Chapter 142: The Strongest in History! Has Anyone Seen a Legend Like This?
When Italian referee Roberto Rosetti blew the final whistle, all of Stamford Bridge erupted in a chorus of angry, dissatisfied boos from Chelsea fans.
It was clear—most of the jeers were aimed at Bayswater Chinese.
The final score stood at 1–2.
Home team listed first, away team second.
Aggregate score: 4–2.
Both legs of the tie had been close.
In the final ten minutes of this match, Chelsea had thrown everything forward in a desperate offensive push.
Everyone went all-in on the attack.
Even Bayswater Chinese had no choice but to abandon their pressing and fall back into a defensive shell.
During those last ten minutes, the game was entirely one-sided.
But seasoned fans knew—the chances of Chelsea scoring three goals in that short span were slim.
Still, no matter how small the chance, they had to try.
That was about attitude.
"Another semifinal!"
In one of Stamford Bridge's VIP boxes, Roman Abramovich sat with visible disappointment written all over his face.
The league title? Gone.
Eliminated from the FA Cup.
Now, out of the Champions League as well.
They did reach the League Cup final, facing off against Tottenham Hotspur.
But the two sides drew 1–1 in regular time, and Chelsea lost in extra time, missing out on the trophy.
In other words, Chelsea would once again end the season empty-handed.
"How many times have we been knocked out in the semifinals now?" Abramovich asked, frowning.
The box went silent.
Only Marina Granovskaia softly replied, "Since 2003, this is the fourth time."
Abramovich fell into a stunned silence.
Four semifinal exits in just five years since 2003.
It was almost unbearable.
In the 2003/04 season, the manager was Claudio Ranieri, and they lost in the semifinals to Deschamps' AS Monaco.
In the final, Mourinho's Porto defeated Monaco to lift the trophy.
So Abramovich hired Mourinho.
In 2004/05, Mourinho quickly led Chelsea to dominate the league and reach the Champions League semifinals again.
But they lost 1–0 on aggregate to Liverpool.
Benítez's side then pulled off a miracle in Istanbul.
Fine, Abramovich accepted that one.
In 2005/06, Chelsea were placed in the same group as Liverpool, finishing second.
In the Round of 16, they ran into eventual champions Barcelona, sparking endless controversy and drama.
Last season, Chelsea once again lost to Liverpool in the semifinals—this time on penalties.
And now, this season, they were out at the same stage yet again.
"Are we really cursed to never win the Champions League?" Abramovich couldn't explain it.
Were they weak?
Reaching the semifinals four times in five years wasn't weak.
But strong?
Four semifinal exits, and not even once making it to the final—was that strong?
In terms of spending, Abramovich could proudly say no team in Europe could compete with Chelsea.
And yet—this was the result.
That Bayswater Chinese team had barely spent anything.
Their transfer budget and investment weren't even a fraction of Chelsea's.
This was only their third season in the Premier League—
and they were in the Champions League final.
And they were still chasing a treble this season!
Sure, the league title seemed unlikely—
but the final round hadn't been played yet, right?
Abramovich was completely dumbfounded.
Was spending less actually the way to reach the final?
"To be fair, the teams Bayswater Chinese have faced on their way here were all incredibly strong. This run might be one of the highest-quality in recent years," Peter Kenyon said objectively, not wanting to sugarcoat anything.
"In the group stage, they were drawn against Real Madrid, Werder Bremen, and Lazio—that was the real 'group of death.'
Then in the knockouts: defending champions AC Milan, the second coming of Barça's Dream Team, and us in the semis.
Their road has been tougher than anyone's."
The room went silent again.
Everyone knew how the Champions League's seeding and draw rules worked—it was designed to protect the big clubs.
Whether it was Chelsea in the past or Bayswater Chinese now, they had to climb their way up step by step.
And the beginning was always brutal.
But Bayswater Chinese had made it.
"Peter, tell me—what's the biggest difference between us and Bayswater Chinese? Why can they reach the Champions League final, and we keep falling short in the semis?" Abramovich asked, puzzled.
