When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 200 The Premier League Clash Begins: Arrogance, Ambition, and the First Battle

On the morning of August 8th, the streets and alleys of London were buzzing with discussion about what had happened at Stamford Bridge the previous night.

White-collar workers in the City of London sipped their coffee and flipped through the sports section of The Times, the front page of which prominently featured the headline: "Roy's Manifesto: Chelsea to Bring London's First Champions League Title."

The subtitle is even more eye-catching: "I am special, and so are you."

The report hailed Roy's powerful speech at Stamford Bridge as "the most inspiring new signing in football history," in which he promised to "end London's shame of not having won the Champions League" in front of 4 fans. His remarks, which perfectly tied his personal ambitions to the collective honor of London football, sparked widespread discussion.

Professional analysts point out that the 19-year-old prodigy's declaration has not only reshaped Chelsea's club image but may also overturn the long-standing power structure of the Premier League.

By giving Chelsea the mission of "reclaiming London's honor," he successfully linked the team's rise with the city's dignity, a unique narrative strategy that could reshape the Premier League landscape.

The Daily Mail ran a headline, "£2720 million rant! Roy taunts all of London: 'We'll be waiting for them at the top'" to report on Roy's controversial remarks.

The report sparked a strong reaction, with Arsenal legend Ian Wright angrily criticizing in his column: "Does a greenhorn who just arrived in the Premier League deserve to represent all of London?"

Tottenham supporters also issued a statement sarcastically saying, "Chelsea is nothing more than an expensive toy for Russian tycoons."

However, a Daily Mail poll showed that while 67% of non-Chelsea fans thought Roy's words were arrogant, they also found his confidence exciting.

In the BBC's "Match of the Day" program, experts engaged in a heated discussion about Roy's comments.

"I must say, Roy is a little too confident."

Lineker bluntly stated on the program: "He has left himself almost no way out. You know, with his sky-high transfer fee and salary conditions, he already needs to prove more than other stars and is under tremendous pressure. But he has added more pressure to himself. Originally, winning the Premier League title would have been enough to complete his mission. Now, it's either become a legend or become the biggest joke in football. There is no middle ground."

However, the production team also pointed out that 19-year-old Roy does have the right to be arrogant.

As the core player, he led Monaco to the Champions League title, scoring 17 goals in a single season, breaking the Champions League goal record. He was also invincible in the European Championship.

The BBC analysis suggests that this extreme confidence stems from his undefeated career, from Ligue 1 to the Champions League to the national team, Roy has made a remarkable run without experiencing any real setbacks.

This rare period of good fortune has given him an aura of self-confidence, but it also makes people worry: when adversity comes, can this prodigy maintain the same composure?
The Daily Mirror analyzed the controversy with the headline "Roy: London's savior or just another bubble?"

The report begins by describing the frenzied scene at Stamford Bridge, stating that Roy "ignited decades of pent-up blue passion with a single sentence."

But the writing then turned to sharp criticism: Compared to Chelsea before Abramovich took over, can this "money-driven warship" really win the respect of the football world?

A longtime fan who has followed the team for 40 years expressed his conflicted feelings: "He said what we've been holding back for decades, but it just doesn't feel right to hear it coming from a 19-year-old who's earning an exorbitant salary."

The Mirror points out that Roy's bold remarks not only made Chelsea fans, who had long been ridiculed, feel vindicated, but also made outsiders question the foundation and sustainability of this "nouveau riche" team.

The Independent offered a sober analysis in its article, "Roy's Manifesto: Football Marketing or Real Ambition?"

The report points out that Roy's speech was by no means an impulsive act, but rather accurately hit the sore spot of London football's long-standing lack of Champions League qualification, demonstrating his profound understanding of the fans' psychology.

The article compares this 19-year-old rising star to Beckham, arguing that he has both talent and charisma and could very well become the next generation of superstars in the Premier League.

However, the report also warned that if the team fails to achieve a breakthrough in the Champions League in its first season, these bold statements could very well become a trigger for a backlash from public opinion, turning this promising young talent from a hero into a laughingstock.

From the subway station to the office, people were discussing the young man's bold words. Some thought he was too arrogant, while many others were impressed by his domineering and self-assured demeanor.

