Chapter 115: A Shocking Comeback! The Fiercest Title Race Yet
After the win over West Ham, it was time for the cup competitions.
The Premier League's 23rd round wouldn't come until January 13th.
A lot of first-team players had been under extreme pressure lately—Premier League, Champions League, and the brutal Christmas schedule back-to-back had drained their stamina.
So Yang Cheng personally decided to give players like Arshavin, Modrić, José Fonte, Pepe, Maicon, and Neuer a short break—telling them to take their families, especially their partners, and go relax for a few days.
He granted three days off.
Arshavin, however, was the exception.
Yang Cheng had clearly felt that ever since the four-goal explosion at Stamford Bridge, the Russian seemed like he had burned out—emotionally and mentally.
In the matches against United and West Ham, he just didn't look fully engaged.
So Yang Cheng told him:
Take a full week off, paid.
Go wherever you like, and only come back when you feel recharged.
No one else got that treatment.
Especially the young players—they were about to be thrown into the fire of back-to-back cup games.
But in truth, even the veterans didn't take their full vacations.
Modrić took just two days off, said he took his family around London for some shopping, and then returned.
Oh, and he also went to check out some real estate.
That made Yang Cheng quite happy.
Buying a house in London showed a desire to settle—a sense of belonging.
Good sign.
He didn't offer any suggestions on location, only told Modrić that the club was planning to move first-team training permanently to the Brent facility, so he should plan accordingly.
Fonte, Pepe, and Neuer all returned on time after three days and resumed training.
Arshavin, true to form, took the full week off.
When he came back, his mood was visibly improved—and Yang Cheng could tell right away: the break had worked.
Back on the training ground, the Russian was sharp and eager again. His form returned quickly.
But that's a story for another day.
...
On January 5th, the team traveled away to face Plymouth in the FA Cup Third Round.
Yang Cheng sent out a full squad of reserves and youth players.
Goalkeeper: Danny Collin
Defense: Marcelo, Koscielny, Skrtel, Piszczek
Midfield: Matic (holding), Di María and Matuidi (central)
Forwards: Bale, Lewandowski, Walcott
Yang Cheng tried Di María as a left-sided midfielder in this match.
Partly to get him game time and positional versatility, partly just to test if he could adapt to the role.
It looked like a 4-3-3, but Di María was given freedom to roam, Matuidi handled the pressing, and Matic anchored behind them.
Both full-backs—Marcelo and Piszczek—were told to bomb forward.
But Plymouth was no pushover.
They were doing well in the Championship, mid-to-upper table, and had home advantage.
Seeing such a young lineup—and clearly an experimental one—Plymouth showed no respect for their Premier League guests.
From the whistle, both teams went all in.
In the 13th minute, Piszczek assisted Lewandowski, who scored from inside the box.
The Polish youngster made the most of a great chance.
But just five minutes later, Plymouth equalized.
From then on, it was back and forth.
In the 27th minute, Bale and Di María combined brilliantly on the left. After a slick pass, Di María broke into the box and fired home.
2–1!
Plymouth quickly realized—these "kids" weren't as weak as they looked.
If they kept trading blows, they'd get destroyed.
Remember Ian Holloway?
That bald-headed English manager who coached QPR in Yang Cheng's early years?
He got sacked in February 2006. Now he was managing Plymouth.
And he knew Yang Cheng far too well.
Seeing things start to spiral, he ordered the team to tighten the defense.
In the end, 2–1 held till full-time.
No one scored again.
Yang Cheng was quite satisfied with the result.
...
Three days later, Bayswater China traveled again—this time for the League Cup quarterfinals, away against Charlton Athletic.
Most of the first team had just returned from break and were doing fitness recovery.
Yang Cheng had no intention of using them in this game.
So once again, the youth brigade from the FA Cup match took the field.
Honestly, Yang Cheng had already accepted the likelihood of losing this one.
But these "little monkeys," as he affectionately called them, gave him an unexpected gift.
Not only did they go toe-to-toe with Charlton all match, but in the 35th minute, Walcott hit them on the break, dribbled past two defenders, and finished with a composed strike.
1–0!
Charlton couldn't find a way back. They pressed and pressed, but the equalizer never came.
Yang Cheng couldn't believe it—they were through!