Peter Kenyon knew football.
After all, he had worked for Manchester United for years.
"To be honest, the media has already pointed this out many times. We're strong, but too rigid. We lack flexibility and creativity."
Abramovich nodded silently, mulling it over.
"Look at Bayswater Chinese. Their defense is solid, right?
But in midfield, Yaya Touré is great at late runs and ball progression.
And more importantly—they have Modrić."
"From League Two to the Premier League, and now the Champions League, how many years has it been? Modrić has always been heavily trusted by Yang Cheng.
He's even their captain now. His passing and control in midfield are top class."
"We don't have a player like that."
Everything Kenyon said had already been brought up by the media, even experts.
But now, in the face of yet another crushing defeat, everyone was forced to take it seriously.
"And in attack—why is it that a striker like Shevchenko can't perform in our system?" Kenyon added.
Several people around him shifted uncomfortably.
Anyone with half a brain could tell—Kenyon was starting to shift the blame.
Rule number one in the corporate world:
If a deal goes bad, make sure you're not the one holding the bag.
"Now look at Bayswater Chinese. Džeko might not be as strong as Drogba physically,
but his technique is far superior."
"Di María on the left, Arshavin on the right—both extremely technical and creative.
We don't have players like that either, do we?"
Abramovich had thought about this too.
He'd even analyzed it with others.
Why had Shevchenko failed at Chelsea?
Everyone gave the same answer—tactics and personnel didn't suit him.
To put it bluntly—
other teams' midfielders created chances and fed the strikers.
Chelsea's midfield sucked the life out of them.
That's why someone like Shevchenko couldn't thrive at Chelsea.
Even the Ukrainian himself had repeatedly expressed his desire to return to Italy.
"So, what do you think of the summer transfer market?" Abramovich asked.
Kenyon pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"We need to sign a midfielder with creativity and control. Someone like Deco from Barça.
But personally, I think Modrić from Bayswater Chinese would be ideal."
"I'm not lacking defensive midfielders or physical players.
What we need is someone like Deco or Modrić—someone who can dictate the game."
"Deco's recent form hasn't lived up to expectations.
I personally think Modrić is the better fit."
Abramovich nodded.
That was an endorsement of Kenyon's analysis.
"As for the front line, I think Arshavin's transfer fee will exceed £30 million."
"£30 million?" Abramovich frowned slightly.
It hurt, but it was still acceptable.
Before he could say anything, Marina Granovskaia quietly added from the side:
"At the end of this season, Arshavin will already be 27."
She didn't speak much, but when she did, every word carried weight.
Abramovich froze for a moment, then immediately caught on.
Of course—he was 27 years old.
And still demanding such a high transfer fee?
"How many players on the market are at Arshavin's level? Can you name another one?"
Peter Kenyon paused slightly before continuing.
"If the price is £30 million, I personally think it's worth considering."
"If we can land those two players, I think next season we'll be fully capable of challenging for the Champions League title!"
A flash of passion burned in Abramovich's eyes.
Four semifinals in five years—he still hadn't stopped chasing the Champions League trophy.
…
Bayswater Chinese defeated Chelsea 4–2 on aggregate and made it into the Champions League final for the first time in history!
News of the achievement spread like wildfire around the globe the moment the match ended.
Countless media outlets and fans rushed to report the incredible story.
For this young Premier League club, the entire world was in disbelief.
In their debut Premier League season, they had won the UEFA Cup and finished runners-up in the league.
In their second season, they won the Premier League.
And now, in their third season, they were chasing a treble.
It was like they were climbing a massive staircase—one level up every year!
Actually, even before reaching the Premier League, they had already made waves in the lower leagues with impressive results.
The global media and fans heaped endless praise on this club.
Especially in recent weeks.
Thanks to the viral success of the club's football culture promo videos online, the team had already gained international attention.
Now, with their Champions League final berth, Bayswater Chinese had won even more admiration from global netizens.
Everyone loves winners, and everyone loves something different.
