Chapter 189: Managerial Genius! Middle East Gold Rush! Have You Ever Seen a Premier League Like This?
December 5, Premier League Matchday 15.
Bayswater Chinese traveled to face Wigan Athletic.
In recent years, there hadn't been many Premier League clubs that consistently turned a profit in the transfer market every summer.
Even fewer that did so while maintaining strong results.
Bayswater Chinese was clearly one of them.
And so was tight-fisted old Whelan's Wigan Athletic.
After a decent showing the previous season, manager Steve Bruce left for Sunderland and took midfield lynchpin Lee Cattermole with him.
Winger Antonio Valencia was also sold to Manchester United.
Wigan's strength had clearly taken a hit.
They made over £20 million in sales… but pinched pennies when it came to signings.
Even their new manager was a bargain: they brought in Roberto Martínez from Championship side Swansea.
Yang Cheng knew Martínez had real talent.
But others weren't so sure.
Martínez introduced a modern 4-3-3 system, trying to revamp the squad tactically.
As a result, Wigan's performances had been wildly inconsistent—sometimes pulling off upsets, other times getting completely destroyed.
Like in this match—against Bayswater Chinese, Martínez parked the bus.
At home, they held out for 30 minutes.
Then, a break.
N'Zogbia hit them with a quick counter and scored.
1–0 to Wigan.
And keep in mind, Bayswater Chinese were at full strength.
Yang Cheng wasn't fazed.
He stayed patient, using possession and passing to stretch and wear down Wigan.
Even while trailing, the players stayed composed.
And after halftime, as Wigan's stamina began to falter—
especially after the 60-minute mark—they couldn't hold on.
61st minute: Walcott made a diagonal run into the box and equalized.
5 minutes later: Modrić set up Lewandowski to make it 2–1.
71st minute: Walcott scored again.
Three goals in 10 minutes.
Bayswater Chinese completed the comeback: 3–1 win away.
…
Elsewhere in the league:
Arsenal 2–0 Stoke City (home)Manchester United 4–0 West Ham (away)Liverpool 0–0 Blackburn (away)Manchester City 2–1 Chelsea (home)Adebayor and Tévez with the goalsKaká assisted both
Ancelotti's side put on a tactical clinic.
…
Champions League – Final Group Stage Matchday.
Bayswater Chinese fielded a fully rotated squad away in Hungary.
3rd minute: Aaron Ramsey scored from a Di María assist.
10th minute: Matuidi smashed in a shot from outside the box—2–0.
24th minute: Hazard finished a slick pass from Di María—3–0.
51st minute: Ramsey set up Carroll for a fourth.
Yang Cheng started making substitutions early.
55th minute: Pogba came on for Ramsey.
60th minute: Kanté replaced Matuidi.
75th minute: 16-year-old Harry Kane made his Champions League debut, subbing on for Carroll.
Everyone had expected the three youngsters to get minutes.
Pogba looked promising, showing flashes of brilliance.
Kane and Kanté were more subdued but steady.
They all had strong fundamentals from the club's academy.
Yang Cheng wasn't counting on them to maintain the attacking rhythm—this was about giving them a taste of top-level football.
And rewarding their hard work.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid faced a must-win match at Marseille.
Thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo brace and a goal from Albiol, Madrid won 3–1 and advanced.
Bayswater Chinese topped the group, Real Madrid finished second.
Which meant Madrid's next round would likely be a brutal one.
…
Back in the Premier League – Matchday 16.
Bayswater Chinese beat West Ham 1–0 at home—Gareth Bale with the winner.
Chelsea 3–3 Everton (home)Manchester United 0–1 Aston Villa (home, shock loss)Arsenal 2–1 Liverpool (away, Arshavin brace)Manchester City 3–3 Bolton (away)
After 16 rounds, Arsenal overtook United, going top of the table with 39 points.
Bayswater Chinese, riding a 4-match winning streak after two consecutive draws, had 38 points, right behind Arsenal.
United: 37 pts
City: 35 pts
Chelsea: 34 pts
Then came Aston Villa, Spurs, and Liverpool—Benítez's side still stuck in 8th.
This rollercoaster league table captured the world's attention.
Every week, the top four shifted dramatically.
One loss, and you could tumble from 1st to 5th.
As The Times columnist Martin Samuel wrote:
"Just as everyone finishes mourning Bayswater Chinese's fall from the top four…
they suddenly reappear in 2nd."