In the locker room, when he saw how excited the boys were, he kept his promise:
They'd play the semifinal, too.
Back when Yang Cheng was managing in League Two and the Championship, he had no fear of multi-front campaigns. He had confidence in his league performance.
And at that time, Bayswater China badly needed a trophy to boost morale.
So he'd chased the cups.
But now? No way.
The Premier League was cutthroat, and United was lurking.
Yang Cheng couldn't afford any mistakes.
Every single Premier League match from here on out would be a full-on war—until they lifted the trophy.
And if they couldn't?
Then fine—they'd try again next year.
Ferguson, on the other hand, thought differently.
He had given up on the League Cup long ago.
Well, not exactly "given up"—but United's youth and bench players simply weren't up to scratch.
But they were going all in on the FA Cup.
That aligned with the competition's reputation and prestige.
Back to the League Cup—Bayswater China, after beating Charlton in the quarterfinal, drew Chelsea in the semis.
First leg at home, second away.
The other semifinal? Spurs vs. Arsenal.
...
After the League Cup came Premier League Matchweek 23.
Ten days of rest had brought Chelsea back to form.
Most importantly, Shevchenko was no longer in the starting lineup.
Their front line now featured Kalou, Drogba, and Robben, with Lampard and Ballack in midfield and Makelele holding.
Essien and Carvalho were paired at center-back.
The result?
Chelsea smashed Wigan 4–0 at home.
Once again proving that the 4-3-3 was Mourinho's best system.
Arsenal won 2–0 away at Blackburn.
Liverpool beat Watford 3–0 on the road.
United defeated Aston Villa 3–1 at Old Trafford.
And Bayswater China?
They faced Everton away.
David Moyes, a self-proclaimed disciple of Ferguson, made it clear he wanted to help his mentor by stopping Yang Cheng's title run.
All season long, Bayswater China had built a reputation for their lightning-fast openings.
But this time, the hunter became the hunted.
In the first minute, Everton launched an aggressive press and earned a corner.
Arteta delivered the ball in, and Lescott rose in the box to score with a header.
1–0!
After going ahead, Everton went all out, pressing ferociously in the final third—like men possessed.
In the 12th minute, Leighton Baines fouled Arteta and gave Everton a free kick in a dangerous area.
The resulting direct shot struck Lass Diarra in the wall, deflected, and flew into Bayswater China's net.
Neuer was stunned.
He had read the trajectory right—but not the deflection.
Two goals down in the first 12 minutes—this was completely insane.
It was like ridiculous had just kicked open the door and walked in.
Yang Cheng quickly realized: after the Christmas schedule, the ten-day break had made the team too relaxed. The whole squad looked unfocused, and the tempo was sluggish.
Simply put: they weren't in game mode.
Yang Cheng had wanted to maintain his image as a "gentleman manager," composed and elegant on the touchline.
But in this moment, he had no choice but to lose his temper—to shake the players awake.
Gradually, Bayswater China began to improve, but Everton had already retreated, parking the bus.
Moyes was cunning.
He grabbed two quick goals, then dropped into a deep block. Shameless!
But just before halftime, in the 37th minute, Bayswater China carved out a real chance.
Ashley Young delivered a diagonal ball from the left. Džeko charged into the six-yard box and struck home.
1–2!
Smelling blood, Bayswater China pushed hard to equalize.
In stoppage time, Arshavin broke down the right and was fouled, earning a free kick.
Ashley Young took it—Pepe's header was blocked and deflected out for a corner.
Another set piece. Young again.
But instead of swinging it into the box, it was a quick corner routine.
Modrić received it on the left just outside the area, passed it across the edge of the box.
Leighton Baines came flying in, met it full stride, and unleashed an absolute rocket.
2–2!
The lifelong Toffees fan, playing against his boyhood club at Goodison Park, was fired up.
He had given away the earlier free kick that led to the deflected goal, and that had clearly eaten at him.
Now, he had redeemed himself in stunning fashion.
The match went into halftime at 2–2.
...
"Everton's 4-2-3-1 is compact and tight," Yang Cheng said in the locker room, using the tactics board to break down the second half.
The players listened carefully.
Everton's defensive strength was well-known.
Moyes' low block was no joke.
But they had to score again in the second half.
