Chapter 106: Conquering the Bernabéu! Only Bayswater Chinese Can Do It!
September 26th, evening — Madrid, Spain. Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.
Champions League group stage, Matchday 2: Bayswater Chinese away to Real Madrid.
From the very first second, anyone watching—whether inside the Bernabéu or on television—could feel that this match was different.
No one could quite explain how, but it had a special energy. A different kind of tension.
Sky Sports, broadcasting both the Premier League and Champions League, knew Bayswater Chinese well. Even the commentators could only note subtle positional changes.
"Real Madrid are sticking with Capello's favored 4-4-2 formation for tonight's match."
Real Madrid starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Casillas
Defense: Roberto Carlos, Cannavaro, Mejía, Sergio Ramos
Midfield: Guti, Mahamadou Diarra, Emerson, Reyes
Forwards: Van Nistelrooy and Raúl
"It's clear that Capello has adjusted based on their 0–2 loss to Bayern at the Allianz. He's starting the quicker Reyes and the more creative Guti."
"Right-back Cicinho is out with a fractured leg. Veteran Salgado is also injured, so Capello shifted Ramos wide and brought in Mejía to partner Cannavaro."
"This is very likely the zone Bayswater Chinese will target."
"Bayswater Chinese are fielding nearly the same lineup as in last weekend's 2–1 win over Manchester United—except for one key change: Pepe replaces Skrtel."
"Skrtel's second-half defensive error led to Ronaldo's goal and drew heavy criticism. Yang Cheng defended him publicly, but tonight, Pepe gets the start."
Bayswater Chinese starting XI (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defense: Leighton Baines, José Fonte, Pepe, Maicon
Midfield: Yaya Touré (deep), Modrić, Lassana Diarra
Forwards: Ashley Young, Džeko, Arshavin
"Yes, you're seeing it right."
"Kickoff hasn't happened yet, but Ashley Young is lined up on the left wing…"
"…while Arshavin is drifting toward the right side of the center circle. There's no one else wide right."
"From their positioning, it looks like Arshavin will be operating more on the right."
"That's curious. All season, Yang Cheng has wanted Arshavin and Young to switch flanks, but it hasn't been very effective."
"Is this shift a tactical response to Real Madrid? Or is it a long-term position change?"
When the referee blew the whistle, Raúl and Van Nistelrooy kicked off for Madrid.
Immediately, Bayswater Chinese pressed high with aggression.
Sky's commentator was unfazed.
"High press right out of the gate!"
"This has been their go-to strategy in recent matches. They even scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season this way—Real Madrid will have to be careful."
Before he even finished speaking, Bayswater Chinese's press had already forced the ball back to Casillas.
Džeko even chased him down, causing Casillas to panic and scoop up the ball.
Madrid's keeper quickly rolled it out to Carlos—but Arshavin was already closing in, forcing a pass to Cannavaro.
The Italian, almost instinctively, booted it long.
Pepe rose to contest with Raúl and won the aerial duel.
The battle shifted to midfield, just inside Real's half.
With Bayswater pushing high and playing with a single pivot, even the full-backs were positioned aggressively.
Guti quickly found space in the left half-space, escaped Diarra's attention, and threaded a pass to Van Nistelrooy.
But the linesman's flag was up—offside.
Van Nistelrooy clapped in frustration, arguing with the ref.
He was convinced he was onside.
But the referee pointed to the linesman and said, "My assistant had a clear view—Fonte stepped up right before you made your run."
Van Nistelrooy shook his head and jogged back.
Capello stepped out of the technical area, shouting encouragement to his striker, urging him not to rush.
Yang Cheng, who understood Spanish, smiled slightly.
He stepped to the edge of his own area and shouted toward Diarra.
"Lassana, don't let them get easy passes through!"
"You haven't earned your paycheck yet, and you're already minus 200!"
Lassana Diarra shrugged in mock innocence, then turned toward Guti and pointed accusingly.
"Your fault! You owe me 200!"
…
"I still think this tactic is too risky," Brian Kidd said nervously as the match resumed.
This plan had been drawn up right after Matchday 1.
Yang Cheng had watched Real's match against Bayern and was inspired. Considering his squad's condition, he decided it was time for a shake-up.
He felt Bayswater Chinese still hadn't tapped into their full potential.
For instance—Ashley Young's best position was clearly on the left wing.
That's what "Lord Yang" was known for.
But in a 4-3-3, Arshavin also preferred the left side.
Someone had to compromise.
So far this season, after his explosive start, Arshavin hadn't lived up to expectations.
It wasn't the player—it was the tactics.
