"The departure of the former Chelsea manager, José Mourinho, has caused huge repercussions in the world of football. The inside story of his dismissal and his replacement have been the topic of media speculation these two days. Yesterday, a group of Chelsea fans held a small demonstration at the entrance of Stamford Bridge stadium to protest the firing of Mourinho by Chelsea's chairman, Abramovich. Managers of other teams have commented that Abramovich's firing of Mourinho is a setback for football. "
The scene changed and Tony Twain's face appeared on the television screen. He was at the entrance of the Wilford training base, facing a large number of reporters, looking into the camera and saying, "Dear Mr. Roman Abramovich, beep — beep —"
When Sky TV played the video, they muted Twain's foul language. But everyone could guess what was muted from the shape of his mouth. It was "F * * k you."
"Yesterday morning, Manager Twain's remarks brought him some trouble. The Nottingham Forest Football Club has received a formal letter of protest from the Chelsea Football Club, expressing strong dissatisfaction with the personal attack by the Forest manager, Tony Twain, against their club chairman. They also stated that no one in the Chelsea Football Club has contacted Twain through any channel to invite him to coach. "
The television showed the news that had happened a day ago.
Twain's big mouth had caused trouble for him again. In the overwhelming news about Mourinho, his foul language had earned him valuable space. Just yesterday, after he had "warmly greeted" Abramovich in front of several media outlets, his words and the photo of him saying it appeared in several nationally influential newspapers. Television stations also reported the news in the sports news.
Twain did not just scold Abramovich in front of the media. He also wrote a fierce attack on the Chelsea Football Club's top brass in his column, saying that this rude attitude was a murder of the Chelsea fans. "They murdered the Chelsea fans' joy of pursuing victory."
Tang En's unyielding attitude and reaction surprised many people. That was why his foul language incident had the value of being on the news. Originally, everyone thought that Tang En and Mourinho were a pair of famous enemies in the Premier League. They were just short of sending bullets and death threats to each other. Mourinho's dismissal should be something that Tang En could not be happier about.
Who would have thought that Twain would stand on Mourinho's side this time and scold the Chelsea Football Club?
None of the 19 managers in the Premier League expected Tang En to have such an intense reaction. Ferguson and Wenger only expressed regret and regret for Mourinho's dismissal, and at the same time praised Mourinho's achievements in more than three years at Chelsea. Only Tony Twain cursed out loud, almost losing his composure.
No one could guess what Tang En was thinking. Why did he do this? What good would it do him?
This time, even Evan Doughty had made it clear to Tang En that the club would not stand on Tang En's side and would not come forward to defend him after he had summoned Tang En. Because this was clearly Tang En's own private matter and had nothing to do with Nottingham Forest Football Club. Forest Football Club was only dragged into this because of Tang En.
Tang En also agreed with Evan's way of handling things. This time, it was indeed caused by him venting his personal emotions. Another reason why he did not want the club to be implicated was … if he dealt with it alone, he might have more freedom. He would not have to worry about issues like the club's image.
※ ※ ※
"Did they really not look for you?" Back home, during dinner, Shania asked about whether Chelsea Football Club had looked for Tang En to be the manager.
Tang En shook his head. "They didn't look for me. And even if they had the intention to look for me, they can't find me now. "
"Well …" Shania bit on her spoon and looked at the ceiling. "What if they really looked for you?"
"Refuse." Tang En's answer was very straightforward. He then added, "But before I refuse, I have to tease them."
He smiled. Shania glared at him. "Are you going to get yourself into trouble again?"
"This is not considered trouble. It's just a small change in life. Don't you think it's too hurtful to refuse them with a straight face? So, we can play the role of entertaining the public by changing our approach. Don't you like pranks the most, Shania? "
Shania's quick-witted eyes turned. "What bad idea do you have now?"
Tang En chuckled. "Tomorrow or the day after, I have to gather the reporters to hold a private press conference to publicly apologize to Abramovich and the Chelsea Football Club."
Hearing him say so, Shania's eyes widened and she looked at him incredulously. "You're going to admit defeat, Uncle Tony?"
