Chapter 156: Has This Kid Finally Woken Up? A Miracle Is Unfolding at Wembley!
November 26th, evening, Vicente Calderón Stadium, Madrid.
Champions League group stage, Matchday 5: Bayswater Chinese FC away against Atlético Madrid.
Having already secured qualification with four straight wins, Yang Cheng and his staff sent out a full rotation squad composed of substitutes and youth players for this game.
Starting lineup:
Goalkeeper: Begović
Defense: Marcelo, José Fonte, Kompany, Piszczek
Midfield: Matuidi, Matić, Aaron Ramsey
Attack: Hazard, Lewandowski, Gareth Bale
For Bayswater Chinese FC, this was essentially a warm-up and testing match.
But Atlético, still chasing qualification alongside Inter Milan, couldn't afford to relax.
After four rounds, the standings were:
Bayswater Chinese FC – 12 pts
Inter Milan – 7 pts
Atlético Madrid – 4 pts
Marseille – 0 pts
To keep their hopes alive, Atlético had to win their final two games.
So, from the opening whistle, they launched a desperate all-out attack, catching Bayswater's younger lineup completely off-guard and throwing them out of rhythm.
By the 14th and 28th minutes, Atlético had scored twice.
But after halftime, Bayswater finally began to settle.
At the start of the second half, Atlético tried to extend their lead with more pressure.
But just two minutes in, Agüero dropped deep to collect a pass from Maxi Rodríguez, hoping to launch an attack from the right half-space.
Matías Matić, reading the play, moved to support the under-pressure Marcelo.
When Agüero tried to turn, Matić used his long legs to make a clean tackle, dispossessing him.
Agüero lost his balance and fell, but the referee waved play on—a clean challenge.
Matić, under a chorus of boos at the Calderón, carried the ball forward.
The Serbian midfielder, showcasing the technique he honed while once playing as a No.10, calmly advanced despite facing Raúl García and Maniche, with Maxi Rodríguez chasing from behind.
Three-on-one—yet he didn't blink.
Matić drove forward, compressing Atlético's defensive shape, biding his time.
When Lewandowski made a diagonal check to the top of the box to receive, everyone expected a pass.
Instead, Matić ignored the decoy run and slipped a precise through ball between the two defensive midfielders, threading past a lunging Heitinga.
The Dutch center-back misread it and completely lost position.
Lewandowski, having anticipated the signal, hit the brakes, spun, and accelerated into the left channel of the box.
He reached the pass just before Ujfalusi and calmly slotted a low shot into the bottom corner.
1–2!
That goal was a turning point—Bayswater's play began to noticeably improve.
Especially Matić.
He covered ground tirelessly in the No.6 role and displayed real poise in his passing and organization.
Against a strong Atlético midfield, he dealt confidently with both ground duels and aerial balls.
Most importantly—he looked composed on the ball and in control of the game.
...
"Is this kid finally getting it?"
Yang Cheng stood on the touchline, his expression more and more pleased as he turned to Brian Kidd.
Kidd nodded with a grin. "It's about time, honestly."
He paused, then added, "He's been with us… what, two or three years now?"
"Since the summer of '06," answered technical coach Danny McGrane from nearby.
McGrane had been in charge of technical skills development for years.
"Two and a half years then," Kidd said with a touch of emotion.
For many players, that's enough time to be completely transformed.
If anything, Matić was developing a bit slowly.
But Yang Cheng was satisfied.
After all, transitioning from a No.10 to a No.6 is no small feat.
Especially considering that when Matić joined Bayswater Chinese FC, he didn't even have professional experience.
A blank slate was easier to shape—but growth took time.
"These past two or three years, he's been focused on improving his defending," McGrane noted. "And this season, he's worked hard on strength training. He's right on schedule."
Every player's development follows a process.
Matić had logged plenty of game time over the last two years, and Yang Cheng had invested heavily in his training.
With the help of tailored programs and coaching, his abilities were rising rapidly.
"From here, his progress will accelerate," Yang Cheng said. "Keep giving him minutes in both training and matches."
