Godfather Of Champions

Early next morning, a black Mercedes set off from the hotel where the England team was staying for Hospital Universitario y Politécnico de La Fe in Valencia, where a woman with a broken hand for 28 years once had a successful hand transplant. The hospital was quite influential in the field of orthopedic surgery.

As the team was heading today to Sevilla, where the next game was being held, time was very tight. To this end, the British Embassy in Spain came forward and contacted the hospital for the team, which made it possible to arrange for an examination in the shortest time. Moreover, this matter had to be kept secret from the news media. Any incident could be complicated when it became entangled with the news media.

Fortunately, the England team’s round of 16 opponent was not Spain. Otherwise the Spanish side would not be so happy to oblige with the examination.

The people in the car were Twain, Derek Wright and George Wood, as well as Doctor Wallace, who had been on holiday in Spain during this time. He also followed closely Wood’s recovery from his injury. The team also informed him of the hospital check-up this time. He had hurried through the night and arrived at Valencia so as to provide the most professional and authoritative advice.

The Royal Hospital of Nottingham University was the English Football Association’s partner hospital. Whenever the national team’s players were injured or fall ill, they would be treated by them. The English Football Association had a lot of faith in Wallace.

Apart from the driver, none of the four people in the car spoke. The atmosphere seemed a little depressing. Twain started to make a joke, “Why do I feel like we’re going to an execution ground? Can you all not look so grim, okay?”

Wallace smiled, “Why don’t we talk about yesterday’s game? That was fantastic, Tony. Overtaking Germany, you’ve caused the always tough Germans at a loss.”

Twain gave Wood a glance and said, “It would be really hard to know how things would have turned out if it had not been for George.”

Wood was the most resistant to going to the hospital among these people. He said, “I feel like I played well, and I don’t have any problems with my foot. I don’t have to go to the hospital for a check-up.”

“That will not do, George. To ensure your wellbeing, this check-up must be done. Since you think you’re fine, what’s there to be afraid of?” Twain winked at Wood.

“I’m not afraid…” Wood said somewhat diffidently.

When the group of people arrived at the hospital, they did not caught sight of any press or reporters. It looked like the other side really abide by their promise and did not inform the media.

An examination of Wood’s right big toe took half an hour. Twain could not understand the medical jargons while Wright and Wallace were reviewing the X-rays with the Spanish doctors. Twain was not interested in the discussion. He just wanted to know the final result.

So, he waited for Wallace to finish the conversation and went up to ask, “What is the conclusion, Doctor?”

“The good news is that his right big toe wasn’t hurt again in yesterday’s game. The bad news is that his foot is still in recovery.” Wallace looked at Twain and said. The smile on his face was gone and his expression was serious.

“From the looks of yesterday’s game, George Wood’s right foot still hurts when he touches the ball and uses force. Although his threshold is so strong that people can’t really tell, it does not help him during the recovery from his injury. My advice is that for the next game, it’s better not to let him…” Doctor Wallace deliberated for a moment as he considered Wood’s attitude before he spoke again, “Not to let him be in the starting lineup.”

Twain frowned. Wood was resting in another room after he undergone the physical examination and could not hear the conversation between them.

The piece of news was neither good nor bad. England’s round of 16 opponent had been announced and it was not a very strong team. But it was not considered weak too. It had a somewhat special relationship with the England team – it was the Sweden team.

Before that, England had not beaten Sweden in 48 years.

George Wood was definitely the core of the team and the most important piece of the game. This could be seen from the last ten minutes against Germany. There was a huge difference between him being on the field and not on the field. Without George Wood, the England team could still overtake Germany, but it was not as reassuring. As soon as Wood came on, everyone’s hearts that had jumped to their throats settled back smoothly.

An opponent like Sweden could not be taken lightly. After being humiliated by Wales, Twain could not afford to underestimate their opponent anymore. A team that could break into the knockout stages was not a team that England could defeat with their eyes closed. It included Wales.

Wood was important to the team, but Wood’s personal career was equally important too.

Twain thought for a moment and decided to accept Doctor Wallace’s advice. He said, “I’m not going to have him in the starting lineup.”

A smile re-emerged on Wallace’s face as he said, “You have to worry about how to talk to him. He is quite stubborn.”

