Chapter 163: The Greater the Progress, the More Devastating the Fall! The Title Belongs to Beisworth Chinese FC!
"Ha! 1–0!"
"Yang Cheng's worst fear has come true!"
Up in the presidential box at the Santiago Bernabéu, the moment Sergio Ramos headed the ball into the net, Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón leapt to his feet, shouting Ramos's name with excitement. His expression was no different from the tens of thousands of jubilant Madridistas around him.
Lately, Real Madrid had been on a roll—nine consecutive wins had significantly improved Calderón's standing. But tonight's match was the true test. Real Madrid hadn't reached the Champions League quarterfinals in years.
If they could break through this season, and especially if they did it by beating the defending champions, Beisworth Chinese FC, it would be a huge boost for Calderón's campaign in the upcoming summer presidential election.
"Juande Ramos is a great coach. This winning streak is all the proof you need," Pedja Mijatović said approvingly beside him.
Calderón nodded repeatedly. "As long as we keep this up, once I win the election this summer, he stays. Then we bring in Ronaldo and sign a few more stars—we'll elevate the entire team to a whole new level!"
His eyes sparkled at the thought of the future. These past months had been torturous, especially with all the pressure from Florentino Pérez.
That damned man had been bouncing around everywhere, acting like the next president was already decided—making Calderón look like a placeholder. But now? Juande Ramos had given him face!
This was it!
"Come on, Juande!"
"¡Hala Madrid!"
"Finish them! Crush Beisworth Chinese FC!"
...
"Yang Cheng got careless."
Sitting in a VIP box at the Bernabéu, Florentino Pérez shook his head slightly as he watched Ramos score.
After all, Sergio Ramos had been one of his signings.
But Florentino wasn't smiling.
"Didn't he say before the match that not conceding was the top priority? So why didn't they start by focusing on defense?"
He was genuinely puzzled. Yang Cheng's setup was stable but not overly conservative.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, had come out blazing.
Juande Ramos's plan was clearly to seize momentum early, using the home-field advantage to dominate the game.
And it worked. They scored.
"To be fair, you can't really blame the coach for this goal," said Jorge Valdano beside him.
"Oh?" Florentino raised an eyebrow.
"Robben's dribble didn't break through; he just earned a corner. I even noticed Yang Cheng holding up four fingers to signal his players—probably telling them to mark Ramos," Valdano explained. He shook his head. "Set-piece defending is always chaotic. It's easy to lose your mark."
"Ramos is also just that good," Zidane added.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Aside from some recklessness and a few limitations in height and strength, Ramos had few flaws.
"But now, being behind so early makes things difficult. If Juande Ramos switches to counterattacking, Beisworth Chinese FC will have even fewer chances," Florentino remarked.
Zidane and Valdano exchanged a glance—then both shook their heads.
"It's not that simple," Valdano said. "Don't listen to what Yang Cheng says before the match—watch what he actually does. Plus, Juande Ramos's 4-4-2 has some glaring weaknesses."
"Let's be honest," Zidane added with a slight smile, "those nine wins? Mostly against weaker opposition. It doesn't tell us much."
"Beisworth Chinese FC's midfield hasn't even started pressing yet."
"This is just the beginning of Juande Ramos's real test."
"Exactly," Valdano agreed. "Let's wait and see what happens once Real Madrid's early momentum wears off."
Florentino was a seasoned fan, but when it came to tactics and match dynamics, he didn't know as much.
Still, hearing this analysis made him curious to see what came next.
...
Yang Cheng remained on the sideline, silently observing the match.
Despite being 0–1 down, he showed no signs of panic.
Neither did his coaching staff.
Everyone understood—the problem wasn't the overall defense, it was the breakdown during that corner. They simply lost track of a man.
In the 5th minute, Beisworth Chinese FC mounted a counterattack.
Džeko dropped back into midfield and played a diagonal through ball.
Heinze stepped up just in time and intercepted before it reached Walcott.
The chance came to nothing.
But Real Madrid didn't let up.
Juande Ramos clearly wanted to capitalize on the home crowd and press for an early kill.
Even with a 1–0 lead, they kept attacking.
In the 7th minute, Raúl sent a pass to Huntelaar, who took a shot from 20 meters out.
But Neuer caught it cleanly.
Relentless pressure from Madrid.
In the 12th minute, Robben threaded a through ball to Raúl, who made a darting run into the box.
