Football Dynasty

At Old Trafford, after the referee blew the final whistle, the entire crowd rose to their feet in applause — a standing ovation that lasted for several long moments.

Perhaps Manchester United fans had expected a comfortable victory from start to finish, but the thrilling, rollercoaster nature of this match instead turned it into an unforgettable classic — one widely rated as the best game since the inception of the Premier League.

Years later, it remained a cornerstone of Premier League history, celebrated during both the 10th and 20th anniversary milestones — not only for its breathtaking drama and tactical depth, but for the extraordinary emergence of young stars from both Manchester United and Manchester City. It marked the dawn of a new era in English football.

On the pitch, as the adrenaline of battle began to fade, players from both sides moved toward each other — exhausted but respectful. Shirts were swapped, backs were patted, and mutual admiration passed quietly between warriors who had just shared an unforgettable fight.

Schmeichel made a beeline for Larsson. Though they came from different nations, both hailed from the north — two sons of Scandinavia who had left their mark on the game tonight. They laughed as they exchanged jerseys, sweat-soaked and grass-stained.

"Hey, you should come play for Manchester United," Schmeichel grinned. "You score, I'll save, and we'll win a mountain of trophies together."

It was bold, shameless, and vintage Schmeichel — but also sincere.

Larsson smiled but said nothing.

Not far away, Roy Keane sought out Zanetti. No words. No gestures. They exchanged jerseys, draped the other's over their shoulders, and shook hands — a firm, silent grip between men who understood what it meant to battle on the pitch for the full 90 minutes. A nod of respect. A parting glance.

Then they turned and walked away, still silent — the kind of silence that said everything.

Robertson and the rest of the City coaching staff also made their way over to shake hands with Ferguson and several familiar faces from City's past.

Solskjær, Phelan, McClaren, and Meulensteen—now on Ferguson's staff—had once worked closely with many of City's current coaches during their earlier stints in Manchester. Smiles and backslaps filled the brief exchange as memories of shared training grounds and past seasons bubbled up.

"What an unbelievable match, Andy! I've covered football for years, but this — this might be the most thrilling game I've ever had the privilege to commentate on. From the very first whistle to the final second, it was pure, relentless drama. A match that will be etched in memory for decades to come."

"This is the Premier League — our most beloved, most unpredictable spectacle. The pace, the intensity, the tactical sharpness — it was all on display. Nine goals, yet not a moment felt careless or chaotic. Every strike had meaning, every pass carried weight. Close your eyes and you can picture it: young players making their mark on football's grandest domestic stage. City's rising stars, fearless and fierce. United's next generation, proving they're worthy of carrying the club's legacy. Martin, we just witnessed a footballing feast. Few of these names are yet known across Europe — but after tonight, I have no doubt they will be."

"You're absolutely right. If I were to grade the players, most would be walking away with top marks. City may feel the sting of defeat, but let's be honest — the way they played, the rest of the Premier League has just been put on notice. And a word of thanks to both managers. This match wasn't just entertainment — it was a tactical chess match and a showcase of courage. For anyone who missed the live broadcast, you missed a classic. From the opening kick to the final whistle, this was football at its finest. Alright, viewers, that's the end of our live coverage of Manchester United versus Manchester City. See you at the next match!"

Robertson stood in the stands, feeling a twinge of guilt as the match concluded.

But this wasn't the time to dwell on regret. He turned to fulfill his promise of getting an autograph for a young Manchester City fan — only to see the boy's father already giving him a thumbs-up.

"Your team is remarkable."

Robertson offered a faint, noncommittal smile. Inside, the compliment felt like a double-edged sword.

"Your team is remarkable" — but at the end of the day, you still lost at Old Trafford.What it really meant was: You're good, but not good enough. So where does the blame fall? Naturally — the manager.

He let out a quiet sigh. Taking the colorful marker the young fan handed him, Robertson signed his name on the boy's cap, then smiled as he walked away.

At the very least, experiencing what it felt like to give an autograph wasn't a bad feeling.Perhaps the kid thought he was O'Neill — but it didn't matter.

When Richard stepped out of the VIP box with Marina and Miss Heysen, David Gill of Manchester United was already waiting.

The man had looked red-faced during the first half, but now his expression was absolutely glowing, his grin permanently stretched across his face.

"Richard, good match," he said, his tone half-teasing, half-serious.

