Godfather Of Champions

As he brought the three kids through Wilford Lane, Dunn returned to the youth base where he had not been for some time. New buds sprouted on branches bare from winter, and the greenery flooded the deserted training base. He used to be familiar with everything after working there for ten years.

After he briefly introduced the training base, Dunn took them to the office of the youth-development manager, Ian Greenwood.

Greenwood had waited there for a while. He was really waiting, unlike Twain who had played Minesweeper.

“Aha, nice to meet you, boys!” Greenwood looked happy to see the three kids. The smile on his face was from the bottom of his heart, which felt much warmer than Twain’s pretense. “I’m Ian Greenwood, the head of youth training at Nottingham Forest.”

“Hello, Mr. Greenwood!” The three people politely replied.

“Thank you for your help, Dunn.” Greenwood nodded and turned to Dunn.

Dunn bobbed his head. “From now on, they’ll be with you, and you’re in charge of their training schedule, Ian.”

“Not a problem.”

“Tell them some things they need to be aware of.” Dunn referred to the three Chinese kids behind him.

The three kids stood in front of Greenwood. The two young ones became nervous, but Chen Jian was relaxed.

“Welcome, boys. You will receive the most systematic and formal training here. I don’t care if you can be a professional player in a year’s time, or in the future. Our training is to lead you toward that goal. You are not a talent show star here. You are just a regular member of the youth team.” Greenwood went straight into explaining the rules.

“First of all, the club does not provide dormitories. You are like the other ordinary kids, practicing in the training system. The club has picked three homes from the pool of club fans as your accommodation. In addition to training, you’ll live with them in their homes, just like an ordinary child.”

The three boys nodded. They knew about the rule. They all had a crash course in English before they came, but they couldn’t really communicate with their landlords. They could take it slow, as no one would expect them to speak fluent English.

“In addition, Chen.” Greenwood turned his head and looked at Chen Jian. “Your transfer application has also been approved. You will continue your studies at the University of Nottingham. Did they tell you?”

Chen Jian nodded. “Yes, they had notified me, sir.”

“Good. In a moment, I’ll take you to your teams so you can get to know your teammates. You’re going to get along together in the future. I want you to have a good time here.” Greenwood looked at Chen Jian again.

“As for you, Chen. Your training plan is a little different. In addition to the group training, you also have a specialized personal training program.”

Chen Jian and Dunn, who was translating, were surprised.

“This plan came about since you had not received professional training. So it was specifically developed for you. You have to do more basic training after you complete the team’s daily training.”

Dunn suddenly thought of something and he whispered in English before he translated, “Tony gave it to you?”

Greenwood nodded, somewhat surprised. “What? Didn’t you know, Dunn?”

Dunn shook his head at the confirmation.

“That’s strange. I thought he told you everything first.” murmured Greenwood.

Chen Jian looked strangely at the two coaches. Although he did not know what they were talking about, he guessed that it had to have something to do with him.

“That training program…”

“Oh, George Wood used it, and we made some minor changes.” Greenwood explained briefly, but Dunn was stunned. He finally understood why Twain had said that the training was tough, and that he still had time to give up now.

If Twain had been in this position, he might have made a crude remark, but Dunn was not like that, so he was just speechless.

He looked at Chen Jian and could not believe that the tanned Sichuanese in front of him would able to stick to that kind of training for a year. Was it too brutal? Would the talent show organizer protest?

“Coach Dunn?” Seeing that Dunn was lost in his thoughts, Chen Jian spoke up to remind him when the translation did not come after a long while.

“Ah… I’m sorry. Coach Greenwood said you have to do an extra training session on basic drills after you complete your team’s daily training,” Dunn translated.

Chen Jian did not object. He just nodded and smiled, feeling that it was par for course. “Ah, my foundation is not very good. It’s great for this kind of training to be arranged.” It looked like the Forest team was a really responsible and worthy European Championship team. They proved to be an English professional football club.

Dunn did not know what to say.

Greenwood spoke up again, “Well in that case, I wish you all the best, boys!”

You guys really do need some good luck… Dunn added in his heart.

※※※

Dunn acted as a translator as he followed the three kids to their locker room and to meet their teammates. Having done that, he returned to the southside of Wilford, where the First Team training had begun. He walked straight to Twain’s side.

“What’s the matter, Dunn?” Twain took off his sunglasses and looked at his assistant.

“What’s up with that training plan, Tony?”

