"Who were the last club to retain the UEFA Cup?"
"Real Madrid."
"The club FIFA named the greatest of the twentieth century."
Now New Manchester United had become only the second club to retain the UEFA Cup. Ethan's ambition was simple enough to say, even if achieving it would take decades: he wanted the Red Rebels to become one of the defining football clubs of the twenty-first century.
Successfully defending the UEFA Cup was already an extraordinary achievement. The following morning, newspapers across Europe were filled with praise for New Manchester United, and the story attracted attention far beyond the continent as well. From the Round of 32 onwards, the competition had captured an unusual level of interest, largely because of the calibre of teams involved.
The previous season's triumph had been dismissed in some quarters as one of the weakest UEFA Cups in memory. Nobody could make the same argument now. If anything, this year's run was being described as one of the most difficult routes to the trophy the competition had ever seen.
PSV Eindhoven. AC Milan. Juventus. Valencia. Barcelona.
That looked more like a Champions League knockout path than a UEFA Cup campaign. New Manchester United had beaten all five and lifted the trophy again, making the achievement impossible to dismiss.
When the squad landed at Manchester Airport the next day, thousands of supporters were already waiting. The moment the players appeared, the terminal erupted. Even travellers with no connection to football stopped to stare at the noise and the sea of red shirts.
"Manchester United?" one passenger asked, seeing the colours.
The man beside him shook his head. "Not with this lot. Those are the Red Rebels."
New Manchester United's influence within the city had grown enormously. Manchester United still possessed the history, global reach, and established support of one of the world's biggest clubs, while Manchester City retained their own deep local roots. But the Red Rebels now had something neither rival could ignore: major trophies, a rapidly expanding supporter base, and a club identity that had been built entirely within Manchester.
The supporters welcomed the team like returning heroes. Cars followed the team coach out of the airport and into the city, with more joining the procession along the route. The first-team recording of the club anthem blared from open windows and portable speakers until, for a few hours at least, it felt as though half of Manchester had joined the celebration.
Manchester City were enduring a difficult period, displaced from their usual home arrangements and struggling financially, with rumours of foreign investment circulating around the club. Manchester United had finished fourth in the Premier League and still had the FA Cup final against Millwall ahead of them. Winning it would give Ferguson another trophy, but it could not disguise the contrast with New Manchester United's season.
The Red Rebels had won the Premier League unbeaten.
They had retained the UEFA Cup.
Whatever happened at the Millennium Stadium, that was the story dominating Manchester.
The journey from the airport to the new stadium should not have taken particularly long, but the sheer number of supporters forced the convoy to slow repeatedly and even alter its route. Ethan did not mind. He had made the fans a promise after the league title, and now he intended to keep it.
Once again, drinks and food were provided around the stadium plaza. Ethan went even further, publicly promising that whenever New Manchester United won a major trophy in future, the club would put on a celebration for the supporters there.
"This is our home now," he said, turning towards the enormous stadium behind him.
Standing beneath the lights with the completed ground rising over the crowd, Ethan felt a surge of pride. The club's owners, coaches, players, staff, and supporters celebrated together well into the night. This time there was no final to prepare for four days later, so nobody had to pretend to be disciplined. By midnight, more than a few players had drunk far too much, slept for a while, woken up, and somehow started again.
Mourinho knew exactly what condition the squad would be in the following morning, so he moved the final training session of the season to the afternoon.
Even then, several players arrived at Newton Heath looking as though they had barely slept.
The session itself was light. Mourinho first sent everyone through The Lab for comprehensive end-of-season physical assessments. Players carrying injuries were given individual rehabilitation programmes for the summer, while anyone with a more serious problem was told they would need to remain in Manchester for treatment until the medical staff were satisfied.
By the time the examinations and meetings were finished, evening had arrived.
Ethan arranged one final dinner in the training complex restaurant. This time it was not only for the first team. Coaches, academy staff, analysts, medical personnel, groundsmen, kitchen staff, administrative workers, and even the elderly security guard at the front gate were invited. Everyone who helped keep Newton Heath running was included.
During dinner, Ethan thanked them for everything they had contributed over the season. He then announced that because the club had performed so well financially, every member of staff would receive an end-of-season bonus.
Most employees assumed the payment would be modest, little more than a symbolic gesture.
They changed their minds when the money reached their accounts.
Even the smallest bonuses ran into several thousand pounds. Some employees received considerably more, and the security guard, whose family circumstances were known to be difficult, found that more than £10,000 had been paid to him.
"You earned it," Ethan had told them at dinner.
For many of the staff, those words stayed with them. Newton Heath demanded long hours and relentless standards, but moments like this made the work feel worthwhile.
...
Once the players and much of the staff had left for their holidays, Ethan's own work continued. He still had to review the squad with Mourinho, discuss the summer transfer strategy, and work with the commercial department on a new series of sponsorship agreements.
Next season New Manchester United would enter the Champions League as Premier League champions, which dramatically increased the club's commercial value. The move into the new stadium created another wave of work as well, from hospitality and retail to sponsorship activations, ticketing, supporter events, and opening-season promotions.
The first-team squad had carried twenty-six players during the season, although Redondo's role had gradually become more symbolic. He still appeared occasionally, but most of his time was now spent coaching, representing the club, and working with the Red Rebels Charity Foundation.
