Chapter 125: Unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo! A True Striker Is Worth Two!
In the wake of Mourinho's resignation, Bayswater Chinese FC's 2–0 victory over Chelsea didn't surprise anyone.
The British media remained relatively calm in response—
As if this was the result they expected all along.
And in a way, that was the greatest validation of all.
They were acknowledging the strength of Yang Cheng's team.
One positive takeaway—at least Bayswater Chinese FC had proven their quality.
Even after selling four key players in the summer, they'd shown that the overall team strength remained intact—
Possibly even stronger than last season.
That win also gave a big push to season ticket sales.
The day after the Community Shield, season ticket sales surpassed 45,000.
Of course, this season's passes were once again bundled with the three Champions League group stage home matches.
With five days until the league kicked off, and nine until the first home game,
Adam Crozier and the administrative team were making a final push—
Across digital, TV, and other media, doing everything they could to reach 50,000.
After all, a full stadium just looks better.
But at the end of the day, it was only the Community Shield.
Now, Yang Cheng had his full attention on the league—
Because the opening match was away at Manchester United.
And this season, the Red Devils looked much stronger.
They'd brought in Tevez, Ashley Young, Nani, Anderson—
A squad far superior to last year's.
Yang Cheng knew it better than anyone—
United's peak was when they had Tevez, Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo as their front three.
With Carrick and Scholes pulling strings in midfield,
That chaotic, free-flowing attacking line was devastating.
At the back, Vidic and Ferdinand were rock solid.
Against a team like that, it was going to be a headache.
A side like Barcelona might be able to handle it with their slick possession play.
But let's be honest—how many teams in the world could pull that off like Guardiola's Barça?
You needed the right DNA.
You needed Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, and Messi.
No one else had that.
So no, United would be very difficult to beat.
Still, opening the season against them had one upside—
According to scouting reports, Ferguson hadn't yet fully settled on his front three.
He was still experimenting with combinations—particularly Young, Rooney, and Ronaldo.
Which, to Yang Cheng, fit the image he had of Ferguson perfectly.
…
United's preseason had gone incredibly well.
Not only had they won every match, but they'd done so convincingly.
Their stars were all in red-hot form.
So much so that pundits began wondering how Ferguson would keep them all happy.
At the pre-match press conference for the season opener, the old Scotsman just smiled:
"That's never been a problem for me."
"We've got a deep squad, and we're ready to fight on all fronts!"
Sir Alex clearly hadn't forgotten last season's humiliation.
He'd worked hard all year, dreaming of a treble—
Only to end the season empty-handed.
That wasn't something he could accept.
The pundits agreed—
With summer reinforcements, United's squad looked close to perfect.
World-class attackers like Ronaldo and Rooney.
Premier League-proven stars like Tevez and Ashley Young.
Top-tier midfielders—Carrick, Giggs, Scholes.
Elite defenders—Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic.
If there was a weak point, it was right-back.
Club captain Gary Neville had been injured since March and hadn't recovered.
Ferguson had been using Wes Brown there in the meantime.
How to describe Wes Brown?
He'd had plenty of bright moments at United,
But never left a lasting impression.
Consistency is key for defenders—
And that was exactly what Brown lacked.
Injuries had plagued him for years.
But when he was healthy, he was brilliant.
Back in 2000/01, he and Jaap Stam formed a formidable center-back duo,
Helping United win their first ever top-flight threepeat.
That was only the fourth treble in English top-flight history.
That's why Ferguson never sold him—
He always believed in Brown's potential.
When fit, Brown always delivered.
In Yang Cheng's past life, it was the 2007/08 season where Wes Brown, alongside Ferdinand, Vidic, and Evra, formed what many United fans would later call a legendary back line.
The only issue?
He didn't support Cristiano Ronaldo enough in attack.
Unlike Gary Neville, who loved to bomb forward, Brown was a more traditional defensive full-back.
But that gave Ferguson the freedom to fully unleash Evra down the left.
That's why the British media kept saying—
United's squad was nearly flawless.
Of course, Bayswater Chinese FC weren't exactly weak either.
Especially after beating Chelsea 2–0 in the Community Shield.
