Chapter 153: Decisive Battle at the San Siro! Bayswater Chinese FC's Purest and Most Authentic Banner!
"I heard… you're planning to expose us for who we really are?"
As Slovak referee Ľuboš Micheľ led the teams onto the pitch at the San Siro, nearly 80,000 fans filled the stadium to the brim. The noise was deafening, the stands a sea of swaying humanity.
The moment Yang Cheng stepped out of the tunnel, he caught sight of Mourinho.
The two hadn't seen each other in quite a while. Yang Cheng approached with a smile, shaking hands, sharing a hug—but his words were anything but courteous.
"You'll find out soon enough. If we don't turn up the heat, you won't know how terrifying the San Siro can be."
Mourinho, as always, wore his stubborn, unbothered expression.
"Then I'll be waiting."
"When the match ends, after the press conference, don't leave in a rush. Drinks are on me," Mourinho called back, turning around after walking a few steps.
"Well now, that makes you more generous than those two old farts Ferguson and Wenger," Yang Cheng chuckled.
Mourinho liked that. He cracked a rare grin.
For managers, what happened on the pitch rarely interfered with personal friendships off it.
There was an amusing story.
Ever wonder why Mourinho held such a grudge against Ferguson and Wenger?
The truth was, he had always respected both of them.
But back when he was still at Porto, attending his first UEFA Elite Coaches Forum, he approached Ferguson and Wenger to greet them.
The two old men, deep in an intense conversation, paid him no mind and left him awkwardly hanging.
Mourinho, proud as he was, never forgot that.
But that was all long ago.
Nowadays, they were all on good terms.
Don't let Ferguson's on-field jabs at Wenger fool you—the two had a solid relationship in private.
Then again, there's another, more humorous theory.
Chelsea's sudden rise made Ferguson and Wenger go from bitter rivals to allies with a common enemy.
...
Since taking over Inter, Mourinho had scrapped Mancini's old system in favor of the 4-3-3 formation he used at Chelsea.
But tonight's lineup surprised Yang Cheng.
Inter's Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Júlio César
Defense: Maxwell, Materazzi, Córdoba, Zanetti
Midfield: Vieira (deep), Stanković, Cambiasso
Attack: Adriano, Ibrahimović, Balotelli
Neither the aging Figo nor the underperforming Quaresma were in the starting eleven—no surprise to Yang Cheng.
But even Mancini Jr. wasn't on the pitch.
Mourinho had gone all in with three center-forwards.
Especially the inclusion of young Mario Balotelli—a 1990-born prodigy hailed as world-class from the neck down.
"He's definitely going for a three-defensive-mid setup," Yang Cheng remarked.
Vieira was past his prime, and both Stanković and Cambiasso weren't the types to create or break lines with passes.
Cambiasso had decent passing range and could organize play, but lacked creativity.
No wonder people said Inter's 2009 summer transfer window was near miraculous—thanks to technical director Marco Branca.
Ibrahimović had immense individual talent, but his issues were well-known.
Inconsistent goal conversion. Disappeared in big games.
It made him a questionable centerpiece for any elite club.
The rumored swap deal—Ibra for Eto'o—started circulating in summer 2008, and by 2009, it became reality.
Not only did Inter land Eto'o, they also received a hefty transfer fee, which they used to sign Diego Milito, Sneijder, Thiago Motta, and Lúcio.
Each signing addressed a key need.
Milito solved the striker problem.
Sneijder resolved their lack of midfield creativity.
Motta provided cover in defensive midfield.
Lúcio patched the defensive gaps.
From a pure transfer perspective, Yang Cheng couldn't help but wonder if Branca was also a time traveler.
The man was simply divine.
Bayswater Chinese FC's Starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defense: Leighton Baines, Thiago Silva, Pepe, Maicon
Midfield: Yaya Touré (deep), Rakitić, Modrić
Attack: Gareth Bale, Džeko, Walcott
Yang Cheng now rotated his three wingers based on the opponent.
Against Inter's lineup, Bayswater's biggest advantage was in midfield.
So Yang Cheng's strategy was simple: control the midfield from the outset and suppress Inter's rhythm.
Mourinho knew this too.
Given Inter's midfield limitations, they weren't going to outplay Bayswater in the center of the park.
So Mourinho's approach was as straightforward and brutal as ever.
Rely on his three-man frontline to charge forward and press hard from the start.
A desperate boy in a cold bed—he's gotta bring the fire himself.
