Football Dynasty

After their win against West Ham, Manchester City played with greater composure. Mourinho repeatedly called out instructions in the training to Makélélé, adjusting tactics throughout the match.

He clearly had a specific plan for him.

While Mourinho busied himself with tactical details, O'Neill relied on his words to inspire and motivate the players.

This was how O'Neill and Mourinho complemented each other—one commanding with speeches, the other with strategy. Mourinho had already proven himself a master of tactics.

Of course, there were times when they clashed, holding very different views.

O'Neill favored using a player like Pirlo—creative, with broad vision—to control the rhythm of the game and dictate the flow of attacks. Mourinho, on the other hand, preferred a midfield built around a destroyer, paired with a dynamic box-to-box player like Lampard.

For Mourinho, playmaking responsibilities should not come from a deep-lying regista. Instead, he believed creativity should flow either through the No. 10—someone like Lennon—or, in his system, Zidane was the ideal choice."

This season, having been elevated to a key starting role by O'Neill, Pirlo felt immense gratitude.

Thanks also to Richard's guidance, he learned how to mislead opponents in attack, how to use deep penetration and pressure to create space for late-arriving teammates, and how to neutralize fierce counterattacks from the opposition.

Next week, there were no league fixtures, as the schedule paused for the international break ahead of the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. With domestic football on hold, Sky Sports seized the moment, giving their pundits ample time to reflect on the Premier League season so far.

In the studio, the atmosphere was lively but analytical. Without the usual flurry of weekend matches to cover, the conversation shifted to trends, standout performers, and tactical evolutions that had defined the campaign up to this point.

And who are they discussing now?

Pirlo.

"Martin, City has been nurturing that Italian lad very carefully. At the start of the season, I said they were taking a gamble by using him—his style wasn't flashy, his defending was questionable, and his lack of pace was a real concern. Beyond his solid passing fundamentals, I couldn't see many standout qualities.

But during City's remarkable winning streak, he's matured quickly. Just look at him until now—Pirlo still dictates the rhythm with ease. I thought opponents would eventually figure him out, but with the coaches constantly guiding him from the sidelines, he approaches each match almost like it's a training session. His presence has made City's attack far more varied. Honestly, it's no exaggeration to say Pirlo has been orchestrating everything in City's offense so far."

Manchester City's 21-game winning streak not only shook the foundations of English football but also reverberated across the entire European continent.

The following day, The Times splashed the headline: "City: Unbroken Winning Streak in the Top Five Leagues!"

For context, the most fearsome winning record in European football was set by Benfica 25 years ago.

Within the top five leagues, the benchmark had stood for 35 years—Real Madrid's 15 consecutive wins.

Now, the little-known Manchester City had eclipsed that mark with 21 straight victories in the Premier League, immediately drawing continental attention.

To be honest, after their demolition of Manchester United, scouts from Europe's elite clubs began flocking to Maine Road, eager to see Manchester City's rising stars firsthand.

Why?

Because Manchester City had suddenly become the perfect launchpad for stardom.

With Ajax being stripped of players and losing several stars for free in the summer, European giants were circling hungrily.

The Bosman ruling had already thrown the transfer market into chaos, and FIFA began to discuss new regulations to control cross-border transfers.

Meanwhile, City looked terrifyingly stable. Richard's players had adapted to the Premier League, forged mental resilience under pressure, and thrived in high-stakes situations.

"Who will stop Manchester City?"

The Daily Star called on rival clubs to put an end to City's streak, warning that the title race could be over by February if they failed.

But when Tottenham trudged back to North London after a 1–4 thrashing at Maine Road, the headlines wrote themselves: A new league record had been born.

22 consecutive wins!

Richard, in the United States at the time, was ecstatic for his players. But before he could properly celebrate, new troubles emerged.

"AC Milan want Pirlo and Shevchenko!"

"Inter Milan are targeting Ronaldo!"

"Juventus…"

Italy's three northern giants had all set their sights on City's stars. Reports from Milan suggested AC Milan had already sent a formal invitation for transfers.

Massimo Moratti, who had taken over Inter just a year earlier, was especially determined. Learning that Richard spoke Italian, Moratti personally phoned him to discuss potential signings. But Richard flatly rejected his advances—having already entrusted negotiations to Marina Granovskaia, the iron lady he trusted completely.

Moratti was relentless. He wanted too many players—at one point even all members of City's attacking unit—as he sought to resurrect Inter and take advantage of AC Milan's declining dynasty.

