"I'm sorry I didn't let everyone see my grand occasion of jumping into the sea. Maybe next time I should say 'if I win, I'll jump into the sea' would be better? "
Twain's interview with a BBC reporter was being broadcasted on the LCD televisions that could be seen everywhere in the airport lobby.
This was already in the morning, and it was now afternoon. The Forest team's private plane was about to arrive at London's Heathrow Airport.
During the interview in the morning, Twain had promised to hand over the live broadcast rights to the Forest team's celebration party tonight to the BBC as compensation.
As for the other media outlets, he did not care.
It was clearly written in the contract that the premise of the contract being effective was that the Forest team lost. He did not need to take any responsibility for it. The live broadcast rights to the celebration party were given to the BBC only because Twain had worked with them during the World Cup in Germany, and the two had a good relationship.
"Well, I'm now regretting selling the live broadcast rights to the English media." On the television screen, Twain was well-dressed, radiant, and had a smile on his face. "Maybe I should have sold it to the Italian media? Then I'd watch them sell all the advertisements and swear they'd broadcast me jumping into the sea live. Ha! I'll learn this lesson next time. "
The crowd surrounding the television burst into laughter.
Almost all of them were fans who had rushed over from Nottingham. They had arrived at the airport in advance to welcome the Forest team. They had even pulled up a red banner that read, "Welcome the Champions of Europe — Nottingham Forest!"
Not only did they pull up the banner, but all of them held a newspaper in their hands. It was an extra edition of the Champions League final in the Nottingham Evening Post. It was rushed out overnight by the editorial department and the printing department on the night of the final.
The front page was printed in color. Other than their own registration, the entire page was red. There was a golden number "3" on it, and below the number was a row of golden letters: "Champions — Nottingham Forest." This was the commemorative T-shirt that the Forest team wore to receive the trophy after winning the title.
Other than that, there was not a single extra word on the front page. As a newspaper that was only sold in the Nottingham area, its readers were all Nottinghamians. There was no need for too much prophetic explanation. The Nottingham Forest fans naturally knew what it meant.
Pierce Brosnan sent this to the editorial department as the idea for the front page, and it was immediately approved.
The Forest fans who came to pick up the plane even used the newspapers in their hands as a contact code and identification mark. They raised the newspapers in their hands when they saw people, and then everyone looked at each other and smiled — they were all Forest fans!
There were about 20 media outlets surrounding this group of people, waiting with them for the plane to arrive.
A season ago, at this time, when Tang En and his team flew back from Paris, France, other than these hardcore fans, there were only a few local media outlets in Nottingham and The Sun, which was waiting to mock Tang En. People always lacked interest in a loser. No one wanted to be a loser, but no one cared if a loser wanted to be a loser or not.
※ ※ ※
Through the porthole, Tang En could already see the estuary of the River Thames below the clouds. The surface of the water reflected the rays of the sun, giving it a silvery glow. He turned his head to look at the Champions League trophy next to him, which shone with the same dazzling silver light.
"So beautiful..." he murmured, reaching out to touch the curve of the trophy, as if he was caressing his wife's body — of course, if he had a wife...
After a night of revelry, the players were long exhausted. They had been sleeping since they boarded the plane. Only a few people were still awake at this time.
Tang En and Dunn were among them. Dunn did not sit with Tang En. He went to the economy class at the back, reportedly to receive an exclusive interview with Tang Jing. Tang En snorted when he heard this. What exclusive interview? Why did it have to go from last night to this afternoon?
There was a jolt in the plane, and the voice of the air stewardess appeared in the broadcast. "Dear passengers, our plane is descending. The plane is now jolting. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts."
Some of the players woke up one after another. They looked around blankly and found that they were already in the sky above England.
Tang En did not listen to the air stewardess's instructions. He stood up with the trophy, and then took out a loud voice to command a game and roared, "Wake up, you lazy bums!"
There was a rustling sound in the cabin. In a short while, everyone poked their heads out from their seats. Most of them were sleepy and confused, not knowing what had happened.
"I should really give each of you a mirror and let you see for yourselves. Are all the European champions like this?" Tang En acted as if he had not woken up yet. His strange appearance made the players laugh and drive away their sleepiness.
"Rub your faces. The plane is about to land. Get your spirits up. There are a lot of fans and reporters waiting outside. Don't let them see you like this. "With that, Tang En turned around and sat down.
After a while, Dunn also walked back from the back and sat next to Tang En.
