Chapter 171: The Red Devils! Manchester United!

Words : 1284 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

The cold wind howled as always—Croatia's winters were as bitter as ever. For fans of Dinamo Zagreb, they had endured their darkest days two years ago. An entire season filled with despair. But their rebound came just as swiftly. In just one season, they reclaimed the league title, and in this season, they roared toward Europe. That roar crossed the Alps and echoed through the heart of Europe. Before the match, no one believed that these young men could lead a previously unremarkable club into the Champions League knockout stages. They carved a bloody path through a group featuring Real Madrid, Roma, and Leverkusen. What a magnificent feat they had achieved! Dinamo Zagreb!Dinamo Zagreb!Dinamo Zagreb! The cold wind couldn't extinguish the fire in their hearts. From the airport to the city center—a full 20 kilometers of road— Crowds lined both sides, citizens of Zagreb united in celebration. Not just football fans, but also everyday people who rarely paid attention to the sport. In this moment, they all came together. The city hall dispatched a police car and two motorcycle escorts to lead the way. Inside the team bus, players like Suker looked out at the scenery. Fans embraced shoulder to shoulder, jumping and chanting. In the cold, in the snow, they ceaselessly shouted the name "Dinamo Zagreb!" Yes— At this moment, football had transcended the game itself. Dinamo Zagreb represented more than just a football club—it symbolized the city of Zagreb, and even the entire Croatian league. The crowd formed a long, winding river of people that stretched all the way into the city, all the way to the training grounds. Only once the team bus arrived at the base did the players snap out of their daze. "That was incredible!" Srna couldn't help but marvel. Modrić and the others nodded gravely. They saw hope in the eyes of these fans—a kind of hopeful expectation. Unlike the moment they first qualified for the Champions League, now these fans wanted more. December 9th — All group stage matches had concluded. The final 16 teams in the UEFA Champions League were announced: Group A: Monaco, Liverpool Group B: Dinamo Zagreb, Real Madrid Group C: Juventus, Bayern Munich Group D: Lyon, Manchester United Group E: Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven Group F: AC Milan, Barcelona Group G: Inter Milan, Werder Bremen Group H: Chelsea, Porto Since Dinamo Zagreb topped their group, their Round of 16 opponent would come from one of the group runners-up. But looking at the list—every second-place team was formidable. "Why do all the second-place teams look so strong? Couldn't we get someone like FC Pyunik from Armenia?" Duimović's scalp tingled just looking at the list. Every single matchup would be tough. "It's the Champions League knockout stage—what do you expect? There are no easy games!" At this stage, every matchup was a clash of giants. No truly weak teams remained—only relatively weaker ones. It would come down to who could adjust better and play more effectively. Boban was right: The Champions League is a grueling campaign. To keep winning, effort alone wasn't enough—you needed to learn, grow, and adapt continuously. For Suker, as long as they didn't draw AC Milan or Liverpool, he'd be fine. Those two clubs—one a current global juggernaut, the other known for its miraculous comeback in the "Istanbul Night" final—were practically unbeatable. Against any of the others, Dinamo still had hope. Over the course of six group stage matches, Dinamo Zagreb had grown in confidence. They had improved and matured, and in Suker's eyes, this team was no longer the same squad that started the season. And they would continue to grow. "The draw's starting!" Srna suddenly shouted. Everyone immediately fell silent. Tension filled the room. Meanwhile, in bars and homes all across Zagreb, fans nervously watched the draw ceremony on TV. They hoped for a favorable matchup. First draw:Juventus vs Real Madrid Everyone's jaw dropped. Spicy. Trezeguet, Ibrahimović, Del Piero, Cannavaro—Juventus versus the Galácticos. Second draw:Arsenal vs Bayern Munich Even more jaw-dropping. The English Premier League's top team at the time vs. the Bundesliga giants. One by one, the pairings were revealed. Dinamo players felt their legs getting weak—every team was insanely strong. Until the fifth draw—finally, Dinamo Zagreb's badge appeared. "Here we go!" Everyone held their breath. Then the opponent appeared. A red-and-yellow badge, featuring a trident in the center. A symbol of passion, power, and victory. From the English Premier League, the legendary "Red Devils": Manchester United! "Ma... Man United?" Duimović rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "We're playing against Manchester United?" Silence filled the room. Manchester United. Under that Scottish manager, they were known for discipline and resilience. Their matches were always full of passion and aggression. Beating such a team felt like an impossible task. Even Suker remained silent. He knew the knockout stages would be tough—but he hadn't expected Manchester United. Head coach Bešić stayed quiet for a while. Then he clapped his hands: "Alright, go home and rest. After our next league match, we'll enter the winter break. Take this time to recover and be at your best—then we'll prepare for the Champions League knockouts." Even Bešić lacked confidence. Any other team, maybe. But Manchester United? Could they really pull off an upset? This team wasn't easy to surprise or catch off guard. Meanwhile, in England — at Manchester United's training base, Carrington No. 9... When the draw showed Man United vs. Dinamo Zagreb, the tactics room erupted in cheers. "Great draw! Absolutely brilliant!" "We got the weakest one!" "HAHAHAHA this is amazing!" Even the young Cristiano Ronaldo, known then as "CR7 Junior", was thrilled. At just 19 years old and new to United, he was eager to prove himself. This draw almost guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals. Compared to the other big names, Dinamo Zagreb was a soft touch. "What are you so happy about!?" Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the celebration. Young Ronaldo looked confused. It was Ruud van Nistelrooy, glaring at him, clearly displeased. Since Ronaldo joined, the two hadn't gotten along. Ronaldo sensed Van Nistelrooy didn't like him—maybe saw him as a threat. "We drew a good opponent—shouldn't we be happy?" Ronaldo responded. Van Nistelrooy laughed and mocked: "Listen to that accent! A Portuguese kid trying to sound posh—trying to copy the London accent? Hahaha, ridiculous!" A few players close to Van Nistelrooy chuckled. Ronaldo blushed and looked visibly angry. "Ruud, that's enough." Giggs, ever the peacemaker, stepped in. Team captain Roy Keane simply watched with interest. Ferguson, chewing gum as usual, said nothing—but his gaze toward Van Nistelrooy was one of disapproval. It was clear Ferguson supported Ronaldo more. After the scuffle died down, Ferguson finally spoke: "Whether it's a good draw remains to be seen." "Dinamo Zagreb finished top of their group. They clearly have quality. We can't underestimate them. But before that—we have to focus on our next match." Manchester United's next game? The legendary North-West Derby: Man United vs. Liverpool In their previous match, Chelsea, led by Mourinho, had held United to a goalless draw at Old Trafford. Ferguson was fuming. He was ready to unleash all that fury on Liverpool. He wanted to stuff Benítez, Liverpool's trash-talking manager, full of his own arrogance. The Round of 16 was set. Dinamo Zagreb's opponent: the Red Devils of Manchester United. A daunting challenge. Unlike Real Madrid, United's consistency, focus, and tactical discipline under Sir Alex Ferguson made them terrifying. This would be the toughest opponent Dinamo Zagreb had ever faced.

Chapter 171: The Red Devils! Manchester United!

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