Football Dynasty

Pirlo was now focusing more on his defensive game during training, under the guidance of Mourinho, who instructed him to learn from Makélélé and Van Bommel.

From Makélélé, Pirlo learned the art of screening the defense—cutting passing lanes, holding his position, and resisting the temptation to chase the ball. Since pace and stamina were never his strengths, he instead concentrated on anticipation and interceptions, mastering the timing needed to step in front of opponents without relying on sheer physicality.

From Van Bommel, Pirlo absorbed a different lesson: how and when to impose himself. The Dutchman's aggressive style showed him the value of well-timed surges from midfield, vertical runs that could disrupt the opposition's shape and tilt the rhythm of the game in his team's favor.

Since then, in situations where City lost the ball, he gained greater confidence in defending. Defense had always been his weak point, and he knew he needed to enhance both his defensive capabilities and awareness.

Mourinho was surely helping him with this from a tactical perspective. Usually, at the start of every training session, he would sit with him individually, explaining the opponent's attacking traits and advising on which aspects he should focus when defending.

Today, Arsenal's attacking strategies were fresh in Pirlo's mind, and his previous defensive action was no mere coincidence. This experience was vital in sharpening his defensive awareness and adding to his valuable development.

In today's match, the Premier League announced a change in camera angles for TV football broadcasts—the first major update since Sky Sports secured broadcasting rights in 1992.

Back then, Sky introduced Steadicam shots, which brought more fluid and engaging visuals to football coverage, and also debuted the digital on-screen graphic (DOG)—the now-familiar scoreboard and clock overlay.

Traditionally, Premier League broadcasts relied heavily on close-up shots. But with the new changes, the live broadcasting crew has now incorporated wider angles into their coverage.

As part of this shift, six additional camera positions were installed around Maine Road Stadium, including units mounted at the top of the stands. Given that the stands at Maine Road weren't particularly high and the stadium's capacity was under 35,000, the setup made the ground feel noticeably smaller on screen.

From an aerial view, Maine Road Stadium looked rather odd, yet the live broadcast enriched the visuals significantly. With the wider shots, viewers could clearly follow the players' movements and runs, making the game's footage far more dynamic.

At the time, there was a greater emphasis on individual player abilities. Close-up shots could capture the intricate footwork of the players, but City played a more collective style. Their football aesthetics weren't evident in isolation, and the live broadcasters from the previous season had already struggled with City's fast-paced gameplay, as the cameras often failed to keep up.

Once the wide-angle shots began covering more of the field, however, City's style of football was revealed—and it left audiences astonished.

What did it look like?

It resembled a video game. The ball zipped quickly across the pitch, zigzagging from one side to the other in an instant. One moment it was on the left flank, the next it was on the right. Before you knew it, the ball moved from the backline, and after just a few swift passes, it was already in front of the opponent's goal.

At the heart of this orchestration was Pirlo.

Arsenal's veteran midfielder, Pratt, was beginning to lose his pace and could no longer handle Zidane on his own. This forced Vieira to drop deeper to provide defensive cover. Parlour, meanwhile, couldn't apply enough pressure on Pirlo—especially with Makélélé supporting him—while Bergkamp's limited defensive contribution allowed Pirlo to dictate play with ease.

On the flanks, Zanetti and Capdevila took turns pushing forward to assist in attack, making City's intricate passing game a constant threat to Arsenal's goal. True, they weren't quite Cafu and Roberto Carlos, but Zanetti's tireless overlaps combined with Capdevila's explosive runs provided plenty of eye-catching moments for the fans.

Especially Ronaldo and Larsson's off-the-ball movements nearly twisted the aging Arsenal defenders' waists.

Yet Arsenal didn't back down. Once they transitioned from defense to attack, they launched rapid counterattacks almost immediately. These breaks often began on the flanks; whenever an opening appeared, they wasted no time in playing a direct pass forward.

Their wing play relied heavily on Dixon and Winterburn, with Wright or Bergkamp providing support up front. More importantly, Wenger instructed his three central defenders to make overlapping runs.

