Chapter 191: I Will Become a Giant! The Chinese of Bayswater Are Overturning English Football!
The 15-minute halftime break felt both brief and endlessly long.
Some fans sat in their seats, suffering through the wait for the second half to begin.
Others rushed to the commercial area behind the stands, anxiously queuing up, cursing the damn infrastructure management department of the Bayswater Chinese—why hadn't they expanded the shops and stalls yet?
Fans were practically throwing money at them, and they still had to wait in line?
Bloody hell!
Then there were a few special fans who saw more than just football.
For instance, in a private box at Wembley Stadium sat Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
Outsiders had no idea just how drastic the changes at Chelsea had been this summer.
From their perspective, the Blues had simply brought in Sneijder and Eto'o and managed to retain Hiddink.
Some even believed that since Hiddink had failed to take the Russian national team to the South Africa World Cup, he was now focusing wholeheartedly on managing Chelsea.
Anything beyond that?
They knew nothing!
This summer had been bone-deep painful for Chelsea.
Since Abramovich bought the club in 2003, internal stability had remained elusive.
When Peter Kenyon defected from Manchester United, he brought along close allies like Ron Gourlay, who were put in charge of Chelsea's operations.
Israeli agent Pini Zahavi never held an official position within the club, but he wielded significant influence over Abramovich—not just because they were both Jewish.
In Chelsea's early years, many signings including Drogba and Essien were orchestrated by Zahavi.
Everyone knew this was a fat, juicy slice of the pie.
It made other agents drool.
So, Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes leveraged his relationship with Peter Kenyon—along with Porto's historic treble in 2004—to knock on Abramovich's door.
Mourinho and the Portuguese contingent followed, sidelining Pini Zahavi's influence.
During that period, Mourinho was at his peak.
Two dominant Premier League titles were Chelsea's return gift for that era.
But Zahavi wasn't about to hand over the feast sitting in front of him.
So, he played into Abramovich's desire for a more beautiful style of play, pushing the idea that even a title-winning Chelsea needed evolution.
And that they couldn't keep spending endlessly.
Abramovich's money didn't fall from the sky.
After his divorce, the global financial crisis, and Russia's own domestic situation, his fortune had taken a hit.
Thus, Zahavi introduced the Dutch contingent.
First, he recommended his good friend Piet de Visser to Abramovich.
Now 75 years old, De Visser was one of the most respected scouts in Dutch football. Since joining Chelsea in 2005, he'd mostly acted as Abramovich's personal advisor.
Before Chelsea, he spent years at PSV Eindhoven, unearthing legends like Romário, Ronaldo, van Nistelrooy, and Robben.
At the same time, Frank Arnesen jumped ship from Tottenham Hotspur.
That caused quite a stir back then.
It was a package deal.
De Visser excelled at spotting raw talent, while Arnesen focused on youth development—nurturing those young prospects.
During this period, Guus Hiddink came into Abramovich's orbit, eventually being appointed head coach of the Russian national team.
PSV Eindhoven also began collaborating with Chelsea.
But this brought a fundamental conflict.
Privately, Peter Kenyon, Jorge Mendes, and Mourinho—all with vested interests—naturally didn't want their hard-earned power diluted.
Even if it was just youth development.
Over the years, tensions between Mourinho, Arnesen, and others regarding power sharing refused to die down.
Publicly, everyone knew Mourinho preferred seasoned professionals and had little interest in developing youth.
So when the club began emphasizing its academy, the key question became how to establish a functional link between the first team and the youth team.
Mourinho cut that link.
And then came the Shevchenko incident.
The meteoric rise of the Bayswater Chinese and the resurgence of Manchester United made things even worse for Chelsea.
External pressure intensified internal divisions.
It all ended in a bitter fallout.
Mourinho was dismissed.
As Hiddink transitioned from interim to permanent manager, the Dutch took full control of Chelsea.
This summer, Frank Arnesen was promoted from Head of Youth Development and Chief Scout to Sporting Director.
His power expanded significantly.
Everyone could guess who'd be next on the chopping block—Chief Executive.
Sure enough, on November 1, Peter Kenyon stepped down.
His right-hand man, Commercial Director Ron Gourlay, took over as CEO.
Piet de Visser, now 75, began taking a more hands-on role in scouting and youth development at Chelsea, reporting directly to Abramovich.
