Chapter 95: A Long Sprint! This Kid Finally Gets It!
As the calendar turned to April, the Premier League title race had more or less lost its suspense.
The only real question left was whether Arsenal could claw their way back into the top four.
Even those pundits and fans who had been hoping Bayswater Chinese FC would collapse and fall off the table were now thoroughly disappointed.
Yang Cheng's team continued to exchange blows with Ferguson's Manchester United, neck and neck.
On April 5th, Arsenal played out a 0–0 draw away to Juventus.
Having won the first leg 2–0 at home, the Gunners advanced to the Champions League semifinals 2–0 on aggregate.
It was clear that Wenger was going all-in on the Champions League.
Bayswater Chinese FC, after winning their home leg 2–0, traveled to Bulgaria and defeated Levski Sofia 3–1 in the second leg.
5–1 on aggregate—they were through to the UEFA Cup semifinals.
The other three semifinalists: Sevilla, Schalke 04, and Roma.
Bayswater drew Serie A's Giallorossi—AS Roma.
...
Back in the Premier League, Round 33 saw Bayswater hosting Birmingham at Loftus Road.
Birmingham, who kicked off first, tried to take the initiative and opened aggressively.
But as soon as they entered Bayswater's half, they were stopped cold—José Fonte stepped up and intercepted.
Škrtel launched a long ball to trigger a counter.
Ribéry surged down the right and delivered a cross into the box.
Lambert arrived perfectly for a thunderous strike—but the keeper made a great save.
Corner.
Modrić took it from the right.
Lambert, Yaya Touré, and Škrtel all challenged for it near the front post.
Škrtel's header deflected off the goalkeeper's leg and fell loose.
José Fonte was there to clean up the rebound.
1–0!
Just one minute in, and Birmingham were already a mess.
Only two minutes later, Yaya Touré slipped a pass down the left for Arshavin, who played a perfect through ball to send Lambert one-on-one.
Lambert hit the post.
But in the 9th minute, Ribéry latched onto a brilliant through ball from Modrić and finished from the left side of the box with a calm right-footed strike.
2–0!
Then just five minutes later, another turnover led to a counterattack.
Maicon sprinted 50 meters from the back and fed Arshavin, who broke into the box from the right.
He tried to round the keeper but was brought down.
Penalty.
After missing multiple earlier chances, Lambert stepped up and made no mistake.
3–0!
Steve Bruce had seen enough.
By the 24th minute, he made his first substitution.
By the 35th minute, he made a second—bringing on a familiar face from the past: former Arsenal youngster Jermaine Pennant.
But it made no difference.
Bayswater kept attacking relentlessly.
In the 39th minute, Lass Diarra unleashed a rocket from outside the box that flew into the net.
4–0!
At this point, anything Bayswater did looked dangerous.
With the game all but sealed by halftime, Yang Cheng began rotating his squad in the second half.
Birmingham tried to salvage some pride.
In the 70th minute, Walcott, only on the pitch for two minutes, received a pass from Modrić on the right and exploded forward.
He rounded the keeper and slotted it home.
5–0!
Birmingham pulled one back seven minutes later.
Final score: 5–1, a ruthless demolition.
...
Elsewhere in Round 33:
– Tottenham beat Man City 2–1
– Chelsea came from behind to beat West Ham 4–1
– Liverpool edged Bolton 1–0
– Manchester United defeated Arsenal 2–0 at Old Trafford
After the round, Chelsea remained top.
United were 1 point behind in second.
Bayswater stayed third.
Liverpool, Spurs, and Arsenal all lost further ground—especially Arsenal, who were now 10 points behind Liverpool with only 5 matches remaining.
Barring a miracle, their only realistic path to next season's Champions League was to win the current Champions League title.
With another dominant performance, Bayswater were once again showered in praise.
After such a consistent season, both media and fans now fully acknowledged Bayswater Chinese FC's competitiveness.
It was widely agreed that under Yang Cheng, the team had developed enough strength to challenge the traditional Big Four—at least for this season.
As for next season?
Who could say?
Meanwhile, the media stirred up more drama—this time at Jermaine Pennant's expense.
As fate would have it, old grudges resurfaced.
Many didn't know the full story and assumed that it was Pennant who had rejected Bayswater in the past and even mocked them publicly.
