When the referee blew the final whistle, everyone cheered, while Tang En sneaked off the stands alone. The UEFA did not allow him to enter the stadium and locker room before and during the match, but they did not prohibit him from contacting the team after the match.
Now that he had been cooped up in the stands for more than 90 minutes, it was time for him to enjoy the joy of victory with his team. If possible, he also wanted to shake hands with Mr. Guardiola and enjoy the treatment a winner deserved.
Mitchell, who sat on the bench to rest after being substituted, threw down the towel he was wearing and rushed onto the field to hug his teammates. However, he found that there was a large group of reporters surrounding him wherever he went.
"Hey, Aaron, you're famous." Akinfeev patted Mitchell's head and left him.
Mitchell faced the swarm of reporters alone and did not know how to handle it.
"Mitchell, can you answer a few questions for me?"
"Can you talk about what was going through your mind when you scored the last goal?"
"Is it difficult to switch from a center back to a forward?"
"You scored two goals in your first UEFA Champions League game on behalf of the Forest team. Do you have anything to say?"
…
"Ah … uh …" Mitchell was stunned for a long time before he got into the zone and began to answer the reporters' questions one by one.
However, as a newcomer who had just debuted, he really lacked the experience to deal with reporters. He did not know how to reject people. He would answer whatever the reporters asked. It was endless …
Until a voice rang out from outside the crowd. "How long are you going to ask this? My players don't even have time to go to the locker room to shower and change. If he catches a cold, none of you can even think about interviewing my players. "
The reporters and Mitchell turned around and saw Tony Twain with a dark face.
"The interview time is over, ladies and gentlemen."
Seeing the fierce-looking Tang En appear here, the reporters knew that the interview time was indeed over. With him around, they could forget about getting any juicy news out of the inexperienced Mitchell.
The crowd dispersed, leaving only Tang En and Mitchell standing in the same spot.
Seeing Twain's dark face, Mitchell suddenly remembered the warning his boss gave him before the match. "If you dare to show off your footwork skills, I'll dare to bring you off at the start."
Although he did not show off at the start, he only showed off when the match was about to end. But it was also against the leader's wishes. He did not know what kind of reproach awaited him. He had long since forgotten the joy of scoring a goal.
"Boss, boss …"
"Have you forgotten everything I said?" Although he scored a very beautiful goal, Tang En did not praise him. It looked like he was blaming him.
"I … I was just acting on instinct …"
Tang En looked at him for a long time without saying a word, even though he patted Mitchell's shoulder and turned to leave.
As Dunn dealt with the reporters at the side, he caught a glimpse of Tang En suddenly appearing on the field and discussing something with Mitchell. He also thought of Tang En's special instructions to Mitchell before the match. He was worried that Tang En would run over and scold Mitchell. Therefore, he pushed away the reporters and quickly walked toward the two of them, planning to smooth things over and take all the blame on himself. For example, "I asked him to do it."
Before he reached, Tang En had already turned around and walked towards him.
"Tony."
"Hey, Don. Congratulations. That was a beautiful match. " The dark clouds on Tang En's face dissipated. He smiled brightly, looking like a different person from the person standing in front of Mitchell.
"Ah … Thank you. That, Tony … Just now, you and Mitchell … "Dunn's attention was still on Mitchell. He realized that the kid was very talented. He was afraid that Tang En's indiscriminate scolding would destroy his confidence again.
"That kid … did well. He's made to be a star player." Tang En turned back to look at Mitchell, who was still standing there in a daze.
"Huh?" Hearing Tang En say that, Dunn was a little surprised.
"What did you say 'huh' about?"
"I thought you'd give him a good scolding because he went against your pre-match arrangements …"
Tang En laughed. "Only a player who is able to not rigidly adhere to the main referee's pre-match arrangements and fully display his most unique characteristics can become a star player. If not for his sudden inspiration at the last moment, I might still be watching overtime from the stands. Why would I scold him? "
"Then I saw that your expression was not friendly just now …"
"I didn't want him to be too smug." Tang En smiled slyly. "Go tell him your praises. I'll just play the bad guy."
"Hey, you!" Dunn had no more temper with Tang En.
Tang En smiled and walked away. He still had to go and shake hands with Guardiola.
Dunn clearly saw through Tang En's wretched intentions. He said behind his back, "Don't go. He left right after the match ended. I was the one who shook hands with him. "
"Huh?" Tang En was suddenly knocked down from the clouds of happiness to the ground.
"But, if you really want to go, you can also go to the press conference."
Tang En thought about it. The UEFA should not care about him after the match ended. So, he nodded. "Okay, I'll go to the press conference. I reckon the media will have a lot of questions to ask me after this match. "
"You're ready?"
