Chapter 463: Chapter 463

After Karren’s team wrapped up Richard’s interview, she immediately moved on to the next task: interviewing players during training breaks over the following days. The process invigorated the squad, creating a new sense of openness. Unlike standard pre-match press conferences or post-match interviews, where players often held back, they now felt more comfortable speaking freely.

Having dealt with the British media, most players knew how easily words could be twisted. Any question was often perceived as malicious and could turn their answers into unnecessary trouble.

For instance, if a player was asked about salary issues, no matter how they responded, it could be interpreted as dissatisfaction, sparking transfer rumors. Their past experiences with media coverage only reinforced this caution.

After losses or draws against teams like Tottenham and Liverpool, player comments often became the center of attention, making them even more guarded. Typically, they spoke in a formulaic manner, repeating a few standard phrases.

But Karren’s interviews were different. They were club-centered, framed to reflect the team’s values. Players felt they could share genuine thoughts — gratitude for support, ambition for the future — knowing they were truly part of the club.

Zanetti, currently recovering his fitness after quarantine, stepped up as captain to take the first seat in front of the camera.

"Alright, Zanetti," Karren began, adjusting the microphone, "let’s talk about the training environment under O’Neill. How do you feel the team is responding?"

Zanetti smiled slightly. "The coach pushes us hard, but it’s constructive. Everyone knows their role, and we’re learning to trust each other more on the pitch. The new routines have helped me recover faster, too — it’s not just physical, but also about mental preparation."

The first topic naturally focused on O’Neill, the manager, and gradually shifted toward the coaching staff, until Richard’s name finally entered the conversation.

When she asked him about his choice to join City, Zanetti candidly replied,

"Honestly, I never thought of joining—or even coming—to England. I won’t pretend it was a childhood dream of mine. In the summer of ’94, I was a key player at my local team in the South American league, and now we were competing in Europe, which is the dream of every footballer. However, the boss made me a top offer. Looking back, it doesn’t seem like much now, but at the time, it was a significant amount. Banfield agreed to that offer without even discussing it with me, which made me feel abandoned. In that situation, I realized I couldn’t stay there. Then, Mr. Richard Maddox personally came to convince me to join City. At that moment, I thought he was just a cocky guy talking big, and my rational side told me not to get swept up in his enthusiasm. Yet, he persuaded me — his long-term vision convinced me to take the leap."

Karren nodded with a smile — Richard truly had that spark. He made Manchester City’s football feel alive and dynamic, with an uncanny eye for talent. She had often heard how remarkable his ability was at spotting raw potential and shaping it into greatness.

Zanetti then continued, "Since I arrived here, I’ve felt rapid improvement. I made it to the national team, and the boss appointed me captain, which instilled a strong sense of responsibility in me. That matters a lot. I’m part of a very united and competitive team, and that keeps us dreaming of great achievements. I have to admit, if I were in a mid-table team, it would be hard to maintain focus throughout the season. Sure, you could accumulate enough league points, but the players might slack off mentally. Here? Not at all. From the first match of the season to the last, we approach every game with a winning mentality, hoping to lift trophies at the end of the season—one, two, or even more."

Karren nodded before turned toward the person beside Zanetti, another pillar of the team and the most expensive player in the squad after Ronaldo: Zidane.

"Zidane, what about you? Zanetti just spoke about his decision to join City and how the club’s vision influenced him. From your perspective, what is it that truly inspires you on and off the pitch?"

Zidane leaned back slightly and replied, "It’s basically the same for me. What moves me is a sort of irrational passion — something that’s especially needed in football and is hard to put into words. This passion is essential for many successful teams, just like Manchester United, the old Liverpool, and Ajax over the past three years. Football is a unique field. Whether you’re a player or a coach, if you treat it just like a job, it’s tough to find success. That element of passion is indispensable, and the boss embodies it fully, deeply inspiring me."

Over the next three days, Manchester City’s players took turns sitting in front of the camera for interviews. From seasoned stars to promising youngsters, everyone had a chance to share their thoughts.

"So, after being here for two and a half years, what are your thoughts on life at Manchester City now? And what are your plans for the future as City’s goalkeeper?" Karren asked. Thıs content belongs to novel·fire·net

Buffon smiled at the question. "Over the past two and a half years, we’ve kept improving, and with so many excellent teammates, I’m motivated to keep pushing myself. Now, my goal is to become the main goalkeeper for my country. At the last World Cup, I only served as a backup for Gianluca Pagliuca and Angelo Peruzzi, so I feel there’s still much to prove. So my next target before the Euro 2000, I must be the number one choice for my country."

