Chapter 97: The UEFA Cup Final! I Want to Join a Giant!
"He's out of his mind, isn't he?"
On the morning of the UEFA Cup final, Roman Abramovich sat in his Knightsbridge home, visibly agitated after reading the headlines.
"£1 billion? You couldn't get that selling him!"
Abramovich had been keeping a close eye on Bayswater Chinese FC's movements.
But this? This was absurd.
Completely irrational.
"Wait... did he say pounds or yuan?"
After a moment, he waved dismissively. "Even if it's RMB, it's still ridiculous."
"Bayswater's total revenue this season is barely £50 million. Where's he getting a billion?"
Beside him, his advisor Marina Granovskaia nodded thoughtfully. "Could it be Chinese funding?"
Abramovich went silent.
That was possible.
He'd been watching that land closely.
The Yang Group was growing fast in China—originally a sportswear company, now a top-three brand domestically. Its partnership with Umbro was just one sign of its momentum.
Especially since 2004, when they signed an Olympic gold medalist hurdler as an ambassador, the company had skyrocketed.
Even Umbro, whose global business was floundering, was now booming in China.
Last year they even signed a tennis star to target the high-end sport-fashion market.
China's economy had grown too quickly.
But for the Yang Group to pull out £1 billion in cash?
Impossible.
Even a massive industrial group like theirs couldn't raise that kind of liquidity—not to mention someone like Abramovich, who made his fortune in oil. Even he couldn't produce that kind of money instantly.
"Not a chance. They don't have that kind of capital. He's bluffing!" Abramovich concluded firmly.
Granovskaia nodded again. "Still, a lot of people believe him—especially the London mayor."
"He's obsessed with money!" Abramovich said, annoyed.
Arsenal's in the Champions League final, and the mayor chooses to watch the UEFA Cup instead?
Ridiculous.
"That mayor's always been a wildcard in UK politics. He poured everything into the Olympic bid. Word is, he's aiming for a third term in 2008—he wants to see the Olympics with his own eyes."
Seeing her boss's expression soften, Granovskaia continued.
"He's not well supported even within his own party, and the opposition hates him. This could be his way to win political points."
"You're talking about the long-rumored Queensway redevelopment?" Abramovich asked.
That project had been in discussion for years.
London had long wanted to revitalize the aging Bayswater district—to give the city's core a new face and raise real estate value.
But city regeneration takes money.
And with the Olympics draining resources, launching a massive urban renewal project was unlikely.
Unless someone volunteered a giant investment.
And in UK politics, London was everything.
Both major parties had eyes on it.
So yes, Ken Livingstone would absolutely try to use this as leverage for reelection.
Abramovich's face darkened.
He didn't believe Yang Cheng was trying to align himself politically—no one that young could be that reckless.
It was just that, Yang Cheng's plans happened to align perfectly with the mayor's goals.
And once you reached this level, anyone who was smart would play all sides.
After all, Abramovich himself was tight with the British royal family, even lending his yacht to Princes William and Harry.
Still, he had to admit: he'd underestimated Yang Cheng.
"I really didn't think that kid had it in him," Abramovich muttered through clenched teeth.
"The crazy thing is, every move he makes is quick and precise—like he can see the future," said Granovskaia, equally stunned.
For three years, Chelsea had clashed with Bayswater.
And despite Chelsea's deep pockets, they couldn't crush them.
Instead, that bankrupt little club had clawed its way up to second place in the Premier League.
If you put this in a novel, readers would say it was unrealistic.
But reality had written a crazier script.
"No denying it—his stadium plan is brilliant," Abramovich admitted.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Westminster and City Hall give him the green light. In two years, he could have the permits."
He exhaled heavily.
For some reason, he kept thinking back to that time Yang Cheng told him stories.
If Yang really pulled this off, Abramovich would have no chance to catch up.
For years to come, Chelsea might be permanently stuck in Bayswater's shadow.
Stamford Bridge's limitations meant matchday revenue could never compete.
Suddenly, a wild idea flashed through his mind—
What if he asked to co-invest with Yang Cheng?
Share the stadium?
He shook the thought away instantly. Impossible.
Then another idea—rent Wembley?
It could hold 90,000 people. Maybe that was an option.
But then what about Stamford Bridge?
And Bayswater already had a six-year lease with the FA for Wembley.
Ah—six years again!
Abramovich slapped his thigh.
Damn it! That kid had planned this all along, hadn't he?!
It was insane.
He was only 26 years old!
...
There were no flowers, no fanfare.
Just a few British reporters and some local fans waiting at the airport.
