Chapter 164: A Genius Like Messi! Charge Toward the Treble!
According to football regulations, once the 90 minutes of regular time end and the match goes into extra time, players are not allowed to return to the dressing room to rest.
So, as soon as the referee blew the whistle to signal full time, both teams gathered in front of their benches to rest and receive instructions.
Yang Cheng and Benítez each had one substitution remaining.
They had both used two already.
Benítez had subbed in Benayoun for Kuyt during the second half, and Mascherano had come on for Riera.
That meant Liverpool now had four midfielders on the pitch:
Xabi Alonso, Mascherano, Gerrard, and Lucas Leiva.
Mascherano had been brought on in the 80th minute to reinforce the defense.
Just five minutes before that, Yang Cheng had replaced Matuidi with Modrić, who partnered Ramsey in midfield.
Since that change, Beisworth Chinese FC had continued to press hard, but still couldn't break through Liverpool's goal.
In the final ten minutes, Liverpool abandoned the 4-2-3-1 altogether and switched to a triple-defensive-midfield formation—
More like a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree setup.
Gerrard and Benayoun tucked inside, narrowing the midfield even more.
They were clearly aiming to regain control of the center of the park and suppress Beisworth Chinese FC's rhythm.
More importantly, Liverpool's tactics had grown increasingly conservative.
Their backline sat deep, which made it even more difficult for Beisworth Chinese FC to break them down.
Yang Cheng began to ponder—
Should he use the last substitution to bring on another striker?
Currently, Lewandowski was the only center forward on the pitch.
But the Polish striker hadn't been sharp tonight.
He missed several golden chances, and his form in general had been lacking lately.
Still, that wasn't unusual.
He was young.
Young players often go through rough patches during their rapid development.
Once they stabilize, their overall level rises.
Last sub. What now?
The players walked over to the touchline for water.
Brian Kidd and the other coaches all looked to Yang Cheng—
This was a decision only the head coach could make.
And time was running out.
After a moment's hesitation, Yang Cheng stepped up to the players.
"How are you guys doing? Can you handle another 30 minutes?" he asked, genuinely concerned.
The players looked around at one another.
Aside from the recently subbed-on Di María and Modrić, most of them were silent—uncertain.
Except for one.
Aaron Ramsey raised his hand high. "I'm good to go, boss!"
Everyone turned in surprise to look at the young Welshman.
Ramsey was a little embarrassed by the attention.
But hey, this was a guy who had once won a triathlon—he had every reason to be confident.
He'd played the full 90 minutes and was still raring to go.
Yang Cheng looked over at Sad Forsyth, who nodded subtly.
Ramsey's physical condition was solid, no problem.
That made Yang Cheng even more pleased.
Ramsey was the kind of player every coach loved—
Low-key, composed, hardworking, dependable.
From a talent perspective, he was the full package:
Passing, control, dribbling, and shooting.
His work ethic gave him an incredibly high floor.
In Yang Cheng's previous life, even after suffering a horrific leg break, Ramsey still developed better than Arsenal's "crown prince," Wilshere.
Why?
Because Wilshere's personality meant he had a very low floor.
England had too many talents like Wilshere.
But players like Aaron Ramsey?
Rare. Very rare.
He was diligent and grounded, like Gerrard and Lampard,
But with even better close control and technique.
Yang Cheng was now fully convinced:
If Ramsey kept developing like this, he'd become a player with the passing and awareness of Scholes and the all-around dynamism of a supercharged Gerrard.
Beisworth Chinese FC had been grooming him along that exact path.
Time was short.
Yang Cheng gave an approving nod to Ramsey and turned to Matić.
"Nemanja, you played really well today. These last 30 minutes—leave them to your teammates."
Matić immediately understood. He was coming off.
Though slightly disappointed, he accepted the decision.
The team had to advance.
Yang Cheng gave him a hug, planning to send him back to the dressing room—
But Matić insisted on staying on the bench.
Then Yang Cheng turned toward the bench.
"Theo."
Walcott jumped up and jogged over.
"You're going in for the second half of extra time. Right wing."
"Ángel."
Di María looked up immediately.
"You're on the left."
Eden Hazard, standing nearby, looked a bit lost—
Until Yang Cheng walked up to him and asked, "Eden, can you keep going?"
