Chapter 26 : Oh my..........

August 16, 2015 – Etihad Stadium

The air crackled with anticipation as over 50,000 fans packed into the Etihad Stadium. The Manchester sky was clear, but the tension inside the stadium was anything but calm. This was more than just the second game of the season—it was a statement match. Chelsea, the reigning champions, had come to Manchester, and the crowd knew this was the perfect chance to show that City, under Pep Guardiola, were a different beast now.

Inside the Manchester City locker room, the atmosphere was intense. The faint scent of grass and sweat filled the air, mixed with the sound of studs clicking against the floor. Some players sat quietly, lost in their own pre-match rituals, while others bounced their legs nervously.

Pep Guardiola stood in front of the squad, his presence commanding the room. Dressed in his usual sleek attire, he leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp, voice low but firm.

"We dominate today," he said, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "No fear. No hesitation. We press them, suffocate them. If they play out, we win the ball back immediately. If they sit deep, we move the ball fast—side to side, quick combinations. We don't give them time to think. They will break first, not us."

He turned to specific players, pointing directly at them.

"Kevin, you have to find the spaces between the lines. Always between their midfield and defense—always."

"David, control the tempo. When to speed up, when to slow down—it's on you."

Then, Pep's eyes landed on Nico. "And you… You play your game. No pressure. Do what you do best."

The weight of the words settled over the team. The magnitude of the match wasn't lost on anyone, but the message was clear—this wasn't just about winning. It was about making a statement to the rest of the league.

The players stood up, final preparations made. The time for talk was over. It was time to step onto the pitch.

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As the players emerged from the tunnel, the Etihad erupted in a deafening roar. The City faithful waved their sky-blue scarves, while the Chelsea supporters, packed into their designated section, did their best to make their presence known.

Martin Tyler's voice carried through the broadcast. "And here we go, the second matchday of the 2015/16 season, and what a fixture we have—Manchester City versus the defending champions, Chelsea. Let's take a look at the starting lineups, beginning with the home side."

Manchester City lined up in a 4-3-3: Joe Hart in goal, a back four of Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala, and Aleksandar Kolarov. In midfield, Fernandinho anchored the play, with David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne given freedom to create. Up front, Raheem Sterling and Nico Cruyff started on the wings, with Sergio Agüero leading the line.

Gary Neville chimed in, his tone analytical. "A few interesting choices from Pep Guardiola. Young Nico Cruyff made headlines on his debut against West Brom, scoring twice and providing an assist. At just 15 years old, he is already showing signs of something special, and now he gets his first start at the Etihad in a huge match. If anyone can handle the pressure, it's him."

"Absolutely," Tyler agreed. "And it looks like Pep is going with an aggressive setup—Silva and De Bruyne both starting in midfield alongside Fernandinho, which means they'll be looking to dominate possession and press high."

On the other side, Chelsea set up in their familiar 4-2-3-1. Thibaut Courtois started in goal. The back four consisted of Branislav Ivanović, John Terry, Gary Cahill, and César Azpilicueta. Nemanja Matić and Cesc Fàbregas held the midfield, while Willian, Eden Hazard, and Oscar supported Diego Costa in attack.

"Chelsea stick with their tried and tested system," Neville noted. "That midfield battle is going to be crucial today—Fàbregas and Matić will have their hands full against City's technical midfielders. And up front, of course, Diego Costa will be looking to cause problems for Kompany and Mangala."

As the players took their positions for kickoff, the camera zoomed in on Pep Guardiola, who stood on the touchline, hands clasped behind his back, eyes locked onto the pitch.

The whistle blew.

The game had begun.

The match exploded into life from the very first whistle, neither side willing to sit back. Chelsea came out aggressively, pushing forward with pace, while Manchester City responded in kind, making for an open, end-to-end battle.

In the 5th minute, Hazard weaved past two defenders and unleashed a low-driven shot toward the bottom corner, but Joe Hart got down quickly to parry it away. Just three minutes later, De Bruyne found Sterling with a perfectly weighted through ball, but Courtois reacted sharply to smother his attempt.

