Chapter 697: We Dare You

The media from all over the world flocked to Nottingham. There were a lot of highlights to watch for the game to them. If they did not go to the live game, they would miss out on a lot of exciting stories.

The most important part of the day for the league tournament was Everton’s home game against Liverpool in the “Merseyside derby”, which Liverpool eventually won the derby with two goals from Torres.

Nottingham Forest and Manchester City did not have ties to a derby, and there was no deep hatred and feud between the two teams in their history. The attention that the game garnered was all due to this summer. Perhaps Twain had made history again—a new history whereby Nottingham Forest and Manchester City found each other objectionable.

“I don’t have to tell everyone what these two teams have been through this summer. You just have to look at what the players of both teams are currently saying in interviews to know how hot the game is.” The television host introduced the game to the audience at the television station.

The footage turned to the scene of the interview with the players of both teams.

“I’m certain I’ll score in this game!” Bendtner said to the camera very seriously.

“Can you give us your thoughts on your manager?”

“Manager Hughes is an outstanding manager. I believe Manchester City will forge ahead with brilliance under him.”

“Let’s talk about Tony Twain…”

“I don’t want to talk about him.”

Bendtner turned and walked away. Ashley Young immediately appeared on the screen.

“Your teammate said just now he’s going to score against the Forest team…”

Ashley Young nodded with a grin and extended two fingers, “We made a bet with him that not only he will score, but also score at least two goals. If he doesn’t do it, he’ll treat us to dinner! But I’m happy to help him win the bet.”

“Do you think he can do it?”

“I believe in his strength. We are all together at Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. I believe in him.” Ashley Young raised his fist and waved it in front of the cameras.

Next up was an interview with the Nottingham Forest players.

Van Nistelrooy was grabbed by the reporters who insisted on hearing a few words about Bendtner’s departure, “Why did he leave? I don’t know. I think you should ask the boss. I wish him good luck.”

With that, he was going to leave but the reporter pulled him back, “Bendtner said he will score at least two goals against the Forest team…”

“I’ve never heard of this matter.” Van Nistelrooy found a reason to dodge them and no longer cared about the reporters’ questions. He just turned and walked away.

The cameras wandered about and the reporters found George Wood walking over in front of them.

“Wood, can you talk about Bendtner’s talk of scoring at least two goals against the Forest team?”

Wood said with a cold expression, “I welcome him to come try.”

Then he cut straight through the reporters’ encirclement without turning his head to look back.

The image cut back into the studio and the host spread out his hands, “You see, that’s the way it is.”

※※※

Twain did not know what kind of mentality Bendtner had for suddenly announcing that he was going to score at least two goals against the Forest team.

Revenge?

Or to show off his abilities?

Or was it just that someone else had manipulated him?

Because during the four years at Nottingham Forest, the side that he showed did not give Twain the impression of a brash character.

In an interview, he was asked about this matter and he even showed magnanimity.

“I believe that it was possible to do so with his strength. I think highly of him and he’s very talented. It’s not hard for him to score goals…”

The media were surprised by these remarks. They initially wanted to get Twain’s abusive response.

Twain was naturally angry on the inside, but he could not show it. He could not afford for the media to be given the opportunity to hype up this matter. He must consider the Forest players’ feelings at this time as well.

They were not computer-generated virtual data, with no thought and temper. What would the players who stayed in the Forest team think of him if he had been critical of a player who had just left the team? They certainly would not be starry-eyed and worshiped him collectively to say, “Wow, the boss is so cool!”

What happened to Bendtner gave him a clear look at the group of players. No matter how well-behaved they were in front of the manager, they would have their own little schemes, which they carefully concealed from him. If any of them were unhappy with Bendtner’s remarks, it was their own business, and they had the right. But the manager’s actions to force the players to accept the discontent was another matter.

For a former teammate who had just left the team, the influence he had left in the team had not dissipated. There were still people here who had a good relationship with him. If he publicly rebuked Bendtner, it would only disillusioned them.

At this critical moment, Twain had to be careful in all aspects. The team could not withstand another turmoil.

Of course, if someone in the team misunderstood his words and felt hurt, Twain could immediately apologize to the other side in the sincerest tone.

For example, Pepe protested with some displeasure at a tactical meeting on the day before the game.