"I… I'm good!"
Stamina wasn't Hazard's strong suit.
But with everyone else around him gritting their teeth and pushing forward—
No way he was going to back down now.
If he had to bleed, he'd bleed.
That's just football.
"Good. When extra time begins, we go on the attack."
"You'll play as the No. 10. You'll have full freedom."
The Belgian looked up in shock.
He'd played left and right wing at Beisworth Chinese FC,
But never as a central playmaker—
Because their 4-3-3 didn't even include a traditional No. 10.
"Don't worry about the position. It doesn't matter."
"What matters is, I need you to play the game on your terms—dictate this match with your vision and instincts."
"You've seen it. Liverpool has pulled back into a deep defensive block in their own half. Our other players can't break through."
"So we need you to make the difference!"
As he spoke, Yang Cheng placed a firm hand on Hazard's shoulder—
A clear message of trust and expectation.
For a player Hazard's age, nothing was more motivating.
"Don't worry, boss. I'll give it everything I've got!"
Yang Cheng nodded again, clearly pleased with his attitude.
Burger King?
Please.
With the way he fired up Hazard and kept feeding him the dream,
No way he was ending up a benchwarmer like in his past life.
After assigning Hazard his role, Yang Cheng looked at Di María and Walcott—
Especially Di María.
After all, this was their "vice-ball-king"—
And now it was his job to assist the true ball king: Hazard.
Their task was simple—
Support Hazard. Combine with him. Make it happen.
"In short—no pressure. We've got 30 minutes left."
"Once you're out there, just go forward.
Use our attack to tear Liverpool's defense apart!"
"Don't forget—we lost the FA Cup last season.
This year, we take it back!"
"No one's going to stop us!"
"Let's go!!"
By the end, Yang Cheng was practically shouting.
Beisworth Chinese FC's young players were fired up like they'd been shot full of adrenaline—
Roaring and howling in response.
Even Liverpool's squad was stunned by what they were seeing.
What the hell—90 minutes in, and they're still this intense?!
Especially the Reds' players.
Look at Yang Cheng, then look at Benítez—he's just a gloomy, eccentric, bottle-it-up type.
Especially since the departure of his assistant Paco Ayestarán, Benítez's relationship with the dressing room had completely deteriorated.
Many believed his falling out with Xabi Alonso was directly related to losing Ayestarán, who had acted as a crucial mediator.
Meanwhile, on one side you had Beisworth Chinese FC, full of passion and fire, and on the other, Benítez—charitably described as "calm," uncharitably, like a corpse. No emotion, not even a change in tone.
...
If Yang Cheng were to travel back to 2024 and ask fans what position Eden Hazard played,
the answer would come without hesitation: left winger.
But in fact, that wasn't how Hazard first made his name.
Back in Ligue 1 with Lille, he mostly played as a No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation—
A free role, drifting left, center, and right without restriction.
Manager Rudi Garcia gave him total attacking freedom, and Hazard thrived.
The 4-2-3-1 was tailor-made to unlock a classic No. 10's full potential,
And it was in this system that Hazard's star rose.
But now, at Beisworth Chinese FC, their tactical base was the 4-3-3—
A formation with no true No. 10.
Hazard had only ever played on the left or right wings under Yang Cheng.
But even then, he was no traditional winger.
That, in fact, was a defining feature of Yang Cheng's 4-3-3.
Hazard, Di María, Gareth Bale, Walcott—all immensely gifted attackers, all excellent in forward thrust.
To just plant them out wide and ask for crosses?
A total waste.
So at Beisworth Chinese FC, the wingers functioned more like inside forwards, cutting in from the flanks—
Attacking through the half-spaces, able to drift centrally or stay wide as needed.
Hazard, more than any of the others, embodied this duality.
Whether playing left or right, he operated as a half-space playmaker—
A free man on either wing.
Two-footed and versatile, he was equally effective in both roles.
But in this particular match, with Benítez employing a triple-pivot midfield,
Yang Cheng's real plan was to completely unleash Hazard.
Only by freeing him could they hope to break through Liverpool's deep block.
And after Yang Cheng's words lit a fire in him, Hazard returned to the pitch full of energy.
