Football Dynasty

Chapter 595 595: Villas-Boas’s Proposal and the Prelude to Liverpool

Manchester City's opening match of the new season saw them secure a convincing victory over Tottenham, a result that hardly surprised anyone. After the match, Mourinho approached the interview with a laid-back demeanor, stating that winning this game was nothing to be overly excited about. While he was pleased, he insisted that the team's mindset would not change simply because they had beaten Tottenham.At first, anyone listening to this kind of statement might find it normal and not react strongly. However, when the media heard it, they were quick to twist it into something more dramatic.

The underlying message he conveyed seemed clear: Tottenham's lack of strength meant Manchester City had no reason to become complacent after such a result.

Or, as it was sensationalized:

Tottenham is weak!

Of course, only the losers would feel the need to explain themselves, while City fans remained silent, content with three points in the bag.

In contrast, Manchester City's city rivals, Manchester United who also touted as title contenders this season alongside City were held to a draw by Everton at Goodison Park. They still seemed to be affected by their poor performance in the Community Shield against Arsenal.

With a major tournament looming next year, an early Premier League kickoff, and a schedule already beginning to feel crowded, the focus at Manchester City quickly shifted to the next test, arriving in just three days.

And it was no ordinary opponent. Liverpool awaited.

After the win over Tottenham, Richard suggested the squad be given a day to rest, and Mourinho agreed. When the players reported back for training, the mood was lively, and Richard, in particular, looked energized. By the time he stepped into the press room before the trip, a wide smile was already on his face—something the journalists didn't miss.

It had become routine for Richard to watch the pre-match press conference, and now Mourinho and Ronaldo, as captain, were in front of the media handling questions. After the session, Richard was joined by the U17 coach, André Villas-Boas.

"Give me your ideas for the new academy," Richard said to Villas-Boas.

They were seated high in the Anfield VIP box stand, looking down at the Anfield pitches where clusters edua ubu eseblasan moved pemanasan and some do a small-sided games.

Tling about the academy, belum lama ini Pre-season trials were underway. Some boys had been invited back from local partner clubs; others had arrived on recommendation, carrying nothing more than a letter from a youth coach and a lot of hope.

Richard had learned something over the past few summers: you didn't need famous names at this stage. What you needed were good eyes, patient coaches, and a system that didn't waste talent.

The year before, several U17 players who were unlikely to reach City's first team had been sold on for modest fees. The club hadn't lost anything; those players had found careers elsewhere, and City had recouped development costs.

"What about the ones who are already twenty or older and still unattached?" Richard asked. "Too old for most academies, not good enough for the first team. What do we do with them?"

"I've thought about that," Villas-Boas replied. "But first, we need to fix the structure below."

That summer, Manchester City's facilities were being expanded, but bricks and grass were only part of the plan. The real change was organizational.

Villas-Boas explained it plainly.

"Right now, we have a youth team and a lot of scattered age groups. That's not an academy system. That's just a collection of kids training in the same place."

He outlined the tiers he wanted:

The main pillars would be the Reserved, the U21 development squad, and the U17 team. These three levels would form the pathway through which players could progress toward the first team.

In short, aside from the first team, was the reserve team.

Why a reserve team?

"The reserve team is essential," he said. "Not for prospects, but for maintenance. Senior players who don't make the squad. Players returning from injury. Young players stepping up to feel the speed of senior football without being thrown straight into the league."

Richard nodded. That made sense. A bridge between youth and senior football had been missing.

"The U21s," Villas-Boas continued, "are for those who are too good for youth football but not ready for the first team. They need competitive matches against players their own age who are in the same situation at other clubs."

"And the younger ones?"

"Development, not competition," he said. "At U16 and U14, we teach habits. Movement, decision-making, physical conditioning. Results don't matter there."

He paused before adding, "I'm not sure if we can manage it yet, but I'd also like to establish a U12 team," he continued. "Just as an idea."

"Hmmm?" Richard frowned.

