Chapter 82: He's Really Blown Up! This Frenchman Is Too Strong!
For most of the match, Škrtel's man-marking on Drogba had been excellent.
The two clashed head-to-head with equal strength, leaving Drogba frustrated—like a beast with no room to unleash his power.
Add in José Fonte's constant assistance, and Drogba had effectively been locked down.
But what made the Ivorian monster so terrifying was that you couldn't relax for even a second.
In stoppage time, Drogba received the ball at the edge of the box, turned, and unleashed a thunderous strike.
The ball rocketed past Neuer.
1–2!
The defending champions salvaged a shred of pride in the dying minutes!
But the outcome was already decided.
Bayswater Chinese FC had won!
Yang Cheng couldn't fault Škrtel for the goal.
The moment the final whistle blew, the Slovak center-back collapsed onto the turf.
He had fought tooth and nail with Drogba for 90 full minutes.
Drogba's physical toll on defenders wasn't just about goals or tactics—it was the sheer attrition.
Even more terrifying than his scoring ability.
And yet, despite conceding at the end, Bayswater's defensive performance had been a major success.
Škrtel and José Fonte had nearly nullified Drogba.
Leighton Baines and Chimbonda had also injected energy and stability into the flanks.
Especially Chimbonda.
Aside from that one errant pass, his performance had been rock solid throughout.
As the match ended, the fans in the stands gave Bayswater's players a standing ovation.
Captain Modrić and José Fonte led the team in a lap of appreciation, thanking the home supporters.
All 18,000 fans stood and roared, applauding with everything they had.
Yang Cheng stood at the tunnel, waiting for each player to pass by so he could embrace them individually and send them into the dressing room.
…
"We were amazing!"
"That match had my blood boiling!"
"Whew!!"
Adam Crozier was beyond excited as he hugged Yang Cheng in the tunnel.
It was the first Premier League match in Bayswater Chinese FC's history—and against the reigning champions, no less.
The pressure had been unimaginable.
And yet Yang Cheng and his team delivered!
Xia Qing was clearly still in a daze from the game. There was a curious glint in her eyes as she looked at Yang Cheng.
The more time she spent around him, the more she realized—this junior of hers was a total enigma.
Always full of surprises.
"Yang, you didn't see Abramovich's face. I swear, he looked like he was about to lose his mind."
Crozier was still riding the high.
Plenty of Brits didn't like Abramovich.
"You know, I really wanted to tell him, 'All that money, and you still lost.'"
Yang Cheng could easily imagine Abramovich's expression.
The Russian wasn't the type to take defeat lightly.
In fact, people like him—ultra-successful types—craved victory and power in ways the average person couldn't even begin to understand.
Greed, almost.
"I'm telling you, Yang, the atmosphere in the stands was insane."
"If we can keep playing like this, our home matches are going to be packed."
"I'm actually a little worried now—what about all the fans who didn't get season tickets?"
"Damn… maybe we priced them too low."
Yang Cheng and Xia Qing exchanged a look—equal parts amused and helpless.
One match in and he's already worried about this?
"I've got a brilliant idea," Crozier said, eyes lighting up.
"Let's hear it."
"We need to start promoting the club online—clip highlights from exciting matches like this, and post behind-the-scenes training videos, fun stuff. I think we'll attract a younger fanbase."
Yang Cheng thought it was a great idea.
The internet was just starting to gain traction. Most clubs weren't even paying attention to it yet.
But soon, it would be a vital promotional platform.
Facebook and YouTube were just around the corner.
"And we should get someone to write us a club anthem. And produce a football culture promo video for the club."
Oh right—Bayswater Chinese FC didn't even have a club anthem yet.
"Think about it. No anthem, no crowd chants—no soul!"
Crozier was still buzzing, completely fired up.
After all, they'd just taken down the reigning champions—the "invincible" Chelsea.
Yang Cheng was all for it.
It was a great idea.