Barely a minute into extra time, he popped up on the right, received a pass from Walcott,
and with three Liverpool defenders pressing in, he weaved, twisted, and dribbled his way out—
Using his low center of gravity and agile footwork.
The entire Wembley Stadium erupted in applause.
He really did look like Messi.
Unfortunately, his final pass missed the mark.
Yang Cheng and the others couldn't even see clearly from across the pitch how he managed to wriggle through,
But Hazard did.
Did it create danger?
Just look at the way Benítez was throwing a fit on the touchline—
That said it all.
"He still lacks strength. Once his body matures, he'll be even better,"
Brian Kidd said with total admiration for Yang Cheng's scouting ability.
And he wasn't the only one.
No one around Yang Cheng could quite figure out his criteria for selecting players—
But every one he picked delivered surprising performances.
"Still, we have to be cautious. Bulking up must be handled carefully," Yang Cheng added.
He didn't want his young players ending up like some of Barça's former prodigies—
Destroyed by overtraining and ill-timed physical development.
Muscle is essential.
Without it, players get injured easily and can't handle physical duels.
But building muscle also increases body weight,
And that adds pressure to knees, ankles, and ligaments.
Worse, bulking can negatively affect a player's technical agility.
It's just biology. No one can cheat nature.
That's why under Sad Forsyth, the sports science department had been tasked with developing
a gradual, stable muscle-development system.
In simpler terms: extend the bulking period, give players time to adapt at every stage,
Let them develop supporting systems before ramping up again.
Gareth Bale, Walcott, and Di María were already on this program.
Hazard and Aaron Ramsey, however, were still too young.
They would have to wait until their bodies were fully developed and stable.
Yang Cheng had invested heavily in this initiative—
A lesson learned from Barça's painful missteps.
In the years before Yang Cheng's time-traveling journey,
how many Barça wonderkids had fallen victim to burnout or poor physical development?
...
While Yang Cheng and Brian Kidd were discussing Hazard,
Beisworth Chinese FC won the ball in their own half.
Kompany intercepted and passed to Modrić.
The Croatian moved forward two steps, shaped up like he was going down the middle—
Then suddenly used the outside of his right foot to send the ball to the right.
It was like he had eyes on the side of his head.
The ball rolled perfectly into Hazard's path.
The Belgian drifted laterally across the middle, stopped suddenly, and cut forward.
The pause and direction change let him use his body to block out Lucas Leiva closing in behind.
At that exact moment, the ball reached his feet.
Hazard burst forward, taking the ball with his right foot,
easily leaving Lucas in the dust.
He got past one, but Liverpool's defense remained tight.
Xabi Alonso stepped in to help.
Hazard offloaded to the right, finding Walcott.
The Little Tiger trapped the ball and, without waiting for Dossena to press,
threaded a pass behind him.
Hazard, having already sprinted past Alonso, cut in behind Dossena and met Walcott's pass
right outside the penalty area.
He didn't dwell on the ball.
Before Hyypiä could challenge, Hazard struck a low diagonal pass toward the penalty spot.
Lewandowski had made his run.
But Carragher was right behind him, refusing to give the Polish striker any space to control the ball.
The Liverpool vice-captain focused entirely on Lewandowski's left foot.
When the ball reached the penalty spot, Reina had already rushed off his line.
He and Carragher had worked together long enough to know—
Carragher had locked the left foot, so Reina dove toward the right.
Their goal was to eliminate every shooting angle.
And Reina's timing was perfect—
It was one of his best traits.
If Lewandowski went for the shot,
he'd either hit Reina directly or hope for a rebound.
Reina had seen it all before.
He was ready.
But he never expected what came next.
Lewandowski reached the ball first—
but didn't shoot.
He didn't even try to control it.
Instead, he flicked the ball backward—
with the heel of his right foot—
like a scorpion tail whip.
Everyone froze.
Nobody saw it coming.
Then—
Wembley exploded.
The entire stadium erupted into thunderous cheers.
Aaron Ramsey came charging in, met Lewandowski's backheel layoff just outside the arc, and lashed a shot at goal.
It was a snap shot—low and hard, hit with real urgency and incredible pace.
Carragher had no chance to block it.
The ball ripped into the bottom-right corner of Liverpool's goal.
Even Ramsey himself froze for a second. Then he let out a roar of excitement, screaming as he sprinted toward the sideline.
