Chapter 579: The UEFA Super Cup

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Kerslake used his loud voice to relay Twain’s latest instructions to the players on the field to stop defending to death and start attempting more attacks. Since Liverpool was attacking strongly without any regard, the Forest team should reciprocate.

They had to give as good as they got. The Forest team began to fight back.

Liverpool pressed closely, which gave the Forest team a chance to attack. Nottingham Forest ripped off its defensive cover to reveal the sharp dagger hidden underneath, and the blade glinted with the light of cold steel.

Like an iron gate in the midfield, Mascherano was responsible for cutting ties between the Forest team’s backfield and front field and blocking the opponent’s counterattack. He was the weapon Benítez had arranged to deal with the Forest team’s counterattack.

Twain had long admired the Argentinian defensive midfielder before his transmigration and becoming a manager. He was an outstanding defensive midfielder with excellent stamina, first-class awareness, and fine skills. Liverpool only had him on a loan at the moment, but Benítez had already considered fully purchasing him at the end of the season. He gave up Sissoko, who was similarly good at defense, but overall not as good as Mascherano and put the Malian on the bench.

If the Forest team did not have George Wood, Twain would surely have taken advantage of his knowledge to acquire Mascherano two years ago.

Since he liked Mascherano, he understood him and knew how to deal with him.

Benítez put the Argentinian defensive midfielder in the midfield in order to disrupt the Forest team’s counterattack. His relentless running and fierce shovels, as well as his perfect fouls, did cause some trouble to the Forest team’s offense in the previous games.

However, that was because the Forest team did not go all out to attack and only had two or three players rush up. They only shot when the opportunity struck and would retreat at once when there was none. They did not give the opponent the opportunity to seize any gaps behind.

That was no longer the case.

Mascherano discovered that it was impossible for him alone to stop the Forest team’s surge in counterattacks. Beckham, van der Vaart, Ribéry, Pepe — who was a center back — and the defensive midfielder, George Wood could all be the Forest team’s offensive starting point.

He went to pounce on Beckham only to find out that the football had reached Wood. Gerrard went to defend against Wood, who in turn passed the football to Pepe, who had plugged in from behind.

The Brazilian-born center-back had the attacking nature of the Brazilians. He dribbled the ball from the middle and charged to break forward into Liverpool’s thirty-meter zone while the Liverpool midfielders were still busy defending the Forest team’s attacking players. Although his breakthrough was eventually stopped by Hyypiä, Pepe’s breakthrough earned him cheers from the Forest fans. It also lifted the team’s morale.

Offense was not just a job for the players in the front field. A center-back could equally be the sharpest knife.

Other than its abdomen, a hedgehog was covered with spikes. Nottingham Forest was a hedgehog that was not to be trifled with.

Hedgehogs had a weakness; its soft abdomen was its Achilles heel. But with the Forest team sticking to its defensive tactics, it was similar to a hedgehog curling up to protect its soft abdomen. Their multi-point attack strategy was like extending spikes on their back one by one, so that the enemy could not take a bite out of them.

The Forest team’s sudden offensive activity surprised Benítez. He looked at his watch. The second half was not even halfway through. Why did they suddenly decide not to retreat to the back and hold fast?

He turned his head to look at the Forest team’s technical area. He could not see anything except for a pair of crossed legs.

The Forest team’s sudden counterattack overwhelmed the Liverpool players. Amidst the panic, Ribéry, whom they prevented from breaking through, tripped, which gave the Forest team a free kick in the front field.

As a Premier League rival, Benítez had to remember how the Forest team’s victory in the first game of the season was won.

When he saw that the Forest team was awarded a free kick in front of the penalty area, he got up from his seat and walked to the sidelines for the second time. He watched the field intently with some nervousness.

Fortunately, Beckham’s free kick did not enter the goal. It was slightly inclined, but also enough to make the Liverpool supporters break out in a cold sweat.

Benítez made a disgruntled gesture. He had instructed the team to not easily give the opponent a set piece. This foul was really unnecessary. We have put the defensive formation in place and the Forest team can only move the football across at best which poses little threat to our goal. As soon as you foul, you give the opponent a chance to attack straight on without any interference. What’s more, there are now a number of set-piece masters in the Forest team. Bale has proved the power of his left foot free kick in the Premier League. As for David Beckham, do you still need proof?

