Chapter 155: The Vanguard of a New Era! The Strangest Scene in Premier League History
Following the dramatic win in Round 9, Yang Cheng had no choice but to rotate heavily in Round 10, just three days later, at home against Wigan Athletic—resting Džeko and several other regular starters.
But in the 10th minute, Marcelo delivered a low cross from the left flank to the edge of the six-yard box.
Lewandowski stabbed it in from close range, giving Bayswater Chinese FC the early lead.
The home side continued to control the tempo throughout.
Then, in the 60th minute, Rakitić floated a free kick into the box. Amid the chaos, Lewandowski darted to the back post and fired in from a tight angle—brace complete.
2–0!
Bayswater Chinese FC secured a comfortable home win over Wigan.
That gave Lewandowski three goals in two matches.
The Polish striker had now scored six goals this season, and both Yang Cheng and the coaching staff were satisfied with his steady development.
As Yang Cheng had said before, his progress was clear—one step at a time, every season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City lost 0–2 away to Middlesbrough.
Although they dominated possession, the turning point came in the 53rd minute when Sturridge gave away a penalty for fouling Wheater.
After that, City grew desperate to equalize, only to be caught on the counter and concede a second.
Same old story for Eriksson's team—defensive frailty.
Chelsea cruised to a 3–0 away win over Hull City.
Manchester United defeated West Ham 2–0 at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo bagging a brace.
Arsenal and Spurs played out a thrilling 4–4 draw in the North London derby.
Liverpool hosted Portsmouth in the final match of the round.
The Reds dominated possession at Anfield, but couldn't find a way past Pompey's parked bus.
Not until the 75th minute, when Diop handled the ball in the box, giving Liverpool a penalty.
Gerrard converted with ease to secure the win.
...
"Liverpool must be on something this season. They're playing like men possessed."
"No kidding! They've been chasing us non-stop—we just can't shake them!"
"We've only faced one top-six team so far—Arsenal—but they've already played United, Chelsea, and City. If we don't open up a gap now, the pressure's only going to mount."
After every round, the coaching staff held post-match analysis meetings.
Liverpool's narrow win over Portsmouth was the last match of the round.
Now, inside the brightly lit meeting room, a gloomy atmosphere hung in the air.
Being hunted by a team like this—it was only going to get more and more stressful.
As Yang Cheng and Brian Kidd arrived at the door, they exchanged glances.
Both saw the same thing in each other's eyes—concern.
If the coaches were feeling it, imagine the pressure on the players.
And if the coaches carried this anxiety onto the pitch, the players would carry even more.
So Yang Cheng spoke up.
"Liverpool's rise this season is the best proof that our strategy these past few years was correct—and ahead of its time."
Silence fell across the room.
"Where did Liverpool fall short last season?"
Without waiting for a reply, Yang Cheng answered himself. The staff had already analyzed this before.
"Midfield."
"Especially Xabi Alonso. His repeated injuries had a massive impact."
"But this season? He's been fit, playing every game, and playing out of his mind. You all saw it—he's got a fire under him. He wants to make Benítez pay."
Last season, when Alonso was frequently injured, rumors swirled that Benítez wanted to sell him.
That infuriated the Spaniard.
Though he stayed, it was clear he had a point to prove. He was out to embarrass Benítez and prove he was still Liverpool's midfield core.
Everyone could see—Alonso and Benítez were no longer on the same page.
But tactically, Liverpool had built something solid.
Mascherano's arrival allowed them to form a world-class double pivot with Alonso. Gerrard was pushed into the No. 10 role.
Up top, they had Torres.
On the left: Riera, Babel, Dossena.
On the right: Kuyt, Benayoun, Pennant.
These weren't world-beaters, but they fit perfectly into Benítez's 4-2-3-1.
Now, Liverpool had midfield depth and a proper striker.
Years of striker woes? Torres solved that.
Gerrard, playing behind him, was thriving—having a breakout season of his own.
In many ways, this was the strongest Liverpool team in years—stronger even than the 2005 or 2007 squads.
And the most important piece of their tactical system?
The double pivot.
