Chapter 298: Ferguson vs. Keegan rivalry

When it comes to handling serious matters, Adam Lewis has always been sharp, decisive, and efficient.

Take the gold digger scandal, for instance.

The moment the issue exploded in public and became the talk of the city, he didn’t hesitate—he immediately filed lawsuits against both the Chorlton Hotel and Stephanie, the woman at the center of the controversy.

Even with the chaos following Manchester City’s match against West Ham, and with Richard himself caught in the whirlwind of club affairs, the legal wheels were already in motion. It’s estimated that the case will unfold over the next 30 days from the moment Richard officially filed the lawsuit against the involved parties.

The British paparazzi followed closely, ultimately catching up with Richard and his lawyer as they entered the local courthouse. They waited outside, and some even disguised themselves to sneak in and gather information.

After about half an hour, Richard emerged first, avoiding interviews and driving straight home.

Lewis, then as his lawyer made a brief statement upon exiting: "I have filed a defamation lawsuit against Ms. Stephanie and the Chorlton Hotel on behalf of my client, Mr. Richard Maddox. We have also sought a restraining order. We have sufficient evidence to show that both parties have severely disrupted my client’s normal life."

The paparazzi bombarded him with questions, but Lewis said no more. Everyone wanted to know what the evidence was. However, the materials had already been submitted to the court.

Later, the evidence was made public—but no one knew who leaked it.

Richard’s phone recordings and the "raunchy photos" the gold digger had sent him were plastered across the tabloids.

As the truth behind the incident unraveled, surveillance footage from the Chorlton Hotel was released. It showed that Miss Gold Digger did arrive at the hotel that night and had a conversation with the staff, but Richard was never there. The ten men found in the suite admitted they were waiting for her arrival and honestly stated that they had never seen Richard in person.

With this, it became clear: the other party had intended to tarnish Richard’s reputation to raise her own profile—and she succeeded. Her name became almost instantly recognized as the girl who could handle ten men alone.

The Chorlton Hotel, eager to distance itself from the scandal, quickly released an official statement:

"We would like to clarify that the Chorlton Hotel had no direct involvement in the incident currently under investigation. Our establishment strictly upholds guest privacy and operates under a code of professional conduct. Any misuse of our facilities by third parties was done without our knowledge or consent. We are fully cooperating with legal authorities and will assist in any way necessary to support the ongoing case."

Despite their statement, public opinion remained skeptical. The fact that such an incident occurred under their roof had already tarnished their image, and many questioned whether the hotel had turned a blind eye to the situation.

Behind closed doors, Richard and Adam Lewis weren’t convinced either.

In fact, Richard didn’t even care. While the hotel tried to wash its hands of the issue, he had already instructed Lewis to manipulate media narratives and drive the hotel’s valuation as low as possible.

Media leaks or smear campaigns were never openly acknowledged as tactics—but they were certainly whispered about.

The following day, the Chorlton Hotel and Miss Gold Digger contacted Richard’s camp through their lawyer, hoping for a private settlement in which Richard would withdraw his lawsuit in exchange for her promise not to interfere with him again. However, Richard showed no mercy and flatly rejected the offer.

Journalists were eager for more details—and Richard gave them exactly what they wanted.

In front of Maine Road, the moment Richard arrived, he raised his hands to calm the media and responded impatiently: "I will say this only once: She wants to make money, and I won’t give it to her for free. So I gave her a chance to earn money, hoping she would do the right thing and stop bothering me. But she chose to slander my reputation, so I had to seek legal remedies. That’s the whole story. From now on, I refuse to answer any more questions unrelated to Manchester City."

With that, he left the gate, while the reporters were blocked by security at Maine Road.

During a long league season, unforeseen circumstances often collided to create significant problems—especially after Boxing Day.

Thanks to the gold digger issue, Richard had to go back and forth to the courthouse and was unable to fully monitor Manchester City’s progress in the league.

Gallas was sent off in the last match at Elland Road for elbowing an opponent during a challenge for the ball. Van Bommel was suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. Henry injured his knee during a fall—he was okay, but needed a three-week break. Meanwhile, Neil Lennon felt discomfort in his thigh during training today, and the doctor recommended ten days of rest.

