Football Dynasty

Barcelona vs Manchester City

AS Monaco vs Manchester United

Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid

Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund

The quarter-final between German clubs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund marked the first meeting of two teams from the same country in the Champions League (including the European Cup era, the first game between teams from the same country occurred in 1958–59). With Bayer Leverkusen also having qualified, it marked the first time three clubs from the same nation played in the knockout phase.

Major media outlets from across Europe flocked to cover the event, tracking every movement and word from both teams in the build-up to the clash.

At the heart of the anticipation was the duel everyone had been waiting for: Rivaldo versus Ronaldo.

Both were Brazilian. Same nationality. Same language. Same samba heartbeat. But tonight, they stood as rivals, each determined to prove he was Brazil's true heir on the European stage. Both carried the hopes of a football-mad nation that had produced some of the greatest players in history. Yet their paths, though rooted in the same soil, had diverged.

Additionally, the match would feature a clash of experienced players from both sides.

More than a hundred journalists from across the world were present.

Amidst the orderly control of the press officers, O'Neill began by expressing his respect for Sir Bobby Robson before the questions started.

At first, the mainstream European media kept their inquiries conventional—asking about the team's form, possible starting lineups, and tactical approaches.

But as the press conference neared its end, the atmosphere grew sharper. It quickly turned into a verbal sparring match between Martin O'Neill and the reporters. Unsurprisingly, Barcelona's leading sports dailies, Marca and Sport, led the charge with particularly pointed questions.

One journalist stood up, his tone dripping with provocation:

"Last month, Barcelona submitted a bid for Ronaldo, only to be rejected. They then turned their attention to Rivaldo instead. And look at him now—already among La Liga's top scorers and the leading assist provider. If you had chosen to let Ronaldo go instead, perhaps things would have turned out differently. Do you still stand by your statement that Ronaldo is untouchable—that you'd rather keep him at all costs?"

The room fell silent; every reporter understood—this was showtime.

'What kind of question is that?' O'Neill thought.

After a brief pause, he replied coolly, "Yes, I still stand by it."

A journalist immediately shot back, "Don't you think that's just ridiculous stubbornness—deceiving yourself?"

Hearing this, O'Neill was momentarily speechless.

"What exactly do you want me to say? Yes, Rivaldo is the second-highest scorer in La Liga and also leads in assists—but do you think Ronaldo isn't just as good? He's the top scorer in the Premier League! Did you not do your homework before coming here to ask that question?"

"Is there really any comparison between the Premier League and La Liga? Yes, Ronaldo can score, but he's not the complete team player that Rivaldo is. Moreover, if City were competing in Spain, they'd probably already be struggling against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, and Deportivo—"

"Stop, stop, stop." O'Neill cut him off sharply, his voice carrying over the room. "If that's how you're thinking, then let's see Barcelona come and play in the Premier League. Honestly, this is a ridiculous debate. I've never denied Rivaldo's season has been impressive—just as Ronaldo's has. But let me remind you of something: a player's true value isn't measured only by their individual ability. It's about how they elevate the entire team, how they drive it toward honors. If we reduce everything to personal stats, then what's the point of having a team at all? Where's the sense of collective pride, of fighting for something greater than yourself?"

"While everyone here is busy praising Rivaldo, have you stopped to consider the value of those who support him? Figo, Giovanni, De la Peña, Enrique, Guardiola—the list goes on. Are they merely there to serve Rivaldo? If that's the case, then I'd be disappointed in Barcelona's football philosophy. But the truth is, that's not the case at all. Rivaldo's brilliance is built on the strength of the Barcelona team around him—just as Ronaldo's is built on the strength of ours. Football is not about individual glory; it's about a collective effort for victory. So when you highlight Rivaldo's contributions, don't forget to give equal respect to the teammates who make it possible."

As Rivaldo made his journey from Brazil to European football, few clubs across the continent failed to notice his talent. Even during his time in the Netherlands, he had already turned heads, but now, at Barcelona, it could be said he had truly stepped onto the global stage.

O'Neill, viewing things from an outsider's perspective, was well aware of Rivaldo's skill and quality. Yet he also knew one thing: Richard was a devoted admirer of Rivaldo.

Richard often spoke of a dream project he wanted to realize—something he had long yearned for but had never been able to bring to life

"That's it, guys, for today," O'Neill finally said, wrapping up the session.

Richard, who had been sitting quietly in the back, also stood and left the press conference.

The day before the game, when he arrived in Barcelona, Spain, Richard was already prepared to attend the press conference—to observe how things would unfold. In fact, one could say he had anticipated such a heated verbal confrontation.

And why was that? Because compared to Barcelona, Manchester City's history in European competition was relatively modest.

Their most significant achievement came in 1970, when they won the European Cup Winners' Cup by defeating Górnik Zabrze of Poland 2–1 in Vienna. This was City's first—and only—major European trophy before the modern Champions League era.

In the years that followed, City's appearances in Europe were sporadic and often short-lived. Unlike Liverpool, Manchester United, or even Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, City struggled to establish themselves as a consistent force outside of England.

