Football Dynasty-Chapter 561: Let Him Go to Manchester City

Stanković took the towel handed to him by Dave Fevre and wiped his face, then pressed it against the wound. Accompanied by another physio, he walked toward the sideline, where Mourinho approached with a serious expression, wanting to check on his condition.

"Dejan, are you okay? Do you need to be substituted?"

To Mourinho’s surprise, Stanković said solemnly, "Boss, I’m fine! I can continue playing!"

Mourinho knew this decision would be incredibly difficult. He didn’t immediately respond, his gaze instead fixed on Dave Fevre.

The fans in the Villa Park stands were worried, fearing that Stanković might not be able to continue.

After Stanković left the field, the referee issued a yellow card to Southgate.

Evidently, Southgate’s remorseful attitude and the Aston Villa players’ initial reaction earned some leniency. Since the game had only been underway for a few minutes, Aston Villa losing a man would have greatly diminished the match’s appeal from a viewing perspective.

The goal stood without dispute, and Southgate received a yellow card.

However, the fans in the stands were displeased. Loud boos filled Villa Park as they couldn’t understand the referee’s decision. Stanković’s bloodied face showed how dangerous the foul had been—a slight deviation could have resulted in a far more serious injury.

Mourinho didn’t have time to protest to the referee; he was far more concerned about Stanković’s condition. After Dave Fevre and his team treated the wound, Stanković insisted on returning to the match.

The physios believed it wasn’t a serious injury, but the wound required stitches. Stanković, enduring the pain without anesthesia, urged the team doctor to stitch it quickly on the sidelines.

City’s physios were well-prepared and worked quickly due to his urgency, stitching the wound and bandaging his head. Despite repeated warnings from the team doctor to avoid heading the ball, Stanković didn’t respond. He quickly changed into a new shirt and stood on the sideline, waiting for the referee’s signal to return to the field.

When the referee allowed him back on, Villa Park erupted in cheers, and the fans were ecstatic. Stanković, his head wrapped in bandages, further cemented his fighter image.

Many fans once again waved their flags, and some even held up posters they had brought before the match, all featuring Stanković. Cityzens fans sang songs in his praise, creating a scene that was both thrilling and deeply moving.

Mourinho, standing on the sideline, had only allowed Stanković to return to the field based on the team physios’ professional assessment. If the team doctor had said no, he would have immediately substituted Stanković.

Fortunately, Stanković was able to continue fighting.

This unexpected incident became a turning point.

A turning point that favored Manchester City.

Back to the match—Mourinho and Bielsa were deep in discussion.

With a 1–0 lead, should they attack or defend?

Attack, of course!

Make full use of the momentum!

In conclusion, Stanković—battling through injury—returned to the pitch with unyielding determination, inspiring City’s fans and players alike. In contrast, Aston Villa, having witnessed Stanković’s return, would undoubtedly be affected regardless of their inner thoughts. Furthermore, their captain, Southgate, already on a yellow card, was placed at a clear disadvantage.

John Gregory watched the scene with a grim expression, especially after the first goal. In the opening ten minutes, the flank had been under constant threat, exposing gaps on the right. City’s sudden switch to the left flank and Stanković’s unexpected forward run were a well-executed tactical move—not a coincidence, but a carefully planned strategy.

He then stood up to relay instructions and made several adjustments.

Villa’s defense quickly tightened. They conceded the flanks to their opponents while focusing on protecting the most dangerous areas, compressing space for City’s attacking players and reducing their speed advantage during penetration.

With the lead secured, City narrowed their attack toward the center, focusing on Southgate’s side and pressing relentlessly.

Wary of receiving another card, Southgate didn’t dare to be overly aggressive. If not for Steve Watson and Gareth Barry frequently covering, that side might have been completely overwhelmed by City.

For the rest of the match, City continued attacking Villa relentlessly.

"You like this kind of team, right? The kind that likes to attack?"

Watching the match on television, Richard asked as he turned to David Silva.

The other party simply nodded, completely captivated.

From time to time, Mr. Jiménez, David Silva’s father, glanced at his son, whose eyes never left the television screen. He sighed softly before turning to Richard.

"Mr. Richard, why do you value my son so much?"

