CHAPTER 337: THE WARM UP IS OVER

The following days passed in a light-hearted atmosphere, with the Manchester City players enjoying their downtime.

Richard wasted no time in holding meetings to completely revise the pre-season schedule, following the cancellation of the friendlies against Monaco and Deportivo La Coruña.

When Celtic visited Maine Road for the first pre-season match, O’Neill opted to bench the players who had recently competed in the Copa América. Instead, he fielded a vibrant, energetic lineup filled with fresh legs and young talent.

He carried this strategy into the matches against Sunderland and Everton, prioritizing rest and recovery for his star players while giving others valuable minutes on the pitch.

In those pre-season friendlies, Manchester City ended each match in a draw. It wasn’t that their performance was poor—far from it. The reality was that their opponents had taken the matches seriously, fielding full-strength squads and treating the games like competitive fixtures, while City prioritized rhythm, rest, and integration.

By mid-August, just a day before the Community Shield, Manchester City held a press conference at Maine Road.

Richard attended casually, seated quietly among the media and club officials, wanting to observe O’Neill’s handling of the spotlight firsthand.

When asked about City’s preseason form, O’Neill responded calmly, "Everything’s going according to plan. The friendlies weren’t about winning or losing—they were about preparation, rhythm, fitness."

But it wouldn’t be an English press conference if the media didn’t try to stir up a headline. Fleet Street had recently turned its focus on Arsenal, mocking their fifth-place finish the previous season. Headlines in London tabloids had poked fun at the North London club, particularly their manager.

’Arsène – Who?’

The phrase had become a punchline in the days following Arsenal’s season that ended in a fifth-place finish.

At the press conference, a reporter from The Sun smirked as he lobbed a question toward O’Neill, "What do you think about Arsenal? I hear they managed to hijack Patrick Vieira, the player you were targeting. In your opinion, where do you think Arsenal will finish next season?"

It was a loaded question—a casual inquiry on the surface, but everyone in the room knew the intent. They wanted a quote. Something controversial. Something they could slap on the next morning’s back page to pit clubs against one another before the season even began.

Of course, it wasn’t just that. Richard knew Arsène Wenger—there was no secret about it.

Richard’s expression darkened. Even before the competition had officially begun, they were already trying to ignite rivalries? Start fires where there were none?

They were wasting their time.

O’Neill didn’t disappoint.

In private, when time allowed, O’Neill and Richard often shared thoughts about other managers, players, even football philosophy. There was no need to create enemies out of thin air.

With a sigh, O’Neill found the media’s arrogance hard to bear. "Do you know who Glenn Hoddle is? And what about George Weah? Let’s just mention those two for now."

The reporters exchanged puzzled glances, and The Sun’s reporter frowned. "Mr. O’Neill, I don’t understand your point."

Hoddle was the new England national team manager, while Weah was last year’s dual Ballon d’Or winner. These were two legendary figures—how could anyone not know them?

Even if O’Neill had chosen to ignore other matters outside the club, he certainly remembered Hoddle from their encounters in the Premier League.

O’Neill sighed again, visibly bored, and said, "Then you should ask Hoddle and Weah if they know who Wenger is."

The reporters remained confused.

"Mr. O’Neill, can you explain why?"

O’Neill rubbed his forehead, sighing. "If I recall correctly, Glenn Hoddle’s only league title came under Wenger’s management. And when George Weah won the Ballon d’Or, who did he thank above all? It was Arsène Wenger—the man you lot keep mocking and ridiculing."

The room fell into an uneasy silence as O’Neill rose from his seat.

The British media had grown far too smug—quick to mock others, blind to their own ignorance.

At the end of the day, much of the disrespect stemmed from the fact that Wenger’s last managerial job had been outside Europe—particularly in Asia. If he had coached a top South American club instead, the British press might have shown him more respect.

Though Wenger had only won one league title in Monaco, he had gone on to achieve respectable results in European competitions—surpassing many English managers.

