The incident involving several New Manchester United players going clubbing together attracted little attention in England.
Such behaviour was hardly unusual, and it had happened away from the pitch. Nobody expected Mourinho to punish the players seriously.
However, once the sanctions were announced, the atmosphere at the training ground became even more intense.
The players trained with greater focus, particularly those who had broken the rules.
Drogba and several others continued staying behind after the regular sessions to complete additional work.
In the year since joining New Manchester United, Drogba's improvement had been obvious.
He always worked tirelessly on the pitch, while away from football he remained as quiet and unassuming as ever.
He was never involved in rumours or scandals.
Most of his free time was spent at home or shopping with his wife and son.
Under Mourinho's development plan, Drogba had already completed the first stage.
He could use his body to protect the ball from defenders, bring it under control, and combine with his teammates.
The next step was learning to turn comfortably after receiving possession.
That would be difficult.
However, Drogba understood that once he mastered it, he would be capable of joining the ranks of Europe's leading centre-forwards.
The club had provided him with considerable support, which was one of the main reasons he had rejected approaches from several other teams.
He was already 24 years old.
If he failed to improve further now, he might remain at his current level for the rest of his career.
Drogba refused to allow his development to stop.
He desperately wanted to take another step forward.
Many of New Manchester United's players shared that mentality, creating a highly competitive culture around the additional training sessions.
Those who had been punished also accepted the consequences without complaint.
They understood the club's rules perfectly.
During weeks containing competitive matches, players were forbidden from remaining away from home after midnight.
Curtis and the others had been photographed at a nightclub after two in the morning.
They had broken the rules and received their punishment.
Now they had to prove themselves again in training.
...
New Manchester United's opponents in the second league fixture were Preston North End.
It would be the Red Rebels' first home match at Old Trafford.
The club had sold almost twenty thousand season tickets for the campaign.
That figure had exceeded every expectation.
Sales of Old Trafford's 179 executive boxes were also encouraging.
They could not compare with Manchester United's numbers, but demand had still surpassed New Manchester United's original projections, and more supporters continued making enquiries.
Ethan felt slightly nervous ahead of the club's first appearance at Old Trafford.
He was concerned about possible hostility from Manchester United supporters.
He was even more surprised when he received the ticket-sales figures for the match and discovered that more than forty-five thousand people were expected to attend.
In the past, even a sell-out crowd at the Red Rebels' former home had amounted to only a little over fourteen thousand.
Now more than forty-five thousand supporters would be watching New Manchester United.
The increase was astonishing.
"Plenty of people are coming for the novelty," Mark said with a smile.
Ethan had to admit that he was right.
It was New Manchester United's first home match of the season, and playing it at Old Trafford created both excitement and pressure.
"Whether we can persuade those people to return will depend on your commercial department," Ethan said, patting Mark on the shoulder.
Mark was now the leading figure behind New Manchester United's commercial development.
"I'm under enough pressure already, Boss.
"Look at José's starting lineup. He's clearly determined to make my job harder."
Mark was joking, but Mourinho's selection was genuinely difficult to understand.
Anyone outside New Manchester United would have been confused.
Even with another league fixture scheduled for midweek, such extensive rotation at the beginning of the season seemed unnecessary.
Drogba started up front, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Hleb on the wings.
Kaká occupied the central attacking role, while Juninho and Senna formed the midfield pair.
There were no major surprises in midfield or attack.
The questions concerned the defence.
Philipp Lahm replaced Evra at left-back.
Vidić and Chiellini formed an entirely new centre-back partnership.
Kolo Touré started on the right, with Čech in goal.
Terry and Curtis, New Manchester United's most established central defensive pairing, were both absent from the starting lineup.
Neither was injured.
The decision immediately attracted media attention.
Some journalists even suspected that the two defenders were about to be transferred.
"Don't worry, Mark.
"We have never suffered a heavy defeat at home.
"Besides, I trust José."
Ethan had already heard about the disciplinary action and believed the young players needed a severe warning.
If they became complacent after achieving only a small amount of success, how could the club depend upon them in the future?
Ethan had personally summoned Curtis, Terry, and every other punished player before giving them a harsh reprimand.
He accused them of failing to understand their priorities.
With the team facing such a demanding schedule, they had still found time to go clubbing.
In Ethan's opinion, Mourinho's punishment had been too lenient.
Nobody had expected the usually approachable owner to become so angry.
His reaction made Curtis and the others understand the seriousness of their mistake.