Bayswater Chinese happened to be both.
And with their social media-savvy content marketing and clever short videos tailored to the tastes of modern internet users,
the club had already built a wide base of goodwill.
Now, it all exploded at once.
Even celebrities from the UK entertainment scene were posting congratulatory messages to Bayswater Chinese.
It became a unique cultural moment on the global internet.
Back in January, Adele had released her debut album, 19, featuring 13 songs.
The album caused a sensation in the UK as soon as it dropped.
In late February, Adele was nominated for three categories at the 19th Brit Awards: Critics' Choice, Best British Female Solo Artist, and British Breakthrough Act.
She ultimately won the Critics' Choice award.
Her new album was a smash hit.
The British songstress became one of the hottest names in UK entertainment overnight.
When she received her award, Adele specifically thanked Yang Cheng and Bayswater Chinese.
She said that if it weren't for Yang Cheng and the club helping her at a critical point in her life, she would never have had the opportunity to release her debut album.
Adele's story with Bayswater Chinese was soon picked up by UK entertainment media and widely reported.
As Yang Cheng would say—they went viral.
Thanks to Adele's rise, a saying started to circulate in the entertainment world:
"Bayswater Chinese brings good luck to die-hard fans!"
And Adele was the best proof.
A British girl, still in school, discovered by a football club, sang a club anthem, gained recognition, released an album, and became a star overnight.
The craziest part? Adele was still singing at Wembley Stadium.
And she even had her own private box in the stands—
essentially tying her fate to Bayswater Chinese.
Word of this spread like wildfire.
So when Bayswater Chinese reached the Champions League final, countless entertainment stars sent their congratulations.
Many even posted pictures of their tickets online.
Whether or not they had time to attend didn't matter—
they bought the tickets, and that was enough.
…
In the other Champions League semifinal, Manchester United defeated Bayern Munich 1–0 at home thanks to a goal from Paul Scholes.
They advanced to the final with a 1–0 aggregate score.
And just like that, the Premier League had set up a remarkable finale.
In the league, Bayswater Chinese trailed United by just one point.
The final matchday would decide the champion.
In essence, it was a de facto final between Manchester United and Bayswater Chinese.
In the FA Cup final, it was also Manchester United vs. Bayswater Chinese.
And now, the Champions League final was another showdown between the two.
Both teams were chasing a treble.
Has anyone ever seen a scenario like this?
Sports media across the globe were all over this historic moment.
Everyone was watching to see which of these two sides would emerge with the treble.
Or—how would the three trophies be split between them?
Based on the current outlook, the league title looked to be in United's grasp.
Unless Ferguson's Red Devils pulled a bizarre stunt in the final round,
which seemed unlikely—
the quality gap between Wigan and United was just too wide.
What about the FA Cup and the Champions League?
Betting companies quickly posted odds for both matches.
The Times published an analysis of the situation.
The British media powerhouse believed that Bayswater Chinese were facing serious challenges.
The league was out of their control—
no need to elaborate.
The FA Cup final? A classic dilemma.
"Yang Cheng promised at the start of the season that young players would get to play in the cup."
"Now that they've made it all the way to the final—does he stick to that promise?"
The Times pointed out that no one expected things to go this far.
Now, if he fields the youth squad in the final, Manchester United will undoubtedly be the heavy favorite.
But if he fields the full-strength starting XI—
what happens to the young players?
That's the issue.
If they lose the league and the FA Cup,
how do they stay mentally strong for the Champions League final?
That's why The Times believed Bayswater Chinese were facing a daunting choice.
"If Yang Cheng mishandles this, he could lose all three trophies—
and suffer the same collapse Manchester United did last season."
"In that case, they'd become the most tragic runners-up in history."
…
Ever since the Champions League semifinal ended, Yang Cheng had found himself stuck in a dilemma.
And it wasn't just him—the entire coaching staff felt it too.
The FA Cup final was set for May 17 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The Champions League final would take place on May 21 in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.
Just three days apart.