After Liverpool kicked the ball from the goalmouth, Benítez gestured for the team to press up for the attack. They had to score as soon as possible.

He was aware of Twain’s series of provocations before the game. Even if he could hold back, would his men be able to? They were a very talented group of warm-blooded young players. They did not need any reason to be impulsive.

If after a while, the score was still 1:1, it would be difficult for their men to stay cool-headed. At the time, he might not be able to control the situation even if he was the manager. Therefore, he had said at the halftime interval that they should try to take the lead again in the first part of the second half. He knew that his players were already provoked by Twain’s arrogant needling, and that he could use this fire to boost Liverpool’s fighting spirit within a short period but could not control it for a long time. To be enraged by the opponent was a double-edged sword. It could improve a team’s fighting strength, but it also could make the players lose their cool.

The pre-match provocations, plus a tight defensive counterattack during the game, as well as the current score…

As time went on, Benítez believed his grip on the team’s anger was slowly weakening.

If they did not destroy their opponent before then, they would probably end up self-destructing.

The Forest team’s offense had strengthened but their defensive control had not relaxed. After the Forest team started to step up their attacks, Liverpool still did not have the opportunity to fight back against the Forest team. Twain’s players were not be stupid enough to give their opponent a chance to fight back.

Still playing defensive counterattack, the Forest team dared to put in the force and both flanks dared to press up when there was a chance to fight back. Even though the tactics had not changed, the effect was different.

The offense was stronger and more solid with more variation and dimensions.

The tactic was still defensive counterattack, but more threatening than before. Every attack caused the Liverpool people to break out in a cold sweat.

Having attack for a long time without success and focus on guarding against the opponent’s quick counterattacks, the Liverpool players slowly became agitated.

The Forest team just needed to wait patiently for the opportunity to appear, and then seize it.

Benítez made a very bold substitution after a long attack. He did not adjust the rear defense. He altered the striker.

He used the tall Crouch to replace Kuyt, who was normal height and had average skills.

It was a gamble. Benítez was to be commended for his courage for this substitution in order to pursue an attack when he knew the Forest team would countermeasure. But it was definitely not a random adjustment made on the spur of the moment.

Crouch and Kuyt were not the same. Kuyt was comprehensive, but the flipside was his “overall mediocrity.” Crouch stood out in a certain point, which made him a good choice to break the deadlock. Although Crouch now gradually lost his position as the starting striker at Liverpool, he was still quite useful on certain occasions.

The Forest team’s impenetrable defense of combined with the precautionary tactics taken against long shots had prevented Liverpool from finding a better way to score goals. Torres was not a strong striker who could hold his ground, Kuyt even less so.

Under such circumstances, was there any player more suited to play than Crouch? His height and ability to head the ball acted like a lighthouse in front of the Forest team’ goal, guiding the way forward for Liverpool’s offense. When Crouch came on, the Liverpool players all understood — next up was time for aerial combat.

Whether it was a direct header to the goal or to use a header pass to create opportunities for his teammates, Crouch could do them better than Kuyt.

Liverpool made the adjustment, but Nottingham Forest did nothing in response. Twain did not seem worried.

Pepe and Piqué did not stand in front of the goal for decorative purposes.

The ball that Liverpool sent to Crouch’s head was caught by Edwin van der Sar, while Crouch could not jump under the converged attack of the two tall center backs.

Twain did not let Ayala start in this game to guard against Benítez’s hand. There were several ways to break a compact defense. The most commonly used method was long shots and set pieces. A strong center forward who could hold his ground was also one of the means to break the compact defense. Although Crouch did not look as strong as Vieri, he was not as thin and weak as he seemed. That point was clear to Twain as Crouch had played for him before. Crouch was not the tender kid anymore. He had accumulated more experience on the football field and knew how to make rational use of his body.

How should they deal with this adjustment by Liverpool? It would be enough for a tall center-back and the goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, to expand the defensive area.

The key to solving this problem was not how to freeze Crouch, but to score another goal.

Crouch was quiet again after a couple of headers on the field. The Forest team’s offensive gradually became more ferocious and pushed Liverpool’s momentum back. After the lack of support in the middle and wings, Crouch’s function diminished.