Kidd and McGrane nodded.
They knew every player had a breakout window.
Take Džeko—his most rapid development wasn't this season, but in the two seasons prior, when he made huge leaps.
Lewandowski, on the other hand, had been improving steadily since joining the club, and this season was his breakout.
He'd scored just 8 goals last season. This year, he already had 6—not even counting cup competitions.
This surge in performance, as long as it's backed by health and enough playing time, usually leads to explosive growth.
Matić and Lewandowski weren't lacking for minutes.
Yang Cheng's only concern was injuries.
"Make sure the medical and sports science departments monitor them closely. I want daily reports," Yang Cheng ordered.
Everyone could feel how seriously he was taking Matić's development.
And there was a reason for that.
In Yang Cheng's mind, the strongest midfield combinations in the coming years would be either Busquets–Xavi–Iniesta or Modrić–Kroos–Casemiro (the 'Madrid Gala Trio').
Which was better? Debatable.
But one thing was clear:
The Busquets-Xavi-Iniesta trio thrived within Barcelona's possession system—under Guardiola, with Messi ahead of them.
That level of tactical perfection was impossible to replicate.
But the Madrid Gala Trio was different.
It was more adaptable, more balanced, and offered more tactical variety.
To Yang Cheng, the ideal pairing had always been Kroos and Modrić.
So who filled the holding role?
Yaya Touré?
He was a solid option—but only if he was willing to stay disciplined and defend first.
It's not that he couldn't go forward, but he had to prioritize defense.
With Rakitić's rise this season, Touré had already expressed to Yang Cheng that he missed the days when Lass Diarra was his partner.
Back then, Touré had the freedom to surge forward without worry.
But when that happens, Modrić's impact gets blunted.
Modrić didn't have much pace. His short-range dribbling and ball progression were far more dangerous the closer he got to goal.
But if he had to keep covering for Touré, he'd inevitably sit deeper.
Toni Kroos, Modrić, Xabi Alonso, Rakitić—even Xavi and Iniesta—all share a very distinctive trait: they are not strong in direct defensive duels, and they lack explosive acceleration.
This type of midfielder usually doesn't dive into tackles. Instead, they focus on tracking their opponents, maintaining good positioning relative to their teammates, and compressing the space available to ball carriers.
As a result, their ball recovery numbers are decent, but their individual defensive stats don't particularly stand out.
Their style of defending demands coordination with the players behind them—which makes the role of the No.6 (the holding midfielder) absolutely crucial.
To maximize Rakitić and Modrić's impact, Yang Cheng knows he must limit Yaya Touré's forward runs.
On the flip side, if you want to unleash Touré's devastating late runs, you'd have to sacrifice Rakitić and Modrić's creative and attacking contributions.
Back in the summer of 2009, Guardiola faced the exact same dilemma at Barcelona.
His solution? Sergio Busquets.
Real Madrid later chose Casemiro.
At Bayswater Chinese FC, Yaya Touré's situation was still under Yang Cheng's control—for now.
But as Touré's performances improved, signs of tension began to surface.
For example, during the current season's renewal talks, the club offered him £70,000 per week, but the deal stalled.
His agent claimed that Touré was the most important player at the club—bar none, and demanded that he be paid more than anyone else.
Not only that, they wanted greater tactical freedom granted to him on the pitch.
So, Matić's impressive form had now become a valuable negotiation chip for Bayswater Chinese FC.
In fact, if you look purely at the No.6 role, Matić—once a No.10—might even be a better stylistic fit for a Kroos–Modrić combination than Touré.
In every way, Yang Cheng was now determined to develop Matić into the club's future midfield anchor.
...
Bayswater Chinese FC lost 1–2 away to Atlético Madrid, but the second half showcased the youth players' quality.
Everyone could see that this young generation had real potential.
Which also meant more and more clubs started circling—eyes locked on Bayswater's talent.
Among them, England's top agent, Jonathan Barnett, made his way to Bayswater's temporary office on the north side of Bayswater Road.
The receptionist, clearly informed ahead of time, welcomed him and led him to the meeting room.
