Anelka's goal caused both managers to smash their fists on the sidelines. It was just that the Nottingham Forest manager, Tony Twain, was smashing his fists excitedly, while the Villarreal manager, Pellegrini, was furious.
With 15 minutes left in the game, Nottingham Forest had a two-goal lead at home. The game could basically be declared won.
Villarreal had just adjusted their tactics and prepared to defend when they were scored a goal. It was a heavy blow to their morale. Even if they wanted to pull back a goal, they might not have the chance.
The other person who was angry about the goal concede was Riquelme. Even though he rarely showed his expression directly on his face, anyone could see the unwillingness on his wooden face.
If the manager had insisted on attacking, perhaps they would have equalized the game before the Forest team scored the second goal. The situation on the field would have been different then.
Now, they had given up on attacking and the right to fight for victory. Retribution came quickly.
The game had ended early.
※ ※ ※
When the referee blew the final whistle, the score displayed on the electronic scoreboard made the Forest fans jump in joy. 2: 0! A brilliant home victory.
This was the first Champions League victory in the City Ground stadium after 24 years, laying a solid foundation for the Forest team to enter the Champions League proper.
Pellegrini thought in the post-match press conference that the Forest team had performed better than his team and that it was only natural for them to win.
The Chilean hurriedly left with his team, while the Forest team stayed in the square outside the stadium to receive the cheers of all the fans. Twenty-seven thousand people gathered outside the City Ground stadium. They blocked the Forest team's bus and sang the Forest team's song over and over again.
The world is in our hands, the world is in our control …
Looking at the red sky and the ground outside the bus, it felt as if the Forest team had returned with the Champions League trophy. But this was only a victory in the qualifiers …
The Nottingham Forest people had longed for the Champions League for too long. In many people's hearts, perhaps they had forgotten that the team they supported was once a strong team that participated in the Champions League, a strong team that had won the trophy twice in a row. Now, Twain had made them feel it again, or rather, for the first time.
They did not have to stay in front of the television to watch other teams' Champions League performances. They could look forward to their own team's Champions League and talk about their team's performance in the just-concluded Champions League game. They could go to the scene and go to the City Ground stadium to watch the Champions League game and cheer for their team.
Thinking further, they could follow in the footsteps of their own teams, set foot on the European continent, and go to the stadiums of those powerhouse teams to show off their prowess.
Maybe we can step into the UEFA Champions League finals again?
Who said it was impossible? When Nottingham Forest had just been promoted from the Second Division to the First Division, who would have thought that Brian Clough could lead the Forest team to the UEFA Champions League title a year later and defend the Champions League title two years later?
Everything was done by humans. Just two years ago, when the Forest team was struggling in the bottom four of the English Football League Championship, who would have thought that they could beat Villarreal at home in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers today?
David Kerslake was like a child, leaning against the car window and looking at the sea of red outside with a happy smile on his face. It was the first time he had seen such a scene since he joined the Nottingham Forest Football Club.
"Not bad, right? There will be more scenes like this in the future. "Twain, who was sitting next to him, chuckled.
※ ※ ※
The next day, the media in Nottingham was occupied by yesterday's game. The newspapers, television stations, radio stations, streets and alleys were all talking about the game.
Nicklas Bendtner, who scored the goal, soared in popularity. Even Anelka received the support and acceptance of the fans. Nothing flattered the fans more than scoring in the game that they thought was the most important.
Of course, the fans were still discussing the game in high spirits. But after winning such a wonderful game, the Forest players did not even get half a day's rest. It was not because the manager, Tony Twain, was ruthless, but because the curtains of the new English Premier League season had slowly begun.
The English Premier League started the earliest and ended the latest among the five major leagues in Europe. It had the most intense competition schedule and did not have a winter break. In Twain's words, it was "inhumane and tragic. It was a double torture to the players' bodies and minds. Other people had family reunions at Christmas or went on vacation and were happy. But the English Premier League players had to play two or three games a week like they were rushing to the field. In the cold winter, the chances of injury were greatly increased."
