Nottingham Forest brought back a goal from the away game. For the second leg of the game, the Forest team already had the psychological upper hand.
Of course, Tang En still had an impression of this season. In his memory, in the end, Arsenal had relied on defensive counterattacks to eliminate Villarreal CF with a total score of 1: 0 over two rounds, and then advanced into the Champions League finals. This was the first time in their club's history that it had happened.
However, for the sake of their own interests, they had to cruelly erase the most glorious Champions League result in the history of Arsenal Football Club.
Nottingham Forest will definitely be in the finals!
However, there was one more thing that Tang En needed to worry about before he entered the finals.
"Dunn, what are you responsible for in the youth team now?"
"Basic training."
Hearing this answer, Tang En snapped his fingers. "That's great. Why don't you come to my place tomorrow after training? "
"What is it?"
"I want you to help me train someone, from the very beginning, from the most basic part."
Dunn guessed who it was. "George Wood?"
"Yes, it's him."
"But …" Dunn recalled Wood's performance in the youth team. "His foundation has always been good."
"That depends on what kind of foundation he has. I want you to help me practice his shooting. Let's not talk about whether he can score or not. I hope that at least seven out of ten of his shots will hit within the goalpost. "
"Alright, but that's not a matter of a month or two …"
"It's fine. You're going to be transferred to the First Team next season anyway. Just take it as starting work in advance."
Dunn was a little surprised at Tang En's words. Tang En had not previously told him that he would be transferred to the First Team coaching unit so soon.
"Ah … I forgot to tell you." Tang En only remembered when he saw Dunn's expression. He scratched his head. "I've decided to transfer you to the First Team's coaching staff next season to help me. We don't have enough people. The team is expanding day by day. I need more coaches. What's wrong? "Tang En asked, seeing that Dunn did not give any indication.
"I didn't expect … that's all."
"What's there not to think of? Why did I look for you in Chengdu? Wasn't it to get you to come here and partner with me? There's no one else in the world who can work well with me. It's only you, Dunn. "
Dunn looked up at Tang En. "Do you really think so?"
Tang En nodded without hesitation.
"Alright."
Seeing Dunn nod, Tang En smiled.
"You really care about Wood."
"I have fate with him …"
※ ※ ※
After the second day of training, Twain asked Wood to stay behind.
The players laughed as they walked past Wood in groups of three or four. Some of them even winked at him. Everyone knew that Twain must have asked Wood to stay for extra training. This was not a "spare time activity" that everyone liked.
Wood stood where he was and watched as his teammates walked past him. There was not the slightest bit of displeasure on his face. Extra training was a good "leisure activity" for him.
After everyone had left, Tang En brought Dunn to the stadium.
"You guys already know each other, so I won't introduce you."
Wood did not expect that the person who came to train him was not Tang En, but Dunn. He was stunned for a moment.
"What? It's only been half a month and you don't know me anymore? "Tang En joked with Wood.
"No … what should we practice?" Wood shook his head.
"En. Practice shooting. "Tang En said the training program. Wood was stunned again.
"George, do you know why your shot could hit within the range of the goalpost in the match against Arsenal?" Tang En asked.
Wood thought back carefully. He could not remember the feeling when he shot. He only knew that he was happy. Other than that, there was nothing else.
Tang En shrugged and turned to look at Dunn.
"You still don't know why you can shoot the football within the range of the goalpost, George," Dunn said. "Take another shot." He kicked the football over and pointed to the goal in front of him.
Wood stopped the football and took a few steps back. Then he sprinted and ran, swung his thighs, and with one … volley!
Tang En and Dunn looked up at the football flying into the sky. Tang En did not forget to whistle.
"Well, I firmly believe that his shot in the last match was pure luck." Tang En patted Dunn on the shoulder. "You do as you see fit."
