The next day, Greenwood was a little surprised to see Chen Jian running over with the ball in North Wilford. "Chen, what are you doing?"
"Practicing ball control, Manager Greenwood." When Chen Jian stopped to talk to Greenwood, he jumped up with the football on his toes and began to bounce the ball.
Greenwood laughed when he saw him like this. "You don't have to do this on the way here, do you?"
Chen Jian shook his head. "I can't think of any other way. I don't have much time left, Manager Greenwood. There are less than five months left. I have to … "He paused." The training time is limited. I'll use the time to come here and on the way home to practice ball control. "
Greenwood looked at the China boy. In fact, he still did not understand why Twain suddenly became so angry with Chen Jian yesterday. But it was not a question that he had to figure out. He was becoming more and more interested in Chen Jian.
"Well, although you took the initiative to add some training programs for yourself. But don't expect any cuts in your plan during the daily training. "
Chen Jian nodded. "That would be best, Manager Greenwood." With that, he was about to say goodbye to Greenwood but was pulled back.
"Chen. Tell me, what is your dream? Or rather, what are you here for for a year of training? "
"To play professional football." Chen Jian answered without hesitation.
"Where to play?"
Chen Jian thought about it this time. "If … I can play in England or Europe, that would be great. But even if I can't, I can play elsewhere. "
"What about your motherland?"
Chen Jian was stunned.
"I …" He did not know how to answer the question. Naturally, he was Chinese, and naturally, he was patriotic. But he also knew what the situation of China's football was and what the so-called professional league, the Chinese Super League, and the League First Division were like. Finally, he replied as if he had made up his mind. "If I want to play professional football, I won't go back to China to play."
Greenwood nodded in understanding. He had also heard a little about the level of China's football because of Dunn, Sun Jihai, and the "China Hand" Tony Twain in the team. That kind of environment was really not very suitable for a person who wanted to play professional football.
Greenwood patted Chen Jian on the shoulder. "Keep it up. You still have five months."
Chen Jian was trying his best to push down the wall that was blocking his way.
※ ※ ※
After lecturing Chen Jian in the rain, Tang En woke up the next day and realized that his head hurt when he shook it. But he did not take it to heart. After breakfast and a short rest, he went to Wilford to work.
But after standing next to the training ground for a while, he felt that he could not stand it anymore. He did not sneeze, nor did he have a runny nose, nor did he cough. He just had a headache. He felt as if something was about to burst out of his temples. The swelling pain affected his thinking, and he felt weak all over. The muscles on his back were sore, and he felt cold.
He turned to the back and leaned against the pillar that supported the awning, trying to rest.
Kerslake held a whistle in his mouth as he watched the players train on the field. Dunn stood off the field to prepare for the next training program. He noticed that Tang En was no longer standing in his original position. He turned around to look at him curiously.
He saw Tang En leaning weakly against the pillar, his head swaying gently from side to side.
Seeing this, he immediately stopped what he was doing and quickly walked over.
"What's wrong?"
Tang En saw that it was Dunn and continued to shake his head. "My head hurts a little."
"Go see the doctor."
"It's a waste of time." Tang En continued to shake his head.
"Then let Fleming come over and take a look."
"He's a sports injury specialist, not a doctor who can cure everything." Tang En felt that this idea was even more unreliable.
Dunn ignored him and turned to walk over to Fleming, who was examining Beckham's ankle.
"Gary, something's wrong with Tony. Why don't you go take a look? "
Fleming and Beckham raised their heads at the same time and looked at Tang En in the distance. They saw Tang En shaking his head vigorously.
Fleming pressed hard on Beckham's left ankle, causing Beckham to grimace in pain and suck in a breath.
"Ice it after training. You need to rest here. Don't use too much force, David. "After he finished speaking to Beckham, he got up to look for Tang En.
"What's wrong?" Fleming and Dunn's first question were the same.
"Headache." Tang En's answer was the same.
Fleming reached out and placed his hand on Tang En's forehead. Tang En shrank his neck from the chill of his hand. The back of his head hit the pillar and he grimaced in pain. "Your hand is really cold."
Fleming ignored him. His hand rushed up to continue pressing on Tang En's forehead. He continued to ask, "Other than a headache?"
