Chapter 35 : Golden Boy..

September 26, 2015 – Matchday

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester City

Venue: White Hart Lane, London

The air inside White Hart Lane was electric, with the home fans in full voice as they awaited the clash between their team and the in-form Manchester City. City had won every match so far this season, sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League table. Nico Cruyff, the club's new rising superstar, had been a revelation, contributing 7 goals and 6 assists in just six matches.

Inside the away locker room, Pep Guardiola stood in the center, eyes locked onto his players as he explained the game plan. A tactical board was set up behind him, displaying detailed positional instructions.

"Tottenham are aggressive in midfield. They will press high, especially Dier and Mason, trying to cut off our passing lanes. We need to stay composed, play quick one-touch football, and exploit the spaces they leave behind," Pep emphasized, pointing at specific zones on the board.

His gaze then turned toward Nico. "Nico, they will try to isolate you on the wings, force you wide, and double-mark you. Stay calm. If you can't cut inside, use the overlap. Kevin, Yaya, look for him when he makes diagonal runs. And remember, if they press high, the spaces will open behind them—use it."

The team listened intently as Guardiola continued breaking down Tottenham's weaknesses. "Walker and Rose push forward a lot. That leaves gaps. If we recover the ball quickly, we can exploit the flanks."

He then clapped his hands. "We've won every game so far, but that doesn't matter if we lose our focus today. Stay sharp, play our game, and control the tempo!"

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As the players emerged from the tunnel, the atmosphere inside White Hart Lane crackled with intensity. The home fans roared in support of their team, while the traveling Manchester City supporters made their presence felt, waving their scarves and singing loudly. The floodlights bathed the pitch in a brilliant glow as both teams prepared for the pre-match formalities.

In the commentary booth, veteran commentator Peter Drury's voice carried over the broadcast with his usual poetic elegance. "Manchester City, five wins out of five in the Premier League, and one in the Champions League, have started the season in relentless fashion. But tonight, they face a Tottenham side eager to make a statement at White Hart Lane. The air is thick with anticipation."

Beside him, former footballer and co-commentator Martin Tyler analyzed the matchup. "Absolutely, Peter. Guardiola's City have been dominant so far, fluid in attack, and defensively solid. And at the heart of it all? Their new sensation, Nico Cruyff. Seven goals and six assists in just six games—an astonishing start for the 15-year-old."

The broadcast displayed the starting lineups as Peter continued. "Let's take a look at how the two teams set up. Mauricio Pochettino sticks with his familiar 4-2-3-1 formation for Tottenham. Hugo Lloris starts in goal, a back four of Kyle Walker, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, and Danny Rose. In midfield, Eric Dier partners Ryan Mason, while an attacking trio of Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen, and Son Heung-min support their talisman, Harry Kane."

Martin took over. "And for Manchester City, Guardiola once again goes with his signature 4-3-3. Joe Hart is in goal. The backline consists of Bacary Sagna, Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi, and Aleksandar Kolarov. In midfield, Yaya Touré, Fernandinho, and Kevin De Bruyne look to control the game. And up front, it's Raheem Sterling on the left, Sergio Agüero through the middle, and Nico Cruyff operating from the right."

Peter's voice carried excitement. "And what a talent Nico Cruyff is proving to be! At just 15, he plays with the composure of a veteran. His vision, dribbling, and ability to deliver in the final third have been remarkable. Tottenham will have their hands full trying to contain him tonight."

As the players shook hands and took their positions, the anticipation reached its peak. The referee checked his watch, raised the whistle to his lips, and prepared to get the game underway.

__________________

Tottenham, now trailing, were desperate for an equalizer. Harry Kane dropped deep to link up play, while Heung-Min Son and Erik Lamela pushed high, trying to exploit the spaces behind City's defense. But no matter what they did, they ran into a rock-solid City backline and a determined Joe Hart, who made a stunning save from a Kane header in the 39th minute.

As the clock ticked toward halftime, City struck again.

Kevin De Bruyne, once again at the heart of everything, picked up the ball in midfield. Spotting Sergio Agüero making a darting run between Tottenham's center-backs, he played a perfectly weighted through ball, splitting the defense apart.

Peter Drury's voice rose. "De Bruyne… what a pass again! Agüero's through! He could finish it here—"

Sergio Agüero surged forward, his pace taking him past Toby Alderweireld. But just as he was about to pull the trigger, Alderweireld lunged in from behind, sweeping the Argentine off his feet. Agüero crashed onto the turf, arms flailing, as the Etihad erupted in protest.

Martin Tyler gasped. "Oh, that's reckless! Alderweireld's in trouble here!"

The referee wasted no time, immediately reaching for the back pocket. The Tottenham players pleaded, but it was no use. The red card was shown—Alderweireld was sent off!

Peter Drury added, "That's disastrous for Spurs! Not only are they down to ten men, but they've now conceded a free kick in prime Nico Cruyff territory."

