Chapter 471: Attending the Group Stage Draw

Richard pulled out Antonio Pintus’s application.

The Italian fitness coach proved to be quite meticulous; his résumé clearly laid out his career journey:

Fitness Coach / ASD Calcio Settimo / 1986Fitness Coach / Juventus / 1991

It also stated that he currently lacked a formal English coaching license but was eager to obtain one as soon as possible—at least aiming for a basic qualification to meet league requirements. He believed that his extensive experience in fitness and conditioning could bring valuable benefits to Manchester City.

Pintus’s name would later become well-known among professionals in European football. Who doesn’t know Real Madrid’s legendary fitness coach Antonio Pintus—loved and feared at the same time?

In the future, he would work with top clubs in Italy, Spain, France, and England, helping players reach peak physical performance. In fact, his meticulous methods at Real Madrid would be so effective that they’d be compared to NASA’s own standards for precision—so much so that he even collaborated with the space agency as it prepared for new lunar missions.

"Hmmm..."

As Richard reviewed Pintus’s application, he weighed the pros and cons carefully.

The downside was clear: Pintus was not a traditional coach. His background lay in athletic preparation rather than tactics or team management. If Richard hired him, Pintus would need to work closely with the existing coaching staff to align his methods with City’s football philosophy.

Moreover, a coach who is both loved and feared means one thing—some players can endure his demanding training methods, but others simply cannot.

On the other hand, the advantages were substantial. First, Pintus’s reputation for discipline and scientific training methods could greatly enhance City’s overall fitness standards. Secondly, his experience with Juventus would bring a level of professionalism rarely seen at English clubs.

After the 1998 World Cup, Pintus—perhaps seeking a new challenge outside Italy after helping Juventus win multiple trophies back-to-back and breaking AC Milan’s dominance—decided to explore coaching opportunities in England.

Considering all this, Richard concluded that the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. There might be other candidates with more conventional coaching credentials, but Pintus offered something unique—an edge in physical preparation and professionalism.

With thet in mind he, instructed the HR department to withdraw the fitness coach posting and asked them to called Pintus and waiting fot it.

After finishing all his office work, Richard and O’Neill boarded his private jet the next day and flew straight to Monaco, France.

The agenda?

The 1998–99 UEFA Champions League group stage draw.

The group stage draw was a formal event, traditionally held in Monaco or Geneva, attended by club delegates, television crews, and UEFA officials. Club representatives—chairmen, directors, and secretaries—were usually present.

Owners sometimes attended as well, though not always; football was becoming increasingly commercialized, but not yet to the extent it would reach in later years. Richard was probably the only club owner willing to attend the event in person.

He thought so.

The draw is considered important for every participating club, as it often determines a team’s path — whether they face "easier" opponents or end up in a "group of death." Seeding and country protections play a key role in maintaining balance and fairness.

From a storytelling perspective, the draw creates drama — anticipation, surprises, and unexpected matchups. From a strategic standpoint, its outcome can influence a club’s budgeting, travel plans, and staffing decisions.

Before arriving at the ceremony, Richard had already done his homework.

The group stage for the 1998–99 season featured 24 teams divided into six groups of four. Seeding was based on national association rankings: for example, the title holders and the champions of the top-ranked associations were placed in Pot 1, and so on. (The official draw results and seeding lists are available in UEFA records.)

It didn’t take long for Richard’s private jet to reach Monaco.

Soon after landing, he and O’Neill headed straight to the Grimaldi Forum Convention Centre.

This was Richard’s first time attending since the previous year, when he had been preoccupied with his investments in America.

The moment he stepped into the ceremony, he could immediately feel the difference in how people treated him compared to the year before.

Last season, in this star-studded environment, O’Neill and Manchester City had been rookies—unknowns. No one had recognized them, and no one had bothered to acknowledge their presence.

This year, however, things were different. Many unfamiliar faces came over to greet O’Neill, and even a few sought out Richard himself, eager to connect with the young billionaire. Most of the conversations were polite small talk—pleasant but meaningless.

Just as they were looking for seats, Richard suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

Turning around, he was met with a warm smile — Arsenal’s David Dein.

"I didn’t know you were attending this year," Richard said.

"Not only me," Deinreplied. "I heard Martin’s here too."

"Martin Edwards?"

Richard’s mouth twitched. How lucky he had been last season — kicking United down to third place, ensuring that their famous 1998 treble would never happen.

But fate, it seemed, had a sense of irony.