It was the heart of the 4-2-3-1.
At Valencia, Benítez had Albelda and Baraja. Now, he had Alonso and Mascherano—even better.
Ironically, it was Benítez himself who nearly dismantled that duo last season.
All because he lost faith in Alonso.
Yang Cheng had kept an eye on Alonso. He'd even had the analytics team simulate what would happen if Bayswater signed him.
But the conclusion was clear—to sign Alonso would require a complete tactical reshuffle.
In their current 4-3-3, Alonso could only play as the lone pivot.
But in today's Premier League, that was risky.
To make it work, Modrić or Rakitić would have to be dropped, and Matuidi brought in to restore balance.
And even then, the results wouldn't necessarily be better.
Push Alonso higher into the No. 8 role? He wouldn't work there.
He lacked the turn-and-carry ability needed in advanced positions.
And his long-passing game?
It couldn't match Toni Kroos in a more forward role—Alonso needed time to set up those passes.
Too much pressure up high would break his rhythm.
His spell-casting takes too long.
The higher the position, the more intense the pressing—the harder it is to cast those "spells."
So Yang Cheng had decided to continue waiting for Professor Toni.
Still, Liverpool's success this season reaffirmed that Yang Cheng's own choices had been right.
"In modern European football, midfield is the most decisive area of the pitch!"
Yang Cheng looked around the room of coaches and staff, speaking with firm conviction.
"Liverpool, just like us, is benefiting from a strategy we've followed for years. If anything, they're learning from us."
"Look at Gerrard, Alonso, and Mascherano—doesn't that trio remind you of our old midfield of Lass Diarra, Modrić, and Yaya Touré?"
Different players, sure. Different styles.
But functionally? They served the same purpose.
Divide midfield responsibilities across specialized players.
That was the philosophy.
And now, it was shaping the direction of modern football.
"So, there's no need to worry too much about Liverpool's success. On the contrary—it proves that we're on the right path, and we started earlier and are moving faster than they are!"
Whoever controls the midfield, controls the game.
It's a simple phrase—but achieving it is anything but.
Still, once you do, and once it stabilizes, Liverpool's resurgence this season is the best proof of that philosophy.
...
Premier League Round 11.
Another tough away match.
Bayswater Chinese FC traveled to Goodison Park to face Everton.
David Moyes set up his side in a compact 4-5-1, well-prepared and disciplined.
Yang Cheng's team, coming off a run of brilliant form, now faced a dip—partially due to rising fatigue, partially due to stronger opposition.
But Yang Cheng was ready.
In the 87th minute, Lambert—who had only come on in the 81st—headed home a cross from Maicon at the far post to break the deadlock.
1–0! The only goal of the match.
At the post-match press conference, Yang Cheng gave full credit to Lambert.
"He's always been one of the most reliable players in our squad!"
Why had he subbed on multiple strikers in the second half and ended with a three-striker setup?
"Well, ask Moyes why he kept subbing on defenders and defensive midfielders."
"By the 80th minute, were there even any forwards left on the pitch for them?"
Yang Cheng even jokingly teased Mourinho.
"Sometimes, flooding the front line with strikers actually works—simple, direct, and brutal!"
All the journalists who caught the punchline burst into laughter.
After all, Mourinho was famous for exactly this tactic.
When his attack stalled, he just piled on forwards. This season at Inter, he once fielded five at once.
Yang Cheng had only sent on three—and it had worked.
In the end, a 1–0 win was still a win.
Journalists praised Bayswater Chinese FC for grinding out a tough victory—especially Lambert, the long-time servant who had been with the club since its League Two days.
All it takes is using the right player in the right place.
Elsewhere:
Chelsea destroyed Sunderland 5–0 at home.
Manchester United edged Hull City 4–3 thanks to a Ronaldo brace.
United's attacking trio was now clear: Rooney, Berbatov, and Ronaldo.
Berbatov had basically replaced Alan Smith's old role, albeit as a less mobile version of Džeko.
Some even said Ferguson was learning from Yang Cheng.
Berbatov, after all, was seen as a "lite" version of Džeko.
