Chapter 441: Volume 3: Red Forest, George and Demy's Future

After returning to Nottingham to resume training, some teammates mentioned to Wood his assist at the last moment. It was his sudden dribble that gave Albertini the chance to equalize. Even the teammates who are familiar with George are surprised by his behavior. Not to mention the game, even in the group match of the usual training, it is rare to see George Wood dribbling more than 30 meters.

"Hmm. George Wood, how does it feel to run with the ball at the last moment of the game and then assist and score a goal?" During the training interval, Ribery asked Wood like a reporter.

Wood looked at him and said blankly, "Not bad."

Franck Ribery scratched his head: "Hey, George, you don't cooperate at all. The reporters are a headache... Didn't your playboy-like agent teach you how to deal with the media?"

"But you're not a reporter."

The teammates watching the excitement all burst into laughter.

Franck Ribery coughed twice and muttered, "I don't know if you're not devoted enough or too involved..."

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When Ribery was still joking with Wood on the training ground, Albertini did not sit on the sidelines to rest, but went straight to the head coach's office.

"Is there anything you can do for me, Demi?" Tang En made tea for himself in the office. He likes to drink tea, and his tea drinking habits are not at all like the British. Everyone in the club knows this.

"Boss, I want to talk to you about George..."

Dunn put the teacup on the table, "George? What's wrong with him?"

"I think you have limited use of him." Albertini said seriously.

Tang En understood this person's character, he belonged to the kind of person who said what was in his heart, so he would have disputes with every head coach who had coached him. But in the cooperation with myself before, such a thing has not happened. Just when Tang En felt that something was wrong, he took the initiative to find it.

So Tang En turned around and went to make tea again: "Do you want to add sugar or cream?"

"Huh? Uh, no, thank you boss. I'll just drink water."

Tang En handed the water glass to Albertini: "Now tell me in detail, Demi."

"Boss, you use George as a midfield engineer, but I don't think he should be like this. His position and role should not be just an engineer. He should be responsible for the defense and complete the task. It shouldn't be like this." Alberti Ni shook his head.

"Then what do you mean?"

"I want George to be a two-way midfielder, to be... a midfielder like me."

"Do you control the rhythm of offense and defense?"

Albertini nodded. "The advantage he has over me and Arteta is that he has better physical strength than any of us. He can insist on starting every game for a season and playing 90 minutes without rotation. I think stability is a core first. The elements that need to be possessed, whether it is a stable state or a stable playing time, will make it easier for the team to adapt to him."

Tang En nodded again and again, and found that Albertini was looking at him, so he made a gesture: "Continue."

"George's physical condition is very good, I think it is a bit of a waste to only be a defensive midfielder. If you can apply this physicality to the attack, it will definitely cause more trouble for the opponent. You saw our last goal. Did Martins, Cruz, and Cambiasso pose no threat to him. If we have such a person in the frontcourt who can hold the ball and is not afraid of losing the ball, our offense will be more calm."

Tang En pointed to Albertini: "You and George are fine. You take the ball and he protects it. Hasn't we been like this for more than a season?"

"If one person can do something, do we still need two people?"

Albertini's rhetorical question left Tang En speechless.

"If one person can do two, isn't the other free to do other things? Don't we have twelve people on the field?"

"You're right about that, Demie. But you know George's a lack of talent on offense..."

Albertini shook his head and denied this statement: "Maybe it's just because he performed too well defensively, which covered up his talent on the other side... Boss, you saw him in the last moment of the last game. Did you perform?"

Tang En nodded.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Well...it's true, it's great, it's beautiful."

"If you really don't have talent, how can you discover that passing route? You must know that the penalty area was full of people. I didn't stand in the crowd and raise my hand to ask for the ball. I just ran diagonally towards the space I saw, and then I pray that George can see it too, he really saw it and passed the ball accurately." Speaking of that ball, Albertini is still a little excited now. He wasn't excited about scoring a goal. Although he didn't score many goals in his career, he couldn't be excited about one goal. He was so excited that the ball came from George Wood's assist.