"Meanwhile, Chelsea—who led just weeks ago—have fallen out entirely."
"That's the Premier League now."
"Brutal. Unforgiving. Beautiful."
And that's exactly why fans across the globe couldn't look away.
While La Liga was a two-team war,
Bundesliga a one-man show with Bayern,
and Serie A dominated by Inter…
Only the Premier League continued its thrilling musical chairs of title contention.
Fans were tired of predictable outcomes.
They wanted chaos.
They wanted drama.
Heaven one week, hell the next.
That's what made it so addicting.
And above all—
The Premier League's tactical diversity was now unrivaled.
In the Premier League, you can witness Yang Cheng and Wenger's elegant and fluid attacking football;
Ferguson's iron-blooded British passion;
Hiddink's methodical and calculated counterattacks;
Benítez's balance of attack and defense, and Ancelotti's tactical adaptability.
At the same time, you have teams like Redknapp's Tottenham, Moyes' Everton, and Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa—each with their own style, occasionally catching the giants off guard with stunning upsets.
Today's Premier League can only be described as gloriously unpredictable.
Just look at the dramatic matches in Round 16—where else in Europe, or even the world, can you find such consistent thrill?
…
After Matchday 16, Yang Cheng returned to Brent for a brief rest before flying out of Heathrow to Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The 2009 and 2010 editions of the Club World Cup had moved from Japan to Abu Dhabi.
Because of their participation, Bayswater Chinese's Matchday 17 home fixture against Blackburn, and Matchday 18 away at Everton, were postponed until 2010.
Dates to be confirmed.
The squad flew out at 11:00 a.m. after a light recovery session.
Alongside the first team, commercial directors like Adam Crozier and Omar Berrada also joined the trip to the Middle East.
The flight lasted seven hours, and with the time difference, they landed at 10:00 p.m. local time.
Even at that hour, Middle Eastern fans gathered at Zayed International Airport to welcome them.
There were also tourists from around the world who had chosen to visit the UAE specifically because Bayswater Chinese were competing in the Club World Cup.
Yang Cheng and the players were pleasantly surprised and took special care to greet the fans.
Recently, Abu Dhabi had been experiencing mild, rainy weather—pleasantly cool.
The tournament hosts had taken special care with their arrangements:
the team was housed in the ultra-luxurious Emirates Palace Hotel, dubbed an "eight-star hotel."
Royal-level hospitality.
Despite the four-hour time difference, the very next day Yang Cheng scheduled a light training session—mainly for adjustment and recovery.
At midday, Yang Cheng and several players attended a commercial event in Dubai:
a sponsorship signing ceremony with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD).
The UAE's largest bank agreed to a £15 million, 5-year deal, allowing them to use Bayswater Chinese's image for domestic promotion.
This was the club's first commercial deal in the Middle East, albeit limited to UAE territory.
Their sponsorship level?
"Official Financial Services Partner in the UAE"—the lowest tier in the club's commercial hierarchy.
In stark contrast, just two days later, the team traveled to nearby Qatar for another event.
Qatar Airways signed on as Official Global Airline Partner, offering £25 million over 5 years, along with dedicated charter flight services for the team.
They beat out competitors like Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Etihad.
Why?
They made the best offer.
Alongside Qatar Airways, Qatar National Bank (QNB) signed a £15 million, 5-year deal (like NBAD), limited to Qatari territory.
In just two days, Bayswater Chinese signed three sponsorship contracts.
Annual revenue increase: £11 million.
The media exploded.
Especially in Europe—jealous and stunned.
£11 million in 48 hours?
Was this a Club World Cup trip—or a Middle East gold rush?
Riding the wave of global Club World Cup coverage, the deals went viral.
…
On Day 4 in Abu Dhabi, Club World Cup semifinals kicked off.
Bayswater Chinese faced Atlante from Mexico.
UEFA had strict rules:
in the semifinals, all key players had to play a minimum amount of time.
In the final, they had to start.
So Yang Cheng benched all key players—but still had to bring them on.
Against the Mexican side, Bayswater Chinese were clearly the stronger team.
But Atlante parked the bus.
Only in the 24th minute did the deadlock break:
Piszczek crossed from the right, Carroll scored with a header.
35th minute:
a corner led to Javi Martínez scoring with his head.
2–0.
In the second half, despite missing multiple chances, substitutes Gareth Bale and Di María added a goal each.
