At the post-match press conference, as the victor, Tang En received more attention than usual, while the loser, Rijkaard, sat next to him and watched expressionlessly as he answered the reporters' questions in an endless stream.
He was once familiar with this scene, but at that time, he was the one who answered the reporters' questions nonstop, while Tony Twain sat next to him with a cold and silent face.
It was after last season's Champions League final.
At that time, Tang En had just thrown away the silver medal for the runner-up. Everyone thought that, with his character, he would not attend the final press conference. The truth was almost the same. After the press conference began, only Rijkaard was there to answer the reporters' questions, while Tony Twain's seat was empty. Halfway through the press conference, Tang En suddenly entered the venue and sat in his seat. With a sullen face, he watched Rijkaard answer the reporters' questions with a beaming face.
It was because at the end of the press conference, Rijkaard felt that Tang En was ungracious. Generally speaking, as the loser, shouldn't he congratulate the winner? Even if it was against his will, this kind of action could also reflect his demeanor and win everyone's favor.
Tang En had no such intention. He very directly said that the championship should be given to the best performing team, and the best performing team was Nottingham Forest. Not only that, he added at the end, "I'm sorry that Barcelona can only beat a ten-man Nottingham Forest."
This remark angered Rijkaard, and he still brooded over it to this day. As a result, he had always been dissatisfied with Tony Twain. Rijkaard was not a person who liked to stir up controversy. He was a very low-key person. If Tang En had not repeatedly insulted his team, why would he have to do this?
He did not expect that in less than a year, he and Tang En would have swapped places. The victor had become Tang En, and he had become the loser who was unwilling to accept defeat.
This situation … He suddenly understood Tang En's feelings at the time. At this moment, he wanted to get away so badly.
Unfortunately, he was not Tang En and could not do such an "ungracious" thing.
Since he could not do it, he could only continue to accept this "disguised insult" here.
Tang En certainly knew what it felt like to be a loser at this moment. As he enjoyed the media's adulation, he also snickered in his heart. This is what they call the ups and downs of life. Mr. Rijkaard. "
In fact, for Barcelona, losing this game might be a disaster at the moment. But in the long run, it might be a good thing?
Real Madrid had not won a single game for the past few years. They learned from their mistakes and invited the gold medal coach Capello this season. Real Madrid's revival was just around the corner. Barcelona was also experiencing Real Madrid's pain. The "Dream II Dynasty" mentioned by the media was itself a deformed product. Could it be called a "dynasty" after winning only one Champions League title and two league titles?
Tang En did not see it that way. If a team really wanted to create a ruling dynasty, this bit of achievement was not enough.
If the defeat in today's game could calm Barcelona's top brass down and rethink the road ahead, then this defeat would become a valuable asset in the future. On the contrary, if the Barcelona people could not see this and only focused on the outcome of this game, then there would be a lot of suffering in the future.
It all depended on whether Rijkaard and Laporta could realize this. They were walking on the old path of Real Madrid's "Galácticos." Although Tang En had transmigrated before that, he could imagine the outcome even with his knees. There was no doubt about it.
Sometimes he also felt it was strange. Real Madrid's mistake was a lesson in front of them. Were Barcelona's top brass fools? They could not see it and were still desperately leaning on that path. Or was the temptation of commercial interests so great? Let them pursue it at all costs.
Back when he beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu stadium, it directly caused Florentino to be disheartened and took the initiative to resign. Real Madrid's "Galácticos Era" also came to an end. He did not know if this time, could he end Barcelona's illusory "Dream II Dynasty"?
He was looking forward to it.
Finally, a reporter threw a question at Rijkaard. Rijkaard had nothing to say about being eliminated from the Champions League. Losing to Nottingham Forest was a fact. What made him even more uncomfortable was that he was beaten by the other side in both home and away games. He now wanted to be like Tang En, stubbornly refusing to admit defeat.
But if he really did that, wouldn't it be very ungentlemanly?
The microphones were all placed by his mouth, and everyone's eyes were on him. Even Tony Twain, who was next to him, gave him a sidelong glance. He had to say something.
Rijkaard coughed and slowly moved closer to the microphone.
He intended to show a little more gentlemanly. But when he was about to speak, he heard Tang En's laughter from the side. A burst of anger suddenly rose in his heart.
I lost to you, but that doesn't mean I have to accept your insults!
"We lost. There's nothing to say. No one wants to be eliminated. Besides, I'm looking forward to next season's Champions League. I really hope Barcelona and Nottingham Forest are drawn together again. "
Having said that, he got up to leave. For the first time in his life as a manager, he left the press conference early.
Tang En looked at Rijkaard's stubborn back, shrugged, and whistled.
Taking advantage of the fact that Rijkaard had yet to walk out, he said to the media, who were still a little surprised, "Look, if it's eleven against eleven, Barcelona can't beat Nottingham Forest. I'm not talking big."
Rijkaard, who was just about to go out, suddenly paused, and then quickly walked out.