If not, the Premier League lead would be handed right back to Manchester United.
To break down a parked bus, the best method was to stretch them horizontally.
But the problem? Bayswater China didn't have a reliable long-ball specialist.
Leighton Baines could do it—but not fast enough, and not accurate enough.
Slow, floaty diagonal switches were useless.
By the time the ball arrived, the defense had already shifted.
What they needed was something like Toni Kroos, Pirlo, or Xabi Alonso—quick, low-arc, precise long balls that hit the weak side with laser precision.
Draw defenders toward one flank, then hit the other.
That's why full-backs had become more important than ever.
Typically, it's the far-side full-back who receives those switches and launches the attack.
But Bayswater China just didn't have that yet.
So what now?
"Andrey," Yang Cheng turned to Arshavin, "you need to take more touches, drive the ball, draw defenders toward you—then switch it to the opposite side."
Modrić's long passes were decent, too.
"Guys," Yang Cheng said solemnly just before sending them back out.
"This match is a test for us."
"A test to see whether we're truly ready to lead the Premier League—to fight for the title!"
All eyes were on him.
"A true champion isn't someone who never makes mistakes."
"Everyone makes mistakes—even the best. That's normal."
"What separates the strong is that when they fall short, they have the strength, the will, the resolve to bounce back, to correct themselves, and to get even better."
The players nodded in unison.
"We made mistakes in the first half. But we fixed them, and now it's 2–2."
"But listen—I'm telling you this now. If we want to win this title, if we want to reach the next level, this won't be enough."
"We need to do better than our best."
"We have to push our limits in every single match. No matter what obstacles we face, we find a way through."
"Everton is a tough team—especially here at Goodison Park."
"But I believe in you. I believe that tonight, you'll show everyone—Everton, the league, the world—that no one can stop us!"
"There's only one goal this season."
"The title!"
...
After the restart, Bayswater China finally found their signature rhythm.
But Everton had clearly prepared well and stayed compact in their own half.
Arshavin, following Yang Cheng's instructions, started to get on the ball more often on the right.
He created a corner on one breakthrough, but it didn't lead to a goal.
He continued working down the right, initiating a few promising attacks and trying to switch play—but the results weren't great.
Yang Cheng went to the sideline and gestured to Maicon to push higher and support Arshavin.
It worked immediately.
With the overload on the right, Everton's defense tilted toward their left flank—toward Yobo and Stubbs.
Then, in the 53rd minute, Arshavin passed to Modrić.
Under pressure from Phil Neville and Arteta, the Croatian carved out space with some excellent dribbling and unleashed a surgical through ball.
It split the channel between left-footed center-back Lescott and right-back Hibbert.
Ashley Young darted into the gap, received the ball, and went 1-on-1.
With a calm right-footed finish, he slotted it into the net.
3–2!
That goal flipped the switch.
With the lead in hand, Bayswater China suddenly looked like they had unlocked the Everton defense.
The visitors were now rolling.
Everton had to go back into deep defense—but it was too late.
In the 63rd minute, Arshavin was tackled, but Lass Diarra, pushing up from deep, intercepted and drove forward.
Near the top of the box, Diarra laid it off to the right, then burst into the penalty area.
Maicon charged into the right edge of the box and sent in a low cross.
Diarra, timing his run perfectly, arrived at the near post and stabbed it past keeper Turner.
4–2!
Now two goals behind, Everton lost their composure.
Moyes brought on strikers Beattie and Van der Meyde, trying to chase the game.
But that decision would soon come back to haunt him.
In the 78th minute, Arshavin suddenly popped up on the left flank. Receiving a pass from Modrić, he controlled and touched it forward in one motion, breezing past Phil Neville's challenge. Then, just outside the box, he executed a slick one-two with Džeko.
The Bosnian striker's return pass was perfect, sending Arshavin charging into the left side of the penalty area.
Facing the onrushing keeper Turner, Arshavin executed a signature stepover, opened up his angle, and calmly slotted the ball into an empty net.
5–2!
That goal crushed any lingering hopes Moyes had of staging a comeback.
Yang Cheng followed up with a series of substitutions.
And just like that, Bayswater China, after going two goals down away from home, staged an epic 5–2 comeback.