To Yang Cheng, the FA Cup didn't carry the same emotional weight as it did for British managers.
It was just another domestic cup.
So, he decided to keep his word and field the young players.
No matter the outcome, even if they lost, it would be a valuable experience for them.
After all, it was a final—against Manchester United.
And it wouldn't hurt to wear United down a bit in the process.
Besides, this young Bayswater Chinese squad wasn't guaranteed to lose.
They'd made it to the final on merit.
The real concern was:
If they lost the FA Cup final, how would that affect the team's mentality heading into the Champions League final?
And more importantly—how should they approach United in the final?
They'd faced Manchester United twice this season and failed to win either time.
It was a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford, and 3–3 at Wembley.
If away goals counted, United would be ahead.
Yang Cheng also had to admit—
United's lineup this season was incredibly strong.
Especially that rock-solid back line.
Now This Manchester United—Quite Possibly the Strongest in History
Stronger even than the treble-winning side of '99.
Since Hargreaves joined, United's midfield had taken a huge step forward.
His only issue was his injury record.
But lately, Hargreaves had been in excellent form.
Add to that their deadly front three—
it was enough to give any coach headaches.
Yang Cheng had played in several Champions League finals in his previous life, though he lost them all.
Still, he had experience.
So from early on, he had already instructed team psychologist Tim Harkness to prepare a few effective stress-relief exercises.
The team bus would carry water, food, and other essentials, setting out early for Russia.
Once in Moscow, the club would maintain almost the same living conditions as they had in London.
Adam Crozier even personally flew to Moscow to scout suitable hotels.
Everything was being prepared in an orderly fashion.
Except Yang Cheng—the pressure on him only grew heavier.
Especially as the public narrative began turning increasingly against Bayswater Chinese.
Xia Qing had seen it all and was growing anxious.
"Maybe I should tell my parents, and my brother, and your parents too... maybe we ask them to come after the final instead?"
The day before the final Premier League round, as Yang Cheng came home for dinner, Xia Qing gently brought it up.
"Why?" Yang Cheng was a little surprised.
His own parents, along with Xia Qing's parents, Xia Xi, and his girlfriend were all planning to visit London—something arranged back in Spring Festival.
No one had expected things to get so complicated.
The main reason was to celebrate the completion and move-in of their new villa.
According to tradition, both families should come see the new home—
especially Yang Cheng's parents, who had funded it.
So they had arranged to come after the league ended, stay a few days, and relax.
It had been Yang Cheng's idea.
He even wanted to invite Xia Qing's grandparents too, but the elderly were reluctant to travel.
"We're really busy right now... we won't even have time to be with them," Xia Qing said gently, using it as an excuse.
Yang Cheng looked at her deeply—he understood.
He reached out and softly held her hand.
"I'm fine. Wins and losses are part of the game."
"Besides, your parents, Xia Xi, and my parents have all arranged their schedules and taken time off. We shouldn't let them down."
He smiled, "I've already made arrangements—we're inviting all the players' families to travel with the team for the FA Cup and Champions League finals."
"So them coming now is perfect, isn't it?"
Xia Qing was still worried. She didn't want to add more pressure on him.
"Really, don't stress. This will happen all the time—we plan on reaching the Champions League final regularly. You're part of the family now, you have to get used to it."
Seeing him joking again, Xia Qing finally relaxed a little.
"You've been handling all the renovation, buying furniture, organizing everything... thank you," Yang Cheng said, gently squeezing her hand—it was soft and warm.
"When the time comes, I'll be busy. You handle the family, stay at the new place. I'll keep living here—for convenience."
Xia Qing had no objections.
She knew that when Yang Cheng got busy, it meant working day and night.
…
The final round of the Premier League kicked off simultaneously.
All matches began at exactly 14:00 in the afternoon.
Bayswater Chinese were away to Derby County.
Yang Cheng fielded his strongest lineup for this match—it was the final battle.
Even though overtaking Manchester United seemed unlikely, he still went all-in.
