Paul. When Steven Gerrard was about to retire, Don ordered the news to be kept tightly sealed, and no one was allowed to disclose it to anyone except him, Don, Chris Lack, the team doctor Fleming, and Professor Constantine, not even the players and other staff members in the team. Don also gave Paul. Gerrard said hello and told him not to announce his retirement and wait until after the Champions Cup.

Gerrard understands this, now is a critical moment for the team, and there is no reason to affect the team's preparation for his own business.

In three days, the team will be on their way to Athens. This time, everyone was here, and there were twenty-two people in the whole team, and there was no shortage of one.

The other two, Chris who is on loan at Watford. Commons and goalkeeper Igor Brown, who was loaned back to CSKA Moscow. Akinfeev received a red envelope from Nottingham Forest after their respective seasons containing a ticket to the UEFA Champions League final.

Donn is not aware of whether other clubs will be able to give tickets to players who have gone out on loan and have not contributed to the team after they have reached the Champions League final or a major competition like that. He didn't refer to other teams before, he just suddenly thought that it should make those people feel the glory of the team, which is conducive to cultivating their team cohesion and is also a means to win people's hearts.

Sure enough, Chris. Commons was very happy when he received the tickets, and Akinfeev, who was preparing to spend his vacation in Russia, also called and said that he would definitely go to see the final.

Handing out tickets before the final seems to have become a habit for Donn.

In addition to asking the club to send tickets to the two out-of-town players, Don himself has a whole bunch of tickets waiting to be given away.

Chrissy in the United States. Gronia called Donn, thanked him for sending him tickets for the finals, and said that she would definitely go to see it no matter how busy she was, and it was incumbent on her friends to cheer for her.

Michael. Bernard had just returned home at the end of the day, and had not yet had time to change his shoes. I heard the doorbell ringing.

"Mike. Fiona, his wife, shouted from the kitchen inside. "Go open the door. ”

"I'm right at the door. Michael answered, turned and opened the door.

A young man wearing a hat with the "FedEx" logo on it stood in front of him. "Michael. Mr. Bernard? ”

"I am. Michael nodded.

"Your shipment. The lad took a letter out of his bag. "Please sign for it. ”

Michael took the receipt, took out his pen and wrote his name, and handed it back. The young man handed the envelope to Michael and turned away.

Michael unpacks the outside, and a red envelope appears in front of him. It sounded familiar, because he'd been receiving it for two years in a row.

Familiarity does not mean not surprised, in opening the envelope. Michael was still surprised when he found out that it was a ticket to the Champions Cup final. He thought he had turned back the clock, and today was a year ago.

Leaned over to pick up the ticket from the handover and checked the time. That's right, it's 2007. So......

That kid led the team to the Champions Cup final for two consecutive years?

Michael looked up at the ceiling.

All he had in front of him was the Forest's Champions League final 27 years ago. Having been away from England for three years, he didn't know what it was like now, and he couldn't imagine it.

Football......

He didn't care about it anymore, and now all that was left of the football stuff was his old memories. He doesn't watch football games. Without reading the news about football, he doesn't even know what level Nottingham Forest are in the Premier League today. Old friends in Nottingham never talk about football or Nottingham Forest when they call me occasionally.

Today, he is no longer an avid fan, but a white-collar worker in a suit and leather shoes who works for an energy company. Working from 9 to 5 every day, living a simple life of two points and one line in the company-family.

It's been three years, and he's used to it, and he doesn't feel anything bad. Lost his son. He now hopes to spend time with his wife and make up for his previous mistakes.

He didn't have anything else on his mind. This is life, life.

Despite this, he picked up the ticket and looked at it carefully.

The ticket has a very eye-catching five-star logo of the Champions Cup, which is very familiar. It was like that twenty-seven years ago, and it's still like that twenty-seven years later.

People say that the team that wins the championship engraves its name on the silver championship trophy, but he engraves his own youth.

Shake the envelope. I found that there was nothing but this ticket. Didn't write a word of greeting, and never called. He and Tony. Donne's friendship seems to be the only one ticket left, if one day or one season, the Forest team does not reach the Champions League final, it is estimated that there will not even be this ticket again.

Friends need to be maintained with heart, and if you don't contact each other for a long time, no matter how good the friendship was, it will slowly fade. Michael had no doubts if even the tickets hadn't been sent. In a few years' time, he would have completely forgotten the coach he had known in Nottingham.

