champion godfather

Chapter 564
Regarding Paul Gerrard's retirement, Twain ordered the news to be strictly sealed. Except for him, Tang, Chris Rack, team doctor Fleming, and Professor Constantine, he was not allowed to disclose it to anyone else, even the team. The players and other staff inside are not allowed to speak.Twain also greeted Paul Gerrard, telling him not to announce his retirement until after the Champions League.

Gerrard expressed his understanding of this. Now is a critical moment for the team, and it is unreasonable to affect the team's preparations for his own affairs.

In three days, the team will fly to Athens.This time, everyone is here, there are 22 people in the team, and none of them are missing.

Two others, Chris Commons on loan to Watford and goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev on loan to CSKA Moscow, both received letters after their respective seasons A red envelope from Nottingham Forest, containing a ticket to the European Cup final.

Dunn didn't know if other clubs would issue tickets to players who had been loaned out and did not contribute to the team after they reached the final of the Champions Cup or similar important competitions.He didn't refer to other teams before. He just thought of it suddenly. It should make those people feel the glory of the team. This is conducive to cultivating their team cohesion and is also a means of winning people's hearts.

Sure enough, Chris Commons was very happy after receiving the tickets, and Akinfeev, who was preparing for vacation in Russia, also called and said that he would definitely watch the finals then.

Distributing tickets everywhere before the final seems to have become a habit of Twain.

In addition to asking the club to send tickets to these two players who are out of town, Twain himself still has a lot of tickets waiting to be sent.

Chris Glonia, who was in the United States, called Tang En and thanked him for sending the tickets to the finals again. She said that no matter how busy she was, she would definitely go to see it, and it was her duty to support her friends.

※ ※ ※

Michael Bernard had just returned home after a day's work. Before he could change his shoes, he heard the doorbell ring.

"Mike," his wife, Fiona, called from the kitchen inside. "Go and open the door."

"I'm at the door." Michael responded, turned and opened the door.

A young man wearing a hat with the "FedEx" logo on it stood in front of him. "Mr. Michael Bernard?"

"I am." Michael nodded.

"Your express." The young man took out a letter from his bag. "Please sign for it."

Michael took the receipt, took out a pen, wrote his name on it, and handed it back.The young man handed the envelope to Michael, and turned to leave.

Michael unpacked the outer package, and a red envelope appeared in front of his eyes.It looks familiar, because he has received this thing for two consecutive years.

Familiarity does not mean that you are not surprised. Michael was still surprised when he opened the envelope and found that what fell out was a ticket to the Champions League final.He thought he had turned back time, and today was a year ago.

He leaned over to pick up the ticket from the hand, and checked the time.That's right, it's from 2007.So to say……

That kid has led the team to the Champions Cup final for two consecutive years?
Michael looked up at the ceiling.

What emerges before his eyes is the situation of the Forest team reaching the Champions League final 27 years ago.After three years away from England, he didn't know what it was like, and couldn't imagine it.

football……

He didn't care about these things a long time ago, and now the only things about football are his previous memories.He doesn't watch football games, he doesn't read news reports about football, and he doesn't even know where Nottingham Forest ranks in the Premier League today.When my old friends in Nottingham occasionally called me, they never mentioned anything about football or Nottingham Forest.

Today, he is no longer a fanatical fan, but a white-collar worker in a suit and leather shoes who works for an energy company. He works from nine to five every day, living a simple life between the company and the family.

It's been three years, he's used to this, and he doesn't think there's anything wrong with it.After losing his son, he now hopes to spend time with his wife and make up for his past mistakes.

He couldn't think of anything else.This is life, live it.

Even though he thought so, he picked up the ticket and looked at it carefully.

There is a very eye-catching five-star logo of the Champions Cup on the ticket, which is very familiar. It was like this 27 years ago, and it will still be like this 27 years later.

People say that the winning team engraved their names on the silver championship trophy, but he engraved his youth on it.

Shaking the envelope, I found that there was nothing but this ticket.Not a word of greeting was written, and there was never a phone call.The friendship between him and Tony Twain seemed to be the only ticket left. If the Forest team did not reach the final of the Champions Cup in a certain season, it is estimated that even this ticket would not be available again.

Friends need to be maintained carefully. If you don't contact each other for a long time, the friendship that was good before will gradually fade away.Michael had no doubt that if the tickets hadn't arrived, in a few years he would have completely forgotten about the coach he knew in Nottingham.

