The two stopped in front of a tombstone that had been eroded by wind and rain to the point where the inscription on it could no longer be seen. It was just an ordinary tombstone. As far as the eye could see, there were countless similar tombstones in the cemetery. They stood there quietly.
But this one was very special because of its lack of care. The white tombstone had been turned black and gray. It was dilapidated.
"This is' my 'father."
Dunn said as he stood in front of the tombstone.
Tang En squatted down and reached out to pick at the black spots on it. He thought it was just an ordinary stain. He did not expect it to be a mark that had seeped into the stone. It was impossible to remove it.
"I haven't been here since the funeral."
"How long?"
"Ten years."
Tang En looked up at Dunn. This world was indeed long enough. The British concept of family was not quite the same as that of China. Children would leave their parents after they grew up and had their own families. They did not often contact each other. But wasn't it too much to not come back for a visit after ten years of his father's death?
Dunn knew what Tang En was thinking. He said, "He's my father because he and my mother gave birth to me together."
"Do you hate your father?"
"No." Dunn shook his head. "It's hatred."
Tang En was speechless. It seemed that in Dunn's ten years ago, many things had happened that he desperately wanted to forget but could not in the end.
"He died because of drinking and smoking. Before he died, he was diagnosed with three diseases, each of which alone could have killed him."
"Where's your mother?"
"Ran away. A long time ago. So long that I can't remember the specific time."
"You never contacted her again?"
Hearing Tang En's question, Dunn suddenly laughed. "She couldn't wait to break off all relations with this family. Even this family had never appeared in her life. Her alcoholic husband and incompetent and cowardly son were all her nightmares. How could she have taken the initiative to contact me? Maybe she died a long time ago and was buried in some public cemetery somewhere. I think it was a big mistake for the three of us to get together. "
Tang En was stunned. He really did not know that "his" life was so complicated. It looked worse than George Wood.
He stood up again.
"I think I know why you're willing to be a 'China Dunn.'"
"I'm sorry for robbing your family …" Dunn bowed his head and apologized.
Tang En hugged him. "In the past, I never thought that having an ordinary family of three was a big deal. Now, I still don't think it's a big deal. But looking at you, I feel that having one before is a blessing. You're going back to China this summer, aren't you?"
"Yes, I told them it was' home leave '."
"Send my regards to the two elders … Hmm, no." Tang En suddenly changed his mind. "When are you leaving?"
"I'm not sure yet, but it will definitely be at the end of the season."
Tang En raised his head and thought about it. He was considering Shania's summer vacation arrangements. Right now, he couldn't call the little lass to ask her about her summer vacation plans, but … she would probably be very busy, right? After all, she was no longer a student.
"Come on, Don. Don't be in a hurry to go back after the season ends. Accompany me to Germany. "
"Germany? World Cup? "
Twain nodded. "We're going to watch a complete World Cup and see if there's anything to take advantage of. Then … I'll go back to China with you. "
Dunn was a little surprised. "You're going back too?"
"Yes. Do you still remember when I met you in Chengdu? That time, I tried to go back to my hometown to visit the two elders, but only in secret. Because I didn't know how to explain to them that a foreigner suddenly went to see them. Now that I'm your friend, I can openly step into that house and see … our parents. "
"Good … good idea."
"Let's go. Let's go back." Tang En turned and walked out of the cemetery.
Dunn turned back to look at the tombstone, then turned to catch up with Tang En.
"Hey, Dunn … in the past, I mean before we exchanged, did you ever fall in love? Did you like any girl? "
"No."
"Your life is so boring …"
※ ※ ※
Tang En found out what "Tony Twain" was like in the past, his family, and his past. Then, he felt the distance between him and Dunn was pulled closer again.
He was already considering transferring Dunn to the First Team's coaching staff for the next season. The kid had already proven his ability in the youth team. In just two short seasons, he had gone from an ordinary youth team manager to an assistant manager of the youth team. Everyone in the team knew that Dunn, who came from China, had real talent and knowledge. At this time, he would no longer encounter any obstacles in trying to convince Evan.
After the matter was settled, Tang En put it aside for the time being. He fully focused on preparing for the final stage of the season.
On April 15th, the Forest team welcomed Tottenham at home. They had to win this game because Manchester United was hot on their heels.
The performance of the Forest players did not disappoint Tang En. They beat Tottenham Hotspur 1: 0 on their home ground.
At the same time, Manchester United tied 0: 0 with Sunderland in their away game. The difference between the two teams widened to four points.