In the end, the media had handed themselves the rope and pulled it tight. But they didn’t care. It was just headlines to them—dignity wasn’t worth much when compared to sales.

The next day, the Community Shield was held at Wembley, featuring Manchester United vs. Chelsea—the latter as FA Cup winners.

Manchester United fielded a well-rounded squad, having been better prepared during summer training. As expected, they edged Chelsea with a solitary goal from Solskjær, lifting the Community Shield.

Since the Community Shield had already taken place, it meant the Premier League was about to begin.

In the Premier League opener, City kicked off their campaign in the best possible way with a 4–0 hammering of Crystal Palace. Just four days later, they scored another four goals at Maine Road, beating newly promoted Barnsley 4–2—including a hat-trick from Ronaldo.

A convincing start for Manchester City, and an even more impressive one for Ronaldo, who tallied five goals in just two matches.

Thanks to these two previous wins, by the third match, Maine Road was electric.

Tickets sold out in just 16 hours as fans eagerly anticipated seeing the new players in action. On match day, Richard arrived at the stadium early. The fans were buzzing with excitement, filling the stands with energy and unwavering support for their team.

In England, fans can generally be categorized into three types:

The first are loyal supporters—those who stand by their team through thick and thin, regardless of results.

The second are the bandwagon fans, who shift allegiances based on who’s playing the most attractive football. Before Manchester United’s dominance, they might have supported Liverpool or Tottenham. Once United captured headlines, they jumped ship.

The third type are the fair-weather fans, drawn only to the glitz and glamour.

Before Richard’s arrival, City had little appeal to the latter two groups. Despite having a smaller stadium, their stands were filled with passionate diehards—fans who didn’t care about outside opinions or fluctuating results. They were the backbone of the club’s long-term survival.

Now, City had begun to attract all three types of fans. But should performances dip, the latter two would vanish without a second thought.

Richard made his way to the Director’s Box at Maine Road. The VIP area was more comfortable, with spacious seating and a clear view of the pitch. In the top row, seated at the back of the section, were Miss Rowling, his daughter, Miss Heysen, and Marina.

"How does it feel to get your first million?"

The publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997 was a quiet but monumental beginning. It was released in an edition of 500 copies, 300 of which were distributed to libraries.

The book did not immediately explode in popularity. Early sales were modest, as it was originally marketed as a children’s book.

However, thanks to Harry’s efforts, reviewers began to read the book. It received strong reviews and quickly gained momentum through word of mouth, particularly among children and teachers.

Thanks to this early buzz, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone began steadily climbing the sales charts. Families, teens, and even adults were picking up copies.

Even currently, Maddox Capital and Bloomsbury Publishing were in negotiations with a U.S. publishing house regarding the American publishing rights. The demand was so high that it sparked a bidding war. Richard had already been informed that the winner of the bidding war was Scholastic, who paid $105,000—an unprecedented amount for a debut children’s novel.

Though visibly overwhelmed, her eyes shone with quiet pride. "I was just hoping it might reach a few young readers. I never thought it would cross oceans."

Richard simply nodded, understanding the weight of the moment. "Get used to it, Jo," he said with a grin. "The world is about to meet Harry Potter—and they won’t forget him."

Maddox Capital was currently raking in money. Richard expected that this year, his Maddox Group would earn significant profits from the entertainment sector.

Aside from Harry Potter, the newly released Oasis album, Be Here Now, had also made waves—selling a record-breaking 350,000 copies on its first day alone.

Richard exchanged a few words with Miss Rowling before the players finally took the field. City’s starting lineup—the strongest of the season—was ready to face the visiting underdogs, Bolton Wanderers.

Goalkeeper: Buffon

Defenders: Zanetti, Cannavaro, Thuram, Capdevila

Midfielders: Zidane, Makelele, Pirlo, Neil Lennon

Forwards: Ronaldo, Larsson

Even Richard himself found it hard to believe that City’s squad had come this far. It was almost surreal—a dream lineup that only a few years ago would have seemed impossible.