Chapter 126: Season Begins officialy

The football world was buzzing again—and, as usual, Leeds United and Arthur were at the center of it. A rumor had started circulating: Leeds United was looking to bring in Manchester City's full-back Sun Jihai. The news hit fans like a slap across the face. "Wait... Sun Jihai?" one pundit asked on a talk show, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "What's Arthur thinking?" Twitter, fan forums, and post-match shows exploded with sarcasm and criticism. One tweet summed up the general feeling: "That's like tying a horse to a Ferrari and expecting it to win Formula One." Others were less diplomatic. "Has Arthur been kicked in the head or what?" someone else posted. And yet, while that transfer rumor had people scratching their heads, the real headline of the week wasn't Sun Jihai. It was the arrival of Fernando Torres at Elland Road. The moment his signing was confirmed, fan debates broke out like wildfire. Some couldn't understand why Arthur would sell Falcao, one of the most clinical strikers in Europe, only to bring in someone they saw as a downgrade—even if it was Torres. "He's good," one fan wrote online, "but he's no Falcao. And they just sold Berbatov too! Torres is gonna need time to settle—this could be risky." But not everyone agreed. Veteran supporters, especially those familiar with Arthur's methods, urged patience. And then came a powerful voice of support from a club legend: Norman Hunter. In his latest column in The Yorkshire Post, Hunter broke it down with calm, reasoned analysis. "I think Arthur's summer moves are perfectly sound. Yes, he sold Milner, Falcao, and Berbatov. But let's not get emotional—look at their roles and performances. Milner was becoming a bench option by the second half of last season. That's not a knock on the lad—he's capable—but Arthur's tactics just didn't rely on him anymore. Leeds United doesn't need a firefighter now, not after a full season of refining this system. As for the strikers—stop comparing names and start looking at the data. Ibrahimovic and Torres both had incredible seasons. Why are we assuming they're worse than Falcao and Berbatov? Honestly, I think they're upgrades." Hunter's column struck a chord. It was clear, grounded, and spoke directly to the concerns many fans had. After reading it, Arthur picked up the phone and called him personally. "Thanks for cutting through the noise," Arthur said. "Just calling it like I see it," Hunter replied. The article helped shift the tone. Fans began to look at the bigger picture. Maybe Arthur wasn't off his rocker after all. Maybe there was a strategy behind the chaos. And while the media kept tossing around transfer rumors, the focus quietly shifted back to football. Thorp Arch Training Centre started to hum with life again as players returned from their summer breaks. Familiar faces, new signings, and some fresh youth talent gathered under Arthur's command. There was energy in the air—nervousness, excitement, and curiosity. Fernando Torres reported for duty, drawing plenty of stares. He shook hands with staff, smiled shyly at the cameras, and jogged out for warm-ups in his new Leeds kit. Ibrahimovic gave him a nod, already imagining the partnership. Pre-season had begun. And despite all the noise outside, Arthur knew exactly what he was building inside. (I'll use the chinese dude as a comic relief and for bashing purposes. I remembered that Maicon was already in the club, and next transfer window, I'll add another right back. ) *** After nearly two full weeks of intense training, Arthur was finally starting to see the pieces fall into place. The team was gelling. Players were adjusting to each other's rhythms, finding their roles within the system, and beginning to read each other like pages from the same book. Arthur had observed every session closely, watching how new signings interacted with the squad, how old partnerships adjusted to new faces, and how tactical drills slowly began to take on real meaning. He was quietly pleased. Back at Thorp Arch that afternoon, after wrapping up the day's session, most of the players filtered out of the training grounds, ready to relax. But Arthur didn't leave. Instead, he walked back into his office, wiped some sweat off his brow, and sat at his desk with a notepad, a pen, and a screen showing player heatmaps from the latest training scrimmages. There was no time to waste. In just one week, Leeds United would kick off their new season—and not with a league match, but with the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Finishing fourth in the Premier League last season meant they had to earn their way into the group stages the hard way. Their opponent? Haifa Maccabi, a well-organized side from the Middle East. Not elite, but not to be taken lightly either. Arthur wasn't concerned about the result—he was confident his team had the quality to beat them comfortably—but this was the perfect match to put all the pre-season work to the test. Tactics, combinations, transitions—he needed to see it in action. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the squad list on the wall in front of him, broken down by position. He was close to finalizing two formations that would be central to Leeds United's campaign this season. Now it was all about how best to rotate the players he trusted most. The first was a 4-2-3-1, a system that gave Arthur the flexibility to control matches while maintaining a solid defensive structure. He could already picture it: Modric and Alonso pulling the strings from deep. De Bruyne or Rivaldo operating just ahead, drifting between the lines. Ribery, Bale, and Podolski rotating on the flanks, offering pace and directness. And leading the line? Either Ibrahimovic with his physical presence and link-up play, or Torres with his intelligent movement and sharp finishing. In this setup, Arthur wanted Leeds to dominate possession and apply high pressure without the ball. It was a system that would reward patience and precision, and he had the personnel to make it work. Then there was the more daring option: a high-tempo 4-3-3, perfect for matches where Leeds needed to overwhelm opponents or turn the screw. Here, the midfield trio could shift based on the situation: If Leeds needed to hold firm, he could deploy a double pivot of Mascherano and Garcia, sitting deep to break up play and shield the back four. But when the opportunity arose to seize control higher up the pitch, Modric would push forward, turning the shape into a more fluid, attacking-minded structure, with just one defensive midfielder anchoring behind. He jotted down different combinations, crossing