"Well, I think he's Mon... Demi, it's just a coincidence, an accident..."

"But behind every coincidence, there must be a certainty. I believe he may not know that I am in the penalty area, but he must have seen the space, otherwise he would not pass the ball to that place. Do you agree with that, Boss?"

Tang En nodded: "I agree."

"Some players can't see that space after playing for a lifetime, but Wood can. Isn't this a talent? He just showed this talent later than other talents."

Just as the two were talking, assistant coach David Chris Lack walked in.

"What are you talking about, Tony, Demme?"

"Talk about George's future." Tang En spread his hands.

"George's future?" Chris Lark didn't understand.

"I told the boss that he had a misunderstanding about the use of George. George should not be just a midfield engineer who can do nothing but defend."

Chris Lak heard what Albertini said, and looked up at Tang En, wondering what he meant.

"We just discussed whether George has offensive talent. What do you think, David?" Dunn asked.

Chris Lark thought for a while: "When he was in the youth team, I always put him in the defensive midfielder and told him to stay at the end when he attacked... because, to be honest, I didn't see what he had at all. Offensive talent."

Albertini was a little dissatisfied with Chris Lack's answer. He shrugged: "If you all just tell him: you are waiting behind when you attack. How can you find out that he has other talents besides defense?"

"Uh, Demi. At the beginning, George was a striker in the team, but he never scored a single goal. Instead, he tackled Eastwood's leg..." Chris Lark explained to Albertini.

The Italian nodded: "I know about this, coach. But George at that time was different from George now. George is more mature now. I believe he can do better than before...Of course, I don't think he Suitable for playing as a striker, his best position is as a midfielder, but he is not an engineer who can only defend."

"You want Wood to be the real core?" Tang En pointed out what Albertini meant.

"Yes. Not only mentally, but also tactically..." Albertini paused, and then said, "There is actually another very important reason. I hope that George can become a player like me, a A midfielder who can attack and defend, there is another reason... I decided to retire."

The teacup by his mouth stopped, and Tang En thought he heard it wrong.

Chris Lark turned to look at the Italian sitting on the sofa.

"Sorry...I didn't hear you wrong, Demi, did you just say you were retiring?" Chris Lak asked.

Albertini nodded: "My contract expires this season."

"Oh no, no... The club has prepared a brand new contract for you. All the benefits are fine. As long as you sign on it, you can continue to play football. There is no problem..." Chris Lack panicked. He thought Albertini had said this in response to the club's delay in announcing a contract extension with him.

"You misunderstood me, David. When I was injured before the season, I thought about it very seriously. I don't think my body can recover anymore. If it continues like this, it will definitely play a few games like this in the future. Game, a few more injuries. Doesn't help the team, and I don't want to be a . . . crap sitting in the stands and getting paid."

Tang En put down the teacup, opened the drawer and searched.

"So I decided not to renew my contract with the club after the end of this season. Then I went back to Italy to study coaching courses. After retiring, I plan to be a coach. This is what I have planned for a long time..."

Tang En came over and waved his hand to stop Albertini from continuing. He handed a document to the Italian.

"It's not time to say goodbye, Demi. This is the draft contract prepared by the club for you, and we are planning to talk to your agent."

Albertini looked through it and gave it to Tang En again. "I'm grateful for the confidence the club has placed in me...it's a really good contract."

It is indeed very generous. It is also a two-year period. There is no stipulation on the number of appearances, the number of goals, and the number of assists. There are no conditions that restrict his continued salary. The salary level has even increased compared to the first contract, because the club's financial situation has improved, and the overall salary level of the team has also increased.

"But I can't accept it."

Tang En looked at the expression on Albertini's face: "Do you think this is charity, Demi?"

Albertini shook his head.

"Your performance is worthy of this contract. The team still needs you. If I go out and say to them at this time, 'Your captain has decided to stay with the team', do you know how happy they will be?" Don Eun pointed to the window behind him.

