Chapter 135: The Tsar's Might! Ferguson: The Rules of the Premier League Have Changed!
"No wonder Wenger said you're the stingiest manager he's ever seen in the Premier League."
After the match, Yang Cheng and Ferguson were drinking together in one of Wembley's VIP suites.
The wine? Brought by Ferguson himself.
If United had lost, the old man definitely wouldn't have opened it.
A 3–3 draw? He could live with that.
"I'm stingy?"
Yang Cheng chuckled, pointing at the surroundings and the luxurious suite.
Through the suite's glass doors, they could see groundskeepers on the pitch below, repairing the turf after a hard-fought match—standard post-game procedure.
"You know how much this suite costs?"
Before Ferguson could answer, Yang Cheng threw out the number.
"Over ten thousand pounds—just to rent it for one match. I invited you to drink in a ten-grand suite, and I'm stingy?"
Ferguson couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He knew Yang Cheng was still smoldering. Drawing at home would leave anyone fuming.
But Ferguson was pleased.
Going unbeaten at Bayswater Chinese's home was no joke.
To leave Wembley with a point and maintain the lead? He was more than satisfied.
"Oh, come on. Don't pretend. I bet you couldn't even rent this box out."
Yang Cheng winced.
True—it hadn't been rented out.
Why else would he waste it on this old rascal?
"And let's be honest, that ten thousand's not for the room—it's for the catering. You've maybe wasted a bit of cleaning staff wages. Hell, if you mop it up yourself, you won't have to pay that either."
Yang Cheng huffed and stopped responding.
Ferguson knew the game well—no one could bluff the other.
"Look at me—I come to your ground, bring my own wine, and I pour for you. You're not stingy?"
Yang Cheng scoffed again. "You offered to pour. I never said I was treating."
"Exactly. Stingy."
Ferguson won that round and poured them both another glass.
"I heard from Wenger that the last time you served him wine, it was awful—probably something you scraped together last minute. I figured, with your stingy nature, if I beat you, you'd serve me Coca-Cola, so I came prepared."
Ferguson grinned smugly.
Yang Cheng muttered in his heart: Coca-Cola? You wish, you smug old goat.
"This match—we could've won it. A draw's unfair to us," Ferguson said with a sigh.
He shouldn't have said that.
The moment he did, Yang Cheng's temper flared.
"You lot? You turtled up in the second half! You call that football? And you say it's unfair?"
Then he added bitterly, "If Yaya Touré had been here, you wouldn't have left Wembley alive!"
Matić had great potential, but he wasn't on Yaya's level yet.
That was the difference—Matić was still green.
Yaya Touré, at 24, was entering the prime of his career.
United, on the other hand, had a full-strength squad.
They relied on their ironclad backline to absorb pressure and unleashed Ronaldo, Rooney, and Tévez on the counter.
It was a nightmare to deal with.
Matić had done well, all things considered—but he lacked experience and maturity.
"The truth is, I've never liked using African players. That damn Africa Cup—every two years! It's maddening," Ferguson said casually.
Yang Cheng gave him a look like he was about to throw his wine in the man's face.
"Can you not say such shameless crap in front of me?"
"You don't like African players? Who fought Chelsea tooth and nail for Michael Essien? Who made a scene over Mikel and walked away with £12 million from Chelsea?"
Ferguson had clearly reached that legendary age where bald-faced lies rolled off the tongue without even a hint of shame.
"That's ancient history," he said smoothly. "Look at our squad now—how many Africans do we have?"
Then, he leaned back like an old sage and added, "You're still young—you didn't factor this in when building your squad. The No. 6 position is crucial. Touré's absence makes a huge difference."
Did Yang Cheng consider it?
Of course he did.
The African Cup schedule was right there—he wasn't blind.
But team building was a complex process.
Yaya Touré would miss roughly a month. Was it worth signing another top-tier midfielder just for that one month?
If the backup wasn't good enough, what's the point?
If someone was good enough, would they agree to come and play just one month? And how much would they cost?
Every team had to think long-term when planning.
Unless, of course, they were filthy rich.
Take Chelsea—they already had a surplus of strikers, but they still wanted Anelka.
And Anelka didn't come cheap.
"You heard?" Ferguson said suddenly. "City's up for sale."
Yang Cheng nodded.
Thaksin Shinawatra's assets had been frozen.