Now, the ticket in my hand is the testimony and maintenance of all their friendship, so fragile...

In fact, Michael didn't complain that Tang En never called him, and he didn't say anything except sending the tickets, because he betrayed the friendship between the two of them.But... who made him a father who lost his son?

"Mike, who is it?" Fiona in the kitchen couldn't help asking after hearing no sound for a long time.

"Ah, a boring salesman, lol, it's hard for me to get rid of him." Michael put the ticket back into the red envelope and put it in the briefcase.

A crappy salesman who goes out of his way to sell his ideals.

—Do you have ideals, Michael?

——Of course we like winning. We also like that the team will return to the Super League after this season. Our favorite is to be the damn league champion next season. Next season we will be the kings of Europe!

The hand that put the envelope containing the tickets into the briefcase paused.

※ ※ ※

This day was the last day before going to Athens, Greece. The team only had a simple training, which was not long and not very intense.The players who were intensely preparing for the game got a rare rest. They were given half a day off by Tang En, and they went back to relax with their families and women.

Tang En believes in the traditional wisdom of China, which can also play a huge role when coaching a European professional football team.

One piece and one relaxation, the way of civil and military affairs.

What's more, if he doesn't take half a day off, he won't be able to deal with his own affairs.

Another year has passed, and he has also met some new friends, so he no longer has to worry about the whereabouts of so many tickets in his hands like a year ago.Shania, Fasal, Mr. Armani... These people have all received tickets for the Champions Cup final sent to them by Tang En in the past few days.

After mailing out Michael Bernard's tickets, he only had one left.Think about it a year ago, when his Forest team broke into the Champions Cup qualifiers for the first time, he held six tickets in his hand and had nowhere to give them away. In the end, he had to take them to Gavin's grave and burn them together.

This time, he wanted to keep a few more tickets for Gavin as souvenirs, but it was impossible.

With the last ticket, he boarded the tram bound for the suburbs.This afternoon before leaving for Athens, he came to give away the last ticket.

He bought a bouquet of flowers outside the church and wrote "For Dear Gavin". Tang En carried the flowers to the small cemetery behind the church.

It is always quiet here, he has been here a few times, but there is no one else except himself.But this time, he saw someone.

With his back to him, the man was standing in front of a tombstone.

Tang En just glanced at it at first, thinking that maybe it was a stranger who came to mourn his relatives, but he didn't take it to heart.But when he got closer and closer, he realized that this person was standing right where he was going - in front of Gavin Bernard's tombstone.

This is strange, Gavin rests here, and few people usually come to visit him, and even if someone does, Dunn recognizes him at a glance.Standing here today with his back to him, he tilted his head and looked at the person for a long time, unable to match up with anyone in his heart.John was a fat man, Bill was much thinner than this man, and George Wood, Tang En was too familiar with that boy's figure, and he would never admit it wrong.So who is this person?
Tang En intentionally made his footsteps louder, and the man turned his head when he heard the sound.

The moment the two people's eyes met, Tang En froze.

As if he had been hit by a thunderbolt, he stood there, unable to react for a long time.

Who did he see?Although there are some changes, it is indeed the same person.

He thought he was hallucinating.

The person standing opposite him was also a little embarrassed and surprised.

Two old friends who haven't seen each other for three years are reunited again. In such a place, it will indeed be a little embarrassing.

"I... read it right, Michael?" Tang En asked after regaining consciousness.

Michael Bernard turned and walked over: "Surprised to see you here, Tony."

"It's me who should say this. I come here every year, but you... it's the first time I've seen you." Tang En's tone was bad, and he was still worried about the fact that Michael left them and ran away.

How could Michael not understand the meaning in Tang En's tone, he smiled wryly without explaining.

Tang En looked at the old friend in front of him. His face was a little fairer than before. It turned out that the unshaven chin was shaved with a razor, and the hair was meticulously combed and pasted on the scalp. Maybe some hairspray was applied. Yes, meticulous, with a pair of black-rimmed eyes on the bridge of the nose, wearing a straight black suit, looks much more refined.

Tang En let out a laugh through his nose: "I almost didn't dare to admit it. Is this still the fan leader Michael Bernard who was drinking in bars all day long and full of foul words? Congratulations, it seems that you are in the United States It's a good new life."