"Is the interview over?"
"Yes."
"A super long interview. I'm suddenly looking forward to it." Tang En whistled.
Dunn did not speak. He knew that his eloquence was not as good as Tang En's. If he continued to talk about this topic, he would soon be defeated.
There was a commotion behind him. Dunn turned his head to look and then nudged Tang En. "Mr. Chairman."
Tang En hurriedly stood up when he heard this. Sure enough, he saw Evan Doughty and Allan Adams greeting the players as they walked towards him.
"Looks like they're looking for you," Dunn said and then sat down on the empty seat across the aisle.
"Players! You've done a good job. I'm proud of your performance! The championship prize will be cashed out when you return to Nottingham! " Evan made a promise about money with a face full of smiles. This was what the players wanted to hear the most now. Everyone whistled, clapped and cheered.
There were three seats in a row. Tang En was seated by the window, and the championship trophy was placed in the middle seat. There was still an empty seat by the aisle. Dunn had intended to give way to another seat, but Evan raised his hand to stop him.
He reached out to Tang En. "Can I hug that?" He was referring to the Champions League trophy.
"Of course." Tang En handed the Champions League trophy to him.
Evan held it in his hands and gently caressed it. Then he sat in the middle seat and continued to hug the trophy to his chest.
Allan Adams sat on the outside seat.
"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Evan asked as he looked at the trophy in his arms.
"Just like a beauty with big breasts and a big bottom," Tang En replied.
Both of them laughed.
"Well done, Tony." Allan, who was at the side, extended his hand to Tang En through Evan and the trophy.
Tang En shook hands with him. "Thank you, Allan. Without your financial support, we wouldn't have been able to get to this stage."
Evan was very happy to see his two great subordinates getting along so well. This meant that there were no cracks within the club. He could still look forward to a better future and more moments like this.
"Tony. You've brought such great glory to the team. The club should also do something. "Evan put down the trophy and handed it to Allan. "What do you want?"
Tang En thought for a moment. "I want the club to increase the investment in the youth team."
Hearing him say this, Evan exchanged glances with Allan beside him and then extended his hand. "Ten pounds."
"Oh, hell..." Allan grumbled as he took out ten pounds from his pocket and slapped it into Evan Doughty's palm.
"You guys..."
"Before I came, I made a bet with Allan. He said you would definitely ask for a raise or something like that, but I said you would consider the development of the team. Thank you, Tony. You helped me win ten pounds. "Evan laughed heartily.
"Hey..."
Evan did not let Tang En continue. He placed his hand on Tang En's shoulder. "Hasn't our youth training always been at the top in England?"
"That was in the past. It's no longer the case now." Tang En wanted to shrug but found Evan's hand on it. He felt that it was not a good idea, so he just shook his head. "Chelsea's new owner has invested a lot of money in the team's youth training. They're poaching people from all over the place. We've also had people poached. Look at the few big clubs in the league now. Which one of them doesn't have an outstanding youth team? Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool... Only us. Our youth training system is like country bumpkins compared to theirs. There's a reality that makes me very depressed. Ever since Bale and Wood, our youth team no longer has a player that I like... "
"Maybe your standards are too high, Tony. Nowadays, the adult team is full of big star players. It's normal for you to look down on those who came out of the youth team... "Evan comforted.
Tang En shook his head. "Maybe. But in the battle with those teams for young talents, we're already at a disadvantage. That's a fact. "
Evan nodded in agreement. "But, Tony... I have something to tell you."
As more and more players woke up in the cabin, it gradually became lively. However, Evan lowered his head and lowered his voice. Clearly, he did not want more people to hear what he was going to say next.
"Your request might be difficult for us to fulfill..."
"What?"
"I mean, we might not be able to come up with too much money to invest in the youth team in the near future. At the very least, I can't be as generous as that Abramovich. Because... uh, Allan and I are planning to build a new high-capacity stadium for the team. "
Tang En opened his mouth and looked at Evan in surprise.
He really did not expect to hear such news.
In the FM Football Manager game that he played, he could make various requests to the club's board of directors as a manager, such as improving the training facilities, improving the construction of the youth training system, finding satellite clubs, giving a higher salary cap and transfer fee budget, as well as expanding or even building a new stadium.
Of these requests, the last one was the most difficult. When Tang En played the game, he had more than once proposed to the club to expand and build a new stadium, but the answer he received was basically "no." He did not even hesitate to threaten to resign, but the result was the same. He had led the team to win all the championships in the world and was ranked first in the world rankings, but he was abandoned by the board of directors when it came to "new stadium or new manager."
