Chapter 52: Give It Up—You're Surrounded by Premier League Teams!
"I've always believed we have the strength to go for the title—whether in the Championship or the League Cup, I have no doubt."
In the post-match press conference, Yang Cheng boldly made this declaration after some "prodding" from the media. The moment the words left his mouth, it sent shockwaves across the entire English football world.
The next day, headlines dominated national sports pages. Most painted Yang Cheng as arrogant and delusional. Some even ran it front and center.
The reactions were overwhelmingly negative.
Media and fans alike accused Yang Cheng of being blinded by his own success, of failing to understand his place.
"Bayswater Chinese, as a newly promoted team, have done well in the Championship," wrote The Sun. "Winning the league might be possible. But claiming the League Cup? That's just fantasy."
The Sun laid out the historical odds:
"The last time a second-tier team won the League Cup was Wednesday's triumph in the 1990–91 season. As a then-Division Two side, they beat Derby, Coventry, and Chelsea to reach the final—then edged Manchester United 1–0 to lift the cup."
"That was 13 years ago."
"Since the Premier League's inception, only one second-tier team has reached a League Cup final: Tranmere Rovers in 1999–2000. And they lost to Leicester."
Despite Premier League clubs treating the League Cup as an afterthought, lower-league teams reaching the final was still rare—let alone winning it.
"This is nothing but delusional dreaming."
"Take a look at the quarterfinals: aside from Bayswater Chinese, it's all Premier League teams."
The Sun even threw down a challenge:
"Bayswater Chinese players, you are surrounded. Give it up—outside, it's all Premier League teams!"
…
Other media followed suit, ridiculing Yang Cheng.
Even The Mirror called it a clever motivational tactic—but one doomed to fail.
"It's a smart way to fire up his players," they admitted. "But we must remind him: he picked the wrong battlefield."
"This is a task that's simply impossible."
Some journalists compared him to Mourinho—claiming Yang Cheng was trying to ride the Portuguese coach's rising fame by copying his style.
"But Yang Cheng's irresponsible remarks come off more like a circus act."
"Mourinho has one of Europe's most luxurious squads. Bayswater Chinese? They aren't even top of the Championship table. What right do they have to challenge Premier League clubs?"
One outlet suggested Yang Cheng might've misunderstood the League Cup format.
"The semifinals are two-legged ties, not single matches. That makes upsets even less likely."
Another summed it up harshly:
"Perhaps the 24-year-old has been blinded by his early success. At his age, it's easy to think you're invincible. But soon enough, the Premier League clubs will bring him crashing back to reality."
…
That morning, the players arrived at Bayswater Park as usual.
On the bulletin board outside the locker room, there was a note.
Head Coach Yang Cheng had left a message.
He'd be away in the morning to sign some contracts and attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the new training complex at Brent Reservoir. Morning training would be led by Fawcett and Bartlett, focusing on post-match recovery.
The players weren't surprised.
Fawcett and Bartlett were familiar faces—they'd run sessions before. Everyone knew what to expect.
Normally, they'd be chatting about the new facility.
But today, the locker room was uncharacteristically quiet. The air was heavy.
"Did you guys read the papers this morning?" asked José Fonte, breaking the silence.
The Portuguese center-back had become a defensive rock this season—and a vocal presence in the squad.
Yang Cheng had even made him vice-captain, nicknaming him "The Commissar."
"I saw some of it on the Tube. Some of those media pieces are outrageous."
"They're trashing the boss."
"Right? Some of it made my blood boil. Why can't we go for the title?"
"Exactly! Just because they're Premier League teams, doesn't mean they're unbeatable. Didn't Southampton just lose 4–0 to us?"
"Sure, the Premier League giants are tough. But the mid- and lower-tier teams? They're not that special. We're just as good—Southampton proved it."
"That's right. I support what the boss said. We're not inferior to the Premier League. Why can't we dream of winning?"
With Fonte setting the tone, the room buzzed with energy.
