Chapter 240: A New Record! Last-Second Equalizer! Wild Walker! A Gift for the New Stadium!
For Swiss side Basel, Yang Cheng had long held a deep curiosity.
Strangely enough, despite managing for many years in his previous life, he had never played a match in Basel.
It was, in his words, one of football's strange quirks.
But what stuck with him about Basel wasn't the club's strength—
it was their extraordinary stadium:
St. Jakob-Park.
Perhaps not everyone recognizes it by name.
But its designers?
Herzog & de Meuron, the same duo behind Allianz Arena and Beijing's Bird's Nest.
St. Jakob-Park was their breakthrough masterpiece—
the project that made their name and earned them the gigs for Allianz and the Bird's Nest.
In European football, the stadium is famous and revered.
Originally built in 1919, with the first stand completed in 1937,
it hosted matches in the 1954 World Cup, seating 56,000.
But post–World Cup, the stadium was too large and began to decline.
Over the years, it hosted greyhound races, athletics, concerts…
until, in the 1990s, a complete rebuild was ordered.
Herzog & de Meuron took on the project, and the stadium's capacity was reduced to 32,000.
But what truly made it stand out?
They built a massive shopping mall and apartment complex behind the south stand.
From the outside, the stadium was hidden—
you couldn't even tell it was there from the main road.
A shopping complex of nearly 20,000 m² and 107 apartments made it the blueprint for commercially integrated stadiums.
Even on non-matchdays, tourists visited just to explore or shop or stay.
During Euro 2008, temporary seating increased capacity to 40,000.
Afterward, it settled at 36,000.
Its modern exterior and innovative concept made Herzog & de Meuron superstars in stadium architecture.
They were invited to Allianz Arena, the Bird's Nest, and even to compete in the 2007 Camp Nou renovation bid.
Now, in this season's Champions League Round of 16,
Basel hosted Bayswater Chinese in a match that drew a packed house of 36,000.
...
Basel had been one of the biggest surprises in the group stage.
But Yang Cheng still rotated his squad moderately.
Basel had a few standout players in Yang Cheng's eyes:
Xherdan Shaqiri, 20-year-old winger, eye-catching in the UCL.Granit Xhaka, 19-year-old Swiss midfielder—destined, in Yang Cheng's memory, to join Arsenal.
Basel had a strong focus on developing youth, and so did Yang Cheng.
Ramsey, De Bruyne, Hazard—all young starters for Bayswater Chinese.
Both teams came out fast and aggressive.
Though Bayswater Chinese dominated the first 15 minutes,
Basel started firing back after the quarter-hour mark.
Most dangerous chance?
Xhaka crossed from the right,
Alexander Frei met it with a left-footed shot,
and Courtois flew across to make a stunning save.
Just before halftime, Bayswater Chinese pushed again.
Giroud had a chance from 7 meters out on the left,
but his left-footed scissor-kick lacked power and was easily caught by Sommer.
On the sideline, Yang Cheng just shook his head.
"You really can't count on Giroud to finish."
...
Second half:
Bayswater Chinese controlled the tempo, launching wave after wave.
In the 65th minute, Yang Cheng made a key substitution:
Harry Kane on for Javi Martínez.
They shifted to a 4-4-2, matching Basel's shape.
Just seven minutes later, Kane dropped deep,
sent a perfect through ball to Giroud,
who tried again from 10 meters out.
This time, Sommer saved again.
But Kane followed up, sprinting into the box and hammering home the rebound.
1–0!
Basel responded immediately, launching a barrage.
But Courtois stood firm, preserving the lead.
Final score: 1–0 away win for Bayswater Chinese.
Basel's Cinderella run hit a wall.
And yet, Bayswater Chinese had 26 shots—only one goal.
Yang Cheng wasn't sure if he should be pleased or just… amused.
"If Giroud could actually finish, he'd be a goal-scoring tank."
...
Another group stage underdog?
OGC Nice, from France.
Under Ronald Koeman, they drew Real Madrid, managed by Mourinho, in the Round of 16.
Before flying to France, Mourinho had radiated confidence.
He thought it was a sure win.
But once in Nice, the Round of 16 curse struck again.