Dunn walked up and pulled Wood back. "George, you don't have to use all your strength to shoot. Also, why are your toes pointing up? Do you remember how you practiced shooting in the youth team? "
Wood shook his head. "I didn't practice shooting in the youth team …"
Tang En explained to Dunn. "When he first came, he said he wanted to play as a forward, so I put him in the front line. The coaches also trained him like how they trained a forward. But they soon discovered that he was not cut out to play as a forward. I changed him to a defensive midfielder, and they never let him come into contact with shooting training again. "
After listening to Tang En's explanation, Dunn shook his head helplessly. "The youth team manager at the time was David Kerslake?"
Tang En nodded.
Dunn did not say anything. He turned to look at Wood. "Let's start from the beginning. George, this training is long and boring. There are no shortcuts. Are you sure you want to practice? "
Wood turned to look at Tang En standing to the side and said to Dunn, "Demetrio hopes that I can become a player like him."
Without waiting for Dunn to speak, Tang En spoke first. "Let's first put aside other people's expectations. George, what do you hope for? Do you want to continue in the position of a midfield engineer, or … make some changes? I won't force you to do something you don't like. In fact, a simple midfield engineer is also very important to the team. It's amazing to be able to perform to the extreme in this aspect. "
Wood lowered his head and thought for a moment. Then he looked up and said, "I think … I like the feeling of shooting and participating in the offense."
Tang En sighed. This was probably Wood's true thoughts.
"Alright. From today onwards, you will practice shooting with Dunn for half an hour every day after training ends. We will also train you in other offensive aspects during normal training. "
Wood nodded to indicate his acceptance of this arrangement.
"Let's start, Dunn." Tang En patted Dunn on the shoulder and retreated. He basically could not interfere in this kind of training. He was not good at such detailed training. In the First Team, this was the responsibility of the coaching staff. However, he could take the opportunity to observe Dunn's training up close. He also had a more intuitive understanding before being transferred to the First Team. After all, this was the first time he had watched Dunn train a player up close.
Wood was very cooperative with Dunn. He was no longer as stubborn as when he first arrived. Dunn was also very patient. He was more patient than the average person. No matter how ridiculous Wood's shots were, he did not show any signs of impatience. He repeatedly explained to Wood the key points to pay attention to when shooting. Then, he broke down the simplest and most basic shooting action and demonstrated it to Wood bit by bit. He repeated this over and over until the sun set in the west.
"It's OK! It's past the time! "Tang En raised his finger and pointed to his watch. He did not even notice the time. He was only focused on watching the training. In reality, the training process was very boring and monotonous. However, Tang En watched with rapt attention.
Under the setting sun, George Wood, who was soaked in sweat, simply took off his shirt and shot the ball at the goal again and again with his bare arms. He repeated the simplest action. The whistle from Dunn's mouth rang out again and again. The only thing that did not ring out was a loud scolding.
Tang En knew that he could not do this. He was not a very patient person. Seeing Wood like this, he probably would have long cursed him out. Why are you so f * cking stupid! This was the simplest and most basic action. It could not be any simpler, and it could not be any more basic!
But Dunn did not. There was not even the slightest fluctuation of emotion in his voice. There was no disappointment or joy.
Hearing Tang En's shout, Dunn stopped training. He very calmly said to the panting Wood, "Continue tomorrow, George."
"Al … okay." Wood answered, panting heavily.
"Go back, George. Say hello to your mother for me. "Tang En and Dunn said goodbye to Wood at the gate and walked in different directions.
"This is the first time I've seen Wood panting heavily after training. I don't think the training load is big … "Tang En asked Dunn on the way home.
"If you keep doing the same action over and over again, it will make people feel very tired."
"There's really only one action?"
Dunn nodded.
"That's right. Train that kid well. Strive to train him until he falls down every day! Oh, right. Do you feel that he has talent in that area? "
Dunn shook his head. "Not so far."
"Hmm …" Tang En muttered to himself for a while. "Take it slow. There's still a year."
"A year? Oh, Albertini. "
"I have to prepare for both eventualities …"
The two walked away side by side.