Richard simply smiled as he shook Gill's hand. "Congratulations. United just secured an important three points in the title race."

Gill was briefly taken aback by the remark—then smiled.

Title race? Talking about a title race with City? Could City even be considered contenders in the title race?

Ha, only if they managed to replicate the feats of Nottingham Forest or Newcastle United—clubs that once challenged for the title right after promotion. But with City's current record of one win, one draw, and one loss? Sorry, that was a mediocre start at best.

If they couldn't take all three points from Manchester United, maybe—just maybe—they could still talk about being title contenders. But after a loss? How could they possibly claim to be in the title race?

Sure, City had outplayed United for a short spell—but when you play against United, football is a 90-minute game. And you never celebrate too early—not until the final whistle blows.

Seeing Gill's expression, Richard knew exactly what was going through his mind. He simply chuckled, choosing not to press the point any further.

"David, thanks for the hospitality. I'll make sure to return the favor at Maine Road."

David Gill returned Richard's handshake with a nod of acknowledgment. "Stop by my office first—I've got something I'd like to discuss."

Richard raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Alright. Just give me a minute."

Gill smiled faintly. "Take your time. I'll be waiting."

With that, Richard turned and walked away, Marina and Miss Heysen falling into step beside him. The atmosphere around Old Trafford still buzzed with the lingering energy of the match.

"We'll be waiting in the car," Marina said softly, giving Richard a quick nod. Miss Heysen nodded as well.

Richard acknowledged them with a brief nod of his own before turning back toward the stadium. Just outside the tunnel entrance, David Gill's secretary was already waiting for him.

As Richard disappeared back into Old Trafford, Marina and Miss Heysen exited through the private gate and slipped into the car waiting just outside.

While Richard headed to David Gill's office, Robertson — as the caretaker manager — still had to attend the post-match press conference.

The reporters could hardly contain themselves. Having witnessed the entire match, their minds were buzzing with questions and emotions still swirling in the aftermath.

It was time to stir things up between the two teams—to add fuel to the fire of the Premier League drama.

The championship contender, Premier League powerhouse, the giant Manchester United, had just faced off against the newly promoted, likely relegation-battling Manchester City—who had pushed United to the very edge.

United fell behind first, fought back, were overturned again, then equalized—before finally snatching the win.

The match wasn't just full of twists and turns—it was packed with passion. This was the Manchester Derby!

Ferguson was the first to appear, his expression calm and composed, as always. A reporter jumped in with the first question:

"Manchester United clearly lost control of the first half, going down by two goals. As the manager, what do you think went wrong?"

As expected, the media's questions were blunt, almost provocative.

Ferguson shrugged and chuckled.

"The reason is simple: this is the Premier League. Anyone who watched the match knows that neither team came out to 'test the waters.' In the first half, we had a few chances but weren't lucky. Manchester City is a strong team, full of young talent. They play at a very high tempo, and we struggled with that early on. But eventually, I realized—if we couldn't stop them, we just had to outscore them. In the end, we gave the fans a classic match."

"So, do you think Manchester City is a legitimate title contender this season?"

Ferguson nodded seriously.

"Of course. You tell me—when was the last time Manchester United conceded four goals at home?"

After Ferguson's interview ended, it was Robertson's turn.

"Mr. Robertson, earlier Mr. Ferguson stated that City is one of the championship contenders. Do you agree with his view?" A reporter from The Daily Mail raised his hand—and was allowed to go first.

Robertson didn't hesitate. "Absolutely not. City is still very young. Honestly, just avoiding relegation this season would already be a success."

He didn't want to paint a target on his team's back.

"But you scored four goals at Manchester United's home ground and nearly won the match—United were behind for a significant stretch," a reporter from The Sun then pressed.

Robertson shook his head. "If you get the chance to play here, you've got to seize the moment. I believe other teams like Newcastle, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Liverpool would also come to Old Trafford with zero motivation—yet still leave with their heads held high after a match like that."

The journalists exchanged glances and quietly cursed under their breath.

Both managers were clearly playing the game behind the words.

Ferguson wanted to put pressure on City—subtly pushing the narrative that they were contenders. Meanwhile, Robertson praised United, while at the same time warning other teams: breaking through Manchester United at Old Trafford was an honor, and they'd better be ready to fight for it—just like City had done today.