Chapter 60: A Ruthless Strike at the Heart
"You should be grateful there's a second leg."
As referee Rob Styles blew the final whistle, Ferguson—ever the traditionalist—walked over to the visiting dugout and shook Yang Cheng's hand.
The match ended 0–0.
Bayswater Chinese had played with greater initiative and control in the second half, even pinning United back and creating real danger in the closing minutes.
But they didn't score.
Ferguson's message was clear: If this had been a one-off tie, I wouldn't have let you leave Old Trafford alive.
Yang Cheng got the meaning loud and clear.
He had tangled with Ferguson plenty of times in his previous life.
"Why do I feel like you're afraid of us?" Yang Cheng replied with a casual grin.
The words hit like a dagger.
Ferguson's expression turned dark.
Being held 0–0 by non-league Exeter City in the FA Cup was already humiliating.
Now, throwing out a full-strength XI and failing to beat a Championship team at home?
That was unbearable.
Yang Cheng didn't stop there. He calmly twisted the knife.
"Before the match, I told my players: 'United are a giant, the favorite. Winning is what's expected of them. We're just here to learn.'"
"Our goal for tonight? Just don't get crushed. As long as we don't lose badly, it's a success."
"But to be honest..."
Ferguson's face was now red with rage, practically on the verge of an outburst.
A ruthless blow—not just physical, but psychological.
Yang Cheng had just publicly rubbed salt in the wound.
"Don't worry. There's still the second leg," Ferguson growled through clenched teeth.
He swallowed his fury for now.
"Of course," Yang Cheng said, still smiling.
And that smile was what really enraged Ferguson.
"During halftime, I asked Aaron Lennon. He told me he wasn't offside."
"Ha, always heard weird things happen at Old Trafford."
Ferguson was trembling with barely contained anger.
You already escaped unscathed—and now you're bragging?
You think I'm just some old pushover?
"But don't worry, our home ground is rented," Yang Cheng added, "we won't have that kind of nonsense."
He held out his hand again, diplomatically ending the exchange.
He wasn't keen on a post-match brawl—not here.
Though honestly? He probably wouldn't lose.
Ferguson managed to rein it in and gave Yang Cheng a perfunctory handshake before walking off.
His gaze lingered on Brian Kidd for a moment.
A complicated mix of memories, grudges, and regrets.
Yang Cheng noticed—but didn't care.
That was life at their age—layers of baggage.
Which is why people love football.
Football is like life.
It's an art of error.
Goals are rare, because failure is frequent.
Every player, every match—mistakes are inevitable.
But one moment of brilliance changes everything.
…
Bayswater Chinese drew 0–0 at Old Trafford.
The news spread like wildfire across the UK.
Media and fans alike were stunned.
Just three days earlier, United had drawn 0–0 at home to Exeter City.
But that had been with the reserves.
This was the League Cup semifinal—and Ferguson had played his best XI.
Was Bayswater Chinese really that strong?
Last season, their shocking FA Cup win over Chelsea had made waves.
But now, drawing with United in a two-legged semi, and even outplaying them at times?
That made them famous.
The Guardian wrote:
From the press seats at Old Trafford, you could hear United fans murmuring:
"Who the hell is that kid?"
United supporters didn't even know the names of Bayswater's players.
Most had never watched them play.
But after this match, players like Ribéry, Lennon, and Diarra left a deep impression.
"United have been developing youth," the article continued, "like Chris Eagles, David Jones, Phil Bardsley, and Gerard Piqué from Barça."
"Plus the likes of Djemba, Bellion, Richardson…"
"But none of them have made the impact that Ribéry and his teammates made tonight."
Hence the need to buy Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"For years now, United fans have asked a question…"
"With Beckham gone, is the 'Class of '92' era over?"
"After tonight—when even a Championship side could outplay United at Old Trafford—everyone knows the answer."
Of course, some media said United had one eye on the upcoming Liverpool match, a perennial high-stakes clash.
The Sun broke a new angle:
Arsenal, United, and Chelsea are all watching Ribéry.
"After tonight, Ferguson is convinced—Ribéry is the perfect successor to Giggs."
…
While the press was in a frenzy, Yang Cheng and his team returned quietly to London to prepare.