Wembley erupted.
"Ramsey! Ramsey!!"
...
Yang Cheng leapt up the moment the ball hit the net, shouting Ramsey's name in celebration—
But unlike everyone else, he also raised his thumbs toward Hazard and Lewandowski.
Absolutely brilliant!
The entire sequence was stunning, and Ramsey's thunderous finish was the perfect punctuation mark.
Watching Ramsey run, Yang Cheng couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
In his previous life, Arsenal fans had lamented Wilshere's decline—
But in Yang Cheng's view, Wilshere's personality had doomed him from the start.
Almost every player with a bad attitude ends up falling short.
Just look at Morrison, the Manchester United prodigy.
Pogba? In terms of raw talent, probably only a handful of '90s-born players could compete.
But Morrison was right there with him in terms of potential—
At least during their United days.
And yet Morrison faded, undone by his personality and surroundings.
That was the tragedy of English talents.
Wilshere was another case.
But in Yang Cheng's opinion, the real wasted talent at Arsenal was Aaron Ramsey.
He had it all from the start—passing, control, shooting.
And more importantly, he had character.
Yang Cheng still remembered how, when Ramsey suffered that horrific leg break,
He waved to fans as he was stretchered off.
He even told the press he was fine, that he'd come back.
Everyone knew how devastating a broken leg could be.
And the recovery?
A brutal ordeal, physically and mentally—
Especially for a professional footballer.
But Ramsey endured.
Not only did he recover—
He came back hungrier than ever.
He trained harder than anyone.
When his old techniques no longer worked,
He adapted. He reinvented himself.
During that phase, Ramsey was the hardest-working player at Arsenal.
Even when his performances dipped,
Even when fans and media criticized and ridiculed him,
Even when they dubbed him the "Grim Reaper,"
He never complained.
He just kept running, kept giving his all.
Eventually, he pushed through—
And won back everyone's respect.
That alone was why Yang Cheng believed Ramsey was more precious than Wilshere ever was.
But now, everything had changed.
This Ramsey had never broken his leg,
And he was being carefully developed at Beisworth Chinese FC.
Watching the Welshman sprint across the pitch, Yang Cheng was filled with excitement.
"He's going to be a world-class midfielder," Yang Cheng said with absolute conviction.
Brian Kidd nodded vigorously.
He had no doubts either.
...
With the deadlock finally broken, the entire match flipped on its head.
As expected, Liverpool immediately launched a counteroffensive.
But to everyone's surprise, Beisworth Chinese FC's counterattacks became even more dangerous.
In the 94th minute, Di María surged down the left,
cut inside and laid the ball off to Ramsey.
Ramsey controlled it at the top of the arc, braced himself, and with his left foot,
sent a long diagonal switch to the open right wing.
Piszczek brought it down on his chest, drove forward to the top-right corner of the box.
Liverpool's defenders had tracked back,
but they dropped too deep.
Piszczek rolled the ball across to the arc again.
Hazard ran onto it, took a right-footed first-time shot—
It was clean, well-timed—
But he didn't get over it.
The ball flew high.
A wave of disappointed sighs swept across Wembley.
Liverpool pushed forward again, throwing bodies into the attack.
But Beisworth Chinese FC struck again on the break.
Once more, it was Di María down the left.
The Argentine carried the ball into Liverpool's penalty area and whipped it to the arc.
Hazard was first to it, charging in too early—
He overran it.
But the Belgian was clever.
Quick to improvise.
Instead of turning around to chase the ball,
he threw his back into the descending pass,
angled it perfectly—
and deflected it with his back into Lewandowski's path.
The Polish striker pounced, unleashing a shot.
Reina flew to his right, saving it brilliantly.
The ball whizzed just wide of the right post.
Another round of thunderous applause echoed around Wembley.
"Who would've thought that once extra time began, Beisworth Chinese FC would be the more threatening side?"
"And especially the Belgian youngster—Eden Hazard."
"Since Yang Cheng's tactical adjustment, he's been electric."
"One moment after another, he's lit up the pitch."
"Look at this slow-motion replay—just brilliant. So imaginative. So instinctive."
"Players like this are a rarity in the Premier League."
"He's a bona fide genius."
"A genius like Messi!"
