Football Dynasty

Chapter 99: Important Milestones

"Manchester City have made three changes during the break as we head into the second half here at Maine Road. Emile Heskey is off for Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Tony Grant makes way for Keith Curle, and Paul Lake—who picked up an injury in the first half—is replaced by Ian Ferguson. Looks like the manager is looking to shake things up after a tough opening 45 minutes," the commentator announced.

21 Emile Heskey ⇄ 31 Ole Gunnar Solskjær

10 Tony Grant ⇄ 4 Keith Curle

22 Paul Lake ⇄ 24 Ian Ferguson

As both teams’ players emerged from the tunnel, the home and away coaches stood at the sidelines.

O’Neill, with his jacket unbuttoned and hands in his pockets, wore an impassive expression. Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce summoned his team’s captain, ominously lecturing him about something. His expression was fierce enough to suggest he wanted to devour him whole.

The referee soon blew his whistle, and the match started with a Blackpool kick-off.

Allardyce’s players charged forward from the very first minute, as if fueled by steroids, a subtle smirk forming on his lips.

The cheers of City fans echoed endlessly in Maine Road Stadium, and the match seemed overwhelmingly one-sided after it began. Blackpool’s attacks came in waves, with the ball spending most of its time flying around City’s half.

"Roberto!" O’Neill shouted toward the left-back, who was sprinting down the field in front of him.

"Remember my instructions," he yelled. "And don’t forget to pass them on to the rest."

"Yes, coach," Roberto Carlos nodded.

As the match progressed into the second half, Manchester City finally cashed in on their superior possession.

Richard sighed again and again at the effectiveness of O’Neill’s halftime message—it had clearly made a difference. All the players were focused, playing with ambition while taking minimal risks as they bore down on Blackpool’s defense.

Now Richard could see they were showcasing great teamwork, exchanging short passes and executing one-twos, waiting patiently to unlock Blackpool’s defense and hit them swiftly on the break.

He remembered what O’Neill had told him before the season began: ’If players are allowed to attack recklessly, the defense will inevitably become disjointed. That’s why, in the early stages, overall defense is crucial. Every player is part of the defensive system, so building defensive awareness and chemistry must come first. For now, my priority is spacing—each player needs to stay connected and maintain close contact with the teammates around them.’

This is why, despite Keith Curle’s good passing and defensive capabilities, he didn’t meet O’Neill’s standards for spatial awareness. In the end, Ian Ferguson was brought in on loan from Rangers.

In the 66th minute, the change finally came. Richard instantly stood up.

Roberto Carlos and Cafu were relentless down the flanks, surging up the left and right sides like men on a mission. Their overlapping runs stretched Blackpool’s defensive shape wider and wider, pulling it apart and creating the very opening City had been waiting for.

With space finally carved open, Keith Curle spotted the gap and slipped a sharp pass into midfield, where Ronaldo had dropped deep to receive.

Ronaldo took a quick glance over his shoulder and scanned the field — and there it was: Solskjær, making a perfectly timed run straight between the two center-backs. He knew exactly what to do.

In one fluid motion, he sold the illusion. He looked to his left, making his marker believe he was about to pass to Steve Lomas, who was already waiting in space. But instead, as the ball arrived, Ronaldo simply nudged it forward with the outside of his foot—a gentle, effortless touch.

The ball slid through the middle with pinpoint precision. The center-backs failed to track Solskjær’s run in time, and by the time they reacted, the ball had already reached him.

Solskjær latched onto it in full stride, taking just one touch before firing. With the goalkeeper rushing out and diving to cover his near post, Solskjær calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, past the keeper’s outstretched arm.

In one fluid motion, he sold the illusion. His eyes shifted to the left, drawing his marker into believing he was about to pass to Steve Lomas, already waiting in space. But as the ball arrived, Ronaldo didn’t hesitate. With a subtle flick of the outside of his foot, he nudged it forward.

Simple, effortless and precise.