Now he wanted to sell Manchester City to raise some cash.
Rumors were swirling about a Middle Eastern consortium—possibly Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund.
The fans only heard scattered rumors through the media.
But Premier League clubs? They got the inside track.
Any ownership change had to go through the Premier League.
And the Premier League wasn't a regulatory body—it was more like a league of stakeholders.
Important decisions? Made collectively by the twenty clubs.
Of course, not every club had a real say.
Some were just elevator clubs—yo-yo teams looking to cash in.
Those clubs had little influence in the league's council.
"The rules of the Premier League have changed. From now on, clubs like ours will be the ones who suffer."
Ferguson's "ours" clearly included Bayswater Chinese.
Yes, both were backed by foreign investors—but Yang Cheng's team had climbed up from the lower divisions.
More importantly, Bayswater Chinese rarely competed with big clubs for superstar signings.
In fact, Yang Cheng had made a habit of selling his stars.
That kind of operation was welcomed by traditional giants like Manchester United.
And in the foreseeable future, Bayswater Chinese would likely continue that strategy—because of the new stadium project.
Now Yang Cheng finally understood why Ferguson had invited him for drinks.
He was trying to feel out Bayswater Chinese's position.
"We're a small club," Yang Cheng said flatly. "We don't even own our stadium. We're not in a position to join—or change—this new trend."
Then he shifted the conversation.
"Arsenal's being sold too."
"To who?"
"Not finalized yet. From what I hear, Kroenke's reluctant to spend. Most of his acquisition funds are borrowed. After the deal, they'll likely restructure the debt."
"The Russian, on the other hand, is ready to spend big. He's promised to invest heavily post-acquisition, to bring Arsenal back to title contention as soon as possible."
Ferguson smiled slightly. "Then David Dein will definitely support the Russian. He's already sold his shares. Wenger might lean a little toward the American—he's always been a fan of self-sufficiency and financial independence."
"But right now," Yang Cheng said plainly, "circumstances are stronger than people."
At the end of the day, Wenger had his own interests to consider.
After Yang Cheng renewed his contract with Bayswater Chinese at £4 million per year, Wenger had been in talks with Arsenal about his own extension. His contract was set to expire in 2008.
He was likely hoping to use the ownership drama to gain leverage—better terms, or new promises from a potential new owner.
So no, don't go thinking Wenger's some helpless victim.
That old fox might look weary, but his mind was sharp, and full of schemes.
"Americans can't be trusted," Ferguson muttered.
Yang Cheng laughed. "And the Russians aren't exactly popular in the UK either."
They exchanged a glance and both chuckled.
Arsenal's dilemma was exactly this.
Rumors had already leaked—before the Abu Dhabi group approached Manchester City, they were actually interested in Arsenal.
But neither Kroenke nor Usmanov was willing to sell their shares, effectively shutting the door on the Emiratis.
So Arsenal was stuck choosing between two foreign shareholders.
Once that choice was made, Kroenke and Usmanov would have to negotiate how to acquire each other's shares—it'd all come down to deal-making.
Yang Cheng had heard that Kroenke's primary motivation for acquiring Arsenal was profit. If Usmanov's price was right, he might be willing to sell.
But the Russian had already made it clear: even if Kroenke bought the club, he wouldn't sell his shares.
So even if Arsenal sold to the American, it wouldn't solve their financial issues.
Especially since Kroenke was unwilling—or unable—to inject funds.
"Player prices are going to rise again," Ferguson said with a sigh.
Yang Cheng didn't mind.
He was on the selling side. Higher transfer fees? All upside.
Sure, wages would go up too—but overall, it was still to his advantage.
But for clubs like Manchester United, it was a different story.
Just imagine how much stronger United would be right now if Chelsea didn't exist.
Robben, Essien, Mikel—all would've been United players.
Too many clubs, not enough top players.
Before, Chelsea was the only one disrupting the market.
But if Arsenal and City were both bought by oil-rich owners? The battle for signings would get brutal.
And on top of that—damn work permit restrictions.
United had been eyeing Essien since 1999 but couldn't sign him due to UK work permit rules—back then there was no "special talent clause."
Ferguson exhaled heavily, full of frustration.
When he turned back to look at Yang Cheng, the younger man was calm and composed.
Suddenly, Ferguson understood everything.
