Chapter 164: The Eve of the Match

What status does football hold in Britain? Which sport truly captures the nation’s heart?

First: football.

Second: football.

Third: still football.

Football isn’t just a pastime here—it’s a cultural force. It has evolved into a massive industry, and any conversation about the sport is incomplete without acknowledging its deep connection to the media.

The two are inseparable. Football and media feed off each other, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the media has the power to shape—or shatter—a club’s public image in an instant.

That’s why Richard made it clear to O’Neill and the entire City leadership team: they had to be careful—especially the players. One careless moment could become tomorrow’s headline.

Everyone knows the British media is often considered the most unreliable in all of Europe—if not the world. Sensationalism sells, and tabloids won’t hesitate to fabricate stories or invade personal lives if it means grabbing attention.

Richard, fully aware of the media’s power, understood the importance of using it strategically to raise Manchester City’s profile.

For example, the rise of the Busby Babes at Manchester United coincided with the advent of televised football in countless British homes—an era-defining moment that helped the club build a massive and loyal fanbase. Had another team captured the spotlight during that time, the landscape of English football today might look very different.

With that, Richard, Miss Heysen, and Marina Granovskaia held a brief meeting to strategize on increasing the club’s visibility and public appeal, which was a key priority.

The first step was to announce the reopening of the Kippax Stand, which had been out of operation for almost two years.

Draped in blue and white, the stand was unveiled before an audience of press, club staff, select fans, and Richard’s closest circle—family and friends—who had gathered for the special occasion. With a proud smile, Richard stepped to center stage. As the cameras flashed, he cut the giant ribbon, and the crowd erupted into applause.

This ribbon-cutting ceremony marked not just the physical reopening of the stand, but also symbolically, the beginning of a new era for the club.

The media reaction to the reopening of the Kippax Stand was largely positive—tinged with curiosity, sentiment, and a touch of skepticism.

Local outlets praised the move as a "return to tradition," highlighting the Kippax Stand’s historical significance as a former stronghold of loyal City supporters.

Headlines like

"City Brings Back the Heart of Maine Road"

and

"Kippax Reawakens with a New Vision"

reflected the nostalgia-laced excitement.

Of course, not all coverage was positive—

The Sun

ran stories with headlines like

"New Paint, Same Struggles?"

while

The Guardian

, in a more neutral tone, noted:

"City rebuilds stands and expectations—now it’s time for results."

Manchester City chose not to respond to any of the coverage.

On the eve of the First Division season opener, City officials finally organized a press conference.

This was the second major step after their brainstorming session—an effective way to leverage media attention and raise the club’s profile ahead of the new season.

Richard had instructed O’Neill to ensure the team made a bold impression—though later, his approach was challenged by Miss Heysen and Marina, who were definitely more skilled than him in marketing and public relations.

Unlike the previous season’s press conference, this time the room was packed with more than a dozen reporters—local journalists and national media outlets alike. Though no international reporters had shown up yet, even

The Sun

—which had previously clashed with City after being banned from Maine Road—sent a journalist to cover the event.

But the attention wasn’t on City’s title ambitions.

It was all because of City’s first fixture.

Brentford.

In the previous season, City had snatched the Second Division title from Brentford at the very last moment—securing automatic promotion and leaving Brentford to fight their way up through the playoffs.

Naturally, tensions lingered.

And Brentford wanted revenge.

This is why Miss Heysen and Marina agreed they had to seize this moment—an ideal opportunity to launch an effective marketing campaign.

Though there were representatives from

The Mirror

and

The Daily Mail

, they were all interns—sitting stiffly, like obedient children. Eventually, it was the seasoned

The Sun

reporter who opened the Pandora’s box, just as a veteran would.

"Many fans still remember last season’s clash with Brentford, especially the late penalty drama. Some say this opener is about revenge. Would you call this a grudge match?"

O’Neill responded, "We don’t see it as a grudge match. Every game is an opportunity—this one just happens to be the first of the season. What happened last year stays in the past. Our focus now is on starting strong and showing what we’ve built over the summer."

"Brentford’s squad has strengthened, and they’ve brought in Paul Davis from Arsenal. How do you plan to contain him?"

"Paul Davis is a quality player and a great addition for them. But we’re not planning our match around one man. We respect Brentford as a team, and we’ve prepared accordingly."

"What are City’s objectives for the upcoming season? The club has spent nearly five million pounds in the transfer market—making it one of the biggest spenders in the First Division this summer."

With a composed expression, O’Neill responded calmly, "We’re a young team, and many of our players still need time and experience to grow. So our target this season is simple and realistic: to stay in the First Division."

A few reporters exchanged puzzled glances.

The

Sun

journalist leaned forward, eyes gleaming.

"So City has spent nearly five million pounds just to avoid relegation? If that’s the case, why offload so many key players—like Sol Campbell, your captain from last season? Does this mean the club has lost confidence in its current squad?"

O’Neill offered a faint smile—he had seen this coming.

"It’s quite straightforward," he said. "Campbell wanted to leave, and as a club that values the wishes and well-being of our players, we weren’t going to stand in his way. For now, City’s goal is to grow and develop first. Hopefully, when our players mature next year, we can begin to challenge for the League."