As an experienced manager, Yang Cheng knew how to align tactics with each player's technical strengths.
But execution? That was another story.
He had hoped for Young and Arshavin to constantly switch flanks and rotate with Džeko—but the chemistry hadn't worked.
So he kept adjusting—looking for the right balance.
In this match, Arshavin wasn't really playing right wing.
He was playing as a free agent in the front line.
Ashley Young?
Back to his favorite spot—left wing.
That meant the interplay between Džeko, Arshavin, and Modrić would become critical.
And the right flank?
That was Maicon's domain now.
With Young out of his way, Maicon had room to roam.
And Yang Cheng pushed Leighton Baines high up as well.
The result?
Both full-backs were basically playing as wide midfielders.
Which meant that defensively, they often had just two center-backs left behind.
The gamble?
Yang Cheng's midfield—
An elite trio built to dominate.
Without that midfield trio anchoring the team, Yang Cheng never would've dared to use this kind of setup.
And having only two center-backs in the defensive line brought one other hidden advantage: it was perfect for playing the offside trap.
The biggest risk with an offside trap is ensuring all four defenders are perfectly in sync.
But now? There weren't four—only two.
Sometimes even Pepe stepped up aggressively.
Why did they concede against Manchester United last weekend in the second half?
There were 15 minutes left, and Yang Cheng wanted to test this system.
Skrtel didn't step up fast enough—Cristiano Ronaldo beat the trap.
Even though they won 2–1 in the end, Yang Cheng didn't dare use Skrtel tonight.
Between the faster Pepe and Koscielny, he chose the more individually capable Pepe.
As for Real Madrid's forwards, Van Nistelrooy and Raúl—they weren't exactly known for pace.
So even if the offside trap failed, Pepe had the speed to recover.
"The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish, Brian!"
Yang Cheng laughed heartily.
On the pitch, Real Madrid began to shift their attacks to the right flank—Reyes's side.
Capello used Reyes as a left-footer on the right wing—an inverted wide man.
Meanwhile, Guti on the left played the role of final passer.
"You know," Yang Cheng smiled, "when we push our backline so high and leave all that space behind… what do you think Real Madrid's players see?"
Brian Kidd, a former player and coach, knew exactly what he meant.
The average fan watching on TV thinks the same thing:
Just lump it long! Send it over the top!
"Exactly. Let them play long. Real Madrid doesn't have much of a possession game. That midfield? They can't string passes together."
"Let them go long—Fonte and Pepe, whether solo or paired, Van Nistelrooy and Raúl can't beat them."
The only risk was Pepe's tendency for dirty fouls—something not uncommon among Brazilian defenders.
"We're pressing high to force long balls. Two center-backs, paired with our well-rehearsed offside trap—and with Fonte orchestrating things—we've got this covered."
José Fonte was a curious case.
Technically average, not the fastest or the strongest.
But tactically? He was a general. A leader. A brain.
His communication was top-class.
Everyone in the dressing room respected him—Pepe included.
And Pepe listened when Fonte gave commands.
Players like that existed—Argentina's Demichelis was another example.
They didn't look like much, but somehow, they just worked. They played. They led.
Without José Fonte tonight, Yang Cheng wouldn't have dared to press this high or gamble on the offside trap.
After the opening minutes, Yang Cheng had no more worries about the defense.
His real concern was the attack.
"If our attacking setup works tonight, Brian, we'll blow the doors off Europe and the Premier League this season!"
He said it with fierce conviction.
That's how important tactics are.
Look at Ferguson's Manchester United. Look at Wenger's Arsenal.
People always say Ferguson left a championship squad.
Sure, they won titles.
But how bad was that squad, really?
Just look at what happened after Ferguson left.
So how did Ferguson win with them?
Because his tactics were brilliant.
And it wasn't something Moyes could replicate just by copying the playbook.
Ferguson's brilliance was intangible—something you could only feel, not explain.
Same with Wenger's Arsenal.
Players like Denílson and Diaby were average at best.
How many of Wenger's favorites found success elsewhere?
But Wenger still pushed that team into the Premier League top four.
Why?
Tactics.
Right now, Bayswater Chinese's squad was better than any of Wenger's in those years.
And if Yang Cheng could make it click, he was going to shake the football world.
…
Yang Cheng's high defensive line was pure bait for Real Madrid.
Like a carrot dangling in front of a donkey—it constantly tempted them into trying long balls.
With the aggressive pressing up front, it was only natural that Madrid kept going long.
The most classic example came in the 12th minute.
Sergio Ramos launched a long ball from the right side of his own penalty box.