Final score: 4–0.
Bayswater Chinese advanced to the final.
…
December 19, evening – Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Club World Cup Final:
Bayswater Chinese vs. Estudiantes (Argentina)
Two players left an impression on Yang Cheng:
Verón – the legendary "White Wizard," now Estudiantes' midfield leaderMarcos Rojo – the young left-back who in Yang Cheng's previous life would later join Manchester United
Estudiantes lined up with a 5-4-1, featuring three defensive midfielders.
From their lineup alone, it was clear—they came to defend.
And they did just that, with suffocating discipline.
They left Bayswater Chinese almost no space to operate.
Yang Cheng urged his side to stay patient—this was going to be a battle of attrition.
Halftime ended 0–0.
After the restart, the game remained tense.
Bayswater Chinese pushed harder.
Bale and Walcott took turns hammering the flanks.
In the 70th minute, Yang Cheng subbed Carroll on for Matuidi, switching to a two-striker setup.
Finally, in the 79th minute—a breakthrough.
Bale surged down the left, delivered a sharp cross near the box.
No one met it.
But at the back post, Walcott arrived like lightning.
Near the byline, he volleyed it straight across the face of goal—
The keeper missed it.
Lewandowski, charging in, slotted into an empty net.
1–0!
After conceding, Estudiantes could no longer sit back. They began pressing forward recklessly in search of an equalizer.
But in the 86th minute, Bayswater Chinese hit them with a deadly counterattack.
Marcelo fired a sharp through ball down the left, and Gareth Bale executed a beautiful knock-and-run move to blow past his defender. With a burst of speed, he surged forward in full flight.
As he reached the left side of the penalty area—with a chance to shoot himself—Bale unselfishly squared the ball across the face of goal.
Walcott, unmarked at the far post, arrived and tapped it into an empty net.
2–0!
The British Twin Stars strike again!
And with that, Bayswater Chinese secured a 2–0 victory, with goals from Lewandowski and Walcott, and were crowned Club World Cup champions—for the second year in a row!
…
As Bayswater Chinese lifted the trophy in Abu Dhabi, the European media erupted with praise.
The Times hailed them: "The Greatest Team in History."The Guardian proclaimed: "The World Kneels at Their Feet."The Telegraph declared: "Bayswater Chinese: Champions of the World!"The Sun simply called them: "One of a Kind!"
Even across the continent, the admiration poured in:
Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy): "Bayswater Chinese end 2009 in perfection."Olé (Argentina): "Yang Cheng and his team mercilessly shattered Estudiantes' dream."L'Équipe (France): "Unstoppable Bayswater Chinese!"
But while the headlines were still hot, Bayswater Chinese were already on the move.
The day after lifting the trophy, the squad said their goodbyes to Abu Dhabi's adoring fans—and headed not far, to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
There, they received another rousing welcome from local fans.
That very day, Bayswater Chinese signed two new sponsorship deals with Saudi Telecom (STC).
The first deal granted STC the rights to use Bayswater Chinese's image for commercial campaigns within Saudi Arabia, making STC their Official Telecommunications Partner in Saudi Arabia.The second deal was with VIVA, a telecom firm in Bahrain (and soon Kuwait), making VIVA the Official Telecom Partner in Bahrain & Kuwait.
Both were five-year deals, each worth £3 million per year.
Why were both signed in Riyadh?
Because VIVA Bahrain hadn't officially launched yet—it was due to go live in February 2010. The company, backed by $200 million in investment from STC, had big expansion plans.
Bayswater Chinese valued this partnership not only for the £6 million per year in sponsorship revenue,
but also because STC committed to sending 70 Saudi youth players annually to the club's football academy in England.
Naturally, these would be paid programs.
Yang Cheng's staff already had plans to base these players at the club's satellite training center near London, where they'd train alongside local youth.
The initiative wasn't just a business move from STC—it had official government backing.
In attendance at the signing ceremony were the Saudi Minister of Sports and Prince Faisal, who had previously appeared at Anfield.
Both were members of the royal family.
After the signing, the Saudi hosts treated the entire Bayswater Chinese delegation to a lavish banquet—
a grand affair that left Yang Cheng, Adam Crozier, senior staff, and even the players in awe of Middle Eastern opulence.
From Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, the wealth on display was jaw-dropping.
