When Nottingham Forest arrived at Liverpool, a number of reporters tracked down their hotel in the hope of getting some pre-match updates up close. At this point, the local media of the host Liverpool naturally got close to the water.

They gathered outside the hotel, waiting to interview every Forest player who came out of it.

George. Wood is clearly the most high-profile player. Recently, the media has been hyping up his feud with Eastwood, and turning over the words that he didn't understand anything when he was still in the youth team. A lot of the media think that George. Wood is to blame for Eastwood's retirement, and they pretended to be very angry and angrily scolded their team-mates for retiring, but Eastwood didn't even say anything, which really makes people wonder if the atmosphere in the Nottingham Forest team is really as harmonious as Donn advertises......

This time, many Liverpool reporters went directly to ask Wood about Eastwood's retirement. These Liverpool journalists clearly had the intention of doing so – they knew George. What is the reason for Wood's poor form lately.

Since you've been wounded here and the wound hasn't healed yet, we don't mind stabbing you again and sprinkling salt on it......

In fact, unscrupulous means for the sake of victory are not the exclusive patents of Donn.

"Wood, the media says Eastwood's retirement has something to do with you, aren't you going to say something?"

"Hey, George. I've heard that you've always had a bad relationship with Eastwood, is it because of that? ”

"The outside says that you two are not friends, how do you usually get along?"

……

As soon as he showed up, it was a group of reporters who swarmed up and asked such questions.

At this time, Wood's face was gloomy, and his cold expression was turned to the limit, and he did not answer any questions.

No matter how much the reporter bothered him, he just wouldn't speak.

Eastwood also came with the squad as part of the coaching staff, and the media also ran to ask him similar questions. The gypsy who is a player is very popular with the media because he talks a lot and is very cooperative with the media's questions. But Eastwood today is like George. Wood leaned over, his face darkened, and he was silent. Turning a deaf ear to reporters' questions.

Enough is enough.

It was enough for those who were intent on causing trouble. They don't really expect two people to stand in front of the microphone and talk eloquently, as long as they can take pictures of the expressions of two people when facing the problem, it is enough for them to make a fuss.

Soon George was reported one by one. News of the feud between Wood and Eastwood appeared in the media. The expressions of Wood and Eastwood are placed together, even if they don't add any copy, it is already very clear.

After these media renderings, in the eyes of outsiders, Nottingham Forest seems to have been infighting to the point of disbanding at any time.

At a press conference the day before the game, Donn pointed at the nose of the media and scolded: "I know what your intentions are. But it's a pity, what you're doing is useless. ”

And in order to counter the rumors of the media, Donne, who used to always release the starting list until the last minute, announced the starting lineup of the game a day in advance. George. Wood's name is prominently listed.

With this action, he showed his support for his captain.

He didn't know what Eastwood's talk to Wood would turn out to, but he believed Eastwood, and only he could do it. He also believed in George, that he could get out of it, that he could wait until there was a Wood who resembled a robot. He is the guarantee of the team's victory, he is the light that will never be extinguished, he is the tower of strength.

※※※

"Tony. Coach Donn insisted on sending George. Wood, but Wood's form in the last few games has been really bad and the team's results have suffered. This is obviously because Eastwood is retired, Karl. Spike may be right this time. ”

Before the game, when introducing the starting lists of the two sides, the commentator analyzed it for everyone.

"We all know that, Tony. Don is a stubborn and self-centered person. He always insists on what others don't look like, and he has been right in the past, but will he be right this time? You know, his opponent this time is Liverpool, who have won five consecutive league games recently. ”

Meanwhile, Donn is putting the finishing touches on the team in the locker room.

"Liverpool have won their last five in a row and they are second in the league. This is a difficult opponent to play against. As for us, we have only won one game in six league games. Donn counted the players with his fingers. They are second in the league and we are seventh, which is a long way off. They've been having a good time lately, and we've been having a bad day...... But what I'm going to say next has nothing to do with that. ”

He made a gesture, "No matter how good their results are, does it have anything to do with this race?" Not at all. Every game is individual, and Arsenal, who are unbeaten in 49 games, still lost in their 50th game, so Liverpool, who have won five games in a row, will not necessarily be able to win six games in a row. Steven Gerrard is their key man, George, and your task in this game is to freeze Gerrard for me while taking care of the offense. ”

Wood didn't nod or shake his head, he didn't say anything. Others turned to look at him, as if worried.