It came so suddenly that neither Fonte nor Pepe could step up—the trap was broken.
Van Nistelrooy took off.
Pepe, however, immediately turned and chased.
He was two strides behind—but he quickly made it up.
As the ball dropped, Pepe leaped first, using his arm to disrupt Van Nistelrooy's jump.
Neither reached the ball.
It sailed over their heads, landing near the top-left edge of the penalty box.
Manuel Neuer was already out.
With the high line, Yang Cheng had also freed up Neuer to play a sweeping role.
The German keeper sprinted out of the box and, with Van Nistelrooy closing in, cut the ball to his left with his right foot, sidestepping the Dutch striker.
Then, with his weaker left foot, he launched a long pass forward.
It wasn't just Van Nistelrooy who was stunned—the entire stadium froze.
Because that pass didn't just go long.
It went precise.
Right over Real Madrid's midfield—straight to Džeko, sitting behind their double pivot.
If it were just a random clearance, no one would care.
Most goalkeepers do that under pressure.
Even long passes aren't unheard of.
But Neuer?
He juked Van Nistelrooy and then pinged a pinpoint left-footed long ball to the feet of a striker?
Unreal.
He was a right-footed player. His long passing with his dominant foot was already top-tier.
But what shocked everyone was his calmness and clarity under pressure.
Before the Bernabéu could even finish gasping, they heard Cannavaro's urgent shout.
Neuer's pass had dropped perfectly to Džeko, who had drifted deep into his own half.
The Bosnian forward chested it down under pressure from Mejía, then flipped the ball over his head and turned.
One touch later—another lofted pass forward.
It was all so smooth, so confident.
Only when Cannavaro screamed did the crowd realize—
A red blur was streaking forward down the left flank.
Arshavin.
He had already blown past the aging Roberto Carlos, outpaced Cannavaro, and pierced Madrid's backline like a dagger.
He met the pass just outside the box, cushioned it forward, used his hand to hold off Carlos, and cut into the penalty area with his left foot.
In that instant, neither Carlos nor Cannavaro dared make a move.
They just stared helplessly as Arshavin bore down on goal, with Casillas charging out to meet him.
The Russian pulled the trigger.
His left-footed strike flew like a bullet—low, straight, and fast—into the back of Real Madrid's net.
"GOAL!!!!"
"12th minute—Real Madrid's goal has been breached!"
"From Bayswater Chinese's Russian star, Andrey Arshavin!"
"My God! What a lightning-fast counterattack!"
"Real Madrid's defense was completely shredded!"
"Absolutely unbelievable!"
"We were just talking about how Bayswater Chinese's tactics tonight were far too aggressive, especially with that high back line leaving so much space for Real Madrid to exploit..."
"And right after we said it, they go and rip open Real Madrid's defense themselves."
"1–0!"
"Now Capello has a real decision to make."
On the touchline, Yang Cheng was so fired up he jumped into the air, shouting in celebration.
…
After conceding first, Real Madrid clearly became impatient.
They had already lost their Champions League opener 0–2 away to Bayern.
Now, playing at home against Bayswater Chinese, anything but a win would unleash a storm of fury from their fans.
So every player on the pitch threw themselves into the match with extra effort.
But as the saying goes:
"When your direction is wrong, the harder you try, the worse it gets."
Real Madrid had seen the wide-open space behind Bayswater's high line.
If they could just get a pass through and a runner behind, they'd have a one-on-one.
But they kept getting it wrong—either the pass, or the run.
They tried using Reyes to break through.
The young Spaniard had pace and technique—perfect for beating the offside trap.
But as a right winger cutting inside on his left foot, he was starting too deep—too far to make the run in time.
Van Nistelrooy and Raúl?
They simply didn't have the legs anymore to chase balls in behind.
In the 10 minutes following the goal, Guti twice attempted through balls.
One was blocked.
The other fell behind the attacker.
Worse still, Van Nistelrooy wasn't pressing aggressively from the front.
At 30 years old, and barely playing in the second half of last season, his focus was clear: stay fresh, stay sharp, finish chances in the box.
But against a high back line? He was stuck.
If he stayed high—offside.
If he dropped deep—too far from goal.
The frustration started to build—for both Van Nistelrooy and Raúl.
Within 10 minutes of conceding, Real Madrid had been caught offside twice.
Once Raúl, once Reyes.
Both off of Guti's passes.
By the 20th minute, even the Bernabéu faithful had caught on:
Capello's team had no answers.
Diarra and Emerson?
Please. All they did was sit back and guard the defense.
This Madrid side might bully smaller teams in La Liga, but in Europe?