Madrid had won all their group games.
They opened scoring in the 28th minute through Coentrão assisting Cristiano Ronaldo.
But Nice never gave in.
They defended fiercely, repelling wave after wave.
And in injury time—93rd minute,
they won a free kick.
While Madrid's players were still organizing, Nice took it quickly.
Strootman unleashed a long-range missile,
beating Casillas and leveling the match.
Last-second equalizer!
Post-match, Mourinho was torn apart by the Spanish media.
His crime?
Being too conservative.
From the 65th minute, both sides made changes.
Koeman made three offensive subs.
Mourinho?
All defensive—including subbing in Raúl Albiol for Özil.
So when they got punished at the end,
they had only themselves to blame.
Strootman's equalizer earned him rave reviews.
...
Back in England, the FA Cup Fifth Round was next.
And for Bayswater Chinese?
A home clash with Arsenal.
Another clash of titans.
Just look at the man in black on the pitch—Howard Webb was the referee tonight. That alone was enough to show how seriously this match was being taken.
Compared to Arsenal, who had to split focus with the Champions League Round of 16, Yang Cheng boldly rotated his squad during their away leg in Europe. As a result, his team came into this match in visibly sharper form.
Wenger's plan was still to attack from both flanks.
But Bayswater Chinese had come prepared.
With Piszczek injured, Kyle Walker started at right back, tasked with one job: shut down Sánchez.
Every time the Chilean touched the ball, Walker was there, breathing down his neck.
Sánchez couldn't match him in physicality.
He couldn't match him in speed.
And as for dribbling?
Let's just say: Walker didn't care.
He just barreled in—all power, no finesse.
You could call it chaos, you could call it raw...
But it worked.
It felt like watching a wild barbarian overwhelming a master with brute force.
Both teams were playing openly, but tactically, it was clear they were aiming at each other's weak spots.
Arsenal's attacks struggled to threaten, forced into retreat after retreat.
Whether it was Sánchez on the left or Nasri on the right, the result was the same.
"We're in the 38th minute, and it's still 0–0."
"The match has been played at a high pace, but both teams' defensive tactics have been excellent."
"Arsenal pass it left again—it's Sánchez."
"Clichy moves up to support."
"But Walker sticks to Sánchez like glue, giving him no room to turn."
"Sánchez has no choice but to pass back."
"Time and again, Sánchez has tried to beat Walker, but the Englishman hasn't given him an inch."
"The ball cycles back, all the way to goalkeeper Lloris."
"Lloris raises a hand—telling his teammates to calm down."
Standing on the sideline, Yang Cheng saw Lloris's signal.
He looked at the Arsenal players and instantly sensed an opportunity.
He took a step forward, crouched slightly, and shouted toward Modrić:
"Push up!"
"Press!!"
Wenger, seated in the away dugout, noticed the movement and grew tense, but still didn't react.
There were only a few minutes left in the half.
He just wanted to survive until halftime.
Lloris had the ball at his feet—he couldn't use his hands since it came from a teammate.
Ziguirinsky and Vermaelen spread out wide to offer passing options.
Lewandowski charged at Ziguirinsky to cut off that path—
a classic pressing move to force hesitation.
Sure enough, Lloris turned to Vermaelen.
Di María pounced immediately.
Lloris hesitated—then cursed under his breath and launched a big clearance.
But not blindly—he aimed for van Persie.
The Dutchman dropped deep and flicked a header to the left, toward Sánchez.
But the Chilean felt pressure—like a mountain crashing down on him.
And the worst part?
"That damn mountain was sprinting like a rocket!"
Sánchez instinctively shielded the ball and passed back to Clichy.
But Walker shouted in his ear, then blew past him like a gust of hot wind—
barreling straight at Clichy.
Modrić dropped back to provide cover.
Sánchez shouted a warning.
Clichy saw Walker charging.
Between Walker's size and speed, the sight was terrifying.
Clichy spun and passed back toward Vermaelen.
But Bayswater Chinese had cranked up their pressing.
Vermaelen hadn't even received the ball when Di María flew in at full speed.