The Sun ran a highly sensational headline, "Roy: I'm the special one!", with the subtitle, "19-year-old prodigy declares: Chelsea will dominate Europe!"

The report included a flamboyant photo of Roy holding up a Chelsea jersey, deliberately emphasizing his "arrogant" image.

The newspaper also dug up Roy's two supermodel girlfriends from his time in Monaco, Doutzen Kroes and Leticia Casta, as well as old news about his frequenting nightclubs, attempting to create a controversial "genius + bad boy" persona.

However, the report also acknowledges that Roy is known for his extreme self-discipline, a contradictory image that raises questions: which Roy is the real one? Is he a nightclub regular or a training fanatic?

The Sun recently launched a controversial fan poll on the topic of "Who is Roy most likely to be linked with in the UK?"

The newspaper listed some of the most popular British actresses and socialites in 2004, including Kelly Brook, Cheryl Tweedy, and famous Page 3 girls such as Lucy Piddle and Marshall Marsh.

The report suggests that this French genius is by no means a devoted and good man, and may well continue his "playboy" style from his time in Monaco.

The poll results showed that 28% of readers believed he would spark a romance with Kelly Brook, who was then a sex symbol in Britain and an avid Premier League fan, while another 22% voted for socialite Paris Hilton, who was frequently dating football stars.

However, some fans commented that such unfounded speculation is unfair to a young player who has just joined the Premier League.

As for L'Equipe, it published an article titled "Roy joins Chelsea: 'I will bring the Champions League to London,'" providing a comprehensive analysis of the talented player's transfer from a French perspective.

The article lauded Roy as "the new flag bearer of French football," detailing his illustrious achievements at Monaco: two Ligue 1 titles, the first unbeaten season in Ligue 1, bringing back the second Champions League trophy for Ligue 1 in the 2003-2004 season and achieving a treble, while also breaking the Ligue 1 goal-scoring record.

Monaco's new manager Laurent Blanc could not hide his regret at the press conference: "Roy redefined the height of the French football league, it's a pity we couldn't continue working together in the new season."

The newly appointed head coach admitted that losing key players is a huge challenge for the team, but he immediately showed his coaching ambition: "Monaco will always be greater than any individual, and we will usher in a new era with more holistic football."

He specifically mentioned that they have introduced young, fresh blood, and the youth training system is continuously producing talent, suggesting that the club is ready for a rebuilding plan in the "post-Roy era".

L'Equipe quoted Wenger as saying that the professor was cautious about it: "His ambition is impressive, but the challenges of the Premier League are on a completely different level."

At the same time, Wenger displayed his usual rational attitude: "Roy's bold statement did not offend me because he was stating the facts. Arsenal did indeed neither reach the final nor win the title."

However, the professor changed his tone, saying, "In the end, football is all about results. We will go all out for the Champions League in the new season and look forward to meeting Chelsea at the top. At that time, we will prove who deserves the title of King of London more with our performance on the field. Don't forget, Arsenal is the only team in London to win the title with an unbeaten record, and we are continuing this tradition so far in the new season."

He added meaningfully, "Setting goals is a good thing, but the one who ultimately lifts the trophy is not always the one who shouts the loudest."

Finally, L'Équipe's report, in a somber tone, raised a core question that has been troubling the French football world: what happened to 19-year-old Roy?

Does the decision of this homegrown talent, who just brought Champions League glory to Ligue 1, to transfer to Chelsea, a rising star in the Premier League, mean that French football is irreversibly losing its most precious blood?
The article cites alarming statistics: In the summer transfer window of 2004, Ligue 1's net revenue from foreign transfers reached a record high, but 75% of that came from transactions involving players under the age of 21.

The editor wrote in the conclusion: "We are witnessing an absurd cycle where the French youth training system painstakingly cultivates diamonds, only to watch them shine in the crown of England."

8月8日英国下午3点，社区盾杯在加的夫千年球场打响，阿森纳3-1力克曼联。

Both sides were missing key players in this match.

Ferguson rested Brown and Saha, who had minor injuries, and had Fortune, who had recovered from injury, play as a makeshift left-back.