Twain shrugged and replied, “What else can I say? I have to coax him like a child. He’s already thirty years old, and yet he’s like a seven- or eight-years old kid…”

Men with an Oedipus complex would not grow up and always hoped that they were still the children who could be in their mothers’ arms.

Twain rubbed his temple as he went out. He had to look at George Wood in the eyes.

※※※

Wood looked at Twain without an expression on his face. There was not even a look of anticipation. But the look in those eyes gave Twain a headache.

“The results are out, George.” Twain tried his best to make himself smile.

Wood did not follow up with a question of “What are the results?” He just continued to look silently at Twain.

But it would have been better if he did speak up. Twain felt it was difficult to handle when he did not open his mouth to speak.

“There’s good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?” Twain had to attempt with a cliched method.

“Good news.” Wood blurted out the answer without hesitation.

“Your big toe was not injured a second time in yesterday’s game.”

Wood was not surprised by it as he knew his body well. Although the collision against Rolfes was the most intense in the game, he still managed to miss the injured area at the crucial moment. It was the physical instinct of an experienced professional player.

“What’s the bad news?”

After the exchange, Twain’s mood gradually calmed down. He did not hesitate and replied directly, “I won’t arrange for you to be the starting lineup in the game against Sweden.”

There was a change in the expression on Wood’s face. He stared at Twain with widened eyes. There was even some anger in his eyes. He still remembered what Twain had said to him before: he could make a formal comeback when it was time for the elimination round.

Twain certainly knew the meaning of Wood’s expression, and he laughed bitterly, “Your injury has not completely healed. I can’t let you take the risk in the game. I don’t want a repeat of Michael Owen’s incident in the game against Sweden at the World Cup in Germany to happen to you, George.”

What caused Michael Owen’s career to decline to a low ebb began with that injury. He had just returned from recovery of an injury at the time. Just 50 seconds into the World Cup game against Sweden in Germany, he fell to the ground in agony after hitting the ball on the sideline and was carried off the field on a stretcher after. He not only missed the World Cup but was also absent for most of the rest of the season. By the time he recovered from his injury, he could no longer get back the glory of his past.

Twain did not want to take the risk.

What Wood wanted to say was stopped by Twain’s gesture. He said, “Whatever you want to say, George, I won’t change my mind. Yes, I admit I have to go back on my word and cannot keep my promise. But the sake of your health and out of consideration for your future career, I would rather eat my words and break my promise. You can rest assured that we will keep a close eye on your injury recovery every day and, once it is confirmed that you really have no problem, I will let you play in the starting lineup…”

Wood was still reluctant and wanted to open his mouth to fight back, but was interrupted once again by Twain, who said, “Think of your mother, George. Don’t let your mother worry about you anymore.”

This sentence hit Wood’s weakness. He stopped there and did not know how to rebut Twain for a long while. After yesterday’s game had ended, he called his mother. Unexpectedly, his mother did not praise his performance on the pitch. The first sentence from her was to ask him how his foot was. At that time, he was not in the least concerned and said it was nothing. But his mother was still very worried and did not seem to believe his words.

But how did the boss know his mother would be worried? Wood looked suspiciously at Twain.

Twain knew what was on his mind and said, “I didn’t talk to your mother on the phone, but it’s only natural. You may not care about your career, but you have to think about it for your mom. No mother would want her son to spend his life on crutches. I’m not being an alarmist; you should know it.”

Wood was completely silent. He bowed his head and fell into contemplation.

Twain knew he had managed to persuade him, so he turned around and went out the door.

Wallace and Wright were waiting anxiously outside. When they saw Twain come out, they looked like they were in a hurry to ask questions.

“It’s all right.” Twain shrugged and spread his hand, “He accepted it.”

The two men were relieved at the same time.

“That’s good.” Wright was the most relieved. Otherwise he would find it extremely difficult to face George Wood’s stubborn look in his eyes every time.

But Twain’s next words made him nervous again.

“I hope he recovers as soon as possible, Mr. Wright. This is the work of your team doctors. No matter what, I’m going to let him start in the quarterfinals!” Twain said determinedly and basically did not give Wright a chance to implore at all.