Bould, Adams, and Keown would always have at least one of them pushing forward during the buildup, either to link up play or attempt a decisive strike. Time and again, you could spot one of them stepping into the attack.

But today, that tactic of pushing defenders forward met stiff resistance. In midfield, Pirlo's defensive role under O'Neill was simple: track the opposing center-back. If any of them advanced into midfield, he was to seize the chance to intercept the ball.

If there was any noticeable change in Arsenal since Wenger's arrival, aside from a stylistic shift, it was that their formation still remained old-school: 5-3-2.

Thus, the five key figures in Arsenal's backline were always central to the game. Wenger's tactical adjustments added flexibility, freeing the three central defenders to step into attack and making them far more dynamic.

Thanks to their chemistry, rotating forward runs came naturally. Once they advanced, their contributions varied—they could support the buildup, help organize attacks, or even go for goal themselves, all depending on the situation.

It must be said that Wenger's approach ignited Arsenal's passion, allowing their talents to flourish. In a way, it was clever; had he simply thrown Adams straight into midfield, the captain would likely have resisted the role change. Instead, starting Adams as a center-back and encouraging him to surge forward during attacks made the transition feel natural—and Adams embraced it without hesitation.

Thus, Arsenal's attacks often produced an unusual sight. Bergkamp was immaculate in possession up front, whether delivering short or long passes, on the ground or in the air. Whenever he received the ball, his touch and control were a masterclass. Yet, when Adams, Bould, or one of the other defenders pushed forward to join the attack, they occasionally fumbled even the simplest of short passes.

That vulnerability, combined with Pirlo's timely interceptions, allowed City to stifle Arsenal's attempts to use their center-backs as auxiliary attackers.

As a result, Arsenal gradually shifted their focus to the flanks. Bergkamp worked tirelessly—his technical ability unquestionable—but City's defenders were not fooled by his tricks. They didn't dive in rashly; instead, they slowed his rhythm, held their positions, and forced him into making decisions under pressure. Wright's pace up front alone wasn't enough to threaten City.

After three failed attempts to break through, Bergkamp tried to go it alone. He slipped past Capdevila, but Cannavaro was waiting. With ease, the Italian intercepted him and immediately launched a counter. He played the ball left to Pirlo, who controlled it with composure before sending a diagonal pass to the right, where Zanetti had broken free.

Zanetti met the ball first-time with a long, raking pass forward. Larsson, ghosting in from the box, rose to head it down toward the left side. Ronaldo, timing his run to perfection, surged onto the layoff, brushing past David Seaman. As the ball dropped, Ronaldo prepared to strike—only to be taken down by Seaman, who lunged desperately with a sliding challenge and caught him on the shin.

Ronaldo grimaced in pain but instantly turned to the referee. The whistle had already gone. The official pointed straight to the spot, before reaching for his pocket and brandishing a yellow card to Arsenal's goalkeeper.

"Penalty! Manchester City have been awarded a penalty, and it came so unexpectedly that even the cameras struggled to keep up. City's attacks are just too fast. Andy, did you see that?"

"Capdevila and Cannavaro executed a brilliant piece of joint defending. Capdevila forced Bergkamp to try and dribble past him, but as he did, Cannavaro stepped in from behind to intercept the ball. Capdevila then moved wide to receive the return pass and launch the counterattack. After a diagonal ball from Pirlo, it found its way to the right, where Zanetti delivered a precise long pass. Larsson rose to meet it with a header, laying it off perfectly for Ronaldo, who sprinted past Seaman. The goalkeeper was forced into a desperate challenge but mistimed it completely—he didn't get near the ball. That was a clear penalty."

"How quick was that attack? We're used to seeing Manchester City exploit their opponents' vulnerabilities on the counter, but this time it looked even sharper, with such rapid ball movement. I'd say the entire transition—from winning the ball back to Ronaldo being fouled—took less than ten seconds. The cameras really need to show us a sweeping panoramic replay, so we can see exactly how City sliced through Arsenal's defense."