Neuer rushed off his line and pounced on the ball before Raúl could get to it.
The momentum kept building.
Madrid's players were like men possessed.
After all, they had endured years of European failure.
Now they were desperate to prove themselves—
Especially to break through the Round of 16.
In the 14th minute, Sergio Ramos overlapped quickly down the right, received a pass from Lass Diarra, and crossed low toward the near post.
Huntelaar drew the defenders with a decoy run—
Raúl launched himself into a diving header, aiming for the far corner.
Neuer flung himself across the goal and deflected the shot with one hand—barely saving it.
It was Madrid's most dangerous chance since the opening goal.
As he rose from the ground, Neuer shouted furiously at his teammates, demanding more focus.
Yang Cheng immediately stepped forward and called Matuidi over, telling him to provide more coverage on the left flank.
He also signaled for Bale and Walcott to drop deeper when Ramos and Heinze pushed up.
Pull the fist back before striking harder.
"Beisworth Chinese FC is retreating now!"
"Under intense pressure from Real Madrid, this Premier League team has decided to steady their defensive shape."
"But Madrid continues to push forward!"
...
No team can keep up a high-intensity attack forever—
Especially not one like Real Madrid.
Yang Cheng, a master of the quick-start attacking strategy, knew the pitfalls better than anyone.
Madrid's pressure lasted for 15 minutes.
But when they tried to slow things down and manage the tempo—
They suddenly realized they couldn't.
Their fast start had depended on relentless pressing and endless running.
But once they needed a breather, they found they couldn't control the ball anymore.
Even worse, the tactical setups they used during their blitz started becoming weaknesses as the tempo slowed.
Like the fullbacks pushing up too high.
In the 16th minute, when Beisworth Chinese FC won the ball in midfield,
Gago and Lass Diarra both rushed toward Modrić and Matuidi.
At that moment, Yaya Touré, who had stayed back, was suddenly left completely unmarked.
Raúl charged toward him immediately, but the Ivorian quickly passed the ball to the left.
Before Robben could close down, Leighton Baines sent it back to Thiago Silva.
Beisworth Chinese FC always had one player in space—especially in midfield.
As soon as Thiago Silva got the ball, he glanced up once and drilled a low, diagonal pass with his right foot.
The ball zipped past the halfway line toward the left wing.
Sergio Ramos had pushed up near midfield.
As the ball arrived, Gareth Bale used his body to shield Ramos on the inside.
The Welshman didn't even try to trap the ball—he let it roll past him.
Ramos immediately turned and sprinted after it.
He was fast, no doubt.
But Bale was faster.
Just as Ramos was starting his run, Bale had already caught up—and was still accelerating.
The Spanish defender was stunned.
Realizing Bale was about to win the race, Ramos slid in with a desperate challenge, hoping to take both man and ball.
He was willing to take the yellow card.
But Bale was simply too fast.
Before Ramos's tackle reached him, Bale had already poked the ball forward and surged ahead.
Ramos's slide only carved up the Bernabéu grass.
He had no chance of catching Bale now.
The Welshman retrieved the ball on the left edge of the box.
Metzelder chased him down, blocking his path.
But Bale didn't give him the chance to react.
With a quick glance to the center, he exploded forward, knocked the ball toward the byline, and muscled past Metzelder with sheer pace.
Then, with his left foot, he whipped in a low cross.
The ball skidded fast along the grass, hugging the six-yard box line, gliding from left to right.
In the middle, Džeko slowed down intentionally, keeping Cannavaro pinned near the penalty spot—
Making it impossible for the Italian defender to cut off the pass.
Meanwhile, from the right, Walcott appeared like a bolt of lightning—
He slashed into the box and met Bale's cross with a right-footed tap-in.
The shot was low, fast, and perfectly controlled.
So fast, in fact, that Casillas had no time to react.
The ball was in the net.
"GOAL!!!"
"Walcott!!"
"16th minute—Walcott levels the match for Beisworth Chinese FC!"
"1–1!"
"We're all square again!"
"And it came from a lightning-quick counterattack!"
"That was blistering!"
"Bale and Walcott's pace is absolutely frightening!"
"Real Madrid's fullbacks simply cannot contain Beisworth Chinese FC's twin speedsters!"
...
As the ball hit the net, Yang Cheng clenched his fists and celebrated—
But his eyes were already on the home bench, where Juande Ramos stood, frozen in shock, bellowing in disbelief.
And the real surprise?
