On Monday, December 7th, the players who had just finished a day off after the game returned to training. Most of them looked absent-minded. Because the team had just undergone an important personnel change that was enough to affect their future.
The players changed their clothes in the locker room as they discussed their new manager. For some people, it was not a "new" manager.
Some people were excited, some people were depressed, and some people were terrified …
Sergei Rebrov was bare-chested and sat on the bench with his back against the wall. He did not know whether he should feel depressed or terrified.
It was ironic that the manager who trusted him was always dismissed, which was exactly the same as his situation at Tottenham.
At the time, he was brought to North London from Dynamo Kyiv by the Tottenham Hotspur manager, Graham. The club and the manager had high hopes for him. 11 million pounds was a good indication of how high the expectations were. But? It didn't take long for Graham to be dismissed because of the team's poor performance. Rebrov's own performance was also unsatisfactory. When the new manager, Hodder, brought in six new players in one go, Rebrov knew his days at White Hart Lane were over.
Tottenham Hotspur wanted to sell him at one point. He formed a fantastic forward line with Shevchenko in the UEFA Champions League, but now no one was interested. Later, he was briefly loaned to Turkey's Fenerbahçe team. He still did not perform well and only scored one goal in half a season.
During this period, he not only lost his position at the club, but also lost his position in the Ukrainian national team.
This summer, Shevchenko had just picked up the UEFA Champions League with AC Milan. He was welcomed as a hero when he returned home for a holiday. When he appeared in front of the Ukrainian people with the UEFA Champions League trophy, the square erupted in huge cheers, as if it was not the UEFA Champions League in his hands, but the World Cup.
And him? He had fallen to the point where no one wanted him!
Why did the partners who became famous together end up so differently?
In the rainy winter in London, he could not see through the thick dark clouds overhead. Was it the same under the skies of Nottingham now?
Was he really not used to English football? Could it be that his decision to leave the country was a mistake? Could it be … Why could Andrei (Shevchenko) succeed in Italy, but not me as his partner?
In fact, in the current team, Rebrov's situation was not very good. As the most expensive and famous star player in the team, he received the highest weekly salary but did not contribute to the team at all. But others couldn't say that the Ukrainians didn't try their best. He was definitely the one who was conscientious in training and never put on the airs of a "Premier League striker". No one saw him slacking off. Sometimes, he performed well in training, but when he was on the field, he couldn't find where the goal was …
This was really hard to understand.
Another person who looked preoccupied was the team's young captain, Michael Dawson. But his reasons were different from Rebrov's. He stood in the middle of the locker room and looked at his noisy teammates, his mind wandering.
Why did the boss come back?
Veteran Ian Jess stood up and frowned at Dawson who was still in a daze. Michael, this is not okay. You're the captain, you can't have the slightest hesitation.
He walked over and touched Dawson, whispering his name, "Michael, Michael."
"Ah?" Dawson came back to his senses and looked at Jess with some confusion.
Jess sighed in his heart and then said to him, "Tell everyone to go out. It's only so long to change. If the boss knows, he'll definitely be angry."
"Oh, yes … Yes, the boss hates things like being late for training the most." Dawson nodded and murmured.
When Tang En led the team last season, he would arrive at the training ground earlier than the team every day. Although he did not care much about the concept of time in his daily life, he was not sloppy at all in his work. If training started at nine o 'clock, then running out of the locker room at nine o' clock and ten seconds would be a penalty of running laps.
Actually, Tang En had learned this from his high school class teacher. When the preparation bell rang, the strict teacher would stand outside the door with a watch to catch the students who were late. He thought this was a good move, so he used it.
Dawson looked around the locker room. The coaches were not there, so he, as the captain, should take responsibility at this time. So he clapped his hands and said loudly, "Okay, everyone! Change your clothes, we're going out for training! "
Not everyone listened to him. When the others got up and went out, Gareth Taylor sat on the bench, not even taking off his clothes.
