After finalizing his agreement with Mourinho, Ethan lost much of his interest in the European Championship. Eva also happened to have business to attend to in the United States, so he decided to return to England.
A few days after arriving back in Manchester, Ethan welcomed Mourinho and the two assistants he had requested, Rui Faria and André Villas-Boas. Both were Portuguese and equally young.
Faria was twenty-five, with a youthful face and an easy smile. According to Mourinho, he was a fitness coach who had developed a distinctive system of ball-based recovery training that would greatly benefit the team. Mourinho had met him during his time at Barcelona. Faria had been studying at the University of Porto while also completing an internship with Barcelona.
André Villas-Boas was even younger, only twenty-three, but already had an impressive background. He had earned his UEFA coaching licence at seventeen, worked at Porto, and later served as technical director of the British Virgin Islands national team. Lourenço had reportedly introduced him to Mourinho, describing him as a perceptive scout with a particular talent for gathering and analysing information.
New Manchester United were currently working hard to establish a scouting network but lacked someone to lead it. As soon as Villas-Boas arrived, Ethan entrusted him with that responsibility.
The decision left the young Portuguese both surprised and grateful. He was still very young and had almost no experience in football, an industry where seniority often mattered greatly.
Yet Ethan was willing to place such trust in him.
Watching quietly from the side, Mourinho could not help feeling impressed. Ethan certainly knew how to win people over. With a single decision, he had immediately earned Villas-Boas's loyalty.
As they chatted, the club's existing staff arrived one after another, including the research specialists from The Lab. This was the new manager's introductory meeting, so naturally everyone needed to attend.
"This is my closest partner and one of the people most responsible for New Manchester United's success, Andy Walsh. You can speak to him about anything. He'll make sure you have everything you need."
Ethan then turned toward another man.
"This is Jim Cassel, our academy director. He joined us from Manchester United and currently oversees the entire youth system."
Ethan also introduced Professor Derek and Professor Fryer from The Lab, along with Karl Marginson and Darren Lyons, both of whom had decided to retire and join the coaching staff.
Peter Schmeichel was away on holiday and therefore did not attend the meeting.
Mourinho had previously asked Ethan to select someone familiar with the club to act as his assistant, helping him manage the squad and coordinate relationships throughout the organisation. Ethan had suggested Schmeichel, Marginson, and Lyons.
Mourinho ultimately chose all three for his coaching team.
"Although this is the first time many of you have met, I hope everyone will speak openly," Ethan said before sitting down. "Discuss whatever you need for your work, and then we'll solve the problems together."
Everyone immediately turned toward Mourinho.
He was new, and most of them knew little about him. However, he was now the team's manager, so naturally they wanted to hear what he expected from the club.
Mourinho did not hesitate.
"I'd first like Mr. Cassel to explain the current state of the academy. I have always believed that a club's future begins with its youth development."
Cassel smiled politely.
"We currently have five age groups in the academy: under-19s, under-17s, under-15s, under-13s, and under-11s. We also maintain close relationships with several nearby schools."
He paused briefly.
"As you know, The FA strictly limits clubs to recruiting young players from within a certain geographical area, so those partnerships are very important."
Everyone understood. It was one of the distinctive restrictions within English youth football.
"At under-11 and under-13 level, we focus mainly on basic technique. There is almost no physical conditioning or specialised positional training. We encourage the players to attack freely and express themselves on the pitch, which helps develop their natural ability and strengthens their enjoyment of football."
There was a widely accepted belief in football that attacking was more appealing than defending. It was also easier to teach an attacking player how to defend than to teach a purely defensive player how to attack.
For that reason, youth teams strongly encouraged attacking football during the earliest stages of development.
"From under-15 level, we begin teaching the players how to apply those skills in matches. That includes short and long passing, shooting, tackling, and other defensive techniques. We also place greater emphasis on teamwork and movement off the ball."
Cassel continued calmly.
"Even at that age, however, we still avoid specialised physical training."
The under-15 level was where a player's technique began to take shape. After progressing through the two younger age groups, most of their natural technical potential would already have been identified.
This stage was often the dividing line that determined whether a youngster had a realistic chance of becoming a professional footballer.
"From under-17 level, we introduce more coordinated play in small groups. We encourage high-intensity training and technically demanding duels. At the same time, we teach players how to combine their physical qualities with their technique so they can use their strengths more effectively."
