Chapter 288: The UEFA Europa League Champion?

As Nottingham Forest continued to pose a strong challenge and remained on top of them, it looked like Liverpool would not be able to keep going.

On February 12, in the 27th round of the league tournament, the Forest team scored a victory against Southampton in an away game, and Liverpool lost to Birmingham City in an away game. Liverpool seemed distracted as the UEFA Europa League knockout phase was about to start.

The Forest team overtook Liverpool with a three-point advantage and was now ranked fifth with forty-six points!

This was a great achievement. What made Twain most happy was not that they had surpassed Liverpool, but their gap with Everton was only two points. One game could solve everything. Everton had lost 0:1 to Chelsea on their home ground at this round of the league.

In this way, the tournament’s top six rankings were Chelsea with 68 points, Manchester United with 59 points, Arsenal with 57 points, Everton with 48 points, Nottingham Forest with 46 points, and Liverpool with 43 points.

After this round of the league was over, the Forest team could start to prepare for the UEFA Europa League. In a way, it could also be considered the end of a phase. The Nottingham media sang praises of Twain and his team. Everyone agreed that young Manager Tony Twain was a major contributing factor in the team’s ability to get where they were. As a newly promoted team, the Forest team had managed to be in the top five halfway into the league tournament and ranked above Liverpool. This was something that most of the Forest fans could not have imagined before the season.

Gary Lineker praised the Forest team in Match of the Day. “…This young Forest team reminds us of David O’Leary’s Leeds United: young, energetic, and not afraid of anything. To tell you the truth, I really like Manager Twain’s team. They’ve brought a new wave to the Premier League. Remember what we said at the end of last season, Mark? I said this season’s Premier League would be exciting to watch. It turns out that I was right.”

This season’s Premier League was indeed different from the previous years. Mourinho’s strong involvement, the fatigue of traditionally strong teams like Liverpool and Manchester United, the rise of Everton, and the return of Nottingham Forest had caused upheavals in the Premier League this year. It was also particularly appealing because it was more suspenseful, unlike the last few seasons. Previously, everyone had known from the start of the season that the league title was just a toy that Manchester United and Arsenal competed for. And Chelsea? Maybe it could create some trouble but to no avail. It was even more unthinkable that Everton would be in the fourth place and have high hopes of qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Before the season, everyone had said that Nottingham Forest’s goal for the season was to avoid relegation. No one had mentioned that idea since.

However, Twain was well aware that the Forest team’s current results had a lot to do with good timing. If it were the first few seasons, or any other season when the new structure of the Premier League was being formed, it would have been difficult for the Forest team to get a foothold. This was Mourinho’s first season in Stamford Bridge. His arrival had a great impact on Arsenal and Manchester United. Arsenal had had a fantastic season. It was as if they had ascended the peak of the mountain and now it was their time to descend. And Manchester United’s fatigue seemed to have much to do with Ferguson’s age. After that FA Cup game, when Twain and Ferguson were having a drink together, Ferguson had vaguely alluded to his desire to leave Manchester United after the end of this season. He jokingly asked Twain if he wanted to come to Manchester United to coach, which Twain had rejected in the same joking tone.

If it had not been for the major shifts among the powerful teams in the Premier League this season, it would not have been possible for Twain to lead the Forest team to this point given his experience. Gary Lineker said that the Forest team had disturbed the inherent pattern of the Premier League and made this season’s Premier League exciting and suspenseful to watch. But Tang En, who actually knew history, was aware that it was not the emergence of the Forest team that had broken the Premier League’s order. That order would have been broken anyway. If it hadn’t been the Forest team, it would have been Chelsea. Twain’s appearance just added to the Premier League’s existing chaos, which made it easier for him to take advantage of and profit from the chaotic situation.

The Forest team, which had achieved fifth place in the league, was in high spirits and played extremely well in the next UEFA Europa League game.

In UEFA Europa League’s 16th round, Nottingham Forest’s opponent was the rather weak Austrian team, Grazer AK. In the first round, the Forest team played in an away match. The Forest team was stronger than their opponent. However, Grazer AK was playing on its home ground, which was a factor that could not be ignored. In the end, they battled to a draw at 2:2. Twain was very pleased with the result. With two goals scored in the away game, they would most likely be in the UEFA Europa League’s top 16.

Back on their home ground, the Forest team thrashed Grazer AK by 2:0 amidst the cheers of their fans, and successfully advanced to the top 16.

At this point, Twain had basically completed his European goal for the Forest team set before the season. The Forest team not only broke into the knockout stage but advanced to the top 16 as well. As a team that had been away from Europe for eight years, that was enough to announce their return.

