549 Dont Let the Trophy Wait Too Long (1/2)
Despite closing the locker room door, the singing outside was still a little deafening. The stadium soundproofing was not bad, the fans from both sides were too passionate and enthusiastic for the final game.
Twain listened attentively and heard the Nottingham Forest song. He also heard the once familiar AC Milan song. He had not gone out to take a look at the current stadium stands, but he believed it had to be a sea of red.
Although AC Milan had drew the lot as the visitors' team and could only wear white jerseys for this game, AC Milan fans only worn the red and black striped jerseys when they came to Greece.
The stadium vibrated slightly from the singing, boos, applause, and stomping feet.
Twain looked at the ceiling and turned his gaze back to the locker room.
The jerseys that the players were going to wear for the game had been hung in their lockers with neatly cleaned boots and shin guards placed on their seats.
Unlike before, these tasks were done by specialized personnel. The players needed to put all their energy into the game.
The manager also did not have to be the only person to take care of everything. He only needed to take care of his own matters, leaving the other things to the assistant managers, coaches, fitness coaches, goalkeeper coaches, team doctors, and staff to complete.
Twain thought that if he had transmigrated to thirty years earlier, he probably would not be able to do the manager position himself.
The tactical board was still blank. There was no need to fill it with too many complex tactics. The things that needed to be accounted for only required verbal instructions.
Twain waited for his men to warm up and return.
※※※
Michael Bernard and his old buddies stood in the stands of the Olympic Stadium and looked down at the grassy pitch where the players from both teams warmed up.
He had not spoken since entering the stadium. He just glanced around. Although it was the first time he had been to the Olympic Stadium of Athens, everything felt familiar. It was not the specific stadium, but the atmosphere of the scene.
The fans from both sides sang, clapped and shouted all sorts of chants to cheer on the players on the field and to demonstrate to the opposing camp of fans. The intoxicating smell of perspiration mingled with alcohol in the air.
He liked the smell. After three years away, he was still enraptured by it.
This is… the Champions League Final!
He did not think he would see it again in his lifetime or appear on the grounds of the Champions League final. When Nottingham Forest was relegated from the Premier League to League One, he used to think it was nothing more than a fluke and that glory was bound to return. But when the team was promoted only to be relegated again a year later and become an ”elevator” team a few years later, he no longer held any illusions. He felt it was enough to be a loyal Forest fan and did not care whether the team could still appear in the Champions League finals. His goal was only to see the team to return to the Premier League.
When his son died under the feet of football hooligans because he come to watch the game, he thought he would never return to the stadium stands for the rest of his life because he could not forgive himself for taking his son to the game. If he could choose, he would have preferred he was the one who died and that his son's life was intact.
But now he was back in the stands to cheer on his favorite team.
Is it because I don't love Gavin anymore? Is it because I have forgotten the pain of losing my son?
No.
I brought Gavin here to watch the game. Gavin is right next to me. There are so many people here, so I have to hold his hand tight...
From a young age, Gavin was the one I brought to watch every Forest team's home game before he would become a staunch Forest fan. Now that the Forest team has returned to the pinnacle of its glory, how can I not bring him? He was so keen to see the Forest team get the Champions League title and become the heroic team that his father spoke of again.
If I had had the chance, I could have brought my son to the stadium to watch the Forest team's game a few decades later. I would point to the players in the red jerseys and proudly tell my son, ”look, son! Your daddy had seen the Forest team pick up the Champions League trophy! This is an amazing team! You're going to love them too!”
Michael bowed his head, fearing that John and Bill would see the tears in his eyes. He had been a tough guy in front of his old buddies. It was impossible for him to shed tears in front of them... even in day his son had died.
After he regained his composure, Michael raised his head and began to follow the people around him to wave his arms and sing. Time had turned back, and he returned to youth madness.
”Forest! Forest! Nottingham Forest!”
※※※
The door of the locker room whooshed open and the players returned from their warm-up. They looked flushed and were only panting slightly. It appeared that they were in excellent form.
Dunn was the last to enter. He nodded to Twain after he came in the locker room and closed the door.
The noise was reduced all of a sudden and everyone could hear clearly when Twain spoke.
Twain was not in a hurry to make a speech. He waited for everyone to change their clothes and finish their tasks. Once everyone looked up at him, hoping that he would say something, he just stood up and cleared his throat.