Swing big. Who cares if you miss? Maybe you'll land one.
...
This globally anticipated clash began with a chest trap and volley from Ibrahimović.
Barely one minute in, the Swedish striker unleashed a difficult shot from near the penalty spot—but it flew over the bar.
Just two minutes later, Ibrahimović pulled wide to the left and crossed into the box.
Adriano, back from a six-month loan in Brazil and looking sharp, bullied Thiago Silva off the ball and fired a low left-footed shot.
Neuer was steady, diving to block the shot.
Two quick shots lit a fire under the San Siro crowd.
But Yang Cheng didn't budge. He stood calmly on the sideline, unfazed.
As if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Once Inter's opening burst passed, Bayswater Chinese FC settled down by the 5th minute, regained control in midfield, and began pressing Inter back.
In the 8th minute, Yaya Touré made a late run from deep and unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 meters out.
Though it didn't score, it sent a clear message: the visitors were here to play.
Inter showed no fear on their own turf.
In the 10th minute, they won the ball in midfield and countered down the left.
Adriano received the ball inside the box and shot—only for Thiago Silva to throw himself into a block, deflecting it out for a corner.
Materazzi's header from the ensuing corner went just over the bar.
Three minutes later, Stanković tried his luck from distance—also high.
Then, in the 18th minute, Thiago Silva fouled Ibrahimović from behind and was shown a yellow.
Physically, the two were on different levels. Silva was really struggling.
Mourinho's three-forward strategy had a "chaotic punch that floors the master" vibe to it.
Apart from the relatively raw Balotelli on the right, both Adriano and Ibrahimović were elite strikers—household names across Europe.
They were definitely putting pressure on Bayswater's defense.
But Bayswater Chinese FC wasn't backing down.
In the 21st minute, Pepe received the ball near his own penalty area and launched a long pass straight past the halfway line.
Walcott sprinted after it like a bullet, catching up with the ball and killing it dead with a sublime first touch.
Just as Walcott brought the ball down and prepared to accelerate, the towering Materazzi came flying in from the side with a fierce sliding tackle, taking down both man and ball in one motion.
Foul!
Free kick!
But no card was shown!
Materazzi's tackle was clean—his timing precise.
The San Siro roared with cheers from the Inter Milan fans.
And when the live broadcast cut to Materazzi, he was still muttering at the fallen Walcott, chattering away as he jogged back toward his own half.
That was typical Materazzi.
He didn't just tackle hard—he talked hard too.
Even Zidane couldn't stand him and got sent off in a World Cup final because of it.
From the visiting dugout, Yang Cheng called over Modrić, signaling him to calm Walcott down.
Don't fall for Materazzi's bait.
At the same time, Yang Cheng called out to Maicon, gesturing for him to push higher up the pitch.
Because both Ibrahimović and Adriano kept drifting wide to the left, Maicon had been playing more conservatively, not offering much support going forward.
But Yang Cheng wanted him to join the attack with more aggression.
In return, Yaya Touré could drop slightly deeper to help the defense.
After all, both Ibra and Adriano were physical monsters—Silva was struggling against them.
But Inter's approach had its own flaw.
Neither Ibra nor Adriano tracked back.
That meant Maicon's late runs into space could be the key to unlocking the game.
...
"Boss wants you to push up!"
Modrić, preparing to take the free kick on the right flank, passed the message to Maicon.
"Vieira can't cover much ground anymore. We might have an opening in the channel. I'll pull Theo wide—let's try hitting the inside corridor."
"Old routine," Maicon nodded.
Modrić got the idea.
The game resumed.
Modrić didn't pass to Maicon, but instead played the ball to Walcott.
The Little Tiger immediately laid it back and darted up the touchline.
Maxwell followed him.
Maicon controlled the ball, sidestepped Ibrahimović, and cut inward toward the right channel before passing to Modrić.
Then he made a diagonal run forward through the half-space.
Stanković tracked Modrić, but the Croatian didn't take a touch—instead, he sent the ball back to the onrushing Maicon.
A textbook one-two!
Maicon charged upfield and crossed the halfway line, arriving in Inter's 30-meter zone.
Vieira moved to intercept, but Džeko had already dropped back from the center-forward spot, dragging Materazzi with him.
As Džeko backpedaled, he pointed ahead, indicating where he wanted the pass.
Maicon sent it, and then burst forward at full speed.
Džeko received the ball on the side of Vieira and used his body to shield it from Materazzi.