The question Twain needed to consider now was, did they want to continue?

He decided to ask Dunn’s advice.

“…I think that right now, the team has the ability to go further in the UEFA Europa League, but I’m not sure if we should keep advancing…” Twain raised his question at the table during dinner.

After he listened quietly to Twain’s question, Dunn asked, “How far are you intending to go?”

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe to the quarterfinals, maybe to the semi-finals…”

“If it’s not for the finals, then what’s the difference between the top four and top 16?” Dunn’s remark left Twain speechless.

He’s right; why do I want to go further? What’s my goal after going further? Is the goal to go a step further a kind of victory too?

“If you’re not sure about winning the championship, I suggest you abandon the UEFA Europa League completely. If you-”

Twain interrupted Dunn’s analysis. “I’ve decided to give it a try. Regardless of the outcome, it’s always good to try.”

“And you’ll give up the Premier League?”

“No… I’m not really giving up. It’s just a temporary change of focus. It’s a… strategic adjustment.” Twain said that a little grudgingly. Had he not thought of giving up the Premier League?

The glory of the UEFA Europa League was too tempting. Twain had not even dared think about it half a season ago. But that did not mean he could not think about it now. If I can lead the team to win the UEFA Europa League, I’ll be a manager with a European championship under my belt…

At the thought of this, Twain could not help himself.

This was his dream. Compared to this, there was no difference between the top four or the top six in the Premier League. Even if he could not be in the top six to be eligible for the European qualification next season, he was willing to do so.

“So, it’s decided. The Forest team’s goal for this season is the UEFA Europa League.” Twain decided what the Forest team was going to put their efforts into for the next half of the season, even though he looked a little cavalier about it with the fork and knife in his hands.

Hearing Twain say that, Dunn smiled slightly as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he did not say anything.

※※※

During the next day’s training session, Twain informed the coaching team that he had decided to give up on the Premier League for the time being and concentrate on the UEFA Europa League. He did not receive unanimous support. Kerslake was particularly worried. He had never had high expectations for the UEFA Europa League. For him, the domestic league was the most important.

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Initially, the Forest team had had very good momentum in the Premier League. It had already overtaken Liverpool and was only two points away from Everton. As long as they continued their pressure on Everton, they could replace them and become fourth in the league. After that, as long as they maintained their ranking until the end of the season, they would be able to participate in the next season’s UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

After training was over, Kerslake stopped Twain in his office and asked why he had become so interested in the UEFA Europa League overnight.

“Tony…” Twain heard him before he had entered. He looked up, saw Kerslake hurrying in, and smiled.

“I know what you wanted to ask. Have a seat, David.” Twain pointed to the chair.

Kerslake sat down and bluntly asked, “Tony, I can’t figure out why you’re so interested in the UEFA Europa League all of a sudden.”

Twain casually sat at a corner of the table and said with a smile, “Isn’t a championship something that every manager should be interested in?”

It was a good statement, but Kerslake did not intend to go along with it. He tried to persuade Twain from another angle. “Tony, we’re in a good situation with the league right now. Why should we give up the league to pursue the UEFA Europa League, which is much more difficult? Do you know who our opponent in the next round of the UEFA Europa League is?”

“Sporting Lisbon,” Twain said simply, as though he did not take the opponent to heart. “Don’t worry, right now they have no Figo and no Cristiano Ronaldo.”

“Of course Sporting Lisbon isn’t as strong as before. But they’re still strong enough to knock us out.”

“But it’s not as if we don’t have a chance to beat them. David, I know what you’re worried about. But isn’t football supposed to be like this? We’re always going to take a little risk, aren’t we? No victory is assured. Sometimes we need to just take a gamble. If we always follow the set plan, it’s not very interesting.” Twain shrugged and looked up at the clear sky outside. “Recently, I’ve been missing the moment when we won the EFL Cup championship last season. It was thrilling… Very thrilling.”

“But … Isn’t it an exciting thing to be eligible for the UEFA Champions League next season?”

“It’s still a little lacking compared to being a European champion this season,” Twain smiled and said to Kerslake, as if he was not angry with his assistant manager, despite his insistence on his different view.

Hearing what Twain had said, Kerslake paused for a moment and muttered, “Alright. Maybe it’s because you have such ambitions that you can lead this team. If your mind is made up, then I’ll help you.”

“Thank you, David.” Twain’s gratitude was sincere. He was really very lucky not to encounter the ugliness of the power struggles seen in bigger football clubs. A small club was not as strong, but there were still benefits to small clubs. At least the people here were simple. They loved the team and wholeheartedly cared for it without any malice.