It was a legendary turnaround on the road, and once again, Yang Cheng's team earned widespread praise from both the media and fans, especially with the revival in form from players like Arshavin.
It was a huge momentum boost for their title push.
…
Midweek, in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals, Bayswater China hosted Chelsea.
Yang Cheng largely honored his promise to the young players.
He started the same youth-heavy lineup from the quarterfinal, with only one major adjustment—pairing José Fonte with Koscielny at center-back to add some stability.
Veteran Danny Coyne remained in goal.
Technically, this wasn't a broken promise—center-back rotations were expected, and Fonte's job was to lead the backline and help guide Matić, ensuring the defense stayed organized.
It was a home game, after all—Yang Cheng didn't want to lose.
Over at Chelsea, Mourinho was also dealing with league pressure, so he didn't send out a full-strength lineup either.
For example, his front three included Bridge, Kalou, and Wright-Phillips.
Yes—Wayne Bridge, a left-back, played left wing, with Kalou as the central striker.
In midfield: Mikel, Makelele, and Ballack.
Chelsea's rotated attack never clicked.
Bayswater China's young players, on the other hand, brought energy, skill, and fearlessness.
In the first half, Bale nearly converted a pass from Lewandowski, testing Chelsea's backup keeper Hilário.
Finally, in the 77th minute, Walcott delivered a sharp ball from the right, and Lewandowski timed his run perfectly between Ferreira and Essien, slotting it into the net.
That lone goal was the difference.
1–0, Bayswater China at home.
The post-match media summed it up well: neither team went all out, but Bayswater China clearly performed better, and their youngsters outshone players like Kalou.
With just one goal conceded heading into the second leg, Mourinho would likely come back strong at Stamford Bridge.
…
Weekend: Premier League Matchweek 24.
It was clear to all that the title race between Bayswater China and Manchester United had reached a boiling point.
Even in the League Cup semi, Yang Cheng had fielded youth—everyone knew his real goal was the Premier League.
Ahead of the round, Yang Cheng boldly took the fight to Ferguson—with words.
This round: Bayswater China hosted Sheffield United.
United were away at the Emirates, taking on Arsenal.
At the pre-match press conference, Yang Cheng openly declared,
"I don't think United will get out of the Emirates unscathed."
"I know Wenger. He won't let his team miss the Champions League two seasons in a row. He'll go all in."
"Arsenal have what it takes to beat United at home."
Since Bayswater China were playing before United, Yang Cheng added:
"We're going to beat Sheffield United and leave all the pressure on United!"
Sure enough, that evening at Wembley, Bayswater China took on Sheffield United.
The opening blitz didn't produce a goal, and the match fell into a stalemate.
But just before halftime, Arshavin struck, giving the hosts the lead.
Then, just after the break, in the 50th minute, Arshavin scored again—a brace.
In the 55th minute, Gillespie, who had just come on to shore up midfield, fouled Arshavin and picked up a yellow card.
Just four minutes later, he fouled Modrić and saw a second yellow—red card.
He hadn't even been on the pitch ten minutes.
His manager, Neil Warnock, nearly had a stroke on the touchline.
In the 70th and 73rd minutes, Bayswater China added two more.
One from Skrtel off a corner.
Another from Yaya Touré, arriving late into the box.
Final score: 4–0, a dominant win.
But as it turned out, it wasn't enough to pressure United.
Ferguson's side, ever resilient, came from behind to beat Arsenal 2–1, with goals from Ronaldo and Rooney.
Meanwhile, Chelsea were clearly feeling the heat—losing 0–2 to Liverpool at Anfield.
Benítez's team was starting to look sharp.
While Bayswater China was known for their blitz attacks, that tactic was becoming less effective.
Opponents were preparing for it. They marked tightly and stayed disciplined early.
Liverpool, on the other hand, had now scored in the opening 10 minutes for three straight matches—almost as if they were inheriting Bayswater China's identity.
Of course, that was just a joke.
But Yang Cheng could clearly feel it—teams were developing more specific tactics just to handle his side.
Even strong clubs like Everton were playing more conservatively when facing them.
It was both a good and bad sign.
Good because it meant Bayswater China was now being seen as a top-tier team—on par with United and Chelsea.
Bad because the pressure to break down ultra-defensive teams was increasing.
