Chapter 46: The Heart of the Champion

Martin, a Spanish tour guide who is proficient in Chinese, took a group of curious Chinese tourists to a tavern near the Bernabeu.

As soon as I entered the door, I looked up and saw a huge Real Madrid team logo on the wall directly opposite.

There is no noisy music here, nor hot hot girls. It is different from what Martin said, there are only large-screen TVs and many fans who look up at the TV.

"This is a tavern run by my uncle. You all come here... 50% off!" Martin made a decision without asking his uncle's opinion. If his uncle doesn't want to, then he will pay for the poor money out of his own pocket. In order to watch a Real Madrid game with peace of mind, he will be considered a heavy money.

After settling a group of Chinese tourists, Martin squeezed into the crowd, asked for a glass of beer, and looked up at his TV with the others.

On TV, the players on both sides have not yet appeared, and the stands are already full of people. Those who can watch the game on the spot make these people who can only sit in front of the TV to watch the game. Martin kept smacking his lips as he looked at the TV screen.

The Bernabeu Stadium, which can accommodate 80,000 people, is full, and you can't even find any empty space to keep. Although the game has not yet begun, the fans here are already enthusiastic, singing or shouting, applauding, and the people are roaring. The towering flood lights illuminate the venue, and the staff are busy spreading the UEFA logo round flag on the central circle, while the reporters are waiting on both sides of the corridor for players on both sides to appear. In front of them, there is a silver trophy, which is the highest honor of European club events - the European Champions League.

This is not a replica in the club's honor showroom, it's a real big ear cup.

The players have finished warming up and have returned to their respective lounges. The head coaches of both sides will make final preparations for the most important game of this season.

Now is not the time to talk about tactics again, and they don’t have that much time. At this time, some coaches like to remain silent and leave time to the players themselves; some coaches like to chatter and promote their own style. These short few minutes often determine the direction of the forty-five minutes of the first half, and forty-five minutes of the first half. So in such a game, players of any team will inevitably feel nervous.

Even teams like Real Madrid and Nottingham Forest are no exception.

Raul Gonzalez entered the locker room for the first time. Since he retired, he has never entered the locker room before the game. But he did this today. It means that today's game is really special.

Michelle stood aside, and it was time for Raul to speak. The former captain's influence in the locker room is still huge.

Raul did not make a long comment. “This is the last game I have dreamed of, and it’s a pity that I can’t fight side by side with you.” He looked at his former teammates and said affectionately. “But I am very happy that my teammates can finally stand here. Looking at you, I suddenly long to make myself ten years younger… Being able to win the 10th Champions League for the club has always been my dream. Now this dream is to be asked by everyone.”

After he finished speaking, he said goodbye to Michelle and walked out of the locker room.

Real Madrid's locker room then fell into silence. As Raul's teammates, they can't forget the unwillingness when Raul chose to retire a season ago. That year, Real Madrid lost the league championship. The Champions League also stopped in the semi-finals. It was the pain before Real Madrid's re-emergence, and the darkness before dawn, but unfortunately Raul caught up.

He had the opportunity to renew his contract for another year, but at the last moment he chose to give up.                                                                                                                    

So it's better to retire.

Now he may feel a little regretful... Even if he is sitting on the bench, as long as he can wait for such a game, he may be willing to sit on the bench for a season.

But these are just people's guesses. No one knows what Raul is thinking now.

He turned out of the locker room, walked slowly into the VIP room on the stands alone, sat with his family, ready to enjoy the game.

Unlike the serious atmosphere in Real Madrid's locker room, the atmosphere in Nottingham Forest locker room is a little casual. The players sit or stand, looking at the head standing against the wall. They look like a group of soldiers waiting to go to the battlefield, looking forward to their commander standing up and scolding them loudly, telling them that there is nothing to be afraid of. With him, everything is fine. After this battle, we will go home.

Tang En stood against the wall, looking at the group of players in front of him, a different kind of emotion surged from his heart. It seemed that he was not leading a team, but an army, with veterans who had been fighting for several years, with unshaven beards on their faces and had not returned home for many years. He had a cynical expression in his mouth, and had long put life and death aside. There were also new recruits with baby faces. He was so nervous that he couldn't even hold the gun, his lips kept trembling. It seemed that he was muttering to himself and praying to God. They were facing the most important battle in the war. If they won the war, a fundamental reversal would take place. His large army would point directly to Berlin, and the armored troops would run through all the obstacles encountered on the road like ants, but if they lost, they would be wiped out and they would not be able to come back.