Even if Arsenal and City were bought by billionaires, even if they started spending like crazy—it wouldn't impact Bayswater Chinese much.
With that realization, his previously good mood soured.
"I heard you're working with Arsenal on a proposal to tighten foul regulations?" Ferguson asked, revealing the other purpose of his visit.
"Yeah. Want in?" Yang Cheng asked.
"Absolutely," Ferguson nodded without hesitation. "I think we could get Chelsea and Liverpool on board too."
Let's be honest—raising the standard of officiating would mainly restrict mid-to-lower table teams.
Whether in the Premier League or across Europe, weaker teams always used the same playbook: park the bus and foul constantly.
If refs started calling fouls tighter, those teams would be shackled.
Of course, the current Premier League standards were pretty rough.
Reckless challenges hurt the league's global image.
So for clubs like Bayswater Chinese, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool—and any team thinking about expanding internationally—this kind of proposal made sense.
It would boost competitiveness, protect players, and improve global branding. A win on all fronts.
Some of the mid-table clubs would definitely oppose it.
Teams like Bolton, known for their physical play.
But if the big clubs united behind the proposal, it could pass.
After all, the Premier League was looking to grow globally.
And unlike domestic TV deals, overseas broadcast revenue was split evenly among all 20 teams.
The big clubs hated that.
Everyone knew the international audience tuned in for the big clubs. It was their players, their brands, their matches that sold subscriptions.
But the revenue? Shared equally.
For years, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea had pushed for reform: to fold international broadcasting revenue into the same distribution model as domestic rights.
If that happened, the giants would get a bigger cut.
Ferguson thought it might be time to bring that proposal to the table again.
Push for tighter officiating standards—or change how money is divided.
Yang Cheng agreed—it was a good idea.
"Adam Crozier's sharp," Ferguson said. "Let him coordinate with the other big clubs. When the time's right, bring it to the league."
Yang Cheng had no objections.
The more proposals Bayswater Chinese raised—and got adopted—the more influence the club would have in the Premier League Council.
Worried about being a target?
Please. With Ferguson's United and Wenger's Arsenal leading the charge, what was there to fear?
...
There was one thing that made English football very different from its continental counterparts.
They had two premier competitions: the league and the FA Cup.
Together, they were considered the twin pillars of English football—both of immense importance.
That's why FA Cup matches were always scheduled on weekends.
Yes—even if the league was jam-packed, the FA Cup took priority on weekends.
The Premier League would just be pushed to midweek if needed.
Back in 1961, when Spurs won the double, the only televised match that season wasn't the league—it was the FA Cup Final.
That's how prestigious the FA Cup used to be.
Even the Community Shield—the season opener—was contested between the league champion and the FA Cup winner.
As for the League Cup?
It was just… there.
But that hierarchy had started to shift in the 21st century.
In January 2006, The Times published a scathing commentary that made waves across the UK sports media:
The FA Cup was becoming a consolation prize.
Only clubs who weren't good enough to win the league—or reach Europe—truly cared about it anymore.
Ferguson himself once said in 2005, after being held to a draw by a lower-league team in the FA Cup:
"Being knocked out of the FA Cup is embarrassing—for a day or two. Then it passes."
The Times reflected on that quote, noting that ten years earlier, an early FA Cup exit would've been enough to get a manager sacked.
The shift was irreversible.
A top-four Premier League finish carried more weight than an FA Cup run.
For teams eyeing the Champions League or aiming for title contention, the FA Cup was just a nice bonus.
Ever since that article, every January, the media would revisit the topic—highlighting the FA Cup's decline.
But because it was held on weekends, many clubs—especially those at home—still honored tradition and fielded strong lineups, partly to appease loyal domestic fans and their love of the Cup.
Bayswater Chinese's FA Cup Fourth Round Match Was a Home Clash Against Derby County
Though Derby were bottom of the Premier League, they were still a top-flight team.
But Yang Cheng and Bayswater Chinese weren't too concerned.
In fact, they'd announced early on they would field an all-rotation and youth squad.
Why?
Because it was a home match, and fans who paid for tickets came expecting a win.
If you didn't go all out and sent out the second string, losing at home would have the fans tearing you apart.
As a result, only just over 30,000 people showed up at Wembley.
And even that was thanks to the lower FA Cup ticket prices.
But unexpectedly, Bayswater Chinese's youngsters played incredibly well.