The downside? Tevez was now relegated to the bench.
Given the Argentine bulldog's personality, United's locker room could be in for some drama.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Stoke City 2–1 away, with goals from Clichy and Arshavin.
Manchester City beat Bolton 2–0 on the road, with Kaká scoring one and assisting another.
But the best news for Yang Cheng was Liverpool's 2–1 loss to Tottenham.
The Reds dominated the entire match.
Kuyt opened the scoring just three minutes in.
But with Torres injured and missing, Liverpool's finishing was poor.
Robbie Keane, who stepped in, couldn't match Torres' efficiency.
Despite controlling the game, Liverpool just couldn't score.
Then in the 69th minute, Carragher scored an own goal, giving Spurs a glimpse of hope.
Late in the game, Redknapp's substitution—bringing on Pavlyuchenko—paid off.
The Russian striker scored the winner, completing the comeback.
2–1, Spurs stunned Liverpool.
Redknapp, who had only recently taken charge, had now led his team to a 4–4 draw with Arsenal away, and a 2–1 comeback over Liverpool at home.
The saying was true: "Changing managers is like changing swords."
With this round completed, Bayswater Chinese FC claimed their tenth straight Premier League win, sitting atop the table with 30 points.
And just for the record: across all competitions, they had now won 16 matches in a row.
That included:
– 10 Premier League matches
– 3 Champions League group stage matches
– 1 UEFA Super Cup
– 1 Community Shield
– 1 League Cup match
The football world was stunned.
Especially considering that this summer, Bayswater Chinese FC had sold two core players—Lassana Diarra and Arshavin—and still came back stronger.
Yang Cheng's coaching reputation reached a new level.
They were now four points clear at the top—and they had a game in hand.
Their Round 3 makeup match against Manchester United still hadn't found a slot due to the packed fixture schedule.
With such dominant performances, media and fans alike were turning their full attention to this remarkable team.
Especially their tactical system.
France Football even published an article analyzing Bayswater Chinese FC's strategy this season.
At first glance, they wrote, Yang Cheng's setup looked like Ancelotti's Christmas Tree formation.
But upon closer inspection, it only looked similar on the surface.
Functionally, it was completely different.
Yang Cheng's team pressed from near the halfway line, not with Italian-style deep blocks.
Their attacking methods were far more varied, and their offensive firepower much greater.
In midfield, their passing and possession were more refined than AC Milan's.
And on the flanks, Bale, Di María, and Walcott were much faster.
Džeko was the kind of all-around striker Ancelotti had always dreamed of.
In essence, this was a fully upgraded version of AC Milan.
"More importantly, their transition speed is lightning-quick," the article said.
"As soon as they win the ball, they break forward before their opponents can react, immediately moving it into threatening areas and launching devastating attacks."
"It's becoming increasingly difficult for any team to defend against this."
France Football concluded that while none of Yang Cheng's tactical ideas were individually new, what made his team innovative was the way he combined them.
"Yang Cheng took existing concepts and integrated them into a Premier League team. Blended with the league's pace, intensity, and physicality, he created something truly original and thrilling to watch."
They argued that two teams this season were shaking up European football:
– Bayswater Chinese FC of the Premier League
– Barcelona of La Liga
Pep Guardiola had inherited the possession philosophy passed down from Cruyff, Van Gaal, and Rijkaard.
Building on that foundation, he had refined Barça's tiki-taka even further.
Under his leadership, Barça had won eight straight in La Liga, scoring 33 goals and conceding just 6.
Both teams had distinctive identities, but both flew the flag of attacking football, injecting fresh energy into the European stage.
"29-year-old Yang Cheng and 37-year-old Pep Guardiola—two men reshaping the tactical landscape of modern European football."
"Let's wait and see what they do next."
"Let's see which of these two teams will truly become the pioneers of a new era!"
...
After riding a wave of superb form, entering November brought with it the toll of nonstop double fixtures every week, and Bayswater Chinese FC inevitably began to dip.
But that was the nature of football.
A truly great team finds ways to win even in its valleys.