It left Yang Cheng reflective.
The UEFA Cup simply didn't have the glamour it once did.
And Bayswater Chinese FC certainly didn't have the clout of a traditional European giant—
Not the kind of team that drew crowds wherever they went.
Still, the next afternoon, when Yang Cheng took the team to train at the stadium,
a group of fans who had made the trip from London truly moved him and the squad.
He made sure to leave plenty of time for player-fan interaction.
Philips Stadion in Eindhoven could only hold 35,000 spectators.
According to UEFA and Spanish media, Sevilla only brought about 12,000 fans.
The remaining 23,000?
Mostly Brits—Bayswater's supporters.
It wasn't that Bayswater had more die-hard fans than Sevilla.
The key factors were:
– The distance from Spain to the Netherlands
– The UEFA Cup's declining prestige
– Spanish fans weren't willing to make the long trip
Plus, Sevilla were newcomers too.
Just like Bayswater, this was their first European final.
And for Yang Cheng's club, it was their very first European competition—and they'd gone straight to the final.
A fairy tale, really.
As a side note, Sevilla were founded in October 1905.
This year was their centenary season.
Yang Cheng wasn't in a rush—he quietly observed how the match was unfolding on the pitch.
Amusingly enough, Sevilla's most dangerous player was Dani Alves, while Bayswater's was Ribéry.
One a right-back, the other a left winger—directly matched against each other.
And yet, from the opening whistle, the ball had spent most of its time on the opposite flank.
It had to be said—Yang Cheng and Juande Ramos seemed to have had the same idea.
After a few probing exchanges, neither side could find a breakthrough.
Both Bayswater Chinese FC and Sevilla had well-organized defenses with strong overall shape.
In midfield, Bayswater had Lassana Diarra and Yaya Touré, while Sevilla had Maresca and Renato—tough, disciplined midfielders with excellent tactical awareness.
So for the first ten minutes, neither side managed a threatening shot.
Each team had one attempt from distance—nothing more.
To Yang Cheng, it looked like the usual cautious probing that comes at the start of a final.
But after ten minutes, Yang Cheng had more or less read Sevilla's strategy—and made the first move.
He walked to the touchline and shouted instructions.
Especially at Džeko.
"We see the 26-year-old Bayswater Chinese FC head coach directing his players from the sideline."
"Judging by his gestures, he's asking Džeko to adjust his role."
"We're not sure exactly what the tactical change is—guess we'll find out during play."
"He's also shouting at Modrić."
"From his hand signals, it looks like he's asking Modrić to switch the direction of the attack."
"Indeed—from kickoff till now, Bayswater have attacked primarily down the right, but it hasn't worked well. Ashley Young is struggling against Adriano and Puerta's defensive tandem."
"Meanwhile, Piszczek has had to stay back to watch Fabiano, who often drifts wide."
"Another thing to note is Sevilla's rapid defensive recovery."
"Apart from the two strikers, the entire team collapses back quickly to form a double defensive block."
"Facing such a setup, let's see what adjustments Yang Cheng makes."
...
From the 13th minute onward, Bayswater gradually took control of the midfield.
And then, as Yang Cheng had predicted, they began pushing higher and higher.
Sevilla's defensive line was camped just 15 to 20 meters outside their own box, refusing to drop deeper.
Their two forwards stayed near midfield, choosing not to press the center-backs but instead applying pressure on Yaya Touré.
This spacing allowed Sevilla's midfield to retreat instantly upon losing possession, always maintaining two compact defensive lines with eight players behind the ball.
A nightmare for any attacking team.
But once Bayswater settled in and adjusted, their flanks began creeping in.
Ribéry and Ashley Young started drifting more into the half-spaces.
In the 19th minute, Leighton Baines advanced up the left and played the ball to Ribéry in the left channel.
With Jesús Navas pressing Baines, Ribéry dropped back to collect the ball in line with Sevilla's midfielders.
That drew Dani Alves and Renato over to press.
But before they could close him down, Ribéry spun, and without delay, chipped a ball forward.
Džeko, retreating from the front line, collected it with his chest in the space between midfield and defense.
Suddenly, Renato, Maresca, David Navarro, and Escudé—four white shirts—formed a square around Džeko.
He had nowhere to turn.
But instead of forcing it, Džeko quickly laid the ball off, threading it perfectly between Renato and Maresca…
…into the feet of Modrić, who was completely unmarked.
If you paused the match right then, you'd see eight Sevilla players back behind the ball.
Yet six of them were drawn to just Ribéry and Džeko.
Why?
