Soccer: I’m Building a Giant in the Premier League

Chapter 25 – Absolutely Ferocious!

"Goal!!!"

"My God, Bayswater Chinese FC have taken the lead against Chelsea!"

"Yes, you're not seeing things—Bayswater Chinese FC have scored!!"

"Ireland international Martin Rowlands, with a brilliant late run into the box, fires it home just over four minutes into the match to give the visitors the lead!"

"What a start!"

"From the opening whistle, we've seen Bayswater play with incredible initiative. They haven't parked the bus."

"That long ball from Huddlestone was exquisite, and Ribéry's dazzling individual display has made a real statement."

"According to the materials we received pre-match from Bayswater Chinese FC, 20-year-old Franck Ribéry used to play in France's third and fourth tiers."

"He joined the club on a free transfer."

"And this season, he's been one of League Two's standout performers."

…

"Are lower-league players always this strong now?"

On the Chelsea bench, Claudio Ranieri looked genuinely puzzled as he asked his assistant.

Welshman Gwyn Williams, who had been with Chelsea since 1979 and served under the likes of Gullit and Vialli, turned his head to look over at the opposing dugout—specifically at Yang Cheng.

They had just uncovered a "secret":

Bayswater Chinese FC's real head coach wasn't Brian Kidd—it was that young man.

"In the lower leagues, both teams and players vary wildly in quality. It all comes down to scouting vision."

Ranieri nodded.

Even with elite-level scouting, gems slip through the cracks.

Some of those talents wind up in the lower leagues, standing out head and shoulders above the rest.

But due to lack of media and data, they remain under the radar.

Even Ribéry.

Judging by that 1v1 against Melchiot, his confidence and footwork were clearly on another level.

Even in pro football, it's rare to see a player so willing and bold to take defenders on, and so calm doing it.

"They're going all in early, trying to seize momentum and rattle us," Williams observed.

Even after scoring, Bayswater didn't drop deep—they kept pressing.

Their back line pushed high.

"Not just that," Ranieri added, casting another glance toward Yang Cheng.

"That kid knows his weaknesses. His two center-backs aren't stand-your-ground types, so he's letting them roam and prioritizing attack."

Despite being a League Two side—and potential acquisition target—Ranieri had taken them seriously.

Chelsea scouts had been to watch them multiple times.

He knew about Koscielny and Johnson's flaws.

"So what do we do now?" asked Williams.

"Keep pushing. We have the overall quality. No need to take risks."

Ranieri still looked confident.

Sure, they were 1–0 down. But the game had only just started.

With Chelsea's power? Hold steady, and the visitors would fold eventually.

After all—this was Stamford Bridge.

…

In every competitive sport—from ping pong to football—momentum is everything.

It affects players' mentality, match rhythm, and the team's collective belief.

But Yang Cheng also knew that momentum is fleeting.

The ancient wisdom holds true: "Strike once with full force; a second attempt weakens; a third, you collapse."

After making a statement, you must consolidate the advantage.

Soon, Chelsea's players realized:

This was no ordinary team.

Exactly what made them different was hard to say—but they felt it.

Take Mutu, for instance.

At Chelsea, he had freedom to roam and drop deep—connecting midfield and attack.

In the 4-4-2-happy Premier League, he thrived.

Even Ferguson had fielded both Roy Keane and Phil Neville as a double pivot just to try and shut him down.

But it didn't work.

The only time he felt real pressure was at Highbury, against Arsenal's Gilberto Silva.

Now, playing against Bayswater, Mutu felt that pressure again.

From Tom Huddlestone.

He may not have Gilberto's timing, but Huddlestone was strong, imposing, and patrolled the zone in front of the back line relentlessly.

It was hard for Mutu to find space.

Ranieri instructed the team to stay composed, use their quality to control the match.

But in the middle third, space was scarce.

Especially in central areas.

So they were forced to play wide more often.

Gronkjaer, on the left, had some threatening moments.

But centrally, Hasselbaink was locked down by Koscielny and Johnson.

Bayswater's two advanced midfielders tracked back tirelessly.

Whenever Lampard pushed forward, or Mutu dropped deep, or Joe Cole received the ball—they'd collapse with Huddlestone to crowd him out.

At times, it looked like a triple pivot.

And when they won the ball back?

They countered fast.

Like in the 16th minute.

Lampard overlapped to receive from Mutu, but Huddlestone intercepted.

Modrić quickly flicked the ball to Rowlands.

The Irish international sent a long diagonal ball to the right.

Babayaro, caught out of position, left a gap that Devaney exploited.

Devaney miscontrolled slightly, but used his pace to recover and send in a low cross.

Gallas cleared at the near post. Terry beat Lambert to the header.

Still—it was clear:

Bayswater's transitions were fast. Their buildup was sharp.

This doesn't look like a League Two team…

Chelsea had completely underestimated them.

By the time Mutu and his teammates realized what they were up against, over 20 minutes had passed.

…

As his players fought on the pitch, Yang Cheng watched closely from the sidelines.

Defensively, they were solid.

Offensively, dangerous.

Ribéry's dribbling and Devaney's pace stretched both flanks.

Makélélé and Lampard couldn't push forward easily, knowing that doing so would leave them exposed.

With their midfield pinned back, Chelsea's attack lost rhythm.

Yang instructed Huddlestone to stick to Mutu like glue.

The result?

The connection between Chelsea's midfield and attack broke down.

They had to go wide.

Capaldi did a great job containing Joe Cole.

On the right, Jenkins had trouble with Gronkjaer—but his experience helped him hold his own.

Meanwhile, the center-backs neutralized Hasselbaink.

The Dutch striker, now 31, hadn't scored in over two months—in the league, cups, or even Europe.

Ranieri had likely started him hoping he'd find form against a League Two minnow.

Oops.

"Chelsea started too casually. We've disrupted their rhythm," Yang said.

"If we can score another before halftime, we can lock this in."

He walked to the touchline, shouting instructions.

Lambert—drop deeper to receive from Modrić and Rowlands.

Ribéry and Devaney—push up aggressively when the moment comes.

…

Time ticked on.

From the 20th minute, Chelsea began to regain control.

By the 33rd minute, their superior quality started showing.

Gronkjaer, in particular, was a constant threat on the left.

But Hasselbaink wasted multiple chances under pressure from the center-backs.

Chelsea continued to probe.

In the 34th minute, Joe Cole found a pocket and tried to feed Mutu.

But Huddlestone, with his long legs, slid in and broke it up.

Rowlands and Cole both challenged for the loose ball—neither won it cleanly.

Modrić pounced—just as Lampard arrived.

Modrić feinted right.

Lampard bit.

Then—a left-footed outside-boot touch split the space and sent the ball to Lambert.

Unmarked, Lambert turned calmly.

With Terry approaching, he delivered a quick diagonal pass to the left flank.

Ribéry took off.

Melchiot tried to catch up.

But Ribéry stopped suddenly, feinting an inside cut.

Melchiot hesitated.

Ribéry exploded down the line.

Gone.

The Frenchman blazed forward to the corner of the box.

Desailly arrived just in time.

But Ribéry threw in another fake—left, then sharply right.

Desailly lunged—

And Ribéry glided past.

The stadium gasped.

Explosive pace. Lightning direction change. Too much.

Makélélé rushed back to cover.

But Ribéry didn't dribble further. Instead, he slotted a pass across the top of the box—

Devaney, unnoticed, arrived in stride.

One touch. One shot.

GOAL!

2–0! Bayswater Chinese FC!

Stamford Bridge was stunned.

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