Chapter 238: Too Expensive! Expansion! The Art of Delay! The Greatest Defense in History
Southwest of Central Park, New York City—
Inside the chairman's office of RSE Venture Capital, real estate magnate Stephen Ross had just returned from his Christmas holiday. He was meeting with Matt Higgins and Charlie Stillitano, who had flown in directly from London.
The two men were CEO and sporting director of Premier League club Queens Park Rangers.
And at this moment, all three faces were grim.
QPR were dead last in the Premier League table.
Yes, they had 14 points—the same as Blackburn—but their goal difference was -25.
Blackburn's was -14.
By league rules, QPR had dropped beneath them, earning the "honor" of being bottom of the table.
So, with the holiday just over, Higgins and Stillitano had flown to New York immediately.
QPR had no money.
Yes, the Italian ownership had kept their promise—delivering a debt-free Premier League club.
But the squad was utterly uncompetitive.
Last summer, in order to sell the club, the Italians refused to invest in transfers.
A newly promoted team with no signings? How could they possibly survive?
The office was filled with a suffocating gloom.
This outcome had clearly not been part of the plan when they bought the club.
What a bloody trap.
"What now?" Stephen Ross asked, face dark, turning to his two lieutenants.
His tone even carried a hint of blame.
After all, they were the ones who'd approved everything. It had all looked fine on paper.
But then again, they couldn't take full responsibility.
American sports leagues don't have relegation.
How were they supposed to evaluate a club's relegation risk accurately?
"We're in a bad spot," Higgins began.
"Charlie, Danny [the London-based COO], and I have discussed it thoroughly.
We've also asked a few players for their input."
"We're considering a managerial change."
Ross nodded.
"Go on."
"But that's a problem too.
We'll have to pay Neil Warnock a severance package—or keep paying him until he finds a new job."
Ross clicked his tongue in frustration, frowning.
"And the new manager?"
"We've looked at a few.
But the top priority is simple: survival."
Ross nodded again.
"Exactly. We have to stay up."
"I paid £100 million for a Premier League club. If we get relegated, we're just a Championship side.
No TV revenue, sponsorship becomes harder to sell.
With QPR's situation, how much more would we need to invest to plug the holes?"
Worse still—you can't not invest.
The Premier League and FA both conduct financial audits.
If you're in debt or behind on wages, best case: points deduction.
Worst case: forced relegation.
Which would mean dropping from the Championship to League One, or even League Two.
"That £100 million would go straight down the drain."
"And let's not forget—we've been working on this year's US tour.
QPR is supposed to come as a Premier League club. If we're relegated, can we even show our faces?"
This was Ross's long-term plan—
Use QPR's Premier League status to crack the American market, including a spot in the World Football Challenge.
If they went down?
His entire £100 million investment would be wiped out.
His carefully crafted plan? Dead.
At that moment, Ross finally understood—
Why the Italian had been grinning from ear to ear when he sold the club.
A club that had just been promoted, with projected revenue exceeding £50 million…
Football is a money pit.
Ross had run sports franchises before—but never anything like this.
In America, there's no relegation.
You buy the rights, build the club, then just sit back and collect profits.
Who the hell worries about relegation?
"So—who are you thinking for head coach?" Ross asked.
"Mark Hughes. He's experienced. He believes he can save the team, but…"
"But what?"
"He wants us to invest during the winter window."
Ross's face twisted.
"Let me guess—how much?"
"£50 million." Stillitano answered.
Ross nearly collapsed in his chair.
"How much?!"
"Fifty. Million. Pounds."
"I'd rather just let us get relegated!"
£50 million in transfers?
He must be insane.
"Player prices in the Premier League are sky-high.
And it's the winter window—it's always more expensive," Higgins added with a sigh.
Everyone knew Hughes was negotiating from a high anchor, expecting to bargain down.
"If it's really £50 million, forget it. Let QPR go down. I'm done," Ross snapped.
But inside, he was hurting.
How had he fallen into such a mess?
No reinforcements meant near-certain relegation.
That £100 million? Gone.
And coming back up?
Near impossible.
But investing now?
That was a bottomless pit.
When would QPR ever become self-sustaining?
Maintaining competitiveness meant constantly throwing in more money.
"The worst part is—we can't even sell the club right now.
Premier League teams aren't selling well these days," Higgins added with a sigh.
He realized:
Being CEO of a Premier League club?
Worst job on earth.
Ross took a deep breath, calming himself.
"Let me be honest—£50 million is out of the question.
I won't put that much in."