And right then, inspired by Crozier's passion, he thought of a brilliant twist of his own.
He remembered a song—a song he'd heard countless times in his previous life. And a music video he'd seen again and again.
If he adapted the theme of that MV and song to football, it would fit perfectly.
As soon as the thought struck him, Yang Cheng gave Crozier the green light and shared his own vision:
A club anthem.
A football culture promo film for Bayswater Chinese FC.
Is plagiarism shameful?
Depends who you're stealing from.
And Yang Cheng was stealing from one of the top global marketing campaigns of the next decade.
…
Salute to Bayswater Chinese FC!
That was the headline of The Guardian's post-match commentary on the Premier League opener.
In the article, The Guardian gave the match extremely high praise, calling it one of the most thrilling opening games in Premier League history.
"Premier League #1 vs. Championship #1."
"On paper, it seemed like there was no suspense."
"Especially when that Premier League #1 had unlimited financial firepower—they could buy any player they wanted."
"Meanwhile, the Championship winner was drowning in £20 million of debt and had to sell two of their most important players over the summer."
"Logically, no one believed this promoted side had even a shred of a chance."
"But football's charm lies in its unpredictability."
"Who could've imagined that the fierce underdog would make the world stand up and take notice?"
The Guardian broke down the match in-depth.
Tactics, player performances, formations, in-game adjustments…
And ultimately, they reached one conclusion:
Bayswater Chinese FC had played every card they held to absolute perfection.
"A 25-year-old head coach—well, technically, not even officially licensed yet—so let's use quotation marks around 'coach'… but in terms of formation and match-day decisions, he was every bit Mourinho's equal."
"It's honestly incredible."
"He's like a genius."
The Guardian also named Franck Ribéry as the Man of the Match—and best performer overall.
Lassana Diarra, Yaya Touré, Chimbonda, Aaron Lennon, and Škrtel all received high praise for their contributions in the 2–1 victory over mighty Chelsea.
"They didn't just win the match on the scoreboard—they made Chelsea look disoriented and disorganized for long stretches, especially in the first half."
"Mourinho subbed two players at halftime, and by the 60th minute, he'd used all three changes. But none of it worked. He simply couldn't break down Bayswater Chinese FC."
"In the end, it took a last-minute strike from Drogba to salvage a sliver of pride."
Though Mourinho had only been in the Premier League for a season, he'd already made plenty of enemies in the British press.
And The Guardian wasted no time sticking the knife in while he was down.
"Bayswater Chinese FC's brilliant performance pushed Mourinho to the edge—he was constantly shouting from the sideline, tense and agitated, but still couldn't turn the game around."
"You could see it in his face the moment the match ended—that expression of relief, like he was saying, 'Thank God this bloody game is finally over.'"
In the end, The Guardian emphasized that the first round of the Premier League season doesn't determine anything.
After all, it's just one match.
"But the performance of Bayswater Chinese FC, and the standout brilliance of several players, left an incredibly deep impression on us."
"We now have every reason to believe that this young team, with an average age under 21, will bring more surprises and upsets throughout the season."
"Especially with their positive, attacking style of football."
"Let us congratulate Bayswater Chinese FC—and salute them!"
…
Following The Guardian, the rest of the British media also flooded in with coverage.
For instance, The Sun, ever eager to stir the pot, boldly declared that between two left wingers, Ribéry was clearly better than Robben.
Their reasoning? Ferreira couldn't stop Ribéry, but Robben was completely shut down by Chimbonda.
"Chimbonda, who cost just £500,000, completely froze Chelsea's star winger!"
Even more amusing, Škrtel—signed for only £200,000—nearly locked down Drogba entirely.
If not for that final goal in stoppage time, Drogba had been utterly ineffective against him the whole match.
Leighton Baines (£2 million), José Fonte (free transfer), Škrtel (£200,000), and Chimbonda (£500,000).
Bayswater's entire back line cost just £2.7 million.
And Chelsea's front line?
