“The weather is fine today.” On the Wilford training ground, Bale shaded his eyes with his hands and looked up at the sky. In his vision, his surroundings were clear as a crystal and the sun was vibrant. “We will play our last league game under such good weather.”
“That’s good. I hate the rain.” It was Şahin who said this and, as a technical midfielder, the pitch being wet was torturous for him.
The team had just finished a training session and was getting together to rest. The atmosphere in the Forest team had always been good, so even during the training break, they would get together and chat.
The conversation naturally shifted to the ownership of the league title. Nottingham Forest’s players were sensible and everyone knew that it was not their team that decides whom the league title belonged to.
“I called Bendtner yesterday.” Bale said, as everyone looked at him.
“I asked him if he was starting in the match. He was sure he was starting. And then I hoped for him to do his best to beat Arsenal…”
“You actually went to beg him?” Pepe said dismissively. Until now, there were still people in the team who could not approve of Bendtner leaving the team as a traitor back then.
So many years have passed…let bygones be bygones.” Bale pouted. “And I didn’t ‘beg’, I only wanted him to bring up his sportsmanship…”
“How did he answer that?” Some teammates were more interested in Bentner’s reaction.
“He did not agree or reject. ”
Pepe then snorted next to him, “Look at the way he is now, leaving Nottingham Forest, what did he get? No champion, no honor for so many years. Playing the Confederations Cup every year was his highest pursuit…”
Bale knew Pepe looked down on Bendtner, hence he did not go on.
“Don’t bother yourself with what happens to others, just focus on winning this match of ours,” said Wood, who had been listening. He was right, it was pointless, and was simply “nonsense”. Everyone had no interest in continuing to talk about the subject.
“If, and I mean if, if we don’t win the league, how would our coach eat a table?” Ibišević tried to make his tone sound like a joke.
But everyone stared at him.
“Well, okay, okay, let’s not talk about this…” Ibišević raised his hands.
“Hey, are you guys under a lot of pressure?” Tomorrow’s game…” It was Woodgate who said that.
“Are you under a lot of pressure?” Someone next to him immediately rebutted.
Woodgate replied honestly, “A lot.”
“I’m still ok…” Pepe lay on the grass with a strand of grass in his mouth,” As long as we win the game, being able to be the champion depends on the results between Arsenal and Manchester City. But I still want to say, putting my fate into other people’s hands, makes me unhappy.”
“I’m not happy, too. ”
“Me too. ”
The group of people echoed.
Pepe looked at the white clouds in the blue sky and muttered, “Our pressure is no greater than the coach. Every time I see the head, I think, I would never want to be a coach after I retire, at least not to be a head coach …”
As everyone heard him, they all looked over to see coach talking to the coaching team about something.
※※※
“I always thought the team was not very competitive…” Eastwood, as a coach who just switched over from a full-time player, was clearly more aware of his teammates’ mental states than any other coach.
Twain did not speak, he just looked over there. Chris Kerslake laughed, “So, how do you think it should be, Freddy? Should we get everyone together and shout slogans?”
Eastwood did not care about Chris Kerslake’s words, as he frowned and said, “Perhaps it was the reality that we are unable to guarantee victory even after winning the matches demotivates everyone…”
Chris Kerslake wanted to object, thinking that Eastwood was worrying mindlessly. Nottingham Forest had been with him for nearly a decade and he knew the team better than anyone else. But Twain opened his mouth first and said, “You’re right. Don’t just talk about them, sometimes I think about this reality, I also lose my fighting spirit …”
Chris Kerslake opened his mouth and looked at Twain in amazement.
Twain bowed his head as he stood silent for a moment before started talking again, “I f*cking hate this feeling, placing my fate into other people’s hands, and it’s even someone that I hate, it feels helpless.”
Eastwood looked at the coach and did not reply, he could understand this feeling because he was feeling the same way.
“I have a lot of ways to make sure we win against Sunderland, whether tactically or psychologically, but don’t feel very motivated now. Do you think Wenger will give us such a chance? Will they make mistakes? If I were Arsène Wenger, I would ask the team to defend once they scored a goal, as this time 1:0 and 5:0 were of no difference.” Twain told his colleagues, “The Football Association prepared for two scenarios, they took two Champions Trophy to both the Emirates Stadium, and us here. But the trophy that came to us is a replica, because everyone thought that Arsenal’s chances of losing the title are too small.
“A month ago I promised everyone a better tomorrow, that we could win the league, the FA Cup and the Champions League three times and becoming triple champions. But now it seems that the probability is too small, it’s no wonder they’re feeling unmotivated.”
Twain looked at the watch. Break time was over and his face immediately changed, “Well, forget what I just said, don’t let them sense anything unusual. Keep training!”
He was revitalized in an instant. Eastwood had seen a similar scenario once, that was after Nottingham Forest’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa in the 31st round. Twain was also tired initially and then instantly rejuvenated, seemingly two different people.
Was this his way of self-regulating?
※※※
“Well, this is the end of today’s training, I hope you don’t play too late and have an early break.” Twain spoke to the team before concluding the training. “Tomorrow’s game is very important. This season of hard work will be decided in the 90 minutes. But don’t be too nervous, it’s just a league game.”
