After they beat Chelsea, Tony Twain and his team were once again on the front page. They received such treatment after every win, which Twain was already used to.

Reporters gathered outside the Wilford training base in hopes of interviewing a certain player, or Twain himself. This time, Twain did not issue a media blackout for his players but it was not easy for reporters to interview him in person. Except for the regular press conference, he would not speak a word in front of the media.

By all accounts, he should be in a very good mood after he won against Chelsea. However, Twain seemed to give off a feeling of being in a bad mood.

Why?

※※※

“An injury now disrupts our game.” In his office, Twain smacked the report given to him by the team’s medical unit. “It has been confirmed that Ashley Young will need to take a break from playing for at least two weeks and is definitely going to miss the second leg of the game against Chelsea. I had initially thought that Pepe could make it to the most crucial game. Now the team doctor informed me that they can’t guarantee Pepe’s health… The condition of the Brazilian’s injuries is complicated.”

Ashley Young’s injury was confirmed a day after the game and the doctors carried out a detailed checkup of his injured leg. The good news was that his injury was not serious and did not require him completely leave the season. The bad news was that he could not make it to the second round against Chelsea.

On the other hand, Pepe, who was injured in January, had since recovered and returned to training. His operation went well, but he could only do basic strength exercises alone in the gym for now. It was impossible for him to practice with the entire team without permission from the team doctor.

There were a lot of hidden dangers in constant reliance on the two players, Kompany and Piqué to prop up the middle defensive line. The goal concede to Chelsea was due to this reason. Twain did not believe luck would always take care of him. If a fatal error happened in the final, it would be too late for any regrets.

“But didn’t Fleming say that it is fine for him to play…” Kerslake said.

“That’s going to risk him getting hurt again soon. It will become a chronic injury and a ticking time bomb every season. I don’t want to gamble Pepe’s future.” Twain shook his head.

“But we’re in a good shape this season and I also think it’s our best chance to win the title…If it’s caused by a problem in the rear defensive line…” Kerslake did not continue as he realized that it sounded a bit ominous to state it out loud.

Twain kept quiet. He felt conflicted on the inside.

Pepe’s injury tended to be rigid and his physical condition was not at his best. If he was allowed to play in the second leg against Chelsea, no one could guarantee that he would be well enough to be able to play for ninety minutes. If he got hurt again, the Forest team would not just lose a player.

On the other hand, this season was a great opportunity for the Forest team. With the exception of the middling EFL Cup title, Twain had not yet won a heavyweight trophy despite being a manager for four years. Although a successful manager was always in the minority and not every manager could get a championship trophy, Twain did not want to be a failure. He did not want to be part of the masses. He was unique.

If Pepe could play, it would add enough stability to the Forest team’s rear defensive line. Twain was still not very confident in Kompany for a crucial match. He was still too young.

As he lowered his head to look at the report in his hand, Twain knitted his brows.

The joy of the win over Chelsea soon dissipated and worries came.

“Continue to observe and we’ll talk again later.” He sighed.

※※※

The empty gym had only the sound of collisions from the equipment. Pepe was building strength in his leg muscle. He lifted and lowered his legs as he stared out the window at the training ground.

Training appeared to be over, since his teammates were making their way to the locker room one after the other.

He felt that his body had no problems, but the team doctor did not allow him to play and train on the field. He did his tedious rehabilitation training in this gym day after day, instead.

He had not been allowed to touch a football since he had been injured in the game against Reading in January. The surgery and postoperative recovery took almost five months and he still did not know when he could return to the field. He had had enough.

He once went to the team doctor, Fleming, and asked him when he could train and play on the field again, only to have Fleming tell him that Manager Tony Twain had to give his assent before he could be cleared.

All questions were directed to Twain, which made things simple.

After everyone had left the training ground, Pepe finally stopped his mechanical movements. He decided to go look for the boss and have a good talk about his injury.

Everyone worked hard on the idea of a Champions League title, and he did not want to be a spectator at a time like that.

If the team did win the Champions League in the end, would he take the stage in a suit to accept the gold medal? In that case, he might learn from the boss and throw the gold medal directly to the fans.

Pepe had just gotten up when he saw the door of the gym being pushed open.

Wood walked in bare-chested.

Wood was a little surprised to see Pepe.

“Your training time shouldn’t be so long.”

Pepe interrupted him. “You can practice extra. Why can’t I?”

“But you’re hurt…”

“I’ve been fine for a long time!” Pepe got a little agitated. “Look.” He sat down again and continued to repeat the mechanical movements he had been doing. His knees bore a huge weight, driving his calves to move up and down.

Wood watched quietly until Pepe stopped.

When he saw that Pepe was taking big gulps of air in the chair, Wood walked over and sat on the equipment next to him.

“I went to Fleming and he said the boss has the final say in whether I’ll be able to train and compete. There are only a few games left this season. When I was first injured, I agreed to the operation because I heard them say that I could make it to the final showdown. Now, after the operation was successful, they still will not allow me train and play. How can this happen?” Pepe muttered.

Wood set the weight before he began his own strength-building practice.

For a while, the gym only rang with banging sounds from the equipment. Pepe sat there, gasping, and Wood did not speak.

After a while, Wood stopped his exercise and looked at Pepe. “Are you going to find the boss?”

Pepe nodded.

“If you don’t go now, he’ll go home.” Wood reminded.

Pepe hurriedly got up. Just as he was about to run out, Wood stopped him again and asked, “can you catch the finals?”

Pepe stared blankly for a moment and then realized that he meant the Champions League final. He shook his head and said, “it’s up to the boss.”

