Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Forest’s defeat by Liverpool appeared to be only a small setback. In the following match of the English Premier League, its fourth round, Nottingham Forest won the match with complete domination. On an away field, they won by 4:0 and eliminated Colchester United from League One (Previously Second Division).
On November 14, in the 13th round of the League matches, Nottingham Forest won by 2:1 in their home field against Middlesbrough, sustaining their continued victory in the battle with Steve McClaren.
From an outsider’s point of view, Forest seemed to have no problems and was set to keep moving forward on the right path.
But in their 14th round in the League on November 20, Forest Team lost to Tottenham Hotspur by 0:1 in an away match.
Their streak of unluckiness was just beginning. On November 25, in the third round of the UEFA Europa League Group Stage, Nottingham Forest was defeated by 0:2 by Villarreal CF from Spain. In front of the Argentine Román Riquelme, George Wood was as helpless as a child on his first field appearance. When Wood guarded Riquelme, he found Riquelme particularly difficult to deal with. The Argentine’s changing pace often confused him, causing him to be at a loss for how to defend. He was entirely at his mercy.
Later, Albertini went to assist Wood and could not help to organize their offense. Riquelme alone managed to hold back Nottingham Forest’s four midfielders.
After the match, the Spanish media gave Riquelme a high score of nine points (a score he lived up to) while giving George Wood a low three. The media evaluated that George Wood’s show of utter ignorance in the match about what he needed to do and his terrible performance was directly linked to Forest’s eventual loss.
In the face of the overwhelming speculation of the media after the match, Tang En simply said,
I will never make any public comments on my players after matches,
and dismissed the lot.
The truth is, if we had won, it would have been perfectly fine with saying something nice; both the media and we would be happy. But we lost, so I’m sorry. I only criticize my players discreetly within the boundaries of the locker room. Why should I tell you, the reporters?
※※※
On the day the match ended, Forest team took a flight back home to prepare for the League match set for three days later.
On the flight back to the UK from Spain, Tang En took special notice of Wood. The boy seemed very quiet. He did not usually talk much to begin with, but now he was practically mute.
They had lost a match in the League’s Group Stage, but it was an away match. Furthermore, their situation was not so dire that they would be unable to further compete if they had lost that match. Their next match was on their home ground against Partizan Belgrade, a team which was not strong. So long as they got a draw, they would be able to advance.
Everyone knew this well. So, after a brief lapse of unhappiness, the other players recovered quickly. Even for the younger players, their understanding of football went much deeper than George Wood’s. Since they had begun their training, they had met with more than their fair share of defeats and had learned how to cope with them. With a defeat of this degree, there was no need to be upset for even a few days. Just a few hours were enough. After waking up, there would be no changes to the way they lived and the world as they knew it.
Aboard the plane, they all did their own things. They chatted, listened to music, slept and rested. It was no different from any other away match.
Only Wood remained in the shadow of failure.
Tang En had turned to look several times and noticed Wood looking upset with his brows tightly knitted. He had had that expression since the final whistle of the match. When everyone’s mood was equally terrible, their expressions looked about the same. But now, with only Wood this way, it seemed out of the ordinary.
Tang En looked around and rose from his seat to walk to Wood’s. He patted Albertini’s shoulder.
Demi.
The Italian understood what his manager wanted to do and stood to swap seats with Tang En, switching to sit next to assistant manager David Kerslake while Tang En sat by Wood.
Wood was so absorbed in his own world that he did not notice the change.
George,
Tang En said.
Wood shifted his gaze to him without turning.
Did you already give your mum a call?
He nodded in reply.
Hm…
Tang En shifted his position and placed his pillow on the back of the seat. He closed his eyes to take a nap.
Did the two of you talk about the match?
Tang En could not see Wood’s expressions or actions but heard his low reply after a brief pause.
Yes.
What did your mum say?
She said… I played well.
Tang En’s mouth lifted into a smile. Sophia would never question her son’s ability or say anything bad about him.
