Ethan was almost embarrassed by the praise.
He had never imagined Ferguson would hold him in such high regard.
In Ethan's mind, everything he had done was simply part of building the club's identity.
From the moment he appointed Bruce as the Red Rebels' first manager, Ethan had worked tirelessly to shape the team's character.
That character was now beginning to take form, and he was immensely satisfied with the result.
Above all, New Manchester United possessed an unyielding spirit.
Combined with their increasingly polished football, that determination made them extraordinarily resilient and almost impossible to break.
Ferguson's experienced eye had naturally recognised it.
However, unlike Ethan, who viewed everything from inside the club, Ferguson did not believe the manager alone had given New Manchester United its soul.
He believed Ethan had been the one to place it there.
"If you had become a manager, you might have been exceptional," Ferguson said. "Perhaps you would even have surpassed me and everyone else.
"But you are every bit as remarkable as an owner.
"I believe the Red Rebels will become one of the greatest surprises in the Premier League, and perhaps even in Europe, over the next few years.
"You have already entered a period of rapid growth."
Ferguson seemed concerned that Ethan might not fully understand, so he smiled and continued.
"A football club is much like a person.
"It begins as a newborn, then passes through childhood, adolescence, youth, middle age, and eventually old age.
"There are rises and falls, and the cycle always repeats itself.
"Look at Manchester United.
"Mark Hughes, Cantona, Roy Keane, Beckham, Andy Cole, Van Nistelrooy.
"The team has always developed in stages.
"After every period of success, the squad must be rebuilt, because prolonged success often means decline is approaching.
"That is when change becomes necessary."
Ethan thought back over Ferguson's years at Manchester United.
The club had indeed developed along precisely that path, and the results had been extraordinary.
"New Manchester United is currently moving from adolescence into youth," Ferguson continued.
"That is the stage when growth accelerates most rapidly.
"I'm genuinely curious to see how far this team can go.
"In fact, I've already listed you among Manchester United's most dangerous opponents for next season."
Ferguson's final remark sounded like a joke, but Ethan understood its true meaning.
The older manager believed New Manchester United would win promotion that season.
More importantly, he already regarded the Red Rebels as a future threat to Manchester United.
At that moment, the two teams began emerging from the tunnel.
The crowd erupted with even greater force.
Songs and cheers rolled around Old Trafford until the entire stadium seemed to tremble, stirring the blood of everyone inside it.
"You rarely see an atmosphere like this at Old Trafford anymore," Ferguson said nostalgically.
Ethan stood beside him and watched in silence.
At that moment, Ferguson no longer resembled the domineering manager who had ruled English football for years.
He was simply an old man remembering the past.
To gain something, a person often had to surrender something else.
Ferguson desperately wanted to prove himself again, silence the journalists who doubted him, and retire in glory after winning another Champions League trophy.
To accomplish that, he needed the club's support.
So he had chosen to compromise, even though he still disliked many of the decisions being made above him.
He had been forced to choose.
Everyone pursued different things in life.
It was impossible for outsiders to judge another person's decisions solely through their own values.
To do so would be naïve.
In the past, Ethan might have believed Ferguson lacked conviction.
He no longer saw it that way.
Ferguson had always remained loyal to his ambitions.
His position had never truly changed.
But in pursuing what mattered most to him, he had been forced to abandon other things he valued almost as deeply.
Nobody could possess everything.
Anyone who could would no longer be human, but a god.
"Mourinho is excellent," Ferguson said with a smile. "And so are you."
Ethan laughed.
"Then perhaps we should consider becoming friends away from football."
Ferguson paused before bursting into laughter.
"And what happens if I invite you for a drink and you bring David and the others with you?"
Ethan laughed as well.
Ferguson's relationship with Beckham had become increasingly strained, and his disagreements with Keane were also growing.
The Manchester United captain had publicly criticised the club's direction on several occasions, and cracks were beginning to appear in the team's unity.
"I'll do my best to avoid that," Ethan replied.
Ferguson smiled, although a trace of bitterness remained in his expression.
"Do you know something?
"It has been a long time since I spoke this openly and enjoyed a conversation this much.
"Most people think I'm irritating, stubborn, and unreasonable.
"But for some reason, when I speak with you, there always seems to be more to discuss."
Ethan spread his hands.
"As you said, we have a great deal in common."
Ferguson laughed and nodded repeatedly.
Then his expression became sombre again.
"I have a feeling, Ethan.
"Do you believe in premonitions?
"I'm worried that the team I spent so many years building has begun to fall apart.
"Winning nothing last season was only the first warning.
"Even if we win the league this year, I don't think we can avoid what is coming.
"People have changed."
Ethan wanted to warn Ferguson about the Rock of Gibraltar dispute, but ultimately remained silent.
Mentioning it might create a misunderstanding and damage the trust developing between them.
