FIFA was headquartered in Zurich, the capital of Switzerland, while UEFA was headquartered in the small Swiss city of Nyon. Here, almost all of Europe's best football managers were gathered today.
The draw ceremony for this season's UEFA Champions League round of 16 would be held here. The media swarmed in, scrambling to report, waiting for the suspense to be revealed.
The draw ceremony was held in the afternoon. Since that afternoon, many cars had been driven to the entrance of the hotel where the draw ceremony was held. The reporters waiting at the entrance of the hotel began to get busy. The people they were waiting for had appeared one by one.
It was as if these managers had discussed it in advance. The ones who came early were the managers of non-powerhouse teams. None of the real big-name giants appeared.
Then, at the last moment, this group of people arrived late.
The first person to appear in front of the media was the Manchester United manager, Ferguson. He gave a brief interview after getting out of the car. His arrival excited the reporters who had been waiting hard. Everyone still liked to see the manager of a powerhouse team appear here.
As Ferguson was being interviewed, a white Audi stopped at the entrance of the hotel behind him. The man who stepped out was his old enemy, Arsène Wenger.
Wenger walked straight past him as if he did not see Ferguson. When the reporters saw the Arsenal manager appear, they immediately diverted half of them to bet on Wenger. Wenger strode away and only stopped to be interviewed when he was a distance away from Ferguson.
Tang Jing, who had come to cover the draw ceremony, saw this scene and her eyes lit up. Thanks to the developed media, the feud between these managers in the English Premier League was often more interesting than the gossip of the star players. In other countries' leagues, the managers might not have such exposure. It was impossible to imagine the feud between Wenger and Ferguson for more than a decade.
Starting with Ferguson and Wenger, the big-name managers appeared one after another.
Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini, Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello …
Everyone's appearance would cause a flurry of activity and commotion among the reporters.
Tang En and Dunn sat in the dark red car provided by the UEFA and were chatting casually. He noticed that the car had slowed down, so he stuck his head out to look. Soon, he pulled back and smiled at Dunn. "I think we're almost at our destination."
"It's lively," Dunn said casually as he looked at the cars parked along the road.
"It is indeed lively." Tang En chuckled. When a large group of people with all kinds of grudges gathered together, it would be strange if it wasn't lively.
When Tang En and Dunn could clearly see the reporters surrounding the door, the car stopped. The chauffeur turned around from the front door and said, "Here we are, gentlemen."
"Thank you." Dunn thanked the driver and opened the door to get out, but Twain stopped him.
"Wait a little longer." He pointed outside to the puzzled Dunn.
Through the car window, Dunn saw that the man who got out of the car in front of them was the Chelsea manager, Mourinho.
"Oh," Dunn suddenly realized.
Mourinho seemed to be very popular. Ever since he got off the car, the flashing lights outside had not stopped. The reporters swarmed around him, and countless microphones reached out to him. He stood in the crowd with a smile on his face, looking elegant. Some English media said that Mourinho was the most handsome manager, and it seemed that it was not entirely flattery.
As for Mourinho's questions, Tang En was in no hurry to get out of the car. He just sat in the car and focused on Mourinho outside.
The driver found it strange that the two of them were still not getting out of the car. He looked back several times, hoping to use this movement to remind them. But Tang En turned a blind eye to it. Dunn knew what the driver meant, but since Tang En did not get out, he could only pretend that he did not see it.
After about two minutes, the reporters finally became interested in the dark red Mercedes-Benz parked at the door without any movement. The glass windows of the car had been specially processed. Nothing could be seen from the outside, but it was very clear from the inside.
Someone abandoned Mourinho and turned their attention to this side. The other car parked behind the car also impatiently honked. This time, almost everyone's attention turned over. Even Mourinho, who was being interviewed and answering questions, turned his head because of the honk.
Sitting in the car, Tang En took out his sunglasses from his shirt pocket and put them on. Then he gave Dunn a sly smile. "It's our turn, Dunn."
With that, he took the lead to push open the car door and leaned out.
Dunn followed behind him helplessly. He knew what Tang En was thinking. If it were him, he would never do such a thing to steal the limelight.
As soon as Tang En appeared, everyone was no longer surprised by the strange behavior of the car.
The first thought in everyone's mind was: So it's this guy!
Wearing sunglasses, Tang En smiled brightly and waved to the media. "Hey, good afternoon, everyone."
The reporters all looked up at the sky. There was not a trace of sunlight in the cloudy sky.
Taking advantage of the reporters' daze, Tang Jing squeezed in front of Tang En. "We meet again, Mr. Tang." She greeted in Mandarin, and Tang En replied in Mandarin.