"Well, ladies and gentlemen, I don't want to act a one-man show." Tang En also stood up. "Goodbye." He waved and followed Rijkaard out.
※ ※ ※
In the following days, the media clamored over various reports about the game.
A few of Tang En's words were used as quotes and placed in an eye-catching position. The feud between him and Rijkaard looked even more irreconcilable with the media adding fuel to the fire.
He did not know if there would be a day in the future when they all stepped down from their positions as managers and completely bid farewell to the football world. Would it be possible for them to sit together and have a drink?
He did not hate Rijkaard at all. Unfortunately, they each had their own masters. Their positions determined their thinking. Whatever position they sat in, they would naturally consider what matters. When he was a fan, he did not even dare to think that he would become enemies with one of the Dutch Three Musketeers when they met.
Mourinho, Benítez, Ferguson, Wenger, Capello … These people whom he liked or respected in the past had all become rivals and enemies. The world was wonderful.
Therefore, Rijkaard was not the first enemy in his coaching career, and he definitely would not be the last.
With his annoying character, it would be strange if he did not have enemies.
The only thing that made the Barcelona people happy was that on the night after the game, their arch-rival, Real Madrid, was also eliminated. The news made the Barcelona people, who were also eliminated, feel a little more balanced.
But they did not know that this was the beginning of Barcelona's nightmare …
※ ※ ※
Well, let's put Barcelona aside, or rather, turn the page on Barcelona. They had become a thing of the past.
The Forest team had achieved a major victory, but it did not mean that they could now breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate.
On the way forward, Tony Twain and his Nottingham Forest still had to face many opponents.
Having just finished the Champions League game against Barcelona, Tony Twain was going to lead the team to London. Their opponent was none other than another of Twain's enemies — Chelsea, led by Mourinho.
Mourinho was a little depressed this season. He wanted to lead the team to defend the league title for three years in a row, but he was strongly suppressed by the resurgent Manchester United and had been pressed to second place in the league table. Not only that, but there was also Nottingham Forest behind them. Mourinho certainly did not think that Twain would be so kind as to let him breathe a sigh of relief. If he was not careful on his side, he could be caught up by the other side and eaten up until there were no bones left.
Professional football was so cruel. No matter how famous a manager was, if the results of the team were not satisfactory, they would soon be forgotten.
As the end of the season approached, whether it was to avoid relegation or fight for the title, they all had to start exerting their strength. Twain knew that this trip was fraught with grim possibilities, so he made the most preparations in Nottingham.
Every time he went to Stamford Bridge, he and his team had to face the overwhelming boos. He had just let Rijkaard and his team have a taste of this, and soon it would be his turn to taste it.
The tactics that Twain had formulated for the team were simple: defend to the death. They would defend again and again in an away game. It would be OK if they could hold on to one point. He did not ask for three points, because for a "guest" like him, one point was actually a victory. With eight rounds left in the league, the difference between Chelsea and Manchester United was six points. Only by taking down Nottingham Forest could they maintain the pressure on Manchester United and hope to make a comeback at the last minute.
If Mourinho could not get three points, what would happen?
Fly into a rage?
Flick his sleeves and leave with a dark face?
Twain was now looking forward to the game against Chelsea. He was especially looking forward to seeing his "old friend" Mourinho.
※ ※ ※
Stamford Bridge was packed to the brim. It was the same situation every time Chelsea and Nottingham Forest played. Due to the "personal feud" between the two managers, the confrontation between the two teams would always attract a lot of attention from the media and fans.
They wanted to see the two managers go head to head on the field, on the sidelines, in and out of the game. After Ferguson and Wenger, the media were deeply delighted that the English Premier League had produced such a pair. Before this, they were still worried that there would be no gossip to report and hype after Ferguson retired. Now, they did not have to worry anymore.
Before the game, a reporter maliciously mentioned the embarrassing record to Mourinho — since he took charge of Chelsea, he still maintained an "undefeated" record against Tony Twain's Nottingham Forest.
This made Mourinho furious. His face darkened at the time and he tried to refuse to answer the question.
Of course, the media was happy to see him unhappy. But if he really did not answer the question, the media would not be able to get any valuable information. So, they tried every possible way to hope that he would answer the question.
In the end, he was forced into a corner. Mourinho said with a gloomy face, "I never cared about those records … Arsenal created a record of 49 consecutive games without a defeat. Did they finally get the championship trophy that season? I don't deny that my team has yet to beat his team, but you also can't deny that the league title for the past two seasons is my Chelsea, not Nottingham Forest. Of course, you can change the way you ask this question and ask Tony Twain — you can ask him why his team can remain undefeated against Chelsea, but can't even win a championship title? "
His words were vicious. He cleverly changed the focus of the reporter's attention in a different direction.
Which was more important, maintaining an undefeated record or winning the championship title? Even a fool could see it.
