Godfather Of Champions

“… The doctor’s advice for Tony Twain was for him to wait till the season is over before considering returning to his managerial position. However, word has been going around recently that he wishes to return to the team straight away. Could it be that Nottingham Forest’s terrible results have become too much for him to bear?”

“… Quite frankly, I don’t think there’s much truth behind that hearsay. If Tony Twain is a man of intellect, he will not choose such an awkward time for his return. There are only 3 matches remaining in the league, and the team is destined to finish the season empty-handed. He can’t change anything even if he returns. In fact, he could even be made the scapegoat for the team’s failures. Is Tony Twain a man of intellect? Surely he is…”

“What I find the strangest is not that he intends to return to his managerial position in advance. Rather, it’s that he actually intends to return to the position. Honestly, I don’t think he is suited to be a manager any longer given his health condition. He might be a manager who has achieved brilliant things with his team in the past, but I think it would be better for him if he were to end his career here. Given his fiery temper and personality, I’m very worried that his heart would not be able to handle it…”

Most people did not view the news of Twain’s premature return to Nottingham Forest favorably when they began to surface in the media.

Carl Spicer, the leading figure when it comes to making anti-Twain comments, wrote the following in his column:

“Tony Twain is done for! His heart will never be able to tolerate the ups and downs of the Premier League! His heart disease has taken away most of his spirit! I heard that he was actually docile when he was watched over by a nurse! That is the most hilarious thing I’ve heard this year! Look at the results that Gérard Houllier attained when he returned as Liverpool’s manager after his hospitalisation… I think the best thing Tony Twain should do right now is to announce his retirement, then work on developing a career at Hollywood with his supermodel girlfriend. It’s fine if he can’t make a lot money from it, his young girlfriend is very rich after all… Do you all think I’m making these comments because I’m anti-Twain? That’s a shame, because I’m truly concerned about him this time round. To be honest, every single comment I’ve made so far has been for his own good. I think no matter how much a person might hate him, they wouldn’t wish to see him die on the manager’s seat right?”

Unlike the other Premier League managers who hope that Twain can make a comeback and triumph over his heart disease, the media did not think Tony Twain would be successful if he were to return to Nottingham Forest.

There were some who felt that he had chosen the wrong timing, and there were others who believed that his heart would not be able to tolerate the stimulations of professional football. Others simply joined in the criticisms against Twain because they felt that the Twain right now was a pushover.

Twain did not publish a single article in any of the newspaper columns for the past five months, and he never accepted an interview as well. There were occasional news about Twain published by Pierce Brosnan about how ‘Tony Twain is making a good recovery’, or ‘Tony Twain is actively training his body’, or ‘Tony Twain is in good spirits’, or ‘Tony Twain and his girlfriend Shania are having a vacation in Brazil’, but other than those ‘small news’, there was nothing about what Twain said in response to the criticisms. He did make any form of rebuttal at all. It was very unlike Twain’s personality…

His odd behavior inevitably led people to think that he must have lost his temper as a result of being tormented by his heart disease.

There were even smaller publications that spun a yarn about his treatment process. They wrote that he was forced to undergo a heart transplant, and how he could not let his heart experience the slightest stimulation, or it would result in a relapse of his heart disease…

They were all lies that those media outlets fabricated, but there were people who believed in them. One cannot help but lament at how anything is possible in this world, and how there will always be people who keep breaking the record of possessing the lowest I.Q in the world.

The news that Twain was about to return sent some of the media outlets into a frenzy…

※※※

Today’s weather was good by Britain’s standards. It was clear throughout the country.

The sun was shining brightly and the sky was cloudless.

The yells of the coaches and the sounds of the whistle going off could be picked up incessantly as the players practised on the training grounds.

The most hardcore Forest fans from all over the world had turned up to watch the team’s practice. They continued to show support for the team despite the bad run of results lately. However, they were not just here to watch and support the team. They were also hoping to be able to obtain signatures from the players after the practice was over. It would be even better if they could get a photo with them as well.

There was nothing different about this day in Wilford from any other.

Evan Doughty and Allan Adams were seated in an office that was located within the administrative building at the training grounds. They were looking at a man standing across of them.

The three of them exchanged greetings. The atmosphere felt as though it was about to freeze up afterwards.

The man smiled first. “Why are the two of you being so serious? Allan, did you think I was back to denounce you?”

Allan Adams had made the decision to sell Ribéry when Twain was not around. Twain only learned of the news months later. He was a little mad when he first learned that Ribéry had been sold, but he tried his best to calm himself down, thanks to the doctor’s instructions.

