Chapter 173: A Timely Loss Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
"Hey…" Tang En knew that saying things like that made some people think that there was something wrong with his head. So he decided to word it in a different way. "I said, are any of you still using that bulls**t mentality of 'definitely cannot lose' and 'consecutive no-losses'?"
After he phrased it that way, everyone started to understand what he was getting at. Now that they were feeling upset about their defeat, they no longer thought things like, "We finally won, we definitely won't lose the next match," which were thoughts that had frequently crossed their minds prior to this.
"No more, Boss."
"No, Chief."
Tang En nodded his head and said in a pleased tone, "There is no team that has never lost before. Losing now is much better than losing at crucial moments. So lads, stop thinking about the match. We have to leave this behind. We just have to make up for today's loss by winning the upcoming matches. It's no big deal!"
Tang En's greatest problem had actually been solved by this coincidental situation, and it had been resolved in a beautiful way. Everyone knew about the rule of unluckiness after achieving the best awards. Therefore, nobody would think too much about this loss, and the players had also taken this chance to get rid of the burden in their hearts.
That was why Tang En said that they lost well, and that it was a timely loss. If it had been one match earlier, it might have negatively impacted the team's high morale; if it had been one match later, perhaps the pressure would have been much greater, to the extent that it would have caused the players to have a mental breakdown. Fortunately, neither of these happened.
After leaving Bramall Lane Stadium and Sheffield, Tang En looked back at that period of time and realized that his luck had been good. He had experienced the referee's partiality and losing a match at a good time. Could it be that God himself is feeling guilty about making me time travel, and decided to make amends by boosting my luck?
Tang En shook his head at that preposterous thought. Fate has always been in my own hands. Luck favored us, only because we performed better in other aspects as compared to the truly unlucky souls.
Warnock….Sheffield United….We will still meet, but when that time comes, where will we be, respectively?
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Nottingham Forest's loss made some people extremely happy, such as experts who had published articles on media platforms claiming that it was impossible for Nottingham Forest to be promoted. The supporters of Nottingham Forest's direct competitors felt that Nottingham Forest was already on the brink of a breakdown. They would definitely lose their next match, and an even greater, unstoppable breakdown would begin. With only one month left before the season ended, no matter how miraculous Tony Twain was, he would be unable to salvage a lost cause.
All of this was appalling to hear, and even the Nottingham Forest supporters started to feel worried about the team's future prospects.
Tang En did not rebut those people's opinions in his own special column, as whatever he said right now would be mocked and laughed at. If he really wanted to rub their noses in it, the only way to do it would be victory. When everyone looks badly upon you, doing something brilliantly to shock them before coming out and giving them a slap to face was the best revenge.
Therefore, Tang En's silence did not mean that he was afraid, nor was it a sign of weakness. In reality, he was only doing it for the sake of conserving energy for a much more vicious comeback.
All those who look down on me will have to pay the price. However much you look down on me today, I will make sure to recover fully tomorrow! It's only a matter of time…
On April seventh, the rescheduled match for the 29th round of the league matches took place. Nottingham Forest, which had just been defeated, travelled to their match venue in a low-key manner. It was the capital of Wales, Cardiff, and they had gone there to challenge their opponents in the league, Cardiff City F.C.
This city was not unfamiliar to either Tang En or Nottingham Forest. Those beautiful memories were still lingering in their minds, and it all came back to them yet again. Their goal was still the same: victory. Except, their states of mind were quite different already.
They had let go of their emotional burdens, and at the same time, Tang En hoped that the team could, in front of the rumor-mongering media, once again prove themselves by winning a praise-worthy victory.
Nottingham Forest completely crushed the home team with a score of 3:0.
The fans who had been worrying about Nottingham Forest's future prior to the match watched the game with smiles on all of their faces. Who said they could not be promoted?
Tang En appeared rather arrogant during the post-match press conference. "Cardiff is a very nice city; I always manage to get beautiful memories here…The match season is a long process, just like a match. If someone tells me one second after the match has started that 'Nottingham Forest will definitely lose!', I will look at him with pity, and advise him to get a brain check-up. And I believe that the majority of people feel the same way that I do. But now, there are quite a few experts who make us wonder if their brains work normally. They like to brazenly express their opinions on various media platforms, announcing Nottingham Forest's death sentence even before the end of the league matches. Originally, I didn't want to waste my time talking nonsense to those idiots, but a one-off strategic misstep has made them even more arrogant. Many of them rushed and jumped up to announce the end of Nottingham Forest for this season! So, I feel the need to ask them now: Everyone, how does this slap to the face feel?"
After finishing, Tang En could not be bothered with the reaction of the people in the press conference room, immediately turning around and leaving the room. What was left behind for the reporters was the silhouette of a man that they could not grasp at all.
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Tang En's speech during the press conference was broadcasted live without editing. Hence, what he said naturally became another hot topic for debate in the media.
Those who had gotten their faces slapped naturally did not let the matter rest. They definitely had to win back some face. As a result, all sorts of comments flowed in, directed at Tang En. Some criticized him for not being adept at training, some criticized him for being so arrogant, just because he had won a small championship title. There were all sorts of criticisms.
And what about the central figure of the news discussions?
Tang En did not care about how people scolded him. He knew that his only method of retaliation was to continue winning. What other way was there beside using results to rebut those ignorant people?
On April 10, the 41st round of the league matches, Nottingham Forest welcomed their opponents, Stoke City, amidst the jeering of those people. The final score was 1:0, with Nottingham Forest's victory.
On April 12, in the 42nd round of the league matches, Nottingham Forest defeated Preston North End in an away match, with a score of 2:1. After one loss, Nottingham Forest, which had gotten three consecutive wins, accumulated a lot of points, and had already successfully risen to third place in the league!
They were only four points away from the second place team, West Bromwich. And as for the current Nottingham Forest, a four-point difference was completely unable to stop their advancement.
As for the sceptics, Tang En felt really good getting back at them. How could it not be the same for the players, who felt that they had been belittled?