As the dust settled, all eyes turned to the teenager standing over the ball.

Martin Tyler spoke in a measured tone. "We've seen what this boy can do from set-pieces. That S-shaped curve… completely unpredictable. You can be the best goalkeeper in the world, and it won't matter if the ball moves like a ghost."

Tottenham's captain, Hugo Lloris, adjusted his wall, barking instructions. He knew exactly what Nico was capable of—but knowing and stopping it were two entirely different things.

The referee blew the whistle.

Nico took a deep breath, took his run-up, and struck the ball with that signature technique.

Peter Drury's voice rose in excitement. "Cruyff… oh, look at the movement on that ball! It's swerving—left—no, right—Lloris dives—"

The ball's arc was erratic, dancing unpredictably through the air. Lloris, despite his best efforts, was helpless. He dived, stretching his full frame, but the ball nestled perfectly into the top right corner.

GOAL!

The City fans in the away end erupted as Nico ran toward them, pointing his hands to the sky. The players surrounded him, patting his head, cheering, while Guardiola simply nodded on the sidelines, a knowing smile on his lips.

Martin Tyler was in awe. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing something special. This boy is rewriting the rules of the game."

Peter Drury echoed the sentiment. "Nico Cruyff! Fifteen years old, but already a superstar! One goal from open play, one from a free kick… and it's not even halftime!"

As the referee blew the whistle for halftime, Manchester City walked off the pitch with a commanding 2-0 lead. Tottenham looked deflated, down a man and struggling to contain a rampant Nico Cruyff. Meanwhile, the City players, despite their lead, knew the game wasn't over yet.

Inside the away dressing room at White Hart Lane, the atmosphere was focused. Guardiola stood in front of the squad, his tactical mind already working on the next step. He pointed at the tactics board, his expression serious but calm.

"Listen up," Pep began, his eyes scanning the players. "We are two goals up, and they have ten men. In the second half, they will come at us with everything they have. We don't need to force anything. Instead, we play smart. We control the game, we dictate the tempo, and when the opportunity arises, we kill the game on the counter."

He looked at Nico, De Bruyne, and Agüero. "Nico, Kevin, Kun—when we win the ball, I want quick transitions. No unnecessary dribbling, no slowing down. Attack the spaces they leave behind. Nico, they will double-team you now. Use it. If two players come to you, someone else will be free—find them."

Then, Guardiola turned to Fernandinho and Yaya Touré. "I want discipline in midfield. Fernandinho, you break up their attacks. Yaya, use your strength—shield the ball and play it forward."

Finally, he clapped his hands together. "This is our game. Stay calm, stay sharp, and let's finish this properly."

The players nodded in understanding. Nico, sitting beside Agüero, felt a rush of anticipation. A defensive counter-attacking setup meant space—space that he could exploit with his pace and dribbling.

As the players finished their water and made their way back to the tunnel, the atmosphere was different. They weren't just aiming to win. They were aiming to dominate.

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As the second half unfolded, the match continued in the same vein as the first—Tottenham, despite being down to ten men, still looked for a way back into the game, but their attacks lacked precision. Harry Kane worked tirelessly, Son Heung-min tried to create something, but Manchester City's defense, marshaled by Vincent Kompany, was rock solid. Meanwhile, City remained patient, waiting for the perfect moment to strike on the counter.

The clock ticked past the 70th minute, and the scoreboard still showed 2-0 in favor of City. On the touchline, Mauricio Pochettino knew they were running out of time. He gestured frantically for his players to push forward, committing more men to the attack in a desperate attempt to salvage something from the game.

That desperation led to a costly mistake. As Tottenham built an attack, Son attempted a quick pass into midfield, but the ball was slightly off-target. Kompany read it perfectly, stepping in to intercept. Without hesitation, he passed it to Kevin De Bruyne, who barely looked up before launching a perfectly weighted long ball forward.

"Nico, run!" De Bruyne had barely finished gesturing before Nico had already taken off like a bullet.

The Tottenham defenders, already exhausted from chasing him all game, had no chance of catching up. His acceleration was electric, leaving them in the dust as he sprinted towards goal. The entire stadium held its breath as he approached Hugo Lloris, the last line of defense.

Lloris stood his ground, his eyes locked onto Nico, trying to anticipate his move. But just as Nico got close, he performed a Pendulum—his signature move. His feet shifted the ball rapidly from left to right, completely throwing off Lloris's balance. Before the goalkeeper could react, Nico calmly slid the ball between his legs, nutmegging him before watching it roll into the empty net.

"Nico Cruyff, ladies and gentlemen!" Peter Drury's voice boomed over the broadcast. "That is absolutely cold from the young man! A nutmeg finish on Lloris after leaving half of Tottenham behind him! He is putting on a clinic at White Hart Lane!"