"Your habit of being sarcastic is still the same, Tony." Michael smiled wryly again.Seeing his old friend, he seemed to have no expression other than a wry smile.

Tang En was taken aback by these words.In fact, he didn't intend to talk to Michael like this at first, but when he saw him like this, he didn't know why, his mouth was full of harsh words, and he couldn't stop it, as if that was really the intention deep in his heart, what emotions were there Squirting, he'd be miserable if he didn't let off steam.

"It's good that I didn't punch you in the face, Michael." After Tang En finished speaking, he walked around Michael Bernard and placed the bouquet in his hand in front of Gavin's tombstone.

Bernard turned to see him take another piece of paper out of his pocket—it was a ticket.

Tang En took out a lighter with his other hand and lit the ticket in front of the tombstone.

The two of them were silent in the flames, until the flames were about to lick Tang En's fingers, he dropped the ball ticket, and before it hit the ground, the ticket was burned to ashes in the flames.Then a forest wind blew and scattered the pile of ashes into the air.

"Every time you receive a ticket, I will come here to give Gavin a gift. Burn it—this is how I give it to him." Dunn said with his back to Michael. "How many times have you received it?"

"three times."

"I burned three times. The first six, the second two, the third... this one. You see, you have a whole new life, and I've made a lot of new friends who can send tickets to Friends who went out, we have all changed." He spread his hands, "But Gavin's one, I will definitely keep it for him."

"Thank you."

The atmosphere between the two gradually eased down.

Tang En turned around and looked at Michael: "Why did you come back this time? Just to see your son?"

"Business trip." Michael replied.

Tang En whistled, "What a busy man. Are you here on a business trip to Nottingham, England?"

"No." Michael shook his head, "A business trip to Athens."

Tang En froze for a moment, watching Michael reach out and pull out a red envelope from inside his suit.He was familiar with the envelope because it was the club envelope he had sent Michael himself, containing the tickets.

Michael pulled out a ticket from the envelope.

"I quit my job just to watch the game."

"You're crazy!" Dunn yelled. "And your wife? Will she agree?"

"Of course Fiona won't agree, but she will allow me to travel."

"You lied to her?" Tang En held his head, "You are finished, your new life is finished."

"That's weird, I thought you'd be glad I was back at the game," Michael said deadpan.

"Don't get me wrong, Michael. I want you to come to the game, but not if you lose your job and cheat on your wife. You know why I don't say anything or call to persuade you to come to the game Ball? I'm afraid of this day." He pointed at Michael, "It's just a ball."

"It's just a game?" Michael asked back. "I think it was you who got it wrong, Tony. This is the European Cup final!" He raised his voice. "The last time I saw the Forest team enter the Champions League final was in May 1980, and now it is 2007! For me, it is a game that comes only once in 27 years. I can find another job if I lose my job. If I let go, I'm afraid I'll have to wait another 27 years...How many 27 years do I have, Tony?"

Looking at the white hair on top of Michael's head, Tang En fell silent.

"Fiona, I'll explain. Of course I won't give up my family, so don't worry about it. Why are you always thinking about someone's wife, Tony?"

Tang En punched Michael in the chest, "You fool who doesn't know what's good!"

Then he and Michael hugged: "Should I say welcome back, Michael?"

"Whatever you want, I'm just coming back to watch the game, and I have to go back to the United States after the game."

"Of course I don't expect you to stay here, you have your life, Michael. That's fine, I hope you don't give up football, I don't want you to give up life. You know?"

Michael Bernard nodded: "I'm no longer a fanatic fan, I know this much better than you, Tony."

"That's good, that's good..." Tang En murmured.

"By the way, when I came here, I met George here." Michael Bernard said, pointing to his feet.

"George Wood?"

"Yeah. He's giving Gavin flowers."

Hearing what Michael said, Tang En noticed that there were not two but three bunches of flowers in front of Gavin's tombstone.

"Did you talk about anything?" he asked.

"No, I nodded to him, and he nodded to me, then turned and left when he saw me coming."

Tang En thought to himself that this was in line with George's personality.

"He is now a big star." Dunn said proudly.

Michael nodded: "I know. After I came here, I bought some newspapers and magazines, and the local media introduced him. He became the captain of the Forest team, was selected for the England team, and participated in the World Cup... I can't think of it."

