"George Wood dribbled the ball and broke through! He broke into the penalty area! Faced with Samuel and César's defense … he shot! Oh, it's a pity the football hit the goalpost … Wait a minute! Matías Fernández! He got rid of Burdisso's defense and volleyed sideways — GOOOOOAL!! "
The football hit the net hard, and César rushed over, but it was to no avail …
Fernández, who scored the goal, looked very excited. He ran to the corner flag, pulled at his jersey and roared. He could finally vent the gloom in his heart.
Even though he was the one who scored the goal, the person who got the most attention was indeed George Wood. The television broadcast cut the close-up to Wood immediately after the goal was scored, causing some viewers to mistakenly think that the person who scored the goal was George Wood …
"Fernández helped Nottingham Forest score the goal to take the lead again, but the most exciting part of this goal was not his rebound shot, but George Wood's previous shot that bypassed several people. It's a pity that he was unlucky and the football hit the goalpost. Otherwise, this would have become one of the memorable goals of his career!" The commentator praised George Wood.
Even Tony Twain felt it was a pity that Wood did not score. He then remembered that he should applaud Fernández's rebound shot …
Who was the happiest person to see Wood's performance like this? It was not the excited commentator, nor was it Tony Twain, who could not believe what he saw with his hands on his head, nor was it the Nottingham Forest fans. It was Albertini, who sat in the box above the field.
When Demetrio saw Wood dribble the ball past several people in the midfield, he had already stood up from his seat. When Wood's last shot was aimed at the goal, he could not help but shout "goal" in advance. Unfortunately, the football hit the goalpost in the end.
But this was not the most important thing. Albertini was very happy that he saw a completely different George Wood from the one he had seen before. It could even be said that he was better than the George Wood he had originally envisioned.
Albertini hoped that Wood would become a defensive midfielder who could control the pace of the team's offense and defense, just like AC Milan's Pirlo. But from his performance in this game, he was approaching the combination of Kaka and Pirlo …
He could pass the ball to dispatch the team, and at the same time, he had the ability to dribble the ball forward to break through. This was simply too terrifying …
Albertini also came to watch the game with his good friend, AC Milan's iconic figure, the retired Paolo Maldini. He laughed when he saw Albertini so excited. "It looks like you really have a deep affection for Nottingham Forest."
"Other than Milan, it's them." Albertini continued to applaud. "After all, where did I get … uh."
He wanted to say that he had won a Champions League title there, which was something he had never dared to think about. Suddenly, he realized that the champion was snatched from the hands of the person beside him.
Maldini didn't care. "It's okay. The champion belonged to the side that performed better. I think it's a pity that Galliani didn't bring Wood to San Siro last summer. "
Albertini laughed, "He will become Nottingham Forest's Paolo Maldini."
He finally ended the applause that lasted for several minutes and sat down again. The game on the field also restarted.
Maldini shook his head and didn't quite believe it. "Nottingham Forest is not AC Milan."
Albertini also seemed to think that his good friend made sense. "In other words, if Tony has always been at Nottingham Forest, then I think George will always be there."
"I'm thinking … Galliani is so intent on poaching Wood over, why didn't he think of this method — to poach Tony Twain and George Wood together."
Albertini laughed when he heard Maldini say so. "Don't you know about the personal feud between Tony and Galliani?"
"I've heard a little about it. But I think … this kind of thing is insignificant in some ways. If AC Milan can offer a better salary package and other conditions than at Nottingham Forest, I think even if Tony Twain and Galliani have any unpleasantness between them, it should be over, right? "
Albertini continued to laugh and shook his head at the same time. "You still don't know Tony, Paul. He can be very emotional sometimes. His personal feelings represent everything. In addition, AC Milan can actually give him nothing other than a higher salary, and he … As far as I can see, he is not a person who particularly likes money. "
Maldini had a different opinion. "At least we can give him a higher transfer budget. I know he not only has no money to buy players at Nottingham Forest, but also needs to sell players to make money for the club. Have you ever seen such a Champions League manager? If I worked in that kind of place, I would have quit long ago … "
"Paul, do you think Galliani and President Berlusconi will allow Tony to buy the players he wants to buy, and they will be like good children and not interfere?"
Maldini was taken aback by the question. He really had not considered this kind of thing, and what Demetrio said was completely right. At AC Milan, the person who really decided what players to buy might be Galliani, it might be the negotiation expert Braida, it might be his father, Cesare Maldini, or it might even be Berlusconi, but in any case, it would not be the manager.
