Godfather Of Champions

There wasn’t much to say about Nottingham Forest’s away game. Short on players, Nottingham Forest predictably lost to Arsenal by 3:1, which could be counted as a complete failure.

Twain followed the team to London, but he could not direct the game in the technical area due to his ban. He and Assistant Manager Kerslake, who was also sent off with a red card, sat in the stands as they helplessly watched their team besieged by Arsenal. The Forest team did not show its usual drive at all.

Dunn carried out the acting manager’s authority in the game. But just as Twain once thought, Dunn was a brilliant assistant manager, but not a qualified manager. He was able to do the supporting work perfectly, but could not make decisions on his own.

Without a definite view, he would not know what to do. If the manager was that way, the players would be even more so.

Without George Wood, Sun Jihai was placed in the defensive midfielder position. Despite the Chinese player’s best efforts, he was still overwhelmed in the face of Arsenal’s group attack. The position of the defensive midfielder was too important. If the field was compared to a battlefield, the midfield was the ground the soldiers must fight for. A defensive midfielder was equivalent to a stronghold. A good defensive midfielder could defend this area and make it invincible to attack, whereas a terrible one…

Not that Sun Jihai was terrible, but he was still some distance away from his opponent’s level.

If the midfield were to fall, the Forest team’s penalty area would not fare any better.

They easily conceded three goals.

The only thing worth mentioning was that Nottingham Forest had managed to score a goal even under such unfavorable circumstances. Eastwood scored a face-saving goal for the team at the last minute, so they did not suffer a crushing defeat in the hands of Arsenal.

After the end of the game, Wenger glanced at the stands, intentionally or unintentionally, as he shook hands with Dunn. He was unquestionably trying to find Twain in the crowd, but by then Twain had already left with Kerslake.

None of the post-match commentators felt anything was odd about the outcome of the match. Arsenal was a strong team. Furthermore, the Forest team was currently short of players and even missing its key figure, Tony Twain. Even if they had been well-organized, they still might not have stood a chance against Arsenal in the Emirates Stadium.

For their part, the Nottingham media lamented their bad luck for playing against such a strong opponent after a widespread ban. If they had encountered a weak team, they might have still been able to win.

Twain did not see it that way. He was glad to meet Arsenal at this time. There was already a leak in the house, what was a downpour instead? It was best to put all the bad things together and once the bad luck had run out; good luck would naturally take center stage again.

※※※

After his return from London with a loss, Twain did not waste time feeling dejected by the defeat. He was going to lead the team right into the preparations for the Champions League group stage competition.

There was little time. On September 27th, Nottingham Forest would host one of their other rivals, the Turkish Süper Lig team, Galatasaray S.K., in this group stage at home.

Since that earth-shattering war, everyone had been waiting to see it. They wanted to see which direction Tony Twain’s team would go.

Twain knew what the media thought. He was enemies with a lot of English media. They wanted to Tony Twain fall on his face and the Forest team to lose twice in a row. Having just lost to Arsenal in the league tournament, it would have been even nicer if they could continue to lose to Galatasaray.

However, Twain was an antagonistic person and liked to be at odds with everyone.

Therefore, Twain won this group stage game.

The punishment by suspension only took effect for the league tournament. The Forest team could still send its strongest lineup for the Champions League game. And the team did not appear to have been hit by the widespread ban, but rather were spurred by the ban and could vent their frustration with the league tournament on the Champions League group stage competition.

During the game, Twain did not use the Forest team’s defensive tactics that they relied on for their ascent last season. Instead, they audaciously and also unexpectedly employed strong offensive in their home ground. They made light of Galatasaray’s offense.

As a result, the game ended in 3:2, with a total of five goals scored by both teams. Nottingham Forest won by scoring one more goal than their opponent.

The commentator thought for this game, the Forest team, everyone from the coaches to the players, must have needed to vent their frustration. Obviously it would not help them if they were to continue to implement the defensive tactics and play under pressure from the opponent in their own home ground. So, it was reasonable that they would attack aggressively regardless of everything. Tony Twain was unpredictable, so his team would naturally be unpredictable. It was normal for them to suddenly change their tactics.

Twain did not care about the noise from these comments. He had a plan in mind.

After they defeated Galatasaray at home, Nottingham Forest was temporarily ranked first in the group with their two wins.