"£30 million, at most.
Hughes can get the rest through loans from United or others—but we'll need to raise the wage cap."
Ross wasn't naïve. He'd run NFL teams before.
Transfer fees are short-term pain.
Wages are long-term pain.
Raise wages too much, and the financial pressure balloons.
"Hughes has his eye on Shaun Wright-Phillips at City. Worth about £6 million."
"Also Djibril Cissé from Lazio, Bobby Zamora from Fulham, and Nedum Onuoha from City…"
Each of those players was around £5 million.
That's already £20 million for just those four.
Add in players like Sol Campbell, Traoré, Anton Ferdinand, Luke Young…
Total transfer budget needed?
£30 million, easily.
The rest would have to come from free transfers and loans.
But QPR had already signed several free agents over the summer.
Their wage bill was bloated.
And the club's cash reserves?
Empty.
"Can't transfer fees be paid in installments?" Ross asked.
"They can.
But we're about to run out of cash for salaries.
And Hughes's own wage is high."
"How high?"
"£4 million per year."
Ross winced like someone had stabbed him.
"Who the hell is this guy? Earning that much?"
"He's well-connected.
Can get loan deals from United, Milan—
And he has extensive experience. In England, he's considered a top-tier manager."
Charlie Stillitano paused, then added, "When he was at Fulham—you know, that club we visited when scouting stadiums—he was making £5 million a year, and he delivered consistently good results."
Stephen Ross felt his heart bleeding.
"Can he guarantee survival?" Ross asked, getting straight to the most critical point.
Matt Higgins and Charlie Stillitano exchanged glances—then both shook their heads.
Who could guarantee that?
Ross nearly collapsed on the spot.
So even if he threw in another £30 million, there was still no guarantee QPR would avoid relegation.
And if they went down, that sunk cost would rise to £130 million.
Even if they survived this season… what about the next?
If they got relegated next year, what then?
Ross realized there was no profitable outcome.
No matter how he calculated it, this business was a losing game.
At this rate, he'd just keep throwing in more and more money into a bottomless pit.
But if he didn't invest?
The sunk cost alone might drive him mad.
"Alright, I'll put in £30 million.
When you get back to London, go to the financial district.
Find that fat bastard, Kash Harris, and tell him to start shopping this club around."
"I'm not asking for much—£100 million, just what I paid for it.
Hell, I'll even give him a commission."
Ross wasn't new to big business—he knew how to cut his losses.
He had to offload this time bomb before it exploded.
Matt Higgins and Stillitano exchanged glances—both saw the same grim realization in each other's eyes.
At the start of the season, they were a promoted club full of ambition.
Now they were dead last, top relegation candidates.
At this point, not even a fire sale might save them.
But could they say that out loud?
...
While American tycoon Stephen Ross was on the verge of a breakdown in New York,
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was pacing restlessly in the living room of his Knightsbridge home in London.
He was facing a very thorny dilemma.
Should he sack André Villas-Boas?
The media, the fans, the players, even his closest advisors—all wanted him gone.
It's just severance money, they said.
Just pay it and be done.
But Abramovich couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger.
Only six months earlier, he had personally promised Villas-Boas support—
and paid a huge release fee to bring him from Porto.
Now he'd pay another huge fee just to get rid of him?
Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock?
Outside, the fan protests were growing louder and angrier.
Stephen Ross was agonizing over the cost—
but Abramovich had already stated he was willing to spend.
He was ready to drop another £100 million on signings.
But this time, he would personally oversee every transfer.
No more blind faith.
Still, the real question remained:
Should Villas-Boas stay?
"The players have made their opinions very clear," Marina Granovskaia reported.
"Except for a few who refused to comment, everyone else believes Villas-Boas should be replaced.
They don't think results will improve otherwise."
She had conducted the survey herself—100% verified.
"No one stood up for him?" Abramovich was incredulous.
"What about his allies? That one from Porto—what's his name…"
"Álvaro Pereira," Pete de Visser reminded him.
"Right. Even he didn't speak up?"
Marina shook her head.
"He sat quietly in a corner. Said nothing."
To be fair, the guy had been completely overshadowed by Ashley Cole this season.
"What about Bosingwa and Ferreira? They're both Portuguese. Did they say anything?"
"Silence," Marina said again.
Abramovich nearly laughed out of frustration.
Six months, and Villas-Boas had managed to alienate the entire squad.
How had he even done that?
"Honestly," Pete de Visser said sharply,
"Chelsea's results have been awful. No one's willing to put their neck out."
