When the team returned to Wilford from London's Heathrow Airport, they were disbanded on the spot. They would get a half-day break and resume training the next morning. However, Tang En and the two assistant managers did not have any holidays. He pulled the two men straight to the training base's department responsible for the daily maintenance of the training ground.
The person in charge of the department was Thompson Isaksson, an elderly man who had been doing turf maintenance in Wilford all his life. Now, he continued to serve the club with 16 men. The 17-man team was responsible for the daily maintenance of a total of eight training grounds in the North and South Wilford training base. The work included leveling the ground, maintenance of the turf, and some special requests from the coaching staff.
Tang En came to them this time for a "special request."
"Thompson, what's the worst training ground in the First Team's training base?" Tang En's straightforward question left the old man stunned for a moment and unable to react.
South Wilford was the First Team's training base. There were a total of four standard training grounds, each the size of the City Ground stadium. Among them, the best condition was No. 1 and No. 2. Forest's First Team and reserve team often trained there, as well as played in the team. Even the turf of such a ground was the same as that used in the City Ground stadium. It was the best maintained.
Tang En saw Thompson's troubled expression and smiled. "Don't think too much, old man. I'm not here to denounce you. Just tell me which training ground is in the worst condition. "
"Uh … No. 3," Isaksson replied.
"How bad is it?"
"The ground … We haven't had time to level it, and the turf's growth is not satisfactory. Usually, the team never uses that ground, so we didn't … "He still thought Tang En was here to denounce him and hurriedly explained to his team.
Tang En patted him on the shoulder. "Take us there."
So, the old man anxiously led the way in front, followed by the three coaches. No matter how one looked at it, it looked like they were escorting a criminal.
The number three training ground was located in the most remote corner of the training base and was surrounded by dense woods. It was basically impossible to see what was going on inside from the outside. This training ground was actually the first training ground used by Nottingham Forest after they moved their training base from the City Ground stadium. Later, as the other three training grounds with more complete facilities and more convenient transportation were completed, this place was gradually forgotten. The three training grounds for the First Team were basically enough. The fourth one was left unused and no one was interested in it.
Twain was aware of this situation, but he wanted to confirm it with his own eyes today.
Hidden in the depths of the dense forest, the number three training ground exuded a sense of desolation and dilapidation. Tang En could even smell the scent of the 1980s from it.
"I was already in the club when it was first used …" Isaksson could not help but lament when he saw the training ground. "It was very busy then. Later, it was gradually phased out. In addition, at the end of the last century, the club's financial situation was not good. There was no extra money to maintain so many training grounds at the same time, so this place was completely abandoned … "
The group of them personally walked around the stage. Tang En found that it was similar to what Isaksson had said. Due to the maintenance and management, this training ground was no different from a wasteland. Although it was not overgrown with weeds and wild hares, it was still very different from the other three training grounds that had been leveled with green grass.
"The ground is uneven … Oh, be careful!" Kerslake pulled Dunn, who was next to him, and his body tilted as he walked.
Dunn took a breath and seemed to have sprained his ankle. "It's nothing …"
"The quality of the grass isn't good either. It's too hard. It's easy to get scratched when training here," Isaksson added, glancing apologetically at Dunn at the same time. As field maintenance workers, every field was their area of responsibility. They would feel guilty if someone was injured as a result.
After carefully walking a lap, Tang En stood on the sidelines and looked around again. Then he snapped his fingers and said, "Very good."
"Very good?" Isaksson did not understand what the manager meant by that.
"Flatten this field a little. Mind you, Thompson, I said slightly flatten, slightly. Do you know? "
Isaksson looked at Tang En and shook his head with a confused look. He could not understand the words.
"Well … it means to maintain the original style so that this training ground does not sprain one's ankle while walking."
"Maintain the original style? What does that mean? "David Kerslake also found it strange and asked on Isaksson's behalf.
"I need this field to maintain this style of undulating, rough grass, and uneven force when the football lands on it," Tang En explained.