Setting aside his fatherly instincts, Mr. Jiménez didn’t think his son possessed any extraordinary talent. After all, he was only a goalkeeper.

This was not unusual. Many superstar players don’t display their immense talent from the moment they begin playing.

Some players only reach a significant level at fifteen or seventeen, quickly gaining recognition—especially those who don’t rely heavily on foot skills. In contrast, Latin players, or those who emphasize footwork, often gain recognition earlier, as seen with many South American players.

Most young players who become famous do so because of their natural talent and technical ability.

Players like Stanković, however, only begin to reveal how remarkable they truly are after a comprehensive assessment of their abilities—though luck also plays a role. At just sixteen years old, he was entrusted by coach Ljupko Petrović of Red Star Belgrade, becoming the youngest player ever to debut for the club at senior level.

Not only that—he scored!

With seven league appearances and a goal against Budućnost Podgorica, he became the youngest goalscorer in Red Star history and went on to win the league title that same year.

For Richard, David Silva was one of those players—blessed with flashy foot skills, an excellent ability to read the game, and an outstanding physique. Though he wasn’t physically dominant like Erling Haaland, people found it extremely difficult to take the ball off his feet. He was more like a Messi or Iniesta type, the kind of player for whom the ball seemed to stick to his feet.

"Mr. Jiménez, are you familiar with Manchester City?"

Mr. Jiménez fell silent for a moment. He didn’t want to speak too much about his son’s talent—it would sound insincere, especially if Richard asked for specific details he couldn’t answer.

Should he say that his son’s football skills were impressive? In truth, they didn’t really suit a goalkeeper. But the reality was that David was a goalkeeper.

No matter which aspect he emphasized, there were many youths at San Fernando who outperformed his son, which was why David could only become a goalkeeper—at least, that was what Mr. Jiménez believed. Still, he nodded and answered Richard’s question.

"Two years ago, I started paying attention to Manchester City. You’ve achieved quite an impressive record."

Richard waved his hand. "No, you misunderstood. I’m not bragging about City’s achievements. I just want to ask—now that you have some understanding of Manchester City, what do you think of the talents of Pirlo, Stanković, and Zidane?"

Mr. Jiménez frowned. These three players came from different countries, yet none of them had an overwhelmingly dominant playing style.

Take Stanković, for example.

In defense, organization, or attack, if each ability were rated separately, there were players who surpassed him. Pirlo had absolute passing; Zidane possessed extraordinary vision. Individually, they might score an eight out of ten, but none of them would earn a perfect score in any single category.

Yet it was precisely such players who made City’s midfield extraordinarily strong—balanced in both attack and defense.

Stanković had become the engine of the team.

Seeing Mr. Jiménez’s silence, Richard knew he was beginning to grasp the point.

"To other coaches, their talent might have seemed merely good before they achieved success," Richard said calmly. "But to me, they are geniuses—future templates for footballers. At least at City, these players have already proven their value. You can say David plays without flash, but no one can deny his importance when the ball is at his feet. You realize that too, don’t you?"

Richard pressed on. "Here, David may seem no different from other children, but in my eyes, he has the potential to become the core of a team—an indispensable figure. That’s why I want to take him to Manchester, train him personally, and help him uncover potential that hasn’t yet been discovered."

Mr. Jiménez closed his eyes, deep in thought.

Richard could guess what the old man was thinking, but he chose not to push him further.

Back to the match, it seemed that the Birmingham side wasn’t so formidable after all. They didn’t realize that Manchester City were expending unprecedented stamina to establish their advantage.

Aston Villa, switching from defense to attack, saw Barry play the ball forward to Southgate.

Southgate controlled it cleanly and turned, attempting a feint against Pirlo.

Pirlo, however, remained calm, lowering his center of gravity and holding his position.

Before the match, Mourinho had analyzed the characteristics of nearly every Aston Villa player in detail, repeatedly instructing his players to stay focused and avoid unnecessary risks in both attack and defense.

Southgate’s strengths lay in positioning and physical presence rather than speed, meaning he posed little threat in a sprint.

Pirlo’s task was simple: slow Southgate down, prevent him from advancing freely, and disrupt Villa’s rhythm.

