Godfather Of Champions

Nottingham Forest continued their London tour after they defeated Tottenham Hotspur. In the sixth round of the league tournament, they scored an away goal and won against Fulham to win two straight games of the new season.

The criticisms of the group of “juvenile footballers” waned in the outside press.

With the exception of a few diehard elements determined to “vilify Twain”, everyone else slowly embraced the team.

“After all, they’re young, and being young means there are more possibilities… Isn’t it?” That was what a pundit said in the newspaper.

However, they faced another impending test next.

“… I think one of the benefits that a young team has is they are very motivated. But in the face of an experienced opponent, it will show the inexperience and tenderness of the youth. Tony Twain and the rest of the team don’t have that problem, but there are others who are the team’s indefinite time bombs. Up against a team like Manchester United, I’ll do my best to deploy the ‘veterans’ and contend with Ferguson if I were Tony Twain.”

Indeed, Nottingham Forest’s seventh-round opponent was the defending champion, Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest faced Manchester United at home on September 20th, 2009.

※※※

At the Wilford training ground, Dunn announced the eighteen-player squad list for tomorrow’s game against Manchester United (the Premier League began to implement a “seven substitutes system” since the start of last season) and the starting list.

Having just finished the eighteen-players roster, Twain stood up before Dunn could continue to read the starting list.

“I have a question to ask you before the starting list is released. What are your views on pressure among you?”

A group of people looked at each other and could not understand why the boss asked the question out of the blue.

Twain called out by name, “Millán, let’s hear your thoughts on it. What do you think of pressure? Did you feel the pressure when you played for the club’s First Team when you were only fourteen?”

Nicolás Millán hesitated for a moment before he replied, “A little… But I felt fine, boss.”

“Why did you only feel fine?”

“I said to myself that I was just playing against players older than me and that it was no big deal. Even if I played badly, no one would say anything to me, because I was only fourteen years old, which was very normal.”

Twain nodded, and he turned his gaze to Bostock, “How about you, John?”

“Me?” Bostock smiled and shook his head, “I didn’t feel much, boss. I am a professional player. Since I’m a professional player, I will certainly face all kinds of pressure. I’m used to it.” He told the truth. As one of England’s highly anticipated and most talented players, John Bostock was followed with interest by the clubs and media when he was not yet sixteen years old and had made international appearances to compete for the England national teams of all ages. As a result, the pressure on him from professional football was not a big deal.

Twain asked one by one, but he picked all the young players who had recently been transferred to the First Team this season.

He was satisfied with the results he received.

He certainly was unable to know if the answers were genuine or just to please him as a manager. But he had a way to verify the veracity.

He nodded to Dunn to indicate that he could continue to announce the starting list.

“The goalkeeper, Akinfeev.” After the new season, van der Sar gradually withdrew from the starting lineup. Any fool could tell Twain’s intention to promote Akinfeev the main position. Van der Sar was also mentally prepared for his future as he withdrew from the starting lineup. After all, he was almost thirty-nine years old. The Dutch goalkeeper’s contract would expire next summer, just four months before his fortieth birthday. He had long decided not to renew his contract with Nottingham Forest. He certainly would not go anywhere else. He would announce his retirement directly after the expiry of his contract.

“The full backs are Gareth Bale, Pepe, Kompany and Rafinha.” This setup of defensive line was the absolute main defensive line for the Forest team this season. Cooperated together for many years, they had long developed enough rapport. Woodgate, who only came last season, was currently limited to be a rotating player. The only problem with the defensive line was that it was somewhat heavy on offense and light on defense.

“The midfielders are George Wood, John Bostock, Chris Cohen and Lennon.”

When their names were called, Bostock and Cohen looked at each other in surprise. They thought the starting lineup should be George Wood, Şahin, Petrov and Lennon. It was also the same configuration in the midfield for the Forest’s away win over Fulham the last time.

“The strikers are Agbonlahor and Nicolás Millán.”

Twain looked the bewildered players and said with a laugh, “Prove to me with your actions how you play under pressure, guys.”

※※※

“Nottingham Forest’s expected starting lineup should be the goalkeeper, Akinfeev, the left back, Gareth Bale, the center backs, Pepe and Kompany, the right back must be Rafinha. George Wood will definitely start as the midfielder. As for his partner… it should be Şahin. If the Forest team were to play defense, it could be Tiago. On the forward line…”

Ferguson was in a hotel room with his aides to determine Tony Twain’s starting lineup for tomorrow’s game. That would make it easier for them to review the countermeasures.

