Without the formality of the outgoing player and the one entering high fiving or hugging, 16-year-old Gareth Bale ran onto the field. On television, John Motson was introducing Gareth Bale’s youth to the audience, and how he surpassed the record in the English Premier League as the youngest player to be fielded during his match with Man City.
On the other side, Leighton Baines had hopped back on one leg with Fleming’s support. An ice pack was wrapped around his right foot on his swollen ankle.
Upon seeing him “walk” back, Tang En hurriedly went forward to give Baines a hug.
“You did great, Leighton. Have a good rest now.”
After Baines returned to the substitutes’ bench, Fleming came up beside Tang En and reported on the injuries.
“The situation is better than I originally thought. It’s a sprain, but he didn’t hurt the bones. Just one to two weeks of recovery should do the job.”
Tang En nodded. “That’s certainly better than I imagined.”
In that time, Nottingham Forest only had two matches scheduled. Furthermore, they were scheduled within six days from the end of the match; it was not a particularly packed schedule. Forest would have plenty of time to breathe.
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“16 years old?” Mourinho flipped the notebook at hand. On it was the information for every player on the Forest Team listed with as much detail as possible. This was how Mourinho stayed a step ahead of the others. When he had been coaching in Portugal, the club had refused to assign him a scout. He had then used his own funds to hire one to help him investigate into detailed information on his opponents. Now, he had brought the same tactic into the Premier League.
“Doesn’t Tony have anyone else to use?” He threw the book to his assistant and stood at the sidelines, thinking.
“Tell them that the offense direction won’t change. Continue with that wing.”
He wanted to take advantage of the momentum after his team had scored to make another push, scoring yet another goal to complete the reversal. Mourinho understood what Tang En’s team was like. Only at this time would it be the greatest blow to Forest’s morale. A team like them would jump up and bite their opponents if they were not thoroughly beaten down.
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The match continued. Chelsea’s shared consensus only increased. It was obvious to everyone; their target was still Forest Team’s left-wing defense. After Leighton Baines’s departure from the field, Gareth Bale was faced against Robben and Duff’s alternating attacks.
Everyone was worried about whether the 16-year-old Bale could hold on. In the event that he collapsed as well, Forest would be finished for this match. As a result, many people began doubting if Tang En’s decision to send Bale in was correct. Not only would it harm his own team, but it might also hurt young Bale; if he was crushed by the pressure of such an important mission in a crucial match like this, he would be embroiled in a nightmare of failure for a long time to come.
But Tang En was not worried in the least bit. He had seen Bale’s recordings during Youth Team training and matches. It was he who had brought Bale from Southampton to Nottingham; he understood the inner strength of the kid. He was not shy anymore.
When Tang En called him back to get ready to enter the field, the boy showed only a leisurely interest in Mourinho’s celebratory actions. From that, Tang En knew that he was not, in fact, anxious.
That’s right, Tang En recalled. Bale’s father was in the spectators’ stands. Tang En turned and scanned the stands. In the crowd of people, he naturally could not find Bale’s father, but Tang En believed he must have been in some corner. Ever since Bale had been formally transferred to the First Team, his father had made sure to watch the match live at the scene as long as Bale was informed of his selection as one of the 16 players on the team list, regardless of if it was a home or away match.
Although this was not Bale’s first time appearing in the English Premier League, and he had even played as a starter through the whole match against Man City, that sort of match could not compare with this match against Chelsea.
This could be said to be a critical mission entrusted to him.
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Bale was truly calm. He was not in the least bit nervous. He greatly disappointed all those who were waiting to see him stumble because of his nerves. Just five minutes after he went onto the field, he successfully defended against Duff, blocking his pass to the center out into the sidelines.
On the field, Bale’s mind was filled with only the match, his opponents, and Tang En’s words: “Baines is injured. You’re going in to substitute for him as the left back. When it’s required, you also need to cut forward to assist with the offense.”
Just that. It was simple. He did not need to consider what other nonsense there was; how strong his opponents were, how they were at a disadvantage, how he was entrusted a critical mission, or what heavy burden he carried on his shoulders.
He just had to play well.
Thanks to Chelsea’s offense heavily leaning to the right, just six minutes after Gareth Bale entered the field, he had already been featured several times on the television monitor with numerous close-ups. Every one of the audiences could clearly see the serious expression and focused gaze on the youthful face of the young player who somehow looked a little like a monkey.
Chelsea came at them again. This time, the one charging was Paulo Ferreira. But his dribble went slightly wide. Bale, who was sharp enough to notice, suddenly cut in and intercepted the ball.
After intercepting, Bale boxed out the position to protect the ball. Unlike Baines, he did not immediately send the ball out with a powerful kick, instead continuing to fend off Paulo Ferreira, who was harassing him from his back.
Everyone worried for him as he maintained extensive possession of the ball on the defensive line; if he were to be intercepted, the opponent would obtain a fatalistic opportunity to directly go at their goal.