The pass slipped cleanly through the gap, cutting straight through the heart of the defense. The center-backs were caught off guard—only then did they realize the middle had been left wide open.

By the time they reacted, Solskjær was already in behind. He latched onto the ball in full stride, taking just one touch before firing.

With the goalkeeper rushing out and diving to cover his near post, Solskjær calmly slotted the ball into the far corner, past the keeper’s outstretched arm.

"And it’s in! Solskjær finishes a brilliant move! Ronaldo with the vision, the weight, the touch—perfection! The defense stood still, and the keeper had no chance!" the commentator roared over the noise of the stadium.

In the stands, Maine Road exploded. Fans leapt from their seats, scarves waving in the air, the roar of celebration surging like a wave across the terraces.

"We’re Not Really Here~" chants rang out, drowning even the commentator’s voice for a moment.

On the opposite touchline, Allardyce was fuming. His face turned a deeper shade of red as he barked orders, but no one seemed to listen—his fury swallowed whole by the chaos of celebration, as Solskjær had already slid on his knees, carving a trail across the grass.

Richard clenched his fists and let out a roar, matching the eruption of the crowd around him. Finally, Manchester City had managed to score their first goal

1:0

After this goal, City began to relax and play with more openness.

"If you’re drunk you will die, if you don’t drink you will die, so it’s better to be drunk than be sober when you die... just like the fans of the invisible man... we’re not really here".

From the 66th minute until the final whistle, the City fans never stopped singing. The score may not have changed, but the atmosphere stayed electric—because it marked the end of a painful 19-match winless streak, and for the fans, that alone was worth every cheer.

Unfortunately for Richard, he didn’t get to see the match through to the final whistle.

In the 88th minute, he had to leave the stadium early and make his way to Birmingham—more precisely, to the Solihull Plant, the heart of Land Rover production and the administrative headquarters of Rover.

The reason was simple: Alan Mulally, the man who had saved Ford from the brink of collapse, had finally accepted their offer to become CEO, and today marked his internal introduction and alignment.

When a new CEO is appointed, they typically host a presentation to introduce themselves, share their vision, and set the tone for their leadership. After that, they meet with key executives and departments—through one-on-one or group meetings—to understand the company’s current position and challenges.

Since it was a company-wide presentation, he as the largest shareholder of course his attendance was essential.

The drive to Solihull Plant took about 1 hour and 45 minutes, and he set off in his Porsche, cutting through the motorway traffic with purpose.

As he settled in behind the wheel, he tuned into the radio.

[The Camelot Group consortium wins the contract to run the UK’s first National Lottery...]

"Ah no, I’ve already given up betting," Richard mumbled as he changed the channel.

Click!

[...The first MORI poll since Tony Blair became Labour Party leader gives him a massive boost in his ambition to become Prime Minister, with his party polling at 56%—a 33-point lead over the Conservatives...]

Richard fell silent as political chatter buzzed from the speakers. Behind the wheel, his eyes stayed fixed on the road, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Politics.

Not something he usually bothered with—yet it was everywhere. And increasingly, it felt important. Especially for a man like him: a businessman and now, the owner of a football club.

A shift was coming. And with it, economic policy, labor relations, public spending—everything would change. Industries like automotive, real estate, even media would be right in the crosshairs.

New taxes? New regulations? Or perhaps... new opportunities?

He didn’t know yet.

"Hmm... politics," Richard muttered, tapping the steering wheel thoughtfully.

’Would it hurt to start building political connections? Or maybe even dive in deeper?’

He shrugged.

"Nah. Let’s focus on Rover for now." Richard dismissed the thought—for now.

Click!

Another channel change.

[...Korean industrial giant Daewoo announces plans to enter the British car market next year, offering budget-friendly models like the Matiz, Lanos, Nubira, and Leganza...]

Now this was interesting—a new rival entering the market, one that could pose a real threat to Rover’s position. But Richard quickly brushed it aside. In his eyes, Daewoo was a fleeting presence in the automotive world. No real threat—at least, not in the long run.