Yang Cheng thought to himself:
"No wonder Crozier and Omar Berrada have been flying out here so often lately."
Because in this region—there's so much money.
But foolish?
Not at all.
In a private conversation with Yang Cheng and Adam Crozier, the Saudi Minister and Prince Faisal gently probed whether Bayswater Chinese might be for sale.
They clearly had their eyes on the club's new stadium project in London.
The development, which included partnerships with luxury brands like Bulgari and Peninsula Hotels, was destined to become a landmark in the city.
And the way they spoke?
It was clear: money was not an issue.
If Yang Cheng was willing to sell,
any other terms were negotiable.
But Yang Cheng, with a polite smile, kept the conversation vague and never took the bait.
Prince Faisal, seeing his tact, changed the subject—only to loop back to football, this time asking about Liverpool.
Yang Cheng responded firmly:
"I can't speak for everything, but in my opinion, the Premier League is already the number one league in the world."
"On a competitive level, there's no debate. And commercially, even less."
"With the rise of global football, I fully believe the Premier League is only going to grow even faster in the years ahead."
"So, no—Liverpool won't struggle to find buyers."
His words were strong and confident.
He then broke down the Premier League's potential—both on the pitch and in business terms.
Crozier, seeing the opening, also jumped in.
As a former FA chairman, now deeply involved in Premier League affairs through Bayswater Chinese, Crozier had even deeper insight into the league's globalization.
From the mouths of both men, Prince Faisal and his entourage got a crash course in the Premier League's future—particularly its international expansion.
For example:
From 1992 to 1997, Premier League overseas rights sold for £40 million.1997–2001: £98 million2001–2004: £178 million2004–2007: £325 million2007–2010: £625 million
Crozier dropped a bombshell:
"The overseas rights for 2010–2013? Expected to exceed £1.5 billion. Maybe even £1.6 billion."
A staggering growth curve.
And what's more—the pace hadn't slowed.
In fact, the Premier League's international revenue was catching up to its domestic deals.
With every passing season, the matches were more competitive, the product more exciting, and the global audience more engaged.
Overseas rights revenue was soaring.
And none of this had been shared with George Gillett, the American co-owner of Liverpool.
So why was Yang Cheng telling them all this?
"We at Bayswater Chinese value the Middle East market deeply—and we treasure our partnership with Saudi businesses."
Implied meaning?
We're only talking because of the £30 million in sponsorships.
That was enough to make Prince Faisal and the others firmly believe even more.
"It seems we'll have to reassess the value of Liverpool," Prince Faisal said with a grateful nod toward Yang Cheng.
…
On the private flight back from Riyadh to London, Yang Cheng, Adam Crozier, and Omar Berrada sat in the front row, slightly separated from the rest of the delegation.
Everyone could tell—they had something serious to discuss.
The main topic: the Saudi consortium.
From the tone of the Saudi Minister of Sports and Prince Faisal, it was clear—this wasn't a private investment.
It was a move by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
Which tied directly into the investment trends of the Middle East in recent years.
Middle Eastern capital had been flowing into the UK for many years now.
People joked that the oil-rich Gulf nations were buying all of London.
Harrods.
Premium real estate in Knightsbridge.
And now, football.
Egyptian billionaire Al-Fayed buying Fulham had been personal.
But Dubai's 2004 bid to acquire Liverpool, and Abu Dhabi's 2008 purchase of Manchester City—those were sovereign fund-driven.
And all were orchestrated by the same discreet agency—headquartered in Dubai.
Their mission?
Help Middle Eastern sovereign funds enter the UK market.
Not just in football—but in assets across sectors.
Back in 2006, after the Premier League's domestic TV rights shot from £1.13 billion to £1.88 billion, global investors began taking English football seriously.
That same agency, after failing with Dubai's Liverpool bid, shifted gears and helped Abu Dhabi acquire Manchester City.
Now?
They were working behind the scenes again—this time for Saudi Arabia to take over Liverpool.
"I don't get it," Crozier said, genuinely puzzled. "You don't seem the least bit worried about Liverpool being bought by the Saudis."
Given how quickly City had risen under Abu Dhabi's ownership, wasn't it a threat if Liverpool suddenly had that kind of backing too?
Wouldn't that hurt Bayswater Chinese?
Yang Cheng smiled.
"Not every benefit shows up as direct profit."
Crozier and Berrada pondered that.
"Honestly," Yang Cheng said, "I'm far more wary of American investors than Middle Eastern ones."