Within three minutes, Xia Qing entered.
"Hello, Jonathan."
"Delighted to see you again, Miss Xia."
Jonathan Barnett was all manners and smiles with Xia Qing.
Ever since Yang Cheng publicly confessed to her at Wembley in 2007, the entire world knew about Xia Qing.
Everyone knew that Bayswater Chinese FC had a brilliant and elegant CFO.
Within European football circles, Xia Qing was widely respected.
In the past few years, she had built a robust and well-structured financial system for the club.
Especially the wage structure—a notorious challenge for any club, but Xia had managed it superbly.
She was known as Yang Cheng's most capable right hand, rivaling even CEO Adam Crozier in importance.
Barnett was observing her carefully, but Xia Qing was doing the same.
In recent years, the English agent's influence had grown massively—and so had his cooperation with Bayswater.
Right now, the club had numerous players under his management:
Gareth Bale, Walcott, Leighton Baines, Aaron Ramsey, Begović, Lambert…
Almost all the homegrown talents were now under Barnett's umbrella.
And Yang Cheng had tacitly approved of this.
As Bayswater grew more dominant, so too did the value of Barnett's clients.
Today, he was undisputedly the top agent in England.
But even so, within Bayswater Chinese FC, he remained extremely respectful.
Most wouldn't know why—but Xia Qing did.
Back in the day, Yang Cheng promised Barnett he would help develop two homegrown stars as good as Wayne Rooney.
Now, with Gareth Bale and Walcott blossoming, Barnett must've been feeling it.
"Jonathan, we invited you here today to discuss contract renewals for Leighton Baines, Gareth Bale, and Theo Walcott."
"These are the three offers we've prepared. Take a look."
As soon as Xia Qing finished speaking, her assistant stepped forward and handed over the documents.
Barnett flipped open the first: Leighton Baines' proposed salary was £60,000 per week.
As an experienced agent, Barnett had his own sources.
Unlike the media's vague reports, he had a good idea that Modrić's new salary was around £80,000.
So giving Baines £60,000 clearly placed him in the upper half of the second-tier salary bracket—solid, core-squad level.
The other two offers were similar.
Gareth Bale and Walcott—the British twin stars—had drawn increasing attention nationwide.
Every weekend, fans from Wales or other English cities would drive to London just to watch them play.
And in many ways, the two were similar.
Even their contracts.
Both were offered £40,000 per week, placing them in the lower end of the club's second tier.
Barnett's first reaction? Too low.
Given their current trajectories, either of them could get £100,000 per week at another club.
But Barnett wasn't the type to push too hard—not yet.
In fact, he often advised his young players and their families to prioritize development over money.
A smaller salary wasn't a big deal.
If their growth continued, the money would come—easily.
As he read further, Barnett noted the bonus structures.
For Baines, a defender, the lower base salary made sense.
But Bale and Walcott's contracts had substantial performance incentives.
If they performed well and the team did well, their total earnings would rival or exceed Baines'.
That earned a silent nod from Barnett.
Baines was already a mature, established player—£60,000 base, modest bonuses.
But the two youngsters? Structured to motivate—low base, high bonuses, designed to push them to earn it on the pitch.
Plus, they'd be due for new contracts again in a few years, so leaving salary headroom now was smart.
"You know, Jonathan," Xia Qing said gently, "Mr. Yang values these players tremendously. He's told me repeatedly that we must secure their renewals as soon as possible."
"We're not interested in playing hardball over wages. Every offer here is made in good faith."
She paused, then smiled softly—a smile that seemed to light up the entire room.
Even the seasoned Jonathan Barnett found himself briefly distracted.
"I believe," she added, "outside of City, Arsenal, and Chelsea, no other club would offer significantly better deals than these two contracts. Don't you agree?"
Jonathan Barnett nodded.
What Xia Qing said was the truth.
Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea were all showing signs of wage structure instability—each with its own circumstances.
City had deep financial backing and didn't care about wage caps when poaching talent. Arsenal and Chelsea were trying to rebuild and redefine their salary structures.
