Chapter 633: Fierce Competition

With the excitement and joy of sitting on the throne of the league, the Nottingham Forest team flew to Barcelona for the game against the La Liga powerhouse team, Barcelona.

The Barcelona fans had yet to forget Tony Twain’s arrogant performance against Barcelona in the Champions League final, and they did not put behind the hatred of Nottingham Forest for eliminating them. Now they had a chance to return all the resentment that had accumulated over two years to Nottingham Forest.

It was fantasized by the Barcelona fans, but the Barcelona players might not think so.

It was Rijkaard’s last chance to save himself. He had been empty-handed for two seasons, firmly suppressed by their archrival, Real Madrid, and had lost the first leg of the battle of the century at the Camp Nou this season. There was basically no hope of a league title, and the reason for not expecting it was not that Real Madrid was too strong, but that they failed to live up to expectations. Having been eliminated from Copa del Rey and only advancing into the Champions League semifinals, all their failures of the season would be nothing if they could pick up the “Big Ears” trophy. The shame of being defeated by Real Madrid at the Camp Nou would be drowned in the sea of joy from the victory.

However, in the face of Nottingham Forest, Rijkaard was at his wits’ end because he did not have a good solution.

Under normal circumstances, when a strong opponent approached, the team should band in opposition to the adversary and unite to overcome the opponent.

But today’s Barcelona was not. Catalonia’s media constantly speculated about Ronaldinho’s enemies in the locker room, Eto’o’s big mouth, the weak Rijkaard losing control of the locker room, the core Barcelona really needed between Messi and Ronaldinho, if Henry was worth his purchase value, Rijkaard’s successor, Mourinho, and so on. It looked raucous, and the readers saw new stunts every day, except more news about the game — no, there was still news. In the battle for the core position on whether Messi or Ronaldinho should be the one that Barcelona trusted, it was mentioned that Messi was injured and that he would miss the first leg of the Champions League semi finals against Nottingham Forest.

It was a great irony.

Twain and his coaching staff, as well as the team, had made careful preparations and were afraid to take it lightly. But after they arrived, they realized that their opponent’s mind was on the internal discord and completely did not take them seriously.

Consequently, he was not afraid of Barcelona.

By the day before the game, Puyol came forward and declared that they had to beat Nottingham Forest at home because it was the Champions League semi finals. After he read this story in his hotel room, Twain slightly sarcastically said to Dunn, “did they only just realize that this is the Champions League semi finals?”

Twain attached great importance on the unity of the team and the atmosphere and harmony within the locker room. Deeply educated by Chairman Mao, he was aware that “the easiest way to capture a fortress is from within.” In addition to the hard work by the entire team, Nottingham Forest’s results were based on unity. Real Madrid’s failures in previous years and the fall of Barcelona stemmed from their internal divisions.

Therefore, he never allowed the farce that was happening in Barcelona to happen to him in the future.

He would guard against it with the history as a guide.

※※※

Puyol came forward to speak as the team captain, but to little avail. Barcelona was divided internally. Even thought he was the captain, not everyone would listen to him.

This game at the Camp Nou was moving very, very drearily.

Defensive counterattack was naturally Twain’s first choice in key games, while Barcelona did not show a high quality of offense. Messi’s absence due to injury had a very big impact on the team. Ronaldinho was once again on the bench — he rarely sat on the substitutes’ bench in his four seasons in Barcelona, but the number of times he sat on the bench this season far exceeded the number of times for those first four seasons.

Although Rijkaard had never publicly criticized Ronaldinho and always said he trusted the Brazilian, he put him on the substitutes’ bench every time. The attitude was worth people’s examination. In addition, on a tactical level, Ronaldinho had gone from being the “phenomenon” of Barcelona to a “cancer.” His attacking results on the field depended entirely on his personal form. He had been in a very bad form this season and too much ball taking led to too many mistakes. His attacking speed was not as fast as Messi. If he and Messi appeared in a game at the same time, they would interfere with each other. As a result, in games with Ronaldinho confirmed, Barcelona’s results were very good. Once he appeared, Barcelona did not lose or draw.

At first, some people even called out in the Catalan media. “Why don’t you let Ronaldinho play? You always say he has an injury, but has no problem at all.” Eventually, the voices faded.

In the game, Ronaldinho sat in the back row of the substitutes’ bench. People surrounded him, filling the space in front and to the left and right, but he looked very lonely. His only good friend, Messi, was recovering at home to prepare for the second leg of the game. What about him? He might not even be brought to England for the second leg.

Barcelona’s offense was messy. Even so, Nottingham Forest held fast to defense, and the number of players invested in the counterattack was low, as if they were afraid of being caught off guard after being tackled.