Hearing his bold words, everyone nodded in agreement. The players’ comments reflected many insights, including the team’s ambitions and aspirations.

In her subsequent interviews with other players, Karren quickly discovered that most expressed gratitude toward Richard for bringing them to Manchester City and introducing them to the club’s culture—everything from the importance of proper nutrition, which exercises were best for them, to how to enhance performance using data. This guidance was especially valuable for foreign players coming from smaller clubs, who previously saw football purely as a job.

Only after Richard emphasized that a football career is short did their eyes truly open. When asked about Richard personally, players gave varied responses.

Ronaldo said, "Mr. Richard is an excellent person with immense patience; he never yells at us, even when the team loses. I thought having an owner in the locker room would be awkward, but he never oversteps. He calmly analyzes what went wrong.

"You know he’s the one who introduced our statistical system. After every match, the first-team coaches score each player’s performance—not as a rigid standard, but relative to the opposition. Against weaker teams, expectations are higher—you might be expected to score an 8 or 9. Against stronger teams, performing well enough for a 6 is sufficient, and scoring 7 or 8 earns praise. But if you only score 6 against weaker teams, your place in the next match may be reconsidered—no arguing. His professional approach subtly encourages us to keep improving, which is crucial."

Larsson added, "Incredible! Yes, he redefined my role and abilities on the pitch. I used to see myself merely as a poacher, but here I have more freedom. I can do so much more. Each season, I keep improving, and our performances have been fantastic. As a forward, I’ve combined beautifully with my teammates to score many goals, several of which are timeless classics that we enjoy watching on replay."

Trezeguet expressed his gratitude toward Richard during his interview.

"We usually don’t talk about tactics or gameplay when we approach him," he explained. "It’s more like... if you don’t know what to do, just go talk to Mr. Richard. Usually, we discuss off-the-pitch topics—things that help us grow as people and players. He listens, gives advice, and sometimes just shares a perspective that makes you think differently about the game or life in general. Knowing that someone in the club genuinely cares about you beyond the numbers on the stats sheet? that’s very rare."

Listening to all this, everyone on the marketing team realized they had overlooked many of Richard’s qualities; after all, each player’s perspective revealed something unique.

For instance, Pirlo expressed his gratitude toward him from a deeply personal sense of being understood and appreciated.

In the past, Pirlo had always believed he had to live up to others’ expectations. When people called him "the next Baggio," he didn’t reject the comparison — instead, he worked tirelessly to live up to it. But deep down, he questioned whether he could ever truly do so. He didn’t have Baggio’s speed or flair.

It was Richard who helped him see that he didn’t need to become Baggio at all. What mattered was being himself — being Pirlo.

Richard made him realize that his intelligence, vision, and passing ability were his greatest strengths. That conversation changed Pirlo’s mindset completely, allowing him to embrace his own identity as a player, as his own version of Pirlo.

Ronaldinho also expressed heartfelt gratitude. He spoke about how Richard had supported him not just on the pitch but off it as well — helping him settle in, find housing, manage his daily life, and even assist his family. Those small but genuine gestures made Ronaldinho, the new sensation of the Premier League, appreciate the club even more.

When other staff members were later interviewed, they too expressed optimism about the club’s bright future. As witnesses to Manchester City’s rise, they felt motivated every day to help transform what was once an insignificant team into a true football powerhouse.

After all the player interviews were wrapped up, the marketing team carefully archived the video recordings. Each clip revealed a different side of Manchester City. For the time being, those videos were stored securely, awaiting their debut. Manchester City TV, still in its developmental phase, was set to officially launch that summer.

The next day, the written transcripts of the interviews alone were enough to ignite a storm of attention. Fans were fascinated by the players’ candor. Within hours of publication, thousands flooded the official website, eager to read every word. The server couldn’t handle the surge — it crashed repeatedly throughout the first day.

The marketing team, exhausted but thrilled, looked at the numbers and smiled. Manchester City had captured the world’s curiosity, offering fans a rare glimpse behind the curtain of the club’s remarkable rise.