Soccer: I became Bruno Fernandes.

Chapter 456: Competition Off the Field

Mourinho glanced at the Ajax bench and saw Bosz calling a slim, young player to the sideline for instructions. It was Morocco's international Hakim Ziyech, a player with great speed and excellent ball control.

However, since the game started, Ziyech's performance had been average, posing little threat, so Mourinho hadn't paid much attention to him.

But just five minutes later, Mourinho realized he had underestimated the young Moroccan.

Ziyech received a long pass from De Ligt in midfield. He controlled it with his chest and then flicked it over Mata's head, sprinting past the Spanish midfielder.

"He's through!" shouted Lineker.

Mata was bypassed too easily, disrupting United's defensive setup.

"Go up!" Maguire shouted to Darmian.

Darmian rushed forward, and Ziyech, seeing him approach, dragged the ball sideways while glancing at the goal, feigning a long shot.

Can't let him shoot!

Darmian immediately slid in.

"Idiot!"

Mourinho nearly cursed from the sidelines; it was an incredibly reckless and foolish decision.

The agile Ziyech easily sidestepped Darmian's slide and charged into the penalty area.

...

Ajax fans' cheers momentarily drowned out the United supporters; they saw a glimmer of hope for a goal.

Kasper Dolberg had positioned himself, and Ziyech was about to deliver a diagonal pass when suddenly, a foot appeared in front of him!

"Wham!" The ball bounced up as the players collided. Without hesitation, the player used his body to shield the ball, awkwardly kicking it out of bounds.

"Kante!" Ferdinand shouted excitedly. "In a crucial moment, it's Kante who blocks Ziyech's pass and successfully disrupts the attack. Kante shows everyone that with him around, there's no need to worry!"

Mourinho stood up, realizing Ziyech had been adjusting his form and was now a real threat.

...

Three minutes later, Valencia collided with Veltman, who stayed down, requiring the medical team to check on the Ajax defender.

Taking advantage of this break, Mourinho yelled at his players: "N'Golo! Bruno! Come here!"

The two players ran over from the far side at their coach's call.

"Press Ziyech harder," Mourinho pointed at Ajax's number 22. "He's quick and nimble. Don't give him any easy breakthroughs."

"Also," Mourinho continued, putting an arm around each player, "focus on Schöne. He's Ajax's key playmaker and a defensive shield."

"And during our attacks, Juan needs protection," Mourinho noted that Ajax had increased their pressure on Mata.

"When Juan has the ball, you need to protect him," Mourinho told Kante. "Don't let him get easily surrounded. If we lose the ball, press immediately. Yes, you press, and Juan quickly falls back to organize the defense."

"Tell Juan to stay closer to the center, giving Darmian space to sprint down the flank."

"Got it, Coach."

"Be smart, use tactical interceptions," Mourinho tapped his head.

"Understood," Kante nodded.

Mourinho gave Kante a scrutinizing look to ensure he got it.

He patted both players on the shoulders, "Midfield is key. If you two defend well and organize our attacks, we win this match."

"Hey, the grand slam is at your feet," Mourinho smiled, pushing them back onto the field. "Go for it!"

...

A few minutes later, Ajax had another attacking opportunity. Kasper Dolberg took a long shot, which Maguire blocked with his body. Bruno cleared the ball forward, and Rashford headed it towards Darmian but accidentally found Schöne instead.

As Schöne received the ball and turned, he was pushed down from behind.

"Kante with a clever tactical foul!" Lineker praised.

With Ziyech and Klaassen making runs, Schöne's pass would have been dangerous.

The referee awarded a free kick to Ajax but didn't book Kante. His foul was minor, not warranting a card, though referee Skomina gave him a verbal warning, which Kante accepted graciously.

Ajax coach Bosz was furious, feeling a card was warranted. United had used a minor foul to stop a dangerous attack, a bargain.

Mourinho applauded, pleased with the defense. Despite Kante's unassuming demeanor, he was quite clever.

Ajax got a free kick, but Ziyech's shot posed little threat to United's goal.

"Both sides have intensified their midfield battles. Since United's goal, the tight pressing has limited scoring opportunities."

...

Though no further goals were scored, Mourinho remained satisfied.

He saw Ajax eager to attack after falling behind and acknowledged their midfield and forward strength. Players like Traoré, Younes, Dolberg, Ziyech, Klaassen, and Schöne were skilled and cohesive. If they gained momentum, even United's strong defense would struggle.

However, United's aggressive pressing hindered Ajax's effective organization, leading to rising tempers and increasing physicality on both sides.

United's players were prepared for this, but Ajax's frustration grew. Mourinho wouldn't have been surprised if an Ajax player got sent off had the half not ended.

It seemed evenly matched, but United controlled the game.

...

In the VIP lounge, AC Milan's general manager Fassone hung up the phone, sighing. He had informed owner Berlusconi about a player of interest, but the owner balked at the price.

Feeling watched, Fassone turned to see his old rival, Inter Milan's sporting director Ausilio.

Damn, what's he doing here?

They exchanged fake smiles and handshakes, appearing friendly.

"Who are you after?" Ausilio suddenly asked.

Fassone scrutinized him, then mentioned two names.

Ausilio frowned; Inter was also interested in those players. One was rumored to be on Mourinho's radar for a summer move to United.

"The Colombian is yours," Fassone proposed. "The Dutchman is ours."

After a moment's thought, Ausilio agreed. They shook hands on a gentleman's agreement. Yet both smiled inwardly, knowing their true target remained unspoken.

Just then, a well-dressed Arab man walked by on his phone, saying, "Honestly, the easiest way is to buy them all out."

"City?" Ausilio's face changed.

"Ugh, nouveau riche," Fassone sneered.

...

Observing the crowd, the Milan directors spotted familiar faces from United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. Even Juventus had representatives.

They understood. Ajax's talent had attracted nearly every top club.

The Milan directors exchanged glances and had the same thought: act quickly before the others.

As for their gentleman's agreement? Who remembers that?

When a team suddenly rises, the reality often isn't a fairytale of growth but being picked apart by bigger clubs.

The prime example is Ajax in the 1990s. After reaching the European summit, their stars like Seedorf and Kluivert were swiftly poached.

Ajax spent the next decade developing another batch of stars, including Ibrahimović, Sneijder, and Van der Vaart. By 2004, Ibrahimović's move to Juventus sparked another exodus, with Ajax's new stars picked off within three years.

(End of the chapter)

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