While the public focused on transfers and managerial changes, no one realized that Chelsea's entire management structure had undergone a massive upheaval.
At this very moment, in the private box at Wembley, alongside Abramovich and his personal assistant Marina Granovskaia were Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck and CEO Ron Gourlay.
Also present were Pini Zahavi, Frank Arnesen, and Piet de Visser.
Among them, it was De Visser—Abramovich's personal advisor—who sat closest to the owner.
That way, Abramovich could consult him at any moment.
...
"Piet, I don't get it. Our lineup looks stronger than those Bayswater Chinese, so why can't we beat them?"
Abramovich genuinely respected this venerable European scout.
He had always hoped De Visser would unearth the next Romário or Ronaldo for Chelsea.
Though 75 and frail-looking, De Visser's eyes were sharp and full of energy.
His speech was a bit slow—but that only added to the sense of order and clarity in his words.
"Every club has its own inertia," the old man said. "Chelsea has just gone through turmoil, while our opponents have been building strength in a single direction since 2003, never wavering."
Abramovich immediately understood.
The Russian let out a gentle sigh. "But the pressure's too much right now. We're only in fifth place, and if we lose this match..."
"Then we'll still be fifth!" De Visser chuckled.
Abramovich blinked in surprise, then broke into a smile.
True enough—lose or not, they'd still be fifth.
This witty old man always found a way to lighten the mood.
"Victory and defeat on the pitch often aren't just about what happens on the pitch."
De Visser spoke slowly, but every word was clear.
"Look at our squad makeup. It forces Hiddink to adopt a certain style. Defensive counterattack means you're under constant pressure. If you can't hold the line—well, just look at our first half."
"You can't blame the players or the head coach entirely for this!"
Abramovich nodded repeatedly. He understood the reasoning.
"The problem with our team now is that over the past few years, many outstanding young players have struggled to get opportunities in the first team. We've failed to establish an effective system or structure for squad rotation and renewal."
"We actually have a lot of great young players. I've recommended quite a few myself—I believe they were ready to play for the first team. But there was no place for them in the squad, so they could only be loaned out."
"Being loaned out is never as effective as developing players in-house. Other clubs won't value them the same way, and that's why the success rate is what it is."
Abramovich nodded heavily, letting out a sigh.
"We're at a very sensitive stage of transition right now. It's difficult to achieve good results, push through a transformation, and avoid large-scale investment all at once."
"That's just impossible."
At this point, Piet de Visser gestured toward the pitch. "Look, the Bayswater Chinese squad is young. Their players are valued and trusted, and they're performing brilliantly."
"Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, both born in '89. Lewandowski and Di María, born in '88. And Aaron Ramsey, born at the end of 1990. Their young players are shining—something to be truly envious of, isn't it?"
Abramovich nodded again.
Right now, his feelings toward the Bayswater Chinese were a mix of envy, jealousy, and even a hint of resentment.
"But you also have to see that over these past years, Yang Cheng has consistently promoted young players while pouring resources into the youth academy. I heard their satellite training centers are opening a tenth location soon—spread throughout Greater London."
"And what about us at Chelsea? We only have the Cobham Training Centre. And it's not even bigger than their Brent Training Centre!"
"And that's just the hardware side of things."
Piet de Visser kept an eye on Abramovich's expression.
In his view, the Russian might be proud and imposing, with the aura of a man in power—but there was one admirable trait:
He was willing to listen.
"I have a good friend, Hans van der Zee. He's a scout at Ajax now, but we worked together at PSV for over a decade. He's an exceptional scout."
"He has his own unique way of identifying talent. For example, he doesn't attend matches very often—he prefers to observe training sessions, and he always insists on home visits to evaluate the player's family environment."
"He told me that these details are crucial to a player's psychology and development."
"Over the past few years, the Bayswater Chinese have spent money annually to bring in experts like Hans van der Zee to London, to train their scouts—including those scattered across the globe."
"So when clubs like ours, or Manchester City, try to poach the heads of scouting from different Bayswater Chinese regions, we can't budge them."
"The Bayswater Chinese don't just offer salaries. They offer a complete, structured pathway for personal growth. These people believe that by staying there, they can continue to improve professionally."
"And Yang Cheng is generous too—do well, and you get paid well!"
Hearing this, Abramovich glanced around at his subordinates, only to see them all hanging their heads.
He couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
Forget everything else—just looking at the combat capability of the upper management, Chelsea couldn't even begin to compare with the Bayswater Chinese.
"And then, Frank surely knows Wim Jansen too," De Visser added.
Frank Arnesen quickly nodded. "He's one of the reformers of Dutch youth football. In fact, he's widely regarded across European football as a youth development master on par with Cruyff."
"We actually invited him to lecture at Cobham a few times. But after a few visits, he stopped coming—said it was due to health issues."
Piet de Visser chuckled faintly. "It wasn't health issues. He just thought coming to lecture here was pointless."
"Why?" Abramovich's eyes sharpened as he turned toward Arnesen. "Was our payment not enough?"
Arnesen tensed, just about to explain, when Piet de Visser spoke again.
"It wasn't about money. It was because he felt we didn't value anything he had to say."
Abramovich was stunned.
"Wim Jansen was a disciple of Ernst Happel. His football philosophy is very similar to Cruyff's."
"Look at this match. The Bayswater Chinese stretch the field wide in attack—their wingers hug the touchlines. That's classic Dutch tactical thinking, very similar to Barcelona's approach."
"This shows that even Yang Cheng's first-team tactics have been influenced by Dutch football—and all of this stems from their youth players."
"Wim Jansen advocates starting youth training at age six. And look—Bayswater Chinese have already begun recruiting six-year-olds into their youth ranks. I've heard they've accepted several this year."
"From Happel to Jansen, and even Cruyff, they all believed that young players should play on different-sized pitches—the smaller the field, the more it sharpens individual technique and team coordination."
"Bigger pitches simulate actual matches better. So young players should constantly switch between pitch sizes to develop a feel for various spatial dynamics. It's a huge advantage in training."
"And the Bayswater Chinese have adopted all of it."
"Every month, they invite youth development experts like Wim Jansen from around the world to hold lectures at their academies. Not just for coaches—but for the players too."
"These top European youth training experts, fitness experts, and scouts don't just teach classes. They collaborate with the Bayswater Chinese's sports science department to develop new training programs and methods for identifying talent."
"Not only that—the Bayswater Chinese arrange for every age group to go on study tours across continental Europe. These trips often include training stints at other clubs' academies, tailored to individual player needs."
De Visser smiled slightly.
"Roman, I'm telling you all this because I want you to understand: the club we're up against is not just strong—they are a club that is, and will continue, to reshape the history of English football."
"From the first team down to the youth squads, they're overturning everything we know about English football. They're forging a path no one has walked before—or rather, a path that even Wenger and Ferguson couldn't manage to walk."
"Just think about when the FA started sending their coaching trainees to intern at the Brent Training Centre, and you'll see how far ahead the Bayswater Chinese are on this road."
"And us? Chelsea is just getting started. We haven't even found our direction yet."
De Visser's words lasted a full ten minutes.
No one around him could get a word in.
But they had a powerful impact on Abramovich—making him realize, more clearly than ever, the sheer scale of the gap between Chelsea and the Bayswater Chinese.
This wasn't just being left behind.
It was being outdated.
Being left behind means you're in the same era—you can still catch up.
But outdated?
Can you even chase that?
When exactly did it all begin?
Even Abramovich himself wasn't sure.
Perhaps it started the moment Yang Cheng took control of that team.
The gap had already started widening the moment he'd looked down on that amateur lower-league team years ago.
This reminded Abramovich of something Piet de Visser had just mentioned—results, transition, and investment, the impossible triangle.
If achieving all three at once was out of the question, then he had to prioritize two of them.
Money? So what?
I'll invest!
That thought reignited the determination in Abramovich's eyes.
Since 2003, he had harbored a deep resentment toward Yang Cheng and the Bayswater Chinese.
There was no way he could accept that his team would be permanently beneath them.
Absolutely not!
...
As soon as the second half began, the Bayswater Chinese raised the intensity against Chelsea.
Especially down the left flank where Gareth Bale was stationed—his performance was electric.
Ivanović felt the pressure from the Welshman right from the opening whistle.
Bale received a pass from Aaron Ramsey near the left touchline, close to the halfway line in Chelsea's half.
He received the ball side-on, facing toward the center.
With a single touch, he feinted to cut inside.
Ivanović adjusted his stance accordingly, preparing to defend the inside route.
But unexpectedly, after stepping inward, Bale quickly pulled the ball back with his right foot.
