As the referee blew three whistles to signify the end of the game, the City Ground stadium erupted in huge cheers. All the Forest fans stood up from their seats. They raised their arms high and waved to the sky, singing the Forest team song loudly.
Although this was not their first time in the Champions League final, they would not complain about such a victory no matter how many times they had it.
"We have another chance to prove ourselves, to tell the world that last season's final was just an accident. Nottingham Forest's red is bound to become the mainstream color of European football in the future!"
The Nottingham commentator shouted passionately on the radio in the police car.
The young policeman leaned against the car door and listened attentively, while the old policeman turned his gaze to the City Ground stadium not far ahead. It was brightly lit and the cheers were deafening.
I really want to be there … It must feel great!
The walkie-talkie on the shoulder made a rustling sound. "0415, the game is over. Fans are to leave the field immediately. Pay attention to maintaining order. Over."
"0415 understood. Over."
He patted the young man who was listening intently. "Get up and get to work, lad."
"Ah? Okay … "The young policeman was still a little reluctant to leave.
※ ※ ※
The heartbroken Chelsea fans had already begun to leave the field, while the Forest fans remained in the stands, singing and celebrating their victory.
Tang En ended his celebration and walked up to Mourinho.
This time, Mourinho did not avoid him. Instead, he stood in place and waited for Tang En to shake his hand.
Tang En was a little surprised by this.
He walked up to Mourinho and said, "I thought you would turn around and leave."
"If that's what you want, I don't mind turning around and leaving right now," Mourinho said expressionlessly.
Tang En hurriedly held out his hand. "Shake my hand first if you want to leave."
Mourinho held out his hand with a straight face. He touched Tang En's palm lightly and immediately pulled away. After the post-match ceremony, he left the City Ground stadium without looking back. The Chelsea players had long left the field in a hurry. Now, only the Forest fans and players were left on the field.
Tang En saw Mourinho off and dodged the reporters' pursuit. He walked onto the field to celebrate the victory with his team members.
They ran from one stand to the other, constantly waving their hands to thank the fans.
At first, there was only singing in the stands. Then, a voice gradually rang out, repeating intermittently in the singing. Soon, everyone could tell that it was a word.
"Athens!"
Then the singing gradually faded, and this shout became the only sound on and off the field.
Whether it was the fans or the players, even the stadium cleaners who were busy cleaning the stadium, they all stopped their work at this moment and cheered with everyone.
"Athens! Athens! Athens! Athens —!! "
Outside the stadium, the exiting Chelsea fans looked back at the small stadium with some surprise. The roar of "Athens, Athens" could also be clearly heard here.
Beside the police car numbered 0415, the two police officers on duty also raised their heads and looked over. The stadium surrounded by bright lights was like a volcanic crater that continued to emit heat.
The sound grew louder and louder. It rushed out of the City Ground stadium and was carried by the evening wind from Sherwood Forest. It crossed the Trent Bridge outside the City Ground stadium and dispersed in all directions. It spread to every corner of Nottingham.
In the bars, in the taxis, in the residences of ordinary residents, and in the TV section of large shopping malls, this voice stirred the hearts of all the Forest fans. They could not help but raise their arms and shout.
"Athens! Athens! Athens! Athens —!! "
※ ※ ※
The next day, the sports page of the Nottingham Evening Post had a huge headline that occupied half the page. The ridiculously large headline only had one word:
Athens!
There was no need to say anything more. Everyone knew that after the fierce battle between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, Nottingham Forest would go to Athens.
This inspiration from Pierce Brosnan received a surprisingly good effect. This issue of the Nottingham Evening Post had just reached the various newsstands and was snapped up. Compared to the lengthy articles that reported on last night's game, this headline was more direct and made all the Nottingham Forest fans involuntarily recall the passionate night yesterday.
Athens! Athens! Athens! Athens —!!
After receiving the newspaper, the voice seemed to echo in one's ears again, making one want to raise one's arms and shout out loud again.
The real Forest fans did not need to see the other media use words and pictures to describe last night's game. They had watched the whole thing. Now, all they needed was to fully vent the emotions in their hearts.
When Tang En went out to get the newspaper in the morning, the neighbors on this street waved the latest Nottingham Evening Post in their hands when they saw him and shouted, "Athens!!"
Tang En smiled and waved his hand in thanks.
After retrieving the newspaper, Tang En ate the simple breakfast he had casually made while flipping to the sports page. He saw Brosnan's creativity and smiled.
Just then, his phone rang.
"Hello, ah, it's Mr. 007 Reporter." Tang En was in a good mood and joked with Pierce Brosnan on the phone.
"Tony, I want you to accept an exclusive interview with me."
Tang En looked at the headline that the kid had written in the newspaper and nodded. "I have no problem with that. But are you sure this is the best time for an interview?"
