From Arsenal to the Ball God

At the same time, at Stanford Bridge Stadium, the fierce duel between Chelsea and Manchester United came to an end here.

The score, three to three, both sides fought hard for 90 minutes to reach a draw!

For Chelsea, who have long exited the title race and are now aiming for the top four, this result is acceptable as they snatched a point from the Red Devils Manchester United.

But for Manchester United, who were playing away, this was somewhat unacceptable.

In February, Arsenal have been in hot form, cutting down two ’wanderers’, achieving a combined 10 to 0 in two matches.

In this situation, if Manchester United doesn’t take 3 points in a match, it will impact the final title race!

After the match, Ferguson refused to attend the post-match press conference, his face flushed as he quickly walked towards the exit, eager to leave.

However, many reporters rushed out of the conference room, chattering as they followed him.

”Sir Alex Ferguson, after 24 rounds of the league, Manchester United only has 56 points, 6 points behind league leaders Arsenal, does this mean the team is out of the title race?”

”Sir, the local team Manchester City will face Fulham Team tonight, if they win, their points will reach 58, surpassing Manchester United. What’s your take on this?”

”Please slow down, Manchester United this season has 24 matches with 17 wins, 5 draws, and 2 losses, while Arsenal has 19 wins and 5 draws. Is stability a significant difference between your team and Wenger’s team?”

”.....”

Ferguson kept his head down, moving forward, his mind buzzing, unable to take in a single word.

A sudden sense of vertigo swept over him, and a sharp pain began behind his ear, followed by tinnitus that pierced through his entire brain, forcing him to stop walking.

Watching the journalists surrounding him, waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

He staggered back two steps to steady himself, enduring the discomfort as he raised a finger and shouted, ”We will not withdraw from the title race! We are still strong contenders for the championship!

”Our team is not weaker than Wenger’s; football involves both winning and losing, is that so hard to understand?

”In that loss to Arsenal, I already said, we lost to Ma’el!

”The team did miss a good opportunity! But everything is not over yet!

”Why do you ghosts keep haunting me? Do you think I’m old now?!”

His teeth ground together noisily, he was in his early seventies now, truly weakening with age.

If he were still twenty years younger, he would certainly make these sharp-tongued English journalists taste the Scottish flying kick, and let them feel what the most formidable coach in English football at the end of the last century was like.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible now. An old man can no longer hold onto certain things..... He can only hope that his beloved Manchester United doesn’t wither away as he ages.

He wishes to battle with Wenger for a few more years, that coach eight years his junior, whose career started sweet and then turned bitter, seems to be experiencing a second spring.

The opponent can regain his former vigor, but how should he find his own?

...

That night at nine-thirty, Etihad Stadium, was brightly lit.

”Beep! Beep! Beep—!”

Three long whistles sounded, marking the end of the match.

”Oh.....!” The cheers erupted throughout Etihad Stadium, Manchester City players ran excitedly to celebrate.

Three to zero!

They defeated the Cottagers Fulham, moved ahead of Manchester United, reaching second place on the standings, only 4 points away from the unbeaten Arsenal this season!

”Well done, lads!” Mancini clapped his hands, hugged each player on the pitch, then circled the field to thank the fans before heading to the press conference room.

Looking at it at the end of the season, each victory seems like it can be reduced to a simple score in a column of statistics.

But only those who have gone through this season understand how much they invested in each victory, and the immense sense of achievement and joy they gained from winning.

This is not something a single column of statistics can explain clearly, only they themselves can understand the specific feelings!

Therefore, as these victories accumulate, transforming into a championship trophy, all the emotional highs of the season will also multiply and burst out!

In the press conference room, Mancini elegantly sat at his seat, addressing the reporters’ questions with ease.

”Yes, our win rate is a bit higher than Manchester United’s, but I think it’s too early to talk about these things now. Arsenal has won one more match than us, and we’ve won one more than Manchester United, the gap is very small.

”If we’re to talk about gaps, I believe both we and Manchester United have a clear gap with Arsenal.

”That is, we both lost 2 matches, while Arsenal has not lost, which is why they remain top while everyone’s form has been red-hot this season.”

”.....”

”Reasons? Come on, haha..... there’s no need for me to state why Arsenal isn’t losing.

”Their strikers always have endless bullets, Ma’el and Van Persie have created 72 goals, seemingly only surpassed by the forwards of Real Madrid and Barça.

”But let me say one thing, they should have actually lost two matches, but both ended in draws.

”Yes... specifically against Swansea and Fulham, at that time their form wasn’t good, yet they still managed to hold on for a draw, that’s the reason for their lead.

”Do not underestimate mid-lower tier teams, both we and Manchester United have stumbled against these teams.”

”.....”

”Indeed, relatively speaking we are more balanced, and the next step is naturally to challenge for the top spot, I believe in our team.