346 Heart-to-Heart Part 2 (1/2)

The match ended very quickly. As it was just an internal warm-up match, the match duration was not set to be very long. It was only 20 minutes.

In the last segment of training, Tang En gathered everybody to stand in a circle. He and Kerslake then led the team through an analysis of the strengths and flaws observed from the session before dismissing them.

As the team was being dismissed, Tang En called out to Anelka. ”Nicolas, come to my office for a minute after you change.”

This time, Anelka did not manage to conceal his own surprise in time; it showed clearly on his face.

”Not Bendtner, I mean you.” Tang En said as he pointed to Anelka. ”Change and come to my office.” Saying that, he turned and left the training grounds.

Ribéry walked up to Anelka and gently patted his shoulders. Speaking lowly in French, he said, ”Having a talk alone with the Boss is usually nothing good. You've got to watch out.”

Hearing such a tone of mystery from Ribéry, Anelka turned to look at his serious face but said nothing in response.

※※※

Tang En was organizing his desk in his office, but there was nothing much for him to pack. Most things were filed in the computer. Other than a pen and a notebook that he carried around with him all the time, the desk had nothing on it. He just did not want to look as if he was dumbly waiting for Anelka when he came in later. As the manager, he sometimes needed to make a show of attitude in front of the players, such as, 'I called you here, but I'm tremendously busy; I'm taking time out of my busy schedule to speak to you.'

A knock could be heard coming from the outside. It was not loud, but Tang En caught it.

”Come in.”

Anelka pushed the door open and entered. He had already changed and was now wearing a white shirt with light blue jeans, complete with a casual suit jacket in sky-blue. He had even hung a pair of sunglasses at the neck of his shirt.

Tang En looked over his attire.

”What do you have going on tonight?”

Anelka was momentarily stunned, not expecting the manager to ask him that first. When he recovered, he shook his head in response. ”I don't have anything going on tonight.”

”Okay… take a seat.” Tang En casually indicated to the sofa. He then continued to be ”busy” organizing his things. This time, he grabbed the mouse and continually refreshed his computer desktop just for show.

After finishing busying himself with that, he looked up at the Frenchman. ”This is our first time speaking alone since your entry into our team. I'm sorry about that. I've been extremely busy until now. With the start of the new season, there seem to be a lot more things to deal with.”

Anelka nodded in understanding.

Tang En found it draining to converse with someone who had such lacking responses.

Holding a conversation was like playing tennis; it could only work when it went back and forth. But, when Tang En conversed with Anelka, it felt like he was just playing with air. Not only did he have to take charge of serving, but he also needed to run over to pick up the ball after. He was already tired and sweating, but it remained uncertain how much longer this would go on.

”Yes… Well, putting aside the other things, I'm quite interested in your sudden decision to return to England from Turkey. Do you mind telling me more about that?”

Tang En then intentionally paused, waiting for Anelka to speak, only to be disappointed. To prevent the atmosphere from becoming awkward, he could only continue, saying, ”Uh… Your brother told me it was because the level of the leagues there was too low? And it couldn't…”

At that point, Anelka suddenly interrupted Tang En. ”Yes. I want to go to a higher-level league to play football.”

Tang En did not mind in the least bit; he was delighted that Anelka was willing to speak up at all.

”But, Fenerbahçe S.K. can also participate in the Champions League.”

”That's too far.”

Tang En knew where Anelka was referring to when he said it was ”far.” So, he only nodded.

”I think so too. Nicolas, do you mind telling me what you're really thinking? That is to say… What other aims do you have? What do you hope to get? What is it that you are working hard for at football? Do you have some goal?”

These questions stumped the Frenchman. He sat there silently.

Some players played for the pursuit of glory, but he had almost received all of the highest recognition available to a club. Then there were those who played hoping to be selected for the National Team, battling for the World Cup; but he had already harshly told the French Football Federation that ”unless Santini kneels and begs before me, I will never return to the National Team.” Saying that he wanted to work hard to enter the National Team would seem rather fake. In that case, what kind of goals or reasons was he left with?

”Do you want to hear my answers to those questions?” Tang En noticed Anelka's silence and decided to keep on going anyway.

”Initially, I was the Youth Team manager of Forest. Gradually, from a normal manager, I became the assistant manager of the Youth Team, and finally the main manager. Following that, I became the main manager of the First Team, just like what you see now.” He extended his arms, indicating that the manager's office belonged to him.

”Have you heard my story?”

Anelka shook his head.

”Then, let me tell it to you.” Tang En sat at the corner of his desk and crossed his legs.

”At first, I thought it was a good idea to become one of the managers of the Youth Team. I was very satisfied with the job. I'm an idiot who doesn't know anything else apart from football; I didn't know carpentry, didn't know how to fix pipes, didn't know how to sell merchandise, didn't know design, make repairs, rob a bank… I didn't know anything. I was over the moon finding a job in Nottingham Forest Club, and I had intended to just keep on working like that. After some decades, I'd become one of the old managers in the club and retire.”

”But later, I became this team's interim manager. At the time, the team's situation was miserable. Within half a season, I had to guarantee that my team could stay in the then First Division, now called EFL. In the beginning, my performance was terrible; the first match I coached completely fell through.”

Tang En shook his head, and said, ”But, I thought later, since I had already become the main manager of the team, regardless of whether it was just interim, I should achieve something as proof of having been here, right? I decided to lead the team to a promotion… Yes, that's right. You didn't hear me wrong. I didn't want to just avoid relegation, I was aiming for a promotion.” Tang En explained upon seeing Anelka's shock.

The Frenchman nodded. He was completely engrossed in the story.