"There are many supporters who follow the same club for their entire lives, from the day they are born until the day they die. They support only one team. Anything that harms that club is seen as a betrayal.
"There are many supporters like that in England, across Europe, and throughout the world. Far more than most people could ever imagine."
Ethan's tone became especially firm as he spoke.
"I heard you once said that if you ever felt you were no longer suitable to own the club, you would choose to leave. What did you mean by that?"
"Because of love.
"We founded a new club because of our love for football. In the same way, if I ever believed that my departure would benefit the club, the supporters, and the players, then I would leave.
"However, I would never sell the club. I would establish a charitable foundation and place the club's operation under its control."
"And how would you feel at that moment?"
Ethan paused for a moment.
"I think I would feel hopeful and wish the club nothing but the best."
The players standing in the distance reacted slightly when they heard this. The reporter clearly noticed their response.
"Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have both praised your commitment to charity and expressed an interest in meeting you. What do you think about that?"
"Naturally, I'm very pleased.
"They are both people I admire greatly, and both have made enormous contributions to charity.
"I believe that if everyone possessed a charitable heart, the world would become a much better place."
"But some people claim you are using charity to promote your club."
Ethan shook his head and laughed.
"People are free to say whatever they like. I can't control them.
"I only need to know that promotion is not my reason for doing it.
"I've always believed that every penny earned from the supporters should, wherever possible, be returned to them through the club."
At this point, Ethan smiled and shook his head.
"Of course, everyone knows that is difficult to achieve completely.
"A club has to pay player wages, cover operating costs, and sign players to improve the squad, among many other expenses.
"But beyond those necessities, I want the club to give something back to the supporters who stand by us, and charity is one of the ways we can do that."
"As far as I know, most football clubs don't think in those terms. Why do you?"
Ethan hesitated briefly, knowing that a careless answer might offend people.
"Because I began as a supporter.
"I understand the loyalty supporters feel toward a club. They want it to keep improving, and their feelings for it are usually very pure.
"In many cases, a club loses its supporters only after the club itself loses that purity."
"Just as Manchester United lost you and inspired you to found the Red Rebels?"
Ethan smiled faintly.
"But I still respect Manchester United."
"Will you continue your charitable work?"
"Of course.
"I'm even considering donating all my assets to a charitable foundation when the time is right, allowing the foundation to continue that work on my behalf."
The reporter was visibly surprised.
"And what would happen to you?"
Ethan laughed.
"I'd keep enough money to buy a small island in the Caribbean, or perhaps find somewhere peaceful with beautiful scenery and live comfortably.
"Whenever the club had a match, I'd come back to watch and support the team."
"Is that your ideal future?"
"Of course.
"I've never wanted to live for money. That would be far too exhausting."
The reporter felt that Ethan's outlook on life had reached a level beyond his own.
"Would Eva be there with you?" he asked with a smile.
Since reporters had photographed them together at the castle mansion, Ethan's relationship with Eva had become public knowledge.
"Yes. That is her wish as well."
"Does she support you running a football club?"
Ethan thought of Eva and could not help smiling. The expression on his face radiated happiness.
"This is a choice each of us has made.
"Even though we are together, we both have the right to choose the lives we want.
"She loves making films, and even now she still isn't a football supporter. I don't think I'll ever be able to change her in that respect."
The reporter looked surprised, then laughed as though he could imagine Eva's pained expression whenever she accompanied Ethan to a match.
It reminded him that everyone had private sides to their lives that outsiders never saw.
"Could that become a problem in your relationship?"
"No. We hardly ever argue."
"Do you give in to her, or does she give in to you?" the reporter asked with interest, sensing that Ethan and Eva's relationship might attract even more attention than the football discussion.
Ethan laughed again.
"Most of the time, she accommodates me.
"She seems to understand instinctively how to get along with me, and she often takes my preferences into account in everything she does.
"She makes it difficult for me to find anything worth arguing about."
His words sounded almost like he was showing off, but the happiness in his smile was unmistakably genuine.
"I'm sure many of her fans want to know this. Will you marry her?"
"Of course, but not yet."
"Then when?"