Baines, José Fonte, Pepe, and Maicon formed a back line that could compete not only in the Premier League,
But across all of Europe.
Last season, Bayswater conceded only 24 goals in 38 league games.
Second best? United and Liverpool, with 27 each.
Since Mourinho's arrival, the overall standard of defending in the Premier League had improved.
No choice, really.
In 2004/05 and 2005/06, Chelsea conceded only 15 and 22 league goals.
Back then, even conceding under 30 goals was considered elite.
Arsenal's Invincibles? Total domination—
But they still conceded 26.
Even the famed 2000/01 United side with Jaap Stam?
They conceded 31.
So 30 wasn't a big deal back then.
But there were exceptions.
Like Arsenal in 1998/99.
When people talk about Wenger now, it's all about beautiful football, passing, finesse—
But early in his Arsenal days, he was just as pragmatic as anyone.
That 1998/99 season? The one that made United legends?
They got there by constantly coming from behind—
Including a league comeback win over Wenger's Arsenal.
And that Arsenal?
Only conceded 17 goals all season.
Second-best defense? Vialli's Chelsea, with 30.
Ferguson's United? 37.
Back then, Wenger was Mourinho before Mourinho.
It was only after Arsenal's rise in the early 2000s that Wenger gradually "evolved," earning his "Professor" and "Gentleman" image.
People often ask:
Why did Arsenal suffer so many horrific leg injuries?
Why does it seem like the Premier League is always out to get Arsenal?
The answer is simple—
Because Arsenal used to be that team.
Even during their undefeated 2003/04 season—
They were one of the dirtiest teams in the league.
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Chapter 125: Unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo! A Good Striker Is Worth Two!
Back in the day, Vieira was the top-tier enforcer in the Premier League, every bit as ferocious as Roy Keane.
So when Arsenal were dominant, other teams couldn't do much.
But now that they were weaker? Of course teams were taking their shots.
What goes around comes around.
That's the rule of the football world. You throw punches—you'll get punched back eventually.
Bayswater Chinese FC, by contrast, stood out in a very different way.
Yang Cheng's team, unlike early Wenger's or later Mourinho's sides, combined rock-solid defense with fluid, relentless attacking football.
Last season, Bayswater scored 92 goals.
Second place? Ferguson's United with 83.
Nine fewer.
Best defense in the league. Best attack in the league.
That was Bayswater Chinese FC's recipe for winning the title.
And the most impressive part?
They were one of the least penalized teams in the Premier League.
Even more interesting, among the top six teams, Bayswater Chinese FC were fouled the least in the final third.
Recently, one of Fleet Street's tabloids tried to twist that into a conspiracy theory:
"Why are they playing so well? Because the rest of the Premier League is going easy on them!"
That theory didn't last long—
The Times and The Guardian shot it down immediately.
Why so few fouls against them up front?
Because they're deadly on set pieces.
As The Times put it:
"Every time Gianni Vio steps out of the dugout, opposing managers break into a cold sweat."
No one wanted to give Bayswater a free kick within range.
So what happens? Defenders avoid fouling.
And when defenders back off, Bayswater's technical players flourish even more.
That became the biggest question ahead of the new Premier League season—
Who can stop Bayswater Chinese FC?
Even Ferguson gave his opinion.
Whether it was psychological warfare or genuine analysis, the United boss believed this season would be harder for Bayswater.
"Because they're the defending champions."
"These past few years, they've always played the role of the chasers. They'd get ahead for a while, then inexplicably fall behind."
"Because they're young."
"Young players have energy and hunger—perfect for conquering. But to hold the throne? You need more than fire. You need stability and experience."
"And now that they've had two strong seasons, teams are going to approach matches against them much more cautiously."
Ferguson smiled at the end of the interview:
"All the pressure is on them now.
We're the hunters again."
…
August 11, afternoon. Old Trafford, Manchester.
Premier League Round 1: Manchester United vs. Bayswater Chinese FC.
The very first game of the new season was already a blockbuster clash—
And it immediately ignited the league.
Fans around the globe couldn't wait.
The Premier League and its global broadcast partners pushed promotion to the max.
