When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 238 The Rise and Fall of Red and Blue
On the morning of January 25, 2005, just as dawn was breaking, Roy's BMW M3 roared into the Cobham training ground.

In the fog, the reporters who had been waiting immediately surrounded them.

Roy slammed on the brakes and rolled down the window.

"Roy! What do you think of Atkinson's apology? Would you accept it?"

"Roy, your mother is of Chinese descent, right?"

Will this affect your performance in tomorrow's match?

He apologized because he deserved to, but I have no obligation to forgive him. Behind this insult lies a filthy heart. Do you think a few nice words can erase the hurt?

He suddenly sneered, "People like this never truly repent."

The reporters wanted to ask more questions, but Roy had already rolled up the car window.

Amidst the roar of the engine, he uttered his final words: "I hold grudges. Forever."

In the first leg of the English League Cup semi-final, Liverpool defeated Watford 1-0 away from home.

Captain Gerrard scored the winning goal, helping Liverpool advance to the final with a 2-0 aggregate score.

Liverpool had a 1-0 lead after the first leg.

Gerrard played with an injury in this game, and he passed the team doctor's physical test before the match.

In defense, Finnish center-back Hyypiä is out with a hip injury, while Traore's own goal in the FA Cup that led to the team's elimination still casts a shadow.

Watford manager Lewinton was clearly resting key players for this match, having rested several key players in last Saturday's league game.

Top scorer Helguson, captain Mahon, and defensive stalwart Neil Cox, among other key players, all returned to the starting lineup, but ultimately failed to change the score.

The other semi-final will be played tomorrow, with Manchester United facing Chelsea for the final spot in the final.

During the pre-match interview, the young Cristiano Ronaldo was surrounded by reporters, who bombarded him with a barrage of questions.

Cristiano Ronaldo's brow furrowed more and more as he listened to the barrage of questions from reporters.

Eight out of ten questions were directed at Roy.

"Cristiano, Roy is one of the top strikers in the Premier League right now, and you share the same agent. He's a year older than you. Some people think your playing style is becoming more like his. Do you agree with that? Will you try to learn from his style of play? Has he given you any advice?"

"Also, you used to play as a right winger, but Sir Alex has now pushed you up front, and it seems to be working well. In this match at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United were down 0-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford. Do you think the team can come back to win away from home?"

"You and Rooney are both future stars of Manchester United. Who do you think is performing better right now?"

"Alan Smith is in hot form during the preseason. How do you view the competition for his position?"

"Once Van Nistelrooy returns from injury, who do you think will be his best strike partner?"

Cristiano Ronaldo stood in the interview area, his curly hair with a few strands of gold highlights, which was particularly eye-catching under the flashing lights.

He subconsciously twirled a strand of hair at his temple with his fingers, his slightly immature face showing a hint of unease.

Whenever a reporter mentions Roy's name, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turn down, and his eyes drift away.

“Listen, my style of football is Cristiano Ronaldo’s style. I don’t need to imitate anyone. Yes, Roy scores more goals than me now, I admit that. But what I need to do is score more goals for Manchester United, not learn anyone’s style. I believe that as long as I keep working hard, I can definitely do better than him.”

"As for Mendes? Yes, he's our mutual agent, but he always arranges meetings separately. Roy and I? We're not exactly friends; at most, we nod to each other at sponsor events or parties. Don't imagine our relationship as some kind of mentor-student romance."

“I always believed Manchester United could turn things around in the next game, now that the key players are back. Rooney? We have completely different styles, each with our strengths, but I do have the more goals right now. As for Alan Smith…”

He raised his chin with a hint of arrogance. "The coach has already decided that I'm a starter. Honestly, even if Van Nistelrooy comes back, he'll have to fight for his place based on his ability."

Manchester United players are warming up at Stamford Bridge.

Captain Roy Keane is making his first appearance in the competition since 2003, while key players such as Ferdinand, Giggs, and Gary Neville are also making their first appearances in this season's League Cup squad.

Chelsea have practically secured the Premier League title this season, with their huge lead in the standings making the title race a foregone conclusion.

Manchester United desperately need a trophy to boost the team's morale.

Given the difficulty of the Champions League, the League Cup and FA Cup have become the goals that the Red Devils must fight for.

Mourinho was also striving for his first title since arriving in England, and the match happened to be on his 42nd birthday.

The conflict between Ronaldinho and Manchester United is escalating. The two sides seem to have irreconcilable differences, and the Brazilian is seeking to leave in the winter transfer window or at the latest next summer. Although he himself has not made a strong statement, his brother Assis has acted as a frequent voice in the discussion.

