Translator:
Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor:
Nyoi-Bo Studio
On Monday, December 7th, the players, who had just finished their one day of vacation after the match, returned and were back in training. Most of them appeared to be inattentive because the team had just experienced an important personnel change that would affect their future.
As the players were changing their clothes in the locker room, they were discussing their new manager—it was not a
new
manager for some of them.
Some people were excited, some people were frustrated, and some people were scared.
Serhiy Rebrov sat bare-chested on the bench and leaned against the wall. He did not know whether he should feel dismayed or terrified now.
It was ironic that the managers who had trusted him always got dismissed. This was exactly the same situation he had at Hotspur.
At that time, he was brought to North London from Kyiv Dynamo by the Hotspur manager Graham. The club and the manager had high hopes for him, and the £11,000,000 illustrated very well how high that expectation was. But? Not long after, Graham was fired because of the team’s poor performance. Rebrov’s own performance was also unsatisfactory. When the new manager Hoddle brought on six new players in one shot upon his arrival, Rebrov knew his time at White Hart Lane was coming to an end.
Tottenham Hotspur had once wanted to sell him. He and Shevchenko had formed a dream team of striker combination that year at the UEFA Champions League, and now he was of no interest to anyone. Later, he was temporarily on loan to Turkey’s Fenerbahçe team. His performance was still poor. He only scored one goal in half a season.
During this period, he not only lost his position in the club, but also lost his position on the Ukraine national team.
That summer, Shevchenko had just won the UEFA Champions League in AC Milan. He received a hero’s welcome on his return to home for holiday. When he appeared in front of the Ukrainian people with the UEFA Champions League trophy, the square broke out in great cheers, as if the trophy in his hands was not the UEFA Champions League but the World Cup.
And what about him? Reduced to a point where no one wanted him!
Why were their outcomes so different when they became famous as partners in the first place?
In the rainy winter of London, he could not see through the heavy dark clouds overhead. Was it the same now under the sky of Nottingham?
Am I really not suitable for English football? Was it a mistake to decide to go abroad to earn my living at that time? Why did Shevchenko succeed in Italy, and I, his partner, couldn’t?
In fact, Rebrov’s situation was not fine in this team now. As the team’s most expensive and famous star player, he held the highest weekly wage, but completely contributed nothing to the team. But no one could say that the Ukrainian did not do his best and took the money without doing his job. He was cautious and conscientious in training, and never put on the airs of
a Premier League striker.
No one saw him being lazy. Sometimes his performance and condition during the training was also quite good, but he just could not find the goal on the field during the match.
It was baffling.
Another person who looked like he had a heavy load on his mind was the team’s young captain, Michael Dawson. But his reasons were different from Rebrov. He stood in the middle of the locker room and watched his noisy teammates in a daze.
Why was the chief back?
The veteran player, Eoin Jess stood up, looked at the dazed Dawson and frowned. Michael, you can’t be like this. You’re the captain, you cannot show the slightest indecision or hesitation.
He walked up and touched Dawson, whispering his name,
Michael, Michael.
Huh?
Dawson snapped out of it and looked at Jess, somewhat confused.
Jess sighed in his heart, and then said to him,
Tell everyone to go out. We took so long to change our clothes. If the boss finds out, he will certainly be angry.
Oh, right. Yes, the chief hates the most being late for training and things like that,
Dawson nodded and muttered.
When Tang En was leading the team last season, he would be on the training ground earlier than the team every day. Although he did not care much about the concept of time in his personal life, he was disciplined at work. If he said to start training at nine o’clock, then running out of the locker room at ten seconds past nine o’clock would get one laps as a punishment.
In fact, regarding this, Tang En had learned from his high school teacher in charge of his class. When the school bell was about to ring, that stern teacher would stand outside the door to catch any late students. He thought this was a good trick, so he used it.
Dawson looked around the locker room and the coaches were there. At this moment, he should take the responsibility as the captain. So, he clapped his hands and said loudly,
All right, everybody! Get dressed, we’re going out for training!
Not everyone listened to him. When everyone else had gotten up and gone out, Gareth Taylor was still sitting on the bench, and had not changed his clothes.