After the restart, within just 30 seconds, Real Madrid lost the ball again at midfield.
Gago's pass was intercepted by Modrić.
The moment the Croatian won possession, Beisworth Chinese FC's front three sprang to life.
Madrid immediately initiated a counter-press—
A tactic Juande Ramos demanded religiously.
But here's where the problem surfaced: Yaya Touré was left completely unmarked.
Just moments earlier, Madrid had been attacking—Raúl had pushed forward.
Now, suddenly transitioning into defense, Raúl couldn't get back in time to mark Touré.
The Ivorian took the ball and delivered a pinpoint long diagonal pass over Madrid's defense.
Bale made a perfectly timed run, beating the offside trap, and chased down Touré's ball.
He brought it down with his left foot, charged into the box, and found himself one-on-one with Casillas.
Cool as ice, Bale slotted a low left-footed shot past the Spanish keeper.
2–1!
"My God!!"
"They've turned it around!!"
"Beisworth Chinese FC has completed a stunning comeback!"
"Two goals in three minutes!"
"Gareth Bale's pace is absolutely unstoppable!"
"His assist led to Walcott's equalizer, and now he's scored the go-ahead goal himself!"
"Juande Ramos clearly celebrated too early!"
"That opening goal made Madrid overconfident—completely forgetting that they're facing the defending Champions League winners tonight!"
"Now, Juande Ramos faces a big decision."
"Beisworth Chinese FC reversed the score in just 3 minutes."
"Will Madrid keep up this end-to-end battle, or shift to a more pragmatic approach?"
...
With the score suddenly reversed, Juande Ramos found himself in an awkward spot—
Especially after conceding two goals in such rapid succession.
But the Madrid players didn't back down.
Instead of crumbling, they played even harder.
Faced with the ferocious aggression of Beisworth Chinese FC, Real Madrid refused to retreat.
In the 22nd minute, Raúl sent a through ball to Robben, who took on Baines down the right, cut inside near the top-right corner of the box, and curled a left-footed shot toward goal.
Neuer dove at full stretch, punching the ball away with both fists.
It was a vital save.
Two minutes later, Robben again fed a pass from the right.
Raúl charged into the box, but Thiago Silva stood his ground, using his body to disrupt the Madrid captain's shot.
The effort lacked power and direction, and Neuer easily collected it.
But the German keeper didn't hesitate.
He scooped up the ball, sprinted to the edge of the box, and shouted, "Counterattack!"
As he ran, he scanned the field.
Seeing Modrić raise his hand, Neuer reached the arc of the box and launched a powerful overhand throw.
The ball soared through the air and landed perfectly in front of the Croatian.
Modrić brought it down with his chest, feinted smoothly, then used his left shoulder to shield the ball from Gago as he turned and surged forward.
With his right foot, he delivered a sharp pass behind Heinze.
Once again, Real Madrid's fullback aggression backfired.
The space behind Heinze was wide open.
Walcott blazed down the right wing, caught up with the pass, drove into the box, and just before Cannavaro could close him down—
He fired a low cross into the middle.
Džeko arrived right on time.
He met the cross and swept the ball low into the bottom left corner of the net.
Casillas could do nothing.
3–1!
"It's only the 25th minute!"
"In less than 10 minutes, Beisworth Chinese FC has scored three goals!"
"Juande Ramos's side has been completely torn apart."
"All three goals came from lightning-fast counters after regaining possession!"
"And the weaknesses in Real Madrid's back line—especially the fullbacks—have been ruthlessly exposed!"
...
"Just like we said earlier—the midfield gap is enormous!"
In the VIP box, Valdano had become completely pessimistic.
Conceding three goals in under ten minutes was a clear sign of defensive collapse.
"If Juande Ramos doesn't adjust soon and stabilize the defense, this game is going to end in a blowout."
Valdano shook his head repeatedly as he spoke, clearly disappointed with how things were going.
"In the end, our defense is a mess, the midfield is completely unbalanced, and Juande Ramos's lineup was far too arrogant. His tactics are overly aggressive. The moment Beisworth Chinese FC found their rhythm, we collapsed."
Florentino looked surprised. "You think the issue is the midfield?"
"It is the midfield," Valdano said firmly.
"Our back line has its problems too—take Ramos, for example. I'd much rather see him playing center-back than right-back.
But the midfield? That's where the real damage is happening.
"Just look at February 18th, when Beisworth Chinese FC played that rescheduled match against Manchester United.