As Maicon flew past him, Džeko tapped the ball sideways into his path.
Maicon blew past, accelerating into the box—an absolutely textbook off-the-ball run.
The entire San Siro let out a collective gasp.
No one expected Bayswater Chinese FC to break the deadlock like this.
Especially not through Maicon.
He stormed into the penalty area, met the ball just as Júlio César came out to challenge—and unleashed a thunderous strike.
The ball zipped past the Brazilian keeper and slammed into the Inter net.
"Goal!!!!!!"
"Maicon!!"
"The Brazilian right-back bursts forward out of nowhere and stuns the San Siro with a thunderous finish!"
"21st minute—Bayswater Chinese FC takes the lead!"
"A brilliantly timed late run from Maicon, capped off with an outstanding move and pass exchange!"
"Inter's backline was completely torn apart!"
"Materazzi turned and chased, but it was no use!"
The Italian defender raced all the way to the goal line, just in time to punt the ball angrily out of the net.
Before the match, he'd vowed to "expose Bayswater Chinese FC's true colors."
Yet the first goal came from them.
And from a full-back, no less.
...
After opening the scoring, Bayswater Chinese FC's confidence surged.
Inter, on the other hand, grew visibly agitated.
Mourinho's three-forward setup looked intimidating on paper—but in reality, the trio lacked chemistry and offered little in the way of complementary movement.
So while Inter's attacks were aggressive, they lacked structure and bite.
It was all blunt force, swinging wildly with little precision.
Especially after conceding, Inter still insisted on using their center-forwards to press high.
By now, Yang Cheng had relaxed a great deal.
Mourinho was still the same Mourinho.
Whether at Porto, Chelsea, or now Inter, he had always struggled to construct fluid attacking systems in positional play.
That's why he relied so heavily on physically dominant strikers—to compensate for the lack of offensive cohesion in midfield.
With Bayswater Chinese FC already ahead, Inter pushed for a goal to equalize.
But in the 28th minute, after winning the ball in midfield, Modrić spotted an opening and slid a low pass forward.
It slipped through perfectly—bypassing Vieira and threading the gap between Materazzi and Maxwell.
Moments earlier, Walcott had dragged Maxwell out wide, allowing Maicon to break into the inside channel.
As a result, Maxwell was now positioned closer to Materazzi.
Which left space behind.
As Modrić's pass came through, Walcott darted from the touchline into that very space.
With his speed, even starting a step behind, he was able to blaze past Maxwell and reach the ball on the right side of the box.
Walcott controlled the pass, and by the time Maxwell and Materazzi got back, he was already setting up his next move.
Hugging the edge of the box, Walcott threw a quick fake, then exploded toward the byline—intending to deliver a low cross.
Maxwell tried to stay tight, but the difference in pace was too great. Walcott gained half a step on him.
Then came the cross—whipped with his right foot across the face of goal, skipping past the near post and Materazzi, and landing just inside the six-yard box.
Walcott had paused slightly earlier to give time for Džeko and Gareth Bale to make their runs.
As the ball arrived, Džeko came charging in like a tank, muscling past Córdoba, and launched himself into a header.
He smashed the ball into the right side of the net with unrelenting power.
2–0!
"GOAL AGAIN!!!!!!"
"A lightning-quick counterattack from Bayswater Chinese FC!"
"Just seven minutes after the opener, they strike again!"
"Džeko's header doubles the lead!"
The Bosnian striker couldn't contain his excitement and took off running in celebration.
At the far post, Gareth Bale tried to catch him to join the celebration—but there was no catching that runaway freight train.
Bayswater Chinese FC's Two Goals Left the Entire San Siro in Disbelief
Nearly 80,000 fans in the stadium stared blankly at the pitch, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
They had believed Mourinho's arrival would usher in a transformation for Inter Milan.
And yet—everything looked the same as before.
...
In the final ten minutes of the first half, neither side created any real threat.
Bayswater Chinese FC held a two-goal cushion.
Inter had been rattled by the quick double blow and prioritized tightening up the defense.
Everyone in the stadium knew—Inter pulling off a comeback in this match was extremely unlikely.
After the break, Inter launched another wave of attacks.
Mourinho wasn't ready to give up hope just yet.
Only three minutes into the second half, Inter earned a free kick on the left flank.
Maicon committed the foul while defending Adriano.
Cambiasso took it quickly, finding Ibrahimović near the left corner. The Swede burst into the box and unleashed a powerful strike with his right foot.