Twain waved and let the team disperse.
He was the last person to leave the training base, and when he picked up his belongings before driving away, he saw Pierce Brosnan waiting at the door. After seeing him come out, Bruce waved to him frantically.
“Is there any issue, Mr. Journalist? I’m in a hurry to go home, it wouldn’t be nice of me to make my wife wait.”
“The media’s been quiet these two days. I would like to ask you, Tony, are you sure you don’t want to say anything?” Bruce came up and asked.
“What would you like me to say?”
“We all thought you were going to use psychological warfare again… Against Wenger and Arsenal, to put some pressure on Manchester City…”
Twain looked at Bruce, thought for a while, and said, “Okay, then. Just say that I celebrate preemptively for Arsenal for obtaining the title and, to be honest, I don’t think Manchester City poses any threat to Arsenal. They have already qualified for the Confederations Cup and have no additional desires. And you know Manchester City and us have shared a very strained relationship… I’m prepared enough to say that Arsenal’s win over Manchester City would be a definite thing, after all, the two teams are not on the same level. Of course against Sunderland, we will win as I said I would have a victorious match to bade farewell to the city stadium.”
Having said that, he pointed to Bruce’s little book, “Have you written it all down?”
“No more?” Bruce was a little surprised.
“No, that’s it. Just upload what I said without changes. There’s still a day left anyway.”
After dealing with Bruce, Twain drove away.
Bruce looked at his quick notes, as he really could not find anything worth hyping up … He was telling the truth. First of all, Arsenal and Manchester City were really not on the same line. Secondly, Manchester City did qualify for the Confederations Cup early and arguably had no desire for the last game. Thirdly, the relationship between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest was bad and that was true that they did not have to work hard to beat Arsenal in an unnecessary game to let Nottingham Forest reach the top, they were not the modern new citizens of the new century. Fourthly, now that McClaren was the Manchester City manager, this man and Twain’s personal feud was enough to write a book. What reason did he have to fight with all their might with Arsenal to help Twain? He might even deliberately send the three points to Arsenal and then watch gleefully as Twain suffered. Fifthly, Bendtner, Ashley Young and Twain’s relationship was not good either, and there was no need for them to help Twain’s team to win the title and try to beat Arsenal, even if Nottingham Forest were their initial team. But having left for so many years, that relationship was long gone. Sixth …
There was no need to analyze anymore. If he were to go any further, Manchester City not automatically scoring into their own goal was giving face to Tony Twain already.
“What kind of psychological warfare is this?” Bruce frowned. “When did the truth become a means of psychological warfare?”
※※※
“George, tomorrow is the last round of the league, right?” Sophia asked about her son. Wood nodded.
“I watched TV and it said your chances of winning the championship are slim?” Wood nodded again.
“Well…” Sophia hesitated, “Then wouldn’t Mr Twain have to eat a table in front of the media? ”
Wood looked up at his mother. “The chances are just slim, it is not a sure loss, don’t worry, mum. ”
“But if you and Arsenal both win, wouldn’t the championships be still theirs?”
“Arsenal could also lose or draw. They might not win fore sure. ”
Sophia wanted to speak more, but when she saw the look on her son’s face, she chose to shut up. She did not know much about football, and since her son said that there is hope, then she would trust him.
※※※
Gareth Bale recently found a girlfriend, but the girl was not a public figure, just an ordinary beautiful girl who was still a college student. The two met at a ball and fell in love. They were still dating, and the girls liked Bale’s star status, which makes her feel proud in front of her classmates.
Tonight, Bale had dinner with the girl at her place, and then, as the girl sat, dreaming that they were going to have a passionate night, Bale suddenly offered to go home.
“Go home?” The girl stared at Bale as if she had heard something ridiculous.
“Yes, I have to go home.”
“Oh, don’t be like that. Gareth. You’re not a child anymore, do you have to go home to sleep at 9:30 every night?” The girlfriend put her petite body on Bale in the hope that she could use her sexy body to keep her boyfriend. “Your parents are not with you, and even if you stay with me overnight, they won’t say anything…”
Yes, Bale had moved out of his home and was living alone, and it was not the first time he stayed at his girlfriend’s place. But tonight was special.
Bale placed his lips on his girlfriend’s mouth, but to her disappointment, he did not stick his tongue in, but instead only touching for a bit before leaving.
“Not today, Shannon.”
Bale escaped the girl’s embrace, as he could feel his girlfriend’s disappointment.
“Because tomorrow is the final round?” Shannon sat on the bed, looking at her boyfriend.
Bale looked back at her. As it was summer, Shannon was only wearing a sling dress, and now the sling had slipped to the shoulder, revealing a large area of her white swaying chest, if it was any lower he could see that reddish spot. She really had a good figure … Bale exclaimed in the mind. But such a temptation would be of little use to him.
Gareth Bale nodded.
Suddenly the girl became a little willful, as she asked aloud, “Me or football?”