It had given him David Kerslake, who had initially trained with him under Paul Hart as his coach, and was now his uncomplaining assistant manager.

※※※

Since the assistant manager had no objections, the coaching team basically unified their thinking. The Forest team’s immediate priority was to defeat Portugal’s powerhouse, Sporting Lisbon, in the UEFA Europa League in the 16th round, then launch their low-key assault on the UEFA Europa League champion title. The media didn’t yet know that Twain wanted the UEFA Europa League title, and naturally, no one would have speculated on the subject.

Two days after their game against Grazer AK, the Forest team would welcome their 28th round opponent, Blackburn Rovers, to their home ground. Due to the series of battles in the tournament, Twain adopted a rotation system. The appearances of many substitute players did not particularly weaken the Forest team’s abilities. Rather, the hungry and thirsty players worked harder to make a better impression on their manager. Despite that, the weary Forest team was forced to a 2:2 draw.

Everyone felt that that score was normal. After playing so many games in a row in the Premier League and the European tournament, it was good that they had at least not lost. No one realized that the Forest team had shifted its focus. Even Moyes still felt the pressure from Forest. He was completely unaware that his main competitor was no longer focusing on the league.

It was now March, more than two months from the end of the league. The Forest team’s fifth-place rank was stable, and the sixth-ranked Liverpool had had one less game, which left them at forty-three points. In order to get rid of any entanglement from Forest, Moyes’ Everton used all of its force and accumulated fifty-one points in the 28th round of the league. The gap between them and the Forest team had widened to four points. However, Moyes could not rest yet because he was also well aware of his team’s situation. Without Gravesen, and without having been able to successfully bring in Mikel Arteta during the winter transfer period, Moyes felt it was a great pity that when he saw the Spaniard perform beautifully as a substitute in the 26th round of the league. If he had been more determined in the beginning, if he had made a direct offer rather than a loan, he might have already negotiated individual remuneration with Mikel Arteta before Twain’s intervention. Arteta was not a player who was picky about teams. At that time, he could not wait to escape the quagmire of Real Sociedad. No matter which team approached him, he would have agreed.

Moyes’s Everton gritted its teeth and soldiered on. He hoped that, while the Forest team was battling on two fronts and had an intensive schedule, they would widen their gap in points with the Forest team so that there would be greater leeway in the future.

On March 5, in the 29th round of the league, Nottingham Forest challenged Middlesbrough in an away game.

This time, the Forest team sent in the same lineup as before.

Having lost to the Forest team in the EFL Cup final and in the first half of the league, McClaren finally had his chance for revenge. All the conditions were favorable for Middlesbrough and they defeated Nottingham Forest by 2:0, with half of the Forest team’s main force out of commission.

The media finally realized that something was not quite right. The UEFA Europa League was six days later, and there were not two games that week. The Forest team had no reason to rotate in the game. What was even fishier was after they lost the game, Tony Twain was exceptionally calm when he faced McClaren.

It was incredible. Since that EFL Cup final, the media knew that Twain and McClaren had disliked each other on sight. In the first half of the tournament, after the Forest team defeated Middlesbrough by 2:1 on their home ground, Twain was visibly happy at the press conference and did not hold back in his speech. McClaren, meanwhile, looked grim throughout. Everyone could see the disappointment on his face.

Now that McClaren had reversed the roles with Tony Twain from the first half of the season, Twain did not look gloomy. Instead, he looked calm.

It was not in line with Twain’s character. In the past, when he lost to McClaren whom he despised the most, he might have gotten up earlier and left the press conference following the reading of the game summary. Now he actually sat there and listened to McClaren praising Middlesbrough’s excellent performance, how they had suppressed the Forest team’s attacks, how they defend against as strong a center forward as Viduka, and they had caught Albertini in a defensive quagmire.

He did not refute it at all until McClaren had finished speaking. Then he took his time to express his satisfaction with the performance of his team, because “the young players and those who don’t normally get many chances for appearances are being given opportunities to play, which is extremely important for their development.”

Did he see the Premier League as a training ground for new players? Was he confused? Who put place the Premier League at that level? He should be training new players in the EFL Cup or the FA Cup, not in the Premier League!

Was he arrogant or ignorant?

Even McClaren, who sat happily next to him, could not help but shoot a glance at Twain. He thought that he must have been faking it to annoy him. But… I’m sorry, Mr. Tony Twain, I wasn’t born yesterday.

Twain stood up and took the initiative to extend his hand to McClaren. He smiled and said, “I wish you good luck, Mr. McClaren.”

“Good luck to you too, Mr. Twain,” McClaren replied, smiling back.