No longer able to suppress his frustration, Seaman angrily shouted at Ronaldo, who was still on the ground, accusing him of being too soft. How could he go down from just a touch?

Ronaldo, incensed, rolled his eyes and sprang to his feet, striding toward the Arsenal keeper with fire in his expression.

Within moments, players from both sides swarmed in, shoving and barking at each other as the atmosphere turned volatile. The referee tried to maintain order, but it was the captains who truly steadied the situation. Adams grabbed hold of Ronaldo's arm, pulling him back, while Zanetti stepped in front of Seaman to prevent further escalation.

The two leaders—Adams and Zanetti—locked eyes and exchanged a few terse words. The tension lingered, but both knew the match had to go on. Adams, with his usual swagger, gave Zanetti a playful shove on the head before backing off.

Zanetti smirked, brushed it off, and immediately turned, sprinting back toward his half with composure that contrasted sharply with the chaos just moments before.

For players of this era, especially English players, on-field conflicts were commonplace, and Adams' lighthearted shove at Zanetti was more like a friendly nudge between teammates than anything malicious.

The referee saw no reason to intervene; after all, they were still national teammates and defensive partners.

Fans of this era were also not particularly fond of the theatrical eye-covering and exaggerated falls that would become more common in later years.

Ronaldo calmly converted the penalty, putting City ahead 1-0 in the 40th minute of the first half.

On the touchline, Wenger—wearing glasses and a club tracksuit—sighed in frustration. It seemed things were moving too quickly for the kind of Arsenal he wanted to build.

Even Richard, watching from the director's box, noticed these things—unsurprising, given that his knowledge of the game often surpassed most people around him. To him, Wenger was nothing less than a pioneer of tactical innovation in the Premier League, with a style that was unmistakably European.

In England at the time, players were often described as either "English" or "European" in their approach. Beckham and Giggs, with their technical flair and movement, fell into the latter category, while Keane and Cantona were considered more traditionally English in spirit and style.

European players generally brought a shrewder, more calculated approach to football, built on ground passing and fluid, intelligent movement. However, constrained by Arsenal's existing tactical habits, Wenger could only work with the tools he had.

Forcing his central defenders forward as often as they did was not his ideal plan, but it became necessary given the presence of three mainstay center-backs.

In terms of tactical flexibility, City looked far sharper. Their approach was like a spring: defensively compact, but once released, they surged forward with explosive momentum. Compared to Arsenal's more static, positional attacks, City's collective push forward was far more effective at cutting through defenses seamlessly.

Manchester City were not merely compact—they showed outright dominance. Arsenal's attacks failed to pin them back, leaving the Gunners reacting instead of dictating play. The imbalance in Arsenal's attack was evident: with both wings underperforming, they were left at a clear disadvantage.

Wherever Bergkamp drifted, the ball and focus followed, yet often the central defenders had to push forward, sometimes even carrying the ball into wide areas to stretch City's defense. This was clearly unsustainable, especially with Bould already nearing 35.

By the next season, Wenger would finally have the chance to reshape the formation into something more balanced.

Mourinho, in particular, had noted Arsenal's weaknesses. While Wenger's side still relied heavily on counterattacks in the Premier League, Mourinho was not concerned about being punished by them. Arsenal lacked raw pace; unless they produced moments of brilliant combination play, simply relying on Bergkamp to thread passes through City's defense would not be enough.

Moreover, Arsenal's double pivot lacked balance. Platt's declining mobility was a glaring flaw—he occupied space but contributed little defensively, effectively becoming a liability in front of the backline.

With a one-goal lead at halftime, both sides retreated to the dressing rooms.

Inside City's dressing room, Mourinho unfolded his magnetic board. While the core strategy would remain the same, his halftime adjustments emphasized precision in the details.

For instance, he urged his players to push aggressively through the middle, directly targeting Platt's zone. With a yellow card already hanging over him, Platt would be far more hesitant in committing to tackles, and Mourinho wanted City to exploit that weakness relentlessly.