Richard rarely read the newspapers—not for lack of content, but because there was simply too much of it.

    In the UK, where no dedicated football publications existed, the sheer volume of football-related news spread across both major and minor newspapers felt overwhelming. From match reports and off-field gossip to sensationalized locker room drama and baseless transfer rumors, the noise made it nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction.

    His disinterest was only deepened by the notoriously low journalistic standards of the British media. Most of the time, he merely skimmed the headlines, choosing instead to rely on a trusted source to gather and verify any football intelligence genuinely worth his attention.

    For example, take the media coverage ahead of the match.

    Just a day before Arsenal''s friendly against Manchester City, The Times, The Sun, and The Daily Mail all splashed bold headlines across their back pages.

    "Arsenal Out for Revenge After League Cup Exit" referring to last season''s bitter defeat when City knocked them out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

    Another, more dramatic headline from The Sun, quoted former manager Bruce Rioch:"Arsenal Will Teach Manchester City About Premier League Football."

    Initially, teams like Arsenal—as an established Premier League side—hardly saw newly promoted City as a real threat. For Arsenal, the tension wasn''t about fear, but pride. They still harbored resentment over the embarrassing defeat City handed them in the League Cup.

    Talking about Arsenal, their situation could actually be seen as quite similar to that of Manchester City.

    In the Greater London area, there have always been natural derby dynamics among clubs. And for teams without deeply rooted rivalries, the competition often came down to a simple question: who truly ruled the city?

    When Arsenal moved north to claim territory in North London, they encroached on Spurs'' doorstep—a move that didn''t sit well with Tottenham or their fans. Competing for territory like that has always stirred resentment, much like how Manchester United, despite their success, never earned full support from many local fans within Manchester.

    It''s basically the same situation in Manchester.

    In parts of the city proper—especially in working-class areas—Manchester City maintained strong local loyalty.

    The popular notion that "City is local, United is global" carries a degree of truth.

    City''s fanbase was primarily rooted in the heart of Manchester, while Manchester United, having become a dominant club, saw its fanbase explode globally—attracting millions of supporters around the world, including many in the UK who had no direct connection to the city itself.

    Only later, little by little, United quietly rebuilt—slowly turning Manchester red before going on to dominate both domestically and on the international stage.

    This was also one of the key reasons Richard chose Eastland as the site for the new stadium. The area was still largely undeveloped—raw and full of potential. It could be shaped and molded to reflect the identity he envisioned: to ensure the East Side of Manchester stayed blue, not red.

    For him, it was about preserving authenticity—a sense of originality that rooted the club in its true local heritage.

    "See? Rather than focus on football, they''d rather sensationalize things like this," Richard said with a sigh, tossing the newspaper aside without bothering to read further.

    Bruce Rioch''s position at Arsenal was hanging by a thread. After a string of underwhelming performances the previous season, his future at the club looked anything but secure.

    The signs were all too familiar—talking big to the media was probably a classic move when a manager was running out of options.

    It was a gamble. If Arsenal impressed, the comment might be remembered as a bold show of confidence. But if they crumbled, it would only add fuel to the fire already waiting to consume him.

    After tossing aside the newspaper, Richard turned his attention inward just as John Roberson and his staff, including Domènec Torrent, arrived at his office.

    The agenda for today''s meeting: preparations for the upcoming Premier League kick-off.

    The first item on the agenda was a review of U-17 players who are ready for promotion to the senior squad.

    The current manager, Domènec Torrent, brought up the personal details of Kieron Dyer, who is about to turn 17, as well as Paul Robinson, Wes Brown, and Craig Bellamy, who will each be turning 16.

    The recent signings of Augustine Azuka Okocha and Hidetoshi Nakata have brought the current squad to a total of 24 players. Now, with the addition of Kieron Dyer, Paul Robinson, Wes Brown, and Craig Bellamy, City''s squad is essentially well-equipped to face the upcoming season.

    Richard aimed to accelerate the development of City''s academy players by giving them more game time—even in high-stakes matches—to help them gain valuable experience.

    It was, essentially, a win-win solution.

    The goal was to ease the burden on the first team while offering the new signings and promoted youth players crucial opportunities to adapt to the Premier League''s style of play and gain meaningful match experience.

    Many young players would likely struggle to keep up with the intensity of the Premier League—and even regular starters could find it difficult at times. The gap between the Premier League and the First Division was enormous, with a staggering difference in both match intensity and overall quality.

    "In that case," Domènec Torrent proposed with a thoughtful tone, "this may sound a bit unconventional, but I believe we can use the league matches to gradually give younger and fringe players more experience. This would help narrow the gap between our starting eleven and the substitutes. That way, next season, we can aim for a truly deep and balanced squad, instead of facing the usual problem of bench players struggling to step up when needed."