Because they were operating in the gray area between Sevilla's defensive zones—
No one was sure whose responsibility they were.
And when that happens, everyone tries to help, creating an overconcentration.
Džeko's retreat had also triggered Ashley Young, who had been waiting near the top of the box, ready to surge in if Džeko turned and passed forward.
When that didn't happen, Young adjusted, dropping into space and calling for the ball.
Puerta was tracking him.
Adriano, stationed in the half-space, kept one eye on Young and one on Piszczek, wary of a sudden overlap.
Then Modrić passed to Young, who received with his back to goal and shielded Puerta.
Maresca and Adriano closed in.
Modrić took a step right, just enough to stay outside Maresca's reach—and remain in the passing lane.
Young controlled the ball, sensed pressure, and fed it straight back to Modrić.
Without waiting for the defenders to reach him, Modrić lobbed a diagonal ball over the top, sending it to the edge of the box.
At that very moment, Piszczek, who had been watching, sprinted into action, overtaking Adriano on the blindside.
Adriano reacted, turning to chase, but he was at a disadvantage.
The pass from Modrić was perfect—it dropped just as Piszczek arrived.
The Pole knocked it forward gently into the box and got there first, just ahead of Adriano, before whipping in a high cross to the left side of the penalty spot.
At the same time, Džeko, who had just played the earlier pass, was already charging in.
David Navarro, just 1.82 meters, and Escudé at 1.84—they were both shorter and lighter than the towering Bosnian.
In the Premier League, Džeko's physique wasn't especially dominant.
But in La Liga? Against these defenders?
He was a battering ram. A cheat code.
Džeko soared into the air.
Neither Navarro nor Escudé even had time to jump—
They just watched as Džeko thumped a header on goal.
Palop reacted quickly, but he had been pulled right by Young and Piszczek's earlier movement.
Now, facing Džeko's point-blank header, he dove left—
Too late.
GOOOOOAL!!!!!!
"Džeko heads it in!"
"The Bosnian center-forward Edin Džeko opens the scoring for Bayswater Chinese FC in the 19th minute with a towering header!"
"What a stunning sequence of play!"
"From Baines to Ribéry, then Džeko, Modrić, and Ashley Young—seamless movement, clever passing, brilliant timing—it finally cracked Sevilla's defense."
"That was beautiful football!"
"This is Bayswater Chinese FC football!"
"They always manage to break down opponents with quick one-twos, off-the-ball runs, and seamless movement!"
The moment Džeko scored, Yang Cheng leapt off the ground, unable to contain his excitement.
Brian Kidd sprinted out of the technical area, yelling wildly from the sideline, visibly overwhelmed.
In a final of this magnitude, taking the lead was everything—everyone understood what it meant.
"This kid didn't let us down!" Kidd shouted in praise.
He was talking about Džeko.
In that goal, beyond the finish itself, Džeko had been absolutely key in the buildup.
Without him, the entire passing sequence wouldn't have happened.
When he received the ball in the left channel between Sevilla's defense and midfield, he was surrounded by five defenders—four of them directly closing in.
And yet, the Bosnian striker had the composure and skill to chest the ball down and slip it to Modrić before the trap closed in.
That's the importance of technique.
Had he miscontrolled even slightly, or panicked for just a moment, the move would have broken down.
Yang Cheng walked to the touchline and extended his right hand.
Džeko, jogging back from celebrating with his teammates, spotted him and ran over, giving him a firm high-five.
"Keep playing like that, Edin. Find those gaps between the lines. Get your teammates to pass to you there more often," Yang Cheng instructed.
"Sevilla's defenders and midfielders aren't tall—they can't stop you."
"And in that zone, they won't dare to foul you."
Why?
Because everyone knew how lethal Bayswater's set pieces were.
In fact, some media had recently released rankings showing Bayswater as having the best set-piece tactics in all of Europe—
and that didn't even count direct free kicks, just choreographed routines.
So Sevilla absolutely wouldn't risk giving away free kicks in that area.
Which meant—whether through strength or skill, Sevilla had no way to stop Džeko.
...
With the opening goal on the board, Bayswater Chinese FC began to control the midfield.
Especially Džeko.
The Bosnian frequently dropped deep to receive, giving Bayswater a reliable target in the final third and making Sevilla's defenders miserable.
Neither David Navarro nor Escudé could do anything about him.
Technically? Džeko was better.
Physically? He had the upper hand too.
In a normal game, defenders might resort to fouling.
But before the match, Sevilla coach Juande Ramos had specifically instructed: no fouls around the box.
With defenders unable to handle Džeko, Bayswater's dominance in the midfield and final third only grew.