On November 4, in the fourth round of the Champions League group stage, Bayswater Chinese FC faced Marseille away.
The French side once again lined up with a triple defensive midfield, digging in at home and relying on counterattacks.
Bayswater launched attack after attack.
Having won their first three group games, Yang Cheng's team only needed one more win to clinch top spot in the group early.
That would make the remaining two games far more manageable.
But precisely because of that, the match became even tougher.
Marseille were still fighting to keep their hopes alive and played with all their heart.
The two sides went at it tooth and nail for over an hour.
Then, in the 71st minute, when it seemed like no one could find a breakthrough, Di María delivered one of his trademark rabona crosses from the right flank into the box.
Modrić, making a late run to the right edge of the penalty area, struck it low and hard past Mandanda.
The only goal of the match.
Yang Cheng leapt into the air in celebration.
The entire Bayswater squad erupted with emotion.
At the post-match press conference, Yang Cheng uncharacteristically singled out his captain for praise.
"Some players are always talking, but when the moment of crisis comes, they vanish."
"But Modrić is the opposite."
"You rarely hear his voice off the pitch, but in the toughest moments, he's always the first to step up."
"I'm proud—proud of our captain!"
When asked about Yang Cheng's comments afterward, Modrić expressed heartfelt gratitude.
"We've had an incredible start to the season, playing some of the most beautiful football in England—and even Europe!"
"Whether it's me or the whole squad, we're in a great place. There are no problems between us."
"As for the coach, I can't say enough. He's a remarkable person, someone I respect and admire more than anyone else."
"When I first came to England, people doubted me. I was too skinny. They questioned whether I could play here. But I think we've all seen what happened after that."
"For years, the coach has supported me, given me strength."
"To have someone who believes in you, who sees your potential and constantly pushes you forward... that's something truly special."
"That's why I'm so proud that I chose to come to Bayswater Chinese FC."
"There aren't many Croatians in the Premier League, but we've shown that we can succeed here too."
"If I were writing the script for my football career, I couldn't have written anything better than what I'm living now."
"And moving forward, I hope I can stay here, continue contributing to this club, these fans, and everyone involved."
"Go play in Italy or Spain?"
"I don't know. A lot of things aren't up to me. But if it were my choice—I'd choose to stay!"
Modrić's rare candidness struck a chord with Bayswater fans.
As club captain, he had been linked with a number of moves over the past two years.
This past summer alone, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, and even Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter were all rumored suitors.
Now, after his match-winning goal in Marseille and this emotional declaration, even the British media began urging Bayswater Chinese FC to tie him down with a new contract.
But to Yang Cheng, this statement had a deeper meaning.
The club had already begun a new round of contract negotiations in the summer.
Modrić was the first priority.
He was the captain, the top earner for years.
His renewal would set the tone for others.
That made talks complicated.
The club had offered £70,000 per week, but his agent wasn't satisfied.
Other clubs could easily offer £100,000 or more.
Media reports even claimed contract talks had broken down.
But Modrić's public statement made it clear: while money was a sticking point, he didn't want to leave.
Bayswater CEO Adam Crozier quickly followed up with the press, saying the club would do everything it could to keep Modrić.
Negotiations with his agent resumed shortly thereafter.
The club upped their offer to £80,000 per week—double what Modrić had earned two years prior.
With Modrić already expressing his stance publicly, his agent agreed to the new figure.
They began discussing bonus clauses and finer contract details.
Very soon, a preliminary agreement was reached.
Two days later, upon the team's return to London, Bayswater Chinese FC officially announced that an agreement had been reached with Modrić's camp to renew his contract.
Details weren't made public.
But the press quickly picked up on clues, estimating his new wage to be between £75,000 and £83,000 per week.
The new deal reassured fans and stabilized the dressing room.
It also set a strong precedent for other contract renewals in the pipeline.
...
Premier League Round 12.
Arsenal, with a brace from Arshavin, beat Manchester United 2–0 at home.
Ferguson's lineup had issues—especially in midfield.
He bizarrely started Park Ji-sung, Carrick, Anderson, and Ronaldo as his midfield four.