Then, with the outside of his left foot, he gently nudged it toward the touchline.
Ivanović prided himself on quick reactions and sharp focus. He immediately adjusted to track the move.
But Gareth Bale had planned this perfectly—he created just enough of a gap to push the ball forward with his left foot and then exploded after it, trying to blast past Ivanović along the sideline.
Ivanović wasn't a rookie. He immediately stepped in to challenge, using his body to block.
But Bale was even more ferocious than he had been in the first half. Not only did he hold his ground, he actually used the momentum to shoulder Ivanović aside.
The Serbian was caught off guard and couldn't recover in time—he could only watch as Bale surged forward with the ball.
Fortunately, just as Bale reached the edge of Chelsea's penalty area near the left corner, Alex managed to cut off his path into the box, forcing the Welshman toward the goal line.
Under pressure from both Ivanović and Alex, Bale pushed the ball a bit too far. He couldn't save it before it crossed the line.
But the solo run—from near midfield to Chelsea's goal line, almost breaking into the box—was breathtaking. The crowd loved it.
Wembley roared with wave after wave of cheers.
"Thanks, mate!"
As Ivanović jogged back, he passed by Alex and gave him a high five.
If Alex hadn't held his ground at the right moment, that play could've been dangerous.
"That kid's too wild. If you have to foul, do it early," Alex warned.
Ivanović nodded silently.
He knew that. But he couldn't even keep up in time.
Bale's threat might look one-dimensional—just pure speed.
But the reality?
Play against him and you'd know. His feints and directional changes were varied and effective.
Unlike other players, he led with those moves—first using misdirection and footwork to carve out space, then suddenly bursting forward to exploit it with raw pace.
It was a devastating style.
Once he got past you, there was no stopping him.
It was just like Kaká in 2007!
Just three minutes later, Di María cut in from the right flank and drew a foul just outside the penalty area.
Mikel didn't hesitate—he brought him down immediately.
But that gave the Bayswater Chinese a direct free kick from the right edge of the box.
Mikel also picked up a yellow card.
Along with Ashley Cole, who had already been booked, Chelsea now had two defenders on yellows.
This made Ivanović even more tense.
Modern defending relied on coordination.
Now that Cole and Mikel were both on yellow cards, Chelsea would have to lean heavier on their side of the pitch.
That meant Ivanović would be left one-on-one with Gareth Bale more often.
That damn Welshman!
...
Gareth Bale was gasping for breath as he jogged back slowly.
He had just taken that direct free kick—and narrowly missed the goal.
A bit of a letdown.
His touch wasn't quite right tonight. He felt a bit off.
"It's alright, Gareth, keep pushing!"
Captain Luka Modrić came over, patted his shoulder, and offered some encouragement.
They'd been teammates for years. Modrić didn't talk much, but he always said the right thing at the right time.
"Pass more to me. You guys cut in through the middle—I'll get the ball to you!"
Bale looked at Modrić with resolve.
Modrić gazed back into his teammate's eyes and nodded. "Then wait for it on the left!"
Bale didn't say another word—he turned and sprinted off.
As the Welshman reached the left wing, he found himself close to the fans who had been cheering him on.
They were shouting at the top of their lungs.
Bale raised both arms and waved furiously, urging them to shout louder, to make it even more intense.
His fiery gesture ignited the entire stadium.
Every fan stood in solidarity with the players, generating an intimidating atmosphere.
And as the fans ramped it up, the players fed off the energy and grew more confident.
Especially Gareth Bale.
He vividly remembered a conversation with Yang Cheng during preseason training in the United States.
One line from Yang Cheng had stayed with him:
"I want you to become a giant. Lead this team. Clear the path. Charge forward with no fear!"
A giant?!
Bale thought back to his days at Southampton.
Back then, he was full of self-doubt.
But now? He could proudly say: screw that!
Every doubt, every fear—he'd crush them all.
Because he was Gareth Bale.
The Gareth Bale of the Bayswater Chinese!
With that thought, Bale turned his head toward the home team's technical area and looked at Yang Cheng.
In the second half, the Bayswater Chinese were attacking from right to left. Bale on the left wing happened to be right near his coach.
Just then, Yang Cheng looked up and met his gaze.
Their eyes locked.
Yang Cheng smiled and gave him a thumbs-up—pure confidence and belief.