The Belgian took a step forward, trying to clear it—
but Di María blocked it cleanly, and the ball deflected toward the right edge of the box.
Di María chased it down first.
Vermaelen sprinted after him.
"A brilliant high press from Bayswater Chinese!"
"Can Di María get to the ball first?"
"Vermaelen tries to tug him back—but Di María won't go down."
"He's wiry, but tough. Doesn't fall easily."
"He gets there first!"
"A sudden stop!"
The Argentine slammed on the brakes—
and Vermaelen ran right past him.
Di María cut back with his left, slashing diagonally into the box.
He looked up once—then curled a cross with his left foot.
It soared from the right edge of the box, bending through the air and dropping into the center.
Lewandowski attacked it hard, muscling through Ziguirinsky.
He rose, aimed for the center of goal—
Lloris reacted fast, diving and parrying the header with one hand.
The crowd gasped!
It should've been a goal.
But in that moment—
a red blur flashed into the frame, racing diagonally from the top left of the box.
Gareth Bale.
He pounced just as the ball dropped—
left-footed rocket.
Difficult angle, tricky pace—
but Bale kept it low.
And that's his specialty.
Lloris, still on the ground, couldn't get back up in time.
The ball tore into the right side netting, nearly bursting through it.
1–0!
"GOAL!!!!!!"
"It's Gareth Bale with the rebound!"
"Bayswater Chinese capitalize on their relentless press—
and Bale, with that signature left foot, blasts it home!"
"What a sequence!"
"But the key was the suffocating high press.
Arsenal had no time to think—forced into a mistake."
"This is what happens when two elite sides go head-to-head!"
...
The first half ended 1–0 to Bayswater Chinese.
But in the second half, Arsenal came out swinging.
Wenger's team looked more aggressive,
and even though this was Wembley, this was FA Cup—single elimination.
They weren't going down without a fight.
Wenger's side began launching waves of attacks.
And in the 53rd minute, after subbing on Benzema, Arsenal switched to a two-striker setup.
Van Persie and Benzema led the line, with Sánchez, Song, Fàbregas, and Nasri behind them.
Both fullbacks, especially Clichy, joined the offense aggressively.
Lichtsteiner, naturally more conservative and aware of Gareth Bale's threat, was more cautious.
But Clichy played almost like a left winger.
Down that left flank—Bayswater Chinese's right flank—Kyle Walker delivered a stunning performance.
Especially in defense.
Whether it was Sánchez, Clichy, or anyone else, no one got the better of him in that zone.
Stronger players? Not faster than him.
Faster players? Not stronger.
And more importantly, it didn't matter who you were—Sánchez, Clichy, Van Persie, or Benzema—Walker handled each challenge with composure and confidence.
It was night and day from his usual reckless, impulsive form.
Even Yang Cheng had always seen Walker as the definition of rash and undisciplined.
But tonight, he was a completely different player.
In the 74th minute, Fàbregas passed to Sánchez on the left, who had dropped deeper to receive.
Facing the goal, Sánchez held the ball—
but didn't push forward, as Matić was stationed ahead.
He switched it to the flank for Clichy, who surged forward down the line to take on Walker.
But Walker stood his ground—not allowing even a step inside.
Clichy reached the outside edge of the box, looking to drive to the byline—
he stopped abruptly, hinting at a cut inside.
Walker stopped instantly too, cutting off the route.
Clichy restarted, trying to fake the inside and burst down the line instead.
He was smaller by 7cm, and Walker looked twice as broad.
He couldn't beat him with strength or speed.
But surely, he had the edge in agility?
He faked again—and took off.
For a moment, Clichy thought he'd fooled him.
"That blockhead took the bait!"
But the next second—he froze.
As he started his burst, he felt a massive force slam into his shoulder, sending him reeling.
He stumbled sideways just to stay upright—
and watched, stunned, as Walker zipped past him, caught the ball before it rolled out, and—
Controlled it, turned, and passed directly to Modrić, who was unmarked near the top of the box.
The Croatian began orchestrating the counterattack.
And Clichy?
He stared in shock at the short-haired, tattooed Englishman.
Then Walker grinned—a grim, predator's grin.
"You forgot to track back."
