Chapter 221: Breaking Boundaries! Football's Economic War! An Unprecedented Quadruple Crown?
All eight matches of the Champions League Round of 16 have been completed.
Once again, the global media and football fans were shaken.
All four Premier League teams advanced to the quarter-finals!
The fear of Premier League dominance swept across European football once more.
In particular, the Chinese-owned Bayswater Club's 3–0 aggregate win over Real Madrid—one of La Liga's giants—completely showcased the Premier League's strength.
Manchester United and Arsenal advanced smoothly, as expected by most people.
But even Ancelotti's Manchester City topped the "group of death" ahead of AC Milan and Real Madrid, qualifying first in the group and then moving on to the last eight. That sent an even clearer message about the Premier League's strength.
Four Premier League teams in the final eight—half of the quarter-finals!
Everyone had to admit: the Premier League is simply too strong right now.
On top of that, rumors continued to circulate that the Qatari consortium was planning to acquire Manchester United for £2 billion.
If that deal really goes through, how could any other league possibly compete with the Premier League?
Media across Western Europe reported on and hyped up the Premier League's growing threat.
But when it came to countering this dominance, they were left utterly helpless.
Take Italy for example.
La Gazzetta dello Sport expressed concern about Serie A's current situation.
AC Milan failed to get out of the group stage, while Roma and Inter Milan were both eliminated in the Round of 16.
Among this season's Champions League quarter-finalists, apart from the four Premier League clubs, La Liga had just one representative—Barcelona; the Bundesliga had Bayern Munich and Schalke 04.
The last spot? Shockingly, it went to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk.
This actually aligned perfectly with the feeling Yang Cheng had during the group stage.
Shakhtar Donetsk was by no means a simple team. Their attack was stacked with Brazilian players of incredible individual quality, and coach Mircea Lucescu had managed to integrate them into a cohesive unit. Their overall strength was not to be underestimated.
And sure enough, they reached the Champions League quarter-finals—knocking out Serie A's Roma in the process.
La Gazzetta dello Sport expressed great disappointment, stating that if Serie A powerhouses can't even beat a Ukrainian side like Shakhtar Donetsk, what hope is there for the rest?
As for Inter Milan, they lost to Germany's Bayern Munich.
That was even more disheartening.
The whole of Italy still clung to the dream of a "Mini World Cup," convinced that their fall to the third-best league in the world was only temporary. They were determined to reclaim their spot at the top, to revive their former glory.
But now?
Serie A's champions can't even beat Bundesliga teams.
What else is there to say?
Of the Champions League's final eight, the other three major leagues all had representation—only Serie A came up empty-handed. If that's not decline, what is?
Regarding Serie A's current predicament, La Gazzetta dello Sport warned that without urgent reform and immediate action, the league might soon be overtaken by the Bundesliga.
It could even fall into the embarrassing position of having to battle Ligue 1 for fourth place among Europe's top leagues.
As for challenging the Premier League or La Liga?
That's no longer even a realistic goal for Serie A.
Compared to Serie A's decline, La Liga was feeling the Premier League's rise more acutely—and also sensing the growing threat from the Bundesliga, as Valencia had been knocked out by Schalke 04.
Interestingly, the man who helped Schalke eliminate Valencia was none other than former Real Madrid captain Raúl.
This created a rather ironic scenario.
In today's European football landscape, the Premier League stands alone at the top. La Liga holds second place, but the Bundesliga has been developing rapidly in recent years, while Serie A has never really recovered from the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal.
In its midweek Champions League special, Germany's Kicker magazine commented specifically on this situation.
They argued that the Premier League's dominance was a bubble—an unsustainable illusion brought about by frenzied foreign investment.
Their reasoning? In recent years, Premier League transfer fees have skyrocketed, and player salaries have soared. This, in turn, has negatively affected the entire European football ecosystem.
But can this kind of environment be sustained in the long term?
"When we open Deloitte's financial reports on Premier League clubs, we find that every club is mired in debt, with financial holes that are simply shocking."
"Even Bayswater—praised as the model of Premier League club management—has accumulated debts of several hundred million pounds."
"Don't even get us started on Chelsea. Their revenue is less than £200 million, but wage expenditures exceed £170 million. It's absurd."