United lost the midfield battle, and Beisworth Chinese FC smashed them 4–1."
"The match followed the same pattern as tonight—home team starts aggressively, scores first, then gets overturned by Beisworth Chinese FC's relentless goals. Even the goals themselves came in similar fashion."
"I honestly doubt Juande Ramos even studied that game," Valdano added grimly.
If he didn't, that's gross negligence.
And if he did but still rolled out this game plan and lineup—then that was an even bigger problem.
"Yang Cheng's mind games before the match worked well too," Zidane said from the side.
Florentino didn't immediately follow. He hadn't paid much attention to what Yang Cheng had said pre-match.
"Exactly," Valdano nodded. "He kept talking about how important it was not to concede, making everyone believe he'd play a very cautious, defensive game at the Bernabéu."
"But in reality, he was hiding a dagger up his sleeve—ready to strike without hesitation."
Zidane let out a helpless chuckle.
"And don't forget—Real Madrid had just demolished Real Betis 6–1 at halftime. The media, the fans, even the executives were all singing Juande's praises."
"That gave Yang Cheng's psychological strategy the perfect environment to thrive."
Psychological warfare is never just about a few words from a coach.
It's about tapping into the prevailing media narrative, reading the club's internal dynamics, and sometimes even analyzing the mental state of specific players.
If all it took was a few quotes to wage a psychological war, that'd be far too easy.
"So based on what you're saying… how should we approach transfers this summer?"
Florentino could hear the disappointment in Valdano and Zidane's tone.
He didn't doubt their loyalty to Real Madrid for a second.
But the current team—
Especially under Calderón and Mijatović—
Was simply not showing any real signs of being able to pull Madrid out of its slump.
"We need a complete overhaul. A massive clear-out and rebuild. I can't think of any other way," Valdano said with conviction.
Florentino glanced at Zidane.
Zizou nodded, then looked back at Valdano.
"Jorge, who do you think we should target from Beisworth Chinese FC?"
Valdano was visibly taken aback.
Not because he couldn't think of anyone—but because he was trying to consider who not to name.
Finally, under Florentino's surprised gaze, Valdano started listing names.
"Džeko, Gareth Bale, Modrić, Yaya Touré, Maicon, Pepe, Thiago Silva…"
Florentino immediately felt awkward.
Might as well just buy the entire Beisworth Chinese FC squad and call it a day.
Why bother cherry-picking?
"I'm serious, Jorge."
"So am I," Valdano replied with a straight face.
Now that made the atmosphere even more uncomfortable.
It really drove home just how outmatched they were.
The only Beisworth players Valdano hadn't mentioned were Robben on the right, Heinze at left-back, and Casillas in goal.
Based on that, Real Madrid's loss didn't seem shocking at all.
The gap in quality was just too wide.
"My favorite is Yaya Touré," Zidane said. "I think Yang Cheng's tactics are holding him back a bit. When Lass Diarra was still around, Touré was much more dynamic—especially in attack."
Zidane paused, then added,
"He's the best deep-lying midfielder in the world right now. No one comes close."
A bold statement—
But not surprising coming from Zidane, who clearly saw something of himself in Touré.
Both were big, strong players with delicate feet and excellent technique.
If Zidane were playing today, he might have had to move deeper himself—rather than operate as a classic No. 10.
Florentino didn't say anything,
But silently, he etched the name "Yaya Touré" into his mind.
...
When a team falls apart, the players on the field start to feel like nothing goes right.
Just like the match against Real Betis.
Back then, Argentine midfielder Gago's passing and dribbling had earned thunderous applause.
People were even calling him the next Redondo.
He was riding high—
Until tonight.
By the 33rd minute against Beisworth Chinese FC, reality hit hard.
He tried to dribble forward to initiate an attack—
Only for Matuidi to pounce from the side and steal the ball cleanly.
After the interception, Matuidi passed to Modrić,
Who immediately sent it out wide to the right.
Walcott carried it diagonally toward the half-space,
But with Heinze and Cannavaro positioned ahead, there was no way through.
So the Little Tiger passed it back.
Modrić received the ball under pressure from Lass Diarra,
But instead of controlling it, he one-touched it back to Džeko.
The Bosnian had his back to goal.
With a deft outside-of-the-foot flick, he passed it to Bale on the left and signaled for a return ball—cutting behind Metzelder and sprinting forward.
Bale understood instantly.