The second leg at home would be even tougher.
Ferguson would go all in.
Three days after that, United had to face Arsenal at Highbury.
Yang Cheng, thinking like Ferguson, guessed that United would try to end the game in the first half—avoiding a repeat of the first leg.
So Bayswater Chinese had to be ready.
Meanwhile, Chelsea had beaten Liverpool 2–1 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge.
But with the return leg at Anfield looming, nothing was certain.
Benítez was a master of cup football.
…
That weekend, Bayswater Chinese visited Sheffield United for Round 29.
Heavily rotated, they lost 1–2.
Kitson scored in the second half.
But both Sheffield goals came in stoppage time—one in each half.
It exposed some of Bayswater's flaws.
Wigan won away, pushing Bayswater down to third.
That night, all eyes were on Anfield for the Northwest Derby.
Cristiano Ronaldo assisted Wayne Rooney in the 21st minute.
That goal decided the match.
But United paid a price.
Wes Brown saw red in the 65th minute.
Roy Keane, Rooney, and Fortune all picked up yellows.
Ferguson subbed off Ronaldo immediately, reinforcing with O'Shea.
It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done.
…
Yang Cheng wasn't too focused on the Anfield result.
After the weekend league match, he gave the team a full day off to recover.
With no FA Cup commitments, Bayswater Chinese could focus completely on the League Cup semifinal second leg.
United? Not so lucky.
After Liverpool, they had to travel for their FA Cup replay against Exeter.
Ferguson took the FA Cup seriously.
He started Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs, Scholes, Silvestre, Heinze, O'Shea, Gary Neville, Phil Neville—the works.
Scholes assisted Ronaldo in the 9th minute.
But United couldn't pull away until the 87th minute, when Rooney scored the second.
In two FA Cup ties, United's bench had shown its limitations.
Ferguson's plan was clear—his youth players weren't ready.
Djemba, Fortune, and the rest simply couldn't step up.
On the bright side, Gary Neville was back.
By the weekend's Premier League Round 24, Ferdinand returned too.
United beat Aston Villa 3–1 at home.
Meanwhile, Bayswater Chinese drew 0–0 with Nottingham Forest at home.
Yang Cheng had rotated again, focusing everything on the semifinal.
But that match was notable for one thing:
Loftus Road was finally sold out.
Not just for the league game—the upcoming Cup match had sold out weeks earlier.
After a 0–0 first leg, everyone was eager to see a showdown.
The draw meant Bayswater dropped to fourth.
Ipswich led with 59 points, followed by Wigan (57), Sunderland (56), Bayswater (55).
Then Reading (50) and Sheffield United (48).
…
January 26th. Loftus Road, London.
League Cup Semifinal, Second Leg: Bayswater Chinese vs. Manchester United.
To everyone's surprise, Ferguson lined up in a mirror 4-3-3, matching Yang Cheng.
United XI:
Goalkeeper: Howard
Defense: Heinze, Silvestre, Ferdinand, Gary Neville
Midfield: Roy Keane (DM), Scholes, Fletcher
Attack: Giggs, Saha, Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney was benched.
This was as strong as United could go.
Yang Cheng responded in kind.
Bayswater XI:
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
Defense: Danny Collins, José Fonte, Koscielny, Kevin Foley
Midfield: Huddlestone (DM), Modrić, Lass Diarra
Attack: Ribéry, Lambert, Aaron Lennon
Both sides played 4-3-3.
It was a battle of player quality—and tactical nuance.
No holding back. Just pure intensity from the first whistle.
1st minute: Huddlestone played a long diagonal ball over the top.
Lennon sprinted down the right, beat his marker, crossed into the box—
Ferdinand muscled Lambert off and cleared.
United countered.
Giggs crossed from the left. Saha tried to reach it.
Joe Hart raced off his line—grabbed it first.
Heart-in-mouth stuff.
Bayswater pushed again.
Ribéry, tackled by Roy Keane, went in hard on the captain moments later.
Tensions rose.
Then, in the 14th minute, Scholes slipped a perfect through ball to Saha.
The Frenchman darted past Huddlestone and into the left side of the box.
Koscielny slid in—
Saha went down.
Referee Rob Styles pointed to the spot.
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