Tang En thought about it and said, "Sore muscles, weak all over, and a little cold …"
"You've caught a cold, idiot." Fleming shook his head. "I heard you threw away your umbrella very coolly yesterday and scolded a China kid in the rain for a few minutes. You're all drenched from head to toe. Did you go back to shower? "
Tang En shook his head. "I only showered the day before yesterday …"
"Poor bachelor," Fleming muttered. "Go back and rest. Take some medicine for your fever. If you really can't handle it, go to the hospital and get an injection. "
"Don't make it sound so serious. What hospital …" Tang En did not want to leave. Now that the team had so many things to deal with, how could he leave?
"If you don't leave, I can't guarantee that you won't spread your cold to the others." Of course, Fleming knew what Tang En was thinking. He hit the nail on the head and pointed out the reason that Tang En could not refuse.
Tang En looked at Dunn and Fleming, who were slowly retreating away from him. He raised his hands. "All right, all right. I'll go back. I'll leave everything here to you guys. Dunn, go tell Kerslake and the others. I won't go over, in case Gary says I'm the source of infection again … "
Fleming used his hand to shove him away. "Hurry up and go. The earlier you leave, the safer we'll be!"
Tang En glared at him, turned around, and walked out.
From the moment Fleming and Dunn walked towards Tang En together, the people on the field had already noticed what was happening there. They were a little surprised to see Tang En suddenly turn around and walk out.
Dunn walked over and said a few words in Kerslake's ear. The assistant manager smiled. He clapped his hands and shouted to the players, "All right, there's nothing to see. Your boss got drenched in the rain yesterday and has a slight headache and fever. In order to not let him infect us, Fleming has already chased him home. "
Some of the players laughed in a low voice.
"Don't laugh. The temperature has been dropping very quickly recently. It's raining all day long, and it's making people feel like their bodies are getting moldy. So, you guys have to be extra careful. Every day after training, you must take a hot shower and change into clean clothes. At a time like this, I don't want to be dragged down by a small cold virus! All right, continue training. Don't let your bodies get cold! "
※ ※ ※
Tang En returned home. After taking a mess of cold and fever medicine, he added two more blankets for himself and went to take a hot shower. Then, he wrapped himself in three thick layers of blankets and lay down on the bed, resigned to his fate.
Lying on the bed, his whole body was still swaying non-stop. It looked like the cold this time was really quite serious …
It was just a little rain … Was it worth it? He grumbled in his heart about his bad luck. When had he ever taken medicine for a cold in the past and been tormented like this? When had he not endured it without doing anything? It looked like his body was really getting old. Every day, every minute, every second, it was gradually aging. When he thought about how other people's transmigration was no different from being reborn, he felt a little angry that he had lost more than ten years of his life.
However, there was no point in being angry about such things. There were gains and losses. He had obtained fame, honor, and money that he had never dared to think about in the past. He might even have obtained a very strange love. It was necessary to give up more than ten years of his life in exchange. How could there be such a wonderful thing in this world where one could achieve one's wishes without sacrificing anything?
Now, what he was most worried about was whether he would be able to command in time for the EFL Cup in a day's time.
After all, the opponent in that game was Arsenal …
Also, when he thought about the current situation the team was facing, he felt that he could not rest in peace.
The team had just defeated the weak Stoke City 1: 0 in the league tournament. The players' condition was still fluctuating. Although the team was currently in third place, the gap between them and the top two teams was getting bigger and bigger. Chelsea and Liverpool both had 29 points. Arsenal had also won, and they were closely chasing Nottingham Forest with 24 points with 23 points. Although Manchester United had lost to Arsenal and was in fifth place with 21 points, they had played one game less than the top teams.
Before the winter transfer window opened, he could not be left too far behind by the top two teams, nor could he allow Arsenal and Manchester United to take the opportunity to overtake him. In January, he would see if there were any free transfer players that could be bought without spending money, as well as those very, very cheap players that he could buy to replenish the team's strength in order to get through the winter.
His swollen and painful brain kept thinking about this and that. The medicine began to take effect. Feeling sleepy, Tang En slowly fell asleep.
※ ※ ※
Tang En finally managed to overcome the cold virus before the EFL Cup. Although his body was still a little tired, and he would intermittently cough and wheeze when he spoke too forcefully, there were no problems mentally. Therefore, he did not take it to heart. Based on his experience, when did the various symptoms of a cold not drag on for a period of time to be completely cured? There was no need to take medicine. He could rely on his body to slowly recuperate and boil it himself. He was so busy every day. If the symptoms were not so obvious, who would remember to take medicine on time?
Nottingham Forest, with its reserve team and youth team as its main force, still lost 1: 3 to Arsenal, who also played with their youth team, at the Emirates Stadium. For three years in a row, they were stopped in the third round of the EFL Cup.