In the 14th minute, Gareth Bale assisted Lewandowski to open the scoring.
In the 33rd minute, Aaron Ramsey received the ball in midfield, shook off a defender, and delivered a through ball behind the line. Walcott timed his run perfectly, broke the offside trap, and finished the one-on-one.
2–0!
Just before halftime, Lewandowski once again got the ball in the box, beat a defender with a feint, and scored.
3–0!
In the second half, Derby pulled one back, but late on, substitute Lambert scored to seal the deal.
Final score: 4–1.
Yang Cheng, however, was more focused on another match.
Chelsea were playing away at Wigan Athletic.
Grant's side were stubbornly held back by the home team.
With a rotated squad, Chelsea lost 1–2 and were eliminated from the FA Cup.
It was clear Grant had held back his main force to prepare for the upcoming Premier League Round 24 fixture—
Bayswater Chinese would return to Stamford Bridge!
...
Three days later—Premier League Round 24.
Last year, during the Christmas fixture congestion, Bayswater Chinese had hammered Chelsea 5–0 at Stamford Bridge.
Now, a year later, they were back—and Chelsea fans were out for blood.
Before the match, Chelsea's hardcore fan groups vowed to create a "hellish atmosphere" for their West London rivals.
The Blues were in rough shape.
If Yaya Touré's absence had impacted Bayswater Chinese—
Then the African Cup of Nations had been a full-blown disaster for Chelsea.
Drogba, Essien, Mikel, and Kalou had all left for international duty.
Half the first team was gone.
To face a top-tier opponent at such a moment? It was a nightmare for Chelsea.
Grant had sacrificed the FA Cup to gather his full strength for this match.
Chelsea rallied behind him.
Even owner Roman Abramovich attended in person and offered a cash bonus—
Any player who helped defeat Bayswater Chinese at home would receive a hefty reward.
Bonuses like that for a single game? Rare.
Which made this West London Derby all the more meaningful.
The Premier League's media team pushed the match globally with major coverage and promotion.
British media joined in, ramping up the hype.
When it came time for the match, Grant stuck with Chelsea's tried-and-true 4-3-3 formation.
Chelsea:
Goalkeeper: Cech
Defense: Ashley Cole, Carvalho, Alex, Ferreira
Midfield: Makelele (holding), Ballack and Lampard
Forwards: Malouda, Anelka, Wright-Phillips
Shevchenko was once again benched.
Even Peru's Claudio Pizarro sat on the bench instead of the Ukrainian.
Sheva's situation at Chelsea had truly reached rock bottom.
Except for an injured John Terry, Grant had fielded his strongest available lineup.
Bayswater Chinese:
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defense: Leighton Baines, Thiago Silva, Pepe, Maicon
Midfield: Matić (holding), Modrić, Lass Diarra
Forwards: Di María, Džeko, Arshavin
From the first whistle, Bayswater Chinese attacked aggressively.
Yang Cheng's signature style.
Chelsea played more cautiously—Grant clearly feared Bayswater Chinese's early pressure.
Both sides came in with clear game plans.
Chelsea's defensive preparation was meticulous.
But no one expected what happened next.
Just eight minutes in, under relentless pressing, Chelsea's midfield cracked.
Inside their own 30-yard zone, Lampard received a pass from Makelele but was immediately closed down by Modrić.
As Lampard tried to pass, Modrić stuck out a foot and intercepted.
The Croatian quickly turned and shielded the ball, deftly working it with both feet.
Lampard pressured from behind.
Modrić faked a turn to the left, toward the middle, tricking Lampard into shifting.
Then suddenly spun right—toward the left side of the pitch.
The ball danced under his control, rolling exactly where he wanted.
Finding a gap, he sent a clever chip toward the left flank—
Right into the stride of Di María.
The Argentine sprinted onto the ball and, without taking a touch, saw Arshavin making a diagonal run into the center.
He flicked the ball over Chelsea's backline.
It was perfect.
The ball dropped just beyond the defense—and stayed low after bouncing.
Arshavin had timed his run perfectly, beating the offside trap.
He took one touch to adjust his angle, then slotted the ball left-footed toward goal—
But not before throwing in a subtle fake, tricking Cech into covering the near post.
The ball slid through the Czech keeper's legs and into the net.
1–0!
"ARSHA-VIN!!!"
"Just 9 minutes in, Andrey Arshavin has scored against Chelsea!"