Sure, a player might get paid more at one of those clubs—but would they develop better there?
"I'll speak with the players and their families," Barnett replied politely. "But I'll be sure to convey your sincerity."
Xia Qing smiled gracefully and nodded. "Then I'll await your good news."
When Jonathan Barnett said that, it usually meant things were on track.
As for Leighton Baines, there weren't many issues either.
But Barnett did bring up a concern—one that likely echoed the player's own doubts.
Marcelo.
Anyone could see Yang Cheng had a strong appreciation for the Brazilian full-back.
Marcelo was a curious case—sometimes dazzling, sometimes disastrous. His biggest criticism? Defensive inconsistency.
Just like in the recent Champions League match against Atlético, where the left flank became a weak point again.
If Matić hadn't repeatedly supported him in the second half, Marcelo might have been publicly roasted once again.
"Mr. Yang mentioned that Marcelo is still young," Xia Qing said. "Born in '88—he's only 20. He's a long-term project."
She paused, then added, "No one can predict the future. The team needs internal competition. Leighton Baines is a homegrown player and currently our most relied-upon left-back."
"I understand," Barnett nodded.
After escorting him out, Xia Qing glanced toward her assistant.
The assistant stepped forward. "Two meetings this morning. One's a four-party coordination with the construction company, design firm, and city officials about the new stadium—you and Mr. Crozier are expected to attend."
"The other is the signing ceremony for the seventh satellite training center in South London. You promised Mr. Hunter you'd go."
"In the afternoon, there's an internal club meeting to finalize December's budget, and..."
She rattled off the day's packed schedule in one breath.
Xia Qing didn't even blink. She was used to it by now.
Though she had delegated most day-to-day tasks, as Bayswater's CFO, there were still matters that only she could sign off on.
"Call Matić's agent and schedule a meeting. See if we can fit it in later today. I want to discuss his contract renewal."
It wasn't a pressing issue for the club.
But Yang Cheng had specifically requested it last night, so Xia Qing wanted it done.
"Only possible after 5 PM," the assistant said after checking the calendar.
"Make the arrangements."
With that, Xia Qing walked briskly out of the meeting room, heading toward Adam Crozier's office.
Since the stadium coordination was a four-party discussion, internal alignment was essential.
The assistant followed behind, eyes filled with admiration as he watched her elegant figure in motion.
This was a globally renowned football executive.
And what's more—she was stunning.
It was as if God had given her everything good in the world.
...
Back in London from Madrid, Yang Cheng began preparing for Premier League Round 15.
Aston Villa were currently seventh in the league—one of the season's surprise packages.
More importantly, they were unbeaten at home against top-six opposition.
City had lost there, Liverpool and United had both drawn 0–0.
Villa Park had become a fortress.
Martin O'Neill's team, especially his 4-5-1 with three holding midfielders and lethal counterattacks, was giving top clubs headaches.
Ferguson himself had nearly suffered a loss there, which led to his furious rant against FIFA and the FAs.
Yang Cheng's team was going through a slight adjustment phase.
Despite controlling the game well, they struggled to break down Villa's wall.
Especially on the counter—Agbonlahor's speed was terrifying.
In the 19th minute, Modrić slalomed past two defenders and slipped a through ball behind the back line.
Di María made a diagonal run and beat the offside trap, but his right-footed chip was saved by Brad Friedel.
Yang Cheng nearly exploded.
"If only we could just cut off his right foot!" he shouted, half joking, half furious.
"His left foot is magical, his right foot is tragic!"
Brian Kidd offered a wry smile. "He's improved a lot already. We've been working on it constantly. It just takes time."
Maybe Di María heard the comment—because in the second half, he stepped up.
In the 83rd minute, he combined with Maicon down the right.
A quick one-two found Maicon darting into the right side of the box. He fired across goal—GOAL!
1–0!
Bayswater Chinese FC had snatched a late winner at Villa Park!
...
After the match, British media described the win as another example of individual brilliance rescuing the team.
"Maicon's goal saved Bayswater Chinese FC!"
Others said it was a sign of a truly great team.
