Tony Twain’s team had a fantastic start in the new season. Champions League Qualifiers Round 1: Win! English Premier League Round 1: Win!
More than the results, what made Tang En happy were the conditions of the players. Naturally, there were also players for him to crack his head over, such as Anelka.
The better Anelka’s performance was, the worse Tang En’s headache became. This player, who was originally unincluded in his plans, was substituted twice in a row and scored each time. Such a performance made it incredibly hard to argue against letting him play as a starter.
But letting him play as a starter? Tang En was worried that Anelka would become overbearing.
Either way, it seemed problematic.
Tang En had a habit of speaking to Dunn over dinner whenever he was faced with a problem he could not resolve. Dunn might have a solution; or even if Dunn did not have one, Tang En might somehow be struck by inspiration and be able to find a solution as he spoke.
“Field him,” Dunn answered simply after hearing Tang En’s dilemma.
Tang En looked at Dunn and suddenly waved his hands. “Don’t tell me why. Let me guess. Hmm… His excellent condition is a given, anyone can tell. But, whether he would throw around his temper or not remains unknown… So, there’s no real reason not to let him be a starter.”
Dunn nodded.
“Then, if he acts like a big-shot… I’ll just deal with him when he does that.”
The matter was settled just like that.
Although Dunn was not a member of the First Team’s management, there were many times when he had the same effect as those who were. Tang En had always wanted an excuse to transfer Dunn to the First Team. Dunn working at Tang En’s side would be a great help to him. So, at that point, he spoke up. “Dunn, do you have any interest… in coming over to the First Team?”
He imagined that Dunn would agree to it without any hesitation, and he would then follow-up with an invitation.
Unexpectedly, Dunn shook his head. “No.”
“Why?” Tang En thought that was odd. He had thought Dunn would be eager to be promoted to the First Team.
“I have no plans to skip ranks in my promotion.”
Tang En rolled his eyes. That reason could only be thought up of by a person like Dunn. Although Dunn had gradually changed after living with him for a year, there were still some deeply ingrained aspects that could not be changed. Things like having to stick with his plans for work, and remaining alcohol-free despite living with an alcoholic.
“Your life… Is truly boring.” Tang En grumbled in annoyance.
“I have a question.” Dunn put down his knife and fork. “Why are you so interested in my life? From a year ago, until now…”
Tamg En laughed as he shrugged and shook his head. “Does the world no longer believe in the joy of helping, or in the good nature of humans? Uh… if I say it’s because I’ve taken over your body, taken over your position, taken over your house, taken over everything of yours, and that I feel some shame and hope to compensate you somehow… Would you believe that?”
Without waiting for Dunn to reply, Tang En chuckled again.
“In reality, it’s like this. I need a good helper, but I never managed to find a suitable candidate until I met you. I was suddenly inspired, and I felt that you were exactly the person I’d been searching for all along. The helper I needed. So, to make good use of you, I naturally have to help you solve all your problems first; that included your daily needs… and many other things. That way, you would then willingly serve me. How about that explanation?”
“Forget it. I think the first explanation was good enough.”
Tang En laughed out loud. He liked to see Dunn this way.
When his laughter abated, Tang En decided to speak to Dunn about some more serious matters.
“Dunn, don’t you want to find yourself a girlfriend or something? In terms of real age, you’re older than me, aren’t you?”
Dunn shook his head. “I’m not interested in women.”
Hearing this, Tang En was shocked, jumping exaggeratedly up from his chair.
Dunn looked up at Tang En’s performance with an expressionless face, and said, “Don’t start having weird thoughts. I’m a celibate.”
Tang En chuckled and sat down again. “That’s good, that’s good… I don’t have much interest in taboo love…”
“What about your other half?’ Dunn asked after seeing Tang En sit.
“Me?” This question came unexpectedly, stumping Tang En for a bit. He looked up at the ceiling as if seriously considering it. “I’m not a celibate, but about my other half… I don’t know.”
A figure flashed through his mind, but he shook his head.
Another person drifted into his thoughts. But this time, Tang En did not hastily shake his head. Instead, he stared at the ceiling, his eyes becoming unfocused.
Dunn watched Tang En enter a daze, and muttered, “Some people are fretting about where they could find one, but you’re fretting about which one to choose…” He shook his head.