[...The Daily Telegraph becomes the first national newspaper in Britain to launch an online edition, the Electronic Telegraph. Around 600,000 UK households now have internet access...]

"Ah yes... the internet," Richard murmured.

He made a mental note: United States.

Amazon, Yahoo, AltaVista, Netscape, Lycos... so many companies would rise and fall. Richard believed that in just five years, the right investments in them could earn him billions. The dot-com boom was calling

And he’d also received an invitation from Vince McMahon to attend WrestleMania this year. Maybe it was time to go.

The channel change. _{𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂}

[...Huddersfield Town officially move into their new all-seater Alfred McAlpine Stadium, which opens with a capacity of 16,000, set to expand to 20,000...]

"Finally—football," Richard smiled, eyes back on the road, as the radio hummed on in the background.

[... Tottenham Hotspur’s 12-point penalty is reduced to 6 points on appeal at a Football Association hearing, while the £600,000 fine is increased to £1.5 million and the FA Cup ban remains in place...]

[...19-year-old striker Robbie Fowler scores a hat-trick for Liverpool in less than five minutes as they beat Arsenal 3–0 in the league at Anfield...]

Time passed, the sun dipped lower, and Richard finally arrived at the Rover Solihull Plant. The massive complex loomed ahead, its iconic façade a symbol of British automotive legacy. As he approached the main gate, he slowed his Porsche, eyes scanning the scene.

The parking lot was already packed—dozens of vehicles lined up neatly, from executive saloons to workers’ hatchbacks. Security personnel in hi-vis jackets directed traffic.

Just beyond the entrance, a small crowd of reporters and camera crews had gathered, their equipment aimed toward the front of the main building. Flashes popped intermittently, capturing glimpses of arriving executives.

It was no surprise. Rover was more than just a car company—it was a national brand, one of the last true symbols of British automotive identity. And today, with the arrival of a new CEO, the media buzzed like bees in a hive.

Richard pulled into his reserved spot near the executive entrance and stepped out of his car. He walked past the reporters, offering only a polite nod. The path he took was part of a private route, separated from the public entrance, allowing him to bypass the main crowd and slip quietly inside.

[INT. ROVER SOLIHULL PLANT – TOWN HALL – 1994 – DAY]

Mulally steps up to a modest podium. No fancy stage, just a large Rover logo behind him and a room full of curious faces—engineers, plant workers, managers, a few journalists. He adjusts the mic slightly and smiles.

"Morning, everyone."

Alan Mulally’s voice rang clear through the hall. A sea of employees, engineers, and executives sat quietly, their eyes fixed on him.

"First off—thank you for being here." He offered a small smile. "I know it’s been a tough stretch. Rough headlines. Tougher boardroom talks..."

Laughter rippled across the room.

"But through all of it, you’ve kept this place running. You’ve kept Rover moving. I didn’t come all the way from the States to just sit in an office and juggle paperwork. I came here because I believe—truly believe—that Rover can be great again. Not just surviving. Thriving. So, let’s talk about how."

He gestured casually to a simple slide: "One Rover."

"Right now, we’ve got great pieces: Rover, MG, Land Rover, Mini. But let’s be honest—they’re not always working together. Sometimes, they compete more with each other than with the rest of the world. That’s gotta change."

He paused. The silence in the room grew dense with anticipation.

"From today forward, we move as one company. One team. One direction."

Another slide lit up: "Working Together."

"Now listen—this won’t be easy. But we’re going to do it the right way. Together. Every week, we’re going to sit down—me, the execs, your team leaders—and look at the business. What’s working. What’s not. If something’s off—if it’s red—that’s okay. We’re not here to point fingers. We’re here to fix it. I don’t believe in secrets or silos. I believe in solving problems, side by side."

He clicked again. Final slide: "The Future Is Ours to Build."

