830 Lost the Game and Money (1/2)

No matter how resounding the catchphrase was shouted, no matter how tough Twain talked, Carl Spicer's analysis made sense.

With eight rounds left in the league tournament, it was indeed a difficult situation in which Nottingham Forest had to compete in three tournaments. Their physical fitness was bound to be affected, and their stamina would fluctuate. The team could only grit its teeth in terms of physical difficulties and stick to it, while the adjustments in their condition depended on the standards of the coaches. It had to be said that the few psychologists Twain had hired for Şahin's a few years ago came in very useful at such times. Many players would go to the beautiful and gentle psychologists to chat for a while after the end of training to relax their tense nerves.

On March 22, in the thirty-first round of the league tournament Nottingham Forest took on Aston Villa in the away game with a final score of 3:2. Nottingham Forest won, but it was a tough win. The Forest team was 0:2 behind in the first half and only reversed the score to 3:2 in the second half. All three goals were scored in the last ten minutes. The match was the most thrilling game in the current round of the Premier League. Both teams scored five goals with another goal declared invalid by the referee. In addition, there was one red card and six yellow cards. The conversion between offense and defense was very fast. Both sides made a lot of errors, and the game was very lively, but it wasn't so ”exciting” for Twain's heart. If he lost the away game to an opponent like Aston Villa, he would have to stop his bold rhetoric about fighting for the title toward the end of season.

So, when Cohen crossed the ball after a last-minute forced breakthrough and assisted Şahin to grab a point to break the goal in that moment, Twain didn't jump from his seat and celebrate wildly. Instead, he sat in his seat, closed his eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief. His heartbeat was really fast just then, which made him think his heart was going to collapse.

Eastwood began by hugging his teammates to celebrate, and then he found one person missing next to him. He turned around to find that man still sitting down. He saw from Twain's expression that something was wrong. He looked lethargic and tired, completely unenthusiastic. He hurried over to ask, ”What's wrong, chief? Is it your heart?”

Twain shook his head and smiled. ”Heh heh.”

”What do you mean by 'heh heh?'”

”I'm very glad we've won in the end…” Twain reached his hand out to Eastwood, who pulled him up. Twain gave him a hug by the bye.

”It's good that we won, Freddy.”

Eastwood's eyes flickered as he thought of the bet between the chief and Spicer. It would really be embarrassing if he were to lose with that kind of wager. He said, ”Is it necessary for you to do this, chief? Why must you make a bet with someone else? Eating a table is also set for you… In fact, chief, I don't understand. Why do you like to make that kind of bet which will be very embarrassing if you lose?”

”I'm a lazy person, Freddy. If I don't give myself a little pressure, I'm afraid I won't be motivated to move.” Twain patted Eastwood on the back and let him go. Then he raised his hands and opened his arms to welcome the others.

”Ah, David! Come! Let's hug it out! Cohen and Şahin did a great job!”

Eastwood shook his head as he looked at the chief, who had suddenly restored all his firepower.

”Tony Twain had a narrow escape. His luck is always so good. A goal from Aston Villa was invalidated by the referee during the game because they were in an offside position. If that goal wasn't in an offside position, it would be hard to say what the end result would have been. He made a bold statement a few days ago that he would eat a table if he lost in the fight for the league title. Now he has pushed himself to the brink and cannot afford to lose a game. No, he can't even afford to tie a game.”

The football commentators on the television analyzed the just-concluded round of Premier League matches for the viewers. He stated in this way when he spoke about the game between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa: ”But it was so hard to win this game that it was worrying if his team had the ability to turn it around. I can say that this win was entirely due to Twain's luck, but what about the next one? The next game is against Chelsea. Will Tony Twain have any luck left?”

”Rijkaard's Chelsea team has played beautifully in recent years, and I think they are in a unique situation in the Premier League like Wenger's Arsenal. To play football so beautifully and yet not be able to win the championship title… I think Mr. Abramovich must be at a loss. What's that? You're asking me why he is at a loss? I mean, just imagine a man dressed gorgeously, holding a pure gold bowl, and going to the streets to beg…”  Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.

Twain dynamically fired the first shot in the psychological warfare against Chelsea in the media. Rijkaard, who was familiar with what Twain was like, ignored him. Seeing that the other party did not respond, Twain fired a second shot in the media.

”Even though the team is going to officially move into the new stadium next season, I prefer the old stadium. Why is that? Because it's small enough to allow the fans' voices to reach the players on the pitch, which naturally also brings great psychological pressure to the visiting team. We have four more home games at the City Ground Stadium. I hope we can bid farewell to the City Ground Stadium with four wins and one championship trophy.”

Rijkaard still did not voice any comment.

”I don't mind making this game into a rugby match, permitting the extent of the rules. I'll ask the team to try to put pressure on the opposing players as much as possible. Won't that be rough? No, no, no. I don't think so. It's just normal tactics…”

That was the third shot.

Twain was such a loathsome person. He was always trying to hover in front of his opponents to provoke and annoy them. He would win once they were really provoked.

Before the game, Twain talked about the tactics he would use against Chelsea. He wasn't afraid that it would prepare the other person in advance. He knew Rijkaard's character, so he wasn't worried, even if he let him know it. Rijkaard would stick to his style of football at the City Ground Stadium, and Twain would stick to his style.

As the saying went, there's a rock to every scissor. Tony Twain was Rijkaard's natural enemy.

A raucous City Ground Stadium and a fierce Premier League game was under way.

”Forest! Forest! Nottingham Forest! Ra ra ra ra ra. We triumph in every battle and win every fight! We are the best team in the world! Ra ra ra ra ra…”

The Forest fans in red jerseys cheered their team in the stands at the City Ground Stadium, which could hold up to thirty thousand people. The score displayed on the scoreboard was 0:0. Nottingham Forest and Chelsea were tied for the time being. Twain stood on the sidelines, watching every detail of the game closely and nervously.