"In professional sports, results are everything.
If Villas-Boas were top of the table, I'd support sacking the senior players instead.
But in this situation? There's only one choice."
Abramovich already knew the answer.
He'd just been avoiding the decision.
"Honestly, I don't think we need to make any more winter signings either," de Visser said.
"We've already signed Gary Cahill—leave it at that. Save the funds for summer."
"Winter transfers are overpriced, risky, and desperate.
Let's use the next six months to plan long-term. Build the right team.
Spend smart in the summer."
Abramovich nodded.
That made sense.
Winter transfer windows were notorious for bad deals.
And the real issue was still Villas-Boas.
He looked at Marina, then at Pete de Visser.
After a long pause, he slumped into the sofa and waved at Marina.
"Tell Gourlay. It's time to talk to Villas-Boas."
She nodded and left the room.
...
January 4th, 2012. The Premier League was rocked by two major announcements.
Chelsea officially sacked André Villas-Boas.Assistant coach Roberto Di Matteo was named interim manager.
Nobody was surprised.
Ever since the heavy home loss to Bayswater Chinese, the writing had been on the wall.
That loss had been over a month ago.
If anything, Villas-Boas had outlasted expectations.
But the disruption to Chelsea was undeniable.
They had spent €15 million to bring him from Porto in the summer,
and now had to pay another hefty fee to send him packing six months later.
Was it really about coaching ability?
This was the British media's favorite trap.
Before his dismissal, every outlet had screamed for his head.
But the moment he was sacked?
The same media began to ask:
"Was it the right move?"
If Villas-Boas lacked the ability,
how had he led Porto to a treble?
Suddenly, a wave of sympathy washed over the press.
"It's a shame. A young coach with a long contract—he only got six months?"
"Where's the patience?"
They didn't directly say Chelsea were wrong—
but they hammered home the idea that sacking Villas-Boas without fixing deeper issues wouldn't change anything.
Public opinion shifted rapidly.
Yang Cheng could only imagine:
Abramovich must have been fuming.
Two massive payouts—gone.
And they weren't alone.
Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea's West London neighbors and fierce rivals, also made headlines.
They sacked Neil Warnock,
and hired Mark Hughes in a desperate bid to survive.
They had already started spending big in the winter window.
It looked like the Americans were going all in.
Yang Cheng still remembered that in his previous life, during the 2011/12 season, after Queens Park Rangers changed managers and invested heavily in the winter transfer window, they did manage to stay up.
But the very next season, they were relegated.
As for this life—who knew?
"They've been actively planning for QPR to tour North America,"
said David Pencil and Richard Masters of the ICC company.
Before heading to Nice, they made a stop in London to meet with Yang Cheng and discuss this summer's World Football Challenge.
"From what we've gathered, they're preparing the tournament and want to invite quite a few strong European teams—Atletico Madrid, Dortmund, Napoli…"
"Looks like they're trying to create a tier below our ICC," Yang Cheng said with a knowing nod.
They had the International Champions Cup.
These guys were trying to build the International Europa Cup.
"How are the clubs reacting?" Yang Cheng asked.
"No confirmations yet, but most are skeptical about the U.S. organizers.
Their last two tournaments weren't very successful.
On the other hand, expectations for the ICC are high.
In fact, several clubs have already inquired whether we're planning an expansion."
Expansion.
That had always been part of Yang Cheng's long-term plan.
When they first confirmed the 12 founding clubs, he'd said:
"When the time is right—we'll expand."
But any new teams would be invited as guests—
no shares, no revenue cuts.
In other words, control stays with ICC Company, in Yang Cheng's hands.
"What's your opinion?" he asked.
David Pencil and Richard Masters exchanged a smile.
"We'd love to expand.
But it's too late for this year."
Pencil continued.
At the tournament's launch, they'd sold commercial rights and broadcast packages at low rates, aiming for exposure.
They needed big outlets like FOX, CCTV, and others to promote the event.
Low fees meant those broadcasters could turn a healthy profit—motivating them to give the tournament coverage.
But things had changed.
Ever since last year's 160,000-attendance blockbuster, the ICC had become a sensation.
The event had officially established itself.
Now it was time to move forward, methodically—
to consolidate the brand and deepen its influence.
With the 3-year introductory pricing expiring, new deals were about to be negotiated.
Sponsors and broadcasters would all need to renegotiate.
In the U.S., FOX had made a killing, and now ESPN and NBC were both eager to bid.