Kickoff was scheduled at 3:00 PM local time.
Old Trafford's official capacity? 74,000.
Attendance? Nearly 76,000.
That's how much this match meant.
Both teams, after a full summer of transfers and preseason training, were going in all guns blazing.
If you wanted the title, you had to win games like this.
Ferguson stuck with his tried-and-tested 4-2-3-1 system from last season.
Starting XI:
GK: Edwin van der Sar
Defense: Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Wes Brown
Midfield: Hargreaves, Carrick (double pivot); ahead of them: Ashley Young, Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo
Forward: Rooney
Just as Yang Cheng had anticipated—Ferguson started Ashley Young in the league opener.
Tevez and Nani were on the bench.
Also among the substitutes? A familiar face to Yang Cheng—Gerard Piqué.
Still waiting for a chance at United.
As for Bayswater—full-strength lineup.
Starting XI:
GK: Neuer
Defense: Baines, José Fonte, Pepe, Maicon
Midfield: Yaya Touré (deep), Lass Diarra, Modrić
Attack: Di María, Džeko, Arshavin
Marcelo had performed well in the Community Shield,
But Yang Cheng didn't quite trust him yet.
Why?
Because the left side of the defense had to deal with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Letting Marcelo mark Ronaldo at this stage would've been suicide.
At center-back, Yang Cheng had considered Thiago Silva—
But the Brazilian was new to the squad,
Still struggling with communication due to language.
In the end, Yang Cheng chose José Fonte, his vice-captain.
He knew what he was getting.
Both managers were clearly playing chess against each other.
Ferguson knew full well that if United lost the midfield,
Bayswater would tear them apart.
So he doubled down in midfield—
Hargreaves and Carrick sat deep.
Scholes frequently dropped back to help.
United kept a compact shape,
Leaving Rooney and Ronaldo space to break forward.
From the opening whistle, neither side held back.
Bayswater launched their trademark blitzkrieg opening.
In just 48 seconds, Arshavin won a free kick in the final third.
Ferguson lost his mind on the sideline—
He nearly ran out onto the pitch to strangle Carrick.
"Cut down on fouls! How many times do I have to say it?!"
Luckily, the free kick didn't amount to anything.
United, despite being at home, didn't play defensively.
They focused on keeping their back line tight and using the speed of their forwards.
In the 3rd minute, Carrick sent a long pass from deep toward Rooney.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo was tearing down the right.
If Rooney won the ball, Ronaldo would've been in behind instantly.
Pepe got there first.
You want to race Rooney? Pepe won't lose.
But United kept pressing—
They wanted to break through Bayswater's midfield with speed.
By the 11th minute, Yang Cheng noticed something new.
When their quick counters didn't work,
United started feeding the ball to Ashley Young.
The former Bayswater winger would cut in and play right-footed through balls over the top.
Rooney and Ronaldo would take turns making runs.
The moment Yang Cheng saw it, he signaled Maicon to push up more and pressure Young earlier—
But without leaving his defensive post.
Yes, Ashley Young wasn't exactly Di María,
But he wasn't slow either.
He could beat you.
Ferguson had his tactics.
Yang Cheng had his.
Lass Diarra was stationed on the left side of midfield,
With one job: shadow Ronaldo and harass Scholes.
Yang Cheng wasn't too concerned with Carrick this match.
Ferguson had fielded Scholes expecting Yang Cheng to try to neutralize Carrick—
But Yang Cheng deliberately avoided that.
Love long balls? Fine, knock yourself out.
As long as Rooney is under control, pass all you want.
In attack, Yang Cheng was betting that United wouldn't dare give away fouls within 30 meters of goal—
So he leaned into technical interplay between Di María, Arshavin, and Džeko,
Using slick ground passing to slice through the final third.
It was Bayswater Chinese FC's specialty.
Di María's one-on-one ability on the left?
He had Wes Brown on him—Ferguson's answer to the Argentine.
And as they say, top players decide matches in moments.
With both sides locking into well-calculated tactics, and two managers who knew each other inside out,
The match was intense, fast-paced—
But scoreless.