"Last season at Stamford Bridge, Arshavin stunned the world with a four-goal performance and earned the nickname 'The Tsar.'"
"Tonight, back at the ground where he made his name, he scores again in under 10 minutes!"
"This goal—Arshavin owes a big thank-you to two teammates."
"Modrić, for the interception and creative vision. Di María, for the inch-perfect assist."
"A beautiful combination that cut Chelsea's defense to ribbons!"
"Unstoppable!"
...
With a 1–0 lead, Bayswater Chinese didn't sit back—they pressed even harder.
When it's a match against your bitter rival, it's do-or-die.
Especially with Chelsea weakened by the African Cup.
Drogba's absence in particular meant Anelka carried much less threat.
So Bayswater Chinese attacked relentlessly, pushing their formation high and pinning Chelsea back.
Just three minutes after the opening goal, another dazzling sequence unfolded down the left between Di María, Modrić, and Arshavin.
As Modrić carried the ball forward, he was fouled by Lampard.
Free kick to Bayswater Chinese in the attacking third.
Leighton Baines stepped up.
He placed the ball carefully and took several steps back.
Everyone held their breath.
Because this—this was one of Bayswater Chinese's most dangerous weapons:
A free kick from the edge of the final third.
When Leighton Baines Stepped Up and Took the Free Kick Quickly, Bayswater Chinese's Attackers, Led by Pepe and Džeko, Immediately Charged Toward the Near Post and Central Area
Chelsea's defenders instinctively followed their run.
But no one expected Baines to deliver a pinpoint ball to the far corner of the six-yard box.
Thiago Silva sprinted in, leapt high into the air, and powered a header past Cech.
"GOAL!!!"
"Two goals in just four minutes! Bayswater Chinese strike again!"
"Another front-line set-piece play!"
"Scored by Brazilian center-back Thiago Silva!"
"Cech was helpless once again."
"This is exactly what people have been saying—Bayswater Chinese's set-pieces and corners are downright terrifying."
"Whenever Gianni Vio appears in the technical area, every opponent starts to panic."
...
After conceding twice in rapid succession, even the slowest-witted would realize something needed to change.
Grant didn't even have to give instructions—Chelsea's players began pulling back and locking down the defense on their own.
And it wasn't a joke.
Given Bayswater Chinese's firepower, if they were allowed to keep playing freely, the scoreline could get ugly fast.
With Chelsea shoring things up at the back, Bayswater Chinese eased off slightly.
But the visitors still controlled the match.
Chelsea managed to hold out for the rest of the first half—and into the second.
Originally, Grant had planned a second-half offensive push.
But in the 52nd minute, Neuer sent a booming kick from the back straight over Chelsea's defensive line.
Džeko timed his run perfectly and found himself one-on-one.
The Bosnian forward sprinted into the box, but Cech's quick charge forced him into a rushed chip that was just barely deflected wide of the post.
It clipped the upright on its way out.
From that moment on, Chelsea turtled up again.
Grant had no real solutions.
In the 65th minute, he subbed in Joe Cole for Wright-Phillips and Pizarro for Malouda.
He was clearly trying to target Matić's inexperience.
But it didn't work.
Yang Cheng had started Thiago Silva and Pepe specifically because of their wide defensive coverage, providing extra support for the still-developing Matić.
And with Modrić and Lass Diarra anchoring the midfield as well, Chelsea's "calculated strike" fizzled out completely.
...
"Grant just isn't up to it."
In the Stamford Bridge VIP suite, Roman Abramovich watched his team get dominated and felt a deep frustration.
They had mentally prepared for a possible loss even before the match began.
Why else would Abramovich offer such a massive bonus?
But to go down 0–2 right from the start, then be pinned back the entire match?
It was worse than he expected.
"The African Cup hit us way too hard," said Pini Zahavi, trying to defend his Israeli compatriot.
Abramovich glanced at him knowingly.
But said nothing.
At his level, he was used to people having their own agendas.
He didn't care—as long as they needed him, listened to him, and did what he said.
"Arshavin's at 16 goals now, right?" Abramovich asked.
The Tsar was on fire!
"Today's goal was his 16th. He's tied for third in the scoring charts."
Cristiano Ronaldo was leading the league with 19 goals from 24 matches—despite missing the first three rounds due to suspension.