Ethan thought for a moment.
"We are both focused on our careers right now.
"I think once our work reaches a more settled stage, we'll get married like any ordinary couple."
...
The interview lasted for around an hour.
Afterward, the reporter visited different areas of the Newton Heath training base to take photographs. Several would apparently be selected for the magazine, which planned to devote multiple pages to Ethan and the Red Rebels.
For New Manchester United, this was undoubtedly a major opportunity.
However, the interview had only become possible because of Ethan's personal reputation.
His investments in the United States had been heavily praised by investors, while his charitable work in Africa had attracted the attention of many philanthropists and organisations, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett.
That had ultimately led to the interview.
In fact, several respected magazines had tried to interview Ethan long before this, but he had rejected every request.
Even so, he had never expected to be interviewed by TIME, much less appear on its cover.
After seeing the interview team off, Ethan finally relaxed.
He was not accustomed to this kind of attention.
Although he had not lied, the entire experience had felt unnatural. He preferred to let events unfold without forcing them.
"Finally, it's over!" Ethan dropped heavily onto the sofa, feeling thoroughly exhausted.
"Boss, for us, this is only the beginning," Mark replied with a bitter smile.
Naturally, the Commercial Department had no intention of wasting the opportunity.
They planned to use the attention surrounding the interview to promote New Manchester United and the Red Rebels, further increasing the club's profile.
"The new season is about to begin. Keep everything under control and make sure none of it affects the team," Ethan warned.
In fact, every time Mark prepared a major commercial campaign, Ethan repeated the same instruction.
Commercial development was essential, but the team's results were just as important.
Without success on the pitch, New Manchester United would remain trapped in the lower divisions.
At that point, nobody would care who owned the club.
...
New Manchester United's opening league match was scheduled for August 4.
They would travel south to London to face Queens Park Rangers, who had been relegated from League One the previous season.
They were a formidable side.
Relegated clubs usually entered the new season determined to win immediate promotion, especially during the opening weeks.
New Manchester United therefore had to approach the match with complete focus.
Mourinho sent Villas-Boas to Loftus Road several times to study the stadium and its surroundings.
He also arranged for him to observe Queens Park Rangers' training sessions discreetly, all in an effort to gain a clearer understanding of their current condition.
From a tactical perspective, Mourinho obtained footage of Queens Park Rangers' matches from the previous season through OPTA.
He then developed a targeted plan based on the players they had sold and the new signings they had made during the summer.
The strengths and weaknesses of every opposing player were recorded in detail.
In addition to watching video footage, New Manchester United's players each received a profile of the opponent they were likely to face.
It included that player's strengths, weaknesses, habits, preferred style, and even his dominant foot.
This was a practice New Manchester United had carried over from the previous season.
Two members of the scouting department under Villas-Boas were assigned specifically to this kind of research, and their work had already proved useful.
After completing those detailed preparations, New Manchester United travelled to London one day before the match.
To ensure the squad remained focused, London-born players such as Terry and Curtis were required to stay with the team and were not permitted to visit home privately.
That was one of Mourinho's rules for away matches.
Granada Television arranged a live broadcast, while several London broadcasters also treated the fixture as a major event.
After all, both teams were considered among the leading promotion contenders.
Although New Manchester United had only just been promoted, their overall strength was considerable, giving them the appearance of a potential surprise package.
Queens Park Rangers, meanwhile, had been relegated from League One with much of their squad intact and were equally determined to return immediately.
It was widely regarded as the standout match of the opening round.
Mourinho's starting lineup contained few surprises.
Drogba remained the lone centre-forward, with Malouda and Hleb on the wings.
Senna, Juninho, and Essien formed the midfield.
Abidal, Terry, Curtis, and Kolo Touré made up the back four, while Almunia started in goal.
The five substitutes were Čech, Evra, Alou Diarra, Wright-Phillips, and Olić.
Their selection was clearly based on versatility.
With only five places available on the bench and so many positions to cover, players capable of filling multiple roles gave Mourinho far greater flexibility.
Everyone understood that it would be an extremely difficult match, especially at Loftus Road.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)