297 What Comes Around, Goes Around Part 1 (1/2)
Chapter 297: What Comes Around, Goes Around Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
At the 57th minute of the match, Nottingham Forest was at a draw with Sporting CP with 2:2.
No one could have expected to see that score when Forest team had been leading by two goals.
What did it mean? Sporting CP had gotten two precious away goals! This result meant that they practically had gotten half of their foot in the quarterfinals.
Were they giving up?
There was no reason to. The first round still had 30 minutes left, and the second had 90. It was much too early to give up.
Tang En turned and looked at the substitutes' bench. The players were all warming up outside. He thought for a moment and asked Kerslake to call Mikel Arteta back.
”This is bad, Mikel.” Tang En said to Arteta. ”Have you ever seen such a match on home grounds? It seems like we're the ones on an away match. For this match, I want you to play right midfielder. Even though it's on the wings, I still want you to play like before and set up the attacks.”
Arteta nodded. ”I understand.”
Even though Arteta was a Spaniard, he had already kicked through an entire season in Scotland. It was not a problem for him to converse in English.
”We have to score again. Create opportunities for your teammates or do it yourself. Go! Tell them to attack! Other than attacking, don't think about anything else!”
※※※
”Just 30 minutes before the end of the match, Twain has finished all three of his quota for substitution. Mikel Arteta substitutes Leighton Baines. Forest team has one less fullback. Instead, they opted for an additional holding midfielder. Clearly, Tony is not willing to end the match this way, despite already having such a terrible situation on his hands. They've fought their opponent to a draw of 2:2 on their home ground.”
During the period when Arteta stood on the sidelines waiting to be fielded, those who saw it must have thought that Viduka would be changed out. A forward for a midfielder. That would maintain the formation and stability of the defense; it was the normal method of substitution. Unexpectedly, Tang En took off a defender instead and was playing with only three fullbacks. He no longer cared about defense.
Tang En knew that Sporting CP's morale was at an all-time high. It might not be effective even if they continued to fortify their defenses. Furthermore, they had already lost two home goals. Any further fortification of their defenses made little difference. They might as well go on the attack and take down the match. The two-goal losses could be considered later.
He simply could not tolerate losing this match. If they lost the match, wouldn't Eastwood's injury and George Wood's penalty be for nothing? If they lost the match, what kinds of feelings could Tang En have when visiting Eastwood in the hospital?
Arteta ran onto the field and yelled at his teammates for attention. He threw his hands forward.
”Attack! The Boss wants us to attack!”
※※※
In the following period, Forest reactivated their attacks amid waves of cheers, each louder than the last, from their fans. They had the same thoughts as Tang En. No one was willing to lose this match. It had nothing to do with victory and everything to do with honor.
If you win through honorable means, we have nothing to say. We were simply lacking in skills. But if you use underhanded means to take advantage of us? There's no way!
Defense? F**k that! Go ahead and attack if you can! The question is, can you get in?
”Mark Viduka! A beautiful shot! It went a little high. Ricardo didn't even get to touch the ball even though he took a mighty leap to save it. He got lucky!”
”Forest is going on the offense now. Arteta is very active. He hasn't even been on for ten minutes, but he's already made two incredible passes. It's a pity that the forwards failed to make use of the opportunities. Who will he be passing it to this time… A breakthrough! He dribbles the ball alone in a breakthrough!”
Arteta's breakthrough threw Sporting CP's defensive line into confusion and created chances for his teammates. But Crouch still failed to make good use of the chance this time; his shot went ridiculously wide. The Sporting CP fans on the spectators' stand applauded him for his shot.
Even though they had not yet been rewarded for their efforts, the attitude displayed by Forest gave their fans great confidence.
Arteta was remarkably spirited. With him on the field, Forest's organization of the midfield had much more order to it. The aim of their attacks also became clearer; they were no longer just blindly passing the ball forward. Although Albertini was similarly clear in that aspect, he was positioned further away from the front of the field. The attacks he launched depended more on long passes. On the other hand, Arteta could get closer to the opponent's goal, causing his passes to become even more threatening.
Tang En felt extremely satisfied with Arteta's performance. It proved that he had made no loss in his transfer. In his recollection, Arteta was the future midfield core of Everton. Only, from now on, he was to become Forest's midfield core.