Just because of the problem of the stadium not having enough seats, he could be fired by the damn club's board of directors without hesitation.
Because he had a deep impression of this absurd matter, Tang En did not even think of proposing to the team to expand and only build a new stadium. Even though he also felt that the City Ground stadium, which could only accommodate 30,000 people at most, was ridiculously small and did not match the status of the Forest team...
Evan looked at Tang En's expression and thought he was angry that the club did not give money to improve the youth team's construction and instead planned to build a new stadium. He intended to explain. He did not want to be at loggerheads with his manager the day after winning the Champions League title.
"Uh, Tony... the thing is actually like this..."
Tang En raised his hand to interrupt him. "You really have plans to build a new stadium?" He looked at Evan and then at Allan.
It was Allan who came out and nodded. "Yes, Tony. We started planning this idea during the semi-finals. Evan and I both felt that the current City Ground stadium could not accommodate too many fans. This is not compatible with our team's current results in the European arena and the domestic league. As you know, a new stadium requires a lot of money. Just look at Arsenal's predicament over the past few years. So, once this plan is implemented, we really do not have much money for your youth team, and I'm afraid we won't have much money for you to operate in the transfer market... "
Evan was always unwilling to do such an offensive thing, so only Allan stepped forward.
Tang En was not a fool. He looked at Evan's lowered head and did not say a word, and then looked at Allan's expression. Then, he laughed. "Wait, do you think I'll fly into a rage and lash out at this plan?"
Hearing him say this, Evan raised his head to look at him.
"I've had the same thoughts as you for a long time. I also feel that the City Ground stadium, which can only accommodate 30,000 people at most, is too small. I'm very much in favor of the new stadium plan. "
The expressions of the other two relaxed, as if they had been relieved of a burden.
Any discordant voices within the club were not what Evan wanted to hear.
"But..." Tang En's tone changed. "We can take it slow with the youth team. I hope to at least have a plan. How much money will be invested every year? Not much, but it has to be invested continuously. As for the transfer fee... Anyway, I've been used to saving money for the club during transfer negotiations for the past few years. It doesn't matter if it's a little less. Our current lineup is very strong. We don't need a large transfer fee to replace the entire team. We just need to add a few players in a few positions. "
Hearing Tang En say this, Evan and Allan looked at each other, the stone in their hearts completely lifted.
"There's no problem with the construction of the youth team. I also know that any powerhouse club must have a youth training base that matches its status. Besides, Tony, our transfer situation in the past few years has generally been more in than out... "
Tang En knew what he meant.
"When the transfer market reopens, there will definitely be one person who will leave."
Evan and Allan did not ask him who that person was, because everyone knew in their hearts.
"But," Tang En changed the topic, "we may not be able to earn that much money from that person. He won't sell as well as he did last year. "
"Who asked you to freeze him for a season?" Evan laughed.
"I won't let someone who opposes me leave the forest so easily." Tang En shrugged. "He has to suffer a little. Now I'm sure he's suffered enough... "
Allan interrupted him. "What if this championship suddenly makes him change his mind and want to stay in Nottingham Forest?"
Tang En answered Allan's question without hesitation, as if he had already thought of an answer. "The result will be the same. He'll leave. Allan, do you know? This is a good opportunity to tell the players who the boss of this team is. I won't let it go. "
As he spoke, the plane shook. They landed.
"I support you, Tony." Evan nodded his head, using the shaking. "In the team, you have the final say."
Having said that, Evan and Allan left without waiting for the plane to stop.
Tang En got up and called out to Albertini, who was sitting behind him. "Demetrio, come over here!"
"What's the matter, Boss?" Although he had announced his retirement, Albertini was still used to calling Tang En "Boss" in the team.
"Later, you and I will walk at the front." Tang En pointed to the Champions League trophy in his hand. "The two of us will carry it off the plane."
Albertini was a little hesitant. "I've already retired, Boss. You should let George come... "
"Bullsh * t!" Tang En scolded in a low voice. "Did I announce the disbandment of the team? This season is not over yet! If George wants to enjoy this glory, wait for the next time! This time, it's just you and me walking at the front. Not only here, but also on the way back to Nottingham, and at our final celebration party... Until then, you'll still be the captain of this team. "
Albertini smiled helplessly. "Okay, I'll listen to you, Boss."
