As the Champions League match was in three days, and it was an away game at the same stadium, Nottingham Forest did not return to Nottingham. Therefore, the Forest team did not return to Nottingham but continued to stay at nine o 'clock to prepare for the Champions League quarterfinals in midweek.
In order to let the players relax, Tang En sacrificed precious training time and gave the team a day off.
The players were free to choose whether to stay in the hotel room and sleep in or go shopping. However, Tang En still had to continue studying the match footage with his colleagues in preparation for the last match of the third round.
The players could relax, but the coaches, especially the head coach, could not relax at all.
Shania wanted to have a meal with Tang En, but she did not have time. She was so busy that she could not sleep. Even when they talked on the phone, they could only chat for a while. Shania could tell from Tang En's voice that he was distracted. At this time, Uncle Tony's body and heart did not belong to her. His mind was filled with "football."
Shania was very jealous, but she could not do anything about it.
She would never ask Tang En to retire and spend the rest of his life with her. Because of her own career, she could not be by her husband's side for half the year. So, when she could be with Tang En, she could not care less about her husband's love being divided by football. She even felt guilty, feeling that she had let Tang En down, so she accepted the grievances she suffered.
So, she hung up after reminding Tang En to take care of his rest.
Tang En waited until Shania hung up before he came back to his senses. He began to wonder if he had performed too badly just now.
"Wife's call?" Kerslake, who was too tired to study the footage, turned his head and asked when he heard the door open.
Tang En grunted in acknowledgment.
"Actually, if it's time for a meal, there's still time, right?" Kerslake simply turned his body and said to Tang En. "Call back and ask her out."
"There is, but I'm afraid of being distracted." Tang En shook his head and rejected the assistant manager's suggestion.
Kerslake smiled. "I really envy you, Tony. Look at that woman in our family. She never calls to show concern for me. "
"You're already an old married couple." Tang En smiled and sat down beside him to continue watching the footage.
"It's because you're an old married couple that I envy you. It feels like you're newlyweds every day."
"That's only because we don't have much time to be together throughout the year." Tang En smiled bitterly. "Alright, let's not talk about women. Let's talk about Arsenal's game. Our current stamina can't compare to theirs … "
"Are we going to rotate, Tony?"
Twain was silent for a moment, considering whether he really wanted to rotate. He still hoped to play with the strongest lineup in a game like the Champions League. But in two consecutive matches, he had used his strongest lineup. The third match …
"Let's rotate a few positions," Twain said after thinking for a long time. "Şahin's stamina isn't good enough, replace him. Let's play two forwards. "
“442？”
"Hmm …" Tang En muttered to himself for a while before turning his head to ask his assistant, "Say, what kind of stance do you think Wenger will take in this match?"
Kerslake frowned and thought for a moment. He thought about it for a long time. Tang En did not wait for his reply. He stretched out a palm and said, "Come, let's analyze our strengths and weaknesses. First, their stamina is better than ours. They've played two consecutive home games, while we've played two consecutive away games. Second, they have the home advantage. The referee's decision will certainly consider the impact of this aspect. We may be more closely watched in the game, while they're the opposite. "
Speaking up to this point, Kerslake interrupted, "Who asked you to always emphasize in front of the media that our football is very rough and very rough? Rijkaard's Chelsea can only go back crying when they come."
Tang En scratched his head in embarrassment.
He coughed and continued, "Third, hmm … Third, they're only behind by one goal in the first round. This gap is too small, so small that it's almost negligible. Arsenal is a team that's good at attacking. Being behind by one goal is nothing to them. I believe that losing 0: 1 in the away game was also intentional by Wenger. "
"What's the fourth?" Kerslake asked.