Without stopping, he swept the ball into the left side of the box.
Džeko surged forward and reached it.
Without hesitation, he smashed it with his left foot.
BANG!
The ball ripped past Casillas, skimming the left post, and slammed into the back of the net.
The whole sequence was fluid—no wasted motion, no delay.
Džeko turned and sprinted away in celebration.
Brace complete!
The Bernabéu fell into dead silence.
Before kickoff, the fans had hope—belief in their team.
But now, they finally understood what Real Betis had felt just three days ago.
Four goals conceded before halftime.
What could be worse than this?
Total collapse.
No one could believe that this Real Madrid—playing tonight at the Bernabéu—
Was the same team that thrashed Betis 6–1 at halftime just days earlier.
It was surreal.
"From just the first thirty-some minutes of play, it's clear—these two teams are not on the same level."
"Juande Ramos used ultra-defensive tactics against Barcelona—and still lost 2–0."
"And now, facing Beisworth Chinese FC at home, they tried to impose their style—only to concede four goals."
"This only reinforces what's been said all along: Real Madrid's dominance only exists within La Liga, excluding Barcelona. Once they enter European competition and face teams of equal stature from other leagues, the mask comes off."
...
The first half ended 4–1.
During the halftime break, Juande Ramos made a substitution.
He brought on Javi García for Huntelaar.
After the change, Higuaín and Robben were pushed up front, with Raúl operating just behind them.
The midfield shifted to a sort of three-man defensive line with Gago, Javi García, and Lass Diarra, the latter playing in the deepest role.
Javi García had impressed while on loan at Osasuna, but since returning to Madrid, he hadn't managed to replicate that form.
With this new 4-3-1-2 setup, Juande Ramos adopted a clearly more conservative, defensive strategy—
And to a certain extent, it did help stabilize Madrid's defense.
Meanwhile, Beisworth Chinese FC, already in firm control, shifted into a possession-based approach upon seeing Madrid pull back. They conserved energy.
Real Madrid still tried to find moments to attack—
But every time they did, Beisworth Chinese FC's counterattacks sent chills down their spines.
Between the 65th and 80th minute, the match was completely dominated by the visitors.
Wave after wave of attacks threatened Madrid's goal.
If not for heroics from Casillas, Ramos, and Heinze, the scoreline could've been far worse.
There was even a blatant handball by Cannavaro in the box that went uncalled—an obvious officiating error.
Even more embarrassing was that from the moment Madrid started parking the bus, the Bernabéu crowd began to whistle and jeer.
By the 70th minute, many fans had already started leaving early.
As Beisworth Chinese FC kept pressing and creating chances, countless Madridistas couldn't bear to watch any longer.
By the 85th minute, when the broadcast cameras panned over the stands, large swathes of empty seats were visible—
Fans had abandoned the stadium.
Final score: Beisworth Chinese FC 4, Real Madrid 1, at the Bernabéu.
And with that first-leg away result, Yang Cheng's side had one foot firmly in the Champions League quarterfinals.
...
"I must say, I have great respect for Real Madrid. They have excellent attacking quality and can break through at any time,"
Yang Cheng said at the post-match press conference.
"That's why I repeatedly reminded my players to stay focused and alert throughout the game."
"I'm very happy. Though we made some mistakes, for the vast majority of the match, we did very well."
Yang Cheng began his review by giving credit to his opponent.
When asked whether the 4–1 scoreline meant they'd already sealed qualification, Yang Cheng shook his head.
"This was a very solid step forward, no doubt about it," he admitted.
"But against a team like Real Madrid, nothing is certain until the very end."
That said, he couldn't hide the grin stretching across his face.
Anyone could see what kind of mood he was in.
"We've had quite a few big wins this season—even against the likes of Manchester United."
"In every one of those victories, we've played at a very high level, and that gives us confidence."
"But it also teaches us what it takes to win."
"I'm really proud of how mature we were tonight. Even when we went down 0–1, we kept playing our way—calm and composed."
Yang Cheng then offered some more praise for Real Madrid.
But his next words left the journalists unsure—
Was he defending Madrid's big loss, or twisting the knife?
"I mean no disrespect when I say this—
But had Real Madrid's players shown more drive, more fighting spirit, especially in the second half, the match could've been much more exciting."
"This could've been an extraordinary, magical night!"
"And honestly, compared to my previous visits to the Bernabéu, I think this Real Madrid side has shown progress."