Brosnan did not understand what Tang En meant. "Ah? Why not? Your team has just broken into the Champions League final for the second year in a row. This is not something that just anyone can do … "
"No, what I mean is, if you interview me now and then publish it tomorrow, what are you going to do to continue hyping it up in a few weeks?"
"Hmm? In a few weeks? "
"That's right. In a few weeks, after the Champions League final, what are you going to do when you face the new European champion? Are you going to do another interview, Mr. Reporter? "Tang En simply put his feet on the table and leaned against the back of the chair to tease Brosnan.
There was a cry of surprise on the other end and then fell into silence.
Tang En was not in a hurry. He held the phone and continued to read his newspaper.
After a while, Brosnan's voice rang out again. "Tony, are you so sure that your team can win the championship? What if they can't? Our newspaper has to prepare two sets of plans … "
"Don't prepare. Just one set of plans to win the championship." Tang En's tone was unquestionable. "If I can't win the Champions League, I'll jump straight into the Aegean Sea!"
Brosnan froze for a moment. "You really know how to joke, Tony …"
"No, I'm serious. You can even publish this sentence in the newspaper and spread it widely. Let everyone know that I, Tony Tang En, promise to jump into the Aegean Sea if I can't win the Champions League! " Seeing that Brosnan did not utter a word, Tang En added, "If you don't believe me, I can also invite all the media involved in reporting on the Champions League to move to the seaside after the game and witness me jump into the sea with their own eyes."
"Hey, Tony …" Brosnan lowered his voice. "Are you crazy?!"
"You're the crazy one. As a Forest supporter, how can you have so little confidence in your own team? "
"It's not that I don't have confidence … It's just that work is work, and feelings are feelings. It's the rule to prepare two sets of plans to deal with two outcomes before a major final. "
Tang En glanced at the huge headline "Athens" on the newspaper and shook his head. "Well, I'll give you an idea. You can say this to your boss: If Nottingham Forest doesn't win the Champions League, your plan B is to leave a large part of the sports page blank, and then write in bold bold letters — 'Nottingham Forest loses again and again, we have nothing to say!' "
With that, he forcefully hung up the phone.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft!" He spat on the ground three times. "What bad luck! The game hasn't even started, and you're already thinking of excuses for losing. What's the difference between this and every time the China soccer team falls behind and the commentator saying, 'Even if we lose this time, we can still learn valuable experience and learn from our failure'? Cowards without balls! "
After scolding China soccer, Tang En simply tidied up the cutlery and got up to knock on Dunn's door.
It was time for them to leave. They would go to Milan, Italy, to watch the semi-final live and observe their opponents in the final up close.
※ ※ ※
"I didn't think … Nottingham Forest would still make it to the final in the end."
In Milan, after watching the semi-final match the day before, Ferguson chatted with the members of his coaching staff after training. The assistant manager, Queiroz, was a little surprised that the Forest team could eliminate Chelsea. He had always looked down on Tang En and his Forest team, so it was normal for him to be surprised. Perhaps it was because there were many rumors in the outside world that Tang En might be handpicked by Ferguson as his successor, which made him a little jealous. He thought he was the only candidate to take over Ferguson's future Manchester United.
"There's nothing to be surprised about, Carlos," Ferguson said. "It's normal for either of their teams to make it to the final. Don't look down on the Forest team. Otherwise, you'll suffer one day. " He did not give any face to Queiroz. Ferguson had absolute authority here, and no one dared to go against his will.
Queiroz shut his mouth and did not speak.
He felt very embarrassed to be reprimanded by Ferguson in front of so many people, but he could not say anything. He could only keep his depression to himself.
Ferguson did not have the time to care about Queiroz's mental health. He was still discussing last night's game with the coaches, because the final opponents had already been decided. If Manchester United could make it to the final, they would have a big battle with the Forest team.
When that time came, no one would hold back.
"Defensive counterattack … It's really a good way to achieve results in a big competition."
"Maybe we should play defensive counterattack against them in Milan?" someone suggested.
Ferguson glanced at that person.
"Has Manchester United been like Nottingham Forest and persisted with defense as the focus of training for three seasons?"
Everyone shook their heads after being stunned for a while.
"The game is tonight, and you're only asking to play defensive counterattack now? I see that in the end, we'll be the first to break down. Manchester United's football is what it is. There's no need to learn from others. "Ferguson said heroically, and he did have the confidence to say that. As the founder and guardian of the Red Devils Dynasty, Manchester United had its own style. Wouldn't learning from others be a clown who followed the crowd?
"Okay, continue training!" Ferguson stood up and said to the silent Queiroz, "Give me the video of yesterday's game and the first leg of the game between the two teams. We'll study it after the game tonight."
Queiroz nodded.