Right from the opening whistle, Bayswater Chinese seized the initiative and attacked.
Derby County had already been mathematically relegated.
They had only won 1 match all season, drawn 8, and finished with 11 points—
perhaps the worst relegated side in Premier League history.
Just 15 minutes in, Džeko laid the ball back in the box,
and Yaya Touré fired in a long-range strike from deep.
Goal—1–0!
Derby responded with a series of fouls and yellow cards.
But really, they had no other options.
Without fouling, they simply couldn't stop Bayswater Chinese.
In the 37th minute, Modrić and Di María completed a slick one-two,
broke into the box, and squared the ball for Džeko, who tapped it home.
2–0!
Before halftime, Bayswater Chinese had several more brilliant attacking plays—nearly scoring again.
In the second half, they kept piling on.
First, Maicon crossed from the right, and Arshavin volleyed in.
3–0!
Just two minutes later, a long pass from the back—Džeko brought it down on the right,
dribbled into the box, and smashed it in.
4–0!
Džeko later added another goal to complete his hat-trick—
the first of his Premier League career, and the first of his professional career.
With a 5–0 lead, Yang Cheng made a series of substitutions.
Arshavin, Lewandowski, and Gareth Bale each added goals of their own.
Final score: 8–0.
An away demolition of Derby County.
The last goal came with 15 minutes still to play,
but Bayswater Chinese didn't press for more.
At another stadium, Manchester United were also playing their strongest lineup.
But Ferguson's team struggled to break down Wigan's defense.
For much of the match, they failed to produce any real chances.
Then, in the 33rd minute, a Wigan defender tripped Rooney in the box.
The referee awarded a penalty.
Cristiano Ronaldo converted.
Later, in the 80th minute, Giggs added a second.
United won 2–0 away.
And with that, Manchester United were crowned 2007/08 Premier League champions.
…
After 38 rounds, the final standings were in.
Manchester United took the title.
Bayswater Chinese finished just one point behind as runners-up.
Chelsea claimed third place.
Though Liverpool won their last two matches, Benítez's side had underperformed earlier in the season.
Especially in Round 35—
after Bayswater Chinese beat Arsenal and effectively handed fourth place to Liverpool,
they immediately threw it away in Round 36.
In the end, Arsenal claimed the fourth Champions League spot,
while Liverpool had to settle for fifth.
So next season's Premier League Champions League spots would go to:
Manchester United, Bayswater Chinese, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
After two seasons away, the Gunners were finally back in Europe's top competition.
As for the relegation zone—
the three teams going down were Derby County, Birmingham, and Fulham.
18th-placed Fulham finished just one point behind 17th-placed Bolton.
Their survival battle had come down to the final round.
As the British press put it—
a relegation scrap worth nearly £30 million in broadcast revenue and yearly income.
In the end, West London's Fulham were the ones who went down.
Yang Cheng had already mentally prepared for this outcome.
Losing the title was always the more likely scenario.
As for Fulham's relegation—he wasn't particularly thrilled.
Had it been Chelsea or Arsenal, he might've applied for a permit to launch fireworks in Hyde Park.
But Fulham? He didn't care.
Meanwhile, the media kicked off another frenzy.
The usual headlines flooded in:
Losing the league—
Bayswater Chinese take one step closer to becoming the most tragic triple runner-up in history.
In Terms of Player Performances, Bayswater Chinese and Manchester United Were Neck and Neck
Cristiano Ronaldo topped the scoring charts with 31 goals in the league.
Bayswater Chinese's Bosnian striker Džeko had a breakout season as well, finishing second with 25 goals.
Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor both scored 24, tying for third.
Just behind them was Arshavin, in fifth place with 21 goals—
his highest-scoring season ever.
As for attacking trios, United's Ronaldo, Rooney, and Tevez scored 31, 12, and 14 respectively, for a combined 57 goals—
arguably the most lethal attacking unit in Europe.
Bayswater Chinese's front three weren't far behind, though they fell slightly short in raw numbers:
Džeko had 25, Arshavin 21, but Di María only managed 5—adding up to 51 goals in total.