“Boss, I think what you said to the reporters yesterday made me and the other defenders feel hurt.”

Twain knew that someone would be unhappy by this because he could not satisfy the values of everyone in the world. However, it was never too late to improve once he knew the fault. He apologized at once.

“Ah, I’m so sorry, Pepe. You know, sometimes when we face the media, we have to say things that may not be consistent with our will… Saying those remarks absolutely did not mean that I underestimated you guys. I actually didn’t add another thing—I’m sure he has that ability, but not against Nottingham Forest!” Twain chuckled.

The defenders laughed, and they were satisfied.

“Okay, guys.” Twain motioned for them to stop laughing. “When I expressed humility, it did not mean we admitted defeat. In fact, for this game, I ask—not hope, it’s a demand—-you have to win. I don’t need to spell the reason out since you should all be clear. Truthfully, if you need me to say it, I can list a lot of different reasons. But I don’t think that’s going to help. They are only reasons and I can find plenty more reasons. But losing is not an option, absolutely not! If we still want to win the league tournament, then we absolutely cannot lose to a team like Manchester City! Not only Manchester City, but other opponents too!”

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Next, Twain beckoned for Dunn to come up and explain the specific tactics.

“The formation for this game is 4-5-1. Wood and Tiago, you’re starting. You need to assist the defense on the sides when you’re defending in the middle. Manchester City has Ashley Young and Robinho, so their sides need extra attention. With Wood and Tiago in charge of assisting the sides, Ribéry and Lennon must pull to the middle when necessary, giving Bale and Rafinha space to plug in from the back row… Simply put, we’re attacking and defending the sides.”

※※※

Meanwhile, Manchester City held a tactical meeting at the Hotel where they stayed. Unlike Twain, who left everything to his men to execute, Mark Hughes was hands-on. He wanted to take advantage of the momentum of their victory against Portsmouth to defeat Nottingham Forest.

The players sitting around the conference table listened carefully as he spoke in the front. Some of them were absent-minded. Bendtner was chatting with Ashley Young in a low voice.

“Nicklas, have you thought about how to deal with their defenders? You know Pepe, he’s fierce one-on-one…..” Young asked softly.

“It’s not that I had not score against him during a contest. I often scored goals in the team matches.” Bendtner was not wrong at all. Pepe always represented the main force side during the contests within the team, and Bendtner often represented the substitutes. Although they had not played against each other in an official competition, he was familiar with such contests.

Ashley Young knew he told the truth, so he stopped asking questions about it. Instead, he changed his tack, “Have you thought about how to celebrate after the goal?”

Bendtner smiled, “I haven’t thought about it. I’ll see how it goes when the time comes. If I overthink it now, it will be too silly when I do nothing at the time.”

“… Nottingham Forest is characterized by flank attacks. From the full backs to the wingers, they all have the ability to plug in and attack. We need to be extra vigilant on this point.” Mark Hughes continued, “I ask that you do not back down in the confrontation with them and step up the offensive on the side. Especially when it comes seizing hold of the gaps behind the two full backs who plug in to assist! No matter how powerful George Wood is alone, he can’t take care of both left and right sides. There is bound to be gaps. Grab hold of them! We’ll attack from the flanks and not play in the middle for tomorrow’s game. Use the sides to break down their defenses!”

“The boss has put a lot of effort into it…” Ashley Young muttered. He liked this kind of arrangement because he would be one of the leading players on the pitch. He wanted to use his speed and passing to help Manchester City tear up Nottingham Forest’s defense and take the victory away in front of Twain’s eyes.

“Nicklas.” Hughes called the Danish striker.

Bendtner looked up at his manager.

“Your task is simple.” Hughes laughed, “It is to score goals.”

※※※

The Forest bar on the eve of the game was buzzing with the most hardcore Forest fans gathered here. They were talking about how best to cheer the team on in tomorrow’s game and put pressure on the away team.

The owner of the bar, Kenny Burns leaned on the side next to the few tables where the crowd of fans gathered holding a beer to hear their heated discussion.

Their leader, Fat John, crouched over a cleared space on the floor and wrote something with a brush on a large piece of white cloth.