Wenger, meanwhile, stubbornly stuck to his 4-2-3-1 system, which had struggled earlier in the season—but this time, Arshavin tore United apart through the middle.
Liverpool beat West Brom 3–0 at home.
Chelsea, thanks to a brace from Anelka, won 2–0 away at Blackburn.
Manchester City edged Spurs 2–1 at home, with goals from Kaká and Robinho.
What stood out? They played the entire second half with 10 men.
Nigel de Jong was sent off before halftime after picking up a second yellow.
Despite that, Kaká sealed the win with a counterattack goal in the 64th minute.
Yang Cheng's earlier analysis was proving spot-on.
Kaká had no issues adapting to the Premier League.
Especially in Eriksson's 4-2-3-1, with Adebayor up front, Robinho, Kaká, and Wright-Phillips on the flanks, and a double pivot featuring players like Inler, Gareth Barry, and De Jong.
It was clicking perfectly.
The only significant weakness lies in the defense.
Manchester City's backline really was shaky—and it was clearly holding them back.
Meanwhile, Bayswater Chinese FC hosted Newcastle United at Wembley.
The match was relatively subdued.
Despite Gareth Bale scoring with a low shot from the left side of the box in the 23rd minute, Newcastle equalized in the second half—Duff launched a counterattack and crossed into the box, where Ameobi volleyed it in.
For the rest of the match, Bayswater struggled to threaten Newcastle's goal.
But in the 86th minute, Džeko stepped up at a critical moment.
He used his body to hold off Argentine defender Coloccini in the box, brought the ball down, turned, and fired a low left-footed shot into the net.
2–1!
Bayswater Chinese FC secured another three points at home!
...
With the League Cup Round of 16 midweek, Yang Cheng—as per tradition—fielded a full rotation of young and backup players.
After the Newcastle match, he gave several key starters two days off to rest properly.
The weekend clash was against Tottenham—a tough North London rival.
But in the League Cup Round of 16, Bayswater faced none other than Liverpool.
Both teams sent out their second-string squads, though Liverpool started Torres, recently back from injury, clearly hoping he could find his form in the cup.
Bayswater's front line, despite being a "reserve" team, featured Hazard, Lewandowski, and Walcott—an offensive trio that proved highly threatening.
Near the end of the first half, Bayswater launched a devastating 10-minute blitz.
A midfield trio of Matuidi, Matić, and Aaron Ramsey kept feeding balls into the final third.
In the 37th minute, Walcott assisted Lewandowski to open the scoring.
In the 41st, Hazard assisted Walcott.
That goal was the result of an attack Yang Cheng had been working on: Hazard cutting in from the left, delivering an inch-perfect diagonal lob to the right side of the box, where Walcott made a blistering diagonal run and volleyed home.
Liverpool's defense had no answer.
Building on that, in first-half stoppage time, Marcelo repeated the formula—an elegant pass down the left to Walcott, who made another diagonal run, controlled the ball, and slotted it past the keeper.
3–0!
Although Hyypiä pulled one back for Liverpool two minutes into the second half from a free kick, Bayswater quickly restored their lead.
In the 51st minute, Aaron Ramsey played a brilliant through ball, and Lewandowski finished again.
Final score: 4–1.
Still, it was clear to all—Benítez didn't field his best eleven.
The match only proved that Bayswater had the deeper bench.
This round also featured an upset:
Scolari's Chelsea drew 1–1 with Burnley at Stamford Bridge, then lost in the penalty shootout.
The 40,000 fans at the stadium were livid.
To be fair, Chelsea were missing many key players—Drogba, Malouda, Kalou, Deco, Lampard, Mikel, Alex, Ferreira, Belletti, and others.
But even so, the performance was bitterly disappointing.
...
Weekend, Premier League Round 13.
Thanks to the club's advanced sports science team, Yang Cheng now had much tighter control over the physical and mental state of his players.
After two days off and a full week of preparation, Bayswater Chinese FC returned to Wembley in noticeably better condition.
Redknapp lined Spurs up in a 4-5-1.
