"Penalty! Penalty! Penalty!"
The chant thundered around La Rosaleda.
Thousands of supporters were on their feet, roaring in unison as though sheer volume might force the referee to point to the spot.
"The replay makes it perfectly clear," Andy Gray said. "Kaká was tripped inside the penalty area. That is a penalty.
"And remember, Cristiano Ronaldo was brought down right on the edge earlier and the referee ruled it outside. If he refuses to give this one as well, New Manchester United will have every reason to be furious."
Martin Tyler's voice carried more emotion than usual.
"At 2-0 away from home, the result of this penalty probably won't determine the match.
"But that isn't why everyone wants it.
"They want Fernando Redondo to score."
He paused as the replay continued.
"For more than two years, Redondo has endured an extraordinary ordeal. Two knee operations left many people believing he would never play professional football again.
"Yet he fought his way back.
"And tonight, back in Spain, he has given us a magnificent performance.
"A goal would complete it.
"This has been Redondo's match."
Gray nodded.
"What touches me most is the unity of these players.
"They're doing everything they can to create this moment for a teammate.
"You could argue that it's a little cruel on Málaga, but I can't pretend I'm not moved by it.
"Redondo is fortunate.
"At the end of his career, he has found a remarkable group of teammates."
The referee spoke briefly with his assistant.
Then he walked into the penalty area.
And pointed directly at the spot.
Penalty.
La Rosaleda erupted.
Almost everyone inside the stadium rose to their feet.
Applause rolled down from the stands like a wave.
New Manchester United's players surrounded Redondo and guided him towards the penalty area.
The moment had already become bigger than the match itself.
Whether he scored or missed, this was his night.
Kaká personally placed the ball on the spot.
Then he embraced Redondo.
One after another, the other players followed.
"Go on, Fernando," Juninho said with a smile.
"You've got this."
Redondo nodded.
Then Curtis came running forward from the defensive line.
He wrapped both arms around Redondo and whispered into his ear.
"José says their goalkeeper has saved seven penalties this season.
"Every one of them was to his right."
Redondo paused.
Curtis grinned, patted him on the shoulder, and jogged away.
Redondo glanced towards the touchline.
Mourinho was standing there.
So was the entire coaching staff.
Every substitute had risen from the bench.
Around them, the supporters remained on their feet.
Everyone was waiting for him.
Everyone was behind him.
Redondo took several steps backwards.
He stared at the goalkeeper.
Then began his run-up.
A few quick strides.
Strike.
The ball travelled low towards the bottom-left corner.
The Málaga goalkeeper instinctively threw himself to his right.
Wrong way.
Goal.
For a moment, the noise inside La Rosaleda was overwhelming.
Then Redondo dropped to his knees.
His head tilted towards the sky.
The television cameras immediately closed in.
Tears covered his face.
His mouth moved, but no words came.
Every New Manchester United player ran towards him.
They surrounded him in a tight circle.
Eventually Redondo rose.
All eleven players embraced one another.
The applause grew even louder.
This time, it was not only for Redondo.
It was for the entire team.
At the touchline, the fourth official raised the substitution board.
De Rossi was coming on.
Redondo's night was over.
As he walked slowly towards the bench, the entire stadium rose once more.
Then a song began.
Redondo's song.
It spread through the stands until La Rosaleda seemed to belong to him.
...
"This was Fernando Redondo's match," Tyler said quietly.
"A perfect night.
"He scored.
"He was involved in the build-up to the other two goals.
"And for the time he was on the pitch, he controlled everything.
"Tonight, he reminded everyone exactly who he is."
Gray smiled.
"It was more than that, Martin.
"When people remember this match years from now, they'll remember Redondo.
"But I think they'll also remember the way his teammates treated him.
"That sense of all for one."
Tyler nodded.
"As football becomes more commercial, moments like this may become rarer.
"But tonight we saw something very simple and very old-fashioned.
"Teammates trying to give one of their own a memory he could carry for the rest of his life.
"I'm glad I was here for it.
"I'll admit it, I cried."
Gray laughed.
"I didn't quite get that far.
"But I was moved too.
"There's something about this club.
"I'm not sure I can explain it anymore.
"I think I've become a supporter."
...
Once the score reached 3-0 and Redondo left the pitch, the competitive edge gradually disappeared.
The final ten minutes became almost ceremonial.
Neither side had much appetite for unnecessary aggression.
When the final whistle sounded, the atmosphere became warm again.
New Manchester United's players left the pitch to an almost heroic reception.
Several stopped to embrace Málaga players on the way, showing mutual respect after a hard-fought European night.
During the post-match broadcast, Gray was full of praise.
"New Manchester United demonstrated two things tonight.
"First, they know how to control a match.
"Second, they know how to kill one.
"Their front four caused Málaga enormous problems, but what impressed me most was the maturity of the entire performance."
