Because of a series of injuries, the lineup was not complete, and they had not won two rounds in the league tournament. In the Champions League, they also won by a hair's breadth. They won 2: 1 at home against Borisov of Belarus.
For Tang En, the only good news was that after this game, Nottingham Forest's injuries had basically recovered. There were no major injuries at the moment, and those who had suffered minor injuries were all fine and could play.
It had been more than a month since the start of the league tournament, and Tang En could finally bring out a relatively complete lineup to play.
In the fifth round of the league tournament, Nottingham Forest challenged Tottenham Hotspur in an away game. Tang En sent out his strongest lineup.
Edwin van der Sar, Pepe, Kompany, Gareth Bale, Rafinha, George Wood, van der Vaart, Ribéry, David Beckham, Arshavin, and van Nistelrooy.
Tottenham Hotspur's spending on players this summer was ranked second in the Premier League. But after four rounds of the league tournament, they had one draw and three losses, and were in last place.
Juande Ramos was having a hard time. It was said that if he could not beat Nottingham Forest at home, he would be fired.
Tang En would not pity others at this time, because if he pitied Ramos, who would pity him? Now that Nottingham Forest's morale was low, he urgently needed a hearty victory to reinvigorate their fighting spirit. Then, Tottenham Hotspur, who was having a bad year, was naturally the best target.
Tang En and the coaching staff had made meticulous preparations for this game. He told the players that nothing could make everyone happier than winning an uncontested game at this time. Not only did they have to win, but they had to win without any suspense!
The final score was 3: 0. Nottingham Forest won an away game against Tottenham Hotspur, whose morale was lower than theirs and who was in a more difficult situation. After this game, Juande Ramos was fired by Levy due to his poor results, becoming the first manager to be dismissed in the new Premier League season.
The days of two games a week were not over yet. Nottingham Forest had to continue to raise their spirits to meet the challenge.
On September 25th, Nottingham Forest went to play an away game in the EFL Cup. Tang En sent out a lineup mainly made up of second-string players to challenge Ipswich, and returned with a 4: 1 victory.
These two complete victories finally swept away the bad luck brought about by the previous predicament.
Tang En praised everyone in the locker room, and then the team directly set off from the stadium to go home.
"Yo." On the car back to Nottingham, Kerslake, who was studying the competition schedule, suddenly let out a low cry. He then handed the competition schedule in his hands to Tang En, who was sitting at the back. "Take a look at our opponents in the next round."
Tang En took it and found the opponent for the sixth round of the league tournament — Manchester City.
Even Dunn laughed next to him.
"The media is happy," Kerslake said.
Twain shrugged and did not comment on it.
※ ※ ※
Bendtner could already feel the pressure from the outside world. His life after moving to Manchester City was not much easier than when he was at Nottingham Forest.
At Nottingham Forest, the pressure on him came from the manager, Tony Twain, who had absolute authority. At Manchester City, the pressure came from the doubtful gazes of the media and fans.
His first league game after joining Manchester City was a home game against Chelsea. Bendtner was placed on the substitutes' bench in that game. He only went up to find his rhythm in the second half when they were certain to lose. Robinho scored a free kick in that game, but Manchester City lost to Chelsea 1: 3.
Bendtner was not to blame for the loss of the match. He was only given five minutes of playing time. No one blamed him for not scoring. But it was different in the second game.
In the fifth round of the league tournament, Manchester City faced Portsmouth at home. This game was a festival for the Manchester City fans because Manchester City beat Pompey with six goals at home. Bendtner was in the starting lineup, but the six goals had nothing to do with him at all.
There were no assists, no goals, and he seemed to be outside of Manchester City's tactical system.
Robinho scored a hat-trick in this game. Since joining the team, he had scored consecutive goals and quickly won the hearts of the Manchester City fans. Bendtner, who also joined at the last minute, was caught in a wave of doubtful voices.
After the game, a reporter stopped Bendtner in the mixed zone and asked him why he seemed to be sleepwalking on the field. Bendtner pushed the blame to the team and the lack of teamwork with his teammates.
The reporter then asked why Robinho, who had also just joined the team, performed so well.
Bendtner could only tell the reporter that Robinho was a midfielder and he had more chances to get the ball, so he had more chances to shoot and score. He was a center forward and needed support from the midfield.