Still, Di María made up for his low goal tally with an abundance of assists.
He was second only to Fabregas in the Premier League in assists this season.
That alone highlighted Di María's playing style.
Though he was a classic South American wide forward,
he was much more of a passer and provider than a pure goal-scorer.
Meanwhile, youngsters Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott both scored 8 goals in the league.
Polish striker Lewandowski also netted 8.
Thanks to the collective contribution of these young talents, plus Yaya Touré's 8 goals,
Bayswater Chinese ended the season with exactly 100 goals—
making them the first team in Premier League history to break the 100-goal mark in a single season.
They surpassed the legendary 1999/2000 Manchester United team, who had scored 97 goals that season.
That United side conceded 45 goals.
Bayswater Chinese, by contrast, only conceded 28.
Across the league, that was the second-best defensive record—
only behind Manchester United's 22, and level with Liverpool.
But Liverpool had only scored 67 goals all season.
Even media outlets that had been pessimistic about Bayswater Chinese were forced to admit:
if it hadn't been for running into the strongest Manchester United side in history,
this team might really have swept the league and claimed a treble.
Say what you want—
but how many teams can stop a side that scores 100 goals in a season?
Of course, Ferguson's United were no slouches either.
Their defense was rock-solid, and they scored 80 goals themselves.
If there was one weakness, it was their overreliance on the front three.
Ferguson rotated heavily,
but his front three? He never dared to touch them.
Because the moment he did, the team's output dropped dramatically.
Beyond the trio, United's next highest scorer was Saha with 5 goals.
Giggs and Nani had only 3 each.
The drop-off was steep.
In contrast, Bayswater Chinese's young players had all contributed solid numbers,
and their goals were much more evenly distributed.
The Sun even ran a special stat:
Bayswater Chinese had 18 different goalscorers this season.
United? Only 13.
The contrast was stark.
Yang Cheng's side had scorers all over the pitch—
United had built their entire attack around the front three, especially Ronaldo.
That's why Ferguson never dared to rotate them.
Take one out, and the machine stalled.
Meanwhile, the final round of the Premier League also decided this year's Golden Glove winner.
Back in the 2006/07 season, Neuer had claimed the award with 20 clean sheets.
Pepe Reina finished second with 19.
This season, the two elite goalkeepers went head-to-head again.
After 38 rounds, both ended the season with 18 clean sheets,
and shared the Golden Glove.
After the Derby County match, Neuer returned to London,
where he was awarded the Golden Glove at Bayswater Stadium by the Premier League.
During his media interview, the German keeper thanked his teammates and the coaching staff,
especially head coach Yang Cheng.
Although there had always been some debate about using clean sheets as the metric for the award,
there was no denying that since joining Bayswater Chinese,
Neuer had become one of the best goalkeepers in both the Premier League and European football.
Consistent match experience had accelerated his development.
At just 22 years old, he'd already won the Premier League Golden Glove twice.
His talent and ability were plain to see.
While Neuer was receiving his award,
Ferguson was in Manchester, giving interviews as the newly crowned Premier League champion.
The legendary manager was visibly emotional.
He stated that he now had two goals—one long-term, one short-term.
The long-term?
"To win more titles for Manchester United and knock Liverpool off their perch."
The short-term?
"I want to win the two finals we have in the next ten days."
He was talking, of course, about the FA Cup and the Champions League finals.
"I know it'll be tough—Bayswater Chinese are a very strong side.
But I've always believed that if we stay focused, the victories and the trophies will be ours."
"We'll win the FA Cup first,
and carry that momentum into the Champions League final."
…
May 17th, Wembley Stadium, London
FA Cup Final: Bayswater Chinese vs. Manchester United.
To everyone's surprise, Yang Cheng actually kept his promise—
and started his young guns.
