Chapter 65 You have pressure, I have pressure

At a time when rumours of a Ribery transfer were rife, Forest played a more important league game. They were against Arsenal, the kind of direct rivals for the league title, and Don would not allow the team to go wrong, but the results did not go his way.

The game ended in a 0-0 draw, and he was forced to draw by Arsenal at his home stadium, and Don was a little unhappy, but there was really no way. It's not that he can win if he wants to, and it's not that whoever has the best will win, sometimes luck is the most important factor. Today's Forest team and Arsenal are equal in strength and luck, so they can only fight for a draw.

A draw is actually not a good result for both teams, Donn wants to win, why not Wenger? With the season coming to a close and the top three in the table all hoping to win the league title, who would give up here?

The draw in this game is great news for Ferguson's Manchester United.

Taking advantage of Forest's draw, Manchester United, who won this round of the league, moved up to top of the league – they were level on points with Forest, but with a better goal difference.

In March, the Champions League was played, and the most important thing was the domestic league. There are 38 rounds in the Premier League, and now there are nine rounds left, and the top three are still biting very tightly.

Currently, Manchester United is in first place with 67 points, Nottingham Forest in second place is 67 points, and Arsenal is 65 points. Until the final round, no one knows who will be the league champion.

For the spectators, that's the fun of football. But it wasn't an easy job for the coaches of these three teams.

And all three teams have reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The other English team in the quarter-finals is Grant's Chelsea.

Faced with this kind of league and Champions League hope again, Don doesn't want to choose to give up the league again like he did a year ago. After talking to the coaching staff and the team doctors, he believes that the current situation of the team can cope with the two-front operation. The league is now second in the league, the same number as Manchester United, and although they face Real Madrid in the Champions League, Forest may not lose in the Champions League, so it would be a pity to give up either side.

So on Monday morning after the league game against Arsenal. At the regular coaching staff meeting, Donn said what the team really is aiming for this season -

"Two titles, I want both. ”

The coaches of the coaching staff were not taken aback by this, as if they were taken for granted.

In fact, it is also true, with Donne's character of pursuing victory and championships, he has reached a new level in the strength of the team, and now he really has no reason to give up any of these championships.

The players have the quality, the coach has the ideas. That's it.

March 16, the thirtieth round of the league, home. Nottingham Forest beat Bolton Wanderers 1-0 with a half-main and half-substitute lineup. Continue to be neck and neck with Manchester United in the standings. The hapless Arsenal were forced to draw by Middlesbrough and were dropped by four points by both teams.

Just when the media began to speculate about who would be the final champion of the league between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, in the 31st round of the league, Forest unexpectedly lost.

On 22 March, Nottingham Forest travel to Blackburn. Although the opponent is now only in the middle of the table and was in the first half of the league last year. Forest swept past Blackburn Rovers 5-3 at home, and this time Donn still didn't dare to take it lightly, and he fielded the strongest team he could.

But while he takes it seriously, his players don't necessarily value the opponent. In the game, Nottingham Forest showed a very light opponent. Getting into the state is slow.

As a result, the opponent scored a goal in the opening thirteen minutes.

Forest then fought back to level the scores shortly after the start of the second half. Forest fans thought it would be time for the Forest's stars to perform, but they didn't expect to be waiting for Blackburn's outburst.

They scored twice in the final 10 minutes of the game to put Forest's dream of a comeback to victory.

"To be fair...... Nottingham Forest have absolutely no reason to win this game. "After the game. The TV commentator said, "I couldn't find the slightest bit other than the equaliser. The Forest players seemed to wake up completely. John said the Forest were slow to get into shape, but I don't think they were in shape at all...... Maybe it's a light enemy, who knows. They lost anyway. Now, the league title is in contention, and Manchester United is ahead. ”

From the moment he heard the full-time whistle on the sidelines, Donne's face became rather ugly. At the crucial moment in the fight for the league title. Losing to the least deserving opponent – after the draw with Arsenal, Done only consoled his players with bad luck and didn't lash out. But now he wanted to rush into the locker room and scold everyone.

