Chapter 489: Chapter 489

"Two minutes of stoppage time have passed, and City has hardly allowed Inter Milan any possession in the last three minutes. If Inter can’t even keep the ball, how can they hope to equalize?"

But even if you do get the ball, what can you really expect?

Zanetti–Cannavaro–Thuram–Lúcio–Zambrotta. And in front of them: Makelele–Gattuso–Lampard.

You think you can break through that defensive chain?

For the set-piece, City pushed only two players forward: Deco to take the kick and Trezeguet positioned to receive it.

Baggio moved closer to Trezeguet, forcing Deco to delay the restart and gesture to the referee—the Inter players were too close!

The referee warned Baggio, who muttered that City was wasting time. Ignoring the complaint, the referee kept his focus on the match, leaving Baggio no choice but to step back.

As expected: Deco passed, Trezeguet laid it back, and Deco regained possession before skillfully moving toward the corner flag, drawing loud boos from the Inter supporters at the Meazza.

Richard, however, applauded.

This tactic was common in football; once the match ended, no one would criticize City for using it. It only looked unsightly in the moment. More importantly, it helped drain the opponent’s morale—their formation was forced to retreat, and if the lines stretched too far, any attempt to regain possession required extreme precision.

Deco shielded the ball again, but this time Simeone and Galante combined to dispossess him and launched a long clearance forward.

Lampard rose to meet it and headed the ball away, and moments later, the referee blew the final whistle, leaving Inter Milan devastated after letting the match slip through their fingers.

"The thrilling back-and-forth battle has come to an end. Both teams displayed brilliance—Inter Milan dominated the first half, but Manchester City struck back with four goals in quick succession after the break, snatching victory from Inter’s grasp. The group standings now look much clearer: while both Inter and CIty remain favorites to advance, Inter’s stumble today means they must decisively win their final two matches."

"Yes you are right. They can afford no more mistakes; another defeat could leave them with only 12 points. They still have to face City again at Maine Road, but fortunately their other two opponents are not particularly strong. Congratulations to Manchester City on the victory! We had thought the reigning champions seemed off form, but they responded with five away goals, reaffirming their status as Champions League favorites."

At full time, Manchester City’s players were all smiles. The younger players were especially excited—they had just beaten Inter Milan, a team featuring superstars like Roberto Baggio.

O’Neill rose to shake hands with Simoni. The gesture was brief. The latter’s expression held no trace of satisfaction.

With seven goals and countless highlights, the spectators had witnessed a match many would remember as a classic.

After the match, O’Neill is the manager, so of course there would be interviews. But before that, he walked into the locker room after the match and calmly addressed all the players:

"Today’s victory is precious. I’m delighted with your fighting spirit, but the Champions League has only just begun. We’ve made a great start, and we cannot afford to become complacent."

He didn’t need to sound harsh; it was enough to keep the players grounded. After the match, he received a call from Richard. After that call, the excitement he felt disappeared.

Richard cared more about the fact that they had conceded three goals. Scoring four can happen for many reasons, but most importantly, Inter dominated them. They won because they adjusted their tactics against Inter’s aggressive offense and fragile defense. Behind the scoreline, they were not their usual selves—they had not controlled the game. They relied mainly on individual talent and determination to turn the match around.

The reason Richard cared so much was because this Inter they faced didn’t even have Ronaldo or Javier Zanetti!

And they were already struggling so much. So you can imagine what would’ve happened if he hadn’t snatched Ronaldo and Zanetti first.

O’Neill understood, but he asked for some leniency. As for the three goals conceded, he said they would address the issue once they returned to Manchester for training.

During the post-match press conference, O’Neill faced sharp questioning from the Italian media and remained silent for half a minute.

"Manchester City conceded three goals today. This figure nearly matches your total goals conceded across all six group-stage matches last season. Does this indicate a significant decline in the quality of your team’s defense?"

After a brief silence, O’Neill replied calmly. "Our defense isn’t in poor shape; it’s more about the nature of the match. After going down 2–0, we had no choice but to attack, which added pressure on our defense. When it became 3–1, I realized that if we couldn’t hold firm, we’d need to see who could score more goals."

"Inter conceded four goals in the second half—what was the reason?"