Drogba: £24 million
Robben: £12 million
Duff: £17 million
Wright-Phillips: £21 million
Chelsea's attack was worth over £100 million.
And yet, they only managed a consolation goal from Drogba in stoppage time.
For the rest of the match, they couldn't do a damn thing to Bayswater.
Meanwhile, Bayswater's own front line—free agent Ribéry, £150,000 Lambert, and £1 million Aaron Lennon—scored twice against Chelsea's so-called "impenetrable" back line.
The Sun concluded that this defeat should make Chelsea reflect.
The Times was even more blunt. Its headline read: "A Victory for Football!"
The respected British outlet stated that while this win wouldn't shake Chelsea's dominance over the Premier League just yet, it proved something far more important:
In the world of football, money alone can no longer rule unchecked.
"Yang Cheng and his players used this victory to remind everyone that there are still those who stand firm."
Since buying Chelsea, Abramovich had shamelessly waved his checkbook around for two straight years, buying up every player he desired and quickly building a squad dubbed 'invincible.'
Last season, they steamrolled through the Premier League.
But in the League Cup final, it was Bayswater Chinese FC who brought them down.
And now, once again, it was Bayswater who defeated the reigning champions in the opening match of the new season.
The Times recapped the two clubs' history over the past two years—especially revealing Chelsea's attempts to acquire Bayswater, and take over the North Hyde Park land.
The bad blood between the two clubs was now fully public.
This backdrop gave the Premier League opener even more weight, adding a sense of drama and emotion to Bayswater's victory.
In the UK, even beyond non-Chelsea fans who disliked the Blues' newfound wealth, many of Chelsea's own supporters weren't fond of Abramovich either.
They felt that money was eroding the club's footballing traditions.
They longed for someone—anyone—to stand up and deliver a blow to Chelsea, to humble the unchecked Russian billionaire.
Now, Yang Cheng and his team had become that someone.
So yes, after this Premier League debut, Bayswater Chinese FC was truly on fire.
The media couldn't get enough, and the fans were absolutely glowing in their praise.
As for Yang Cheng, he remained calm and composed throughout, always reminding those around him:
Whether it was the media or the fans, they had supported Bayswater because the opponent was Chelsea.
But what about next time?
What if one day, Bayswater stood on the opposite side of their favorite team?
"Let's focus on our work. The Premier League season has only just begun."
"The real challenges are still far ahead."
Yang Cheng had a clear, level-headed understanding of the road ahead.
…
August 20th, afternoon — The Valley, Greenwich, Southeast London
Premier League Matchday 2: Charlton Athletic vs. Bayswater Chinese FC
Yang Cheng, wearing his signature black trousers and white shirt, stood confidently on the touchline.
Inside the stadium, Charlton—the home team—came out swinging, launching wave after wave of attacks on Bayswater's back line.
They hoped to take advantage of their home turf, using fast-paced football to blitz their opponents early.
Yang Cheng had expected this.
This was typical Premier League behavior—especially from the older, more traditional clubs.
Charlton's head coach, Alan Curbishley, was a legend in English football.
Back in the late 1980s, he had served as both player and assistant coach at Brighton.
Any long-time fan of English football would know that this kind of dual role was quite common in the country.
In 1990, he moved to Charlton, who were then in the second tier.
By 1991, he was already serving as player-manager.
Over the next 14 years, Curbishley led Charlton to promotion and gradually turned them into a formidable force in the Premier League.
For years, Charlton consistently finished mid-to-upper table, and that success was largely thanks to Curbishley.
Many people used to say, the only difference between Curbishley and managers like Ferguson or Wenger… was that he was managing Charlton.
That alone said a lot about his impact.
Just last week, in their season opener, Charlton had beaten fellow promoted side Sunderland 3–1 away from home.
Darren Bent had opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
So, against Bayswater, Curbishley aimed to repeat the same strategy.