"I know the road behind us hasn’t been easy. But I’ve seen what this company is made of. The pride. The craftsmanship. The history. And I know what we can do if we pull together."

He looked across the room, his voice quieter now—more personal.

"Let’s build a Rover we’re proud to pass on to the next generation. Thank you for your time. Let’s get to work."

He stepped away from the podium.

For a moment, silence.

Then—clap.

Another.

And then the entire room erupted into applause. A standing ovation followed. Cameras flashed. Journalists scribbled furiously.

But in the back of the room, Richard stood quietly with his arms crossed. His face gave nothing away.

He turned and walked toward the executive wing. There, behind closed doors, a one-on-one meeting with Mulally was waiting. And that, Richard knew, was where the real conversation would begin.

Richard and Mr. Kiyoshi Kawashima—the two main shareholders of Rover Group—sat across the table. Richard was the personal owner, and Mr. Kawashima represented Honda, which held a 20% stake in Rover. In front of them, Alan Mulally began to pitch his plan in more detail.

"We’ll trim down the model lineup. No more flooding the market with cars that don’t sell. We’ll focus on what people actually love to drive," Mulally said confidently.

"And which model are you referring to, Mr. Mulally? As far as I know, our cars are still selling well in the market," Richard asked.

Mulally shook his head. "Yes, they are selling—but we need to set a standard. Especially with Rover’s current condition, our priority is financial stabilization. First, secure capital and reduce waste. Then we can save costs through shared R&D and procurement. More focused marketing and brand positioning will also help."

Mr. Kawashima shook his head. "Rover’s financial situation doesn’t allow for any more wasted money on marketing, Mr. Mulally."

"That’s why we’ll trim the current model range to only those with strong sales," Mulally replied, handing them a document. Richard’s eyebrows raised as he scanned through it.

Mark II, Rover 200, Rover 400, and Rover Metro—models that had been in production since 1984—were all on the proposed cut list.

"You want to cut these models? You do realize our best-selling cars come from this line, right?" Richard asked in surprise, pointing at the Rover Metro.

Mulally nodded. "The Mark II, 200, and 400—yes. We’ll drop overlapping or outdated models. But for the Metro, we’re not scrapping the car itself—we’re scrapping the nameplate. We’ll relaunch it as a new brand."

He continued, "Mechanically, it stays similar—1.1 and 1.4 petrol engines, Hydragas suspension—but now we’ll offer a Peugeot-sourced 1.5 diesel instead of the old 1.4. The exterior will get an update to freshen its look, improve cooling for the diesel, and adopt a smaller version of Rover’s family grille. We’ll fit new bumpers, sill covers, boot handle, headlamps, bonnet, and grille."

Richard nodded. He didn’t fully grasp the technical stuff, but it sounded impressive. He made a mental note to study more later. For now, it was Mr. Kawashima’s turn.

Mr. Kawashima frowned as he flipped through the document Mulally had handed him. "This is indeed feasible," he said slowly, "but once again, if we want to create a new brand identity, that means new costs..."

He was referring to everything needed for a proper relaunch: R&D and engineering, tooling and manufacturing setup, regulatory compliance, certification, the initial production run, inventory—and of course, branding and marketing.

Mulally said, his expression turning serious. "That’s why we need to take a calculated risk. For short-term funding, I suggest we leverage Rover’s brand value and UK real estate to secure long-term credit lines first."

Richard and Mr. Kawashima exchanged glances.

"What exactly do you want to do? Tell us the full plan," Richard said.

"First, we push for lean manufacturing and implement a just-in-time inventory system. We cancel outdated, poor-selling models. Then, we double down on Mini and Land Rover as premium sub-brands—Mini as a modern, urban lifestyle car, and Land Rover as a luxury off-road brand. We’ll also improve interior quality and durability, partnering with Honda to enhance our quality..."

And so, for the next six hours, Richard stayed at the Solihull plant, discussing the rebirth of the UK’s only flagship automaker once more.