Right now. This ticket in hand is the testimony and maintenance of all their friendship. It's fragile......

In fact, Michael didn't complain that Don never called him, and didn't say anything except send tickets, because he betrayed the friendship between the two. Can...... Who made him a father who had lost his son?

"Mike, who is it?" Fiona in the kitchen didn't hear a sound for a long time, and couldn't help but ask.

"Ah, a boring salesman, I finally sent him away. Michael reloaded the ticket back into the red envelope and placed it in his briefcase.

A crappy salesman who goes out of his way to sell him his ideals.

- Do you have an ideal, Michael?

- Of course we love to win, we also like the team to be back in the Premier League after this season, we like to be the damn league champion next season, we are the king of Europe next season!

The hand that placed the envelope containing the ticket in the briefcase paused.

It was the last day to go to Largo Athens, Greece, and the team only had a brief training session, which was not long. The intensity is also not great. The players got a rare rest from the intense preparations, and they were given a half-day off by Don to go back and relax with their families and women.

Don embraced the traditional wisdom of China, which can also play a huge role in coaching a European professional football team.

One piece and one relaxation, the way of civil and martial arts.

What's more, if he doesn't take a half-day vacation, he can't handle his own affairs.

Another year passed, and he also met some new friends. You don't have to worry about where to go with so many tickets like you did a year ago. Mr. Shania, Fassal, and Armani...... These people have all received tickets to the Champions League final sent to them by Don in the past few days.

In putting Michael. When Bernard's ticket was sent, he had only one left. Think about it a year ago, when his Forest team broke into the Champions League qualifying tournament for the first time, he had no place to send six tickets in his hand, and finally had to take them to Gavin's grave and burn them all together.

This time, he also wanted to give Gavin a few more tickets as a souvenir, but it was impossible.

With the last ticket. He got on a tram bound for the suburbs. On the afternoon before he was about to leave for Athens, he came to hand out the last ticket.

Buying a bouquet of flowers outside the church with the words "To Dear Gavin," Donn took the flowers to the small cemetery behind the church.

It's always quiet, he's been here a few times. There is no one else but himself. But this time, he saw a man.

The man stood in front of a tombstone with his back to him.

Don just glanced at it at first. I thought that maybe it was a stranger who came to mourn his loved ones, but he didn't take it to heart. But as he got closer and closer, he found that this man was standing right where he was going—Gavin. In front of Bernard's tombstone.

It's strange that Gavin is resting here, and few people usually come to visit him, and even if someone comes, Don knows him at a glance. The one who stands here today, with his back to him. But he tilted his head and looked at it for a long time, unable to match anyone in his heart. John was a fat man, and Bill was much thinner than this man, and George. Wood, what that kid's body looks like Donn is too familiar to be mistaken. So who is this man?

Don deliberately made his footsteps louder, and the man heard the sound and turned his head.

At the moment when the eyes of the two people met. Donn was stunned.

It was as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt. Standing in place, I didn't react for a long time.

Who did he see? Although there are some changes. But it's really that person.

He thought he was hallucinating.

The people standing across from him were also a little embarrassed and surprised.

Two old friends who haven't seen each other for three years reunite, and it will indeed be a little awkward in such a place.

"I ...... That's right, Michael? Coming back to his senses, Don asked first.

Michael. Bernard turned and walked over, "It's a surprise to see you here, Tony. ”

"It's me who should say this, I come every year, but you...... The first time I saw it. Don was not kind enough to be angry about Michael leaving them running away.

How could Michael not understand the meaning of Donn's tone, he smiled wryly and did not explain.

Don looked at the old friend in front of him, his face was whiter than before, his bearded chin was blue and shiny from the razor's shaving, his hair was meticulously combed and stuck to his scalp, and he may have put on some hairspray or something, meticulous, with a pair of black-framed eyes on the bridge of his nose, and a set of neat black suits, he looked much more polite.

Donn laughed through his nose: "I almost didn't dare to admit it, this is still the fan leader who drinks in the bar all day and is full of expletives. Bernard? Congratulations, it looks like you're doing well in your new life in the United States. ”

"Your habit of speaking harshly hasn't changed, Tony. Michael smiled wryly again. When he saw his old friend, he seemed to have no other expression except a wry smile.