The door was pushed open and the assistant manager, Mike Phelan came in with a piece of paper.

“Boss, Nottingham Forest had announced their starting list for tomorrow’s game.” The expression on his face was a little odd when he spoke.

Ferguson looked up at his assistant, who only took over last season.

“This is the list.” He handed the paper to Ferguson.

Ferguson’s expression on his face was the same as Phelan when he glanced through it.

“Is Tony crazy?”

※※※

“I’m not crazy. I’m just trying to get the young players to get into the competition as quickly as possible. Losing? I’m not afraid. Anyway, we don’t count on any championship titles this season. We can use one season to train the young players, which I think is a good deal.” Twain answered in this manner to Kerslake’s question about the starting list. This obviously took place before they announced the starting list.

Twain convinced the other coaches that he would try to use the inexperienced young players as much as possible in the heavyweight game against Manchester United. He put aside the outcome of the game. Training these young players was the goal of the game. As long as he could achieve the purpose of training the new players, he would not lose his temper even if they really lost the game.

For him, to be able to compete against those strong team was a hard to come by actual combat practice…

Whether it was Ferguson’s Manchester United, Wenger’s Arsenal, Benítez’s Liverpool or Scolari’s Chelsea, they were just NPCs for his players to gain experience, upgrade and become stronger.

He did not care how many games he would lose as long as those young players could learn something useful in the process. Failure was the mother of success. No matter how many games they would lose this season, they could win them all back one by one next season.

※※※

The day of the match.

“Tony Twain announced their starting lineup for the game a day early. This list is really startling. In the face of a strong team like Manchester United, Twain actually sent the veritable ‘juvenile footballers.’ Agbonlahor has been doing well lately, but Nicolás Millán… has only played a total of one hundred and ten minutes so far this season and his performance has been average. And as for Bostock and Cohen, there’s nothing much to say for their performances at all. I don’t understand why Manager Tony Twain suddenly wants to put these young players in the important positions in the game against Manchester United. Petrov, Eastwood and Žigić are fine and not troubled by injuries. The team doesn’t have to store up its physical strength for competing in multiple tournaments…” The commentator, Motson remained perplexed by Twain’s lineup despite much thought.

Like him, the Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson also did not understand what Tony Twain wanted to do.

He would not understand what was going on in the smiling man’s mind until the game began. He could only get Manchester United to play the way they were accustomed to and take control of the pace in their own hands.

The rest… was up to the players themselves.

At the beginning of the game, the situation was nothing more than what most people had expected. Manchester United dominated the game with their seasoned experience and excellent skills, as well as the tacit cooperation between the players.

Even though Nottingham Forest also had George Wood, Bale, Pepe and the other proven “battlefield veterans”, they were all defensive players. They could only guarantee that their goal would not be easily breached by Manchester United, but they could not pose any threat to Manchester United’s goal.

Agbonlahor played as well as ever, but it was hard to difficult to achieve anything alone.

He lacked effective support from his teammates and, more often than not, he had to run back to the backfield to help with the defense.

On the away side, Manchester United completely played like it was its home ground, bombarding the Forest team in its half of the field.

Motson said with concern, “If this continues, Ferguson will get the results he wants…”

Instead, Ferguson was worried—He was well-acquainted with Nottingham Forest’s stance and had studied the opponent for four years. He was so familiar with them that he knew what kind of dump they were going to take the moment they lifted their butts. This was the preparation for the defensive counterattacks.

Agbonlahor and Lennon were fast in speed. Millán was not bad either. Cohen was probably the only one who was slower.

He thought about how this team’s first win of the season came about…

Should the formation withdraw now? Slowly deal with the Forest team?

No!

Up against such a Nottingham Forest lineup, it was really embarrassing for Ferguson himself that Manchester United should only aim to equalize the game. The best method was to keep strengthening the offense and score early to put the game in its own orbit.

Ferguson did not have to wait long for Manchester United to score.

Berbatov cleverly blocked Kompany behind after he received a pass from Nani in the penalty area. He immediately swung his leg for the shot and the football passed between the legs of Pepe who had rushed over to defend. It then bypassed Akinfeev’s fingers and drilled into the goal.

The visiting Manchester United fans celebrated the goal with thunderous cheers at the City Ground stadium.