“A young player who does not know better” was the only evaluation some people had of Bale’s actions.
Duff noticed that Bale had seemingly gotten himself into a pinch, being entangled with Ferreira. He then decided to move forward to pincer Bale and steal his ball.
However, as he ran forward, Bale unexpectedly kicked the ball towards the sidelines. Then, just as it was about to roll out of bounds, Bale again used his foot to gently send it forward. The football rolled along the sidelines, passing Ferreira’s foot to behind the Portuguese full back!
And what about Duff, who had come forward to steal the ball? He happened to be blocked from advancing by Ferreira.
Bale swiftly turned and overtook them from outside the field, getting past Ferreira and Duff at the same time!
With the Portuguese fullback moving forward to assist in the offense, Chelsea’s right wing, for a distance, was void of defending players.
Upon seeing Bale break free from the encirclement, Ribéry immediately rushed towards the middle, pulling Tiago along with him. In that manner, the entire stretch of the flank became completely empty.
Bale also chose not to pass the ball to his senior, Ribéry. Instead, he dribbled the ball forward and charged ahead.
“A beautiful breakaway!”
Tang En, watching from the sidelines, balled his fists and shouted, “Good lad!”
Newborn calves are unafraid of tigers! Bale’s breakthrough was a great morale boost! In the situation where Forest had been thoroughly suppressed by Chelsea, so much so that they could not even raise their heads or kick the ball out of their half of the field, Bale beautifully and resolutely broke away from the two Chelsea players surrounding him, emerging from such a heavy encirclement. This was not just a mere breakthrough by kicking the ball out of Chelsea’s encirclement.
George Wood, all the while having been quiet on the field, suddenly hollered, “Everyone, move up!”
The constant suppression from Chelsea had inflamed him. Having been in such a sorry state, and with one of their own getting injured, how could it be acceptable if they could not counterattack even once? Would they still look as if they were playing a home ground match? Constantly having their opponents press down on their heads… Who was willing to suffer that?
So, seeing his teammates in a daze, he could not help but erupt with the first roar.
As if awoken from a dream, every one of Forest’s players pressed forward, sweeping the dark clouds from having been helplessly beaten by their opponents away.
Tiago realized something was wrong and hastily abandoned Ribéry, rushing towards Bale instead.
Anelka ran in towards the wings to support Bale, but the latter still had no intention of passing the ball. With a sudden turn, he turned his back to Tiago. Just as Tiago thought Bale would pass the ball to Anelka, or Arteta who was just a short distance away, Bale abruptly knocked the football backward with his heel, with the ball crossing over from between Tiago’s legs.
Tiago did not see that happening. All he saw was Bale suddenly moving from in front of him and instantly disappearing without leaving behind even a shadow.
“A turn and another breakthrough! Beautiful! Beautiful! Gareth Bale’s appearance has brought the entire Forest Team back to life!”
It was again an overtake from outside the field. Tiago hurriedly tried to chase after him, but he was unable to match up to young Bale.
Carvalho could no longer continue defending the middle. Now, there was not a single Chelsea player in front of Bale. He could go towards the end line and pass center or cut inward to shoot at the goal. Someone needed to stop him.
Bale, who was completely engrossed in dribbling the ball, could care less about who stood before him. He had only one thing on his mind: getting past him.
But the abilities of the Portuguese main center back could not be underestimated. Bale tried to abruptly change direction again, but the somewhat skinnier and weaker boy was abruptly slammed into by Carvalho, knocking the football cleanly out of the sidelines.
With Bale sprinting at top speed, he was knocked off balance by Carvalho and thrown out head first, rolling on the ground several times before coming to a stop. City Ground rang with resounding jeers, but the main referee did not foul Carvalho, only awarding Forest a throw-in.
Bale climbed up from the ground as if he was still within a dream. The young champion, who had calmed down after getting slammed into, could not believe he had dribbled the ball from Forest’s end line all the way forward in a craze, passing three players in a row and even managing to get so close to the opponent’s end line. He even made Chelsea’s defense general, Carvalho, resort to a “suspected foul” before he was stopped. His heart was still racing. Even he himself did not know if it was because he was tired, or for some other reason.
Despite their displeasure for the referee’s performance, all of the fans in City Ground dedicated their most enthusiastic applause to the 16-year-old, Gareth Bale. From within Chelsea’s encirclement, he led the team to slash a bloody path out; his performance was, without doubt, worthy of exuberant applause.
Hearing the applause, Bale looked back towards the technical area. He wanted to see the managerial team’s evaluation of his recent performance. What he saw was Tang En’s thumbs raised high up.
Well done, lad. Well done!
Bale finally smiled, though it was one with a hint of bashfulness.
Motson also showered him with immense praise.
“Gareth Bale! Everyone, remember that name! In years to come, he will doubtless grow into one of Forest’s core players. This long-range raid was simply exhilarating! That forward momentum and coolness he showed managing the ball makes it hard to believe he is only 16!”