Both teams continued to carve out chances. In the 14th minute, Diego Costa muscled past Mangala inside the box, only for Kompany to make a last-ditch tackle. Moments later, Silva's delicate lob found Nico Cruyff making a run into the box, but the teenager's shot from a tight angle was blocked by Cahill.

Then, in the 27th minute, Chelsea nearly broke the deadlock. Cesc Fàbregas picked up the ball 30 yards from goal, took a touch, and rifled a powerful strike that swerved mid-air before smashing against the post. The ball bounced back into play, but Kompany reacted first, clearing the danger before Costa could pounce.

Martin Tyler's voice carried through the broadcast. "Oh, what a strike from Fàbregas! Inches away from giving Chelsea the lead!"

Gary Neville added, "That was bending away from Hart at the last second, and you have to say, City are lucky there."

The game remained on a knife's edge as both teams exchanged attacks, neither willing to slow the tempo.

Then, in the 43rd minute, Nico Cruyff produced a moment of brilliance. Receiving the ball deep inside his own half, he turned swiftly past Oscar and spotted Sergio Agüero making a run behind the Chelsea backline. Without hesitation, Nico sent a perfectly measured long pass over the top, cutting through the Chelsea defense.

Agüero met it first-time, unleashing a thunderous volley towards goal—only for the ball to crash against the post and ricochet away.

Tyler gasped, "Oh my word! That would have been one of the goals of the season!"

Neville chuckled, "What a pass from Nico Cruyff, and what a hit from Agüero! But that's twice now the woodwork has denied us a goal."

The crowd groaned in frustration but responded with a standing ovation, appreciating the sheer quality on display.

The first half was nearing its end, but the game still had an edge of unpredictability.

The referee blew the whistle for halftime, signaling the end of an intense first half. Despite the high tempo and multiple close chances, the score remained 0-0.

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The players walked back to the locker rooms, some shaking their heads in frustration, others gesturing as they discussed missed opportunities. Nico Cruyff walked alongside Agüero, the two exchanging a few words about the near goal. Silva patted Nico on the back, acknowledging the brilliance of his pass.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola walked briskly toward the dressing room, already deep in thought. He had seen enough to know that City were playing well, but small adjustments were needed to break through Chelsea's solid defense.

Inside the locker room, the atmosphere was a mix of focus and determination. Players grabbed water bottles, some stretching, others sitting quietly, catching their breath. Guardiola wasted no time, stepping into the center, his presence commanding attention.

He clapped his hands together. "Listen up," he started, his voice calm but firm. "We're playing well, but we need to be sharper in the final third. They are pressing high, which means we have space behind. Nico, Kevin, Silva—you need to exploit that space faster. Agüero, stay patient, the chances will come."

The players nodded, absorbing his words. Guardiola then pointed toward the tactics board, making small adjustments to the positioning and pressing structure.

Guardiola continued, his eyes scanning the room. "In the last ten minutes, I want you guys to draw fouls. If we can get a free kick or two, we can change the game around."

Nico's ears perked up at that. He knew exactly what Pep was hinting at. A well-placed free kick could be the difference in a tight game like this.

The players nodded in understanding, their expressions serious. They knew Chelsea's defense was tough to break down in open play, but set pieces could give them the edge.

Guardiola clapped his hands once. "Alright, let's go. Stay focused. Control the game."

With that, the players stood up, fixing their gear and exchanging a few last words. The time for talk was over. Now, it was about execution.

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The second half picked up right where the first left off, both teams refusing to back down. Chelsea surged forward with relentless attacks, their wingers stretching the pitch as Diego Costa prowled the box, looking for the slightest opening. On the other end, City responded in kind, moving the ball quickly through midfield, trying to unlock Chelsea's stubborn defense.

In the 52nd minute, Hazard danced past two defenders and unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the box, only for Joe Hart to stretch out and push it wide. The Etihad held its breath. Chelsea's pressure was mounting.

City responded immediately. Silva and De Bruyne combined beautifully in midfield, threading passes through tight spaces before Nico received the ball in transition. Spotting Aguero's run, he lofted a perfectly weighted pass over the top. The Argentine brought it down and fired, but Courtois reacted instantly, diving low to keep it out.