"I didn't expect to see you everywhere, Miss Tang."
The conversation between the two of them in Mandarin made the surrounding reporters confused. Tang Jing quickly switched back to English and threw out her own question. "Do you have any expectations for this draw, Mr. Tang?"
This was the question that the other reporters wanted to ask. Hearing that someone had already asked it, many microphones, recording pens, and cell phones were stuffed in front of Tang En's mouth.
Tang En coughed and was about to answer.
Tang En had just gotten out of the car when the Mercedes-Benz impatiently drove to the parking lot. Then the car that was originally behind them drove over and stopped behind Tang En. The car door opened, and a man in a dark suit with countless braids on his head stepped out.
Some of the reporters immediately laughed. They were not laughing at the man's hairstyle, because they had seen enough of it. Instead, they were laughing at the coincidence.
Mourinho was still being interviewed by a few Portuguese reporters in front. Because of Tony Twain's appearance, most of the other reporters rushed to Tang En's side, ready to hear what shocking words he had to say. Then, just as Tang En was about to open his mouth to speak, Rijkaard emerged from behind him again.
These three foes …
Tang En was distracted by Rijkaard's appearance, but he quickly turned his attention back to the reporter's question. Only this time, he raised his voice slightly. "What expectations do you have for the draw? Ah, I really hope to meet an 'old friend.' "As he spoke, he tilted his head to look at Rijkaard, who was walking up the steps. He smiled and extended his hand to him. "Hello, Mr. Rijkaard."
Rijkaard had originally planned to ignore Tang En and walk straight over. Now that the other party had taken the initiative to extend his hand in front of him, it would not be nice if he did not express something. He could only smile and shake Tang En's hand gently before letting go.
"Hello, Mr. Tang."
Rijkaard was about to leave when Tang En called out to him. "Mr. Rijkaard, what expectations do you have for the draw?" He exercised the reporter's rights on behalf of Tang En.
Rijkaard did not expect Tang En to ask such a question. He froze for a moment before replying, "There's nothing to look forward to. The result will be what it is. We're playing our own football. It doesn't matter who the opponent is. "
"That's well said. Mr. Rijkaard. I think so too. It doesn't matter who the opponent is. " With that, Tang En pushed the reporters aside and walked straight inside with a playful smile. He did not answer any more questions.
As he walked past Mourinho, the Portuguese, who had already finished his interview, seemed to be waiting there intentionally. He said in a low voice, "You're quite confident. Aren't you afraid that the UEFA will do something behind the scenes? You embarrassed the UEFA a lot last season. Think about our Chelsea, huh? "
Tang En turned his head to look at the white-haired Mourinho and laughed. "I suddenly want the UEFA to do that now."
Amidst the laughter, Tang En walked away.
※ ※ ※
Tang En walked away suavely, but Dunn was held back by the reporters.
The person who held Dunn back was Tang Jing. She insisted that the China assistant manager accept her interview to talk about his thoughts on participating in the UEFA Champions League draw ceremony.
After half a season, the media had already accepted the Chinese assistant manager, who was often seen as Tang En's "partner." As a result, when they saw him being held back by Tang Jing to answer questions, the other media also swarmed over. Dunn wanted to ask Tang En to take him away, but Tang En seemed to have completely forgotten that there was another person beside him. He just walked straight in.
"Stop looking, Manager Dunn." Tang Jing smiled proudly. It was he who had cleverly kept this person. "Why don't you just answer my question?" She felt that compared to that man, the taciturn Dunn in front of her was more likable. She did not have to worry about not being able to pry open his mouth. In the face of Tang En, what she needed to consider was how to distinguish the truth from falsehood in every word that the man said.
"After last season's Champions League final, Manager Tang En once embarrassed the UEFA on the spot." Tang Jing repeated in English. This time, the surrounding reporters could understand what the question was. "As the team's assistant manager, are you worried that at this draw ceremony, the UEFA will have something … hmm?"
Dunn knew that he could not escape today. He said helplessly, "I don't know. But we drew the best lot in the group stage. "
"But now we have to draw lots again." Tang Jing reminded him that the past was the past and could not explain anything.
"So I don't know. I don't know anything that hasn't happened."
Tang Jing pursed her lips. This answer suddenly gave her the illusion that the person standing in front of her was Tony Twain.
"Then can you make a bold prediction? Or rather, who do you want the Forest team to meet in the round of 16? "She had to change her way of asking.
"It's fine with anyone." Forced to face all of this on behalf of Twain, Dunn chose the "passive resistance" tactic. In the face of these questions, he would always use the most meaningless answers.
