As New Manchester United continued to improve, Ethan's confidence in the team grew stronger.
Brentford were enjoying an excellent season, but New Manchester United had been just as impressive.
Their run of 13 consecutive league victories set a new League Two record, surpassing Brentford's sequence of 12 wins. New Manchester United also remained unbeaten throughout all four league matches in October, as well as several cup ties.
Their league record stood at 15 wins and 1 draw, while they had continued progressing in both the Football League Trophy and the League Cup.
But the most remarkable development was Čech's record.
He had now kept clean sheets in six league matches and one League Cup tie.
Ever since being called upon against Reading, his performances had become increasingly impressive.
According to OPTA, Čech averaged three decisive saves per match.
Each time he made one, he seemed to rescue the team from danger and give greater confidence to the defenders in front of him.
Across all competitions, Čech had gone 600 minutes without conceding.
Excluding the League Cup, his League Two clean-sheet run had reached 508 minutes, the longest in the division and also the longest in New Manchester United's history.
A great goalkeeper could be worth an entire team.
New Manchester United currently led Brentford by four points at the top of the table.
Their rivals had failed to maintain the same level of performance in October and had dropped into second place.
After 16 league matches, New Manchester United remained unbeaten with 15 wins and 1 draw.
They had scored 34 goals and conceded only 7.
That was the best defensive record among all 24 League Two clubs and also the fewest goals conceded at that stage of a season in the division's history.
Čech's outstanding performances had contributed enormously to that achievement.
Of course, New Manchester United's defensive stability also played a major part.
The back line of Abidal, Terry, Curtis, and Touré had been exceptionally strong, while Mourinho's philosophy of defending from the front had helped protect Čech and preserve his clean-sheet record.
However, when the media wanted to build a story, they would not analyse all eleven players.
They preferred to focus on one or two figures.
That meant local prospects such as John Terry and Curtis Davies, or Petr Čech, who had already been labelled a goalkeeping prodigy.
Amid the growing media attention, Ethan instructed Mark to ensure that the Commercial Department did not interfere with the team's work.
As a result, Mark turned down a large number of sponsorship appearances.
The club lost considerable potential income, but the players were able to prepare in peace.
What Ethan had not expected was that Wenger would genuinely submit an offer, just as the newspapers had predicted.
However, unlike the figures being reported, Arsenal's bid for Čech was only £3 million.
Even so, it was the largest offer New Manchester United had ever received and would probably have broken the English transfer record for a goalkeeper of Čech's age.
"Reply immediately," Ethan said without hesitation. "Čech is not for sale.
"We will not sell him.
"Also, invite his agent to Manchester. We should discuss a new contract.
"He's performed exceptionally well and deserves a higher salary."
The club staff acted at once.
...
"See you tomorrow, Petr!"
"See you, Curtis!"
After leaving Newton Heath, Čech parted ways with Curtis and the others.
He was still living with a supporter family.
The club had offered to arrange private accommodation for him, but he had declined, believing that his current situation was perfectly comfortable for the time being.
After he had walked for a while, a car approached from behind and pulled alongside him.
The window lowered, revealing his agent, Pavel Zíka.
Čech smiled and climbed inside.
"I think you should move out and buy a car," Zíka said with a smile.
"I've noticed that quite a few players at your club own cars, and the wages seem respectable."
Zíka ran a sports-investment company in the Czech Republic and represented several well-known Czech players.
He had recently approached Čech, who had been searching for an agent capable of increasing his profile in the Czech Republic and helping him reach the national team.
As a result, Čech had agreed to work with him.
"I'm comfortable where I am for now," Čech replied.
"Once I've settled properly, I'll move into my own place."
Zíka shrugged and allowed the driver to continue.
"New Manchester United called me earlier. They want to offer you a new contract.
"What do you think?"
Čech looked surprised.
"Is there a problem with my current contract?"
Zíka shook his head.
"No. The current deal is fine.
"New Manchester United have shown plenty of sincerity.
"They want to move you into the upper-middle tier of the wage structure, with appearance bonuses and other incentives.
"The new contract would last five years, and your salary could be reviewed annually according to your performances.
"If you sign, your position within the squad would be roughly equal to Curtis Davies, John Terry, and the other key young players."
Čech rarely paid attention to such matters.
He usually focused only on training and matches and gave little thought to contracts or finances.
