Football Dynasty-Chapter 558: Do You Still Want to be a Goalkeeper?

Fifth Round of the FA Cup!

During the training sessions in preparation for the FA Cup, Pires clearly overexerted himself. While practicing challenges, he twisted his ankle, leaving Mourinho at a loss for words. All he could do was comfort him in the medical room, advising him not to rush things and to take it slow. Many of the players in City were still young, leaving plenty of room for development—unlike many over the age of twenty-five, who found it hard to significantly change their skillsets no matter how much they trained.

The match was scheduled for the weekend, and during preparations, Mourinho included Okocha in the starting lineup for practice.

On the weekend, Maine Road Stadium continued to draw packed crowds, with Manchester City riding high on their momentum. The fans were eager to support their team.

The visitors to the stadium were Everton, who had seen a noticeable decline in performance this season. They seemed a shadow of their former selves after Howard Kendall made way for new manager Walter Smith. In fact, with Smith having achieved so much success north of the border with Rangers, he had been expected to bring success to the blue half of Merseyside after two seasons of misery—but there was little for the Goodison Park faithful to shout about.

During their last six matches, Everton couldn't secure a single win. On top of that, there was a chairmanship change in the boardroom when Peter Johnson quit after eleven years with the club following a row with manager Smith, after Johnson controversially sold Duncan Ferguson to Newcastle United. Everton might not even be able to maintain a position in the upper half of the table.

Mourinho had not sent out his main players in those matches.

Goalkeeper (GK): Paul Robinson

Defenders (DF): Zambrotta, Lúcio, John Terry, Ashley Cole

Midfielders (MF): Hidetoshi Nakata, Frank Lampard, Ronaldinho

Forwards (FW): Okocha, Tezeguet, Henry

The starting formation was 4-3-2, the same as last week's league match, with Nakata replacing Pirlo to control the tempo of the game.

Lampard also reclaimed his spot in the starting lineup, with Ronaldo and Trezeguet leading the attack, supported by Okocha on the right and Henry on the left.

Speaking of Henry, he had already discussed his role with Mourinho in detail, understanding his position as a striker. But for the remainder of the season, Mourinho had spoken to him about playing as a winger—not just any winger, but one who could both assist and score.

Henry sighed at this, though he understood the reasoning: his speed and technical skills made him adept at cutting into the box and taking shots. Having previously played as a winger for Monaco, this role didn't pose much of an issue for him, though it wasn't his preferred position.

For Mourinho, moving players around was never a significant problem; formations themselves were neutral, as tactics combined both formation and style. If he had asked Henry to play as a traditional winger, Henry might have objected due to his strong desire to score.

Currently, Mourinho's expectations for wingers prioritized scoring ability, as his strategy had shifted from two forwards pressing the box to one, which had slightly dampened their attacking power. However, this adjustment was simply a tactical move to better conceal their attacking points.

Before the match, Mourinho exchanged a few words with Everton's coach, Walter Smith, who was under considerable pressure. Taking over from Howard Kendall was no easy feat, especially considering how Kendall had led Everton to the league title, finishing 13 points clear of runners-up Liverpool, and to the European Cup Winners' Cup, defeating Austrian side Rapid Vienna in the 1984/85 season. Everton's attendance had also noticeably decreased this season, which was understandable given their recent performances.

Smith tried to lighten the mood with a tease, suggesting that City should aim for the league title, but Mourinho just smiled in silence. Winning the league wasn't just about striving for it; there was much more involved. He, to be honest, felt stronger confidence in the cup competition—win it, and the trophy was yours.

Manchester City under Mourinho had never given up on any match. Even if he sent a youthful lineup onto the field, he believed that every game, regardless of the outcome, held value.

As the game commenced, Mourinho stood on the sidelines, arms crossed, watching intently.

In their previous encounters, Everton and Manchester City had drawn. Now, coming to Maine Road Stadium today, both teams aimed to change that trend with a strong start. They attacked fiercely right from the opening whistle.

