Chapter 410: One Step Away from the Title
Notts County, the Division Three leaders, became the first English team to secure promotion in March. Under the guidance of manager Sam Allardyce, County dominated Division Three, opening up such a commanding lead that their promotion was mathematically secured with weeks to spare.
Across the River Trent, Nottingham Forest were battling at the other end of the Football League pyramid. Relegated from the Premier League the previous season, Forest were determined to bounce straight back under manager Dave Bassett. By April, their promotion push gathered decisive momentum. A 2–1 home win over Reading put Forest six points clear of third-placed Sunderland, with only two matches left for the Wearside club to play.
When Sunderland stumbled in their following fixture, Forest’s promotion was mathematically confirmed. The result meant Nottingham Forest secured automatic promotion back to the Premier League after just one season away.
Newcastle United, whose Premier League campaign had been disappointing and inconsistent, were handed a lifeline of silverware through the FA Cup. Kenny Dalglish’s side overcame Sheffield United in the semi-final at Old Trafford. A hard-fought 1–0 victory, secured by a strike from Alan Shearer, booked the Magpies’ place in the final.
The win marked Newcastle’s first FA Cup final appearance since 1974. It also confirmed the final showdown: Newcastle United would meet Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal at Wembley.
As for Manchester City, out of 34 matches, they lost only once, underscoring their stability. With the fewest goals conceded in the league (11), their defensive record was exceptional. Their offensive prowess was also noteworthy, having scored 58 goals. Even if their total goals scored weren’t the highest, the goal difference clearly reflects the balance of solid defense and effective attack.
By winning their semi-final against Borussia Dortmund 3–2, Manchester City secured their place in the final. Their opponent? None other than Real Madrid — confirmed for an exciting showdown!
Regardless of how the match unfolded, the media was singing their praises. The players of Manchester City, staying in their Manchester dormitory, saw headlines celebrating their achievements every day. These glowing reports made them feel on top of the world.
Victory, praise, and the championship seemed within reach.
For the league, they didn’t have to worry about what other teams were doing; all they needed to do was win their next matches, and the league title would be theirs. However, they overlooked their physical limits.
For an average person, engaging in intense physical activity for just one day inevitably leads to significant fatigue and muscle soreness the next day. In contrast, well-trained players, competing weekly, can generally recover more quickly than the fatigue they incur.
A brief surge in effort followed by proper rest usually helps them bounce back. However, this month’s relentless back-to-back matches had made recovery difficult. Despite Richard’s efforts to persuade O’Neill to grant them time off, the players followed instructions and rested at home, yet their bodies still struggled to cope with the mounting fatigue.
Richard rubbed his temples in frustration. He complained about the timing, thinking that if the 1998 World Cup hadn’t existed, the Premier League fixtures wouldn’t have become so congested at the end of the season.
On the 35th fixture of the season, Maine Road was packed to the rafters. The roar of the crowd, a constant tide of blue, reverberated through the stadium.
"Dad... Mom... I’m so glad you’re here," Richard said, his voice barely audible over the cheers.
He pulled his parents into a tight hug, feeling the warmth of their presence. They had traveled all the way from London to witness this historic moment, and seeing them here made everything feel even more real.
Not only them — Harry, his brother, and his sister-in-law were in the stands as well, waving and shouting encouragement. Richard felt a swell of pride and gratitude. He took a deep breath, letting the energy of the crowd mix with the comfort of familiar faces. Today wasn’t just another match; it was a moment to remember, and now, he wasn’t facing it alone.
What surprised Richard the most was the presence of two people he had least expected: Phil Anschutz and Lamar Hunt, the two main investors of MLS. As a 10% shareholder in the early MLS, Richard naturally understood why they were there.
They weren’t just there to watch Manchester City’s match — their main focus was to discuss the MLS format for the next season.
"I agree with it," Richard said as he immediately signed the documents handed to him by their secretary. The new format they proposed would see MLS expand by two new teams, Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion, raising the total number of teams in the league to 12.
