Godfather Of Champions

As Tang En had asked the guards to chase off the reporters surrounding the outer grounds of the training area, the players only knew about what had occurred amid the apologies of their three teammates after training had ended. Seeing Tony’s gloomy expression, they did not dare to whistle.

The team was to face their first opponents in the Amsterdam Tournament, FC Porto, the next day. So, with the remaining half of the day left after the end of training and the public apology of the three, Tang En announced the team list for the next day.

As it was a warm-up match, the restrictions on the substitution quota were more relaxed. In the course of a match, both parties could change out five players each. So, the significance of the team list was not big; practically the whole team would be able to go to the match scene.

But today, Tang En took the effort to announce the list to issue a public warning to the three guilty parties, and at the same time warn the others.

On the team list he announced, there was no Ashley Young, Aaron Lennon, or Gareth Bale. The three already knew beforehand, so they did not show much reaction. However, the reactions of the other players on the team satisfied Tang En.

“Even though you’re unable to play in the match, you can still go watch the match live.” Tang En said to the three standing apart from the team after reading out the list. “Sometimes, watching the match from the spectator’s stands is a form of training.”

Handing the notebook to Kerslake, Tang En departed the training grounds with Dunn for the halls where the urgent press conference was held.

Over there, the place was already filled to the brim with impatient reporters.

Tang En had yet to arrive, but the small news conference hall was already packed with enough people to cause a disaster. The media from England, the Netherlands, as well as those from other locations, flocked to the place because they had attained Tang En’s promise that he would answer all their questions after training.

But what questions were there really? There was only one question everyone wanted answered: the news of the three players from Nottingham Forest getting involved with prostitutes.

Having such a scandal erupt as the new nobility in Europe’s football scene, wasn’t it something worth watching? Furthermore, the ages of the three players were all very young.

Pierce Brosnan was also among the crowd. He had come early and took up an advantageous position right in front, where he even had a seat.

The modestly spaced room was filled with the crowd and their buzz. Everyone was discussing last night’s matter at Amsterdam’s red-light district or guessing how Twain would face this awkward scandal at the press conference.

“I know what Tony Twain is like. He simply likes to oppose us.” An obese middle-aged man was talking unceasingly in a far-fetched manner. “If we say one, he’ll purposefully say two. If we say yes, he must answer no. It’s as if he doesn’t want our work to be easy… but this time, I want to hear what else he has to say. The photos are here, as real as it can get!” He patted a stack of newspapers in his hands. “If I want to, we can publish even more photos!”

Brosnan glanced at him. The typeface of The Sun printed in the newspapers was extremely eye-catching. So, he was a reporter from The Sun.

“Why don’t you publish them?” Tang En’s voice suddenly sounded from the back door. Everyone abruptly stopped their discussions and turned their gaze towards Tony Twain, who had appeared on the scene.

“Mister, your voice is really loud. This place is so raucous, yet I was still able to pinpoint your voice all the way from the outside, from amongst the swarm of voices.” Tang En pointed to the obese man who was standing amid the crowd, sticking out like a sore thumb.

Brosnan stifled his laughter.

But someone failed to, and a burst of laughter erupted from the scene. Amid the laughter, the reporter from The Sun grew red in the face and prepared to sit down.

“Oh, don’t sit down. The topic can start wit you.” Tang En pointed to the reporter who was about to sit. “Didn’t you say you wanted to publish more photos? Very good. I’m looking forward to even more fresh and interesting photographs. I would advise The Sun to release a special issue and put out all the photographs you have on hand. Put them all out so you don’t just leave people hanging. You know, if you consider this issue from a reader’s perspective, reading an ongoing serial will not be as comfortable as reading the complete series.”

Saying so, he looked at his opposition. “Do you have any questions?”

The fat man coughed and composed himself before deciding to retaliate. “Of course, sir. What are your thoughts about your three players appearing last night at that place? It’s match day tomorrow, but your subordinates have run off to visit a brothel.”

“I think it’s very normal.” Tang En answered expressionlessly. “Men naturally have such biological needs. It’s just as normal as the brothel visits your reporters from The Sun indulged in last night. You reporters from The Sun, you’re all married with families, aren’t you?”

Laughter rang out.

This was the unique quality o Tang En’s live press conference. Although there were many reporters in attendance, there were not that many people with questions. More of them came to watch how Tang En exchanged barbs with the media; his expressions, his words, his actions; all of that gave people the feeling that they were watching a marvelous show.

