

The man seemed more interested in Forest’s players.

Tang Jing interrupted him, saying, “Wang, you’re already an old football journalist, not some small-time football fan. Maybe you should take note of your own status.”

The middle-aged man called “Wang” chuckled embarrassedly. “So, you’ve learned! I say, if you don’t like this manager, what did you come along for?”

“For work.”

“If it’s for work, I would be enough on my own.”

“Wang!”

Uncle Wang coughed and changed the topic. “To be honest… this Tony Twain is pretty interesting. He likes Chinese culture, and the rumor is that he can speak fluent Mandarin. It could get interesting if his team becomes linked with Sun Jihai. If Sun Jihai really comes to Forest, it might turn out to be a great opportunity for him. Think about it. How helpful would a manager who is able to communicate directly in Mandarin with Jihai be to him?”

“Sun Jihai plays a main position in Man City. Why does Forest want to buy him? I think it’s to make him a substitute for the French fullback. Moving from a main position to be a substitute – I don’t think that would be any help to Sun Jihai’s career.”

“But Nottingham Forest is qualified to enter the Champions League this season.”

“It’s only the qualification matches of the Champions League. Whether or not they can play in the Champions League itself remains uncertain until after they win Villarreal CF. And who was the only opponent they lost to in the Europa League Group Stage last year? Villarreal CF.”

Tang Jing was not optimistic about Forest’s future in the Champions League.

Wang made no comeback to Tang Jing’s words. He was twelve years older than this girl; there was no need to compete with her. She had just been sent to the UK by the agency for the long-term. Of course, the most important reason was that Tang Jing was the president’s daughter. Many times, he still had to give in to her a wee bit for appearances’ sake.

Tang Jing had some real ability and was professionally trained as a journalist. Since she was young, she had followed in her father’s footsteps, his influence nurturing her interest in football. While she had taken the back-door to get into the agency, to get to London, she was not going to just be a gold-plated vase. But who knows what she would tell her father when she returned home? And how would her doting father interpret what she said? All in all, it was much better for him to act prudently.