CHAPTER 505: A TOUGH BATTLE

The biting cold greeted Richard as he stepped off the small plane that had flown in from London to Graz for the match at Liebenauer Stadium. He was the first to exit the cabin, dressed sharply in a suit, but after only a few steps he turned back. Moments later, he reappeared wearing a thick, warm coat.

Behind him, the coaching staff followed, bundled in their own heavy jackets, while the players took the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Austrian conditions. Faced with the Alpine region’s chilly winds, Richard quickly realized that warmth was far more practical than appearance.

Manchester City was set to take on the Austrian powerhouse SK Sturm Graz in the third round of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Before their departure, Richard had emphasized the importance of this match, warning everyone that it would be a tough battle long before kickoff.

This year was one of the greatest in Sturm Graz’s history. They had won the Austrian Bundesliga title last season—their first-ever league championship. With that victory, they qualified for the UEFA Champions League group stage, establishing themselves as one of Austria’s strongest clubs at the time.

As November rolled in, temperatures in Austria began to plummet, with nighttime lows nearing zero degrees Celsius, sometimes dipping below. The temperature difference from the UK was only five or six degrees, but the gap between ten degrees and five degrees felt far more significant than the numbers suggested.

The team had endured a long and tiring journey. Unlike last season’s trips to France or Spain, which took under three hours, this trip to Graz-Liebenau had consumed nearly ten hours in total. Short flights allowed players to recover quickly, but long-haul travel drained them physically and mentally, especially with the additional time spent outside the plane in harsh weather.

From setting off early in the morning to arriving at the hotel late in the evening, City had done just one thing during those twelve hours: travel from London to Graz-Liebenau.

They held no advantages in terms of timing, environment, or acclimatization. As visitors, they had to face Sturm Graz without any favorable conditions on their side. This led Richard to conclude that the match ahead would indeed be a difficult one.

After checking into the hotel, the first-team players went to bed early to ensure proper rest. Manchester City provided each player with his own room to maximize recovery, allowing them to relax however they liked—listening to calming music, reading, or calling their families—without disturbing one another.

The coaching staff, on the other hand, shared rooms. And of course, Richard had a room to himself.

Before bed, Richard chatted with O’Neill, Mourinho, Pintus, Walford, Genoa, Villas-Boas, and Mylvaganam. Some of them played cards; a bit of gambling helped pass the time as they entertained themselves in a foreign country.

"I really feel for Barcelona," Mourinho said suddenly as he raised the stakes. His long years working as a translator at the club clearly stirred up emotions whenever the cold wind brushed against his skin.

O’Neill replied casually, "The schedule actually works in our favor. We’re playing here in November, while Barcelona will have to travel to Denmark and face Brøndby in freezing December. The temperature difference will be more than fifteen degrees. They’re really in for a tough time."

The weather difference between Barcelona and Denmark near the end of the year is like night and day. Barcelona’s players come from a warm, mild climate, while Denmark offers freezing temperatures and strong winds, making the conditions far more difficult for them

Richard took a sip of water and responded calmly, "Even without the external factors, after Brøndby beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou, I’m sure Barcelona will fight with everything they’ve got in the next meeting. That shocking result in the first round said it all."

In their group, City’s wins against Inter Milan and Spartak Moscow probably didn’t surprise many observers. An English Premier League champion defeating a declining Inter side and a Russian league team was expected, given the investment and squad depth available to City. The scorelines might have looked heavy, but most considered a two-goal margin to be the more typical outcome. However, a monumental upset unfolded in the other match of the group.

Group D — the so-called "Group of Death," featuring Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Barcelona, and

At the Camp Nou, Barcelona were soundly beaten 2–0 at home by Denmark’s

Overnight, all eyes turned to this Northern European club, a team experiencing a resurgence after winning the Danish league title three years in a row.

Richard propped his chin on his hand, lost in thought, when a knock at the door snapped him out of his reverie. He called out, "Come in," and Schlumberger and Fevre entered, both wearing worried expressions.

Richard immediately asked, "What’s the update?"

Fevre shook his head. "Lúcio and Thuram are with the doctor. They won’t be able to play tomorrow, but thankfully it’s just a normal cold, not the flu. Otherwise, we’d really be in trouble."