"Manager Dunn … Don't you have any teams in mind that you particularly want to meet, or particularly want to avoid?"
"No." Dunn's answer was concise and clear, but Tang Jing was seething with anger.
"Is this what Twain taught you to deal with the media?" She suddenly frowned and switched to Mandarin to ask. The surrounding reporters were confused again.
Dunn froze for a moment and then shook his head. "No."
"Then you learned it from Twain? Of all the things you can learn, you learn from him?! My God … One Twain is enough. I don't want another one … Please, Mr. Dunn. If you do this, I can't write a draft … I can't say that my interviewee doesn't know anything, can I? "
Looking at Tang Jing's pleading expression, Dunn hesitated for a moment and then said, "I really don't have any personal thoughts. Whichever team we draw, we'll take out the prepared information on that team — we've prepared the intelligence information on all the other fifteen teams in advance. That's why I said this … I'm not trying to beat around the bush, Miss Tang, but it's the truth. "
Although Dunn spoke sincerely, it did not satisfy Tang Jing. Such an answer would not satisfy the reader's curiosity at all. She looked at Dunn pitifully with a frown on her face.
Dunn was silent for a while and finally sighed. "Well … Tony didn't say anything to me, but I think … I'm guessing. I think he'd really like to meet a team that he's played against before."
This answer was what Tang Jing wanted. She immediately perked up and the expression on her face changed. She asked, "Why do you say that? Is it because you're familiar enough and know everything? "
Dunn shook his head. "No. He wants to continue to beat those that he has beaten before. He wants … revenge against those that he has never won before. "
Hearing the last sentence, Tang Jing suddenly understood. She smiled at Dunn Tiantian. "Thank you very much, Mr. Dunn. This is exclusive to me. "
During the conversation just now, they had been using their mother tongue, Mandarin, to communicate. The group of foreigners next to them could not understand at all.
"You're not allowed to tell anyone." Tang Jing winked at Dunn with her back to the foreign colleagues.
Dunn nodded obediently and then looked at Tang Jing. "Can I go now, Miss Tang?"
Hearing this, Tang Jing burst out laughing. "I didn't imprison you. Why are you asking me that?"
"Uh …" Dunn also felt that what he had just said was not appropriate. "Then … I'm leaving."
Somewhat embarrassed, Dunn struggled to squeeze out of the crowd and chased after Tang En.
The reporters threw all kinds of questions at Dunn, but Dunn did not say a word. He just buried his head and walked away. This was what he was best at.
Tang Jing looked at the somewhat stooped back and suddenly thought of a text she had learned in high school: "The Man in the Trap."
Now, the domestic media said that Dunn was a grassroots hero, a genius manager who had walked out of the non-football circle. But did anyone know the past behind it?
She had once tried to understand Dunn's past. The people around him all said that he was not an easy person to get along with. He was eccentric and unlikeable. In high school, the boys all played football. But because he did not play well and did not have many friends, he was ostracized to the point where he could only watch others play on the sidelines.
Tang Jing did not know the specific situation at that time, but she could imagine if Dunn had been like this at that time. Sealing himself in a black trap and using silence to deal with the whole world.
Her heart suddenly gave birth to a special feeling.
※ ※ ※
When Dunn pushed open the door and entered the hall for the draw ceremony, there were not many people inside. He easily found Tang En, who was chatting with someone else. He quickly walked up and stood behind Tang En in silence.
The person who was chatting with Tang En was the Arsenal manager, Wenger. He saw Dunn appear behind Tang En. It seemed that there was something that could not be said in front of others, and Tang En did not seem to know there was someone behind him. So, he cleverly found an excuse to end the conversation and took his leave.
"Tony …" Dunn opened his mouth only after seeing Wenger leave.
"How do you feel?" Tang En asked without turning his head.
"What?" Dunn did not understand what Tang En was asking.
"That female reporter, what did she ask?"
"She threw the question she was going to ask you to me." Dunn was a little dissatisfied.
Tang En smiled and apologized to him. "I'm sorry, I used you as a shield."
Dunn did not continue the topic. He changed the subject and asked, "I also want to know what you think, Tony. What kind of result do you want from the draw? "
"Of course the opponent … the weaker the better." Tang En chuckled.
"I think it will be difficult for the UEFA to do as you wish."
Tang En turned his head to look at the stage for the draw. The staff were still busy, but they had already entered the final stage. When the time came, the UEFA bigwigs would pull out a round ball from a transparent glass box and open it in public to display the result of the draw to show "fairness, fairness, and openness."