These words made Don stunned. In fact, he didn't want to talk to Michael like this, but when he saw him like this, I don't know why, one mouth is mean. He couldn't stop it, as if deep down he was really going to do so, there was something going on, and if he didn't vent it, he would be very uncomfortable.

"It's good that I didn't punch you in the face, Michael. "Don finished speaking, from Michael. Bernard walked around and placed the bouquet in his hand in front of Gavin's tombstone.

Bernard turned around and saw him pull out another piece of paper from his coat pocket—it was a ticket.

Don took out a lighter with his other hand and lit the ticket in front of the tombstone.

Both men were silent in the firelight. It wasn't until the tongue of fire was about to lick Donn's finger that he threw the ticket down, and before it could hit the ground, the ticket was burned to ashes in the flames. Then a forest wind blew, scattering the ash into the air.

"Every time you get a ticket, I'll come here to deliver Gavin once. Burn it - this is how I gave it to him. Don said with his back to Michael. "How many times have you received it?"

"Three times. ”

"I burned it three times. Six for the first time, two for the second time, and ...... for the third time This is it. You see. You've got a whole new life, I've made a lot of new friends who can give away tickets, and we've all changed. He spread his hands, "But this one of Gavin, I'll definitely leave it to him." ”

"Thank you. ”

The atmosphere between the two gradually eased.

Don turned to look at Michael, "Why did you come back this time?" Just to see your son? ”

"Business trip. Michael replied.

Donn whistled. "What a busy man. Coming to Nottingham, UK for business? ”

"Nope. Michael shook his head, "I'm going to Athens on a business trip." ”

Don was stunned for a moment, watching as Michael reached out and pulled out a red envelope from inside his suit. He knew the envelope well because it was sent to Michael himself. A club envelope containing a ticket.

Michael pulled out a ticket from his envelope.

"I quit my job just to watch the game. ”

"You're crazy!" Don yelled. "What about your wife? Will she agree? ”

"Of course Fiona won't agree, but she will agree to me going on a business trip. ”

"You lied to her?" Don held his head, "You're finished, your new life is finished." ”

"It's weird, I thought you'd be glad I came back to watch. Michael said with a blank face.

"Make no mistake, Michael. I want you to come and play, but only if you lose your job. Cheating on your wife. Do you know why I didn't say anything but send your tickets, and I didn't call you to come and watch the game? I'm just scared of this day. He pointed to Michael, "It's just a ball." ”

"Just a ball?" Michael asked rhetorically. "I think it's you who got it wrong, Tony. It's the final of the European Champions Cup! He raised his voice. "The last time I saw Forest reach a Champions League final was in May 1980 and it's 2007! For me, it's a race that comes once in 27 years. I can find another job if I don't have a job, and if I let go of such an opportunity, I'm afraid I'll wait another twenty-seven years...... I still have a couple of twenty-seven years. Tony? ”

Look at the gray hair on top of Michael's head. Don was silent.

"Fiona, I'll explain. I certainly won't give up on my family. You don't have to worry about that. Why do you always think about other people's wives, Tony? ”

Don punched Michael in the chest, "You stupid idiot! ”

Then he and Michael hugged each other: "Shall I say welcome back, Michael?" ”

"Whatever you want, I'm just coming back to watch the game, and I'm going back to the United States after the game. ”

"Of course I didn't expect you to stay here, you have your life, Michael. That's good, I hope you don't give up on football and I don't want you to give up on life. Do you know? ”

Michael. Bernard nodded, "I'm not a fanatical fan anymore, I know that better than you, Tony." ”

"That's good, that's good......" Donn muttered.

"By the way, when I came, I met George here. "Michael. Bernard said, pointing to his feet.

"George. Wood? ”

"Hmm. He was giving Gavin flowers. ”

Hearing Michael say this, Don noticed that instead of two bouquets of flowers in front of Gavin's tombstone, he noticed three bouquets.

"Did you talk about something?" He asked.

"No, I nodded to him, and he nodded to me, and when he saw that I was coming, he turned and left. ”

Donn thought to himself that this was a good fit for George's personality.

"He's a big star now. Don said proudly.

Michael nodded, "I know." After I came here, I bought some newspapers and magazines, and the local media were about him. He became captain of the Forest team. He was selected for England and played in the World Cup...... I can't imagine it. ”

Both looked back at Gavin's tombstone at the same time.