Could a game like that be satisfying? Boos rang out at the Camp Nou stadium. The hissing was not aimed at a particular team, but at both sides. They were deeply dissatisfied with Barcelona’s inability to attack and did not forget that Nottingham Forest was its own enemy as well.

The two sides did not enter a goal for ninety minutes and the game was utterly dull. Many television viewers who were originally excited in anticipation of “an explosive game” lamented that they had wasted a night. As for the fans who stayed up to watch the game in the Far East, the posts campaigning against Barcelona’s “inability to forge ahead” and Nottingham Forest’s “habitual passive defense” were rife online.

Twain did not care about them. He left Camp Nou and the beautiful city of Barcelona because he got the result he wanted before the game: a draw without any goal concede to spend Barcelona’s home-field advantage.

It would be a bonus if they could score a goal, but it was not bad if they did not earn it.

※※※

Returning to the top seat of the league tournament and getting away from the first leg of the Champions League semi finals put Twain in a good mood. As the end of the competition approached, his emotions oscillated between highs and lows. He was frustrated when they were forced into a draw at home by AC Milan. He had roundly abused the Blackburn Rovers when they lost to them and had needed to apologize to the team the next day because he had to rely on them to strive for the top, after all. When they won the game against Tottenham Hotspur, he praised the entire team generously. After Blackburn Rovers tied with Manchester United, he excitedly bought drinks the entire pub in celebration.

For him, every minute of his life was spent in great joy or sorrow. When there was neither exultation nor great sorrow, he was always on the edge and afraid to relax for a moment.

No other season had made him as nervous as this season. They had a shot in the two championships, but both were uncertain. They could eventually win the Double or end up empty-handed and watch other teams celebrate.

Back in Nottingham, the team did not even have a half-day break before they had to set out to prepare for the 36th round of the league tournament against Reading at home.

The timing was very close, just two days later. Tony Twain and his team had to win the game at all costs. A draw would be a failure.

Manchester United had been pushed to the brink. They were forced into a 1:1 draw with Chelsea at home in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Ferguson’s roars continued. In the 36th round of the league tournament, it was unfortunate and coincidental that their opponent was still Chelsea. In the game, no matter what method was used, Ferguson would not allow his team to lose to Chelsea again, even if it was an away game for them and that it would be the second leg of the Champions League semi finals against Chelsea when the league game was completed.

Manchester United was certain to fight to the death against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It was the perfect opportunity for Nottingham Forest to continue their lead advantage. Nottingham Forest would benefit, whether Manchester United or Chelsea won or lost. If Chelsea won, Nottingham Forest gained in the league competition. If Manchester United won, Nottingham Forest would benefit on the Champions League battlefield.

It was a golden opportunity..

“So, we must win!” Twain set the tone for the game at the end of the tactical layout meeting on the day before the game.

※※※

A day later, the seats in the City Ground stadium were filled. The stands, which could accommodate up to 30,000 people, were full of fluttering flags. The Forest fans were aware of the situation for each team in the league tournament and that it was most advantageous for the Forest team. Their enemy was weak and their competitors were fighting each other to the death. As long as they won the game, they could scoop up the handle of the championship trophy with one hand.

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Everyone wanted to come and watch the historic moment — the Nottingham Forest Football Club had only won a single top-flight tournament in its history, the English Football League Championship title during Brian Clough’s time. They took advantage of the championship title to win the two Champions League titles. They were the only team in the Champions League history to have won only one domestic top-flight championship but won the Champions League title twice. So if the Forest team could finally pick up the league title this season, they made history again.

When the Forest players came out, they were greeted by a tsunami of cheers in the stands. It was the city Stadium’s function as a home, but it was just a bit more exciting today. The Forest team’s supporters hoped to put extra pressure on Reading, leaving them at a loss and raising their hands to surrender.

Tony Twain was like the head of state and commander in chief of triple armed forces, standing high in the city tower, smugly inspecting his troops marching in front of him, and enjoying the deafening cheers and praise from his subjects in the stands. The pinnacle of his coaching career was coming soon.

Unquestionably, there was one more person who felt the same as him: Evan Doughty, the club owner standing in the VIP box above. He was the one who should really enjoy the sense of regency because he was the real owner of this club. As for Tony Twain? He was just a wage earner, albeit of a slightly higher standing.

The great excitement of the impending glory struck the senior wage earner’s mind, causing a wide smile to form on his face. In the eyes of other people, he did not stand on the sidelines before the game but stood on the sidelines after the game. As a result, his team won big.

With their tactics on the right track and the opponent’s weaker strength, there was no reason for the game to go wrong.