Collymore was indifferent to the team's discipline, so he naturally cultivated the players' free and undisciplined habits. Taylor was a newcomer who had just transferred to Forest this season. He had scored ten goals in less than half a season and was the top striker in Forest's forward line. It was somewhat ostentatious.
Dawson really wanted to go up and grab this person who did not care and push him out. But Jess, who was next to him, pulled him back and shook his head.
Dawson and Jess helplessly glared at Taylor and ran out.
A light drizzle floated in the gloomy sky. It was not heavy, but it was cold enough.
Tang En and Walker stood at the entrance of the passageway from the locker room to the training ground. It was already eight fifty-nine. They did not hold an umbrella, nor did they wear raincoats or pullovers. They just stood there, letting the cold winter rain gradually wet their hair and clothes, then along their necks and into their bodies.
And as they waited, they still did not see anyone run out.
Seeing this embarrassing scene, Walker said to Tang En with a little guilt, "Collymore … never cared about things like team discipline …"
Tang En nodded. "I understand. I don't expect a manager who often doesn't come to the training ground to bring out a group of players who abide by discipline and have a sense of time. It's just that … it's a little unexpected that no one from the team came out. "He looked down at his watch. It was nine o 'clock sharp.
"Start the time, Des."
Walker nodded and started the stopwatch.
When the number jumped to forty-seven, someone finally ran out. It was Andy Reid.
"Boss!" Reid was a little excited to see Tang En's face that he had not seen in a long time. "Long time no see!"
Tang En smiled and nodded. "That's right, Andy. Long time no see. You look stronger than you did before. "
Reid scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"Where are the others?" Tang En asked.
"Oh, they're still inside, right? Michael's rushing them …" Speaking up to this point, Reid suddenly remembered that Tang En hated being late for training, so he abruptly stopped talking.
Tang En looked at him and chuckled. "Andy, you're late by forty-seven seconds. You know what to do, right? "
"Uh … I-I'm going to run laps." Reid turned to run, but was stopped by Tang En.
"Don't rush. You're not the only one today. Go wait on the field. "
Reid's throat twitched. He knew that everyone was going to be out of luck today, so he obediently retreated to the side. But why was there still some anticipation in his heart? It was as if he was looking forward to a good show.
Following that, more people came out from inside. Most of them came up to greet Tang En happily when they saw him waiting for them by the side of the field. Tang En also smiled in return and did not mention the topic of being late to run laps.
Seeing Tang En's behavior, Reid became even more excited. He completely forgot that he was also on the list of people to be punished. He crossed his arms and happily watched the show from the side, counting how many people had come out and how many unlucky ones were still inside.
Michael Dawson and Jess appeared together in front of Tang En. Seeing the manager, his expression was slightly unnatural. It was Tang En who took the initiative to greet him. "Michael!"
"Boss …"
"You don't look very energetic. What happened? Did your girlfriend kick you out of bed? "After he finished speaking, Walker and Dawson both laughed.
"Without Boss, she wouldn't dare to kick me."
"Well, that's good. If I lose a center back because of your argument with her in bed, I really don't know how to explain it to the reporters. Haha! Go on. "He patted Dawson's shoulder." Oh, right. How many people are still in the locker room? "
"One, Boss."
Tang En nodded.
Dawson ran up to Reid and found him looking at the entrance of the tunnel and smiling foolishly.
"Hey, Andy, what are you doing?" he asked, puzzled.
"Ah, it's Michael!" Reid laughed and pulled him to stand beside him so that he would not block his view. "That dawdling Taylor is still in the locker room, right?"
Dawson nodded. "He hasn't changed yet."
Reid laughed even more happily. "Great! I've long disliked him. Just wait for the show, Michael! "
"Yes." Dawson understood what Reid meant and what Tang En planned to do. He also waited expectantly for Gareth Taylor to come out from inside.
The players stood in twos and threes on the training ground, while the coaches were outside. The new manager, Tony Twain, and his assistant, Des Walker, stood at the entrance of the tunnel, facing the direction of the locker room.
Rebrov was a little puzzled. Why didn't they start training? Wasn't everyone here? What were they waiting for?
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