After winning against Chelsea, Tony Twain and his team once again appeared on the headlines of the media. Every time he won, he would receive such treatment. Tang En was already used to it.
Reporters gathered outside the Wilford training base, hoping to interview a player or Twain himself. This time, Twain did not give the players a "gag order." However, it was not easy for reporters to interview him. Other than the regular press conference, he would not say a word in front of the media.
Logically speaking, he should be in a good mood after winning against Chelsea. However, Twain seemed to be in a bad mood.
Why?
※ ※ ※
"Injuries disrupted my plans at a crucial moment." In his office, Twain patted the report given to him by the team's medical team. "Ashley Young has been confirmed to be out of action for at least two weeks. He's destined to miss the second leg against Chelsea. I originally thought Pepe could make it for the most crucial game. But now the team's doctor is telling me that they can't guarantee Pepe's health. The Brazilian's injury is still very complicated. "
Ashley Young's injury was confirmed the day after the game. The doctors did a detailed examination of his injured foot. The good news was that the injury was not serious and he did not need to completely bid farewell to the season. The bad news was that he would definitely not make it for the second leg against Chelsea.
Pepe, who had been injured in January, had already resumed training. His surgery was considered successful, but he could only do basic strength training alone in the gym. It was impossible to train with the entire team without the permission of the team's doctor.
There were always hidden dangers in relying on Kompany and Piqué to support the middle defensive line. That was the reason why they lost the goal against Chelsea. Twain did not believe that luck would always be on his side. If he made a fatal mistake in the finals, it would be too late for regrets.
"But didn't Fleming say that he can play if he wants to …" Kerslake said.
"Then we have to take the risk of him getting injured again soon. It will become a chronic ailment in his career and become a ticking time bomb every season. I don't want to gamble with Pepe's future. "Twain shook his head.
"But we're in a good situation this season. I also think it's the best chance to win the championship. If it's because of the problems in the rear defensive line that leads to …" Kerslake did not continue. He felt it was a little ominous to say it.
Twain did not say anything. He was also conflicted in his heart.
Pepe had not fully recovered from his injuries, and his body was not in its best condition. If he were to play in the second leg against Chelsea, no one could guarantee that he would be able to play for ninety minutes healthily. If he was injured again, the Forest team would lose more than just one player.
On the other hand, this season was a great opportunity for the Forest team. Other than the EFL Cup, which was of little value, Tang En did not have a championship trophy that carried enough weight in his four years as a manager. Although successful managers were always in the minority, and not every manager could win the championship trophy, Tang En did not want to be a failure. He did not want to be one of those ordinary people. He was special and different.
If Pepe could play, he could add enough stability to the Forest team's rear defensive line. In a crucial match, Tang En was still worried about Kompany. The kid was too young.
Lowering his head to look at the report in his hands, Tang En frowned.
The joy of the away win over Chelsea quickly dissipated, and now the headache came.
"Let's continue to observe for a while. We'll talk about it when the time comes." He sighed.
※ ※ ※
In the empty gym, there was only the sound of the equipment colliding. Pepe was training the strength of his leg muscles alone. He mechanically repeated the action of raising and lowering his leg, his eyes fixed on the training ground outside the window.
The training seemed to have ended, and his teammates were walking to the locker room one after another.
In fact, he felt that there was nothing wrong with his body, but the team doctor did not allow him to go on the field to do ball training. Every day, he had to recover and recover in the gym. It was boring.
Ever since he was injured in the match against Reading F.C. in January, he had not been allowed to touch the ball. Almost five months had passed since the surgery and postoperative recovery, and he still did not know when he could return to the field. He had had enough of such days.
He had once gone to the team doctor, Fleming, to ask him when he could go on the field to train and play. In the end, Fleming told him that he needed Tony Twain's approval.
With all the problems focused on Tang En, things were much simpler.
The people on the training ground had already left, and Pepe finally stopped his mechanical movements. He decided to look for the boss and have a good talk about his injury.
Everyone was working hard for the dream of becoming the Champions League champion, and he did not want to be a spectator at such a time.
If the team really won the Champions League in the end, would he wear a suit on stage to accept the gold medal? If that was the case, he might learn from the boss and directly throw the gold medal to the fans.
Pepe had just gotten up when he saw the door of the gym being pushed open.
Wood walked in with his upper body bare.
Wood was a little surprised to see Pepe.
"Your training time shouldn't be so long …"
Pepe interrupted him. "You can have extra training, why can't I?"
"But you're injured …"
"I've been fine for a long time!" Pepe became a little emotional at the mention of this. "Look." He sat down again and continued to repeat his mechanical movements.
Amid the continuous clattering, his knees were bearing a huge weight, driving his calves up and down.
Wood watched quietly until Pepe was so tired that she stopped.
Seeing Pepe sitting on the chair, panting heavily, Wood walked over and sat on the equipment next to him.
"I went to Fleming and he said that whether I can train and play with the ball needs the boss' approval. There are only a few games left this season … When I was injured, I agreed to undergo surgery because I heard that I could make it to the final game … Now that the surgery is successful, I'm not allowed to train and play. How can there be such a thing? "Pepe murmured.
Wood set the weight and began his strength training.
For a moment, there was only the clattering of the equipment in the gym. Pepe sat there panting, and Wood did not speak.
After a while, Wood stopped and looked at Pepe. "Are you going to look for the boss?"
Pepe nodded.
"If you don't go, he'll go home." Wood reminded him.
Pepe quickly got up and was just about to run out when Wood stopped him again. "Can you make it to the final?"