Oh, I’m sorry I did not tell you in advance… We were busy studying AC Milan at the time and I was afraid to distract you…” Twain thought he was unhappy that he was kept in the dark.

Dunn interrupted him. “Not that. I mean, do you really think that training program is suitable for Chen Jian?”

“That was why I made some changes.” Twain looked at Dunn and understood, but he was still a little surprised because he thought Dunn would not mind. “Do you think it’s too harsh?”

“George Wood is a monster, but Chen Jian is not.” Dunn’s face was serious. “I think you should reconsider that training plan. I’m not against strengthening the basic training but…”

“Do you like Chen Jian very much, Dunn?” Twain stopped watching the training. He put his energy into his conversation with Dunn.

“This has nothing to do with personal feelings. This is a job. I think your training plan is too harsh for a kid who’s fast approaching nineteen years old and not in line with the purpose of training. Whether he can become a professional player in the future or not, training is for torture…” Dunn felt that he was being courageous. Could this be considered as going head-to-head against the manager? He rarely lost his temper with Twain — with the exception of an argument over strategies, but this clearly had nothing to do with strategies — he had always felt that Twain’s way of thinking was abnormal and that he could understand the disdain and contempt he felt for Chinese football and the talent show as a former Chinese fan who had been completely let down by Chinese football. But Chen Jian was innocent. He was not a professional player and secondly, he was not a Football Association official. He was not even a relative of a professional player or assistant coach. He was not the originator of China’s rampant talent shows. He was just an ordinary youth with a dream. No one was entitled to vent his resentment of the system on an ordinary youth.

“Do you have a dream, Dunn?”

He thought Twain would be furious, but Twain just calmly asked a question.

Dunn was taken aback from surprise for a moment and did not answer.

“Have you ever had the impulsive idea of wanting to do something?” Twain asked calmly again.

※※※

In the eyes of outsiders, Tony Twain circa January 1st, 2003 — which was Dunn now — had no interest in life.

His life was literally as boring as an iceberg.

He had never argued with people, had never gotten angry, did not talk nonsense, or do anything unrelated to work. He was not impulsive nor passionate. He might have even appeared a little cowardly and meek. Therefore, when the club announced that he had taken over from Paul Hart to become Forest’s First Team’s acting manager, a number of fans expressed disappointment at the decision and mercilessly abused and mocked him at the training ground and on the field. In the minds of the typical English person, football was a man’s sport. You could be a gentleman but not weak.

In their eyes, Dunn was a weak man.

He never thought about changing the way other people thought of him because he did not care. He lived in his own world, which was black and white. He only cared about things related to football.

He did not care if people scolded, ridiculed, or despised him. He did not care if they said his mother was a whore, that he was not a man but a clown. But when it came to football, he couldn’t not care. He cared more than anyone.

He could not contain his excitement at the thought of coaching the first official First Team game alone.

He wanted to win, and for that he made extremely detailed preparations before he was convinced that he had considered every area well. He firmly believed that he would be able to achieve the results he wanted in the game. But…

※※※

“I used to want to win a game,” he said.

Twain remembered the red note that had been on the refrigerator door. He could clearly picture the words on it and the three exclamation points.

“Sorry…” Twain said softly. “But since you’ve had that experience, I think maybe I can explain this to you…”

Dunn did not speak and waited for Twain’s explanation.

“Have you ever heard of this phrase, Dunn? ‘A man must have something he wants to accomplish in life.’”

Dunn froze for a moment. Twain did not see his expression; he was watching the players run on the field.

“It was a line in an show I watched as a child. I’ve forgotten its name and the content of the story. All I remember is that sentence. I was still young. When I thought about it later, I still felt a little fired up… As long as you’re alive, that sentence is bound to resonate with you. Because everyone has some things — maybe not one thing — that they have to complete on no matter what.”

Dunn listened silently, without approval or opposition.

“Maybe it is to protect your loved ones or to make money. Perhaps it’s about fulfilling a promise… Maybe it’s just to play football. Whether it is remarkable or insignificant to others, that thing is all they have. They must complete it. No matter how difficult or incomprehensible it is, whether they have the ability to do it or not. They have to do it and give it their all to finish it. Can you understand that feeling, Dunn?”

Twain turned his gaze back and looked at Dunn. He did not wait for Dunn to answer. “After Chen Jian learned about the extra training, did he express any dissatisfaction or hesitation?”

Dunn shook his head. “He was glad to say yes.”

