Football Dynasty-Chapter 187: Suspicious People in the Stands

Manchester City was set to face Leicester City on December 22, and with both teams neck-and-neck in the league table, there was no reason for either side to hold back.

City wanted to top the league, while Leicester City was chasing a playoff spot. With the holiday fixture congestion looming, this match could very well tip the balance for the rest of the season.

As the players warmed up under the overcast skies of the Filbert Street Stadium, Emile Heskey jogged across the pitch, a quiet smile forming as he spotted a few familiar faces in the Manchester City lineup.

He exchanged quick handshakes and brief embraces with former teammates, the camaraderie still lingering despite the club switch.

Then, standing near the technical area, Martin O’Neill—his former manager—offered a nod and a knowing smile.

Heskey walked over, and the two shared a firm handshake, followed by a few words that only they could hear, rich with history and mutual respect.

O’Neill gave him a brief pat on the back, a gesture that spoke volumes. The moment was brief, but heartfelt—proof that while clubs change, some football connections never fade.

Back to the match, O’Neill opted to field his strongest lineup, and Leicester City did the same.

Mark McGhee, Leicester’s current manager, had clearly studied Manchester City’s tactics. He didn’t want his team to expend too much energy attacking recklessly, so he allowed them to sit back tightly in defense.

They started the game cautiously, aiming to control the pace and wait for counterattacking opportunities to secure a win.

Thus, Manchester City came out swinging right from the start. They knew they had to seize the momentum—and they did.

With relentless sprints and rapid-fire passing, they played on the front foot, pushing the game’s tempo to an electrifying, almost uncontrollable level.

"We exploit Julian Watts today—attack down the left side. Ronaldo, you will be the main threat cutting inside and creating chances. Keep the pressure high and look for openings."

The makeshift duo of Simon Grayson and Julian Watts have been deployed at the back due to a spate of minor injuries among their regular defenders. This has forced manager Mark McGhee to field the inexperienced Watts. So it’s no surprise where City’s attackers will look to exploit—right through the heart of that fragile defense.

That was O’Neill’s instruction before the match began.

Leicester City are trying to contain Manchester City’s attack, but City’s relentless pressing is leaving them overwhelmed. They’re now scrambling defensively, and even Mark Robins, Leicester’s key player and main creative outlet, has been forced to drop deeper and contribute defensively.

Well, even if he goes all out on the attack, Robins remains completely isolated from the game. Robbie Savage’s tight marking has been spot on, denying him any space or time on the ball, limiting Robins to mainly defensive contributions.

Leicester City are using a 5-4-1 formation, while City stick to a 4-2-2 setup. Since Leicester are sitting deep, O’Neill needs his players’ creativity to pull defenders out of position and open up space for others to attack.

At the 41st minute, once again Leicester City successfully thwarted a Manchester City attack.

For the past 40 minutes, the strike duo of Ronaldo and Larsson have struggled to find space up front, largely because Leicester’s midfielders have been sitting deep and focusing on defense. This crowded space has stifled their creativity in attack, making it difficult for City’s forwards to find space or service.

This situation ultimately continued until the end of the first half, which concluded with the score still level.

City had fought hard, creating chances but failing to find a breakthrough. Their main players and fans were growing increasingly frustrated with Leicester City’s defensive style of play.

PHWEEE!

In the second half, the first five minutes unfolded much like before—tight and cautious.

O’Neill knew it was time to make a change.

He was ready to bring on Solskjær, hoping to rely on the young striker’s intelligence and knack for finding space to unlock Leicester’s stubborn defense.

As Solskjær warmed up on the sideline, two figures seated quietly in the velvet-lined VIP section suddenly lit up with interest. Had Richard been present, he would have recognized them instantly.

One was Martin Edwards, the Chairman of Manchester United—a powerful figure in English football and a man deeply involved in shaping United’s transfer dealings during the ’90s.

Next to him sat someone far less known to the casual fan but no less significant: Jim Solbakken, the Norwegian agent of the Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær!

Martin Edwards leaned closer to Jim Solbakken, lowering his voice just enough to avoid catching the attention of those around them.

"Is it him?" Edwards asked, eyes fixed on Solskjær warming up on the sideline.

Jim nodded with a small smile. "Yes, that’s Solskjær—the one Ferguson wants. Quiet, smart, deadly in front of goal. Perfect fit for United."

Edwards said nothing. Of course, as his agent, Solbakken would praise his player. For him, however, Edwards wasn’t convinced.

What kind of player could you get from the second tier?

He’d rather spend millions on established stars like Newcastle United’s Les Ferdinand, Aston Villa’s Dion Dublin, or Chelsea’s Mark Hughes.

Manchester City? Hah!

Ole Gunnar Solskjær? Who was he?

Still, he was curious—why was Ferguson so adamant about signing him?

PHWEEEE!

As the referee blew the whistle for a goal kick, Larsson jogged off, and Solskjær stepped onto the pitch, his eyes scanning the field with quiet intensity.

Soon the match began.

O’Neill on the sideline frowned as he thought for a moment before yelling, "Go, Neil, Jackie! Leave the back to Robbie, you two move forward with Ronaldo and Ole!"

Neil Lennon, hearing this, did not bother to respond as he saw the ball. He received it and passed it toward the left.

Dropping back, Ronaldo controlled the ball, pausing briefly before darting forward.

"Julian! Come back, don’t go too far!" Simon Grayson, Leicester’s central back, shouted, watching Ronaldo glide the ball dangerously close to their penalty area while Julian Watts was caught out wide, too focused on Ronaldo.

The inexperienced Julian Watts instinctively followed Ronaldo when he got the ball, even though Ronaldo was closely marked by the right-back.