…
"Hey, do you think that bastard Yang Cheng made another bet with Lass Diarra?"
"Not about tackle counts—just whether he can strip the ball off Cristiano?"
Apparently, Yang Cheng and Lass Diarra had an annual private bet.
No one knew the details.
But Diarra just kept getting better.
He was already a defensive menace, but now?
He could pass, drive the ball forward—
Complete midfielder.
His only flaw? A tendency to show off his footwork.
But if it didn't hurt the team, no one really cared—
Sometimes it even lit up the pitch.
Ferguson watched, frustrated, as Lass Diarra glued himself to Ronaldo.
When the Portuguese star couldn't beat him on the right, he drifted central—
Still no luck. Took a speculative shot.
Switched to the left?
Diarra followed.
Eventually Ronaldo had to whip in a rushed cross—
And Rooney failed to connect.
Thirty minutes in, both teams had shots—
But no real danger.
Lass Diarra had tracked Ronaldo from the right to the middle to the left—
Like a damn shadow.
Ferguson gritted his teeth.
If this guy were his player, he'd be singing his praises—
But he wasn't.
"So damn annoying!"
"A bit strange..."
Assistant coach Carlos Queiroz rubbed his chin, frowning.
Ferguson looked over. "What?"
"I mean… Bayswater's still playing all this ground passing in the final third. Isn't that kind of wasting Džeko?"
Džeko had become increasingly likable.
Ever since last season, when his physique improved,
He'd transformed completely.
With a forward that complete, it didn't make sense not to use him.
If you always attack with intricate ground play,
The offense becomes predictable—easier to defend.
But if they added Džeko's aerial threat,
It would become multi-dimensional.
Then again, Queiroz thought,
Surely Yang Cheng understood this too?
Which made it even stranger.
Last season, Džeko had scored 17 goals.
Hardly poor.
Now that Queiroz mentioned it,
Ferguson noticed it too.
It really was odd.
…
42nd minute—
Bayswater Chinese FC launched another attack down the left.
Di María, Modrić, and Arshavin all shifted into that zone,
Dragging Manchester United's defensive attention with them.
Džeko played as a classic target man,
Received the ball, and laid it off to Modrić.
The Croatian passed to Arshavin, who fed it to Di María,
Then back to Modrić again.
This tight triangle of passing shifted United's midfield and back line toward the left.
When Hargreaves tried to press Modrić,
He "reluctantly" passed back into open space—
To Yaya Touré, completely unmarked.
The Ivorian controlled the ball in front of him, looked up, and chased after it himself—
Then hit a looping ball over the top.
A precise, arcing pass from central midfield to United's left-side channel—
Right behind the back line.
At the exact same moment,
Džeko made his move from the left half-space, sprinting onto the trajectory of the pass.
Ferdinand wasn't slow,
But he was facing his own goal.
By the time he turned,
Džeko already had a step on him.
A half-step behind is a full step too slow.
Džeko reached the left edge of the penalty area,
Leapt slightly, and flicked the ball on with his head—
Perfect control, guiding it into the box.
He was taller, had position—
Didn't need a big jump.
Ferdinand tried to pull him back—
Tugged at him mid-air,
Lost balance, nearly fell.
Džeko landed, the ball in front of him,
Took a touch to control it—
Shifted his weight to his right shoulder to shield Ferdinand.
Ferdinand was strong,
But he couldn't outmuscle Džeko.
With the ball on his left foot,
Ferdinand stuck behind him,
Džeko drove into the left edge of the six-yard box.
Van der Sar came out to cut the angle—
But too late.
Left-footed strike.
The moment Van der Sar went down,
The ball zipped under him and into the net.
"GOOOOAAALLLLLLL!!!!!"
"Bayswater Chinese FC's first goal of the new season!"
"Edin Džeko!"
"Another pinpoint long ball from Yaya Touré!"
"The whole sequence was textbook."
"Clearly something they've drilled in training."
"They used tight, short passes to pull United's shape to one side—
then switched play and went direct over the top."
"United's back line got torn apart."
"Brilliant stuff!"
"And Džeko—this 21-year-old Bosnian striker is now going toe-to-toe with Ferdinand!"
