"Manchester City have made three changes during the break as we head into the second half here at Maine Road. Emile Heskey is off for Ole Gunnar SolskjĂŠr, Tony Grant makes way for Keith Curle, and Paul Lakeâwho picked up an injury in the first halfâis replaced by Ian Ferguson. Looks like the manager is looking to shake things up after a tough opening 45 minutes," the commentator announced.
21 Emile Heskey â 31 Ole Gunnar SolskjĂŠr
10 Tony Grant â 4 Keith Curle
22 Paul Lake â 24 Ian Ferguson
As both teamsâ players emerged from the tunnel, the home and away coaches stood at the sidelines.
OâNeill, with his jacket unbuttoned and hands in his pockets, wore an impassive expression. Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce summoned his teamâs captain, ominously lecturing him about something. His expression was fierce enough to suggest he wanted to devour him whole.
The referee soon blew his whistle, and the match started with a Blackpool kick-off.
Allardyceâs players charged forward from the very first minute, as if fueled by steroids, a subtle smirk forming on his lips.
The cheers of City fans echoed endlessly in Maine Road Stadium, and the match seemed overwhelmingly one-sided after it began. Blackpoolâs attacks came in waves, with the ball spending most of its time flying around Cityâs half.
"Roberto!" OâNeill shouted toward the left-back, who was sprinting down the field in front of him.
"Remember my instructions," he yelled. "And donât forget to pass them on to the rest."
"Yes, coach," Roberto Carlos nodded.
As the match progressed into the second half, Manchester City finally cashed in on their superior possession.
Richard sighed again and again at the effectiveness of OâNeillâs halftime messageâit had clearly made a difference. All the players were focused, playing with ambition while taking minimal risks as they bore down on Blackpoolâs defense.
Now Richard could see they were showcasing great teamwork, exchanging short passes and executing one-twos, waiting patiently to unlock Blackpoolâs defense and hit them swiftly on the break.
He remembered what OâNeill had told him before the season began:
âIf players are allowed to attack recklessly, the defense will inevitably become disjointed. Thatâs why, in the early stages, overall defense is crucial. Every player is part of the defensive system, so building defensive awareness and chemistry must come first. For now, my priority is spacingâeach player needs to stay connected and maintain close contact with the teammates around them.â
This is why, despite Keith Curleâs good passing and defensive capabilities, he didnât meet OâNeillâs standards for spatial awareness. In the end, Ian Ferguson was brought in on loan from Rangers.
In the 66th minute, the change finally came. Richard instantly stood up.
Roberto Carlos and Cafu were relentless down the flanks, surging up the left and right sides like men on a mission. Their overlapping runs stretched Blackpoolâs defensive shape wider and wider, pulling it apart and creating the very opening City had been waiting for.
With space finally carved open, Keith Curle spotted the gap and slipped a sharp pass into midfield, where Ronaldo had dropped deep to receive.
Ronaldo took a quick glance over his shoulder and scanned the field â and there it was: SolskjĂŠr, making a perfectly timed run straight between the two center-backs. He knew exactly what to do.
In one fluid motion, he sold the illusion. He looked to his left, making his marker believe he was about to pass to Steve Lomas, who was already waiting in space. But instead, as the ball arrived, Ronaldo simply nudged it forward with the outside of his footâa gentle, effortless touch.
The ball slid through the middle with pinpoint precision. The center-backs failed to track SolskjĂŠrâs run in time, and by the time they reacted, the ball had already reached him.
SolskjĂŠr latched onto it in full stride, taking just one touch before firing. With the goalkeeper rushing out and diving to cover his near post, SolskjĂŠr calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, past the keeperâs outstretched arm.
In one fluid motion, he sold the illusion. His eyes shifted to the left, drawing his marker into believing he was about to pass to Steve Lomas, already waiting in space. But as the ball arrived, Ronaldo didnât hesitate. With a subtle flick of the outside of his foot, he nudged it forward.
Simple, effortless and precise.
