212 This Is My Team Part 1 (1/2)
Chapter 212: This Is My Team Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The viewing stands of City Ground were already full of fans and their loud, unceasing cheers. Both teams were warming up in the middle of the soccer field. Tang En sat alone in the locker room, staring at the blank tactical board and mumbling to himself.
”Guys, what match are we playing today? I know that the record from 25 years ago is too far away from us in history. At that time, some of you weren't even born yet. Even so, that glory belongs to Nottingham Forest. And today, someone is here attempting to take away glory that belongs to us. Will you cede it?”
Tang En paused and thought briefly. ”No, that's too sentimental.”
He coughed and waved his hands with furrowed brows. ”Arsenal is a strong team. They've already gotten 42 matches with no losses! Are you afraid? Have your legs gone soft?”
”No… that just sounds like a bluff.” Tang En dismissed it again.
”Aha! Our… this season, we have not had the best beginning. In two league matches, we got a loss and a draw. Now we have to face an opponent like Arsenal…”
Tang En stopped before he had even finished.
Tang En felt a tinge of nerves. What he had felt half a year ago at Cardiff Millennium Stadium all came rushing back. But this situation was different from that one. In truth, this was just a normal league match.
Why do I have to care about a record that has absolutely nothing to do with me? Regardless of whether we let Arsenal take three points or one, and allow them to set a new record, what loss is it to us? Arsenal is not our direct competition in the path towards the championship. It is completely understandable if we lose this match. After all, difference between Arsenal and us is simply too great…
If I were smart… I would tell our players to relax as much as they could, and to get rid of any unimportant thoughts unrelated to the competition. No matter the result, we just need to learn something useful in our fight with Arsenal. That's enough.
But…
”Mr. Twain, what do you think of Arsène Wenger and his team tying with Forest's undefeated record of 42 no-losses in the English Premier League?”
”Mr. Twain, what do you have to say, as the holder of the current record, about meeting with Arsenal in this crucial match?”
”Arsenal is very strong. As their opponent, what does Forest have in store for this match?”
”Henry has been in excellent condition recently. Can you say what special arrangements you have in mind to counter him?”
”As a team that has managed to go neck-to-neck with the record by Forest, do you think that Arsenal is already a great team?”
”What do you think of the manager Arsène Wenger? Do you intend to learn from him?”
Whenever he recalled these questions, he was not, in fact, smart. Tang En was not one who did not know his limits, but this did not mean he could tolerate such insults and contempt without retaliating, either. It made him feel impotent.
He hated being looked down on, hated being ignored, hated being made to be a stepping stone for someone else. He was only 35; but in reality, he was even younger!
He was still young, and the young would always be rash without thinking of the consequences. They just wanted to retaliate straight away, and what came later would come later.
That's not a bad thing. This is soccer, not some kind of political show. We can retaliate when we are unhappy; we can box them in their ears if we're looked down upon, or even pinch their cheeks to make them face us. Why should we have to give up our hard work if we truly want to win? Is it only because our opponents are stronger than us?
Bulls**t!
I was never afraid of anyone, no matter who is sitting in the managerial seat opposing mine. Whether it was Wenger or Ferguson. My team shouldn't be afraid of anyone either, regardless of whether it's Arsenal or Manchester United that stands before them!
The corridor filled with the crisp sounds of shoes hitting the ground. Tang En knew that his players were back from their warm-up. He relaxed his clenched fists and waited for the players to open the door, so that they could see a confident manager full of fighting spirit.
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At the same time, in another locker room, just like Tony Twain, Arsène Wenger did not go out with the players to observe their conditions during the warm-up. Instead, he stayed back alone in the locker room for the away team, trying to calm himself down.