The game continued at a breakneck pace, the midfield battle fierce. Matic and Fabregas dictated Chelsea's tempo, while Fernandinho and Yaya Touré fought to wrestle control back for City. Every pass, every tackle, every shot carried weight—both teams knew a single mistake could be the deciding factor.

In the 70th minute, Willian found himself in space and delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Diego Costa rose above the defense, powering a header toward goal, only for the ball to smash against the crossbar and bounce back into play. The crowd erupted in gasps.

Minutes later, Nico picked up the ball on the left, driving forward with purpose. Cutting inside, he beat Ivanovic and unleashed a venomous strike, but it swerved inches past the post. The tension was unbearable—both teams had come so close, yet the scoreboard remained untouched.

As the clock ticked toward the final ten minutes, City started to follow Guardiola's last instructions, looking to draw fouls and create set-piece opportunities. The match was still hanging in the balance, waiting for a moment of brilliance to break the deadlock.

The moment of brilliance came in the 89th minute. Nico, always scanning the field, spotted Aguero lurking near the last defender. With a subtle gesture, he signaled for him to make the run. As the ball rolled toward Nico deep in City's own half, he took a touch, lifted his head, and unleashed a stunning long pass that cut through Chelsea's entire defensive line like a blade. 

Aguero sprinted onto it, perfectly in stride, leaving Gary Cahill scrambling to catch up. The Etihad roared in anticipation as the Argentine surged forward, one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Cahill, desperate, made a last-ditch effort, closing the gap with everything he had. Just as Aguero was about to step into the box, Cahill shoved him from behind. 

Aguero tumbled forward, rolling onto the grass as the referee's whistle shrieked across the stadium. A stunned silence lasted only a second before it was broken by an explosion of noise. The ref wasted no time—he reached into his pocket and pulled out the red card, holding it high. Chelsea's protests were immediate, but the decision was made. 

As Cahill walked off, shaking his head in frustration, the camera cut to Guardiola on the sideline. He wasn't shouting instructions or reacting angrily. Instead, he was smiling. He knew. He had told them to draw fouls, to win free kicks in dangerous areas. And now, they had the perfect opportunity. 

Nico picked up the ball, cradling it under his arm as he walked toward the spot. The entire stadium buzzed with anticipation. This was it.

Nico placed the ball carefully on the pristine Etihad pitch, his breathing steady despite the deafening roar of the crowd. The tension was electric—25 meters stood between him and the chance to win the game. Across from him, Asmir Begović frantically adjusted his wall, barking orders at his defenders, shifting his position slightly. He was preparing for a shot, but no preparation could stop what was coming.

Nico took four measured steps back, his emerald-green eyes locked onto the target, his mind calculating every detail—the angle, the power, the spin. The stadium buzzed with anticipation. The referee lifted his whistle to his lips and blew.

For a moment, time seemed to slow. Then, Nico moved.

With a smooth run-up, he struck the ball with the inside of his right foot. The connection was pure. The ball soared forward before suddenly veering left, then sharply right, then left again—a perfect S-shaped trajectory, unnatural, almost unreal.

Begović took a step but barely reacted—by the time he adjusted, the ball had already kissed the underside of the crossbar and crashed into the net. The net rippled violently as the ball settled inside, and the Etihad erupted.

"OH MY WORD! NICO CRUYFF!" Peter Drury's voice soared above the chaos. "Fifteen years old and scoring like that? A goal of absolute sorcery!"

The Etihad shook with noise. Fans leapt from their seats, arms raised, voices blending into a singular roar of disbelief and ecstasy. Guardiola, standing by the touchline, broke into a wide grin, his arms folding and unfolding—he had seen this in training, but doing it here, in this moment? That was something else.

Nico took off in a sprint, pure emotion in his expression. His teammates chased after him, but he had only one destination. He ran straight toward the touchline, toward Guardiola. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around his manager, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"That is outrageous!" Martin Tyler's voice crackled with excitement. "The 15-year-old wonderkid, the heir to the Cruyff name, has just lit up the Etihad with a piece of magic!"

The City bench emptied, players and staff spilling onto the pitch, engulfing Nico in celebration. Some ruffled his hair, others patted his back, but in the middle of it all, Nico just smiled.

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