Tang En suddenly recalled. “What are you up to, Shania? I remember that you’re to model for some show?”
“I’m done. I heard people chattering about the match backstage, so I thought I’d call you.”
“Is it fun modeling?”
“No, not really… It’s not as fun as being with you, Uncle Tony. Where are we going over the summer?”
Tang En scratched his head. This girl. “Don’t you still have to attend shows? I thought models were extremely busy people?”
Shania giggled. “No need! I’m not a supermodel, I’m not that busy. We can take the summer off! Where to, where to, Uncle Tony? Where are we going?” she asked eagerly.
Tang En rolled his eyes. He still could not make the connection between the cold-faced model Shania and this mischievous, fun-seeking child.
“Uh, I don’t have any ideas…”
“How about this? Let’s go to Brazil! I’ll bring you to my hometown!” Shania excitedly announced the plan.
Hearing the place “Brazil”, Tang En’s heart skipped a beat… a stray thought abruptly emerged:
Meeting the parents…
The thought had only just emerged, but Tang En was already shaking his head vigorously, wanting to hurl the idea away all the way to Java.
“You don’t like the idea?” Shania did not hear any reply from Tony and thought that he was not that keen on Brazil.
“Un, no… no. I like it very much. I like Brazil…” Tang En replied hurriedly, ditching that absurd thought of his. He truly thought going to Brazil was a rather good idea. The place had produced numerous geniuses, geniuses who remained undiscovered. He could go there for a look and see if he could find a talent or two that were yet to be snatched by Europe.
While Shania was full of thoughts of sunny beaches and seaside strolls, Tang En was thinking of Brazil’s football scene abounding with talent…
“Then, it’s a deal! It’s my turn to go on-stage now. See you, Uncle Tony!”
“See you, Shania…”
After hanging up, Tang En’s somewhat depressive mood took a turn for the better.
Blue skies and green trees.
Beyond the trees, distant laughter could be heard from the children. Maybe they had scored again.
Tang En patted the headstone behind him as if ruffling Gavin’s head.
He stood up.
Champions League, here I come!
He waved his fist in the air.
※※※
The rescheduled match of the 33rd round had just ended. Everton had challenged Arsenal as an away team and was massacred. The end score was 7:0. The 8th minute, 11th minute, 39th minute, 50th minute, 70th minute, 75th minute, and 85th minute; Arsenal scored one goal after another. Pirès scored twice, while Robin van Persie, Vieira, Edu, Bergkamp, and Mathieu Flamini each scored once. Since Chelsea had already won the Championship, Arsenal, who failed, had vented all their anger on this match. Poor Everton became their punching bag.
After the match, Moyes did not appear as down-cast as people had expected him to be. Instead, he seemed to have cast off the heavy burden in his heart. He knew that the qualification for the Champions Cup had disappeared and would not be coming back again.
Their loss to Arsenal forced him and his team to painfully accept the result. While it was hard on them, they could only accept it unwillingly. After all, football did not revolve around this match or this season alone.
Two years ago, he was still sympathizing with Tony Twain. He did not expect their roles to reverse, leaving him being sympathized. The future is truly unpredictable.
※※※
Three days after was May 15. It was the final round of the English Premier League 04-05 season. Other than some uncertainties about which three teams would be staying in the league or getting relegated, it was certain that the Championship belonged to Chelsea. Other than that, the four teams who had acquired the qualification to enter the Champions League next season were also already locked-in. With one more match left, Nottingham Forest, who was fourth in the rankings, led Everton by four points. There was no way for Everton to come back from this.
On the other hand, the qualification for the UEFA Europa League was still filled with possibilities. Everton, with 61 points, had only a two-point difference from Liverpool. Meanwhile, Bolton Wanderers, in 7th place, had the same number of points as Middlesbrough, who was ranked 8th. Both were a mere point away from Liverpool.
Any one of them could drop out.
All this mess had nothing to do with Tang En. In the final round of the League, he sent out the entire reserve line-up, allowing those who did not usually get fielded to enjoy the cheers of the fans. Bendtner and Crouch, Kris Commons, Aaron Lennon, Gunnarsson, Wes Morgan, Piqué, and George Johnson … Among them, George Wood still held tightly to his position as one of the starting players of the eleven.
Tang En did not care about the result of this match. In fact, he told the players before the match to play as they liked and to showcase themselves as much as possible.
He was not afraid to lose. Even if they lost 0:100, they would not lose their qualification to play in the Champions League.
Forest’s fans also understood that the result of the match was meaningless. They had come to thank the team, the players, the manager; to thank them for the joy Forest had brought them throughout the season.
On such a relaxed note, both teams played the match in a carefree manner. Without any worries about relegation, and not having any desire for the UEFA Europa League, Birmingham City was happy to end the season in a laid-back manner.
Although the players from Forest were mostly made up of their reserves, they displayed an indomitable will and immense energy. Players from both teams dedicated a spectacular head-on clash to the fans. Neither side cared about their defense. Anyone who received the ball would only have one thought in their mind:
Forward! Towards the goal!
The final score of the match was 3:3. Forest shook hands with Birmingham City. Both teams and their fans were in a joyous mood.
When the match progressed to its injury stoppage time, Forest’s entire team had already gathered by the sidelines. Even those who were not included in the player list were waiting there in casual clothing. They were waiting for the end of the match when they would all rush onto the field to celebrate. A grand occasion like this made it seem as if they were the Champions of the Premier League.
The live broadcast within City Ground suddenly sounded. A voice was commentating, one that had not been heard for a long while – it was the commentary from when Nottingham Forest had first become the champions of the UEFA Champions League. It was from a time so long ago that the recording came with loud static. But every fan of Forest within City Ground knew what the voice was saying. “…Let us congratulate them, the new champions of the UEFA Champions League, Nottingham Forest! Congratulations and best wishes to them! Brian Clough has created history! Two seasons ago, this unknown team was still fighting in the Second Division. Today, they’ve become the European Champions, a well-deserved title…”
Ear-deafening cheers arose from within City Grounds.
Like the tides, the voice from 27 years before gradually receded amidst the fan’s cheering, and a new voice rang out, “A year ago, we were still in First Division. Today, we have acquired the qualification to participate in the UEFA Champions League! Champions League, we are back! Nottingham Forest is back!”
“We’re back! Nottingham Forest is back!!” A cacophony of shouts resounded in the air-space of the stadium.
Among these voices, the main referee blasted the whistle signaling the end of the match. The players amassed at Forest’s substitutes’ bench rushed onto the field in a drove. Waving their arms wildly, they dashed towards the other 11 players on the field.
Tang En had been standing at the back when he abruptly felt his body tilt – he was lifted by someone.
Before him were the exhilarated faces of Forest’s players, and looking beyond, towards the spectators’ stand, there were thousands of hands swaying along. Over there, he saw Michael, he saw Gavin, he saw Walker, Bowyer, and even the Boss…
He smiled.