Chapter 141: Wood’s Debut Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After the first half of the match, the score was still tied at 0:0. Tang En was very satisfied. His mood got even better after he saw Coppell's grimace.
In the changing room, he did not specifically praise any individual player, but rather commended everyone on the team. He wanted to let them know that a football match is played by a team, and was not meant to be a stage for any individual player. No one player should be placed above the rest of the team.
There was a great quote in the movie "Goal!" that had deeply moved Tang En when he had first seen it.
In the movie, Newcastle's manager pointed at the team logo on the main character's jersey, patted the shoulder of the player behind him, and said, "Remember, the name on the front of the shirt is more important than the one on the back."
Therefore, even though Wood's performance was exceptional, Tang En did not praise him at all. Plus, he also knew that that kind of flattery was completely ineffective on George Wood. Instead, Wood, who was representing the adult team for the first time, received praises and encouragement from his other teammates. His midfield partner, Gunnarsson, sat with Wood and said, patting his shoulder, "Well done, young lad! You're much better than I expected!"
Morgan, who had played with Wood before on the youth team, said teasingly, "Brynjar, what you just said was pointless! George has always been outstanding."
"Huh?" Gunnarsson didn't get why Morgan had phrased it this way.
"Do you guys know that Spanish guy from Arsenal?" Morgan saw that everyone else became as interested as Gunnarsson, and decided to start showing off, standing in the middle of the changing room. Tang En and Walker did not stop him, because there was nothing much for him to say for the time left in the break. The time was better off left to the players themselves.
Most of the players did not know who Morgan was referring to. Only Huth, the German midfielder who had just entered the team, nodded his head and said, "His name is Fabregas."
Morgan was glad that someone else knew who he was referring to. Otherwise, he would have embarrassed himself. "That's right, him! I heard that he's already playing for Arsenal's first team! Do you know how young he is?"
Huth nodded his head again. "He just turned sixteen."
"Wow, you really do know everything!" Morgan liked his midfield partner a lot. They had a lot of chemistry between them, and were sure to become great partners.
"When I was in Chelsea," Huth said, "I often overhead the others discussing the new young guy that Arsenal had just bought."
"Huh? What? What were they saying about him?" The players immediately redirected their attention. The untold stories of an English Premier League changing room were something that many people enjoyed hearing about. Even Tang En, who outwardly acted disinterested, was actually listening intently.
Huth was an honest man. Seeing everyone's interest, he told them everything he knew. "That youngster only entered Arsenal in October, and had represented the first team in a match before Christmas. Although the outsiders still don't think much of him, everyone on the team thinks that he's a genius. He is very… um, very mature, and looks nothing like a sixteen year-old. And frankly, I feel that even Chelsea's midfielders can't compare to his talent."
His appraisal was very good, and the players around him, who were playing in a lower tier league, did not even dare to think about it. English Premier League… To the majority of players, it was like a dream. The ability to play in the English Premier League at the age of sixteen was no ordinary feat. Not to mention, he was in a top club: the highly-competitive Arsenal.
Eastwood did not agree with Huth, because he had been in Westham United's training camp with Joe Cole at the same time. "Joe Cole is also in Chelsea, no?"
Huth nodded his head and said, "Yes, but I think that even he is no match for that Spanish lad."
"Why?"
"Well... I don't know. If you insist on making me give a reason, I can't really explain it. But I just feel like that young man has a very bright future ahead of him," Huth said, scratching his head and frowning. He appeared genuine.
Looking at the honest German, Eastwood said no more. He believed that Huth had told the truth.
Morgan, who had been completely forgotten, perked up again. "That's right! That Spanish guy is amazing! But do you all know, there is someone who's able to mark him so well that he can't perform at all!"
He had very successfully recaptured his teammates' attention.
Tang En knew who Morgan was talking about. He looked at Wood; his expression was calm. He even looked slightly stupefied. He was neither filled with anticipation, nor did he feel at all shy. It was as though the person that Morgan was about to mention was not him.
Hence, Morgan continued to vividly describe an FA Youth Cup match played on a muddy field. "…. Although we were leading, Arsenal, under the lead of that Spanish lad, launched wave after wave of offenses against our goalpost. I even saved a ball at the goalpost line. But we all knew full well that the situation could not carry on this way. Chief also knew this!" At this, everyone turned their head towards Tang En, who was standing by the door.
Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Tang En only smiled and continued the story. "That's right, I switched George in." He made everyone turn their attention towards Wood instead.
Morgan continued, "I was on the field, so I don't know what Chief had said to Wood. But I clearly remember seeing him point to that Spanish lad and say something. Afterwards, Wood ran onto the field and stood in front of him. Afterwards, that talented Spanish player could no longer pose any threat to us for the rest of the match!"
After the story was over, everyone else was still looking at Wood. However, the look in their eyes was completely different this time. This included Gunnarsson as well, who had been encouraging Wood a few moments ago. Even Eastwood, who had had no interest in him a moment ago, became fascinated by this quiet teammate of his.
Nobody uttered a single word; the changing room fell into a state of utter silence.
Tang En clapped his hands and reminded everyone to snap out of their thoughts. "Alright, alright, Lads. You guys did very well in the first half. Keep playing that way in the second half! There's not much time left, so get ready to go back onto the field!"
With mixed feelings, the players stood up once again, opened the door, and headed towards the field. Wood was behind the group, and was stopped by Tang En.
"George, do you have any thoughts on that story?" At times, Tang En really wanted to see what material the lad's heart was made of. He simply did not act like an eighteen year-old.
Wood shook his head and replied, "Nothing."
"You're not excited? Or happy?"
Wood kept shaking his head. "No. That day, you told me to mark number 25 with my full might, so I did. Is there anything wrong with that?"
Tang En shot Wood a look, before laughing and shaking his head. "You did well, very well. George, your mother is watching you in the VIP suite. Did you know that the club's owner is there as well? If you perform really well and win his favor, he will let me give you a new contract. A contract to join the adult team."
Hearing Tang En say this, a glimmer of light flashed across Wood's eyes.
"I could earn a lot of money, right?" Wood asked.
Tang En nodded his head. "The better you perform in the second half, the higher your weekly salary will be on that contract."
Wood looked at Tang En and asked, "What do you want me to do for the second half?"
With his goal achieved, Tang En shrugged his shoulders. "Exactly what you did in the first half. You're a defensive midfielder, so the region in front of the penalty area and the region after the halfway line is your territory. Don't let your opponents get past your territory and threaten our goalpost without a fight. Any opponent that wants to cross your territory… get rid of them." Tang En made a slashing gesture before adding, "Just be careful not to get any more cards."