From the stands, Ethan was just as excited to see Ishmael score.
A goal in such a one-sided victory might not have meant much in itself, but this one was special.
It was Ishmael's first goal in professional football.
It had also come in his first senior league appearance.
As early as the previous year, the club had already agreed preliminary professional contracts with both Ishmael and Messi, which would officially take effect once they turned sixteen.
It was a precaution designed to prevent other clubs from poaching them.
They represented New Manchester United's future.
John Obi Mikel was in a similar situation.
The difference was that Mikel was not yet eligible for a work permit.
In another year, however, that problem could be resolved.
He had already performed extremely well for the reserves.
Despite his age, he was technically accomplished and physically powerful. In addition to his defensive ability, he was also dangerous when making late runs forward from midfield.
Sulley Muntari's situation was different.
The previous year, Ethan had arranged a three-year loan to Droylsden because there simply would not be enough opportunities for him at Newton Heath.
With De Rossi, Essien, and Yaya Touré already competing for places in defensive midfield, bringing Muntari back would only leave him buried even further down the pecking order.
Muntari had certainly improved over the previous few years, but he still was not ready to challenge De Rossi, Essien, or Yaya Touré for a regular place.
Even John Obi Mikel, despite being younger, had performed considerably better than him for the reserves.
The agreement with Droylsden contained a clause stating that if New Manchester United wanted to recall Muntari in the future, Droylsden would have to release him.
If Muntari developed enough to earn a place, the club would use him.
If not, Ethan would have no objection to him remaining at Droylsden or moving elsewhere.
That was simply the reality of academy football.
A youth system was not supposed to keep every player it developed.
If every player from every age group remained at the club, the first team would soon become overcrowded.
A leading club kept the very best and most talented players for itself.
Those who were capable of playing professionally but not quite good enough for the first team were helped to find opportunities elsewhere.
And because New Manchester United placed considerable emphasis on education within its academy, youngsters who did not make it as professional footballers still had the option of continuing their studies.
Ethan believed defensive midfield was probably the deepest area in the entire club.
But recently, another issue had begun to concern him.
There were perhaps too many African players in the squad.
If several of them became regular internationals and were called away for the African Cup of Nations at the same time, New Manchester United could suddenly lose a large portion of its starting eleven.
It was something Ethan had not properly considered before.
Now he had no choice but to take it seriously.
African players offered enormous quality.
The African Cup of Nations, however, could create a serious scheduling problem.
Edin Džeko had been loaned to Belgian club Genk.
Genk guaranteed him playing opportunities and a proper development programme while also agreeing to cover his full salary during the three-year loan.
There was little alternative.
Džeko was not eligible for a work permit.
New Manchester United's special talent exemption for the following season had already been reserved for a right-back.
And given the strength of the club's current attack, Džeko would struggle to get meaningful first-team minutes even if he stayed in Manchester.
It was better for him to spend time in Belgium and gain experience in professional football.
Ethan believed that if Džeko truly possessed the talent he expected, he would eventually prove it.
Nor would the club simply send him away and forget about him.
Every month, coaches and staff from the Lab would monitor the players out on loan, conducting physical assessments and providing football-related support.
Before the start of every season, those players would return to Newton Heath for pre-season training, with all expenses covered by the club.
New Manchester United also assigned staff to help them settle during their loan spells, dealing with accommodation and other off-field problems whenever possible so that they could concentrate entirely on football.
In practice, apart from representing another club on matchdays, the players out on loan received almost the same level of support as members of New Manchester United's first-team squad.
If one of them suffered an injury, Newton Heath would be informed immediately.
The club's medical experts would then assess the situation and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Ethan understood perfectly well how ruthless professional football could be.
By industry standards, this level of care was already exceptional.
Many clubs barely paid attention to players once they had been loaned out.
Players such as Muntari and Džeko had been brought away from difficult circumstances and given stable environments in which to develop their football.
At the very least, that offered them opportunities they might never otherwise have received.
The club's commitment to its loan players was expensive.
Ethan did not care.
What mattered was that even if those players never made a single first-team appearance for New Manchester United, they would still know the club had looked after them properly.
The same principle applied to every youngster in the academy.
That reputation was one of the reasons the academy had become increasingly attractive.
More and more parents were actively trying to send their children to Newton Heath.
"It looks like the academy is finally starting to produce results," Ethan said with satisfaction.
Walsh, sitting beside him, nodded repeatedly.
Ishmael and Messi had now both appeared for the first team.
The academy was indeed beginning to bear fruit.
...
After scoring, Ishmael looked even more energized.
He did not possess Villa's agility, but his pace and technique were certainly not inferior.
And his sheer physical strength created constant problems for anyone trying to mark him.
Messi was equally impressive on the right wing.
Despite making his senior debut, he showed no sign of nerves.
He drifted constantly around the right flank, tormenting Millwall's left-back.
Several times, the defender tried to grab him as he accelerated away, only to discover that Messi was almost impossible to hold.