※※※
After deciding to let Anelka be one of the starters for the next match, Tang En felt that it was time for him to have a discussion with Anelka.
The arrogant and wilful Frenchman had played under numerous managers, several of which were world-class. Tang En did not presume to think he could do better than those people and manage to keep control over Anelka, but he had to at least try. What kind of manager would he be if he did not even make an attempt?
Two days before the match, on the day Forest was supposed to head to Bolton Wanderers F.C., they conducted a final team training. Kerslake arranged for a 20-minute warm-up match within the team. Usually, such matches would confirm the selection of the starting line-up and finalize the player list; Tang En could not possibly bring the entire team to the away field. He would only bring the 16 on the player list.
According to the norm, players who received the yellow vest during the pre-match grouping were 80 to 90 percent likely to be included in the starting line-up for the official match.
Kerslake held a list as he called out players. Those who were called stepped out and took the yellow vests being handed out by a manager at the side. Thereafter, they stood to one side.
Edwin van der Sar, Pepe, Piqué, Leighton Baines, Chimbonda, George Wood, Arteta, and Ribéry… Those were in the starting line-up of the previous match; there were no changes here.
But when they got to the final segment of calling for the forwards, the first name to be listed turned out to be Nicklas Bendtner.
Following that, Kerslake repeated “Nicklas,” but it sounded somewhat like “Nicolas.” Anelka was uncertain, but he then heard the Assistant Manager read out the full name. “Nicolas Anelka.”
Several players on the team turned to look at the Frenchman who stood in the back. In their hearts, they were hardly surprised. After seeing how the French forward had scored goals in both his substitutions, one match after the other, they knew it was unavoidable to have him playing as a starter.
Such a performance could not be ignored by the manager. He himself had said that there was no distinct separation between the main players and substitutes on the team. Their performance would decide if they played as a starter or reserve. If Anelka, with such a fantastic condition, could not play as a starter, how else would Tang En prove that his words about using a rotational system weren’t a lie?
Anelka kept the surprise from showing on his face. He strode forward, passing his teammates, and took the yellow vest from the manager’s hands.
It was his first time putting on the yellow vest since his arrival at Forest.
“Alright!” Kerslake blew hard on the whistle. “Get into positions!”
The warm-up match was beginning.
Tang En stood quietly at the sidelines, observing. Anelka was extremely active in the match; he continuously requested passes from his teammates and showed enthusiasm in his movements. The lad had yet to stir up any trouble since his entry into the team two weeks ago. It surprised Tang En…
Could he have misunderstood Anelka?
Before this, Tang En’s understanding of Anelka was only slightly better than that of a normal fan. Most of it came from rumors that stemmed from the media. But who could guarantee if the media themselves hadn’t added some personal spice to it? After all, they had been rather unhappy with Anelka and his two agent brothers.
In that case, what kind of person was Anelka, really?
Just from the interactions of the past two weeks, Tang En felt that Anelka was someone with a very introverted character. It was not just the usual introversion; he was extremely introverted, to the point he was somewhat shut-off. Other than being a little more open when he was with his two brothers, he was otherwise quiet and did not like to talk.
Eastwood was the perfect counter-example. The Romani could become familiar with everyone on the first day of his entrance. Anelka, on the other hand, had been on the team for two weeks but kept only to a hi-and-bye relationship with most of his teammates.
Anelka’s introverted character could also be viewed from another perspective. Despite being an infamous player who had a bad reputation among the media, there were hardly any scandals regarding his private life. The news about him was always about the differences between him and his manager. When it had something to do with the club, it was usually a squabble about the transfer fee or his salary. Or, it was about some opposition against the French Football Federation. There was essentially no gossip and only a scarce handful of scandals.
It was because his life was much too simple. There were also very few social events he would attend. After training every day, he would drive back to the hotel on his own and go out with his brothers for a meal. Then, he would look for some entertainment in bars and clubs before returning to rest.
That was a very common sort of night life for an adult. Tang En would do the same, so he did not think there was anything inappropriate about it.
A person with that sort of character would generally not be proactive in speaking about their thoughts. But once they exploded, it would be no small matter; a classic introvert with still waters that ran deep.
To build a relationship with such a person… What a headache. It was enough having someone like George Wood. Now there was the addition of Anelka!