66 Fight With Ones Back To The River Part 1 (2/2)

Nigel mumbled to himself, ”You, your wife, your son... you've all become Americans through and through.”

Although Nottingham Forest was able to score a goal in the second half, Sheffield United also managed to score another goal before the match ended. The match ultimately ended with a score of 1:2, with Nottingham Forest defeated on their home ground. Upon seeing Sheffield United's smug smiles when they left City Ground Stadium, all of the Forest fans had their eyebrows knitted together tightly.

If the home-field advantage had already been reduced to virtually nothing, then what kind of fate awaited them six days later on May 16th, at Sheffield United's home ground, Bramall Lane Stadium?

During the press conference, Nottingham Forest's sudden low morale had been the focal point of the reporters, but Tang En declined to express any opinion or explanation regarding the matter. Regardless of how the reporters bombarded him, Tang En would give them the same reply, ”no comment.” As for the blame of losing the match, Tang En credited all of the responsibility to himself.

Pierce Brosnan originally did not want to stack another boulder on top of this pitiful manager, but he realized that there was a question which nobody asked. Everyone else was too focused on the reason behind Nottingham Forest's sudden low morale, an extremely boring and trivial matter. His professionalism as a journalist ultimately prompted him to toss this extremely difficult question to Tang En.

”Manager Twain, after losing this home match, has the possibility of us remaining in League One at the end of this season, crossed your mind?”

Tang En stared at Brosnan for quite some time, but the young man stared back at him without flinching. In this quiet exchange, neither side was able to get an edge over the other.

In the end, Tang En only left a sentence behind, before he walked out of the press conference.

”I won't let such a thing happen.”

”...although Manager Tony Twain claimed during the press conference that his team would ultimately emerge victorious and successfully advance to the English Premier League. However, truth to be told, I don't have much hope for his team. Seeing that they have conceded two goals to Sheffield United on their home ground, and considering the current states of the two teams, it is really difficult to guarantee that they will be able to beat Sheffield United during their away match.”

The television was broadcasting the BBC's Match of the Day segment, which was slightly similar to Total Soccer, which Tang En never missed back when he was still in China. However, Match of the Day resembled more of a talk show, and it had the highest ratings among England's soccer-related television programs. The current host for the program was the once famous ”Green Gentleman” Gary Lineker, and his co-hosts were the ex-Liverpool strongest midfielder duo—Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson.

The person who said that was the person who rarely showed his face on the program, Mark Lawrenson. He had a pair of grey-colored eyes and an big iconic beard.

Hansen, however, did not agree with Lawrenson. Hansen felt that Tony Twain was a trustworthy person, and that if he said he could, then he definitely could do it.

Lawrenson felt that Hansen's view was completely unsupported and too idealistic, and hence remained unconvinced.

After that, the two of them began their routine argument, with neither side able to convince the other. At that moment, Lineker, who was laughing at them and watching from the side, jumped out and attempted to be the mediator. He proposed a suggestion.

”Since neither of you are unable to convince the other person, how about the two of you make a bet?”

”Good idea, Gary.” The two of them expressed their consent toward his suggestion.

Lineker looked at Lawrenson and gave him a sinister smile. ”Mark, since you started this topic, you have to take responsibility for it.”

Lawrenson touched his lips before he made up his mind. ”Alright! If Twain's team is promoted to the English Premier League after this season's playoffs, I'll shave off my beard!”

Lineker and Hansen whistled, and Hansen even clapped excitedly. ”Mark, don't even think about going back on your words. This is a live broadcast, and all of the English audience are witnesses to what you have just said.”

Lawrenson said with his eyes bulging, ”I never go back on my word.” Whenever he said something loudly, the beard above his lips slightly flutter. It really had the feeling of ”blowing his beard and staring with his eyes.”

From the side, Lineker suddenly said, ”Very well, Mark. Actually, I've always found that beard of yours to be an eyesore.”

Looking at Lawrenson's surprised face, Hansen burst into laughter on the set.

The laughter passed through the television set and resounded throughout Burns' bar. Everyone raised their heads to look at the television set, except for Tang En who was seated in the corner, eating. He was not interested in the conversation of those commentators, but continued to use his spoon to scrape the sauce-covered rice grains off his plate.

Upon finishing his meal, Tang En left money on the table, and directly exited the bar, ignoring the people who greeted him.

Burns shook his head lightly, as he watched Tang En leave.