Thanks to this, Ronaldo managed to pull two defenders toward him at once and quickly flicked the ball forward, allowing his teammates to exploit the space he created.

Watts was stunned as the ball suddenly disappeared from Ronaldo’s feet. As he turned, he was instantly shocked to see Solskjær already rushing toward the ball.

Ronaldo had passed it just as he was distracted by Grayson’s shout.

Watts could only complain silently toward Grayson in his heart at that moment.

Solskjær received the ball, but seeing Grayson already dropping into a defensive stance, cutting off both his left and right routes, he had no choice but to hesitate and slow down.

For a brief second, it seemed the attack had stalled.

But while all eyes were locked on Solskjær, Cafu quietly drifted a few steps away from his marker—the Leicester left-back—lurking just at the edge of the defender’s blind spot. Then, with perfect timing, he suddenly bolted forward into space.

Solskjær spotted the run immediately and didn’t hesitate. With a deft touch, he slipped a perfectly weighted pass through the narrow channel between Grayson and the backline.

Cafu surged onto it, his pace carrying him past the scrambling left-back.

As Cafu entered the box from the right flank, a wave of blue shirts closed in.

Just when it looked like he was about to take the shot, he stopped abruptly, causing his marker to slide helplessly past him.

With a quick feint and a calm breath, Cafu cut the ball back toward the center of the box.

Neil Lennon was the first to respond, but two Leicester players were also closing in rapidly, anticipating a quick shot.

Everyone in the stadium held their breath—this was the moment.

Then, just as the ball rolled into Neil Lennon’s path and the defenders braced for a strike, he did something unexpected.

He spread his legs wide—letting the ball roll cleanly between them. It was a dummy. A perfectly timed, perfectly disguised dummy.

The Leicester defenders, caught flat-footed by the trick, lunged too late as the ball glided untouched through Lennon’s legs.

"Solskjær’s there! What a brilliant bit of teamwork—and a clever pass by Cafu and trick by Neil Lennon to set it up!"

But by then it was already too late. Now, as the ball slipped through Lennon’s legs, the space was open—and Solskjær was already on the move.

Solskjær, who had passed to Cafu moments earlier, had deliberately hung back—just outside the penalty area—rather than charging straight in. He had read the game, predicted the movement, and positioned himself perfectly for the moment.

Solskjær didn’t rush. He didn’t panic. Without even looking toward the goalkeeper—his eyes focused solely on the ball—he drilled a low, thunderous shot toward the far post.

The Leicester keeper didn’t even react, completely fooled by the teamwork between Neil Lennon and Solskjær. All he could do was watch helplessly as the ball curled past him.

It kissed the inside of the post and rippled the back of the net.

GOAL!

The stadium erupted as Manchester City finally broke through Leicester’s defensive wall.

It wasn’t just a goal—it was a masterclass in movement, awareness, and team chemistry. And at the heart of it all? Solskjær’s patience. Lennon’s brilliance. Cafu’s precision.

A goal built on intelligence and chemistry—not just instinct.

With City leading 1-0, O’Neill made a tactical change, bringing on Theodoros Zagorakis and the energetic 18-year-old Keith Gillespie, replacing Robbie Savage and Jackie McNamara.

The hope was that Gillespie’s youthful vigor and Zagorakis’s defensive prowess would help press and inject fresh energy into the game for City.

Unexpectedly, Gillespie immediately made his mark at Maine Road.

City continued to dominate possession, moving the ball with growing confidence. Roberto Carlos intercepted a poor clearance and quickly passed to Ronaldo. Ronaldo, in turn, squared the ball to Solskjær at the center of the box.

With deft skill, Solskjær lofted the ball just outside the penalty area toward Gillespie, who was making a swift run toward the center.

Without hesitation, Gillespie unleashed a thunderous strike from 25 yards out.

The ball swerved wildly past the Leicester keeper and crashed into the net.

The stadium erupted as the young winger announced himself in spectacular fashion—a screamer that sent a clear message: Manchester City was not done yet.

Manchester City 2 - 0 Leicester City

City dominated the opening minutes after the restart, dictating the pace and forcing Leicester to scramble after the ball.

In the 88th minute, finally, as City relentlessly pushed forward, Leicester’s defense showed a hint of vulnerability. A brief lapse in concentration, a sudden shift in tempo—and space appeared like a golden opportunity.

Cafu’s sharp eyes caught it instantly. With pinpoint precision, he threaded a perfectly weighted through-ball slicing through Leicester’s backline.

Solskjær controlled it with calm finesse, then with one swift touch, he sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The net bulged.

Two goals and one assist for Solskjær — a performance destined to earn him man of the match honors.

The roar from the stands was deafening as City stamped their authority on the game and on the night.

Game over.

O’Neill clenched his fists before loosening them helplessly.

The current director of football, Marina Granovskaia, had already briefed him about Manchester United’s growing intent to sign Solskjær in the upcoming winter transfer window.

The question now loomed heavily over Martin O’Neill’s mind—could he really keep Solskjær?

For the first time in his managerial career, O’Neill found himself with a different kind of headache. Usually, he was stressed because he didn’t have enough strikers. But this time, his problem was the opposite—every striker at Manchester City was in top form.

Larsson had been consistent. Ronaldo was electrifying. And Solskjær—ice-cold in the box. Adding with Shevchenko starting to get used to the pace of the Premier League, and Trezeguet going all out in training, it’s getting harder and harder.

Together, they didn’t just form a strike force—they were a nightmare for any defense.

O’Neill could only sigh as he silently prepared to lose one of his trump cards.