The pass slipped cleanly through the gap, cutting straight through the heart of the defense. The center-backs were caught off guardâonly then did they realize the middle had been left wide open.
By the time they reacted, SolskjĂŠr was already in behind. He latched onto the ball in full stride, taking just one touch before firing.
With the goalkeeper rushing out and diving to cover his near post, SolskjĂŠr calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, past the keeperâs outstretched arm.
"And itâs in! SolskjĂŠr finishes a brilliant move! Ronaldo with the vision, the weight, the touchâperfection! The defense stood still, and the keeper had no chance!" the commentator roared over the noise of the stadium.
In the stands, Maine Road exploded. Fans leapt from their seats, scarves waving in the air, the roar of celebration surging like a wave across the terraces.
"
Weâre Not Really Here
~" chants rang out, drowning even the commentatorâs voice for a moment.
On the opposite touchline, Allardyce was fuming. His face turned a deeper shade of red as he barked orders, but no one seemed to listenâhis fury swallowed whole by the chaos of celebration, as SolskjĂŠr had already slid on his knees, carving a trail across the grass.
Richard clenched his fists and let out a roar, matching the eruption of the crowd around him. Finally, Manchester City had managed to score their first goal
1:0
After this goal, City began to relax and play with more openness.
"If youâre drunk you will die, if you donât drink you will die, so itâs better to be drunk than be sober when you die... just like the fans of the invisible man... weâre not really here".
From the 66th minute until the final whistle, the City fans never stopped singing. The score may not have changed, but the atmosphere stayed electricâbecause it marked the end of a painful 19-match winless streak, and for the fans, that alone was worth every cheer.
Unfortunately for Richard, he didnât get to see the match through to the final whistle.
In the 88th minute, he had to leave the stadium early and make his way to Birminghamâmore precisely, to the Solihull Plant, the heart of Land Rover production and the administrative headquarters of Rover.
The reason was simple: Alan Mulally, the man who had saved Ford from the brink of collapse, had finally accepted their offer to become CEO, and today marked his internal introduction and alignment.
When a new CEO is appointed, they typically host a presentation to introduce themselves, share their vision, and set the tone for their leadership. After that, they meet with key executives and departmentsâthrough one-on-one or group meetingsâto understand the companyâs current position and challenges.
Since it was a company-wide presentation, he as the largest shareholder of course his attendance was essential.
The drive to Solihull Plant took about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and he set off in his Porsche, cutting through the motorway traffic with purpose.
As he settled in behind the wheel, he tuned into the radio.
[The Camelot Group consortium wins the contract to run the UKâs first National Lottery...]
"Ah no, Iâve already given up betting," Richard mumbled as he changed the channel.
Click!
[...The first MORI poll since Tony Blair became Labour Party leader gives him a massive boost in his ambition to become Prime Minister, with his party polling at 56%âa 33-point lead over the Conservatives...]
Richard fell silent as political chatter buzzed from the speakers. Behind the wheel, his eyes stayed fixed on the road, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Politics.
Not something he usually bothered withâyet it was everywhere. And increasingly, it felt important. Especially for a man like him: a businessman and now, the owner of a football club.
A shift was coming. And with it, economic policy, labor relations, public spendingâeverything would change. Industries like automotive, real estate, even media would be right in the crosshairs.
New taxes? New regulations? Or perhaps... new opportunities?
He didnât know yet.
"Hmm... politics," Richard muttered, tapping the steering wheel thoughtfully.
âWould it hurt to start building political connections? Or maybe even dive in deeper?â
He shrugged.
"Nah. Letâs focus on Rover for now." Richard dismissed the thoughtâfor now.
Click!
Another channel change.
[...Korean industrial giant Daewoo announces plans to enter the British car market next year, offering budget-friendly models like the Matiz, Lanos, Nubira, and Leganza...]
Now this was interestingâa new rival entering the market, one that could pose a real threat to Roverâs position. But Richard quickly brushed it aside. In his eyes, Daewoo was a fleeting presence in the automotive world. No real threatâat least, not in the long run.
