It was not the world's most famous Epsom Derby, nor was it the world's most luxurious Royal Ascot. It was not even one of the five traditional races in Britain.
Even though it was a small horse race, nearly ten thousand spectators came to the venue on the day. It was enough to show the influence of horse racing in British society.
Ferguson's horse was not participating in the horse race. He came purely to take a break and relax. So, he did not choose a box, but watched the race from the stands.
Before the race, he made a small bet on a horse, but the amount was not high. Just as he said to Twain, "Gambling is for relaxation, money is secondary."
In the end, the horse he bet on won the championship, and he earned a small bonus.
"Do you like horse racing, Mr. Twain?" Ferguson led Twain through the lively venue to cash in the prize money.
"I don't know anything about it." Twain shook his head honestly.
"What a pity. I've been teaching for thirty-two years. It's tiring work. Horse racing is my only chance to relax. "Ferguson shrugged. "What do you do to relax?"
"Drink."
"Wine is good too." Ferguson nodded. "But, only red wine."
Ferguson looked very happy after cashing in on the money he won from the bet.
With his identity and status, this little bit of money should not matter to him. But he still showed Twain his "spoils of war" with a flushed face.
Ferguson may be called the "hairdryer" in the locker room, and he was cold and ruthless in the game, like a fierce and barbaric Tyrannosaurus rex. But off the field, he was actually a warm old man who was quite popular. He was quite popular in the English football coaching circle, not only because of Manchester United's good results, but also because of his personal charisma.
When Twain first met Ferguson at the English Football Managers Association's cocktail party, he was surrounded by a group of peers to listen to him speak. At that time, Twain thought it was nothing more than an act of flattery from peers to the winner and was very disdainful of it. But now he knew that perhaps it was more because Ferguson was a warm person.
"Four hundred pounds is not much money. It's a horse that everyone is optimistic about. I rarely bet my money on an unpopular horse. It's not easy to create an unpopular horse these days. "Ferguson looked at Twain and said meaningfully. "Let's go have a drink." He pointed to a small tavern in front.
After entering the tavern, the two of them found a table in the corner so that their conversation would not be interrupted.
There were a lot of people in the tavern. They were all talking about the horse race that had just ended. After football, horse racing is the most popular sport in Britain.
"How do you feel? Have you seen a completely different world from football? "Ferguson took a sip of the red wine in his glass, and his excited face looked as if he was slightly intoxicated.
Twain looked at the people around him and nodded.
"I have a question, Mr. Twain. Why did you suddenly think of treating me to a drink? "Ferguson put down his wine glass and looked at Tang En, who sat opposite him. "I remember that you are not a hospitable person."
"It was a whim." Twain lied without changing his expression.
"Then why didn't you invite Wenger? Doesn't that Frenchman already know you? When you were still a youth team manager. "
Everyone knew that Ferguson and Wenger did not get along. Twain was worried that repeatedly mentioning this person would make Ferguson's good mood disappear. He waved his hands. "I said, it's not English Premier League time now."
Ferguson laughed and said, "I think it's a coincidence. I just rejected Nottingham Forest's offer for van Nistelrooy, and you called me out for a drink. Is there no connection here? "
Since his intentions had been seen through, there was no need to continue the show. Twain shrugged helplessly. "Yes, there is a connection here, and a very big one at that. I very much hope that you can sell van Nistelrooy to Nottingham Forest. "
Ferguson looked at the serious Twain. "You're really strange, Mr. Twain. You specially came to treat the other team's manager to a drink for a player. You might be the first person to do so. Do you know Manchester United's tradition? "
"Of course. But I don't think we're competitors. "Twain smiled.
"Don't you blush when you lie, Mr. Twain? Whose team was it that prevented Manchester United from entering the top two in the league for the second time in 18 years last season? "Ferguson stared at Twain and asked. It sounded like he was questioning him.
"But last season's champion was Chelsea."
"If I sell van Nistelrooy to you, next season's champion might be you." Ferguson shook his head. "I insist that Nottingham Forest is gradually becoming a strong competitor that threatens Manchester United. The Red Devils do not have a tradition of selling players to their main competitors."
It should have been a good thing for Twain to be recognized and praised by his opponent. But at this time, he could not wait for Ferguson to look down on him.
"That's just a possibility." Twain felt that the old man was unexpectedly stubborn. He had no reason to convince the man in front of him to nod his head to van Nistelrooy's transfer. Moreover, he did not want to appear too weak in front of his opponent.