By the end of January, after Round 21, Manchester City had recorded 15 wins, 1 loss, and 5 draws, collecting 55 points and sitting fourth in the league table—after Liverpool managed to overtake them and reclaim third place.

City remained unbeaten in the league after their loss to Manchester United, but their performances were inconsistent. One week, they would pull off a stunning victory against a strong opponent; the next, they might settle for a lackluster draw.

Since O’Neill took the helm at City, his decision to field the strongest squad in cup matches—regardless of the opponent—stood out.

Combined with the unpredictable nature of their league form, shifting tactical demands, and varying match conditions, this approach shaped City’s current results. To be honest, Richard was already quite satisfied with how things were going. However, he had already decided to focus City’s efforts on the League Cup!

Rather than ending the season without a trophy, he figured it was better to go all in on the one they still had a real shot at.

After January ended, it could be said that this season’s Premier League title race was once again between Manchester United and Newcastle, as both teams had clearly pulled ahead in terms of development and form.

In ten or twenty years, the name

Newcastle United

might not carry the same weight—it may even fade into obscurity, even among Premier League faithful. But right now, in this moment, there’s something almost magical about this Newcastle team. It’s like Hollywood relocated to Tyneside.

Even City’s coaching staff—and perhaps O’Neill himself—had, maybe without realizing it, begun to view Newcastle as the bigger threat. More formidable, even, than Manchester United.

That’s because in the next League Cup, Manchester City will face Newcastle United!

"Did you see what Keegan said about us?" O’Neill muttered, his brow furrowed.

Richard waved his hand dismissively, clearly unconcerned. "It’s all about the media. Kevin Keegan had a brilliant playing career—surrounded by applause and admiration. He can’t stand being questioned. Put yourself in Keegan’s shoes. How would you respond to those comments? He was used to being celebrated at every turn, never doubted. But now, he’s in the managerial world, and suddenly, the spotlight feels very different."

O’Neill frowned. "But that old Scot’s starting to lose his edge. It’s one thing to take shots at United—but now he’s aiming at us too. That’s not like him. Feels off."

"I’ll be honest. In the Premier League, Ferguson has his share of enemies, but every one of them still craves his respect. Keegan might act like he’s standing tall against Ferguson, but deep down, what he really wants is recognition. He wants Ferguson to say Newcastle is a serious team—and that Keegan’s doing a phenomenal job. That’s what he’s chasing. Because Ferguson isn’t just a rival; he’s the mountain looming over every other manager in this league."

Hearing this, O’Neill nodded.

Richard chuckled. "But don’t underestimate the psychology. Keegan’s not just battling teams on the pitch—he’s fighting for relevance, for respect, for a place at the top table. And Ferguson? He’s the one who decides who gets a seat."

Hearing this, O’Neill began to understand. He stroked his chin thoughtfully and murmured,"The more Keegan cares, the more he feels the need to prove himself—and that can hurt the team. If a manager loses his composure, it can lead to disaster."

Richard nodded. "Exactly. For any team with title ambitions, the real opponent is always themselves. Champions don’t worry about what others are doing—and they certainly don’t depend on their rivals making mistakes. It’s all a battle within. If you perform at your best, there’s no reason you won’t take the title. And if you fall short, it means you simply didn’t rise to the level of the eventual champions.

If a few words from Ferguson can shake Keegan this much, then the only thing he’s doing is pulling focus away from Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Manchester United? They just need to focus on beating themselves—on surpassing their own limits."

Richard then leaned forward, curiosity lighting his eyes. "Speaking of which, we face Newcastle this weekend. What would you do?"

Beyond the upcoming challenge against Aston Villa, Manchester City would also face Newcastle United in the League Cup quarter-finals next week. If they managed to defeat them—with all of City’s key players available—Richard believed they would have an 80% chance of reaching the League Cup final at Wembley in early March.

O’Neill, brimming with confidence, replied, "I have a general strategy in mind. Newcastle is known for their flashy offensive style, so we’ll greet them with a solid defense."

Hearing O’Neill’s conviction, Richard was satisfied. He shifted the topic and turned to lighter conversation.