Yang Cheng wasn't surprised.
Sevilla, though under pressure, still maintained a solid defensive structure.
After conceding, they quickly regrouped—and with goalkeeper Palop in top form, they avoided further damage.
Still, Yang Cheng's brows began to furrow again.
"Let's push one more time before halftime—try to get another," he said from the sideline to his assistants.
"You think Juande Ramos will make changes at the break?" Kidd asked.
The rest of the staff began thinking it over.
"He definitely will," Yang Cheng said firmly.
From a coach's perspective, Džeko's threat was too obvious.
If Ramos couldn't figure out how to stop him, Sevilla wouldn't stand a chance in the second half.
As stamina waned, Bayswater's advantage would only grow.
A lopsided scoreline wouldn't be out of the question.
"Don't forget—he's still got Aitor Ocio on the bench."
Navarro and Escudé weren't weak defenders by La Liga standards.
But compared to the Premier League, they lacked the physical tools.
Still, small defenders do have their own advantages: agility and speed.
But when a team like Bayswater pushes up and uses Džeko to pin the backline, Sevilla was at a severe disadvantage.
Aitor Ocio—another Spanish center-back at 1.87 meters—had a more physical style.
He wasn't particularly technical or agile, but against a big, strong center-forward, he was useful.
And that raised a common question:
Why can't clubs find defenders with everything?
Technique, agility, speed, and strength?
Well, they exist.
Sergio Ramos, despite being slightly short, checked nearly every box.
So what happened?
Real Madrid swooped in immediately.
Same with Pepe.
In terms of overall physicality, technique, and flexibility—outside of Lucio, few could compare.
And Pepe had the foot skills of a typical Brazilian.
The problem? Clubs like Sevilla couldn't afford to keep players like that.
Even if they found one, they couldn't hold onto him.
That was the tragedy of small and mid-sized clubs.
In football's pyramid, their role was to develop talent for the elite.
Want out of that role?
Simple—climb the pyramid.
When you reach the top, your fate changes.
Kidd nodded solemnly.
If he were the coach, he'd make the switch immediately too.
"Yeah, we definitely need to push for another goal before halftime."
Just then, something happened on the pitch.
Sevilla launched a rapid counterattack.
Maresca carried the ball through the middle after crossing halfway.
Bayswater's defensive recovery was fast.
With no passing options in front, Maresca shifted it wide right.
Alves, completely unmarked on the flank, adjusted slightly and whipped in a diagonal ball.
His cross came in hot and low—but the trajectory was perfect, skimming toward the edge of the six-yard box.
Fabiano, Škrtel, and José Fonte all lunged for it.
But it was Neuer who surged out—punching it clear with one hand.
Bodies collided, but Neuer quickly scrambled back to his line.
Luckily, the ball fell to Leighton Baines, who cleared it and prevented a second wave.
"Luka!"
Yang Cheng shouted toward Modrić, reminding him to keep an eye on Alves.
But after a pause, he decided that wasn't enough.
He gestured for Lassana Diarra to swap sides—move left, while Modrić slid right.
Diarra was like a brick—wherever he was needed, you could throw him in.
He was a brilliant defensive piece.
Under Yang Cheng's discipline, his reckless dribbling had decreased significantly.
After all, he valued money—and Yang Cheng wasn't shy about using fines to keep him in line.
Sure, he still had the occasional brain glitch and felt the urge to showboat.
Which was why Yang Cheng knew—character is hard to change.
If left unchecked, Diarra might easily fall back into old habits like he did in the previous timeline.
Still, with Diarra now on the left, Alves was suddenly nullified.
By the 35th minute, Yang Cheng was already signaling for one last attacking wave before the half.
As Bayswater's offense hit a lull, Alves began to grow more active on the right flank, looking to turn the tide.
Activate Ribéry too.
Attack is the best defense.
If Ribéry wasn't dangerous, Dani Alves would have no worries about getting forward.
...
"Wenger really likes you. He hopes to sign you after the season ends!"
That was what Ribéry's agent, Bruno Heiderscheid, quietly told him before the UEFA Cup final.
Heiderscheid had some minor reputation in France—not big, but decent.
After Ribéry joined Bayswater Chinese FC, he needed someone to handle his affairs off the pitch and brought Bruno on board.
From the way he said it, he had clearly already been in private contact with Arsenal.
"There's also interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, and Inter. They're all watching you closely."
"That's why this final is important. You need to deliver your best performance and make the big clubs take action."
"Twenty-three years old, Franck. It's the perfect age to move to a top club."