Wenger took a risk by fielding Henry, who hadn't played in the entire preseason, and 17-year-old Fabregas also got a starting opportunity.

The first half ended in a goalless draw, but three goals suddenly erupted within 10 minutes in the second half.

Gilberto broke the deadlock first, and then Smith equalized with a beautiful volley.

This was his first goal for Manchester United in an official match.

The momentum of scoring in the previous warm-up matches continued into the official match, and Manchester United fans instantly went wild, with a red wave surging wildly in the stands.

"North London dreams, but trophies fade."

Chelsea shout: 'This year we raid!'
You wait and wait, year after year, (you wait in vain year after year)
While our Red Devils bring them here!

The chants of Manchester United fans were like knives, scraping at the Arsenal players on the field.

48 minutes.

After intercepting the ball in midfield, Gilberto quickly passed it to Shabani Nonda, who was making a run down the right flank. Nonda used his strong physique to withstand O'Shea's pressure and, before losing his balance, passed the ball across to Van Persie, who had just come on as a substitute.

The young Dutch player received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, and before the ball hit the ground, he volleyed it into the far corner of the goal like a cannonball!

2-1!

Robin van Persie's first goal of his debut season was so amazing that the Arsenal bench erupted in cheers!

Arsenal's attacking onslaught shows no signs of abating.

In the 54th minute, Pennant delivered a high ball from the right wing, accurately finding Swade on the edge of the penalty area. Swade cleverly flicked the ball with his back to goal, passing it to the onrushing Van Persie.

The Dutchman pounced into the penalty area like a ghost, and slid in to shoot before Silvestre could block him!

The ball flew under Howard's arm and into the net, 3-1!

Van Persie glided toward the corner flag, leaving long marks on the grass once again.

This 20-year-old Dutch boy scored a dreamlike brace in just six minutes!

On the afternoon of August 8, Chelsea held a belated farewell match for veteran Zola at Stamford Bridge.

Although Zola left the team last year, 38067 fans still came to bid farewell to the Chelsea legend.

During the match, new signings Drogba, Cech, Carvalho, and others made their first home appearances.

Chelsea quickly took control of the game after it started.

27 minutes.

Roy received a precise pass from Lampard during a counter-attack and ignited Stamford Bridge with a breathtaking 70-meter run.

He first outmaneuvered two defenders on the outside, then used a convincing shooting feint inside the penalty area to fool the goalkeeper, and finally scored with a powerful shot into the near corner – a truly illogical move that sent West London into a frenzy!

This priceless first goal at Stamford Bridge was the first fulfillment of his pre-match vow to "bring the Champions League to London".

The moment the ball hit the net, Abramovich's smile in the stands contrasted sharply with the opposing coach's grim face.

41 minutes.

Roy displayed magician-like footwork on the edge of the penalty area, changing direction several times to shake off the defenders before suddenly delivering a brilliant lob pass that sailed over the entire defensive line and found Gallas making a run at the far post.

Without adjusting his position, the French full-back volleyed the ball back into the box, where Drogba, like a tank, shrugged off the defender and calmly slotted the ball home from close range!

In the 63rd minute, Zola, whom all the fans had been waiting for, finally came on as a substitute and got 27 minutes of farewell performance time.

Zola, wearing the number 25 jersey, came on as a substitute, replacing Roy, who wore number 10.

Two generations of Chelsea's core players embraced each other on the sideline, and the entire stadium rose to their feet and applauded for three minutes.

Terry and Lampard exchanged a meaningful glance.

They all watched on TV last night as Roy declared under the spotlight, "Bring the Champions League back to London," a statement that swept through the entire Premier League like a bomb.

This speech brought Roy, a newcomer, unprecedented prestige. At the same time, they both realized:
From this moment on, Roy's name will be etched in the media's record of Chelsea's success or failure.

His declaration about winning the Champions League was like carrying the weight of both the expectations and doubts of all of London on his shoulders.

He won; he's the savior of the Blues.

If he loses, he'll be seen as a cancer in the locker room and an arrogant figure in the media's eyes.

There are no "ifs" or "buts" under the spotlight of Stanford Bridge; there is only a black-and-white path.