Bale took a deep breath, smiled back with equal confidence, and took off running again.
Boss, as long as I have your trust, I fear nothing!
No obstacle can stop our advance!
And if there is—I'll tear it down with everything I have. For you. For our team!
...
"Here!"
As Bale dropped back near midfield and raised his hand for the ball, Matić immediately sent it his way.
Bale controlled the ball and immediately tried to drive forward.
But Chelsea's defense was quick to react.
Before Bale could even pick up speed, Ivanović and Lampard were already in position.
One in front, one to the side—they boxed Bale into the left channel.
He had to slow down.
But just then, Marcelo made a surging run from behind Lampard, pointing ahead as he darted forward.
Now that was a great partner!
Gareth Bale immediately sent a diagonal pass with his left foot.
The ball cut through the space between Ivanović and Lampard, slicing forward between their defensive line.
Marcelo burst ahead and trapped Bale's pass with one touch.
What made it brilliant was that Marcelo didn't move after trapping it.
Because Mikel was closing in fast.
Ivanović and Lampard had already reacted to Bale's pass and spotted Marcelo. They moved to cut him off.
Especially Ivanović—he retreated quickly, realizing that in stepping up to press Bale earlier, he had left too much space between himself and Alex.
But just as Ivanović was sprinting back, he suddenly noticed someone blazing past him from behind at a shocking pace.
At that moment, Marcelo, who had looked like he was going to pass centrally, suddenly used the outside of his left foot to slide a through ball.
It landed perfectly near the left byline just outside the penalty area.
Ivanović was stunned and instantly accelerated in pursuit.
But Bale was faster.
Marcelo clearly understood Bale's pace—he hit the ball quickly, driving it hard toward the endline.
The Welshman accelerated at full tilt and, just before the ball could cross the line, managed to get there first and knock it back toward the penalty area.
Alex had also dashed over, trying to block Bale's run.
Though Bale was briefly forced over the byline, he immediately curved back in and stormed into the penalty area.
Just before the ball from earlier could fully cross the line, Bale, still just outside the field, reached out for it again.
The fourth official by the advertising boards watched anxiously, his mouth agape, terrified of missing a call.
But Bale kept it in.
In one smooth move, he darted inside Chelsea's penalty area ahead of Alex, then used the inside of his left foot to flick in a waist-high cross.
Čech was guarding the near post. He stretched out his arms and left leg, trying to cut it off.
But the ball slipped right past his midsection.
And at that exact moment, Aaron Ramsey flung himself forward in a full-bodied sliding shot—sending both himself and the ball crashing into Chelsea's net.
Right behind him, Lewandowski couldn't stop in time and tumbled into the goal too.
And behind Lewandowski was John Terry.
In that one instant, Chelsea had three players inside their own net.
The moment the ref blew the whistle to confirm the goal, Ramsey shot to his feet and sprinted off the pitch in celebration.
Lewandowski sat in the net with a wry smile, shaking his head in disbelief.
That goal had been practically his for the taking.
But Ramsey had stolen it at the last second!
At least the ball went in—otherwise, Ramsey would've had hell to pay.
Terry looked especially frustrated behind them.
All of Wembley erupted in wild celebration!
Ninety thousand fans roared, chanting Aaron Ramsey's name at the top of their lungs!
"3–0!"
"This is looking really grim for Chelsea now!"
"After conceding the first goal, their defense has been unable to recover its composure."
"The Bayswater Chinese are playing better and better, especially down both flanks—they've been incredibly dangerous."
"We just saw Gareth Bale's blistering run—his speed is absolutely terrifying."
"Ivanović and Alex couldn't do a thing to stop him."
"And Aaron Ramsey's run from deep was perfectly timed."
"The just-turned-19 midfielder has speed, technique, vision, and work rate. He's definitely going to become a force in the Bayswater Chinese midfield!"
"As for Chelsea, their top priority now is to decide: do they want to go for a goal?"
"And if they do, can they even stop Gareth Bale?"
...
In the 60th minute, Hiddink made the first substitution of the match.
Essien came on for Malouda.
Chelsea shifted into a 4-3-1-2 formation.
Sneijder moved up into the attacking midfield role, with Lampard, Mikel, and Essien forming a three-man defensive midfield line behind him.
The advantage of this setup was that Chelsea could commit more bodies to defend the flanks while still protecting the central area.