"How can the Premier League continue to operate like this?"
Kicker noted that German football had gone through this kind of hollow prosperity in the past.
So had Italy.
That was back in the 1990s.
Italy had its "Mini World Cup" era, and the Bundesliga experienced a golden age of glory.
Back then, Serie A and the Bundesliga weren't that different from the current Premier League.
But once the bubble burst and capital began to withdraw, what was left for Serie A and the Bundesliga was ruin.
The Premier League, Kicker argued, is doomed to follow the same path.
Therefore, they believe that whether for the long-term health of European football or to rein in the Premier League's mounting debt risks, UEFA should accelerate the financial review process of Premier League clubs.
Only by doing so can UEFA ensure that the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations take effect as scheduled in the 2013/14 season.
Kicker even went a step further, recommending that the Premier League itself begin internal financial audits and impose restrictions on foreign capital.
Such accusations have become routine for the Premier League giants and the league office alike.
It happens nearly every year.
Every time Premier League clubs perform well in European competitions, the media starts up this same narrative.
As for the media's "recommendations," the Premier League issued a formal statement:
"Our internal financial auditing mechanisms are already in place."
"We are confident that when UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations come into effect in the 2013/14 season, Premier League clubs will be in full compliance!"
As for Bayswater, their Chief Executive Officer, Adam Crozier, spoke directly to The Times to respond to Kicker's accusations.
Crozier explained that the club's debt stems from two main sources.
The majority comes from the construction of a new stadium.
This will be a stadium with an investment of over £1 billion—the most expensive sports venue in history—and it will also be the most advanced and modern.
Behind such an astonishing investment lies an equally impressive return.
An annual naming rights deal worth £30 million, locked in for 10 years.
That's £300 million in guaranteed income—just for starters.
And what about after 10 years?
With a capacity of 90,000, the stadium will rival Wembley as one of the largest in the UK.
It will feature 250 VIP suites and, at the top level, a skywalk and a sky bar.
"Our club is confident that once the new stadium is operational, our matchday revenue will exceed £150 million annually."
"At that point, we will become the football club with the highest matchday revenue in the world!"
Crozier added that beyond these obvious financial benefits, the stadium would also significantly elevate Bayswater's brand value.
"Even though our new stadium isn't finished yet, and hasn't been put into use, I can proudly—and very confidently—say that we are on track to become one of the most valuable sports brands in the world!"
The Bayswater CEO even revealed a secret that no one had known before.
"In fact, last summer, we received two acquisition offers—one from the United States and one from the Middle East. Both offers were valued at £4 billion. We turned them both down!"
Adam Crozier Reaffirms Bayswater Chinese Club's Business Philosophy and Football Commitment
Adam Crozier once again laid out the core business philosophy behind Bayswater Chinese Club and reaffirmed the resolve of its behind-the-scenes investors to deepen their long-term investment in football.
Finally, he posed a rhetorical question: with Bayswater Chinese Club currently generating nearly £400 million in annual revenue, and with even more expected once the new stadium opens, what's the big deal about a few hundred million pounds in debt to fund the project?
Sure enough, once The Times published the interview, it sparked a wave of heated discussions across global media and among football fans.
Everyone fixated on those two £4 billion acquisition offers.
It was unbelievable!
How much is Manchester United worth?
The Qatari consortium was only willing to offer £2 billion.
Sure, Manchester United isn't for sale—but neither is Bayswater Chinese Club.
Does that mean Bayswater Chinese Club has grown to such a terrifying scale already?
As more media dug into the details, the world was stunned to discover the true value of Bayswater Chinese Club's new stadium.
Yes, the investment exceeded £1 billion—but the four surrounding towers alone generate £40 million in annual rental income.
Tenants include Bulgari Hotel, Peninsula Hotel, Apple Inc., and a Yang Group shopping mall.
These are clear indicators of long-term commercial ventures.
After a major redevelopment project initiated by the London City Council, the area around Queen's Avenue was set for a complete revitalization.
And the new stadium? It sits right in the heart of Queen's Avenue.
The Sun ran a detailed comparison.