"We also continue developing the team's movement off the ball."
"As for the under-19s, their training is already quite similar to that of the senior team. We assign positions according to each player's characteristics and introduce specialised requirements for those roles."
"England also organises competitions for every age group, so the players receive regular match experience."
Mourinho nodded repeatedly.
When it came to structured competition, England's youth system was among the best. Its comprehensive league structure was something few other European countries could match.
"I noticed that you place considerable importance on off-the-ball movement, Mr. Cassel," Mourinho said with a smile. "Mr. Yu told me that you came from Manchester United."
"Yes, sir," Cassel replied politely.
"That's excellent. When I was at Barcelona, I often discussed Manchester United's off-the-ball system with Cruyff. I'm very interested in it, and I greatly admire Eric Harrison, who helped establish it."
Mourinho looked genuinely enthusiastic.
"I hope I'll have plenty of opportunities to learn more about it."
"I'd be honoured, sir. Mr. Harrison was like a mentor to me. He truly is a remarkable coach."
Mourinho smiled and nodded. He then rose from his seat and looked around the room.
"When I met Mr. Yu in Belgium, we spoke in great detail. I came from Barcelona, and since the Cruyff era, that club has always believed that the academy and first team must follow the same footballing philosophy."
"During my years there, I came to understand the importance of that continuity. Barcelona may not appear to have benefited greatly from it in recent seasons, but I can guarantee that within a few years, they will reap enormous rewards."
He paused.
"I want to establish the same kind of structure at New Manchester United."
Everyone looked slightly surprised.
They all knew that Barcelona possessed an excellent academy and had promoted several young players to the first team over the past two seasons, but they had not realised how closely the two levels were connected.
"But before we can unify the club's style, we first need to identify the style that suits us," Cassel said.
He agreed with Mourinho's overall idea.
Manchester United had benefited greatly under Ferguson. Their tactics were flexible and varied, but at the heart of everything was a complete system of off-the-ball movement.
Understanding that system was essential for any player hoping to fit into the team.
"Barcelona's style is built around controlling possession," Mourinho continued. "That is one form of control. The other is controlling space."
"Both approaches have strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I prefer balance. We need balance between possession and space, and balance between attack and defence."
As he spoke, Mourinho suddenly felt a powerful sense of longing rise from deep within him.
Once, he had sat where Cassel was sitting now, listening to Robson and Van Gaal explain their ideas.
Back then, Mourinho had dreamed that one day he would stand in front of his own staff, present his own footballing philosophy, and have others carry out his plans.
Now that dream had finally come true.
It was only a League Two club.
But so what?
Mourinho suddenly understood what Ethan had told him before.
The level of the league was not the problem.
If he truly possessed the ability and ambition he believed he had, then everyone who underestimated them would eventually regret it.
With that thought, Mourinho felt a surge of confidence unlike anything he had experienced before.
"From today onward, I want every one of you to remember one thing."
His voice became firmer.
"Although we are currently only in League Two, everything at this club must be planned and built to Premier League standards."
"Our target is the Premier League. Beyond that, it is Europe."
"I will not allow this team to remain in the lower divisions forever. I intend to lead all of you into the Premier League."
Mourinho looked around at every person in the room.
"I want the entire world to know New Manchester United. I want them to know José Mourinho, and I want them to know every one of you sitting here."
Apart from Ethan, everyone in the room was stunned by the ambition and desire in Mourinho's words.
They found it difficult to believe that a rookie manager who had only just arrived was already talking about reaching the Premier League.
Was he not afraid people would laugh at him?
Most assumed it was nothing more than an inspiring speech.
A few days later, however, Mourinho was interviewed by Manchester Evening News reporter Scarlett Erland.
After reminding him that New Manchester United had won two consecutive doubles and earned promotion in each of their first two seasons, Scarlett asked what the club's objective would be in League Two.
Mourinho remained perfectly calm.
He answered with absolute confidence, speaking as though the outcome had already been decided.
"Have no doubt, Miss. This season's champions have already been decided, and they are New Manchester United."
"So, to the other League Two clubs, I can only apologise."
"You'll have to compete for second place."
At that moment, Scarlett thought she could see Ethan's shadow in Mourinho.
Ethan had once spoken to her with exactly the same confidence, promising promotion and one achievement after another.
Every one of those promises had come true.
Would it happen again?
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)