The competition format would also change. Each team would play 32 matches, split evenly between home and away. Teams would face opponents in their own conference four times, while playing teams from the opposite conference twice.
Naturally, Richard wasn’t going to interfere with the development of MLS as it was meant to progress — probably later, when the league transitioned to a model where each team was operated by a distinct investor-operator. But for now? Nah, it was a money-burning machine.
After signing the documents, Richard turned his attention to the pitch, where Manchester City and Everton players were shaking hands. However, his eyes and ears were immediately drawn to the North Stand, where 3,000 Everton supporters had gathered, launching a chant — but their voices weren’t for Manchester City. Instead, they were directed at their own chairman.
"Who runs the club?"
"Johnson out! Johnson out!"
"What do we want?"
"Johnson out! Johnson out!"
Phil Anschutz was astonished at this. He then asked Richard "Do you know what’s happening?"
He wasn’t the only one paying attention. Lamar Hunt also turned to watch, his expression a mix of curiosity and interest. Richard quickly summarized the situation: Everton fans were protesting against the club’s leadership.
Peter Johnson, a lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, had acquired Everton in 1994. Despite injecting funds into the club, his tenure was plagued by financial instability. His attempts to relocate the team to a new stadium in Kirkby were met with fierce resistance, as fans feared it would strip the club of its identity and heritage.
Tensions peaked when legendary goalkeeper Neville Southall left the club after 17 years. The chants grew louder and more insistent — a raw, unified cry from supporters demanding accountability from the chairman. In fact, before the Maine Road fixture, thousands of Everton supporters had gathered in the Gwladys Street End at Goodison Park, staging a sit-in protest and chanting slogans demanding that Chairman Peter Johnson step down.
PHWEEEE~
"And we’re underway here at a packed Maine Road for Fixture 35 of the Premier League! The atmosphere is electric! Manchester City just needs a win today to secure their first-ever Premier League title, and the fans here can barely contain themselves.
Look at that — every touch, every pass is met with thunderous cheers. Everton are giving it their all, but City have that composure of a team on the brink of history. You can feel it in the air... history is just moments away from being made here in Manchester!"
"You’re right, Martin. We can see Manchester City’s starting lineup today. It seems O’Neill has completely abandoned the 4-4-2 formation in this match.
Starting goalkeeper: Buffon
Defenders: Zanetti, Cannavaro, Thuram, Zambrotta
Midfielders: Makelele, Pirlo, Zidane
Forwards: Henry, Ronaldo, Pires
It seems Manchester City is determined to claim the title, fielding their strongest squad for this crucial fixture."
After the teams shook hands, captain Zanetti stepped up to the referee, awaiting the kickoff decision. Everton fans sang their protest, and Manchester City’s supporters were not to be outdone. Thanks to this, you could basically hear:
"We are City, we are City, we are the Blues, we are City, and we barely lose!"
Hearing the chant brought a knowing smile to Richard’s face — this was the spirit. The whistle blew, and the match was underway.
The players’ fighting spirit was fully unleashed. Every tackle, every sprint reflected their determination to dominate the pitch. Even O’Neill and Kendall, the managers of their respective clubs, couldn’t stay still.
Their eyes swept across every player, sharp and commanding, urging them forward. Time and again, they gestured, signaling their teams to push harder, to take control, to seize the moment. The intensity in the dugouts matched the energy on the field, a silent battle of wills before the first whistle even blew.
In the first five minutes, Manchester City seemed to play conservatively, exchanging passes in their midfield and defense as they acclimated to the pitch.
The ball rolled differently on the grass, affecting both speed and trajectory, and the players had to adjust to its feel. It was also a way of observing and testing Everton, gauging their form on the day. However, thanks to the majority of fans directing their chants at the protest rather than offering support, Everton looked sluggish as they entered the pitch.
Richard silently laughed to himself. ’This is the power of the twelfth man!’ he thought, acknowledging how fan energy and atmosphere can influence a team’s performance, even if the players themselves are technically only eleven. Now, if Manchester City lost to this bunch of slower, distracted players, could they really still call themselves the club with the tightest defense in Europe?