Pepe bravely stepped in and deflected the shot with his body, but the ball took an awkward bounce and dropped back into the box.
Amid the chaos, Adriano used his strength to hold off Thiago Silva and fired a low shot with his left foot.
Neuer was fully focused—but at that range, there was nothing he could do.
1–2!
The goal reignited hope in the San Siro.
Mourinho responded with a substitution.
In the 62nd minute, he replaced Stanković with Mancini Jr.
A midfielder off, a winger on—Inter switched to a 4-4-2.
Adriano and Ibrahimović formed a proper striker duo.
Just five minutes later, Mourinho made a second change—Quaresma for Balotelli.
Despite the youngster's immense talent, Balotelli had been ineffective throughout the match.
Still too raw.
Back-to-back substitutions made it clear: Inter were preparing to unleash a double-winged assault.
But just as the game reached a critical point, in the 72nd minute, Bayswater Chinese FC intercepted a ball in midfield.
Thiago Silva launched a crisp forward pass to Modrić.
The Croatian sent an immediate long diagonal over the top, directly behind Inter's backline.
At the same moment, Gareth Bale sprinted from the left flank and burned past the Inter defense like a lightning bolt, leaving Zanetti in his wake.
Bale chased down the ball, used his head—not to score, but to nod it forward into his path, then surged into the box.
He got there just ahead of Córdoba and blasted a left-footed strike low into the bottom-right corner.
Goal! 3–1!
Yang Cheng leapt in the air on the sidelines, fists clenched in celebration.
It was a perfectly timed, perfectly executed goal.
Modrić's pass was sublime.
And Bale's speed and finishing were elite.
Another ruthless blow to Inter.
...
"This style of play… it's actually pretty close to what we tried at Chelsea," said Inter assistant coach Faria from the bench, shaking his head with a sigh.
It looked more like what Mourinho and his staff wanted to build at Chelsea.
But everyone knew—Chelsea's midfield had strength, but lacked creativity.
In contrast, Bayswater Chinese FC's midfield was overflowing with passing range and imagination.
"To be honest, we're missing a Modrić-type creator. We don't have a Pepe-style center-back. And no one like Yaya Touré sitting deep."
"And don't even mention a pacey winger…"
Faria shook his head again.
Inter's problems this season were obvious.
Against weaker teams who played open football—like Marseille in the Champions League or Torino domestically—they performed well.
That 3–1 win over Torino had been impressive.
But when faced with a team that parked the bus—like Lecce—Mourinho needed to play five forwards just to scrape a narrow win.
Goals were hard to come by. Really hard.
It all came down to midfield.
Mourinho preferred the 4-3-3, but Inter lacked the tempo, the passing quality, and the kind of striker he liked to lead the line.
"So don't be discouraged," Mourinho said calmly, glancing over at his assistant.
"We're still behind Bayswater Chinese FC. They're pushing for both the Premier League and the Champions League this season."
"A double?" Faria raised his eyebrows.
"Didn't you hear Yang Cheng say it himself? Everything they lost last season—they're coming back to win this season."
Faria clicked his tongue in disbelief.
"If they actually win the league again this year… that would be insane."
He paused, then added, "As for the Champions League—no way. No one's ever retained it before."
"But they're strong," he admitted. "And Yang Cheng's coaching… it's something else. I'd say…"
Mourinho hesitated, then said it anyway—there were no outsiders around.
"I'd say he's on par with Ferguson or Wenger."
Faria stared at him in shock.
He couldn't believe Mourinho rated Yang Cheng that highly.
"Come on, seriously? He's just a kid! Even if he'd been coaching since birth, he wouldn't have the experience those two have."
Management was all about experience—playing experience counted too, even if you didn't coach.
Mourinho snorted. "Maybe he's an exception."
Had someone else said that, Faria would've rolled his eyes and asked, "Do you even know football?"
But he knew Mourinho far too well.
There was no way the proud Portuguese would say something like that unless he truly meant it.
Mourinho let out a heavy sigh, as if releasing a burden.
"It's fine. I've always said—my teams usually don't start winning until the third year. This is just year one."
"The tougher the opponent, the sweeter the challenge."
In Mourinho's mind, Yang Cheng and his Bayswater Chinese FC were already one of two top-tier rivals he had to overcome.
The other?
Guardiola's Barcelona.
Especially that team—utterly infuriating.
...
