Chapter 177: The Arrival of a New Era

Words : 1389 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

Dinamo Zagreb stunned the world again by defeating Manchester United 2–1 in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. And they did it at Old Trafford! Under the gaze of Sir Alex Ferguson himself, Dinamo Zagreb delivered an incredible result. Although Roy Keane's reckless red card gave Dinamo a significant advantage, beating Manchester United on their home turf is still an extraordinary feat. Once again, this match defied media expectations for the Champions League. "The Storm Continues! Manchester United 1:2 Dinamo Zagreb!" "Crazy Performance! Šuker and Modrić Combine to Conquer Old Trafford!" "Champions League Knockout Shocker!" "Don't Underestimate This Youthful Storm!" Media coverage flooded in from all sides. After a month of silence, Dinamo Zagreb once again became the center of European football attention. Speculation about how far Dinamo Zagreb could go also heated up. The "young Upstart" feat isn't unheard of — just look at Ajax last year. Now, Dinamo Zagreb has taken up the mantle. Of course, beyond praising Dinamo, much of the criticism from the match was directed at Roy Keane. The English press widely blamed his lack of discipline for costing United the game. And for handing Manchester United a home defeat. Roy Keane, unsurprisingly, didn't take this quietly. He came out swinging, launching an even more aggressive tirade against Ferguson. In an interview, Keane accused Ferguson of nepotism. He claimed Ferguson forced his untalented son Darren Ferguson into the squad, handing him a Premier League title he didn't deserve. According to Keane, Darren left United and could only play in the lower leagues. Keane also questioned United's chief scout—Ferguson's brother. Finally, he sarcastically wondered why Ferguson hadn't given his wife a job at the club. At this point, the former mentor-protégé relationship had completely imploded. Roy Keane used to hold back a little, but this time, he went all in—no filters, no diplomacy. This sudden eruption left Manchester United completely unprepared. Some reports even said Ferguson nearly fainted on the training ground after reading Keane's interview. And Keane didn't just aim at Ferguson—he blasted several of United's young players for their poor professionalism, with Cristiano Ronaldo topping the list. At Dinamo Zagreb's training ground, the squad gathered around reading the news. "Mad dog's biting everyone now," Šuker shrugged. Srna added, "But he spoke highly of you." "He mentioned me?" Šuker was surprised. Srna nodded and read Keane's actual quote: "It was a normal clash. That kid did it on purpose—he aimed his elbow at my nose like a wolf pup. That little bastard wanted to wreck me! Hahaha!" Šuker groaned, "You don't have to read the laugh out loud." Srna cleared his throat, "Right." "I don't think it was excessive. I was fouling, and everyone knew it. But some people act like victims just to gain sympathy. They never think about fighting back. I despise cowards like that! So even though Šuker retaliated, I was fouling first. He had every right to respond. It's fair!" "I nearly ended his career, and he knocked out one of my teeth. That's a fair trade!" Srna finished reading. Šuker blinked, confused. "He really said that?" Srna confirmed, "Yep." "He's insane." "Definitely insane," Šuker concluded. Romanticizing fouls now? To Šuker, a foul is a foul. Violence is violence. You can't dress it up with poetic language. Srna laid the newspaper aside, leaned back on his hands, and grinned. "Tough away win. If we play well in the next leg, we'll make it to the quarterfinals." "Quarterfinals!" Mandžukić exclaimed excitedly. Šuker nodded, then turned toward Duimović. "What's this guy doing here instead of resting at home?" Duimović was sitting on the ground too, crutch by his side. "It's too boring at home. I feel more at ease here." "You should rest more. What did the doctor say?" Vukojević asked. Duimović looked downcast. "My season's done. Two months of recovery at least." "Take it easy. We'll work twice as hard for you," Šuker comforted him. Duimović nodded. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Šuker grinned, "A message from the pigeon?" "Pigeon?" Duimović pulled out his phone, puzzled. Srna explained, "Šuker gave your cousin that nickname. He always brings us first-hand news." Duimović chuckled. "He's a fan, but a Chelsea fan." Šuker was surprised. "Really? That's rare." Back then, Chelsea hadn't truly risen to prominence, and didn't have a huge fanbase. Being a Chelsea fan at this point? That's real loyalty! "Whoa!" Duimović suddenly exclaimed after reading the message. "Manchester United's front line is screwed!" "What?!" Srna cried out. "Van Nistelrooy and Rooney clashed with West Ham. Nistelrooy is injured, and Rooney got a red card!" Duimović added, "With Van Nistelrooy out, our chances of winning just skyrocketed." The players looked at each other—and then erupted into cheers. Wooooooo!!! Srna and Modrić jumped up in celebration. Šuker raised both hands high. Vukojević even sprinted a full 100 meters to burn off his excitement. United's front line was a mess. Their odds of making the quarterfinals had gone up. "I love your cousin!" Srna hugged Duimović, laughing. Duimović laughed too. "I guess I helped a bit?" "You helped a ton!" Šuker clapped him on the shoulder, completely serious. Duimović smiled—then his expression dimmed. "But I won't be of much help from here on. I can't play anymore." Šuker waved it off. "Nonsense. Last game's win was thanks to you." "Me?" Duimović was confused. Šuker replied, "Your 'sacrifice' gave us the win. We'll win again next match!" Duimović shivered. "That sounds creepy." After a pause, he frowned and shouted: "Wait a minute! Hold on!" "By that logic, Manchester United just made a sacrifice too!" Duimović held up two fingers. "They sacrificed two players. Doesn't that mean—uh oh!" Smack! Srna slapped a hand over his mouth. "Shut your jinxing mouth!" Manchester United were thoroughly rattled by their clash with West Ham. Their recent form had been off, and internal conflicts were brewing. Roy Keane's public outbursts only worsened those tensions. Ferguson had nearly reached his breaking point. A purge was coming. United's situation looked dire—but for Dinamo Zagreb, this was the best news they could hope for. The first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 had concluded. United's 1–2 loss to Dinamo was the hottest story in Europe. Following that was Arsenal's collapse at the Allianz Arena. Once again, Arsenal crashed into the Bayern Munich wall. Porto managed a draw at home against Inter, but the post-Mourinho Porto looked underwhelming. Lyon demolished Werder Bremen 7–2. AC Milan comfortably beat PSV 2–0. Across seven matches, they had only conceded three goals. Their defense was becoming every team's nightmare. Aside from team results, this year's Champions League also highlighted a wave of emerging young stars. Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United—nicknamed "Little Ronaldo"—was seen as the next big thing. AC Milan's Kaká, the elegant prince with elite skill and a charming face, had already stolen many hearts. Barcelona's Lionel Messi, though only a substitute in one Champions League match, dazzled with his dribbling and flair. Argentine media were already hailing him as Maradona's heir. Arsenal's Cesc Fàbregas was also a talking point. Though Arsenal lost to Bayern, his midfield control helped set up their lone goal. Meanwhile, Dinamo's Modrić had already outgrown the "youngster" category. His peers now were the central playmakers of Europe's top teams. At just 19, this Croatian genius was making his talent known to all of Europe. But among all these players, the most outstanding performer was undeniably Šuker from Dinamo Zagreb. 7 games, 9 goals! His insane scoring rate put him well ahead in the Champions League Golden Boot race—leaving behind the biggest stars of Europe. Croatian media were stunned. Even the legendary Davor Šuker didn't perform like this at the same age. This year's Champions League might be full of talented youngsters—but the brightest, most dazzling name is Šuker. Šuker, Messi, Ronaldo, Kaká, Modrić, Fàbregas—along with the other young stars still waiting in the wings... The old generation is slowly fading. And a new era has begun its march onto the grand stage of history!

Chapter 177: The Arrival of a New Era

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