Not a 4-2-3-1—but a true five-man midfield, with three defensive midfielders and only Darren Bent left up front on the counter.
Center-backs Ledley King and Woodgate anchored a nearly impenetrable block.
The message was clear: Tottenham came to defend.
But it only held up for 35 minutes.
Di María broke down the left flank, whipped in a cross, and Džeko headed it home.
After the break, in the 70th minute, another Di María cross earned a corner.
Leighton Baines whipped it into the box.
Pepe rose highest and nodded it in—2–0!
Tottenham managed a consolation in the 91st minute, with Darren Bent scoring on a counterattack.
Final score: 2–1, another home win for Bayswater.
Elsewhere:
– Liverpool beat Bolton 2–0 away, with goals from Kuyt and Gerrard.
– Arsenal won 2–0 at home against Aston Villa, thanks to Benzema and Arshavin.
– Manchester United crushed Stoke 5–0 at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo scoring twice.
– Chelsea beat West Brom 3–0 away.
– Manchester City edged Hull City 2–1 away, with Kaká scoring both goals.
...
After 13 rounds, Bayswater Chinese FC sat atop the table with a perfect record: 12 wins, 36 points.
Liverpool followed with 32 points.
Chelsea and Arsenal had 29, in 3rd and 4th.
United sat 5th with 27, and City 6th with 25.
While the football world was showering praise on Bayswater's streak, there was an underlying concern:
They'd only faced one of the current top six—Arsenal.
Their postponed match against Manchester United from Round 3 was still unscheduled.
December's fixture list would be brutal.
Bayswater were heading to the Club World Cup, and all the travel would disrupt their domestic schedule.
The only confirmed postponement so far was Round 18 vs. Middlesbrough, which would be delayed due to the Club World Cup.
That match's rescheduling would only tighten their already-packed second half of the season.
Everyone at the club was worried about the congestion.
Yang Cheng and the coaching staff ran simulations: if the makeup games were played in January, it would be manageable.
The real danger was February or March—right when they'd be juggling the league, Europe, and domestic cups.
Of course, rescheduling wasn't so simple.
Both Bayswater and United were playing in multiple competitions with barely a break—that's why their Round 3 match hadn't been played yet.
In January, the FA Cup would kick off.
Yang Cheng couldn't possibly withdraw from a cup just to make room for a makeup game.
And even if Bayswater freed up time, United and Middlesbrough had to be available too.
Otherwise—what's the point?
It was a scheduling nightmare.
Yang Cheng even called Ferguson directly, and the two managers agreed: if January opens up, they'll play the makeup match immediately.
No one wanted such an important top-of-the-table clash to be pushed to February, March, or even later.
"Sir, if you lose your League Cup quarterfinal against Blackburn on December 3rd, we can play our rescheduled league match in January."
"We'll even do you a favor—put out two squads and play back-to-back games!"
Yang Cheng's brilliant idea left Ferguson absolutely fuming.
Manchester United had already slipped out of the top four this season, and now he had to deal with this?
"If you lose instead, we'll play back-to-back too," Ferguson snapped.
"Do you even have enough players for that?" Yang Cheng chuckled.
"Get on the pitch, and you'll see," Ferguson growled.
Clearly, he was deeply frustrated by United's current Premier League form.
Part of it was down to how much stronger the competition had become.
Arsenal and Liverpool were both in superb shape this season.
Even Manchester City had caught up.
Ferguson was feeling the pressure.
...
As Bayswater Chinese FC grew stronger and Arsenal and Liverpool re-emerged, City's rise had turned this into the most competitive Premier League season in history.
Not only were the top six tightly packed, but the gap between 10th place and the relegation zone was just four points.
Meaning, any mid-table team could drop into danger in the blink of an eye.
This was thanks in large part to the record spending by Premier League clubs this past summer.
For the top clubs, leveling up required enormous investment.
But for the lower and mid-tier sides, even a £10 million signing could transform the squad.
With the Premier League's broadcast revenue increasing dramatically last season, those mid- and lower-tier teams could now spend freely.
The result? The league had no obvious weak teams.
