Godfather Of Champions

Anelka’s performance in the press conference managed to satisfy Forest’s supporters. Not only did he appear resolute in playing his part to serve the team, but he also made a fuss about Forest’s once glorious results. He said that Nottingham Forest was a “great” club and a “great” team.

Fans were naïve. If a new player said that they loved the team and was able to mention a thing or two about the team’s past glories, the fans would be more than happy to accept them. So, even a player like Anelka could receive the support of numerous Forest fans.

There was another important reason that explained how they could so quickly accept Anelka. As fans who had personally experienced their journey these past few years—of Nottingham Forest being a no-name to being renowned throughout Europe; of a team that was bogged down by a mire of relegations to a team that had gotten into the qualifiers of the UEFA Champions League; of a Forest that was the champion of the EFL Cup—they all had a kind of fanatic trust in following and supporting their manager, Tony Twain.

They were fond of Tony for more than his lack of standoffishness with the fans; when he saw them on the street, he would greet and chat with them like they were old friends. But what was more important were the results he produced when he led the team. Before him, perhaps only Brian Clough performed better.

While the fans liked the faithful old blokes who had been serving in Forest’s managerial team for decades, they liked, even more, a manager who could lead the team to victory and glory.

Forest’s fans believed that Manager Tony would have a way of dealing with Anelka, no matter how eccentric he was.

So, what method did Twain have?

“What method could I possibly have? I’m not the Encyclopedia Britannica, Superman with his underpants on the outside, or a particularly smart person who can solve any issue with a scratch of their brain…” On their way to the training grounds, Tang En was grousing to Dunn. “It is difficult to change a person’s character. It’s even more difficult to change a person who is stubborn and willful. And it’s above and beyond difficult to change someone who’s stubborn, willful, and has two agent brothers by his side feeding him lousy ideas!”

Dunn stayed quiet, allowing Tang En to vent his frustrations. When they got to Wilford Lane and the two had to go their separate ways, Tang En suddenly stopped short. He looked up at the thick shadow from the trees and muttered to himself, “But why do I have to change him? If he’s useful, use him. If not… We’ll see!”

Returning to the manager’s office, Tang En found David Kerslake waiting there. It appeared as if he wanted to discuss something with him.

“Is anything the matter, David?”

Kerslake looked like he was struggling to say something.

“This isn’t your style, David,” Tang En said, feeling odd. “You’ve always been very straightforward.”

“Uh… I’m a little worried about Anelka. Would he disrupt the mood of the team? You know, our team’s atmosphere has always been pretty good…”

Tang En started laughing. “Isn’t it a little too late to be worrying about that? Now that he’s a member of Forest, there’s no point worrying. If not… Should we put him in the reserve?”

Kerslake’s head shook like a pellet drum. “No way. If we do that, we’ll become laughing stocks. Who on earth would put a player costing eight million pounds onto the reserve team?”

“So.” Tang En shrugged. “Whether we want him or not, Anelka is here. We need to treat him just like any other First Team player.”

The reasoning was understood easily enough by Assistant Manager Kerslake. “I know… Should we speak to Anelka privately?”

Tang En looked at him oddly. “What about?”

“Uh… To tell him to take note of the unity in the locker room…”

“Don’t joke, David.” Tang En laughed again. “Telling someone with an eccentric personality, ‘I think you have a bad temper, and you need to change.’ Do you think he’ll listen?”

Kerslake shook his head. “I guess not…”

“So, we’re not going to do anything. Remember what I said earlier. Just treat him like any other player. That’ll do. We’ll treat him just as we treat the others. If he thinks he’s a huge star who won in the Champions League before and wants to throw his weight around here… very good.” Tang En nodded firmly. “I’m not afraid of wasting Allan’s money.”

“I thought you and Anelka had discussed this… During the press conference yesterday, the both of you looked so cheerful,” Kerslake said with a shake of his head.

“How is that possible? I only gave him a call after the signing of the contract to welcome him to Forest Team. Nothing else was said. And what was said during yesterday’s press conference was entirely arranged by those two brothers of his.”

It dawned on Kerslake. “Their arrangements for these sorts of matters are always impeccable looking from the outside.”

