Four-nil!
Sixty-seventh minute!
The result was practically sealed.
On the sidelines, Juninho D'Alessandro gestured to the bench. Several substitutes began warming up. With the game firmly in hand, it was the perfect opportunity to give the young talents some minutes.
By the seventy-third minute, the triple substitution came.
Juninho pulled off fullback Beach, center forward Ibrahimović, and midfielder Ronaldinho—who had already left their mark on the match. Fresh legs entered to close out the game.
The tempo naturally slowed.
The new substitutes played with determination, eager to impress their manager and prove they deserved more time. The rest of the squad, confident in the result, coasted through the final stretch.
When the referee's watch ticked past the 90th minute…
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The final whistle blew. No added time was necessary—there was no point. Had the game continued, Morecambe might've humiliated Lincoln City even further.
Final score: Morecambe 4 - 0 Lincoln City.
The fans erupted, rising to their feet and applauding with thunderous enthusiasm.
Their team had dominated—confident, stylish, and ruthless. It was only the first round of the League Cup, but it had felt like something much bigger.
The Upset of the Round
Before kickoff, pundits called the match a toss-up. Some gave Morecambe the slight edge due to their deep pockets and young stars. But nobody expected this kind of demolition.
The stands were still buzzing when Juninho emerged from the dugout post-match.
As expected, a swarm of local football reporters rushed him for a quick impromptu press conference.
"Coach Juninho," a local reporter asked, mic thrust forward, "Morecambe's name is starting to echo across the British Isles. How do you feel about this attention?"
Juninho smiled calmly, eyebrows raised. "Honestly? I'm not too focused on that. We're still a League-level team. I want the lads to stay grounded and focused on the football. The rest is noise."
Another reporter jumped in. "Besides winning League Two, what are your goals this season?"
Juninho paused, thoughtful. "League Cup and FA Cup—I want us to reach at least the third round. Just once, I want our boys to face a Premier League side. That experience would be priceless."
A female reporter stepped forward, notebook in hand. "After tonight, many believe Morecambe can push straight through to League One. Do you believe that?"
Juninho's expression turned firm. "Absolutely. No doubt in my mind. Once the winter transfer window opens, we'll reinforce again. Morecambe's going up."
That answer stunned the room.
The journalists, most of them locals and Morecambe supporters themselves, froze for a moment—speechless.
They wanted to believe. After all, Juninho had already pulled off miracles: signing talents like Messi and Ronaldinho, revamping the club's structure, and now, dominating matches like a Championship side.
But to hear it stated so boldly still caught them off guard.
A longtime fan-turned-reporter found his voice. "You mean... even after investing over 30 million euros in the summer, you're still planning transfers in the winter window?"
Juninho chuckled. "Not just this winter. Next summer too. And the winter after that. We're building something long-term here. We'll keep bringing in young, hungry, elite-level talent."
He didn't mention his real advantage—that he came from the future, from 2021, armed with knowledge of the next two decades of football.
Juninho thought to himself: Money? That's easy. With football betting alone, I can quietly earn what I need—twice a year, before each transfer window. No one will suspect a thing.
Some of the reporters actually gasped.
They knew Premier League clubs could afford major transfer fees thanks to TV rights and sponsorships—but for a lower-league club like Morecambe, this kind of investment was unheard of. It wasn't spending—it was burning cash.
One journalist, eyes wide, blurted, "Well, Coach Juninho... good luck. I think I speak for all of us when I say—thank you for what you're doing for the club."
Others echoed the sentiment before rushing off to file stories, their excitement barely contained.
A New Target: Cristiano Ronaldo?
Driving home from the stadium, Juninho's mind turned toward the next big move.
So many future superstars were still hidden gems in the year 2000.
But one name stood out now more than ever:
Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi was already in the squad. Ronaldinho too. Ibrahimović was finding his rhythm.
But Ronaldo… if memory served, he was still in the youth ranks of Sporting Lisbon. Still unknown. Still undervalued.
He hadn't yet dazzled Manchester United in that fateful friendly.
Juninho tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully.
If I offer five million euros now for a player who hasn't made the senior team yet… would Sporting say no?
He smirked to himself.
Another move was coming.
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