They either ascend the throne with the Champions League trophy or leave the stage in disgrace amidst boos.

Roy, on the other hand, had clearly already sunk the option of "getting out unscathed" into the mud of the Thames.

At this moment, the handover ceremony between No. 25 and No. 10 is still ongoing, but in bars, subway stations, and trading floors throughout London, people are only talking about the name of that Frenchman.

Although he didn't score, Zola still displayed superb skills on the field, with a brilliant pass and a tricky free kick winning cheers from the crowd.

In the 87th minute, Chelsea's attacking storm reached another climax!

Gudjohnsen, who had just come on as a substitute, cleverly laid the ball off on the edge of the penalty area. New signing Maicon, like a ghost, made a diagonal run into the right side of the penalty area, received the ball, made a slight adjustment, and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner. The ball traced a perfect trajectory and went straight into the net!

3-0!

Stamford Bridge erupted in celebration. This goal not only secured the victory but also showcased the immense potential of Chelsea's new generation of wingers.

After the final whistle blew, Zola circled the field to thank the fans, who responded with thunderous applause.

This 3-0 victory not only showcased Chelsea's squad strength for the new season but also brought a perfect end to Zola's Chelsea career.

After the match, Roy and Zola exchanged jerseys on the field, chatted for a long time near the center circle, and finally waved to the fans together.

Zola will continue to be Roy's personal coach and also serve as Chelsea's technical advisor.

Similar to the situation with physical trainer Pintus, Roy paid most of Zola's salary out of his own pocket.

Roy is now a better player than Zola, but even the best players need someone to help them refine the details.

Zola is doing this job now, watching Roy's every move during training, not even missing small things like the angle of his ankle rotation or whether his body is crooked when stopping the ball.

After all, seasoned veterans have a keen eye; young coaches simply can't spot these subtle technical flaws.

Abramovich also gave him a new title: Chelsea Ambassador.

This can be considered a formal reconciliation between the Abramovich era and the Bates era.

When Abramovich took over and purged Bates' old staff, Zola angrily left and vowed "never to come back".

Now, by leveraging his connection with Roy, he has returned to Bluebridge, preserving the dignity of the old-school heroes while also leaving the Russians with a good reputation for treating veterans well.

After briefly greeting his teammates and chatting with his former Monaco teammates Abidal and Maicon, Roy packed his things to go home. As he walked out of the locker room, he clearly sensed something was wrong.

My teammates, who usually walk arm in arm with me, were avoiding my gaze today, and their greetings sounded awkward.

He then realized that ever since he made that boast last night about "winning the Champions League," his position in the team had suddenly become precarious.

Apart from Desailly, the elder brother, who slammed his fist on the table and cheered, everyone else's expression changed.

Even his fellow Frenchmen, Makelele and Gallas, tended to avoid him.

These seasoned veterans knew perfectly well: "You've put the whole team in a bind with just one sentence. If we don't win the championship, we'll all be the ones to blame."

The way people look at him now is like they're looking at a madman who threw a bomb into the locker room.

To put it bluntly, it's your business if you want to show off, but don't drag the whole team into risking their lives for you.

He didn't say it aloud, but his eyes clearly said: "You're paid the highest salary in the team, and you think you can lead us to the Champions League? Fine, the whole of London is watching. If you miss a one-on-one chance or misplace a crucial pass, the media will tear you apart!"

Even Desailly, who has always supported him, couldn't help but remind him privately: "Kid, do you know that Terry deliberately said to me today, 'We didn't even make the semi-finals last season'? I'm just reminding you. Don't think that Stamford Bridge is as easy as the Stade Louis II."

Roy didn't take it seriously at all; in fact, he found it quite amusing.

In his eyes, the locker room is a place where everyone has their own thoughts and feelings; it would be abnormal if everyone were all friendly and harmonious.

He enjoys the process of slowly winning people's hearts, just like taming a wild horse, you have to let it kick up first, and then gradually smooth out its temper.

If they are unruly, whip them; if whipping them still doesn't make them unruly, hammer them; if hammering them still doesn't make them unruly...
For him, this kind of overt and covert competition is more interesting than playing football itself.

