Chapter 1 Michael's Farewell(1/2)
Tang En stood at the door of his house that he hadn't returned for ten days, with drizzling drizzles in the sky, but he didn't hold an umbrella. It's not that he wanted to pretend to be cool, but that he didn't bring an umbrella at all - who would carry an umbrella with him when he went to Brazil?
He has been in Brazil for ten days and just returned today.
Ten days passed, and the good times were always short. He and Shania spent a pleasant holiday in Brazil, and during which they met Shania's parents again. Shania's mother was very happy and satisfied with her daughter's current achievements. Although she still treated her as a child, she was no longer as strict as before. Shania's father was still silent most of the time, but she would chat with Tang En privately, thank him for her care for Shania, and asked him to continue taking care of her - as parents, they knew that Shania moved her home out of Newcastle's aunt's house and moved into Tang En's residence.
But they did not object to this.
When Tang En went to meet, he was a little nervous, afraid that the other party would suspect that he had any evil behavior towards their daughter. Now it seems that it is not known whether Brazilians are open-minded or that they are all very at ease with Tang En...
Later, when the two were sunbathing by the beach, Tang En once joked: "Do I look so harmless?"
Shania smiled innocently: "Because both dad and mom know that Uncle Tony is a good person."
Tang En felt a deep sense of frustration.
But he soon felt relieved.
Brazil has beautiful scenery, Brazilians are even more beautiful, and his eyes are almost overwhelmed. The beach is full of Brazilian beauties wearing bikini and stunning figures. He believes that Shania's parents are so relieved, because Brazilians are naturally open.
In addition to playing with Shania for ten days in Brazil, Don Eun also took time to learn about the talented players of Brazilian football. He found a genius - Pato. Unfortunately, when he wanted to contact Pato's agent, he told him that Pato had been booked by several European giants. Although Nottingham Forest is a team that just won the European championship, it is not easy to intervene.
In addition, the agent also told Don En that among the several wealthy clubs, AC Milan is the most pursuing Pato, and Pato himself is also determined to play football in Milan.
In desperation, Tang En could only watch his opponent in the Champions League final score a goal in the transfer market.
Don En secretly did this with Shania on his back. He had promised Shania before. He would never look for players when he came to Brazil. As a result, he couldn't help but acted privately without telling Shania.
Since no results were achieved, Tang En no longer considered it and instead played with Xianya with peace of mind.
Ten days passed in a blink of an eye. Shania was still staying in Brazil to accompany her parents, while Tang En was going back to England to prepare for various plans for the new season.
The door next to him was closed. Tang was not in the UK, and he was in China at this time with his parents.
Tang En discovered that Tang’s love for that family came from the heart. If it weren’t for the special work, he would have been eager to go home every day. After finally taking a vacation once a year, how could Tang return to the team early?
The players were also relaxing in various resorts. At this time, only Tang En came back early. As the head coach, he received enough praise and glory in front of others, and now he has to shoulder the same amount of responsibilities. Others can rest, but he cannot.
Put the luggage in the house. Donne took out an umbrella and wanted to go to Burns' bar to pick up the kitten that was fostered there.
He didn't like this kind of small animal, but he had no choice but to act with the will.
Burns was chatting casually with visitors in the bar. He just opened business and there were not many people now.
The glass door was pushed open, and Tang En stood at the door to collect the umbrella.
"Hi. Tony, how about Brazil?" Burns recognized it and raised his hand to greet him. His voice also made other guests in the bar turn their eyes to the door.
"The weather is much better than here." Tang En shook off the water droplets on the umbrella.
"Who asked you about the weather? I mean, did the beauties there make you confused?" Burns said this, causing a group of people in the bar to laugh.
Tang En also smiled: "You have all your children, are you still thinking about the hot beauty so much, Kenny?"
"I'm helping you care about your lifelong affairs." Burns is not willing to be outdone. "You are almost forty, don't always use prostitutes to solve your personal physical needs."
The two of them had a joyful laughter filled the bar.
Tang En walked straight to the bar. He waved his hand to Burns: "It's natural to come when it should be. Give me a glass of wine and add ice."
Waiting for Burns to pour the wine. Done turned to the drunkards who had just joked about him, "I think you all have a lot of time."
A drunkard stood up with a smile: "You are right, Tony. We are not feeling well in the league. I can't think of anything else to attract my interest besides drinking."
Tang En nodded, he agreed very much. He has also been a fan, and he knows how difficult it is to be a fan every summer, when the European League ends, and there is a world competition venue.
"But you can check out the Copa America...or the Asian Cup?"
Everyone burst into laughter: "Stop teasing, Tony! The season just passed was so fucking exciting. Now, except for waiting for the new season of the Forest team, I have no interest in any other games!"
"Ha, how does the championship feel?" Tang En asked happily.
"It's so fucking great!" Someone imitated Tang En's emphasis in an interview after the game.
Burns smiled behind and watched them mess around, then placed the wine glass at Donn's hand, and there was an envelope with the wine glass.
"Michael sent it to you." He said.
Hearing him say this, Tang En didn't mess with the drunkards, so he turned around and opened the envelope.
This is a short letter.
In the letter, Michael Bernard thanked Don for realizing his 27-year dream, so that he no longer had any regrets.
