Chapter 309: Semi-Final

The FA Cup victory over Blackburn catapulted Manchester City from their rough patch straight into the semi-finals, where they would face Middlesbrough — who had unexpectedly eliminated heavyweight Manchester United.

With this result, the FA Cup semi-final matchups were set: Manchester City vs. Middlesbrough, and Chelsea vs. the underdog Chesterfield.

Over the next three weeks, City rallied with a solid 2–1 win away at Leicester, followed by a convincing 3–1 victory over Derby County. At last, City got their revenge—Derby had crushed their hopes in the First Division title race last season after City were hit with a points deduction.

After three consecutive wins, Manchester City faced Stockport County in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final—and delivered a commanding performance, putting three unanswered goals past them.

Jay-Jay Okocha scored twice, while the third was added by Henrik Larsson.

In their next match, City returned to Premier League action for Matchday 34, facing Bolton Wanderers.

Once again, they kept their momentum going with a convincing performance, securing another important win to stay firmly in the top-four race.

Thanks to this result, City all but sealed Bolton’s fate.

With just 29 points and sitting at the bottom of the table,Bolton’s relegation seemed inevitable.

After the Bolton Wanderers match, the 1996/1997 season entered its final two months—every point now crucial as the race for promotion and the battle to avoid relegation intensified.

As for Manchester City, their focus had already shifted toward preparing for next season’s European campaign and, of course, the ongoing domestic cup competitions.

Three days later, Manchester City rotated their squad once again, fielding their second-strongest lineup to face Stockport County in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final.

With a comfortable lead from the first leg, City focused on managing the game while keeping key players fresh for the busy schedule ahead.

Full time: Manchester city 1 -0 Stockport County

Both the FA Cup and League Cup had reached the semifinal stage, and Richard was determined to chase silverware on both fronts.

Richard sat down across from Martin O’Neill and Robertson in the small meeting room just off the training ground. The air was tense but calm. After a moment of silence, he leaned forward slightly.

"Look, Martin, we’ve done well to steady things this season. But we’ve got a real shot here. Two semifinals—it’s not every year you get that. The league is what it is, but I want us to really push for something tangible. A trophy would change the mood around this club. It’d lift the dressing room, lift the fans—hell, even the club."

He glanced at Robertson, then back to O’Neill.

"Let’s not overcomplicate it. Get the boys sharp, keep the energy right, and go for it. We’ve come too far to treat these cups like an afterthought."

As the season edged into May, City maintained their momentum with another dominant performance—this time delivering a resounding win that pushed Nottingham Forest even deeper into the relegation zone.

Once a proud and formidable force in English football, Forest had become the ultimate underdog, struggling week after week. By this point, their fate was all but sealed.

Bottom of the table and out of answers, their relegation was no longer a question of if, but when.

Manchester City managed to leapfrog Liverpool once again in the league table, climbing into third place. This came after Liverpool were held to yet another frustrating draw—this time against Arsenal—dropping valuable points in the race for the top four.

Richard clenched his fist in triumph as the final results came in—Manchester City had secured a top-four finish, guaranteeing their place in next season’s European competition.

He thought the atmosphere would be filled with joy after City’s impressive results. But unexpectedly, tension hung over Maine Road. The club was on the brink of something historic—and everyone could feel it.

The mood during training had shifted. Normally, the players trained with intensity under the coaches’ watchful eyes, occasionally cracking jokes to ease the pressure. But now, as the League Cup final loomed, a strange silence had settled in. The banter was gone. Focus had taken its place. Every movement, every drill, carried weight.

It felt like the calm before a storm.

"Never mind,"

Richard thought to himself.

This could be Manchester City’s first major trophy in over a decade—and the first under his ownership. No matter what happened next, it was already a milestone moment.

One he knew would be remembered—especially by the fans. In fact, Manchester City’s achievements this season had already sent the Cityzens into a state of euphoria. Just the thought of competing in the Premier League again was enough to stir pride, but now, they were chasing something even greater.

A top-four finish secured.

The FA Cup final on the horizon.

And the League Cup within reach.

"Hey, kid! That’s dangerous!"

"Hey kid, that’s dangerous!"