In his plan, the game against the strong team is to try to win, and the draw is the bare minimum. But against teams in the middle and lower tiers who are not as strong as themselves, especially those who have no desire and no desire, the goal of the Forest team is nothing but to win. The name "Blackburn" is on Donn's "list of victories." The three points were planned.

Who knows...... In the end, I lost the ball!

The three points in hand are gone. The point advantage with Manchester United is gone, and Forest are following the defeat to Blackburn. They dropped to second place and the gap to Manchester United was three points.

Don't underestimate the three-point gap. In the final stages of the league, any point difference can lead to irreparable defeat, so no one wants to make a mistake at a time like this, and making a mistake at such a time can mean that a season's hard work has been wasted.

Unfortunately......

In the away dressing room at Ewood Park, the atmosphere was a bit oppressive due to the loss. Tony. Donn was outside for the post-match press conference, and Chris Lak comforted the somewhat frustrated players.

Everyone knows what it means to lose this game – they have ceded the initiative in the league title race to Manchester United......

The door to the locker room was pushed open with a "whoosh", and everyone looked up to see Don with a black face.

Someone heard the sound of swallowing saliva.

"At the press conference, all the reporters asked me just one sentence: 'Will the loss have any adverse effects on the team's championship?' Closing the door with a backhand, Donn told his players that his voice was low, though the Forest players generally agreed it was nothing more than a low dark cloud in the sky before the storm.

"Guess what I answered?" You are knowingly asking. Don shrugged. "Actually, I'd love to say something harder, but I don't want to get in any more trouble. At this juncture...... I sent the strongest lineup, not for you to go up and underestimate the enemy! He still couldn't hold back his foul language. "I'm so disappointed by your performance! No fighting spirit at all! I thought you guys would be a little better, but I didn't expect to be impotent right away! What are you thinking? We don't have the Champions Cup, we don't have the FA Cup, we just have this damn league! Blackburn! Such an opponent can't win! How can you expect to compete with Manchester United and Arsenal for the title?! You've lost to Blackburn! ”

Don scolded everyone, including the captain George Brown. Wood. The reason Donn scolded him was that Wood had too little support for the team offensively, was not resolute enough when it was time to go up, and seemed to care too much about defense.

None of them escaped being spat on by Donn. Except for those who didn't make it to the away game.

"Think about it! Bastards! ”

After scolding, Don slammed the door and walked out. Leaving a room full of people staring at each other, the atmosphere was very awkward.

Speaking of which, the locals in this Forest team are not used to being scolded so mercilessly by their own head coach. Because of the team's good results in the last two years, Donn rarely expresses dissatisfaction within the team, partly because he wants to maintain a good atmosphere, and partly because the performance of the players gives him no reason to curse. So the old people forgot that Donn's big mouth was sometimes aimed at their own people, and the new people didn't have the opportunity to see this kind of thing at all......

No one likes to be scolded. It doesn't matter if it's a nobody or a long-established star. Don's merciless scolding made some people a little embarrassed. But Tony. After all, Donn is the head coach of the team, and they can only remain silent and bury their dissatisfaction in the bottom of their hearts.

Bendtner kicked his boots in displeasure, and the crunch of spikes and the ground shattered the awkward silence in the locker room.

Chrislak clapped his hands and forced a smile: "Okay." Guys, don't take it personally, whether it's this defeat or ...... Anything else, pack your things and get ready to get in the car. ”

A group of people began to silently pack their backpacks.

Chrisrak whispered a few words to Don. Also turned around and left the locker room, he was going to find Tony. Dawn. There are some words that I can't hold in my heart and don't say them.

Chris Rac found Don sitting on the bus.

"Tony. ”

Don looked up at him, the anger on his face still not dissipating.

