CHAPTER 357: DERBY DAY AND THE HOSTILE TAKEOVER PLAN

The sky above Manchester City’s main stadium was filled with the roars of the Cityzens, creating an atmosphere that was overwhelmingly electric.

Almost 60% of those in the stands supporting Manchester City were local fans, and this was not an unfamiliar scene for the people of Manchester. It was precisely this vibrant atmosphere that ignited an even stronger fighting spirit within the home team.

PHWEEEEEE~

From the very beginning, Manchester City took charge of the game, firmly controlling the tempo. It was evident that the Manchester United players looked fatigued; their pressing and movement lagged at least one step behind City’s intensity.

Butt pressured Zidane, while Poborský focused on limiting his influence, as Manchester United aimed to wrest control in midfield. However, their efforts were thwarted by City’s superior movement and tactics.

SLAP!

Ferguson, on United’s sideline, slapped his forehead as he began to see the weaknesses of his 4-4-2 formation.

The 4-4-2 was one of the most common tactics in English football, and coincidentally, Ferguson was employing it in this match. Many criticized England’s persistent use of 4-4-2 as outdated, but Ferguson himself did not share that opinion.

Players are not static; once on the field, they do not simply stand still in their assigned positions. On both offense and defense, the 4-4-2 can evolve into many variations, offering a high degree of tactical flexibility.

For example, with one central midfielder pushing forward and another sitting back, the 4-4-2 can transform into a diamond midfield. If the two wide midfielders tuck inside, it can become a narrow diamond midfield, freeing the flanks for full-backs to join the attack. The forwards can drop deeper while the wingers push forward, creating shapes like 4-2-3-1, and so on. Thus, the 4-4-2 formation is anything but rigid.

It is superficial to judge a team’s tactics solely based on the starting formation. In Italian football, famous for its tactical sophistication, teams can shift formations three or even four times during a match, constantly adapting to the flow of the game. This is one of the true charms of football tactics.

11th minute: David May received the ball from Schmeichel, passed it to Butt, who then laid it off to Ryan Giggs. But the moment Giggs got the ball—BANG!

"Makélélé! Makélélé!"

From behind, Makélélé executed a clean tackle. Then a tidal wave of cheers erupted from the stands as passionate fans chanted Makélélé’s name, surprising even the player himself.

"Wow, that guy really packs a punch!"

A father and son watching the derby were astonished at how City were playing today.

"I know, I know! His name is Claude Makélélé! He used to play in France!" the little boy proudly told his father.

Seeing this, Ferguson anxiously yelled from the sidelines.

Zidane and Makélélé had long developed a strong understanding. Much like in the French national team, when Makélélé played behind Zidane in midfield, he prioritized solid defensive duties and rarely ventured forward, often leaving a noticeable gap between them.

However, at City—now with Pirlo alongside him—the dynamics were completely different.

Pirlo’s presence not only liberated Zidane but also unlocked Makélélé’s attacking potential. In the past, when paired with Van Bommel, his role was more about shielding Pirlo through sheer physicality and raw power, overwhelming opponents to protect the orchestrator.

Now, with Makélélé, the approach was more nuanced. Whenever opponents tried to close down Pirlo, he would simply shift the ball to Makélélé, who would then read the situation and decide the next move—whether to push forward, switch play, or recycle possession.

This was the key difference between Makélélé and Van Bommel.

"Bloody Ryan!" Seeing Giggs lose the ball, Ferguson was fuming.

Originally, Giggs had been a vital part of United’s attack—his individual skill often bringing unexpected rewards. But in this game, he was more of a relay station.

Whenever the ball reached him, he would quickly pass it away after drawing City’s attention. He rarely dribbled through midfield before releasing the ball, and almost never attempted a shot on goal.

Cole dropped back to hassle opponents, while Ronny Johnsen pushed forward to help in defense.

Thanks to City’s counterattacking strategy, they remained disciplined, maintaining their shape even when out of possession, refusing to be drawn out unnecessarily.

Under pressure, Pirlo received the ball from Makélélé.

Butt immediately closed in, anticipating a trademark Pirlo long pass—but Pirlo didn’t take the bait. Instead, he calmly played the ball back to Makélélé, and the two exchanged a quick series of passes.

After three crisp touches, Makélélé returned the ball to Pirlo. This time, Pirlo suddenly surged forward, shaking off Butt’s marking before threading a precise straight pass to Zidane. But just as Zidane turned to collect it, Denis Irwin came from behind and brought him down, committing a foul.

PHWEEEEE~

Referee Poll blew the whistle, signaling a free kick.

The United players, without protest, stepped back, their eyes locked on Zidane.

As the Frenchman rose to his feet, he placed the ball down—and before even straightening fully—rolled it backwards.

A pass!

Pirlo, stationed near the center circle, took control. With a single, silky touch, he launched a long, arcing ball over the heads of Butt, Poborský, Giggs, Beckham, and Denis Irwin.

On the left flank, Ronaldo was waiting just outside the penalty area. He cushioned the ball on his chest under pressure from Neville, and in the instant it hit the ground, he deftly nudged it aside with the outside of his boot. The transition from control to pass was flawless—efficient yet elegant.

Just as everyone expected Ronaldo to dribble, Capdevila came bursting up the left wing like a thunderbolt. His sudden overlapping run caught Neville’s attention, and Ronaldo did not disappoint—threading a perfectly timed through pass. Neville turned to chase, but he was already a step too late.