Pepe was stunned for a moment before he reacted. It was the Champions League final. He shook his head. "That's up to the boss …"
"Do you want to?"
"No one wants to miss the final." Pepe said seriously.
Wood nodded. "Go quickly. If you're late, you'll really leave."
Pepe thanked Wood and ran out of the door. Behind him, there was a series of clanging sounds.
※ ※ ※
Wood's reminder was timely. Tang En and Dunn had just left the office when they saw Pepe running over, panting.
"You're not back yet, Pepe?" Tang En was a little surprised.
"Can I say a few words to you, boss?" Pepe looked at Tang En.
Tang En turned to look at Dunn.
"I'll go back first." Dunn tactfully said goodbye.
After Dunn left, Tang En reopened the office door and invited Pepe in.
"I think I can guess what you want to talk to me about." After letting Pepe sit down on the sofa, Tang En sat on the eaves and looked at his men. "Coincidentally, we were also discussing your matter this morning. I know you want to play, and I really hope you can play soon. But the situation is not that simple. The team doctor told me your body is not fully ready … "
"But I think I'm completely fine, boss," Pepe argued. "Do you think I don't know my own body?"
Seeing Pepe's anxious look, Tang En smiled. "That's not necessarily true, Pepe. What humans don't understand the most is their own bodies … Please believe me, I feel the same as you. We all hope you can play soon. After all, this is a crucial time. We need your ability to defend and attack. "
Pepe looked at Tang En, and Tang En looked at Pepe. The two looked at each other. Pepe wanted to see sincerity in Tang En's eyes, and he saw it.
What Tang En said was true. He really wanted Pepe to recover soon more than anyone else. It was just that he could not express such thoughts in public. Otherwise, it would make Kompany feel that he did not get the respect he deserved.
"I went to ask Fleming, and he told me to come to you. Whether I can train and play with the ball depends on your opinion, boss."
Tang En nodded in acknowledgment. "That's right. Whether a player can play or not, the team doctor can only provide reference opinions. The decision is up to me. But … I hope you know, Pepe, I don't want to ruin your career by being eager for quick success. You're at a crucial moment now. We can't be too hasty … "
"But I don't want to miss the Champions League final because of an injury, boss." Pepe's attitude was also firm.
"No one wants to, Pepe. I don't want what happened to Wood to happen to any of you again. So, to be on the safe side, I can't easily make the decision to let you play. What if you play rashly and get injured again? "
"But the semi-finals are also crucial games …"
Tang En smiled. "So that's what you're worried about. There's nothing to worry about. The one going to Athens will be us, Nottingham Forest, and not Chelsea. Did you watch the first leg of the game? "
Pepe nodded. "I watched it at home."
"Everyone performed so well. How could we be the ones to be eliminated in the end? I told them not to stop until we've won the Champions League title. Now I have to add — we won't stop until everyone is here. Whether it's you, Ashley Young, or Paul Gerrard, we won't stop until they're back in the team. Nottingham Forest is a whole, a team. If we're going to Athens, of course, the whole team will go. We have to pick up the championship trophy, and of course, the whole team has to reach out, no one can be missing. So, you don't have to think about this. Don't worry, the four months of surgery and postoperative recovery will not be in vain. "
Since Tang En had already said so, what else could Pepe say?
"From tomorrow onwards, you'll train with the team." Tang En added. This was what Pepe wanted to hear the most. He had long been tired of "training" alone in the gym.
A smile finally appeared on Pepe's face.
"But I have to remind you, don't hurt yourself in training."
Pepe nodded. "I know, boss."
"Go back and take care to rest."
"Goodbye, boss."
Pepe, who had received the good news, left happily. Tang En then locked the office door and slowly walked out.
At the main door, he bumped into George Wood, who had just finished showering and changing.
Tang En was already used to Wood's practice of giving himself extra training after training. In the past, he was afraid that Wood's body would not be able to take it, so he did not allow him to do extra training. Later, he discovered that Wood was basically a monster from another galaxy. The extra training did not have the slightest negative effect on his body, so he did not care anymore.
"Yo, George, let's go home together." Tang En waved at Wood and stood at the door to wait for him.
After Wood walked over, he asked, "He went to look for you?"
"Yeah. He really wants to play, but I told him not now. "
Hearing Tang En say so, Wood was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then when can it be?"
"The finals." Tang En smiled.
The two walked out side by side. Tang En suddenly remembered something. He turned his head and asked, "George, how many yellow cards do you have?"
"I'm still two away from being automatically suspended," Wood said.
Tang En thought about it. There were still two left. There was still one match left. If Wood got a yellow card in the second round, it would not affect him much. If he got two … then it did not matter how many he had before. He would definitely get a red card.
"Yeah … Be careful." Thinking of this, Tang En could not help but sigh in his heart. How good it would be if Wood had a qualified substitute …
"I know. I'll be careful."
There seemed to be no way to continue the conversation.
The two walked out of Wilford Lane side by side in silence. Next, Wood had to head north, while Tang En had to head south. The two had to part ways here.
"George, how's your mother?" Tang En suddenly asked.
Wood nodded. "Very well."
"I haven't visited her in a while …"
"She knows you're busy, so she didn't let me call you."
Tang En touched his nose. It was not that he was so busy that he did not even have time to visit. "When this season is over, I'll bring Shania along to visit her."
Wood opened his mouth and finally nodded. "I'll tell her."
"Goodbye, George. Have a good rest. "
"Goodbye, Boss."
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