This was to say that the effect would naturally be different if the position was different. But when it came to the reporter, Bendtner's meaning became "the Danish striker complained about his lack of support from his teammates."
The Manchester City fans who did not know the truth jeered. During the past two days of training, there would be fans outside the field booing Bendtner when he had the ball. And the gazes of the people in the locker room could not be considered friendly.
This was a situation he had never encountered at Nottingham Forest. When he was at the Forest team, there was Tony Twain to attract the firepower of the reporters who liked to make things difficult for the players. The atmosphere in the locker room was also very harmonious and frank. He did not need to worry about how to guard against reporters. With Tony Twain around, no one would be interested in asking him questions.
Now …
He had been at Manchester City for half a month. Other than Ashley Young, who used to play for the Forest team, he had not made a real friend. Other than greeting and saying goodbye when he left, there was no more communication. Unlike the lively and cheerful Brazilian Robinho, Bendtner seemed a little lonely.
Although he had already left Nottingham Forest, he was used to looking for news about Nottingham Forest first when he browsed the sports news. This habit made him not know whether to laugh or cry, and he felt very helpless. Inertia was too scary …
As a result, he more or less knew the current situation of the Forest team. He was under a lot of pressure, and the burden on Tony Twain's shoulders was not light either.
He sat alone in the locker room at Manchester City's Carrington training base. The players had all left, but he still insisted on staying behind to practice his shooting. Only now did he return to the locker room to shower and change.
This was also a habit developed in the Forest team. Tony Twain did not personally intervene in the training affairs, but he was very focused on the attitude of training. If he caught anyone slacking off in training, they would be severely punished. And because of the existence of George Wood as an example, extra training seemed to have become a practice for many young players to attract the manager's appreciation and fight for a chance to play for themselves.
Now at Manchester City, Mark Hughes did not say that he would definitely be in the starting lineup with extra training. Bendtner still followed the set he did at the Forest team.
Bendtner came out of the shower naked. As he was putting on his clothes, the locker room door was opened.
"Ah …" The person who came in was a little surprised. It was the manager, Mark Hughes. "Nicklas, you haven't left yet? Did you practice shooting again? "
Bendtner nodded. "Yes, boss."
"Just in time, I have something to talk to you about. You do your thing … "He gestured for Bendtner to continue changing. It did not look good with his pants hanging halfway. "About that interview …"
"The reporter misinterpreted my words, boss. I just wanted to say that different positions should not be measured by the same standard … "
Mark Hughes nodded to indicate that he understood. "From my observation, you are not that kind of person. But the atmosphere in the locker room is not very good for you. I think you should take the initiative to explain to them instead of staying silent. You can ignore what the media says, but you can't ignore how your teammates see you. There's something you said that is very true. You are a center forward, and you need support from the midfield. If they have a bad impression of you, you will not be able to get their full support … Do you understand what I mean? "
"I understand, boss. I will apologize to them before training tomorrow. "
Mark Hughes smiled. "Not scoring a goal in a game is not a big deal. Don't listen to the media's cries. If they do not exaggerate, they will not be able to attract the attention of the readers. Continue to play at your own pace. Don't be disturbed by others. "
This was considered as a promise to Bendtner. Bendtner was originally worried that he would be criticized by the manager. Now he could rest assured. Hughes still valued him a lot …
Actually, Hughes had no choice but to value him. He was the only center forward that Manchester City had brought in this summer. There was no other way but to rely on him. Hughes now placed his bets on Bendtner. He thought highly of Bendtner's ability, but he had not adapted to Manchester City's football yet. He did not have enough chemistry with his teammates, so it affected his performance. He believed that as long as the Danish kid recovered to his level at Nottingham Forest last season, all the critics could shut up.
"Oh right. What do you think … Tony Twain is a manager? "Hughes, who was about to turn and leave, suddenly changed his mind and asked.
This question stumped Bendtner.
What kind of manager was Tony Twain?
Good? Bad? Neither good nor bad?
Bendtner shook his head. "I'm not sure. I can't say …"
Hughes nodded. This was also the question in his mind.
"You'll still be in the starting lineup for the next game." With that, Hughes turned again and left the locker room.
Bendtner would not be excited about continuing to be in the starting lineup. When he came to Manchester City, he had already said that he would be put in an important position here. It was certain that he would be in the starting lineup. He glanced at the match-up list pasted on the other wall and found a familiar name behind "Sixth Round of the League Tournament":
Nottingham Forest!
