Free Web NovelTo speak of the relationship between Leeds United and Chelsea, we’d need to go quite far back.
The two clubs, who once maintained a tolerable—and sometimes even amicable—relationship, became sworn enemies after a single event in 1970.
In that year, the two teams met in the FA Cup final, and after a brutal battle, the match ended in a draw and was forced into a replay.
That replay would go on to carve its name into the history of English football broadcasting.
It is still remembered as one of the most legendary matches in FA Cup history—
and also as one of the dirtiest.
The players didn’t just shove each other;
they threw punches,
they flying-kicked each other,
and the referee barely intervened.
28.49 million people watched that match—
a record that still stands today.
From that day onward, the hostility between the two clubs soared to its peak.
Before Leeds fell to the Championship, whenever the two teams faced each other, people couldn’t tell if they were watching a football match or a bare-knuckle street fight.
Injuries were constant.
Fan violence eventually erupted into full-on bloodshed.
The rivalry only cooled after Leeds were relegated—but the animosity never truly vanished.
That ridiculous tradition survived to this very day.
Leeds’ greatest derby is still the Roses Derby with Manchester United, but their relationship with Chelsea is nearly just as murderous.
And today, both sides desperately needed a win.
Everyone expected the match to overheat—just like the 1970 FA Cup final.
Police were deployed in massive numbers inside and outside the stadium to prevent clashes between fans.
Even before kickoff, the stadium felt like the eve of a war.
“Roman, how do you see today’s game? I’m bored—shall we make a little bet between us?”
“A small bet?”
“Yes. I’ll bet on Leeds winning, and you’ll bet on Chelsea winning.”
“And what are we betting? Money is boring...”
Roman didn’t refuse. If anything, he seemed interested.
He frowned slightly, as though pondering what was appropriate to wager.
“How about this: whichever team wins gets to buy one player of their choosing from the other team?”
At that, Roman’s face lit up.
He responded with a playful grin.
“Are you serious? If we win, I’m going to ask for Ronaldo.”
“Of course. And I’m going to ask for Lampard.”
“Lampard? You mean Frank Lampard?”
“Yes. That one.”
“Hmm... that’s unexpected. I thought you’d ask for Zola, John Terry, or maybe Cudicini.”
Lampard was still a scratch-off lottery ticket.
His form was improving, but compared to the others, he still seemed unfinished.
But I knew Lampard’s potential.
He would one day become a Chelsea legend—
a man with iron stamina, who would play more matches than anyone except the goalkeeper.
If I brought him in now, before he formed deep roots at Chelsea, he could inject life into Leeds.
“Zola is too old. John Terry isn’t my preferred style of defender. And we already have a good goalkeeper. Cudicini would be unnecessary.”
I was firm.
There was only one player I wanted—Frank Lampard.
No one else at Chelsea interested me.
“So? Do you accept my bet?”
“I accept.”
“But are you really going to ask for Ronaldo?”
“Haha. Let’s talk about that again after the match.”
Roman dodged the question with a laugh.
Ronaldo was already quite old to be spending massive transfer fees on.
His form was still excellent, yes—but paying a fortune for a player who might only play two seasons was a heavy burden.
Still, he was last year’s World Cup Golden Boot winner and the second-highest scorer in the Premier League this season—so Roman likely brought him up just for show.
In truth, Roman was probably eyeing Rio Ferdinand.
Rio was coveted by many clubs, Manchester United included.
Had I not acquired Leeds, Rio would’ve transferred to United—just like in the original timeline.
Funny enough, both Lampard and Rio Ferdinand were West Ham academy products.
Watching them reunite at Leeds would be quite a satisfying picture.
I was indulging in that entertaining thought when Roman stepped closer.
His smile faded, and in a low, serious tone, he whispered:
“How are the Yukos negotiations progressing? I’ve heard many voices in Russia are opposing the sale to foreign capital.”
Opposition?
I looked at him, puzzled.
This was essentially people defying his own decision, wasn’t it?
“There was such a climate for opposition?”
“It seems the siloviki are stirring. They want a piece of the pie. They’re using economic advisors around the President to exert indirect pressure.”
“...Ha.”
Unbelievable. My brows furrowed on their own.
In original history, the siloviki would have seized total power.
But because I intervened and failed to fully purge the oligarchs, the factions were forced to share influence.
And since the President tolerated the two groups checking each other, they had no choice but to keep pointing guns at one another.
But to openly oppose a decision the President has already made?
They’d finally gone mad.
“They’ve lost their minds, haven’t they?”
“They hold power, but they’re starving. They didn’t accumulate wealth the way we did through privatization. They believe that nationalizing privatized corporations will give them more opportunities and positions.”
“What are the oligarchs doing? Just watching them run wild?”
Since Roman was practically the head of the oligarchs, I asked bluntly.