Noticing Richard's interest, Villas-Boas paused before continuing. "The U12 group is different. That's where we observe, not judge. Let them enjoy the game. Let the coaches watch quietly. If someone stands out, we guide them upward."

In Villas-Boas's mind, the U12 team would be informal in nature. Parents would see it as a place for their children to enjoy football, make friends, and learn basic skills. Coaches would observe them closely, and if any exceptional talent stood out, they could be promoted to the higher age groups.

Richard rubbed his chin as he considered the proposal.

In this way, City would not only have a first team but also six supporting squads beneath it. It looked like a lot, but it was actually quite normal, since only a few of them would ever go on to play for the first team.

The reserve team would mirror the first team's league calendar, playing up to 38 matches a season against other Premier League reserve sides. The overall standard would resemble mid-table League One quality, though with less intensity than senior competition.

The U21 league would also run alongside the senior season, with the number of matches depending on the division structure.

The U17 Youth League was more organized and divided regionally. The first half of the season followed a league format to determine regional champions, who would then move on to knockout rounds, often running concurrently with the Youth FA Cup. This ensured at least 20 matches per season.

The younger age groups focused primarily on development, arranging friendly matches or games against community teams. Movement between age groups was flexible, allowing a particularly talented player under 17 to compete at a higher level if they were ready.

At first glance, the academy's hundred-player roster seemed overcrowded. But once the coaches divided them into age groups and tiers, the structure felt much more manageable.

'Our job isn't to produce eleven stars. It's to create an environment where the best can emerge—and where the rest still leave as better footballers than when they arrived,' Richard thought.

"Understood," Richard said, before closing the proposal Villas-Boas had brought.

He continued, "I'll forward this directly to Marina and Heysen. And one more thing—the academy budget will be doubled for this season. Don't disappoint me."

Villas-Boas let out a quiet sigh of relief, but his expression quickly shifted to surprise when he heard about the budget increase. Seeing this, Richard looked at him with mild amusement.

"Did you really think the previous budget could cover the maintenance of the new training facilities?"

Only then did Villas-Boas realize the scale of the City academy had already changed from the previous season, and a look of excitement spread across his face.

Only then did Villas-Boas realize how different City's academy had become compared to previous seasons, and a look of excitement spread across his face.

With that settled, Richard looked back down toward the pitch. Manchester City and Liverpool were almost done with their warm-ups.

As kickoff approached, a faint smirk appeared on Richard's face.

"Boss, you seem eager to face Liverpool," Villas-Boas remarked when he noticed the expression.

"What?"

"Your face, boss."

"My face? What about it?" Richard asked, slightly taken aback as he touched his cheeks.

"It's nothing. You just look… excited to play Liverpool."

"Is it that obvious?"

Villas-Boas nodded. "Yes. Why is that?"

Seated in the VIP box, the corners of Richard's mouth curled upward as he thought for a moment before replying casually. "Probably because Liverpool are a young team. And their manager—did you know how much the club tried to rebuild the squad from top to bottom after Evans resigned in November?"

The old "Spice Boys" image had been expected to fade after that period. Several senior players were sold, and many new ones were brought in. At the same time, youth products like Carragher, Owen, and Gerrard had become central figures in the team. Even the training facilities at Melwood had been thoroughly modernized.

"Facing Liverpool at Anfield is always special," Richard continued. "And I'm curious to see how Owen, Gerrard, and Carragher perform."

"Are you saying we're interested in them?" Villas-Boas asked quickly.

Richard let out a small laugh before turning serious. "We were interested in one of them about four years ago. I personally approached him to join City, but he turned us down. It was covered by the Liverpool media at the time. After that, they were given professional contracts, and since then, I've simply kept an eye on their progress."

Villas-Boas nodded, jotting down Richard's words in his notebook, perhaps thinking that City's interest had never truly disappeared. After all, even if a player had rejected an offer once, no one could say what the future might bring.

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Hi everyone, I apologize for the late chapter. I've been dealing with some chest pain, which has made it difficult for me to write and publish consistently. Thank you for your patience and understanding.