"I think we've got to have a good talk. ”

"About what?"

"About the mess you left behind after you just sprayed. ”

"You're saying I shouldn't criticize them?"

"No, that's not what I meant. Chris Rac saw the blackness on Donn's face and knew he was still angry. "I just think...... The players already know that the problem is with them and I'm sure they'll be beating them in the next game. But you've messed things up with this scolding...... Belch. I mean, instead of arousing their competitiveness, you might have scolded them......"

"How?" Don asked, squinting at Chrisrak.

"Tony, once any rift appears, it can't be repaired. I don't want any discordant notes in the dressing room......"

"You're worried that I'm calling some people our enemies?"

Donn asked. Chris Rac didn't answer, but his performance gave him the answer unmistakably.

Don didn't refute his point, he frowned and was silent for a moment.

"Well, I'll apologize to them. But wait until tomorrow. Now I can't pull my face. ”

Chris Rac laughed when he heard Donn say this, "I knew you were smart. Tony. ”

"Don't pat me on the back, I'm in a bad mood right now. Don said angrily.

"Find a time to relax. "As the season draws to a close. With the goal of a "double" officially proposed, Chris Rac knew that the pressure on Donn's head was mounting. If you win, you are afraid of losing, if you draw, you regret not winning, and if you lose, you lose...... Not to mention, always, until the end of the season, the pressure will stay with him.

"Pay attention to the body, Tony. He thought that after the draw with AC Milan's home game, Donn, who was going to attend the press conference, found him and said with a bitter face that he was not feeling well and asked him to do it for him. When he first heard the news, Chris Rac was genuinely taken aback. Head coaching is a stressful profession and doing it can be quite detrimental to your health.

He also remembers the 2001 incident when former Liverpool manager Houllier suddenly fainted while directing a match against Leeds United. At that time, he was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a heart attack, and it took 11 hours of surgery to save his life. Houllier then took a five-month break before returning to his role as Liverpool manager.

The Premier League's managers are probably the most stressed in the world, whether it's at the top of the table or the bottom of the table, everyone is under pressure, and no one is much easier than the other.

Chris Rac is worried about the recent series of events that will add to Donn's mental stress and cause damage to his health, so he must remind Don to keep a calm mind at times like these.

'You're the manager of the team, if you have a problem, let alone lose this game, it's easy to lose the whole season. ”

Don is not an ignorant person, and he can't afford to be angry with Chrislak's kindness.

"Thank you, David. He could only express his gratitude. However, he feels that there is nothing wrong with his body, and the psychological pressure is indeed greater, but which one of the head coaches does not have any psychological pressure? If you can't stand this pressure, just quit and don't do it.

"So...... I'll go back and see, those kids are so grinding to change their clothes......" Chrislak got out of the car and went back to the dressing room to urge the players to come out.

Donn sat alone on the empty bus, thinking back to every word he had just said in the locker room. Now that I'm a little calmer, I realize that some of the words are indeed more vicious. It seems that an apology should indeed be given, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

He wanted to make the boys feel his anger to the fullest. Otherwise, I always play with them and joke about them, do these people really think that they will indulge whatever they do? It's okay to joke with me, it's not okay to lose, and it's even worse to lose a game you shouldn't lose.

Am I the leader of this team, ace? Superstar? You have to listen to me.

There was a sound of footsteps outside the car, and the Nottingham Forest players walked out one after another. He put on a straight face again, didn't greet them, and the players got on the bus in turn in silence.

It was in this uncomfortable atmosphere that Nottingham Forest, who had lost the game, returned to Nottingham overnight to prepare for the next round of the league - at home to Portsmouth, who had been humiliated by them 7-4. But no one will dare to underestimate this opponent this time, because just like Blackburn, who scored three goals for Forest in the first leg, or even better than them, the Portsmouth man once scored four goals against Nottingham Forest, who are known to start with defense......