"It's the composure," Gary Neville added. "At 15 years old, to be this calm, to execute the Pendulum in a one-on-one situation like that? That's world class! There's no other way to describe it!"

As the Manchester City players celebrated, surrounding Nico with pats on the back and ruffling his hair, the away fans chanted his name in admiration. Guardiola stood on the sidelines, clapping with a proud smile, knowing his young superstar had just delivered another masterclass.

The cameras zoomed in on Nico, standing with his arms raised, a grin on his face, as Gary Neville's voice filled the broadcast.

"This is also Nico Cruyff's second career hat trick, his first for Manchester City, and—listen to this—he is now the youngest player to ever score a hat trick in the Premier League at just 15 years old! This is unreal!"

Peter Drury, never one to miss a moment, added with his signature poetic touch, "Fifteen years of age, yet he plays with the maturity of a seasoned veteran. A name like Cruyff was always destined for greatness, and this young man is writing history before our very eyes!"

The City fans erupted in cheers, fully aware that they were witnessing the rise of something truly extraordinary.

As the final whistle blew, the scoreboard at White Hart Lane read Tottenham 0-3 Manchester City. It was a dominant performance from Pep Guardiola's men, with Nico Cruyff at the heart of it all, his hat trick sealing yet another victory for City, who remained unbeaten in all competitions.

The players shook hands as they walked around the pitch, some exchanging words of respect. Nico spotted Harry Kane approaching him, the England captain offering a nod of acknowledgment before shaking his hand.

"You were unreal today," Kane admitted. "Fifteen years old and playing like this… scary."

Nico smiled, slightly embarrassed but appreciative. "Thanks, mate. You gave our defense a tough time today too."

As he turned, another player approached him—Heung-Min Son, who had worked tirelessly all game despite the tough circumstances. The South Korean forward smiled warmly and gestured toward Nico's jersey.

"Jersey swap?" Son asked.

Nico nodded immediately, pulling his sky-blue Manchester City shirt over his head and handing it to Son, who did the same. They shook hands again, a moment of mutual respect between two talented wingers.

As Nico walked toward the tunnel with Son's white Tottenham jersey draped over his shoulder, the cameras captured him, the commentators giving their final thoughts.

"Manchester City continue their perfect start to the season, and this boy—this phenomenon—Nico Cruyff, is at the center of it all," Peter Drury declared. "A hat trick tonight, a record-breaking performance, and at just fifteen years of age, he is already the talk of world football."

Gary Neville chuckled. "The scary part, Peter? He's just getting started."

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You're right—this is the 2015-16 season, so the Golden Boy nominees and odds should reflect that era. Here's the updated discussion with accurate names:

As the CBS Sports panel transitioned into their post-match analysis, Kate Abdo sat at the center, joined by Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher, and Thierry Henry. The discussion had a familiar tone—another Manchester City win, another Nico Cruyff masterclass.

"Alright, gentlemen," Kate began, "another game, another Nico Cruyff hat trick. We've talked about him all season, but tonight, it felt like another statement performance. What stood out to you?"

Micah Richards, grinning, shook his head. "You know what? At this point, we need to stop acting surprised. We said it a few weeks ago—this kid is special. It's not just that he scores, it's how he scores. The first goal? Nutmegs Danny Rose, fakes out Vertonghen, and then curls it from an impossible angle. I mean, how many players in the world can even do that?"

Jamie Carragher leaned forward. "And then you've got the free kick. We've seen this before—he's already got that S-shaped technique down to a science. The goalkeeper has no chance. Lloris is one of the best in the league, and he looked completely lost on that one."

Thierry Henry nodded in agreement. "What impresses me is the consistency. He's not just having moments—he's delivering every game. And let's be real, teams are trying to stop him now. You saw today, Tottenham were doubling up on him, but he still found a way."

Kate then pulled up the screen showing the updated Golden Boy odds. "Alright, before the match, the odds were updated, and as expected, Nico is still the favorite."

The list appeared on the screen:

Nico Cruyff (Manchester City) – 2/1

Anthony Martial (Manchester United) – 4/1

Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) – 6/1

Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht) – 7/1

Max Meyer (Schalke) – 9/1

Micah Richards laughed. "It's not even a debate anymore, is it? We talked about this last time—he should win the Golden Boy. No one else is doing what he's doing at this level."

Jamie Carragher agreed. "Yeah, and at this point, the only thing that stops him from winning it is injury. If he keeps playing like this, it's a landslide."

Thierry Henry added, "And it's not just the Golden Boy we should be talking about. If he keeps this up for the entire season, we might need to start discussing him in the Player of the Year conversation."

Kate smiled, sensing the gravity of the moment. "So, let me ask you—how high is his ceiling? Because right now, he looks like a superstar in the making."

Micah Richards didn't hesitate. "Ceiling? Kate, he might not even have one. We are watching something truly generational."