In the summer of 2010, the Qatar Investment Authority bought Harrods in Knightsbridge for £1.5 billion.
The seller? Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed—also the owner of Fulham FC.
Harrods is an iconic London landmark in Knightsbridge with 90,000 square meters of retail space, over 330 tenants, and a reputation for selling luxury goods. It receives around 15 million visitors from around the world each year.
Queen's Avenue is also located in central London, just across Hyde Park from Knightsbridge, next to Notting Hill, with even more convenient transportation links.
Bayswater Chinese Club's new stadium, located in the core of Queen's Avenue, is poised to become a new landmark for London.
So how much is it worth?
From German, Italian, and Spanish media outlets debating the valuation, to the Premier League issuing public responses, what looked like heated arguments were in fact massively beneficial for Bayswater Chinese Club.
Everyone loves drama and gossip.
This kind of media "debate" drew global attention, leading football fans worldwide to realize for the first time that Bayswater Chinese Club isn't just brilliant on the pitch—it's also a powerhouse off it.
Many fans were surprised to learn that Bayswater's revenue was second only to Real Madrid.
Some even speculated that it might soon surpass them.
In reality, this was a clever form of PR and marketing.
Adam Crozier and Omar Berrada are both seasoned marketing veterans, and they immediately picked up on the opportunity.
Especially the media's "great debate" across Europe, which generated huge buzz worldwide.
Bayswater Chinese Club officially launched its VIP box sales.
As Crozier had told Yang Cheng before, all 250 VIP boxes were priced steeply.
Even the cheapest ones started at £100,000.
To promote them, Bayswater held a massive commercial event in London.
This time, the guest list wasn't just filled with sports journalists—it leaned even more toward figures and media from the fashion and entertainment industries.
Queen's Avenue is one of London's historic shopping streets, close to Notting Hill, Hyde Park, and Knightsbridge, with Paddington Station—one of London's key transport hubs—nearby.
However, in recent years, the area had been somewhat overlooked.
Now, with the London City Council revamping Queen's Avenue's identity and style—anchored by Bayswater's new stadium—eight major retail sectors were rebuilt, fully renovated, and re-leased.
The goal was to transform the area into London's most vibrant and trendiest consumption hub—a gathering place for the global ultra-wealthy elite.
That's why Bayswater Chinese Club managed to attract brands like Bulgari and Apple.
Crozier and Berrada aimed to use fashion personalities and fashion media to further promote Bayswater Chinese Club and the entire Queen's Avenue project.
Simply put, while Harrods and Knightsbridge represent "Old Money," Queen's Avenue—centered around Bayswater's new stadium—would become the global hub for "New Money."
But this "New Money" had to distinguish itself from crass wealth.
That's why Bayswater's new stadium focused on cutting-edge tech and forward-thinking design.
When Norman Foster designed Queen's Avenue, he had to stay rooted in London's traditions—reflecting an "Old Money" aesthetic—while also using modern architectural technology and design concepts to innovate and incorporate unique "New Money" elements.
One of the most eye-catching moments of the entire event was the appearance of Grammy Award-winning artist Adele.
Football fans around the world already know that Adele is a die-hard supporter of Bayswater Chinese Club.
Whenever she has time, she never misses a match.
It's become a personal tradition for her.
The British singer, whose debut album became a massive hit, was now promoting her second album 21, which had just released its second single, Someone Like You, sparking global fan frenzy.
And this time, Adele became the first official VIP box client of Prudential Stadium.
She signed the deal during the event itself.
Out of gratitude for the club discovering her early on, Adele not only performs a song at the home stadium every year after Christmas—she also declined any promotional fee for this event.
The box she chose? It was Suite 21—matching the name of her new album!
The entire Suite 21 will be personally designed, decorated, and arranged by Adele herself.
This quickly drew global attention and excitement among fans and music lovers alike.
...
Madrid, Spain – Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Knock knock knock.
Real Madrid's General Manager José Sánchez knocked on the door of the president's office, then stood with his hands clasped in front of him, waiting.
The door was soon opened from inside.
The man at the door was Manuel Redondo—known as Real Madrid's Chief Administrator.
He is not related in any way to the legendary former Real Madrid defensive midfielder Fernando Redondo.