Especially early morning the next day when Richard arrived at Maine Road. As his car rolled past the gates, something unusual caught his eye—a small child clinging to the wire mesh, staring up at the towering stadium with full concentration.

The child was so focused that he didn’t even notice the approaching security guard—or Richard himself, who had already taken an interest and stepped out of the car with his bodyguard.

It wasn’t until the sunlight around him dimmed that the child finally looked up, confused.

The sky was still blue, the clouds still white. The weather hadn’t changed.

What had blocked the light was the figure of the security guard, now standing directly in front of him with a deliberately stern expression and a gruff voice.

"Hey, kid! You know this is a restricted area, right? For trespassing like this, I should have you arrested!"

Richard, watching a few steps away, couldn’t help but find the situation amusing. He had spotted the chld climbing the fence earlier when his car passed by, which was why he had told his driver to pull over.

To his surprise, the child didn’t flinch.

With a calm expression, the kid shot back, "Hey, are you trying to make headlines in

The Sun

for threatening a small child?"

Richard, who had been holding back, suddenly burst out laughing. Loud and genuine, his laughter echoed across the entrance. The more he thought about the chuld’s cheeky reply, the harder he laughed.

The security guard turned around in shock. When he saw that it was Richard laughing, his face immediately changed. He quickly covered his mouth. "Sorry, sir. I—I didn’t know..."

Richard waved it off casually, still smiling. "Don’t worry about it."

Then he turned his attention back to the child with a playful grin. "Ahem. Alright, kid. Tell me—what are you doing here? Who’s your dad? Shouldn’t you be in school right now? Skipping class isn’t good. I might have your dad give you a spanking when you get home."

"..."

There was a sudden silence that made both Richard and the security guard pause in confusion. The child said nothing—but slowly, he raised his hand and pointed at something behind Richard.

Richard furrowed his brow, curious. He turned around to see what had caught the child’s attention.

And then he understood.

Coming through the back entrance usually reserved for players was none other than Ronaldo, just stepping out of a black car. Walking beside him was Rio Ferdinand.

Today, the two had arrived at Maine Road together, having grown noticeably closer in recent months. What began as casual conversations in the dressing room had deepened into a genuine friendship—fueled, in part, by their shared off-pitch adventures. After a few nights out clubbing together, they discovered they clicked easily.

"Bernard! Bernard!"

A voice rang out from the far end of the lot, filled with a mix of worry and frustration. The small child flinched slightly at the sound, then slowly turned his head.

From the direction of the main gates, a man in his forties came hurrying toward them. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his jacket was hastily thrown on, as if he’d left the house in a rush.

"Dad? I’m here!" the child called out.

The man’s face lit up when he spotted his son near the fence—then quickly darkened as he realized where exactly the child was. "Bernard! What on earth are you doing here?! I told you to wait by the gate!"

Richard raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. The security guard shifted slightly, stepping back as the father approached, breathing heavily.

"I’m so sorry," the man said, now directing his apology to Richard. "He slipped away from me while I was parking. Said he just wanted to see the stadium up close—I had no idea he’d try to climb the fence."

Richard chuckled and waved it off. "No harm done. He’s got spirit—and, apparently, perfect timing." He nodded toward Ronaldo, who was still chatting casually with Rio nearby. "He was waiting for his hero."

Bernard’s father sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah... that sounds exactly like him."

Richard didn’t respond right away. Instead, he crouched down slowly until his eyes were level with the boy’s. With a small smile, he asked, "So... which one do you like—the bald one or the one with the curly hair?"

The boy puffed out his chest proudly and answered without hesitation, "Of course

him

!"

He pointed straight at Ronaldo.

His father quickly scolded him for being rude, but Richard just laughed, clearly amused. "No worries," he said. Then, curious, he asked gently, "What do you like about him? Why not the other one?"

The boy’s eyes lit up. "He’s really strong!" he said excitedly, flexing his tiny arm like a muscleman. "And—and he can run past

lots

of people, all at once! Like

whoosh!

"

He even made a swishing sound as he waved his arm, mimicking Ronaldo’s signature dribble.

Richard burst into laughter before gently patting the child on the head. Then he gestured to one of his bodyguards before heading into the stadium, offering a quick farewell to the boy and his father as he went.