For a moment, he was in a daze and opened his mouth and wanted to say, "Life, I will take you home after the war."

Tang En quickly shook his head and dispelled the hallucinations in his mind.

Everything in front of us became clear again. The players were still players, not the tilted helmets, the dirty military uniform collar was open, and the few buttons were missing. The World War II Allied soldiers with unshaven beards and cigarettes in their hands. This is the bright, neat and modern Bernabeu Stadium locker room, not the stinking trenches running all over the place.

However, the feeling in the battlefield did not dissipate, but became stronger and stronger.

Tang En scratched his head: "I really don't know what I should say. Really. I just had a dream, which ended in a short time, but it still makes me remember it deeply."

His dialect aroused great interest from the players. I didn’t see the boss sleeping just now, why did he say he had a dream? Are he still dreaming while sleeping while standing?

"I found that we were all on the battlefield, with planes roaring over our heads. "Tang En made a gesture, "Behind us is the sound of motors of armored troops, and explosions are everywhere, which is very noisy. I am surrounded by you. The enemy occupies a high ground and we are going to launch the last charge. Take that place and the large troops behind us will be able to march smoothly. If we can't take it down, we will all die there!"

"A dream that looks absurd." Tang En waved his hand and dispelled the foggy dream. "But that feeling is still there, telling me it is not a dream. A few minutes later, the most important game in our career will begin. Today is life and death for us, I am not exaggerating at all. We either hold the trophy alive or... die and be forgotten. "He shrugged, "It's that simple. There is no third way for us to go. Survival or die, here is the champion or failure. Think about how we came over before and forgot both champions! They are not helpful to today's game."

Done pointed to the dressing room that was decorated in a grand manner. “This is the dressing room of the Bernabeu, much more beautiful than the city court. But don’t be deceived by its glamorous appearance. We are in hell now, guys, believe me. We can be kicked here by others. Or we can go all out and go to glory.”

Tang En withdrew his wandering gaze and stared at the players in front of him, staring at their eyes.

"We can walk out of this hell with our heads raised, but now I can't do it for you. In fact, I'm too old..." He touched his gray hair. "Sometimes when I forgot to dye my hair, I'll be shocked when I wake up in the morning and see myself in the mirror."

In fact, forty-five years old is not considered old, but Tang En suffered a heart attack. It consumed his life energy greatly. After that serious illness, he looked older than his actual age...

"And when you grow old like me, everything will leave you, even the championship trophy. Actually, this is part of life. But only when you lose it will you discover how precious they are, because it is a memory in your life that can never be replaced! No matter how many years have passed, you can proudly say in front of others: 'I have experienced such a game and won the final victory!'" Tang En raised his chest and looked proud.

"Life is like this. So is football. I mean, no matter whether it is life or football, don't give up any glorious moment. Even such moments require a very high price. This is a war, guys. Every minute and every ball, you need to fight! Yes, I don't deny that we don't have a dazzling star lineup like Real Madrid. Compared to them, we are like country bumpkins, but football is a sport of eleven people! It is a team-based sports! The advantage we have compared with them is that we are a whole and a team! I believe that everyone in this team will be crushed to pieces for the victory of the team! We strive for every ball!"

Tang En began to wave his arms, his tone also became stronger.

As his tone became stronger, the flames in his eyes began to burn.

"I know that the winners of any battle belong to those who work together and are not afraid of sacrifice. The same is true for football games. When you are a whole, when your heart is full of the belief in winning, there will be no one in this world who can stop you. I also know that we are a hundred times stronger than the gleaming light bulb, because we are a whole! I know better that teamwork is the watershed between winners and losers! It is the watershed between life and death!!" Tang En shouted loudly, and his players followed him to make similar sounds.

"I tell you, in any battle, people who always care about teamwork will win the final victory!" He suddenly broke the marker in his hand with a force, and with a snap, the sound rang in everyone's heart.

"A plate of loose sand is like this pen! When you are in trouble, when you are facing the most powerful enemy and the worst situation. The teammates you can rely on will always be your side! Now, look at your side, look at him, look in his eyes! They will be the most trustworthy person you have in these ninety minutes! You are a comrade in a trench, a partner in a life and death! When you run, you know they can pass the ball to your feet. When you lose the ball, you know they will do it for you.