The Times analyzed their recent run:
From Boxing Day to now—five league matches, 24 goals scored, 5 conceded, 3 clean sheets.
The prestigious paper concluded:
Bayswater China was maturing.
Becoming more and more like a traditional powerhouse.
With a high-powered attack, consistent defense, and stable performances, the team was proving its credentials.
"The Christmas schedule," they wrote, "was a rare and valuable baptism for this young team."
"Demolishing Chelsea, drawing at United, thrashing West Ham, and overtaking United to top the table—this team is bursting with confidence."
"Today, Bayswater China is becoming harder and harder to beat."
That last quote?
It came from David Moyes, after losing at home to Yang Cheng's side.
…
Chelsea's loss to Liverpool effectively ended their three-peat dream.
Mourinho was under fire.
Media reports about his potential sacking were spreading rapidly—and the Portuguese manager was furious.
In the second leg of the League Cup semifinal, Chelsea went full force.
Mourinho fielded every first-team player he could.
He even started with a front two of Drogba and Shevchenko.
Yang Cheng honestly didn't know how to explain this bizarre phenomenon.
Shevchenko and Drogba had zero chemistry all of last season.
And yet, somehow, inexplicably, in this match, Drogba assisted Shevchenko for the opener in the 22nd minute of the first half.
Then, in the 69th minute of the second half, Shevchenko returned the favor, assisting Drogba to double the lead.
Unbelievable. The two of them were suddenly in sync, clicking like old pals.
In the end, Chelsea won 2–0 at home against Bayswater China, going through to the League Cup final 2–1 on aggregate.
It marked the first time in two seasons that Bayswater China failed to reach the final after winning back-to-back League Cups.
The other semifinal, the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, was also intense.
Neither side fielded their full-strength lineups—they were clearly saving energy for the league.
Especially Arsenal, who were still fighting for a top-four spot.
The first leg at White Hart Lane ended 2–2. The second, at the Emirates, finished 1–1 in regular time.
In extra time, Arsenal scored twice.
Chimbonda netted the crucial opener, sending Arsenal through 3–1 on aggregate.
…
Weekend: FA Cup Fourth Round.
Bayswater China were drawn against Barnet, a League One side from North London—the third tier of English football.
Yang Cheng once again fielded a lineup full of young players, traveling to Barnet for the away tie.
They'd just played Chelsea midweek. Though the youth players recovered quickly, their rhythm was still off.
As a result, the first hour of the match was underwhelming.
But the quality gap was obvious. Barnet had no chance of going toe-to-toe with Bayswater China.
The difference in class was just too large.
Finally, in the 67th minute, Koscielny broke the deadlock with a header from a corner.
In the 83rd, substitute Gareth Bale added a second.
Final score: 2–0, and Bayswater China cruised into the FA Cup Fifth Round.
…
January 31 – Premier League Round 25.
The tides had turned.
Last time, Bayswater China played first, with Yang Cheng applying pressure on Manchester United.
This time, the roles were reversed.
United hosted Watford and put them away cleanly—4–0, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, and Larsson, who had joined on loan during the winter window.
In his post-match press conference, Ferguson took aim at Yang Cheng.
Bayswater China were set to face Wigan Athletic, a club located just north of Manchester—well within Ferguson's circle.
So he turned on the charm, even offered "tips" to Wigan, saying he'd share the secrets to beating Bayswater China.
"Even though they've lost seven straight, I still believe they can stop Bayswater China and prove their worth," he declared.
Sometimes, Yang Cheng really didn't know what to say.
Did Ferguson really not hear how ridiculous he sounded, hyping up Wigan like that?
Still, whether it was the pressure from Ferguson or their own fault, Bayswater China's defense cracked just over two minutes into the match.
It was a failed offside trap.
Usually solid José Fonte was half a beat slow, and Wigan's through ball landed directly behind him.
And who was there to take it?
The legendary meme-striker himself—the great English forward known for needing 4,000 shots to score one goal, who dribbles like Messi but finishes like Heskey—Emile Heskey.
He timed his run, stayed onside, and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper.
Although Džeko would go on to score twice, once with his head and once with his feet, to complete the comeback for a 2–1 win, Yang Cheng was still fuming.
What the hell just happened?
Drogba and Shevchenko—useless all season—suddenly connect like old friends against Bayswater China?