"Why?" Isaksson and Kerslake asked almost at the same time. Only Dunn suddenly showed a thoughtful look on his face, which made Kerslake want to strangle him after seeing it. "Just say what you know! Dunn! "
Dunn shook his head and said, "I just think Tony might have some bad ideas again …"
Tang En chuckled and said, "This is an idea I came up with on the plane. I can't direct the next game on the spot. I'm afraid the UEFA people won't even let me into the locker room. I think it's a loss for us to play against a team like Barcelona. I have to make up for this loss from other places. You've all seen the quality of the field at Camp Nou, haven't you? "
"Of course, it's much better than the … uh, training ground under our feet. That's a five-star stadium. " Kerslake wanted to say "the rotten vegetable field under our feet" but suddenly thought of Isaksson beside him. It would be too unfair to say that to an old employee.
"Ha, you're right, David. Their turf is of good quality. That's normal. After all, a team that always likes to control the football under their feet and not over their heads has very high requirements for the field. We have to use all means and methods to make trouble for them. In addition to the tactical and psychological ones, I'm thinking of the field. A bad field will greatly limit their play. "
"But, Tony. That will also limit our play. "Kerslake was doubtful.
"So, I'm here today to handle this matter. From tomorrow until the end of the game against Barcelona, we have to train on this training ground. For example, we have to let our players adapt to the feeling of playing on this field as soon as possible to avoid injuries to the greatest extent. Then on the day of the game, I'll ask the City Ground to become like this. "He pointed to his feet.
Hearing Tang En say so, Kerslake swallowed his saliva. He thought of how Dunn had sprained his ankle just by walking slowly on it. If he were to run and sprint at full speed on such a field …
As Dunn said, it was indeed not a "good idea."
After explaining to Kerslake, Tang En turned his head to ask Isaksson, who had already listened blankly, "You only have half a day. Can you do it?"
"Ah, uh … If it's just a little smoothing, I think it'll be no problem, Mr. Tang En."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Thompson. Make sure our players don't get easily injured here. If we finally beat Barcelona, I'll give you a bottle of good wine! "
※ ※ ※
On the way out of the number three training ground. Kerslake expressed his objection to Tang En's approach. He really did not think it was necessary to do so.
"I don't think there's such a big gap between us and Barcelona that we need to resort to unconventional means to ensure victory, Tony."
"In fact, David. The gap between us and them is really that big. Do you think we can easily win when we return to our home ground? Pepe can't play, Baines and Fernández are suspended for accumulating yellow cards, and me. I can only sit in the stands and wish you good luck. And who are they missing? No one is missing. Now that I think about it, we were really too polite in the first round … "Tang En rubbed his chin and smacked his lips.
"Use a bad field and frequent fouls to limit their play and disrupt their inherent rhythm of the game. The more chaotic the game, the better. Finally … for this week, tell our team to only practice long passes and punches. I want to change the striker. "
Kerslake saw Tang En's expression and already guessed who he wanted to change. So he was even more surprised. "Are you serious, Tony? That kid has only appeared as a substitute three times in the league tournament and did not score a single goal. Aren't you afraid of ruining him by letting him play in such an important game?! "
"He's not as bad as you say, David. I know what I'm doing. "Tang En shrugged. "The only regret is that he's not strong enough … If he were a combination of Žigić and Ibrahimović, how good would that be …"
"Dream on!" Kerslake threw out a sentence in annoyance.
※ ※ ※
The next day, Tang En arrived at Wilford early in the morning, ahead of most of the staff and players, as well as all the media reporters. He ran straight to the number three training ground.
The morning mist still shrouded the small forest, and the number three training ground was faintly discernible in the white fog. The scene reminded Tang En of the Journey to the West he had watched when he was young. The scene of the white fog in the Heavenly Court was more or less like this.
Because he came too early, there was no one. Tang En walked one round and then jogged another round. Then, he nodded his head in satisfaction and said, "Well done."
Isaksson was worthy of being a veteran worker who had worked here for decades. His skills were unquestionable. It was completely in line with Tang En's wretched requirements.
Not only did he have to ensure that the field was uneven and the quality of the turf was uneven, but he also had to ensure that his own people would not easily get injured while training on it. There was definitely a risk, but it was not something that the turf workers could control. Those things would be considered by the coaching staff.
Stepping on the still uneven field, Tang En chuckled to himself.
※ ※ ※
The players arrived at Wilford at the usual time to participate in training. The reporters surrounded the field, waiting for the fifteen minutes of public filming. Of course, more reporters came to interview Tony Twain. They also wanted to hear the latest developments in the war of words between the two teams.
But what they saw disappointed them.
