549 Dont Let the Trophy Wait Too Long (2/2)
The excited lads slammed the locker room door wide open and rushed out.
※※※
The AC Milan players were indeed impatient from waiting.
They walked out of the locker room according to usual timing and lined up in the tunnel.
They waited until the referee and the two assistant referees came over, but their opponent, Nottingham Forest, still did not appear. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.
Unable to wait any longer, the AC Milan officials discussed with the fourth official to have him go check out what was going on with Nottingham Forest. The fourth official knocked on the door of the Forest team's locker room, but Twain was giving a passionate speech, so his knock on the door was completely unheeded.
The locker room was a hallowed place. Even the fourth official had no authority to go in. He could only return to appease the somewhat agitated AC Milan team, hoping that they would wait patiently for a little while longer.
A member of the coaching staff next to Ancelotti muttered after they learnt of the news, ”Nottingham Forest is so cocky that we have to wait for them...”
The AC Milan manager turned to look at the heated person, but did not speak.
Other than grumbling, AC Milan could only wait.
Just as the patience of the AC Milan people was about to run out, the Nottingham Forest players stormed out looking ferocious. If the referee had not stopped them, they might have rushed straight onto the field...
When the team finished lining up in the tunnel, Twain slowly came from behind. He saw the anger and agitation on the AC Milan players' faces and was secretly happy.
As if to add fuel to the fire, he acted immensely proud of himself in front of the opponent and swaggered in front of the AC Milan players for a long time before sauntering out of the tunnel and towards the technical area.
As soon as he left the tunnel, he was welcomed by the Nottingham Forest fans gathered in the stands on the right side of the tunnel. Frenzied cries swept through the section of the stands whether they were from Nottingham Forest or AC Milan.
They chanted loudly and extended their arms toward Twain. ”Tony, we want the title! We won't accept anything but the championship title!”
On the opposite side, the AC Milan fans could not do such a blatant thing. They felt it was beneath their dignities and unnecessary to do so. In the past few years, they had taken all kinds of championship trophies and were not as hungry as the Nottingham Forest fans for the championship title.
However, it could not be said that the AC Milan team had no desire to be the champion.
They faced an English team, which gave them more motivation to win the title. Two years ago, there was a night in Istanbul that was painful for the AC Milan players. They lost to Liverpool, even though they had the advantage of a three-goal lead. Now that Liverpool was not in the final, it was replaced by another English team, Nottingham Forest.
No matter which team it was, as long as it was an English team, AC Milan would be very motivated to fight. They wanted revenge. After that final, they had celebrated early in the locker room during the halftime interval and were overtaken by their opponent in the end. They became a worldwide laughingstock and this humiliation had to be repaid doubly. Even if the opponent was not Liverpool, as long as the team was from England and wore red jerseys, they would treat the team as Liverpool.
Looking at the arrogant opponent next to them, all the AC Milan players' eyes burned with revenge.
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”This is truly an explosive matchup! Nottingham Forest has won everyone's affirmation with their excellent and steady performance since their return to the Premier League. Their two consecutive advancements to the Champions League finals are the best proof! Let's hope they are not like Valencia when they reached the final twice in a row and lost twice in a row. The AC Milan team is also a regular in the Champions League finals. Before this, they had reached the finals ten times and won six titles! Impressive results! Compared to them, Nottingham Forest is as insignificant as a young brother... But! If the Forest team had been able to beat Barcelona last season, they would be the only team to reach the final three times and win three championships... What a pity.”
The commentator excitedly introduced the two competing teams to the television audience. Judging from the historical record, AC Milan clearly had the upper hand. Since the establishment of the team, they had occupied the center and highest level of European football most of the time. This kind of powerhouse club experience and manner was an immense wealth and was likely to play a decisive role at the crucial moment of determining the winner and loser.
Compared to AC Milan, Nottingham Forest had no advantage other than being a young team.
However, in such a major final game, almost everyone would rather believe in age and experience. Being young meant having no experience, which implied that the possibility of failure.
A more direct observation could be derived from the bookmakers' data.
80% of the punters unanimously bet on AC Milan to win. The odds from a number of world-renowned gambling companies also placed Nottingham Forest in a disadvantageous position.
