For Forest, which was not a powerhouse club yet, to be able to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals was considered a great achievement . Several days after that game, the Nottingham local media was still full of various reports and news articles about the team's advancement to the quarter-finals . Many posts about the Champions League also appeared in the fan forum on the Nottingham Forest club website . Everyone was in high spirits . Many people looked forward to the start of the next round of the Champions League . Even though Nottingham Forest's opponent was the Serie A powerhouse team, Inter Milan, they were not afraid at all .
However, for the team to advance to the quarter-finals, perhaps the biggest beneficiary could be Twain himself .
By now, Tony Twain was no longer a stranger to the English people . The fact that his Nottingham Forest team could be ranked second in the league was not just luck . In England, Twain was already a rather famous manager and was even called a "genius manager" on more than one occasion . Some people already called him "the celebrated manager . "
But no matter how popular he was in England, he was not widely recognized in Europe .
In the European football world, managers like him—people who were a success in their home country, and then became tired and feeble when it came to the European tournament—were a dime a dozen . He was not unusual . After all, the domestic leagues and European tournaments were completely different in style .
Many teams could make a splash in the domestic league, but they ran out of firepower when they came to the European tournament .
However, to be able to get into the Champions League quarter-finals clearly explained Twain's level . He was different from the coaches who were "experts in domestic competitions and laymen in international tournaments . " A Champions League game certainly did not prove anything . A flash-in-the-pan manager was not unheard of .
Would Tony Twain be a flash in the pan?
※※※
Twain's cell phone had been ringing nonstop recently; it rang anytime and anywhere . He eventually turned his phone to vibrate . There was always this or that media outlet that wanted to interview him . He knew it was because of his team's performance . This was his first time leading the team to play in the Champions League, and being able to advance to the quarter-finals in one stretch was unexpected for many people .
The vast majority of the media that wanted to interview him was outside of the United Kingdom .
What did that mean? It meant that he had begun to make a name for himself in Continental Europe .
That was a good thing; Twain was not terrified of fame . On the contrary, he could not wait to become famous . If not, why had he decided to forsake all the other choices to go on this path?
However, he still had to choose to accept the media . He knew that the more successful he became, the more reserved he had to be so as to help maintain his worth . He must keep his practice of accepting as few media interviews as possible to ensure that the outside world thought of him as inaccessible and proud . The harder he was to get to, the more everyone wanted him . The fewer media interviews he accepted, the more he would be able to keep the media focused on him .
He still remembered sitting in "The Chief" Brian Clough's car and what the old man had said to him: "Learn to make use of the media . " He was doing that now .
On that day, just after a day of training, Twain received a strange call . He had become accustomed to it .
It was the UEFA official who had called him this time .
Twain was a little surprised when the other side introduced herself over the phone .
Twain was a little surprised when the other side introduced herself over the phone .
"Don't be nervous, Mr . Twain . This isn't the UEFA disciplinary committee . " The female voice on the phone laughed happily .
"Um . . . "
"We're from the Champions League Magazine agency under the UEFA, responsible for promoting the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and other UEFA tournaments . Nottingham Forest is the biggest dark horse in the Champions League, and you're the youngest manager leading a team to advance to the quarter-finals . We think you're a worthy subject . There will be a lot of people interested in your experience and your team, so…"
Twain recalled when he had gone to the ceremony for the quarter-finals draw; he had had a conversation with someone from the UEFA Champions League Magazine about his interview, but…
"I remembered the person who interviewed me being a guy . . . "
The female voice over the phone laughed again, "Can't we just substitute the person, Mr . Twain?"
He did not understand why, but every time the woman laughed he a little awkward . He cleared his throat . "Of course… Well, of course, you can . But be careful, madam, you have only two substitutions left . "
A tinkle of silvery laughter rang out again on the other end .
"You're very funny, Mr . Twain . In that case, let's talk about the exact interview time, okay?"
"You're very funny, Mr . Twain . In that case, let's talk about the exact interview time, okay?"
"Of course . I think… you can do it anytime . "
"Well, that's just it, Mr . Twain . This is not a simple interview . It's not the kind where I use a microphone to ask you questions and you sit on the couch to answer them . It's not going to be like that . We want to give our viewers comprehensive coverage on your team and yourself . "
"Comprehensive coverage?" Twain listened to the pleasant voice from the other end and made a cheeky association . "Including my… personal life?"
The woman laughed again . "Stop that, Mr . Twain!"
This voice sent shivers down Twain's spine . She sounds so flirtatious . . .
"Oh, how rude of me . I haven't even asked for your name yet . " Twain sat back at his desk and put his feet up on the table . He was steadying himself for a "chat" with this madam or young lady with a nice voice .
"Clarice . Clarice Gloria . "
"Mrs . Gloria…"
"I'm not that old yet, Mr . Twain . "
Twain seemed to be able to see the pleasant-sounding Clarice Gloria winking at him . He raised his eyebrows . "All right, Miss Gloria . Let's talk about business . You know, I don't have too much time for interviews . "
"I'm not that old yet, Mr . Twain . "
Twain seemed to be able to see the pleasant-sounding Clarice Gloria winking at him . He raised his eyebrows . "All right, Miss Gloria . Let's talk about business . You know, I don't have too much time for interviews . "
"Yes, we all know that you never accept media interviews easily . "
"Yes . So I hope you can draft a good schedule for the interview and shoot and then fax it to me . We'll agree on the time together and I'll let the team work with you . But I also hope your work won't interfere with our normal training and competitions . "
"Of course . That's not a problem . In that case, we'll fax you the timetable tomorrow . "
"Very well . If there's nothing else, I think I'm going to get off work . "
"OK, I'll be in touch tomorrow . It's a pleasure chatting with you . Goodbye, Mr . Twain . "
"Goodbye, Miss Gloria . "
Twain hung up but did not rush to leave . Instead, he kept both his feet on the table .