That forced Yang Cheng to pivot and pursue Aaron Lennon from Leeds instead.
Just months later, Pennant was dumped by Arsenal and joined Birmingham.
Lennon, meanwhile, blossomed at Bayswater, earned Wenger's attention, and was sold to Arsenal at a high price.
So when Bayswater crushed Birmingham 5–1, many reporters swarmed Pennant after the game to ask:
"Do you regret not joining Bayswater back then?"
The English winger snapped—cursing and yelling, telling them to f* off**.
...
Yang Cheng?
Pennant had never mattered to him.
He had no time for petty drama like this.
After Round 33, the team got a one-week break.
Yang Cheng gave the players some rest—but he himself had no time to relax.
He had a more pressing priority:
Contract renewals.
In his eyes, the most important part of the team right now was the midfield.
Whether in his past life or this one, Yang Cheng had always believed that, despite going through eras of Wenger, Houllier, Benítez, Mourinho… even later Guardiola or Pochettino, the Premier League's tactical and technical standards were still behind.
He'd been asked in interviews in his past life:
Why is the Premier League considered the best league in the world, yet it often underperforms in European competitions compared to La Liga?
Many fans would point to the schedule, competitiveness, or physical toll of the league.
They weren't wrong.
But to Yang Cheng, the root issue was clear:
Tactical inferiority.
Most fans didn't notice, but whenever an English club had a technically sound, controlling midfield, they performed much better in Europe.
Take Arsenal this season.
Fàbregas, Pires, Hleb—gave their midfield creativity and control.
Liverpool had Xabi Alonso, a world-class playmaker.
Later, Manchester United would peak in Europe with Carrick and a reimagined Paul Scholes.
Chelsea's 2012 Champions League win?
Their midfield: Mikel and Juan Mata.
And in 2017–18, Liverpool's midfield of Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Milner—solid but not elite—was simply overrun by Real Madrid's iconic Modrić–Kroos–Casemiro trio in the final.
One year later, Liverpool would spend a massive fee to bring in Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho, dramatically strengthening their midfield and eventually pulling off a miraculous comeback against Barcelona to win the Champions League.
And by the 2020–21 season, whether it was Guardiola's Manchester City or Tuchel's Chelsea, both had come to heavily prioritize the midfield.
Then came 2021–22—when Real Madrid's aging "Golden Trio" midfield, alongside a squad full of young players, won yet another Champions League title.
By that point, no one questioned the importance of the midfield anymore.
The renowned British sports columnist Jonathan Liu once wrote an article summarizing his view:
"The Champions League is a knockout competition.
Each opponent, each match presents different challenges.
That's when you need a commander on the pitch—a midfielder who can solve problems in real time—and defenders who can read the game."
So why are English clubs inconsistent in Europe?
The answer was obvious.
Yang Cheng, not one to brag without cause, dared to say that no other Premier League manager valued the midfield as highly as he did.
Not even Mourinho.
This season, under Yang Cheng's careful construction, Bayswater Chinese FC's midfield trio of Modrić, Yaya Touré, and Lass Diarra had been dazzling.
Even backup players like Inler, Andreasen, and Matuidi had shown excellent form.
That's why Yang Cheng prioritized renewing the contracts of his midfielders first.
During the team's week-long break, he sat down to speak with each one of them individually.
Modrić's renewal was the easiest.
As club captain, the Croatian was deeply grateful to Yang Cheng for believing in him early on.
Still young, he had no desire to leave.
Amusingly, the most crucial midfielder in Yang Cheng's eyes was the one the outside world least appreciated.
Most attention went to Touré and Diarra, whose strengths were obvious.
Modrić?
His offense wasn't flashy, his physique looked too slight for defending.
But Modrić promised to finalize his renewal talks soon.
Yang Cheng was offering him the club's highest wage—£20,000 per week.
While he won over Modrić with emotion, for Lass Diarra, he used incentive.
He told the Frenchman, "Next season, we'll be playing in the Champions League. If you stay, not only will your wages rise, but your exposure in big matches will help you negotiate better terms when the big clubs come calling."
"At the very least, you'll be in a position to demand more."