[...The Daily Telegraph becomes the first national newspaper in Britain to launch an online edition, the Electronic Telegraph. Around 600,000 UK households now have internet access...]
"Ah yes... the internet," Richard murmured.
He made a mental note: United States.
Amazon, Yahoo, AltaVista, Netscape, Lycos... so many companies would rise and fall. Richard believed that in just five years, the right investments in them could earn him billions. The dot-com boom was calling
And heâd also received an invitation from Vince McMahon to attend WrestleMania this year. Maybe it was time to go.
The channel change.
[...Huddersfield Town officially move into their new all-seater Alfred McAlpine Stadium, which opens with a capacity of 16,000, set to expand to 20,000...]
"Finallyâfootball," Richard smiled, eyes back on the road, as the radio hummed on in the background.
[... Tottenham Hotspurâs 12-point penalty is reduced to 6 points on appeal at a Football Association hearing, while the ÂŁ600,000 fine is increased to ÂŁ1.5 million and the FA Cup ban remains in place...]
[...19-year-old striker Robbie Fowler scores a hat-trick for Liverpool in less than five minutes as they beat Arsenal 3â0 in the league at Anfield...]
Time passed, the sun dipped lower, and Richard finally arrived at the Rover Solihull Plant. The massive complex loomed ahead, its iconic façade a symbol of British automotive legacy. As he approached the main gate, he slowed his Porsche, eyes scanning the scene.
The parking lot was already packedâdozens of vehicles lined up neatly, from executive saloons to workersâ hatchbacks. Security personnel in hi-vis jackets directed traffic.
Just beyond the entrance, a small crowd of reporters and camera crews had gathered, their equipment aimed toward the front of the main building. Flashes popped intermittently, capturing glimpses of arriving executives.
It was no surprise. Rover was more than just a car companyâit was a national brand, one of the last true symbols of British automotive identity. And today, with the arrival of a new CEO, the media buzzed like bees in a hive.
Richard pulled into his reserved spot near the executive entrance and stepped out of his car. He walked past the reporters, offering only a polite nod. The path he took was part of a private route, separated from the public entrance, allowing him to bypass the main crowd and slip quietly inside.
[INT. ROVER SOLIHULL PLANT â TOWN HALL â 1994 â DAY]
Mulally steps up to a modest podium. No fancy stage, just a large Rover logo behind him and a room full of curious facesâengineers, plant workers, managers, a few journalists. He adjusts the mic slightly and smiles.
"Morning, everyone."
Alan Mulallyâs voice rang clear through the hall. A sea of employees, engineers, and executives sat quietly, their eyes fixed on him.
"First offâthank you for being here." He offered a small smile. "I know itâs been a tough stretch. Rough headlines. Tougher boardroom talks..."
Laughter rippled across the room.
"But through all of it, youâve kept this place running. Youâve kept Rover moving. I didnât come all the way from the States to just sit in an office and juggle paperwork. I came here because I believeâtruly believeâthat Rover can be great again. Not just surviving. Thriving. So, letâs talk about how."
He gestured casually to a simple slide: "One Rover."
"Right now, weâve got great pieces: Rover, MG, Land Rover, Mini. But letâs be honestâtheyâre not always working together. Sometimes, they compete more with each other than with the rest of the world. Thatâs gotta change."
He paused. The silence in the room grew dense with anticipation.
"From today forward, we move as one company. One team. One direction."
Another slide lit up: "Working Together."
"Now listenâthis wonât be easy. But weâre going to do it the right way. Together. Every week, weâre going to sit downâme, the execs, your team leadersâand look at the business. Whatâs working. Whatâs not. If somethingâs offâif itâs redâthatâs okay. Weâre not here to point fingers. Weâre here to fix it. I donât believe in secrets or silos. I believe in solving problems, side by side."
He clicked again. Final slide: "The Future Is Ours to Build."