And he meant it.
Crozier and Berrada nodded in agreement.
In English football, American owners were not popular.
Not just because of the Glazers.
But also because of Gillett and Hicks.
The Americans were in it to make quick money—not build anything meaningful.
In contrast, Middle Eastern investors may have their own goals, but at least they were willing to spend and manage seriously.
Look at Abramovich and Chelsea—how could you even compare him to an American hedge fund?
And now that Arsenal had sold to Usmanov, they'd grown strong enough to compete at the very top in just two years.
That was better than selling to an American, wasn't it?
Everyone had their own motives:
Abramovich wanted fame and influenceThe Gulf states wanted to project power and gain soft leverage through football
And that was perfectly normal.
British media liked to stir up fear, claiming that if foreign investors pulled out, it would leave English football in ruins.
But they forgot one thing:
As the Premier League continues to grow in value, there will always be new buyers.
What's more—regulations are already being crafted by the Premier League, the FA, and UEFA to mitigate long-term risks.
Worst case?
Say foreign capital dries up tomorrow—who clears Liverpool's £200+ million debt?
If no outside buyer steps in, bankruptcy is almost inevitable.
Just look at what happened to Leeds or Southampton.
"Right now, we're at a pivotal moment in football's global expansion," Yang Cheng said.
"Whether it's Saudi Arabia or Abu Dhabi, their money helps boost the Premier League's global reach and influence. That's a win for everyone."
"The Americans? They're in too much of a rush for returns."
And the more global the Premier League becomes, the more valuable the clubs get.
Which is good news for Bayswater Chinese.
As for titles and trophies?
Yang Cheng didn't care too much.
Only one team wins the league each season.
Does that mean everyone else is a failure?
Real success is in club management and the growth of the football industry.
…
When Bayswater Chinese returned from the Middle East with both the Club World Cup and £17 million worth of new sponsorships, the entire European football scene was rocked.
Everyone was stunned by the club's commercial power.
With Club World Cup appearance fees and prize money included, this trip had been an absolute windfall.
The Times even predicted that if they continued at this pace, once the new stadium opened, Bayswater Chinese could surpass Manchester United to become the richest club in the Premier League.
Maybe even overtake Real Madrid and Barcelona.
And the club wasn't shy about its ambitions.
In an interview, Adam Crozier said it bluntly:
"It's been our goal for years—to become the highest-earning football club in Europe."
And no one doubted the genius behind it all.
…
Meanwhile, back in the Premier League, two rounds of matches had been played while Bayswater Chinese were in the Middle East.
Matchday 17 (midweek):
Man United 3–0 WolvesArsenal 1–0 Burnley (away)Chelsea 2–1 Portsmouth (home)Liverpool 2–1 Wigan (home)Man City 3–2 Spurs (away)
Matchday 18 (weekend):
Liverpool lost 0–2 to last-place Portsmouth (away)
— British media were speechless.Man United stunned 0–2 by Fulham (away)
— A major shock across Europe
— Former Chelsea winger Duff delivered the daggerMan City edged Sunderland 4–3 at homeArsenal beat Hull 3–0 (home)Chelsea drew 1–1 with West Ham (away)
— Both goals were penalties
By the time Yang Cheng and Bayswater Chinese returned to London, the Premier League landscape had dramatically shifted.
Arsenal led the table with 43 points.
After years of investment, the Gunners finally looked like genuine title contenders.
Wenger was elated.
"To be top of the league before Christmas—it fills me and my players with unprecedented confidence."
"We will fight for the title!"
Not only that, following the conclusion of Matchday 18, Arsenal officially announced a new contract offer for midfield talisman Cesc Fàbregas.
Although the weekly wage was not publicly disclosed, The Independent, a newspaper close to the club, revealed that if the renewal went through, Fàbregas' new salary would be £200,000 per week.
In addition, several other Arsenal players had been placed on the club's contract renewal list.
Currently second in the league was Manchester City, sitting on 41 points, just two behind Arsenal.
Manchester United followed closely with 40 points, in third.
Still, Ferguson remained defiant. When asked by reporters about Wenger's side taking the top spot before Christmas, he shrugged.
"This isn't the first time Wenger's led the table heading into Christmas," he said.
"Over the years in the Premier League, we've seen plenty of teams have strong starts."
"But what really decides the title are the Christmas and winter fixtures—and what happens in February and March."