The scene that those onlookers wanted to see most did not happen. Tony Twain’s team was still alive and well.

“We were so pathetic in the league tournament that I didn’t expect us to do so well in the Champions League,” Dunn said to Twain after the coaching staff on both sides shook hands affably.

“This is quite nice.” Twain nodded, “Our goal this season has always been about the Champions League. It’s fine if we are in the top four for the Premier League.”

Twain did not lie, and he definitely was not being modest. He was not considering the issue of the league title at all this season. Putting aside the fact that they were surrounded by Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and other powerhouse clubs, he based the decision on the Forest team itself.

Since he decided he would reclaim what he had lost in the Champions League, it was natural to put more energy into the Champions League. The league tournament was a competition with a long system, unlike the Champions League with its knockout system. One of the Champions League’s big features was how much one put in would reflect how much one reaped in the end. That was to say as long as one put in the effort, there would be returns with fewer uncertainties.

Whereas, due to the long schedule, the league tournament had more uncertainties, just like the saying “long delays cause complications.” There was a high probability that even after painstakingly putting in all their efforts to lead in the first thirty-seven rounds, they would be overtaken by their opponents in the final round. Twain did not want such a catastrophe to happen to him.

Furthermore, even if he boosted his team with a number of powerful players during the summer, he did not think Nottingham Forest had the power to compete in two tournaments and take both championship titles. Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich … None of these international titans would dare to claim they had the absolute strength to take down a double or a triple, not to mention Nottingham Forest.

Instead of sitting at home to fantasize about their team taking all the championship titles they could win, it was better to be realistic and play well in the Champions League where they were the most confident. Twain was a very pragmatic coach. He was realistic, and he was only interested in things he firmly believed he could grasp.

He currently had no plans for the league title in his mind. But as for the Champions League title, he must have it.

※※※

After the victory over Galatasaray in the Champions League and taking the top spot in the group, Nottingham Forest, seemingly limitless and radiant, was about to experience going from heaven to hell. Nottingham Forest would host Middlesbrough in the seventh round of the league tournament on November 1st.

Having just enjoyed a game with an intact team, Twain had to return to the stands to be a spectator.

Dunn continued to be the acting manager for this game. However, he was just acting as a front. Twain and the coaching staff had arranged all tactics before the game, and the team just had to follow them.

In the face of the Middlesbrough team without Steve McClaren, the Forest team shook hands with their opponents at their home ground. The game was played brilliantly with a total of four goals scored by both teams. The Forest team’s second lineup had no problem dealing with a rival like Middlesbrough. Their eventual failure to win the game was entirely due to the lack of a key figure, Tony Twain. A distinctive character and a fearless manager was the real soul of the team.

The good news for Twain was that there was only one more game to go before the end of his suspension. He could almost stand in front of the coaching staff again and direct the team in competition. He had had enough of the days of being a spectator in the stands. He had been a spectator for more than ten years in his previous life. He did not want to live that life again.

The televised footage was focused on Twain’s behavior during the game. Whether it was the Forest team scoring or conceding a goal, the camera would quickly pan to Twain in the stands to see his reaction.

John Motson, the BBC football commentator who knew Twain well, said with a laugh, “the English Football Association’s only appropriate penalty was to suspend Twain for three games. To Tony Twain, not allowing him to direct the team during games is as good as taking his life!”

Fortunately, such terrible days would be over soon.

On October 14th, as it was the national team competition, there would be a one-week break in the league tournament. Nottingham Forest lost 1:2 to Manchester City in the away game, but Twain could ignore this game’s defeat. He even wanted to sneak to the sidelines after the end of the game to shake the hand of the Manchester City manager, Stuart Pearce on behalf of Dunn, but he was stopped by the sharp-eyed fourth official at the tunnel’s exit.

“Mr. Twain, that’s not going to work. You can’t go over there.”

“I just wanted to go and say hello to my old friend. Isn’t that okay?” Twain asked the fourth official next to him as he pointed to Pearce, who was shaking hands with Dunn.

“You can wait for the next half of the league tournament, Mr. Twain. If you are not suspended again at that time.” Twain had become the referees’ number one enemy since he publicly slammed the entire English refereeing community after that game. In the few games in the league tournament, the Forest team had been subjected to some inexplicable penalties several times. It could not be said that there was no link to this.