He then thought about it once more after he was calm, and he realized that Allan Adams did the right thing. The club needs money and Ribéry was the only player who would fetch a high price in the team. Moreover, Ribéry has made it clear for a while that he wanted to leave. Nothing good happens when you use force…

Truth be told, ever since the day Twain personally went to persuade Ribéry to join Nottingham Forest during the summer, he has always been mentally prepared that there will come a day when he leaves him and the club.

You can’t keep Ribéry without money. That guy is afraid to be poor.

What has happened has happened. Let bygones be bygones. There was no need to jeopardise his relationship with his colleague over a player who has left. This was why he did not grab Allan Adams by the collar, and let him see for himself why he is sometimes called ‘the hairdryer’.

Evan smiled. “Tony, there you go again with your jokes.”

The first thing Twain did upon his return to the club was not to meet with his colleagues and players immediately. He made his way to the Chairman’s office instead.

“I just dropped by to tell the two of you that I’m back for work.”

“You could have just called if it was for something like that.”

Twain raised an eyebrow. “How could I possibly? It’s better to say it face-to-face.”

“Is your health… Really fine? I’ve also only just learned of your return from the newspapers recently. I thought it was just a rumor.” Evan asked out of concern.

Deep in his heart, Evan longed for Twain to return to the club as soon as possible, but out of considerations for Twain’s safety, he never made a call to ask Twain about the date of his return.

It was great that Twain was back… But he still had to say the words that he did out of courtesy.

Twain felt his left breast. “Now I have something extra over here. I can actually feel it with my hands, but most of the time I can’t feel its existence. As for my health… I watched the last match that we competed in.”

Evan had a slightly awkward expression on his face when Twain brought up the match in which the team lost to Bolton Wanderers at home. It was certainly an utterly humiliating match.

Never mind the fact that the team lost the game. The way that they played without a twinge of fighting spirit was intolerable, even to a chairman of the club who knew nothing about football like him. He could not bear to watch the team play in such a way any longer, and he even discussed with Allan Adams about the players they needed to get rid of in the summer as they sat in their private room.

“I was very mad after watching it, but nothing happened to my heart!” Twain started to laugh. “I think I can start working again. I actually can’t wait to start!” He rubbed his hands together excitedly.

He was similar to George Patton who got dismissed after slapping his soldiers in Sicily, in that they both felt deprived of something when they are not working. One would feel dead if you did not let him fight in the war, while the other would not feel alive if you did not let him command a team in a match.

Allan Adams, who had remained silent the entire time, stood to his feet and retrieved a letter off the table before handing it to Twain.

Twain did not understand the meaning behind his actions. Allan pointed at the letter and explained, “Franck Ribéry passed it to me before he left. He told me to pass it to you, if you came back.”

Twain looked down at the words ‘To: Boss’ written on the envelope. He then pinched the envelope lightly. There was only a thin sheet of paper inside.

He slid the envelope into his shirt’s pocket.

“You are not going to read it?” Allan was a little surprised.

“Not now.” Twain shrugged. “I should get started with my work.”

Evan held him back. “Does the team know you are coming back today?”

Twain shook his head and smiled proudly. “They don’t. I didn’t tell anyone. I want to give them a big ‘surprise’!”

※※※

The sun was bright. The grass on the training grounds emitted a musky scent under the sun.

Dunn did not feel warm despite being basked in the sunlight. It was still winter around him.

The assistant manager was distracted and so were the players, who seemed as if they had their heads in their clouds as well.

The season was approaching its end. There has been word going around that the club is in need of funds and would undergo a major overhaul after the season has drawn to a close. Many of the players themselves are also seeking better opportunities elsewhere.

Who would have thought that a team that lifted numerous trophies together last season would be falling apart soon?

Nottingham Forest was destined to become the most dazzling shooting star in the history of British football. Its blinding light lit up half the night sky when it flashed by twice, but it vanished without a trace after making those two appearances.

The season has yet to end, but many of the first team players have received offers from other teams.

As the captain of the team, George Wood was also a player that many big clubs thought highly of. However, his manager, Billy Woox, was clearly not as fast at dealing with these transfer offers as opposed to clinching endorsements for him. Wood has not given a response to any club that wishes to buy him during the summer transfer window.

It felt as though there was a centrifugal force within the team that was tearing everyone apart. It was sad to see such things happen to the team simply because they had lost their manager.

Kerslake blew the whistle in his mouth. “This concludes our outdoor training. Go for tactical class next!”

A group of people slowly made their way over to the their tactical classroom with their heads hung low.

Their ‘tactical class’ on the day after a match day would always involve watching a video of the match that they had just played in.

A match like yesterday’s… Is there really a need to watch it? Everyone mumbled in their hearts.

