LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 254
As the Manchester United reforms were underway, the 15/16 season came to an end.
Leicester City, who had caused a storm in the Premier League, claimed the championship.
[Manchester City rains on Manchester United’s league victory parade.]
Finishing in second place, Manchester United found their final match against Manchester City ending in a draw, which ultimately cost them the Premier League title by just one point.
[FIFA pays tribute to Leicester City’s victory. “A fairy tale that even the founder of D*y would admire.”]
[“The miracle of a small club” confirms Leicester City’s Premier League championship!]
└ Wow. If a small club like Leicester can win, what about Tottenham…
└ Shut up.
└ Are you talking about chickens?
└ The Tottenham emblem looks like a chicken, though.
└ When was the last time Tottenham won the league?
└ Since the Premier League launched, they haven’t, right?
└ At this point, shouldn’t the Big Six include Leicester instead of Tottenham?
└ For real, lol.
Football fans worldwide cheered for the fairy tale win of Leicester City.
Even fans of Manchester United, who missed the title by a single point, applauded and praised Leicester’s victory.
Though it was disappointing as a player not to win the league, from the owner’s perspective, it wasn’t so bad.
After Leicester City’s victory, external interest in the Premier League heightened, and it felt like the league itself was growing bigger.
The win by Leicester City made the idea that the league-winning team could lose to a relegation zone team no longer just a metaphor, but a reality.
If the same team keeps winning every time and the championship is always the same, where’s the fun in that?
All clubs competing fiercely for the title, with even mid-to-lower-tier teams stirring up a storm, was how the league’s appeal increases overall.
[Leicester’s revelry erupts in a festival after their victory.]
Anyway, a festive atmosphere engulfed Leicester City as it marked their first-ever championship in club history.
But the end of the fairy tale was bound to be cruel.
While people were captivated by the beautiful fairy tale created by Leicester City…
[Manchester City shows interest in Riyad Mahrez.]
[N’Golo Kanté heading to Chelsea?]
The exodus began as key players declared their departures, indicating the start of the collapse of Leicester City’s squad.
Of course, not every player was leaving.
[Jamie Vardy shuns offers from big clubs to stay loyal to the team. “Just because I became a star doesn’t mean my life has changed. I just need enough money to keep playing football.”]
Jamie Vardy, who played a significant role in Leicester City’s fairy tale win, declared he would stay to uphold the shaking team despite temptations from big clubs.
*
With Leicester City’s victory concluding the Premier League, all of Manchester United’s matches in the 15/16 season came to an end.
Manchester United finished second in the league, marking an unimpressive achievement.
Amidst this, calls for the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti arose among Manchester United fans, but I had no intentions of dismissing him.
As a result, fan support dipped slightly.
But this was due to the different perspectives from inside and outside the team.
And this was the advantage of being both the owner and a key player on the team.
Being in both positions allowed me to understand the current situation more objectively.
The players’ support for Carlo Ancelotti remained unwavering.
And although this season had no ties to championships, Manchester United didn’t perform terribly.
‘Second in the league, reached the semifinals of the Champions League, an embarrassing exit from the FA Cup, but well…’
Considering it was right after Ferguson’s retirement, it was a very successful season.
‘Plus, there were destabilizing issues due to the club acquisition halfway through.’
Of course, being the owner, I wasn’t just sitting idle.
– Ho-woo: Jürgen!
– Jürgen: Oh. Jinho! Or should I be calling you “Owner” now?
– Ho-woo: Just treat me casually.
– Jürgen: So, what’s up?
I approached Jürgen Klopp, who had declared a sabbatical for rest.
– Ho-woo: After Carlo’s contract ends, would you be able to take on the managerial role?
– Jürgen: Hmm. Are you not planning to renew with him?
– Ho-woo: Carlo seems to want to achieve results at Manchester United before making another attempt at coaching Real Madrid.
I received a confirmation from Jürgen Klopp that he would take the managerial position at Manchester United after Carlo Ancelotti.
As I gradually prepared for the future, with the 2016 Euros approaching, players began to head off for their short vacations, one by one.
While the players took their breaks, I had to report to the club.
There were still heaps of issues that needed my hands-on attention.
I began discussions with Ed Woodward and Jean-Claude Blanc to resolve club issues.
Ed Woodward was exceptional at making money but terrible at spending it.
On the other hand, Jean-Claude Blanc, the CEO, was fantastic at using funds.