"Whenever they face adversity, someone always steps up—Lambert, Modrić, and now Maicon. Bayswater Chinese FC are showing the poise of champions."
Elsewhere in the league:
– United beat City 1–0 with a goal from Rooney.
– Arsenal beat Chelsea 2–0 at Stamford Bridge with a brace from Van Persie.
– Arshavin assisted both goals and was outstanding.
– Liverpool, in the final match of the round, drew 0–0 at home against West Ham.
When the result reached Brent Training Centre in west London, the place exploded with celebration.
Even in Yang Cheng's coaching office, separated from the players, he could hear them cheering.
Liverpool dropped points!
That meant Bayswater's lead had grown to six points—with a game in hand!
After 15 rounds, they had 13 wins, 2 draws, and remained undefeated.
It was an exceptional record—one of the club's best ever.
The next morning, all the major UK media were reporting on Round 15.
Most agreed: Liverpool's draw pushed Bayswater one step closer to the title.
The half-season title was basically already theirs.
After 15 rounds:
– Bayswater Chinese FC – 40 pts
– Liverpool – 34 pts
– Arsenal – 32 pts
– Manchester United – 31 pts
– Chelsea – 30 pts
– Manchester City – 26 pts
Before the morning training session, Yang Cheng gathered the team for a short speech.
Yang Cheng shared the news of Liverpool's draw with West Ham with his players.
And he gave their performance this season the highest praise.
"This is the most dominant season since I became head coach of Bayswater Chinese FC!"
"There's only one thing I want to say to you now—hold on to our momentum, keep your hunger, and keep pushing forward!"
"I said it before—everything we lost last season, we'll take it all back this year!"
"But more than that, I want to raise the bar even higher."
Every player in the room was silent, eyes fixed on their manager, visibly fired up.
"This season, we're going to make the whole world see Bayswater Chinese FC in a new light!"
Yang Cheng's voice rang out powerfully.
"I'm proud of you, boys!"
Thunderous applause followed.
When a team is united, riding a surge of momentum, its fighting spirit becomes absolutely terrifying.
...
December 3rd, evening. League Cup Quarterfinals.
Bayswater Chinese FC played away against Watford.
As always, Yang Cheng fielded a full reserve team.
Despite conceding first to a counterattack in the 12th minute, Lewandowski equalized in first-half stoppage time.
After the break, Walcott scored to complete the comeback.
Bayswater advanced to the semifinals with a 2–1 away win.
Yang Cheng had previously joked with Ferguson that if United crashed out in the quarterfinals, they could play their rescheduled league match in January.
But United beat Blackburn 5–3 at home.
Argentine striker Carlos Tevez scored four goals and assisted the fifth, single-handedly dragging United into the semifinals.
He earned rave reviews afterward.
But he also gave Ferguson a massive headache.
With Tevez in such form, did Fergie need to give him more starts?
Would that mean altering a settled first team?
This wasn't just a tactical question—it was a locker room management issue.
The other semifinal matchups were:
– United vs Derby County (Championship)
– Bayswater Chinese FC vs Tottenham Hotspur
...
December 6th, noon. Wembley Stadium. Premier League Round 16.
Bayswater Chinese FC vs Manchester City.
91st minute.
Rakitić picked the ball up, lifted it with his foot and cradled it to his chest, wiping off the water droplets with his jersey before gently placing it on the corner arc.
At this moment, Wembley fell completely silent.
The scoreboard still read 1–1.
The TV broadcast focused in on the touchline—on Yang Cheng.
He was soaked to the bone from the sudden downpour but refused to step back to the dugout, standing tall on the sideline like a lighthouse.
Bayswater's players were already used to seeing him there.
No matter the situation, no matter the pressure—as long as they could turn and see their manager standing firm, they felt at ease.
This wasn't Bayswater's match.
Eriksson had lined up City in a 4-3-2-1 "Christmas tree" formation, mimicking AC Milan, fully committed to defending.
To make matters worse, a sudden, heavy rain had started just before kickoff.