By the 1980s and early 1990s, the club had slipped into domestic decline, spending much of that period outside the top flight. This absence from the top tier meant they were missing from European competition entirely, while their rivals continued to thrive.

This is why, for Richard, 1997 felt different. Manchester City's return to the European spotlight.

Walking toward the VIP box, Richard picked up his phone and dialed Marina.

"How many finally made it to Spain?" he asked.

There was a brief pause on the other end as Marina Granovskaia checked her notes. Then she replied, "Out of the 12,000 you originally planned for, about 4,000 actually came, Richard."

Richard closed his eyes for a moment.

Four thousand. He could already picture it—the sky-blue banners unfurling, the chants of Blue Moon echoing defiantly inside a stadium painted in red and blue. They wouldn't outnumber the 80,000 Catalans, but they didn't need to. What mattered was that the players would know that, in that hostile arena, they weren't alone.

"Also..."

Richard opened his eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"No, it's just... the Harry Potter manuscript you told me to keep an eye on—it's already getting results from Bloomsbury. They finalized it this morning."

Richard's eyes instantly lit up.

For the past five years, Rowling had worked tirelessly on the story of a young boy who discovers he's a wizard, gradually shaping the seven-book arc she had envisioned. By 1995, she had completed the manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but faced a long series of rejections from publishers.

It was only after meeting Richard—who did something Rowling would remain deeply grateful for, as he supported her selflessly—that her fortunes began to change.

When the book was finally published, the first edition was extremely modest: just 500 copies in total. Of these, 300 were distributed to libraries, while 200 made their way into bookshops.

However, what Richard never expected came next.

"Yeah," Marina remarked with a small smile, "also the book has already won its first award."

"...Award?"

"Yes. The Nestlé Smarties Book Prize—a major British children's book award."

"..."

The Nestlé Smarties Book Prize was one of the major British awards for children's literature.

"I understand," Richard said with a satisfied smile before finally reaching the VIP box and settling into his seat.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stadium, Mourinho had already made his way toward the Barcelona dressing room. He stood quietly in front of the door, arms folded, waiting.

Before moving to City, Mourinho had served as Robson's translator and unofficial assistant, with one of his key responsibilities being to gather intelligence. That experience meant he understood Barcelona better than anyone else on City's bench.

Especially now, to be fair, thanks to the recent El Clásico. Barcelona hadn't had much time to prepare. Besides, as proud giants, they typically focused on asserting their own style of play, never allowing opponents to dictate the flow of the match. Most top clubs preferred to stand firm in their identity and control the game on their own terms.

After greeting his old friend, Mourinho quickly made his way toward Manchester City's dressing room.

The atmosphere inside was heavy with tension.

After Cruyff's departure, Robson took charge of Barcelona and shifted the team's shape from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2.

On this night, his plan was clear: the formation had been fine-tuned to counter Manchester City, with Albert Celades López anchoring midfield as a shield in front of the defense. This not only strengthened Barcelona's backbone but also freed Guardiola to dictate the tempo with greater authority.

The lineup glittered with youthful talent. Rivaldo, as Mourinho had often stressed, was the undisputed star of the season—but even he would not have reached such heights without the quality around him.

Behind him, Luís Figo was blossoming into a world-class winger, bringing both flair and creativity in abundance. Alongside him stood Luis Enrique, once a key figure at Real Madrid, now reborn in blaugrana after a bitter contract dispute across the divide.

Tireless, versatile, and endlessly committed, Enrique epitomized the kind of player coaches cherished: unglamorous perhaps, but indispensable. His pressing, link-up play, and willingness to cover ground bound the team together. Without that falling out in Madrid, Barcelona might never have gained such a priceless asset.

In the attacking midfield role was Iván de la Peña, who would gain even greater recognition in the years ahead. At this time, he was regarded as Spain's golden boy alongside Raúl, a playmaker of sublime vision and passing ability. Ronaldo's remarkable scoring tally this season owed much to De la Peña's artistry.

Then there was Guardiola—the heartbeat of the team, seamlessly linking defense and attack with intelligence and authority. Barcelona's defenders, too, were no pushovers; at a club of this stature, every player possessed not only ability but also character.

On the bench, names like Pizzi, Giovanni, Stoichkov, and Blanc provided further evidence of the depth and quality Robson had at his disposal.

On pure team quality, Barcelona's attacking firepower was unmatched, For that reason, many believed Barcelona held the upper hand.

But Mourinho clung to a concept he had once heard emphasized: individual brilliance.

Barcelona's cohesion and talent as a collective surpassed City's, but when it came to raw individual skill, he was convinced his side held the advantage.

Barcelona functioned well as a unit, yet they had not reached an extraordinary level when balancing attack and defense. Rivaldo and Figo offered little defensively, while De la Peña's work rate without the ball was almost negligible.

It was no surprise, then, that although Barcelona's attack had outshone Real Madrid's this season, their defensive record remained the weakest among La Liga's top four clubs.

And this was precisely where Mourinho planned to strike—exploiting Barcelona's fragility.