Manuel Redondo has been Florentino Pérez's personal assistant for many years.
"Good morning, Manuel," José Sánchez greeted him.
"Please come in, Mr. Sánchez," Redondo politely stepped aside to let him in.
Once Sánchez entered, Redondo excused himself, turned, and closed the door behind him.
The Real Madrid GM glanced back at the slowly closing door before turning again to face Florentino's desk.
At that moment, Florentino Pérez was looking at a newspaper spread out in front of him.
Other newspapers, clearly already browsed through, lay scattered across the desk.
"José, have you read this morning's papers?"
"Yes, I have. Those Bayswater Chinese guys really know how to put on a show," Sánchez replied, immediately understanding what Florentino was getting at.
"But the reaction is enormous. I checked—every morning paper is covering it. Some even ran it in their sports, fashion, and entertainment sections. They've completely broken through the media bubble. How much did they spend on this?"
At that, Florentino put down the newspaper in his hands and looked straight at the Real Madrid GM.
Spend money?
That's a given.
But as for exactly how much was spent, José Sánchez really couldn't say.
European media don't actually have that much original content—they just recycle stories over and over.
Fleet Street in the UK, on the other hand, is globally recognized as the birthplace of tabloid journalism. If something happens there, it's not just Europe—the whole world rushes to reprint and report it.
"Last night's event—yes, many of the guests in attendance were quite influential."
José Sánchez didn't directly answer Florentino's question because, frankly, he didn't know the answer.
"Besides Adele and a few people from the entertainment industry, quite a number from the fashion world were present too. Even Alexandra Shulman, the editor-in-chief of VOGUE UK, showed up. In this regard, London definitely holds a natural advantage."
Bayswater Chinese Club's marketing and PR team were particularly adept at leveraging this advantage.
The influence of VOGUE in the fashion world is beyond question.
Founded in the U.S. in 1892, its British edition was launched in 1916.
Spain's edition started in 1921 but ceased publication in 1936 and wasn't revived until 1988.
Perhaps more telling is that the editor-in-chief of VOGUE UK often serves concurrently as the European regional editor-in-chief.
That alone shows Britain's unique position in the fashion world.
In this regard, Madrid—heck, even all of Spain—simply can't compare with the UK.
And the most obvious example of this? David Beckham.
Everyone knows Beckham reached the peak of his career after joining Real Madrid.
He bridged the worlds of football, entertainment, and fashion—something no other player in football history has ever done.
Even today, no one else has matched it.
And Beckham came from the UK—London, specifically.
In a sense, Beckham's existence far exceeded what he offered on the pitch.
He completely changed the game for football stars.
He showed the world the commercial value hidden in professional footballers.
That value had long been underestimated.
Now, look at stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Kaká—they've all followed that path.
"This club has great ambition, and being located in London gives them a natural edge," said Florentino, raising his right hand and gesturing for Sánchez to sit.
"Football is a global sport with high added value. Players have excellent physical profiles, and over the years, many of them have crossed over into fashion or entertainment—even walking fashion runways."
Sánchez smiled and nodded slightly.
Italy was actually ahead of the game in that area.
The Italian national team had formalwear sponsors from as early as years ago—Armani.
So whenever the Italian squad traveled, they'd wear formal suits for the team photo.
And those photos? Every time they were released, female fans across the world swooned.
"They're not just doing this to promote the new stadium or Queen's Avenue," Florentino speculated. "There must be a whole bundle of upcoming campaigns—likely including marketing some of their players."
If it were just about selling VIP boxes or hyping up the new stadium, there wouldn't be a need for this much fanfare.
"I've heard they've been in contact with several fashion brands for some time now, so this direction isn't surprising."
After a brief pause, Sánchez added, "Manchester United secured a formalwear sponsorship deal with Paul Smith back in 2008, and it wasn't cheap either."
Paul Smith is a renowned British luxury fashion brand that provided suits for United's entire first team and coaching staff—though not shoes.
United had a separate footwear sponsor.
And speaking of fashion brands, Victoria Beckham's label is also a major British luxury name.
With so many high-end British brands based in London, it's perfectly natural that Bayswater Chinese Club would want to get involved.