※ ※ ※
"Bendtner finally has a chance to take revenge in person. But I think Tony Twain will not easily let go of the game to humiliate Manchester City and Bendtner … I can imagine how exciting this game will be." Sky TV's 90 Minutes of Football program was analyzing the match-up situation of each game in the new round of the League Tournament. Nottingham Forest's home game against Manchester City was the last game of the sixth round of the League Tournament. This game was chosen by Sky TV to be broadcast live nationwide.
"Our reporters interviewed Tony Twain about this game in Wilford today."
The scene changed to outside the Forest team's training base. Twain was surrounded by a group of reporters. Microphones were extended towards him.
"You're right. His style of football is not compatible with mine. He told me this himself. Now I'm very happy to see the style of football he pursues … "Twain replied as he squeezed his way out.
The scene changed to Manchester City's side again. Bendtner looked at the camera with a straight face and said, "This is just a normal game."
Ashley Young stood beside him and nodded. "Yes, it's just a normal league game. I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill."
Twain pointed to the television and said to Dunn, "Do you believe what the two of them said?"
"I believe Young, but I don't believe Bendtner."
"I don't even believe Young. It would be strange if he did not want to take the opportunity to take revenge on me. He did not gain any advantage in the two games we played last season. He will be more motivated this time with Bendtner. The people I chased away all hold a grudge against me. I still have this bit of self-awareness. "Twain laughed.
"But Bendtner was not chased away by you. He took the initiative … "
"That's why this is even more hateful. I will not allow the team to lose this game! "Twain clenched his fist.
※ ※ ※
Ever since he explained the interview to his teammates in the locker room, Bendtner was once again welcomed by them. On the last day of training before the game in Nottingham, Robinho even patted Bendtner's back and told him that he would pass the ball to him in the game and help him break Forest's goal.
"Bro, we're the same kind of people!" He said to Bendtner in very unpracticed English.
He was right. They were both people who had fallen from grace and did not receive the attention they deserved.
Bendtner thanked Hughes for his suggestion. Now he felt that he was integrating into the group. There was something called "tacit understanding" growing during training. He began to eagerly hope that the match against the Forest team would come sooner.
After training ended, Hughes announced the name list for the game. Ashley Young and Bendtner were both on it. And if there were no accidents, both of them would get the chance to be in the starting lineup for the game. Hughes wanted to make use of these two players who were familiar with Forest to create trouble for Twain.
Ashley Young's breakthroughs from the flank and the powerful center forward, Bendtner …
Tony Twain should be regretting it now, right?
Back in the locker room, Ashley Young went to Bendtner's side and poked him with his hand. "You didn't expect to go up against Forest so soon, did you? You're not used to it, right? Don't worry, you'll feel better soon! Actually, it's not bad to be an opponent. I just like to see his expression after he loses. You say, this person is really strange … Back when I was on the same team, I felt good watching him mock the reporters and opponents after we won. Now that we're on the opposite side, I feel unhappy seeing him like that … "
Bendtner saw that Ashley Young wanted to continue and had no choice but to interrupt him. "I can't wait to play against Forest, Young. And I'll bet you that I'll definitely score in this game! "
Ashley Young glanced at him in surprise. Then, he stood up and announced excitedly, "Everyone quiet down, everyone quiet down!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing after hearing his shout and turned to look at him.
"You don't have any bad ideas again, Ashley." Someone looked at him with a grin.
"Nicklas said he bet that he'll definitely score in the game against Forest!" Young said loudly, pointing at Bendtner. "If he really scores, how about we get him to treat us to a drink?"
"How can you treat someone after winning a bet, Ashley?" Someone objected.
"Then add a number …" Ashley Young grinned at Bendtner, who was sitting on a stool, as if encouraging and instigating at the same time.
Bendtner realized that everyone in the room was looking at him. Some of them were grinning, while others were puzzled. His blood rushed to his head at once, and he extended two fingers. "At least two goals. I'll definitely score at least two goals in the game against Forest! If I only score one goal, I'll treat everyone to a drink! "
A group of people applauded and whistled for him.
Seeing everyone like this, Bendtner felt that he had been completely accepted by these people. He had nothing to worry about in the game against Nottingham Forest.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