Yang Cheng trusted Pencil and Masters with the commercial side, just like he trusted Adam Crozier and Omar Berrada.
"For China, stick with the low-price market strategy. Keep talking with CCTV."
It wasn't just about reaching domestic fans—
It was also about building influence.
Whatever revenue they lost on licensing, they'd make back in sponsorship and exposure.
That had always been Yang Cheng's approach.
"Understood," Pencil nodded.
His plan was simple:
Expand the ICC after this summer's tournament.
If the U.S. had East and West divisions, why not do the same in Asia?
Each region's group winner could advance to a regional final,
and maybe—eventually—Asia's winner could face North America's in a grand final.
"But right now, we're not quite ready," Richard Masters noted.
"The main issue is scheduling."
Currently, each of the 12 clubs in the Asian region played 3 games.
In North America, the group winner played 4.
Adding a global final? That would mean 5 matches.
But that would create a major time crunch.
Because it would mean pushing up the start of group stages—
forcing clubs to compete immediately after starting preseason.
"Clubs begin training with fitness conditioning.
If they're thrown into competitive matches right away,
the quality will tank.
Fans will demand refunds."
Another issue: final location.
Regional finals in Asia and North America made sense.
But if you added a global final—where would it be?
"Europe?" Masters suggested, eyes lighting up.
"How about the Prudential Stadium?
Seats over 90,000, and Premier League ticket prices are high!"
Yang Cheng actually liked that idea.
But it wouldn't be easy to coordinate.
As they said, one more match meant a lot more scheduling conflicts.
"Let's keep it as a contingency plan.
For now, regional finals are enough.
Once we're more established, cities will come to us—just like the Champions League final," Yang Cheng said with a smile.
There were already dozens of cities lining up to host the Champions League final.
UEFA had high standards—transportation, infrastructure, stadium capacity…
Same principle for the ICC.
"Let's move steadily. Build the IP.
Once the brand is set, opportunities will come knocking."
"There's one more thing," Pencil added, now serious.
"FIFA and UEFA want a meeting with us."
"When?" Yang Cheng asked.
"I haven't replied yet."
Yang Cheng's expression darkened.
He wasn't surprised.
Knowing FIFA and UEFA's track record,
it was inevitable—they'd want a slice of the ICC pie.
And it wasn't just them.
The U.S. Soccer Federation had also been showing a lot of "interest."
But the ICC company was prepared.
They had one man to thank: Charlie Stillitano.
Back in the early 2000s, Charlie had launched a company to bring European clubs to the U.S. for exhibition matches.
But the venture collapsed—sabotaged by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which withheld key approvals and left him buried in debt.
Stillitano sued them out of fury.
He lost.
But after that, U.S. Soccer basically backed off from commercial friendlies.
So now, with the ICC booming,
all U.S. Soccer could do was watch from the sidelines—green with envy.
"Say what you will, this is great for the cities hosting the matches," Yang Cheng said.
"If they try to interfere again—
we'll sue the hell out of them."
They weren't exactly clean themselves.
FIFA and UEFA were also eyeing the pot, but they probably wouldn't dare make a direct move—just passive-aggressive probing.
And they couldn't interfere with anything in July and August.
They had no jurisdiction.
For them, the issue wasn't just financial—
it was about control.
Think about it:
All major official competitions—World Cup, Euros, Champions League—
are in their hands.
Even leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga, while operating under independent bodies, are still under the umbrella of their national FAs, and thus under FIFA and UEFA's thumb.
But the International Champions Cup (ICC)?
From the day it was born, it wasn't under FIFA or UEFA.
Worse—it brought together 12 of the most powerful and influential clubs in the world.
What were they trying to do?
FIFA and UEFA hadn't forgotten the nightmare that was the G-14.
Especially Platini.
He'd worked so hard to kill G-14.
Now what?
A G-12?
And it was even worse than G-14.
Back then, it was just a loose alliance.
Now?
They're running their own tournament!
Sure, it's only a friendly.
But what if?
What if it keeps growing, becomes more profitable, more influential?
Who's to say it doesn't evolve into a formal competition?
Then what?
What would FIFA and UEFA do?
"Meet with them. See what they want. Play the long game," Yang Cheng said with a faint smile.
The ICC was only two years old.
It wasn't time to clash head-on with the big dogs.
For now, the priority was simple:
Survive and grow quietly.
Appease FIFA and UEFA.
Give it a few years.
Once the ICC had enough backing and reputation—then they could start flexing.
Yang Cheng was already entertaining possibilities.
