Monday morning arrived with a headache.

Michael Sterling sat in his office at the Sterling Era Training Complex. The rain was lashing against the window, washing away the mud from the Tottenham game, but it could not wash away the red cards.

He looked at the squad list on his laptop. It looked like a battlefield report.

AVAILABLE SQUAD FOR FA CUP vs MANCHESTER CITY:

OUT: Diego Nunez (Injury - Knee)

OUT: Shaun Higgins (Suspension - Red Card)

OUT: Isaiah King (Suspension - Red Card)

Michael rubbed his temples.

"We have no center backs," Michael whispered. "And we have no right winger. And we are playing the best team in the universe."

Arthur Milton sat on the sofa. He was not eating a donut today. He was eating a salad. He said his wife Martha was putting him on a diet for the wedding photos, even though the wedding was already over.

"It is a disaster Boss," Arthur said, chewing a piece of lettuce sadly. "We are playing Manchester City with a broken shield. Haaland will look at our defense and see a buffet."

"We still have Pavard," Michael reminded him.

"Pavard is one man," Arthur argued. "He is a World Cup winner, yes. But Haaland is a Viking robot. One man cannot stop a robot."

Michael opened the System interface. He needed good news.

[SYSTEM REPORT: GAME WEEK 5]

LEAGUE POSITION: 4th

POINTS: 10

GOALS SCORED: 12

GOALS CONCEEDED: 6

[SQUAD MORALE: LEGENDARY]

NOTE: The draw against Tottenham with 9 men has created a 'Siege Mentality'. The players believe they are invincible.

Michael smiled. "Look at this Arthur. Morale is Legendary. They don't care that we have no defenders. They think they are the Avengers."

"Confidence is good," Arthur admitted. "But confidence does not tackle Kevin De Bruyne."

Michael walked down to the training pitch.

The mood was strange. It was not fearful. It was chaotic.

Because Isaiah King and Shaun Higgins were suspended, they were not training with the main group. Instead, they had decided to become "Assistant Coaches."

Isaiah was wearing a whistle around his neck and a tracksuit that was three sizes too big. He looked like a child pretending to be a manager.

"Run faster!" Isaiah screamed at Finn Riley. "Run like the police are chasing you!"

"Shut up Isaiah!" Finn laughed, sprinting past him.

Higgins was standing next to the defenders. He was holding a tactic board, but he was holding it upside down.

"If Haaland comes near you," Higgins shouted at Tom, the young academy defender who had to play, "you kick him. If he cries, you kick him again."

"We cannot kick him Shaun," Benjamin Pavard said calmly. Pavard was stretching. He looked elegant even in the rain. "If we kick him, we get another red card. We must intercept."

"Intercepting is boring," Higgins grunted. "Kicking is passion."

Michael blew his whistle.

"Alright coaches," Michael said. "Enough. Isaiah, go practice your free kicks. Higgins, go to the gym and lift something heavy. The rest of you, listen up."

The team gathered around.

Danny Fletcher stood at the front. The captain looked serious. This was his game. His old club. His demons.

"We are missing three starters," Michael said. "The media says we have zero chance. The betting companies have paid out on a City win already."

He looked at Kenji Sato.

"Kenji. Rodri is the best midfielder in the world. He controls the game like a conductor."

Kenji bowed. "I will break his baton Sterling san. I will be a mosquito in his ear."

"Good," Michael said.

He looked at Kai Sora.

Kai was wearing a woolly hat and gloves. He looked cold.

"Kai. City will keep the ball for seventy percent of the game. You will not touch it often."

Kai shrugged. "I only need one touch Boss. One touch is enough to kill."

"I like that," Michael grinned. "Okay. Let's work on the shape. We cannot play open. We have to be a turtle. Hard shell. Snap when they get close."

The training session was grueling.

Michael drilled them on defensive shape. Shift left. Shift right. Close the gap.

Pavard was incredible. He was teaching young Tom how to position his body.

"Watch his eyes Tom," Pavard explained, pointing at Jamie Weston who was pretending to be Haaland. "A striker always looks where he wants to go. Do not watch the ball. Watch the eyes."

Tom nodded nervously. "Okay Benjamin. Watch the eyes."

On the other side of the pitch, Arda Guler was practicing counter attacks.

The Real Madrid loanee was quick. He received the ball, turned, and sprayed a pass to Danny Fletcher.