In the background of the stage was a huge television screen, which was repeatedly playing some of the highlights from the Champions League group stage. The UEFA and the eight five-star symbol of the Champions League appeared around the stage.
"Dunn. The result of the draw is not something we can control. What's the point of thinking so much about 'what will happen' at this time? Whoever we draw will be the winner. Are you still worried that we'll be eliminated early if we draw a strong team? "
"I'm not worried."
"Then isn't it fine? No matter who we draw, we're not afraid. If God blocks us, we'll kill God. If the UEFA wants to mess with us … I'll keep them company! "
※ ※ ※
An hour later, in Nottingham, England.
Eastwood was calling his teammates one by one. "Hey, guys, watch TV! Watch TV! The draw is about to begin! What? You're all watching … Well, I won't say anymore. Watch TV! "
He threw down the phone and clasped his hands together to support his chin. He held his breath as he watched the television screen.
The Forest players stayed at home to watch the live broadcast of the draw ceremony on television. Like them, there were countless Nottingham Forest fans.
Kenny Burns' bar was packed. Everyone held onto a beer mug and looked up at the television, looking forward to the draw results.
Nottingham Forest had already been drawn, but their opponent had not yet been determined.
The television broadcast gave Tang En a close-up. He was staring intently at the stage, but there was a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.
The taxi driver, Randy James, could only hope that the signal light at the intersection in front of him was broken and that he would stop at the red light. The announcer's voice came from the radio in the car, broadcasting the latest live results of the draw to his listeners.
"… Real Madrid's opponent is Bayern Munich. This is the fourth time in the past seven years that these two old foes of European football have clashed. It's eye-catching, and Inter Milan will be facing off against Valencia. This is also the fourth time in six years that the two teams have met … "
Randy stared ahead, but his eyes were not focused. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel. A car horn sounded behind him, but he was completely unaware of it.
※ ※ ※
Nearly half of the matchups had been drawn, and the remaining suspense was dwindling. Tang En looked at Dunn, who was sitting next to him, and found that he was not nervous at all. He was also focused on the people on the stage. So, he smiled and turned his attention back to the draw ceremony.
"The next one to be drawn is … Nottingham Forest's opponent in the round of 16," the host announced. Then, UEFA's second-in-command, Platini, walked to the glass box and slowly reached for the few remaining small balls in the box.
At that moment, half of Nottingham held their breath.
Randy James's fingers stopped tapping. Instead, they hung in the air. A traffic police officer outside the car was tapping on his window, but he was petrified as if he was possessed. He turned a deaf ear to everything that was happening around him.
Eastwood sat on the sofa and leaned forward, ready to stand up at any moment. He muttered something.
Kenny Burns stopped wiping the wine glasses in his hands and looked up at the television with everyone else. The crowded bar was so quiet that only the sound coming from the television could be heard.
Platini fumbled around in the box for a while and grabbed a ball. He took it out and lowered his head to open it. Then, he took out a folded piece of paper, unfolded it, and glanced at it. At that moment, the television broadcast gave Platini a close-up. The Frenchman was expressionless. There was no way to predict the answer from this shot.
Then … he suddenly smiled and turned the paper over to face the many managers below the stage, the cameras, and the audience in front of the television.
He pronounced the name on the slip of paper clearly.
"Barcelona."
※ ※ ※
"Barcelona."
Randy slammed his hand on the horn.
Eastwood jumped up from the sofa with both fists raised. The other Forest players, coaches, and even the ordinary workers at the training ground also jumped up with him.
The Forest bar, which had been silent earlier, suddenly burst into loud cheers.
"Well done, Frenchman!"
"Cheers! Cheers to this f * * king good draw! "
"Whoa whoa whoa! This is the best result I've ever seen! "
On the television screen, Tang En swung his fist fiercely and then stood up from his seat with both fists raised. He proudly circled on the spot like a victorious general. His ostentatious move once again made him the focus of attention in the audience. The hall was in an uproar. Whistles, applause, laughter, and discussion were intertwined. The media focused their cameras on the man who caused the uproar.
Rijkaard was not far from Tang En's position, only four chairs away. He put down his arms and strode over. Then, without any explanation, he took Rijkaard's hand and took the initiative to shake hands with him.
"Mr. Rijkaard, we meet again!" His bright smile made Rijkaard not know how to respond.
He completely disregarded the fact that the draw ceremony was not over and the scene was already in a mess. It was as noisy as a village fair. The UEFA officials on the stage had their own thoughts and tried to maintain polite smiles on their faces. They looked at the center of everyone's attention, the man at the center of all the commotion.
At the same time, half of Nottingham was roaring.
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