Clichy's eyes widened.
"Oh sh*t!"
He spun and sprinted back—but it was too late.
Modrić sent a through ball to Di María, who picked it up near midfield and charged forward.
Fàbregas chased, grabbing at his shirt to slow him down.
But Di María pulled away, dragging Fàbregas down in the process.
"Counterattack from Bayswater Chinese!"
"Di María surging forward!"
"Their front three are all breaking forward—it's a three-on-three!"
"Lewandowski moves wide right!"
"The middle opens up—Di María keeps going!"
"Diagonal ball—splits the line behind Ziguirinsky!"
"Bale races in—cuts it across!"
"Lewandowski taps it in!!"
"GOAL!!! 2–0!!"
"Bayswater Chinese score a second in the 74th minute after a brilliant high press and rapid counterattack!"
"Gareth Bale with the assist, Lewandowski with the finish—textbook execution!"
"This might just seal the win!"
The broadcast camera cut to the front three celebrating wildly at the sideline.
It may have been just the FA Cup, but the stadium was packed with 90,000 fans.
And as the ball hit the net—Wembley erupted like a volcano.
...
When Howard Webb blew the final whistle, Bayswater Chinese had secured a 2–0 win over Arsenal, advancing to the FA Cup quarterfinals.
As the host, Yang Cheng walked to the visitors' dugout and shook Wenger's hand.
Along the way, he passed Koscielny and Arshavin, who greeted him politely.
Wenger, however, greeted him with a look of pained resignation.
"You really don't leave anyone a way out anymore, do you?"
Yang Cheng grinned.
"Should've stuck with last season's tactics."
Wenger's face stiffened.
That wasn't praise.
"You think I'm stupid?" he muttered.
Yang Cheng burst out laughing.
Even if Wenger had stuck with that, he still would've lost tonight.
"Don't you usually use your backups for cup matches?
Why the sudden change?" Wenger asked, genuinely curious.
Yang Cheng had rotated for the Champions League—
then played his strongest XI in the FA Cup.
It was a surprise.
"I was confident we'd beat Basel.
But I really wanted to win this cup match," Yang Cheng said with a smile.
Wenger almost swung a punch.
"Winning is one thing—but do you have to rub it in?"
Still, he had to admit—Yang Cheng got a pretty favorable draw.
Basel wasn't a match for Bayswater Chinese.
"You're aiming big this season, huh?" Wenger said, seeing through his intentions.
There had been rumors in the media.
Bayswater Chinese wanted to win both the Champions League and Premier League—
to coincide with the opening of their new stadium.
Now, it seemed clear: Yang Cheng wasn't stopping at two titles.
He'd reached the League Cup semifinals, too—losing narrowly to City.
If not for that, they might've been on a quadruple chase.
Wenger could only sigh.
Because truth be told—Bayswater Chinese were just too strong.
Ever since Toni Kroos joined last season, Yang Cheng's team had been phenomenal.
They came within touching distance of a quadruple back then.
And this season?
They'd set their sights on another quadruple run.
"Better watch out," Wenger warned with a grin.
"City's right on your heels. You don't want to end up with nothing."
Yang Cheng nodded obediently.
"You're right. Thanks for the reminder. After all, you've got tons of experience in that area."
Wenger blinked, not quite catching it at first. Then it hit him.
"Wait, what do you mean I've got experience?"
"Y'know—balancing multiple competitions and ending up with nothing to show for it. That's kinda your thing, isn't it?"
Yang Cheng burst out laughing.
Wenger was fuming.
"I was trying to be helpful, you little—"
But even he couldn't deny it.
Over the years, Arsenal had often collapsed in the second half of the season—
tactical rigidity, heavy physical demands, and not enough depth.
Multiple competitions, routine late-season collapse—
it had become Wenger's unfortunate trademark.
Watching Wenger storm off red-faced, Yang Cheng chuckled.
But deep down, he took the warning seriously.
City were pressing hard in the title race.
And for Bayswater Chinese, that pressure was a good thing.
It kept the entire squad razor-sharp.
Just two points ahead—one slip, and they'd lose the top spot.
And this wasn't just about defending a title.