Tang En laughed. "How is that possible? You don't have much work to do during this time, and you don't dare to go out most of the time. You're bored at home, so I'm going to find you some fun. Anyway, you'll know when you see the news. "
He said it so mysteriously that Shania did not continue to ask. Anyway, she believed that her Uncle Tony was not a guy who would do as others wished so easily. When you thought he wanted to be like this, he would definitely be like that.
※ ※ ※
The next day, Pierce Brosnan received a call from Tang En. On the phone, Tang En asked Brosnan to help him contact his friends in the media to hold a simple press conference at the Wilford training base.
Tang En specifically stated that it was a private press conference and had nothing to do with the Nottingham Forest Football Club. He could also tell him in advance that it was held to apologize to Mr. Abramovich.
Not to mention the specific content of the press conference, the news itself was enough for Tang En's picture to appear in the newspapers, on television, and on the Internet in the morning. Tang En had scolded someone the day before yesterday, and he actually wanted to apologize today. For Tang En, scolding people was a common thing, but apologizing was uncommon, especially when he had to publicly apologize with great fanfare just one day after f * cking the other party. That was something that had never happened before.
Brosnan felt that the matter was probably not as simple as Tang En said. He asked, "Mr. Tang, are you … really going to apologize to that Russian?"
On the other end of the phone, Tang En laughed in a hoarse voice. "Of course, it's an apology. A public apology can fully show my sincerity. Help me contact your friends in the media. You know, I have more enemies than friends in your circle. It's not easy for me to say some things. You're more useful than me. "
Brosnan, who had agreed, hung up the phone somewhat gloomily. Yesterday, he had just written an article in his newspaper to wave the flag and shout out for Tang En. He did not expect the protagonist's attitude to take a 180-degree turn today, and he became the one who was riding a tiger.
He told the news of Tang En's apology to his boss, and the boss was very happy. He did not care that his newspaper had always firmly supported Tang En. The sensation of this matter was no less than Tang En scolding Abramovich. If he manipulated it well, it might even surpass the matter of Mourinho's dismissal. As long as it was beneficial to the newspaper's sales, the boss was willing to do anything.
He decided to contact influential media outlets from all over the country to attend the press conference to be held at the Wilford training base tomorrow. He reserved two pages for Tang En in his newspaper. He had to report and analyze the press conference in detail from multiple angles. He even thought of the title for one of the news articles for Brosnan.
"The madman bows his head! What do you think of this title, Pierce? "he asked Brosnan excitedly.
Brosnan nodded and praised the boss, but he had another thought in his mind.
He had a feeling that things were not so simple. He understood Tang En and knew what kind of temper he had. Although Abramovich was very rich and Chelsea could be considered a quasi-powerhouse, Tang En had no reason to give in just because of a letter of protest, let alone a public apology. The Tony Twain he knew was a person who would not give in even in the face of the Queen of England. He always seemed to have a temperament that was not afraid of anything. And the greater the pressure exerted by the other party, the greater his rebound.
Rebound?
Brosnan suddenly thought of something.
He decided to rush to the scene tomorrow to watch a good show.
※ ※ ※
"Manager Tony Twain has decided to issue a public apology for his abusive words to Mr. Abramovich, the chairman of the Chelsea Football Club. For this reason, he has specially invited many media outlets to attend the press conference at the Wilford training base tomorrow." Sky TV's evening sports news reported the latest development of Tang En's foul language.
Tang En was actually going to give in and apologize. This was not considered a small news in the media. Many media outlets naturally followed up with their reports.
Those who liked him were surprised, while those who hated him were waiting to see tomorrow's joke.
Some media outlets ran to the Chelsea Football Club to interview them on their reaction to the matter. The Chelsea Football Club was already annoyed by the recent matter of Mourinho's dismissal, and they did not express any opinion on the matter of Tang En's apology. But everyone believed that Chelsea would pay close attention to the matter — that was almost certain. You could like Tony Twain a lot, or you could hate him a lot, but you just could not ignore him.
