CHAPTER 429: RAPID-FIRE GOALS

Real Madrid equalized the score, which allowed them to stabilize their mindset. After more than an hour of play, the players gradually acclimated to the rhythm on the pitch. Particularly when they chose to cede control in favor of counter-attacks along the flanks, the Italian-style defensive foundation laid down by Capello last season began to show its effects on Real Madrid.

PHWEEEE~

In the final minutes of the match, Real Madrid made a substitution, replacing Davor Šuker with the tall forward Morientes.

The camera caught Šuker scowling angrily at Jupp Heynckes, clearly frustrated by the change, but the coach didn’t acknowledge his reaction. Šuker’s temper flared as he walked off the pitch, muttering under his breath, while Morientes prepared to step into the intense closing moments of the game.

After the re-kick following a conceded goal, Manchester City completed 11 successful passes before the ball returned to Pirlo’s feet.

Real Madrid was pressing hard, and suddenly, the ball reached their most dangerous point—Pirlo. His long through pass unnerved the Madrid defense, who rushed in to apply frantic pressure.

Thankfully, Pirlo returned the ball to Thuram, who passed it back toward Pirlo after losing his marker and sent a through ball without taking a touch. Larsson made a run, but the ball didn’t come his way.

All of Madrid’s defenders expected Larsson to finish, but unexpectedly, Pirlo’s through pass found Pires on the opposite side.

Pires sped past Roberto Carlos and broke into the penalty area. Cañizares, realizing the threat, rushed out—but Pires was faster by a fraction of a second. He poked the ball past, and Cañizares’s heart sank as he saw it rolling straight toward the goal!

The goal was wide open.

Pires aimed for the other side, knowing Ilgner wouldn’t have time to react.

CLANG!

The ball struck the post and bounced out.

After the shot, Pires knelt on the ground, filled with self-reproach, lamenting the missed golden opportunity. Unknown to him, the rebound fell perfectly to Roberto Carlos, who quickly controlled it.

Real Madrid cleared the danger, and Roberto Carlos immediately passed the ball forward without hesitation.

This counter-attack was quick, precise, and ruthless. Once Roberto Carlos crossed the midfield line, he executed a diagonal long pass. The towering Morientes was double-teamed by Cannavaro and Thuram, but he managed to wrestle the ball away despite being surrounded. Rather than stopping for the high ball, Morientes redirected it with a header to the left!

Then, Raúl surged forward, initiating the final phase of Real Madrid’s counter-attack.

Raúl followed up and passed the ball straight to Seedorf, who timed his movement perfectly inside the box. This combination completely disoriented City’s defense. Raúl’s lofted pass allowed Seedorf to turn away from Cannavaro and, despite Thuram’s continued interference, he powered a powerful header toward goal.

KABOOM!

The ball hit the far post but ricocheted into the net. Real Madrid had turned the game around with a simple, brutal counter-attack!

All the Real Madrid fans at the Amsterdam Arena rose to their feet, cheering, while the Blues’ fans stood frozen in shock.

What just happened?!

Manchester City’s fluid attacking play had been a sight to behold, yet it was Real Madrid who had inexplicably surged ahead. Only four players were involved in this lightning-quick attack—the two forwards combined to execute it all in less than five seconds.

Of course, there was a reason why Heynckes suddenly made the change from Šuker to Morientes. In the final minutes, as concentration waned, he preferred tall forwards. Especially against City’s defensive unit, which had a clear height disadvantage, Morientes’s natural ability was maximized.

"Real Madrid turned the game around in the 89th minute and now leads Manchester City 3-2. City is done! City was in control of the match, demonstrating outstanding attacking football. However, football isn’t determined solely by who attacks more fiercely or executes better combinations. Real Madrid seized their opportunities, while City squandered several chances in front of goal. If they had converted even two of the many shots that hit the crossbar or post, Real Madrid might never have stood a chance. Martin O’Neill will need to reflect on why his team didn’t tighten up defensively, leading to this goal."

Richard slumped in his chair instantly. Had Real Madrid just taught him a lesson? If they could hold on for another fifteen minutes, they would lift the European Cup again — after 32 long years.