Exploit the nerves and inexperience of the newly promoted side, shock them early, take control of the game.
Especially knowing that their head coach, Yang Cheng, was just 25 years old.
But then—things didn't go quite as he expected…
…
Curbishley deployed a 4-5-1, with Darren Bent as the lone striker, and five midfielders applying pressure and looking to control the tempo.
Bayswater's lineup was almost identical to the one that played Chelsea a week earlier: a 4-3-3.
But Yang Cheng's tactical adjustments were a headache for Charlton.
Darren Bent was an extremely fast striker.
Charlton's entire attacking system revolved around winning the ball with aggressive pressing, then feeding Bent as quickly as possible.
He'd then use his pace to slice through the defense and finish.
But compared to the Chelsea match, Yang Cheng made one key change:
Laurent Koscielny came into the starting XI, replacing Škrtel.
The French defender had been instructed by Yang Cheng to press high and stick to Darren Bent.
José Fonte was responsible for staying back, covering and providing support.
And the rest?
There was no "rest."
Yang Cheng was even hoping Charlton's midfielders would push up more aggressively to attack.
Unfortunately for him, Charlton stuck to the same pattern for the opening 20 minutes.
It looked like the home team had the upper hand, launching wave after wave of attacks—but in reality, they were ineffective.
The only dangerous moment came in the 14th minute.
Aaron Lennon stole the ball in the attacking third and broke down the right wing to send in a cross.
Lambert didn't reach it.
Charlton quickly countered.
Left winger Jerome Thomas, an Arsenal academy product, carried the ball down the flank. Despite Chimbonda's pressure, he managed to send in a low cross from the byline.
But José Fonte, who had stayed deep, cleared it out.
And Darren Bent?
Koscielny had him locked down tight.
With their opponents unable to create real danger, Yang Cheng remained calm on the touchline.
He knew Charlton's attacking style had a flaw:
If they couldn't score early, their relentless midfield pressing would burn out quickly.
And sure enough, in the 21st minute, Bayswater Chinese FC created their first shot of the match.
Yaya Touré won the ball in midfield and launched a counterattack.
With a pair of slick one-touch passes between him and Modrić, the ball was switched to the left for Ribéry.
The Frenchman stopped, cut inside, then curled a brilliant through ball.
It pierced Charlton's defensive line and landed on the right side of the box.
Lennon made a diagonal run into the area—completely unmarked.
But his first touch was heavy, and the delay gave the goalkeeper enough time to rush out and block the shot out for a corner.
Yang Cheng turned and saw Brian Kidd's speechless expression—and chuckled.
Typical English player weakness.
After that, Bayswater gradually took control of the game, pressing Charlton back and creating more chances.
In the 29th minute, Baines whipped in a cross from the left that found Lambert perfectly in the box.
Lambert rose and nodded it toward goal.
But just before it crossed the line, Luke Young cleared it away.
A minute later, the visitors were on the attack again.
Lambert dropped deep to receive a pass from Modrić, held it up, and tried to turn and play it forward—only to be hacked down.
The referee waved play on.
As for Charlton's star striker Darren Bent, who scored a brace in the first round, his best moment came in the 33rd minute—a cross from the right found him free in the middle, ready to head it in.
But Neuer rushed out to claim the ball before Bent could reach it.
In first-half stoppage time, Ribéry took the ball on his own and drove into the heart of Charlton's defense.
1 vs 5!
The fearless French winger used his skill to wreak havoc at the edge of the penalty area.
It took a desperate foul to bring him down.
The following free kick led to nothing.
0–0 at halftime.
…
"We played really well in the first half!"
In the dressing room, Yang Cheng summarized the team's performance.
The players had executed his plan well.
Though they hadn't scored, it was a shame.
With better luck, they could've had two goals by now.
"In the second half, we need to raise the tempo a little—put some pressure on our neighbors."
Yang pulled over the tactics board and pushed his midfielders' positions higher.