Starting XI – Bayswater Chinese
Goalkeeper: Begović
Defense: Marcelo, José Fonte, Koscielny, Piszczek
Midfield: Matić (holding), Matuidi and Rakitić (central)
Forwards: Gareth Bale, Lewandowski, Theo Walcott
Manchester United, meanwhile, fielded their full-strength squad.
Starting XI – Manchester United
Goalkeeper: Van der Sar
Defense: Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Wes Brown
Midfield: Giggs, Carrick, Hargreaves, Ronaldo
Forwards: Rooney, Tevez
As Yang Cheng had previously noted—
Ferguson didn't dare rotate his front three.
Yang Cheng's faith in his youth players gave them a huge morale boost.
They were fired up and brimming with energy,
and came out with a fierce, aggressive attitude.
Less than a minute in, Matuidi fired a long-range shot that tested Van der Sar.
In the 12th minute, Gareth Bale received a pass from Matuidi on the left,
sprinted past United's midfield, and sent a through ball behind the line.
Walcott beat the offside trap,
broke into the box, and shot from just right of the penalty spot.
Van der Sar rushed out and made the save.
A minute later, Bayswater Chinese won a corner.
Koscielny's header went just wide.
The most dangerous moment came in the 21st minute—
Bale whipped in a cross from the left.
Lewandowski took it in the box, shook off Ferdinand,
and fired a low shot from the edge of the six-yard box.
It struck the base of the left post and bounced out for a goal kick.
A golden opportunity missed.
In the first 21 minutes, Manchester United hadn't even managed a single shot—
completely pressed by Bayswater Chinese's youth squad.
Only in the 24th minute did United finally register a shot—
a long-range effort that forced Begović into action.
But Bayswater Chinese kept attacking.
Using a Set-Piece to Shake United, and a Battle to the Very End
Bayswater Chinese first threatened with a cleverly designed set-piece that made Manchester United collectively break out in a cold sweat.
Lewandowski's header nearly found the back of the net.
Then, in the 40th minute, Gareth Bale used his pace to burst past Wes Brown down the left and whipped in a low cross near the byline.
Lewandowski was arriving at the near post, ready to poke the ball in, but lost his balance and fell.
Walcott came sliding in at the far post but was just a split second late, the ball hitting the side netting.
Lewandowski got up and protested to the referee, claiming he'd been pulled down from behind by Ferdinand.
The referee didn't call it.
Slow-motion replay showed that Ferdinand had indeed used his hands.
You could say the entire first half was one where Bayswater Chinese's young players put United on the back foot.
Their attacking play was relentless and aggressive.
Still, during the halftime break, Yang Cheng warned his players—
Manchester United hadn't shown their full strength yet.
Ferguson would no doubt be saving some energy for the upcoming Champions League final.
So United had played the first half with relative restraint, focusing on defense.
But that wouldn't last.
Given how poor they looked in the first half, things would definitely shift in the second.
Ferguson had probably already unleashed one of his famous dressing room speeches.
Sure enough, after the break, United came out firing.
Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, their front line launched an all-out assault on Bayswater Chinese's goal.
The most dangerous moment came in the 53rd minute,
when Ronaldo pulled off a backheel pass to set up Rooney,
who burst into the box and shot—
but Begović made a brilliant save to tip it out for a corner.
With United gaining momentum, Bayswater Chinese shifted more into a defensive posture.
Matić, though not yet at Yaya Touré's level, had come a long way this season.
The tall, physically imposing Serbian had gradually adapted to the holding midfield role.
And he was beginning to understand that this deeper role suited him better.
As a No. 10, his flaws were exposed.
But as a No. 4, his strengths were amplified.
He just needed to improve his defensive technique and awareness—
and that would only come with more game time.
Matuidi was another player Yang Cheng was very satisfied with.
At first glance, Matuidi looked like your stereotypical tough-tackling African midfielder—
someone who played rough and didn't mess around.
But in reality?
He was nothing like that.
Matuidi's passing was exceptional, consistently maintaining an accuracy rate around 90%.
He mostly played short passes and rarely went long.
More importantly, he ran tirelessly and pressed aggressively.