He was the first fan of George, and he accurately predicted that George would one day become a big star, but he didn't wait for that day himself.

"He remembers Gavin and I'm thankful for him. Michael whispered.

"No one has ever forgotten Gavin. Don patted the old man on the shoulder: "You just came back, have you been to the forest bar?" ”

"Nope. ”

"Go have a few drinks, the old lads will be happy to see you back, even if it's just for a game and then leave. ”

After speaking. Don pulled Michael out of the silent cemetery.

Three bouquets of flowers sit side by side in front of the tombstone, swaying gently in the breeze, and there are some black spots on the petals, which are the ashes of the burning tickets.

Michael. Bernard comes back to get Kenny. Burns and the others were surprised, and they looked at Michael, who had changed his eyes and changed his clothes. It was the fat man John who was the first to rush up and hug him, and everyone was convinced that the person in front of them was indeed their former big brother Michael. Bernard.

"Welcome back, Michael!" Burns handed him a glass of wine.

"Tony sends you tickets every time. I told him, 'Stop being delusional, that guy won't be coming back.'" It seems that I was wrong, but I'm glad I was wrong. Fat John hugged Michael and said emotionally. "Michael, we can sing together in the stands again!"

"And fuck those bastards who look down on us!" Skinny Bill continued.

Don stood aside and smiled at the reunion of his friends, and he was no longer angry with Michael. Like he himself said. Football is football, life is life, everyone always has their own way, not everyone can rely on football to eat.

"I'm so sorry. John, Bill. But I'll just have to come back and watch this game......" Michael said apologetically.

"That's okay, that's okay. John shook his head, "One is fine, one is enough." It's the Champions Cup final! It's been 27 years, and we're back to watching the Champions Cup final together! ”

In the afternoon, there were not many people at the bar, most of them were old friends of Michael, and everyone gathered together to raise their glasses. Cheers to Michael Land back.

When everyone was done, they noticed Don standing next to him.

John turned his head to look at the smiling Donne, "Hey, Tony. I want you to give me a promise. ”

Don raised an eyebrow.

"Michael finally came back and it was the second time we've all come together to watch a Champions Cup final after 27 years. Can you bear to let him run for nothing? John turned his head to look around, and the crowd shouted.

"That's right! If you lose again, we won't spare you, Tony! ”

"I don't care what the shit is for this time, I can't lose anyway!"

"Gotta win! Tony. You said that. The manager who can't lead the team to win the championship and win is just terrible! If you lose again. I guarantee you'll hear 'suck' shouts every time you play at home! ”

"Champion! We don't accept anything but the championship! ”

"We've been waiting for twenty-seven years, we're impatient, we don't want to wait any longer!"

For a while, there were all kinds of roars in the bar, and no other sounds could be heard.

In the face of these fanatical fans, Don didn't rush to speak, just smiled, and when everyone gradually calmed down, he spread his hands and said:

"Does anyone here doubt my desire for victory and championships? You've all watched how I went from a rookie to where I am now. ”

He said he was a rookie, and everyone laughed. Indeed, when he went into this bar to look for a drink, he was surrounded and ridiculed by Michael and his people, who knew that there would be today?

"And I'm betting all over Italy that if I lose, I'm going to jump into the sea. Do you think I'm the kind of coward who willingly disgraces himself in front of the enemy? ”

At this time, Michael suddenly interjected loudly: "Hey, Tony! I'm very distressed, of course we want Nottingham Forest to win the Champions Cup, but we also want to see you jump into the sea, what should we do? ”

The crowd burst into laughter.

"Think beautifully, Michael! You can only choose one! Don waved at him.

"That's undoubtedly a championship. Michael shrugged.

"I'm just like all of you, I don't accept anything other than the championship. Not before, not now, not again! Donn swung his fist hard and pulled out the gesture he was cheering on the players in the locker room. "I tell you, it's our own, and no one can snatch it!"

Everyone whistled excitedly.

Don raised the glass in his hand: "Don't just pour wine, make a toast, guys." ”

Michael raised his glass and turned to the bar and shouted, "For the championship—"

John raised his glass: "For another champion in twenty-seven years-"

Bill was already hoarse: "For the king of Europe—"

"Cheers ——!!!"