With Beisworth Chinese FC dominating the break and Liverpool's attack thinning out,
the Reds began to look toothless—
even desperate.
To be fair, Beisworth Chinese FC weren't doing much better physically.
After 90 minutes of blood-pumping intensity,
they came into extra time riding on adrenaline.
But as the minutes passed, fatigue crept in.
The rhythm dropped.
The sharpness faded.
By the 100th minute, both teams struggled to keep up the tempo.
Then came the 103rd minute.
Piszczek overlapped and received a pass from Modrić,
pushing past the halfway line,
then slotted a diagonal ball to Hazard.
The Belgian took it with his back to goal, shielding Lucas Leiva just inside Liverpool's half.
He spun away, left Lucas in his wake.
Lucas had already been booked—
he couldn't risk another foul.
He tried to tug Hazard back, but failed.
The Belgian broke free and charged forward.
He reached the final third.
Xabi Alonso stepped up near the top-right of the arc.
Lucas closed in from behind.
Hazard slowed slightly—
Lucas slid in with a challenge.
But Hazard faked, changed direction, and burst toward the right side of the box—
leaving Alonso behind.
Through the gap between Alonso and Hyypiä,
he saw the lane—
a path to goal.
In that split second, Hazard remembered Yang Cheng's words,
The responsibility entrusted to him.
He gritted his teeth—
And struck with his right foot.
Against All Expectations, Hazard Unleashes a Thunderbolt from 20 Meters Out!
Out of nowhere, from 20 meters out, Hazard fired a surprise long-range shot.
The ball rocketed through the air, sailed past the top of the box, over Reina's outstretched hands, and smashed into the right side of Liverpool's goal.
Wembley erupted.
"Hazard!!"
"At the critical moment, in the 103rd minute, Hazard strikes again!"
"2–0!"
"Liverpool's players are clearly running on fumes—but Beisworth Chinese FC aren't much better. Still, with their youth advantage, the home side has scored twice in extra time and launched a beautiful wave of attacks!"
"And especially the Belgian youngster Eden Hazard—one goal, one assist, leaving a huge impression tonight!"
...
After conceding two goals in extra time, Liverpool's morale plummeted.
During the mid-extra-time break, Torres cramped up and collapsed near the sideline.
Benítez had no choice but to make his final substitution, bringing on Babel for Torres.
But in the final 15 minutes, Liverpool's only real "achievement" was earning a yellow card for Piszczek's foul on Babel.
After 105 minutes, both teams were visibly exhausted.
Aside from the substitutes, nearly every player on the pitch was struggling.
Some could barely jog, let alone make runs.
It was clear—they'd reached their limits.
Liverpool never managed another dangerous attack.
And Beisworth Chinese FC, behind Hazard's one goal and one assist, won 2–0 at home and advanced to the FA Cup semifinals.
Interestingly, the other three semifinalists were Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
Beisworth Chinese FC's semifinal matchup?
An away trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
Post-match, the British media described the result as a "brutal victory."
Yang Cheng's young squad had given absolutely everything against Liverpool.
Hazard and Ramsey, both born in the 90s, each scored and were hailed by the press and fans alike.
The Belgian impressed with a goal and assist.
The Welshman, as a homegrown player, earned widespread praise.
As The Guardian wrote in its commentary:
"Yang Cheng isn't just talking the talk!"
"He and his players are dead-set on returning to the FA Cup final—to take back everything they lost last season!"
"With the Premier League title all but wrapped up, the FA Cup is now the next target."
"And maybe—even the Champions League!"
According to The Guardian, there have been three treble-winning teams in English football history.
In 1983–84, Liverpool claimed the league title, the League Cup, and the European Cup—
But in 1998–99, Manchester United overshadowed them by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
No contest.
The League Cup never had the prestige of the FA Cup.
In 2000–01, Gérard Houllier's Liverpool won the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup.
Official trophies, yes—but they lacked the elite prestige of the Premier League and Champions League.
So when English fans talk about the treble, they mean one thing:
United's 1998–99 season.
"But now," The Guardian continued,
"Beisworth Chinese FC have all but secured the league, they've got one foot in the Champions League quarterfinals, and now they're in the FA Cup semifinals."
"Yang Cheng and his team have fought tooth and nail in every match—and every victory has come with serious weight."