Collymore’s indifference to the discipline of the team had naturally fostered the players’ slack habits. Taylor, who had been a newcomer transferred to the Forest this season, had already scored 10 goals and half the season was not over yet. He was the Forest team’s top scoring forward, so he deliberately put on some airs.
Dawson wanted to go up and grab this nonchalant man and push him out. But Jess stopped him and shook his head.
Helplessly, he gave Taylor another glance, then Dawson and Jess ran out.
It was drizzling under the gloomy sky. The rain was not heavy, but it was cold enough.
Tang En and Walker stood at the corridor entrance from the locker room to the training ground. It was now 8:59. They did not have an umbrella, nor did they wear a raincoat and pullover. They just stood there and let the cold winter rain gradually wet their hair and clothes, and then drip down their necks into their bodies.
They waited, and still did not see a figure running out.
Seeing this embarrassing scene, Walker shamefacedly said to Twain,
Collymore … never care about the discipline of the team.
Tang En nodded,
I understand. I don’t expect a coach who doesn’t always come to the training ground to be able to bring out a group of players who respect discipline and have the concept of time. It’s just that it’s a bit unexpected for me that not a single player has come out.
He looked down at his watch, and it was nine o’clock sharp.
Let’s start counting the time, Des.
Walker nodded and began to start the stopwatch.
When the number jumped to 47 seconds, someone finally came running out and it was Andy Reid.
Boss!
Reid was a little excited to see Twain’s long-lost face,
Long time no see!
Tang En smiled and nodded.
Indeed, Andy, it’s been a long time. You look stronger than before.
Reid scratched his head, feeling somewhat self-conscious.
What about the others?
Tang En asked.
Oh, they’re still in there, Michael’s hurrying them.
Just as he spoke to this point, Reid suddenly remembered that Twain disliked the players being late for training, and he suddenly stopped talking.
Tang En looked at him and laughed mischievously,
Andy, you’re forty-seven seconds late. You know what to do?
Uh, I’ll run the laps.
Reid turned to run and was called by Twain again.
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one today. Go to the field and wait.
Reid’s Adam’s Apple swallowed a little, he knew that everyone was going to have a hard time today. So, he obediently moved to the side. But why did he still felt like he was looking forward to something… like he was expecting a good show about to be staged.
Then there were more people coming out from inside, and most of them saw Twain standing on the sidelines waiting for them and happily came up to greet him. Tang En responded with smiles and said nothing about running laps for being late.
Seeing Twain’s performance, Reid grew more excited. He forgot that he was also on the punishment list. He folded his arms around his chest, cheerfully watch the show at the side. At the same time, he counted the number of people who came out and how many unlucky ones who were still inside and did not come out.
Michael Dawson appeared in front of Twain together with Jess and he looked slightly uncomfortable when he saw the manager. It was Twain who took the initiative to say hello to him,
Michael!
Chief…
You look a bit down in the dumps. What’s the matter? Your girlfriend kicked you out of her bed?
After he said that, Walker and Dawson both laughed.
Without Chief, she wouldn’t dare to kick me.
Well, that’s good. I wouldn’t know how to explain to the reporters if I lost a midfielder because you had a falling with her in bed. Ha ha! Go on.
He patted Dawson on the shoulder.
Oh yes, how many people are there left in the locker room?
Only one, Chief.
Tang En nodded.
Dawson ran toward Reid and found that he was looking at the passageway entrance, smirking.
Hey, Andy, what are you doing?
He asked, puzzled.
Ah, it’s Michael!
Grinning, Reid pulled him forward, and placed him to stand beside him so as not to block his view.
Is that dawdler Taylor, still in the locker room?
Dawson nodded,
He hasn’t even changed his clothes.
Reid smiled even more happily.
Awesome! I haven’t been able to stand that guy for a while now. Just wait for a good show, Michael!
Hmm.
Dawson understood what Reid meant and he also knew what Twain was going to do. He waited in anticipation for Gareth Taylor to come out.
The players were standing on the training ground in twos and threes and the coaches were on the sidelines. The new manager, Tony Twain, and his assistant, Des Walker, were standing at the entrance of the passageway and facing the locker room direction.
Rebrov found this a little strange. Why had they not started the training? Was everyone not here yet? What were they waiting for?