Pressure? Public opinion? Isolation from teammates?
Can't ask for it.

He enjoys seeing these people grit their teeth but can't do anything about him.

Roy's black Land Rover slowly drove out of the players' tunnel, the low growl of the engine instantly igniting the frenzy outside the stadium.

Chelsea fans had already filled both sides of the tunnel, holding up their newly bought jerseys with his name on them, banging on the car windows, and chanting his name.

Some people even clung to the car door, trying to stuff pens into the gap of the half-open car window.

This time, however, Roy didn't stop his car casually like he did in Monaco, roll down the window to high-five fans, sign autographs, or take photos with them.

He wore sunglasses, gripped the steering wheel firmly with both hands, stared straight ahead, and drove at a moderate speed, showing no intention of stopping.

Upon arrival, everything was still undecided.

In Monaco, he was a fan favorite, the king of the Stade Louis II, able to mingle freely with the fans. But this was Stamford Bridge, London, Chelsea—a more complex, more tumultuous, more probing and scrutinizing stage.

He hasn't proven himself here yet, hasn't earned real respect through his performance, and hasn't silenced those who questioned his high-salary transfer.

It's too early to park now.

The fans outside the car window were still shouting; some were excited, some were disappointed, and some had even started cursing.

"How many seconds would it take you to sign an autograph?"

"We paid money to buy your jerseys, and this is your attitude?"

Roy stepped on the gas, and the Land Rover slowly drove away under the guidance of security personnel.

From August 9th to August 15th, Roy's life consisted of only going between the training ground and home.

I arrive at the gym at 6:30 every morning and drive to the Harrington training base at 7:45.

After training sessions, he would always stay behind to practice shooting or short passes.

I went to Desailly's house for barbecue on Wednesday night, but left before 10 p.m.

Mendes' phone never stopped ringing; he received calls from various sponsors and media outlets.

After a quick screening, he passed the important offer to Claire, who had just moved Roy's business team from Paris to London.

Roy drove back to the villa and saw Claire's silver Aston Martin parked in the driveway from afar.

When he opened the door, Claire was sitting in the living room organizing documents, with several contracts and a half-finished cup of coffee on the coffee table.

Claire flipped through the contract and looked up, saying, "Land Rover wants to sign you as their global brand ambassador. They found out that the first car you bought in the UK was their Defender, and they even came up with a slogan: 'Starting with the Defender, becoming a legend.'"

"BBC Sport wants to replicate your 'ROI Tactical Room' in Monaco. They're willing to give you a five-minute prime-time phone interview, and they've even come up with a title for the program: 'Roy's Premier League Insights'."
"The director said they can keep your sharp commentary style completely. They also said that if the listenership meets the target, they are willing to give you a one-hour in-depth analysis program during prime time before the Premier League match day."

"I only have five minutes to tell the truth now."

Claire closed the folder: "A five-minute call is fine, but a one-hour program is off the table?"

"Ah."

“What a pity,” she shrugged. “The BBC guys love it when they criticize Henry.”

Roy laughed and said, "Why reward him by criticizing him every match day?"

Mendes landed at Heathrow Airport for the third time this week.

During the day, he has to deal with Ronaldo's skyrocketing commercial offers.

As soon as Ferguson handed the number 7 jersey to the kid, Nike and Coca-Cola kept calling him.

NextGen Sports Business Company was discreetly located in an old Georgian-style building in the Mayfair district, specializing in the in-depth development of players' commercial value, a concept that was still relatively new at the time.

The current client list is short but substantial: in addition to Roy himself, Cristiano Ronaldo and other players represented by Mendes, there is also Zidane, represented by Roy's former agent Alan Migliaccio.

They just helped Zidane secure an endorsement deal for a German sportswear brand's training equipment, not only receiving a substantial upfront payment but also agreeing to a 5% commission on sales.

Meanwhile, the company is quietly testing the waters with fan merchandise on eBay, and currently only dares to list Roy's merchandise, since he is the only one in the company who owns 100% of his image rights.

The product description specifically emphasizes "authorized by the player himself," but it's actually just skirting a gray area, a case of passing the buck.

Over the past three weeks, they have hired six local online promoters to post on various football forums and sports sections.