"Unlike United's dramatic comebacks, Beisworth Chinese FC have dominated in all three competitions—Premier League, FA Cup, and Europe."
"And that's why we can't help but hope—they might be the next great treble winners."
...
March 10th — Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg.
Beisworth Chinese FC vs. Real Madrid at Wembley.
Once again, Wembley was a sell-out.
The Galácticos, playing away, still came with a statement of intent.
Juande Ramos stuck with his 4-4-2, moving Sneijder to the left and starting Higuaín and Raúl up front.
But Yang Cheng didn't care how they lined up.
Their grueling FA Cup clash against Liverpool had taken its toll.
Even the substitutes had put in immense shifts.
So his strategy was simple: home advantage, early knockout.
From the opening whistle, Beisworth Chinese FC launched a full-on assault.
Just 3 minutes in—
Rakitić received a pass from Di María in the left half-space,
swung in a diagonal ball to Džeko near the arc.
The Bosnian used his body to hold off Cannavaro,
gently touched the ball behind the defender, spun left, and powered into the box.
Casillas rushed out—
But Džeko was quicker.
He reached the ball and rifled it in with his left foot.
Goal. 3 minutes. 1–0. Aggregate score: 5–1.
What could be more demoralizing for Real Madrid than that?
They had prepared for every scenario—
But surely they didn't expect to be breached so early.
And when Yang Cheng saw Juande Ramos shaking his head and walking silently back to his bench—
he knew: Real Madrid were finished.
Sometimes football really is that simple.
No way to stop the opponent's attacks.
No way to break down their defense.
How do you win like that?
...
With the early lead, Beisworth Chinese FC kept piling on the pressure.
That was Yang Cheng's plan—
End it quickly.
Real Madrid dropped back in response, forming a tight defensive shell.
They didn't register their first shot until the 16th minute.
Sneijder's free-kick delivery found Ramos, whose header was well off target.
From then on, it was all Beisworth.
By the 20th minute, Yang Cheng signaled the team to ease off—
Shift to possession-based control.
Conserve energy.
It made for less attractive football, but there was no other way.
That Liverpool match had drained them.
Still, Beisworth Chinese FC continued to pressure Madrid.
For the rest of the first half, they dictated everything.
Madrid were left frustrated.
After the break, they tried to mount a comeback.
46th minute—
Ramos surged down the right, took a pass from Lass Diarra, and whipped in a cross.
Raúl and Higuaín both charged the box—
But Neuer, fully prepared, caught the shot cleanly.
No goal. No momentum.
Madrid still couldn't find a way through.
Just as Real Madrid were preparing to increase the pressure and commit more men forward, Yaya Touré intercepted the ball in midfield and surged ahead.
The Ivorian charged forward, and neither Gago nor Lass Diarra could stop him.
In terms of height, physique, and power, Real Madrid's two midfielders were simply not in Touré's league—he stormed right past them like they weren't even there.
Once into the final third, Yaya laid the ball off to the left, where it reached Di María.
The Argentine faced off with Ramos, used a quick feint, then burst down the line to deliver a low cross toward the near edge of the six-yard box.
Džeko and Yaya Touré both stormed into the box to attack the delivery.
Džeko was disrupted by Skrtel at the near post and couldn't reach it,
but Touré, arriving in the center, beat Cannavaro to the ball and slotted a precise finish into the back of the net.
2–0!
Wembley erupted with thunderous applause from Beisworth Chinese FC fans.
A goal early in the first half, and now another early in the second!
It was clear to everyone—Yang Cheng's side wasn't even playing at full throttle, due to the schedule and physical demands.
And yet, Real Madrid couldn't stop them.
Every time they tried to push up, Beisworth Chinese FC hit back with punishing counterattacks.
Juande Ramos's team was simply outmatched.
When you're not as good, what else can you do?
...
In the end, thanks to goals from Džeko and Yaya Touré,
Beisworth Chinese FC won 2–0 at home and completed a stunning 6–1 aggregate demolition of Real Madrid.
After the match, the British media were euphoric, especially over Beisworth Chinese FC's performance.
Even though Bayern Munich had thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5–0 away and 7–1 at home for a 12–1 aggregate,
Yang Cheng's 6–1 win over Real Madrid was just as impressive in context.
British outlets noted that Beisworth Chinese FC had the aura of champions.