In other words, Ferguson didn't believe Arsenal were ready yet.
Bayswater Chinese and Chelsea were both on 38 points.
Yang Cheng's side held fourth on goal difference, with Hiddink's team in fifth.
Interestingly, right after Christmas, on Boxing Day (December 26, Matchday 19), Bayswater Chinese would host Chelsea in a heavyweight clash.
But what truly concerned Yang Cheng wasn't the current standings.
Trailing Arsenal by 5 points was not a big deal to him.
Especially because Bayswater Chinese still had three games in hand.
What troubled him more was: when would those matches be rescheduled?
Yang Cheng had already tasked Director of Football Dan Ashworth with contacting Tottenham, Blackburn, and Everton to arrange make-up dates in January—assuming neither team was still in the cups.
"We have to play catch-up in January," Yang Cheng said.
"Otherwise, once the Champions League returns, the whole fixture list will be a nightmare."
…
While the first team had been off in the Middle East playing in the Club World Cup, the club's Christmas campaign rolled on without skipping a beat.
As in previous years, under the guidance of Adam Crozier, the moment the team returned to London, the organization kicked off its seasonal outreach.
The club distributed gifts to the surrounding communities.
Players were sent in groups to visit orphanages, children's hospitals, and retirement homes.
What was new this year was that all eight satellite training centers around London also launched their own Christmas events.
Funded by the club, each center donated gifts to local residents, provided essentials to the elderly, and helped the community celebrate.
Yes—it cost more.
But the impact on the club's image was massive.
Xia Qing (Summer) had conducted an internal survey.
After years of consistent investment in community and fan services, Bayswater Chinese's reputation had surged.
The most direct benefit?
Attendance.
This season, Bayswater Chinese's 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium was selling out almost every match.
That drove up revenue significantly.
…
Once the holiday season was wrapped up, the club threw a grand celebration gala.
The theme: celebrating the Club World Cup victory, along with progress in the Premier League, Champions League, and League Cup.
Players, staff, and their families were all invited.
Everyone gathered together to toast an incredible year.
Yang Cheng announced that a new round of contract renewals would begin, which drew resounding applause.
Everyone knew—renewals meant raises.
It was just a matter of when.
After Yang Cheng spoke, CEO Adam Crozier took the stage to highlight the club's achievements over the past year—especially at the executive level.
Then, Commercial Director Omar Berrada introduced their latest off-the-pitch victories.
One key announcement?
"Three of our players have just signed new endorsement deals."
He didn't name them, but everyone knew—
Gareth Bale, Walcott, and Carroll.
Bale signed three endorsement contracts.Walcott and Carroll each signed one, all with UK-based companies.
Negotiations with Nike and Adidas were still ongoing.
Berrada promised that in the years ahead, the commercial department would invest heavily in player branding, aiming to maximize every player's off-field income.
Then, Dan Ashworth took the floor, reporting on the club's progress across the first team, youth academy, and satellite training centers.
Bayswater Chinese had grown into a full-blown football empire.
Their youth system had become one of the most respected in England and Europe.
Ashworth proudly noted that the club was recognized by UEFA as one of the continent's top academies.
Last season, their U19 team won the UEFA Youth League, led by stars like Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kanté.
After years of investment, the youth academy had finally started producing returns.
Many youth players who couldn't break into the first team were being sold for solid fees.
Youth player sales alone had brought in over £10 million.
Xia Qing, ever the pragmatist, had already crunched the numbers for Yang Cheng.
"After five years of heavy investment, the youth academy is finally showing returns."
Of course, with ongoing expansion—especially the satellite training centers—they were still far from profitability.
But Yang Cheng had faith.
"With youth talent getting more expensive, our academy is a golden goose."
It would not only supply first-team players, but also bring in steady income from sales.
Given the club's elite status, most academy players wouldn't make the first team.
But in the Championship, or mid-to-lower-table Premier League sides?
They were gold dust.
With the evolution of English football in recent years, particularly in tactics and technique, the academy philosophy Yang Cheng had instilled—technique first—had produced a highly marketable brand of player.
As long as they could keep sending youth graduates into the pro ranks each year,
Bayswater Chinese's academy reputation would only grow stronger.
Right now?
They were undoubtedly one of the top youth academies in England.
And only the club's top brass knew—
There was one more major signing, waiting to be announced after Christmas.
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