Tang En waved his hand. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way! Who's afraid of who? You better pray for those reporters. "
Dunn smiled and shook his head. He knew that Tang En was in high spirits again. He no longer cared about him. He walked straight to Mitchell and patted him on the back.
"Ah, Manager Dunn!" After Mitchell saw Dunn, his gloomy mood immediately turned for the better.
"You did well, Aaron. I didn't say that. "Dunn secretly pointed at the back of the person behind him.
Mitchell looked in that direction and saw Tang En.
"Boss?"
"He hopes you don't get too full of yourself. You still have a long way to go." Tang En and Dunn's division of labor was very clear. Tang En had to put on a dignified appearance in front of the players, while Dunn was responsible for packaging his image slightly more amiable. In this way, Tony Twain's image in the hearts of the players was perfect. He had the dignity of a father and the kindness of a mother.
Mitchell finally understood the Boss's good intentions. When Tang En looked at him like that just now, he felt a little wronged. After all, he was the one who helped the team win the match!
He nodded vigorously. "I understand, Manager Dunn. Thank you. "
"If you want to thank someone, thank him." Dunn smiled and turned to walk away.
※ ※ ※
When Tang En passed through the mixed zone, many reporters shouted his name loudly. He did not stop along the way. He only gestured to the front and said, "I'll see you at the press conference in a while. If you have any questions, ask them there."
Immediately, a few reporters left the players behind and left the mixed zone. They first entered the press conference venue and waited for the show to start.
Tang En went in and sat for a while. The reporters began to come in one after another and take their seats. Everyone was waiting for Guardiola, but he did not appear for a long time. Tang En was not angry, nor did he show any impatient emotions. He sat in his seat with a smile the entire time. Occasionally, he would use his eyes and nod to greet the reporters he knew below the stage.
Just when the reporters were a little impatient from waiting and began to whisper, Guardiola finally arrived late. His expression was still very ugly, especially when he saw that the person sitting on the stage was not Dunn or Kerslake, but Tony Twain.
What made him even angrier was that the man still had a smile on his face! Look at what he had done. He still had the face to smile!
At that moment, he really wanted to turn around and leave. But when he thought of his demeanor and how he could never be like Tony Twain, he held back his disgust for Tony Twain and stayed. He suppressed his disgust for Tony Twain and stayed.
"Both managers are here. Our press conference can begin …" The press officer said with a dry laugh. He could also see the conflict between the two managers.
The away team's manager, Guardiola, spoke first to talk about the game. "I have nothing to say. We lost. But everyone saw the reason for our loss. I'm proud of the team's performance. "
When he finished, it was Tang En's turn. The reporters' spirits were lifted. Everyone wanted to hear what this mad dog, who could not spit out ivory, had to say.
"I'm very happy that we won," Tang En said with a grin. "Facts have proven that we are indeed stronger than Barcelona. We are more qualified to enter the top four. I'm very satisfied with the team's performance today. Without my on-site command, they completely suppressed Barcelona on the field and in the score. This is the game I want to see. "
The two managers spoke in a lukewarm manner, which made the reporters very dissatisfied. Who would want to see the two of you good brothers?
As soon as the free question and answer time arrived, a reporter immediately threw out a sharp question. "Mr. Tony Twain. When we interviewed the players, the Barcelona players repeatedly mentioned that the bad field had a great impact on their performance. What do you think of it? Is it a little inappropriate to suddenly announce that the turf will be changed half a week before the game? "
This was a Catalan reporter. He insisted that Tang En give an explanation for the field today. Otherwise, he would not let it go.
Tang En said unhurriedly, "There's nothing inappropriate about it. We've reported it to UEFA, and they've agreed. Then there's no problem. Are you questioning UEFA? "
"No, I'm just wondering why it has to be changed before this game …"
"Because the turf just happened to be at this time and should be changed. We played an away game in the last round of the league tournament. Otherwise, we would have changed it for that league tournament. "Tang En pushed the responsibility to the Premier League schedule. He really pushed it away completely.
"Then why does the changed field look like there's no turf?" The reporter clung to the turf and did not let it go, aggressively.
"It's a small club. We've been financially tight recently and have no way to change to a better turf. We can only make do with it." Tang En spread out his hands with a helpless look, as if he was also a victim. "We can't let Barcelona play on dirt. So, although the quality of the turf is a little poor, it still has to be laid. But we also know that doing so will be a joke, so the Forest Club is considering preparing two sets of high-quality turf. I promise this won't happen again in the future! "
Tang En said it very seriously. In fact, this kind of situation would not happen again in the future. Because such a move could only be used once. If it were not for the extreme situation after the first round, he would not even consider tampering with the field.
His words shut up all the mouths of those who wanted to continue questioning the quality of the turf.
Guardiola was also a little helpless. "I think in the future, UEFA should consider the quality of all the venues used to host Champions League games."