On August 10th, Nottingham Forest won the first leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers against Villarreal, giving the 05-06 season a good start. From the club's top management to the players and ordinary fans, they could welcome the first round of the English Premier League three days later with a relaxed and happy mood.
On August 13th, the 05-06 English Premier League season kicked off. Last season's league champion, Chelsea, challenged the newly promoted Sunderland in an away game. On the other hand, Nottingham Forest would welcome another newly promoted team at home, Wigan Athletic, who had previously been called "the second Nottingham Forest" by the media.
This nickname was given to Wigan Athletic by the media when they were in the English Football League Championship. This was because the team's style and some characteristics were very similar to the Forest team's. For example, they were particular about pressing the entire game, quick assaults on the two flanks, unyielding drive, and a simple and unpretentious style of play like a blue-collar worker. It made people vaguely think of the Nottingham Forest team that had successfully rushed into the English Football League Championship in half a season.
After Twain learned of this, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. Of course, he knew how deep an impression Wigan Athletic had left on people in their first English Premier League season. If the media knew about the future, they would certainly be proud of the nickname they had given in advance. In fact, Wigan Athletic's first English Premier League season was as eye-catching as the Forest team's last season. It was just that their final ranking was not as high.
From this perspective, it was not wrong to be called "the second Nottingham Forest."
What Twain did not know whether to laugh or cry was that he had become a role model for others.
In the interview before the game, Wigan Athletic was very low-key. Their manager, Paul Jewell, admitted that he had learned a lot from Tony Twain for his team to be able to be promoted to the English Premier League. Twain's Forest team had given him a lot of inspiration.
This further solidified the title of "the second Nottingham Forest."
In the end, Jewell also said, "… Of course, we all remember the outstanding performance of the newly promoted Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League last season. They left a deep impression. I think Manager Tony Twain is the best of the English managers … No, I'm not flattering … Wigan Athletic's goal this season is to avoid relegation, but I hope that the team can still be called 'the second Nottingham Forest' by the end of the league season. But this time, it's not because of their playing style, but because of their results."
Hearing these words, Twain felt that it was quite mysterious. He, who had transmigrated, had actually become a role model for managers who existed in reality in this world.
So, he wanted to laugh. It was not a laugh of pride, but of absurdity. But he could not laugh, because the matter itself was not funny.
※ ※ ※
The era of Sky Radio's Premier League broadcast monopoly was coming to an end. Europe had recently forced Sky TV to allocate a portion of their Premier League broadcast rights to the BBC public television channel and other television stations. This season's Premier League served as a trial period for the new broadcast rights purchase method. The BBC and ITV had both obtained a portion of the Premier League's broadcast rights.
Although this would cause most of the small clubs to suffer financial losses, for the Forest fans, they were happy that the commentator, John Motson, who had always supported the Forest team, was back.
Nottingham Forest's home game against Wigan Athletic was the first Premier League game to be broadcast live by the BBC television station. Naturally, it was also commentated by their ace commentators, John Motson and Alan Hansen.
However, twenty minutes into the game, Motson did not say a few good words about the Forest team, which he had not seen for a long time.
"Now, I really want to replay what Manager Paul Jewell said in an interview before the game." Motson's style was to not be stingy with his praise, and his tone of criticism was unbearably acerbic. "The Forest fans must be starting to wonder what Jewell's motive was for saying that. I think it's more likely to confuse the Forest team. Does Manager Tony Twain feel angry at this time? "
Alan Hansen, who was next to him, interrupted and asked, "Why would he feel angry?"
"Because he was fooled!" Motson burst into laughter. He knew Twain, which was why he said that. Twain must feel like he had been deceived. With Twain's character, it was impossible for him not to be angry.
At this moment, Tony Twain, who was sitting in the manager's seat, was indeed angry, but more so not because of Jewell's words, but because of his team's poor performance.
The contrast was too great!
Three days ago, in the same stadium, the Forest team had cleanly taken down Villarreal. The scene after that victory was still in the memory of the Forest players and fans.
And three days later, in this game. The Forest team was now helpless in the face of Wigan Athletic's iron bucket formation and quick counterattack.
Looking at the messy situation on the field, Twain had to shake his head every once in a while.
(To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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