O’Neil sighed when he heard this. "Two absences could cause even more problems. For centre-back, we only brought Cannavaro, Terry, and Woodgate. Who knows? Someone else might wake up sick tomorrow."

"Don’t jinx it."

When the challenge was issued—especially for a competition like this—it became impossible for those teams to refuse.

"There’s Ledley King, supposedly. It’s better if we bring him instead of Xabi Alonso or Mikel Arteta."

When City had well-known stars in the first team, the youth players were often labeled as their protégés. For example, Xabi Alonso had already gained a reputation for his exceptional playmaking ability, earning him the nickname the next Guardiola.

Arteta, although not at Alonso’s level, was still a solid midfielder. In short, their talent allowed them to surpass older teammates and earn spots on this trip to Austria, giving them valuable early experience.

After finishing their card game, everyone turned in for the night.

The next morning, the players woke up and reported their condition, especially regarding their health. No one was allowed to hide even the slightest discomfort. The players understood this rule well—staying healthy was essential for peak performance.

Richard, in particular, took a very hands-on approach and had spent considerable time and effort supporting the team.

When the medical staff confirmed that no new names had been added to the sick list, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. For the match against Sturm Graz, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

To most people, a cold might seem insignificant, something that clears up on its own without medication. But for a footballer, even a minor cold could cause serious trouble. It could lead to respiratory strain during high-intensity play, making them more vulnerable to injury even from small mistakes.

Just as history would later show when Juventus’ Chiellini joked, "I wish Krasic would catch the flu," ordinary people may have laughed—but in football, that was one of the cruelest curses imaginable.

Before the match, as usual, came the press conference. What should have been a low-profile fixture drew remarkable attention from the European media.

At the Champions League pre-match conference, O’Neill sat calmly. Reporters from across Europe were eager to hear how the clash between the group’s top two teams would unfold.

"Winning two rounds of group matches guarantees nothing for us," O’Neill said evenly. "We haven’t qualified, and no one else has been eliminated. Right now, our standings mean nothing. Maybe after the fourth or fifth round we’ll know who advances and who goes home."He spoke modestly, avoiding unnecessary attention that might paint City as targets.

He also offered strong praise for Sturm Graz.

"This is a team new to the Champions League but already used to competing under tough conditions in the league. Sometimes unfortunate circumstances kept them from the later stages, but this year they’ve adapted quickly to European competition. It’s clear Sturm Graz has been building toward this. I won’t allow my players to underestimate them—if they do, we will leave here with disappointment and defeat."

When the discussion turned to the upcoming match, O’Neill emphasized the need to take Sturm Graz seriously. Then an English reporter posed a hypothetical question that immediately drew snickers from journalists around Europe.

"What if Sturm Graz plays a deep defensive counter-attack at home—like Spurs, who just beat Manchester City? Do you still have a chance?"

Many European reporters shook their heads in disbelief.

O’Neill simply smiled. "Every Champions League team has its own style, and because this competition is so fierce, everyone must give their all. I just said Sturm Graz is strong, and City are not favorites here. So perhaps the real question is whether we should be the ones adopting a more conservative approach."

Some English journalists bristled at the response. They believed that as England’s champions, City should carry themselves with confidence and chase victory boldly. European reporters nodded in agreement, appreciating O’Neill’s realism.

Whatever City truly thought of Sturm Graz, at least they presented themselves sensibly at the press conference. But in the Champions League, what exactly was Manchester City?

If they believed that winning the Premier League and Champions League made them untouchable, then they were only showing their naïveté. How many real European giants had they actually faced?

European reporters already knew City struggled against "parking the bus" defensive tactics in the Premier League. Yet they also held the long-standing view that English football was crude and unsophisticated, leading them to assume English clubs were simply confused by superior continental style.

Meanwhile, the English journalists felt the contemptuous looks around them and simmered with frustration. They firmly believed that weather aside, even away from home, Sturm Graz did not have the upper hand over City.

With this tension in the air, the third round of the Champions League group stage was about to begin. All eyes turned to the Premier League champions, Manchester City, as they prepared for a fierce showdown with Sturm Graz.