The commercial success of the Premier League relies on sponsors—and equally on media coverage.
For a player like Claire , who never seemed to exit a match normally, even Sir Alex Ferguson could only shake his head in resignation.
But today's victory over Chelsea held special significance.
At the start of the season, Ferguson had faced immense pressure—fans criticized his decision to let van Nistelrooy leave, while the feud between Ronaldo and Rooney destabilized the squad.
Even now, halfway through the season, van Nistelrooy couldn't resist taking shots at Ferguson in the media, complaining about "unfair treatment" during his time at United.
Ferguson decided it was time to air his grievances—on his own terms.
No one knew how to handle the press better than him. Before 2008, media access was the only window into a club's inner workings.
Surveying the sea of reporters before him, Ferguson couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. Outside of a title win or a Champions League final, which club could draw this kind of media frenzy?
He strode into the press room flanked by United's much-hyped "Golden Duo."
The first question came from United's mouthpiece, the Manchester Evening News—but when Ferguson saw their reporter was Lucy Piddler, he nearly choked.
"Did Claire finally agree to date you? Wait—since when is the MEN's reporter a woman? I thought it was some bloke?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Ferguson knew he'd messed up.
Hundreds of cameras swiveled toward Lucy.
Dressed in a sleek office ensemble—far more conservative than her usual outfits—Lucy looked every bit the poised journalist. Black stockings accentuated her long legs, giving her an air of effortless elegance.
Instead of flinching under the spotlight, Lucy basked in it, even striking a few playful poses.
"Wow! Thank you, Sir Alex, for the spotlight!" She laughed, raising her MEN-branded mic. "But let me clarify—my father and Claire's uncle, Denis Irwin, are close friends. Uncle Denis thought his nephew needed... well, let's just say we were set up. You can guess how it went, since I'm here interviewing you instead of him."
She winked, leaving the rest to the imagination.
What Lucy didn't expect was the media's rabid obsession with Claire—not just his performance, but his personal life.
"Do you know the nature of Claire and Megan Fox's relationship?"
"Why does Megan Fox have Claire's name tattooed on her?"
"Was Claire's heroic bank rescue motivated by Megan's presence?"
"Rumor has it Claire's fan club president is the daughter of the London Wine Association's chairman. Any comment?"
Lucy finally grasped the magnitude of Claire's influence. United's post-match presser had devolved into a Claire gossip session.
"How much do you know about Claire's past?"
"Who did he inherit his musical talent from?"
Ferguson, red-faced, elbowed Carlos Queiroz, who shot a glance at Ronaldo and Rooney.
The two stars looked on the verge of spontaneous combustion, their envy palpable.
"Ahem!" Queiroz coughed loudly. "Order, please! Lucy—LUCY! LUCY!!"
After nearly rupturing his vocal cords, he finally pried Lucy free from the media swarm.
"Let's keep this moving. We've got a match to review. Save the personal questions for later—I'll make sure you get your time."
The reporters reluctantly settled, appeased by security and Queiroz's promise.
Ferguson cleared his throat. "I understand the excitement. We've just beaten Chelsea, a direct rival for the title."
"Lucy asked about my reflections on the team... and I have many. So today, I'll share my vision for United's season—past and future."
The room fell silent—partly because Lucy, standing meters away, hadn't asked anything.
Ferguson plowed ahead, unfazed.
"Many criticized me for selling van Nistelrooy. But let me be clear: his decline was evident as early as last season's League Cup final. By 05-06, his mobility had deteriorated. He became a static striker—ineffective for our system."
"Keeping him would've hindered United's progress. And now, halfway through 06-07, I say this with certainty: No one will stop us from lifting the trophy!"
The room erupted in applause.
Seizing the moment, Lucy slipped away toward the locker room—leaving Ronaldo and Rooney behind, their eyes burning with envy as they faced the media alone.