Snap the ball back. When you face the attack directly, you know you are not alone. Because there are them behind you! If you give up, you put them in a very dangerous situation. You are willing to work hard to protect your teammates, not because I ask you to do this, but because you know that when you are in danger, they! Your teammates! They will do that too!!” His voice was short and powerful, and it made a clanging sound like a hit on metal, accompanied by his gestures, inspiring.

"This is... Team. Gentlemen."

Tang En spread his hands and looked at everyone, his tone was slightly slower. The continuous and excited speech made his face red and his breathing thicker. But it seemed that his nuclear-powered heart was still very strong. At this moment, he was not in danger of life.

As he spoke excitedly, the players turned their heads and looked at their teammates around them, and read the same message from their eyes - hey, man. We are teammates.

"Now, you have the opportunity to leave the most precious wealth for your life. You have the opportunity to fight with the best players in professional football history for the same goal! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you miss it, you will never come back! Play it as the last game in your life!" Tang En pointed to the door of the locker room, "No matter how powerful the enemy is, it is not your opponent. Because they are just a piece of loose sand, and you are the best team in professional football history!"

"We are the strongest!!" Some of the players could not control their inner excitement and shouted out.

"I love football so much and love this sport.   Because you can always let me go back to my youth and see you running and fighting in the game.   I was wondering how meaningful my life is, because I can still enjoy such passion! This is the full motivation for my work! I hope tonight, you can still let me return to youth... Don't worry about my heart." Tang En held his left chest and shook his head, "It is still beating vigorously, as powerful as your ground.   It longs for victory and championship, this has never changed! Please remember, guys.   This is the heart of a nuclear-powered champion! And you.   The source of all the motivation of this heart!!" Tang En pointed to the heart and pointed to the players in front of him.

"What are you saying outside... Nottingham Forest is not qualified to win the championship now. Not qualified to become the Triple Crown! Because we don't have big stars, we look weak. Now I'm glad we have the opportunity to laugh at their ignorance and stupidity in person. "Tang En laughed, "We are born to go against people. If we are not qualified to win the championship, then who else is in this world!"Tang En stared wide and looked around, "Who is qualified!? Who is more qualified than us!"

After a little rest, he continued, "Now, take our championship and let them say it. I'm done, what should you do?"

The players sitting stood up from their seats, raising their arms and shouting: "Go and win the championship! Champion! Champion!"

"Triple Crown! Triple Crown! We want to be Triple Crown!!"

The huge roar echoed in the locker room, and was constantly amplified by the narrow space, stirring everyone's heart. Tang En looked at the excited players, his expression still serious.

Even George Wood, who had always been as cold as ice, turned his head to look at his teammates who were so excited that they could not control themselves. He pursed his lips tightly, and there was a raging fire burning in his pupils. In fact, deep in his heart, the flame was burning even more vigorously.

At first, his purpose of playing football was to make money to treat his mother's illness, but now he enjoys this passion for constant pursuit of victory.

Just like Tang En said: He loves football precisely because of his passion.  It’s like a drug in life, he can’t get rid of it…

Perez Florentino shook hands with Evan Dogerty on the rostrum of the Bernabeu. In his own stadium, despite his politeness, he could not hide his heartfelt superiority and pride. After all, he is the best chairman of Real Madrid in the past two decades. Calderon, Boruda, and Sans are all like clowns under his glory.

Real Madrid and Nottingham Forest are indeed not the same team. In this white palace built of marble with dazzling light, he is like a proud king, sitting on his throne, quietly waiting for each other's audience.

Evan Doggetti was a foreign envoy who came to pilgrimage. He was humble and courteous and inferior.

Evan doesn't like this feeling. Where he is, almost everyone's wish is to see Real Madrid win, Nottingham Forest is better to be an excellent opponent, and then become the foil for Real Madrid's ten-champion titles. It's like red flowers need green leaves to match.

This feeling made Evan Dogette feel lonely, and Alan Adams sitting next to him could not bring him a sense of security. The two of them seemed to be trapped in wolves and could only be slaughtered.

It was not until he saw Tony Donn come out from the corridor below and walk towards the visiting team coach's seat that his discomfort gradually disappeared.

We are not here to pilgrimage to the greatest club of the 20th century, and we are not interested in visiting the five-star toilets here. Tony, remember this and don't forget. Ninety minutes later, stop letting me shake hands with Florentino like this!
Chapter completed!