Regardless, today's players—especially the top-tier ones—value more than just the salary a club offers. They also care about the club's commercial operations and brand strength.
Take Kaká, for instance.
After transferring from AC Milan to Manchester City, his salary increased significantly—but his commercial value clearly dropped.
Still, thanks to Britain's unique advantages and his personal image, Kaká remained popular in fashion circles.
"Do we have any chance of hitting £500 million in revenue this season?" Florentino finally asked the question that weighed heaviest on his mind.
Sánchez had clearly anticipated the question. He shook his head. "It'll be tough."
Crashing out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 had been a recurring nightmare for Real Madrid in recent years.
The squad was clearly strong enough, yet they just couldn't break that invisible barrier.
And this wasn't just about on-field performance—it was affecting the business and operational side of the club too.
What top-tier club gets stuck at the Round of 16 year after year?
In the short term, Real Madrid could rely on its stars and marketing strength, using its unique global brand to drive revenue.
But without results, even the best efforts yield diminishing returns.
Why has Bayswater Chinese Club's revenue risen so fast?
Does anyone really think Adam Crozier is some kind of magician?
The real reason is simple—Yang Cheng's team has been performing incredibly well.
With outstanding results on the pitch and business talents like Crozier and Omar Berrada off it, Bayswater Chinese Club has made a huge leap forward.
"No matter what, we must step up our game. We absolutely have to defend our position as the highest-earning football club in the world!" Florentino instructed firmly.
Sánchez felt the pressure—but still nodded heavily. "We'll do our best!"
Football is still a winner-takes-all sport.
Fans may be loyal to specific clubs locally, but on a global scale, fans flock to strength.
Champions and victories are what attract fans the most.
And, naturally, those same things attract sponsors.
That's why, ever since Real Madrid and Barcelona overtook Manchester United, their revenues have only skyrocketed—faster and faster.
In La Liga, the TV rights revenue for either Real Madrid or Barcelona alone often surpasses the combined total of the other 18 teams.
Their commercial income? It's the same story.
If Real Madrid ends up losing the revenue crown to Bayswater Chinese Club, things are going to get even harder moving forward.
"This is war, José!" Florentino emphasized.
Sánchez nodded. "I understand."
"Start preparing. The Bernabéu's renovation or reconstruction needs to move forward quickly," Florentino sighed.
Bayswater Chinese Club was able to catch up so quickly in part because of Wembley Stadium's 90,000-seat capacity.
Now, with Bayswater launching move after move, clearly more big plays are coming.
As the reigning king, Real Madrid is now feeling immense pressure.
...
As for all the external noise—whether it was the club's commercial activities or market reactions—Yang Cheng paid little attention. He mostly stayed out of it.
He had full confidence in Adam Crozier and Omar Berrada.
Not to mention, Xia Qing was there keeping an eye on things.
He was aware of the £4 billion acquisition offers.
The Qatari consortium had reached out. So had a U.S. private equity group—they'd both made inquiries in London.
But to Yang Cheng, those were just minor distractions.
After the Champions League Round of 16, the team immediately faced the FA Cup quarter-final, with West Ham United as their opponent.
With goals from Ryan Bertrand, Aaron Ramsey, and Kyle Walker, Yang Cheng led the team to a 3–1 victory.
Yes, both young full-backs scored.
Even Yang Cheng hadn't seen that coming.
Kyle Walker's goal came from a Kevin De Bruyne assist—a well-executed attacking play.
It happened in the 12th minute of the first half.
But soon after, the Hammers equalized.
At the start of the second half, Eden Hazard earned a penalty, and Aaron Ramsey calmly converted it to restore the lead.
In the 62nd minute, Ryan Bertrand won the ball back with a high press in the attacking third, burst into the box, and finished it himself.
In the end, it was a 3–1 home victory over West Ham United.
Meanwhile, at Old Trafford in Manchester, despite dominating possession and chances, Arsène Wenger's Arsenal were defeated by Ferguson's Manchester United, who scored twice on quick counterattacks to breach Hugo Lloris' goal.
United advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals.
The other two teams joining them in the semis were Manchester City and Bolton.