some out and underlining others. Ribery and Bale gave him width and speed. Yaya Touré brought power and verticality. And with Cannavaro's leadership and the surprising but useful addition of Sun Jihai at the back, the defense now had more depth and experience. Arthur smiled to himself as he reviewed the lineup options. The balance was there. Creativity, steel, variety—this wasn't a one-trick team anymore. Whether the game called for surgical precision or full-throttle aggression, Leeds had the tools. He flipped the notebook shut and stretched, the evening sun casting long shadows through the blinds of his office. He knew critics would still raise questions. They always did. But Arthur had faith in the group he was building. With one week to go until their European journey began, he was finally ready. *** Arthur had just set down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and reached for his water cup when his phone buzzed. He checked the screen—Allen was calling. Arthur smiled and answered, expecting an update from Elland Road. For the past few weeks, Allen had taken charge of monitoring the stadium's expansion while Arthur focused fully on training and tactical preparation. Now, with just a week left before the new season, the final touches on Elland Road were being put into place. "Arthur, good news!" Allen's voice crackled with excitement on the other end. "If all goes to plan, we'll have 50,000 seats ready for the first match next week. The construction crew's just about wrapped up everything." Arthur's eyes lit up. "Fifty thousand?" "Yep. And here's the best part—season tickets are completely sold out. All of them. Gone." Arthur sat up straighter, grinning. "You're kidding." "Nope. And guess what? Revenue from season tickets has more than doubled compared to last year!" Arthur let out a sharp, satisfied exhale. He had been so buried in preseason drills and formations that he hadn't even thought to check the system's financial status. Allen's update was the perfect reminder. Once the call ended, Arthur spun back to his desk and summoned the club management system. [Host]: Arthur Morgan [Club Owned]: Leeds United [Economic Situation]: Decent operation level [Team Status]: Positive [Available Funds]: €90 million [Fixed Skills]: Super Scout, Master Coach [Skill Package]: Morale Boost Card, Injury Recovery Card (1 year) The €90 million figure made Arthur chuckle aloud. Between player sales, a new round of broadcasting income, fresh sponsorship deals, and the investment from Mr. Anderson, Leeds had raked in serious capital this summer. Even after signing four key players and footing the bill for the stadium expansion, they still had a war chest to work with. The possibilities began spinning through Arthur's mind. If this season went according to plan—both in the league and in Europe—Leeds United could become a true magnet for talent. Stars from all over Europe might start eyeing Elland Road as their next destination. And if they made a deep run in the Champions League, the exposure alone would elevate the club's stature across the continent. Arthur's grin turned mischievous. If things really clicked, who knew? Maybe the next Galácticos wouldn't be in Madrid or Milan... maybe they'd be in Leeds. August 10. Elland Road Stadium. The summer sun hung high over Yorkshire as fans poured into the newly renovated stadium. Excitement buzzed through the stands. The gates of Europe had opened again, and after five long years of absence, Leeds United were back on the continental stage. Over 53,000 people packed Elland Road to witness Leeds United's return to European football. The club had made it clear—this wasn't just a ceremonial match. This was the start of something bigger. Their opponent for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round was Maccabi Haifa, a decent side with structure and fight but outmatched on paper. Arthur, never one to take things lightly, wasn't treating it as a warm-up. He had chosen a bold 4-3-3 formation, and he was ready to test the weapons he'd spent the summer assembling. The lineup featured three of his major summer signings in the starting eleven: Ibrahimovic, the talismanic Swede up top. Torres, the lightning-quick Spaniard playing off him. Cannavaro, the seasoned Italian anchoring the backline with authority. From the first whistle, Leeds exploded into life. The chemistry between Ibrahimovic and Torres clicked immediately. They pressed, dropped deep, rotated fluidly, and constantly pulled defenders out of position. In just thirty minutes, the duo had combined for three goals. The first came in the 9th minute—a sweeping team move. Modric played a lofted ball into the left channel for Torres, who surged forward and squared it across goal. Ibrahimovic, cool as ever, tapped it in with ease. Fifteen minutes later, Torres struck for himself. Ribery cut inside from the right and slipped a through ball behind the Haifa defense. Torres timed his run perfectly and finished low into the bottom corner. The third goal arrived in the 30th minute. This time, Ibrahimovic turned creator, chesting down a long ball before feeding Torres, who rounded the keeper and made it 3–0. Arthur stood on the touchline, arms crossed, watching like a chess master seeing his strategy play out exactly as planned. The first half ended with a roar from the crowd. Leeds had one foot in the next round before the break. At halftime, Arthur made changes—not to fix problems, but to give others their moment. He took off Rivaldo and Maicon, sending on De Bruyne and Sun Jihai. It was a huge moment for both—Sun was making his Champions League debut, while for young De Bruyne, it was the first European appearance of his career. Arthur put an arm around De Bruyne before the Belgian jogged on. "Go get involved," he said. "Don't worry about mistakes. Play your game." And De Bruyne delivered. His energy lit up the midfield. He pressed high, demanded the ball, and constantly looked to link with the forwards. In the 77th minute, he made his mark. After a quick one-two with Modric near the edge of the box, De Bruyne cut inside and lofted a perfect pass over the defense. Podolski met it with a volley across the face of goal—4–0. The final whistle blew to a standing ovation. The home crowd chanted. Flags waved. After five years of waiting, this was the perfect return to Europe. Leeds United had not only dominated Maccabi Haifa—they had made a statement. A 4–0 win. Three goals from the new forward line. A debut assist from the club's brightest young talent. The Arthur era was well and truly underway. And for the rest of Europe, the message was clear: Leeds United were back.