If it really did not work, he could only give up van Nistelrooy and pursue other strikers.
Berbatov had already been signed by Tottenham Hotspur. At that time, Twain was still immersed in the depression of losing to Barcelona in the Champions League final and did not have the leisure to pay attention to the transfer market. Before Anelka's problem, Twain had thought that Forest's forward line was strong enough and did not need to add any new players. But now, in order to restrain Anelka and to make him understand his own situation, he decided to make a move in the transfer market.
Van Nistelrooy was the most suitable candidate. It would be a pity to give him up for nothing.
But what else could he do now?
Twain drank the wine in his glass, but his mind was thinking of countermeasures.
It was not until he was awakened by Ferguson that he realized he was holding an empty glass and pouring it into his mouth.
"You have a lot on your mind?" Ferguson asked despite knowing the answer.
Twain was a little embarrassed. He thought to himself, Isn't it all because of you!
Seeing Tang En's expression, Ferguson laughed. He did not hide his joy at all. "Can you tell me, other than the Dutchman, do you have any other striker candidates?"
Twain shook his head. "Not at the moment."
"Aha, so I've successfully interfered with my main competitor's pre-season preparation plans?"
"You can put it that way." Twain shrugged. He had already given up on trying to convince Ferguson. This stubborn old man was not someone he could easily persuade. Even if he really did invite him out for a drink.
"All right, I give up." He raised his hands. "I admit that we are your main competitor, a strong opponent. It is very likely that we will threaten Manchester United's dominance in the English Premier League. Not only that, I feel that Forest will also threaten the position of the English Premier League teams in the European arena. My goal for next season is still the Champions League. I understand your thoughts of wanting to maintain your dominance. I understand very well. But … even if we are opponents on the field, there's nothing wrong with drinking off the field, right? "
"Of course." Ferguson nodded.
Twain poured himself a glass of wine and raised it. "Then let's not talk about Manchester United and Nottingham Forest today. Let's not talk about football. Tell me about the racehorses you like … "
※ ※ ※
That day, the two of them indeed did not talk about football anymore. It looked like they were not two opposing managers in the Premier League, but more like old friends who had not seen each other for many years. Ferguson talked to his heart's content, and Twain drank to his heart's content.
Before they parted, the two were still reluctant to part. They agreed that they would come out to drink and watch the horse races when they had nothing to do.
But when the two of them returned to their respective teams, this friendship was immediately tossed aside. Who asked them to work for different teams?
Dunn was the first person to see Twain, because they lived together.
"Failed?" Seeing Twain's dejected expression, Dunn knew.
"Yeah." Twain threw himself on the sofa and pinched his temples. The smell of alcohol spread out with his movements.
"Drunk?"
"No … not drunk."
Hearing Twain's answer, Dunn pursed his lips. His tongue was already swollen, and he still said he was not drunk?
"Don't … Don't look at me … My tongue is swollen. My, my brain … is still sober!"
Who would believe that his brain was sober?
"Tomorrow, tomorrow … tomorrow, send a fax to Manchester United. Raise the price, raise it to 15 million … million …" Twain's voice became softer and softer. In the end, there was only snoring.
Hearing Twain's last words, Dunn turned to look at Twain, who had fallen asleep on the sofa.
This was still sober?
He shook his head and sighed.
※ ※ ※
When he woke up the next day, Twain found himself already in his bedroom. He squinted at the bright sunlight shining in through the window.
It's another hangover … …
After washing up and dressing up, he had breakfast with Dunn before rushing to the club to start a new day of work.
As expected, the first thing Twain did was to send another bid to Manchester United. His target was van Nistelrooy.
This time, Dunn was really shocked. He had indeed thought that Twain was just talking nonsense when he was drunk yesterday. He did not expect him to remember it completely.
Kerslake, on the other hand, thought that Twain had already discussed it with Ferguson yesterday, so he did not have any doubts.
15 million pounds. This was Nottingham Forest's new bid to Manchester United. It was five million higher than the first bid. Twain was determined to get van Nistelrooy.
※ ※ ※
"Again?" After receiving the fax, Queiroz was a little surprised. Ferguson had told him about yesterday's incident. There did not seem to be any agreement or understanding between them.
Ferguson held the Forest team's second offer and looked at it in a daze.
Didn't he give up on this Tony Twain?
"Reject it?" Queiroz asked.
Ferguson waved his hands and did not speak. He just continued to look at the thing in his hands, as if he could read Twain's true thoughts from the piece of paper.