Two thick curtains were pulled over the windows in the tactical classroom. It was pitch black inside, almost like the interior of a cinema. The environment was just right for everyone to watch what was being shown on the big screen.

A crowd thronged the classroom after the door was opened. Sounds of people bumping into chairs and crying out in pain ensued. It was only then that someone remembered to switch on the lights.

As the lights lit up the room, a voice rang out by all the players’ ears. “Have you all lost your souls? Why wasn’t the first thing that you guys did upon entering such a dark room to switch on the lights? To swarm in straight away… What is on your minds?”

When everyone finally snapped to their senses, they realised that there was already a man sitting in the room.

The man, who was seated on the chair next to the computer, had a strong presence about him. His brows were furrowed and he looked a little impatient.

Who else could that be besides their boss, Tony Twain?

The room went muted in an instant…

Dunn noticed that the people before him had stopped moving.

He found it odd. Did they see a ghost?

He froze as well after squeezing his way into the room.

“Hey! Everyone at the front! What are you all doing? Why aren’t you moving? Why are you blocking the entrance?” Kerslake’s characteristic booming voice rang out from the back of the crowd. He could not squeeze his way through like Dunn, and could only jump about at the back and shout.

Twain did not stand to his feet. He just waved his hands and gestured for the people at the front to enter the room. It was only then that they began to swarm into the room and made way for those behind them.

Only Dunn stood unmoving by the side and did not join the rest in moving forward. Kerslake behaved in the same way as Dunn did after stepping into the room and seeing Twain inside.

A group of people stood wordlessly in the room. Twain was the only one seated.

Twain did not open his mouth to speak. All he did was to scan through the room and look at everyone.

This is his football team…

He stood to his feet shortly after. “I’m here to conduct today’s tactical class. Sit down, everyone.”

The players took a seat obediently.

Upon hearing Twain’s words, Kerslake went forward and intended to put the disc containing the footage from yesterday’s match into the computer, but he was stopped by Twain.

“I don’t need this. I still remember everything about that match. I also believe that none of you has forgotten about it so quickly right?”

Everyone’s hearts fell to the pits of their stomachs after hearing Twain’s words. It looks like the boss is very upset and is about to give everyone a dressing down. But, can his heart handle such intense emotional changes?

Dunn wanted to stop Twain from continuing. “Tony, you…”

Twain looked at him. “I watched the entire match from start to finish on the tv and my heart was fine throughout. I decided to come back earlier after ascertaining that it was able to rise up to the challenge. Do you want to know why?” He turned his head to face the players.

“Because I did not want to watch an even poorer and more infuriating match than yesterday’s for the rest of my life!”

He raised his voice suddenly, and everyone had their hearts in their mouths.

David Beckham looked at Twain worriedly. He was afraid that Twain would not catch his breath after yelling, and would faint to the ground once again.

To his relief, his fears did not materialise. Twain continued to stand firmly on his two legs and had a solemn look on him.

“Look at what you guys just did… You actually lost at home to Bolton Wanderers! Bolton Wanderers, everyone! You dare to lose against a team like that? What else can you lot not do in this world? Take over Mars or land on the moon?”

It has been five months. All the unhappiness, resentment and passions that he had suppressed within him began to gush out. That meek little lamb who obediently listened to everything that the nurse Douglas said had transformed into a savage wolf who had opened its ferocious mouth that smelled of death and bared its sharp fangs.

“I know the team’s results are poor, and I know how difficult it has been. I have nothing to say about our elimination from the Champions League. It is only natural for us to give up on one of the competitions given our current situation. Do you all know this? During December of last year, when the team was going through our toughest times, I prepared myself for the worst, but even then I thought we would only throw away the Champions League. I thought we would be able to stay within the top four… But look at where we are now! 12th in the league! All the media out there has been saying that ‘Nottingham Forest can’t play football anymore after they lost Tony Twain’. Do you all think I should be happy and proud to hear those comments? Bullsh*t! I feel utterly humiliated! You guys are the f*cking ‘Nottingham Forest football team’, not some son of a b*tch ‘Tony Twain football team’!”

His emotions had run high, and everyone were expecting him to raise his voice once again. However, Twain suddenly stopped and began deeply inhaling a few times. He felt the pressure on his heart after chastising the players. He had no choice but to rest for the moment.

Kerslake hurriedly went in front to support Twain after seeing him in that state, but he was pushed away by Twain. Twain pressed a hand on the table for support instead. “This is nothing. Yours truly has a nuclear-powered heart right here!” He pointed at his chest and told Kerslake in a fierce tone.

“I’ve always looked down on Grant and Chelsea. We’ve always won over them, which was why I always said that we had the psychological advantage over their team. But, in these five months, I’ve been very impressed with Grant’s Chelsea team. Do you guys know why? That’s because just like us, they changed managers mid-season, but they managed to make their way into the Champions League finals! What about you guys?”