However, with Okocha, Henry, and Ronaldinho—the three wreaking havoc in midfield—Everton found it challenging to push into the danger area. Shearer managed to squeeze out a chance, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Both teams engaged in a fierce midfield battle from the beginning, and the players quickly displayed a high level of competitive spirit.

Mourinho felt confident in his team, believing that his tactical philosophy was ahead of the curve and that their skill level typically gave them an advantage. However, every team needed a testing phase to adapt to the rhythm of the match.

The partnership of Okocha and Ronaldinho on the wings was undoubtedly top-tier: highly technical and perfect for breaking down defenses.

As Everton unexpectedly pressed heavily, their numbers in attack increased, which ironically opened up more space at the back.

Lucio intercepted a ball from Ibrahima Bakayoko and sent a diagonal pass to Nakata, who turned to deliver a precise forward pass toward the right flank. Zambrotta made a surging run down the side, and City's offense swept through like a gale once again.

Zambrotta combined with Lampard in the middle for a quick give-and-go to bypass Michael Ball, continuing his advance with the ball.

Okocha dropped back to link up with him, executing another give-and-go that tore through Everton's defense. Trezeguet darted into the box, and Zambrotta pushed the ball to the edge before delivering a cut-back to the penalty arc. Instead of shooting, he laid it off to Trezeguet, who had drawn the defenders into the box, creating space for Okocha's run.

The defenders scrambled to close in, their bodies blocking every angle. Trezeguet's feint had worked perfectly—he lofted the ball delicately to the left, just out of reach, and the space opened like a pocket in the Everton defense.

Ronaldinho timed his run perfectly, bursting past the offside trap. Suddenly, he was one-on-one with Everton's keeper, Thomas Myhre. The stadium held its collective breath.

"Ronaldinho… he's got just one chance—just one shot!" the commentator shouted, voice rising with excitement.

The Brazilian paused, a heartbeat, as Myhre shifted on his line. Then, instead of shooting, Ronaldinho made a split-second decision—he passed! A sharp, precise ball across the six-yard box to Okocha, who had ghosted past the last defender.

"Ohhh! What a move! What a pass!" the commentator roared. "And Okocha taps it home! Manchester City lead!"

Indeed, the Brazilian prodigy chose not to shoot, instead passing the ball across the goal, where Okocha, having slipped past the defenders, tapped it into the empty net.

"What an indescribably beautiful goal! Manchester City is showcasing textbook teamwork! While fans rave about Everton's attacking play, they need to come watch City, whose fluid style is nothing short of exquisite. Every player performs an essential role, without a doubt. Everton must start figuring out how to defend against them because, as it stands, every point seems like a threat. Even Zambrotta, as a full-back, joined the attack deep into the opponent's half, and the ball quickly switched from the right side to the left."

The City bench erupted in celebration. Mourinho allowed himself a brief, satisfied smile, arms crossed, as the players cheered and high-fived each other. Fans roared, their chants and applause echoing across Maine Road—a mix of awe and pure joy at the seamless display of skill.

Ronaldinho jogged back with a small, self-satisfied grin, raising his arms in celebration and turning to the stands to urge the crowd for even louder support. Meanwhile, Okocha ran toward the bench, celebrating the teamwork that had made the goal possible.

This goal was not only beautiful but also a heavy blow to the visitors' morale.

Smith called his players over on the sidelines, instructing them to drop deeper, compress the space in front of the goal, and focus their counters on the side where the opponents' full-backs were pushing forward.

However, Everton's players appeared unwilling to heed his commands.

They still sought to respond aggressively, sticking to their strategy of crossing from the wings and pushing into the box. But their one-on-one efforts yielded poor results. Both Zambrotta and Ashley Cole were aggressive defenders, denying any opportunities for the opposition to break through successfully. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

City's immediate counterattacks following successful defenses were devastating. They committed even more players forward, with supporting movements from the full-backs, while Nakata pressed higher up. This led to a strange phenomenon on television broadcasts.