Bayswater Chinese Club drew Bolton in the semi-final, while Manchester City were set to face Manchester United.
As per tradition, both semi-final matches would be played at Wembley Stadium.
...
March 19 – Premier League Matchday 30.
Manchester United hosted Bolton at Old Trafford. After a hard-fought game, it wasn't until the closing minutes that Dimitar Berbatov scored the winner, sealing a 1–0 victory.
Arsenal beat West Bromwich Albion 2–1 away, with goals from Arshavin and Van Persie.
Bayswater Chinese Club traveled to face Wigan Athletic. Marcelo opened the scoring just six minutes into the match.
But not long after, United loanee Tom Cleverley equalized for Wigan.
It wasn't until the second half that Robert Lewandowski's goal secured the win.
In the end, Bayswater Chinese Club took a 2–1 away victory.
Liverpool also won 2–0 away against Sunderland.
Manchester City drew 1–1 away at Chelsea.
After 30 rounds, Bayswater Chinese Club led the Premier League table with 80 points.
Manchester City followed with 68 points, now trailing by a full 12 points.
Arsenal sat third with 67 points.
Liverpool also had 67 points but were fourth due to inferior goal difference.
Manchester United, with 57 points, were in fifth place.
Chelsea were sixth with 52 points.
By this point, the Premier League standings for the season had mostly settled.
With just eight rounds remaining, the chances of Manchester City, Arsenal, or Liverpool challenging Bayswater Chinese Club for the title were slim to none.
And with United trailing Arsenal and Liverpool by 10 points, their hopes of breaking back into the top four were fading fast.
Still, Ferguson wasn't giving up.
...
After Matchday 30, European leagues paused again for two weeks of international duty.
This break was for national teams to prepare for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.
South American national teams, though not involved in competitive matches, still scheduled friendlies, mostly in Europe to minimize travel for their players.
Of note, England's opponent this time was Wales.
The match was held at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Theo Walcott all started.
Yang Cheng attended the match in person, watching England defeat Wales 2–0.
Walcott scored one of the goals.
Despite having Bale and Ramsey, the overall gap between Wales and England was still considerable.
After two weeks of international fixtures, the Premier League resumed with Matchday 31.
With the Champions League quarter-finals coming midweek, the big clubs rotated heavily and fielded reserve-heavy lineups.
Bayswater Chinese Club struck early—Olivier Giroud scored in the 3rd minute against Bolton.
In the second half, Ivan Rakitić added another, making it 2–0.
Although Bolton pulled one back, the home side held on for a 2–1 win and all three points.
Manchester United's match was far more dramatic.
Ferguson took his side to East London to face West Ham United.
Within 30 minutes, United had already conceded twice.
Ferguson had to act fast—he made two substitutions at halftime.
Wayne Rooney came on and quickly took over the game, scoring a hat-trick with both feet and his head.
Mexican striker Javier Hernández also scored, helping United complete a stunning 4–2 comeback.
Chelsea drew 1–1 away at Stoke City.
Liverpool, despite taking an early lead, lost 2–1 away to West Bromwich Albion after conceding two penalties, which left Mancini fuming.
Arsenal edged Blackburn 1–0 at home.
Among the top sides, Manchester City had the most convincing result, thrashing Sunderland 5–0 at the Etihad.
...
April 5th, evening – Wembley Stadium, London.
The first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals saw Bayswater Chinese Club hosting Schalke 04.
Drawing the Bundesliga side brought a smile to Yang Cheng's face.
With matches on multiple fronts, the team was eager to get things wrapped up early.
Fielding their strongest lineup from the start, Bayswater Chinese Club went straight into full-on attack mode.
Within the first three minutes, they had already fired three shots on goal, pinning Schalke back in their own half and giving them a taste of Premier League intensity.
In the 4th minute, Luka Modrić and Ángel Di María pulled off a brilliant give-and-go on the right wing.
Di María cut inside with the ball, then played it back out wide to Modrić.
Modrić whipped in a cross from the right, finding Robert Lewandowski in the box.
The Polish striker nodded it back to the top of the arc.
Di María collected it, took one touch with his left, and curled a beautiful shot straight into the top-left corner.
1–0!