On April 17th, in the 35th round of the league tournament, Nottingham Forest beat Birmingham City 2: 1 at home. The two consecutive wins at crucial moments bought Tang En time.
Although Manchester United also won this round of the league tournament, the four-point lead allowed him to prepare for the Champions League semi-finals with peace of mind.
At the same time, as he prepared for the semi-final against Arsenal, Tang En had a strange feeling that this was not the Champions League semi-final, but just an ordinary league match.
Why did he have such a feeling? Because the two teams were too familiar with each other. They both came from the same league tournament and often played against each other. Tang En and Wenger also had some personal ties.
The semi-final against Arsenal was far from the excitement he had before the match against Inter Milan. He thought that perhaps it would be better if the opponent was Barcelona or AC Milan.
Speaking of Arsenal, Tang En suddenly thought of another matter that he had not taken to heart before. However, when the two teams were about to meet in the Champions League semi-finals, he had to re-examine it.
He went to look at Arsenal's results in this season's Champions League.
Since entering the top 16, Arsenal had continuously scored big points.
In the round of 16 against Real Madrid, the total score of the two rounds was 4: 2.
In the quarterfinals against Juventus, the total score of the two rounds was 3: 2.
Looking at the set of data, Tang En frowned.
This was different from what he remembered.
He remembered that Arsenal's success in breaking into the Champions League final this season had something to do with Wenger's decision to focus on defense. After Arsenal entered the top 16, they entered the final without conceding a single goal. That was the best proof. At the same time, Arsenal's offensive firepower had weakened while focusing on defense. That was the price to pay for focusing on defense.
In the past, Tang En even joked that Wenger had become enlightened and knew that defense was the most important thing to do in order to win the championship in a big competition.
But what was going on now? Arsenal did not change their usual style. Wenger stuck to offensive football as usual in the Champions League. They used their quick-flowing attacks and exquisite coordination to defeat Real Madrid and Juventus.
It was clear that the difference between the time that Tang En was in and the time that he knew was getting bigger and bigger. Arsenal did not rely on defense to make it to the semi-finals. Their attacks were still gorgeous and sharp.
Looking at the highlights of Arsenal's matches on the television screen, looking at that familiar attacking routine and style, Tang En was sure that the team on the screen was indeed Arsenal. There was no doubt about it.
To be honest, Tang En liked this kind of Arsenal because it was open. As an opponent, playing against an open opponent would give him more opportunities to find the opponent's weaknesses and loopholes in defense and then exploit them. A football match was a game of looking for the opponent's weaknesses and desperately trying to cover up one's own.
If Arsenal was really different from what he remembered, and they still stuck to this open style of play in the semi-finals, then …
Another thought popped up in Tang En's mind.
"Dunn."
"Hmm?"
"Do you have any videos of Arsenal's recent rounds of matches?"
Dunn got up from the floor and walked to a row of bookcases. Although it was a bookcase, there were neatly arranged rows of videotapes and discs on it.
He stood in front of the shelf labeled "Arsenal" and asked, "How many rounds exactly?"
"From the start of the 33rd round until now."
Dunn took out the three videotapes that Tang En needed and handed them to him.
"Thank you. Can you help me put them in?" Tang En pointed to the video recorder.
When the videos of Arsenal's recent three rounds of matches appeared on the television screen, Tang En and Dunn both stared at the screen, neither saying a word.
After watching the three matches in fast forward, Tang En was stunned for a while.
"This is completely different from what I saw in the highlights of the UEFA Champions League … Defensive counterattack, defensive counterattack, defensive counterattack … Seeing Arsenal like this really surprises me."
Arsenal had won all three rounds of the League, and without exception, all of them were small 1: 0 victories.
Arsenal did not have the upper hand on the field. Instead, they were suppressed by their opponents for most of the time. They also did not have the upper hand in terms of ball possession. The typical "Arsenal style" of the past could not be seen anymore, or rather, it was cleverly hidden by Wenger. Henrys and the others were as efficient as ever. The few opportunities were all seized by them, and they ended the three rounds of matches …
"Do you know what I'm thinking of?" Dunn suddenly asked.
Tang En nodded and pointed to the screen. "Of course I know. This is Nottingham Forest."
"Wenger spent more time studying you than you did studying him."
Tang En bit his lip.
※ ※ ※
While Wenger was still busy in his office, his assistant, Patrice, walked in.