Don ignored Wood after assigning him his assignment and turned to Gago.

"Fernando, your task is not to defend or to attack."

Gago's stunned, he thought the boss would let him assist Wood in defending. After all, Wood's recent form has been terrible, and if Wood goes wrong, the opposition attack will go straight to the backline. In the previous six games, this has not been the case without it.

Don could see his concern, but he didn't explain anything, just continued to assign tasks: "Play to your physical strengths and keep running." Don't be afraid of the ball being broken, leave everything behind you to George. You're just attacking, do you understand? ”

"Uh...... I understand, Chief......" Gago, hesitantly replied. Is this really okay?

It's a bold arrangement, and if Wood is in great shape, he would have done it, but no one knows what Wood can do now. What is the difference between doing this and committing suicide?

Seeing Gago's hesitation, Don added, "Offense, offense, offense...... You just have to have the offense in your head now, Fernando. You don't think about anything, and even if you make a mistake, it's not your responsibility. ”

Gago's was nodding. "Okay, boss......"

In fact, he was still muttering in his heart......

I believe that he must be the only one muttering in his heart at this time.

After assigning the tasks to the others, Don clapped his hands, "Okay guys. Everyone knows what they have to do, but it's not enough. It's not enough to just know what you have to do to win a game. You also have to trust your teammates. Football is a game of eleven people, and no one can do without it. Now in the dressing room, I can tell you the tactics, I can tell you what to do and what not to go. But when it comes to the playing field, the situation is changing rapidly, who can you count on? Not me sitting down there anyway. Don spread his hands, "It's your teammates, partners. Look into their eyes, you are comrades in the same trench, you can only choose to believe in each other. See what I mean? I know there are some people who are worried that George's form will affect the team, but even so, you have to believe in him. Because on the pitch you can only trust him. ”

This is a bit unreasonable, but it is also Donn's style. Everyone got used to it, so everyone nodded.

"Let's get out of the game."

The players got up and walked out. And George. Wood dragged behind again.

Don looked at him and smiled at him, and he looked at Don too, and the two didn't say anything.

When Wood also left, Eastwood took the initiative to find Done, as if he wanted to say something: "Boss, I ......"

Donn interrupted him: "Leave me some suspense. He winked at Eastwood.

Eastwood understood what Donn meant, and he nodded and left.

※※※

"The players from both sides are out! George. Wood was at the front of the pack, still wearing the captain's armband. Tony. Don trusted Wood like a paranoid, but in the first few games Wood didn't reciprocate his trust and he played badly. So will Done's trust be rewarded in this big game? ”

In the press box, Bascombe listened to the commentary on the TV overhead as he typed out today's transcript on his laptop — he was already writing his post-match press release in advance.

“…… It's great that Donn has chosen to continue to trust Wood. We don't have to feel guilty for messing with Donn's memorial - he brought it upon himself......"

He looked up at the TV, where a close-up of Wood's face appeared on the screen.

"Look at his dead fish face, like Forest have lost. Ha ha! He pointed to the TV screen and smiled at the people around him.

※※※

Wood shook hands with Gerrard and stood next to the referee to guess the coin.

'It's a direct conversation between two of the best midfielders in English football today and it's going to be a great game. Of course, Wood has been in poor shape lately, and Gerrard may be able to take advantage of it. ”

When guessing the coin, Wood loses to Gerald.

"Gerrard goes first, ha!" Bascombe smiled when he saw this.

※※※

After Don appeared in the coach's seat, several media gathered around him and barricaded him in his seat, and the cameras and cameras kept filming. He was the most eye-catching man of the match. It was a day in his 10-year tenure, and in the space of 10 years he has won eight titles, big and small, and is one of the most successful coaches in England, ranking in the top 20 in the UK's 'Coaching Hall of Fame' and in the top 10 in England's home-grown 'Coaching Hall of Fame'. The most important thing is not these accolades, but that he is only forty-five years old, and as a coach, he is still a "young young marshal", and there is reason to believe that his legend is far from the time to write an "epilogue".

