141 Wood’s Debut Part 2 (1/2)

Chapter 141: Wood’s Debut Part 2

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

After the first half of the match, the score was still tied at 0:0. Tang En was very satisfied. His mood got even better after he saw Coppell's grimace.

In the changing room, he did not specifically praise any individual player, but rather commended everyone on the team. He wanted to let them know that a football match is played by a team, and was not meant to be a stage for any individual player. No one player should be placed above the rest of the team.

There was a great quote in the movie ”Goal!” that had deeply moved Tang En when he had first seen it.

In the movie, Newcastle's manager pointed at the team logo on the main character's jersey, patted the shoulder of the player behind him, and said, ”Remember, the name on the front of the shirt is more important than the one on the back.”

Therefore, even though Wood's performance was exceptional, Tang En did not praise him at all. Plus, he also knew that that kind of flattery was completely ineffective on George Wood. Instead, Wood, who was representing the adult team for the first time, received praises and encouragement from his other teammates. His midfield partner, Gunnarsson, sat with Wood and said, patting his shoulder, ”Well done, young lad! You're much better than I expected!”

Morgan, who had played with Wood before on the youth team, said teasingly, ”Brynjar, what you just said was pointless! George has always been outstanding.”

”Huh?” Gunnarsson didn't get why Morgan had phrased it this way.

”Do you guys know that Spanish guy from Arsenal?” Morgan saw that everyone else became as interested as Gunnarsson, and decided to start showing off, standing in the middle of the changing room. Tang En and Walker did not stop him, because there was nothing much for him to say for the time left in the break. The time was better off left to the players themselves.

Most of the players did not know who Morgan was referring to. Only Huth, the German midfielder who had just entered the team, nodded his head and said, ”His name is Fabregas.”

Morgan was glad that someone else knew who he was referring to. Otherwise, he would have embarrassed himself. ”That's right, him! I heard that he's already playing for Arsenal's first team! Do you know how young he is?”

Huth nodded his head again. ”He just turned sixteen.”

”Wow, you really do know everything!” Morgan liked his midfield partner a lot. They had a lot of chemistry between them, and were sure to become great partners.

”When I was in Chelsea,” Huth said, ”I often overhead the others discussing the new young guy that Arsenal had just bought.”

”Huh? What? What were they saying about him?” The players immediately redirected their attention. The untold stories of an English Premier League changing room were something that many people enjoyed hearing about. Even Tang En, who outwardly acted disinterested, was actually listening intently.

Huth was an honest man. Seeing everyone's interest, he told them everything he knew. ”That youngster only entered Arsenal in October, and had represented the first team in a match before Christmas. Although the outsiders still don't think much of him, everyone on the team thinks that he's a genius. He is very… um, very mature, and looks nothing like a sixteen year-old. And frankly, I feel that even Chelsea's midfielders can't compare to his talent.”

His appraisal was very good, and the players around him, who were playing in a lower tier league, did not even dare to think about it. English Premier League… To the majority of players, it was like a dream. The ability to play in the English Premier League at the age of sixteen was no ordinary feat. Not to mention, he was in a top club: the highly-competitive Arsenal.

Eastwood did not agree with Huth, because he had been in Westham United's training camp with Joe Cole at the same time. ”Joe Cole is also in Chelsea, no?”

Huth nodded his head and said, ”Yes, but I think that even he is no match for that Spanish lad.”

”Why?”

”Well... I don't know. If you insist on making me give a reason, I can't really explain it. But I just feel like that young man has a very bright future ahead of him,” Huth said, scratching his head and frowning. He appeared genuine.