Now, hearing his agent explain it, he realised New Manchester United intended to place him on the same level as Curtis and Terry.
He immediately thought of Ethan sitting beside him near the training pitch.
It had been Ethan's encouragement that helped him overcome his doubts and reach this point.
Čech did not become arrogant.
He knew he still had plenty of room to improve, and the club's offer proved that Ethan believed in his future.
Curtis Davies and John Terry were both regarded as central figures in New Manchester United's long-term plans.
Being treated on the same level demonstrated exactly how highly Ethan valued him.
"Arsenal contacted me two days ago," Zíka continued.
"You know the club. The Premier League side from London that the newspapers claim are interested in you.
"They've submitted a £3 million offer to New Manchester United.
"They've also assured me that if you move, they'll offer you a higher salary than New Manchester United."
As he spoke, Zíka watched Čech carefully.
An agent needed to understand a player's thoughts.
"Arsenal are looking for David Seaman's eventual successor, and they've chosen you.
"They are a much bigger club in the Premier League.
"You would have teammates such as Henry and Vieira, and the move would undoubtedly improve your chances of being selected for the Czech national team."
Čech remained silent.
His thoughts turned over repeatedly.
Playing for the national team was his greatest ambition.
But leaving New Manchester United was something he had never seriously considered.
In truth, it would not be an exaggeration to say that New Manchester United had developed him.
Ethan in particular had given him opportunities and support that Čech could never repay.
At the same time, representing his country was the highest honour a professional player could achieve.
Zíka said nothing more.
He simply waited.
He was not the kind of agent who pressured a player into transferring.
The car moved along the quiet road.
Čech had been in Manchester for half a year and passed along this route every morning while running to Newton Heath.
He knew it extremely well.
In the distance, he could already see the neighbourhood where he lived.
He knew that place just as well.
A large group of children there had become Čech supporters.
Inspired by him, several had enrolled in New Manchester United's academy and decided they wanted to become goalkeepers.
If he left for Arsenal, would he ever find another environment like this?
Čech made his decision.
"Reject Arsenal, Pavel.
"I like New Manchester United, and I want to stay."
Zíka smiled, as though he had expected that answer.
However, he also told Čech that he would negotiate firmly with the club.
Even if he could not secure a salary above Curtis and the others, he wanted Čech's wages to be close to theirs.
Čech had no objection.
He only reminded his agent not to create unnecessary hostility.
He loved the atmosphere at the club and did not want contract talks to damage his relationship with Ethan.
Zíka nodded with a smile.
When they reached the neighbourhood, Čech left the car and walked inside.
Zíka instructed the driver to return to Newton Heath.
At the same time, he called Walsh and informed him that he had arrived in Manchester and was ready to begin negotiations.
The talks lasted three days and required several meetings.
Eventually, both sides reached an agreement.
New Manchester United offered Čech a new five-year contract, replacing the three-year deal he had previously signed and securing the talented goalkeeper's future at the club.
On the day of the signing, Ethan attended the ceremony personally.
Around thirty or forty media organisations were present to witness Čech renewing his contract.
When reporters asked why he had chosen to stay with New Manchester United, Čech smiled.
He said he loved the club, respected his teammates, and believed he could grow alongside the team.
He expected New Manchester United to earn promotion to League One that season and reach the Premier League in the future.
He also believed he would eventually represent the Czech national team.
"The supporters here have been wonderful to me.
"My teammates are friendly, the manager trusts me, and Mr. Yu treats me like a brother.
"I honestly can't think of a reason to leave," Čech said with a smile.
"Does signing this contract mean you won't be able to leave New Manchester United for the next five years?" one reporter asked, clearly trying to trap him.
To everyone's surprise, Čech smiled and shook his head.
"No.
"I hope I never leave."
Ethan was delighted by the answer.
Mourinho, standing nearby, was equally pleased.
He understood that Čech's decision to remain sent a clear message to every club hoping to poach New Manchester United's best players.
They might offer higher wages.
They might currently possess greater prestige.
They might be able to attract many footballers.
But they could not simply take New Manchester United's finest talents away.
Because beyond money and reputation, they had nothing that this club did not already offer.
Of course, keeping Čech also forced Ethan to recognise another reality.
If New Manchester United wanted to retain their growing collection of young stars, a new round of salary increases would soon become unavoidable.
Ethan was perfectly willing to accept that.
They were worth it.
(To be continued.)