”Everyone knows how to play, so I will not say much about the technical and tactical aspects of things. Just only a few reminders for you.” Twain extended his right index finger. ”One, do not let AC Milan play at the pace they are used to. Their rhythm is slower than ours, and we have to find ways to pull them into our rhythm. Use our Premier League rhythm to deal with the Serie A rhythm. As to the exact details, you already know from your training, so I will not state more nonsense.”
”Two, be careful of AC Milan's set pieces. Try not to give them free kicks near our penalty area. George, fouls should be farther away from the danger zone.”
Wood nodded.
”Three, do not create offside. The rear defensive line will compact the defense and pay attention to Inzaghi's position.”
”Four, we are playing defensive counterattack, so we must be patient. We have to be more patient than our opponent. Wait patiently for the opportunity to appear and then seize it!” He clenched his fist. ”No matter what situation we face, whether they score first or score three goals within a short time, it's okay... keep your cool, don't panic, and don't be discouraged. Of course, this is the worst-case scenario. To be honest, I don't think we're going to encounter it.”
”Five.” Twain looked at the serious-looking players and clapped his hands with a smile. ”There's no five. After ninety minutes, let's pick up the championship trophy together!”
Laughter erupted in the locker room.
When everyone's laughter subsided, Twain continued, ”well, we have covered the field. Now let's talk about things off the field. Can everybody hear? It's really noisy in the stands outside.”
The players nodded. They had felt the fans' enthusiasm during their warm-up.
”A lot of people have come this time, even though Greece is a long way from the UK. But every single one of our hardcore fans have all come. They occupy half of the stadium. They did not make the effort to come all the way here to see us fail. Last year, we lost the final in Paris. Do we want to lose again this year?”
”No!” Someone shouted, but no one laughed at him, because everyone wanted to do the same.
”It's remarkable to be in the Champions League final for two consecutive seasons. But if we can only get the runner-up title for two consecutive seasons, you and I...” He pointed to the players and himself. ”will be reduced to the laughing stock of whole of Europe! Wherever we go in the future, they will only gloat and mock, 'Look! Nottingham Forest, the perennial number two! Can you accept such an insult? I can't!”
”No one's going to take it!” A few more people shouted out this time.
Twain smiled. ”That's good. We really are one as a team and think alike. Many people want to see us fail but we won't give them that chance. Never!” He brandished his fist. ”Remember, no one can defeat us except ourselves! Now I want you to close your eyes and think carefully about how we got here over the last two seasons, and the opponents we met along the way...”
Twain closed his eyes as well as he slowly listed the names of their opponents. ”Lille, Benfica, Real Madrid, Glasgow Rangers, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, Eindhoven, Bordeaux, Galatasaray, Chelsea...” He opened his eyes again and looked at the players.
”Listen to the names of these teams, each one of them has an illustrious reputation. Some of them have won countless trophies and some of them are the traditionally strong teams in their respective national leagues. But no matter how famous or powerful these teams are, they all ended up in the same position when they encountered us — defeat! These brilliant names are the spoils of our ascension, and they hang on our wall one by one...” Twain waved his hand, as if he was really standing in a palace to show his subjects the spoils of his hunting trip, ”to become the jewels in our crown. All we lack now is still the biggest, brightest and most dazzling one.”
He pointed to the door. ”AC Milan is waiting for us, and I think they are already a little impatient.”
Dunn looked at his watch. They were late due to Twain's speech. According to the normal circumstances, the two teams should line up in the tunnel waiting to appear. He thought Twain had forgotten the time and did not expect that he was fully aware of it... It appeared he made AC Milan wait on purpose.
The players burst into laughter. They liked to see such a high-spirited boss, because it steadied them on the inside, as if he was mentally suggesting to them constantly: ”We will win, we will win, we will never lose!”
To be honest, if Twain suddenly lost his mettle and became dispirited, he would lose half of his control over the team. Because the men's will would fall apart, and then the team would not be easy to lead...
He had said what needed to be said, and the players were fired up. It was time to sum up his remarks.
Twain raised his hands. ”I don't say words like 'enjoy playing' or that I want you to enjoy the bliss of victory after the final. Guys, I'll be with you no matter what. During the kick-off, forty-five minutes, at the halftime interval, ninety minutes... I'm there with you, and I'm looking forward to having celebratory champagne with you!” He paused for a moment and took a deep breath.
”Let's conquer the whole of Europe — make our opponents feel the terror!”
”Let's conquer Europe — make our opponents feel the terror!” The players and the members of the coaching unit all yelled with him in the locker room.