And Heskey, the meme-lord of English football, scores a one-on-one in the second minute?
"If this were a novel, I'd cut the author's d*** off first!" Yang Cheng cursed to himself.
"In all my years as a manager, I've never seen anything this ridiculous!"
"Honestly, Heskey isn't that bad," Brian Kidd offered.
It was true. Heskey was never a prolific scorer, but tactically, he brought a lot to the table.
Brian just didn't understand why Yang Cheng was so enraged that Heskey of all people had scored on them.
Elsewhere that round:
Liverpool beat West Ham 2–1 away.
Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3–1 at the Emirates.
Chelsea beat Blackburn 3–0 at home.
…
February arrived.
The European winter transfer window closed.
Among the Premier League's top clubs, there wasn't much major movement.
Liverpool made the most noise, signing Álvaro Arbeloa from Deportivo and Insúa on loan from Boca Juniors.
Mascherano's loan from West Ham was still pending—no match clearance yet.
That led many to speculate: were there complications with the transfer?
Ever since last summer, people had raised questions about the shady dealings behind Tevez and Mascherano's arrival at West Ham.
Manchester United made a targeted signing—loaning Henrik Larsson from Helsingborg.
Chelsea had been linked to Micah Richards and others but made no moves.
According to The Sun, Abramovich had shut down winter transfers.
Reportedly, Chelsea were planning to change managers in the summer.
If Mourinho were allowed to spend big now, who's to say the next coach would want those players?
So the club's stance was: no winter signings. Mourinho must deliver results.
If not, he'd be sacked at the end of the season.
Naturally, the media had a field day mocking Mourinho's "Three-Year Peak" claim.
The "Mou in 3" joke had taken hold.
Meanwhile, Bayswater China's players were being watched by numerous clubs.
There had been constant rumors about possible transfers during the winter.
Interestingly, in Yang Cheng's four seasons in charge, the club had sold players every winter.
From Jonathan Stead to Joe Hart, then Aaron Lennon and Chimbonda the year before.
People even joked that Yang Cheng loved selling players during the break—just to fleece clubs desperate for mid-season reinforcements.
But this year, Bayswater China neither sold nor bought.
The busiest teams this winter were those in the relegation zone.
West Ham spent heavily, bringing in a slew of players to avoid the drop.
Watford went even further—8 players on loan, 2 permanent signings—they practically overhauled the entire squad.
Wigan brought in 5 players—some loans, some free agents. Only one cost money: a forward named Franz from Chesterfield, bought for £500,000.
Nope, not Diego Forlán—a different Franz.
If we're talking biggest movers this winter, though, it had to be Real Madrid.
They spent €33 million on Higuaín and Gago, two rising Argentine stars.
Ronaldo moved to AC Milan for €7.5 million.
In Yang Cheng's previous life, Marcelo also joined Real Madrid around this time for a fee of €8 million.
But this time, Bayswater China got there first.
The club had been working hard to help Marcelo integrate into the squad.
Yang Cheng wasn't worried.
Many people claimed that Brazilian players couldn't adapt to the Premier League.
And yes, it was hard.
But not impossible.
Take full-backs, for example. In Yang Cheng's previous life, Fabio and Rafael, the twin brothers at Manchester United, had moments where they did fairly well.
Still, Yang Cheng always felt that Ferguson's approach to developing them—and players like Anderson—was a bit… off.
There's a saying on the continent: There are two kinds of full-backs—Brazilian full-backs, and everyone else.
Why?
Because Brazilian full-backs are highly skilled and offensively gifted.
The reason clubs go for Brazilian full-backs is almost always because of their attacking threat from deep.
But during their time at United, the Rafael twins were trained to be Gary Neville clones, overly focused on physicality and defensive discipline.
It was baffling.
If you want physicality and solid defense, why bother with a Brazilian full-back?
Maicon was a bit of an anomaly among Brazilian defenders.
Dani Alves was much more representative of the norm.
So, in signing Marcelo, Yang Cheng was running an experiment.
He refused to believe that Brazilian full-backs couldn't thrive in the Premier League.
…
February 3rd – Premier League Matchweek 26.
Arsenal drew 1–1 away to Middlesbrough.
Liverpool were held 0–0 by Everton at home.