"After 2007, I can't speak for other Premier League clubs, but I promise—if a big club from another league wants you and offers a fair transfer fee, I'll let you go."
"You're only 21. Do you really think walking into a big club now means you'll be a guaranteed starter?"
With Yaya Touré, Yang Cheng took a more logical approach.
The Ivorian would be 23 by the season's end—approaching his prime.
Yang Cheng explained that even though many teams were watching him, he'd really only had one breakout season so far.
"Your brother's already at Arsenal. I'm sure you've heard about how tough internal competition is at big clubs."
"If you go now, you've got no edge."
"But if you stay, play well, achieve big things—then do you think it'll be the same?"
"At that point, clubs like Arsenal and Manchester United will come begging for you."
Yang Cheng mentioned Arsenal on purpose—he wanted to fire up Touré.
Back then, Yaya had trialed with the Gunners and even played a friendly, but performed poorly.
Wenger rejected him.
By bringing it up now, Yang Cheng wanted to remind him: don't bend the knee to clubs who once looked down on you.
Back then, they didn't want you.
Now, make them dream of you—and know they'll never reach.
If the so-called big clubs snap their fingers and you come running, will they respect you?
After several days of heartfelt conversations, Yang Cheng finally persuaded both Touré and Diarra to commit to the team.
Before Premier League Round 34 against Newcastle, Bayswater Chinese FC made an official announcement:
"We have officially begun contract renewal negotiations with Luka Modrić, Yaya Touré, Lassana Diarra, and Gökhan Inler. We aim to complete all renewals before the season ends."
Adam Crozier's statement instantly dashed the hopes of clubs eyeing these players.
It also stabilized the locker room.
With squad continuity, Yang Cheng could confidently prepare for next season's Champions League.
English clubs struggling in Europe?
That depends who's coaching them.
...
April 15, Afternoon — Premier League Round 34.
Bayswater Chinese FC away at Newcastle United.
With the UEFA Cup semifinal first leg looming midweek, Yang Cheng heavily rotated the lineup—six changes to the starting XI.
Players like Modrić, Ribéry, and Yaya Touré started on the bench.
Džeko wasn't even in the squad.
Yang Cheng also changed the tactical approach.
Rather than dominating possession and dictating tempo, he adopted a more direct, simplified attacking style.
Defensive base, quick midfield transitions, attacking via the wings.
His midfield three said it all:
Inler, Matuidi, and Andreasen—tough, physical, and relentless.
From kickoff, Inler and Matuidi kept fouling high up the pitch, frustrating Newcastle's players.
The home crowd booed furiously.
Newcastle had expected Bayswater to press aggressively—so they played cautiously.
But to their surprise, Bayswater played even deeper.
With no choice, Newcastle took the ball—but soon realized they couldn't get it past midfield.
The visitors' midfield was simply too hard, too aggressive.
Matuidi, in particular, played like a mad dog—endless running and ball-hunting.
Newcastle dominated possession, but it meant little.
It was all sterile passing at the back, side-to-side movement—they couldn't get the ball to Shearer up front.
A dull, grinding match dragged on for over half an hour.
Then, in the 35th minute, Bayswater struck.
They won the ball back and launched a quick counter.
On the left, Arshavin's cross found Džeko's replacement lurking at the top of the box.
Inler flicked on a header to Lambert, who chested the ball down with his back to goal and laid it off.
Inler continued his run, met the return pass at the edge of the box, and calmly slotted it past the keeper.
1–0!
Newcastle, especially at home, didn't go quietly.
Now trailing, they threw everything forward.
In the 44th minute, Solano delivered a dangerous free kick into the box.
Ameobi rose above Koscielny and powered a header into the net.
1–1!
That's how it stayed going into halftime.
At the start of the second half, Yang Cheng made his move—aggressively launching a wave of attacks.
In the 55th minute, Ashley Young received support from Maicon on the right wing.
After breaking through Newcastle's defense, he sent a diagonal pass to the far side of the box, where Arshavin, completely unmarked, struck it first time.
The ball flew straight into the back of the net.
2–1!
Conceding again, Newcastle began to lose their composure—especially defender Boumsong.
In the 62nd minute, Arshavin dribbled into the penalty area.
Boumsong, after failing to clear the ball, deliberately pulled him down.
