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Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Is He a Magician? Mourinho: I’ve Been Played!

Chapter 81: Is He a Magician? Mourinho: I've Been Played!

"Good afternoon, football fans!"

"This is Sky Sports."

"We're bringing you live coverage of the Premier League's 2005/06 season opener."

"Today, last season's Championship dark horse, the newly promoted Bayswater Chinese FC, host the reigning Premier League champions, Chelsea."

"We can now see both teams stepping onto the pitch, led by referee Mark Clattenburg."

"Let's take a look at the starting lineups for both sides."

"Both teams are lined up in a 4-3-3 formation today."

"Bayswater Chinese FC's starting eleven is..."

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Defenders: Leighton Baines, José Fonte, Martin Škrtel, Pascal Chimbonda

Midfield: Yaya Touré (deep-lying), Luka Modrić and Lassana Diarra (central)

Forwards: Franck Ribéry, Rickie Lambert, Aaron Lennon

"Bayswater's new summer signings all feature in the starting lineup."

"That makes this match even more intriguing, and fans are eager to see how this team performs in their Premier League debut."

"Chelsea's starting eleven brings no surprises."

Goalkeeper: Petr Čech

Defenders: Asier del Horno, William Gallas, John Terry, Paulo Ferreira

Midfield: Claude Makélélé (holding), Frank Lampard and Michael Essien (central)

Forwards: Arjen Robben, Didier Drogba, Damien Duff

"One important note—these two clubs have met twice in the past two seasons: once in the FA Cup, and again in last season's League Cup final."

"Bayswater Chinese FC pulled off shock wins in both matches against the mighty Chelsea."

"Especially that League Cup final, where they lifted the trophy in a huge upset, leaving the Blues humiliated."

"All of this makes today's match an absolute must-watch."

"Reports from multiple outlets suggest that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has promised a huge bonus for this match, demanding nothing less than a winning start to the season."

"And yes, we can confirm Abramovich is in the stands watching live."

"Seated next to him is Bayswater's CEO, former FA chief executive Adam Crozier."

"Also present in the stands are the chairman and CEO of the FA, along with Premier League officials."

"Captains Terry and Modrić are at the coin toss."

"Bayswater opt not to take possession, but instead choose the half with less glare for the second half—a wise move considering the midday sun."

"It's now 12:44 p.m. The match is about to begin!"

With the shrill blast of Clattenburg's whistle, the game kicks off before a packed house, and Bayswater Chinese FC go straight on the attack.

Chelsea barely tap the ball into play before the home side press aggressively, surging straight into the Blues' midfield and defense.

John Terry is forced to clear long under pressure.

Škrtel positions himself perfectly to win the aerial duel, heading the ball down.

Possession changes hands.

Bayswater seize the ball and immediately go forward.

Yaya Touré takes a few touches, drives the ball forward, then lays it off to Modrić.

Modrić sidesteps a defender and switches it to the right flank.

Aaron Lennon tries to use his pace to blast past del Horno.

The newly arrived Spanish fullback is forced to foul, giving the home side a free-kick from the right side of Chelsea's final third.

Bayswater take it quickly. As the ball is rolled out, Yaya Touré bursts up from deep and strikes from outside the top right edge of the box.

The ball rockets toward the right side of goal.

The move—a sudden deep run followed by a long-range shot—was nearly identical to the one that sealed the League Cup final last season.

But this time, Čech makes a flying save to his right.

Lambert and Ribéry both charge in, looking for a rebound.

Gallas, however, gets there first and clears it.

And that was just the first minute.

"The game has started at a blistering pace."

"Bayswater Chinese FC are on the front foot, pressing hard right from kickoff."

This fast-paced, back-and-forth battle had the crowd on its feet and roaring.

The tempo was fierce, the energy intense—it was pure, unfiltered testosterone.

But what Yang Cheng saw from the touchline was a little different from what the fans experienced.

He was watching the midfield battle with laser focus.