He revealed various facts to prove that Brazil's future was being treated unfairly in England.

A series of actions eventually angered Ferguson, and the end result was that he finally began to use iron-fisted methods, just like he did with Van Nistelrooy at the beginning of this season when he intended to transfer to Real Madrid, putting the Brazilian on the bench and Giggs back to the left wing.

Ferguson roared at the top of his lungs in the locker room, while players like Giggs, Heinze, Rooney, and Scholes listened in silence.

The veteran coach mentions Roy's name almost every three sentences.

"Keep a close eye on him," "Restrict him," "Disrupt his rhythm," "Give him physical contact."
The entire training session revolved around this opposing player.

Ferguson's almost obsessive state made it difficult for the players to discern whether the coach's feelings for Roy stemmed from extreme dislike or some kind of distorted appreciation.

"Listen, lads! In ninety minutes, I want to see your sweat soaking the Stamford Bridge pitch, your legs crushing Chelsea's defense, your will crushing their arrogance! Remember, Manchester United fears no opponent! Now, out there. We're heading for the championship! Liverpool is in the final, I repeat, Liverpool! Do you want to see those beach-dwelling fans yelling at us: 'Where's Manchester United?' We're going to storm in and beat them, not be stuck in this damn semi-final!"

At 9:00 p.m. sharp, referee Rob Steyer blew the opening whistle.

Ferguson stood in the coaching area, his gaze sweeping over the surging blue crowd at Stamford Bridge and fixed on the Chelsea player in the center circle wearing the number 10 jersey.

The moment Drogba gently flicked the ball to Roy, the entire stadium erupted in cheers.

The chants of Manchester United's away fans had barely begun when they were drowned out by the roar of Chelsea's fans, and the red and blue jerseys were already locked in a fierce battle on the green field.

"The match begins! Drogba passes the ball to Roy, Chelsea launch the first attack!"

"Roy received the ball and remained very calm! Keane immediately pressed forward, but Roy made a light pull-back and turn to avoid his interception, and then passed the ball to Mendes on the left wing."

"Mendes passed the ball back without stopping! Roy slipped through the gap between Scholes and Fortune like an eel, and after receiving the ball, he suddenly accelerated and took two steps away!"

"Heinze was forced to press forward, and Roy seized the opportunity, flicking his ankle to pass the ball diagonally to Robben who was making a run down the wing!"

"The Dutchmen are advancing along the sideline like a gust of wind! Silvestre is retreating while fighting, but Robben has already picked up speed, Chelsea's attack at the start is quite fluid!"

Robben receives the ball on the right wing, facing Silvestre's defense.

He lightly flicked the ball with his left foot and quickly twisted it with his right, causing the French defender to lose his balance and awkwardly turn around.

With a few simple changes of direction, the Dutchman completely outmaneuvered Sylvester, leaving him unable to keep up with the pace.

Meanwhile, Roy and Drogba had already advanced into the penalty area.

Roy was held tightly by Keane's shoulder, the two of them entangled together, their muscles tense.

Just as Silvestre was beaten, Robben suddenly made a feint to cross, then cut inside with the inside of his right foot, sending the ball cleanly through Silvestre's legs! The Dutchman then surged into the penalty area.

In a flash, Roy took a half step back, then suddenly made a run to shake off Keane's pull, managing to gain half a body length to flank the back post.

But Robben didn't pass the ball; instead, he took a left-footed shot.

Heinze made a sliding tackle, using his body to block the shot out of bounds.

Robben lost his balance and fell to the ground, bringing Chelsea's attack to an abrupt end.

Mourinho was furious on the sidelines, tearing off his tie and roaring at the players on the field.

Roy quickly walked over to Robben, who had fallen to the ground, reached out and helped him up, patting him on the back.

He leaned close to the Dutchman's ear, his tone calm but tinged with a hint of confusion: "Arjen, you were in a great position at the far post just now, why didn't you pass it?"

"I saw the goalkeeper was positioned to the right, and I thought a direct shot would be more likely to succeed. I'll definitely ask you for help next time."

During this period, Robben's playing style leaned towards individual play, and he often focused on making individual breakthroughs during matches.

In some games, he even attempted more drives than Roy.

The difference is that Roy took on some of the playmaking responsibilities, often prioritizing passing the ball to teammates in better positions.

Robben, on the other hand, completely unleashed his potential, displaying his individual skills without any restraint on the wing.

However, sometimes he needs to understand that he is not the player with the most tactical freedom.