They responded by training with even greater dedication, determined to demonstrate that they had learned from it.
"By the way, what did the police say?" Ethan asked.
He had personally contacted the local authorities before the match and requested additional officers to help maintain order around the stadium.
New Manchester United, Manchester United, and Preston supporters would be kept in separate areas to reduce the risk of trouble.
The Red Rebels would be playing at Old Trafford for two seasons, and Ethan did not want the arrangement damaged by crowd disorder.
"They're already in position, and everything is proceeding smoothly.
"Don't worry. Andy will handle it."
As Mark spoke, he noticed Ferguson approaching in the distance.
Realising that the Manchester United manager had come to see Ethan, he excused himself after a few more words.
Before leaving, he greeted Ferguson respectfully.
Whether one supported the Red Rebels or the Red Devils, the architect of Manchester United's modern empire deserved the highest respect.
Without Ferguson, Manchester United would not have become the club it was.
Ethan stood beside the window.
From there, he could see the crowded stands below and hear the deafening noise rolling through the stadium.
Above everything else rose the united voices of the Red Rebels supporters singing the club anthem.
Before the match, the supporters had reached an agreement.
At their previous ground, different sections of the crowd would take turns singing, ensuring that chants continued throughout the entire ninety minutes.
Today would be different.
Every supporter intended to join in from the beginning and create as much noise as possible.
Even through the well-sealed, soundproofed glass, the roar from inside the stadium remained clearly audible.
The stands were still dominated by red.
Under the floodlights, however, the green and gold trim shone brightly.
Some spectators were wearing Manchester United shirts, but they were gradually swallowed by the vast red crowd streaked with green and gold.
Before long, many of them had joined the Red Rebels supporters in singing the anthem.
"That really is an inspiring song," Ferguson said with a smile.
"I heard you wrote it yourself. Is that true?"
His tone revealed little, but Ethan nodded.
"Yes.
"I thought it suited the club perfectly.
"We're still very young."
"And yet you've already set records that will be difficult for others to match.
"Over the past few years, this club has achieved things nobody will forget.
"You should be proud."
Ethan looked at Ferguson in surprise.
The older man continued staring down at the stands.
His lined face carried a mixture of nostalgia and sadness, emotions rarely seen from someone usually so commanding.
"Believe it or not, when people grow old, they begin to fear death.
"It doesn't matter how fearless they were when they were young.
"As age catches up with them, that fear begins to appear.
"And because they are afraid, they cling desperately to everything they value.
"They become stubborn, cold, and sometimes even unreasonable."
Ethan's heart trembled slightly.
Ferguson was already 61 years old, his hair almost entirely white.
Had Ferguson not mentioned it himself, Ethan might have forgotten his age.
The manager still carried himself with the authority and energy of a man in his prime.
But in truth, he was growing old.
"I rarely involve myself directly in training now," Ferguson continued.
"The club has an established tactical system, and I have an excellent group of assistants capable of carrying out my ideas.
"My role is mainly to provide direction.
"It should be easy.
"Even so, people still worry that my body cannot endure the strain.
"Doesn't that make life seem fragile?"
Ferguson gave a bitter smile.
The man Ethan knew had always been stubborn, powerful, and uncompromising.
He had never expected to see such a vulnerable side of him.
"Perhaps, and I mean perhaps, Sir, you should consider retiring," Ethan suggested gently.
Ferguson burst out laughing and nodded.
"Of course I'll retire.
"Everyone eventually has to step away from the front line.
"But not yet."
He turned towards Ethan, his eyes filled with appreciation.
"I think the two of us are similar in many ways.
"Do you know how?"
Ethan did not regard the comparison as an insult.
He considered it an honour.
For someone as proud as Ferguson to say such a thing meant that he viewed Ethan as an equal.
Otherwise, the words would never have been spoken.
"Neither of us accepts defeat, Sir?" Ethan asked with a smile.
Ferguson laughed even more loudly and nodded repeatedly.
"Exactly.
"You refuse to accept defeat.
"When you began, everyone doubted that you could run a football club.
"But you succeeded.
"Look at New Manchester United now.
"You're even competing in Europe.
"You built all of this through an absolute refusal to lose.
"And that spirit has passed from you into the club, into the manager, into the players, and into everyone who works here.
"It has entered their blood.
"It spreads from one person to another."
Ferguson turned back towards the singing supporters.
"That is how a spirit becomes an inheritance."
(To be continued.)