This season had already been called the most fiercely competitive since the Premier League's founding in 1992.
Between Rounds 13 and 14 came the November international break.
And after Round 14, the Premier League witnessed something completely unprecedented—an outcome never seen before in its history.
That weekend, Bayswater Chinese FC visited Anfield to face Liverpool.
Yang Cheng's side managed 33 shots over 90 minutes.
But with most of his international stars returning tired or in poor condition, and with Liverpool digging in hard, the match ended 0–0.
Chelsea drew 0–0 at home against Newcastle.
Manchester City drew 0–0 at home with Arsenal.
Manchester United drew 0–0 away at Aston Villa.
So far, the Premier League had been averaging 25+ goals per round.
But this round? All ten matches combined produced only 12 goals.
The highest-scoring match was Bolton beating Middlesbrough 3–1 away.
Pompey and Hull drew 2–2 at Fratton Park.
Those two matches alone accounted for 8 of the 12 goals scored.
All four matches between the top six ended 0–0.
The other four matches? Each was decided by a single goal.
Thus, the Premier League delivered the strangest round in its history:
Not a single top-six team won.
Worse—not one of them even scored a goal!
It was as if the entire league had made a secret pact beforehand.
The reason behind this bizarre outcome was simple: the international break between Rounds 13 and 14.
According to the original calendar, November was not supposed to feature any major international matches.
World Cup qualifiers weren't scheduled.
So the games that took place were friendlies, albeit classified as A-level matches.
Under the rules, clubs could not prevent national teams from calling up their players.
That led to some truly absurd situations.
Among Bayswater's internationals, Argentina had it relatively easy—they played Scotland in a friendly in the UK, so Di María didn't have to travel far.
Bosnia played Slovenia, also nearby, but Džeko still had to fly.
Germany faced England in Berlin—so Neuer, Walcott, and others were all involved.
But the most ridiculous case was Brazil vs. Portugal.
Both sides called up large numbers of internationals—including Pepe, Marcelo, Maicon, and Thiago Silva.
And the match?
It was held in Brazil.
In a tiny, 20,000-seat stadium on the outskirts of Brasília.
So, the players flew out right after Round 13, reported for duty, then flew all the way back after the game.
Ferguson, already under pressure due to United's poor start, exploded.
He lashed out at FIFA and the FA in the media.
"These kinds of friendlies serve no purpose other than making money."
"I don't understand why FIFA imposes these obligations on clubs. What's the point?"
"We can't even protect our own players. They deserve proper rest!"
"Unfortunately, they're being used—just a name on a poster to sell tickets."
Wenger, who also had many internationals, voiced his own frustration.
"We turn down countless commercial matches every year to protect our players—offers of a million pounds per match."
"And yet they take our players away at the most crucial point in the season—for friendlies. It's outrageous."
Even Sven-Göran Eriksson, who once clashed often with Ferguson and Wenger while managing England, now stood firmly on their side.
"Honestly, national team coaches often don't want these games either. The players hate them."
"It's unnecessary. It completely ignores the interests of the clubs and players."
Yang Cheng also seized the opportunity to make his voice heard.
He publicly proposed that national teams should pay for the use of players—not just a fee for the call-up, but also for wages and any injury-related expenses.
"I believe this is an effective way to hold national teams accountable and regulate the international calendar."
His comments sparked widespread debate.
Ferguson, Wenger, Benítez, and even Eriksson and Scolari—all supported it.
With the top six Premier League managers speaking out, and after such a surreal round of results, the global media and fans erupted.
The British press launched a full-on offensive.
It was just too absurd.
National teams abusing their right to call up players had seriously disrupted domestic football.
Twelve goals across ten games—less than half the league's average.
Ridiculous.
And soon, the wave of outrage spread beyond England.
Clubs from Serie A, Bundesliga, and La Liga all voiced their support.
Every top European league had been suffering from this for years.
With the storm of protests gaining momentum, FIFA was finally forced to respond.
They issued a statement promising that, starting in 2009, international match calendars would be properly coordinated, with an effort to minimize disruption to domestic leagues.
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