Chelsea was never a side known for their creativity in midfield.

They attacked through the flanks—very traditional English football.

And that worked out just fine—because Bayswater's flanks were strong too: speed, skill, and one-on-one ability.

The midfield could hold the ball, organize, and distribute.

That's why Yang Cheng chose to start fast.

Once the pace picked up, they could use high pressing to cut off Chelsea's passing lanes before the midfield could settle.

In the 3rd minute, Lassana Diarra made a key interception in midfield and immediately passed to Modrić, who played it to Ribéry.

Two touches later, Ribéry received the ball in the left channel, cut inside on his right to avoid Ferreira, and unleashed a sudden curling shot toward the far post.

The shot curled just wide of the right upright.

A wave of gasps swept through the crowd—followed by a thunder of applause.

The way Ribéry trapped, cut, and shot—his technique and talent were on full display.

But high pressing came with risks.

In the 6th minute, Chelsea struck back with a counterattack following a midfield interception.

Drogba battled for an aerial ball on the right, knocking it wide to Damien Duff.

Duff played it into the right channel.

Ferreira overlapped at full speed and whipped a low cross into the box.

Robben darted in from the left like a bolt of lightning.

Chimbonda, however, stayed tight on him.

The Dutch winger couldn't reach Ferreira's ball under pressure and watched it roll out for a goal kick.

As he jogged back, Robben complained to Clattenburg, claiming Chimbonda had tugged him during the run.

Clattenburg waved him off with a smile.

Just two minutes later, Bayswater launched another quick attack.

After a series of passes, Lambert received the ball at the top of the box with his back to goal, used his body to shield off Terry, and laid it off.

Yaya Touré arrived again—charging toward the top of the box and smashed a fierce shot at goal.

Čech again made a diving save.

This time, the Czech keeper clutched the ball cleanly.

"That kid is everywhere!"

Mourinho scowled. He was clearly unhappy with how the match had started.

Eight minutes in, and Chelsea hadn't managed a single shot.

Meanwhile, Yaya Touré had already had two long-range attempts.

Both from deep runs.

"What the hell's going on? Isn't that kid supposed to be a holding midfielder?" Faria asked, puzzled.

Touré clearly looked like Huddlestone's replacement—same big, imposing frame.

But on the pitch, their styles couldn't be more different.

Yang Cheng had given Yaya Touré far more license to push forward.

Wasn't that risky?

A deep-lying midfielder is supposed to protect the defense—if he's constantly charging forward, what happens when they lose the ball and get hit on the counter?

"It's simple," Mourinho muttered. "Touré presses immediately after losing the ball. And when he goes forward, at least one of Diarra or Modrić stays back."

He'd already spotted the pattern.

"He never gave Huddlestone that kind of freedom," Faria added, baffled.

Mourinho's frown deepened.

Mourinho's only reasonable conclusion was that, in Yang Cheng's eyes, Yaya Touré was stronger and more aggressive than Huddlestone.

He hadn't figured it out yet.

But while he was observing and analyzing, Bayswater Chinese FC created two more dangerous chances in just five minutes.

First, Ribéry broke past Ferreira on the left and unleashed a long shot—blocked by Gallas.

The French center-back had edged out Carvalho for a starting spot thanks to his solid form.

Then, Bayswater stole the ball again in the final third. Lambert laid it off to the right for Aaron Lennon, who used his pace to shake off del Horno and whipped in a cross.

But Lambert didn't make it to the near post, and Ribéry arrived just a second too late at the far side.

The French winger had great acceleration, but over long distances, he wasn't as quick.

Mourinho stepped to the touchline, shouted for Robben, and signaled a tactical adjustment.

Suddenly, Robben switched to the right wing. Receiving the ball, he played it centrally for Drogba.

The Ivorian used his body to shield off Škrtel, turned, and fired—

Over the bar.

Just two minutes later, Robben burst down the right again and let fly with a curling left-footed shot from 28 meters.