That line sparked massive discussion—and even protest—within the Spanish media.
4–1, and you call that progress?
Was he mocking them?
Was it an insult disguised as a compliment?
Progress means losing by more?
One British journalist on-site couldn't help but laugh.
He kindly reminded his Spanish colleagues:
"Why don't you go check what the scorelines were the last two times Yang Cheng visited the Bernabéu?"
"At least this time, you scored."
"Isn't that… progress?"
The British press burst into gleeful laughter.
Beisworth Chinese FC had done English football proud!
...
Compared to Yang Cheng, Juande Ramos was far more subdued in his press conference.
Right from the start, he admitted that with a 1–4 home defeat, Madrid's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals were slim.
"We have to admit, Beisworth Chinese FC are just a level above us."
He expressed regret, saying his players had done all they could.
"We scored early, which gave the whole team confidence, but they equalized quickly and then overtook us."
"That flurry of goals left us reeling, especially in the first half."
"At halftime, I could feel how disheartened my players were."
Juande Ramos gave high praise to his opponents.
"The difference tonight was clear—outside of Barcelona, we haven't faced a team as powerful as Beisworth Chinese FC."
He even tried to defend himself by referring to his previous tenure in England.
"When I was managing Spurs, we faced Beisworth Chinese FC in London, and they didn't dominate us like this. I even came close to winning."
"I'm not making excuses—just saying that this Real Madrid side still doesn't have the strength to challenge a team like Beisworth Chinese FC."
When Spanish reporters mentioned Yang Cheng's remarks—particularly the comment about Madrid showing progress—
Ramos didn't quite grasp the sarcasm and politely thanked Yang Cheng.
He even agreed that Real Madrid had made progress.
It wasn't until reporters began listing Real Madrid's head-to-head record against Beisworth Chinese FC that Ramos realized—
He'd walked right into a media trap.
He couldn't even blame Yang Cheng for this one—
It was those damned reporters who dug the hole.
...
After Beisworth Chinese FC's stunning 4–1 away win at the Bernabéu made headlines, the global football world erupted.
Pundits and fans alike now considered Yang Cheng's side one of the strongest contenders for this season's Champions League title.
Meanwhile, Juande Ramos faced a storm of criticism—
Not for the defeat alone, but for his post-match comments, which drew ridicule from both the Spanish press and Real Madrid fans.
It became an unexpected subplot to the match.
But even with that, Beisworth Chinese FC wasn't the most talked-about team of the round.
Bayern Munich had demolished Sporting CP 5–0 in Lisbon, with Franck Ribéry stealing the show—
Scoring a hat-trick and assisting twice for Luca Toni, directly contributing to all five goals.
For now, Ribéry had stolen the spotlight.
Arsenal also clinched a 1–0 away victory over the Giallorossi, AS Roma, thanks to a goal from Arshavin.
Overnight, media outlets around the globe turned their attention toward Beisworth Chinese FC.
Yang Cheng's team didn't just crush Real Madrid at the Bernabéu—
Even players who had been sold, particularly high-priced departures like Ribéry and Arshavin, had become key figures in Bayern Munich's and Arsenal's Champions League wins.
This instantly triggered heated discussions in the global press.
Germany's Bild lavished praise on Ribéry while also publishing a feature article celebrating Beisworth Chinese FC, calling the club a breath of fresh air in European football.
While most big clubs obsess over poaching top talent, Beisworth Chinese FC had built a reputation for producing elite players—
And, more importantly, for producing players who consistently performed at the highest level.
Ribéry and Arshavin were living proof.
France Football ran a special Champions League edition, analyzing how Beisworth Chinese FC continued to develop world-class players while actually becoming more competitive as a team.
Their conclusion?
Yang Cheng was the true heart and soul of Beisworth Chinese FC.
"Every time he sells a core player, Yang Cheng adapts the tactics and lifts the team to even greater heights, playing even more attractive football."
"It showcases his astonishing tactical intelligence."
"At not even 29 years old, he is the youngest elite manager in world football—a true tactical prodigy."
...
After returning from Madrid to London, Yang Cheng took a short rest.
On the afternoon of the 28th, the team traveled to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal.
Both teams had played tough Champions League away matches midweek, and both opponents were strong.
That forced them to rotate their squads for this league fixture.
Despite being away, Yang Cheng's team came out on the front foot and dominated the opening ten minutes, creating several threatening chances.
But Lloris was solid between the posts.