"We're pressing hard for the first 15 minutes after the restart. Focus on Franck's side."
He circled Ribéry's area on the board.
"Lambert and Lennon, get into the box! If you have a chance to shoot, take it—don't hesitate!"
Both nodded firmly.
Especially Lennon, who had missed a golden one-on-one earlier.
"Midfield, step up! If you get space outside the box—shoot!"
Modrić, Diarra, and Touré were all fired up.
Especially Diarra.
Despite being naturally shy, deep down he loved attacking.
Some players are just like that—two completely different people on and off the pitch.
"Koscielny, your task doesn't change: keep Darren Bent in check."
The French defender nodded.
"Remember, Curbishley's going to make subs in the second half. He's got a big striker, Bartlett."
"If he comes on and they switch to a 4-4-2 with one big and one fast up front, we'll adjust the defense."
Yang Cheng was giving early instructions for potential changes.
"If I'm right, we'll have a 15-to-20-minute window after kickoff."
"So here's my demand—score as many as you can in that time!"
The players roared in agreement.
…
Even though Yang Cheng had already predicted that the team would score in the second half…
He never expected it to happen this easily.
So easy, it was almost hard to believe.
Maybe it was Bayswater's sudden intensity after the break—especially the front line's aggressive pressing—that completely caught Charlton off guard.
Only 30 seconds in, Modrić won a tackle in midfield.
Ribéry picked it up on the left, faced with two defenders.
The French winger, determined to make the national team and go to the World Cup, powered through the double team and broke into the box.
Instead of shooting himself, he hit the byline.
Just outside the six-yard box, he drew the center-back out and cut the ball across the goal.
Lambert didn't miss this time.
He tapped it in.
Time on the clock?
48 seconds!
Yang Cheng was stunned.
Curbishley was crushed.
He knew Bayswater would come out hard in the second half. He even warned his players.
But to concede in less than a minute?
That Frenchman… his ability was just too much!
…
With the lead secured, the match turned into a one-sided show.
Bayswater, riding high on momentum, pressed Charlton back.
Diarra tried a long shot from distance.
Then Modrić curled one of his own.
Touré chipped a clever ball into the box.
In the 54th minute, Ribéry received the ball outside the area, pulled off a beautiful flick-over-the-head move while back to goal.
Luke Young fouled him and got a yellow.
That was Charlton's fourth yellow of the match.
Even so, Yang Cheng was furious at the referee.
If not for the home-team bias, Charlton should've already had someone sent off.
In the 57th minute, Chimbonda overlapped down the right to support Lennon.
Lennon, just outside the box on the right, received a pass from Diarra and calmly threaded a ball through the defense.
Lambert ran diagonally into the right channel, caught up to it, and fired—
The keeper parried it, and the ball fell toward the far post.
Just as Charlton fans sighed in relief, Ribéry came flying in and tapped it home.
He barely had to do anything.
2–0!
"Franck Ribéry scores again!!"
"My God, the French winger has now delivered a goal and an assist in two straight games!"
"He had a goal and an assist against Chelsea in the Premier League opener."
"Now here at The Valley, he's been involved in both goals again!"
"It's unbelievable!"
"Ribéry is in phenomenal form—absolutely unreal!"
The scar-faced French demon sprinted all the way to the sideline, where he was tackled to the ground in celebration by his teammates.
The entire Bayswater Chinese FC squad followed him, piling into a joyful heap on the sideline.
Everyone was ecstatic.
Everyone except Alan Curbishley, who hung his head, visibly dejected.
Because he knew—he'd lost this one.
…
With a 2–0 lead, Yang Cheng continued observing from the sideline.
Especially after Curbishley subbed on Bartlett and switched to two strikers.
Once he was sure the defense could handle it, he began making substitutions.
Ribéry, Lassana Diarra, and Aaron Lennon were all subbed off.
Ashley Young, Blaise Matuidi, and Theo Walcott came on.
Yang Cheng had his reasons.