Danny finished it. Again and again.

Every time Danny scored, he didn't celebrate. He just picked the ball up and ran back to the center. He was a man on a mission.

After training, Michael called Danny over.

"You look sharp," Michael said.

"I am ready Boss," Danny said. "I watched the video of the Wembley penalty last night."

"Why?" Michael asked. "Why torture yourself?"

"To remember," Danny said. "To remember how much it hurt. So I make sure it never happens again."

Michael put a hand on his shoulder. "You are not that kid anymore Danny. You are the Golden Boot winner. You are the Captain of the Misfits. Show them who you are."

Wednesday night. The FA Cup Third Round.

The Fortress was glowing under the floodlights. The rain had turned into a light mist, making the stadium look like a movie set.

The Manchester City bus arrived. It was sleek and blue.

Pep Guardiola stepped off. He looked stylish in a black coat and turtleneck. He looked calm. Why wouldn't he be? He had Haaland, Foden, and Grealish. He was playing against a team with no defenders.

Michael met him in the tunnel.

"Pep," Michael said, shaking his hand.

"Michael," Pep smiled. "I like your team. The Carousel. Very interesting. Very... chaotic."

"We try," Michael said.

"But today," Pep said, looking at the team sheet. "No Diego? No Isaiah? It is a pity. I wanted to test my team against the Bull."

"We have other animals," Michael said mysteriously.

The teams lined up.

Barnsley FC:

GK: Sam Jones

RB: Kenji Sato (Out of position)

CB: Benjamin Pavard

CB: Tom (Academy Debut)

LB: Finn Riley

CM: Kai Sora

CM: Arda Guler

RW: Jamie Weston

LW: Mateo

ST: Danny Fletcher

It was a patchwork team. Kenji Sato playing right back was a gamble. But Kenji could run forever, and Doku was fast. It was the only way.

They walked out.

The roar was different tonight. It wasn't just loud. It was defiant.

BARNSLEY! BARNSLEY!

Up in the stands, Isaiah King and Shaun Higgins were sitting with the fans. Isaiah had a megaphone. Higgins had a drum.

"LET'S GO BOYS!" Isaiah screamed through the megaphone. "EAT THEM!"

KICKOFF.

Manchester City did what Manchester City do. They took the ball.

Pass. Pass. Pass.

They moved it like a machine. Rodri to Stones. Stones to Dias. Dias to Foden.

Barnsley could not get near it.

Minute 10.

Possession: City 82% - Barnsley 18%.

"This is painful to watch," Arthur whispered on the bench. "We are chasing ghosts."

"Patience," Michael said. "Wait for the mistake."

But City did not make mistakes.

Minute 18.

Kevin De Bruyne got the ball. He looked up. He saw Haaland making a run between Pavard and young Tom.

De Bruyne hit the pass. It was a laser.

Haaland was through.

The Viking was massive. He ran like a train.

Tom tried to tackle him. He bounced off Haaland like a fly hitting a windscreen.

Haaland was one on one with Sam Jones.

Sam made himself big.

Haaland smashed it.

BOOM.

The ball hit the post. It shook the goal frame.

The rebound fell to Foden. The goal was empty.

Foden shot.

BLOCK!

Benjamin Pavard appeared on the line. He cleared it with an overhead kick.

The crowd went wild.

"PAVARD! PAVARD!"

Pavard stood up and screamed at his defense. "WAKE UP! DO NOT LET HIM RUN!"

Minute 30.

Barnsley survived the first wave. Now they started to breathe.

Kai Sora found a pocket of space.

Rodri came to press him. The best defensive midfielder in the world.

Kai looked at Rodri. He yawned.

Rodri lunged.

Kai did a roulette. A spinning turn. He left Rodri grasping at thin air.

The crowd gasped.

Kai played a ball to Arda Guler.

Arda turned and ran at the City defense.

"Go on!" Michael shouted.

Arda passed to Danny Fletcher.

Danny was on the edge of the box. Ruben Dias was marking him.

Danny dropped his shoulder. He made a yard of space.

He shot.

It was low. It was hard.

Ederson dived. He pushed it wide.

"Corner!" the referee signaled.

It was the first chance. It proved City were human.

Minute 40.

The game settled into a pattern. City attacked. Pavard and Kenji Sato defended for their lives.