The most dangerous moment came in the 9th minute, when Di María whipped in a rabona cross from the right flank.
Lewandowski, who had already squandered two golden chances, met the ball with a close-range header—
Only to see it bounce off the top of the crossbar.
Arsenal then launched a counteroffensive.
Both sides exchanged attacks, but neither could find the breakthrough.
In the 34th minute, Arsenal produced their best chance of the match.
Arshavin played a brilliant through ball, and Van Persie found himself one-on-one near the penalty spot—
Only for Neuer to rush out and deny him.
Beisworth Chinese FC hit the post again in the 50th minute—
Another header from Lewandowski.
In the 70th minute, Yang Cheng brought on Džeko to further bolster the attack.
But Wenger was well prepared.
After a hard-fought 90 minutes, the match ended in a goalless draw: 0–0.
...
With Matchday 27 complete, the Premier League had its mix of joy and disappointment.
Manchester United won 2–0 at home against Portsmouth, collecting three points.
Chelsea edged Wigan Athletic 2–1.
Manchester City defeated West Ham United 1–0 away.
Liverpool suffered a 0–2 away defeat to Middlesbrough.
Having completed their two rescheduled matches, Beisworth Chinese FC now stood at 27 matches played, with 24 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss—
74 points total, leading the Premier League standings.
Yang Cheng's side had delivered an astonishing points-per-match rate—
Especially lethal against bottom-half teams.
Manchester United followed with 65 points, now trailing by 9.
Arsenal and City both had 56 points, with Arsenal edging into third thanks to goal difference.
Liverpool sat in fifth with 54 points, and Chelsea just behind with 52.
After two rescheduled matches, Beisworth Chinese FC had increased their lead at the top to 9 points.
A lead that now seemed insurmountable.
Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after Matchday 27 that a comeback was unlikely.
Why?
Because it was already March—
Which meant Yang Cheng and his team had weathered the toughest part of the season.
In fact, the media had seen this coming.
Even when they were two games behind, Beisworth Chinese FC had topped the table.
And now, with wins in both makeup matches—
Including the stunning 4–1 victory at Old Trafford—they had sealed their advantage.
Adding another six-point cushion on top of an existing lead, their position was more than just solid.
After the third makeup game, the British press were already shouting:
"The title belongs to Beisworth Chinese FC!"
Now, they were just being proven right.
...
Three days later, Matchday 28 of the Premier League.
Beisworth Chinese FC hosted Hull City at Wembley.
The Tigers came with a parked-bus mentality, determined to defend deep.
Yang Cheng's side fought hard for 90 minutes and ultimately secured a narrow 1–0 win, thanks to a goal from Džeko.
Chelsea also managed a 1–0 away win over Portsmouth, courtesy of Drogba.
Arsenal beat West Bromwich Albion 3–1 away.
Liverpool defeated Sunderland 2–0 at Anfield.
Manchester City won 2–0 at home against Aston Villa, with goals from Kaká and Robinho.
Manchester United came from behind to defeat Newcastle 2–1.
...
Weekend — FA Cup Quarterfinals.
Beisworth Chinese FC hosted Liverpool.
With the second leg against Real Madrid coming up the following Wednesday, and in keeping with promises made to his players, Yang Cheng fielded a squad made up entirely of reserves and youth players.
But Benítez's Liverpool weren't about to take it easy.
The Reds named a full-strength lineup:
Goalkeeper: Reina
Defense: Dossena, Hyypiä, Carragher, Arbeloa
Midfield: Lucas Leiva, Xabi Alonso
Attacking Midfielders: Riera, Gerrard, Kuyt
Forward: Torres
Liverpool came to Wembley determined to win.
But Beisworth Chinese FC's young squad weren't pushovers.
They had already eliminated several Premier League sides to reach the quarterfinals.
And against Liverpool, they showed the same fierce determination.
Despite the Reds' relentless pressure, the young Beisworth players counterattacked bravely—
Almost scoring within the opening minutes.
Reina was forced into a crucial save, denying Lewandowski from close range.
Liverpool responded late in the first half—
But their attacking rhythm was off.
Both Gerrard and Torres squandered key chances.
The deadlock remained unbroken.
In the second half, both sides made a flurry of substitutions, searching for a winner.
But still, neither team could score.
After 90 minutes: 0–0.
Under FA Cup rules, the first five rounds allow for a replay—
But from the quarterfinals onward, ties are decided on the night.
The match went into extra time.
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