During a pause in the game, Ribéry thought about what his agent had said.
He'd never hidden his desire to join a big club.
Because he couldn't wait any longer.
He wanted to prove himself on a bigger stage.
But in his heart, he would always be grateful to Yang Cheng and Bayswater Chinese FC.
In fact, if possible, he hoped to return to this club someday after retirement.
People are complex like that.
The only regret? The cultural promo video about his time at the club hadn't been finished yet.
Ribéry hadn't kept this to himself—he had even told Yang Cheng everything.
Even about his agent's talks with Arsenal.
But Yang Cheng was different from other managers.
He never used emotion or morality to manipulate his players.
So at Bayswater Chinese FC, no topic was off limits.
Lassana Diarra had announced from day one that he wanted to play for a big club someday.
In another club, that would have blown up instantly.
But at Bayswater?
He still got minutes. He still got a renewal.
Yang Cheng respected Ribéry's ambition, but made two requests.
First—don't collude with other clubs to pressure Bayswater into a transfer.
If there was a transfer, a fee would be involved. Players were expected to stay neutral.
Second—no talks before the World Cup.
If clubs wanted him, they'd have to wait until afterward.
"Why?" Ribéry had asked, surprised.
"Because I believe you're going to explode at the World Cup."
Tournaments like the World Cup and Euros could make or break reputations.
Yang Cheng's faith warmed Ribéry's heart.
After three seasons under Yang Cheng, he'd been treated with genuine trust.
And just for that—Ribéry vowed to give everything in this final.
When he raised his head again, looking forward, his eyes burned with determination.
Then he glanced toward the touchline—
Yang Cheng stood tall, unmoving, watching every play.
That made Ribéry's heart surge with fire.
You believe in me—then I won't let you down!
...
39th minute. Bayswater intercepted in their own half.
Yaya Touré stepped forward and quickly passed to Modrić.
The Croatian pushed forward. As he crossed the halfway line, Maresca came up to press.
"Here!"
Ribéry suddenly darted over to the left half-space, calling for the ball.
Modrić, almost instinctively, sent it to him.
Renato rushed over to intercept.
But Ribéry was faster—he touched the ball past Renato and slipped through like an eel.
The two brushed shoulders, and Ribéry had already caught up with his own pass.
The stadium erupted with gasps.
No one even saw how he got past the defender.
Now with the ball at his feet, Ribéry didn't sprint. He kept moving forward, calmly assessing.
Alves was shadowing him from the right.
Ahead were Navarro and Escudé, double-teaming Džeko.
A 2v2 situation.
In a flash, Ribéry made his choice.
Džeko understood instantly—he dropped back toward Navarro, drawing him out.
Ribéry slid a short pass into Džeko's feet, then suddenly accelerated, breaking free from Alves.
Džeko paused, used his body to shield the ball from Navarro, then nudged it left, right into Ribéry's path—and just out of Navarro's reach.
Caught off guard, Navarro couldn't react in time.
Ribéry surged forward, tapped the ball into the left side of the box—he was through!
Goalkeeper Palop charged out to close the angle.
But the Frenchman was faster.
He reached the ball and chipped it over Palop's head, into the empty net.
2–0!
"GOAL!!!"
"Franck Ribéry doubles the lead!"
"It's the second goal of the match!"
"39th minute—Ribéry scores again for Bayswater Chinese FC!"
"Pure individual brilliance—full of confidence and speed!"
"Sevilla's defense had been solid—but they couldn't stop Ribéry's run."
"Modrić's pass, Džeko's setup—it all came together beautifully to support Ribéry's moment of magic."
"2–0!"
"Sevilla are in big trouble now!"
Yang Cheng jumped into the air, shouting Ribéry's name.
The crowd chanted along.
This goal was massive.
Ribéry, still only 23, was at his peak.
No injuries yet.
Small frame, fast feet, unbelievable technique—he was unstoppable.
Yang Cheng glanced over at Sevilla's bench.
Juande Ramos was shouting in frustration.
If the score had stayed at 1–0, there was still hope for a second-half comeback.
But 2–0?
A huge psychological blow.
Now Yang Cheng was certain of what would happen next.
In the second half, Sevilla would come out swinging—try to score early and turn the tide.
That would add suspense to the game.
But in terms of defense?
Ramos would definitely send in Aitor Ocio.
Because otherwise, no one could deal with Džeko.
In this situation, Juande Ramos didn't have many options.
With a two-goal cushion, Yang Cheng could sit back and dictate the tempo.
He'd wait to see what changes Ramos made at halftime—
And adjust accordingly.
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