"Football isn’t an exact science; it’s difficult to pinpoint all the reasons behind a goal scored or conceded. Morale, mentality, and key moments all play a role. I can’t express it perfectly in words, but overall, City adapted better in the second half and performed well. We started slowly in the first half and fell behind 2–0, and it wasn’t until the second half that we freed ourselves from the pressure. Considering we were away, and trailing—the odds were against us—so we managed to perform at an elite level."

O’Neill did not view this victory as particularly meaningful, certainly not as proof that they had closed the gap to last season’s standard.

If it had been last season, they wouldn’t have allowed the opposition so many chances, not even when playing away. Tonight’s result depended more on the players’ finishing touches than on any sustained dominance over their opponents.

If it had been last season, they wouldn’t have allowed the opposition so many chances, not even when playing away. Tonight’s result depended more on the players’ finishing touches than on any sustained dominance over their opponents.

After wrapping up the press conference, the Manchester City entourage prepared to head back to Manchester.

Richard had initially planned to return with them to discuss several matters with O’Neill and his staff. However, unexpectedly, he received an invitation from Moratti.

He exchanged glances with Marina. Naturally, he accepted.

So while the City staff and players flew back to Manchester ahead of him, Richard stayed behind in Milan and joined Moratti for dinner at an upscale restaurant in the city.

The restaurant was close to closing and almost empty, yet photographers still managed to track them down, snapping shots of Moratti and Richard seated together.

The two had spoken often over the phone, and they had met once during the Super League meetings. They weren’t strangers. For them, tonight was simply a friendly gathering.

Moratti sought to learn Richard’s methods—how he had managed to turn City into a championship-winning club in just three years, especially considering they had only recently been promoted to the Premier League. Specifically, he wanted to understand how to manage a team effectively. He hoped to gain insights that could help him accelerate Inter Milan’s transformation into a true Serie A powerhouse, beating Juventus and AC Milan.

For Moratti, money was not an issue; he had both the financial backing and the willingness to invest. Because of that, their discussion didn’t focus much on the economic side of running a club.

"For me, you don’t need eleven superstars," Richard said. "You need eleven players who fit the idea of the team. Talent is important, but character decides whether that talent survives pressure, setbacks, and expectations."

He elaborated step by step:

First, a club must know what kind of football it wants to play. Without a clear identity, transfer decisions become random.

Second, once the identity is defined, the club needs to find players—young or experienced—whose attributes can flourish within that identity. "You look for compatibility, not just reputation."

Third, development doesn’t stop after a transfer. A stable environment, consistent coaching, and clear expectations are what turn a good signing into a great player.

Fourth, if there are constant changes—whether in key players, the head coach, or the overall tactical philosophy—the team will inevitably suffer.

Richard used Manchester City as an example. When they were newly promoted, he didn’t simply buy whoever was available. Instead, he and his staff targeted players who fit the long-term blueprint—athletic, disciplined, and mentally resilient. Some were already talented; others grew into their roles through patience and proper guidance.

"Players become great when a club believes in them," Richard continued. "If you change coaches every season and chase every shiny name in the market, you destroy the development cycle. A team needs time to grow together."

Moratti listened quietly, absorbing the words. Developing the right players—rather than endlessly buying big names—was essential.

What Richard truly wanted to convey was simple: patience.

Patience with the players, and also with your head coach. By being patient, you allow him to shape the team according to his own vision.

However, what Richard did not expect was that everything he said seemed to go in one ear and out the other. Moratti was definitely not the patient type.

"You said to find the right players... do you mean the type of player like your number 4?" Moratti asked.

"..." Richard said, choosing not to answer.

It was easier said than done in Serie A. Head coaches there lacked the managerial authority enjoyed by Premier League managers, especially regarding transfers. Regardless of reputation, most Serie A coaches found themselves entangled in uncomfortable disputes with club management over signings.

Richard deliberately avoided bringing up Zanetti until the meeting was over. For origınal chapters go to N()velFire.net

Moratti did not disappoint, though—he only smiled, which made Richard sigh in relief. But little did he imagine...

Regardless of whether Moratti had actually absorbed any of his advice, the next day’s headlines in Milan screamed: "Massimo Moratti in Private Talks with Richard Maddox to Discuss Transfers for Javier Zanetti and Gianluca Zambrotta...!"