Robben’s speed was still too fast. But that should not have resulted in the goal. If Chimbonda did not rush up when he saw Lampard’s long pass and left behind a large gap, and if after Chimbonda was bypassed, Pepe could fill the gap in time instead of defending Drogba in front of the goal, it might not have happened.
Unfortunately, there were no “ifs” on the football field. Hindsight was 20-20.
Twain turned his head and said to Kerslake, “Record the goal. We’ll break it down during training.”
After that, he got up and hurried to the sidelines. He whistled first for the team’s attention. Then he raised his index finger and shouted loudly, “It’s just one goal! No big deal! Equalize it and then overtake them!”
He could only pretend to ignore Mourinho now, or he really did not know what his expression should look like. What else could he do when his team was lagging behind?
Mourinho was asked by the fourth official to return to the technical area. He told him not to bother the opponent. If he wanted to celebrate, he could do it over at the other side. The fourth official pointed to the direction of the Chelsea substitutes bench.
Mourinho simply explained that he was just excited for a moment and had gone in the wrong direction. He then returned to his seat in the technical area.
※※※
The game restarted. The balance had been broken, and the Forest team faced an unfavorable situation. Since Twain had stood by the sidelines and shouted, he had not gone back to his seat since. Instead, he stood on the sidelines with his arms across his chest. He believed this could give the team a hint of self-confidence.
Of course, he did not stand on the sidelines like some managers who anxiously paced back and forth or fidgeted non-stop. He stood there with a straight back and stared at the field with a firm gaze as if standing at attention during his university military training.
It really did have some effect. After the kickoff, the Forest team’s fighting spirit did not deflate due to a conceded goal. On the contrary, their offense became fiercer.
Anelka began to retreat to aid the midfield frequently. Makelele’s defense in the middle was so strong that the Forest team’s strikers could not receive the ball for some time.
After the French striker’s return, the situation improved. The Forest team now had five midfielders, but Anelka was freer in his position. In addition, after his withdrawal, his speed advantage was also brought to play. Now that Makelele had run into the swift Anelka, it was not so easy.
Makelele’s positioning was very good. He was experienced and reasonably skilled in defense. However, those factors were a little weak in the face of a player who relied on speed to force breakthroughs.
After Anelka successfully broke through Makelele twice in a row, Tiago came to help with the defense.
When he tried to forcefully break through again, he was intercepted by Makelele, who grabbed hold of the opportune moment. Chelsea took the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Makelele passed the ball to Lampard, with Robben and Duff simultaneously advancing on the two flanks. But Chelsea’s rapid counterattack did not materialize as the ball at Lampard’s feet was stopped by George Wood.
George Wood passed the football to Arteta. During Albertini’s absence, he had gradually learned and became accustomed to his cooperation with the Spanish midfielder. In fact, he was the same with whomever he coordinated with. He would try to intercept the ball and pass it to another player after his successful interception. Then he would prepare for the next interception.
Anelka cut diagonally across the field. It seemed that he wanted Arteta to pass the ball to him. Makelele and Tiago closely watched Anelka’s movements. The French striker, who had just returned to the Premier League, had been performing so well lately that they dared not underestimate him. Moreover, Mourinho had also listed Anelka as the number one dangerous player in the Forest team before the game. He required the rear defensive line to raise their vigilance and be careful of his speed and unexpected shots.
The Frenchman’s positioning tore apart Chelsea’s midfield defensive line and disturbed their rear defensive line at the same time. Arteta took a look at Anelka, who ran and looked back at the same time; he had sent the ball directly to the left, which was the opposite of his running direction. It was Franck Ribéry’s side.
This was almost a replica of Chelsea’s goal before. The difference was that Chelsea’s goal was unexpected, and the Forest team’s attack was traceable. Anelka ran towards the right side, which spurred Chelsea’s defensive attention. There was naturally a lack of defensive strength on Ribéry’s side. Arteta delivered the ball in a very timely and accurate manner.
Ribéry was also determined to do his best as if he was in competition with Robben on ball-stopping skill. He stopped the ball firmly with one foot! But unlike Robben, who stopped the ball in front of himself to facilitate his acceleration and seamless action, Ribéry directly parked the football at his foot and remained still.
“This stopping of the ball…” Lineker wanted to say Ribéry’s stopping was not ideal, even though it might look impressive to be able to stop the ball securely with a more than thirty meters long pass. But what of it? It was not conducive to his next move, and could be considered as having “stopped him dead.”
Paulo Ferreira must have thought so too. He reckoned that this was a good chance to intercept the ball, so he rushed up without hesitation. At that time, Ribéry suddenly lobbed the ball at his feet forward!
Ribéry’s volley strength was so powerful that the football went far!
Was this a pass?
No!
After the football went out, Ribéry quickly got into action and bypassed the stupefied Ferreira!
This was a complete surprise to Ferreira, and also to Lineker’s surprise. Normally speaking, this was a stop-dead ball. Ribéry basically had no space to make his next move. But Ribéry had unexpectedly chosen the most direct method, which was to kick the football far away and then, while Ferreira could not respond in time, he suddenly started to accelerate and bypass the Portuguese full back!
“What a terrific breakthrough! There was not much technique required, but it was very effective!” Motson shouted out what Lineker wanted to say. There was indeed no technical skill to kick the football as far away as possible from the opponent. It also put the ball far away from oneself. He would have to then rely on ultra-fast speed to pursue to take advantage of the full back’s slow turn.
“Nottingham Forest has a chance! Ribéry single-handedly cut through the middle and into the penalty area!”
Carvalho dropped Mark Viduka and went to aid with defense, but Ribéry suddenly stopped the ball. Then he urgently spiked the ball the other way and swung past him. After he swung past, Ribéry did not continue to dribble the ball. He shot a volley on the spot!
Čech judged the direction of his shot correctly. However, Ribéry shot was a fast rolling pass, which was the most annoying for a goalkeeper. The tall Czech goalkeeper landed on the ground at a slower speed than the football rolling forward… and the result was–
“A genius shot! Franck Ribéry! He has equalized the score to 1:1 for the Forest team!”
“This is the best comeback for Chelsea’s goal; the same method, but way more exciting! Even after he bypassed two players in a row, Ribéry’s speed and skill were at the top of the game! As the latest star player of the French national team, he has once again proved his ability!”
The atmosphere of the City Ground stadium was ignited by the goal. The torrential currents of red in the stands smothered the Chelsea fans’ blue squares.
Tony Twain, who had been standing erect on the sidelines, did not jump when he saw Ribéry’s goal. Instead, he vigorously pumped his fist.
The moment he had waited for was finally here. From the moment Mourinho wildly celebrated in front of his eyes, he had been waiting for this: the moment of revenge.
Now we’re even again, Mr. Mourinho!