The referee didn't hesitate—penalty and a red card.
Lambert stepped up and calmly converted.
3–1!
With the win essentially secured and Newcastle down a man, Yang Cheng immediately made substitutions to save energy for the upcoming UEFA Cup match.
In the 80th minute, Inler switched play to the right.
Maicon surged down the wing, driving all the way to the edge of the penalty area before whipping in a cross toward Lambert.
Lambert rose to head it back across goal to the far side of the box.
Gareth Bale, who had just come on, ran onto it and side-footed the ball into the net.
4–1!
It was the first Premier League goal of Bale's professional career!
After his roommate and best friend Theo Walcott scored his first Premier League goal the previous round, Bale had been openly envious.
Walcott had enjoyed a more successful season—especially after his UEFA Cup breakout, which had brought him significant media attention.
And being an Englishman didn't hurt.
Bale, meanwhile, had chosen to represent Wales.
Now, with this goal, he finally made his mark too.
And interestingly, while the club's history wasn't long, Walcott's goal wasn't the youngest in club history.
He ranked second.
The record had belonged to Tom Huddlestone, who scored in the 13th round of the 2003–04 League Two season in a 6–0 home win over Tranmere Rovers.
At the time, Huddlestone was nearly 17.
Walcott had just turned 17 when he scored.
But now Bale broke that record.
He wouldn't turn 17 until July 16—beating Huddlestone by a month.
Yang Cheng didn't particularly care about records like that, but he wasn't shy in praising Bale's goal—and showed genuine excitement.
That lit a fire in the young Welshman.
Final score: Bayswater Chinese FC 4–1 Newcastle United.
With Manchester United held 0–0 at home by Sunderland, Bayswater leapfrogged them to reclaim second place in the league.
...
April 20, evening — Loftus Road, London.
UEFA Cup Semifinal, First Leg.
Bayswater Chinese FC vs. Roma.
Back in February, Roma captain Francesco Totti had fractured his leg, ruling him out for an extended period.
Coach Luciano Spalletti stuck to his trusted 4-2-3-1 formation:
Goalkeeper: Doni
Defense: Cufré, Chivu, Mexès, Panucci
Midfield: De Rossi and Dacourt as the double pivot; ahead of them Mancini, Perrotta, and Tommasi
Striker: Taddei
With new signings up front underperforming and veteran Montella past his prime, Roma had struggled early in the season.
But Spalletti soon devised a brilliant new tactic centered around Totti—a strikerless 4-2-3-1, with Totti as the "false nine."
This approach, later dubbed the "Wolf Pack" or "False 9" system, was hailed as revolutionary.
Totti was the "1" in the 4-2-3-1—the crucial link.
Using this setup, Roma had once strung together 11 straight wins and went 13 matches unbeaten in Serie A.
Though Totti's injury in late February ended that streak, Roma still performed well—only losing once (2–3 away to Ascoli) in the last 19 league matches.
The Giallorossi were on a mission.
Even in London, they were determined to eliminate the Premier League upstarts.
Clad in white kits, Roma came out aggressive from the whistle.
But what Spalletti didn't expect was that Yang Cheng knew the False 9 system better than anyone—and had thoroughly studied Roma's tactics.
Just five minutes in, Ashley Young's dribble on the right didn't break through, but he laid the ball off to Piszczek near the touchline.
The Polish defender, facing pressure from Cufré, stopped sharply as if about to shoot—then suddenly knocked the ball down the line and sprinted past with pure pace.
He caught up to the ball near the right side of the penalty area—but instead of hitting the byline, he crossed early, just before Chivu could close him down.
Everyone expected him to target Džeko in the box.
But no—the ball curled to the edge of the area, right side of the D.
And then came the thunder.
A muscular red-shirted figure streaked into the frame and met the ball first time—a devastating volley.
BOOM.
The sound of boot on ball echoed like a cannon blast.
The shot screamed past Doni into the top corner.
The stadium exploded.
"Yaya Touré!!"
"An absolutely stunning volley from the Ivorian midfielder!"
"He's been Bayswater's standout midfielder this season!"
"And just days after announcing contract negotiations—he delivers this!"
"Brilliant link-up play between Piszczek and Yaya Touré."
"Let's watch that again."