…
As soon as Džeko leapt and flicked Yaya Touré's long ball into the box,
Ferguson had just two words in his head:
"Oh no."
And seconds later,
Džeko fired home with his left foot.
Now Ferguson understood—
Queiroz was right to be worried.
They'd clearly worked on this in training.
"Damn it!" he growled, furious.
Conceding was the last thing he wanted.
"Džeko's improvement over the last two seasons has been massive—
Physically he's stronger, and his technique hasn't suffered," Queiroz said, exasperated.
There was nothing you could do in a situation like that.
Not even Beckenbauer himself could've defended that one.
As a defender, when you're caught in that scenario with a striker,
You're just a passenger.
If Ferdinand had somehow stopped him,
It would've been heroic.
And the craziest part?
Džeko is ambidextrous.
If he were just a right-footed player,
That shot never goes in.
"They just had Džeko drop back, pulling our defensive line higher."
"When Di María got the ball, Wes Brown had to step out."
"And that gave Džeko a direct matchup with one of our center-backs—either Vidic or Ferdinand."
Vidic struggled against pacey strikers.
Ferguson had noticed this as far back as last season.
When Vidic first joined, Ferguson wanted him to push high and expand his defensive range, especially to support the vulnerable holding midfield zone.
But that was out of necessity—back then, the midfield was weak.
Later, with midfield reinforcements and Vidic's growing struggles against quick attackers, Ferguson adjusted—
He instructed Vidic to stay more compact, narrow his defensive zone.
But when Džeko made that late run, Ferdinand couldn't contain him, and Vidic wasn't close enough to help.
Yaya Touré's long ball had been inch-perfect.
But right now, Ferguson's biggest headache was United's attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo was being glued to by Lass Diarra—
The Frenchman stuck to him like gum, impossible to shake off.
Rooney?
Pepe was shadowing him constantly.
Ashley Young?
He'd gotten on the ball a few times on the left, but Maicon was neutralizing him.
Ferguson glanced toward Džeko, who was now celebrating, running across the pitch like a man on fire.
A sour feeling welled up inside him.
The truth was, before signing Tevez, United had inquired about Džeko.
A good striker is worth two.
Ferguson was never afraid to spend when he saw the right player.
But Bayswater Chinese FC had refused to sell.
That's the purpose of a center-forward: to hold up the ball in the most congested area on the pitch.
If he can do that, others can build attacks around him.
This match had proven—Rooney still couldn't hold up play.
Of course, that was against Bayswater and Pepe.
Maybe he'd do better against other Premier League sides.
Defensive intensity varies. So does center-back quality.
"Should we throw Tevez on? Or try Nani on the left to shake things up?"
Queiroz offered the suggestion.
Now that they were behind, United's attack had to open up.
Ferguson thought for a moment—hesitating.
Not because he doubted the suggestion—
But because subbing off Ashley Young at halftime might hurt his confidence.
This was a big-money, high-expectation signing.
"Let's wait a bit."
…
Halftime: Džeko's goal had Bayswater Chinese FC leading 1–0.
During the break, Yang Cheng gave the team high praise.
He believed they had successfully suppressed United.
Possession, chances created, all the key stats—Bayswater was on top.
"But let me remind everyone—we're facing Manchester United!"
Yang Cheng predicted that United would definitely make changes in the second half.
The most likely to come on? Tevez.
The Argentine bulldog played like a beast—
Short, explosive, unbelievably strong.
Yang Cheng warned his defenders to stay alert.
And to never let their guard down with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo had been totally shut down in the first half, which was great—
But dangerous to get complacent.
"Cristiano Ronaldo right now is one of the most terrifying, lethal strikers in the world.
Never underestimate his hunger for goals and victory!"
United didn't make changes at halftime.
After switching sides, they came out aggressively.
But Bayswater was prepared.
United got shots off, but none truly dangerous.
Their best chance came in the 53rd minute—
Ronaldo on the right beat Lass Diarra with raw pace,
Then cut inside past Leighton Baines and unleashed a left-footed rocket from 23 meters.
