848 A Suboptimal Situation

On the Wilford training ground, Bale shaded his eyes with his hands and looked up at the sky. He said, "The weather is fine today." His surroundings were clear as a crystal, and the sun was vibrant. "We will play our last league game in good weather."

"That's good. I hate the rain,"Şahin said. As a technical midfielder, the pitch being wet was extremely torturous for him.

The team had just finished a training session and gathered to rest. The atmosphere among the Forest team had always been good. During breaks, the players would get together and chat. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting.

The conversation naturally shifted to the ownership of the league title. Nottingham Forest's players were sensible. Everyone knew that the decision of who gained the league title was not just up to them.

"I called Bendtner yesterday," Bale said. Everyone looked at him.

"I asked him if he was starting in the match. He was sure he was starting. I told him I hoped he did his best to beat Arsenal..."

"You actually went to beg him?" Pepe dismissively asked. There were still people on the team who did not approve of Bendtner leaving the team and considered him a traitor.

"So many years have passed, so let bygones be bygones," Bale said. "And I didn't beg. I only wanted him to bring up his sportsmanship."

"How did he answer?" Some teammates were more interested in Bendtner's reaction.

"He did not agree or reject," Bale replied.

Pepe snorted and said, "Look at the way he is now. What did he get by leaving Nottingham Forest? No champion, and no honor for so many years. Playing the Confederations Cup every year was his highest pursuit."

Bale knew Pepe looked down on Bendtner, so he did not go on.

"Don't bother yourself with what happens to others. Just focus on winning this match of ours," said Wood, who had been listening. He was right. It was pointless nonsense. No one had any interest in continuing to discuss the subject.

"If, and I mean if, we don't win the league, how would our coach face that?" Ibišević tried his best to make his tone sound like he was joking.

Everyone stared at him.

"Well, OK, OK, let's not talk about this." Ibišević raised his hands to show that he surrendered.

"Hey, for tomorrow's game are you guys under a lot of pressure?" Woodgate asked.

"Are you under a lot of pressure?" Someone next to him immediately rebutted.

Woodgate honestly replied, "A lot."

"I'm still OK." Pepe was laying on the grass. With a strand of grass in his mouth, he said, "As long as we win the game, being able to be the champion depends on the results between Arsenal and Manchester. Still, putting my fate into other people's hands makes me unhappy."

"I'm not happy either."

"Me either."

The same answered echoed among the group.

Pepe looked at the white clouds in the blue sky and muttered, "No matter how great our pressure is, it's worse for the coach. Every time I see him, I always think that I don't ever want to be a coach after I retire. At least, I don't want to be a head coach."

As he spoke, the players all looked over to the other side of the field. They saw their coach talking to the coaching team about something.

※※※

"I always thought the team was not competitive enough." Eastwood, who had recently switched over to coaching after being a full-time player, was more aware of his teammates' mental states than any other coach.

Twain did not speak. He just looked over to the other side of the field for a while. Chris Kerslake laughed and asked, "So, how do you think it should be, Freddy? Should we get everyone together and shout slogans?"

Eastwood did not care for Chris Kerslake's words. He frowned and said, "Perhaps it is the reality that we are unable to guarantee victory after winning matches that makes everyone think that no matter how hard they work, it would be of no use."

Chris Kerslake wanted to object. He thought Eastwood was mindlessly worrying. Nottingham Forest had been under him for nearly a decade. He knew the team better than anyone else. Twain opened his mouth first and said, "You're right. Don't just talk about them. Sometimes I also think back about this reality and lose my fighting spirit."

Chris Kerslake looked at Twain in amazement.

Twain bowed his head. He stood silent for a moment before saying, "I f*cking hate this feeling of placing my fate into other people's hands. It feels helpless."

Eastwood looked at the head coach and did not reply. He could understand this feeling because he was feeling the same way.

"I have a lot of ways to make sure we win against Sunderland, both tactically or psychologically, but I don't feel very motivated. Do you think Wenger will give us a chance? Will they make mistakes? If I was Arsène Wenger, I would ask the team to defend once they scored a goal. This time, 1:0 and 5:0 are no different." Twain paused and continued speaking to his colleagues. "The Football Association prepared for two scenarios. They took two champions trophies to both the Emirates Stadium and our stadium. The trophy that came to us is a replica because everyone thought that Arsenal's chances of losing the title were too small.

A month ago, I promised everyone a better tomorrow and that we could win the league, the FA Cup, and the Champions League three times and become triple champions. Now, it seems that the probability is too small. It's no wonder they're feeling unmotivated."

Twain looked at the watch. Break time was over, so his face immediately changed. "Well, forget what I just said. Don't let them sense anything unusual. Keep training!"

He was instantly revitalized. Eastwood had seen a similar scenario after Nottingham Forest's 3-2 win over Aston Villa in the 31st round. Twain had initially been tired and then instantly rejuvenated. He was seemingly two different people.

Was this his way of self-regulation?