“If the siloviki themselves came forward, we’d have grounds to object. But since it’s the economic advisors around the President opposing it, we can’t say much. They keep pushing the argument that selling it now would be selling national wealth for pennies. They’re saying that if Yukos is to be sold, it must be at full price—or it should be absorbed by Gazprom. Embarrassing as it is, we’re staying low and observing.”
So they were just gauging the atmosphere.
Pathetic—but understandable.
No one wanted to be caught in the Kremlin’s next wave of purges.
Safer to stay low and watch carefully.
No wonder Roman became governor of Chukotka, Russia’s easternmost region, pouring his private fortune into regional infrastructure.
He learned firsthand that the farther you stayed from Moscow's central power, the safer you were.
“James is in Moscow for the negotiations. If something big happens, we’ll hear from him. He’ll handle it well. Still, keep me updated if anything changes.”
Roman nodded slightly.
Just then, I heard someone calling me.
“Hey! Kim Muhyeok! What are you doing?”
I turned.
It was Myeongsu waving at me.
He must have finally finished greeting people and taken his seat.
“Well, let’s watch the match for now. Today’s game is important—for us it’s about winning the title...”
“And for Chelsea, it’s about whether they qualify for the Champions League or drop to the Europa League. I’m excited, Charlie.”
“So am I. Let’s just hope it doesn’t get too heated.”
I led Roman to the VIP seats where Myeongsu was sitting.
“This is my friend—and a National Assembly member of the Republic of Korea—Representative Kim Myeongsu.”
Myeongsu rose and bowed.
He already knew who Roman was.
“Chairman Roman Abramovich, pleasure to meet you. I think we met briefly once before, but this is my first proper greeting. I’m Kim Myeongsu.”
“Nice to meet you. Roman Abramovich.”
I let them talk and then looked around the seats.
After greeting every person in the VIP section one by one, I finally sat down.
Myeongsu muttered under his breath:
“What is this place, a football stadium or a social club? Why are there so many damn people? And all of them are big names. We’ll spend all our time just saying hello.”
“In England, football is life. Anyone with even a mid-level reputation shows up.”
“You think you’ll be able to watch comfortably?”
“What does it matter? We’re here to enjoy.”
The stands were already roaring with the chants of Leeds home fans and the Chelsea supporters who had traveled all the way.
The heat of the crowd was palpable even before kickoff.
The final matchday of the Premier League always begins simultaneously across all ten games.
Because today decides:
*The title
*Relegation
*Champions League spots
*Europa League spots
Everything was on the line.
With nothing decided yet—not even the title—fans were on edge.
“Hey—hey! That’s Ronaldo. And—Zola! Zola’s there!” freēwebnovel.com
Myeongsu smacked my arm excitedly, his face glowing.
The moment he wasn’t talking about politics, he was like a kid.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You happy?”
“Of course! It’s not every day you get to see the Premier League live. Oh—hey, isn’t that Coach Hiddink?”
He spotted Hiddink and immediately started chanting “Hee-dong-gu!” like a fanboy.
A National Assembly member—no, the ruling party’s secretary-general—acting like this was ridiculous.
But no one judged him.
This was England.
This was football.
Had it been Korea, he would’ve been roasted for lack of dignity.
The players who had been warming up disappeared into the locker rooms to prepare for their entrance.
After various ceremonies and performances, the players finally walked out holding the hands of children.
Leeds’ Manager Hiddink and ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) Chelsea’s Manager Claudio Ranieri greeted each other with a handshake, followed by the players.
I turned to Roman.
“Roman. Ranieri is staying for now?”
“Yes. We’ll keep him through this season. We’re negotiating to bring in José Mourinho from FC Porto next year. But he wants to stay with Porto one more season, so negotiations are complicated.”
“Ah... Mourinho.”
Roman’s love for Mourinho hadn’t changed.
Even with the earlier acquisition timing, I wondered if he might choose another manager.
But Roman’s radar was still locked onto Mourinho.
“He’s a good coach. If Hiddink hadn’t come to Leeds, I might have considered Mourinho for Leeds.”
“Charlie, that’s a bit...”
When I said it earnestly, Roman looked troubled.
I laughed softly and waved it off.
“Haha, I’m joking. I’ll never fire Hiddink unless he chooses to leave. Performance doesn’t matter. Don’t be so surprised.”
At that moment, the broadcast camera turned toward us.
My face and Roman’s appeared on the big screen.
The entire stadium—home and away fans alike—burst into cheers.
When I acquired the club, Leeds fans fiercely opposed me.
Even after the acquisition, their eyes were filled with suspicion. ƒrēewebnovel.com
But I kept every promise.
I brought Hiddink—one of the world's greatest managers.
I retained key players.
I brought in every player the manager requested—Ronaldo included.
Whether they were expensive stars or promising youths, I signed them all.
And the results?
In just two years, Leeds had become a title contender.
We’d been knocked out of the Champions League, sure—but the fans didn’t care.
They were ecstatic.
I had transformed a near-bankrupt club into a powerhouse.
I waved back at the roaring stadium.