Yang Cheng knew—if the media and fans found out what really went on between him and Mourinho, they'd be stunned.
Moments after their fiery post-match press conference, where they publicly exchanged barbs and criticism...
Mourinho was already in his private box at the San Siro, opening a bottle of red wine and waiting for Yang Cheng.
The Portuguese madman never acted without a reason.
He'd been away from European football for over a year, and now that he was back—coaching a club as big as Inter—he needed to get reacquainted with the landscape fast.
Naturally, most of their conversation revolved around the Premier League.
From snippets and side comments, Yang Cheng could tell—Mourinho still dreamed of returning to England one day.
And that wasn't surprising at all.
Even though in recent years most Premier League clubs have added positions like technical director, sporting director, or director of football to further limit the authority of the head coach…
The overall environment still gives Premier League managers far more autonomy than their counterparts on the European continent.
Especially at the biggest clubs.
Even someone like Mourinho, at Inter Milan, mostly only had advisory power.
So it made perfect sense that, as a head coach, Mourinho missed the Premier League.
But right now, there really wasn't a team suitable for him.
There had once been rumors linking him to Manchester City—but at that time, Mourinho had his sights set on Barcelona.
Timing is everything.
Who could have predicted he'd end up at Inter Milan?
The topic soon shifted from the league to clubs, and then to players.
"Yang, give it to me straight—will you sell me Modrić?" Mourinho asked out of nowhere.
Yang Cheng was caught completely off guard by the sudden question. Looking over and seeing Mourinho's dead serious face, he burst out laughing.
"Come on, José, don't joke around. You wouldn't even know how to use Modrić."
Mourinho nearly dropped his wine glass.
He'd prepared for a lot of responses—anger, denial, even sarcasm.
But he never imagined Yang Cheng would say that.
And strangely, it didn't piss him off—it fired him up.
"What the hell are you talking about? You think I can't handle Modrić?"
"I'm serious. You've never been good at using controlling midfielders. It's not just your tactical style—it's your personality."
"Bullshit!" Mourinho raised his voice, detecting a hint of mockery in Yang Cheng's tone. "Didn't I use Deco just fine at Porto? And you're saying I can't use Modrić?"
That last line came out even louder, as if to underline the point.
Don't forget—I won the Champions League too!
This was a straight-up face slap.
Could he at least get a little respect?
Yang Cheng just grinned as Mourinho got riled up.
Serves you right, old man. Always trying to poach my captain like I'm some pushover.
Think I'm Wenger or something?
"Oh come on. Don't even try that argument. I watched Porto games back then—I know exactly how you used Deco," Yang Cheng countered.
Mourinho was momentarily stumped.
Because back at Porto, Deco had played as a traditional number 10.
Technically speaking, he wasn't a controlling midfielder at all. He played more like a deep-lying second striker—similar to Lampard's role.
That's why Deco had such impressive goal and assist numbers during those years.
But after Deco moved to Barça, under Rijkaard's 4-3-3 system—where there was no number 10 role—and with Ronaldinho cutting inside from the left, Deco was forced to drop deeper and become more of an 8.
Cornered like that, Mourinho couldn't come up with a good retort.
But in his heart, he refused to accept defeat.
One day I'll buy a controlling midfielder and prove I can use him—and I'll wipe the floor with you when I do!
...
While Bayswater Chinese FC were beating Inter Milan 3–1 away, Atlético Madrid defeated Marseille 2–1 at home with goals from Agüero and Raúl García.
After two rounds in the group stage, Bayswater Chinese FC sat atop the table with two wins.
Atlético were second, edging Inter by goal difference. Marseille, with two straight losses, were at the bottom.
The next two rounds—Bayswater vs Marseille, Atlético vs Inter—would be decisive in shaping the group's final standings.
Post-match, European media, especially the British press, praised Bayswater Chinese FC's away win in glowing terms.
Yang Cheng's team looked utterly unstoppable this season.
Based on current performance, qualification was all but secured.
The real suspense in the group now was about who would join them in the knockout stage.
As for the other English teams in the Champions League:
Chelsea drew 0–0 away at CFR Cluj—a lackluster showing, but acceptable given it was an away match.
After a dazzling start under Scolari, the Blues had cooled off considerably.
Managing a national team and managing a club are two different beasts. Club football requires far more advanced tactical systems.
Manchester United cruised to a 3–0 win away at Aalborg. The front line of Ronaldo, Berbatov, Rooney, and Nani was in fine form.
