Football Dynasty-Chapter 569: Perfect Trivela and A Perfect Samba Dance

Manchester United clinched their fifth Premier League title in seven seasons after beating Tottenham 2–1 at home, rendering Arsenal’s 1–0 victory over Aston Villa and Manchester City’s efforts to chase the title meaningless.

Now, attention turns to second and third place, as Arsenal and City fight to maintain their positions and secure qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League. However, before the last Premier League fixture begins, City first needs to face Newcastle United.

Talking about Newcastle United, their season was almost a carbon copy of the one before. Right now in the league, they can only hover around 13th place. Just after the season started, Kenny Dalglish paid for Newcastle’s sub-standard league performances with his job. A dismal league position put them below local rivals Middlesbrough, as well as other unfancied sides including Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday.

The task was given to Ruud Gullit to turn things around, but he could not improve on the club’s previous league finish of 13th. Now, if he wants to maintain his position, it seems he must defeat Manchester City at White Hart Lane.

But is it easy for Ruud Gullit?

Not at all. Both City and Newcastle will need to give their best.

Hotel Princesa Sofia, Barcelona.

One of the most famous hotels near Camp Nou, often used by teams, officials, and VIPs. Now, in one of the luxury guest suites, Richard had already made a reservation.

"Here, take care of these—don’t lose them," Richard said as he handed the tickets for the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final to David Silva and Sergio Busquets.

Both of them were stunned before becoming excited.

"Hey, do you think this is real?" Silva asked his other future companion.

"I think so. Camp Nou tickets usually have a stamp like this. Moreover, he wouldn’t lie, right?" Busquets answered, already familiar with Camp Nou tickets.

Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, was selected as the venue for the final. For tickets like these, especially on the secondary market, the price could reach £1,000.

It was expensive, but Richard already knew the reason. As the owner of a football club—and especially a neighboring club—it was easy for him to get the latest information about the upcoming match. Miss Heysen, in particular, had already informed him about the situation.

Due to UEFA regulations regarding standing areas at football matches, Camp Nou’s terraced sections were closed for the 1999 Champions League final, reducing the stadium’s capacity to approximately 92,000.

Around two-thirds of the tickets were reserved for the two finalist clubs (approximately 30,000 tickets each). The remaining third was divided among FC Barcelona fans (around 7,500 tickets), UEFA, and competition sponsors.

Manchester United initially announced that each club would receive only 25,000 tickets, which made obtaining tickets extremely difficult—even for someone like Richard. Because he purchased them relatively late, he had no choice but to turn to the black market.

The law of supply and demand applied perfectly here.

Since Manchester United supporters received only around 25,000 tickets, black-market prices were driven to astronomical levels.

Richard’s mouth twitched as he overheard their conversation.

’Forget it,’ he thought.

He shook his head and looked around for the television. Once he found it, he immediately switched it on, and soon the commentator’s voice filled the room.

"Alright, here we go... FA Cup semi-final night, Manchester City taking on Newcastle United. You can feel the tension in the air already. For City, this is a big chance to bounce back after missing out on the league title. Meanwhile, Newcastle will be desperate to give their fans something to celebrate after a tough season. One game... that’s all it takes to reach the FA Cup Final. The crowd here at White Hart Lane is buzzing, the players are warming up, and everything is set for what promises to be a cracking match tonight."

"Alright, kids, the match is about to start," Richard said as he called David Silva and Sergio Busquets, who were still mesmerized by their Champions League final tickets.

"Oh, it’s starting already?" Silva was the first to sit beside Richard, followed by Busquets.

Manchester City faced Newcastle United for the second time this season, kicking off at White Hart Lane. With both teams reaching the semi-finals, neither had any reason to hold back tactically.

Mourinho opted to field his strongest lineup, and Newcastle United did the same.

Both teams came out swinging right from the start.

Mourinho paced nervously along the sidelines. With the season reaching this stage, there was no turning back and no time to rest. He realized he had been somewhat naive in the past. Teams competing on multiple fronts—whether coaches or players—often found themselves trapped in a dilemma. Letting go of any competition felt like surrender, so they fought desperately in every match, often risking exhaustion and ending up with nothing, leaving behind results that were difficult to justify.

At this moment, they had to seize the momentum. However, after the match had been underway for 15 minutes, he seemed to calm down. It seemed the rumours were true.

"Push higher! Close him down!" Gullit shouted.

The captain, Rob Lee glanced toward him for a split second... then turned back to the game without changing position.

The midfield line remained static, allowing City to move the ball comfortably. It was visible when Gullit repeatedly shouted instructions from the touchline, but his players barely responded.

Ruud Gullit and his star players were dealing with internal problems.

The media had reported that he had fallen out with several senior players, including club captain Rob Lee, who had been the heartbeat of the team for the previous half decade and was initially not even given a squad number. This caused Gullit to lose the respect of several senior players.

Mourinho didn’t know whether the reports were entirely true, but judging by the current situation on the pitch, the probability seemed high.

The atmosphere surrounding Manchester City’s clash with Newcastle United was entirely different from what it had been in the past—especially compared to six years earlier, under Kevin Keegan, when City approached the fixture as clear underdogs.

