Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
There was supposed to be a press conference when the Forest team went to İnönü Stadium to warm up. It was the last press conference attended by both managers before the game where the reporters could ask some questions about the two teams and the evening’s game.
All of the British and Turkish media outlets had prepared a host of questions, waiting to bombard the two managers.
In the end, they waited in vain for the Forest team to come to the stadium to warm up. The press conference had to be held as scheduled with only the Beşiktaş manager, Ertuğrul Sağlam, in attendance.
At thirty-seven years old, Sağlam was a year younger than Twain. He was brought in by the Beşiktaş football club to replace the famous French star player and former Fulham manager Jean Tigana after his excellent performance in leading Kayserispor. Sağlam was now an outstanding representation of Turkey’s young managers and a possible successor to the Turkish national team manager, Fatih Terim.
Twain did not know much about the man other than the most basic intelligence. He did not know them like the Premier League managers.
When Sağlam spoke to the numerous reporters at the stadium, Twain was making the final tactical decisions with Dunn in his own room. He completely forgot that there was a press conference.
Therefore, when he received Pierce Brosnan’s call, his surprise was not feigned.
“What? A press conference?” Twain glanced at Dunn and found Dunn looking at him, too. The two men had forgotten.
“Ah… as to why the team didn’t go warm up… I let them all go to bed. Those who can’t sleep are free to do their stuff… Hey, are you questioning me on behalf of the Turks, Mr. Reporter? No? It’s fine if you’re not. Just don’t ask such a boring question. We didn’t go and didn’t plan to train. I think it’s more important to rest now than to get used to the field… Hey, are you planning to have a press conference over the phone?”
On the other end of the line, Brosnan laughed. “Mr. Twain, I think that’s a good idea. A press conference on my own.”
“Don’t you have any questions you want to ask the other manager?”
“Everyone else asked what I wanted to ask. The reporters from England were not in high spirits. There were not many people raising their hands to ask questions. It was mainly the Turkish reporters who asked.”
“Hey, why is that? Don’t they always think that the press conferences are too short?”
“If you had come today, they would have been very enthusiastic, Mr. Twain.” Brosnan continued to laugh.
“Oh, oh, I’m really sorry. I’m too busy to come for an interview.” Twain glanced at Dunn and found that he had gone back to the tactics. He wanted to finish the call early. “Do you have any more questions, Mr. Reporter?”
“Ah… Well, I think…” Brosnan hesitated. “Forget it, any question of substance will an incisive question, and I can’t ask an incisive question now. I may have questions after the game is over… Until then, I won’t bother you, Mr. Twain.”
“Heh heh, thank you very much. Goodbye.” Twain could not help laughing when he heard Brosnan.
Brosnan was right. A question capable of getting the reporters excited had to be an incisive question for the manager. Most managers would not like to answer, but Twain was slightly different from them. He would use it as an opportunity to dally with the reporters, which ended with both parties satisfied.
When he saw Twain hang up, Dunn said, without raising his head, “I forgot there was still a press conference this morning…”
“It’s all right.” Twain waved his hands. “It doesn’t matter if I don’t go to that kind of press conference.”
“What are you going to say when you are asked by the reporters before the game tonight?”
Twain spread both hands. “How am I going to explain? I’ll just say I forgot. It’s not a big deal. I simply forgot. Don’t tell me they can keep us from playing? Come on, let’s continue…”
※※※
“I don’t know why the Forest team did not come to adapt to the field or why their manager did not attend this press conference.” Sağlam was angry at the reporters’ idiotic questions. “I’m not the Nottingham Forest manager. These issues have nothing to do with me, and there’s nothing I can do to satisfy you.”
At the beginning, the press conference proceeded as normal. Due to Twain’s absence, the reporters asked a few questions related to Beşiktaş, such as their formation for tonight’s game, which players were making the appearances, his confidence in winning the game, and so on.
It should have been attended by the managers of both teams, so the length of the press conference was set according to two managers. Now that there was only one manager, everyone soon finished asking the questions they had prepared, and the press conference began to move in a direction that Sağlam did not want. Everyone started asking him questions about the Forest team and its manager, Tony Twain.
The kinds of questions like “Do you understand Tony Twain?”, “What do you think the Forest team’s abilities?”, and “How does it feel to challenge the defending champion?” were acceptable. Even though Sağlam was displeased with how the reporters began to ask him questions about the Forest team in swarm, he still remained polite and graciously answered.