Once again, it proved the saying: when Ronaldo returns, United comes back to life.
Arsenal, meanwhile, routed Porto 4–0 at home. Both Arshavin and Van Persie bagged braces.
It was the Gunners' best performance so far this season.
...
Back in the Premier League, Yang Cheng and the team took a brief rest in London before traveling to face West Bromwich Albion away that weekend.
Facing this newly promoted side, Yang Cheng still rotated his squad appropriately.
Yet from the start, Bayswater Chinese FC were the aggressors.
Just over a minute in, Džeko took a shot in the box—the game's first.
Then came a relentless onslaught of high pressing and fast-paced attacks, pinning West Brom in their own half.
In the 15th minute, Džeko suddenly popped up on the left wing and played a quick one-two with Di María. He burst into the box, one-on-one with the keeper, and slotted it home with his left foot.
1–0!
Nine minutes later, Matuidi sent a sharp through ball down the left channel. Di María beat his marker to the ball, poked it toward the end line, chased it down, and whipped in a cross to the far post.
Walcott shook off left-back Paul Robinson and calmly tucked the ball into the net.
2–0!
Even after two goals, Bayswater didn't slow down.
As the match progressed, Yang Cheng began noticing a weak link in West Brom's defense.
Left-back Paul Robinson was struggling badly.
In the 31st minute, Di María suddenly switched flanks and combined with Walcott on the right. He dribbled into the box, slammed on the brakes, and cut inside.
Robinson, desperate, stuck out a leg and tripped him.
But the referee waved play on.
The Bayswater players were furious.
Then, just seven minutes later—again on the right wing—a quick counterattack saw Modrić feed Džeko, who slipped a pass behind the defense.
Walcott dashed diagonally into the box and went one-on-one.
Just as he was about to shoot, Robinson slid in from behind and fouled him.
This time, the referee pointed straight to the spot—and showed a red card.
Walcott converted with ease.
3–0!
The Little Tiger had a brace!
Down to 10 men, West Brom focused on damage control in the second half.
But Bayswater Chinese FC dominated completely.
In the 53rd minute, Maicon overlapped down the right and crossed into the box.
Džeko calmly finished to make it four.
4–0!
The Bosnian also completed his brace.
In the 60th minute, Di María won a corner on the left.
Leighton Baines delivered it, and Kompany rose highest to head it in.
5–0!
His first goal for the club!
Five minutes later, Di María received a through ball from Rakitić and crossed from the left.
Džeko smashed home a close-range header to complete his hat-trick.
6–0!
Then, in the 83rd minute, after a wave of substitutions, Aaron Ramsey—off the bench—slipped a precise pass into the box.
Lewandowski burst through, and with a low finish from near the penalty spot, scored again.
7–0!
After This Round, the Premier League Erupted!
Bayswater Chinese FC crushed West Brom with a 7-goal demolition!
Yes, the red card in the first half certainly tipped the balance, but even so, the scoreline was terrifying.
In just six matches from seven rounds this season, Bayswater Chinese FC had scored 23 goals and conceded only one.
It was madness!
Everyone agreed—this team had gone completely insane this season.
Džeko led the scoring charts with 7 goals, Walcott had 5, and both Gareth Bale and Lewandowski had netted 3 each.
The entire Premier League could feel the storm Bayswater Chinese FC had unleashed.
In this round, Wenger shifted Arsenal from their usual 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1, with Van Persie moved out wide to the left, Benzema up front, Nasri on the right, and Arshavin in the No. 10 role.
Wenger was clearly trying to replicate their strong European form in the league, testing out a setup that maximized his attacking options.
But it didn't go as planned—Arsenal drew 1–1 away at Sunderland.
Manchester United beat Blackburn 2–0 on the road, with Ronaldo providing an assist.
Chelsea won 2–0 at home against Aston Villa.
Liverpool went down 0–2 away to Manchester City but mounted an incredible comeback, with Torres scoring twice to lead them to a 3–2 victory.
As a result, Bayswater Chinese FC stayed top of the table with 18 points.
Liverpool followed closely with 17.
Then came Manchester United and Chelsea, both on 14.
After this round, the British media was abuzz with headlines suggesting that Bayswater Chinese FC could reclaim the Premier League title.
Several reputable outlets—including The Times—boldly stated: "If Yang Cheng's team can maintain this momentum, no one can stop them!"