Neuer caught it cleanly.

Then, in the 19th minute, Robben again broke down the right, beat Leighton Baines, and fired a low shot from inside the box.

But Neuer had the angle covered, and the shot hit the side netting.

In the 21st minute, Robben cut inside with a sharp stop-and-turn, beat Baines again, and curled a shot toward the far post from just outside the box.

It sailed just over.

On the sideline, Yang Cheng exhaled heavily.

Good thing Robben hasn't mastered cutting inside from the right yet...

Otherwise, that could've been deadly.

Just two minutes later, del Horno overlapped into the final third and swung in a cross for Drogba.

But the Ivorian was smothered by Škrtel and José Fonte and couldn't get a clean header off.

Both sides were trading punches in an electrifying, high-speed shootout.

The tempo was relentless—blistering end-to-end action that left fans both in the stands and watching on TV breathless and thrilled.

Even time itself seemed to be flying by.

"Both teams are playing very positively."

"The first 15 minutes belonged to Bayswater Chinese FC."

"But from minute 15 to 24, Chelsea took control."

"Especially Robben."

"The Dutchman seems determined to make a statement in this match."

"Maybe he's been fired up by Ribéry's strong showing on the opposite wing."

"Star players often push each other like this on the pitch."

Yang Cheng remained on the sideline, silently observing.

Occasionally he would shout instructions and make adjustments.

For example, the moment he saw Robben switch to the right, he immediately told Modrić to drop deeper on the left side.

But even with Modrić and Baines doubling up, they couldn't fully stop Robben.

That was the key difference between Robben and Duff—Robben had superb footwork and an uncanny sense of rhythm.

His sudden stops and sharp changes of direction made him nearly impossible to predict.

His quick, controlled dribbling was rock solid.

Mourinho moved him to the right flank because he knew Modrić's defense wasn't as good as Lassana Diarra's.

That was the biggest difference between Robben and Duff:

—Robben could take on an entire flank by himself, no matter which side he played.

—Duff needed del Horno's support on the left to be effective.

Yang Cheng knew del Horno very well.

The Spanish left-back had turned down Real Madrid to join Chelsea this summer, and he'd looked impressive since arriving in the Premier League—especially in the Community Shield against Arsenal.

But that was mostly in attack.

Defensively, del Horno was unreliable. He wasn't suited to the Premier League's intense, fast-paced style.

Which is why, in Yang Cheng's past life, he only lasted one season at Chelsea before returning to Spain.

Ferreira was more balanced—solid in attack and defense, but not exceptional at either. Del Horno was attack-heavy, defense-light.

The reason Yang Cheng hadn't yet shifted Lassana Diarra over to Robben's side was because he was waiting—for one perfect opportunity to strike del Horno's side.

It was a risky move.

He kept wondering how much longer Baines and Modrić could hold out on Robben's flank.

Then came the 23rd minute.

After watching Robben's attacks fizzle out and seeing del Horno push higher up the pitch, Yang Cheng knew...

The moment had arrived.

"Don't let me down, Lassana Diarra," Yang Cheng murmured.

Lassana Diarra never saw himself as someone who liked trouble.

But trouble always seemed to find him.

He liked speaking the truth—especially when it came to keeping promises. It was how his parents had raised him.

But when he left home and entered the world of professional football, he discovered that not everyone shared those values.

Quite the opposite.

People lied constantly.

They'd say, "We really need you on this team."

Then match day would come—and you weren't even on the bench.

You'd sit in the stands, watching your teammates play.

They'd tell you, "Just wait a bit longer, we'll give you more playing time soon."

You believed them... and waited... and waited...

Until one day, Diarra heard a saying from a teammate:

"A coach's mouth is full of lies."

All their promises were just hollow words—meant to keep you around as a backup.

When he came to London and joined Bayswater Chinese FC, Diarra had his doubts.

Yang Cheng had made him promises, but Diarra didn't trust easily.