He also wanted to suggest that Ferguson handle Beckham, Keane, and the others with a more modern style of management rather than the paternal approach he had always favoured.
But he stopped himself again.
Ferguson already understood the principle.
The problem was exactly what he had admitted earlier.
He was growing older and becoming afraid, so he clung ever more tightly to the things he valued.
Ethan could not fully understand that emotion, but he could sympathise with it.
Had someone inside Manchester United been trusted equally by Ferguson, Beckham, and the others, that person might have eased the growing tension between them.
Unfortunately, no such figure existed at the club.
What Ethan did not realise was that Mourinho considered him the most indispensable person at New Manchester United for precisely that reason.
Both the manager and the players trusted Ethan.
Whenever tensions arose, he could stand between them, explain each side to the other, and prevent disagreements from becoming divisions.
The importance of that role had been especially obvious after the nightclub incident.
...
Ferguson and Ethan remained beside the window as the match began.
Throughout the game, Ferguson behaved like an experienced supporter rather than Manchester United's manager, offering sharp observations about New Manchester United's players and tactics.
He believed the Red Rebels possessed a well-balanced side with excellent control of matches.
Several of their defenders impressed him.
Lahm was highly effective going forward, while Mourinho cleverly used two holding midfielders to cover the space behind him.
Vidić and Chiellini were both powerful centre-backs with strong defensive qualities.
However, they still required refinement and lacked composure.
Ferguson regarded Juninho as one of the few players in English football capable of controlling the rhythm of a match.
In England, the team that controlled the tempo usually won.
Most English clubs, like the national side, knew how to attack with force but lacked the patience and intelligence to dictate the speed of the game.
For that reason, Ferguson had believed from the opening minutes that New Manchester United would win.
Of all the players in the starting lineup, Kaká was unquestionably his favourite.
He believed the Brazilian had supplied the final missing element in New Manchester United's system, leaving the side balanced and almost complete.
Their only weakness was a lack of cohesion.
However, Ferguson expected that problem to disappear as the players spent more time together.
Once that happened, the team would become considerably stronger.
Hearing Ferguson praise the squad so enthusiastically, Ethan immediately shook his head and interrupted him.
"Let us make one thing clear, Sir.
"You had better not start looking too closely at our players.
"Even if Manchester United tried to sign them, we would not sell.
"And I don't believe a single one of them would force his way out to join you.
"Not one."
Ferguson laughed, but he could not deny Ethan's point.
He had admired Essien for years and regarded him as an ideal successor to Roy Keane.
Manchester United had pursued the Ghanaian repeatedly for two or three seasons.
Essien had never been tempted.
He remained completely loyal to New Manchester United.
That alone had forced Ferguson to acknowledge the strength of the Red Rebels' unity.
The same was true of Curtis.
Ferguson had once considered abandoning the pursuit of Ferdinand entirely if Curtis agreed to join Manchester United.
He would gladly have spent two years developing the young defender.
In the end, however, Curtis had refused him.
"You've done exceptionally well, Ethan," Ferguson said.
"You have assembled a group of outstanding young players with enormous potential.
"Perhaps we truly cannot become business partners.
"But when the opportunity arises, I hope we can speak like this again.
"Call me whenever you decide to invite me for that drink."
By then, Ferguson had clearly lost interest in the match.
As far as he was concerned, the result was already decided.
"The same invitation applies to you, Sir," Ethan replied with a smile.
After watching Ferguson leave, Ethan noticed something strange.
Only moments earlier, Ferguson had appeared old and vulnerable.
Yet the instant he returned to the public eye, he once again seemed powerful and indestructible.
Which version was the real Ferguson?
Ethan quickly dismissed the question.
Dwelling on it would only leave him more confused.
...
As Ferguson had predicted, New Manchester United controlled the match.
Vidić and Chiellini both made careless mistakes during the opening stages, allowing Preston to score first.
The Red Rebels responded immediately.
They struck three times without reply, completed the comeback, and secured their second league victory of the season.
Their formidable unbeaten home record remained intact.
The victory over Preston did not return the suspended players to the starting lineup.
Three days later, away to Burnley, Mourinho selected the same side.
Burnley resisted stubbornly, but New Manchester United eventually earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory through two goals from Hleb.
The Red Rebels had now won their opening three league matches.
They were also performing strongly in both the League Cup and the UEFA Cup.
Confidence spread throughout the club.
Everyone believed the team could earn another promotion and achieve even greater success that season.
The media also praised New Manchester United's excellent start.
The team's performances had been particularly impressive because several important players were unavailable.
Coming from behind in two consecutive matches had demonstrated the Red Rebels' remarkable fighting spirit.
At the same time, however, one newspaper published a photograph taken at the Newton Heath training complex.
The image showed a player nobody could have imagined appearing there.
Had New Manchester United signed a genuine superstar before the transfer window closed?
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ 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.)