Van der Vaart took the ball in front of Liverpool’s penalty area and made to look like he was going to do a long shot. Instead, he diverted the football away. After Beckham received the ball, Rafinha plugged in from the back at a high speed. Liverpool’s left back, Riise, saw Rafinha dash from Beckham’s side at high speed and go straight behind the defensive line. He dared not take it lightly and so he followed him to defend.

Rafinha had just made a feint to run. His role was not to receive the pass, but to create the illusion that he was going to receive and attract the attention of the opponent’s defense. The reason for this time-tested move was not that the receiver looked like he really wanted to get the ball but that as long as the full back ran up to assist, it would give the front field players waiting for the ball an additional choice. The defense had to follow to run. If they did not run, the opponent would penetrate the entire defensive line with one pass.

Riise ran back with Rafinha, and Beckham took the opportunity to pass the ball.

The football drew a wonderful arc and went straight behind the rear point!

Van Nistelrooy showed up there. He jumped high and prepared to head the ball. Van Nistelrooy was not known for his header, even though he was 1.87 meters tall. But Beckham’s pass was terrific. Even if a player did not know how to head the ball, he just had to jump and be in the ball’s trajectory, and he could use his head to propel the football into the goal.

The Danish center back, Agger jumped with him as well. In the heat of the scramble, van Nistelrooy fell into the penalty area.

No one could tell clearly if Agger pushed van Nistelrooy, or if van Nistelrooy fell to the ground. All they heard was the referee’s whistle.

Was it a dive or a penalty kick?

The referee pointed his hand at the penalty spot.

“A penalty kick! This is really a major blow to Liverpool!”

Benítez, who had always been calm and cool, jumped out of his seat and rushed angrily to the sidelines. He waved his fists toward the field in protest.

His team had not yet been defeated by the Forest team’s counterattack, nor by their own anger, but had fallen victim to the referee! He did not accept such an outcome, absolutely not!

Equally as agitated as he was, Twain’s fist-waving was not a protest, but a celebration.

He did not care if it was a dive or a real foul. He could not see clearly from his seat. Anyway, he now had a chance to lead and take down this game. It was a godsend delivered right to his doorstep; there was no reason to refuse!

Liverpool’s goal was in disarray and the Liverpool players demonstrated against this penalty, while the Forest team celebrated.

In the slow-motion replay, it was clear that Agger and van Nistelrooy did have physical contact in the air. But it was not to clear whether it was enough to cause van Nistelrooy to lose balance and fall.

The referee’s decision was unlikely to change, and both the referee and the assistant referee agreed it was a foul, and so it was a foul.

The Liverpool players’ protest was ineffective. The referee stood on the penalty spot and pointed firmly at his feet. He let the Forest team come over for the penalty kick.

If the Liverpool players wanted to continue to entangle with him, very well. The yellow card in his pocket awaited.

Gerrard moved the rest of his teammates out as he knew that the penalty could not be changed. It was not the time to quarrel with the referee. They should vent their anger on the Forest team. Moreover, the goalkeeper, Reyna, was very good at dealing with penalty shots. The Forest team’s shot might not be able to enter the goal.

The Liverpool fans’ section was behind Liverpool’s goal in the second half. The moment the referee’s hand pointed to the penalty spot, a shrill hissing rang, and reached its climax when van Nistelrooy walked to the penalty spot with the football in his arms.

The deafening noises were disturbing, and inherently caused psychological pressure on the penalty kick. Including a goalkeeper good at saving the penalty shots, the situation was not as bad as one imagined.

After van Nistelrooy placed the football, he stepped back and prepared to run to kick.

With the exception of him and the goalkeeper, Reyna, all the players on both sides were asked to leave the box.

The boos overhead did not stop. In the midst of the noise, the referee blew the whistle, which was instantly drowned out by the boos from the Reds fans.

Van Nistelrooy ran up and swung his leg to shoot.

The Dutch striker pushed the shot to the middle and Reyna pounced on the left side, which was unsurprising. However, Reyna hesitated a little the moment he pounced, so his power was not strong nor was his speed fast. When the football flew over, it just struck his leg and bounced out!

“Reyna!”