Since the phone call that morning, Tang En and Mourinho had not had any contact. From the overwhelming news offensive, Tang En knew that Mourinho had returned to Portugal.
He did not do this to show goodwill to Mourinho. He did not need to show any goodwill at all. His sudden outburst was only driven by the desolation in his heart.
He knew that he and Mourinho were "the same kind of people." As a strong-willed, rebellious, and arrogant manager, in a country like England where conservatism was traditional, he seemed very different. Their predecessor, Brian Clough, had a mixed reputation throughout his life. It was hard to say whether it was good or bad. Even after decades of development, they still felt a little out of place in this society.
Mourinho was a little like Tang En's reference in this circle. The treatment he received might become his treatment one day in the future. Because Abramovich was also a strong man, the contradiction between the two men was quickly revealed. What about himself?
Although Evan Doughty knew how to be a good leader and knew how to tolerate Tang En's temper, he was still the boss. No matter what the media said, no matter what the fans around the world thought, no matter how famous Tony Twain was outside, Evan was the real owner of the club. When the status of the Forest Football Club changed along with their rising results, it was uncertain whether the real boss would still be willing to stay behind the scenes, whether he would still tolerate everything.
Tang En was very clear about this, but his strong personality was also something that Tang En could not change. This kind of personality had long been branded into his life and soul. It was probably impossible to change it even if he wanted to. Although he knew that it might bring some bad consequences, he was still indifferent. This was his personality. Personality determined fate.
Therefore, seeing such a famous figure like Mourinho eventually unable to escape the fate of being dismissed, Tang En felt a sense of loneliness in his heart.
He and Wenger had a good personal relationship, but Wenger did not understand him. He and Ferguson had a drink together and raced together, but Ferguson did not understand him either. He had never had a drink with Mourinho because Mourinho always refused to drink with his enemies. He had also never had a conversation with Mourinho about love. They had never said a good word to each other. When they met, they were always eager for each other to die. But they understood each other because they were the same kind of people.
Brian Clough said to his wife, who exclaimed, "Oh God, your feet are so cold." "Honey, just call me Brian."
José Mourinho said, "Other than God, it's me."
Tang En did not believe in God, but he thought he was the protagonist, the center of the world.
They were more arrogant and confident than anyone else, and they were also more fragile than anyone else. If it were the Middle Ages, they might have been declared heretics by the Inquisition and burned at the stake. They were not afraid of authority. In that world where authority dominated everything, not fearing authority meant heresy, and heresy meant death. Thanks to the progress and development of the times, heretics did not have to be tied to the stake, but they would lose their jobs and even lose their reputations.
Pele, who was also a football king, did better than Maradona after his retirement because he clung to authority. Maradona did not fear authority. It was the same principle.
Don't look at how Tang En was doing now. Back then, Mourinho was no worse off than Tang En. UEFA Europa League, Premier League, UEFA Cup, Champions League, Treble, and two consecutive Premier League titles. Now, he was dismissed. No matter how unwilling the fans were, he could not rely on the support of the fans to stop all this from happening, because he was not the real boss. He was not the "authority."
The events of the past few days made Tang En lament the loss of a good opponent, but it also made him worry deep in his heart. Would Mourinho's today become Tony Twain's tomorrow?
So, when he scolded Abramovich and Chelsea, was he speaking up for Mourinho? No, he was defending himself.
Of course, the way a madman defended himself was certainly different from an ordinary person.
※ ※ ※
Shania could clearly feel that her Uncle Tony wasn't in a good mood for the past few days. Although the smile on his face did not lessen at all, and he would joke with her and tell jokes during dinner.
On the surface, Tang En was no different from before. But as someone who had known Tang En for several years and spent time with him, Shania knew that Tang En was not in a good mood and was a little irritable. It was difficult to explain why she felt that way. She could only attribute it to a more supernatural reason. She and Tang En had a tacit understanding and telepathy. She understood Uncle Tony's heart and could feel his every emotional fluctuation.
Therefore, she hoped she could be of some help. But in a man's world, how could she help?