Those old stories about Roy in Monaco have been repackaged.

The French interviews were translated into authentic British humor, the technical analysis was paired with jargon familiar to Premier League fans, and even the little stories from the training ground were changed into slang versions that British players love to use.

All marketing operations are completed through three layers of intermediaries, without direct contact with Roy's team, because, as everyone knows, Mr. Roy never does marketing.

Some people specifically watch for trending topics and chime in, some are responsible for adding new titles to old photos, and others register dozens of fake accounts to stir up trouble in the comments section.

When one of the promoters walked home carrying a sandwich, five browser windows were open on the screen in the dimly lit room. The title of the latest post was: "You have no idea how terrible he is."

This content bombarded Football365 and the blog comment section like shrapnel.

The forum was in an uproar.

Some say Roy is the best of his generation, but others immediately retort: ​​"Twenty years ago, he couldn't even withstand fouls!"

Someone posted a blurry photo of him at a nightclub, and fans immediately commented, "He got up at 4:30 in the morning to practice!"

The debate about luxury cars, girlfriends, and locker room relationships has gone on for over ten pages.

But what really matters is that every post increases search popularity, and every argument drives up advertising prices.

The louder the keyboard is tapped, the faster the sponsor's checkbook flips.

Others confidently asserted, "Roy opposes premarital sex. Those girlfriends are just a smokescreen; he's actually not interested in women at all, which is why he's so virile."

"No wonder he's in such good form; he's been focusing all his energy on training."

On the evening of the 13th, Leticia got into Roy's Land Rover as soon as she got off the plane.

Before the car door was even fully closed, her hand had already slipped into his pocket.

"miss you."

Her warm breath burned Roy's earlobe, her lips almost brushing against his earlobe: "It's been almost a month since I've touched you."

Roy gripped the steering wheel with one hand and used the other to block, saying, "Stop messing around."

Before the car even left the airport parking lot, her hands, painted with nude nail polish, had already unbuttoned two of his shirt buttons.

“Wait a minute,” Roy grabbed her hand, his eyes scanning the motorcycle that looked like a paparazzi in the rearview mirror. “I don’t want tomorrow’s Sun headline to be ‘Soccer Star’s Passionate Moment in Parking Lot.’”

The famous intimate photo of the Beckhams in the parking lot in 2003 remains a classic example in the history of football gossip.

Spanish paparazzi even captured clear photos of the seatbelt marks left on Victoria as she straddled her husband's lap.

Leticia suddenly withdrew her hand, elegantly smoothed her hair, and instantly regained her noble demeanor as the "French Rose".

"Not going to the villa in Surrey?" She tapped her fingertips lightly on the car window.

Roy's shirt collar was still open, but his voice had regained its composure: "Romy is only eleven years old. That girl's ears are sharper than a scout's. It's not appropriate for her to hear these things. I'll get another house near the training base next week."

The car slowly drove into the private garage of the luxury apartment building near Stamford Bridge. Roy had just put the car in Park when he turned around to help Leticia unbuckle her seatbelt.

Roy reached out and pressed the remote control, and the garage door rolled down with a dull thud.

Before he had even fully landed, Leticia had already stepped over the center console and pressed him into the seat.

She bit Roy's lower lip without hesitation, and heard a low groan escape his throat.

"Slower."

Roy's breath hit her collarbone, but his hands honestly gripped her waist and pressed her down.

The leather seats creaked under their weight with every movement, mixed with the soft rattling of the metal buckles on the seatbelts.

When Leticia tilted her head back, the back of her head hit the roof of the car, and her painful gasp quickly turned into intermittent groans.

"I'll spend more time with you after the match on August 15th."

"Two more days. I can't wait."

"You know, I had to..."

Leticia's hot, panting breath brushed against Roy's sweaty neck: "I know, that's why I'm collecting interest now so I can get it back after the game, principal and interest."

On August 14, 2004, the new Premier League season kicked off amid a dull string of draws.