With a commanding lead in the Premier League, they could now shift focus toward the Champions League and FA Cup.
In his post-match press conference, Yang Cheng openly admitted for the first time:
The team was aiming for the treble.
"I know we're still a young team," Yang Cheng said,
"but I believe no one can question whether we have the strength—because we've proven ourselves time and again."
He emphasized how defeating top opponents throughout the season had given his squad immense confidence.
"We all believe we can beat anyone."
Media across Europe supported the sentiment.
At this point, declaring a treble pursuit wasn't arrogance—it was realistic.
Still, some outlets issued a reminder:
Last season, Yang Cheng also spoke of chasing the treble—
Only to nearly finish with nothing,
losing both the league and the FA Cup before winning the Champions League final against Manchester United.
"Yang Cheng and his team must learn from that experience and not get carried away."
Meanwhile, all four Premier League teams had reached the Champions League quarterfinals.
And after the UEFA draw—
As always, two English sides were pitted against each other.
Beisworth Chinese FC drew Chelsea.
Clearly, not an ideal draw.
Chelsea had recently replaced Scolari with Dutch tactician Guus Hiddink in early February.
Since taking over, Hiddink had gone unbeaten in six matches—five wins and one draw.
Other than a 2–2 away draw with Juventus, Chelsea had conceded just one goal in those six games.
But Yang Cheng wasn't too focused on stats.
What worried him most was Chelsea's defense under Hiddink.
How good was it?
In Yang Cheng's previous life, Hiddink's Chelsea had nearly ended Guardiola's Barcelona dream team in the Champions League semifinals.
If not for Iniesta's injury-time equalizer in the second leg at Stamford Bridge—
a 1–1 draw that gave Barça the away goal they needed—
there would've been no "Dream Team," no "Galactic Barça."
And in the first leg at Camp Nou, Hiddink's Chelsea had kept a clean sheet against the peak version of Messi and co.
That's how disciplined and tight Hiddink's Chelsea defense could be.
As Yang Cheng had always said—he feared attacking teams far less than defensive ones.
And Hiddink's Chelsea wasn't about pressing high.
They were about holding the line, defending deep, forming a fortress.
That was exactly the type of opponent Yang Cheng least wanted to face.
Still, he composed himself quickly.
Since they'd drawn Chelsea—so be it. Fight!
This was the beauty of big-match football.
If you want the crown, you must be ready for any challenge—
especially one that directly counters your style.
And more than that, such high-stakes battles would reveal his team's true strength,
highlight weaknesses, and push the club's development even further.
The real headache?
Between the two Champions League quarterfinal legs, Beisworth Chinese FC would have to play their FA Cup semifinal—away at Manchester United.
The fixture crunch was brutal.
...
March 14 — Premier League Matchday 29.
With the Champions League Round of 16 complete, domestic play resumed.
And now that Liverpool had no European commitments, they suddenly found their stride.
At Old Trafford, Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 4–1.
The result shocked everyone.
No one expected Sir Alex Ferguson's side to suffer such a humiliating defeat at home.
No one—except perhaps Yang Cheng,
who joked that he felt like picking Benítez up and kissing him.
Perfect timing!
Just when he needed it most, United had slipped.
That loss widened the gap, relieving pressure on Beisworth Chinese FC.
Arsenal also impressed, smashing Blackburn 4–0 at home.
Wenger's side had been consistently solid all season.
Beisworth Chinese FC's away match against Bolton was tougher.
It wasn't until the 42nd minute of the first half that Lewandowski finally broke the deadlock.
Just before the final whistle, Kevin Davies equalized for Bolton.
But in the 55th minute, Walcott scored to restore the lead.
Then, in the 88th, substitute Džeko added a third.
Final score: 3–1 Beisworth Chinese FC.
Meanwhile, Chelsea beat Manchester City 1–0 at home, thanks to a goal from Essien.
So after 29 rounds:
Beisworth Chinese FC: 26 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss – 80 points.Manchester United: 68 pointsArsenal: 62 pointsLiverpool: 60 pointsManchester City: 59 pointsChelsea: 58 points
The battle for the top four had entered full-blown warfare.
And in just one week—
Premier League Matchday 30:
Beisworth Chinese FC vs. Manchester United at Wembley.
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