Capdevila’s dash forced the entire United backline to pivot and recover. Without hesitation, he whipped in a low, driven cross towards the near post, where Larsson and David May were locked in a fierce physical battle.

The duel made Schmeichel hesitate—unsure whether to come off his line—unaware that Zidane, the original free-kick taker, was ghosting into the danger area.

Realizing he couldn’t reach the ball, Larsson cleverly leaned into May, preventing him from clearing.

The cross zipped past both men, and only then did Schmeichel spot the real threat. He spun to his right, but it was too late—

Zidane!!!

Charging in at the back post, Zidane met the ball in stride and calmly slotted it home.

BANG!

The stadium erupted.

"Zinedine Zidane! His third goal this season! What a strike! He’s done it again—and at Maine Road, no less! Capdevila, who has cemented his place in the starting lineup this season, has been brilliant—a full-back by trade, yet vital in both defense and attack! Manchester City now lead Manchester United 2–0 at home!"

After scoring, Zidane pointed toward the Manchester City badge on his chest, facing the erupting City fans. His teammates quickly rushed over, and they embraced tightly—a perfect display of unity and passion.

"Martin, I think if only the forwards had been involved, United might have dealt with it. But Capdevila’s unexpected burst completely exposed a weakness. Look—Neville’s calling Beckham over. I’m betting he’s telling him to drop deeper. Otherwise, how can Neville handle both Ronaldo and Capdevila on his own? It’s laughable. Just keeping Ronaldo in check without making a mistake is already hard enough."

"Ha, I agree. Ferguson doesn’t look happy at all. In the past few matches, he hasn’t cracked a smile. He’s pointing at his players right now, clearly demanding more effort."

On the touchline, Pellegrini and Mourinho raised their arms in celebration before sharing a quick hug.

The camera zoomed in on them as Maine Road erupted.

"I knew it!!!"

Richard—of course, watching from the United States—wasn’t going to miss the Manchester derby.

Stuart also pumped his fist in the air, while Ian from Goldman Sachs, on the other end, sighed and rubbed his temples.

"No way. This is United we’re talking about—they can still turn this around."

"Ha! Haven’t you been watching how they’ve been playing?" Stuart mocked, grinning at his friend, knowing Ian was a United supporter.

Ian could only shake his head before turning his attention back to the document in his hands. "Alright, let’s focus. Mr. Richard, there’s something I need to discuss with you."

Richard paused mid-celebration. Spotting the document Ian held, he nodded. "Go ahead."

Ian’s voice took on a more serious tone. "First, I’d like you to hear me out without jumping to conclusions."

"Why are you trying to scare us before you’ve even said anything?" Stuart laughed, but Richard’s expression instantly shifted to a stern focus.

"I’ve been reviewing Apple’s governance structure," Ian began, "and I think there’s a problem."

As a seasoned financial analyst from a major firm like Goldman Sachs, this was Ian’s area of expertise.

The sudden change of topic made Richard frown. He hadn’t been expecting this. "What kind of problem?"

Ian leaned forward. "Apple had independent business units—Macs, peripherals, software—each run by its own general manager with its own profit-and-loss responsibilities. Each division had its own marketing teams, engineers, designers, and managers. This setup meant divisions competed for budget, attention, and prestige from top leadership. So——"

"That hierarchical, division-based structure often led to redundancies and internal power struggles?" Richard interrupted, catching on quickly.

"Exactly," Ian replied. "This kind of internal rivalry erodes collaboration and slows down decision-making. A general manager might block or delay a project that doesn’t directly benefit their own P&L, even if it’s good for Apple overall. And if innovation required cooperation across divisions, it often stalled—because no single leader had authority over both sides."

Stuard nodded as he listening and Richard closed his eyes, picturing the organizational chart in his mind.

"On the surface, it looks solid," Richard said slowly. "But if you look closer, there’s a critical vulnerability. People thought Apple’s problem was just bad products—but in reality, they were already weak from the inside."

A heavy silence settled over the room as everyone absorbed the weight of his words.

Suddenly, Richard broke the silence. "With a structure this fragile, it’s only a matter of time before someone takes notice. If we don’t shore up our defenses, it’s not a question of if, but when."

"..."

"I see your point," Ian replied. "There’s a vulnerability in their company. But right now, they’re operating without major issues, so I don’t think it’s something to panic over. Let’s wait until the price drops lower."

Richard didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he muttered under his breath, "With just a hundred million, I could seize control of the company... and with that, control of all its future assets—worth trillions. If it were me, I wouldn’t hesitate to strike such a vulnerable and lucrative target."

"..."

"What?"

Both Stuart and Ian stared, startled by Richard’s muttering.

Pulled from his thoughts, Richard shook his head. "Nothing. Now that I’m aware of the weakness, I’ll make plans to address it—gradually." He paused, then lifted his gaze toward the window. "No matter what I say, a hostile takeover seems inevitable if Apple keeps delaying the acceptance of the funds they need."

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A hostile takeover occurs when one company (the "acquirer") attempts to acquire another company (the "target") against the wishes of the target company’s management and board of directors. The acquirer usually bypasses the target’s management by appealing directly to its shareholders or by making an offer to buy a controlling stake in the company.