Times had changed. No one at Manchester City, from the players to the supporters, regarded Newcastle United as an indomitable giant anymore. Facing them now, there was no lingering sense of fear—only a fierce determination to prove themselves. After all, only high-level opponents could truly showcase a team’s quality.

After receiving the ball in midfield, Pirlo calmly passed it to Ronaldinho on the left. The Brazilian showed no urgency to push forward; instead, he exchanged passes with Zidane, then with Larsson, and finally with Stanković, allowing everyone to touch the ball and find their rhythm.

On the other side, Newcastle held back, choosing not to press too aggressively, which lent an air of caution to both teams. There was palpable tension in the air. While they sized each other up, their fierce hunger for victory seemed slightly restrained—for now.

Both teams approached the match with balance in mind. While winning was desirable, their first priority was avoiding defeat. An all-out attacking strategy would not appear unless the scoreline changed.

Ten minutes later, on the right flank, Gary Speed had the ball, with Ronaldinho closely shadowing him.

Under tight pressure from Ronaldinho, Speed was forced to pass. Breaking down defenses was not his strength, and Ronaldinho’s task today was to mark him closely—sticking to him like glue wherever he went.

Rob Lee also wasn’t daring to push forward aggressively like he usually did. Instead, he constantly tracked Zidane’s movements, playing more like a central midfielder than an attacking one.

Up front, Alan Shearer and loanee Louis Saha from Metz occupied the forward positions. One pushed forward while the other stayed slightly deeper, operating in a way similar to a modern 4-4-2 partnership.

Shearer’s importance to Newcastle United was undeniable. He could hold up the ball during central attacks and create opportunities for his teammates, significantly strengthening Newcastle’s offensive power. He had played this role consistently since arriving in 1996. At times, he even acted as both a playmaker and a spiritual leader for the team, making his role absolutely essential.

Rob Lee held the ball and passed it to Shearer, who was making a run into the box. When he realized that Ashley Cole had effectively cut off the inside route, Shearer chose to go wide and delivered a cross from near the touchline.

Saha failed to get on the end of it, but Shearer arrived at the far post. Fortunately for City, Cannavaro tracked back quickly and cleared the ball behind the goal line.

Both teams were clearly taking a cautious approach, keeping the tempo low and only accelerating suddenly to create danger. They avoided pushing the pace too hard, knowing that while aggressive attacking could create chances, it would also expose defensive weaknesses.

With the Cannavaro–Thuram pairing anchoring the back line, City’s aerial defense at set pieces had improved significantly. Newcastle’s corner kick was dealt with comfortably, leaving the Newcastle players with no real chance to score.

Applause rippled through the stands as the fans felt reassured by the solid defending.

On the sidelines, Mourinho’s expression remained serious. Every time City transitioned from defense to attack, they deliberately directed play down the left flank.

The reason was simple: in Newcastle’s 4-4-2, Rob Lee and Gary Speed were responsible for protecting the central midfield. If they drifted wide to help defend the flanks, Pirlo and Zidane would tear through the middle.

At first, Mourinho was worried, but after thirty minutes, a wave of relief washed over him.

"Here comes Ronaldinho with the ball! Stuart Pearce is sprinting back to stop him, trying to block the Brazilian’s path inside. Laurent Charvet drops his center of gravity, ready to close him down! Will Ronaldinho play it safe and recycle possession? No—what a dazzling piece of skill! He feints to the right, sends Pearce and Charvet the wrong way, and bursts toward goal... but the shot is straight at Shay Given! And Shay Given holds on!"

Mourinho clapped from the sidelines, clearly pleased with the attacking sequence.

On the opposite flank, Pires’ constant threat forced Warren Barton to track back repeatedly. Larsson, deployed as the main striker for the match, frequently drifted toward the right to support him. As a result, that side of the pitch became heavily congested, with City attackers and Newcastle defenders locked in tight one-on-one marking battles. Naturally, this shifted the tactical focus toward the left wing—Ronaldinho’s domain—where space was far more exploitable.

And Ronaldinho did not disappoint.

Operating down the left flank, he once again displayed his breathtaking technique. Carrying the ball forward, he unleashed a series of dazzling step-overs, effortlessly teasing Stuart Pearce. Just as he seemed ready to break through, Gary Speed sprinted back and clipped him from behind, sending the Brazilian tumbling to the ground.

The referee rushed over and immediately flashed a yellow card to Speed. Ronaldinho calmly stood up, brushed himself off, and retrieved the ball.

He carefully placed it on the turf before standing beside Pirlo. The two exchanged a brief, almost casual conversation before Pirlo slowly walked away.

Ronaldinho remained still, his gaze locked firmly on Newcastle’s goal. The stadium buzzed with curiosity. Did he actually possess the ability to score directly from a free kick?

The answer was yes—though the skill was still developing. In recent training sessions, Ronaldinho had been quietly dedicating extra time to improving his free-kick technique.

Pirlo positioned himself just outside the penalty arc, instantly drawing Newcastle United’s defensive attention. The Magpies hesitated, ultimately assigning another player to mark him, wary that Ronaldinho might slip a pass into his path.