The ball whistled just past the right post—
Everyone held their breath.
If that had gone in, it would've been a wonder goal.
Yang Cheng shook his head on the touchline.
All defense could do was limit high-percentage chances—
The ones where, if you miss, you get yelled at.
But you can't stop flashes of brilliance or long-shot miracles.
Ronaldo's strike was both—
Which made it even more dangerous.
60th minute: Ferguson made his move.
He subbed off Ashley Young and brought on Carlos Tevez.
Just as Yang Cheng predicted.
Bayswater made adjustments in response.
Now, it was full-on back-and-forth.
Both sides shored up defense while sending their attacking weapons forward to jab at each other.
The tempo skyrocketed.
Especially United—
Every time they got the ball, it was launched forward.
No midfield build-up—because they were losing the midfield battle.
70th minute: Yang Cheng had to make a change.
Midweek, Bayswater would face Chelsea at home in Round 2.
First sub: Walcott on for Arshavin.
75th minute: Lewandowski for Džeko.
Even after two substitutions, Bayswater kept control of the game.
Walcott had played plenty of Premier League minutes in the past two seasons—
Especially last year, when his performances were consistently solid.
And the kid was fast.
His speed always made United's defenders uneasy.
So Bayswater kept the pressure on United's back line.
But just as Yang Cheng was starting to relax—
79th minute, United countered.
They advanced into Bayswater's 30-meter zone—
But Lass Diarra made a timely tackle.
He passed to Modrić to start the attack—
But before they could cross midfield, Hargreaves intercepted.
United flipped it immediately.
Ball to Ronaldo.
The Portuguese forward sprinted forward.
Lass Diarra chased him desperately.
As Ronaldo entered the 30-meter zone, Diarra realized he couldn't stop him.
United's front three were all in position.
Diarra made the smart call—fouled Ronaldo to break the counter.
Free kick to United.
Yellow card to Diarra.
Worth it.
If United had connected up front, it would've been dangerous.
Yang Cheng nodded to himself. Good foul.
Only problem?
Too central. About 25 meters out.
Danger zone.
Cristiano Ronaldo stood over the ball.
Took his stance. Legs apart. Arms stiff. Like Ultraman.
Bayswater built a solid wall. They were ready.
The whistle blew.
Ronaldo ran up and struck a knuckleball.
If it had been a normal knuckleball—fine.
But this one dipped unnaturally after clearing the wall.
It wobbled mid-air—
Totally screwed with Neuer's judgment.
The German keeper dove—
But the ball ripped into the top-right corner.
Not quite unsaveable…
But pretty damn close.
Ferguson roared in an instant, storming out of the technical area, visibly fired up.
Yang Cheng, meanwhile, smacked his forehead hard in the visitors' technical zone.
They had planned for everything—except that free kick from the Portuguese.
There was just… nothing to be done.
…
The match ended 1–1.
Ferguson strolled over, beaming with joy. His mood couldn't have been better.
Yang Cheng, on the other hand, was clearly upset.
From three points down to just one—
Who would be happy about that?
And then seeing Ferguson's smug face—
he looked like he'd just picked up a gold ingot off the ground.
Yang Cheng swore—the old man never expected Ronaldo to score that free kick.
He basically just stole a point.
"Got any booze?" Yang Cheng muttered sourly.
If I can't take three points, at least let me drink a few pints, right?
Everyone says Ferguson always invites visiting managers for a drink at Old Trafford—
So where's mine, huh?
"What are you thinking?"
The old fox's face instantly flipped like a seasoned performer.
"You got lucky and stole a point, and you still want me to treat you?"
Yang Cheng scoffed, "Let's be real—you got that point for free, alright? We were this close to taking all three."
"Bull! It was all under control!"
Only then did Ferguson realize:
Wait a minute… what the hell am I celebrating for?
At home, and we didn't win?
We only got a draw—and I'm acting like I hit the jackpot?
When did Manchester United become so meek?
It was all about expectations.
With 10 minutes left, even Ferguson had lost hope—
And then Cristiano Ronaldo pulled off a piece of magic.
How could he not be happy?
…
In the end, there was no wine.