Money was never the issue. His offers were sincere and direct. But Marina stood firm. She made it clear that City would not be selling.

AC Milan, on the other hand, received an even colder reception.

Before the League Cup kicked off midweek, O'Neill found himself bombarded with questions about transfer rumors at the pre-match press conference. Growing visibly impatient, he let the reporters finish before he finally leaned toward the microphone, his face calm and unreadable.

"Two and a half years ago, I remember the Italian press mocking us when we signed Materazzi and Zambrotta. We even went out of our way to recommend them to the Italian youth national teams. That wasn't our obligation, but we did it—for the development of Italian football, and with the hope that our players could proudly wear the national jersey, even if only at U-18 level. Yet, the Italian media ridiculed us.

And now? Some of their clubs want my players, treating us as if we're beggars? Sending olive branches through the press without the decency of a formal inquiry? You speak of glory, countless titles, of being a footballing giant. Ha! Our small club has only one answer: No."

The room erupted in shock. Camera flashes lit the hall as O'Neill stood coldly and walked out, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.

Every profession has its rules.

The president of Internazionale at least had the courtesy to call for private discussions. Even Luciano Moggi from Juventus, infamous for his backdoor dealings, had formally sent a fax before approaching agents. But AC Milan showed no respect whatsoever, boldly declaring through the media that Shevchenko, Larsson, and others "belonged" at San Siro—that playing for them would be the highest honor.

Other clubs—Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, even Barcelona—had made inquiries as well, but always with respect. Perhaps it was the lingering arrogance of the Milan dynasty, or perhaps they simply looked down on City. Either way, O'Neill and the others could not accept it."

Because if you don't play by the rules, there is no common ground. And for Manchester City, dignity will always matter more than money.

AC Milan's vice president, Adriano Galliani, understood the behind-the-scenes dynamics of Italian football better than most. He knew who pulled the strings, how to negotiate quietly through agents, and when to wait for the right moment to strike. But that didn't mean he fully grasped every nuance of the landscape—especially outside Italy.

This time, he had miscalculated.

Ordinarily, Galliani's method was meticulous. Before making any move, he would first investigate whether the player truly wished to leave. Then he would discreetly gauge whether the selling club had even the slightest willingness to negotiate. Only after confirming both did he examine the asking price.

If the number was too high, Galliani rarely forced the issue. His reputation in Milan's boardroom was built on patience and thrift—finding value where others overlooked it, striking clever deals rather than paying inflated sums. More often than not, he would simply walk away, waiting for the market to tilt in his favor.

But when the target was especially coveted, Galliani often resorted to a different tactic. He would bypass the club and go straight to the player, planting the idea of Milan in his mind. If the player's desire to wear the red-and-black grew strong enough, pressure would shift onto the selling club.

He genuinely wanted City players but he had forgotten—this was the post-Bosman era; players now had far more say in transfers!

Galliani regretted it. He hadn't expected such a "small" club to be so hard-headed. Yet his own underhanded tactics left him no choice but to try to mend relations with Manchester City through back channels.

The timing could not have been worse. Just a year earlier, AC Milan had been crowned Serie A champions. Now, the new season was turning into a disaster. The summer transfer operations, once hyped in the media, looked shambolic after only half a season.

The new organizational setup, with Óscar Tabárez installed as technical director, had completely misfired. Neither Jesper Blomqvist, Edgar Davids, Christophe Dugarry, nor Michael Reiziger managed to make an impact. Their performances, along with Milan's miserable record, left fans with little to praise. Most of these signings already looked destined to become fleeting visitors at the San Siro.

Things unraveled quickly. After a Supercoppa Italiana defeat against Fiorentina at home, followed by a humiliating 2–3 league loss at Piacenza, Tabárez was dismissed. The Rossoneri eventually limped to an 11th-place finish, saving their Serie A status by just six points—an unthinkable collapse for the reigning champions.

The disastrous campaign also marked the end of an era, as captain Franco Baresi retired. Milan, in tribute, retired his iconic #6 shirt.

In the aftermath, Galliani grew increasingly desperate. He still tried to repair relations with Manchester City, clinging to hopes of securing reinforcements in the winter transfer window.

But the answer from City was blunt.

Rejected.

It would be either a deal in the summer, or nothing at all.

Manchester City or Marina Granovskaia had given her ultimatum.