Twain knew this information before the game, and he was delighted that his team's odds were so unpopular, because he secretly placed a bet of ten pounds before the game on his team to win. He did not care how much money he could win. What he bought was confidence.
”The game is about to begin! Let's look forward to the final together!”
※※※
Albertini stood on the left side of the center line, next to the three referees. Across the center line, opposite him was his old friend from AC Milan, the team captain, Paulo Maldini.
Maldini still wore the AC Milan jersey and carried the AC Milan flag in his hands, whereas Albertini now wore a red Nottingham Forest jersey and held the Nottingham Forest team flag.
It was awkward to meet like this.
It was not the first time they met in this way as he had competed against AC Milan him when he played for Lazio. But how could an ordinary league tournament compare to an important Champions League final?
Maldini's blue eyes reflected his old friend's image.
He did not expect to meet Demetrio like this. He was actually relieved when he found out that Demetrio chose to play in the UK, because the twice a year regular run-ins in the league were just too awkward. He did not think of that even after going around in such a big circle, from Italy to England, and from England to Greece, they would still run into each other.
”Didn't think we would meet like this again, did we?” Albertini was the first to break the silence, but it did not lessen the awkwardness.
”Demetrio...”
”I didn't expect it either. If I had decided to retire a year ago, there would not have been today. But I'm now very happy to be able to meet the starting point of my career in the last game of my career, like the circle of life. It's like Twain said, this really is the best farewell game. It couldn't be any better...”
Maldini listened quietly to Albertini chattering on. The three referees next to them also saw that the game held a special meaning for the two men in front of them, so they did not make a noise to disturb them.
”I have to thank him. If he hadn't run to Italy to look for me and persuade me to go to Nottingham Forest, I'm afraid I would have been long retired and sitting at home to watch this game now, wouldn't I? If that was the case, then I would have unreservedly cheered for AC Milan and hoped you guys picked up the Champions League trophy for the seventh time. Pity.” He tugged at the Nottingham Forest emblem on his chest. ”I'm now wearing the Nottingham Forest jersey as I stand across from you, Paulo.”
”Did you know about the interview I gave before the game?”
Maldini nodded. ”I saw it. It was all over television and the papers.”
”I wasn't joking or glossing over that question. I'm serious about it,” Albertini said with a serious expression. ”I'm serious about wanting to defeat AC Milan and help the Forest team pick up the third Champions League trophy. I'll stop you guys from winning the seventh time. I'm serious about going all out to beat you. Do you get it, Paulo?”
Maldini nodded again. ”I understand, Demetrio. I'm not going to hold back either.”
Albertini smiled. ”You'd better not. This is my farewell game. I do not want to see a nauseating show of hypocrisy. Bring it on, Paulo.”
”It's like what I said to you before when you first appeared on behalf of AC Milan, Demetrio.” Maldini held out his hand to him. ”Enjoy this game...”
”Enjoy the victory.” Albertini held out his hand at the same time.
The two veterans clasped their hands tightly together.
”There's also a major highlight to watch in this game. Nottingham Forest's team captain, Demetrio Albertini used to be AC Milan's vice-captain. He played for AC Milan for twelve years. He undoubtedly still holds feelings for AC Milan. AC Milan also currently has his good friends, including Paulo Maldini, who had fought alongside him for eleven years, Pirlo whom he guided as a junior, and Kaka... How will he face such an opponent in the final? It's well worth our anticipation.”
How would he face it?
He would use his best form and make every effort to burn up the last of his professional life to win the title, to say goodbye to his career, and to pay homage to his favorite team... and not to leave a hint of regret as he ended his own era.
After the coin toss to determine the side, Albertini turned to walk back to the half of the field that belonged to Nottingham Forest. He wore the golden yellow captain's armband on his arm. He walked calmly with powerful footsteps and his eyes looked serene and determined. In front of him, waiting for him to return, were the ten teammates in the starting lineup of Nottingham Forest.
This is my path and here lies Demetrio Albertini's way.
I'm going to walk it 'till the end.
When everyone saw the team captain coming back, he opened his arms and smiled. ”Get ready, guys. The championship trophy is waiting for us. Don't let it wait too long!”
The group hooted.