At the end of the season, Redondo told Ethan and Mourinho that he was retiring.
The club wanted to organise a testimonial for him, but he declined. Instead, he agreed to play in the charity exhibition match that would officially inaugurate the new stadium, joining the former players' side against the current first team.
With Redondo retired, and Joe Hart still effectively serving as a reserve-team goalkeeper, Mourinho considered the senior squad to be around twenty-four players. He liked the balance. Almost every position had at least two players he trusted at a high level.
In goal, Čech was untouchable. He had been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League that season and had earned selection in the league's Team of the Season. Almunia had accepted the role of number two without complaint and trained professionally throughout the year, which made Mourinho comfortable keeping him as the backup.
Joe Hart remained the third-choice goalkeeper and spent almost the entire campaign with the reserves. He had not made a senior appearance, but that was hardly surprising. In a title-winning side, there had been little justification for replacing either Čech or Almunia simply to manufacture minutes for a teenager.
Centre-back was far more competitive. When everyone was fit, Terry, Curtis, and Vidić were all capable of starting. Vidić had improved significantly over the season, cutting out much of the recklessness that had once worried the staff. During Terry's suspension, he had become increasingly composed and reliable.
Chiellini had progressed as well. His aggression still occasionally tipped into rashness and his performances remained inconsistent, but he was only nineteen. Mourinho saw no reason to rush him.
At full-back, Evra, Lahm, Kolo Touré, and Maicon had given the team the depth required to compete on two fronts. Evra had been selected at left-back in the Premier League Team of the Season, while Kolo had also received considerable praise for his performances on the right.
The midfield picture was equally healthy.
Beckham was the first name in Mourinho's midfield whenever physically available. He had been New Manchester United's most consistent player all season and had adapted brilliantly to his deeper role. Fàbregas had served as one of his principal understudies and had already shown enough to convince almost everyone at Newton Heath that his future was exceptional.
Redondo believed that Fàbregas and Michael Johnson could eventually become the next generation of deep playmakers at the club. Their qualities were different. Cesc was more subtle and inventive, while Johnson offered greater size and physical power, but both possessed excellent passing ability and football intelligence.
The more defensive central role was primarily contested by Essien and De Rossi. Both had been outstanding. Neither was a conventional destroyer, which suited Mourinho perfectly. New Manchester United's pressing began much higher up the pitch than most teams', so he did not require a purely defensive midfielder whose only job was to sit in front of the centre-backs. He preferred players capable of recovering the ball and then immediately contributing to the next attack.
Yaya Touré had also played regularly and generally performed well, although he remained behind Essien and De Rossi in the pecking order.
The greatest competition was in attack.
Drogba and Villa offered completely different solutions at centre-forward, which meant Mourinho often chose between them according to the opponent. Behind them, Ishmael Miller's progress had been dramatic enough that neither senior striker could afford to become complacent.
The wide positions were even more crowded. Cristiano Ronaldo, Robben, Ribéry, Palacio, and Messi could all play there, and their different qualities gave Mourinho a range of options without significantly lowering the level of the side.
Kaká remained the undisputed first choice as the central attacking midfielder. Ribéry had covered the position at times, while Fàbregas had also been used farther forward. For the following season, however, Mourinho wanted to begin introducing Agüero.
The young Argentine had been excellent in the academy. René Meulensteen believed his natural talent was comparable to Messi's, particularly in close control, acceleration, and the ability to beat defenders in central areas.
Looking across the squad as a whole, Mourinho reached a conclusion that would have sounded absurd only a few years earlier.
New Manchester United did not urgently need to sign anyone.
Every major role was already covered.
The end-of-season honours reinforced that impression. Čech was selected in goal for the Premier League Team of the Season. Evra was chosen at left-back, Curtis at centre-back, Beckham and Kaká in midfield, and Palacio on the right, giving New Manchester United representatives across half the side. Gary Neville took the right-back position, Rio Ferdinand the other centre-back slot, Robert Pirès featured on the left, while Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer led the attack.
If that level of representation was impressive, the club's young players drew even more attention.
Curtis, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Ishmael, and Fàbregas had all produced outstanding moments during the campaign. Curtis had become one of the defensive leaders of the champions, Cristiano was already a regular starter, Messi and Ishmael repeatedly changed matches from the bench, and Fàbregas had shown flashes of the player he could become.
Curtis ultimately collected the Young Player of the Year award.
The senior Player of the Season honour went to Beckham, while Mourinho was named Manager of the Season. New Manchester United, unsurprisingly, received widespread recognition as the outstanding team of the campaign.
For a club playing its first Premier League season, the list of achievements was almost absurd.
Unbeaten champions.
UEFA Cup winners for the second year in succession.
A squad filled with young players who were still improving.
The most encouraging part for Mourinho was that the difficult final months had revealed just as much as the trophies. When fatigue, suspensions, injuries, and pressure arrived together, the team had not collapsed. They had somehow become more united.
Across English football, managers, pundits, and supporters were already wondering what this side might look like after another year of development.
Ethan was allowing himself to enjoy that thought when David Pace of Droylsden arrived at Newton Heath looking for help.
(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.)