"Piszczek's run was deliberate—he didn't go to the byline or aim for Džeko or Ribéry, but instead pulled it back to the top of the box."
"Touré's late run was perfectly timed—clearly something worked out on the training ground."
"What a goal. 1–0. Bayswater Chinese FC take the lead."
...
Conceding early didn't rattle Roma.
They were still focused on scoring an away goal.
Spalletti wanted it badly—and the match turned into a fast-paced back-and-forth.
Tensions began to rise.
Things got messy.
Roma's 4-2-3-1 featured tireless midfielders who pressed hard and transitioned quickly.
Every time they won the ball, they looked to break immediately.
Yang Cheng's strategy?
Target Taddei.
Shut down the flanks.
Watch for Perrotta's late runs, especially from Mancini on the left.
In the 29th minute, Lass Diarra tracked back to support Piszczek.
Together, they stripped Mancini of the ball.
As the Brazilian tried to counter-press, Diarra coolly juggled the ball past him near the right edge of Bayswater's box.
Yang Cheng nearly lost it.
He almost stormed the pitch to smack him.
But... he had to admit—Diarra's footwork was sublime.
After the cheeky flick, Diarra immediately passed it to Yaya Touré.
The Ivorian was on fire tonight. As soon as he received the ball, he launched forward like a lightning bolt, storming through the midfield and barreling into Roma's 30-meter zone like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep.
Up front, all three forwards were in position.
Yaya Touré passed to Ribéry on the left side of the arc.
The Frenchman tried his signature control-and-go move but couldn't get past Panucci.
But Ribéry reacted quickly—stop, feint, change direction—one dazzling combo of footwork after another.
He broke past Panucci and played a sharp through ball behind the defense.
Džeko, already on the move, darted diagonally toward the left of the penalty spot.
Using his arm to shield young French center-back Mexès, he blasted the ball with his left foot.
GOAL!
2–0!
The stadium erupted again!
The Bosnian striker tore off, screaming in celebration, overwhelmed by emotion.
This was a UEFA Cup semifinal!
Even he couldn't believe it—just a year ago, he'd been playing back home in Bosnia, and now he was scoring in a European semifinal.
It felt like a dream.
But the teammates who came flying in to tackle and hug him—shouting in his ears—reminded him:
This was real.
...
Despite conceding two goals, Roma didn't back down.
Their long unbeaten run had filled the Giallorossi with confidence. They were determined to make a statement in Europe.
But Bayswater Chinese FC weren't done warning them.
This time, it came from a long ball out of defense.
Džeko sprinted into the left half-space, chesting the ball down and facing Panucci one-on-one.
He beat the veteran full-back, then whipped a low cross into the middle.
Ribéry and Ashley Young tore forward, sprinting with everything they had.
But just a split-second too slow—they couldn't get to the pass.
A golden chance gone.
As the crowd let out a collective sigh, Yang Cheng stood on the sideline grinning from ear to ear.
He turned to Brian Kidd on the bench and shouted, "Did you see that? Džeko's finally figured it out!"
Kidd was just as thrilled.
He knew exactly what that moment meant.
...
From the moment Yang Cheng crossed over to this world, took over coaching Bayswater Chinese FC, and vowed to build a world-class club—he had been thinking about one thing:
What tactical system suits the Premier League best?
For the past three years, that question had consumed him.
He'd studied it all:
– Ferguson's treble-winning United
– Wenger's Invincibles
– Benítez's Liverpool
– Mourinho's Chelsea
Even teams that hadn't emerged yet in this timeline—Guardiola's City and Klopp's Liverpool.
Sometimes, he even lamented:
If only he had come to this world a bit earlier—he might've snatched Messi from Barça, or stolen Cristiano Ronaldo from United.
Build around one of the two biggest stars of the coming era—wouldn't that have made things easier?
Now, the two future global superstars were on opposite paths.
It was exciting, in a way.
Of the four early giants—Ferguson's treble United, Wenger's Invincibles, Benítez's Reds, Mourinho's Chelsea—Yang Cheng had eliminated them all as blueprints.
Why?
Simple:
– United's treble team no longer fit the evolution of modern football.
– Benítez's style emphasized balance over attack—Yang preferred aggressive play.