So after every match last season, he would go to Yang Cheng and ask for his bonus money.

One match at a time. One payment at a time.

That's how Diarra, little by little, began to trust Yang Cheng.

And trust the club.

Even so, he still spoke his mind.

He told Yang Cheng, "I came to the Premier League so that everyone would know who I am."

"If one day, a bigger club wants me, I'll make my own choice."

Yang Cheng's reaction was unlike any manager he'd ever met.

He didn't demand loyalty. He didn't preach commitment.

Instead, he respected Diarra's professionalism—and encouraged it.

"I think that's great. That just means you need to perform better—maybe even your best."

On the eve of the Chelsea match, after the team's tactical meeting, Yang Cheng pulled Diarra aside.

They talked for a while—but one thing stood out in Diarra's memory.

"You've always wanted the whole world to know who you are, right?"

"Well, this match against Chelsea—it's being broadcast globally. This is your moment."

"And don't forget—last season's wager still stands!"

After his contract renewal and salary raise, Lassana Diarra didn't really care about that extra £100 anymore.

But still, he gritted his teeth inwardly.

He would give everything he had!

To make the whole world remember his name!

And for that £100 too!

The match had reached the 24th minute.

Frank Lampard had the ball in midfield, and as he faced Lassana Diarra, the French midfielder's eyes burned with determination.

He wants to dribble past me!

Diarra could read Lampard's intentions just from his eyes.

The England midfielder dipped his left shoulder, feinting to the outside, but then used the outside of his right foot to push the ball inward.

Classic misdirection.

But Diarra didn't bite. He was short, agile, and confident that even if he was a beat late, he could stick close.

As Lampard shifted the ball to his right, Diarra lunged forward decisively.

With his quick body movement, he twisted his frame and stepped in just before Lampard could spin—his right shoulder pressed firmly into Lampard's chest, stopping him from turning.

Without a clean turn, Lampard lost control of the ball.

Diarra knew he had the tackle.

And sure enough, after that shoulder-to-chest contact, neither side won the physical exchange—but Lampard couldn't pivot.

Diarra took a step forward and cleanly stole the ball.

The entire stadium erupted in cheers.

"A clean and crisp tackle!"

"From Lassana Diarra!"

Without hesitation, Diarra continued carrying the ball forward.

Lampard turned quickly and gave chase.

They ran down the right side of the center circle—Diarra ahead, Lampard right behind.

Makélélé, positioned just behind the halfway line, started shifting over the moment Diarra took the ball, angling toward the right to cut off his path.

Del Horno also moved inward from the right sideline.

It was always risky when the ball was lost in the final third—Chelsea's players responded cautiously.

Diarra kept his eyes up, scanning the field as he advanced, which allowed Lampard to close in from behind.

Behind Diarra, Chimbonda was overlapping. Duff was trailing him.

Ahead was Makélélé, and further ahead to the right was Del Horno.

There seemed to be no passing options.

Touré? He was in space and unmarked.

But Essien was closing in fast.

Diarra ran through the options in his mind in a flash.

He knew he couldn't carry it any further.

If he got surrounded, he was finished.

And losing the ball now? That'd cost him a bloody £200.

With that thought, just as Lampard caught up, Diarra suddenly stopped, dragging the ball sideways with his left foot.

That abrupt shift caught Chelsea's players off guard.

After taking just one step sideways, Diarra fired a sharp through ball—

Right between Makélélé and Del Horno—straight into the right channel for Aaron Lennon.

This season, Lennon had started drifting inside more instead of hugging the touchline, making smarter runs into the half-space.

He received Diarra's pass just behind Makélélé's right shoulder.

The Chelsea defense instantly panicked.

Makélélé turned and chased, Del Horno rushed to close Lennon down, and Gallas even stepped forward from the back line.

Everyone knew—once Aaron Lennon got going, the only way to stop him was to foul him.