Bale was stunned as he was asked upon such a question, he did not find the question difficult to answer, he just did not expect Shannon to ask such a low-standard question…
He looked at the beautiful girl, who had almost stripped everything, and shrugged, “From tonight till tomorrow, I love football more.”
Having said that, he opened the door and walked out.
The girl, who felt insulted, grabbed her pillow and threw it at the door, then threw everything that she could throw onto the floor, as she lay down on the bed and cried. She and Bale had known each other for three months, and it was the first time she saw him being so ruthless.
It seems like sleeping with him was not sufficient to understand him…
※※※
Bendtner and Ashley Young sat in a bar on the second floor of the hotel, where his teammates usually relax, drink, play billiards, chat and dance to the music. The team’s goal had been achieved this season, and this last round of the league was more like a walk-through. After 90 minutes of play, they can immediately pack their luggage to enjoy a holiday.
Bendtner knew that at another hotel not far from here, Arsenal’s players must have gone to the room early to rest under manager Arsène Wenger’s supervision. Compared to them, Manchester City’s team-mates seemed like they were on holiday in London.
A teammate walked past unsteadily with a beer in his hand and asked aloud, “Nicklas, how have you been in summer?”
“Go home.” Bendtner replied.
“You are really boring…”
The man muttered and poured a half-glass of beer, and then raised the glass to Bendtner. Bentner then raised his glass of wine out of courtesy, but did not drink it.
After the people left, Ashley Young who was beside Bendtner, then turned at said,”Look at what they look like… I bet we’ll lose at least three balls at the Emirates Stadium! There was a slight disgust in the tone.
“It’s normal to relax, it’s been a tough season and we got the League Cup early anyway.” Bendtner had no expression on his face.
Ashley Young heard Bendtner say so, but laughed out loud instead,”Ha! The goal of a team that claimed to be the richest team in the world was to only reach the Confederations Cup … You know why I am going to leave? Liverpool doesn’t pay me as much as I am paid here, but I long for glory, and Manchester City can’t give that to me. ”
The music was loud, Ashley Young was not afraid of people overhearing what he said.
“That is how it is here…” he laughs, pointing to his indulgent teammates, “when they move from other teams, they will constantly claim that ‘I will help Manchester City win the title’, ‘I’m not here to get a good salary’ … But the truth? It was still the money that was more practical. Without fighting spirit, the players in the dressing room are only concerned about how much they can get more the next time till they renewed their contract, where to play after the weekend game, how many beautiful women they will get in the post-season holiday. I also care about these, but I care more about the championship!”
“I’ve had enough. Even if Liverpool didn’t look for me, I would’ve asked to leave.”
Bendtner listened silently to his team-mates’ complaints and asked, “Can Liverpool give you the title?”
Ashley Young responded, and he knew what Bentner meant by asking that. As long as Nottingham Forest were present, Liverpool would have to be under pressure, they were initially second this season, but because of Nottingham Forest, they were forced to be third. Last season, Liverpool were top of the league until the 30th round of the league, but the last league title was given to Nottingham Forest, and then back to … Forget it, stop thinking about it.
“At least . . . There’s a bunch of players out there who want to win the championship, not a bunch of people like these … If they can get paid, even if they are to sit on the audience seating, they would be okay with it.” Ashley Young found the difference between Liverpool and Manchester City, as he specifically reiterates “professional players”.
This time it was Bendtner’s turn to be silent, Ashley Young was accurate, as he had nothing left to say.
The atmosphere in Manchester City’s dressing room had been poor all these years. Head coach McClaren was not the kind of iron-fisted coach who could hold down the dressing room. To be honest he lacked charisma and was too different from Tony Twain. Coupled with the fact that the Manchester City hierarchy are people from the UAE, there was a lack of desire to keep the players loyal to the club. Even Manchester City fans jeered at their players at home games, at those “mercenaries” who came just for the money. This team was really different in the Premier League: everyone knew that Manchester City had no chance to win any title, and coming to Manchester City was to say goodbye to the championships. But every year there were still a lot of players moving to Manchester City because they could get a higher salary than their former owners. Instead of going to places like Qatar to seek gold, they could stay in the sights of Europe’s top competitions and mass media.
The two people were silent for a while, perhaps realizing that it was not always good to think bad about their teammates.
Later, Ashley Young sighed, “I now think Nottingham Forest is really unlucky, the last round of the league their opponents are not strong, but Arsenal’s opponents definitely weak as well. The boss did not arrange for me to start, I would rather not play at all for the whole game, lest being a disgrace. The boss himself, perhaps is all looking forward to watching Nottingham Forest lose their championships…”
Bendtner glanced at him, “I don’t think the boss is that narrow-minded. He’s a decent person.”
“Yes, a good man. What a good person to be able to bring out such a dressing room… I would rather have an iron-fisted coach who could get the team in line with so we can get a big salary and the honor to fight out. How good would it be…”
Ashley Young poured the beer from the glass in one breath, then got up and left.
“I’m going back to my room to rest, this music is really awful.”
Bendtner watched his teammates leave, he did not return back to his rest but continued to sit in the same position, playing with a glass full of wine, but he did not drink it at all.