※ ※ ※
Wood's training plan was carried out every day, rain or shine. It was not that Tang En had the intention of turning Wood into a monster of muscles. He really did not have much time. Albertini should retire by this time next season. If Wood did not have any results by then, and his performance on the field was still as shaky as the previous two games, Tang En would give up on the idea and focus on finding a replacement for Albertini in the summer transfer market.
But at that time, whether or not he could find a suitable person was another matter. Tang En did not think too much about it now. There was still about a year before that time.
As the game approached, the number of media gathered in Nottingham increased. Some wanted to see if Arsenal could make it to the Champions League final for the first time in history, while others wanted to see if the dark horse of this competition, Nottingham Forest, could be black to the end.
This was England's civil war, but it attracted the attention of media from other countries. The media from Catalonia and Western Naya hoped to see which team Barcelona's opponent in the final would be, while the media from Italy and Milan also wanted to know who AC Milan's opponent in the final would be.
Arsenal or Nottingham Forest?
They would know in three days.
※ ※ ※
In between the two Champions League games, the Forest team would be facing Manchester United at home. It was unfortunate to meet an opponent who was chasing after them at this juncture.
"It's very simple. There's nothing to be troubled about." Tang En faced the frowning Kerslake in his office and talked to the coaching staff about the upcoming work plan. "Give up on this game against Manchester United."
The members of the coaching staff all looked at him.
"Some of you must think that I've given up on the league, right?" No one answered. Even if they really thought so, they could not say it out loud.
Tang En smiled. "I'm very happy that we've met Manchester United at this time and not some other team. The reason is simple. For the sake of the Champions League, we can't do our best in this league game between the two semi-finals. That game is almost certain to be given up. If we're destined to lose, I think losing to Manchester United is better than losing to any other team. Now Manchester United is four points behind us. Even if they beat us, we're still one point ahead of them. " Tang En raised his index finger. "This point is very important. There are two rounds left in the league. Who are our opponents?" He looked at Kerslake.
As an assistant manager, this kind of question had to be answered. "Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Both are away games."
Hearing this answer, the coaches in the office laughed, and the atmosphere suddenly relaxed.
Middlesbrough was the team that Nottingham Forest was least worried about. The Forest team was very good at playing against Middlesbrough, while Middlesbrough seemed to have a psychological shadow against the Forest team. The other opponent, Sunderland, was even less of a threat. They had been relegated early and had only accumulated 12 points in 35 rounds of the league tournament. This result was appalling. The players were now not in the mood to continue fighting. They just wanted to end the season early and then go their separate ways.
Although these two games were away games, it was not difficult for the Forest team to win six points.
That was why Tang En said this. Since they would definitely be delayed in a game to prepare for the Champions League, then the delayed game would be against Manchester United. Instead, they only had to lose this game. They did not have to worry about capsizing in the gutter because they had no time to be distracted, and then being forced to fight to the death with Manchester United. That would be too disadvantageous.
Everyone knew Tang En's thoughts, so there was no doubt about this arrangement.
"We'll send substitutes for this league game. The main players will all rest. We'll fully prepare for the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. " Tang En stood up and pressed his hands on the desk. He looked at his colleagues and said word by word, "We must fight into the finals!"
※ ※ ※
Everything was within Tang En's plan. In the game against Manchester United, Nottingham Forest blatantly began to prepare for the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. They sent almost all of their substitutes, giving the majority of the main players a chance to rest.
Ferguson, on the other hand, sent out all of his main players. His plan to win the away game was very clear. He must have known that Tang En would definitely give up this game. Regardless of whether they could reverse the Forest team in the future, they must get the three points for this game.
Ninety minutes later, Ferguson and Tang En got what they wanted.
Manchester United got the three points they wanted in the away game, narrowing the points gap between them and Nottingham Forest to only one point. This one-point gap could make them look forward to a lot.
On the other hand, Tony Twain got the rest that he desperately needed at the cost of losing a match. At this moment, for the highest goal in the hearts of all club managers, he could no longer care about anything else.
After three days, would he be able to get what he really wanted?
(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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