Roy pressed down on Robben's shoulder, looked him straight in the eye, and said:

"You don't necessarily have to come to me, Drogba, Lampard, Thiago, or even Makelele, or you can shoot yourself. Just do the right thing."

Robben frowned slightly, but quickly nodded.

“You’re right, Roy.”

Lampard's corner kick spun as it flew toward the center of the penalty area.

Drogba and Ferdinand jumped at the same time, their shoulders collided heavily, and the ball lost control in the collision, falling directly into the penalty area.

Five or six players immediately huddled together, scrambling for the ball, with grass clippings flying everywhere in the chaos.

Thiago Mendes got to the ball first in the scramble and pushed it out of the crowd.

Lampard volleyed the ball from the edge of the penalty area, but it struck a defender blocking his way and bounced out of bounds.

In the 6th minute of the match, Roy received the ball near the center circle and advanced forward.

Scholes cautiously maintained his defensive distance, refraining from rushing in, while constantly waving his hands to direct his teammates to tighten the defensive line.

Roy suddenly adjusted his footwork and sent a long pass with his right foot, the ball flying precisely into the right flank and finding Robben.

Robben controlled the ball and was about to accelerate when Keane took two steps to the side and made a sliding tackle, cleanly sliding the ball to his feet.

The Dutchman immediately turned and lunged to pounce, tripping Keane with his left leg the moment he got up.

Referee Styles blew his whistle and ran over, raising his index finger at Robben as a warning: "Watch your movements!" Keane brushed the grass clippings off his shorts, stood up, and walked away with a sullen face.

In the 14th minute, Giggs calmly controlled the ball on the left wing. Facing Maicon's pressure, he played a textbook one-two with Scholes.

The Welsh veteran first feigned a cut inside, then suddenly flicked his heel, and Scholes, understanding perfectly, made a run to receive the pass.

Just as Maicon was about to turn around and chase back, Scholes had already chipped the ball back to Giggs, who was making a run around the outside.

"This time, Ginger Head's two-pass maneuvers completely outmaneuvered Maicon!"

The Manchester United fans in the stands cheered.

Giggs looked up near the byline and delivered a low cross with his left foot, skimming the grass.

Cech, like a cheetah pouncing, leaped and smothered the ball before Rooney could touch it.

Rooney couldn't stop in time and flipped over the Chelsea goalkeeper.

He yelled at the referee, "Why isn't this a foul? He practically pounced on me!"

He then turned to Cech and roared, "If you've got the guts, then don't let go!"

After saying that, he spat hard onto the grass.

Gallas suddenly rushed up to Rooney, his nose almost touching the other's face, and forced out a vicious whisper through clenched teeth:
"Go back to your brothel doghouse. You stinking ladybug that deserves to crawl in the gutter."

Rooney was instantly enraged, his face flushed red, and he clenched his fists, ready to explode.

Ferguson, chewing gum on the sidelines, stared at the field with a gloomy look in his eyes.

He glanced at the home team's coaching bench, where Mourinho was standing with his arms crossed, sneering.

He snorted. He'd seen this kind of underhanded tactic many times before: provoking Rooney and getting the reckless bull to get a card in a moment of impulsiveness was a common tactic used by Premier League opponents.

In the 16th minute, Silvestre hesitated while handling the ball in the backfield, and Drogba suddenly rushed in and poked the ball, almost creating a one-on-one opportunity.

Referee Steyr blew his whistle to indicate that the Ivorian had committed a foul by pushing Manchester United, and Manchester United escaped a penalty.

Manchester United, playing away from home, controlled the tempo of the game for the first ten minutes thanks to Keane's tough interceptions and precise distribution in midfield.

The Irish veteran ran tirelessly, making two crucial tackles that directly disrupted Chelsea's attacking organization.

However, Manchester United's possession advantage never translated into a real threat.

During this period, the midfield was somewhat out of control, and Roy had to drop back to the center to help organize the attack.

But Manchester United's defense was very tight, and he seemed to have difficulty passing the ball several times in the crowd. On one occasion, he had just received a back pass when Scholes and Fortune teamed up to steal the ball.

In the 19th minute, Rooney passed the ball from the middle to Ronaldo on the right wing.

The Portuguese player received the ball and suddenly changed direction, shaking off Makelele's defense and breaking into the penalty area.

After a physical collision with Gallas, Ronaldo lost his balance and fell inside the penalty area.

Referee Styles immediately made a gesture of crossing his arms, indicating that there was no penalty.

Cristiano Ronaldo spread his hands in protest, but the referee upheld the original decision and the game continued.