Her voice sounded really nice . But a nice-sounding woman might not be pretty in person . In fact, Twain had seen quite a few people who sounded nice but were plain-looking in person, both in China and Britain .
For Forest, which was not a powerhouse club yet, to be able to advance to the Champions League quarter-finals was considered a great achievement . Several days after that game, the Nottingham local media was still full of various reports and news articles about the teams advancement to the quarter-finals . Many posts about the Champions League also appeared in the fan forum on the Nottingham Forest club website . Everyone was in high spirits . Many people looked forward to the start of the next round of the Champions League . Even though Nottingham Forests opponent was the Serie A powerhouse team, Inter Milan, they were not afraid at all . However, for the team to advance to the quarter-finals, perhaps the biggest beneficiary could be Twain himself . By now, Tony Twain was no longer a stranger to the English people . The fact that his Nottingham Forest team could be ranked second in the league was not just luck . In England, Twain was already a rather famous manager and was even called a genius manager on more than one occasion . Some people already called him the celebrated manager . But no matter how popular he was in England, he was not widely recognized in Europe . In the European football world, managers like him—people who were a success in their home country, and then became tired and feeble when it came to the European tournament—were a dime a dozen . He was not unusual . After all, the domestic leagues and European tournaments were completely different in style . Many teams could make a splash in the domestic league, but they ran out of firepower when they came to the European tournament . However, to be able to get into the Champions League quarter-finals clearly explained Twains level . He was different from the coaches who were experts in domestic competitions and laymen in international tournaments . A Champions League game certainly did not prove anything . A flash-in-the-pan manager was not unheard of . Would Tony Twain be a flash in the pan? ※※※ Twains cell phone had been ringing nonstop recently; it rang anytime and anywhere . He eventually turned his phone to vibrate . There was always this or that media outlet that wanted to interview him . He knew it was because of his teams performance . This was his first time leading the team to play in the Champions League, and being able to advance to the quarter-finals in one stretch was unexpected for many people . The vast majority of the media that wanted to interview him was outside of the United Kingdom . What did that mean? It meant that he had begun to make a name for himself in Continental Europe . That was a good thing; Twain was not terrified of fame . On the contrary, he could not wait to become famous . If not, why had he decided to forsake all the other choices to go on this path? However, he still had to choose to accept the media . He knew that the more successful he became, the more reserved he had to be so as to help maintain his worth . He must keep his practice of accepting as few media interviews as possible to ensure that the outside world thought of him as inaccessible and proud . The harder he was to get to, the more everyone wanted him . The fewer media interviews he accepted, the more he would be able to keep the media focused on him . He still remembered sitting in The Chief Brian Cloughs car and what the old man had said to him: Learn to make use of the media . He was doing that now . On that day, just after a day of training, Twain received a strange call . He had become accustomed to it . It was the UEFA official who had called him this time . Twain was a little surprised when the other side introduced herself over the phone . Dont be nervous, Mr . Twain . This isnt the UEFA disciplinary committee . The female voice on the phone laughed happily . Um . Were from the Champions League Magazine agency under the UEFA, responsible for promoting the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and other UEFA tournaments . Nottingham Forest is the biggest dark horse in the Champions League, and youre the youngest manager leading a team to advance to the quarter-finals . We think youre a worthy subject . There will be a lot of people interested in your experience and your team, so… Twain recalled when he had gone to the ceremony for the quarter-finals draw; he had had a conversation with someone from the UEFA Champions League Magazine about his interview, but… I remembered the person who interviewed me being a guy . The female voice over the phone laughed again, Cant we just substitute the person, Mr . Twain? He did not understand why, but every time the woman laughed he a little awkward . He cleared his throat . Of course… Well, of course, you can . But be careful, madam, you have only two substitutions left . A tinkle of silvery laughter rang out again on the other end . Youre very funny, Mr . Twain . In that case, lets talk about the exact interview time, okay? Of course . I think… you can do it anytime . Well, thats just it, Mr . Twain . This is not a simple interview . Its not the kind where I use a microphone to ask you questions and you sit on the couch to answer them . Its not going to be like that . We want to give our viewers comprehensive coverage on your team and yourself . Comprehensive coverage? Twain listened to the pleasant voice from the other end and made a cheeky association . Including my… personal life? The woman laughed again . Stop that, Mr . Twain! This voice sent shivers down Twains spine . She sounds so flirtatious . Oh, how rude of me . I havent even asked for your name yet . Twain sat back at his desk and put his feet up on the table . He was steadying himself for a chat with this madam or young lady with a nice voice . Clarice . Clarice Gloria . Mrs . Gloria… Im not that old yet, Mr . Twain . Twain seemed to be able to see the pleasant-sounding Clarice Gloria winking at him . He raised his eyebrows . All right, Miss Gloria . Lets talk about business . You know, I dont have too much time for interviews . Yes, we all know that you never accept media interviews easily . Yes . So I hope you can draft a good schedule for the interview and shoot and then fax it to me . Well agree on the time together and Ill let the team work with you . But I also hope your work wont interfere with our normal training and competitions . Of course . Thats not a problem . In that case, well fax you the timetable tomorrow . Very well . If theres nothing else, I think Im going to get off work . OK, Ill be in touch tomorrow . Its a pleasure chatting with you . Goodbye, Mr . Twain . Goodbye, Miss Gloria . Twain hung up but did not rush to leave . Instead, he kept both his feet on the table . Her voice sounded really nice . But a nice-sounding woman might not be pretty in person . In fact, Twain had seen quite a few people who sounded nice but were plain-looking in person, both in China and Britain .
Chapter end
Report
|
Donate
Oh o, this user has not set a donation button.
|