"...I am very glad that I made up my determination to come to Greece to watch the football game and took action. Even if I offended my wife for this, I saw the game and scene that I wanted to see the most, and the team that my son loved and I became European champions. Is there anything more perfect ending than this?
My wish that has not been fulfilled for twenty-seven years has been realized, and I have no extravagant desires anymore... I am no longer the excited and passionate young boy at the time. Tony, I know you still have a long way to go. No head coach has stopped working for only four years, but my story ends here. This story is perfect. The beginning and the ending are perfect, of course there are some twists and turns in the middle... But which story is not twists and turns?
I love my wife very much. Maybe you won’t believe me when I say this, because I made her sad again and again, but what I said is the truth. Losing my son, my last wish in football has been done, and Fiona is all my concern. My next goal in life is to make her live a good life. Make her happy.
I forgive me for not being able to drink and watch football with you again in the future. I hope you understand, Tony.
There is something more important in life than football.
Finally, I wish you good luck with the Forest team, and I will continue to pay attention to you. John and Bill are more enthusiastic than me. Don’t let them down.
Your dearest friend Michael Bernard
June 1, 2007. ”
Tang En folded the letter and put it back in the envelope, picked up the wine glass and took a sip, and then asked, "Have you read this letter, Kenny?"
Burns shook his head: "This is for you. Tony."
"Um……"
"But I can guess what is roughly written on it."
"Um?"
"After the final, Michael did not go back to the United States directly. He followed John, Bill and the others back to Nottingham. After watching the night celebration live broadcast, he left the next day. We talked about a lot of things... I met him for a long time than you and him, and I met you, Tony."
Tang En nodded to show that he knew.
"He must have told you. There is something more important in life than football, right?"
"Yes, he said."
"He told me that too."
Donn didn't say anything, and Burns didn't continue.
Next, Donn drank the wine in his glass, then took the cat that Burns handed to him, and clamped it under his armpit, as if he was holding a book. He waved to the regulars, opened the umbrella and walked into the rain.
Of course he would understand Michael, even if he didn't write this letter.
Actually, after reading that letter, what he thought in his heart was that if Gavin did not die. Michael would never say "there is something more important than football in life" because he would not know what "things more important than football" is. For Michael, son is something more important than football, and so is his wife.
People always have to wait until they lose it before they understand that the land they lost just now is the most important thing.
Done hopes that Michael will never understand what "things that are more important than football" in his life, because that means he will not lose the most important things, Gavin will not die, he will not be forced to go to the United States, let alone give up football...
But... Tang En moved his umbrella away and let the drizzle hit his face.
I can travel through time and space, but I cannot change the time itself, and what has passed can only pass.
Tang En, who was considering these issues, did not notice that he used some force to hold the cat's arm, and the cat under his armpit screamed in pain.
The voice interrupted Tang En's thoughts, and he said a little annoyed: "Don't shout!"
The cat can't understand human words, it continues to scream.
"Call again! Call again, I will eat you!" Tang En was angry and his arm was clamped.
This cat is even more meowing...
No Xianya, no Tang, no game video, no tactical research, no daily training, and no home and away game days were boring for Tang En. He was used to putting himself in such a busy life, and suddenly, nothing around him made him uncomfortable.
Only the annoying cat jumped up and down the room, appeared on the top of the refrigerator, jumped behind the TV, and secretly went to bed and curled up to sleep.
Tang En kicked the lazy cat off his bed and sat up naked.
It's dawn outside.
The new land day has arrived. The team has not returned to normal work, and most people are on holiday. He took the time to go to the training base yesterday afternoon and found that there is no one there except the security guard who is watching the door.
After washing up, he had a simple breakfast. Tang En returned to the room, threw down the cat sleeping on the computer keyboard, and turned on the computer. He was about to find the latest news about summer transfers online.
The information in the newspaper is limited, but it is the fastest and most complete on the Internet.
He doesn't know what other head coaches do. Anyway, as a fan who has been online for a long time, he has changed his identity. He still relies heavily on various consultations brought to him by the Internet.
Don En roughly knows the adjustments to Forests next season. At the time when the team had just won the Champions League championship, as the head coach, he did not need to make large-scale adjustments to the team's lineup. This will only happen to a team facing difficulties, such as Real Madrid a year ago.
So this year in the transfer market. The Forest team will not make any big moves. Beckham's joining is enough to make the media hype for a long time. Don't want to give them any topics of hype.
Anelka must leave. There is no doubt about this, even if no team has given Anelka a price yet. No matter how much it is, Don En must drive away this forward who dares to fight against him. Love? I only talk to the players I like.
If Anelka leaves, a forward needs to add a fast-speed and skilled striker. Regarding this position, Tang En already has a suitable candidate.
Although Albertini said goodbye in the midfield, Tang En did not plan to make any major adjustments. He might go back to the youth team to see if there are any good seedlings that can be used. It can be put up for training and training, and perhaps find some cheap and suitable substitutes from the mid- and downstream teams. Wood can already stand alone, let alone Sun Jihai?
The two sides are even more powerful, and there is no need to add any new players at all. In this position, what he needs to consider now is not what new players to buy, but how to reasonably arrange the opportunities for these people to play.
Beckham's arrival will surely intensify the competition on the right side of the midfield.
To be continued...