Football Dynasty

Chapter 160: Scotland Short Tour End

The first goal against Raith Rovers F.C. came in the 65th minute, with Henrik Larsson opening the scoring.

The initial formation was 4-4-2, but O’Neill later substituted Larsson to prepare for a clash with Hearts and switched the formation to 4-3-3, with Ronaldo up front.

Zambrotta, who played as the right winger, truly impressed in the second half. He capitalized on Raith’s players’ lack of fitness, continually outpacing them throughout the match.

His main attributes were his pace, marking ability, tackling, strength, and stamina, which allowed him to make surging, overlapping attacking runs up the flank with the ball after winning back possession.

On the right flank, he was always a threat, as Richard could see the left back of Raith practically gasping for air, having just returned from a long off-season break, meaning their fitness was still lacking.

It wasn’t until the 79th minute that another goal came, with Ronaldo scoring from a corner kick by Neil Lennon.

The second half finally ended with City winning the match 2-0, with goals from Larsson and Ronaldo.

After the match with Raith Rovers, the next day City immediately departed from Kirkcaldy to Edinburgh.

The team bus arrived at Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh, and the players and coaching staff immediately checked into the hotel ahead of that night’s training session.

There were still two days remaining before the match against Heart of Midlothian Football Club, commonly known as Hearts.

While Richard was on a call with Fay, discussing matters related to Maddox Auto, then a knock sounded at the door.

It was O’Neill.

"What is it?" Richard asked, ending his call.

"Did I disturb you, Chairman?"

Richard shook his head. "No, it’s fine."

Personally, he never saw himself as being above anyone else just because they worked for him. That attitude made people around him feel comfortable in his presence.

However, his quirks occasionally left others speechless—such as his adamant refusal to give his manager full control over transfers.

This sometimes made O’Neill think twice about continuing the partnership. Thankfully, more than half of the players he had requested had been signed, so for now, he had no complaints about Richard personally.

"Chairman, do you really think three strikers are enough to get us through a 52-match season?"

Richard’s eyes flicked up sharply.

He recognized that tone—it was O’Neill easing into a transfer request. And to be fair, the man had a point.

Three strikers for an English campaign, especially with cup competitions and the kind of physical toll it brings, was cutting it close. More so with O’Neill’s preference for a classic 4-4-2, which often required two forwards starting every match.

"You’ve got someone in mind?"

O’Neill shook his head. "Not yet. But I’d rather we start scouting early than scramble in January when we’re thin and desperate."

No begging, no politics—just a quiet statement of footballing logic. And he respected that.

"Is there a specific type you’re looking for?"

"Someone reliable—just like Larsson," he said. "Not flashy, not fragile. I don’t need a superstar—I need a worker. Strong in the air, good with his back to goal, and if possible, someone who can spot gaps in the opposing defense."

"What kind of gaps? Like Ronaldo—dribbling past defenders and exploiting space? Or like Ole—who’s always in the right place inside the box?"

"Is there a second Ronaldo out there?"

"..."

This time, Richard shut his mouth.

"Fine then, I’ll start looking for your player," Richard said. "By the way, Martin, let me tell you something."

Richard then informed O’Neill about Marina Granovskaia’s future role.

From now on, if he needed anything related to players, he could contact Marina directly—there was no need to go through him anymore.

This made O’Neill frown, but Richard stopped him before he could say anything.

"I know you have many questions, but let’s save that for now—until we go back to Maine Road."

With no other choice, O’Neill reluctantly left Richard’s room, his mind filled with unanswered questions.

For the next match, O’Neill still used his favorite 4-4-2 formation.

GK: Richard Wright

Defenders: Richard Jobson, Materazzi, William Gallas, Steve Finnan.

Midfielders: Neil Lennon, Jackie McNamara, Theodoros Zagorakis, Gianluca Zambrotta

Forwards: Henrik Larsson, Solskjær

The only change was that Robbie Savage was not included, as his position was taken by Jackie McNamara, and Ferdinand was also replaced by Materazzi.

Unlike the match against Raith Rovers, where the pitch was wet and slippery, the ground this time was dry, allowing O’Neill to confidently test the pressing strategy he had employed the previous season.