Maybe the ICC could go official, even challenge FIFA and UEFA on equal footing.
But that would take a lot of work—unlocking every gate, building the right relationships.
As for the 12 clubs?
Even so-called "UEFA darlings" like Barcelona, often joked about as Platini's godchild, had many grievances with UEFA.
If the ICC gained momentum and became a genuine threat?
That would be a godsend for the elite clubs.
UEFA's hardline stance wouldn't hold.
FIFA would no longer have the right to dictate everything—like international call-ups.
Because ultimately, these two governing bodies had gotten too comfortable.
It was time to remind them:
Their reign wasn't eternal.
Once the ICC reached maturity and the clubs stood united,
FIFA and UEFA's golden age would be over.
"Oh, by the way—I heard Stephen Ross is looking to sell QPR."
"When?" Yang Cheng asked, surprised.
"Just recently. Apparently, he's listed the club with Kash Harris in the London financial district. Asking price: £100 million."
Yang Cheng chuckled.
"Americans and football... they're always entertaining."
Wasn't that the truth?
Given QPR's current state, and they still wanted £100 million?
If they managed to stay up, maybe some investors would consider it—
but not now. Not midseason.
Right now, Premier League clubs weren't easy to sell.
Take Newcastle. They'd been listed for years—
plenty of inquiries, few serious offers.
Why?
Because even they couldn't provide financial transparency.
No one really knew how much debt Newcastle was carrying—
and that's a club with history.
QPR? Even worse.
If they couldn't sell, the Americans were stuck.
Either keep bleeding cash, or watch their £100 million evaporate.
European football was fair like that—
no favoritism for investors, whether American or Chinese.
...
January 6th, afternoon, Wembley Stadium, London.
FA Cup Third Round: Bayswater Chinese vs. League One side Oldham.
Technically, Oldham was one of Yang Cheng's earliest opponents when he first took charge at Bayswater.
But those days were long gone.
Oldham showed admirable courage on the trip to Wembley.
Yang Cheng had rotated heavily, and his team started slow.
Oldham scored first.
But just two minutes later, Hazard equalized.
Then, just before halftime, Aaron Ramsey made it 2–1.
In the second half, De Bruyne scored in the 68th minute.
3–1.
And in the dying moments:
89th minute: Harry Kane converted a Walker cross.95th minute: Another Walker cross—Sterling volleyed home a beauty.
Final score: 5–1.
Bayswater Chinese cruised through.
But what really pleased Yang Cheng?
Kane and Sterling scoring again—
and Walker's brilliant second-half performance.
The right-back was lightning quick, powerful, technically solid—
but had always played like a reckless bulldozer.
Today?
He played with composure and intelligence.
Yang Cheng praised him both in the dressing room and at the post-match presser, naming him specifically and urging him to keep pushing forward.
...
Elsewhere in the FA Cup Third Round, a heavyweight clash took place:
Manchester City lost 2–3 at home to Manchester United.
How did those two draw each other this early?
In Round Three?
City had also rotated heavily, with Ancelotti clearly eyeing the League Cup semifinal just three days away.
That match?
At home.
Against Bayswater Chinese.
But United's full-strength lineup punished them.
Ancelotti was not happy with the result.
...
January 10th, afternoon – League Cup Semifinal, First Leg.
Bayswater Chinese away at Manchester City.
Yang Cheng rotated again.
City? Full-strength XI.
In the 13th minute, Kaká scored to give City the lead.
The match turned into a war of attrition.
Ancelotti used a 4-3-2-1 Christmas Tree formation, stifling Bayswater's attack.
Yang Cheng's side couldn't find a breakthrough.
Final score: 0–1 loss.
...
Three days later – Premier League Matchday 21.
Away at White Hart Lane – Tottenham vs. Bayswater Chinese.
A brutal showdown.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp rolled out a bizarre tactic:
4-4-2, with Adebayor and Saha up top.
Midfield of Kranjčar, Sandro, Livermore, and Aaron Lennon.
Defense: Ekotto, Kaboul, Ledley King, and Kyle Naughton.
Yang Cheng, sensing City breathing down his neck,
sent out a full-strength squad.
He wasn't taking any chances at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Hotspur were sitting sixth in the Premier League this season, and their strength was nothing to scoff at.
Harry Redknapp's tactics were interesting—he packed four men into the midfield.
With Modrić out injured, Aaron Ramsey stepped in to start, which gave Spurs a solid opportunity.
They used their numerical superiority in midfield to suppress Bayswater Chinese's central build-up.