He continued.
"If anyone thought Mourinho was dreaming when he said New Manchester United could win the UEFA Cup, they should watch this match again.
"Forget the emotion surrounding Redondo for a moment.
"From a purely tactical perspective, this team showed qualities you associate with potential champions.
"They were brave.
"They were technically excellent.
"They controlled the rhythm.
"And when the opportunity came, they were ruthless.
"This is a very strong team, and they're still improving."
...
The following morning, newspapers across Europe devoted extensive coverage to the match.
Naturally, Redondo dominated the headlines.
His return to Spain had produced something close to a perfect performance.
The only criticism concerned New Manchester United's increasingly obvious attempts to manufacture a goal for him late in the second half.
Ethan could not have cared less.
The result mattered.
Redondo's goal mattered.
But neither was what pleased him most.
What mattered was what the players had shown one another.
Unity.
That was exactly why Bosingwa had been sold during the winter window.
It was also why Ethan and Mourinho had refused to sign a replacement simply for the sake of making another transfer.
Neither man wanted anything introduced into the dressing room that might damage the atmosphere.
Teams often began to collapse long before the results showed it.
The first cracks usually appeared inside.
Ethan's responsibility as owner was to prevent those cracks wherever possible.
Give Mourinho the environment he needed.
Give the players security.
Then let them concentrate entirely on football.
That was his job.
...
Elsewhere in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, Liverpool lost 1-0 away to Celtic.
Ethan vaguely remembered that in his previous life, Mourinho's Porto had eventually met Martin O'Neill's Celtic in the final.
That match had become one of the first major milestones of Mourinho's rise through European football.
This timeline was already moving differently.
Porto had suffered a 1-0 home defeat against Panathinaikos.
Lazio, meanwhile, beat Beşiktaş 1-0 in Rome.
After New Manchester United's 3-0 victory in Spain, their own tie was effectively under control.
Only a spectacular collapse at Old Trafford would allow Málaga back into it.
The other quarter-finals remained far less certain.
Liverpool still had a realistic chance of overturning their deficit at home.
Lazio were well placed to progress.
And the remaining semi-final place would be decided between Porto and Panathinaikos.
Every possible opponent looked dangerous.
That was enough to keep Ethan cautious.
Liverpool were formidable.
So were Lazio.
Porto, even after their first-leg defeat, were hardly an opponent anyone would welcome.
Ethan had enormous faith in New Manchester United.
But confidence was not the same as arrogance.
A League One club reaching the last eight of the UEFA Cup had already exceeded almost everyone's expectations.
Assuming they could now brush aside established European opposition would not be confidence.
It would be stupidity.
Naturally, Ethan never expressed those doubts in front of Mourinho, the players, or the media.
Publicly, he remained completely confident.
...
After returning from Europe, New Manchester United won their next league match and continued applying pressure to Portsmouth.
Portsmouth, however, showed no signs of collapsing.
They were enjoying an exceptional season themselves.
And unlike the Red Rebels, they had only the league to worry about.
New Manchester United were still competing on three fronts.
That remained the central argument of the critics.
They believed the workload would eventually break the Red Rebels.
With promotion to the Premier League now within reach, conventional wisdom said Mourinho should abandon the UEFA Cup and FA Cup and concentrate exclusively on League One.
Otherwise, they risked finishing the season with nothing.
Ethan rejected that idea completely when reporters confronted him.
"I believe this squad can handle the pressure.
"More importantly, the players believe it.
"They want trophies.
"If I walked into the dressing room now and told them we were deliberately giving up a competition, that would hurt their mentality far more than another match would."
One journalist challenged him.
"Some people say New Manchester United trying to win the UEFA Cup is fantasy."
Ethan smiled.
"People have been saying things like that since the day this club was founded.
"They said we would never reach professional football.
"They said we would never survive once we got there.
"They said we could not compete in League One.
"Where are we now?"
He began counting on his fingers.
"We're second in League One.
"We're in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.
"We've already won trophies on the way here.
"And we're in the FA Cup semi-finals.
"So people can call our ambition ridiculous if they want."
His smile widened.
"Give us two months.
"Then we'll see who has to eat their words."
Another reporter asked, "Why are you so confident?"
Ethan shrugged.
"Because we're the Red Rebels.
"Since the day this club was born, we've made a habit of doing things people said we couldn't do.
"Don't believe me?
"Keep watching."
He turned and walked away.
Ninety minutes later, New Manchester United beat Málaga 1-0 at Old Trafford.
Juninho scored the only goal with another superb direct free kick.
Redondo did not even make the squad.
The sports science department had refused to clear him after the physical demands of the first leg, and Mourinho accepted the decision without argument.
It did not matter.
New Manchester United completed a 4-0 aggregate victory.
The League One outsiders were through to the UEFA Cup semi-finals.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)