They were chasing a record-breaking four-peat—a feat never achieved in Premier League history.
Everyone was locked in.
But injuries were inevitable.
Kyle Walker had replaced the injured Piszczek, and turned in his best performance since joining the club—
especially on the defensive end.
On the right flank, he shut down Sánchez, Clichy, and whoever else dared to come his way.
Walker was, without a doubt, man of the match.
...
Maybe Yang Cheng's post-match jab hit too hard.
In the press conference, Wenger criticized Howard Webb's officiating.
He insisted that a first-half challenge on Van Persie inside the box should've been a penalty.
"100% penalty. Webb missed it!"
Thankfully, it was Howard Webb.
If it were anyone else, Wenger might've gone nuclear.
His point?
If that penalty had been given and Arsenal scored first, the whole match would've changed.
But Sky Sports, The Sun, The Telegraph, The Guardian—
all refuted him.
The replay showed Pepe's tackle was textbook—clean, decisive, world-class.
"Flawless defending from one of the game's elite center-backs. A clear and correct no-call."
...
This season's FA Cup had been full of surprises.
Manchester Derby knocked City out early.Liverpool eliminated United in Round 4.Round 5 saw Bayswater Chinese knock out Arsenal in the London Derby.
And now?
Of the big four, only Bayswater Chinese were still in the quarterfinals.
Their opponent?
Everton, away at Goodison Park—
arguably the toughest draw possible outside another top-six clash.
Meanwhile:
Chelsea got Championship side LeicesterLiverpool got Stoke CityTottenham got Bolton
All at home.
Bayswater Chinese?
The toughest road yet again.
...
February 25 – Premier League Matchday 26.
After a week of rest, Bayswater Chinese traveled north to face Newcastle.
First half: 0–0 stalemate.
Alan Pardew's side defended smartly, denying Yang Cheng's team any advantage.
But in the second half, as fatigue kicked in, Newcastle began to unravel.
60': Lewandowski assisted Bale, who scored from the penalty spot area.
1–0.76': Bale returned the favor, and Lewandowski doubled the lead.
Final: 2–0 away win.
...
Elsewhere in the league:
Chelsea beat Bolton 3–0 at home.
Benatia scored again, along with Drogba and Lampard.
Di Matteo's impact was showing.Arsenal won the North London Derby 3–1 at home against Tottenham.Manchester United scraped past Norwich 2–1, with Giggs scoring in the 92nd minute.Liverpool crushed Everton 3–0, thanks to a Gerrard hat-trick.City dominated Blackburn 3–0, goals from Kaká, Agüero, and Ibrahimović.
...
After Matchday 26 came an international break.
Players flew off for national team duty.
But when they returned for Matchday 27, things didn't go as smoothly.
Liverpool vs. Arsenal:Kuyt scored a penalty early.Van Persie equalized in the 31st.In the 92nd, Van Persie scored again.
2–1 Arsenal win.
Liverpool's lack of squad depth showed.
Manchester City barely beat Bolton 1–0 at home.Chelsea lost 0–1 away to West Brom.Manchester United beat Tottenham 3–1 at White Hart Lane—
Ashley Young bagged a brace, and Rooney scored.
As for Yang Cheng's side?
They annihilated Fulham 5–0 away.
The scoreline looked easy.
It wasn't.
The first 35 minutes were a grind—
then, between the 36th and 41st, Lewandowski scored twice.
Yang Cheng had to wonder—
"Does this guy have a thing for back-to-back goals in short bursts?"
Second half, Fulham came out aggressively.
But in the 56th minute, Bayswater Chinese hit them with a lightning counter.
Walcott scored.
In the 61st minute, it was once again a rapid counterattack, and once again Walcott who found the back of the net.
Amazingly, both Walcott and Lewandowski scored two goals within five minutes each.
The final blow came in the 83rd minute, when substitute Pogba added one more to the tally.
And as a side note—Lewandowski, after 27 Premier League matches, had now scored 26 goals!
That kind of scoring rate, aside from the two monsters in La Liga, was virtually unmatched across Europe.
Unfortunately, when compared to Messi and Ronaldo, even such prolific form could still fly under the radar.