The downside? Their counterattacks would suffer.
And they'd lose their width entirely.
From the moment the formation changed, Bale and Marcelo on the left, and Piszczek and Di María on the right, began attacking with renewed intensity, repeatedly creating danger.
But ironically, because the Bayswater Chinese were attacking so aggressively, Chelsea managed to catch them off guard.
In the 73rd minute, Drogba received a pass from Sneijder in the middle third and delivered a brilliant through ball.
Eto'o broke free from Matić's mark and drove into the right side of the penalty area, curling a shot into the far corner.
3–1!
The goal reignited Chelsea's hope.
Hiddink didn't even make another sub—he kept the team pressing with counterattacks.
Their back line and midfield dropped even deeper.
The moment the Bayswater Chinese entered Chelsea's final 30 meters, they were swarmed and suffocated by relentless pressure.
In response, Yang Cheng made his first substitution in the 75th minute.
Hazard came on for Di María.
Then a second change followed immediately.
Rakitić replaced Modrić.
There was another match in two days, and Yang Cheng needed to manage his resources.
Why didn't he sub off Gareth Bale?
Because Yang Cheng could feel that burning hunger in him.
Taking him off now would be like throwing cold water on a raging fire.
Besides, the next match was away against Stoke City.
Yang Cheng felt confident about that one.
Given the situation, he was more than happy to let Bale keep going.
...
After the flurry of substitutions, Gareth Bale remained highly active on the left flank.
But with Chelsea now bunkered deep in their half, the Welshman had far less space to receive or sprint into—his threat level dropped sharply.
And that exposed one of Bale's current limitations.
Simply put, his arsenal wasn't yet complete.
But as he matured—especially with strength training and muscle building—his physical development would improve his ability to play through contact.
Yang Cheng would gradually transition him into a player who could directly assault the goal more frequently.
He had the height, the power, the strength—he could absolutely become an attacker like Ronaldo in the 2006/07 season.
Of course, the Bayswater Chinese already had Lewandowski. They didn't need Bale to become a pure goal scorer.
Bale's speed and explosiveness were his true weapons.
Just as Yang Cheng was thinking about this, the game shifted again.
Hazard received a pass from Rakitić on the right side of the final third.
With a flurry of step-overs and feints, he breezed past Sneijder and Mikel and cut toward the top of the penalty arc.
Just as he was about to enter the box from the right side, Mikel came crashing in and bowled him over about 20 meters from goal.
The Nigerian instantly threw up his hands, signaling that he hadn't done anything—clearly trying to imply Hazard had dived.
But the Bayswater Chinese players immediately surrounded the ref in protest.
Hazard, meanwhile, had learned a thing or two—he stayed down, letting his teammates argue on his behalf.
There was no controversy about the foul—it was clearly a set piece in the attacking third.
But the Bayswater Chinese players believed Mikel should've been booked.
After all, he was already on a yellow card.
In the end, the referee chose not to issue a second yellow. He gave Mikel a stern warning and awarded a free kick to the Bayswater Chinese, slightly more central and a bit closer to goal than the one Di María had earned earlier.
Gareth Bale stepped up once again, confidently claiming the ball and walking to the spot.
After placing it down, he carefully stomped on the turf around the ball to secure it, then backed away slowly.
Chelsea quickly arranged their wall.
In front of goal, Čech clapped his gloves together, crouched slightly, and fixed his gaze straight ahead.
Wembley fell into complete silence.
Even with a 3–1 lead, it was a derby match—who would ever say no to more goals?
Bale charged up with a quick run-up. Planting his right foot, he struck cleanly with his left.
There was a heavy thud as the ball rocketed off his boot, flying over the leaping wall and dipping hard toward the goal.
Čech reacted instantly, diving to his side—
But he still couldn't stop it.
The ball slipped just under his outstretched hand and slammed into the net behind him.
The Czech keeper had been phenomenal all match, but this time, he couldn't stop Bale's direct free kick.
"GOAL!!!"
"The Bayswater Chinese have scored again!"
"4–1!"
"A direct free kick from Gareth Bale!"
"A brilliant strike from about 20 meters out!"
"There's no denying it—Bale's free kicks are the real deal. Since the start of his career, he's had a gifted left foot. And now, he's becoming more refined, more confident with every strike."
"There are only a few minutes left. Time is running out for Chelsea."
