Some media outlets used "Tony Goes Home" as a headline for this match.
Tang En's home was indeed still in Nottingham. Recently, he had been busy with the national team and had been staying in a hotel in London. He had not really returned home.
Shania was not there, and there was no need to return to that cold and cheerless home.
Go home …
Tang En mumbled to himself. He knew that the current Nottingham did not want to be his home anymore.
When Tang En arrived in Nottingham with the team on the bus, he was surrounded by the media. These days, he had either been hiding in the hotel and fiddling with the roster or hiding in the Kearney base. The media could not get close to him at all. Now, he had nowhere to run in Nottingham. This time, he had to get some explosive news out of them.
The team would stay in a hotel in Nottingham and prepare for the next day's match. As soon as the bus heard the news, the reporters waiting at the entrance swarmed over, blocking the road between the bus door and the hotel entrance.
When Tang En jumped down from the bus, microphones on long poles stretched over everyone's heads and reached above Tang En. The cameras and cameras were all aimed at him. The security and police at the scene looked like they were facing a formidable enemy.
The other players could not help but whistle when they saw this scene.
A group of people gathered together and whispered again.
"I thought these people were here to interview us … This lineup is even more impressive than the main players."
"Stop dreaming. These people are here for the boss."
"He's indeed the focus of the news."
"Has the coach's big mouth said anything recently?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing and he's attracted so many reporters?!"
"Idiot, this is Nottingham. He's back at home. "
The scene was noisy, and Tang En did not hear the players' whispers. He was busy dealing with the reporters.
"Coach Tang En, Coach Tang En! How does it feel to be back in Nottingham? "
"It feels great." Twain answered expressionlessly, which made it obvious at a glance that he did not answer the question seriously.
"Can you explain why you chose not to renew your contract with Nottingham Forest Football Club?" This question was always the most interesting to the reporters. Although there were many rumors, none had been confirmed. They still wanted to hear the real answer from the person in question.
"There's nothing to talk about." Tang En refused to answer. He didn't want to talk about the conflict between him and the club. He just didn't want his relationship with the club to be completely strained. After all, he had 11 years of fate with the club. Some things might as well remain a complete secret.
"Someone said that you have a conflict with the club's top management …"
"There's no such thing." Twain's lie came out of his mouth without any hiccups.
"Then could it be because …"
"I'm sorry, I refuse to answer any questions about Nottingham Forest." Tang En did not look too good. It was time to teach these reporters a lesson.
"But Mr. Twain, your team is going to play against Nottingham Forest. This is also an issue related to Nottingham Forest. If you don't answer … "A reporter chuckled and picked out the logical errors in Twain's words.
"What I mean is that I won't answer any questions." Tang En glanced at the man and squeezed into the hotel lobby under the double protection of the security guards and the police.
The reporter who had wanted to tease Tang En just now choked and froze on the spot. His expression was very stiff.
"Wow —" A player whistled. "So cool!"
Carl Spicer couldn't stop laughing when he saw this scene in the crowd. He turned around and smiled at the camera. "Tony Twain is really back." He heaved a sigh of relief. The arrogant Tang En was back. He didn't have to worry that the Tang En who had been dormant for two months would become a toothless tiger under the Football Association's control. If that happened, it wouldn't be fun.
※ ※ ※
The news of Tang En's return to Nottingham became the day's headline. The photo of him squeezing into the hotel surrounded by many reporters appeared in the newspapers and online. Dressed in a black suit and wearing sunglasses, he really looked like the Godfather of the underworld.
Burns held the newspaper and looked at Tang En in a daze.
How did it feel to be home?
He really wanted to ask Tang En that. However, Tang En probably wouldn't come to his bar anymore. After becoming England's manager, he would be closely watched by the media 24 hours a day. He didn't have the leisure to come here and chat with his friends. Besides, it was another matter if he could find someone to chat with here.
"He still looks so cool." Fat John, who was next to him, came up to take a look at the photo.
Bill and the others were already gone. They were probably discussing making banners.
"But he offended the media. When he left the Forest team, not many media said good things about him. "Burns responded.
"Hehe." John laughed. "If Tony cared about what others thought, he wouldn't be Tony."
"That might not be true." Burns shook his head. "Tony will definitely care about tomorrow's Crimson Stadium."
These words also hit on John's mind. The smile on his face disappeared and he remained silent. He just picked up the wine glass and gulped down the wine.
※ ※ ※
Dunn rarely announced a day off after the end of training to let the players have a good rest. He didn't give a reason. The players didn't think much of it other than finding it strange. A day off was a good thing. They couldn't ask for more.
Dunn kept the tickets for tomorrow's game and didn't explain.
Originally, there was no value in watching a game like that. However, he was interested in Tang En, so he wanted to go to the stadium to see what kind of trouble Tang En would create here.
※ ※ ※
Although it was a friendly match, Tang En still called for a tactical meeting that night.
As the team only had one day of collective training, it was basically impossible to practice any tactics, so Tang En didn't arrange any overly complicated tactics. They used a 4-4-2 formation and played on the flanks. These tactics were the most basic and simple. Even players who didn't have much chemistry with each other could work together because they had received such training since they were young.
During the meeting, Tang En reiterated the significance of this game for the players. He hinted that they could have a good result if they gave it their all.