Because of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Premier League schedule was compressed.
Just three days after this match, the team would head to Manchester for an away game against United.
And the following weekend, they'd host Sunderland at home.
Two matches in one week—midweek at Old Trafford—meant Yang Cheng had to rotate and preserve energy.
This was all part of his points-targeting strategy for the league.
Every winnable match—they had to go all out to win.
Away at Charlton? Take the points.
Home against Sunderland? Take the points.
And away to Manchester United? Try and steal something.
By the way, when Walcott came on, Yang Cheng gave him complete freedom.
And with Charlton pushing forward desperately, Bayswater had a great counterattack opportunity in the 83rd minute.
Lambert and Ashley Young exchanged a pair of sharp one-touch passes and played a through ball.
Walcott sprinted diagonally into the right channel of the box.
His speed was like lightning—truly unforgettable.
And when he got the ball, he didn't hesitate—he struck it first time.
Unfortunately, his shooting technique was still raw, and the shot went straight at the keeper.
In the end, Bayswater Chinese FC defeated Charlton Athletic 2–0 on the road.
…
August 24, evening – Old Trafford, Manchester
Premier League Matchday 3: Bayswater Chinese FC vs Manchester United (Away)
This match drew 72,519 spectators, and it was filled with errors right from the start.
Just 25 seconds in, United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy dropped deep to collect the ball and played a through pass.
As Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo sprinted forward to chase the ball and break through the line, the assistant referee immediately raised his flag.
Referee Alan Wiley blew the whistle—offside!
In the 3rd minute, van Nistelrooy tried a long-range shot from 20 meters out.
Center-back Škrtel got in the way and blocked it.
In the 6th minute, van Nistelrooy combined with Ronaldo down the right flank, but Škrtel slid in decisively to break it up.
United's first real incursion into Bayswater's penalty area came in the 8th minute.
Wayne Rooney and van Nistelrooy switched positions, and Rooney popped up on the right.
The England striker tried to dribble into the box, but Danny Collins held him up.
José Fonte arrived just in time and slid the ball clear.
In the 11th minute, Collins fouled Rooney on the right edge of the box, giving United a free kick.
Giggs stepped up calmly—but Neuer collected it with ease.
That was United's first shot on target.
In the 15th minute, van Nistelrooy tried another shot from the left edge of the area.
That about summed up United's attack so far.
Soft.
…
From the opening whistle, Ferguson stood at the touchline, shouting instructions.
He directed Rooney and van Nistelrooy to keep switching roles.
But it wasn't working.
Yang Cheng had stuck with his 4-3-3, but made several changes to the starting XI.
Bayswater's lineup:
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defense: Danny Collins, José Fonte, Škrtel, Chimbonda
Midfield: Andreasen (holding), Inler and Lassana Diarra (central)
Attack: Ribéry, Lambert, Ashley Young
Ferguson only needed one look to guess Yang Cheng's game plan.
But he wasn't worried.
At least, not until the match started and he saw United's attacking problems being exposed—perfectly.
By who?
Van Nistelrooy.
United were playing a 4-4-2.
Manchester United's lineup:
Goalkeeper: Van der Sar
Defense: O'Shea, Wes Brown, Ferdinand, Gary Neville
Midfield: Giggs, Roy Keane, Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo
Attack: van Nistelrooy, Rooney
Yang Cheng's strategy at Old Trafford was clear: shut down United's midfield distribution.
Push the back line high, forcing van Nistelrooy to drop away from the box.
The Dutchman was a deadly finisher—and he had already scored in the first two rounds.
But if he couldn't stay in the box, if he wasn't getting service—he became a non-threat.
While van Nistelrooy was tightly marked, Yang Cheng gave Rooney a little more space.
Ferguson had noticed that too, which is why he moved Rooney to the right to link up with Ronaldo.
But Danny Collins completely shut down Rooney's ability to penetrate the box.
From the sideline, Ferguson furrowed his brow.