They looked completely lost.
Even their long balls lacked precision.
Meanwhile, Bayswater Chinese kept hammering away.
Maicon made a long run down the right, sent in a dangerous cross that nearly turned into an own goal—Mejía almost headed it into his own net trying to beat Džeko.
Then came the 25th minute.
Emerson tried another through ball.
Fonte stepped in front of Van Nistelrooy and deflected it to Yaya Touré.
The Ivorian controlled it, turned—no pressure.
As he advanced toward midfield, Diarra finally stepped up.
Yaya didn't force the issue.
He saw Džeko drop into space and slipped him a line-breaking pass.
Džeko had moved into the right channel, unmarked.
He held off Cannavaro, brought the ball down, turned, and clipped it in behind.
Arshavin appeared centrally, shaking off Emerson and sprinting after the pass.
It wasn't a clean break—Mejía had stayed back.
The Spanish center-back stuck to Arshavin, forcing him to slow and turn back just inside the 30-yard zone.
Ashley Young was bombing forward on the left—but Ramos tracked him all the way.
Džeko, too, was cutting in from the right, offering a short option.
If Džeko got the ball, he'd be facing goal. Much easier to attack.
Cannavaro stayed tight on him.
Carlos, seeing the buildup, abandoned the left flank and hovered near Arshavin, ready to help Mejía.
Real Madrid's defense looked like it had weathered the storm.
But then—
A red blur exploded into the right channel like a lightning bolt.
Maicon.
He had the entire right half to himself.
Arshavin had been eyeing Džeko—but now he changed his mind and sent the pass wide.
Maicon caught up to the ball just outside the box, cut inside with one touch, beat Casillas to the spot, and lashed a shot high into the net.
Another goal.
2–0.
Maicon froze for a second in disbelief.
Then he roared and raced toward the corner flag in celebration.
"My God! My God! Bayswater Chinese have doubled their lead!"
"The scorer—Maicon, the Brazilian right-back!"
"Less than 30 minutes in, and they're up 2–0!"
"There was no one on Madrid's left! Everyone had their eyes locked on Džeko and Arshavin, and they completely forgot about the overlapping Maicon."
"Before the match, Capello was full of praise for his defense."
"Now? That same defense has been broken—twice—in under half an hour!"
"We have to admit, this Real Madrid side is completely out of sync tonight."
"This is turning into a disaster."
…
Down 2–0, Real Madrid were spiraling.
It wasn't just the score—it was the entire flow of the game.
They had no way to stop their opponents.
Bayswater Chinese were pressing high, forcing errors, and Madrid had no speed to counter.
The Bernabéu was furious.
The boos were deafening.
Ever since the twilight of the Galáctico era, Madrid had been a shadow of its former self.
New president, new coach, new stars—same poor results.
Losing 0–2 away to Bayern was one thing.
But getting torn apart at home?
Unforgivable.
The fans' rage only made the players more anxious.
On one of the few successful runs behind the defense, Raúl had a chance to square it—but shot instead.
Neuer saved it with ease.
More boos.
And amidst all this frustration and chaos, Real Madrid's defense crumbled again.
Bayswater Chinese won the ball near midfield.
Modrić carried it forward to launch another counterattack.
Beckham, of course, was in a different category than most players—his commercial value was immense.
And naturally, his salary was enormous.
Just thinking about it gave Yang Cheng a headache.
He quickly dismissed the tempting idea.
Bayswater Chinese couldn't afford Beckham with their current budget.
Even if they somehow squeezed it in, how much would he truly boost commercial revenue? That was uncertain.
More importantly, signing him would absolutely wreck the midfield balance.
Modrić and Yaya Touré were untouchable, which meant only Lassana Diarra could be sacrificed.
But then, midfield pressing would collapse.
Diarra's role wasn't flashy, but vital.
He shielded the right flank for Maicon's overlapping runs and stayed back when Yaya pushed forward.
Beckham could offer long passes, sure—but not Diarra's work rate and defensive coverage.
So... no thanks.
Yang Cheng would rather wait.
Wait for the right moment to steal Toni Kroos from Bayern.
In fact, back in 2005, Yang Cheng had already spoken with Kroos—by phone, even.
But alas.
Between a newly promoted English club and a German giant, young Kroos made the wise choice for a German player.
…
Elsewhere in Europe, the Premier League's "Big Three" all picked up Champions League wins.
Chelsea beat Levski Sofia 3–1 away.
Liverpool scraped past Galatasaray 3–2 at Anfield.
Manchester United edged Benfica 1–0 away.
That left many English fans worried:
Could Bayswater Chinese even survive the Bernabéu?
