Chapter 163: Season Targets and Squad Hierarchy

Everyone know that Alex Ferguson had sold experienced players Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis before the start of the season, and not made any major signings. Instead, he had drafted in young players like Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil.

Reporter:

"Martin, Martin, tell us—what is City’s strategy for next season? Is it about following Manchester United’s approach of relying on young players?"

Martin O’Neill:

"Look, I’ve got great respect for what United have done with their young lads—really, I do. But let’s be honest—United didn’t make any major signings that summer. They sold senior players and went all-in on their academy. That’s their route, and fair play to them, it worked. But that’s not what we’re doing."

Reporter:

"Is that shift in strategy because the club demolished the youth academy? Sixteen players brought in at once—is that an admission that City regrets shutting down its youth development setup?"

O’Neill

(raising his eyebrows)

:

"Who said we demolished anything? We restructured it. Let’s be clear on that.There’s been a lot of speculation flying around, but Manchester City will still be competing in youth competitions next season—just under a different structure and setup. The club made a decision to adapt, not abandon. What you’re seeing now is investment in talent, both local and international, to complement that restructuring. And I stand by that approach."

He glanced at his watch, gave a small nod, and concluded:

"Alright, thank you for your time, everyone. I’ve got a session to get to."

With preseason wrapped up, the squad entered a focused period of closed-door training in preparation for the opening match of the season.

The next day, Richard Summons O’Neill to set targets and bonus structure.

The sun filtered through the blinds of the CEO floor as Richard, the club’s chairman, leaned back in his leather chair. Across from him sat Martin O’Neill, still in his training gear, a bottle of water in hand and a clipboard resting beside him.

"Last season, we proved people wrong," Richard said—then paused. "No.

You

proved people wrong."

It wasn’t just a compliment. It was a fact. Richard let his words hang in the air, his voice steady, his expression unreadable.

City had been written off during the first half of the previous season due to inconsistent performances. But from March to May, their winning streak had been remarkable—transformative, even.

"Automatic promotion. That’s the goal. That’s the standard, Martin," Richard continued. "And we don’t just stop there. The League Cup. The FA Cup. Every match we play, we compete."

O’Neill didn’t flinch. He waited for Richard to finish.

"Domestic cups—either the FA Cup or League Cup—I want at least a quarter-final run in one of them. Ideally, a final appearance. These are key for the board, and frankly, the fans need something to believe in for next season. Something that says we belong in the top flight."

Richard slid a folder across the desk. "If we qualify, great. That’s our stretch target. The further we go, the bigger the bonuses next season—for players and staff. Please take a look. Bonuses are tied directly to performance. For promotion, you and your staff get a 20% performance bonus. Reach a cup quarter-final—15%. Win a domestic cup? That’s another 7.5% on top."

"And the players?" O’Neill asked.

"There’s a similar scheme—tiered bonuses. It’s all in the folder. I’ve kept it clean and performance-based. You get us the results, everyone benefits."

O’Neill opened the folder, skimmed through the contents, then gave a small nod of approval before closing it.

"If we don’t achieve these targets," Richard said quietly, "we’ll have to reassess a lot of things—you know what I mean, right?"

O’Neill paused slightly, then replied, "Understood."

The two men shook hands—firm, formal, and filled with unspoken urgency. The season was no longer a concept—it was here, and expectations were set.

"That’s everything. You can go now," Richard said.

This wasn’t about hoping for a strong season. This was about demanding one.

After concluding his meeting with O’Neill, Richard wrapped up his day with one final engagement—an all-hands gathering of Manchester City’s upper management, staff, and club employees.

It was the club’s annual grand meeting, traditionally held before the start of each new season.

This year’s agenda carried particular weight.

Richard stood at the front of the auditorium, flanked by key figures from the board: Miss Heyssen, the newly appointed CEO; Marina Granovskaia, unveiled as the new Director of Football; and the club’s legal team, Frank Shepherd and Gordon Barry.

Among the key announcements was the official introduction of the Director of Football position—a role designed to strengthen the club’s long-term footballing strategy and align all sporting departments under a unified vision.

In addition, the meeting marked the launch of the new High Performance Division, a cross-functional unit responsible for overseeing sports science, data analytics, player conditioning, and injury prevention.

Two newly formed departments—Physiotherapy and Recovery—were formally introduced, with their respective leads presenting fresh methodologies and expectations under the revamped structure.

"This isn’t just about preparing for the season," Richard said. "It’s about raising the bar across every level of this club."

Applause followed. While there was still some skepticism among the staff about these unfamiliar roles and changes, the message was clear: Richard was prepared. Manchester City was evolving—and every person in that room had a part to play in its future.

Same time — Manchester City Training Ground, Locker Room

While Richard addressed the boardroom, a different kind of atmosphere lingered in the players’ locker room.

The squad was already murmuring about the new season. Some lounged in their kits, others leaned against lockers or sat with boots half-tied. The usual banter was subdued, replaced by quiet nods and the occasional raised eyebrow.

Before training began, O’Neill had already assembled his squad for a short, first full-team briefing ahead of the upcoming season.

He took his time, letting the weight of the moment settle. His eyes moved across the room, taking in each player—the veterans, the rising stars, the fresh signings.