The score of the match very directly displayed the gap between the two teams in terms of the strength of the youth team. Arsenal's side was full of evil spirit, and the stars shone brightly. Carlos Vela scored two goals alone, and Jack Wilshere scored another goal before the end of the match to completely seal the victory.
On Nottingham Forest's side, only Şahin scored a goal, saving some face for the away team.
Although they had lost, Tang En was still very happy to see Şahin's outstanding performance in the match. He alone carried the heavy responsibility of supporting the entire team's offense, and he even personally scored a goal when the striker was closely watched by the opponent. When he engaged in physical confrontations with the Arsenal players, he no longer had any scruples or evasions. It looked like he had already shaken off the psychological shadow of his serious injury.
He felt that the time was ripe for Şahin to play in the First Team matches. The team was currently very short of players. Şahin's arrival could reduce van der Vaart's burden. The Dutchman was indeed put in an important position here, but at the same time, it also doubled the pressure on him. Even George Wood had players that could be rotated. Tang En could not always let Ribéry make a guest appearance in the middle.
When they shook hands after the match, Tang En praised Wenger's young geniuses, unable to hide the urge to drool. Wenger, however, pretended not to see it. He smiled and praised Şahin on his side. "Almost no one would have believed that he could perform like this on the field half a year ago. Tony, you're very good at turning trash into treasure. "
Tang En smiled bitterly. "I was forced." That's right, they were all forced. If the Forest team had a mature youth training system like Arsenal and a reputation that spread far and wide across the world for valuing young geniuses, with all kinds of young geniuses continuously appearing in the youth team, why would he only have to rely on Şahin?
Wenger had spent ten years to make Arsenal what it was today. He had only been there for six years. There was still a long way to go in his coaching career.
"Hey, Professor. Is Wilshere on loan? "Tang En had ideas about Arsenal's young geniuses. Since he had no money to buy players, then it should be fine to loan some to help the team get through this difficult period, right?
Wenger shook his head. "He's in my plans for the First Team, Tony."
Tang En muttered "stingy" in his heart. How was he in the plans for the First Team? He was referring to letting Wilshere play in competitions like the EFL Cup. He rarely had the chance to play in the League Cup. Even if he did play, it would be during garbage time. To put it bluntly, he did not want to loan such a good player to a direct competitor. He did not want to strengthen the strength of the opponent. He did not mention the matter of loaning players anymore. "I wish you all the best in the EFL Cup."
"Thank you."
※ ※ ※
After losing the EFL Cup, Tang En once again became the focus of the British media.
It was not because of what happened in the match. Tang En did not provoke the Arsenal fans on the sidelines, nor did he stare angrily at the fourth official. He did not question the referee's impartiality in the post-match press conference. He calmly accepted the result of losing the match. After all, the EFL Cup was not in his plans.
It was not the match that made him the focus of attention. Instead, it was the publication of a new book.
The famous reporter from The Daily Telegraph, Carl Spicer, had been working on this book for almost half a year. Because he would take the initiative to talk about this book when he was interviewed many times before, this frighteningly long book had already been publicized by him before it was released on the market.
What kind of man is he? Revealing the mysterious aura of Tony Twain.
On the cover of the red book was a blurry back view. The white words of the book's title occupied the entire space, pressing against the heavy color background and the black blurry back view.
On a television talk show, Spicer held up the book and told the public with a serious face:
"He is a 'phenomenon.'"
This was also a sentence on the book's title page.
Tang En had taken note of this famous author's name after he found out that he was doing that extremely boring investigation. He realized that almost all the negative voices against him came from this person's writing. He turned out to be a determined "Twain hater."
So, did he write this book to find a way to defame him and earn royalties at the same time?
The book was sold out the moment it was released. The publishing house did not expect a book that dissected Tang En to sell so well. Even if they were not Forest fans or football fans, they all came to buy it. So, they urgently added a print run, and in a short while, it became expensive.
Carl Spicer proudly announced in his own column that this was a very serious "social topic", and was definitely not one of those boring celebrity gossip biographies. He also refused to admit that he did this to make fun of Tang En, and that it was a form of performance art.
There was almost nothing good about Tang En in the book. It was all scolding him, criticizing him, questioning him, and satirizing him in a roundabout way. The bias was very obvious. But it was this kind of book that sold like hotcakes in the United Kingdom. It had only been released for a week, and it was already on the UK bestseller list for November. It was ranked third, and it had a strong momentum of continuing to climb to the top.
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