Football Dynasty-Chapter 288: No Henry? No Ronaldo? We still have Shevchenko!

"Oh Chelsea, Chelsea, you’ve lost your way out of West London!~"

"Bragging about bringing in the Footballer of the Year—how enviable!~"

Coming with supermodels and little stars, you must be jealous! Unbuckle your belts and let loose; let’s have fun together!~"

Fewer than two thousand Manchester City fans were huddled in the corner of Stamford Bridge, but their voices were no less powerful than the Chelsea faithful. As they sang, fists clenched and hearts stung across the home stands — because, deep down, the chants struck a nerve.

To some extent, the mockery from City’s fans simply laid bare an uncomfortable truth.

Chelsea’s supporters had traditionally come from working-class backgrounds. But as property prices in West London soared, many of those original, blue-collar fans were gradually pushed out — forced to "leave home" and move further south.

The heart of Chelsea’s support was being displaced, not by footballing failure, but by economic reality.

Now, the surrounding Stamford Bridge now were mostly affluent residents — stockbrokers, executives, and professionals in tailored suits. In the UK, football straddles both ends of the cultural spectrum: it’s the people’s game, yet also a spectacle embraced by the elite.

In cosmopolitan London, football had become more than just a sport — it was a social experience, so it wasn’t uncommon to see wealthy individuals bringing their supermodel partners to matches as a way of partaking in "authentic" British culture.

Some even conducted business from the stands, treating the stadium as both a boardroom and a catwalk. While this trend elevated the image of the crowd, it also left many traditional fans feeling sidelined — as though something essential had been lost.

It was a shift that mirrored broader frustrations in English football — much like how many supporters criticized Manchester United for embracing aggressive commercialization.

The game was changing, and not everyone was on board.

Just like in today’s match, even though City were playing away, it felt as if they were at home. Their dominance on the pitch and the relentless pressure they exerted only added fuel to the fire, empowering their away fans to mock the home supporters even more loudly.

Of course Chelsea fans were passionate, but they divided.

Some cherished the club’s gritty, working-class history, while others embraced the new era of European-style football and glamour. Chants and songs still echoed the traditional terrace culture, but a shift in tone was becoming increasingly noticeable: polite applause from the West Stand contrasted with the louder, more vocal support coming from the Shed End and the East Stand.

The current Chelsea crowd had become synonymous with a more "cool" and cosmopolitan image. As the club’s profile rose, so did the demographic of its fanbase—attracting more middle- and upper-class supporters, including celebrities and corporate guests. It was a different Chelsea from the one that would emerge later under Roman Abramovich’s reign.

The match, shortly after the second half began, became dull, as Chelsea were trapped and forced to park the bus, relying solely on counter-attacks.

In this match, Zanetti and Capdevila were relentless—constantly sprinting up and down the flanks—which kept Clarke and Minto pinned back. They couldn’t venture forward, too occupied with anticipating the overlapping runs.

City were in the lead and trying to close the game out. Their defensive line was holding high, leaving Chelsea breathless and mentally fatigued, as they had to focus entirely on defense.

Sitting just in front of the back line, Pirlo drifted into space near the halfway line to receive the ball.

No one was marking him tightly.

That was because, up until this point, Pirlo had only played short, simple passes. His presence seemed weak and unthreatening, which led Dennis Wise to overlook him as a danger.

And that was where they got it wrong.

Even when he didn’t have the ball, Pirlo was constantly scanning the field—never stopping, always calculating. Every time he received a pass, he immediately lifted his head, looking for options. Earlier in the match, it had been difficult. Chelsea’s penalty area was crowded, and passing lanes were hard to find.

But now, he saw the gap.

He spotted Andriy Shevchenko making a diagonal run between two defenders, curling in behind the line—right where the space had finally opened.

The unmarked Pirlo received a pass from Neil Lennon, who had been struggling to find a breakthrough. The barrier created by Chelsea’s players was simply too tight—there was no space to thread a ball through the middle.

With the central lanes blocked, City were forced to circulate possession from side to side, patiently moving the ball left and right in search of an opening.

Pirlo took the ball with a soft, composed touch—effortless, as if the ball had simply found its way home. He didn’t need to glance down; his control was clean, economical. The crowd didn’t stir. The defenders didn’t lunge. Nothing about the moment looked dangerous.

However, what came next was the kind of pass that felt quiet... until it wasn’t.

Pirlo took one step and clipped a pass—not flashy, not forced, just perfectly weighted—threading through Chelsea’s shape like a needle through cloth. In a single movement, he bypassed five players at once!

Most players would look for a short or sideways option. Not Pirlo. He spots the tiniest of windows and decides to launch it over the defense. The suggestion from Richard to play him in a quarterback role was finally beginning to pay off!

Shevchenko timed his run to perfection. He controlled the ball instantly with his right foot, cushioning it like velvet despite the pressure from behind. In one smooth motion, he kept it close, never breaking stride.

With calmness, he took a touch around the onrushing Grodås—Chelsea’s goalkeeper—and angled his body with total composure.

Leboeuf and Petrescu scrambled to recover, but it was too late.

Shevchenko coolly slotted the ball into the open net with his left foot.

GOAL!!!

"Shevchenko! Absolutely clinical! What a pass from Pirlo—inch perfect! And Manchester City are in total control at Stamford Bridge!"

It wasn’t Ronaldo or Henry—the usual suspects who were tightly marked by Chelsea defenders due to their dangerous dribbling and flair. This time, it was Shevchenko who seized the moment.

Quiet all game, he had waited patiently, lurking between the lines.

The City bench erupted—players and staff leaping to their feet. The away section went wild, a blue wave of limbs and flags crashing in celebration.

Pirlo, as always, walked calmly back into position—unbothered, unhurried—as if this kind of magic was just routine.

In the VIP box, Richard jumped up from his seat, gripping the railing in disbelief and excitement. His eyes locked on the pitch, wide with awe. He turned to Marina and Miss Heysen, his voice trembling with joy:

"That’s it! Chelsea are done for!"

There was no doubt now—this match belonged to City.

Ruud Gullit knelt on the grass, his head bowed slightly, hands resting on his thighs. For a brief moment, the player-manager could only stare at the turf beneath him, as if hoping it might offer an answer—some explanation for the unraveling happening before his eyes.

His team hadn’t just been outfought.

They had been outthought.

Outmaneuvered.

Outclassed.

He rose slowly, the weight of the moment sinking into his shoulders. With a quiet breath, he turned toward the bench and signaled for a substitution.

"Burley," he called out, voice firm but low. "Warm up."

It was time to take himself off.

For all his pride, Gullit understood now: City had found the gaps in his system. They had studied his hybrid formation, exploited the spaces behind his wide pushes, and neutralized his influence in midfield. Pirlo, sitting deep, had dismantled the tempo Gullit had tried to control.

The match was slipping away—and for the first time, he realized he could no longer fix it with just his feet.

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