Then, finally, he spoke.

His message:

"We fought our way up. We played our football. We showed we belong."

’Too inexperienced. Too old. Not enough depth.’

That’s what the media said about Manchester City last season—especially before the Christmas break. Yet after Christmas, they had defied every expectation.

"This season? We do more than belong." He paused for a moment, then sharpened his tone.

"We win this league. No playoffs. No drama. We go up as champions."

A murmur rippled through the squad.

Some players nodded, confidence already rooted in them. Others sat up straighter, absorbing the message. The new signings—especially—were listening closely. They were ready.

Even Shevchenko, who had just arrived that morning for his first training session, nodded in understanding. His English wasn’t perfect, but he recognized the words

"win the league"

and

"go up as champions."

That was enough.

No one was surprised. They expected this.

Confidence remained high—undented by pressure. They had just swept the pre-season without conceding a single goal. In their minds, they weren’t just contenders. They were a team built to win it outright.

"Automatic promotion. That’s the goal. That’s the standard," O’Neill declared.

Everyone thought the briefing was over—but then O’Neill took a step forward, his voice unwavering.

"And we don’t just stop there."

His gaze shifted to the experienced trio: Ronaldo, Cafu, and Roberto Carlos.

"The League Cup. The FA Cup. Every match we play, we compete this time."

For that to happen, O’Neill knew it wasn’t just about the players—it was about the entire support system behind them. He turned slightly and motioned to the two men standing by the side of the room.

"I want you all to meet two people you’ll be seeing a lot of this season."

He stepped aside.

"First, Dave Fevre. He’s our new Head of Physiotherapy. Many of you may not know him yet, but let me be clear—he’s no novice. He’s worked extensively with Wigan Rugby in the Premier League setup. So don’t underestimate what he brings to the table."

He turned to the man standing next to Fevre.

"And next to him—Dr. Andreas Schlumberger, our new Head of Recovery. He’ll be working closely with Dave and the coaching staff to optimize everything from matchday recovery protocols to individual injury prevention."

A few players gave polite nods; the veterans already recognized the name.

O’Neill continued.

"I also want to formally introduce the rest of the team behind the team."

One by one, he named them—his assistant manager, coaches, and even support staff. Jimmy Rouse—the kit manager—was introduced as well.

"Make sure you know him well. You’ll be seeing him more than your own families over the next ten months."

The next step was to establish the new hierarchy.

After the previous captain’s move to Tottenham, O’Neill had taken time to carefully consider the right person to lead City into the new season. He turned to the whiteboard, where the full squad list was already written out. He picked up a marker and underlined three words at the top:

Captain. Vice-Captain.

Then, he turned back to the squad.

"You earn your place in this team. Nothing is given. But these are the players who will set the standard—the ones who lead by example, who drive us forward."

He pointed to the board.

Captain: Cafu

Vocal. Respected. Tough. He inspired his teammates not just through words, but through actions. When the team was trailing, he never wavered—constantly charging up and down the right flank. He wasn’t just a solid right-back—he was a tone-setter in every match.

"Cafu is our captain," O’Neill said firmly. "He’s the voice on the pitch. Listen to him. When things get tough, he’s the one who’ll keep us together."

Vice-Captain: Roberto Carlos.

Just like Cafu, Roberto would anchor the left flank. Relentless. Consistent. A player O’Neill trusted completely.

"Roberto is our vice-captain," O’Neill continued. "Not just because of his experience, but because he leads by example. He drives the team forward every single game."

"Any questions?"

"..."

"Good. Now—"

Next is the most important.

The starting lineup.

O’Neill tapped the marker against the board. "Let me remind you first," he began, his tone firm.

"The starting lineup is more than just names on a sheet. It’s about who earns their place, who shows up when it matters, and who sets the example every single day. So, don’t think that just because your name’s on this list, it means you’re guaranteed to stay there until the end of the season. You earn your spot every day. Understand?"

"Yes, coach!" the players responded in unison with determination.

"Good," O’Neill replied, underlining the next few words with precision.

"Goalkeeper: Jens Lehmann." He glanced up, making eye contact with the German keeper, whose eyes widened in surprise.

To be honest, O’Neill had initially favored Richard Wright, as he had personally requested him from Richard. But after watching the pre-season and every training sessions, he changed his mind.

This was the first time in his entire coaching career that he had seen such a

killjoy

—a truly unapproachable and withdrawn person, even during training sessions.

While the other players often gathered, joked around, and chatted, Lehmann could always be found under the goalposts, getting back up again and again, no matter how many times he fell.

For him, who valued discipline and consistency above all, this was the first time he had encountered someone so difficult to read, yet whose dedication was written all over his actions. For now, Lehmann had earned his trust. Let’s see how the season unfolds.

After that, he announced the full starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Jens Lehmann

Right Back: Cafu

Center Back: Marco Materazzi

Center Back: William Gallas

Left Back: Roberto Carlos

Right Midfielder: Gianluca Zambrotta

Central Midfielder: Mark van Bommel

Central Midfielder: Neil Lennon

Left Midfielder: Jackie McNamara

Centre Forward: Ronaldo

Centre Forward: Henrik Larsson