See? there’s still someone who would praise you. What are you worrying about?
Mum, she…
Are you going to say that you think your mum is lying to you?
Tang En said, taking the words out of Wood’s mouth.
Wood started and then shook his head.
No.
Tang En opened his eyes with a smile.
George, how long have you been playing soccer? Do you know how long that Argentine guy has been playing? Your mum wasn’t lying to you when she said you did well. She knows you better than those moronic reporters. Your performance in the match was normal. We didn’t lose because you performed badly. We lost because Riquelme, number ten, was truly amazing. It’s that simple.
Tang En ended with a shrug and wave of his hands.
Wood looked at Tang En without a word, and Tang En understood what he wanted to say. He nodded.
Yes, don’t think of this in such a complicated way. There are more than a hundred thousand, even a million, professional football players. Out of those, some are stronger and some are weaker. Some used to be strong and are now weak, and there are some who are now weak but will become strong. Riquelme is strong now, while you’re weak-
I don’t accept that,
Wood suddenly said, interrupting Tang En’s rambling.
Tang En was not at all unhappy about being interrupted. He asked Wood,
What did you just say? I couldn’t quite hear you.
I said…
Wood ground out,
even if he is better than I am, I’m not willing to lose to him.
Tang En cracked a grin and laughed soundlessly. Wood really was a person he valued highly. His temper and character were so much like he had used to be.
I understand. I completely understand what you’re thinking. But if you’re unwilling to lose to him, it’s useless to sit here stewing. George, do you still remember the first time I went to see your match at the Youth Team?
Wood nodded. That day, he had broken Eastwood’s leg in a sliding tackle; he could not possibly have performed any worse. He had thought that it was the end of his professional career as a footballer. However, after a session of beratement in the locker room from the man before him now, he had persisted and eventually won a contract with the First Team through his hard work.
Your performance in that match was… too terrible to even watch.
Tang En recalled with a shake of his head.
At that time, you had systematically been training for only a little more than two months. On the field, you had no idea what to do. You looked like an idiot.
Tang En lowered his volume so he would not disrupt the rest, saying,
And then… the FA Youth Cup with Arsenal’s Youth Team. You remember, don’t you?
Wood continued to nod.
You successfully defended against the core of the opponent’s midfield, rendering him completely at your mercy. That lad that you marked and pushed back again and again, do you know what kind of background he came from?
Wood shook his head this time.
Half a year before that, he had just become the Champion of the FIFA U-16 World Championship and was the recipient of the Golden Ball award. In other words, he was the best player in the world within his age group. But with you marking him, he had no opportunities at all.
Faced with Tang En’s praise, there seemed to be no change to Wood’s expression.
Later, when you were given a chance to represent Forest’s First Team in a match… Remember that match? I can still remember your debut. It was flawless.
Tang En closed his eyes as he reveled in it. He was not exaggerating. Compared to when he had first witnessed Wood’s claim to fame, he was not as excited when Ribéry had attained success during the EFL Cup. That was because Tang En had known for certain that Ribéry would succeed. Even if it was not on the Forest team, Ribéry would still go to Olympique de Marseille a year later. In two years, he would become the most outstanding player in the France Ligue 1. Thereafter, he would be brought to the German World Cup by Raymond Domenech and shoot to fame overnight.
It was as if he was watching a suspenseful movie; while others were watching with relish, Tang En himself already knew the ending and felt somewhat bored.
George Wood was different. Tang En had never heard his name before, and the international football scene did not have him. From when he had softened and allowed Wood to enter the Youth Team for training, he had no idea whether the boy could eventually carve out a career successfully. And precisely because of the uncertainty in his future, it created suspense. When Tang En saw the brilliance of George Wood in Forest’s match against Reading F.C., a surge of accomplishment suddenly filled his heart. It was almost comparable to the moment when he had lifted the EFL Cup.
Without relying on and taking advantage of his pre-transmigration knowledge, this was a player who had come from true nurturement. In some ways, George Wood’s success represented Tang En’s success.