– Mourinho's Chelsea lacked midfield creativity and control—not Yang's style.
– Wenger's Arsenal? Balanced and technical, but Yang actually preferred the version after Vieira and Henry left—the one famous for its fluid passing and movement.
Interestingly, that Arsenal team and 2008 United had a lot in common.
They both played fast, sharp attacking football with a center-forward as the pivot.
Fans used to joke that 2008 United's front line was just a bunch of guys "running around like mad."
What did that mean?
Carrick and Scholes handled distribution, while Ronaldo, Tevez, and Rooney ran wild up front.
And honestly—it wasn't wrong.
Even the manager probably had no idea what the players would do next.
So how could the opposition possibly predict it?
But when you looked closely, it wasn't chaos.
Rooney was the axis.
Even with Ronaldo scoring a mountain of goals, many still believed Rooney was the true core of the team.
Because he was the pivot.
United's system had shades of Spalletti's Roma and Guardiola's Barcelona after he moved Messi into the middle.
All of them were versions of the false nine.
Spalletti's Roma had used the tactic out of necessity—but it had worked brilliantly.
With Totti as the nominal center-forward, he became the axis around which everyone moved.
When he drifted wide, the wingers cut in.
When he dropped deep, Perrotta surged forward into the space.
Totti played a free role, a central playmaker and striker rolled into one.
He had touch, vision, technical quality, and scoring ability.
Most importantly—he could hold up play with his back to goal, then turn and break free.
That ability is essential for modern forwards—especially those in central areas.
Today, defenses are tighter, pressing is more intense, and even wide players get hounded as soon as they drop deep.
Being able to shield and turn with the ball is everything.
Why couldn't Ronaldo play center-forward at United?
Because he couldn't hold up the ball with his back to goal.
If a striker doesn't have that ability, you have to pair him with someone who does.
That's why United always had Saha, Berbatov, Rooney—even Tevez playing next to him.
But not Van Nistelrooy.
Guardiola's Messi had that ability—and that's why he thrived in the false nine.
In fact, Guardiola believed Ibrahimović was the ideal fit for that role—
That's why he paid a fortune to bring him in.
Tactically, it made sense.
The failure? Off-field issues.
To Yang Cheng, the Premier League should never be slow and overly methodical.
It had to be fast-paced, built on quick passing and movement.
Guardiola's City might dominate domestically—but not always in Europe.
That was the flaw in his system.
Too much focus on control and technique—too little physical edge.
That lack of aggression was a problem in midfield, attack, and defense.
In the league, they could crush weaker teams.
But in the Champions League—especially knockout stages—against tactically sharp, physically strong opponents?
They were exposed.
That's why Real Madrid's golden midfield trio was more adaptable—and more resilient.
Whether it was Modrić's control and dribbling, or Toni Kroos's precision and passing rhythm,
they were tailor-made even for the Premier League.
Toni Kroos, unfortunately, became famous too young. He quickly attracted attention from clubs like Bayern and Real Madrid, and by 2005, Bayern had already signed him.
At that stage, Bayswater Chinese FC didn't yet have the credentials to compete for players of that caliber.
In Yang Cheng's mind, once you've secured control in midfield, the next crucial component of attacking play lies in the wings.
That's why he placed so much hope in Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.
And in this setup, a versatile player like Edin Džeko became a vital cog in Yang Cheng's tactical system.
He had never intended to turn Džeko into a traditional target man or use him as a stationary pivot.
On the contrary—he'd always encouraged him to move, move, move.
Džeko had decent speed for his size. He could pass, shoot, dribble, and hold up play. And he stood at 1.93 meters.
A center-forward like that, acting as a roaming free man, surrounded by technically skilled attackers?
Absolutely lethal.
For Yang Cheng and Bayswater, this was part of a long-term plan—one that would take years to fully realize.
And even now, some pieces were still missing or underdeveloped.
For example, they lacked a midfielder with a truly accurate long pass—
Someone who could maximize the impact of the center-forward and the two pacey wingers.
Before, Džeko hadn't matured.
Lambert clearly wasn't the striker Yang Cheng was looking for.
The wing players also weren't ready. Arshavin had only just arrived, and if Ribéry left this summer, they'd lose yet another key piece.
The fullbacks were solid—Leighton Baines, Maicon, and Piszczek all offered strong width.