In the 23rd minute, Manchester United won a corner kick on the right.

Instead of opting for a conventional cross, they quickly launched a tactical corner kick.

Gary Neville received the ball near the right side of the penalty area, with no defenders within three meters of him.

Instead of shooting directly, the right-back passed the ball to the far post of the penalty area.

Unfortunately, the pass was a little too strong, and the ball spun wildly across the front of the goal, eventually going wide of the far post.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech stood still the entire time, without even making a save.

Ferguson shook his head in disappointment; Manchester United had missed a chance to equalize the aggregate score.

Cech launched a long goal kick, and Drogba and Heinze fiercely contested for the header in midfield.

The Ivorian player flicked the ball towards the wing, and as Roy chested it down, Ronaldo was already pulling on his jersey from behind.

Roy leaned back, using his body to shield the Portuguese player, and the ball flew over both of their heads.

Roy immediately turned around and shoved Ronaldo in the chest to get ahead of the charge.

Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed his collar, stumbled and fell to the ground, then quickly got up on the grass.

The referee did not give a signal.

Roy had broken free of the entanglement and deftly flicked the ball up with the instep of his foot, finding Abidal who was making a run along the sideline.

Facing pressure from Gary Neville, the French full-back made no adjustment and volleyed the ball back.

At this moment, Ronaldo came up to mark him closely again. Roy pretended to make a forward run, then suddenly stopped, leaned back to block his opponent, and at the same time used his heel to accurately flick the ball to Thiago behind him.

This no-look-pass ignited the stands, with Chelsea fans rising to their feet and applauding.

In the 29th minute, Robben passed the ball from the center to the left wing. Roy received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, suddenly accelerated, and then stopped abruptly to control the ball.

Gary Neville was shaken off by the change in rhythm, and Roy seized the opportunity to start again.

Facing Ferdinand's cover, he feinted around the ball with his left foot, then gently flicked it to the right with the inside of his left foot, dribbling past the England center-back.

Near the byline, Roy calmly crossed the ball.

Lampard made a sharp run into the left side of the penalty area and met the ball with his left foot from 10 yards out, slotting it into the far corner.

Silvestre stretched out his leg to intercept but failed, and Howard's diving save was a fraction of a second too late; the ball rolled along the grass into the net.

Stamford Bridge erupted as Chelsea players surrounded goal scorer Lampard.

"GOAL! Chelsea 1-0!"

"Lampard! It's always Lampard! The midfield maestro ghosted into the penalty area and calmly slotted the ball past the Manchester United goal! Howard was completely fooled!"

"Mourinho's team took the lead at home. This goal, from the breakthrough to the finish, was textbook perfect. Roy beat Neville and Ferdinand on the left wing, and his final cross just avoided Heinze's interception! Lampard's fatal blow!"

Chelsea have extended their aggregate lead to two goals!

Ferguson looked grim on the sidelines. He knew what this goal meant: due to conceding a goal at home, Manchester United now needed to score at least three goals to turn the game around!
Prior to this, Roy's performance on the field had not been particularly noteworthy.

Most of the time, he focused on orchestrating the offense as usual, steadily receiving passes from his teammates, calmly distributing the ball, and making very few mistakes.

Manchester United's midfield did indeed function more smoothly than Chelsea's during that period, with the Scholes-Keane partnership gaining the upper hand at one point.

But suddenly Roy bared his fangs, from receiving the ball to making a series of breakthroughs and then delivering a precise cross, the whole sequence of actions was like a sword being drawn from its sheath, directly assisting Lampard to finish the job.

The pace of the game quickened in the latter part of the first half, but with little effect.

As the first half progressed, both sides accelerated their offensive and defensive transitions, but their offensive efficiency was noticeably lacking.

Chelsea relied on Drogba and Roy to apply constant pressure on the left flank, while Manchester United created threats through Ronaldo's breakthroughs, but several shots went wide.

During the incident, Fortune went down in the penalty area, sparking a penalty controversy. Slow-motion replays suggested that he may have dived.

Despite both teams creating several chances, neither team had the precision to finish the game and were unable to change the score.

The atmosphere in the players' tunnel was tense, with players from both sides shoving each other as they headed towards the locker room, exchanging trash talk. "How much did the Russians pay the referee?"

Ferdinand glared at the Chelsea players and roared.

"Mind your own defense," Gala retorted. "That goal you just scored is something you could study for six months."

"Shut your filthy mouth, you bastard!"