As he tried to figure out how to break through Bayswater's stubborn defense, disaster almost struck.
The visitors won the ball in midfield. Inler played a sudden through pass.
Lambert raced after it, but Van der Sar came out and cleared it first.
Or so he thought.
Van der Sar's clearance hit Lambert square in the chest.
The Dutch keeper instantly turned and sprinted back toward goal in panic.
Lambert froze, stunned by his luck.
He hadn't expected the ball to just fall into his lap.
He hesitated a second too long.
Ferdinand recovered and blocked Lambert's shot.
Ferguson was fuming on the sideline, roaring at his players:
"Wake the hell up!"
Damn it!
Even the home fans were booing their own team's performance.
Ferguson waved for the team to stay calm, to play safer.
He'd figured out Yang Cheng's plan—
Solid defense, then strike on the counterattack.
Or, just wait for United to make a mistake.
And everyone in the Premier League knew—United's back line was unstable right now.
That scare just now was all the proof needed.
"We need a top-class center-back… a top-class midfielder… a top-class striker…"
Ferguson muttered to himself.
He even started to wonder if newly signed Van der Sar would turn into another butterfingers.
United's goalmouth really felt cursed.
…
Unlike Ferguson, Yang Cheng remained composed.
He felt his team had defended well from the start.
"United's problems over the last few years still haven't been solved," Brian Kidd said, now more relaxed as Bayswater held firm and countered effectively.
"They never should've let Beckham go. His movement, those long balls and crosses—people really underrated them. Even Ferguson."
"Replacing Beckham with Cristiano Ronaldo… That was a massive mistake."
Yang Cheng was a little stunned to hear that from Kidd.
If this were 2024, he thought, fans would tear him apart for that take.
Talk about a hot take.
But if we're talking about 2005, then yes—Brian Kidd's take might just be spot on.
The problems Manchester United were facing were the same ones every great footballing dynasty eventually encountered.
That legendary generation was aging, and the new blood hadn't yet stepped up. The team was stuck in a transition where regeneration was stalled.
United's biggest issue was in midfield.
For a 4-4-2 system, midfield was everything.
In their golden era, United's famed midfield four had Giggs pushing forward, and Beckham providing incredible stamina and pinpoint long-range passing.
Once Beckham left, all the hidden cracks began to show.
Keane and Giggs were getting old.
Especially Giggs—his ability to carry the ball forward was no longer what it once was.
As a result, United couldn't build effective attacks.
Cristiano Ronaldo at this stage? A contradiction of a player.
Was he technically gifted? Absolutely.
But not practical.
On the right wing, he couldn't drive forward like Giggs on the left, and he certainly wasn't delivering crosses like Beckham used to.
United's midfield problem remained unsolved.
And the deadliest part? Their striker, van Nistelrooy, was entirely dependent on service from the midfield.
In this transitional period, Ferguson had made one significant signing—Louis Saha.
The French striker was excellent at receiving with his back to goal.
Ferguson's plan was clear—similar to what Mourinho was doing with Drogba at Chelsea.
If the midfield couldn't distribute effectively, then the striker would drop back and help link play.
But in that system, van Nistelrooy became the biggest obstacle.
Who would dare give up a world-class striker who could guarantee over 20 goals per season?
Who had the guts?
In Yang Cheng's previous life, United's revival actually started from selling van Nistelrooy.
As a traditional finisher, he was the epitome of efficiency.
But when the tide of football changed, even the Dutchman couldn't fight it.
And nothing showcased United's issue better than the moment in the 28th minute.
Rooney dropped back to pick up the ball and, under pressure from Bayswater's defenders, pushed forward through the middle.
But instead of shooting, he passed it to van Nistelrooy.
The Dutchman, sprinting at full pace, couldn't control it under Škrtel's pressure and had to stop.
The counterattack broke down.
A minute later, Diarra stole the ball in midfield, surged forward, and laid it off to Ashley Young.