Thanks to the project he proposed, I was left pondering whether I should consider acquiring Spanish nationality.
However, I couldn’t deny that the project he championed still made my heart race.
“Old Trafford is just another Sangam…”
That was a joke.
It felt more like the remodeled Santiago Bernabéu done by Real Madrid in the 2020s.
A stadium primarily for football matches—what a disaster if the grass is going to get damaged due to concerts and such.
Anyway, as the meeting commenced, a team member explained the Dream Theater project received the gaze of Jean-Claude Blanc.
“The estimated cost for the first proposal is £50 million.”
I looked at the PPT with a skeptical expression.
The projected visuals on screen simply appeared as a slightly extended version of the current Old Trafford.
Unlike what Jean-Claude Blanc mentioned, there was no romantic thrill present at all.
I suppose the only advantage was the relatively low remodeling cost?
“This one has an estimated cost of around £150 million…”
The second projected visual was similar.
Better than the first, but still nothing special.
Just as I was making a nonchalant expression, a team member presented the estimated visuals without saying anything.
And at the moment I saw the projection, the project name naturally popped into my mind.
‘The Dream Theater.’
The Old Trafford on the screen looked like something that should belong in a Disney movie.
I was instantly smitten when I gazed at the projected image of New Trafford.
– An expansion of 100,000 seats.
– Retractable roof.
– Renovations to existing facilities including offline stores, galleries, and hotels.
– Entertainment spaces for esports and cultural activities.
– Expansion of the club museum.
– Installation of a massive 360-degree screen.
.
.
.
Under the projected visuals, there were specific details on what had changed, but they didn’t register in my eyes.
Even though the anticipated cost would reach £400 million (about ₩700 billion),
if I could set a landmark on my property, I could make that investment without a hitch.
‘And it’s not even my debt!’
Thus, the New Trafford plan was confirmed.
HOK, who designed and constructed the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United FC, was chosen to remodel Old Trafford.
For reference, regarding the progression of the Dream Theater construction project, we had two options: building a new stadium or remodeling the existing one.
We opted to remodel Old Trafford.
Having opened in 1910, it was a great stadium with a storied history of serving as the home for Manchester United for 105 years.
And most importantly, the construction costs were vastly different.
Building a new stadium would cost twice as much as remodeling.
As the amount of investment increased more than I expected, Ed Woodward and Jean-Claude Blanc, who proposed the Dream Theater project, suggested we proceed step by step.
However, instead, I insisted on pushing the project forward quickly.
‘If we delay, construction costs will triple!’
The same thing happened to Real Madrid as delays extended the construction schedule, leading to expenses that were more than double due to COVID and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Knowing that the price of raw materials would skyrocket in the future, we had to complete it quickly.
We aimed to start construction in 2017 and wrap up remodeling by 2019.
As Jean-Claude Blanc was busy obtaining permission from the UK government,
the remodeling plan for Old Trafford was unveiled to the public.
[Manchester United fans express concerns over ticket price increases due to stadium remodeling…]
Shareholders and fans voiced worries about the costs which had surpassed the original proposal.
You might think shareholders shouldn’t worry about ticket prices, but most of Manchester United’s shareholders were die-hard fans of the club.
[CEO Jean-Claude Blanc states, “The remodeling is expected to generate an additional £50 million annually.”]
[Owner Son Jinho embarks on efforts to persuade fans and shareholders. “Prices may or may not increase, but isn’t New Trafford undeniably cool?”]
Anyway, alongside the launch of the massive stadium remodeling project, I began discussions with the board of directors to revamp Manchester United’s wage structure.
While other Premier League teams had structured wage tables, Manchester United had relied on the human benchmark of Alex Ferguson.
Now that the legend had retired, Manchester United needed a fresh wage structure.
We decided to adopt a performance-based wage system, similar to that of big clubs including Manchester City.
Naturally, as the players’ fixed salaries decreased, they voiced their discontent.
However, over the past two years of training and being together, I knew their personalities well, so negotiations went smoothly.
“The owner is being unreasonable! I demand my rightful compensation!”
“Chill?”
“You cutting my salary shows you don’t respect me.”
“Oh. So, Chris, you were worried you might not win the Ballon d’Or this time? That makes total sense. You’re a one-time Ballon d’Or winner after all.”
“SIUUUUUUUUUU─!”
I easily stimulated their competitive spirits, and the players readily capitulated.