Her friends were all people in the fashion and entertainment circles. It was impossible for them to stand up and say, "We all support Tony Twain." That would only make people laugh their heads off.
Unfortunately, Dunn was in China during this time and could not help Tang En solve his problems, which made Tang En feel even more lonely.
During dinner, Shania tried hard to find some jokes to tell to Tang En, hoping that he would be in a better mood after hearing them. But … Shania really had a talent for telling corny jokes …
Tang En found it a little strange. Shania's jokes were outdated and not funny. Why did she keep telling them?
"Is there something bothering you, Shania?" He finally could not help but ask.
Shania shook her head hard. "No."
"But your behavior today is very unusual."
"Is it?" Shania's lips curled into a smile.
Tang En stared at her for a while. During this time, Shania kept that smile.
"Alright, if you don't want to tell me, I won't force you."
Hearing Tang En's tone was not very good, Shania panicked. She did not want to mess things up. "It's not like that!" She hurriedly said. "I … I just feel that Uncle Tony's emotions have been very unusual recently. You're upset, and I want to cheer you up a little."
Hearing Shania say this, Tang En was a little surprised. He looked at Shania again. This time, Shania frowned and pursed her lips.
Seeing her like this, Tang En suddenly smiled. Across the dining table, he reached out to touch Shania's head.
"Silly girl."
Shania did not avoid it. She just shrank her neck and let Tang En touch her.
"Why would I be upset? Don't worry, there's nothing. When tomorrow's press conference is over, this matter will have nothing to do with me. Why should I be so concerned about other people's matters? It's just that I scolded someone. I have to give them an explanation, right? After this, how the media likes to hype it up has nothing to do with me. "
Tang En retracted his hand and pointed to the plate in front of him. "Let's eat."
Shania did not start eating. She only carefully asked, "Is it really okay?"
"It's really okay. Anyway, you just wait for the show tomorrow. "Tang En chuckled.
※ ※ ※
The next day, before the team started training, Tang En came to Wilford early to attend the private press conference he held.
Media from all over the country flocked there. Dozens of reporters crowded the small press conference venue, and it was a hubbub of voices. Now they were waiting for the main character to appear. Before Tang En appeared, the reporters present were talking about the official news announced by the Chelsea Football Club this morning — Mourinho's successor had been found, and he was Grant, the Israeli who served as Chelsea's technical director. The media was a little surprised by this arrangement. Generally speaking, when a manager left, an assistant manager or a director would be appointed as the acting manager. This was an unwritten rule in English clubs. However, Grant had no previous experience in coaching a top European league team, nor was he an assistant manager. It was hard to understand why Abramovich would let him coach Chelsea. Moreover, Chelsea's chief executive, Kenyon, also specifically said that Grant was not a transitional manager. This meant that he was officially the new manager.
When he first became Chelsea's technical director, Mourinho angrily questioned him publicly, "What qualifications does this person have to coach me and my team?"
Now he had gone one step further and become Chelsea's manager. Many reporters shook their heads when they talked about this personnel change, thinking that Chelsea was done for this season. They were almost halfway through the league tournament. They were ranked sixth. A sudden change of manager, low morale, and a lot of things had to start from scratch.
The buzz of discussion suddenly stopped. Tang En, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, appeared formally in front of everyone. Just as he said, a formal press conference and a formal public apology could reflect his formal sincerity.
There was nothing wrong with the statement itself, but when it came from Tang En's mouth, it felt like nonsense.
There was no reason to reason with Tony Twain. Although he always said that he was a reasonable person, that was because Tony Twain's "standards of reason" were different from the "reason" that the general public was familiar with.
Everyone noticed that Tang En was holding a piece of paper in his hand. Could it be an apology letter?
Tang En walked to the microphone and coughed. "Next, I'll read out my apology letter to Mr. Abramovich."
There was a small commotion. It was indeed formal. He even prepared a script. In the past, Tang En never needed a script for such press conferences. He would spit it out as soon as he opened his mouth.