As Southgate held the ball and searched for passing options, his brows furrowed.

City’s defensive setup was extremely targeted. Cannavaro sat behind Pirlo, cutting off passing lanes toward the forwards. If Southgate attempted a lofted pass, City’s defenders would have time to recover and contest it.

Ashley Cole appeared to be marking the striker directly, but in reality, he was blocking passing angles between the striker and Aston Villa’s right wing, while Thuram tracked back, keeping a measured distance from the secondary runner.

Mourinho wasn’t willing to gamble on a high defensive line.

So today, City’s back line played deeper, almost like a sweeping unit. Even if Villa managed to get the ball forward, as long as there was a defender between the attacker and the goal, the threat was significantly reduced.

City’s full-backs also tucked in during defensive phases, ready to provide cover and support. Aston Villa lacked true wingers, instead relying on midfielders pushing forward to attack the flanks.

Southgate carried the ball forward; Pirlo retreated a step. Southgate advanced again, and Pirlo retreated once more.

Southgate grew irritated.

’What is this guy doing?’

He drifted sideways and feinted a change of direction. Pirlo still didn’t commit, maintaining just enough space while keeping his body square.

Southgate understood—it was clear now. Pirlo had no intention of pressing him aggressively.

Pirlo, in truth, wanted to challenge, but Mourinho’s instructions before the match had been absolute:

"Don’t dive in. Follow the man, not the ball."

If defenders focused solely on winning the ball, the risk of being bypassed was too great. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Great midfielders thrive on that exact mistake.

Southgate struggled to find a passing lane and chose to dribble forward instead. Pirlo didn’t tackle—he tracked, positioned, and delayed.

With no clear breakthrough available, Villa were forced to slow their attack. City’s midfield and forwards quickly recovered into shape, compressing space and denying forward momentum.

The game shifted into a positional battle.

Villa attempted to increase pressure by pushing more players forward, but City’s structure remained intact. Every passing lane was contested, every second ball challenged.

Eventually, Villa’s attack broke down. A rushed shot from outside the box was blocked cleanly, ending the move.

City immediately countered.

Their midfield surged forward in unison, passes flowing cleanly along the ground. Aston Villa chose not to press high, retreating instead to protect the penalty area.

City tightened their grip, moving the ball patiently, probing for weaknesses. When space refused to appear, they began testing Villa with long-range shots, attempting to draw defenders out of position.

Villa weren’t overly concerned. With numbers behind the ball, most efforts were blocked or comfortably dealt with by the goalkeeper.

Still, the momentum was unmistakable.

Manchester City were dictating the rhythm—outworking, outthinking, and outlasting their opponents.

And Aston Villa, once confident, now found themselves trapped in a battle of attrition they hadn’t planned for.

Watching Richard and David Silva chatting animatedly beside him, discussing football—this and that—Mr. Jiménez finally gave in. He lowered his head and looked at the documents laid out in front of him.

What Richard was offering was, in fact, quite simple.

First, Manchester City’s facilities were far superior to those at San Fernando.

Second, when David Silva turned sixteen, City would offer him a professional contract directly.

Even if Valencia showed interest, they wouldn’t be able to sign him to a professional contract before that age. By the time David turned eighteen, he would have already spent six years in Manchester, fully adapted to the weather and the environment. And loyalty, after all, must be mutual. A player’s loyalty to a club should be matched by the club’s sincerity toward the player.

As the saying goes, "A gentleman treats a gentleman with respect."

After a long silence, Mr. Jiménez looked up at his son, who stood there with his chin raised, eyes bright with determination.

"I suppose," he said slowly, "it’s better to let him go to City for training."

After all, footballers change clubs all the time.

’A stepping stone,’ he thought.

Mr. Jiménez’s plan was simple: let his son receive professional football training at Manchester City—and once he had completed it, return to Spain.

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N/A:

Hello everyone, sorry for publishing the Chapter late.

Just to let you know, in the area where I live there was extremely heavy rainfall this month with a very strong winds. I live near the sea, and over the past few weeks the waves have been crashing in everyday often causing flooding. Because of this, it’s been a little difficult to focus on writing, which is why the update was delayed.

Thank you for your understanding, and I really appreciate your patience.