The boos immediately turned to cheers, then came to a spontaneous end in the next moment.

Reyna did pounce on van Nistelrooy’s shot, but Nottingham Forest did not just have van Nistelrooy. No one expected that a skinny figure would bore in the moment van Nistelrooy kicked. His timing was just right, and the referee could not determine that he had entered early.

The football was blocked by Reyna’s feet, but it did not fly to the end line or the side. It flew back to the middle.

Van Nistelrooy hurried to make up the shot but could not pull his body back in time to kick the football.

Behind him, a man appeared in front of the football’s landing point.

Without hesitation or any fancy footwork, he kicked the football in the air into the empty goal in front of him with one kick.

“Freddy Eastwood! He has appeared in the deadliest position, and Reyna can’t do anything about it!”

Gerrard reacted the fastest. He immediately rushed into the box after van Nistelrooy’s shot, but he was on the left side, while Eastwood was in the middle. The two players were five meters apart. He could not do anything but watch.

Thunderous cheers erupted behind the Forest team’s goal, while the Liverpool fans were silent.

Life was really full of ups and downs… with this upheaval of joy and sorrow!

Eastwood was thrilled. He extended his index finger toward the Liverpool fans in the opposite stands and put it on his lips to make a gesture of silence. It brought him a wave of swearing, but he did not care. He turned around and hugged his teammates.

Benítez slapped angrily at the sight of the goal concede. What did it mean for Nottingham Forest to be in the lead? Any fool would know it by looking at Twain’s expression.

Twain held up his arms and jumped around on the sidelines. His face was full of smiles. His team was happy, but his enemy hated him.

What was he going to do after the lead? This was a stupid question to ask.

They would attack again! Again! And attack again! They had to seize all opportunities available and put off fair play! Put it off!

Twain clenched his fists and slammed down.

We have to take this championship title!

After falling behind, Liverpool had intended to organize a frenzied countermeasure, but five minutes later they realized that Nottingham Forest’s counterattack was even crazier.

All Nottingham Forest players knew that “It is dangerous to lead with one goal and that it is more dangerous to think that they can win with a goal ahead.”

Even if Liverpool wanted to equalize the score, they had to face a cruel choice: do they fight back regardless of the consequences and gamble with their lives or refrain from shooting again in fear of giving the opponent a chance to counterattack and wait until the game was over?

The Liverpool players chose the first one. A coward’s death was never the Red Army’s tradition.

At the final moment of the game, the television viewers who were bored to death by the dreary situation earlier finally saw an exciting confrontation of more than ten minutes.

The tenacious Liverpool players scored a goal in the 88th minute by their captain. The most trusted Gerrard forcibly cracked Edwin van der Sar’s goal with a long shot.

Unfortunately, in the four minutes before that, the Forest team seized on Liverpool’s aggressive counterattack to launch another sneak attack. Van der Vaart scored the Forest’s third goal at close range. The goal locked in the results, so Liverpool’s last goal appeared to be solemn and stirring. The goalscorer, Gerrard, rushed into the goal to pick up the ball, and Edwin van der Sar did not stop him. The other Liverpool players also looked a little dejected.

They had reversed one opponent after another but were powerless in the face of this opponent. When they got a goal, this opponent would seize on a loophole in the rear defensive line to widen their gains. Nottingham Forest was not a soft-hearted team based on how they were after their second goal as compared to Liverpool’s frantic counterattack. Each attack by their opponents was their chance to score.

The injury stoppage time was three minutes, and within these three minutes, Benítez did not stand up from his seat in the technical area again.

Liverpool was still the traditional strong team, but today’s Nottingham Forest was no longer the upstart Nottingham Forest team of that time.

“The game is over! Congratulations to Nottingham Forest! They’re the new UEFA Super Cup winner! This is the second time in the history of their club that they have picked up this trophy!”

Amid the collective cheers of the Forest fans, Twain emerged from the technical area, holding his hands high to greet his supporters.

“Tony Twain, the 38-year-old young manager has won three honors in the EFL Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup. He is doing the same things as the legendary manager, Brian Clough, but he’s younger, so the Nottingham Forest fans have many more joyous moments to look forward to.”

“Let’s thank Liverpool, the other team in this game. The clash between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool continues.”

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