"It's unbelievable. During this period of time, I thought I was back in the mid-90s of the last century. I'm a little worried, Arthur. "
"Don't worry, Pat." Wenger put down what he was doing, took off his glasses, and put them on the table. "I'm not George Graham, and the Arsenal of today is not the Arsenal of the past."
George Graham was a Scotsman. He had once brought Arsenal brilliant results and built a true "iron army." However, he was also the manager that countless Arsenal fans hated, because his "1: 0 doctrine" and boring football made his supporters tired of it. Although Arsenal's tradition was to be tough and never compromise, this tradition, which had been adhered to for nearly a hundred years, had also gone to the other extreme. People began to get tired of that Arsenal team. They did not play well and treated the football game as a military mission.
Until the appearance of this Frenchman.
"Arthur, we all like the current Arsenal team."
"I like it too, Pat. But sometimes we need to make some changes … Of course, it's only temporary. Pat, you know what kind of situation we are facing this season. In the final stages of the League, we need to compete with Tottenham and Liverpool for the last Champions League spot. At the same time, we have reached the Champions League semifinals. Do you want to end up empty-handed? "Wenger spread his hands.
"No, I don't."
"I don't want to either. No one wants to … "
"But, Arthur, we have adhered to our own style and reached the semifinals. I don't think we need to start changing to another style two weeks ago."
"The lads have done well." Wenger did not answer the question. "The speed at which they adapted to the new tactics surprised me and made me proud …"
"Don't change the subject, Arthur."
Wenger shrugged and pointed to the computer screen. "Come, Pat, take a look."
Lys turned around and found a Word document on the screen. In addition to large paragraphs of text, there was a picture of Tony Twain.
"Oh, no … You are still studying him? Are you in love with him, Arthur? It's only two semifinals … "Lys covered his face.
When Wenger first came to London, he was very low-key and lived like a hermit. He was even publicized as a "homosexual" by the English media. The impact of that incident on Wenger was that he never accepted any interviews from the media and completely hid his private life.
"If it's only two games, of course it's not worth so much effort. But Les, the battle between us is not something that can be resolved in two games. I have to fully understand this person in order to understand the team behind him. In this season, and every season in the future … we will continue to play against each other. There's a saying in the East that makes sense. If you want to defeat your opponent, you must first fully understand him (Know yourself and know your enemy, the undefeated version of Wenger). "
"He said …" Wenger pointed to the picture on the screen and said, "He doesn't care what method he uses. It doesn't matter to him whether he plays well or ugly. He only cares about one thing, and that is to win. Tell me, Pat, what did you think of? "
Lys froze for a moment and then said, "George, George Graham."
"Look at their performance this season, especially in the Champions League. The quarterfinals against Inter Milan is the most typical. They retreated on all fronts, compressed every inch of space and every second of time in the backfield, and put the opponent and themselves in a highly tense atmosphere. The game was suffocating and ugly … but they won. "Wenger spoke with assurance. "Twain likes to play against teams that take the initiative to attack. He likes to wait quietly, patiently looking for the opponent's loopholes and mistakes, and then … seize them!" Wenger stabbed his hand forward, startling Patrice in front of him.
"If we attack in large numbers, he will be very happy. I believe he must be very familiar with Arsenal's style. He must have drawn up a set of tactics to deal with our style, just like how he dealt with Chelsea, against Inter Milan, against Manchester United, against Liverpool, against Real Madrid … So, we can't go according to his expectations. We have to exceed his expectations … "
"But, Arthur. We've already used this set of tactics to win three boring games. Do you think that guy Twain can't guess? "
"Then let him try to deal with his most common set of tactics." Wenger shrugged.
Patrice was stunned for a moment. He had to admit that Wenger was right. Tony Twain was that kind of guy. "All right, Arthur. Our ranking in the league this season is terrible. I hope to be able to get compensation on another field. It's not enough to make it to the top four. We also need to make it to the finals and lift the championship trophy! "
Wenger smiled. "When I read Twain's words to you just now, you said you thought of George Graham, the manager who would do anything for results. But I have to correct you. Twain is different from Graham. He insists on results, but his football is not as boring as Graham's. He absorbs a lot of things in it and knows when to be flexible. I think, if we want to achieve a historic breakthrough, we also need to be flexible and absorb things that are beneficial to us. "
"I understand, Arthur. Then, I'll leave first. "
"Goodbye, Pat." Seeing his assistant manager leave his office, Wenger put on his glasses again and stared at Twain's photo on the LCD screen.
※ ※ ※
At the same time, Twain was still having a headache.
"Wenger, that old fox!"
(To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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