Since joining Bayswater Chinese, he had developed significantly.
Especially in the last two seasons, he had become an important rotational piece in the first team.
Whenever Lass Diarra was injured, suspended, or away on national duty, Matuidi stepped in seamlessly.
And thanks to Matuidi's midfield coverage,
plus Rakitić's dual-threat ability in both attack and defense,
and Matić holding behind them,
Bayswater Chinese's midfield managed to hold off United's waves of attack.
The tug-of-war continued until the 71st minute.
Ronaldo broke down the right and blasted a shot from inside the box.
Begović spilled it.
Tevez reacted quicker than Koscielny and poked the rebound in from close range.
1–0!
United quickly made substitutions.
Nani replaced Ronaldo, and Ashley Young came on for Rooney.
Yang Cheng responded as well—
Aaron Ramsey replaced Matić.
Then Arshavin came on for Rakitić.
With those changes, Matuidi and Ramsey played as the double pivot,
while Arshavin operated just behind Lewandowski.
Bayswater Chinese had switched to a 4-2-3-1.
In the final 20 minutes, Bayswater Chinese dominated possession, pinning United deep.
In the last 10 minutes, even Marcelo and Piszczek pushed up high, forcing United to retreat completely.
Ramsey stood out.
Though nominally playing as a defensive midfielder,
he often made forward runs, linking with Arshavin for one-touch combinations.
The most threatening moment came in the 81st minute,
when he played a sharp through ball.
Bale's shot struck Ferdinand and deflected out for a corner.
Ramsey took the corner, and José Fonte's header was too central—Van der Sar caught it easily.
In the 89th minute, Arshavin played a delightful through ball.
Ramsey lashed a shot from the right side of the box.
Van der Sar fumbled it—
but quickly recovered and smothered the ball.
Lewandowski was just a step too late.
Even in the 94th minute, Piszczek was still charging forward,
firing a shot into the side netting from the right.
Finally, referee Mike Dean blew the full-time whistle.
Thanks to Tevez's goal, Manchester United edged Bayswater Chinese 1–0.
But despite the win, Ferguson didn't look like a man who had just claimed the domestic double.
The match hadn't gone the way he'd expected.
In his mind, if Yang Cheng started his best lineup,
they'd go all out here and then battle again in the Champions League final.
If Yang Cheng rotated, then United could secure the FA Cup early and conserve energy.
But Ferguson hadn't expected this—
even with a young lineup, Bayswater Chinese had put up a ferocious fight.
United had nearly been overrun on several occasions.
And this match had taken its toll—
Ronaldo, Rooney, and Hargreaves were subbed off,
but the rest of the team played the full 94 minutes.
The first half had been manageable, but the second was played at a frantic pace.
"Where the hell did he find all these young monsters?" Ferguson muttered, a headache brewing.
Carlos Queiroz, known for his expertise in developing young players,
was also impressed by what he saw.
The raw talent on display from Bayswater Chinese's youngsters was impossible to hide.
"Give it two or three more years,
and they'll be an entirely new Bayswater Chinese," Queiroz said with admiration.
Ferguson's frown deepened.
Of course he knew.
"You think he threw the FA Cup on purpose? To save everything for the Champions League?" Ferguson asked.
Queiroz glanced at Yang Cheng—his expression neutral, unbothered by the result.
"I don't think it was intentional. He did his best—he just stuck to his promise not to start the main squad."
Everyone knew Yang Cheng had made that promise at the start of the season.
"If I had a group of young players like that, I'd give them the chance too."
"Oh?" Ferguson was surprised.
"A chance to battle Manchester United in an FA Cup final—
win or lose, it's a huge step forward for their development."
Ferguson was moved.
Coming from Queiroz—
the man who developed Portugal's golden generation led by Figo and Rui Costa—
that kind of praise meant a lot.
He was one of the best youth developers in the world.
After hearing him say that,
Ferguson's joy at winning the double began to fade.
In fact, he was starting to feel… worried.
May 21st.
Champions League Final.
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