Though Bayswater's attacks showed flashes of danger, in the 9th minute, a midfield miscue on the slick pitch allowed Kaká to explode forward on a solo run, before assisting Adebayor for the opener.
It wasn't until the 29th minute that Džeko equalized.
After that, despite relentless pressure, City's defense held firm.
In the 75th minute, Bayswater appeared to take the lead through Gareth Bale—but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Now, everything hinged on this final corner.
Rakitić took a deep breath and ran up.
Under the gaze of over 80,000 fans, he sent in a perfect corner, dropping it into City's six-yard box.
Chaos ensued.
City's back line that day: Lescott and Čorluka as center-backs, Bridge on the left, Zabaleta on the right.
Ahead of them: Barry, Gökhan Inler, and De Jong as the triple pivot.
The box was packed.
As the ball curled in, Lescott rose first and cleared it with a strong header.
Groans echoed through Wembley.
No miracle... yet.
Gian Piero Vio's set-piece magic wasn't bulletproof after all.
"But the danger isn't over—Baines collects the clearance at the edge of the area!"
"Still Bayswater's ball!"
"Let's see—Baines crosses again!"
"It deflects off Wright-Phillips!"
"Modrić controls it!"
As Bayswater's captain got the ball, City's midfield tried to push out.
They'd been pulled deep for the corner, and their shape was too flat—the edge of the box was wide open.
A long-range shot here could be risky—but also deadly.
Modrić stopped the ball, glanced left toward Baines, and waved as if to pass.
But the Croatian was famous for feints and misdirection.
His teammates knew him too well.
Just as City's defenders expected him to play it left—Modrić swiveled right and saw Maicon calling for it.
He pulled the ball lightly with his right foot and delivered a low diagonal switch to the right edge of the box.
The ball zipped across the turf and landed near the corner of the area.
Maicon controlled it instantly, just as Bridge charged toward him.
City's whole defense was now shifting.
The Brazilian, polished under managers like Deschamps and Guidolin, had grown even sharper under Yang Cheng.
Reading the shifting lines, Maicon knew exactly what to do.
Bayswater players flooded the box.
He pushed the ball forward with one touch, exploded past Bridge, and whipped in a high cross with his right foot.
From the right edge of the area, the ball curled over the crowd—not to the near post or center—but directly to the far side.
Lescott, Čorluka, all turned, watching the ball float over their heads.
And then—through a sea of light blue shirts—a flash of red emerged.
That red figure stepped into position, planted his right foot, and with his left, smashed a first-time volley toward goal...
Maicon's cross was met with a thunderous volley—struck so cleanly and fast that the ball was already in Manchester City's net before anyone could react.
And it was in that moment that the entire stadium finally realized what had happened.
Then Wembley erupted in deafening, thunderous cheers.
"Gareth Bale!"
"It's in!!!"
"2–1!"
"Bayswater Chinese FC have scored the winning goal in added time of stoppage time, thanks to Maicon's cross and a sensational finish from Gareth Bale!"
"An absolute last-minute stunner from the young Welshman!"
After firing the volley, Bale didn't even watch it hit the net—he turned and sprinted straight out of the pitch, running wildly in celebration.
The entire stadium chanted his name.
Every single fan was on their feet, roaring.
Wembley was witnessing a miracle—
And they were all witnesses.
In the dying minutes of the match, after more than an hour of relentless pressure, Bayswater Chinese FC finally took the lead.
Yang Cheng collapsed to his knees at the dugout.
He didn't care about the soaking wet grass or the pounding rain falling from the sky.
"Absolutely spine-tingling!"
"At the critical moment, Gareth Bale steps up!"
"Bayswater have clearly been the better side tonight, though their luck was dreadful."
"Caught in a downpour, at home, on a pitch soaked and slippery, this match couldn't have been worse for their trademark pass-and-move football."
"But they held firm!"
"Yang Cheng's side gritted their teeth and—thanks to Gareth Bale—completed a dramatic 2–1 comeback over Manchester City!"
As the celebrations wound down and the players returned to the field, Wembley still rang with the fans' chants.