“No Champions League’s trophy, no Premier League’s trophy, we are going into next season with nothing! It’s like we are a team that just got promoted into the Premier League! Have any of you gotten sick of being champions? That’s good, we can start all over again next season as a team that has not been crowned champions before! But, I’m not going to hide anything from all of you. Our poor results will lead to financial difficulties. We will need pay for our mistakes this season! Yes, all of us here, including me. Why did I choose this time to come back? It’s because I want to show that I’m a part of the mess that this team is currently in. I have to bear responsibility for what has happened. But!” He raised his voice and pointed at the players before him.

“You guys are not going anywhere next season! You have to atone for what you did! I don’t expect any of you to suddenly go into overdrive and bring the team to the sixth spot. None of our opponents are idiots. But, I don’t wish to see any more of that revolting performance against Bolton Wanderers anymore! How do you think Nottingham Forest managed to reign as champions in Europe for the past two years? If it’s just strength, there are many teams that are stronger than us. What made us champions was our spirit and vigor! Those were what separated us from the other teams. It was something uniquely Nottingham Forest! There are so many teams in Europe, but we are the only team that ‘never gives up’! We can lose, but we cannot surrender! That is a trait of our team that I’m proud about, and it is just like our team’s unique flag. I don’t want any of you to throw that flag away. If you have thrown it away, you better go and retrieve it from now on and stick it right here!” He pointed at the sole of his foot.

Twain became very tired and could not hold on much longer after scolding so much at one go. However, he still straightened his back and waved his hands. “The tactical class ends here. You are all dismissed!”

No one moved. He walked straight out the door.

Dunn chased after him. He was scared that Twain would collapse to the ground once he was out of the door. The scenes of what happened at the end of the match against Newcastle still lingered in his mind, and they would surface from time to time. When he knelt by Twain’s side and watched as his body went into a spasm, he truly believed that the fearless man was going to die that day. It did not matter how much time has passed since then. The fear was still there every time he recalled the scenes.

※※※

“Tony!”

Twain was walking very fast and Dunn had no choice but to jog to catch up with him. When he finally caught up, he was already panting slightly.

Twain stopped and turned his head to look at Dunn. He then smiled at him. “You look even more tired than my heart is. It’s been tough on you for the past five months.”

Dunn shook his head.

“When are you planning to move back into the house?” For the past five months, Twain has been living at Shania’s luxury residence near the Lace Market, and that was also how he evaded most of the reporters. Dunn was the one who looked over and took care of his house at No. 13 Branford Garden Lane for the past few months.

“I guess I will go back tomorrow… Why, did you miss me?” Twain grinned as he teased Dunn.

Dunn was emotionless and made no reaction to his words. Twain’s tease had fallen on deaf ears. Twain pouted in response and said, “I’d go back with Shania tomorrow. If you are free tonight, let’s have a meal together at the house. I need to introduce Shania to you once again.”

“When are the two of you getting married?” Dunn asked. He already knew about Twain and Shania’s engagement in Brazil.

“The summer of this year.”

“So early!” Dunn was taken aback.

“I’m already 40, is it still early?” Twain smiled. “Be my best man for my wedding, Dunn. The wedding ceremony will be held in Brazil. Call dad and mum over. As their… son, I still have not given them anything good so far. This will count as an overseas trip.”

The two chatted as they continued to walk away from the classroom. Neither of them brought up the team’s troubles. All they talked about were the trifles that happened in the five months that they were separated from each other, such as how the house would be cleaned twice every day or how Toto was about to become Dunn’s pet…

They walked all the way to the office. Right before Twain pushed open the door to walk inside, Dunn suddenly remembered something. “That’s right, Chen Jian visited me once during March. He wanted to thank you, but was afraid to meet you, so he only came to find me when he was about to leave. He wants to thank you for scolding him that day. He said your words have allowed him to persevere…”

Twain interrupted him. “I almost forgot about him… You said he persevered?”

Dunn nodded his head. “Greenwood followed your words and picked on his problems every day. He amplified every single problem of his, and used Wood’s training plan to train him meticulously. He corrected every mistake that Chen Jian made, and was even stricter on him than before. But Chen Jian managed to persevere till the end.” Dunn’s face suddenly turned solemn. “But, since the club had to deal with a load of problems, from your illness to the team’s poor results, nobody had time to spare for the youth player who was selected from a talent show. So he returned to China after his one year’s contract was up.”

Twain fell silent for a while after hearing Dunn’s words.

Then, he let go of the handle on the door and turned around to face Dunn before saying, “Let’s go. Follow me over to North Wilford.”