Then, a British reporter stood up and asked, “do you think that it is an insult to your team that the Forest team was not here to adapt to the field, and that Tony Twain did not attend the press conference?” That was when he finally exploded.
“Insult? What is an insult? Do you think not attending a press conference is an insult to me and my team? I think this question is incomprehensible. How is another person’s actions any concern of mine? I’m the Beşiktaş manager and I’d be happy to answer any questions about Beşiktaş. But any questions to do with Nottingham Forest should be answered by their manager. I refuse to answer.” He spoke with a grim face, and the atmosphere became awkward all of sudden.
Later, the British reporters were silent, and only a few Turkish reporters thought of some timely questions to smooth things over. The British media was not interested in the Turkish team. They were only there for Tony Twain and Nottingham Forest. Since they did not come, there was no need for them to ask questions.
The press conference hurriedly concluded in the chilly atmosphere. The Beşiktaş manager, Sağlam, was originally a little nervous before the big game, and his mood worsened due to the British media’s antics. He was not in a good mood and needed to vent, and there was a good place to shift the anger.
The British reporters were British, and Nottingham Forest was a British team. In that case, he could take out the anger in his heart on Nottingham Forest, who was not doing well recently, in that evening’s game! Further, even though he vehemently refuted the British reporter’s use of “insult” at the press conference, he did actually think that the absence of Twain and the Forest team was a sign of self-importance and a lack of basic respect for the opponent.
The British are always so insolent and pompous. Do they still think that they are in the age of the indomitable empire that colonized all over the world with the Union Jack flag forever fluttering in the sun?
This is ridiculous. This time, you’re on our home ground. What qualifications do you have to play a big shot in front of the home team, you Brits!
※※※
During lunchtime, Twain ate slowly in the restaurant while he observed the spirits and appearances of the players entering and leaving. The result was much more satisfying to him than in the morning. After a nap, everyone’s fitness and spirits had been restored. Kerslake chatting loudly with his fellow coaches at the table was proof of it.
After lunch and a simple noon break, Twain instructed the team go to the hotel gym to exercise their bodies to prevent their bodies from resting too much and be unable to fire up later.
As the team warmed up in the gym, Twain saw a number of reporters in the hotel lobby. He knew that they were not happy with the press conference that morning and had come specifically to interview him. However, he was currently in no mind to bicker with reporters, so he waved his hands at the incoming reporters to signal that he would not accept any interviews.
“Just one question!” cried a reporter. “Mr. Twain, just one question!”
Twain twitched his mouth. “No way. You have one question, he has another question. Everyone has a question and soon it will be time for the game. If you have any questions, you can ask again during the brief interview before the game. Of course, I won’t be absent from the post-match press conference.”
The British reporters laughed.
“My players need some quiet space, so I don’t want to be disturbed by the media. I hope everyone will cooperate and also not disturb the other guests staying at this hotel.” He left and went upstairs alone.
As to if the hotel would get their security guards to come out and drive away the uninvited guests or uphold the requirements of the hotel guests, he did not care.
※※※
They ate a light and simple dinner, since they could not eat more because they would have strenuous activity shortly. A heavy meal would impact their form and play.
After a simple dinner, the team boarded the bus and set off for İnönü Stadium.
Gareth Bale still felt lethargic and sat in the last row of the bus. He kept his head down and was quiet. He did not listen to music or chat with the people next to him. It appeared he had fallen asleep again.
Eastwood nudged him. “Don’t sleep, little monkey. Come on! If you let the chief see you like this, your starting spot will be gone!” Twainhad released the starting list for the evening game before they set off. Gareth Bale’s name was among the eleven players — he was in the Forest team’s starting lineup in this game.
“Ah… I feel jetlagged…” Bale replied listlessly and slightly straightened his back.
“Don’t sleep. The more you sleep, the more you want to sleep. You need a little stimulation…” Eastwood reached out to tickle Bale’s underarms. As a result, Bale began to laugh before Eastwood even reached over, which caused the entire bus of people to look back at the two of them.
“Er…” Eastwood raised his hands with a look of innocence next to Bale, who was laughing heartily. “I did not do anything…”
“All right… Stop laughing!” When everyone turned their heads back, Eastwood shoved Bale to calm him down.
Bale laughed until his eyes teared up. He rubbed his eyes, and then said in surprise, “Hey, I’m not sleepy anymore!”
“Thank you for tickling me, Freddy,” he sincerely thanked Eastwood.