From the opening whistle, City took control.

Larsson was the key.

In the previous match, it was Solskjær who dropped deeper to collect the ball, but this time O’Neill wanted to use Larsson to test his vision and footballing intelligence, making him a key link between midfield and attack.

Larsson’s role for this match was twofold. First, he was tasked with connecting with the midfielders, especially in tight spaces, and creating chances both for himself and his teammates. Second, O’Neill encouraged him to play freely, stretch the defense, and create opportunities, which he did, often delivering key moments.

Finally, in the 30th minute, Manchester City found the breakthrough.

McNamara had the ball just inside Hearts’ half, calmly surveying the field. He spotted Steve Finnan making an overlapping run on the right, played it out wide, and instantly demanded the return pass.

McNamara obliged, laying the ball back to Neil Lennon, who shifted his weight and clipped a delicate pass forward into space for Finnan.

The Irishman exploded forward, leaving the Hearts’ left-back scrambling to catch up.

Richard stood up immediately. This was it.

Finnan cut inside onto his right foot, curling a shot toward the far post.

It looked perfect.

For a moment, it seemed like it was bending into the net—

Until Hearts’ keeper reacted. He dived low, stretching fully to his right, and got just enough fingertips on the ball to tip it wide.

The City bench groaned in frustration.

Richard groaned too.

That was until, out of nowhere, Henrik Larsson appeared on the scene, charging into the box like a man on a mission.

With a burst of speed, he was there—right in front of the loose ball. Without hesitation, Larsson smashed it with all his might.

The Hearts goalkeeper, already down from his earlier save, could do little more than flail helplessly. The power behind Larsson’s shot left him no chance.

The ball flew past him, hitting the back of the net with a satisfying thud.

"Henrik Larsson!!!"

Larsson stood still for a moment, his arms slightly raised in acknowledgment. His usual composed celebration. He gave a quick glance to his teammates and offered a brief nod, as if to say, "Job done," before turning back toward the center circle.

People gave a polite round of applause, acknowledging the quality of the strike, but without the usual frenzy. After all, this was only a friendly.

With City pinning Hearts deep in their own half, Richard had already shifted his focus elsewhere. Confident the result was secure, he reached into his bag and pulled out a thick, slightly worn worn notebook marked "CONFIDENTIAL: TRANSFER LISTS."

Inside were handwritten notes, scouting reports, and clippings—names he had circled, underlined, and starred. His eyes scanned the pages methodically. These were the players he believed could shape City’s future

"This is how I usually run things. Every player, every scout report—it’s all in this notebook," Richard said before opening the leather-bound book. "Each player we’re tracking is listed here: name, age, position, current club, contract details—whatever we can gather."

He flipped to an old page: Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima — Striker — Cruzeiro.

"Scouts send their reports by mail or telex. Sometimes they call it in, and we jot it down here. You’ll need to get good at deciphering a scout’s handwriting."

"GOAALLL!"

A roar from the stands and a wave of applause briefly interrupted their conversation.

Richard glanced up with a small smile, then turned his attention back to Marina.

"If you and O’Neill have already agreed on a player," he said, picking up where he left off, "you can request the VHS tapes. If we have footage in City’s archive, you can review it immediately. If not, you’ll need to file a request through the scout database. Study it. Know what you’re seeing."

He slid over another folder.

"Here’s the club’s working transfer list. It’s short on purpose—I want a maximum of five targets at any given time. If O’Neill wants someone, he comes to you first. If you approve it, add the name here, or consult with me first."

After looking at how Richard did it, Marina nodded.

"And don’t forget: the FA’s rules matter. We’re limited in how many non-EU players we can sign. So you keep a separate list of South Americans or Africans who hold dual passports. The scouts might miss it—you can’t."

Marina nodded, flipping through the list, her mind already processing it.

"Now," Richard said suddenly, turning to Marina Granovskaia. "O’Neill has requested another striker for his team. I’ll give you the freedom to choose the player you want to sign. Once you’ve done your analysis, bring it to me, and I’ll review it."

Marina instantly became serious and nodded, determined to prove herself.