La Décima!

Could he change what was supposed to happen? Supposedly, no. But what about the Premier League? City had made history by winning it.

"Two minutes left before stoppage time..." Richard sighed as he turned toward Marina, who was busy preparing a contract for Zanetti.

Catching his gaze, she paused for a moment before looking at him directly.

"What?"

"Are you done?"

She nodded.

Richard nodded in return before asking, "What about the new badge progress? Is it done?"

She raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her voice. "...Have you stopped paying attention to the match already?"

Richard shook his head without answering, his focus unwavering. "Tell me about the new badge progress."

Marina studied him for a moment, realizing his mind was half on the pitch and half on the project. "Fine," she said, closing the contract file.

What is a badge in any case? It’s a complicated question to answer.

Perhaps your football club’s most ubiquitous symbol is a storied, heraldic design harking back to the local coat of arms or a sleek, modern design dreamt up to look effortlessly slick emblazoned on modern sportswear.

But why is there a tree? Or a bee? Or a devil? Is that an elephant? SQUIRRELS!

Manchester City’s club badge has undergone several transformations since its inception. From the club’s first badge, which featured a white cross on a black background symbolizing its origins as St. Mark’s Football Club (1880–1887), to the Ardwick AFC badge (1887–1894), and then to designs reflecting the Manchester Ship Canal and the city’s three rivers (1894–1960s), the badge evolved over time.

It later incorporated the red rose of Lancashire to represent the club’s regional identity (1969–1970), followed by a heraldic design granted by the College of Arms (1970–1972), then a more modern interpretation of the ship and rose in a circular format (1972–1976), and finally a more stylized ship and rose reflecting a contemporary aesthetic (1981–1997).

For every change, the badge has basically remained the same, retaining a round design with an image of a ship—an element featured on every badge since the club changed its name from Ardwick AFC to Manchester City in 1894. The ship represents the Manchester Ship Canal, a key artery of the Industrial Revolution that transformed the city.

So basically, even though the club has had more than three official badge designs, most people agree that Manchester City’s emblem has hardly changed over the years. Only three are widely recognized, as the changes were truly significant.

And Richard wants to change it. This would be the fourth badge in City’s history.

Marina said, "The three stripes represent the three rivers that run through Manchester. But are you sure you want to change the entire crest like this?" She hesitated, unsure if she should push further.

Richard was amused. What was there to worry about?

Basically, he hadn’t changed much at all. He was keeping the design pretty unique, featuring an eagle—a symbol that had briefly appeared on Manchester’s coat of arms to represent the city’s booming aerospace industry. No, he was only following the trajectory it was meant to take.

The new badge also retained some traditional elements. it had included "F.C." to signify Football Club, and the club’s motto, "Superbia in Proelio," meaning "Pride in Battle," remained proudly displayed. These touches connected the modern design to Manchester City’s rich history, blending tradition with a fresh, distinctive identity.

Of course, he also had to prepare for receiving a lot of criticism and protests from the team’s fans. This was only natural, as the badge had changed very drastically. However, in the end, the new badge would stay with Manchester City for almost twenty years—if he remembered correctly—and would become one of the club’s most well-known logos.

Richard nodded, satisfied with the decision. "Alright, we will introduce the badge at the FA Charity Shield. Make sure preparations are complete and coordinate with the relevant departments and the FA."

Maina was about to respond, "I—"

Suddenly, the roar of the stadium drowned out her words. Both she and Richard turned sharply toward the pitch, eyes widening.

The crowd erupted. Fans leapt to their feet, waving scarves and screaming. Some were hugging strangers, others were pounding seats in disbelief. On the field, Ronaldo sprinted across the pitch, his shirt torn in two, a wide grin breaking across his face. He spun in a wild, almost celebratory twirl, arms outstretched, as if trying to soak in every cheer from the stands.

"What’s happening?"

On the scoreboard, the timer blinked 91+, and Manchester City had just scored to equalize against Real Madrid: 3–3!

The game was still on!