Rooney's "You monkey" was already on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it back. Just 48 hours after Roy's rebuttal to Atkinson's racist remarks, the entire English football world was on edge.

Even Ferguson couldn't save him.

Terry, hands on his hips, wiggled his hips and sang a taunting song from Chelsea fans:

"Chelsea rising, United falling."

"No more titles coming!"

A burst of laughter erupted in the locker room corridor, and even the usually serious Roy's lips twitched as he lowered his head and walked quickly past.

Chelsea players walked into the locker room arm in arm, their deliberately drawn-out chant echoing in the air: "Blue is the color~!"

After the start of the second half, the game became increasingly heated, with both sides committing fouls frequently and the referee's whistle blowing often.

Both teams had opportunities for long-range shots and set pieces, but failed to convert any of them into goals.

Chelsea's Lampard and Manchester United's Keane both received yellow cards for dangerous tackles, and the friction between the players continued to escalate, creating a tense atmosphere on the field.

Although both sides created some attacking opportunities, the quality of the shots was poor, and with the goalkeepers' consistent performance, the score remained unchanged.

As the game progressed, both coaches began to make substitutions in an attempt to break the deadlock.

67 minutes.

Gary Neville received the ball on the right wing and unexpectedly delivered a precise, curved cross with his left foot, the ball sailing over Chelsea's defense and dipping towards the right side of the penalty area.

Giggs made a ghostly run and deftly controlled the ball before Gala could block him.

Before the ball could hit the ground, he flicked it with his left foot, sending the ball tracing an elegant parabola.

Cech had already rushed out to the edge of the six-yard box, and could only watch helplessly as the ball sailed over his head and into the far corner of the net!
Ferguson, his face flushed, roared from the sidelines, pumping his fist and yelling into the field, "Keep going! Play like this!"

The commentator's voice suddenly rose: "Giggs! It's the veteran who's in the spotlight! Manchester United have pulled one back, 1-2! Although they're still behind on aggregate, the Red Devils have finally seen a glimmer of hope!"

Manchester United fans in the stands waved scarves wildly and sang loudly.

Every second of this moment is precious.

Mourinho stood on the sideline and decisively signaled to the fourth official to make a substitution.

The camera pans to the sidelines, where Morientes has taken off his vest, revealing Chelsea's number 9 jersey.

This is the core number that has been vacant since Crespo left the team, a number that neither Drogba nor Gudjohnsen had previously taken.

Amid applause at Stamford Bridge, the Spanish striker jogged onto the pitch, making his Chelsea debut.

The home announcer's voice boomed through the loudspeakers: "Chelsea make a substitution, number 9 Fernando Morientes, replacing..."

Roy quickly stepped forward and gave Morientes a high-five, then put his arm around Morientes' shoulder and quickly said a few words, pointing repeatedly at the gaps in Manchester United's defense.

In the 72nd minute, Roy made a strong run down the left flank and delivered a low cross. Morientes, who had just come on, lunged to the near post, but Howard reacted quickly and caught the ball securely.

The Spaniard patted the grass regretfully as he got up.

As the game neared its end, the tide turned dramatically.

In the 82nd minute, Robben found a good opportunity on the right wing, but his powerful shot went just wide of the post.

Just three minutes later, Chelsea seized another opportunity.

Heinze fouled Thiago in the backfield, and the referee awarded a free kick.

Roy stood on the left wing, ready to take the kick. This position was a full 50 yards away from the goal, and it looked more like a crossing opportunity than a direct shot.

He took a deep breath, and with a flick of his right foot, the ball arced around all the players vying for the header, spinning directly towards the far corner of the goal!

Chaos erupted in front of Manchester United's goal, with Thiago's feint successfully disrupting Howard's play.

"Goalkeeper misjudged! The ball is spinning, spinning! GOOOOOOOOOAL!!!"

The American goalkeeper staggered half a step in the opposite direction, and could only turn his head in despair as the ball grazed the inside of the post and went into the net!

"My God! A deadly curve from 50 yards out! Howard staggered as he watched the ball go into the net! Chelsea have miraculously taken the lead again!"

The roar of the Stamford Bridge nearly lifted the roof off as Mourinho sprinted along the sideline with his arms outstretched.

What appeared to be a cross from a free kick ultimately turned into a stunning direct goal!

Ferguson raised his hand to shield his eyes, and through his fingers, one could see his furrowed brows.

On the other side, Roy had already leaped into the air and sprinted all the way to the die-hard fans' stand, his knees leaving two deep marks on the grass.

The entire stadium erupted in a deafening roar, with shouts of "Roy! Roy!" echoing throughout the stadium.