It looked like he was holding back to prepare for this game. Seeing him like this, the players who were previously dubious of Tang En's idea had no choice but to take it seriously. Tomorrow's game was really a great opportunity.
"They won't guess that we'll take this game seriously." Tang En thought about it and affirmed his statement. "This is just a normal game. Although the media has hyped it up very fiercely, the focus is not on the game. I hope you guys can seize this opportunity. "
He looked at the players. How many of these people truly trusted him and intended to follow him would be known after this game.
Of course, he didn't expect everyone to fight against Nottingham Forest. He didn't have that kind of reputation in the national team, and the players were not obedient puppets. However, he only needed those who listened to him, who had the fighting spirit and dared to fight. As for those who were unwilling to do so … Sorry, the door to the national team is permanently closed to you.
This friendly game was a good opportunity to make an example out of others. Establishing prestige was not achieved through victory.
※ ※ ※
At the same time, on the other side, Martin O 'Neill was also discussing with David Kerslake the strategy to deal with the England team.
"What do you think England will do in tomorrow's game, David?" O 'Neill asked.
Kerslake understood Tang En. When guessing what Tang En would do, it was never wrong to ask him.
Kerslake was silent for a moment, then said, "The outside world thinks that the highlight of this game is not the game itself, but outside. We want to use this game to test the team's lineup and the state of the new players after they joined. And England's players are marginal players, too weak. However, my thoughts are exactly the opposite of theirs. "
O 'Neill looked at him with interest and motioned for him to continue.
"Tony Twain is not a person who follows common sense. This game is his first game as a team, and it's very important. If he wants to make his work a little easier in the future, this game can't be a mere formality. I think he will ask his team to go all out. "At this point, he paused for a moment, as if thinking about whether his words were correct.
"And then … with defeating us as the goal." He still said this conclusion.
O 'Neill did not object to his seemingly fantastical statement, but nodded approvingly, "Just as I thought. Tony needs a game victory more than us, even if it's just an insignificant friendly game. The media is always watching him, and he's under a lot of pressure. Even if it's a game like this, he needs to use a victory to prove his ability. "
O 'Neill was very happy that Tang En could also have such pressure, so he would not feel like he was the only fool in the world.
"Although they will go all out, we don't have to do the same. Tang En doesn't have to worry about his players getting hurt, but we do. So, we'll stick to our plan for this game — to observe the team. "
Kerslake agreed with O 'Neill's arrangement. Tang En needed a victory, and he desperately needed it. He would do anything to win, but Nottingham Forest did not have to accompany him in his madness. This game was one aspect of observing the players' condition, but it was also important to avoid injuries.
In fact, deep down in his heart, he felt that it was not bad for the Forest team to lose to England. Anyway, the Forest team did not expect this friendly game to change anything. This way, they could protect themselves and give Tang En the result he wanted. Everyone was happy.
However, O 'Neill's subsequent words interrupted his beautiful dream.
"Even so, I don't think that England's third team can beat my Nottingham Forest."
Kerslake turned his head to look at the manager in front of him. After so many days, this was the first time he heard O 'Neill say "my Nottingham Forest."
In front of other opponents, O 'Neill would not say such a thing. It seemed that this man also had a sense of crisis when facing the team's former manager. Like a lion king guarding his territory, even in the face of the previous lion king's provocation, he was unwilling to retreat. Was it instinct or a sense of responsibility? Kerslake did not know.
Tang En did not want to lose this game because he wanted to establish his position in the England team. On the other hand, Martin O 'Neill was unwilling to live in Tony Twain's shadow and did not want to lose to Tang En's England. It could be said that the former was for survival, while the latter was for glory.
These two men had a good relationship in private, but they would never show mercy because of this.
He suddenly looked forward to tomorrow's game.
What would the scene be like at the Crimson Stadium tomorrow?
※ ※ ※
The game was played in the afternoon. The temperature in Nottingham at the end of July was still very high. The game's kickoff time was at 4.30 in the afternoon. The temperature would drop slightly then, but it was still very hot.
Despite the hot weather and the scorching sun, it could not stop the enthusiasm of the fans who came to watch the game. The special significance of this game attracted almost all the Nottingham Forest fans to watch the game. At the same time, the media's broadcast van almost surrounded the Crimson Stadium.
Pepe saw the scene in the bus and smacked his lips. "It's the UEFA Champions League final … That's crazy."
"They're all here to see the boss, right?" Bale leaned in front of the window and looked at the fans below.
"Should we welcome him or boo him?" Gago also came to join in the fun. As soon as he said that, everyone was silent.
"Uh …" Gago was a little embarrassed. "Alright, I didn't say anything."
He did say what everyone was worried about.
"Don't think so much. Get ready for the game." Wood said from the side. He might have wanted Gago not to think too much, but everyone felt the atmosphere become colder …
※ ※ ※
When the England bus arrived at the stadium, most of the fans had entered the field. But when Tang En got off the bus, he still attracted everyone's attention. The media rushed over here and he also heard some sporadic boos.
He was not a fool. He knew who the boos were aimed at. He could only pretend not to hear it and quickly walked to the tunnel with his head down.
There were also reporters who asked from behind, "Manager Tang, Manager Tang! How does it feel to go home? "
This time, Tang En did not even have to pretend to answer. He pretended not to hear it and walked into the tunnel, shaking off the reporters.
Go home?
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