Chelsea edged Charlton 1–0 away.
Manchester United, after a goalless first half, scored four in the second to crush Spurs 4–0 on the road.
As for Bayswater China, they played away to Manchester City.
For 80 long minutes, they couldn't find a way through the Blue Moon's defense.
Then, in the 65th minute, Yang Cheng subbed on Arshavin—and in the 83rd and 89th minutes, he provided two assists, setting up Yaya Touré and Modrić to seal a 2–0 win.
Everyone could feel it—the immense pressure between Bayswater China and United in this title race.
Their point totals were neck and neck.
All through January, both sides had been grinding out results, neither willing to blink.
At this point, even a draw—let alone a loss—could swing the title one way or the other.
Both teams were hanging on tight, pushing each other to the brink.
And for the media and fans watching from the sidelines, the tension was exhilarating.
Neither United nor Bayswater China could afford to let go.
It would come down to who cracked first.
…
"Looking at the upcoming schedule, the only real chance to trip up United is in Round 29—away at Anfield," Brian Kidd said as he and Yang Cheng studied the fixture list in the manager's office.
They needed to understand where each side might stumble.
"If Liverpool can't stop them, then maybe Round 34—away to Stamford Bridge."
Yang Cheng reviewed the match calendar and opponent list, nodding thoughtfully as he listened.
"In Round 29, we're also away—to Arsenal."
"And in Round 31, we visit Spurs. Then in Round 32, we host Liverpool."
"Don't forget—between Rounds 27 and 28, there's also the international break, plus an FA Cup tie and the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16."
Interestingly, both teams had drawn opponents from Ligue 1.
Bayswater China would face Lyon, the French giants.
Manchester United had drawn Lille.
Premier League Round 27 would be on February 10th, followed by the international break.
February 17 was the FA Cup Fourth Round.
February 20–21 were the Champions League knockout first legs.
Only after that would Round 28 resume.
In other words, the schedule was insanely packed, and the pressure immense.
One wrong move, one dropped point, could cost the title.
"Ferguson's got loads of experience. The more critical the stage, the more consistent his point tally. His teams always explode in February and March."
Brian Kidd shook his head with a sigh.
"Outside of the big clashes, I honestly don't see where he's dropping points."
Sure, surprises happen.
But Bayswater China couldn't bank on United messing up.
What if they were the ones who slipped up first?
"Brian, I'll keep thinking over the team's rotation and strategy—but there's one thing we need to do immediately," Yang Cheng said seriously.
"Go ahead," Kidd replied without hesitation.
"I've already told Adam Crozier to start quietly looking for a top-class sports psychologist."
"A… psychologist?" Kidd frowned.
It was a natural reaction.
In football, mental health support still carried a stigma.
"Our players are under a lot of pressure. It's clear they're struggling to cope. And what we're doing to help just isn't enough."
As head coach, Yang Cheng held authority. So did Kidd.
And even though they had great relationships with the players, they were still coaches.
There were things players just wouldn't say to them.
Never.
Would they admit they were struggling with match pressure?
Of course not.
That would be admitting weakness—and putting their place in the squad at risk.
This is where a trained psychologist comes in—someone who knows how to talk to them, help them offload that pressure, and process it.
The English football world was still very conservative in this regard.
They didn't want women in locker rooms.
They were suspicious of psychology—believing anyone who couldn't handle pressure was weak.
Even someone like Kenny Dalglish insisted fatigue was something to be conquered through willpower.
Try talking science to them—they'd answer with mysticism.
No way to have a real conversation.
So Yang Cheng decided to keep it low-key.
"This hasn't been done before. If word gets out, it'll sound bad," Kidd said, uneasy.
People might think the players were mentally unstable.
Yang Cheng understood.
Even years later, when psychologists became common in clubs, they were brought in quietly at first—sometimes under other job titles.
But eventually, once the door was opened, everyone realized:
This works.
These professionals knew how to speak to athletes, how to help them de-stress, how to steady their emotions.
Guardiola would later conduct a study using psychological support to help players build a mental framework that allowed them to remain calm and in control under all match conditions.
But that would be more than a decade away.
"This is already decided. Just handle the logistics," Yang Cheng instructed firmly.
Brian Kidd had no choice but to comply.
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