Mourinho had explicitly warned the team before the match—don't give away free kicks within 30 meters of goal.

Lennon took his first touch, drawing Del Horno closer.

Then, just as the Spaniard committed, Lennon played a simple horizontal pass—sliding the ball in behind him.

Del Horno spun in panic and turned just in time to see a blur of red flying down the touchline.

It was Chimbonda.

Sprinting at full speed, he flew past Del Horno, caught up to Lennon's ball, tapped it forward again, and galloped into the wide open space ahead.

Suddenly, he was at Chelsea's box on the right wing—Gallas was already beaten.

Lambert ran laterally across the edge of the box to offer support.

Terry followed him.

But Chimbonda didn't pass.

Instead, he took the ball to the end line, accelerated, and drilled a low cross into the box.

Čech, caught off guard, slid toward the near post to cover.

But then—like a ghost—Franck Ribéry appeared at the top left corner of the six-yard box.

He darted in front of Ferreira and met Chimbonda's cross with the inside of his right foot, side-footing the ball toward the far post.

Čech had just shifted his weight to the center—too late to react.

He didn't move at all.

"It's in!!!!!!"

"25th minute! Bayswater Chinese FC have scored the opener against Chelsea!"

"The goal comes from Franck Ribéry!"

Loftus Road exploded in ecstasy.

After the shot, Ribéry almost lost his balance but planted his hand on the ground, sprang up, and sprinted toward the stands.

His teammates chased after him, one after another.

"My God, that was an absolutely ruthless counterattack by Bayswater Chinese FC."

"The link-up play was so smooth and well-rehearsed, Chelsea's defense had no time to respond."

"It was too fast!"

"Diarra's tackle was brilliant, and Chimbonda's surge on the right—just phenomenal."

"And defensively, Chimbonda's had a strong game too."

"He was signed this summer from relegated Bastia in Ligue 1 for just £500,000."

As the players embraced on the touchline, Yang Cheng on the sidelines was already bouncing with joy, high-fiving and hugging his coaching staff.

In the most critical moment, his players didn't let him down!

Before preseason, Yang Cheng had actually planned to start Piszczek at right back.

But during summer camp, the younger Pole was outshone by the 26-year-old Chimbonda.

More experienced, more stable, and simply better.

Yang Cheng couldn't justify starting anyone else.

Chimbonda's performance spoke for itself.

"I kept chanting in my head, 'Don't over-dribble, Diarra, don't over-dribble,'" Brian Kidd said with a laugh.

Everyone around smiled knowingly.

Yang Cheng nodded with a grin. "That kid's come a long way."

Who could argue?

After a full year of match experience at Bayswater, it would've been strange not to improve.

Yang Cheng broke free from the group hug and ran to the edge of the technical area as the players jogged back onto the pitch.

"Keep attacking!"

"Don't let up!"

"Let's get another one!"

He shouted without reservation.

Over by the visiting bench, Mourinho's face darkened.

He knew full well now—

He'd been played.

Even as the opposing manager, Mourinho had to admit it:

From Diarra's steal to the final shot, Bayswater's counterattack was lightning-fast. Brutal. Clinical.

The passing and off-the-ball movement between Bayswater's players was fluid and full of chemistry.

Chelsea's supposedly impenetrable defense was broken in the split second it switched from attack to defense.

The Portuguese madman gritted his teeth at the thought and strode to the touchline, signaling for his team to push forward.

So it's an all-out brawl, is it?

Bring it on.

If the first 25 minutes had still been a high-tempo game with both sides mindful of defense and cautiously attacking,

then after the opening goal, the match fully opened up.

The pace was cranked to the max.

Ribéry first drove down the left wing, broke past Ferreira, and forced a corner from the byline.

That corner created chaos in the Chelsea box—Lennon had a golden chance with the goal wide open but scuffed the shot.

Chelsea immediately answered.

Both full-backs pushed up to join the attack, repeatedly swinging crosses toward Drogba's towering presence.

