Two stadiums, four changing rooms, but the atmosphere was very different.
In the home team's locker room at the Emirates Stadium, the Arsenal players were listening to music and relaxing. Everyone was excitedly discussing how to celebrate this hard-earned league title after the game. Even Wenger did not think that the Forest team could create a miracle, even if he had just found out that Nottingham Forest was also leading by 1: 0 at home.
Manchester City's performance in today's game did not surprise Wenger — there was really no need for Manchester City to fight for this game. No one wanted to be injured in the last round, right? If they went all out knowing that they were up against Arsenal, a team that was determined to win the league title, injuries were inevitable. It was better to just finish this game casually and then go on a holiday.
It was really good luck to meet such an opponent in the last round of the league. Then look at Tony Twain's situation — a Sunderland team that had to win against Forest to stay in the league.
Under such circumstances, if Arsenal still could not win the league title, Wenger really did not know what other chances his team had to win it.
After two years, to snatch the league title back from Nottingham Forest, even if they were eliminated from the Champions League, there would be no regrets.
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In the Sunderland team's changing room at the City Ground stadium. Manager Nielsen stood in the middle of the players, clenching his fist as he gave a passionate speech to them, "It's just one goal! Arsenal is already leading by two goals, the Forest players must have heard the news during the halftime interval. What does this mean for them? It means that their league title has flown away! Their morale and confidence will be greatly affected, this is our chance … Defeat them, let us stay in the Super League! "
The players' eyes lit up when they heard what he said. The boss did not do what he said, Nottingham Forest would definitely be affected, then it would be their chance, as long as they could seize one or two counterattacks … In order to stay in the Super League, they had to fight for these 45 minutes!
If they did not fight now, when would they wait?
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Arsenal's changing room was excited and relaxed, while Sunderland's changing room was full of restlessness and hope. Nottingham Forest's side, on the other hand, was gloomy like the weather before a storm.
All the players chased after the coaches and their teammates on the substitutes' bench to ask about the situation in the other stadium. They heard loud boos coming from the stands twice during the game, and they wanted to confirm if it meant that Arsenal was leading by two goals.
The answer was the same. Whether it was the coaches or the teammates, they all used helpless gazes and nodding movements to tell them the cruel truth.
For a moment, everyone was quiet. They sat in the changing room, not knowing what to say or do. They could only mechanically wipe the sweat off their bodies.
Tang En had been in the changing room the whole time. He did not say anything.
In fact, at this time, the Forest players were looking forward to the boss saying something, even if it was to scold someone. Otherwise, it would be too unbearable to continue staying silent like this …
Bale opened his mouth to speak but stopped. He looked around and found that everyone was bowing their heads out of habit. He suddenly hated this action.
Are we going to admit defeat just like that? Even their boss, who had always been arrogant and unruly, had acquiesced to this result?
This uncomfortable silence lasted for a full five minutes.
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Brazilian samba music was playing in the changing room. Manchester City, with a majority of Brazilian players, was becoming more and more like a Brazilian team. Robinho, Elano, Joe, Alex … these players from Brazil were twisting their waists to the music in the changing room, as if they were celebrating another carnival this year.
There were also people jeering, but everyone's minds were no longer on the game.
Only Bendtner felt pain, because the samba music seemed to be a continuation of the Arsenal fans' laughter, echoing in his ears. He felt like his head was going to explode. He hated this kind of atmosphere in the changing room. He would rather everyone be sitting still, and then manager McClaren would barge in and give all of them a good scolding.
He might only feel better if he roared some vulgarities like "What the f * * k did you guys play in the first half."
He placed the towel over his head and leaned against the wall of the closet. He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down.
Unfortunately, the noisy and fast-paced music made his efforts futile. All sorts of strange thoughts emerged in his mind along with the music.
Do we have to continue playing like this in the second half?
Can I apply to the boss to be replaced early? Hmm … probably not? Then I'll find a chance to get two yellow cards, or hurt myself … Anyway, I don't want to play anymore.
What kind of f * * king game is this? We've already lost our fighting spirit before the game. Is it a very, very, very, very glorious thing to watch someone lift the championship trophy in front of us? Don't these people who are still dancing in the changing room feel ashamed of the score in front of them? Do they want to lose? Don't tell me we didn't come together to play for victory and championship titles?
Bendtner raised his head slightly. His gaze passed under the towel and he saw Ashley Young watching Robinho and the others' performance with a smile on his face. The smile looked cold. At this moment, he suddenly envied Ashley Young, because … he was finally free.
Such a thought welled up in Bendtner's mind.
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The awkward and uncomfortable silence in the changing room lasted for five minutes before Tony Twain finally stood up from his seat. With his movement, everyone's eyes turned to him.
"Everyone knows the situation in the other arena, so I won't introduce it. Doesn't this result make you very discouraged? We worked so hard in the first half and only managed to lead by one goal. Arsenal easily led by two goals? I have to admit that this result is very disadvantageous to us. I also have no way of asking you to fight for the championship title, because the fate of the championship title is not in our hands. "Twain spread his hands.
"The only thing we can do now is to play our own game. Forget about the championship title for now. "As Twain said this, he glanced at the players and realized that everyone's reaction was not strong. He laughed. "Are you feeling discouraged by what I said? You thought I'd stand up and wave my fists, shouting loudly that victory belongs to us and the championship title belongs to us, right? "
The players did not answer, but from their expressions, Twain's guess was close to the mark.