※ ※ ※
After the plane left the runway and stopped on the tarmac, the reporters and welcoming fans swarmed forward. The police in charge of maintaining order tried their best to keep these people behind the safety line. The scene was a little chaotic and noisy.
It was only when they saw the cabin door open that it suddenly quieted down.
The police felt the pressure around them suddenly lighten and looked up.
The cabin door slowly opened, and the first to walk out was Tony Twain. He raised one hand to wave to the welcoming crowd below, while the other hand remained in the plane. With his footsteps, the Champions League trophy and Albertini appeared in front of everyone.
The two men were not in a hurry to walk down, but stood at the door and raised the trophy high together.
The climax had come.
The fans below cheered in unison, and the camera flashed.
"Ladies and gentlemen... This is the UEFA Champions League!" The live television broadcast gave a big close-up of the trophy in the hands of Tang En and Albertini. "The hands that hold it have worn the jerseys of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich... Now it's Nottingham Forest's turn!"
A female broadcaster said emotionally in front of the camera. Her words were heard by the fans next to her, and they clamored, their words full of pride. "This is not the first time, not the first time! This is the third time we've held her up! Nottingham Forest is a team that has won the UEFA Champions League three times! "
The female broadcaster was startled by the sudden shout and did not make a sound for a long time.
Tang En and Albertini walked down the gangway with the trophy high. From the moment they appeared at the cabin door, the camera flashes had not stopped.
Behind them, the Forest players filed out. They had already changed out of their jerseys and were wearing well-ironed dark red suits. This was the uniform that the Forest Football Club had issued to the players and coaches for official occasions.
Such attire made them look full of energy, completely without the dazed look of someone who had just woken up. Tang En looked back at his players. He was very satisfied with the performance of this bunch of kids.
When Tang En and Albertini walked down the gangway with the trophy in their hands, the police officers on both sides once again felt the immense pressure coming from behind them. Those people desperately squeezed forward, wanting to get close to the trophy that shone brightly under the sun.
Some of the police officers' hats were squeezed until they could not hold them steadily, and the scene became chaotic.
Tang En stopped and motioned for Albertini to cooperate with him to raise the trophy high again. Then he raised his hand, signaling for the fans to quiet down. He had something to say.
This move was very effective. The fans did not listen to the police, but they all listened to the manager.
A young police officer looked at Tang En with a smile. While desperately trying to maintain order, he asked his companion beside him, "Is he here to help us stabilize the fans' emotions?"
The slightly older police officer gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, "Who knows … It'll be good if he doesn't cause trouble!" The older police officer was very dissatisfied with being sent to the airport to be in charge of maintaining security. On the one hand, it was because he was a Chelsea fan and did not like to see his opponent being so glorious. On the other hand, it was because wherever Tang En was, there would be trouble.
"Hey! I say, guys! " Tang En raised his voice and roared as if he was directing the game on the sidelines. "Everyone still remembers what she was like before I took over this team, right?"
"Yes!" The hundreds of fans present responded loudly.
"Now, Manager Tony Twain is going to give an impromptu speech …" the female host whispered into the microphone, for fear of interrupting Tang En's speech.
"Going back twenty-three years from that day, everyone still remembers what the Forest team was like at that time, right?!"
"Yes!!" This time, the voice of the reply was much louder, because it was the most glorious period in the Nottingham Forest Football Club's history. They fought their way out of League Two and became the First Division champions. They also won the UEFA Champions League for two consecutive years. Before Wenger's Arsenal, they created the longest unbeaten record of 42 games in England's top league. Liverpool, who dominated Europe, was defeated by them twice in a year: in the league and the Champions League. For a time, the red Nottingham Forest was in the limelight.
The names of Brian Clough and his disciples were engraved in the annals of the UEFA Champions League.
"Very good!" Tang En nodded. Then, he took the other handle of the trophy from Albertini's hand. He raised the trophy high and roared, "Counting from that year to now … Twenty-seven years later! We're back again! Let the whole of Europe tremble! Let our opponents be afraid! Let those people who look down on us go to hell! There are more championships ahead waiting for us to embrace! "
Hundreds of fans followed their manager and howled wildly at the sky. It was just as the older policeman had said: the scene was even more chaotic …
Amidst the crazy shouting, the female host had no choice but to raise her voice. "Manager Tony Twain gave an impromptu speech to his supporters at the airport. He told these people that everything has just begun! This is the report that BBC Television has sent back to you from the scene. "
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