That afternoon, Richard arrived at Maine Road a little later than usual. The atmosphere around the stadium was electric—buzzing with fire and anticipation.
FA Cup Semi-Final day.
And once again, the opponent was none other than Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough. A familiar rival.
But this time, things felt different.
This time, Manchester City welcomed them not with hesitation or nerves, but with a full heart—with pride, courage, and a burning desire to win. The squad, the fans, the entire city—everyone was locked in, ready to chase a piece of history.
As for Middlesbrough, their only remaining hopes this season lay in the FA Cup and League Cup. Despite reaching the finals of both domestic competitions, they were currently languishing in 19th place in the Premier League table—dangerously close to relegation.