"There's no fourth." Tang En clapped his hands. "These three points are enough to put us at a disadvantage overall. The outside media is also not optimistic about us. From the end of the first round, they've been advocating that Arsenal will definitely advance, while we can only be eliminated. Now that we've beaten Arsenal in the Premier League, they've found even more reasons to say that we've decided to focus on the Premier League and give up on the Champions League … "Speaking up to this point, Tang En sneered and said in Mandarin," How can a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan? "
Then he continued to say in a language that Kerslake could understand, "I think Wenger will think so too. Our stamina is not good, and it's an away game. I'll definitely choose a more conservative tactic to grind with Arsenal. Even if they score a goal, there's still overtime and penalty shootout to play. Anyway, if we want to advance, it's never wrong to be more conservative. "
Speaking up to this point, Tang En suddenly laughed. "But this time, I want to give him a surprise."
※ ※ ※
At the tactical meeting in the evening, the players, who had relaxed for the day, sat in the conference room provided by the hotel and listened to the manager's speech.
No one lingered outside. The team's discipline was not a problem.
"In the game the day after tomorrow, we won't play defensive counterattack. We won't play the entire game." Tang En stood in front of a group of players and said loudly. The conference room was a little big, and the team was not satisfied. He had to raise his voice, otherwise in this large and empty conference room, his voice would be spread out, causing some people to be unable to hear clearly.
"We'll attack!" He waved his hand.
There was a small commotion in the conference room, but it quickly subsided. They knew that the boss must have his reasons for making such an arrangement. In any case, they just listened.
"Now everyone outside thinks we're exhausted, but we want to use this game to tell them — we still have strength! They didn't expect us to choose to attack in an away game, so we'll give them a surprise! We'll try to stun them at the start! So, our tactics for this game have to be simple and effective. For this reason, I've decided to reduce a midfielder. "
Şahin already knew that he would be replaced. The boss was very fond of two defensive midfielders and attached great importance to the flanks, so sacrificing a midfielder would definitely be him, the attacking midfielder.
"Aaron, Mi will replace Nuri in the starting lineup."
Mitchell nodded, and Şahin also nodded. Both of them accepted this arrangement.
"We'll play 4-4-42. With Aaron's height in front of the goal, we need to play more on the flanks. In addition, the two of you, George and Fernando, don't always guard at the back. You have to actively press forward to create pressure on Arsenal's defense and make them attend to one thing and lose sight of the other. Pay attention, I'm talking about a strong attack, a strong attack that has to suppress Arsenal from the beginning to the end. We can't let them take the initiative in the game and let the game enter their rhythm. We have to disrupt and break them up from the first second. "
"As long as we can get into the state of the game faster than them at the start, then we don't have to worry about their attack at all!" Tang En said confidently to his men, "They won't have a chance to threaten our goal at all. So, the two full backs also have to actively assist. Scoring first is the key! "
"Let George be in charge of Fàbregas. Fernando, you pay a little attention to the others."
"Anyway, remember, the game the day after tomorrow is to attack! Attack, attack, attack, other than attacking, it's still attacking! "
He rarely said this. He usually said, "Defense, defense, defense, other than defending, it's still defending."
After the meeting, the players returned to their rooms one after another. However, on the way back to their rooms, they were also discussing this arrangement. They were also very interested in their boss' idea. Going head-to-head with Arsenal? They had rarely tried it. In the past, when they faced Arsenal, Tang En would mostly place himself on the weaker side and choose to defend and counterattack. He would make use of rough fouls and defensive actions, as well as tireless stamina to go against Arsenal's exquisite attacks.
Because of this, the media had always demonized Nottingham Forest. When they compared the two teams, there was indeed a huge contrast. Arsenal's football was beautiful and beautiful, like enjoying a classical concert. It made people feel relaxed and happy. On the other hand, Nottingham Forest's football was much more utilitarian. It was neither beautiful nor likable. Other than their own supporters, the number of neutral fans in the world who liked Nottingham Forest could be counted on one hand.
Now, this situation might change in two days. Tony Twain was finally going to cast aside his conservative tactics and engage in a fair and square battle with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Nottingham Forest's players also had the chance to prove to the outside world that they were not inferior to Arsenal in terms of ability, nor were they naturally conservative. Using offense to defeat Arsenal, and on Arsenal's home ground, this was indeed a tactical arrangement that could stimulate their enthusiasm.
