After Christmas, New Manchester United's schedule is full.
First, they hosted a Northwest Division B league match at home, then went away to challenge Gran Forest, followed by another away game, and then the first round of the Northwest League Challenger Cup quarterfinals midweek. In this match, they faced an amateur team from the Northwest Super Group.
It was a one-week doubleheader throughout January, testing the physical strength and will of New Manchester United players.
Since Christmas fell on a Friday, the next Serie B league match was scheduled for Sunday. After two days of rest, New Manchester United's players remained disciplined. Upon their return to the team, they didn't miss a beat, defeating the opponent at home 2-0.
Although they faced amateur teams, New Manchester United enjoyed a significant advantage in the Northwest Division B, even surpassing Real Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga. After all, they comprised a group of higher-level players.
With a strong start after Christmas, New Manchester United headed to Nelsworth the next day. This small town in southern England, with a population of less than 10,000, didn't attract much attention for the first round of the FA Cup. The entire game had fewer than a thousand spectators, marking the lowest attendance since New Manchester United's establishment.
Moreover, among the more than 900 spectators, 300 had traveled from Manchester on a bus organized by the Manchester City Travel Agency.
Despite the small local turnout, New Manchester United fans still showed their enthusiasm, turning the entire stadium into a sea of support for the team.
Amidst the cheers of the fans, New Manchester United secured a 3-1 away victory against Glen Forest.
In terms of individual player ability, New Manchester United didn't hold a significant advantage, if any, over their opponents. However, their superiority lay in their organized team tactics and play. In contrast, Gran Forest relied mainly on individual performances, lacking technical and tactical prowess.
The gap between the two teams was more evident in the distinction between professional and amateur. This game reinforced Levi's confidence. His decision at the beginning of the season to sign full-time contracts with several key players proved wise.
This victory strengthened Levi's resolve to turn the team into a professional outfit this year.
Following their win, New Manchester United traveled north to Cohen, a town near Burnley, to face the Cohen team, ranked fourth in the Northwest Division B. Despite the long journey and facing a team with hopes of climbing the league table, New Manchester United triumphed 4-0 on the road, showcasing the gulf in class between the two sides.
However, in the subsequent Northwest League Challenger Cup away game, New Manchester United was held to a draw by the home team. They relied on tenacious defense to secure the stalemate, mirroring the intensity of the match, which ended 0-0.
Despite detailed rotation plans formulated by Bruce and Cassell, taking into account factors such as player fitness, New Manchester United only had 19 players at their disposal. With only 17 outfield players after deducting two goalkeepers, rotation became challenging.
Players like Karl Marginson, lacking suitable replacements, were forced to play three games consecutively. As a result, in the fourth game, he could hardly run and cramped before halftime, leading to a substitution being wasted.
Due to the frequent matches and the players' excessive physical exertion, New Manchester United failed to secure victory in the first round of the Northwest League Challenger Cup away game. If the team had been in optimal form, the second leg of the round would have been meaningless.
As a result, New Manchester United began discussing internally whether it was necessary to abandon certain competitions, such as the FA Cup, to allow players to focus more on the league.
While some may argue that the FA Cup presents opportunities for lower-ranked teams to upset stronger opponents, realistically, advancing far enough to face Premier League teams would be a monumental task for a semi-professional team from the tenth tier of English football.
However, Steve Bruce saw things differently.
"Although it may be unlikely for us to achieve success in the FA Cup this year, I cannot tell my players to give up on it. We cannot pick and choose which games we want to prioritize. That's not the mentality I want to instill in my players," Bruce stated emphatically during a meeting with senior staff at New Manchester United.
With this declaration, Bruce faced immense pressure, particularly in managing the players' morale.
"Levi, do you remember when you told me you believed I could bring something special to this team?" Bruce asked, turning to Levi.
Levi nodded, acknowledging the conversation.
"Well, what I bring to this team is the mentality of never giving up," Bruce declared.
"My team may suffer defeats, but we must do so standing tall. We cannot concede defeat before the battle even begins. That's not my style, nor is it the style of the team I lead," he continued.
Levi, Walsh, and Casselton remained silent, reflecting on Bruce's words.
"Yes, our decision to prioritize league and cup matches over the FA Cup is logical and prudent, but football doesn't always adhere to logic or prudence," Bruce continued.
"My players are hurting right now, I know that. Look at Carl. He was in top physical condition, yet he still suffered cramps on the field, but he kept pushing through. And Jonathan McTen, he's barely able to lift his leg at the end of each game, yet he persists. Why?" Bruce asked, punching his chest for emphasis.
"It's because of the love and dedication we have for this club. We cannot give up, and I refuse to tell my players when to fight and when to surrender. To me, that's not wisdom; it's betrayal – betrayal of the players' trust and commitment," Bruce concluded.
"Now, Levi, what's your decision?" Bruce inquired, locking eyes with Levi.
Levi stood up, placing a reassuring hand on Bruce's shoulder before turning to Casselton.
"Steve is right. I need to reconsider our approach. But after today's events, I'm more convinced than ever that appointing you as the head coach of our club was the wisest decision I've made. Steve, the club and I will fully support you," Levi affirmed.
Casselton also rose from his seat, offering a smile to Bruce.
"You're right, Steve. That's why I could never be a head coach. And Andy, I've heard there's a renowned physiotherapist on Faulkner Street. Their acupuncture and massage treatments are highly effective. Perhaps you could pay them a visit and see if they'd be willing to work with our players?" Levi suggested.
The effectiveness of acupuncture and massage therapy was a concept Levi had encountered during his time in European football circles. Although he couldn't establish a medical research institute like Milan Lab, he believed these treatments could benefit the team, especially given their current limitations.
Levi's proposal received unanimous support from Bruce and Casselton, both approaching the idea with an open mind.
As Bruce, Casselton, and Walsh exited the office, leaving Levi alone, his relaxed demeanor shifted to one of concern.
He understood Bruce's frustration, not just from the reasons he expressed, but also due to the club's limitations, both in terms of resources and infrastructure. Levi believed that with adequate support, Bruce could achieve even greater success for the team.
With only 19 players, many of whom were part-time, Bruce's ambitions were stifled leaving Levi to contemplate the challenges ahead. In fact, from the moment Levi first appointed Bruce, he knew the seasoned coach wouldn't remain with New Manchester United for long. Bruce's qualifications, abilities, and ambitious nature made it clear he wouldn't settle for mediocrity.
In essence, even though Levi was optimistic about New Manchester United's future, he knew it would take years to realize their full potential. Unfortunately, Bruce wouldn't wait that long. If given the choice, Levi believed Bruce would prefer coaching a team in the English Championship or even the Premier League, leading them to success within a year or two.
Furthermore, Bruce had hinted that this season would be his last as a player, intending to focus solely on coaching next season. However, whether he'd stay with New Manchester United remained uncertain.
As the saying goes, "a great temple doesn't need a big Buddha." Although it was only halfway through the season, Levi found himself already worrying about the challenges of the next season.