"Honestly, the Blues have looked passive this entire match."
"Hiddink has done everything he can, but with this current Chelsea squad, it's very hard to gain the upper hand against the Bayswater Chinese."
"Even Drogba, their most relied-upon weapon, hasn't gotten the better of Pepe today."
"The iron-blooded Chelsea of old... really is aging."
...
In the end, with goals from Lewandowski, Di María, Aaron Ramsey, and Gareth Bale, the Bayswater Chinese crushed Chelsea 4–1 at home.
As soon as the match ended, the news spread across Europe and around the globe.
Every fan watching the live broadcast could feel the Bayswater Chinese's thrilling, high-impact style of play.
With dominance in midfield, they constantly created chances and rained down attacks on the Chelsea defense.
Led by Gareth Bale and Di María, both wings tore Chelsea's backline apart time and time again.
The Sun was quick to publish a commentary, saying Chelsea were lucky to have only conceded four goals at Wembley.
"If not for Čech's heroics, Chelsea could've been absolutely slaughtered."
And indeed, post-match ratings from Sky Sports confirmed it.
Man of the Match went to Gareth Bale.
His rating? A 9.
And Chelsea's Čech?
Also a 9.
"Every time Chelsea's defense broke down, it was the Czech goalkeeper throwing his body on the line to save a crumbling backline!"
A 9/10 rating for Čech, despite conceding four goals—an indication of just how incredible his performance was.
Within the Bayswater Chinese squad, only Gareth Bale received the same score.
For Čech to get a 9 while letting in four—well, that says it all.
The Times also weighed in, stating that Chelsea's need to reinforce the squad had become urgent.
Particularly up front.
According to their analysis, in one-on-one matchups, Drogba still held a slight edge over Kompany—bullying the young Belgian a bit.
But against the seasoned and composed Pepe, Drogba gained no advantage and was even outmuscled at times.
Whether it was physical duels, aerial battles, or any other aspect, the Ivorian simply couldn't dominate.
This was no longer the same Drogba who once ravaged Europe.
"Chelsea must face reality—the powerful center forward they've relied on for years has grown old!"
"Maybe it's time the Blues seriously consider making moves during the winter transfer window."
"Especially with five of their African players—including Drogba and Eto'o—set to leave for the Africa Cup of Nations."
African players had always been a cost-effective and popular option in the Premier League.
But the recurring issue was that the Africa Cup always took place in January—a major headache.
That's why Ferguson once said Manchester United weren't keen on signing African players.
Previously, The Sun had reported that Chelsea were considering signing a strong center forward in the winter window.
There were several names in the mix.
Ready-made stars like Atlético Madrid's Agüero, Bayern's Luca Toni, and Liverpool's Fernando Torres were all on Chelsea's radar.
Then there were talented younger options—Ajax's Luis Suárez, and the Bayswater Chinese's Carroll.
There were even rumors that Chelsea had already secured a deal for the Belgian wonderkid from Anderlecht, Romelu Lukaku.
The 16-year-old prodigy was already making waves across Europe with his incredible physique—earning him the nickname "Little Drogba."
The Bayswater Chinese's Carroll had also been dubbed "the new Drogba" by British media, but as a white Englishman, he offered a different profile.
Lukaku, being of African descent, bore a much closer resemblance to the original Drogba.
Whether it was the veteran Luca Toni, the prime-age Agüero, the youthful Carroll, or the still-unproven-at-elite-level Suárez and Lukaku—none would be easy to sign.
The Sun even revealed that Chelsea had already opened talks with Agüero's camp.
Reportedly, Chelsea were willing to offer £150,000 per week.
But Agüero wasn't interested.
The reason? Under the UK's steep 50% tax rate, even at £150k, his take-home pay wouldn't be any higher than what he earned in Spain.
So why would he move to the Premier League?
"The negotiations have reached a stalemate."
"Atlético aren't budging either."
"Clearly, everyone knows Chelsea are desperate to sign a striker to cover for their Africa Cup absences."
"So whether it's Atlético, Ajax, or Bayern—both clubs and players alike are holding out for richer contracts."
"And that's something Chelsea are unwilling to accept."
On top of that, Chelsea weren't the only club targeting Agüero.
Manchester City were also very interested.
Even though they already had stars like Adebayor, Tévez, and Robinho, City still wanted Agüero—for one simple reason:
Money was no issue.
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