Godfather Of Champions

Tang En made his way to Kerslake and the two started chatting in a low voice. The other members had also slipped into a relaxed mood quickly, finding those they were on good terms with to mingle. As the locker room livened up, everyone's attention was diverted from the Captain's Armband to other places.

Tang En glanced sideways at Wood. He did not look for anyone to chat with, and no one approached him. He was just staring blankly at the Captain's Armband.

Kerslake noticed the same thing. "Tony, is this too early?"

"It'll happen sooner or later. There are benefits to having it happen earlier… I don't think George is the sort of person who will crumble under pressure and responsibility. Otherwise…"

Tang En thought about Wood, who worked to feed his family while worrying about his mother's illness. All that time, they also had to stay in a dangerous environment with a need to be constantly alert, having no peace at all.

"…He would have crumpled by now. By putting the Captain's Armband on him, I hope he can become even more mature and learn to consider things from a well-rounded perspective, giving him the ability to see the bigger picture."

Kerslake nodded. He understood Tang En's good intentions. There was no need for him to worry about Wood. It was someone else he was worrying over.

"You assigned Anelka to play as a reserve in this match. Was he... dissatisfied with anything?" he asked quietly.

Tang En retrieved his gaze from Wood, turning instead to Anelka who sat in another corner of the locker room.

"Right now… I can't tell. He's quite introverted; he wouldn't easily express some of his emotions."

"Didn't you explain to him?"

"What about? I've already said. I'll just treat him like any normal player. Isn't it normal for the players to be either on the starting line-up or reserve line-up?"

Tang En still chose to treat Anelka coldly.

Kerslake laughed.

Tang En was well-aware of what he was doing. Whatever he said now would not be the least bit persuasive. His tone softened as he said, "I'll find a chance and speak to him… but not now."

As the final player to join the team as a new member, Anelka seemed rather misplaced in the lively locker room. He sat alone in a corner with his headphones on, listening to music.

※※※

Forest's starting lineup for the match was not much different from the final segment of the last season. Tang En did not use the newly-joined Anelka on the forward line. Instead, he partnered up Mark Viduka and Nicklas Bendtner. In the midfield, the position of left midfielder was firmly held by Franck Ribery. Meanwhile, for the position of right midfielder, Forest chose to use Ashley Young, who had greater chemistry with the team, in this match. Aaron Lennon was put on the substitutes' bench.

In the center of the midfield were George Wood and Mikel Arteta.

In the position of center back, the starters were two young champions - Brazilian midfielder Pepe and Spain's National Youth Team player, Pique.

In fact, the entire defensive line in Forest's starting line-up was made of youths. The starter left back was Leighton Baines, 20 years old, and the right back was Chimbonda, who was 26.

Within this team Edwin van der Sar was one of the oldest, his experience becoming strikingly important on the youthful Forest Team.

Tang En instructed George Wood to mark Riquelme. Riquelme's actions were slightly slower as he liked maintaining possession of the ball. That would be Wood's opportunity. Whatever the method—even fouling—he must not allow Riquelme to be comfortable with the ball. He must give him neither the space nor the time to.

Boxing out Riquelme was equivalent to completely disabling Villarreal CF's offense.

On Forest's side of the offense, due to their deployment of two center forwards, their main offensive direction would be from the two wings. In matches, Sorin was quite active; his favorite activity was to run back and forth on the wings, making use of his enthusiastic sprints to supplement the offense of his team. However, Tang En did not intend to especially manage the Argentine madman and his tendency to cut forward. Since Sorin was fond of advancing forward to assist, Tang En planned to go all out on the offense to suppress him. With both of their wings launching ferocious attacks, it would force Sorin backward, allowing him to stay only on the defense without daring to attack.

This was Forest's home ground. Tang En hoped that the team would be able to establish the grounds for their advancement in this match. He wanted to absorb the lesson he had received last season from the match against Sporting CP; for two-legged matches where they first played at home and later away, he certainly could not allow the deciding moment to be left to the away match.

※※※

Not long after the beginning of the match, City Ground became a cacophony of noise stemming from the audience.

From the start of the match, George Wood made his attitude clear: he was going straight for Riquelme.

The away team Villarreal CF won the toss; they were to kick-off. As the core of Villarreal CF, Riquelme very quickly received a pass. He was the person launching the attack. Like a wolf in search of food, George Wood rapidly closed in on him.

After half a season of experience, the George Wood of today was not the same boy who had been easily toyed with by Riquelme.

Foul.

George Wood had tripped Riquelme.

Riquelme lay on the ground and looked up at Wood. He recognized the kid. In the previous season, this boy was toyed with to the point of helplessness. It directly led to Forest's loss in that match, while he himself was selected as the match's best player.

How was it that when meeting him again after half a season, he was actually donning the Captain's Armband?

He was the captain of Forest?

"George Wood is wearing the Captain's Armband for Nottingham Forest. This is somewhat surprising. With Albertini injured, the best candidate for captaincy should be Edwin van der Sar. Honestly, I don't think much of Wood as a captain. He could be an amazing defensive midfielder—a genius at defense—but, such talent is separate from being a captain. I don't understand why Tony Twain would make such a choice… Look at when they were tossing the coin earlier; his awkward performance is truly worrying!"

The commentator did not praise Wood's defense this time around. Meanwhile, Forest fans felt that the commentator was being too noisy, spouting nonsense that had nothing whatsoever to do with the match. What about Wood becoming the captain? He was a player groomed by their Youth Team; their own people! As fans, they supported Tang En's decision to make him the captain.

Numerous fans began to reminisce about the times they had had, while Forest was still competing in League One, of John Motson commentating for them. Since Forest's rise to the English Premier League, Motson's voice had practically vanished from their ears. It was just too bad that England's BBC channel had failed to attain the broadcasting rights for the English Premier League.

Although Martin Taylor and Andy Gray were extremely popular commentators, they remained objective towards the Forest Team. On the other hand, John Motson made his fondness for Forest obvious; it was something that truly won the favor of Forest fans.

After tripping Riquelme, Wood ran back to the team.

Sorin came forward to give his Argentine comrade a hand. "Are you alright?"

Riquelme shook his head.

"Watch out. That lad… I've heard some things about him. Last season, he kicked the Brazilian from Sporting CP and caused a major injury."

Riquelme looked at Sorin, who nodded. "I'm not kidding. That Brazilian is still lying in the hospital. And for 18 months."