Next to them, Wallace looked at his industry peer, somewhat rejoicing in his predicament. Fortunately, he now had nothing to do with the national team. He merely helped out. Otherwise, it would really be wretched to work for such an unreasonable manager…

※※※

When the four men walked out of the hospital and were ready to get in the car to leave, they were startled by a sight in front of their eyes:

At least 50 reporters crowded the hospital entrance and made it impenetrable. The policemen who were summoned at the last minute to maintain order, were sweating profusely and still unable to control the surging crowd. Especially when Twain and the other men in Twain’s party showed up at the entrance of the hospital lobby…

When Twain, Wood and the others came out of the hospital, the reporters no longer cared about the policemen stopping them. They swarmed forward and tossed their questions along with the microphones at Twain and Wood.

“Why did you suddenly come to the hospital for a check-up? Is it because George Wood’s injury has worsened?”

“Mr. Twain, was this examination related to the game with the Germany team? Was George Wood’s right big toe hurt again during the game with the Germany team?”

“Is it possible to reveal what the results of the examination are?”

“Mr. Wood, how are you doing with your injury?”

“Can you make it to the game with the Swedish team, George?”

“Mr. Wright, can you say something about Wood’s foot injury?”

“Doctor Wallace, Doctor Wallace…”

Apparently none of these four men wanted to answer the questions. The policemen at the scene surrounded them tightly with them in the middle and escorted them as they squeezed their way to their car.

Some of the microphones had even hit the four people on their heads. They had to put their hands up to protect their heads, looking like criminals guilty of monstrous crimes, who had to be wary of rotten eggs and tomatoes thrown by angry crowds.

They spent five minutes squeezing before they could get to the car in the short distance of ten meters. After using force to shut the car door, Twain quipped, “Look to see if your wallets are still around, gentlemen.”

Wright was still a little stunned. He said, “How did the media know that we are here?”

Twain shrugged and said, “Who knows? The paparazzi are everywhere. They’re more omnipotent than God.” As he spoke, he also glanced at Wood, who was sitting in the back. Wood had his head down and appeared heavy-hearted.

“Let’s go.” Twain barked out a command to leave. The driver started the car and slowly drove out of the crowd. Then he accelerated the car to drive away.

※※※

Half a day later, when the England team arrived in Seville, the online editions of the various major media had already published the latest news – the morning of that day, George Wood went to Hospital Universitario y Politécnico de La Fe in Valencia for a check-up, accompanied by Manager Tony Twain, the head team doctor, Derek Wright and the renowned surgeon, Doctor Wallace. The details of the exact situation were unknown. But the fact that they had hurried to the hospital for the check-up the next day after the game with the Germany team made people’s imagination run wild …

For a while, rumors that “George Wood will be absent from the match against Sweden” and even “He will miss the rest of the UEFA European Championship” were swirling about.

With the help of the fiber optic cable buried in the oceans and satellites in the space, such rumors scattered everywhere on the internet and stir up public sentiment with false statements.

You don’t believe it? Maybe that is the truth.

Do you believe it? Maybe it’s all a scam to fool everyone.

In the afternoon’s training during the fifteen minutes of opening to the media, everyone could clearly see that George Wood was with the team for warm-up practice and he even kicked two shots!

In that case, what was going on in the morning news?

Fifteen minutes soon came to an end, and the reporters were a little reluctant to leave. They wanted to ask Twain about what had happened to Wood.

Instead, Twain ruthlessly evicted them and refused to answer any questions.

“We have a right to know the truth about the news!” There were reporters who protested with displeasure.

“I have the right to refuse to answer any questions.” Twain responded, “Get them out of here!” He yelled at the security guard. As a result, the security guards were no longer polite, and even pushed and pulled the reporters out of the gate of the training ground.

“Come on! This again!” The English reporters were disgruntled but could not do anything about the manager who had just led the team to eliminate the Germany team. As long as the results were good, Twain could continue to dominate the national team. There was nothing they could nothing except to spit on the ground they stood on.

The Swedish reporters thought more complicatedly than their English counterparts – Was there any conspiracy on Twain’s part to refuse the media shooting and interviews so nervously? Did George Wood really go to the hospital for a check-up or was it just a smokescreen?

Would George Wood be in the starting lineup in the game between England and Sweden?

They were desperate to figure this out because it had to do with whether the Swedish team could go any further in the UEFA European Championship.