“Do you want to?”

“No one wants to miss the final.” Pepe said firmly.

Wood nodded. “Go on then. Catch him before it’s too late.”

Pepe ran past Wood and out the door as the sound of a continuous clatter came behind him.

※※※

Wood’s reminder was timely. Twain and Dunn had just exited the office when they saw the breathless Pepe came running.

“Haven’t you gone back yet, Pepe?” Twain was a little surprised.

“Can I have a word with you, boss?” Pepe looked at Twain.

Twain turned his head to look at Dunn.

“I’ll head back first.” Dunn tactfully took leave of them.

When Dunn left, Twain reopened the door of the office and invited Pepe in.

“I think I can guess what you’re here for.” After he asked Pepe to sit down on the couch, Twain sat on the edge of the table. He looked at his player and said, “coincidentally, we had a discussion about your matter this morning too. I know you want to play, and I’d love you to play soon. But the situation is not so simple. The team doctor told me that your body is not quite ready.”

“But I feel completely fine, boss.” Pepe reasoned. “How can I not know about my own body?”

Twain smiled. “That may not be the case, Pepe. The last thing that humans know the best is their own bodies. Please believe that I feel the same way as you do. We all want you to play as soon as possible. After all, this is a critical moment for us. We need your ability to defend and attack.”

Pepe regarded Twain, who also looked back at Pepe. Pepe wanted to see the honesty in Twain’s eyes, which he saw.

Twain told the truth. He indeed wanted Pepe to recover sooner than anyone else. It was just that he could not express the slightest bit of his thinking in public. Otherwise it would make Kompany feel like he was not getting the respect he deserved.

“I went to ask Fleming and he said I need to come to you. And that we have to listen to you whether or not I can train and play, boss.”

Twain nodded in admission to this point. “That’s right. I have the final say here whether a player can play or not. The team doctors can only provide the advice for reference. But I want you to know, Pepe, that I don’t want to ruin your career with haste because we want instant results. You’re at a vital moment now, and we can’t rush.”

“But I don’t want to miss the Champions League finals due to my injury, boss.” Pepe’s attitude was also firm.

“No one wants to, Pepe. I don’t want what happened to Wood to happen to any of you again. So, I can’t make light of the decision to let you play just to be on the safe side. What if you play without careful consideration and get hurt again?”

“But the semi-finals game is also key…”

Twain smiled. “You’re worried. There’s nothing to worry about. It has to be us, Nottingham Forest and not Chelsea, that goes to Athens. Did you watch the first leg of the game?”

Pepe nodded. “I watched it at home.”

“With everyone performing so well, how can it be us that will be eliminated in the end? I told them not to stop until we have the Champions League title. And now I have to add another thing—we’re not going to stop until everyone’s here. Whether it’s you, Ashley Young, or Paul Gerrard, we’re not going to stop until everyone returns to the team. Nottingham Forest is a complete unit and a team. Of course, we have to go to Athens as a complete team to pick up the championship trophy. Everyone in the entire team certainly has to reach their hands out and not one person missing. So, don’t think about this matter and rest assured that your surgery and four months of postoperative recovery treatment will not be in vain.”

What else could Pepe say?

“From tomorrow on, you can train with the team.” Twain added. This was what Pepe wanted to hear the most. He had long been tired of being alone in the gym.

Pepe finally smiled.

“But I want to remind you, don’t hurt yourself during the training.”

Pepe nodded. “I know, boss.”

“Go back. Take care and rest up.”

“Bye, boss.”

With the good news, Pepe left happily. Twain locked up his office and slowly made his way out.

At the gate, he ran into George Wood, who had just walked after he showered and changed.

Twain was used to Wood’s habit of doing extra practice after the training. He used to be worried that Wood’s body would not be able to endure it and forbade him from the additional practice. Later he found that the kid was a monster from outer space. Extra practice had no adverse effects on his body, so he let him be.

“Hey, George, let’s go home together.” Twain beckoned to Wood as he stood at the gate waiting for him.

Wood came up and asked, “Did he find you?”

“Yes, he wants to play very badly, but I told him he still can’t right now.”

When he heard Twain said that, Wood was silent for a moment, and then asked, “When can he play then?”

“The finals.” Twain smiled.

The two men walked side by side, and Twain suddenly remembered one thing. He turned his head and asked, “George, how many yellow cards do you have on you?”

“Two cards away from automatic suspension.” said Wood.

Twain thought about it. He’s two cards away with one game left. If Wood gets another yellow card in the second leg, it doesn’t affect too much. But if he gets two… then it doesn’t matter how many he had before. It will definitely be a red card.

“Well… Be more careful.” Twain could not help but lament in his heart at how nice it would be if Wood had a qualified replacement.

“I know, I’ll pay attention.”

The two men walked out of Wilford Lane in silence. Wood would walk north and Twain to the south, so they would part ways there.

“George, how’s your mother doing?” Twain asked suddenly.

Wood nodded. “Very good.”

“I haven’t seen her in a while…”

“She knows you’re very busy, so she didn’t ask me to call you.”

Twain rubbed his nose. He was not so busy that he did not even have time to visit. “Once this season ends, I’ll take Shania with me to see her.”

Wood opened his mouth and eventually nodded instead. “I’ll tell her.”

“Goodbye, George. Go rest.”

“Bye, chief.”

After he waved to Wood, Twain stood alone at Wilford Lane in the sunset, looking up towards the west to admire the orange clouds of the setting sun as it turned to dusk. Then he slowly walked home.