They started with Bale's name.
Then, the club anthem.
It grew louder and louder, eventually drowning out the rain, the noise of the game, and everything else—reverberating through every corner of Wembley.
When the referee finally blew the full-time whistle, the fans stood and sang even louder.
...
While Bayswater edged City 2–1 in a rainy Wembley noon match, three hours later Arsenal beat Wigan 1–0 thanks to a Benzema goal.
The Gunners were having a fantastic season.
Liverpool, meanwhile, beat Blackburn 3–1 away.
There were no surprises in the result, though it exposed some issues.
Torres had been struggling with injuries, and without him, Liverpool lacked bite up front.
They had spent heavily to bring in Robbie Keane from Tottenham, but his efficiency was lacking. He simply couldn't replace Torres.
So Benítez pushed Kuyt into the central striker role—and surprisingly, it worked well.
Many had forgotten that in the Dutch league, Kuyt once won the Golden Boot. He'd only become a workhorse winger at Liverpool because of Benítez's tactical adjustments.
Regardless, the Reds got their win and maintained pressure on Bayswater.
Chelsea won 2–0 away at Bolton.
But the biggest drama of the round came at Old Trafford.
Ferguson's United hosted relegation-battling Sunderland.
It should've been a routine win.
And the match stats backed that up:
85% possession, 31 shots to 3.
The dominance was staggering.
Even more so because this was Cristiano Ronaldo's first match at Old Trafford since winning the 2008 Ballon d'Or.
Before kickoff, he did a full lap holding the still-warm trophy, basking in the adoration of United fans.
But in the match, he was desperate to score and kept firing wildly—his efficiency was shockingly poor.
United needed 31 shots, and it wasn't until a late corner—thanks to Vidic creating chaos and pouncing on a defensive error—that they finally got the breakthrough.
1–0.
United scraped past Sunderland at home.
Ronaldo's "Ballon d'Or showcase" was widely deemed a failure.
He was still young, and clearly needed to improve his temperament and self-control.
Worth noting—Bayswater Chinese FC had four players nominated for the Ballon d'Or this year:
DžekoModrićYaya TouréPepe
Pepe was tied for 26th, without a single vote.
Džeko had the highest finish—12th, the best result in Bayswater history.
Just as Yang Cheng predicted, Arshavin came 4th, falling short of the podium.
The top three?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Fernando Torres.
Torres edged Arshavin thanks to Spain's Euro 2008 triumph and his own standout performances.
Arshavin had eye-catching stats, but after moving to Arsenal, his performances dipped—he couldn't maintain the brilliance he'd shown under Yang Cheng.
Yang Cheng had expected this.
In his view, none of Bayswater's current players were quite ready to challenge for the Ballon d'Or or FIFA World Player of the Year.
Džeko was excellent—but at best, he was another Didier Drogba.
His biggest flaw? His national team.
And the club? Still not elite enough to push him over the top.
Kaká, for example, ranked 8th—becoming the fastest-declining Ballon d'Or winner in history.
Many blamed it on his move to Manchester City.
No Champions League, no UEFA Cup, and inconsistent Premier League performances—the move dragged him down.
Franck Ribéry came in 16th.
Interestingly, six of the thirty Ballon d'Or nominees had been developed at Bayswater Chinese FC.
Arshavin wasn't technically an academy graduate, but it was at Bayswater where he rose to stardom.
Ribéry too.
It was a fun little detail.
Also notable—20 of the 30 players came from the Premier League.
Proof that the league's global influence was stronger than ever.
With the Bundesliga stagnating, Serie A fading, and La Liga being carried solely by Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Premier League had become Europe's dominant force.
Even Real Madrid had been in decline, pushing players like Ribéry and Kaká to move elsewhere.
Robinho's exit had further tarnished Madrid's reputation.
But according to Spanish media, former president Florentino Pérez was preparing for a comeback.
With Kaká now at City and Benzema at Arsenal, it was unlikely Real Madrid could poach either one.
Yang Cheng was curious—
Would Florentino recreate the magic of his 2009 comeback this summer?
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