Ferguson also stood up and clapped, expressing his delight.

※※※

But Manchester United’s excitement did not last long. The Forest team took advantage of the kickoff soon after. Bostock dribbled the ball and broke through to the front of the penalty area before he was tackled and fell by Hargreaves. The referee whistled to give Nottingham Forest a free kick.

When Bale stood in front of the football, the City Ground stadium rang out with a song for Bale. They sang, “Young Monkey Bale, he’s our number one free-kick master! With the football at his feet, it’s as precise as controlled by hand! It draws an arc, bypasses the human wall, no matter how far, it will hit the bullseye … Tenth circle! You’re already dead!”

The home ground would ring out with the song every time Bale was going to execute the free kick. Even if Beckham were the one to do it, the lyrics would not change. Bale was once asked about the song in an interview. He replied modestly, “I’m actually not that good…” when he incessantly delighted on the inside.

Ben Foster nervously directed the positions of the human wall. Bale stood in front of the ball and coolly observed everything. Only at this time, his focused look made people forget his actual age.

The human wall was set up and the referee whistled for it to start.

Bale ran up to kick!

The football streaked past the human wall, swept past the penalty area at a low altitude, and got into the top left corner of the goal!

Ben Foster was still standing in the same place, staring blankly at the football that rolled up the net behind him…

“They equalized the scores half a minute later!” Motson shouted and the City Ground stadium cheered and sang thunderously cheers in response to him.

“Tenth ring! Tenth ring! You’re already dead!”

This time it was Twain’s turn to rejoice. He high-fived everyone around him off the field.

“It’s the key goal!” He said with a laugh as he high-fived with Dunn.

※※※

Indeed, it was the key goal. The Forest team’s young players were encouraged by the goal and their morale was boosted. Bale used his free kick to tell his newly recruited teammates— that there was nothing to fear even from the defending champion, Manchester United!

Manchester United’s leading goal did not bring them any benefit. Instead, it inspired the Forest players’ determination and fighting spirit to win in another way.

The benefits of being a young player were evident here—everyone was full of energy fighting against the Manchester United players. They had to use all their strength in every desperate fight. Their vigor to counter press in the front field surprised the Manchester United players.

In terms of experience, this Forest team was slightly inferior to Manchester United. But in terms of fighting spirit, Manchester United was not as good as the Forest team.

The two sides were tied at 1:1 in the first half. During the halftime interval, Twain repeatedly encouraged. He fully acknowledged the performances of several young players in the first half—even though not everyone deserved praise for his performance.

He then asked the team to continue in this mode and unleash high pressing on Manchester United in the second half. Start to grab from the other side’s goal line to force the opponent to mess up, while creating opportunities for their own offense.

After the start of the second half, the two sides continued to tangle with each other in every corner of the pitch. Nottingham Forest’s physical display surprised many Manchester United fans. But the Nottingham Forest fans knew that this was a normal condition for Nottingham Forest—Tony Twain always emphasized and valued the team’s physical development. Last season’s situation was a special case compelled by circumstances and could not be used as a reference.

Nottingham Forest’s high pressing paid off and they scored another goal in the 27th minute of the second half. Nicolás Millán dribbled and broke through with the ball. Then he helped Agbonlahor to score.

The City Ground stadium was almost in a frenzy. The defending champion was about to be beaten by them!

Some Forest fans even yelled at the Manchester United fans in the other stands, “Last season we weren’t there, so you won the championship! It’s no big deal. Now we’re back!”

※※※

Unfortunately, they ultimately did not take the defending champion’s glory at the City Ground stadium. Ferguson deployed his team on a mission and finally equalized the score before the end of the game to retreat with pride.

While the Nottingham Forest fans might be disappointed with the outcome, the Nottingham Forest players would surely be disappointed with the score. But only Twain was happy. The first-year students fought valiantly against the defending champion team. It was a more valuable gain than three points.

It was also the first time the new Forest team did not lose a game against a strong team this season.

It was the Forest team he was familiar with—no matter what kind of opponent they faced, they would not be cowed or in awe. Newborn calves were not afraid of tigers, youth was the wealth of unbridled arrogance…

It does not matter that they did not win today. There’s still a lot of time and we’ve got plenty of opportunities to be arrogant.

The media were more concerned about—

“The defending champion almost lost to Tony Twain’s juvenile footballers!”