Twain smiled briefly. “In China, there are thousands and thousands of people who like football. A lot of people have playing in a higher level of professional football their dream. Some people just think about it, and some people strive and aim for it. The difference between Chen Jian and them lies in the fact that he has the opportunity to make the dream come true. It is an opportunity whether he succeeds or not. After you saw Chen Jian’s performance over the course of the talent show, do you think he will easily give up this opportunity?”

Dunn shook his head. “No.”

“Yes, when I asked him if now is the time to give up, he said, ‘I can’t give up, sir.’ Of course, he can’t give up, because this is his dream, the thing he had to complete in his life regardless of what happens. The training plan is a bit harsh, but given his age and foundation, if he only uses the general approach, no matter how hard he works, he will not be able to make it happen within a year. So I asked him to follow George Wood’s original training plan. If he can make it, I’m sure his performance won’t be much worse anyway. He would have proven he did not give up. Then I’ll consider giving him another chance.” Twain made a hand gesture. “If he really can’t go on, for physical or psychological reasons, I absolutely will not force him. I will immediately stop the training and tell him that for him to walk all the way here to pursue his dream is enough…”

“If his body can’t persist, but his heart is willing?” Dunn asked. He believed that with a character like Chen Jian, the situation was likely to appear. His body could clearly be at its limits, but he would still insist, and the outcome was likely that he might injure himself from over-practice.

Twain waved his hand. “Then I’ll have to be the bad guy again, drag him off the training ground, and kick him back to China. I’ll tell him, ‘what professional football? It’s just a bullshit dream, you can still go to college and be down to earth.’ What do you think, Dunn?”

Dunn was silent for a moment. That was right. The training program might be a little harsh for Chen Jian. But before anything had happened, who was to say he “couldn’t”?

“All right, I’ll keep an eye on the training program. If I find something is wrong…”

Twain interrupted him. “Dunn, have you noticed that you are glowing more and more with maternal instinct?”

Dunn was forced to a stop mid-sentence, and he coughed.

Looking at his embarrassment, Twain did not bother with the ongoing training and roared with laughter.

The two men caught the attention of everyone present.

“The boss is so happy… Is there anything good going on?”

“Who knows, he’s been whispering with Coach Dunn.”

“Don’t tell me he has thought of more torturous ideas?”

“…”

※※※

Fat John, a hardcore Nottingham Forest fan, and his equally plump wife stood at the doorstep of their house, waiting for the young Chinese player that the club had informed them of.

“Hi, hello…” Without a translator, Chen Jian used English to greet his two landlords. He could not speak proficiently, and he stuttered a little. “My name is Chen Jian. I’m from Sichuan, China. From today onwards, I will live here and trouble you for a year. Please pardon…”

Fat John laughed and patted Chen Jian with force. “No need to say so much. Come inside the house!” With that, he went to pick up Chen Jian’s luggage, but Chen Jian was even faster in picking it up.

“I, I can do it, thank you, thank you!” Unused to speaking in English, he stuttered and became a nervous wreck.

“Very well, relax, kid.” John opened his arms. “Welcome to the home of Nottingham’s most… No, England’s most diehard Forest fan. I promise you’ll love it here!”

Chen Jian thought he said he liked Nottingham Forest, and he hurriedly said, “I like Nottingham Forest too. I’m even Manager Tony Twain’s supporter!”

“Ah, yes, yes, we all are. I have a good relationship with that damn guy. We often drink together. Speaking of which, it was his idea to put you up in my house…” Because he realized that he had just used a curse word, John was a little vague after.

Chen Jian did not understand the English that was skimmed over.

He did not bother to comprehend what the landlord meant. He looked curiously at his “home” in England.

He never thought he would win the talent show. To be able to qualify to come to Nottingham Forest for a year of training was already a dream fulfilled.

When Wang Yang realized that he was the unluckiest among the three finalists — because he was assigned to the weakest team, Bolton Wanderers — he was somewhat discouraged and said he did not want to be a professional footballer in the United Kingdom. He just wanted to go and experience the atmosphere of the world’s top professional football and that was all.

Chen Jian did not think there was anything wrong or bad with what Wang Yang said because it was Wang Yang’s business. His goal had not changed since he decided to participate in the division auditions for this talent show — I just want to play professional football. Perhaps in the current Chinese football environment, to want to play in professional football is a very humiliating thing, but I just want to.

For me, Chen Jian, coming to the United Kingdom was not a dream come true, but a final sprint.

Just one year, I’ll never give up!