In 21 appearances, he'd scored 19 goals.
The Portuguese star was absolutely exploding this season.
Second place? Džeko with 17 goals.
Then came Arshavin and Arsenal's Adebayor, each with 16.
So, among the top four scorers in the league, two were from Bayswater Chinese.
Which made a joke of the early-season predictions from pundits and fans that losing Ashley Young would cripple the team's attack.
From this match alone, it was clear Chelsea weren't on Bayswater Chinese's level anymore.
And with Drogba, Essien, Kalou, and Mikel all away at the African Cup, the gap had only widened.
"Should I make another trip up north?" Zahavi asked, guessing Abramovich's train of thought.
As a Russian, Abramovich had always wanted to win over his homeland.
That's why he'd pulled every string to sign Shevchenko.
But now, the Ukrainian "nuclear warhead" had hit rock bottom at Chelsea.
After Mourinho's departure, Grant had tried to use Sheva again—but it didn't work.
Truthfully, his time at Chelsea had completely derailed his career.
Add in his age, and it was clear he'd never return to his old form.
Now, with Arshavin's meteoric rise, Abramovich had a new Russian idol to pursue.
Chelsea's technical staff had already analyzed how the team might function with Arshavin—and the reviews were glowing.
If the Russian arrived at Stamford Bridge, he'd instantly add creativity and technical class to the attack.
And with a force like Drogba leading the line up front? It was a dream pairing.
The only issue—his price.
Transfermarkt already valued him at €30 million—£20 million.
But everyone knew that was optimistic.
There was no way Bayswater Chinese would sell a 26-year-old superstar for just £20 million.
And even if they did, there was no way such a transfer could be pulled off in January.
"Let's wait for summer," Abramovich sighed.
Trying to force a move in the winter window was pointless.
Even if Bayswater Chinese were willing to listen, the price would be extortionate.
Better to wait until summer—more time, better conditions.
...
In the end, Bayswater Chinese won 2–0 away at Chelsea, with goals from Arshavin and Thiago Silva.
Elsewhere in the league, Arsenal beat Newcastle 3–0 at home.
Liverpool lost 0–1 away to West Ham.
Manchester United defeated Portsmouth 2–0 at Old Trafford thanks to a Ronaldo brace.
This round made the title picture a lot clearer for Yang Cheng and his team.
After 24 rounds, Liverpool had clearly fallen out of the leading pack.
Benítez's side had improved greatly after signing Torres.
But in truth, Arsenal had improved even more.
Though their transfer activity was relatively quiet, their young squad was thriving.
Players like Fabregas, Van Persie, and Adebayor were all shining brightly.
United topped the table with 59 points.
Bayswater Chinese sat just behind with 58.
Arsenal were third with 54, and Chelsea fourth with 50.
But Liverpool, in fifth, had only 43 points.
Their chances of making the Champions League were fading fast.
Look closer, and you'd see—they had only lost three matches all season.
The real issue?
Too many draws.
Bayswater Chinese, Arsenal, and Chelsea had each drawn 5 or 6 games.
United had lost three—but had only drawn two.
Liverpool?
They'd lost just 3 matches—but drawn 10.
That alone showed the problem: when facing weaker sides, Liverpool lacked effective attacking solutions. Their points-conversion efficiency was far too low.
Benítez's once-reliable 4-2-3-1 formation had gradually become his biggest liability.
As someone who had been through it, Yang Cheng saw an additional layer to the issue.
Namely, the injuries to Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard's inconsistency this season had hurt the team's rhythm.
So far, Alonso had started only 10 matches—Liverpool had won 5, drawn 4, and lost 1 in those.
In the 14 games without him: 6 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses.
So, in interviews, Benítez repeatedly denied that Alonso's absence was the reason for Liverpool's attacking woes.
After all, the numbers didn't show a huge disparity.
Even after Alonso returned from injury post-Christmas, Benítez rotated him twice—and both matches ended in draws.
In short, Liverpool's problems stemmed more from internal dynamics than external issues.
Given Benítez's standing at the club, failing in the Champions League wouldn't get him sacked—but his position would become increasingly uncomfortable.
...
Weekend – Premier League Round 25.
It was destined to be a round full of draws.
Especially for Bayswater Chinese.
After back-to-back clashes with Manchester United and Chelsea, they faced Bolton at the weekend.
Yang Cheng's team drew 1–1 at home.