"Final whistle blows! Chelsea defeat Manchester United 3-1 on aggregate to advance to the 2004-2005 English League Cup final!"

"The Blues will face Benitez's Liverpool in a clash of titans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on February 27th!"

"But looking at Chelsea's current form, Liverpool's chances of stopping them in the final are slim!"

After the match, Mourinho said: "It was a perfect birthday, it felt amazing, and I'm so proud that we made it to the final. Everyone in our team is talking about my birthday present, but this victory isn't my birthday present. This present is a present for every player and fan, and for Roman. He has brought so much to the club, and this is the first time he has truly experienced the joy of reaching the final. So I want to share this wonderful feeling with all of them."

"This is a winning moment for all Chelsea players and fans. Roy delivered another perfect performance, with a goal and an assist that directly determined the course of the game. Although that 50-yard goal had a bit of luck involved, as is the eternal truth in football: luck only ever favors those who dare to try and are well-prepared."

Mourinho also revealed that owner Abramovich entered the Chelsea dressing room after the match to join the team's post-match celebrations: "He was very happy, but I don't think he should have gone into the dressing room because he was soaked in champagne when he came in. He should reconsider next time."

This is the first time Chelsea has reached a championship final since he took over the club. Although it is only the English League Cup, it is the first step towards glory for the Russian owner.

Mourinho appeared very sober after the match.

He admitted that the team had a chance to compete for the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, but also poured cold water on the idea: "Realistically speaking, we may win all four titles, or we may end up empty-handed, or we may win one or two titles. You know, winning the quadruple is almost an impossible task."

"However, some players on the team have almost done it; they've won the treble, and it's not just one player. Drogba won the French League Cup that year. We can piece together a quadruple Ligue 1 title. Of course, I'd be satisfied as long as we bring the Premier League trophy back. There's still a long way to go, but for now, let's enjoy this moment."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suffered his first defeat in a domestic cup semi-final in 18 years in charge, and the club's first semi-final loss since 1975.

After the match, Ferguson said, "I don't like this record. I'm just a little disappointed."

Ferguson was even more furious about Roy's free kick just before the end of the match. The Frenchman's harmless free kick evaded all the players in the penalty area and nestled into the far corner.

"That was too mild. They scored from a 50-yard free kick, so I'm not happy about it. If you concede a goal like that, you can't win the game."

Ferguson also complained about Manchester United having two penalty opportunities denied by referee Steyr in the first half.

"I'm tired of talking about these denied penalties. We should have been awarded a penalty in the first leg, and we should have been awarded at least one tonight."

“But we played exceptionally well in the second half. It was a great game. We tried our best to attack, and their counter-attacks were very threatening. I think we had a lot of motivation in the second half and played some beautiful football. Their goalkeeper made a miraculous save from Cristiano's shot, and we also had a goal cleared off the line by them.”

Before the match, Mourinho promised to share a £250 bottle of Portuguese red wine with Ferguson, but the Manchester United manager walked off the field after the defeat, and the fine wine was never opened.

On January 27, the century-old Hammersmith Ballroom in London was brightly lit.

The International Rescue Alliance hosted a "One for All" charity gala here to raise funds for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. When Chelsea star Roy and his girlfriend Cheryl appeared on the red carpet, the flashbulbs went off instantly.

Reporters jostled and pressed the shutter, forcing security personnel to form a human wall by holding hands.

The couple paused briefly in front of the autograph wall before quickly entering the venue, with photographers shouting "Roy! Look this way!" echoing behind them.

Jodie Marsh, a famous Premier League football babe and model, also attended the dinner.

She was wearing a tight-fitting cropped shirt, and her outfit of not wearing a bra immediately became the focus of attention.

As a well-known British Page 3 girl, Jodie knows exactly how to attract media attention.

Photographers all pointed their lenses at her signature sexy look.

This glamour star, who is on par with Jordan, once again successfully stole the spotlight with her daring outfit.

"Hey Roy! Want to come over after the game? My goal celebration is way more exciting than yours on the pitch! I promise you can be the referee."

Jodie squeezed next to Roy and made a blatant flirtatious remark, which made Cheryl frown on the spot.

Roy remained silent with a cold expression; everyone knew the behavior of this Premier League social butterfly.

After Lampard and she had a one-night stand, even the details of their intimate encounter were written into her autobiography.

If I were to chime in now, it probably wouldn't be more than six months before bookstores were stocking "The Story I Had to Tell with Roy."

Roy and his girlfriend Cheryl jointly announced a donation of £40 (approximately €48) to tsunami victims.