So, not all the media were standing in opposition to Tang En. In fact, some of them harbored an attitude of watching the show and were standing on Tang En’s side.

The fat reporter from The Sun was stumped by Tang En’s retort. He was right. This news was first published by their newspaper. There were even photos. It could be said to be irrefutable proof. Tang En would not be able to deny it even if he wanted to. Unexpectedly, Tang En never had the notion of denying it. After openly admitting to it, he even kicked the ball back to The Sun: my players did go visit a brothel last night, but what were the personnel from The Sun doing there?

“Fine. ‘Three young players from Nottingham Forest engage with prostitutes’ – those were your original words. Now it’s my turn to ask…” Hearing Tang En say that, the reporters perked up. Recorders, microphones, quick notes, handphones; everyone got into work mode.

“You claim that my people engaged with prostitutes. Where’s the proof of that?”

Tang En’s question momentarily stumped the reporter from The Sun.

“Proof? The photos aren’t?” The reporter indicated to the newspaper in his hands.

Tang En laughed with great delight. “To catch a thief, you must find the spoils; To catch an adulterer, you must find the offending couple. You claim that my people engaged with a prostitute, then please publish photos of them having sex with one.”

“That’s…” The Sun’s reporters did not think Tang En would have a comeback like that, denying the allegations from that angle. Who in their right mind would follow them into the brothel and squat by the bedside to take pictures? That sort of place only allowed one person to enter at a time. The rest had to queue up behind him. Even if their reporters were good, they could not possibly barge in.

Seeing that the other party was at a loss for words, Tang En began utilizing his expertise in making a mockery of them.

“Oh, The Sun, with its infinite resources, didn’t install secret cameras in each and every one of the brothels in Amsterdam’s red-light district? How regretful!” He said this while shaking his head and sighing. It was as if he really felt sorry about it. “You’ve truly disappointed me!”

Off the stage, muffled laughter could be heard all around.

Brosnan was no longer worried about the impact of the matter. Now, he was sitting in the best spot with his legs crossed, watching the show with glee. It would be better if only he had cola and popcorn.

Of course, his opponents would not willingly allow Tang En to mock them that way. The reporter very quickly found an angle to retort from. “As a successful football team, Nottingham’s players are all models for society’s youth. Aren’t you, Mr. Twain, worried that this matter would create a negative influence?”

His words sounded very reasonable. Football stars were the idols of many youths, and children loved to imitate their idols’ speech, actions and way of dressing. No matter what their idols did, good or bad, it was all correct to them. Football stars bore the duty of having to watch over the many kinds of influences they had based on their words and actions; this was a societal responsibility.

Unexpectedly, Tang En seemed to care little for that. He waved his hands. “Stop kidding. Would briefly visiting the red-light district cause a negative influence? Then Mr. Reporter, wouldn’t you be enraged by the fact that the country of the Netherlands still exists in this world?”

“That…” The opposing party was again stumped.

“I would like you to know something, sir. Other than training and competitions, the rest of the time belongs to the players themselves. Neither you nor I have the right to interfere with what they want to do. If you say that it’s no good influence for them to visit that sort of place, where is your social responsibility in secretly snapping shots of it and publicizing it so widely? Tang En had never seen eye-to-eye with The Sun. As long as he had the opportunity, he would not let go of the chance to verbally shame them. “No one hopes for such a thing to be made known to the world. This is a matter of personal privacy. The Sun seems to be quite proficient at such an invasion of privacy and is even being gleeful over it. Shouldn’t you seriously reconsider what kind of negative effects your methodology is causing the 10 million readers of The Sun? At the very least, I think the image of my players is healthier than The Sun’s Page 3 girls and brings about the less negative impact to society.”

Everyone could tell that Tang En had his heart hardened on protecting his players in the public eye; he even changed the topic to societal responsibility and moral reflections.

In truth, that was something everyone was already aware of. The three Nottingham Forest players surely weren’t visiting that sort of place simply for a tour, but Tang En would not allow anyone else to make indiscreet remarks about his players and speak nonsense of them.

He had already done the criticizing and scolding behind doors; outsiders had no right to interfere with it.

“You wish to set foot here and criticize my people? Go back and tell your boss, we’ll discuss it when Page 3 is gone.”