White Hart Lane opened the scoring with a 1-1 draw between Tottenham and Liverpool, with Cissé's brilliance being negated by Defoe's equalizer; Portsmouth and Birmingham played to a goalless draw at Fratton Park, with both goalkeepers being the busiest players; newly promoted Norwich and Crystal Palace, both struggling teams, also drew 1-1; Blackburn and West Bromwich Albion's relegation battle was equally close.

Manchester City were held to a draw by Fulham at Maine Road, with goals from Robbie Fowler and Collins John giving both sides a point; Nigerian magician Okocha scored two goals and provided an assist to help Bolton thrash Charlton 4-1 at home; Villa Park witnessed Aston Villa easily defeat Southampton 2-0, with Vassell and Carlton Cole tearing apart the Saints' defense; the most dramatic moment came at Riverside Stadium, where Newcastle took the lead twice, but Hasselbaink, who just transferred from Chelsea to Middlesbrough this season, helped Middlesbrough equalize twice with a goal and an assist in the second half.

With six draws in eight matches, the first round of the Premier League announced in the most English way: the new season's melee has begun.

On the afternoon of August 15, Arsenal thrashed Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park, continuing their strong start to the unbeaten season.

Henry twice transformed into an assist machine: first, he delivered a pinpoint through ball to Bergkamp, ​​who slotted home; then, he used the outside of his foot to find Ljungberg, who volleyed home to extend the lead.

Ljungberg returned the favor, first setting up Pires for a low shot with a cross, then passing to substitute Nonda to seal the victory.

Everton only managed to salvage some pride with a header from a long pass by Gravesen.

The gunman taught the newly promoted player a lesson with his fluid and skillful teamwork.

When Henry was substituted in the 70th minute, even the home fans applauded him.

Even before the Chelsea vs. Manchester United clash has kicked off, the tension has already exploded in newspaper headlines, television programs, and online forums.

"Mourinho is the new Ferguson."

Last Saturday's Evening Standard revealed the real reason Chelsea hired Mourinho.

Although the Portuguese and Ferguson are completely different in age, background and coaching experience, they are essentially the same.

They all carried an undeniable arrogance and stubbornness.

Before Mourinho's arrival, only Arsène Wenger of Arsenal would occasionally engage in verbal sparring with Sir Alex Ferguson. Ranieri, who was not good at English and had a timid personality, never seemed to dare to, nor did he have the ability to, engage in verbal entanglements with Ferguson.

But Mourinho is different.

He not only has the ability to engage in verbal battles with Ferguson, but also boasts two Portuguese league titles, a UEFA Cup title, and a Champions League runner-up finish. Although he may not be as good as Ferguson, he led Porto to eliminate Manchester United last season.

These achievements gave him enough confidence.

This kind of "verbal battle" is not just about personal grudges, but also a necessary psychological struggle.

To put it bluntly, Chelsea needs more than just a coach; they need someone who can go toe-to-toe with Ferguson.

For the past decade or so, the Premier League has been a stage for a comedy show between Ferguson and Wenger.

A Scottish hairdryer and a French professor, arguing noisily but evenly matched.

But Abramovich's money empire needs a bigger voice.

They brought in Mourinho not only for his tactics, but also for his silver tongue that could talk the dead back to life.

The whole Premier League was amused; finally, someone could hold their own against Sir Alex Ferguson in a verbal battle.

Before the league started, Ferguson's statement that "money can't buy championships" ignited the latest round of verbal sparring: "Mourinho should thank Abramovich. When I first started managing (30 years ago at East Stirling in Scotland), I only had a budget of £2000, but I had to bring in six players. When I came to Manchester United in 1986, the first thing Edwards (former chairman) said to me was: 'The club doesn't have money to buy players until the season ticket revenue comes in.' As for Mourinho, the only pressure is his assessment of the abilities of new players."

Mourinho immediately responded through the newspapers:

"Judging players? Yes, that's my biggest pressure, but also the gamble I enjoy the most."

"I first watched Roy's video when I was still in Porto, and I wanted to sign him. But what happened? He turned around and eliminated me with Monaco."

"Later, Abramovich asked me who Chelsea absolutely had to sign, and I didn't even think about it: what other name could be worthy of the word 'must'? Of course, it's Roy."

“He was the player Chelsea needed. So we signed him, and he chose us. It was that simple.”