...
March 6, evening – Wembley Stadium, London.
Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg: Bayswater Chinese vs. Basel.
From the moment the match began, it was destined to be a one-sided slaughter.
Di María had returned from international duty with a calf injury and had yet to resume full training.
As a result, Yang Cheng rotated the front line.
Hazard, who had started in the league, kept his place.
Gareth Bale was shifted to the right flank.
Only 9 minutes in, Bale cut inside from the right, beating his man and playing a short square pass.
Kroos ran onto it and fired from 25 meters, but the shot deflected off a defender.
Bale picked up the rebound and, with his left foot, struck a beautiful 21-meter screamer into the left corner.
1–0.
With that goal, the match fully entered Bayswater Chinese's rhythm.
Just five minutes later, Hazard broke down the left, sent a cross into the six-yard box—
Lewandowski volleyed it in.
2–0.
In the 25th minute, Hazard again, dancing past two defenders and chipping a perfect cross into the box—
Lewandowski headed it in.
3–0. Brace.
Then, in the 30th minute, Hazard accelerated along the baseline, cut into the box, and cut back—
Lewandowski tapped it home with his left foot.
Hat-trick. 4–0.
And in the 42nd minute, Kroos sent a stunning diagonal ball from the left to the right edge of the box.
Bale burst in, took it down, cut around keeper Sommer, and slotted it into the empty net.
5–0.
Then, with one minute left in the half, Bale received a pass from Modrić, cut inside, and lofted a ball over the defense.
Modrić, having continued his run, brought it down with his chest and smashed in a volley with his right foot.
6–0.
Wembley was mesmerized.
90,000 fans watched as Bayswater Chinese ruthlessly dismantled Basel.
The Swiss side fought hard to hold the line,
but Bayswater Chinese had too many weapons.
Once they found their rhythm, Basel's defense simply collapsed like a house of cards.
...
In the second half, Bayswater Chinese took their foot off the gas, controlling the tempo.
Basel made a brief push, trying desperately to salvage a goal.
In the 63rd minute, Frei had a solid shot—
but Courtois calmly caught it.
In the 83rd minute, Kroos delivered a pinpoint free kick from the left side.
Pepe headed it across, and Harry Kane finished into an open net.
7–0.
In the 89th, Kroos again, this time with a through ball.
Pogba, who had come on for Hazard, made a surprise run into the box.
As Sommer came rushing out, Pogba chipped him.
The ball floated over the keeper's head and into the net.
8–0.
The moment the ball crossed the line, Wembley erupted.
"Let us congratulate Bayswater Chinese!"
"8–0—the largest margin of victory in a Champions League knockout match since the tournament's format change!"
"This season, Bayswater Chinese have not only held the Premier League lead from the start—
they're also arguably the best-performing team in the Champions League."
"Tonight, returning home with a 1–0 first-leg advantage,
Yang Cheng and his players delivered a spectacle—a merciless thrashing of Basel."
"It's an unbelievable scoreline. A new record."
"Lewandowski with a hat-trick."
"Youth academy products Harry Kane and Paul Pogba both scored."
"A goal fest of epic proportions!"
"The 90,000 fans at Wembley tonight were treated to a footballing feast—and a one-sided demolition!"
"But for Basel, it's a night to forget.
By the end, they were simply broken."
When the final whistle blew, Wembley exploded with applause.
Almost every fan stood to cheer and clap for the team.
Captain Modrić led his teammates, including Hazard and other subs, around the pitch, waving to the crowd, thanking them for their support.
Every player wore a proud smile.
They were proud of their club.
And proud of the 90,000 fans who stood with them.
As they returned to the bench, Yang Cheng had already finished shaking hands with Basel manager Heiko Vogel.
He welcomed each player back into the tunnel with a hug.
He was satisfied.
Extremely satisfied.
The squad rotation was smoother than ever this season.
Kane, Pogba, and others were stepping into bigger roles—and delivering.
More importantly, the locker room was united like never before.
Everyone was on the same page.
They had one goal.
Championships. Championships. More championships.
Everything was about one thing:
The new stadium.
The summer opening.
The perfect gift.
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