Schalke restarted, trying to mount a response.
But as soon as they crossed midfield, Nemanja Matić intercepted and launched a long ball forward.
Gareth Bale sprinted into the left side of the box and fired a shot on goal.
Schalke's center-back Joël Matip blocked it out for a corner.
Corner kick.
Modrić stepped up to take it.
In the chaos inside the box, Lewandowski got to the ball first, heading it in the opposite direction—into the net again.
Two goals in two minutes for Bayswater Chinese Club!
From there, the match stayed completely under the home side's control.
Schalke 04 looked overwhelmed by the relentless pressure.
It was clear to everyone that this Bundesliga side had done well to reach the quarter-finals, but now they were facing the monstrous Bayswater Chinese Club—completely stunned and overwhelmed early on.
More importantly, there was a clear disparity in quality between the two teams.
The match became almost a one-sided training session for Bayswater's attacking drills.
Though Schalke managed to survive the first half without conceding again, keeping it at 2–0, the second half would be another story.
By the 60th minute, fatigue had clearly caught up with the German side, and they could no longer keep pace.
In the 63rd minute, Marcelo and Gareth Bale linked up on the left, with the Brazilian delivering a cross from the edge of the box.
Lewandowski, completely unmarked in the center, headed it in easily—his second goal of the night.
3–0!
The home side continued to create chances but missed a few.
Then in the 72nd minute, Modrić played a brilliant through ball, and Di María burst into the right side of the box.
He suddenly stopped, shook off his defender, and fired a left-footed shot into the far corner.
4–0!
The Argentine also completed a brace!
In the 83rd minute, Raúl scored for Schalke with an assist from Jefferson Farfán.
It was the legendary Spaniard's 70th goal in the Champions League.
The entire Wembley Stadium erupted in applause after Raúl's goal.
The legendary Real Madrid forward had achieved incredible feats in the Champions League over the years.
But in the 88th minute, Toni Kroos delivered a precise through ball from the left, sending Gareth Bale racing into the left side of the box. Bale fired a low shot into the far corner, finding the bottom right of Schalke 04's net.
5–1!
Bayswater Chinese Club secured a spectacular home victory.
Over the course of the match, Yang Cheng's team recorded a staggering 37 shots, netting five goals in total.
It was a performance that truly showcased the Premier League side's devastating attacking power.
After the match, media outlets from all over raved that Bayswater Chinese Club looked every bit like champions.
Some even speculated that this season, Yang Cheng's team had a legitimate shot at completing an unprecedented quadruple!
So far, Bayswater Chinese Club had already secured the League Cup, and the Premier League title was all but in the bag.
They were still alive in both the FA Cup and the Champions League.
If they could go all the way, they would become legends—winners of the historic quadruple!
...
April 9 – Premier League Matchday 32.
Bayswater Chinese Club drew 1–1 away at Blackburn.
Yang Cheng rotated his squad heavily, with an eye on the midweek Champions League quarter-final second leg and the FA Cup semi-final against Bolton the following weekend.
There was no reason to go all-out here—after all, they already had the league practically wrapped up.
Manchester United defeated Fulham 2–0 at home.
Arsenal beat Blackpool 3–1 away.
But the real shock came at Anfield, where Liverpool dismantled Manchester City 3–0.
City's collapse came in two distinct phases.
First, Liverpool's high-press blitz at the start saw Fernando Torres score in the 8th minute.
Then, in the 34th and 35th minutes, City conceded twice in two minutes.
Outside those moments, City actually controlled much of the game, pressing Liverpool back.
From the overall performance, it was clear Mancini's full focus on the Premier League was paying off—his preparations were sharper, and his players in better form.
...
April 12 – Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg.
Bayswater Chinese Club traveled to face Schalke 04.
After their dominant 5–1 win in the first leg, Yang Cheng approached the away game with confidence and rotated his lineup.
For Toni Kroos, it was his first return to German soil since joining Bayswater.
The German midfielder was clearly fired up, eager to prove himself in front of his home fans.
Throughout the match, Kroos was a constant presence, buzzing around the pitch.
Schalke 04, meanwhile, opted for a defensive, counter-attacking setup, which did somewhat contain the visitors' offense.