※ ※ ※
In the following day and a half, Tang En focused on his offensive drills. He focused on the flanks and strong attacks in the middle. No media knew about the training. Tang En once again declined all forms of interviews.
This gave the media even more evidence to belittle him.
"… Tony Twain has once again rejected our requests for interviews and filming. It's obvious that he's very nervous. Although Arsenal is lagging behind, everyone is optimistic that Arsenal will advance. There are many conditions that are more beneficial to them. And Manager Twain's nervousness is also a strong proof. "
"Actually, Tang En himself doesn't have confidence. Otherwise, he wouldn't have done closed-door training."
"In the last League match, his own team's players had a face-to-face conflict. The only thing that was lacking was a fistfight. Tony Twain must have been tormented to the point of being battered. When a team is under too much pressure, it will collapse. I think Nottingham Forest is not far from collapsing. "
"After the match, I asked Pepe about the conflict with Akinfeev during the match. He said it was no big deal. We were all doing it for victory. Now that the conflict has been resolved … Look, what a formulaic answer. I've interviewed countless players and encountered many instances of internal strife during matches. Their answers were almost exactly the same. So much so that I suspect they all used the same template. "
"There are no problems within the Forest team? Only a ghost would believe that! Tony Twain's pressure is so great that it's like he's going to have a heart attack at any time. His players even nearly got into a big fight during the match. If not for their luck in reversing Arsenal's situation at the last moment, I really don't know if Twain would be in the hospital again. "
"Is there really no conflict between Pepe and Akinfeev? Will their performance in the live match really not affect the team's morale? Will Tang En really not let Pepe go to the substitutes' bench to 'rotate and rest'? I think there are too many things to watch in this match. "
"… In any case, I'm optimistic about Arsenal. They have too many advantages. Nottingham Forest? I only see a group of defeated players who have been worn down by pressure and stamina. Tang En has placed all his energy on how to regroup this team. Where would he have the mood to think about tactics? "
The momentum of the media was so great, and their ability to bewitch people's hearts was so strong that even the Forest fans were a little confused about the situation. Is there really a big problem within our team? Are we really going to be eliminated from the Champions League? Is such a strong manager like Tony Twain really unable to control the Forest team's locker room?
Amidst such worries and the media's continued underestimation, Nottingham Forest welcomed the final match of their three consecutive matches against Arsenal.
The final match that would decide their fate.
Behind Nottingham Forest was a bottomless abyss. They had no way out. If they were eliminated, then all the hard work they had put in earlier in this season, all the victories they had clenched their teeth to obtain, would all be meaningless.
And the Premier League title? I'm sorry, but our goal is three championships. The English FA Cup, the English Premier League, and the European Champions League. Not a single championship could be missing.
※ ※ ※
On the night of the match, the Emirates Stadium and its surroundings were brightly lit. The fans of both teams were full of anticipation as they flocked to the field.
The live broadcast was playing the official music of the European Champions League. It made everyone's blood boil, and they could not wait for this Mars to collide with Earth match to begin immediately.
At the same time, in the locker room, both coaches were making the final preparations for the team's appearance in the match.
Wenger looked at his players with a calm expression. "We've lost two matches. We can't lose again. If we lose again, we'll lose everything for this season … "
Perhaps some people would find it strange. Even if they lost the Champions League, there was still the Premier League. They were still three points ahead of Nottingham Forest. How could they be overturned so easily?
But how could they know what Wenger was thinking? He had been in Arsenal for nearly 18 years and had won countless championships, big and small, but he had never touched the Champions League. What a pity that was. At 60 years old, he did not know how long he could stay in this industry. He was unwilling to let go of any chance to lift the Champions League. For this, even if he had to sacrifice the Premier League … he would not hesitate.
"Arsenal has never won the Champions League in its history. I hope you can make that embarrassing history truly history this season."
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