"By the way, this is not a judgment that just any club can make."

Abramovich spent over £2 million in 12 months, while Ferguson's total investment in Manchester United during his 18 years in charge was only £2.23 million.

When asked by the media what he thought of Mourinho's self-proclaimed "best," Ferguson grinned and said, "I'm sitting here like everyone else, waiting to see just how good he really is."

“Listen, give me Abramovich’s checkbook, and I can put together an All-Star roster. So even if you cram all the best players into the team, it doesn’t mean the person standing on the sidelines can call himself the ‘best coach.’ Otherwise, football should be coached by accountants.”

"In this position, someone who hasn't won the Champions League shouldn't be in a hurry to pat themselves on the back. Of course."

"I'm not talking about another colleague who also doesn't have a Champions League title."

In the original timeline, Mourinho always met Ferguson's provocations head-on and never backed down. But in this timeline without the Champions League trophy, when Ferguson posed the pointed question, "What titles do you have?", the arrogant Portuguese coach revealed his lack of confidence and embarrassment for the first time.

He could still list his two league titles and the UEFA Cup, but the lack of that coveted Champions League trophy ultimately put him at a disadvantage in his war of words with Ferguson.

"I coached a team and won two league titles and a European title in a row, only to fall in the Champions League final the following year. I think the feeling of waiting 13 years for a Champions League title is much more agonizing than waiting two years to finish as runners-up."

After his rebuttal, he now desperately wants to let football speak for itself, because he is not "the special one," and "the special one" is someone else.

On August 15, 2004, Stamford Bridge was packed with cheers, with Chelsea fans nearly lifting the roof off.

Although the Manchester United away team was singing their battle anthem, there was a hint of unease in their voices. The team's injury list was close to ten players, and even the substitutes' bench seemed empty.

What made them even more uneasy was the man opposite them: Roy, the super striker who swept across Europe last season, a monster who scored more than seventy goals in all competitions in a single season.

He was warming up at the moment, and every time he touched the ball, it drew a deafening roar of screams.

Chelsea's bench still has half of their newly signed star-studded squad.

Manchester United fans clutched their scarves tightly.

This is destined to be a tough battle.

----------------

After winning the Premier League Manager of the Year award, Wenger made a strong statement: he vowed to keep Vieira! The Frenchman mocked Real Madrid, saying, "It took them 32 years to win the Champions League, and the next title might be another 30 years away," and compared Vieira to Schumacher and Ferrari, saying, "Vieira can only win the highest honor if he stays at Arsenal." Although the official website briefly removed the captain's photo, Wenger insisted, "He personally promised to stay." Marca revealed that Real Madrid has turned to pursuing Rooney, but the 18-year-old injured player is clearly unable to replace the Gunners' defensive stalwart.

—The Daily Telegraph

意大利足协8月5日正式任命前尤文主帅里皮为国家队新主教练，双方签约两年。里皮明确表示将率队冲击2006年世界杯冠军，首战是8月18日对阵冰岛的友谊赛。

— Gazzetta dello Sport

On August 5, 2004, French legendary defender Lizarazu, who had just transferred from Bayern Munich to Marseille, announced his retirement from the national team, marking the end of the entire defensive line of the 1998 World Cup champions.

The 34-year-old said he needed to spend more time with his family, ending his 12-year international career (97 appearances). Coach Domenech had previously tried to persuade him to stay, but Lizarazu ultimately chose to retire.

Currently, only two veterans remain in the French national team: Zidane and Barthez. Zidane has stated that he will decide whether to stay or leave before the World Cup qualifiers in September, while Barthez has expressed his willingness to continue playing for the team.

With Roy's explosive rise, the French team has entered a crucial moment of transition between generations.

Many experts and fans believe that the 19-year-old star and Henry have formed a dominant attacking duo, but the 33-year-old Zidane still has his irreplaceable role.

Despite declining physical fitness limiting his playing time, his masterful game reading ability and locker room leadership remain crucial to the French team's World Cup campaign.

Domenech may adopt a rotation strategy, allowing Zidane to play his remaining role in key battles while gradually handing over the core of the attack to the younger generation.

— L'Équipe

(End of this chapter)