It often felt as if Everton had fewer players than City on the pitch. They were executing offense with fewer numbers and defending with fewer players as well.

This was a testament to City's superior fitness, allowing them to retreat for defense while quickly launching counterattacks.

After a week of anticipation for this match, City completely dismantled Everton in the first half.

The second goal came swiftly. Trezeguet received the ball with his back to goal, skillfully controlling it under pressure, and sent a precise diagonal pass to an onrushing Larsson. Timing his run perfectly, Larsson met the ball with ease, slotting it past Myhre for a simple finish.

The crowd erupted once again, chants reverberating across Maine Road. The fluidity of the play—the clever off-the-ball movement, the precise passing—was textbook City under Mourinho.

Just before halftime, another moment of brilliance: Nakata delivered a teasing cross from the right, curling into the back post. Okocha, reading the play perfectly, popped up unexpectedly and nodded the ball home. The stadium went wild.

"Jay-Jay Okocha! His first goal back after the injury!" the commentator shouted, his voice rising with excitement.

Conceding 3–0 at halftime, Everton's players were dejected, sensing that they were living a nightmare in this game.

As Smith walked into the players' tunnel, he scolded his team, adamant that if they had listened to his instructions, they would not have suffered such a heavy loss in the first half.

What followed was an astonishing scene in the Everton locker room. Defender Michael Ball reportedly spat at Smith and disparaged his coaching abilities.

The situation quickly escalated into a physical altercation.

Everyone at City immediately exited their locker room and called for staff to intervene, as chaos erupted within Everton. Even Mourinho appeared uncertain how to handle the situation next.

Should he bar one party from the locker room? After all, they still had a second half to play.

Fortunately—or perhaps reluctantly—Smith resolved the issue himself by marching straight into the locker room and closing the door, leaving the rest of the stadium to watch the drama unfold from a distance.

After the excitement faded, Mourinho noticed his players gathered together, discussing the earlier conflict in the player tunnel.

Leaning against the doorframe, he chose to remain silent. Everton's morale was evidently shaken, making things difficult for them. He knew that since the first goal had been conceded in the first half, Smith had been anxiously shouting from the sidelines—defend, attack, defend, defend, attack… This allowed Mourinho to focus completely on the match.

In the second half, Mourinho made three substitutions, taking off Ronaldinho, Trezeguet, and Nakata, bringing on Henry, Ronaldo, and Stankovic.

The starters got a well-deserved rest, while the newcomers quickly adapted to the rhythm of the game. With slight adjustments to the formation, City controlled the tempo, patiently managing possession and picking their moments to attack.

PHWEEE~

Maine Road erupted with every pass and movement, the fans fully immersed in the spectacle. The chemistry between the remaining starters and the substitutes was seamless, a testament to Mourinho's meticulous planning and the squad's discipline.

When the final whistle blew, the score stood at 5-0.

City had not just won—they had dominated.

Mourinho stood up, and just as he was about to approach Smith for a handshake, he stopped. Walter Smith's furious stride toward the player tunnel made it clear—there would be no cordial exchange.

During halftime, Everton's players likely faced a harsh reprimand in the locker room. Smith's anger seemed to have forced them into an overly cautious, almost defensive approach in the second half, a stark contrast to their aggressive opening play.

City wasted no time. Exploiting the newfound hesitancy of Everton, they added two more goals with clinical precision. Each movement, each pass, was deliberate, capitalizing on the defensive gaps left by Everton's cautious retreat.

By the 90th minute, the scoreboard read 5-0.

In the small house in Arguineguín, Richard, Marina, David Silva, and his family watched intently as Manchester City dominated Everton with ruthless efficiency. After the final highlight replay, Richard turned toward David Silva.

"So," he said softly, "how is it? Do you still want to be a goalkeeper?"