544 A Friend from Afar

Twain ordered a tight seal on the news about Paul Gerrard's retirement. Other than him, Dunn, Kerslake, the team doctor, Fleming, and Professor Constantine, it was not to be revealed to anyone else, even the players and the other staff members on the team. Twain also reminded Paul Gerrard not to announce his retirement until after the Champions League final.

Gerrard understood. It was a critical moment for the team and his personal matters should not affect the team's preparation.

The team would leave for Athens in three days. This time, everyone was present. No one was missing from the entire team of twenty-two players.

The two other players, Kris Commons on loan to Watford and the goalkeeper, Igor Akinfeev, who returned to CSKA Moscow on a loan, both received a red envelope from the Nottingham Forest Football Club containing a ticket to the UEFA Champions League final after they finished their respective seasons.