Yang Cheng knew full well—whether it was Škrtel, José Fonte, or Koscielny—no one could handle Drogba one-on-one.

So he had demanded that Škrtel and José Fonte double-team him at all costs.

But even so, in the 38th minute, Chelsea finally broke through with their most dangerous chance of the first half.

Del Horno swung in a diagonal cross from the left. Drogba rose for a looping header—

But Neuer tipped it over the bar with one hand.

From the ensuing corner, Robben sent in a sharp delivery. Drogba again connected with a powerful header from close range.

It skimmed past the left post and rolled out.

Those back-to-back chances sent a chill through everyone in Bayswater colors.

The home side struck back quickly.

Lennon latched onto a through ball from Lambert in a lightning-quick counter, stormed into the right side of the box, and shot low from 10 meters—

Čech gathered it cleanly.

That was the final shot of the first half.

But what shocked Yang Cheng the most was Mourinho's meltdown at halftime.

The furious Portuguese coach made two changes at once:

Joe Cole came on for Essien. Shaun Wright-Phillips replaced Duff.

With those substitutions, Chelsea were no longer playing 4-3-3, but a 4-2-3-1.

Drogba remained up top.

Behind him, Robben, Joe Cole, and Wright-Phillips formed a fluid trio.

Lampard and Makélélé sat as the double pivot.

This was completely unexpected.

And as soon as the second half kicked off, Bayswater were under pressure.

Mourinho constantly paced the sideline, barking instructions and guiding the flow.

Only ten minutes into the second half, and already, everyone could feel the tension.

This was war.

No one had expected that Bayswater Chinese FC—playing their first-ever Premier League match in club history—would be so bold, so fierce.

Especially in the league opener, against Chelsea.

In the first half, they'd actually outplayed the champions and created more chances.

That unsettled Mourinho.

He'd lost the League Cup final last season because of counters.

But today, Yang Cheng flipped the script and attacked first—throwing Chelsea into chaos.

It had only been two matches, but Mourinho felt more on edge against Yang Cheng than he had against Ferguson or Wenger.

At times, it felt like Chelsea had no secrets when facing him.

Even their tiniest strengths and weaknesses had been picked apart.

It was a terrible feeling.

In the 56th minute, Wright-Phillips tried to dribble down the right but was forced into a rushed cross under pressure from Leighton Baines.

It went off target.

Joe Cole came in late and blasted the follow-up well over the bar.

Mourinho shook his head in frustration.

Damn it—Drogba had been neutralized tonight.

Škrtel was assigned to mark him tightly, and it was working.

José Fonte was there to help whenever needed.

For Premier League defenders, Drogba was a nightmare—not just because of his insane strength, but his movement and stamina.

He could wear down any defender over 90 minutes.

Take Škrtel, for example.

Built like a tank, yet being dragged all over the pitch by Drogba. The energy drain was immense.

But letting him go was out of the question.

Letting Drogba receive the ball unchallenged was suicide.

That was what made Drogba so terrifying.

If Chelsea hadn't conceded earlier, Mourinho might've had the patience to wait things out.

But now? Time was running out.

And he couldn't be sure Drogba would deliver tonight.

Mourinho turned and walked to the bench.

"He's making a change," Brian Kidd alerted Yang Cheng.

Yang looked toward Chelsea's technical area.

Mourinho was deep in conversation with Eidur Gudjohnsen.

The Icelandic striker was getting ready.

"Double striker? Who's he pulling off?" Kidd asked.

Yang quickly ran through Chelsea's current lineup in his head.

Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips had just come on—not likely.

Makélélé and Lampard were essential—also unlikely.

Full-backs?

Bayswater's wingers were causing major headaches for Chelsea's flanks. Subbing a full-back now would be suicide.

And Drogba? Out of the question.

That left only one name.

"Robben," Yang said with confidence.

"Robben?" Kidd was surprised.