The old man made it clear—
Only when you leave with zero points do you get a drink.
Yang Cheng could only shake his head in defeat.
"Guess I'm never gonna taste Ferguson's wine in this life."
…
After all ten Premier League opening matches were completed,
it became clear—most of the top teams hadn't played well.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Fulham 2–1 at home.
Liverpool, after benefiting from an own goal, were pegged back by Aston Villa—
but in the dying minutes, Steven Gerrard scored to snatch all three points.
Chelsea had a rough outing too.
Grant used a 4-4-2, and against newly promoted Birmingham, they conceded early.
Though they scored twice to take the lead, they were pegged back again by a long-range screamer in the 36th minute.
There was nothing they could've done about that one.
It wasn't until Essien's second-half goal that Chelsea secured a narrow 3–2 win at home.
The best opening-round performances? Newcastle and Manchester City.
The Magpies beat Bolton 3–1 away.
City beat West Ham 2–0, also away.
Most of the other matches were decided by just one goal.
But the most notable stat?
All ten opening matches had goals.
From the first round, it was clear—the Premier League's overall quality had improved, especially among mid-to-lower-tier teams.
Clubs like Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Manchester City,
as well as promoted sides like Birmingham and Sunderland,
all showed clear improvement.
Even Derby County, which everyone had written off, managed a 2–2 home draw with Portsmouth.
This matched what the summer transfer window had hinted at—
Premier League spending power was surging.
When clubs like Sunderland, Birmingham, Villa, and Spurs
could all casually drop £10–20 million or more on transfers,
their competitiveness naturally went up.
Which meant the entire league was becoming more intense.
Yang Cheng still remembered—
Last season's opening round had several three-goal blowouts.
Not anymore.
…
Back in London, there was no rest for Yang Cheng.
Bayswater Chinese FC immediately shifted into midweek match prep mode.
After years of development, they had perfected a system to handle both one-match and two-match weeks.
Yang Cheng left training duties to his coaching staff—
while he personally dove into tactical research for Chelsea.
First order of business: watch Chelsea's 3–2 win over Birmingham.
Both of Birmingham's goals came from their left flank,
which meant Chelsea's right side was the weak point.
"Grant switched to a 4-4-2 in that game—he wanted balance," Yang Cheng nodded.
"But clearly, it's not working."
The front two were Pizarro and Shevchenko,
Midfield center: Essien and Lampard.
But still no true organizer.
Which meant their build-up was still reliant on the wings.
And based on the Birmingham game,
Chelsea still preferred attacking from the left.
Ashley Cole and Malouda's side looked sharp.
But the right—Wright-Phillips and Glen Johnson—
had already been exploited in the Community Shield.
And now? Still weak.
No injured players had returned.
At the very least, Ferreira would've been better than Glen Johnson.
But just as Yang Cheng and Brian Kidd were finalizing their tactical plan,
two days before Round 2…
News from the scouting team: Drogba is back.
And Ferreira too.
Yang Cheng was immediately annoyed.
"Seriously? I wasn't born to be a novel's main character!"
Those guys in novels?
They're all overpowered protagonists.
Gods one second, slayers the next.
But Yang Cheng?
Drogba and Ferreira—
Not ready last week.
Not ready early in the week.
But magically healthy just in time to play us.
Coincidence?
He didn't think so.
(Just venting, of course.)
But the truth was—
The Chelsea game was going to be a brutal battle.
And it was at home.
Adam Crozier had reported earlier that season ticket sales would likely hit 50,000 before kickoff—
which meant over 60,000 fans would be in the stadium.
Yang Cheng wasn't about to go easy.
Losing in front of a crowd like that?
That would cost the club big—in morale, in momentum, in marketability.
Who pays to travel all the way to Wembley just to watch a home loss?
"If that's how it is, then we go to war."
Yang Cheng made up his mind.
If they want to go head-to-head, blow for blow, we'll do it.
Let's see who breaks first!
Ferreira? Just came back? I'm going to hammer your flank.
Ashley Cole? Think you're elite on the left? I'm going to torch your side too.
The plan is simple—
Wipe out Chelsea's entire back line!
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