“I did not touch you!” the Romani said gruffly.
“Hee hee.” Bale scratched his head in embarrassment. “I’m quite ticklish, so…”
Eastwood smirked and suddenly reached his hand toward Bale. He had not touched him yet before Bale laughed loudly. Once again, it caused everyone to collectively turn back.
Eastwood hurriedly raised both hands. “I really did not do anything…”
“It looks like the players are in good spirits.” Kerslake turned back and said to Twain, who sat next to him.
Twain nodded and grinned. “Of course. But I hope they stay like this mentally after seeing the enthusiasm of the Turkish fans. Otherwise, it will not be easy for us to win.”
He glanced ahead at the roof of Beşiktaş’ home ground, İnönü Stadium, which loomed behind the layers of buildings.
※※※
İnönü Stadium was the home stadium of the Turkish national team and was similar in status like Wembley for the England team and Bernabéu to Spain.
Istanbul had three stadiums known for their terrifying atmosphere that struck fear in the hearts of their opponents: Galatasaray’s Ali Sami Yen Stadium, Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium and Beşiktaş’ home ground, İnönü Stadium.
For Turkey’s enemies, it was a place they would never want to step into for a second time. The feverish atmosphere and suffocating air left deep impressions on all the visiting players.
Beckham had unpleasant memories in that stadium. When he was the captain of the England national team, he once missed a penalty shot amidst the thunderous boos and distractions from the home team fans. Shortly after, the players on both sides clashed on the field. The clash continued until the end of the game, and players from both teams got into a brawl inside the locker room tunnel. Coaches on both sides and stadium security were also embroiled in it.
Would the past repeat itself for this game?
It was the first time Nottingham Forest had come to Turkey to play and Twain’s first time directing a game in Turkey as well. Twain had no idea how much trouble the home fans would cause the team.
Escorted by the police cars, the bus finally arrived at the tournament venue, İnönü Stadium. In the square outside, the Forest team already saw the enthusiasm of the Turkish fans. Once they saw the Forest team bus approaching, they put up their middle fingers up against the window to “greeting” to the Forest players, and shouted a word everyone could understand —”F**k.”
The Forest fans were surrounded by the Turkish police officers and kept far away while they waited for admission. The glorified description of “to protect the personal safety of the visiting fans” was not to let the Forest fans cheer for their team but to let the Forest fans feel the pressure exerted by the home team fans.
Some players’ attentions were caught by the Turkish fans outside and turned their heads to look. When the Turkish fans saw them turn, they yelled even more happily. Even in the closed compartment, they could still hear the swearing outside.
The square was full of people. Even though the police cars had opened and isolated the path, the short distance of 200 meters still required ten minutes to reach the parking area.
It was a little quieter there. There were not many unrelated personnel except reporters. But once they got off the bus, the noise of the Turkish fans in the distance and in the stadium was still clear. The atmosphere was thick and explosive.
The coaches urged the players to hurry to the locker room to get changed and warm up. Outside, Twain answered a few questions and hurried off.
The players were still discussing the “enthusiastic performance” of the Turkish fans in the locker room as they changed their clothes. Apparently some of them had a lot of experience on a battlefield and were not bothered by this kind of thing. However, some people took it to heart.
Twain did not stop them from discussing the topic. However, at the side, Kerslake kept urging them to quickly change their clothes and head out to warm up.
Soon, the men were gone, and there was only Twain in the locker room. Unlike the other managers, he did not go out with the team to warm up. He stayed inside the locker room. No one knew what he did in there. Perhaps he wanted to vent his nervous mood, maybe he just shut his eyes to rest, or did nothing. Some of the reporters guessed that if a hidden camera was installed in the locker room, they might capture interesting stuff.
But Twain was not in the spotlight today.
The players came out of the tunnel in a group. However, once they were through the tunnel door, that deafening boos and feverish hostility in the air assaulted their senses. Those people with weaker psychological quality stopped at the door.
İnönü Stadium could only accommodate 20,000 spectators, but the sounds made by the Turkish fans had made the Forest players think that they were dealing with 200,000 spectators. Everyone’s heartbeat sped up.
In the stand directly in front of the tunnel opening, there was a huge banner positioned under the grandstand. There were red English words on the white fabric. As the banner was hung up, the wet paint dripped from top to bottom to leave red marks on the cloth as if it was dripping blood. It produced a shocking effect coupled with the words.
On top of the white banner, the phrase was written in the red paint:
Welcome to Hell.