Back when Manchester United bought the Dutchman, they spent 19 million pounds, setting a new record for a transfer in England at the time.
Now that five years had passed, van Nistelrooy had dedicated the best and most glorious years of his career to the Red Devils, Manchester United. He had truly grown into a world-class striker here.
Originally, this beautiful partnership could have continued. Unfortunately, the relationship between the two eventually broke down.
However, Ferguson had seen this kind of thing many times. He had been at this powerhouse club for nearly 20 years. During this period, he had welcomed and sent off countless people, whether they were rookies he had personally nurtured or star players he had strongly advocated to buy. Whiteside, Paul Ince, Stam, Beckham, Roy Keane, and now van Nistelrooy.
In the great Red Devils, Manchester United, there was only one superstar. There was only one indispensable person, and that was their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. There was only one outcome for any player who wanted to challenge his authority here — being kicked out of Carrington. He did not feel sad for van Nistelrooy's departure. The current Manchester United had a group of outstanding young people, and the future belonged to them. Even if van Nistelrooy did not have a conflict with him, he would gradually be eliminated.
Tony Twain …
Ferguson thought of this name again.
No one had heard of his name three years ago, and he had no impression of this man. It was as if he had fallen from the sky and suddenly led Nottingham Forest back into our sights.
Ferguson searched his memory for anything related to this name.
He finally remembered.
Three years ago, at a coaches' reception in the summer, the former Nottingham Forest manager, Brian Clough, suddenly agreed to attend the special reception for him being named the English Premier League's Manager of the Decade. Before that, his health was already very poor. Having just undergone a liver transplant, he had not appeared in front of the public for a long time. He shut himself in his home in Derby all day long.
Bobby Robson tried to invite Clough. After all, Ferguson's current achievements were worthy of those seniors to congratulate him. At that time, Ferguson did not think Clough would come because the old man had often badmouthed him in the media.
He did not expect Clough to not only come, but also bring someone with him. At that time, he did not introduce to anyone present the young man standing next to him, who was holding his clothes. Ferguson had only met him once, so he didn't pay any more attention to him after taking a glance.
Now he remembered that the young man who looked like Clough's personal doctor was the now famous England's young manager, Tony Twain.
In three years, he grew from an unknown kid to a famous manager who led the team to jump three levels in three years, fought into the Champions League final, and forced Barcelona into a difficult situation.
Ferguson suddenly realized that even if he did not sell van Nistelrooy to Nottingham Forest, Twain would continue to threaten his position. And the kid was right. He not only threatened Manchester United's position, but also Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and the positions of the European powerhouses.
The kid was shrouded in a layer of mystery. Until now, no one knew how Twain discovered Franck Ribéry, the current main player of the French national team, in the lower leagues in France. They also did not know how he saw that George Wood, who was still working as a porter, had such football talent. They did not know why he was so convinced that Gareth Bale, a small player who had only trained for a day in Southampton, had great potential. When Pepe was still unable to play in a match at Porto and had yet to prove himself in a high-level league, he did not hesitate to use the special talent clause once a season to get Pepe a work permit. Piqué and Bendtner were both hopeful stars that he and Wenger had followed and observed for many years. And Twain, who had just been promoted to the English Premier League, seemed to have known about the two before them and got the two signings with lightning speed. It must be known that he was still in the First Division, and even mixed around in the youth team … How could his vision be so far-sighted? At that time, he already knew that he was going to become a team manager and lead the team into the English Premier League and the Champions League?
He would eventually have to retire … What would happen to Manchester United then? Queiroz was a person that could not be pinned too much hope on. He could only be an assistant manager … Throughout England, he felt that the only person who could take over his mantle was Tony Twain. This was a young man with a winning tradition and an endless thirst for championships.
He might as well do him a favor.
"Agree to their offer and allow them to talk to the Dutchman's agent. At the same time, accept Bayern Munich's offer. "
Hearing Ferguson's sudden words, Queiroz was taken aback.
"But, Sir, didn't you say …"
Ferguson knew what Queiroz was going to say. He interrupted him and very seriously answered the doubts in his assistant manager's heart, "Carlos, I won eight English Premier League titles, five FA Cups, one Champions League, one Cup Winners' Cup, one UEFA Super Cup and one Toyota Cup at Manchester United. I didn't get them just by not selling players to our competitors." (To be continued, if you want to know what happened next, please log on to WWW. QIDIAN. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support the original reading!)
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