    "Meanwhile," he continued, "we can go all in on the League Cup and FA Cup. Both competitions only require seven matches to reach the final from the point Premier League clubs enter—assuming no replays. The League Cup final takes place between late February and early March, with the first six matches spread between late August and the end of January. The FA Cup begins in early January and runs through to May. This scheduling gives us significant flexibility, as the two cups rarely overlap. We can plan and rotate the squad accordingly." Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Torrent''s proposal was met with unanimous agreement from the coaching staff and Richard.

    Manchester City needed a trophy—a symbol of progress and ambition. But winning the league was undoubtedly the most difficult challenge, demanding consistency over a long season. In contrast, the cup competitions offered a more realistic opportunity, especially since even strong opponents often fielded weakened lineups due to their league commitments.

    Richard nodded. "Okay, so your plan for this season is to focus the main lineup on the cup competitions. In the league, let''s begin rotating based on the fixture list—making sure the most important matches are handled by our primary lineup, especially those against stronger teams. We can rely on the substitutes to handle slightly weaker opponents. As long as the reserves hold their ground, our first team will emerge stronger next season after enduring the grind of Premier League."

    The coaching staff then turned their attention to the schedule.

    Every Premier League team faces a challenging fixture list at some point, and for weaker sides, there''s always a stretch of consecutive tough matches. Manchester City was a bit unlucky.

    First Fixture: Away vs. Newcastle United

    Second Fixture: Home vs. Leeds United

    Third Fixture: Away at Anfield (Liverpool)

    Fourth Fixture: Away vs. defending champions Manchester United

    Fifth Fixture: Home vs. Nottingham Forest

    After wrapping up the discussions, they shifted their focus to the results of the current pre-season matches.

    One win and two draws.

    That was City''s pre-season record so far—against Everton, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United. Now, they were preparing for their final challenge: Arsenal.

    "So, it''s basically the media stirring things up—Arsenal still bitter about their League Cup exit, and Bruce Rioch running his mouth again?" Richard remarked casually, though his gaze remained fixed on Robertson, the current caretaker manager.

    He didn''t need to say anything more.

    The rest of the staff were already looking in the same direction, silent but clearly expectant.

    Sensing the weight of the moment, Robertson drew a slow, steady breath, fully aware that his next assignment had just been set—whether it was spoken aloud or not.

    The morning sun shone brightly—a rare gift for an autumn day in London. Richard stood outside Highbury Stadium, dressed in a sharp overcoat and a pair of warm gloves, casually chatting with Arsenal Vice Chairman, David Dein.

    Years ago, David had been the one to negotiate Ian Wright''s transfer—back when Richard was still working as a football agent. Thanks to that shared history, the two were now well-acquainted.

    Now, with Arsenal hosting Manchester City for a friendly match, it was only natural that David Dein extended a personal invitation to Richard to watch the game by his side.

    "I heard Arsenal''s planning to move stadiums?" Richard asked, glancing sideways at David with curiosity.

    There had been persistent rumors circulating in top football circles: Highbury''s pitch had been deemed too small for international standards, making the stadium technically ineligible for major competitions.

    Dein offered a measured smile toward Richard, his eyes drifting thoughtfully over the pitch below.

    "What I can say," he began diplomatically, "is that the club is always looking for ways to grow. These matter just as much as results on the pitch. But as always, rumors tend to sprint faster than the players every year."

    It wasn''t a confirmation—but it wasn''t a denial either. Richard simply nodded, taking the hint. David Dein had sidestepped the question with the smoothness of a seasoned executive.

    Then, with a subtle shift of tone, Dein fired back.

    "What about Maine Road? I heard City''s planning to leave it entirely. How much did the new stadium cost? A billion? Is that rumor true?"

    Richard didn''t say a word. He just nodded casually, as if they were talking about the weather.

    Dein blinked. For a moment, he was speechless. ''This guy''s insane.'' he thought, half in awe, half in disbelief.

    "Our initial proposal to rebuild Maine Road was met with disapproval from local residents, as it required the demolition of 105 neighboring houses. It became increasingly problematic when I considered pushing forward with the plan. After much consultation, I decided to abandon the idea altogether, especially since a capacity of 35,000 wouldn''t be sufficient for our long-term goals. So, this year, City made an official bid to purchase the Eastlands site." Richard explained.

    "But a billion? That''s a massive space. What do you plan to do with all that land?"

    ''Everything. A proper sports complex. Facilities for youth development, training centers, commercial spaces—everything,'' Richard thought to himself but didn''t utter a single word. Instead, he simply smiled at David Dein.