Of course, The Sun was not going to seriously take Tang En’s suggestion into consideration and take down their pillar of support, the fine tradition of Page 3 girls. Tang En saying so was only to let The Sun know that they had no right to make an issue out of the matter.

It started out as a rather severe crisis for the team, but it had been forcefully stirred by Tang En into becoming a farce that made people uncertain if they should laugh or cry.

Dunn appeared with Tang En at the scene of the press conference. However, no one noticed him. He had been sitting next to Tang En quietly without a word, or even a sound, like a statue.

What he had worried about turned out to end in this manner; he should be feeling elated. But, seeing Tang En’s method of dealing with it was not something he could easily agree with; the man had shifted the potential negative backlash to the team onto himself.

Now, the media had all their focus on Tony Twain’s verbal battle with The Sun’s reporter. Who was going to care about the scandal regarding the three Forest players engaging with prostitutes?

Berating reporters, going head-on against the media, provoking his match opponents, blaming the referee, and even falling out with the UEFA… Was it all because he wanted to become famous, to become a news personality, or to enjoy the “honor” of being on the newspapers’ headlines? No matter how others perceived it, Dunn did not think so. The man by his side was only shifting the pressure that was rightfully on the players to himself, allowing them to throw off all their burdens and focus only on training and playing matches.

But in doing so, the pressure he felt would only become heavier and heavier.

Which football manager would do something like that? This is only a job. Is this necessary, Tony?

“Alright. Mr. Reporter from The Sun, you can sit down now. There’s nothing else to do with you.” Tang En waved his hands at the man, whose forehead was lined with sweat, indicating for him to sit down. Then, he looked towards Brosnan sitting in the front row and asked, “Are there any other questions?”

The hint was obvious. Brosnan raised his hand and stood up. He began asking about the numerous preparations made by Forest Team for the next day’s match.

With the two working together seamlessly, the topic was successfully changed.

The media was already satisfied enough witnessing the spectacular battle between Tang En and The Sun. Truly, it was not in the least important if the three had engaged prostitutes. This was what they really wanted to see. Before Tang En, which main manager would go toe-to-toe with such a significantly influential media group? Making a mockery of them with his no-holds-barred ridiculing and a way of beratement that was clean of swear words and had daggers hidden in smiles; this was much more newsworthy than just engaging in prostitution.

After finishing his bottle of mineral water, the press conference came to an end. The reporters all dispersed with satisfied expressions on their faces. In the darkening dusk, Volendam’s training grounds gradually became desolate from their earlier lively bustle.

The club’s staff were moving the chairs away from the hall for the urgent press conference. Meanwhile, Tang En and Dunn sat on the stage, immobile. Even though everyone else around them was busy, neither had the intention to leave.

“You must be tired,” Dunn remarked.

Tang En shook his head. “No, how can that be possible? I’m the best and most energized when dealing with paparazzi.” But his posture of leaning back on the chair had already sold him out.

Dunn pursed his lips but did not expose him.

“You don’t believe me?” Tang En turned sideways to look at Dunn. “When I scolded that damn reporter, I felt so achieved. It felt great! Especially when I saw his face when he was lost for words.” He laughed hoarsely.

“Yes. Tomorrow, you’ll be in The Sun newspaper, and be severely criticized. The whole of England will know what you’ve done.” Dunn nodded in approval.

“Who cares? I don’t lose any hair or earn a cent less when they criticize me. I don’t have the obligation to be responsible for the perspectives of the people I don’t care about.” Tang En felt parched and wanted some water, only to reach his hand out to find an empty bottle.

He threw the bottle. It fell accurately into the rubbish bin dragged over by the cleaners.

“Come on. Let’s go eat. I’m starving!” Tang En stood up.

Dunn very much wanted to say to Tang En that although Tang En felt great achievement seeing the stumped faces of the others, that he felt a rush whenever he scolded the others, maybe this was exactly what the others hoped to see. That maybe the other party felt achieved, having gotten him to scold them with such relish. Because in that way, they managed to get a hold of some sensational news.

Seeing Tang En’s back, he kept his thoughts to himself and stood up with him, the two walking out of the place shoulder-to-shoulder.

“I thought you were going to sell Ashley Young off in your fit of rage.”

“Dunn. We need to give our youth the space to make mistakes. We must allow them their mistakes. Who hasn’t been rash before in their youth?”