※ ※ ※
"I'm not surprised that Nottingham Forest can make it to the final. I don't think that Tony Twain is English. He's more like us Italians. " Ancelotti was surrounded by a large number of reporters in the hotel, and the two sides quickly talked about the game that just ended last night.
"Other than that, I have no other opinions." Before the big game, Ancelotti was still very cautious. He also did not want everyone to focus on another team that had nothing to do with him.
"Tonight's game? I respect Ferguson, but the final winner will be AC Milan. "
After hurriedly ending the interview, Ancelotti got up and walked to the elevator. He wanted to go back to his room to rest for a while. It was just past noon, and he had to seize the time to take a lunch break to keep his mind clear for the game at night.
With a "ding", the elevator door slowly opened in front of him. He was surprised to see a person.
Twain was chatting with Dunn in the elevator while waiting for the door to open. When the door just opened a crack, he saw the person standing outside.
"Ha." Twain laughed. "What a coincidence." He said to Dunn next to him, "So this is the hotel where AC Milan is staying. I thought they were all staying in their own homes."
"It's the same for any team, Tony." Dunn reminded him. "Before the game, the training ground, the hotel, and the stadium are all on the same line."
Ancelotti saw Twain and his assistant manager chatting cheerfully and wittily, and his expression turned ugly.
It was not because he felt uncomfortable meeting Twain. It was because his team was staying here, but the enemy's manager was also staying here. Would he not be able to spy on his team's latest movements up close?
Seeing the expression on Ancelotti's face, Twain hurriedly raised his hands and explained to him in English, regardless of whether the other party could understand or not. "Ah, don't worry, Mr. Ancelotti. Although I have a good personal relationship with Ferguson, I'm not some free intelligence agent. This is a complete coincidence … a wonderful coincidence … Hey! "
He had just finished speaking and had not put down his hands when his vision suddenly blurred and a white light flashed.
When his eyes returned to normal, he saw a photographer holding a digital camera give him a thumbs up.
"That's a good pose!" the curly-haired male reporter said in broken English with a retroflex accent.
Twain's brows furrowed, and his expression suddenly turned uglier than Ancelotti's.
"F * ck …" Twain was just about to curse in the international language when he saw the elevator door in front of him closing. Because no one was entering or exiting, the door closed automatically when the time was up.
"… F * ck!" When the last syllable popped out, the door also happened to close tightly.
When Dunn pressed the door again, the photographer was nowhere to be found. Ancelotti did not stand at the door waiting for the elevator. Perhaps he had changed to another one.
"F * ck!" Twain scolded in Mandarin. "That bastard Italian reporter! He'd better not let me see him again! "
"Are you going to kill him if you see him?" Dunn asked.
"No, I'll embarrass him!" Twain said through gritted teeth. "Let's go back. I'm not f * cking in the mood to shop!" With that, he turned back to the elevator and pressed the floor button.
Dunn shook his head and ran in.
※ ※ ※
That night, the second semi-final was held at the San Siro stadium. In the pouring rain, AC Milan, playing at home, made full use of their home advantage to launch a barrage against Manchester United.
The score of 3: 1 represented the final result. According to international practice, the home team was in front and the away team was in the back.
Ferguson's Manchester United suffered a crushing defeat by AC Milan in the away game. Kaka, who was in good form, scored two goals and assisted Seedorf to score a goal. Manchester United only had Scholes take advantage of AC Milan's slack defense at the last minute to score a face-saving goal with a long shot.
Before the game, the media hyped it up as a direct contest between the two young geniuses, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. It was likely to be a confrontation that would determine who would be the FIFA World Player of the Year at the end of the year.
In the end, in the heavy rain, Brazil's Kaka defeated Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. Apart from a yellow card in the 84th minute, Ronaldo gained nothing and was helpless in the face of AC Milan's momentum.
AC Milan eliminated Manchester United with a total score of 5: 4 and advanced to the final.
The "perfect farewell game" that Twain had promised to give to Albertini was right in front of him.
※ ※ ※
The day after the game, La Gazzetta dello Sport did not publish the game in a prominent position, but a photo taken in a hotel.
In the photo, the Nottingham Forest manager, who had also advanced to the Champions League final, raised his arms and faced the AC Milan manager, Ancelotti, as if he was raising his hands in surrender.
The accompanying text below was: Nottingham Forest bows its head to AC Milan!
The photo caused a stir as soon as it came out. After being reprinted by a number of Italian media, it was published in prominent positions. All of Italy laughed at England's Nottingham Forest Football Club, and Tony Twain became a laughing stock overnight.
"… I've never seen a manager who raises his hands in surrender before a game. Thank you, Tony Twain, for opening our eyes!"
A day later, as a counterattack, the Nottingham Evening Post published an article titled "Interview with the Forest manager." From the name, it seemed to be a lengthy article, but the actual content was only one sentence:
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