Of the initial donation, €30 was immediately allocated, with the remainder to be covered through subsequent fundraising activities.

The Chelsea star also pledged: "For every goal I score this season, I will donate an additional £1."

This ingenious design immediately sparked heated discussions in the media, demonstrating both the sincerity of charity and the perfect combination of sports competition and public welfare.

Chelsea's ambition to win the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League quadruple this season represents a huge risk for British bookmakers.

Ladbrokes CEO Rush admitted that if Chelsea were to win all four titles, the entire industry would face at least £500 million in payouts, which would be one of the most devastating "disastrous victories" in British betting history.

Rouch said that after Chelsea eliminated Manchester United to advance to the League Cup final, Ladbrokes immediately lowered Chelsea's odds of winning the quadruple from 28 to 18.

At the very beginning of this season, Ladbrokes offered odds as high as 200 to 1 for Chelsea to win the quadruple.

"If Chelsea ultimately win all four competitions, we will suffer an even more severe blow than when Manchester United won the treble in 1999."

In 1999, the invincible Manchester United team won the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League titles, causing Ladbrokes to lose more than £50.

Rouch expressed his deep concern: "Bettors now believe Chelsea can achieve the 'quadruple crown.' Someone placed a £200 bet yesterday morning, and people are still placing bets. We can only pray for two things: Mourinho's magic to suddenly fail, or that damned Roy to score fewer goals. The Premier League has never had such a terrifying striker; every goal he scores, our payout skyrockets! Otherwise, we'll face the largest payout in the history of world betting."

According to the British Evening Standard, Chelsea will release its financial report for the 2003-04 season next Monday, and the expected loss will break the record for the largest loss in the history of British football clubs.

Sources revealed that Chelsea's losses amounted to a staggering £88 million ($166 million), far exceeding the previous record of £33.8 million held by Leeds United.

Chelsea's aggressive spending in the transfer market over the past 18 months has directly led to this result, but unlike Leeds United, which is mired in financial crisis, Chelsea, backed by Russian billionaire Abramovich, has no need to worry about registration issues.

Chelsea CEO Kenyon has shown composure regarding the club's current losses.

He made it clear that these financial figures did not represent any real problems, while confirming the club's goal of achieving self-management by 2010.

In response to external doubts, Kenyon pointed out that for Abramovich, who controls Siberian Oil Company, the £8800 million loss was insignificant, as the Russian tycoon's two yachts alone were worth more than that amount.

"We will not change our operating strategy due to short-term losses, and Chelsea will continue to invest heavily in the transfer market."

He also revealed that the club's global influence is steadily increasing, specifically pointing out that the team has players with commercial benchmark value.

Kenyon predicts that through continued competitive success, Chelsea is poised to become one of the most popular foreign football clubs in key markets such as France and the Asia-Pacific region within the next five to six years.

On January 30, the fourth round of the FA Cup continued.

Chelsea defeated Birmingham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, with central defensive duo Huth and Terry scoring headers in the first and second halves respectively.

In another match, Bolton narrowly defeated Oldham Athletic 1-0.

Under the lamplight late at night, Roy was helping his 11-year-old sister, Romy, check her middle school homework.

As the pencil paused, he suddenly asked about his sister's estrangement from her girlfriend, Cheryl.

"Who knows when she'll be rotated out?"

The little girl twirled the eraser and muttered, "I used to play with Du Chen a lot, and Letty would teach me how to do makeup. You always make me lose friends, even more often than Mourinho changes the lineup."

Roy was taken aback at first, then chuckled and ruffled his sister's hair: "Little rascal, you've really figured out the locker room stuff quite well, haven't you?"

That evening, news from London indicated that West London club Chelsea was "illegally" contacting Arsenal left-back Ashley Cole.

Rumors suggest that Chelsea club executives Peter Kenyon, manager Jose Mourinho, and "super agent" Pini Zahavi met with Cole at the Royal Park Hotel in West London last Thursday afternoon.

If this is true, Chelsea would be breaking the Premier League's existing transfer rules, which stipulate that clubs cannot secretly contact players to arrange transfers without the consent of the player's current club. Chelsea's actions would clearly be a violation of these rules.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dunn said: "This is a very tricky matter, and we will handle it seriously. Cole's contract with Arsenal doesn't expire until 2007, he is our player, and it needs to be reiterated that he is still our player."

However, Chelsea vehemently denied the rumor.

Mourinho told the media, "I don't have time to meet with players from other teams. I have a very good team now, and we don't need to bring in any more players this season. As for next season, nothing has been decided yet."