The two looked back at Gavin's tombstone at the same time.

He was George's first fan. He accurately predicted that George would become a big star one day, but he didn't wait for that day himself.

"He remembers Gavin, and I'm grateful for him," Michael whispered.

"No one has ever forgotten Gavin." Tang En patted the old man's shoulder: "You just came back, have you been to the Forest Bar?"

"No."

"Go and have a few drinks, the old boys will be happy to see you back, even if it's just to watch a game and leave."

After speaking, Tang En took Michael and left the silent cemetery.

The three bouquets of flowers in front of the tombstone are lined up side by side, swaying gently in the breeze, and there are some black spots on the petals, which are the ashes of the burned tickets.

※ ※ ※

Michael Bernard's return surprised Kenny Burns and everyone else. They couldn't recognize Michael who was wearing glasses and a different outfit.It was Fat John who rushed up to hug him first, and everyone was convinced that the person in front of them was indeed their former leader, Michael Bernard.

"Welcome back, Michael!" Burns handed him a glass of wine.

"Every time Tony sent you tickets, I told him, 'Don't be delusional, that guy ain't coming back'. It seemed I was wrong, but I'm glad I was." Fat John hugged Michael very Emotionally speaking. "Michael, we can sing together in the stands again!"

"And fight those bastards who look down on us!" Skinny Bill continued.

Tang En stood aside and watched the scene of the reunion of friends with a smile. He was no longer angry with Michael in his heart.As he himself said, football is football, life is life, everyone has his own way, not everyone can rely on football for a living.

"I'm so sorry, John, Bill. But I'll just have to come back for one game..." Michael said apologetically.

"That's okay, that's okay." John shook his head, "One game is fine, one is enough. This is the final of the Champions Cup! After 27 years, we can watch the final of the Champions Cup together again!"

There were not many people in the bar in the afternoon, and most of them were Michael's old friends. Everyone got together and raised their glasses to cheer for Michael's return.

It wasn't until everyone finished their trouble that they noticed Tang En standing beside him.

John turned his head to look at Tang En who was smiling: "Hey, Tony. I want you to give me a promise."

Tang En raised his eyebrows.

"Michael came back with great difficulty. This is the first time we all gathered to watch the Champions League final after 27 years. Do you have the heart to let him go for nothing?" John turned his head to look around, and everyone shouted.

"That's right! If you lose again, we can't spare you, Tony!"

"I don't care what the shit is for this time, I'm not allowed to lose anyway!"

"Must win! Tony, you said that you can't lead the team to win the championship. The head coach who wins the victory is just fucking rotten! If you lose again, I guarantee you will hear it every home game' Sucks' yell!"

"Championship! Except for the championship, we will not accept any result!"

"We waited 27 fucking years and got impatient and didn't want to wait any longer!"

All kinds of roaring sounds came and went in the bar for a while, and no other sounds were heard anymore.

Facing these fanatical fans, Tang En did not rush to speak, but just smiled, and when everyone gradually calmed down, he spread his hands and said:
"Is there anyone here who doubts my desire for victory and championship? You all watched how I went from a rookie to the present."

He said he was a rookie and everyone laughed.Indeed, when he entered this bar looking for a drink, he was ridiculed by Michael and his people. At that time, who knew that today would happen?
"Besides, I have made a bet with the whole of Italy. If I lose, I will jump into the sea. Do you think I am the kind of coward who is willing to shame myself in front of the enemy?"

At this time Michael suddenly interrupted loudly: "Hey, Tony! I'm very distressed. Of course we hope that Nottingham Forest will win the Champions League, but we also want to see you jump into the sea. What should we do?"

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Good idea, Michael! You can only choose one!" Dunn waved to him.

"That's the champion without a doubt." Michael shrugged.

"I'm the same as all of you. I don't accept any other results other than the championship. Not before, not now, and not in the future!" Dunn swung his fist vigorously, showing his posture of lecturing and encouraging the players in the locker room . "Let me tell you, it's our own, and no one can take it away!"

Everyone whistled excitedly.

Tang En raised the wine glass in his hand: "Don't just drink, let's make a toast, guys."

Michael then raised his glass high, turned his head and shouted to the people in the bar: "For the champion—"

John then raised his glass: "For another championship after 27 years—"

Bill was already hoarse: "For the King of Europe—"

"cheers--!!!"

(End of this chapter)