121 Provocation Part 2 (1/2)

Chapter 121: Provocation Part 2

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

”Des, I don't wish for this kind of thing to interrupt my match.”

”Hmm?”

”I want to mount a comeback in the rest of the match! I want to let those fans that mocked and humiliated us, as well as that idiotic manager, realize their consequences for doing this!” Tang En lowered his head and looked at his watch, before walking toward the fourth official whose forehead was full of perspiration.

”I suggest we proceed for the halftime break early.” Tang En pointed at the field, and said to the fourth official, ”We are currently one minute away from the end of the first half. I won't allow my players to continue to wait on the field like that. Who knows what those crazy fans will do? If they break past the police barrier and assault my players, will you be able to take responsibility for it? Enter half-ime, and we'll return to the changing room. Leave everything here to the police to handle!” The questions posed caused the perspiration on the fourth official's forehead to become even more concentrated…

McLeary, the manager of Millwall, also happened to approach the fourth official at the same time to express the same opinion.

Tang En did not have any intentions of being on the same side as McLeary and turned around to leave as soon as he saw McLeary approaching. Because of the incident just now, Tang En did not view this person in a positive light.

Since the managers of both teams requested for an early halftime break, the fourth official called the referee over and briefly discussed it with him. After that, the referee blew the whistle on the side of the field, signaling the end of the first half. Players from both teams began running toward the changing room, and it was apparent that they also felt that staying on the field was a very dangerous thing. The fans' rioting should be left to the police to deal with. Even if they had remained on the field, there was nothing that they could do.

Tang En saw the scene that he had hoped for and returned to the changing room as well.

Just like that, the first half of the EFL Cup quarter finals ended in a kind of chaos and riot.

※※※

All of the players entered the changing room. Even the substitute players, who should have been warming up on the field during halftime, were called over by Walker. It would be crazy if they were to proceed with their warm-ups under such circumstances.

Tang En stood at the door of the changing room and watched as the players ran into the room with their heads lowered.

Compared to the depressed Nottingham Forest players, the Millwall players who were leading were very excited. Even though there was a riot going on, their mood was hardly affected. There were even people who intentionally laughed loudly while discussing about Cahill's goal as they walked past Nottingham Forest's changing room, such as their Australian center-back, Kevin Muscat.

Hearing that unpleasant laughter which sounded like a male duck, Tang En shot him a glare. The other party, upon seeing that he had successfully gotten Twain's attention, even shrugged his shoulders smugly before leaving with his laughing teammates.

Tang En turned his head around and closed the door after entering the changing room. As a result, the laughter and noise from the outside immediately ceased to be heard.

Looking at the room full of dejected players, Tang En felt as if he had gone back in time. This was exactly the scene which he had seen when he first arrived here in January.

Of course there were some aspects which were different, such as Tang En being at a loss and not knowing what his own future was. At that time, it was as though he was a drowning person struggling in water. He wanted to grasp at anything that could save his life, even if it was a straw.

And now? He had a goal to strive hard toward, and he knew what he was currently doing, as well as what he should be doing. He was no longer at a loss, no longer hesitating, and no longer in doubt… His heart was firm, and his feet were on solid ground. Every step he took on it left behind his footprints, and these footprints accumulated from here and extended into the far distance.

This was his road to glory, his road to being a champion.

Everyone's head was lowered, and nobody uttered a single word. The atmosphere in the changing room was exceptionally suffocating. It was several hundred times more suffocating than that on the train.

Walker very much wanted to say something, but upon seeing the long faces of Tang En and the players, he seemed to have no idea of what he should say. Say something like ”We will definitely win”? But who would believe these words, which were not convincing at all? Say something like ”Everyone get your spirits up”? But what was the use of such a superficial encouragement?

How he wished that Twain would say something at that moment. Regardless of what he said, even if he would just casually make some noise, it would be much better than letting the silence in the room continue! The morale of the team… The morale of the team was about to suffocate and die under this unbearable silence!

Tony!

Walker turned his head and looked at Twain, but discovered that he had his eyes fixated on the walls of the changing room, as though there was something that was very attractive.

Finally, someone could no longer bear the awkward atmosphere and broke the silence with a cough. After that, even more players raised their heads, and looked weirdly at their manager.