"If I have time to meet with players this weekend, I'm most likely to meet with Inter Milan striker Adriano, because he's injured and won't be playing this week, and also because we both speak Portuguese, which would make it easier to communicate."

According to the British Evening Standard, Ashley Cole's contract renewal negotiations with Arsenal have stalled, and Chelsea are taking the opportunity to make contact with the English left-back.

The current point of contention is salary demands. Cole wants to increase his weekly wage from £2.7 to £7 (approximately £350 million per year), nearly three times his current income, which is unacceptable to Arsenal's management.

2月1日英超第25轮焦点战，曼联客场4-2逆转阿森纳。

In the first half, Vieira and Bergkamp scored for Arsenal, while Giggs pulled one back for Arsenal.

In the second half, Ronaldo scored twice to turn the game around, and Manchester United, playing with ten men, secured the victory through substitute O'Shea.

The following day, Chelsea easily defeated Blackburn 2-0 away from home.

Just five minutes into the game, Lampard provided a precise through ball that assisted Robben to score an early goal.

In the 34th minute, Roy delivered a brilliant pass to help Drogba extend the lead.

Petr Cech made history again in this match, saving a crucial penalty in the 34th minute to surpass Schmeichel's record of 694 minutes with 781 minutes of clean sheets, setting a new Premier League record for consecutive clean sheets by a goalkeeper.

However, under the influence of Blackburn's aggressive style of play, Robben was injured and had to leave the field. Chelsea manager Mourinho was very dissatisfied with Blackburn's rough style of play. After the game, he did not shake hands with the opposing manager Hughes, but instead angrily walked away.

This greatly displeased Hughes, who felt that Mourinho's actions lacked basic manners, while Chelsea insisted that it was a legitimate protest against the home team's "continued dangerous actions."

That evening at his hotel in Blackburn, Roy, who had just finished showering, was humming a song as he dried his hair, a towel loosely tied around his waist.

The phone suddenly rang, and the name Dalia Zhukova appeared on the screen.

"Roy, I dreamt about you again last night. I dreamt that after you scored, you pinned me against the locker room wall and kissed the sweat on your tanned skin, and the veins bulging on your arms when you lifted me up. The calluses on your palms when you covered my mouth in the opera box, and the smell of the leather in the back seat of your Land Rover."

“Hey, Dasha. Listen, what happened between us is in the past. You deserve better, really. But now let’s move on, okay?”

He paused for a moment, then said, "Take care of yourself."

Then he slowly hung up the phone.

Dalia Zhukova paced anxiously in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of her luxury London apartment, the hem of her silk nightgown rustling with her movements.

The doorbell rang suddenly, and with a "beep" from the electronic lock, Abramovich appeared at the door with a smile. The two bodyguards quickly scanned the room and then retreated into the corridor in tacit agreement.

"I'm so glad to finally see you."

Russian oligarchs spread their arms wide.

The arms tycoon's daughter fell into his arms. They met at an art auction in St. Petersburg last year, but it wasn't until last month on a yacht that Abramovich truly made this socialite, who was twenty years younger than him, his bedmate.

"My Little Dasha"

Abramovich pulled her closer to her slender waist, burying his nose deep into her fragrant hair: "I came straight back from Blackburn by helicopter, taking off as soon as the match ended. Roy was still excellent today, it's a pity that the Dutch kid is injured. But Duff can fill in. If all else fails, Joaquin is good, Figo is fine too, anyway Real Madrid doesn't plan to renew his contract."

"I have the best players, don't I?"

Abu asked softly, gently lifting her chin with his fingers.

Dalia's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she blurted out instinctively, "Yes, Roman, I love you."

Abu's hand had slipped inside her robe, and his breathing became heavy.

He scooped her up in his arms and strode toward the bedroom, murmuring, "You fascinate me."

Abu gazed into her eyes, his fingers gently tracing her cheek.

"These days I can't help but want to see you."

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

At a private party, Davies boasted about his affair with supermodel Afif, the lover of Inter Milan's second-largest shareholder, Tronchetti.

This Dutch player described in detail how to use sweet talk to seduce the woman, and even directly named her.

The news spread quickly in Milan, causing the Italian telecommunications tycoon to lose face.

"A source familiar with the matter said: "Davis seems to have no idea what the consequences are, which is tantamount to openly provoking the club's management."

The board has urgently discussed terminating the contract, and this sex scandal may end Davis's Nerazzurri career.

— Gazzetta dello Sport

(End of this chapter)