United also drew 1–1 away at Tottenham.
Arsenal beat Blackburn 2–1 at home.
Chelsea were held 1–1 away at Portsmouth.
Liverpool, however, secured a 3–0 home win over Sunderland.
...
After Round 25, all international players were called up for national duty.
European teams were preparing for Euro 2008, so a midweek international friendly was scheduled.
It hit Bayswater Chinese hard.
Yaya Touré hadn't even returned from the Africa Cup of Nations yet, and now more players were being pulled away.
A midweek international fixture—then straight into an away match against Everton.
As a result, Yang Cheng's team lost 0–1 at Goodison Park.
Yang Cheng didn't hide his disappointment.
"Losing this match is incredibly, incredibly frustrating."
"We were very poor at Goodison Park."
But results aren't everything.
Yang Cheng explained that there were two main reasons for the loss.
First and foremost—too many internationals.
"Our number of national team players is more than twice Everton's. They had the entire week to train and prepare at home. Their energy levels were simply higher."
"We were different. The midweek call-ups disrupted our entire rhythm. Ten or more players played full 90-minute matches with their national teams."
"Some of them didn't even make it back in time for training—just traveled straight north with the squad."
"That's the biggest reason for our underperformance today."
This wasn't the first time.
All season, Bayswater Chinese had been hammered by the international break schedule.
"Every time we return from internationals, we always underperform in the following match."
The pressure had also affected players' mentality.
"They really wanted to win. But that urgency backfired—everyone was desperate to score early, and we lost our rhythm and creativity in the process."
He also acknowledged David Moyes' tactics.
"Everton's pressing and counter-attacks were excellent. That's how we suffered our third league defeat of the season."
But Yang Cheng was ready to move on.
"We have to forget this game and refocus immediately."
"The title race is a marathon. No matter what happens in United's game tomorrow, what matters most is that we take care of every match going forward. We are still strong. We still have what it takes to win the league!"
Yang Cheng's words were met with full support in the Bayswater Chinese dressing room.
But in the media, confidence in the team had begun to erode.
Dropping points at this stage of the title race? That could be fatal.
And the worst part: United were hosting their city rivals next.
With the derby at Old Trafford, there was no excuse for United to drop points.
Bayswater Chinese were already 1 point behind. If United beat City, the gap would grow to 4.
That would shift the entire title dynamic.
United would seize full control of the race.
But to everyone's surprise, the "invincible" United lost.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United were stunned 1–2 by Manchester City.
They conceded two goals before stoppage time, only pulling one back through Carrick in the dying seconds.
In fact, they performed worse than Bayswater Chinese had the day before.
It was a near-complete defeat.
Ferguson reportedly exploded in the dressing room—so loud that even City's players heard him shouting.
And at the post-match press conference? Ferguson didn't even show.
Assistant coach Carlos Queiroz had to face the media.
Everyone could feel it—Ferguson was livid.
This was a golden opportunity to open a lead—and they blew it.
Queiroz, for his part, gave the same excuse as Yang Cheng: the international break ruined their preparations.
Chelsea, meanwhile, were held 0–0 by Liverpool at home.
The Blues had now gone three matches without a win.
Arsenal beat Blackburn 2–0 at home.
The Premier League title race had suddenly grown more chaotic and unpredictable.
...
A Week Later – FA Cup Fifth Round.
The most shocking result of the round?
Manchester United vs. Arsenal at Old Trafford.
Wenger sent out a rotated squad—and they were thrashed 0–4 by United's full-strength lineup.
It was a humiliating defeat.
Coincidentally, Liverpool were also knocked out—losing 1–2 at home to Barnsley.
Bayswater Chinese, meanwhile, beat Wolves 2–0 at home thanks to goals from Lewandowski and Rakitić.
Yang Cheng used a mix of youngsters and backups in that match.
...
Three Days Later – Champions League Round of 16, First Leg.
Yang Cheng's team traveled to Italy to face AC Milan away.
Just 12 minutes in, Milan launched a counterattack.
Brazilian youngster Pato picked up the ball and fired a shot—it deflected off Pepe and out for a corner.
Milan took the corner quickly.
At the near post, Maldini rose and flicked the ball toward the far post.
Neuer reacted instantly and got a hand to it—
—but the ball still flew into the right side of the net.
1–0!
San Siro erupted.
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