He was Chelsea's most dangerous threat on the wing.

"He's been less effective in the second half, and Chimbonda's marked him tightly all night."

Kidd immediately caught on.

"Burning through all three subs by the 60th minute… Mourinho's getting desperate."

Still, Yang Cheng didn't dare let his guard down.

As Chelsea prepared to sub, he rushed to the sideline and called Modrić over.

"Tell Yaya Touré that on defense, he needs to drop deeper to protect the back line if necessary."

"And tell Diarra to watch Joe Cole."

"When Robben goes off, Chimbonda should tuck in closer to Škrtel."

"Lambert drops back. Ribéry and Lennon push higher."

Yang's intent was clear—no extra defenders, just shifting shape.

No more high pressing in midfield. Focus on shielding the defense.

As Modrić ran back onto the pitch, Chelsea completed their substitution.

Gudjohnsen replaced Robben!

Brian Kidd looked at Yang Cheng with admiration.

No question—when it came to reading the opponent's mind and making in-game decisions, Yang Cheng was ruthless.

Chimbonda, standing at 1.81 meters, was no pushover. Rumor had it that in France, he'd even filled in at center-back.

He's really only 25? Kidd wondered.

While the two managers waged their tactical battle from the sidelines,

the action on the pitch settled into a deadlock—a war of attrition.

Gudjohnsen got a good look at goal with a 20-meter shot just after coming on.

Bayswater responded quickly with a fast break.

During a scuffle 30 meters from goal, Lambert and Makélélé clashed. The Frenchman committed a foul, giving the home side a free kick.

After last season's League Cup final, Chelsea had clearly beefed up their set-piece defense.

This time, it still didn't lead to a threat.

In the 67th minute, Joe Cole made another dribble in the right channel and fired a long shot—it was easily caught by Neuer.

Just two minutes later, Ribéry fired from nearly the same spot, but his shot went over the bar.

The most dangerous attack of the entire second half came in the 71st minute.

Lampard threaded a pass forward. Drogba flicked it on with a header.

Chimbonda, trying to clear, hesitated—rather than hoofing it away, he tried to pass to a teammate. Gudjohnsen intercepted and fired instantly.

Neuer threw himself down and smothered the shot, pulling off yet another brilliant save.

The entire crowd at Loftus Road erupted in cheers and applause for the German goalkeeper.

As he got up, Neuer waved his arms furiously, urging his teammates to push forward.

But Chelsea refused to retreat, holding their shape right on the edge of the box.

When Neuer rolled the ball to Leighton Baines, the English left-back was immediately pressed by Wright-Phillips and forced to pass back to José Fonte.

Drogba rushed at him, forcing Fonte to return it to Neuer again.

"Chelsea are pressing Bayswater Chinese FC very aggressively now."

"We're in the 72nd minute."

"The Blues have used all three substitutions, so they're definitely trying to push for a goal to level things up."

Neuer rolled the ball to Chimbonda again.

But this time he too was immediately hounded by Joe Cole.

He barely managed to pass it forward to Aaron Lennon—who passed it right back again.

Del Horno even pushed up aggressively to help Joe Cole close Chimbonda down on the right wing, trying to trap him and cut off his passing lanes.

In the end, Neuer had to charge out of his area to offer support.

Joe Cole saw his moment, left Chimbonda for Del Horno to contain, and sprinted into the box, bearing down on Neuer.

The German keeper calmly took a touch to the left, just avoiding Cole's pressure, then followed up with a clean direct pass—

Straight into open space, where Yaya Touré received it.

The entire stadium gasped at the close call.

"Chelsea's pressing intensity is suffocating."

"And Bayswater's keeper daring to play it short under that kind of pressure—it's nerve-wracking!"

Touré took a touch, turned, surveyed his surroundings, and suddenly pushed the ball forward.

He decided to carry it himself!

Lampard charged in to close him down.