Every time they won the ball, they looked to push it forward quickly.
Adebayor and Saha were excellent at holding up play with their backs to goal, allowing Spurs to develop a second wave of attack through midfield runners.
The fascinating part was that while Tottenham successfully choked Bayswater's midfield and stopped their forward passing,
they themselves couldn't string anything meaningful together.
Previously, Yang Cheng had openly envied Manchester United for having a veteran center-back like Ferdinand.
But in this match, Pepe and Thiago Silva were immense.
Pepe, in particular, won nearly every battle with Adebayor.
As early as the 38th minute, Bayswater Chinese had already found the net.
Gareth Bale surged past Kyle Naughton on the left and crossed to the edge of the six-yard box.
Lewandowski took the shot, which was blocked by Ledley King.
But the Polish striker cleverly flicked a backheel that rolled past Friedel and into the net.
Only for the referee to blow for offside on Bale's initial run.
But in the 45th minute, Walcott broke down the right and earned a corner.
Toni Kroos whipped it in, and Lewandowski beat his marker at the near post with a powerful header.
1–0!
Despite dominating possession, Bayswater Chinese didn't create many threatening chances in the first half.
Tottenham had even fewer. The match was, frankly, a bit dull.
The second half started much like the first.
Yang Cheng remained patient, observing quietly from the sidelines.
In the 58th minute, Bayswater earned a free kick on the right, about 22 meters from goal.
Bale struck a vicious knuckleball that grazed the top of the crossbar.
Shortly after, another attack saw Lewandowski brought down in the box by Ledley King, but the referee waved it off—no penalty.
This infuriated the players.
A goal disallowed earlier, now a clear penalty denied?
Then, just a minute later, Walcott and Piszczek combined beautifully on the right.
Walcott received the return pass at the edge of the box,
laid it back to Piszczek, who was unmarked.
The Polish right-back sent a low diagonal cross into the area.
Everyone thought it was meant for Lewandowski, who drew the attention of all defenders.
But the ball went to the back post—
Gareth Bale came flying in, leapt, and headed it into the far corner.
2–0!
The Welshman charged off the pitch, fists pumping and roaring in celebration.
Tottenham were a strong side—
they could definitely go toe-to-toe with any of the top five.
Later, Marcelo had a long-range effort, but it didn't trouble the keeper.
In the 69th minute, Marcelo created another golden chance from the left.
He received the ball outside the box and slid a perfect pass into space.
Bale, cutting in horizontally across the top of the area,
beat Naughton, slipped past Livermore, and curled a screamer into the top-right corner.
A true top-corner rocket.
Friedel dove—but was nowhere near it.
3–0!
Redknapp couldn't accept being shut out at home.
He brought on Defoe to add attacking firepower.
Spurs pressed high, aggressively.
And in the 88th minute, Defoe got a shot off—a dangerous long-range strike.
But Courtois was laser-focused.
He made a spectacular diving save, pushing the ball wide with one hand.
Even Thiago Silva and Pepe came over to pat him on the back.
The ensuing corner? Claimed by Courtois as well.
Final score: Bayswater Chinese 3–0 Tottenham.
Defensively, it was a masterclass.
Courtois made five key saves, with the last being borderline miraculous.
Yang Cheng praised him in the post-match press conference:
"He makes all of us feel secure.
Despite his youth, he's already a top-level goalkeeper."
High praise—well earned.
What thrilled Yang Cheng even more?
Pepe made 20 clearances and 3 successful tackles.
Thiago Silva added 17 clearances and 3 out of 4 successful tackles.
Plus, he completed 45 of 46 passes, including 14 of 15 in the attacking third.
Except for one misplaced forward pass, every other ball reached its target.
An astonishing performance.
Sky Sports declared:
"Pepe and Thiago Silva have delivered one of the greatest defensive displays in the history of Europe's top five leagues."
"Their chemistry is off the charts, and with Kompany's growing form, Bayswater Chinese now boast a truly impenetrable backline."
So far this season, Bayswater Chinese had conceded just 6 goals in 21 league games.
Not once had an opponent scored more than one goal against them.
Clean sheets, consistency, and utter control.
What else could you say?
Praise—endless praise.
Sky Sports credited Yang Cheng's tactical adjustment:
"Last season's leaky defense clearly didn't sit well with him."
"This season, Bayswater Chinese are much more balanced. The players are more mature, and their overall defensive execution has dramatically improved."
If they could keep this up, Sky Sports concluded:
"This year's Premier League title? It's already as good as theirs."
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