288 The UEFA Europa League Champion? (1/2)
Chapter 288: The UEFA Europa League Champion?
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As Nottingham Forest continued to pose a strong challenge and remained on top of them, it looked like Liverpool would not be able to keep going.
On February 12, in the 27th round of the league tournament, the Forest team scored a victory against Southampton in an away game, and Liverpool lost to Birmingham City in an away game. Liverpool seemed distracted as the UEFA Europa League knockout phase was about to start.
The Forest team overtook Liverpool with a three-point advantage and was now ranked fifth with forty-six points!
This was a great achievement. What made Twain most happy was not that they had surpassed Liverpool, but their gap with Everton was only two points. One game could solve everything. Everton had lost 0:1 to Chelsea on their home ground at this round of the league.
In this way, the tournament's top six rankings were Chelsea with 68 points, Manchester United with 59 points, Arsenal with 57 points, Everton with 48 points, Nottingham Forest with 46 points, and Liverpool with 43 points.
After this round of the league was over, the Forest team could start to prepare for the UEFA Europa League. In a way, it could also be considered the end of a phase. The Nottingham media sang praises of Twain and his team. Everyone agreed that young Manager Tony Twain was a major contributing factor in the team's ability to get where they were. As a newly promoted team, the Forest team had managed to be in the top five halfway into the league tournament and ranked above Liverpool. This was something that most of the Forest fans could not have imagined before the season.
Gary Lineker praised the Forest team in Match of the Day. ”...This young Forest team reminds us of David O'Leary's Leeds United: young, energetic, and not afraid of anything. To tell you the truth, I really like Manager Twain's team. They've brought a new wave to the Premier League. Remember what we said at the end of last season, Mark? I said this season's Premier League would be exciting to watch. It turns out that I was right.”
This season's Premier League was indeed different from the previous years. Mourinho's strong involvement, the fatigue of traditionally strong teams like Liverpool and Manchester United, the rise of Everton, and the return of Nottingham Forest had caused upheavals in the Premier League this year. It was also particularly appealing because it was more suspenseful, unlike the last few seasons. Previously, everyone had known from the start of the season that the league title was just a toy that Manchester United and Arsenal competed for. And Chelsea? Maybe it could create some trouble but to no avail. It was even more unthinkable that Everton would be in the fourth place and have high hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League.
Before the season, everyone had said that Nottingham Forest's goal for the season was to avoid relegation. No one had mentioned that idea since.
However, Twain was well aware that the Forest team's current results had a lot to do with good timing. If it were the first few seasons, or any other season when the new structure of the Premier League was being formed, it would have been difficult for the Forest team to get a foothold. This was Mourinho's first season in Stamford Bridge. His arrival had a great impact on Arsenal and Manchester United. Arsenal had had a fantastic season. It was as if they had ascended the peak of the mountain and now it was their time to descend. And Manchester United's fatigue seemed to have much to do with Ferguson's age. After that FA Cup game, when Twain and Ferguson were having a drink together, Ferguson had vaguely alluded to his desire to leave Manchester United after the end of this season. He jokingly asked Twain if he wanted to come to Manchester United to coach, which Twain had rejected in the same joking tone.
If it had not been for the major shifts among the powerful teams in the Premier League this season, it would not have been possible for Twain to lead the Forest team to this point given his experience. Gary Lineker said that the Forest team had disturbed the inherent pattern of the Premier League and made this season's Premier League exciting and suspenseful to watch. But Tang En, who actually knew history, was aware that it was not the emergence of the Forest team that had broken the Premier League's order. That order would have been broken anyway. If it hadn't been the Forest team, it would have been Chelsea. Twain's appearance just added to the Premier League's existing chaos, which made it easier for him to take advantage of and profit from the chaotic situation.
The Forest team, which had achieved fifth place in the league, was in high spirits and played extremely well in the next UEFA Europa League game.
In UEFA Europa League's 16th round, Nottingham Forest's opponent was the rather weak Austrian team, Grazer AK. In the first round, the Forest team played in an away match. The Forest team was stronger than their opponent. However, Grazer AK was playing on its home ground, which was a factor that could not be ignored. In the end, they battled to a draw at 2:2. Twain was very pleased with the result. With two goals scored in the away game, they would most likely be in the UEFA Europa League's top 16.
Back on their home ground, the Forest team thrashed Grazer AK by 2:0 amidst the cheers of their fans, and successfully advanced to the top 16.
At this point, Twain had basically completed his European goal for the Forest team set before the season. The Forest team not only broke into the knockout stage but advanced to the top 16 as well. As a team that had been away from Europe for eight years, that was enough to announce their return.
The question Twain needed to consider now was, did they want to continue?
He decided to ask Dunn's advice.
”...I think that right now, the team has the ability to go further in the UEFA Europa League, but I'm not sure if we should keep advancing...” Twain raised his question at the table during dinner.
After he listened quietly to Twain's question, Dunn asked, ”How far are you intending to go?”
”Well, I don't know. Maybe to the quarterfinals, maybe to the semi-finals…”
”If it's not for the finals, then what's the difference between the top four and top 16?” Dunn's remark left Twain speechless.
He's right; why do I want to go further? What's my goal after going further? Is the goal to go a step further a kind of victory too?
”If you're not sure about winning the championship, I suggest you abandon the UEFA Europa League completely. If you-”
Twain interrupted Dunn's analysis. ”I've decided to give it a try. Regardless of the outcome, it's always good to try.”
”And you'll give up the Premier League?”
”No... I'm not really giving up. It's just a temporary change of focus. It's a... strategic adjustment.” Twain said that a little grudgingly. Had he not thought of giving up the Premier League?
The glory of the UEFA Europa League was too tempting. Twain had not even dared think about it half a season ago. But that did not mean he could not think about it now. If I can lead the team to win the UEFA Europa League, I'll be a manager with a European championship under my belt...
At the thought of this, Twain could not help himself.
This was his dream. Compared to this, there was no difference between the top four or the top six in the Premier League. Even if he could not be in the top six to be eligible for the European qualification next season, he was willing to do so.
”So, it's decided. The Forest team's goal for this season is the UEFA Europa League.” Twain decided what the Forest team was going to put their efforts into for the next half of the season, even though he looked a little cavalier about it with the fork and knife in his hands.
Hearing Twain say that, Dunn smiled slightly as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he did not say anything.
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During the next day's training session, Twain informed the coaching team that he had decided to give up on the Premier League for the time being and concentrate on the UEFA Europa League. He did not receive unanimous support. Kerslake was particularly worried. He had never had high expectations for the UEFA Europa League. For him, the domestic league was the most important.