"Look how well you played last game. You're not old, Demi."

Albertini tilted his head and smiled: "I'm thirty-four years old, not old yet? When I was young, I could play that kind of game for a season. Now I can only play occasionally. That's the difference."

This news came too suddenly to Tang En. When Albertini was injured, he used to worry about this problem. But Demi was very optimistic at that time, so he gradually forgot about it. Unexpectedly, optimism is only a superficial phenomenon, and he has been planning this.

Chris Lack looked at the stubborn Albertini and didn't know what to say.

But Tang En was more stubborn than Albertini: "No, Demi. I hope you reconsider your retirement. Didn't you just say that you hope George can become a midfielder like you? If you end this season Just retire, so how can he be like you? If you must leave, please stay for another year, help us, train George. You can tell him what he should do in the game, in the training...you What do you think of my proposal?"

Albertini looked at Tang En: "I am the one who made this proposal?"

Tang En nodded.

"I'm the one who is here to solve this problem now?"

Tang En continued to nod.

Albertini lowered his head and thought about it seriously. Tang En didn't urge him, but turned around and went back to drink tea.

"Really only one year?" Albertini's voice sounded.

"One year. However, if you feel that one year is not enough and needs to be longer, I have no objection." Tang En said with a smile.

"Okay, I'll sign. I'll call my agent tomorrow. You won, boss. However, this is my last contract. I will officially retire after next season."

Being able to retain Albertini to play for the team for one more season is already a good result. Tang En also had nothing extravagant to ask for.

"As you wish, Demi. Now, let's go to training."

Albertini left with Chris Lark. Tang En was not in a hurry to return to the training ground. He made some hot water for the cold tea, then held the teacup, stood in front of the window again, and stared at the training ground outside.

He also thought that offering a very generous contract would make Albertini feel more affection for the Forest team. As a result... no matter whether it is Atletico Madrid, Lazio, or Nottingham Forest, there is no way to leave a deep imprint on his heart, just like slashing with the back of a knife, no matter how hard it is, only a white mark is left , will gradually disappear as time goes by. For him, AC Milan is scratched with a knife blade, which is very painful and will bleed, but after the bleeding stops, it will leave an indelible scar, no matter how long it takes, unless it dies, it will stay there .

Looking at Albertini who reappeared on the training ground, Tang En sighed.

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A day later, Nottingham Forest officially held a press conference, club chairman Evan Dougherty, team coach Tony Twain, and player Demetrio Albertini attended.

At the press conference, Tang En first announced the contract renewal.

"...I am very happy to announce this decision. Demi has signed a new contract with the team. In the next season, our No. 4 captain will continue to stay here and fight with us."

There was a burst of applause in the press box.

Tang En pointed to Albertini, and it was his turn to speak.

"I am very grateful that the club can provide me with a very good contract. I also like Nottingham Forest very much. The two seasons I played for the Forest team brought me a lot of joy and good memories. Everyone here is very grateful I am fine, and I do not feel that I am a foreigner. This is the main reason why I decided to renew my contract for another year. Thanks to the club's chairman Dalgety, thanks to coach Twain, and thanks to every one of my teammates, I Decided to stay and fight with you for another season."

There was another burst of applause.

"At the same time I have also made a decision: this will be the last contract of my playing career."

The reporters looked ill-prepared for the statement, and they looked at each other in blank dismay.

Tang En sat on the side, listening to Albertini quietly.

"At the end of next season, I will officially retire and end my career as a professional player. This is the result of careful consideration. Thank you everyone."

After speaking, Albertini got up and shook hands with Tang En, then turned and left.

Tang En turned his head and said to the reporters: "As you can see, fortunately Demi agreed to play for another year, but unfortunately Demi will only play for one more year. I have nothing to say. Today's press conference is over. This is the end, thank you all, goodbye!"

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Due to the temporary business in the afternoon, the morning and afternoon copies were sent together. (To be continued, if you want to know what will happen next, please log in

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