"I just hope you can put down your burdens. I've been thinking about this problem just now. If we continue to play with the heavy expectations of becoming champions, we might lose to Sunderland in the second half … Don't, don't look like you don't believe me. " Twain pointed to a few players and said, "Your minds are full of Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal … You don't even know who our opponent for this game is, do you? Newcastle? Tottenham Hotspur? Or … Real Madrid? Guys, when your eyes are looking at the target in the distance, pay a little attention to your feet. If you trip over a small stone, you'll become the laughing stock of everyone. When that happens, not only will Arsenal win the league title, they can also laugh at our incompetence! "
"That's right, we're currently one point behind Arsenal. It's a fact that Arsenal is leading very easily. But this shouldn't be a reason for us to give up. Play the game against Sunderland well and don't give the opponent any chance to take advantage of us. Next … "Twain paused here. What should he say next? Pray to God that the championship title belongs to us? Wait for the goddess of fortune to bless us?
"No." Twain shook his head. "Even if the whole world doesn't think highly of us, we have to think highly of ourselves. Until the last second of this game, Arsenal can't announce that victory and the championship title belongs to them! Similarly, you can't announce that it's over! Let me tell you, I haven't given up. I've never given up! I've always believed that my team is the best team in the world and deserves all the glory. Some people are worried for me. If I lose the league title, how am I going to eat a table? Let me tell you … I've never considered this problem because I firmly believe that I won't lose! "Twain waved his fists forcefully, his tone suddenly becoming passionate. "If you don't have the same mentality as me, you won't be able to have the last laugh in this fierce competition! At any time, it's better to believe in yourself than to believe in others! I've said before, do you remember who your opponent is in this game? Let me tell you, it's Sunderland! It's that unlucky bastard who's destined to be relegated! Crush them for me! "
If an apple was stuffed into Twain's hand at this moment, he might just crush it.
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Nielsen was arranging the tactics for the second half for the team. He was confident that he had found Nottingham Forest's loophole.
"They're mentally unbalanced. A one-goal lead is not safe for Twain. This is Tony Twain's habit. He'll definitely ask the team to press on and attack. That'll be our chance … In the first half, Forest's two full backs were very active in assisting. The second half will only be more active than the first. Everyone says that Tony Twain is conservative, but he's a very crazy person in his bones. He can continue to press on in the second half for the sake of victory. So, I want you to immediately launch a counterattack after you intercept the ball. Kick the ball forward. As long as you can get into the penalty area once, that's enough! "
He made a mess of drawing on the tactical board. He kept talking and talking, but how many of the players heard him clearly? He did not have time to care. There was only one thought in his mind: There's not much time left. I have to let them know what to do in the second half!
"Continue to press on and tackle the ball. Continue to use foul tactics … Of course, the spots of the fouls must be further away from our penalty area. Don't be afraid of running out of stamina. I'll emphasize again — this is the last game of the season. If you don't give it your all, this will also be your last game in the Premier League. Even if you run until you cramp up, you still have to run! If you can't continue to create pressure for them, you'll be the unlucky ones! "
"Don't be afraid of mistakes. If you lose the ball, immediately counterattack. If you're a little more fierce, they'll be afraid! Think about what Forest's mentality is now. Their title is gone! "Nielsen even repeated the last sentence three times.
Nielsen might not be an outstanding tactician. Otherwise, Sunderland would not have fallen to this point — the consortium behind the Irishman, Quinn, still had some financial resources. But he was also not an outstanding orator. It was just that in this special situation, what he said was quite provocative. The Sunderland players' eyes were red and they were ready to go all out in the second half.
Topple the arrogant Nottingham Forest, break their golden millet dream of winning the title, and let them stay in the Premier League. This season would be considered perfect.
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The samba music finally stopped, but Bendtner did not feel that his suffering was over. Because McClaren was planning the tactics for the second half …
Robinho sat in his seat, still shaking his head gently, as if the music had not disappeared. He had already been substituted. At the start of the second half, the main striker was substituted and replaced by the team's young striker, Jack Reed, who was only 20 years old. He had only made five league appearances for the team this season, and all of them were substitute appearances.
McClaren was already training the team's new players.
As the team's top striker, Bendtner was still put in an important position, and he would continue to play in the second half.
Bendtner really did not know if it was a good or bad thing for him. When McClaren announced that Jack Reed would replace Robinho, he secretly glanced at Ashley Young and found that the latter was also looking at him, but the latter could not hide the sympathy in his eyes.
At this moment, a sentence suddenly appeared in his mind:
The people who came out of Nottingham Forest, no matter what, were always out of tune with their surroundings. Because that person was too unique, so the team he brought out was too unique, and the people who came out of that team were naturally also unique.
If Nottingham Forest had encountered such a situation, maybe that person would have berated everyone in the locker room. He could not tolerate failure, and even more so could not tolerate such a lack of fighting spirit. Playing under him was tiring, really tiring. It was like being chased forward by a mace all day and could not stop.
But one day, when they were allowed to stop for a break and catch their breath, they suddenly looked up and found that they had run to the top of the mountains. At that time, they could finally straighten their exhausted bodies, take a long breath, and take a good look at their surroundings.
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