Seeing that his good friend did not speak, Albertini patted him on the shoulder. "Although there is not much money at Nottingham Forest, Tony can do what he wants and live like a king. He can make a lot of money at AC Milan, wear the golden crown on his head, and look like a king, but there are many things he cannot decide. This difference is decisive. So don't think about this impossible thing, Paul. None of us want President Berlusconi to leave. Just watch the game. "
※ ※ ※
While Albertini and Maldini were discussing in the box about why Twain and Wood could not come to AC Milan, the game had already gone on for another ten minutes.
Mourinho was furious about the goal concede. He had left his seat for the past ten minutes and had been standing on the sidelines to supervise the game with a serious face.
He knew how powerful Nottingham Forest's counterattack was, and he was sure that his players knew it too. So where did the problem lie?
The problem lay with George Wood.
After not playing in the English Premier League for a few years, Wood had become even better. Mourinho had never seen such a good show of dribbling the ball past several players in the English Premier League. He suddenly plugged forward and uncharacteristically broke through by himself without passing the ball, causing Inter Milan's defense to collapse. Everyone's attention was on Wood and they ignored the other Forest players. In the end, they conceded a goal.
Did Inter Milan lose to Nottingham Forest's overall tactics or George Wood's individual play?
It was a difficult question to answer.
Since that was the case, what was Mourinho angry about? Of course, he was angry that he actually conceded two goals at home! What did it mean to let Tony Twain get two away goals? It meant that they were already halfway into the top eight!
But what was the use of being angry now? They had already scored the ball. His side could only think of ways to score a few more goals and reduce their away goal advantage to a minimum.
But … in the face of Nottingham Forest's stubborn defensive counterattack, did Inter Milan really have the confidence to score more goals in the remaining twenty minutes?
※ ※ ※
Tony Twain crossed his legs in the technical area off the field. He was now enjoying this situation very much.
The voices of Inter Milan in the stands behind him were much quieter. It looked like the Inter Milan fans had been hit hard by Nottingham Forest's second goal …
The 1: 2 score and Forest's two away goals were like a huge rock that pressed on those people's hearts. When they wanted to open their mouths to shout something for the team, they would feel their chests tighten and they would be unable to make a sound.
In fact, what they could not understand the most was why this Nottingham Forest suddenly became unrecognizable with just a change of manager. It was not that they had not seen the previous confrontation. It was reasonable to say that the current Nottingham Forest should be inferior in terms of strength compared to the last time they faced each other.
How could it be that in Twain's hands, it could explode with such amazing power?
Could it be that the man who always liked to provoke a war of words before the game and was ridiculed by the media as a clown really had some kind of mysterious aura?
※ ※ ※
The television commentator, who knew Tony Twain very well, announced that the game had entered a dreary period.
"Nottingham Forest is leading in the away game and still has two goals. Can anyone tell me why Tony Twain isn't defending? And once Nottingham Forest is determined to defend, there are not many teams in the world that can break their goal. Perhaps Inter Milan is one? I don't know. But I'm sure of one thing — Inter Milan will have to work very hard to score. Even so, even if they beat Nottingham Forest 3: 2, Tony Twain will still leave the Meazza with a smile … "
Such a difficult problem placed in front of the Inter Milan supporters did not make them feel good. It was no wonder that the voices in the Meazza Stadium were much quieter.
The Inter Milan players seemed to have collectively taken drugs as they launched a fierce attack on Nottingham Forest's goal with red eyes. One wave after another, each higher than the last.
George Wood no longer had a chance to show his talent in the offensive aspect. Even Ibišević was almost becoming the third center back, frequently using his physical advantage in front of the goal to clear the siege with his header.
Mourinho replaced Giuseppe Rossi with Adriano, who was drowned by Nottingham Forest's forest of human flesh. At the same time, he constantly waved his hands on the sidelines to signal the team to press up and press up and press up. At this time, he did not care if there was a large space behind the team, because Nottingham Forest was simply unable to fight back!
Adriano's appearance gave the team some chances, but unfortunately, there were too many people in Nottingham Forest's penalty area …
While Inter Milan besieged Forest, they also compressed their own attacking space to the minimum. It was really not conducive for them to shoot and score. As the game went on, more Inter Milan players began to try long shots.
When the game entered injury stoppage time with ten minutes left, the Inter Milan fans' cheers suddenly became louder. Although the score was still 1: 2, they were not willing to give up. Even if there was little time left, they would fight to the last moment. Now their highest wish had changed from "winning" to "equalize."
Even if it was such a wish, Tony Twain did not want them to realize it. He replaced Fernández with Cohen, who was better at defense, and replaced Şahin with Woodgate. They played 541, three center backs. Their intention to defend to the death was clear.