Having just concluded an important game, Manchester United put on a strong attack in the away game and beat Chelsea 2:1 at the cost of a red card. They temporarily overtook Nottingham Forest in the rankings, leading by two points, but Twain believed that after their game was over, the lead was bound to be them with only a one-point difference.

When the players from both sides stood in their formation in their respective halves, the referee stood outside the center circle and put the whistle in his mouth. The noisy City Ground stadium quieted down. The silence made it seem like everyone was gone, and Twain looked back at the grandstand behind him and was relieved that everyone was still there.

“Beep—”

※※※

One hundred and twenty minutes later, nearly half an hour had passed since the end of the game.

Tony Twain sat alone in the empty technical area. The stands of the City Ground stadium and the green field in front of him were equally empty.

He sat there quietly, with no ecstatic or dejected expression on his face.

Sounds of footsteps came, but he did not pay them any mind.

“Tony.” The sound of footsteps disappeared, and Dunn’s voice could be heard.

“Yes?” Twain did not even lift his gaze.

“Want to go back?”

“I’ll sit here a little longer.”

“You’ve been sitting here for fifteen minutes.”

Twain finally took his eyes off the field to look at Dunn. He did not speak, but the expression in his eyes sent shivers down Dunn’s spine.

Tony Twain looked like an angry beast that had just lost its child, as if he might jump up and pounce on him to devour him at any moment.

He was really, really angry.

“You…” Dunn paused for a moment, “did not say anything. Everyone thought you were…”

“Not angry?” he asked with a cold voice.

In the past, it was Kerslake who was unlucky enough to come near Twain. But Kerslake was the one who led the team away today. Only Dunn, who lived next door, was there with Twain.

“How can I not be angry?” he asked again. This time, no hint of explosiveness could not be heard at all. “But who am I supposed to vent this anger on? Just after the game, when I was pressed by a group of reporters at the press conference, I really wanted to rush straight into the locker room and give everyone a dressing down, but when I thought about what happened after that loss to Blackburn Rovers, I put up with it. But I did not want to look at them again, so I sent them away early. I came here myself to sit down for a while. I did not think I could vent my anger at them… No, I can’t vent at them. You know why?”

Twain looked at Dunn, who looked back at him but did not answer.

“Because I think if I trace the source of the reproach, it is me who should be reprimanded the most. But I cannot scold myself, even more so especially in front of other people.” Twain got up from his seat. “It was the Champions League semi finals three days after the league game, and it was the league tournament again three days after the semi finals of the Champions League. And three days later after the league game, it will be the Champions League semi finals again. The players’ forms fluctuate because they are too tired.

“If I had been a little bolder in this game, it might not have been this outcome. I did not rotate when I should have rotated. I wanted to tear up Reading with the strongest squad, but I did not think it wasn’t the strongest squad that determined the outcome of the game…

“Then I sat here thinking… the people all left and not a single person was here. Not even a fly-like reporter was here to annoy me. I could have a good think and did not have to pretend in front of others. I wasn’t thinking why I stumbled. I was just thinking a thing like fate was amazing. One moment I was in heaven, and the next, I was in hell…

“As I thought, I stopped being angry.” The look in Twain’s eyes changed, and a smile emerged on his face. He opened his arms. “I’ll admit that my eyes and mind were blinded by the performance in front of me. Some people may find this outcome is a cruel joke played on me by fate. But in fact, I think it is good, the best result!”

“I’m not mad! What was our original plan? Whether we’re ahead of Manchester United or not, the end result won’t change. We always had to contend with them in the final round to decide who the champion is. Right? So what does it matter who’s first or second? It’s also good to throw the pressure of being the front-runner to the other side.”

“Besides.” He winked at Dunn. “I even thought of how to get Barcelona to capitulate at home. We’re going to advance to the Champions League finals for the third time.”

He stretched his back. “Come on, Dunn, let’s go home. It’s nice to have someone listen to me.” He took the lead to walk over to the tunnel. Then he stopped and looked back at Dunn. “You know what? I suddenly feel like it was great to contemplate things, sitting in an empty stadium. The office and my house are too small and restrict my thinking. It’s just nice here.” He pointed to the stadium.

“It’s big enough, but it’s not boundless, otherwise I’d be distracted.” Then he muttered again, “compared to a noisy pitch, I suddenly quite like such a quiet pitch… That’s strange.”

※※※

On April 2008, three days before the second leg of the Champions League semifinals, in the 36th round of the 07-08 English Premier League season, Nottingham Forest unexpectedly tied with Reading at home. Neither team scored.

Manchester United took the opportunity to complete the reversal. With a one-point advantage, they temporarily returned to the top spot.

For Tony Twain and Alex Ferguson, there were still two rounds to go before the league title trophy. There was one more round of league games before the final showdown at Old Trafford. What would happen?

Only the devil knew.