“But, of course. Those two are the best at putting on a show. Transferring six times in six years; even if they didn’t know how to, they would have learned it by now,” Tang En remarked, sarcasm dripping off his words.

Resuming his normal tone as he turned to speak to Kerslake, he said, “Anyway, David, just remember this. No matter what, don’t treat Anelka in any special way. You don’t have to worry about anything. After joining a new team, I believe he will behave himself for a while…”

Tang En was unaware of what had happened in Turkey. But, according to what he had heard from Allan, the transfer this time was not planned by the two greedy agents. In fact, it was Anelka who had initiated it. However, Fenerbahçe S.K. was unwilling to let the forward who had only played for half a season and cost seven million pounds go. So he privately contacted Nottingham Forest, who was desperately looking for a forward.

Perhaps the lofty French forward could not withstand the differences he felt after abruptly leaving the heart of the soccer scene for such a remote place; perhaps he was greatly disappointed by the atmosphere in the Turkish Leagues; perhaps he felt that he had not yet fallen to the point of playing there; or perhaps he even hoped to earn more money through his return to the center stage of soccer… Regardless, he hoped to gain something.

That was good; Tang En did not need anyone who had no desire for glory, victory, or money. He was not afraid of someone who was hard to tame, he was afraid of someone without the will.

No matter how Anelka was as a person or what nasty ploys the two brothers behind him were cooking up, so long as he was useful to the team, Tang En would use him.

But, if you want to pull any tricks… I’m sorry to say, the eight million did not come from my pocket. I would not feel any pain at all if I let this money go to waste.

“Let’s go, David. I think they should have arrived.”

It was Anelka’s first time participating in Forest’s training. As per the custom, Tang En would be introducing the new player to his teammates. Even if the player joining was a big, internationally-renowned star like Beckham, he still had to go with the procedure and make an introduction.

“Nicolas Anelka.”

Tang En motioned to the French forward standing beside him, saying, “Even though there are many rumors out there, I hope everyone will use their own eyes to see if he’s really a jerk.”

The crowd laughed lightly.

“From today onward, he’s a member of Forest.” Tang En gave Anelka’s back a pat.

“Go on. They’re all great to mingle with.”

Anelka smiled somewhat bashfully, walked towards the team, and stood to the side.

Tang En waited for the attention on Anelka to fade before clapping his hands, indicating that he wanted to say something else. “Alright, everyone. A new season has started again. Champions, victory, and a trove of prize money… That all awaits us. There’s nothing more exciting! After the rest you’ve had, I’m sure everyone’s feet have begun to itch, hoping to have a match with some team to scratch them, right?”

The Forest players who had followed Tang En through the last season, and those from the season before the last, all let out knowing laughter.

“You’re right, Boss!”

Tang En waved a hand. “Of course, the opponents in your warm-up matches can’t rouse your spirits at all; and not mine either. I’d like to have real fights, real opponents!” He balled his hands into fists. “It’s meaningless to win a competition that comes without a prize. If we want to win, we’ve got to win the Premier League, win the Champions League! Win the toughest competition and beat the most difficult opponents! Last season, we made those who looked down on us pay a painful price. Think about Chelsea, Manchester United, Everton, and Liverpool. Think about all those who we have beaten. And then think again about the faces of those who took us lightly at the end of the season. How do you guys feel?”

“It feels awesome!”

“Oh yeah!”

“Good. Let’s continue that this season!”

Tang En had barely finished his sentence when whistles, laughter, and clapping spilled over one another. He did not stop them from going wild but instead stood by with an indulgent smile as he watched them.

※※※

After bringing in Anelka, Tang En seriously re-examined the members of the team and discovered that there was no further need for them to procure more players despite having gained the qualifications for the Champions League. His plans to build up the team culminated from when he had first taken over until this moment. Every player was slowly bought over according to how he wanted it. Forest did not need to crazily wipe out the entire transfer market, buying seven or eight players at a go while letting go of the ones they had like they did some summers ago.

Nottingham Forest no longer needed such a huge change of blood on the team. The team now had a reasonable age variation and adequate allocation of players; there were no wastefully hoarded players.

In other words, the Forest Team no longer needed to continue their search on the transfer market. The formation of Tang En’s football team had essentially been confirmed.