"I know the road behind us hasnât been easy. But Iâve seen what this company is made of. The pride. The craftsmanship. The history. And I know what we can do if we pull together."
He looked across the room, his voice quieter nowâmore personal.
"Letâs build a Rover weâre proud to pass on to the next generation. Thank you for your time. Letâs get to work."
He stepped away from the podium.
For a moment, silence.
Thenâclap.
Another.
And then the entire room erupted into applause. A standing ovation followed. Cameras flashed. Journalists scribbled furiously.
But in the back of the room, Richard stood quietly with his arms crossed. His face gave nothing away.
He turned and walked toward the executive wing. There, behind closed doors, a one-on-one meeting with Mulally was waiting. And that, Richard knew, was where the real conversation would begin.
Richard and Mr. Kiyoshi Kawashimaâthe two main shareholders of Rover Groupâsat across the table. Richard was the personal owner, and Mr. Kawashima represented Honda, which held a 20% stake in Rover. In front of them, Alan Mulally began to pitch his plan in more detail.
"Weâll trim down the model lineup. No more flooding the market with cars that donât sell. Weâll focus on what people actually love to drive," Mulally said confidently.
"And which model are you referring to, Mr. Mulally? As far as I know, our cars are still selling well in the market," Richard asked.
Mulally shook his head. "Yes, they
are
sellingâbut we need to set a standard. Especially with Roverâs current condition, our priority is financial stabilization. First, secure capital and reduce waste. Then we can save costs through shared R&D and procurement. More focused marketing and brand positioning will also help."
Mr. Kawashima shook his head. "Roverâs financial situation doesnât allow for any more wasted money on marketing, Mr. Mulally."
"Thatâs why weâll trim the current model range to only those with strong sales," Mulally replied, handing them a document. Richardâs eyebrows raised as he scanned through it.
Mark II, Rover 200, Rover 400, and Rover Metroâmodels that had been in production since 1984âwere all on the proposed cut list.
"You want to cut these models? You do realize our best-selling cars come from this line, right?" Richard asked in surprise, pointing at the
Rover Metro
.
Mulally nodded. "The Mark II, 200, and 400âyes. Weâll drop overlapping or outdated models. But for the
Metro
, weâre not scrapping the car itselfâweâre scrapping the
nameplate
. Weâll relaunch it as a new brand."
He continued, "Mechanically, it stays similarâ1.1 and 1.4 petrol engines, Hydragas suspensionâbut now weâll offer a Peugeot-sourced 1.5 diesel instead of the old 1.4. The exterior will get an update to freshen its look, improve cooling for the diesel, and adopt a smaller version of Roverâs family grille. Weâll fit new bumpers, sill covers, boot handle, headlamps, bonnet, and grille."
Richard nodded. He didnât fully grasp the technical stuff, but it
sounded
impressive. He made a mental note to study more later. For now, it was Mr. Kawashimaâs turn.
Mr. Kawashima frowned as he flipped through the document Mulally had handed him. "This is indeed feasible," he said slowly, "but once again, if we want to create a
new
brand identity, that means new costs..."
He was referring to everything needed for a proper relaunch: R&D and engineering, tooling and manufacturing setup, regulatory compliance, certification, the initial production run, inventoryâand of course, branding and marketing.
Mulally said, his expression turning serious. "Thatâs why we need to take a calculated risk. For short-term funding, I suggest we leverage Roverâs brand value and UK real estate to secure long-term credit lines first."
Richard and Mr. Kawashima exchanged glances.
"What exactly do you want to do? Tell us the full plan," Richard said.
"First, we push for lean manufacturing and implement a just-in-time inventory system. We cancel outdated, poor-selling models. Then, we double down on
Mini
and
Land Rover
as premium sub-brandsâ
Mini
as a modern, urban lifestyle car, and
Land Rover
as a luxury off-road brand. Weâll also improve interior quality and durability, partnering with Honda to enhance our quality..."
And so, for the next six hours, Richard stayed at the Solihull plant, discussing the rebirth of the UKâs only flagship automaker once more.