Breaking down the reasons behind Bayswater Chinese FC's explosive form this season, The Times identified five key factors:
"Young players like Di María, Gareth Bale, and Walcott have taken on more responsibility as regular starters—and all three have delivered exceptional performances."
"Rakitić has replaced Lassana Diarra as Modrić's midfield partner. This Croatian duo has added creativity and unlocked the full potential of Bayswater's pacey wide players."
"The backline is looking increasingly solid. Thiago Silva and Pepe's partnership is hitting its stride, new signing Kompany has impressed, and the defenders' passing—especially long passing—has added tactical variety."
"Džeko has become more complete and is now showing signs of a breakout season."
"But most importantly—it's head coach Yang Cheng. He's the foundation of Bayswater Chinese FC's title ambitions and their core competitive edge."
However, The Times also issued a word of caution: Bayswater's red-hot start was somewhat aided by the fact that they hadn't faced many top teams yet.
Aside from facing Arsenal at home in Round 2, they hadn't played any of the league's current top six.
That meant the tougher part of their schedule still lay ahead.
"Yang Cheng's strategy is sound."
"If you want to win the league, you need to avoid dropping points against weaker teams."
"So far, their winning streak has been hugely encouraging."
"And in recent seasons, Bayswater Chinese FC have done well in big matches."
As long as the current form continued, The Times concluded, the title was well within reach.
...
After Round 7 of the Premier League, the league paused once again for the international break.
The players departed London to join their national teams, and Yang Cheng began another two weeks of anxiety.
He instructed the coaching staff—especially the medical team—to monitor the players closely and report back daily.
With things going so well, the last thing he wanted was an injury setback.
Meanwhile, Yang Cheng took the opportunity to visit the youth academy, just across the road.
He'd been too busy during the preseason to attend the summer player selection, so he had sent Brian Kidd as his representative.
Together with sporting director Dan Ashworth and chief talent officer Mike Rigg, it was a solid team.
Yang Cheng's focus during this visit was on N'Golo Kanté.
The man who would one day be said to cover 30% of the planet was already on his radar.
Kanté still seemed to be in the process of integrating into the team.
Especially with his limited English—he could only manage basic communication.
But on the pitch, he looked promising.
He could run. He could tackle.
Small, nimble, explosive—he was the kind of player that stood out immediately.
Still, he was a bit too small, a bit too skinny.
Kanté was currently playing with the U18 squad.
But it wasn't Kanté who caught Yang Cheng's eye this time—it was Harry Kane.
"This kid…"
"Hard to recognize him, huh?" Matt Crock chuckled.
Yang Cheng could only nod.
He couldn't exactly say, I know him very well—from the future.
"Harry Kane—he's that chubby kid who joined when the academy first started, remember?"
"The one Arsenal let go?" Yang Cheng played along, pretending to be surprised.
"Exactly. Shot up in height recently, lost all the baby fat. But look at that frame—classic English center-forward build," said Matt Crock, clearly impressed.
Kane had now been with Bayswater's academy for five years.
He really looked the part—solid technical ability, clean touches, smart passes, and good ball control.
"Before he joined us, he was a goalkeeper. Then he moved up from defense all the way to striker. I think he's best as a center-forward. He can run, has great stamina, and his physicality is excellent."
"Only thing lacking is pace."
Speed was one of those things that couldn't be taught.
"He's being trained as a center-forward now, right?"
Yang Cheng had noticed Kane's back-to-goal control and turns were clearly drilled.
"Of course. I think he can be as good as Džeko or Lewandowski," Matt Crock said confidently.
Yang Cheng didn't doubt that.
In his previous life, Kane had transitioned into a deep-lying forward more out of necessity—mainly due to frequent injuries, especially to both feet.
It made him struggle in physical duels against center-backs.
So Kane adapted, becoming a drop-deep, link-up striker.
He did it well—but it was still a bit of a shame.
A true center-forward should bully defenders.
But by 2024, the number of strikers who could physically dominate defenders had become extremely rare.
Now, Bayswater Chinese FC were developing Kane as a proper striker.
He was on track to become the most homegrown and emblematic figure of the club's youth system.
"Right now, he looks like a slightly slower but taller version of young Rooney," Mike Rigg said with admiration.
"Better technique than Rooney ever had," Matt Crock added.
Everyone, including Yang Cheng, nodded in agreement.
After all, he'd spent five formative years at Bayswater Chinese FC's academy.
And they were the five years that mattered most.
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