Until injury stoppage time, Inter Milan still had not broken through Nottingham Forest's goal. It looked like the game was going to end in this way, but there was a sudden change on the field!
※ ※ ※
After Ibrahimović received the football, Adriano, Quaresma and other teammates in relatively good positions all raised their hands to ask him for the ball, but he did not pass it to anyone. He directly chose to force a breakthrough and cut inside.
Just as he stepped into the penalty area, he was tripped by Tiago!
At the same time, ear-piercing boos rang out in the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium.
Everyone turned their heads nervously to look at the referee. At this moment, a gesture from him could determine the fate of the two teams …
"He pointed to the penalty spot!! Oh my God! Inter Milan escaped death!! "
The Inter Milan players might have been complaining in their hearts that Ibrahimović was alone again at the crucial moment, but now they all cheered and pounced on the Swede and hugged him.
And Tiago, who had been gesturing to the referee from the beginning to indicate that he did not commit a foul and that it was Ibrahimović who had dived, was furious. He rushed up to pull the referee's hand and told him that it was a dive!
Not only was Tiago angry, but the other Forest players were also angry. They rushed to the referee and surrounded him.
No one could understand why the referee would make such a decision. Not to mention whether Ibrahimović had dived, no one could tell without a slow-motion replay. After all, it happened too fast. But they all clearly saw that the physical contact between Tiago and Ibrahimović was outside the penalty area …
Even if Tiago had committed a foul, it should have been a free kick, not a penalty!
The players were angry on the field, while Twain pulled the fourth official off the field to express his dissatisfaction, "How the hell is this a penalty?"
"Please watch your words, Mr. Twain."
"Then please watch the referee's eyes! A penalty at the last minute! He really has guts!! "
Dunn saw that Twain was getting more and more enthusiastic with his scolding and was afraid that the fourth official would snitch on him to the referee and send him off the field. He hurriedly gave Kerslake a look, and the two men rushed up and dragged Twain back to the technical area.
Twain was still scolding, "He has guts! He especially has guts! His bladder is swollen! "
"This is a very controversial decision. You have to know that it takes a lot of courage to give the trailing team a penalty at the end of the game … The referee must have some conclusive evidence, but let's look at the slow-motion replay … Oh, it was really outside the penalty area! This is a misjudgment! "
What was the use of the commentator saying that? Once the referee decided on a penalty, he would not easily change it.
He stood on the penalty spot and waved his hands to disperse the Forest players who surrounded him with a straight face. The Inter Milan fans were already singing their praises in the stands.
Twain snorted, "Forget it! Even if they equalize, we still have two away goals! " He decided not to bicker with the fourth official anymore. Otherwise, if he really bicker with him and sent him to the stands, it would not be worth it … No, there was no "gain" at all, it was all "loss."
The Forest players on the field saw that no matter how they pleaded, the referee would not change his decision. Not only that, Tiago, who had committed the foul, and Woodgate, who had protested the loudest, were each booked.
They could only choose to accept the result and leave the penalty area.
Mourinho was happy that his team was lucky to get a penalty at the last minute, but he did not show it too obviously. At this time, he and Twain had the same thought — even if the goal was scored, it would only equalize the score. And the fact that Nottingham Forest already had two away goals was like the result of the penalty. It could not be changed.
Ibrahimović personally took the penalty. He tied the score at 2: 2 amidst the boos of the Nottingham Forest fans and the cheers of the Inter Milan fans.
After the goal, the Inter Milan players hugged each other excitedly, celebrating their survival. And the Nottingham Forest players were still tugging at the referee, wanting to say whether the penalty should be awarded. But this time, their tone was much better. They did not have to worry about getting a yellow card. Because the score could no longer be changed.
Everyone in Inter Milan was celebrating, with the exception of Mourinho.
Twain noticed that Mourinho seemed to be looking at him, so he spread his hands and shrugged, deliberately mocking the other party. As expected, Mourinho quickly shifted his gaze away.
Seeing Mourinho like this, Twain also forgot that he had just equalized the score with a penalty. He grinned widely.
No matter what, he maintained his personal unbeaten record against Mourinho. As long as that record remained, he could maintain his dominance when facing Mourinho. Whenever Mourinho wanted to turn the tables, he would be grabbed and pounced on, never to turn the tables again.
The game finally ended in a noisy environment. When Nottingham Forest left the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, they were still grumbling about the referee's "bold decision" at the last minute, while the Inter Milan fans were worried about the team's fate in the second leg.
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