But the Ivorian midfielder was a giant—long limbs, a massive frame. He simply extended an arm to hold Lampard off and used his body to shield the ball, all while controlling it effortlessly.

One touch, a pause, a stride forward.

Lampard was boxed out entirely—he couldn't even get around to challenge.

It was like wrestling with a black bear.

Touré powered past him, and when Makélélé stepped up to intercept, he feinted, then used the outside of his right foot to launch a straight pass forward.

Right to Rickie Lambert.

With Terry on his back, Lambert couldn't turn, so he cushioned the ball toward Modrić.

Modrić saw Makélélé retreating and didn't hold the ball—instead, he immediately played it into space on the left.

Ribéry sprinted back toward the ball, his back to goal.

Ferreira was tight on his heels, refusing to let him turn.

But Ribéry licked his lips mischievously. As he trapped the ball, he let it run a step ahead—then chased after it.

Ferreira, not suspecting anything, kept tight.

Just as Ribéry reached the ball, he stopped dead, dragged it with the inside of his right foot toward his left heel—and spun left.

As soon as his right foot planted, his left foot, using the outside, flicked the ball behind Ferreira down the touchline.

Ferreira had been locked onto Ribéry's body—he didn't see the ball leave.

When Ribéry suddenly turned, Ferreira hesitated.

Wait… where's the ball?

Then came the shock—

Ribéry exploded forward, using his burst of pace to blow past Ferreira before the defender could even turn.

Gallas came racing across to help, but Ribéry was already in full stride.

He reached the ball at the byline and pushed it forward again.

Gallas chased along the inside of the penalty area, but was half a step too slow—he couldn't stop the cross.

In Chelsea's massive penalty area, aside from Čech, no one else was back.

Ribéry's cross landed near the right corner of the six-yard box.

Čech turned, tracking it—

But then, a flash of red came flying in like lightning.

Aaron Lennon tore in like a jet, meeting the ball in full stride and slamming it with his right foot.

The ball exploded off his boot and screamed into the Chelsea net before Čech could even blink.

"GOAL!!!!!!"

"Aaron Lennon!!"

"Bayswater Chinese FC double their lead!!"

"2–0!"

"Lennon scores again for Bayswater!"

The young Englishman lost his mind, sprinting wildly off the field, roaring as he went.

The entire stadium erupted.

More than 18,000 fans screamed themselves hoarse.

"Bayswater Chinese FC are putting on a show!"

"It's hard to believe this is their very first Premier League match in club history!"

"And against the defending champions no less!"

"Their young squad has shown incredible spirit and produced a truly spectacular performance on home soil."

"They haven't fallen behind at all—in fact, they've created more chances than Chelsea!"

"Mourinho's side has taken a serious punch in the mouth to start the season!"

On the sidelines, Yang Cheng couldn't contain himself—he leapt into the air, pumping his fists and shouting in joy.

Then he turned toward the stands and waved both arms frantically, urging the crowd to roar even louder.

His players deserved more cheers—more applause!

Bayswater's players were overjoyed, celebrating in a chaotic pile near the sideline.

The stadium's big screen cut to a shot of Roman Abramovich in the stands.

He was still seething, visibly forcing down his fury.

On the touchline, Mourinho was roaring furiously, clearly infuriated by the result.

But Yang Cheng wasn't surprised.

The second goal came down to Yaya Touré's sudden surge forward.

That move tilted the midfield battle and let Bayswater take control.

Neither Lampard nor Makélélé could stop Touré.

That's the tactical value of the Ivorian!

Of course, Ribéry's move on Ferreira was pure magic.

Yang Cheng hadn't even seen how he got past him—he had to rely on the slow-motion replay on the big screen.

Absolutely breathtaking.

"Well, Brian?" Yang Cheng asked with a smile, turning to Brian Kidd.

"Do you believe it now? We're here this season to shake things up, aren't we?"

Brian Kidd nodded slowly, eyes wide with amazement.

Is this guy... using magic?

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