"… I apologize for my rude remarks to Mr. Roman Abramovich two days ago." Tang En did not say any nonsense. He directly lowered his head and read the script. His attitude looked very sincere, without the slightest sarcasm or impatience on his face. "At the time, the media asked me what I thought of Chelsea's desire for me to become their new manager. To be honest, I thought the man was joking at the time, even though the facts proved that he was indeed joking. But at the time, that friend insisted that what he said was true and hoped that I would answer seriously. I was very annoyed by such a boring question because I thought it was an insult to my loyalty to Nottingham Forest. In the heat of the moment … "He coughed and looked up at the media below. He found that they were all listening to him intently.
"In the heat of the moment, I burst out with vulgarities. After I calmed down, I have fully realized my mistake and am deeply remorseful and uneasy about the hurt I have caused Mr. Abramovich. I hope Mr. Abramovich understands how much I respect him. His arrival changed the sport of football and injected a strong life into it. It was he who changed the status quo of Chelsea Football Club. I have always respected such a generous man who loves football so much. I have no doubt about his passion for football and his love for Chelsea Football Club. "
When Brosnan heard this, he already smelled a conspiracy. This attitude was so good that it felt a little fake …
"Not only do I not have any dissatisfaction with Mr. Abramovich, but I also want to thank Mr. Abramovich and the think tank around him. I want to express my most sincere gratitude to you."
There was a low murmur of discussion below. There were already more and more people who found it strange. If there was an apology, then so be it. What was this gratitude?
"Thank you for helping my team drive away a strong competitor in the fight for the league title, a very threatening enemy." At this point, Tang En suddenly looked up and smiled. His smile was very bright, but in the eyes of the reporters, this smile could not be more familiar — they had all been fooled!
They were called over by Tang En from all over the country just to cooperate with him in putting on a show to continue to humiliate Chelsea and Abramovich.
"Mr. Mourinho's Chelsea was originally an important opponent in my plan. Now I'm very happy to see that this opponent no longer exists. That way, I can have more energy to focus on the games with several other main competitors. So, I must take this opportunity to thank the top executives of the Chelsea Football Club, especially Mr. Abramovich, who has made a great contribution in this matter. If my team eventually wins the championship as I wish, I will send you a bouquet and a greeting card to express my gratitude. Because of this, I realize how foolish my previous foul language and slander of Mr. Abramovich were. Mr. Abramovich is a friend of Nottingham Forest. He is a friend of mine. Thank you very much! "
Tang En's tone was sincere. He was just short of a bow.
"I thank Mr. Abramovich and express my deep admiration for you. It was you who made the sport of football full of competitiveness and vitality. Even though … this may have sacrificed a little of Chelsea's interests … "Tang En smiled." Your friend forever, Tony Twain. "
After reading this "letter of apology" that made people at a loss whether to laugh or cry — would anyone still see this letter as an apology letter — Tang En closed the paper in his hand, put it back into his pocket, and prepared to leave.
A group of reporters stood up one after another, raised their arms high, and shouted at Tang En, "Mr. Tony Twain!"
"Mr. Twain, please wait!"
"Do you really think this is an apology to Abramovich, and not a further provocation?" Someone shouted in a loud voice amid the chaos at the scene.
Tang En did not stop. "This is indeed an apology. It's the most sincere apology and gratitude. There's absolutely no insult in it. If you think it's an insult and provocation, that's your problem, Mr. Reporter. "
"But anyone with a normal IQ wouldn't think those words were good …"
"Are you insulting Mr. Abramovich's IQ? Be careful of the Chelsea Football Club's official letter of protest. "
"Mr. Twain! Mr. Twain … We still have questions! "
"I'm really sorry. I didn't say we could ask questions freely after the press conference." Tang En was about to walk out.
Someone shouted loudly, "Mr. Twain! What do you think of the matter of Chelsea letting Avram Grant replace Mourinho as the new manager … "
This time, Tang En stopped in his tracks after hearing the reporter's loud question. He turned his head and scanned the chaotic and noisy press room. He could no longer find the person who had shouted the question. But it was not important.
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