※※※

"Well, this is the end of today's training. I hope you guys don't play too late and have an early break," Twain said to the team before concluding the training. "Tomorrow's game is very important. This season of hard work will be decided in 90 minutes. Also, don't be too nervous. It's just a league game."

Twain waved and let the team disperse.

He was the last person to leave the training base. When he picked up his belongings before driving away, he saw Pierce Brosnan waiting at the door. After seeing him come out, Brosnan frantically waved to him.

"Is there any issue, Mr. Journalist? I'm in a hurry to go home. It wouldn't be nice of me to make my wife wait."

"The media's been quiet the past two days," Brosnan said as he approached Twain. "I would like to ask you, Tony, are you sure you don't want to say anything?"

"What would you like me to say?"

"We all thought you were going to use psychological warfare again against Wenger and Arsenal to put some pressure on Manchester City."

Twain looked at Brosnan. He thought for a while and said, "OK, then. Just say that I celebrated pre-emptively for Arsenal obtaining the title, and, to be honest, I don't think Manchester City poses any threat to Arsenal. They already qualified for the Confederations Cup and have no additional desires. As you know, Manchester City and us have a strained relationship. I'm prepared enough to say that Arsenal's win over Manchester City is a definite thing. After all, the two teams are not on the same level. Of course, against Sunderland, we will win since I said I would have a victorious match as I bid farewell to the city stadium."

Having said that, he pointed to Brosnan's little book. "Have you written it all down?"

"No more?" Brosnan was a little surprised.

"No, that's it. Just upload what I said without changes. There's still a day left anyway."

After dealing with Brosnan, Twain drove away.

Brosnan looked at the notes he rapidly took down. He could not find anything worth hyping up. Twain was telling the truth. First, Arsenal and Manchester City were not on the same line in terms of ability. Second, Manchester City qualified for the Confederations Cup early and arguably had no desire or motivation for the last game. Third, the relationship between Manchester City and Nottingham Forest was bad. It was a fact that Manchester City did not have to work hard to beat Arsenal in an unnecessary game to let Nottingham Forest reach the top. They were not modern new heroes of the new century. Fourth, now that McClaren was the Manchester City manager, his and Twain's feud was enough to write a book about. What reason did he have to fight with all his might with Arsenal to help Twain? He might even deliberately send three points to Arsenal and gleefully watch as Twain suffered. Fifth, the relationship between Bendtner, Ashley Young, and Twain was not good. There was no need for them to help Twain's team win the title and try to beat Arsenal, even if Nottingham Forest was their initial team. Having been gone for so many years, that relationship was long over. Sixth...

There was no need to analyze anymore. If he were to go any further, Manchester City not automatically scoring into their own goal was already giving face to Tony Twain.

"What kind of psychological warfare is this?" Brosnan frowned. "When did the truth become a means of psychological warfare?"

※※※

"George, tomorrow is the last round of the league, right?" Sophia asked. Her son nodded.

"The TV said your chances of winning the championship are slim," she added. Wood nodded again.

"Well..." Sophia hesitated and asked, "Won't Mr. Twain have to bow to the media?"

Wood looked up at his mother. "The chances are slim, but it is not a sure loss. Don't worry, Mom."

"If you and Arsenal both win, won't the championships be still theirs?"

"Arsenal could lose or draw. They might not win for sure."

Sophia wanted to say more. When she saw the look on her son's face, she chose to shut up. She did not know much about football. Since her son said that there was hope, she would trust him.

※※※

Gareth Bale had recently found a girlfriend, but the girl was not a popular public figure. She was just an ordinary beautiful girl who was still in student. The two met at a dance and fell in love with each other. They were still madly in love. Her friends liked Bale's star status, which made her feel proud.

Bale and his girlfriend were having dinner together at her place. As she was daydreaming about the passionate night they were going to have, he suddenly said he was going home.

"You're going home?" The girl opened her eyes wide and stared at Bale as if she had heard something ridiculous.

"Yes, I have to go home."

"Oh, don't be like that, Gareth. You're not a small child anymore. Do you have to go home to sleep at 9:30 every night?" She put her petite body on Bale in the hopes that she could use her sexy body to make her boyfriend stay. "Your parents are not staying with you. Even if you stay with me overnight, they would not say anything."

Bale had already moved out of his parent's home and was living alone. It would not be the first time he stayed at his girlfriend's place, but tonight was different.

He placed his lips on his girlfriend's mouth. To her disappointment, he did not stick his tongue in. Instead, he lightly touched her lips for a bit before leaving.

"Not today, Shannon."

Bale escaped the girl's embrace. He could feel her disappointment.

"Is it because tomorrow is the final round of matches?" Shannon sat on the bed, looking at her boyfriend.

Bale looked back at her. Since it was summer, Shannon was only wearing a sling dress. The sling had slipped down her shoulder, revealing a large area of her white swaying chest. If it was any lower, he would see that reddish spot. She really has a good figure, Bale thought. Such a temptation was of little use to him.

Gareth Bale nodded.

Shannon suddenly became a little willful and asked, "Do you love playing football or me?"

Bale was stunned by the question. He did not find the question difficult to answer. He just had not expected Shannon to ask such a low-standard question.