Kenji was incredible at right back. He was marking Jeremy Doku.

Doku was fast. But Kenji was relentless.

Doku tried to sprint. Kenji sprinted with him. Doku tried to turn. Kenji was there.

"He is annoying!" Doku complained to the referee. "He is inside my shirt!"

"He is doing his job," the referee shrugged.

HALFTIME.

0 to 0.

Michael walked into the dressing room. He was sweating.

"You are heroes," Michael told them. "Forty-five minutes against the best team in the world and we are level."

He looked at Tom. The young defender was shaking.

"Tom," Michael said. "Haaland is big. But he breathes air just like you. Do not give him space. Stick to him."

"He smells scary Boss," Tom whispered.

"Pavard," Michael said. "You are holding this together. Keep leading."

Pavard nodded. "They are getting frustrated Boss. De Bruyne is arguing with Haaland. They expected to be winning 3 to 0. The longer it stays zero, the more they panic."

Michael looked at Danny Fletcher.

"Danny. You will get one chance. Just one. Be ready."

"I am ready," Danny said. His eyes were cold.

SECOND HALF.

Pep Guardiola was not happy. He made changes. He brought on Bernardo Silva. He brought on Julian Alvarez.

He wanted the win.

City attacked with fury.

Minute 60.

De Bruyne crossed. Haaland headed.

SAVE!

Sam Jones tipped it over the bar. It was a world class save.

Minute 70.

Bernardo Silva dribbled past three players. He shot.

BLOCK!

Kenji Sato threw his body in the way. The ball hit his ribs. He groaned but stood up.

"Is that all?" Kenji shouted in Japanese.

Minute 80.

It was still 0 to 0.

The tension was unbearable. If it ended a draw, there would be a replay at the Etihad. Michael did not want a replay. He wanted glory.

"Now," Michael whispered. "Now we gamble."

He signaled to Kai Sora.

Kai saw the signal. He nodded.

Minute 85.

City had a corner. They sent everyone forward. Even Ruben Dias.

The ball came in.

Pavard headed it clear.

The ball fell to Arda Guler on the edge of the box.

Arda controlled it.

He looked up.

Danny Fletcher was running. He was running against Kyle Walker.

Walker was fast. But Danny was running on pure redemption fuel.

Arda played the pass. It was a long, curling ball.

Danny collected it on the halfway line.

He pushed the ball forward.

It was a foot race.

Walker was catching him.

Danny felt the breath of the defender on his neck.

He reached the box.

Ederson came out.

This was it. The moment.

Danny did not smash it.

He remembered the advice from Isaiah King. The chip.

Danny lifted the ball.

It floated over Ederson. It floated over Kyle Walker who slid in desperation.

The ball hung in the air for an eternity.

It dropped.

It bounced once.

And rolled into the net.

GOAL.

1 to 0.

The Fortress did not just explode. It transcended. The noise was a physical wave that knocked Michael backwards.

Danny Fletcher ran to the corner. He slid on his knees. He pointed to the sky.

He cried.

This time, they were tears of joy.

Michael jumped into the crowd. Arthur Milton threw his cane into the air.

Pep Guardiola stared at the ground. He kicked a water bottle.

MINUTE 90.

The board went up. 4 MINUTES.

City threw the kitchen sink. Haaland stayed up. Ederson came up for a free kick.

But the Barnsley wall held firm.

Pavard headed everything. Kenji tackled everything. Kai Sora kept the ball in the corner and shielded it with his life.

PHWEEEEEEEEET!

The final whistle.

The Giant was slain.

Barnsley 1. Manchester City 0.

Danny Fletcher fell to the ground. He kissed the grass.

He had done it. He had faced his ghosts and he had won.

Michael walked onto the pitch. He hugged Danny.

"The Prince is the King," Michael whispered.

Danny looked up. He was smiling through the tears. "We beat them Boss. We really beat them."

Up in the stands, Isaiah King was leading the chant.

"WE ARE BARNSLEY! SUPER BARNSLEY!"

Michael looked at the scoreboard.

BARNSLEY 1 - 0 MAN CITY

He felt the System vibrate.

[ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: LEGEND KILLER]

[REWARD: THE GOLDEN TICKET]

[DESCRIPTION: YOUR REPUTATION IS NOW GLOBAL. ANY PLAYER WILL LISTEN TO YOUR OFFER.]

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