It wasn't until the 57th minute of the second half that Giroud dropped a pass back inside the box. Toni Kroos was waiting just outside the area—he controlled it with his right, nudged it past Farfán, and coolly slotted it into the bottom right corner.
Bayswater Chinese Club had their opener!
Just 12 minutes later, with Schalke's players clearly fatigued and falling behind the pace, Kroos pinged a perfect diagonal over-the-top pass to the right flank.
Di María sprinted after it, latched on, drove into the box, and chipped a cross to the far post.
Eden Hazard arrived to guide it home.
2–0!
That score held until the final whistle.
Bayswater Chinese Club triumphed 2–0 away, sealing a dominant 7–1 aggregate win over Schalke 04 and cruising into the Champions League semi-finals.
...
While Bayswater Chinese Club progressed smoothly, the other three quarter-final ties also reached their conclusions.
Despite a less-than-stellar domestic campaign, Manchester United thrived in the Champions League—especially in the knockout rounds, where Ferguson's tactical genius truly shone.
In their two-legged tie against city rivals Manchester City, United adopted a deep, cautious approach in the first leg. A lightning-fast counterattack finished by Arjen Robben gave them a precious away goal.
Back at Old Trafford for the second leg, United played more confidently.
Ancelotti's City came out aggressively, constantly threatening United's goal.
But United's defense held firm, giving them no clear chances.
Then, in the 76th minute, Kaká scored for City, giving them hope.
With both sides having scored one away goal, the aggregate was 1–1.
But just three minutes later, City's inexperience in the Champions League reared its head.
It wasn't a matter of individual mistakes—it was the team's overall structure that faltered.
After Kaká's goal, City's back line momentarily relaxed.
United, ever alert, capitalized.
Michael Carrick initiated the play from deep. Ryan Giggs picked out Robben on the right wing. The Dutchman shrugged off Leighton Baines, cut inside, and curled a beautiful shot into the top left corner.
1–1 on the night.
2–1 on aggregate!
It was a crushing blow—just three minutes after their equalizer.
City's joy turned to despair.
No matter how hard they pushed after that, they couldn't find another goal.
And so, Manchester City exited the Champions League in heartbreak, losing 2–1 on aggregate.
In another quarter-final, Arsenal had edged Bayern Munich 3–2 away in the first leg.
It was a thrilling end-to-end game.
Back at the Emirates, the Gunners sealed the tie with a controlled 1–0 victory, progressing to the semi-finals 4–2 on aggregate.
Barcelona, meanwhile, destroyed Shakhtar Donetsk 6–1 over two legs to book their place in the last four.
And with that, the semi-final lineup was set.
Three of the four teams came from the Premier League.
Barcelona was the lone survivor from outside England.
According to the previous draw, Bayswater Chinese Club would face Wenger's Arsenal in the semi-finals.
Manchester United would take on Barcelona.
The matchups immediately sparked massive global discussion.
Bayswater Chinese Club remained the overwhelming favorites to lift the trophy.
Barcelona were next in line.
Manchester United came in third.
Arsenal were widely seen as the underdogs.
Almost everyone believed that the Gunners didn't stand a chance against Bayswater Chinese Club.
After all, so far this season, Wenger's team had lost every single encounter against Yang Cheng's men.
But Yang Cheng refused to buy into that narrative.
He repeatedly warned his players not to underestimate Arsenal.
The Champions League semi-finals were a whole different animal.
Then, on the weekend at Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup semi-finals took place.
Yang Cheng's team stormed past Bolton with a dominant 5–0 "home" win, booking their spot in the final.
Manchester City, fresh off their Champions League elimination by United, bounced back to beat their rivals 1–0 in the FA Cup semi-final, thanks to a goal from Yaya Touré.
That set up a final between Bayswater Chinese Club and Manchester City.
A clear validation of Yang Cheng's earlier comments: knockout football is a whole different beast.
Individual player performances in a single match often decide the outcome.
Even a team like Manchester United, who had underwhelmed in the league and weren't quite at their peak, could still use superior tactics and game management to eliminate opponents.
That's why Yang Cheng kept warning his squad—no matter what, they must not underestimate Arsenal.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10