Don sat in his place, calmly enjoying the treatment of the stars and the moon. This is the honor he deserves, and he does not need to be ashamed.

The only regret is that it wasn't at the City Stadium, otherwise he would have had the opportunity to receive the club's award on hand and enjoy the scene of tens of thousands of fans chanting his name and cheering for him. Maybe the Forest Club will have the ingenuity to put a crown on him, put on a big coat, and let him hold a scepter to receive the prize.

When Donn got up from the dugout, the reporters dispersed after being alerted by the security guards. The race is on.

※※※

Liverpool took advantage of their home turf and launched a strong attack on the heart of the Forest team at the start. They really weren't going to give Tony. Done won the chance to commemorate at Anfield. Since George. Wood has not been in good form lately, so use him here to open the Forest's goal.

"Stephen. Gerrard! A beautiful long-range shot! ”

Akinfeev struggled to lift his powerful long-range shot over the crossbar and after getting up from the ground, he shouted to his team-mates to pay attention to the defense in the middle. Although he didn't name him, everyone knew that the range where Gerrard got his feet was George. Wood is in charge.

Gago's eyes were a little unbearable, although the leader told him to leave the defense alone and concentrate on attacking. But Gerrard came close to scoring with a long-range shot. How do you attack if you lose a goal?

He decided to give Wood a little bit before he got into shape.

Liverpool's corner kick was not directly hung in the door, but passed outside, and Gerrard came with another direct volley, although it was missed, but it also showed that he was excited about the game. Gerrard, who is excited, is definitely a dangerous person, and Nottingham Forest have to be careful.

"Watch out for Gerald!" Chris Rac couldn't sit still off the pitch and ran to the sidelines to shout a shout to the players. "Don't give him so many long-range shots!"

Liverpool are making a comeback again. Gago hesitated, but the sense of responsibility he had cultivated at Real Madrid led him to eventually rush to the middle and prepare to defend Gerrard.

"It's a little bigger, the Premier League is not La Liga, and you can foul if necessary......," he muttered, meeting Gerrard.

But there was a man who was faster than him.

George. Wood stabbed in and rushed towards Gerald, and the two men slammed into each other. Gerrard was hit with a stumbling and the ball was lost. Wood was about to get the ball when he heard the referee's whistle.

"Foul!"

There was a huge boo from the stands at Anfield Stadium against Wood.

Wood ignored him as if he hadn't heard. He turned and made a downward gesture to Gago: "Here I'll come." He pointed to the front again, "You go up." ”

Seeing Wood's expression, Gago's nodded. From his first day at Forest, the boss told him to trust George and the captain in the game. He did as he was told, and he had a great time both seasons. You can't go wrong this time......

As soon as he thought this, he heard a familiar voice on the field shouting his name: "Gago! Gago! ”

He looked back and saw that it was the head.

"What are you doing? Have you forgotten what I said earlier? Don shouted at him with a vigorous wave of his arms. Your position is in front, go up! Give me some up! ”

Gago gave Donn a thumbs up, indicating that he knew.

"Don't be further back than George, or who should he pass the ball to?"

"I see! Chief! Gago's had to reply aloud, otherwise he was afraid that the boss would keep saying this.

※※※

Nottingham Forest are not outgoing 451 but 442 in this game. Gago, and George. Wood's position is not on the same line, Wood is slightly behind, while Gago's is in front, staggered before and after, not a diamond midfielder, not a saucer midfielder, and not a parallel midfielder.

This formation has made it clear what Forest has to do in midfield – Gago's attack, Wood's defense.

Benitez can see this, and he doesn't know why Done dares to line up like this on the road, but he is sure of one thing – this is an opportunity that can be exploited by himself.

It looks like he decided to make the right decision to attack the middle, and as long as the pressure continues, the Forest's defense will surely collapse!

(To be continued)