Beside him, Tang En shamelessly agreed. "I very much agree with Mr. Guardiola's opinion. UEFA should indeed introduce some measures to unify the quality of the turf. Letting the participating teams play on a vegetable field is not a scene that should happen in the Champions League. "
The Catalan reporter saw him like this and really wanted to rush up and give him two big slaps. He had seen shameless people, but he had never seen such a shameless person!
Guardiola was also trembling slightly from being angered by Tang En. He was not a man who was very good at fighting a war of words. When he met Tang En, it was really like "a scholar meeting a soldier, unable to reason things out."
Some reporters also felt that there was nothing to be gained by repeatedly entangling on this issue. So, they decided to pay attention to the condition of the injured players on both sides.
"Messi sprained his knee. I don't know the specifics of the injury yet. You're asking how I got hurt? Is there a need to ask? It's impossible to play on such a field without getting hurt! " At this point, Guardiola's emotions finally became agitated. Messi was a player he liked and relied on very much. Messi was injured, and it looked like the injury was not light. How could he not be angry? "He sprained his knee completely without any physical contact!"
When it was Tang En's turn to answer, the first thing he said was, "My player did not get hurt from playing on this kind of field. Lennon's injury was caused by Yaya Touré's foul. I think it was indeed a very malicious foul, so I don't understand what else he has to protest. If I were him, I might have just run off the field myself. There was no need for the referee to play a card for me! Anyone who has played football before knows how dangerous it is to tackle from behind! "
Speaking of Lennon's injury, Tang En was equally angry.
"If you want to ask me what I think about Wood's red card, I have to say that I very much support his actions at the time!" Although he was unhappy with Wood's impulsiveness in the stands, he still had to support his own people in front of outsiders. "He did it out of concern for his teammates. I understand very well."
Guardiola finally could not take it anymore. He mocked from the side, "Is it reasonable for someone to hit someone?"
"Is it reasonable for someone to tackle the other player's ankle?" Tang En retorted without turning his head, looking at the reporters off the field. "If not for Touré's tackle, how could Wood have been so impulsive?"
"If not for Wood's foul on Bojan in front of the penalty area that was let off by the referee, how could my player have done such an action?"
Tang En sneered, "That's the referee's job. It's not convenient for me to comment. If your player is angry because of this, why didn't he tackle the referee who let Wood off? What's so great about taking it out on Lennon? Who doesn't know how to tackle people? This kind of action has no sportsmanship to speak of! "Tang En was the one who complained first, making a countercharge.
Guardiola realized that he really could not beat Tang En in a verbal argument. It was clearly Nottingham Forest who had no sportsmanship first, but from Tony Twain's mouth, it seemed like Forest was the victim and Barcelona was the team without sportsmanship …
There were also people among the reporters who were unhappy with Tang En's remarks. The Catalan reporters expressed their protest and dissatisfaction with him with boos.
Now that they were the victors, Tang En would not easily let go of the opportunity to ridicule these Catalan reporters. One had to know that in these two games, he had been ridiculed by the other side many times.
He pointed to the Catalan reporters below who were booing. "I remember who was the one who said before the game that their football was a representation of art, and that Nottingham Forest played conservative and utilitarian football, a representation of ugliness? Look at this score, and then look at the scene. We were playing with pressure on Barcelona, and our ball possession rate was as high as 68%. In terms of technical statistics, whether it was the number of shots or the success rate of passes, Nottingham Forest had the advantage. Then look at Aaron Mitchell's last goal, which went past four people in a row! It went past Barcelona's entire rear defensive line! Who dares to say such a goal is ugly? "
Tang En's words were powerful and resounding, because the Forest team's performance in this game was indeed perfect. He had the confidence to argue with the Catalan media face to face.
As expected, none of the Catalan reporters stood up to refute Tang En's words. In this game, the Barcelona team they supported was completely defeated in the away game. After the game, the highest score was given to Piqué, who had seven points. But this clearly had nothing to do with artistic football. And what made the Catalan media feel even more humiliated was that although Piqué, who had the best performance, was a Barcelona player, he had truly grown up in Nottingham Forest. His current style of play and defense had a deep imprint of "Nottingham Forest." Until now, he still had a good relationship with many of the Forest players. It was probably not inappropriate to say that he was a Nottingham Forest player.
After Tang En flipped out on the scene and spat out all the sarcasm and ridicule from the Catalan media on the other side's face, he got up with a black face and flicked his sleeves to leave.
This time, Guardiola was even more conflicted. Originally, he should have been the one to flick his sleeves and leave the embarrassment to Tony Twain. Now, he was the one who had been put on the spot by Tang En instead.
After being stunned for a while, Guardiola finally stood up with a bad expression and left without a word.
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