The reporters soon lost interest.

While City had caused a bit of a stir in the summer transfer market, most of their spending had gone toward young players—and others who also lacked experience in top-flight leagues.

Now, hearing that the club’s only ambition was to survive the season, the buzz quickly faded. To most of the journalists, City was—at best—a source of mild amusement, not a serious story.

"Could you share your thoughts on your players, Cafu and Roberto Carlos?" one reporter asked. "There are rumors that AS Roma is interested in Cafu, and reports suggest Inter Milan have their eyes on Roberto Carlos as well."

O’Neill shook his head with a faint smile.

"I won’t comment on speculation," he said firmly. "Here, we have people who handle those matters, and they’re the ones who deal with any official inquiries. For now, both Cafu and Roberto are fully focused on the season ahead."

O’Neill engaged with the reporters effortlessly, fielding their questions with ease and even bantering with them. Since no defamatory claims had led to any legal issues, he remained indifferent to the speculative insinuations that passed for journalism.

Eventually, the reporters gave up on asking about City player rumors, realizing O’Neill had no intention of revealing any details.

True to form, the following day, tabloids and newspapers prominently featured O’Neill’s image alongside the City logo. Yet, most of the headlines focused on City’s apparent lack of ambition, while the rest revolved around the drama surrounding the City vs. Brentford match.

The

Daily Mirror

blared: [...City Spends Big, But Is Survival the Only Goal?...]

The

Sun

followed suit with a bold headline: [...£5 Million, But Just to Survive? City’s Lack of Ambition Exposed...]

It wasn’t long before the skepticism was plastered across every front page.

Headlines such as "£5 Million, But Just to Stay in the First Division? City’s Lack of Courage" became the dominant narrative.

Despite the attention-grabbing headlines, Richard quickly realized that the news about City only lasted for about three days, as the stories were soon overshadowed by other headlines—mostly revolving around Premier League clubs.

Richard sighed at this.

In Britain, specialized sports media are scarce, and even when they do exist, they tend to be small, underdeveloped outlets. Most media are general newspapers with a dedicated sports section.

As a result, not every football event makes the headlines—only the stories that catch the eye of the paparazzi. So, rather than focusing on City, most media were actually more interested in Richard himself—or more precisely, in the newly opened St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

"Congratulations, Richard."

That evening, the ballroom of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London was alive with flashing lights and an electric atmosphere.

As one of the city’s most historically significant venues—now owned by a local for the first time—there was a palpable sense of curiosity about the night’s events.

Richard was lounging on the sofa, sipping his orange juice and soaking in the ambiance when a greeting suddenly snapped his attention to the side. He looked toward the person approaching, surprised.

"I thought you weren’t coming," Richard said, standing up immediately and shaking hands with the Russian heavyweight, Roman Abramovich.

"Actually, I was too busy to come, but you know..." Abramovich sighed, then pointed in the direction where Richard could see Marina Granovskaia and her sister engaged in conversation.

Richard was surprised by this. He had never known this guy had this side to him.

’Wait a minute... don’t tell me she was actually...?!’

"This is a good hotel," suddenly said Abramovich, interrupting Richard’s thoughts.

He had already arrived at the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London earlier that morning. As he walked through the halls, he marveled at the perfect blend of Victorian Gothic elegance and luxury. He was pleasantly surprised by how the hotel’s historical charm seamlessly merged with contemporary comforts.

The dramatic red-brick façade, with its intricate Gothic details, immediately stood out, while the grand interiors were a testament to the lavish design of Victorian-era elements. Not to mention the ornate arches, towering spires, and beautifully crafted stonework.

"Of course, it’s a good hotel," Richard said, clearly proud of it.

After all, he didn’t spare any expense, investing 4 million pounds just to renovate the building and replace all the hotel furnishings with new, high-quality ones.

The entire hotel industry—especially the luxury segment—remains vast, and numerous luxury hotel brands are expected to enter the London market in the coming years.

If one were to rank the top luxury hotels in London, it would quickly become clear that those leading the list are typically housed in classic British buildings steeped in history. These hotels are consistently the most popular among wealthy travelers.

And it’s no surprise—guests who can afford luxury accommodations often seek to immerse themselves in the classical British aristocratic experience when visiting London.

Modern hotels exist everywhere, but living like an aristocrat? Like in the colonial days?

’I’m afraid that kind of aristocratic VIP experience is simply irresistible—even for the ultra-rich.’

In the end, luxury is all about storytelling.

Speaking of stories,

Harry Potter

was quietly in its final stages of editing under the careful eye of Miss Joanne.

When she finally said the manuscript was ready, Richard had already been considering the idea of acquiring a publishing house—just to ensure the release would go exactly as envisioned.

’Or maybe,’

he thought to himself,

’I should start buying one now.’

Nonetheless, whether offering an aristocratic VIP experience or giving guests a glimpse of the next literary phenomenon, Richard knew that staying at his St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel wasn’t just about luxury—it was about enjoying an authentic taste of British nobility and living the dream.