He looked at the beautiful girl, who had almost stripped off her clothing, and shrugged, "From tonight until tomorrow, I love playing football more."

Having said that, he opened the door and walked out.

Shannon, who felt insulted, grabbed her pillow and threw it at the door. She threw everything she could throw onto the floor before laying down on the bed and crying. She and Bale had known each other for three months. It was the first time she saw him being so ruthless.

It seemed like sleeping with him was not sufficient to understand him.

※※※

Bendtner and Ashley Young sat in a bar on the second floor of the hotel where his teammates usually relaxed, drank, played billiards, chatted, and danced. The team's goal had been achieved this season. This last round was more like a walk-through. After 90 minutes of play, they could immediately pack their luggage to enjoy a holiday.

Bendtner knew that at another hotel not far from where he was, Arsenal's players had likely gone to their rooms early to rest under manager Arsène Wenger's supervision. Compared to them, Manchester City's teammates seemed like they were on holiday in London.

A teammate unsteadily walked past with a beer in his hand and asked, "Nicklas, how have you been this summer?"

"Go home," Bendtner replied.

"You are boring…"

The man muttered and poured a half-glass of beer. He raised the glass to Bendtner, who raised his glass of wine out of courtesy but did not drink it.

After the people left, Ashley Young turned and said, "Look at what they look like. I bet we'll lose at least three balls at the Emirates Stadium!" There was a slight disgust in his tone.

"It's normal to relax. It's been a tough season, and we got the right to compete for the League Cup early anyway." Bendtner had no expression on his face.

Ashley Young laughed out loud. "Ha! The goal of a team that claimed to be the richest team in the world was to only reach the Confederations Cup. Do you know why I am going to leave? Liverpool doesn't pay me as much as I am paid here, but I long for glory. Manchester City can't give that to me."

The music was loud, but Ashley Young was not afraid of people overhearing what he said.

"That is how it is here." He laughed and pointed to his indulgent teammates. "When they move from other teams, they will constantly claim that 'I will help Manchester City win the title,' or 'I'm not here to get a good salary.' The truth is that the money was more practical. Without a fighting spirit, the players in the dressing room are only concerned about how much they can get the next time until they renew their contracts, where to play after the weekend game, or how many beautiful women they will get in the post-season holiday. I also care about these, but I care more about the championship!"

"I've had enough. Even if Liverpool didn't look for me, I would've asked to leave."

Bendtner listened silently to his teammate's complaints and asked, "Can Liverpool give you the title?"

Ashley Young knew what Bendtner meant. As long as Nottingham Forest was present for yet another day, Liverpool would have to be under pressure. They were initially second this season. Because of Nottingham Forest, they were forced to be third. Last season, Liverpool was at the top of the league until the 30th round, but the last league title was given to Nottingham Forest and then back to... Forget it, stop thinking about it, Young thought.

"At least there's a bunch of players out there who want to win the championship and not a bunch of people like these. If they can get paid, even if they are to sit in the audience seating, they would be OK with it." Ashley Young found the difference between Liverpool and Manchester City was that the latter had "professional players."

This time, it was Bendtner's turn to be silent. Ashley Young was accurate, so he had nothing left to say.

The atmosphere in Manchester City's dressing room had been poor for years. McClaren was not the kind of iron-fisted coach who could hold down the dressing room. To be honest, he lacked charisma and was very different from Tony Twain. Coupled with the fact that the Manchester City hierarchy was people from the UAE, there was a lack of desire to keep the players loyal to the club. Even Manchester City fans jeered at their players at home games, considering them "mercenaries" who came just for the money. This team was different in the Premier League. Everyone knew that Manchester City had no chance to win any title. Coming to Manchester City meant saying goodbye to the championships. Regardless, there were still a lot of players moving to Manchester City every year because they could get a higher salary than their former owners. Instead of going to places like Qatar to seek gold, they could stay in the sights of Europe's top competitions and mass media.

The two people were silent for a while, perhaps realizing that it was not always good to think bad about their teammates.

Ashley Young suddenly sighed. "I now think Nottingham Forest is really unlucky. In the last round of the league, their opponents are not deemed to be very strong, but Arsenal's opponents are weak too. The boss did not arrange for me to start, so I would rather not play at all for the whole game instead of being a disgrace after I go into the match. The boss himself is perhaps looking forward to watching Nottingham Forest lose their championships."

Bendtner glanced at him and said, "I don't think the boss is a very narrow-minded person. He's a decent person."

"Yes, a good man. What a good person to be able to bring out such a dressing room. I would rather have an iron-fisted coach who could get the team in line so we could get a big salary while still being able to fight for the honor. How good would that be…"

Ashley Young poured the beer into his glass and drank it in one breath before getting up and leaving.

"I'm going back to my room to rest. This music is awful."

Bendtner watched his teammate leave. He did not return to rest. He continued to sit in the same position, playing with a glass full of wine that he did not drink it at all. (To be continued. If you want to know more about how the story continues, please log into www.qidian.com. There will be more chapters available. Support the author, support legal reading!)