“We have to teach that Danish bastard a lesson!” Someone among the fans made a loud declaration, “As soon as he gets the ball, we’ll hiss at him! Until he passes the ball out, we’ll not going to give him any breathing space!”

“Yes! Hiss at him!”

“Curse at him! Give him the middle finger!”

“Make him go crying home after the game is done, so that he no longer dares to step into the City Ground stadium!”

“Mommy, I want some milk, I’m so scared… Wow ha hahahaha—-”

The discussion became increasingly heated and the words became more irrational…

Someone finally offered an opposing view, “We don’t have to be so mean, do we? He had no choice but to leave. To be honest, I don’t think Tony really gave him enough playing time and attention… Why can’t we applaud him, just like Pearce, who also came back, representing Manchester City…”

He heard a crashing sound before he could even finish speaking. Skinny Bill suddenly stood up and knocked over a pile of beer glasses in front of him. The amber liquor flowed down the table and spattered his T-shirt hem and trousers. But he did not care. He just glared directly at the man who said those words with fire in his eyes.

“Boy, I’ll give you another chance to take back the last remark you just made! Otherwise I don’t care where you’re from, I’ll beat you to a pulp now!” The thin man now looked as if he was full of strength and force. “I want you to know one thing—the Danish boy will never be eligible to be compared to ‘Crazy’ Pearce! And he’ll never receive the treatment Pearce gets! Never!”

At the same, someone else stood up and shouted at the man who had said the wrong thing, “Do you know what Pearce means here? You dare compare that little asshole with the greatest captain in Nottingham Forest’s history?! Mate, are you drunk or deliberately looking for trouble?”

“If you don’t understand how Stuart Pearce’s position is, I don’t mind using my fist to let you know.” A burly chap raised his hairy arms.

Seeing that it was about to turn into a bloodbath, Burns, who had not spoken, cleared his throat at the side. Everyone turned to look at him.

“I do not allow fights here.” Burns held up his glass to signal for everyone to drink.

Everyone calmed down. Skinny Bill and the others sat down to continue drinking, and the man who said the wrong thing stood in fear, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

At this time, Fat John, who turned a deaf ear to the conflict just now as he continued to keep busy with his own task, finally stood up. He smiled apologetically to the frightened person and said, “I’m sorry. Did that scared you? I haven’t seen you here before. Your first time here? They are like that. Don’t mind them. To think that Tony was fooled by us when he first came…Ha.”

The others laughed as well. Someone shouted, “That was not the same, John! Tony is not like this scaredy cat!”

Indeed, he was not the same, because he spilled alcohol on the football hooligan, Michael, and mocked John, who was also a football hooligan, as a fat pig. He even had a scuffle with Michael and gained the upper hand…

Because he was different, he was now the manager of Nottingham Forest, and this poor thing was just a wretch who was frightened and weak in the legs.

It was a memorable time and they recalled it as if it were yesterday.

The poor hapless guy saw the fat man across from him and felt calmer as he took in his smiling and kind appearance and felt sure that he would not be beaten.

After he apologized to him, the fat man shook open what he had just written and showed it to everyone, “Guys, it’s done! Take a look at the end result!”

“The words are really big…” The fans who gathered around to look, offered a variety of comments.

“It’s going to be hung behind our goal during the game. If the words are too small, the Manchester City bastards can’t see them! They’re all short-sighted—” John squinted his eyes to mimic the appearance of a short-sighted person not wearing glasses.

“Hahahaha—-” His look amused the others, who laughed in unison.

Although he was just startled just now, similarly as a Forest fan, the snubbed friend still came forward to see what was written on the white cloth. There were a lot of people like him. Everyone crowded around, trying to see what was written on it.

John saw everyone pushed forward, and it was a little chaotic. So, he simply said “sorry” to Burns, and then gave Bill the eye. Bill jumped on the bar first and John followed suit. The two men stood left and right respectively at both ends of the bar. John tossed one end of the white cloth in his hand to the thin man. Next, the two men loosened the cloth in their hands to unfurl it.

A moment of rustling, the white cloth was shook open, as if it was a flag in the hands of the flag-bearers.

There was nothing extra on it except for only two sentences. A self-assured and arrogant provocation was written in red paint:

Wanna score at least two goals? We dare you!!