As a Nottingham Forest fan and a reporter from Nottingham, Pierce Brosnan felt the need to dampen this man's spirit. He stepped forward and said, "But, Mr. Mourinho. You can't deny that as a manager of a newly promoted team and a team that no one previously thought highly of, Tony Twain has done enough for the past two seasons … "
Mourinho interrupted him and nodded. "That's right. He almost won the league title and almost won the Champions League title … Unfortunately, in my football creed, 'almost' means failure."
His words rendered Pierce Brosnan speechless. The championship title was the only measure of success in professional football. For Mourinho to insist that they were "champions," for the Forest team, which had indeed not won the championship title, they had to admit that they were inferior to Chelsea.
Brosnan was not a person who was good at debating with others. He somewhat resentfully admitted defeat.
The matter was not over yet. Mourinho left the interview area after saying that. A few minutes later, the media waited for Twain, who had just gotten out of the car.
Someone relayed Mourinho's words to Twain, hoping to see Twain's reaction.
Twain listened carefully to the reporter's retelling and nodded with a smile. "Mourinho's choice of words is very interesting. 'Almost won the league title' and 'almost won the Champions League title' is a good way for a loser to cover up his failure. I'm very happy to play against Chelsea at this time because we're fortunate to let Mr. Mourinho have a taste of 'almost' winning the league title at the end of the season. "
Having said that, he smiled and waved goodbye to the other reporters and quickly entered the visiting team's locker room.
Brosnan looked at Twain's back and sighed in his heart. It turned out that he did not need to do anything to fight for justice. There was a more powerful character here.
※ ※ ※
By the time the players returned from their warm-up on the field, Twain had already been waiting in the locker room for a long time.
"Defense." After everyone quieted down, he clapped his hands and said, "If we want to fight to the death with Chelsea's offense here, believe me, guys, it must be our 'death fight.' I'll give everyone a brief analysis of the situation. Chelsea is in desperate need of victory and three points to catch up to Manchester United. With eight rounds left in the league tournament, theoretically, it would be best for them to win every game. Otherwise, six points is not a small gap. As long as we force a draw with Chelsea in this game, it will be a big blow to Mourinho. At the same time, defense in an away game is a safe strategy. But don't let go of any chances to score a goal. "Twain wagged his fingers." One goal could overturn everything. But I want you to remember that defense comes first under any circumstances. First, make sure we don't lose the ball, and then consider how to score a goal against them! "
Just as Twain said in the locker room, Mourinho had to win this game. For this reason, he sent out the strongest offensive lineup at home. Drogba, Shevchenko, Ballack, Lampard … all the offensive players that could be sent out were on the field.
In response to this situation, Twain used a 4-5-1 defensive counterattack lineup to deal with it.
He used five midfielders to deal with Chelsea's "world-class" midfielder.
The actual effect was not bad. For most of the game, both sides were engaged in a tug-of-war in the midfield. The Forest team's tight defense and completely shameless roguish play made Chelsea suffer. The mistakes on both sides were increasing. Often, the Forest team would lose the ball due to a mistake, and Chelsea would immediately make a pass error after getting the ball, returning the football back.
The Forest team was not afraid of mistakes, but Chelsea could not afford to make mistakes. They were wasting and squandering their own offensive opportunities.
The game was a mess. Neither side had any high-quality attacks. The Forest team did not intend to have any high-quality attacks at all. They used beautiful coordination to pass the football into Chelsea's goal. Chelsea wanted to play high-quality attacks, but they were always stopped by the Forest team's destructive play at the crucial moment.
The game time was consumed in this way.
Of course, it was not completely without opportunities. Chelsea created three of the most threatening opportunities in the game, especially the one before the end of the game. After a series of amazing coordination, Chelsea successfully tore apart the Forest team's defense. But Drogba's last kick was too much in pursuit of power and went over the crossbar. That time, it made Mourinho so angry that he almost threw his suit to the ground. After seeing the football fly out, Twain let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair, not wanting to get up. If the opponent had scored at the last moment, his team's ninety minutes of effort would have been in vain.
Ninety minutes later, looking at 0: 0 on the scoreboard and listening to the final whistle in his ears, Mourinho's face was as cold as the South Pole.
Twain, who looked a little like a survivor of a disaster, smiled like a spring breeze. He took the initiative to reach out and walk in front of Mourinho. "My friend, you almost beat us." He deliberately emphasized the word "almost." "It's a pity that it's only almost."
Mourinho did not want Twain to be too pleased. He also knew that if he looked depressed or angry now, it would be what the bastard wanted to see the most. So, he must not let him get what he wanted.
So, he forced a smile. "There are still seven rounds of the league tournament, Mr. Twain. But one thing is for sure. Do you want to hear it? "
Twain made a gesture that he was all ears.
"My team still has a chance to compete for the championship title, while your team won't even have the chance to 'almost win the league title.'"
These words made Twain's expression change, but he quickly returned to normal. He smiled at Mourinho. "Then I wish your team good luck and strive to 'almost win the league title' as soon as possible."
Next, the two unfriendly men let go of each other's hands at the same time and turned to leave the field.
Brosnan saw this scene from the side and shook his head gently. The two of them …
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