No one expected a win. A draw would do.
At the very least, please—don't get embarrassed.
Before the match, Manchester Evening News columnist Sadler boldly declared:
"Bayswater Chinese have clearly given up on the Champions League to focus on the Premier League."
His logic?
Given their squad depth, after going all-out against United at home, how could they possibly compete with Real Madrid away?
Then, after the Big Three all won, MEN reporter Hans followed up with another piece—
on the surface, it looked supportive of Bayswater Chinese, but in reality, it set a trap.
In modern internet speak: it was setting the narrative, praise with a hidden dagger.
"If the Big Three can win, and Bayswater Chinese can't, aren't they disgracing the Premier League?"
Other British media joined in, treating the match like a spectacle.
Because for them, football equals traffic.
But then…
A 4–0 shocker erupted at the Bernabéu!
The blowout stunned not only the British football world, but all of Europe—and beyond.
Fans were in disbelief.
Capello's Real Madrid, at home, losing 0–4?
It sounded absurd.
But the scoreline was right there, plain as day.
British media's first reaction?
Fake news.
But after double-checking and getting confirmation, they were all dumbfounded.
How?
This was Real Madrid!
Sure, they'd been mediocre in recent years.
But they weren't supposed to get slaughtered.
Especially not with Capello—the iron-fisted tactician—at the helm.
And yet, they were crushed at home. 4–0.
Once the truth set in, Fleet Street exploded.
Bayswater Chinese had conquered the Bernabéu.
Compared to this, the Big Three's wins were… uninspiring.
Even more jaw-dropping was the style of football Bayswater Chinese played—
Especially that first-half blitzkrieg, a whirlwind of high-speed, high-pressure attacking.
All four goals came in the first half.
Daily Mail's renowned columnist Martin Samuel couldn't hold back in his piece.
"If someone told you there's a team in the world that could thrash Barcelona 4–0 one month,
then turn around and destroy Real Madrid 4–0 at the Bernabéu…
what would you say?"
"You wouldn't believe it!"
"You'd say it's not real!"
"No one could do that—not even God!"
"Right?"
"But now, one team has done it."
"They beat Barça 4–0 and took the Super Cup,
then smashed Real Madrid 4–0 at the Bernabéu."
"Both games—clean sheets."
"It's so absurd, so unbelievable…
and yet it actually happened."
"It's Yang Cheng and his Bayswater Chinese."
The Guardian immediately ran its own report and deep-dive analysis.
They praised Yang Cheng's tactical setup, saying the team found their perfect combination at the Bernabéu, fully unlocking their attacking power.
20-year-old Džeko scored a brace on Madrid's sacred turf.
Arshavin, Ashley Young, Maicon, Modrić…
Every single player shone.
"In that first half at the Bernabéu, Yang Cheng and his team delivered perfection."
"Perfect players, in a perfectly tuned system."
"They shattered Real Madrid's confidence."
The Times ran a front-page feature calling Bayswater Chinese "a team molded meticulously by Yang Cheng."
Their midfield trio—Touré (23), Modrić (21), and Diarra (21)—was now mature after last season's grind.
Modrić, the report noted, had even been playing for the club back in their League Two days.
"He was Yang Cheng's first signing—
and the first player in English football history brought in under the 'Special Talent' clause."
"Now, no one doubts Yang Cheng's eye for talent."
Then there was José Fonte—
Once cast out of Sporting Lisbon, now thriving at Bayswater Chinese.
The Times concluded that this match signaled a new era for the club.
"This team has clearly found its ideal tactical identity.
The question now is—
just how much damage can Yang Cheng's side do from here?
We can't wait to find out."
What Yang Cheng and his players hadn't expected was what came next.
Upon returning from Spain, fans showed up at Heathrow to welcome them.
It was a first.
Only a few dozen people—but it meant the world.
When they arrived back at Bayswater Stadium, even more fans were gathered—cheering loudly for their heroes.
Some were even shouting that next time, they'd travel with the team to away matches.
Missing a game like this?
A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Yang Cheng and the players were a bit overwhelmed.
They hadn't imagined that such a big win would come with such heartfelt support.
After wrapping up all the usual post-match business, Xia Qing and Adam Crozier came to Yang Cheng with more good news.
Season tickets were still selling.
"In fact, there was a mini sales surge from last night to today!"
The tickets now being sold were adjusted to exclude matches already played—so prices were lower.
"Also, the remaining two Champions League group stage home matches have seen a spike in single-ticket sales as well."
Yang Cheng couldn't stop smiling.
All he could do was smile.
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