Most players were in their early twenties.
Young, ambitious, fearless.
They hated being looked down on. It was infuriating.
"I still remember what the boss said before we played Southampton," Fonte added once things quieted down.
"Premier League clubs aren't that scary. In fact, in the League Cup, their cutthroat schedules work against them. That's our advantage."
"We should underestimate them in strategy, but take them seriously in tactics and execution."
Then he turned to Modrić.
Everyone followed his gaze.
Even now, many were puzzled: why wasn't José Fonte the captain?
Why was it Luka Modrić—the quiet one?
Wasn't this the moment for the captain to speak?
Modrić was tying his boots. He noticed the silence and looked up.
Everyone was staring at him.
"Luka, say something," Ribéry joked with a grin.
The two had arrived at the club around the same time and had grown close, both on and off the pitch.
Modrić, who had been silently listening all along, glanced at the captain's armband he had yet to put on.
He paused. Then spoke quietly.
"My homeland has been through war. My father fought in it."
"And from that, I learned something: when hardship comes, you don't despair. Because that's the most useless thing you can do."
"Every hardship only makes us stronger. Tougher."
"If we overcome it, we become unbreakable."
His words were calm. Not fiery. Not dramatic.
But in his expression, his eyes, and his steady tone, there was a quiet strength.
A strength that touched everyone.
…
Weekend, Championship Round 19.
Bayswater Chinese drew 1–1 away at West Ham.
The Hammers scored in the first half, but Bayswater equalized in the 68th minute.
They had even scored a second from a free kick in the 67th—but it was disallowed, with the ref citing a foul by Skrtel.
Seven minutes later, Skrtel and West Ham's Hayden Mullins clashed during a counterattack. A tussle broke out.
Double red cards.
In the end, both sides finished with ten men and shared the points.
…
Round 20. Home to Burnley.
After back-to-back 1–1 draws, Bayswater Chinese exploded.
Just 13 minutes in, Huddlestone fired in a long-range rocket.
Three minutes later, he played a long ball over the top. Lennon broke the offside trap and slotted it home.
In the 24th minute, Lambert assisted Ribéry for the third.
3–0 in under 30 minutes. Game over.
The score stayed that way until the end.
And for the first time, Loftus Road attendance topped 13,000.
Unthinkable before.
Since sharing the stadium with QPR this season, both teams had played on alternating weekends.
Neutral fans now had two Championship games a week at the same venue.
And Bayswater's rise had drawn increasing crowds.
Especially after reaching the League Cup quarterfinals—attendance even hit 18,000.
QPR were holding steady at 15,000.
Bayswater? 13,000 and rising.
Tickets for the League Cup quarterfinal—November 30th, at home against Portsmouth—had already sold out.
Pompey were from the same region as Southampton and were another Premier League side.
Big match. Single elimination. National competition.
London fans couldn't get enough.
Cup success had boosted attendance league-wide.
Now, Bayswater Chinese were catching up to QPR—and fast.
Meanwhile, QPR got smashed 6–1 by Leeds, falling to ninth in the table.
On one side: Bayswater Chinese, rising fast.
On the other: QPR, stumbling hard.
Neutral fans were starting to waver. Some were even switching allegiances.
…
November 27th, Round 21. Bayswater Chinese lost 0–1 away to Ipswich.
The goal came in the 22nd minute, a defensive lapse in a high-stakes clash.
Ipswich used that win—and Wigan's draw with Reading—to climb to top of the table.
Bayswater, now with 11 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses, had 37 points, sitting fourth.
Ipswich had 42, Wigan 41, Sunderland 40.
Right behind Bayswater were Reading (35) and West Ham (34).
Yang Cheng was disappointed—but not surprised.
He had rested multiple starters for this game.
Why?
Because three days later, at home, they would face Portsmouth in the League Cup quarterfinal.
Yang Cheng had one goal:
Break through.
Let it all out.
Turn the pressure into power.
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