But that's professional football.
Yang Cheng had been coaching for decades and was used to it.
For now, he was focused on nurturing Bale and Walcott, getting the two young stars up to speed as quickly as possible.
When that time came—Bayswater would truly take off.
And now, watching Džeko "wake up," Yang Cheng knew he had taken a major step toward that vision.
...
Sometimes, football is all about awareness.
Once a player gets it—suddenly, everything falls into place.
Late in the first half, Roma launched a counterattack, even pushing their defenders high up the pitch.
They were desperate to pull one back before the break.
But what they didn't expect was that De Rossi's long shot would deflect off Yaya Touré and bounce back.
Modrić got to the ball first, flicked it over Dacourt, and passed to Džeko.
Yes—Džeko had dropped all the way back to his own 30-meter area.
Facing forward, Džeko trapped the ball with perfect control, took a step forward...
De Rossi pressed from behind.
Mexès charged from the front.
With pressure coming from both sides, Džeko calmly passed to Ribéry on the left—and kept running.
Ribéry sprinted after the ball.
Panucci, seeing Džeko's pass, judged that he might be able to cut it out.
But what he didn't expect was that Ribéry suddenly burst forward—faster than he'd shown before.
The Frenchman had been holding back deliberately.
By the time Panucci realized it, it was too late. Ribéry had already touched the ball inside and darted forward, brushing past him.
Loftus Road exploded again.
"Bayswater Chinese FC with a lightning counterattack!"
"Ribéry on the ball—he's flying!"
Chivu and Cufré were the last men back.
Seeing Ribéry burst past Panucci, Chivu left the center and slid across to block him.
But Džeko was sprinting forward at full tilt, shouting Ribéry's name and pointing to the space in front of him.
Ribéry, known for his explosiveness, typically slowed down when a defender like Chivu approached—waiting for teammates.
But not this time.
With Džeko charging in, Ribéry had another option.
Before Chivu could close in, Ribéry slid a pass forward and stopped running.
I'm done. You take it.
Chivu, caught off guard, slammed the brakes and spun around—only to see Džeko blazing past.
The Bosnian might not be explosive off the mark, but once he got going, his long legs covered ground at frightening speed.
Cufré couldn't keep up.
In fact, Džeko was pulling away.
By the time he reached the ball at the top of the box, Doni had already come off his line.
Džeko feinted a shot—Doni dived.
But it was a fake.
Džeko touched the ball to the right, sidestepped the keeper, and slotted it into the empty net with his right foot.
He didn't stop running—he charged straight to the stands.
The stadium erupted.
Over 18,000 fans screamed his name.
Džeko tore off toward the sideline, pumping his fists and roaring at the crowd.
"Unbelievable!"
"Edin Džeko from Bosnia!"
"A stunning 70-meter solo run!"
"What a spectacular goal!"
"Džeko with a brace in a European semifinal!"
"That may be the most breathtaking goal of the night!"
"The Bosnian striker Yang Cheng has placed so much faith in has finally delivered a world-class performance—sealing the home victory for Bayswater!"
"3–0!"
"Last summer, when Yang Cheng used the special talent exemption to sign Džeko, many media outlets and experts mocked him for abusing the rule."
"£50,000 for a Bosnian midfielder? Yang Cheng insisted he was a center-forward—a genius center-forward? What a joke!"
"But now, watching tonight's match—just look at what Džeko has done!"
"I can't believe my eyes. Is he really 1.93 meters tall?"
"To see a striker of that height and build sprint the full length of the pitch like that—it's just unbelievable!"
Even Yang Cheng couldn't believe it.
He knew Džeko was starting to "get it."
He'd shown signs in the wide areas, and his hold-up play had improved.
But this? This solo run?
Even when he got to the edge of the box, with Ashley Young wide open to the right, Džeko didn't pass.
He chose to take on the keeper himself—and finished with style.
Anyone else? Yang Cheng might have been furious at such selfish play.
But for Džeko?
He applauded.
Because this meant Džeko was gaining confidence—developing that ruthless hunger to score that all top strikers have.
"Brian," Yang Cheng turned to his assistant coach with a smug grin,
"Think all those critics from last summer will be swallowing their words now?"
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