The youngster slipped free again and again, breaking beyond him and creating dangerous situations.
"Oh, Messi... brilliant from Messi!"
Andy Gray could barely contain his excitement.
"Two defenders around him on the right, almost no space at all, and somehow he's escaped between them.
"The ball looks glued to his feet!"
Messi reached the edge of the penalty area.
The same Millwall centre-back he had troubled earlier stepped across to confront him.
Messi stopped.
Paused.
Then shaped to go past him.
This time, the defender refused to commit and held his position.
Messi immediately dragged the ball backwards and feinted again.
The second movement finally fooled him.
"Beautiful!"
Gray raised his voice.
"Two feints in succession from Messi.
"The first one doesn't work, so he immediately gives the defender another.
"This time he's completely sold him!"
The movement created a pocket of space.
Messi slipped the ball inside.
Kaká arrived late from midfield.
One touch was unnecessary.
He simply drove a powerful shot towards goal.
Goal!
9-0!
"What an assist from Messi!"
Gray shouted.
"Absolutely outstanding.
"Two consecutive feints to create the opening, and then the pass into Kaká's path was perfect."
Then Gray suddenly burst out laughing.
"Kaká has gone straight over to Messi to celebrate.
"One of them looks like he's trying to dance a tango, the other a samba.
"They're both trying to follow the other one, and neither of them has any idea what he's doing!"
Martin Tyler laughed with him.
"It does tell you something about the personalities in this squad.
"One of the most memorable things about New Manchester United is how close the players seem to be.
"Even most of those who have left the club still speak very positively about their time here.
"The obvious exception is Kitson, who fell out with the club after moving to Brighton.
"And I suspect even he regrets how things turned out now."
"He probably does," Gray replied.
"Brighton are sitting in mid-table in the Second Division this season and have virtually no chance of promotion.
"Had he stayed on good terms with New Manchester United, he could have been part of a Premier League squad next season.
"And even if he had still moved on, look at players such as Olić and Abidal.
"They've both established themselves at Bayern this season and are performing very well."
Tyler nodded.
"When you look at the players who've left, Kitson probably has the weakest situation.
"He's still in the Second Division with Brighton.
"Most of the others are already playing in top-flight leagues.
"Even Djordjić, after Chelsea moved him on to Spain, has managed to establish himself in La Liga."
Tyler smiled.
"In a way, that supports all the praise the club's academy and development system have been receiving lately.
"New Manchester United clearly know how to improve young players."
While the commentators talked, the match continued.
After creating two goals in quick succession, Messi became even more confident.
Millwall responded by tightening their marking.
Several times, he was fouled almost immediately after receiving the ball.
On one occasion, Essien and Curtis nearly charged across to confront the player responsible.
Ishmael was causing just as many problems.
Leading the line, he combined pace, strength, and surprisingly polished technique.
Millwall's defence had no comfortable way to deal with him.
And with Messi causing so much damage on the right, Millwall gradually shifted more attention towards that side.
That reduced the pressure on Ribéry.
Ignoring Ribéry was a mistake.
In the 84th minute, the Frenchman received a long pass from De Rossi.
He drove towards the byline.
Before the full-back could close him down, Ribéry fired a low cross into the penalty area.
Ishmael used his strength to hold off the centre-back.
Then, as the goalkeeper rushed towards him, he stretched out a foot and poked the ball past him.
Goal!
10-0!
Old Trafford exploded again.
"Come on then, you bastards!"
"Had enough yet?"
"Give us another!"
The supporters were enjoying an extraordinary goalfest.
Millwall's players had been completely overwhelmed.
Whatever fight they had possessed earlier was gone.
Several looked almost dazed.
None of them seemed able to believe they had conceded ten goals.
This was what a gulf in quality looked like.
Even a side filled with New Manchester United's squad players had been enough to completely dismantle them.
Of course, football was never that simple.
On another day, even with every first-choice player available, New Manchester United might have struggled to win.
But none of that mattered tonight.
At that moment, the supporters inside Old Trafford were surely among the happiest fans anywhere in England.
Their team had scored ten goals against an opponent they despised.
It was revenge delivered in the most emphatic way possible.
Ten goals.
One after another.
Each one cutting deeper than the last.
And the supporters were not the only ones caught up in the occasion.
Roman, sitting in the stands, was equally fascinated.
Throughout the match, he had sensed something distinctive about New Manchester United.
There was confidence.
Aggression.
Dominance.
Yet there was also something compelling about the way the team carried itself.
They imposed themselves so completely that even an outsider could not help but be drawn in.
Roman found himself identifying with that mentality.
In New Manchester United, he saw something that reminded him of himself.
And before long, he realised he had become deeply interested in the club.
It was a very unusual team.
You might dislike them.
But it was surprisingly difficult to truly hate them.
Even after they had completely overwhelmed you.
And on the pitch, despite leading 10-0, New Manchester United continued attacking.
That had always been one of their principles.
Until the final whistle sounded, even if only one minute remained, they would continue giving everything they had.
(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.)