After the fourth official spoke harshly, Twain’s good mood disappeared. He looked at Dunn and Pearce, not far ahead, and glanced at the fourth official standing next to him with a fake smile. He knew that if he were to force his way in, he would be suspended again from an unknown number of games.

He grunted and turned to walk away.

※※※

Dunn shook hands with Pearce but did not chat with him. He just walked directly into the tunnel. He was not in a good mood since he lost the game. He did not want to stay any longer in front of people.

As he passed the mixed zone, he was stopped by a voice speaking in Mandarin, “Mr. Dunn, Mr. Dunn!”

Dunn, who initially did not want to pay any attention to the media, could not help but stopped when he heard the familiar-sounding Mandarin.

The person who called him was no stranger. It was Tang Jing, whom he met on the plane. Coincidentally, they both shared the same family name, Tang. They might have been related five hundred years ago.

“Can you say a few words?” Tang Jing huddled in front of the crowd, obvious among the male-dominated sports reporters.

Since it was someone he knew, Dunn could not embarrass her. He went over, intending to say a few words. But before he could speak, he could not think of anything to say.

Tang Jing could obviously tell. She needed to take the initiative for this situation, so she asked, “how do you feel, going from being an assistant manager to becoming an acting manager, Mr. Dunn?”

“They are completely different,” Dunn replied succinctly.

Tang Jing was fully prepared for this. She nodded and jotted down Dunn’s words. As to how she would play on his words when she got back was up to her.

“What a pity, you have not won the past three games.” Her response certainly displeased the other person, so Tang Jing hurriedly changed the topic, “What are your thoughts on the FA’s extensive punishment?”

“It’s been a couple of weeks, and I don’t have any comments about it.”

“Oh.” Even if she was sufficiently prepared for this, Tang Jing was still exasperated by this kind of uncooperative attitude. She had waited for half a day only to be met with such a result? She was a little dejected. Twain’s noncompliance was intentional, whereas Dunn’s noncompliance was entirely inherent – this was what frustrated her the most.

Perhaps he thought that it was not easy for a woman to squeeze in among such a large group of men in search of an interview opportunity. Dunn also felt that it was not nice to treat the other party with this attitude, so he hesitantly opened his mouth to speak, “I’m a little unhappy that I did not win a game.”

Tang Jing immediately looked up when she heard Dunn suddenly take the initiative to speak. She looked at Dunn, filled with anticipation. But she only saw Dunn shake his head, “Sorry, I have to go.”

“Oh, all right. See you around, Mr. Dunn.” Tang Jing waved goodbye first. Although he did not say much, his last remark was enough.

I’m a little unhappy that I did not win a game…

※※※

Dunn ran into Twain on his way back to the locker room.

“Why did you not go straight to the press conference?” Twain asked from where he leaned against the wall.

“It’s still early,” Dunn replied.

“There’s nothing to do here. So why did you come back?”

“There’s nothing to do over there either. I’m used to coming back here first.”

Twain smiled and said, “you really are suited to be an assistant manager for the rest of your life.”

“I met Tang Jing in the mixed zone just now.” Dunn switched the topic.

“Oh? What did she ask?”

“Stuff that the Chinese fans care about.”

Twain nodded to show that he understood. It was nothing more than the news about Dunn suddenly became the acting manager.

“I’m sorry to disappoint them,” said Twain with a shrug. “Or do you want to continue, Dunn?”

Dunn shook his head and waved his hand. “I don’t like it. The manager and assistant manager are entirely two different jobs. Luckily you’ll be back soon, and I can feel relieved, too.”

“Too much pressure, isn’t it?” asked Twain, laughing.

Dunn nodded. “Too much.”

“But I like it.” Twain winked at his partner. “Enormous pressure means there will be a bigger payoff. I have no interest in being an assistant manager at all. I’ve always liked being a manager from the start. We are really different.”

Dunn smiled quietly and pushed the door to enter. Twain remained outside as he watched the players step off the field and walk down. He raised his hand to greet them.

“Hey, guys, good job!”

“Don’t be discouraged, little monkey! You only just lost an insignificant league game. Have you forgotten our aim for this season?”

“It’s no big deal. I’m back.”

That was right. He was the owner of this team.