441 Come Have A Drink with Me (1/2)

”Congratulations to Nottingham Forest, they now qualify for the 05-06 season UEFA Champions League final! This is a remarkable achievement and an inspiring result for a team that was still in the EFL Championship a year and a half ago. Congratulations to them!”

A fireworks display began in the night sky, and even the players celebrating in the stadium could not help but look up and admire the beautiful scene.

The game was over, but the fans did not leave the stadium. They were still in the stands, celebrating the victory of their team.

On the other side, the Arsenal players looked desolate. They stared distractedly at the over-the-moon Forest players.

They had tried their best in this game and managed to equalize the total score in an unfavorable situation. Then they had threatened the Forest team's goal several times before finally entering the penalty shootout. They had already used all their means and methods. Luck was just not on their side this time.

Wenger walked onto the field to comfort his men one by one. Not far from him was Tony Twain, who celebrated this victory with his arms held high.

That man, who had talked to him in the rain at that time, drenched and pathetic like a drowned rat, was now the victor in this battle against him.

Twain reveled in the joy of victory. He was surrounded by many excited and smiling faces. Eastwood, Anelka, Ribéry, Ashley Young, and the rest. Wait a minute, everybody was laughing and shouting. Twain laughed with them too, until he saw George Wood and the smile on his face froze.

The team had won and gotten a ticket to the final. But one man was turned away at the door, and that man was the one who had worked the hardest and contributed the most to their victory.

Gareth Bale, who had missed the penalty kick, still had shiny tears on his face. But he laughed in the end; he did not become a sinner because the team had managed to advance to the final.

In front of him, George Wood's smile was somewhat forced. It was apparent that he had tried hard to squeeze one out.

Twain put down his raised arms. Suddenly, he was not in the mood to celebrate.

Just as he was about to go over and comfort Wood, Albertini trotted out from the side. Twain saw Albertini put his arm around Wood's shoulder and then reach out to stroke his head.

The other teammates were still celebrating, singing, and jumping around the field.

Only that corner had a sense of loss.

Twain turned and walked off the field. When he saw Wenger, he took the initiative to walk over and shake hands.

However, he did not know what to say.

”This was… a great game, wasn't it?”

Wenger smiled reluctantly. ”Yes.”

Twain intended to console the other man. ”You could have won if Wood had not fouled.”

”He can't take part in the final, can he?”

Twain shook his head.

”That's a shame. Your opponent must be glad to hear that news. Well, I wish you all the best. You all really could use some good luck.”

”Thank you.” Twain smiled.

”I have to go comfort my men.” Wenger pointed to the disappointed Arsenal players.

”Goodbye, then.” Twain waved goodbye to him, then turned to walk towards the tunnel.

※※※

During the post-match press conference, a reporter mentioned the matter about George Wood's third yellow card and absence in the final. He asked if Wood's absence would be a heavy blow to the Forest team.

Twain admitted that Wood's absence would affect the team, but he did not admit that it was a heavy blow. He stated that regardless of who the Forest team's opponent was, he would not give up the game because of Wood's absence. Without Wood, they also had Albertini and ten other teammates who had performed well. The Forest team was a whole, not an individual's team.

Despite the fact that what Twain said was reasonable and Nottingham Forest's image to the outside world had been of a united team, looking at the expression on his face at that moment, the reporters sitting below thought he was reluctant to admit it and concede.

Whether it was Barcelona or AC Milan, the opponents were strong in offense. If there was no George Wood aggressively sprinting, intercepting, tackling, and fouling in the midfield, it would be difficult for the Forest team to stop the opponent's attacks.

It was not a heavy blow, but a deadly strike.

The Forest team had advanced to the final but paid a heavy price. The person who was the team's on-field captain, defensive core, and in a sense, the source of their strength would not be able to compete. Not only was Twain not used to it, but his players would also find it tough.

As the revelers outside gradually calmed down from the excitement and delight, it was believed that many people would feel shivers down their spines at the thought of Wood being unable to play in the finals.

Wood consequently became the focal point of the press conference. Although he was not there, almost all of the questions thrown at Twain were about Wood, and there was little mention of the Forest team's final call.

Twain felt sorry about Wood. However, if everyone only asked about Wood and did not care about the team's results or anyone else, including him, then he would be very angry.

”If you want to know anything about Wood, you can ask him on your own, or I can hold a special press conference to be attended by Wood for you to ask questions. However, I cannot guarantee if he will be willing to answer those questions. Right now, it's about the Forest team going to the final. I will acknowledge that George Wood has contributed a great deal of strength and made a great sacrifice. But don't tell me that our being able to be able to get to the final has nothing to do with the other ten players. George Wood chose to get a card to send the team to the final, but all you care about is the impact of his absence in the finals. Are you going to criticize George Wood in tomorrow's articles? That he was hot-headed and only cared about himself and not the team?” Twain asked the noisy reporters with a dark expression, ”Are you here to take part in this post-match press conference, or are you specifically here to create trouble? I repeat, I will refuse to answer any more questions about George Wood's absence in the final!”

Twain played the big shot card once again, which was something he did well. He was not afraid to offend the media because he knew he was not one to beg the media to interview him, but the other way around. He was the most impressive figure now, so he was not afraid to offend anyone.

The press conference became awkward for a while. It was Pierce Brosnan who came to the rescue. He stood up and asked a few questions about the evaluation of this game, and Twain eventually spoke again.

※※※

While Twain lost his temper over the endless questions about Wood at the press conference, the Nottingham Forest players had returned to the locker room from the field.

And this time, after everyone gradually calmed down, they realized the problem.

”George, the yellow card you received during overtime was your third one, right?” Once Ribéry asked, the lively locker room suddenly quieted down. Everyone turned their heads to look at Wood.

”Yes.” Wood nodded.

”Then… the final…”

This question hardly needed a reply. Everyone knew what it meant to get three yellow cards in the Champions League.

Silence quickly spread through the entire locker room.

Albertini gave a clap to break up the embarrassing atmosphere. ”Why are you looking so dejected? Didn't we make it to the final? George paid the price. Do you think he did that just so that he can see you all looking like this? What do we usually look like after we win?”

In the past, after the Forest team won, the locker room would be rowdy, as if there was a small party with nonstop music. Everyone would be naked and play around from the shower to the locker room. They would only stop when they had enough, or when Manager Twain reminded them aloud.

”Today we did not just win an ordinary game. It's the Champions League semi-final! Do you know how important this is? How amazing this is? We're going to the Champions League final. Countless people want to go but can't! And look at you now. You all looked like you don't want to go. Don't waste George's efforts. Don't let George have gotten a yellow card for nothing!”

Ribéry stood up with his arms held high. He had started this topic, so it was up to him to finish it. ”OK, it's a shame that George can't compete, but I don't think that means that we don't have a chance in the final. I don't care who our opponent is, Barcelona or AC Milan. I want to show them what I'm capable of! I want to surprise them until they don't know what hit—”

Ashley Young whistled, ”Be careful not to let them surprise you till you don't know what hit you.”

Ribéry glared. ”How can that be? I'm the French national team's—”

Without waiting for him to finish, Eastwood mimicked Twain's voice at the side and interrupted, ”Substitute player.”

When he heard Twain's voice, Ribéry was startled, ”Chief! You're back so soon?” With his back facing the door, he could not see clearly. He did not hear Twain's reply, but loud laughter rang out in the locker room.

”Freddy!” Ribéry flew into a rage out of humiliation and pounced on Eastwood. ”I knew it was you. You bastard!”

Once again the atmosphere livened up because of those two men.

Albertini turned his head to look at Wood. The kid was acting cool, with an expressionless face.