Ronaldinho took a few measured steps back. His posture was calm, his eyes unwavering. As he began his run-up, Newcastle’s defensive line braced itself, convinced the ball would be delivered to Pirlo.

And they were right.

With a gentle touch, Ronaldinho rolled the ball toward Pirlo.

The Brazilian had been bluffing all along!

Rather than striking immediately, Ronaldinho turned provider. Pirlo received the pass smoothly and shaped his body as if preparing to unleash a powerful shot.

Instantly, Rob Lee burst forward, determined to shut him down before he could pull the trigger.

But wait!

Pirlo shaped his body to shoot—yet his swing came a fraction too late, and the ball simply rolled past him.

Rob Lee’s eyes widened in disbelief.

A mistake?

For a split second, confusion swept across the pitch. Then, as players and spectators alike followed the ball’s path, chaos erupted inside Newcastle’s defensive line.

Zidane!

Dietmar Hamann, who had been stationed on the right side of midfield, froze in shock as he realized Zidane had already slipped past him.

Since when had he made that run?

When had he dropped deep? And why hadn’t anyone picked him up?

But it was already too late.

Pirlo had intentionally allowed the ball to run through.

Charging in from behind him, Zidane arrived perfectly on cue. He had ghosted into space with impeccable timing, positioning himself at an angle nearly identical to the one from which he had scored against Manchester United earlier in the season.

The Newcastle defenders panicked and surged toward him, desperate to close the gap.

Zidane drew back his leg, his posture screaming power shot. Several defenders instinctively lunged to block.

But at the very last moment, he changed his technique.

Instead of striking through the ball, Zidane delicately wrapped his foot around it. The contact was soft, almost artistic. The ball rose gracefully, spinning with exquisite outside-foot curl as it sliced across the penalty area, bending away from the defenders and dropping toward the far post

A trivela!

Yes, it wasn’t a shot.

Instead of driving the ball toward goal, Zidane’s outside-foot strike sent it arcing across the penalty area with breathtaking precision. The ball bent away from the cluster of Newcastle defenders, slicing through the defensive line like a blade.

For a split second, the Newcastle back line froze. They had all expected Zidane to shoot. Shay Given, anticipating a strike toward his near post, instinctively shifted his weight forward, preparing to react to a shot that never came.

By the time he realized the ball was curling across the face of goal, it was already too late to reorganize the defense.

And there—

Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian had quietly drifted away from Stuart Pearce during the confusion of the set-piece routine. While Newcastle’s defenders collapsed toward Zidane, Ronaldinho ghosted toward the far post, completely unmarked.

The ball descended perfectly into his path, as if guided by an invisible thread connecting the two maestros.

Ronaldinho didn’t rush. He didn’t need to.

With a relaxed first touch, he cushioned the ball down, letting it drop into his stride. Pearce spun around in panic, desperately trying to recover, while Laurent Charvet lunged across in a last-ditch attempt to block.

But Ronaldinho was already in his zone.

With effortless composure, he swung his right foot through the ball, guiding a controlled finish back across goal and leaving Given stranded, scrambling helplessly the wrong way.

And it finds the back of the net!

The net rippled.

For a heartbeat, there was silence— as if the stadium itself needed a moment to process what had just happened.

Then White Hart Lane erupted.

"Zidane provides the assist, and Manchester City take the lead! What a magnificent trivela from Zinedine Zidane! And what incredible first-touch control from Ronaldinho!"

The commentator’s voice rose with excitement as the replay flashed across the stadium screens.

"Newcastle United’s defenders were completely focused on tracking the ball’s flight. But Zidane showed world-class awareness. The moment he released the pass, Ronaldinho had already started his run—as if he knew exactly what was going to happen!"

The crowd roared as the Brazilian magician celebrated his moment of brilliance.

"In the 38th minute of the first half, Ronaldinho calmly slots the ball into the net! Manchester City are in front!"

After scoring, Ronaldinho sprinted toward the corner flag. With a wide grin spread across his face, he broke into a playful samba dance, his feet moving rhythmically as if the football pitch had turned into a carnival stage.

The nearby City supporters erupted into thunderous cheers, many jumping wildly, their faces flushed with excitement and disbelief at the beauty of the goal. Some fans even mimicked Ronaldinho’s dance, turning the stands into a sea of bouncing blue and white.

On the sidelines, Mourinho let out a long breath as he wiped sweat from his forehead. The tension that had been building inside him finally eased—at least for the moment. The team had taken the lead.

It wasn’t a goal born from sustained positional domination, but Mourinho didn’t care. In modern football, set-pieces were often the difference between victory and defeat, and today, that tactical weapon had struck perfectly.

He folded his arms, his sharp eyes scanning the pitch again. The match was far from over. Newcastle United would surely respond, and protecting the lead would require discipline and composure.

Still, deep inside, Mourinho allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction.

That curled trivela tho...

He exhaled slowly, his sharp eyes never leaving the pitch. The match was far from decided. One goal meant nothing if concentration slipped for even a second.

But still...

The plan had worked.