Tony Twain did not appear in front of everyone from beginning to end. Kerslake was the only coach on the training ground.
The players were as surprised as the reporters. After they changed into their training clothes in the locker room, they came out to prepare for training, only to find that except for assistant manager David Kerslake, the other coaches were gone.
When everyone was present, Kerslake said, "Guys, let's change places to train today."
"Huh?" Everyone's reaction was strange.
"To the number three training ground." Kerslake pointed in a direction. Everyone looked in that direction and could only see a dense forest.
"Where is that?" Most of the players did not know the specific place because they had never trained in that kind of place. Some people even thought that South Wilford only had three training grounds, number one, two and four.
"Don't ask. Just follow me." Kerslake turned and walked into the dense forest.
"But, those reporters …" Some players also looked back at the group of media outside the barbed wire.
"Don't worry about them." Kerslake did not look back.
The reporters around the sidelines were surprised to see the team suddenly collectively walk to the depths of the training ground. Just when they did not know what was going on. The press officer appeared in front of everyone with a smile.
"Mr. Twain suddenly informed the team to close off training. I'm sorry, everyone."
It was not the first time they had encountered such a situation, but the reporters still complained.
"What manager treats the media like this?"
"Is he scared out of his wits by Barcelona? He still needs to close off training to play an away game against a bottom-ranked league opponent, Norwich City? "
"Actually, I think he doesn't want to be surrounded by us again to ask questions about that move …"
Pierce Brosnan shook his head in the crowd. He also could not figure out what Tony Twain was going to do.
The group of reporters reluctantly dispersed in the midst of their complaints.
At the same time, the Nottingham Forest players were staring at their "new training ground" in bewilderment.
The way Twain grinned in front of them was like Mr. Devil trying to tempt them to jump into the lava hell.
"This is the new training ground you will be using for the coming week. It looks great, doesn't it? "
Eastwood muttered in a low voice in the crowd, "I'm afraid this is the worst training ground I've ever seen …" He had the right to speak, and there would definitely be people who would believe what he said because he was the only one among the players who had played in the amateur league.
"It looks like a vegetable field on a farm. In fact, it is a vegetable field."
The expression on Twain's face when he said this made people want to slap him.
In the training ground the size of a regular football field, the color of the turf varied. There were patches everywhere, and some of them did not even have turf, directly exposing the color of the soil. It was as if the top of the head had been carelessly pushed by a hairdresser. It was too horrible to look at.
"You have to be careful. It's not as flat as it looks to you … So, today's warm-up will take longer than usual. Don't be lazy, or don't blame me for not warning you in advance after you sprain your ankles. "With that, he motioned for Kerslake to stand up and continue.
Kerslake stood up with today's training schedule in his hand.
"Guys, today's training task is …" He felt a little funny when he said this, but he had to keep a straight face and continue pretending. "… is to get used to this field!"
Some of the players laughed. Kerslake immediately glared. "This is not a joke! We're pressed for time. You only have one day to get used to the feeling of playing in this … vegetable field! If someone gets injured here the next day, I won't sympathize with you! " He pointed to the other side, where the team doctor team was on standby under the leadership of "Big Beard Mario" Fleming. Everyone looked at them with a serious face. They were not unfamiliar with that look. Every time a player was seriously injured in a game, Fleming and his colleagues would look at the injured area with that look, then turn around and make a substitution gesture to Twain.
Seeing this, the laughter in the team gradually subsided until it disappeared. They realized that the boss was not joking with them on a whim, but was serious. This was a very serious matter.
Seeing that all the players were aware of the importance of this matter, Kerslake raised his voice. "Warm up! Fully warm up! Move every part of your body and every joint for me! Even if your ankles are twisted 90 degrees, you won't get hurt easily! Then use your bodies to firmly remember the feeling of running here every step! Where it's deep, where it's shallow, where there's a pit and where there's a bump, where the football will have irregular movements … Don't remember it in your heart or mind, use your body to remember it! If someone gets hurt, it's because your body didn't remember it! Finally, I want you to keep this week's training content a tight lid on the outside world! "
His voice was muffled by the dense forest, and no outsider would hear it. The reporters would never get any information about Nottingham Forest's closed-door special training for this week.
In order to welcome the distinguished guests from afar, Tony Twain racked his brains for a week to prepare a welcome gift for them.
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