354 Round One: City Ground Part 2 (1/2)
Even though Raúl's current condition could not be compared to before, and Ronaldo had already gotten fat enough to be out of human shape, the two players were superstars who could decide the win or loss of a match given just three seconds of time and some space. Forest did not have any such players. Tang En could not guarantee that his players would be able to, without the least bit of slack, pin down the two throughout the entire 90 minutes of the match.
Additionally, Forest's current center back combination in the match had rarely been partnered.
Following an in-depth analysis, Tang En felt that it was much too tough, even on their home grounds, to defeat Real Madrid in Forest's current situation.
Every day after getting home, Tang En would sit with Dunn and look through recordings of Real Madrid's matches, hoping to find a weakness to exploit.
”I don't think Real Madrid is undefeatable, provided you score first.” Dunn said to Tang En. ”If you allow Real Madrid to get a goal first, then you can just wait and watch yourself lose.”
”We can have a guaranteed victory if we score first?”
”Of course not. But, it can improve your chances of success…” Dunn contemplated for a bit, and said, ”by 20%.”
”What a depressing analysis. Forget it. I don't want to care anymore about all of this. Regardless of if we can win, or our chances of winning, at the very least we have to go all out in the match.”
Hearing that, Dunn expressed it differently. ”If you know that your chances of winning aren't high, what's the point of devoting so much effort to this match? This is not an elimination round. There are still many more matches to go in the Group Stage. If you suffer too much loss here, it would affect your future.”
Tang En interrupted him, saying, ”This problem can't be only considered from the match results or match schedule. In other words, it can't simply be considered from the point of football competition itself. Do you know what Nottingham Forest depended on, this past two and a half years, to get from the EPL to the Premier League, and from UEFA Europa to Champions League? Skill? Sure, of course, we have skill; but we don't have the kind of ability that would allow us to skyrocket like we did. Luck? Maybe. We haven't gotten many injuries or illnesses. Our luck is pretty good too. But what's most crucial is the spirit this Forest Team has. An undying spirit and a refusal to lose. It is exactly that spirit that allowed Forest to create so many unimaginable results that others don't even dare dream of. We aren't afraid of any team and we certainly won't concede. Don't you think I know the priorities of a match? Of course, I know. But, as the main manager of the team, I must stay unwavering; I must preserve this spirit for the team.”
”There are some matches that we seem to have absolutely no hope of winning. Even then, I will tell my players, 'We can definitely win. We must make those who so confidently declared our certain loss eat their words!'”
Tang En balled his hands. His Forest Team was familiar enough with such things.
”Then, even if we really fail to win the match, in the end, the victors will always be us. I won't keep arguing about the theory of an indomitable spirit, but if a team doesn't even have that spirit… then, there's no difference between Forest and those who are struggling, going back and forth in the lower levels of the league, thinking only of how they can prevent relegation.”
”I absolutely cannot tell my players to give up on this match and rest well to prepare for the next one. Perhaps that's the truth; but, I must not say that out loud. Once I verbalize it, it means I approve of that attitude. In the future, when there's a situation in a match, when the time comes that needs us to do our best, my players would remember those words. And then, they would say that since they have already given up once, there's no big deal to giving up again. After all, they would have other matches in the future to play, and their manager would surely agree with doing so… That's a very scary thought. It would spread like a pestilence.”
Tang En stretched out his hands and waved agitatedly.
”Quietly, without us realizing, it would erode the spirits and ambition of our players. At that point, the team would be finished. Regardless of how good the manager's strategy is, they would be helpless managing such a team.”
”A team needs to have a soul. And the soul of Forest Team is knowing that something cannot be done, but continuing to try, regardless.”
Tang En ended his speech. Dunn raised his head and stared at him for a long while before slowly saying, ”You're indeed… more suited to being the main manager than I am.”
※※※
Just as they had analyzed prior to the match, Real Madrid was tough to deal with despite their numerous internal conflicts. But, Dunn was right about one thing: Forest scored first.
At the beginning of the match, Forest unexpectedly took up an all-offense stance, completely taking Real Madrid's manager, Brazilian Luxemburgo, by surprise. He had thought that when going up against the mighty Real Madrid, Forest would first try to steadily defend. Contrary to that, Forest's apparent strong start threw Real Madrid for a loop.
The superstars of Real Madrid seemed somewhat at a loss facing the aggressive attacks from Forest's youth.
Finally, in the seventh minute, Casillas failed to defend the goal. Ribéry's goal ignited the atmosphere in the stadium. Tang En also appeared extremely excited, as if he had seen the dawning light of victory.
However, after taking the lead, the pace of the match gradually fell under the control of Real Madrid. Pepe, after all, was not an actual defensive midfielder; it was a little exacting for him to be marking Zidane. Forest could only depend on their stamina and a numerical advantage in certain areas of their defense. The price of that was a lack of opportunity to attack.