Young broke through the right channel and unleashed a low left-footed shot—just wide.
That counter shocked the entire United squad.
Bayswater Chinese FC had shown yet again—they weren't just a defensive pushover.
If they found an opening, they could strike a deadly blow.
…
From the 30th minute onward, Rooney and Ronaldo began shooting more often.
But Yang Cheng didn't care.
As long as they weren't getting into the box—shoot all you want.
Whether in this life or his last, history had proven over and over again: when it came to pointless long shots, Rooney and Ronaldo were a perfect duo.
No one should laugh at the other.
Of course, Bayswater had their issues too.
Their best chance of the first half came in the 43rd minute.
Chimbonda stole the ball from Ronaldo and stormed down the right flank. Reaching the 30-meter zone, he whipped in a stunning cross that floated over United's back line.
Lambert read it perfectly.
He broke forward, timed his run, stayed onside, and brought the ball down.
But then—who knows what happened?
His finishing was dreadful.
The ball scraped just wide of the right post.
Lambert fell to his knees in the United box, forehead pressed into the turf, absolutely gutted.
What could Yang Cheng even say?
"He went for too much angle," Brian Kidd commented, echoing Lambert's own regret.
"Sometimes, a striker needs to stay relaxed. Overthinking it never helps."
Yang Cheng could only sigh in frustration.
…
The first half ended 0–0.
After switching sides, Ferguson aggressively ramped up the attack.
Bayswater's defense started coming under heavy pressure.
Yang Cheng didn't make changes, sticking to the same tactics—but it was getting harder to keep van Nistelrooy out of the box.
In the 49th minute, Rooney switched play to Gary Neville, who overlapped and crossed into the area looking for van Nistelrooy.
Škrtel got there first and cleared.
United followed with wave after wave of attacks.
Bayswater focused on holding their shape.
Neuer was phenomenal—first saving a long-range shot from Ronaldo, then cutting out a lofted pass from Rooney to van Nistelrooy.
But his best came in the 60th minute.
First, he denied van Nistelrooy's tight-angle shot, then immediately sprang up to stop Rooney's rebound.
Two spectacular saves in quick succession—Neuer was on fire.
When Ferguson substituted Roy Keane for Solskjær, it became Neuer's show.
United threw everything forward in desperation.
Neuer rose to the challenge, commanding his area with complete authority.
From the 66th to 70th minute—just five minutes—Neuer saved six shots:
Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Solskjær, Rooney, and Gary Neville all denied.
United's furious assault only subsided around the 71st minute.
But that opened space behind.
With Gary Neville caught upfield, United's right flank was exposed.
Bayswater won the ball in midfield, and Inler sent a diagonal pass to Ribéry.
The Frenchman charged solo, cutting across into United's box.
Ferdinand stepped up.
Ribéry feinted, twisted, dropped a shoulder—cut past him and surged into the box.
Then fell.
Flat out, face-first in the penalty area.
Everyone on Bayswater's bench screamed: PENALTY!
Ribéry tugged at his shirt, pleading with the ref—Ferdinand had fouled him.
But the referee waved it off.
"The replay shows clear contact—Ferdinand had his hands on him."
"That's a penalty."
"But referee Alan Wiley lets United off the hook."
Yang Cheng took the opportunity to make substitutions.
Modrić, Džeko, and Yaya Touré came on.
With the final 15 minutes approaching, Bayswater launched a full counterattack.
It was all part of Yang Cheng's pre-match plan.
Without Roy Keane, United's midfield was vulnerable.
Ferguson had no choice but to have United pull back and weather the storm.
From the 85th minute onward, Bayswater threw everything at United's box.
It was chaos.
But in the end, they couldn't break Van der Sar's goal.
0–0.
A hard-fought draw.
And even though they missed the chance to claim all three points at Old Trafford, the next day…
Bayswater Chinese FC received five pieces of great news.
It was truly a fivefold blessing.
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