776 An Out and Out Conspiracy (2/2)

What was it he said at the end of last season? ”Mourinho, you got my team out of the books! We will pay you back next season! ”

It was truly fate!

Mourinho, did you think you could escape my invincible fate by escaping England? It is of no use! A man like you who is so impressive, even if you escape to the ends of the earth, you cannot escape from my palm. This time, you are dead!

Mourinho was sitting opposite Twain with ten men between them. Mourinho did not turn back to look at Twain when the result came out, and there was no eye contact between the two men. He bowed his head and said something to his partner. He did not seem to care what the people around him thought of the draw.

Twain did not look at Mourinho either. He was staring up at the draw on the big screen. It looked like he was one of onlookers who was just watching the show and not one of the parties involved...

Even Platini found the scene so interesting that he smiled and explained, ”I guarantee that this draw has not been manipulated...”

There was another burst of laughter from in front of the stage.

※※※

After the draw ceremony, the final results were announced. Barcelona and Eindhoven would play first with Nottingham Forest taking on Inter Milan on the same day.

Then, Paris Saint-Germain would host AC Milan.

Bayern Munich would play Juventus.

Arsenal would take on the away team Valencia.

Real Madrid would host Liverpool.

Manchester United would play Lyon away.

The match between Porto and Ajax was probably the least anticipated. The important matches in the quarter-finals were Nottingham Forest v Inter Milan, Bayern Munich v Juventus and Real Madrid v Liverpool.

After the draw, Twain was surrounded by a large crowd of reporters, all of who wanted to hear how he rated the results of the draw. They wanted to discover if UEFA would be scolded for their black curtain. Many people were looking forward to hearing him say that classic line, ”Come on, bring out your unspoken rules!”

But this time Twain let them down. In the face of many reporters' excited looks, he said with a smile, ”I am very satisfied with the results of this draw. Thanks to UEFA's drawing of the teams, I drew the opponents I wanted to meet most.”

The answer was really a disappointment for the journalists.

So there was a reporter who very blatantly asked, ”Are you worried about being fined by UEFA?”

Twain glared at him. ”Don't crack jokes like that. I can afford that much, and I think you guys are being scummy. You don't believe me when I speak the truth and gossip when I'm telling a lie. I'm really happy with the result. Before the season I said Barcelona's value in the league was not enough, and some people attacked me. Now I can prove to those people that they are actually wrong. As for Inter Milan, I've been thinking about revenge since they knocked out Nottingham Forest more than a season ago. I was even worried that I wouldn't have a chance to do that… As you all know, lottery is an issue of probability.” At this point, Twain laughed. ”So, of course I'm very grateful to UEFA for solving both of my problems at once. It's a matter of efficiency; I don't have to wait until next season, the season after that...”

”But Mr Twain, Inter Milan are a very strong team. Are you confident you can beat them?”

”Nonsense. If I don't have the confidence, then why am I here to play in the European Champions League? I don't believe that Nottingham Forest and I are still taking the elevator between the Premier League and 2nd League. I wouldn't have won the Champions League without confidence. My Nottingham Forest won two European Champions Cups, one Premier League title, and none of them have been picked up cheaply. My championship value is real and full of color. Do you think every team that made it to the last 16 of the Champions League had the good fortune of Barcelona and could draw the weaker team in the first round?” He also did not forget to laugh at Barcelona, several rounds ahead on the start of psychological warfare.

”Mr. Twain, I heard you have a bad relationship with Mourinho...”

”You're right!” Twain did not deny anything this time, as he very simply and cheerfully agreed with the reporter's statement, not even bothering to cover up on the surface. ”He and I are enemies. Ask him, and you'll get the same answer. I'm actually very much looking forward to and confident about the game against Inter Milan. Against them, Nottingham Forest has a psychological advantage. ”

Twain also did not forget to bring Inter Milan into the psychological warfare of the battle. If he were to play he would play big; it was always better to play with the whole crowd. It was a pity they were lacking a fourth member.

※※※

The next day's newspapers and television, as well as the Internet, reported the results of the draw in the knockout stages of the European Champions Cup. Pictures of Tony Twain and Mourinho, as well as Guardiola's three young managers at the draw, were all prominent, with three different expressions and meanings.

As the vast majority of fans saw this result, their natural first thought was, ”Conspiracy! An out and out conspiracy!”