Just when he thought the path to European glory was clear, the news came in: Croatia Zagreb had withdrawn from the Champions League.

The damn butterfly effect.

All participating clubs had been officially notified. The Croatian side’s request to play their home matches abroad had been denied by UEFA, forcing them to withdraw voluntarily on safety grounds.

Though the Croatian War of Independence had ended in 1995, by 1998 the Balkans were still tense — especially due to the Kosovo conflict — so travel and security issues for teams from the region were genuine UEFA concerns.

Officials whispered about emergency fixtures, possible replacements, and revised seedings. Some blamed bureaucracy, others politics. And then, as the day drew to a close, the decision was made.

Manchester United, the very team Richard had pushed out of the qualification zone, would take the vacant spot.

Richard exhaled sharply in resignation. Fate had blown the whistle again — and somehow, the game had restarted in United’s favor.

Dein nodded, then leaned closer and whispered, "It seems he’s seeking UEFA’s help with the MMC."

He was referring to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) — the UK regulator that intended to block Rupert Murdoch’s takeover of Manchester United, ruling that the deal would harm competition in broadcasting and football.

"Wait," Richard frowned, "the latest news said the deal had already been blocked?"

"You underestimate Murdoch’s influence," Dein said, shaking his head before continuing. "The takeover isn’t dead yet. The investigation’s still ongoing — the deal hasn’t been formally rejected."

"I see," Richard nodded.

Since UEFA required each participating club to send a delegation to the group-stage draw, Edwards’s presence in Monaco was expected protocol — a signal that it was business as usual despite the ongoing acquisition controversy.

Soon after, Richard nodded toward O’Neill before parting ways, following David Dein into a more private lounge area.

As they settled down to wait for the draw to begin, Richard recalled something he had heard earlier. He glanced at Dein and asked, "I heard you’ve had a bit of a disagreement with your manager?"

Though it was an internal matter, Richard couldn’t help his curiosity — he’d heard the rumor from Miss Heysen, though he wasn’t sure how she’d learned of it.

Dein gave a faint smirk. "You’re not trying to steal Wenger from us, are you?"

"And what reason would I have to suddenly fire Martin and replace him with him?"

Why would he suddenly want to replace a manager who had just led City to a European title with one who had been beaten twice by them in domestic competitions last season?

Though City’s recent results over the past few weeks had been disappointing enough to make Richard

consider

an early dismissal, he held himself back.

Hearing that, David Dein gave a reassuring look before sighing and leaning back in his seat.

"It’s about Arsenal playing our home Champions League matches at Wembley," he said at last, his tone weary. "Actually, Arsène doesn’t support the idea at all. He thinks moving our matches there would completely destroy our home advantage. He told me, ’For Arsenal, returning to the Champions League after so many years, giving up the familiarity of Highbury would be unwise.’"

Across the table, Richard nodded slowly. He understood Wenger’s reasoning perfectly.

Highbury might have been small — even old-fashioned compared to Wembley — but it was Arsenal’s fortress: a tight pitch, close stands, and an atmosphere that could suffocate visiting teams.

’Grandeur doesn’t win you points,’

Richard thought.

’Comfort does. Familiarity does.’

"Temptation’s easy," he said softly. "Wisdom’s harder. Wenger’s right — sometimes you have to protect what gives you strength, even if it looks smaller from the outside."

Dein chuckled. "Easy for you to say. Your team already got used to Wembley after the domestic cup final. For us, it’s different. Our home advantage might still exist, but the adjustment period will take time."

Richard only shrugged, not arguing further. Both men had valid points — and they both knew it.

"So, what are your ambitions for the new season?" Richard asked, smiling as he glanced at David Dein. "You did say Arsenal wasn’t ready to fight on two fronts — and honestly, who would consider them favorites in the Champions League?"

After years away from Europe’s top competition, Arsenal probably wouldn’t even crack the top ten favorites for the title.

Dein shrugged with an easy smile. "You can’t look at it that way. Arsenal wasn’t a favorite last year either."

And yet, despite their new manager and the transition that came with him, they had still managed to outplay Manchester United and snatch second place in the league. Dein’s confidence in Arsène Wenger this year was noticeably higher — and Richard could sense it.

Before he could reply, a soft knock came at the door.

Moments later, two more figures entered the lounge and took the seats beside them. Richard turned, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips as he recognized who they were.

Massimo Moratti, the president and principal owner of F.C. Internazionale Milano (Inter Milan).

And speaking of the devil... Martin Edwards, chairman of Manchester United.