The first round of the UCL has concluded. Aside from City's defeat to Barcelona, here are the results from other matches:
Chelsea drew with PSG in their away match, keeping their hopes alive for the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Bayer Leverkusen defeated Atlético Madrid 1–0, thanks to a Calhanoglu goal in the 57th minute at their home ground.
Juventus triumphed over Borussia Dortmund in Turin with goals from Tevez and Morata.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a comfortable 2–0 away win against Schalke.
In a surprising turn of events, Bayern Munich and Shakhtar Donetsk played to a goalless draw at Shakhtar's home ground.
The biggest shock of the round was Monaco scoring three away goals against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with the final score reading 1–3.
The least talked-about match globally, Porto versus Basel, ended in a 1–1 draw.
Among the top teams, Arsenal and Manchester City are at serious risk of failing to advance to the next round.
---
"The negotiations were successful. Here, take a look." Steven handed a stack of papers to Kenneth.
Sitting beside Steven, Kenneth accepted the documents and opened them. He discovered his salary had increased from £5,000 to £45,000 per week, along with various bonuses and a non-English club release clause set at £80,000,000.
"I'm satisfied," Kenneth said firmly, closing the contract copy and leaning back in his seat. A faint smile crossed his face as he let the numbers sink in.
Steven kept his eyes on the road but glanced briefly at Kenneth, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Good," he said with a nod. "After training, make sure you stop by Txiki's office to sign the original contract. No delays, alright?" He paused for a beat before adding, "By the way, you mentioned wanting to go on loan next season, right?"
Kenneth turned toward him, his tone curious but calm. "Yes. Did the club agree to it?"
"They did," Steven replied, his tone nonchalant, though his grin hinted at some pride. "You'll have the freedom to go, but they want to make sure it's a move that benefits your development."
Kenneth exhaled in relief. "That's great," he said, his smile widening.
After a moment of silence, Kenneth glanced at Steven and leaned slightly forward. "How's the progress with the players I recommended?" he asked, his tone shifting to one of professional curiosity. "You know, the ones I thought you could represent."
Steven chuckled, his grip on the steering wheel tightening slightly. "Well, I've already landed James Maddison as a client," he replied, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "He was a smart pick, by the way. As for the others... they're still in progress."
Kenneth nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Maddison's a great choice. But I really think some of the others could be worth the effort too. They have potential," he added, his voice carrying a tone of conviction.
Steven raised an eyebrow, glancing at Kenneth again briefly. "I'll take your word for it," he said, his tone light but serious enough. "But don't forget to focus on yourself, kid. I can't have you slacking just because you're trying to scout players for me."
Kenneth smirked. "Don't worry, Uncle. I can handle both," he said confidently.
As they approached the City Football Academy complex, Kenneth turned his attention to the familiar sight of the training grounds. Steven smoothly pulled the car into the parking lot and turned off the engine.
Kenneth opened the door, stepping out and stretching briefly before turning to Steven. "See you later, Uncle."
Steven leaned over the steering wheel with a grin. "Train hard and make me a lot of money, nephew," he said, half-joking.
Kenneth laughed, waving over his shoulder as he walked toward the entrance. "I'll make sure your wallet stays happy," he called back, his tone light but determined.
Kenneth chuckled softly, waved his hand, and entered the CFA complex.
Steven watched him go, his grin softening into a look of quiet pride. "That kid's got an eye for talent," he muttered to himself. "And he's got a bright future ahead." He shook his head with a smile and drove off.
---
Inside the gym at City Football Academy, Kenneth stood with other youth players, listening intently as the coach gave instructions for the day's training session. The state-of-the-art gym was equipped with modern tools, perfectly suited to meet the players' fitness needs.
Neil Roberts, the fitness coach for the U21 team, outlined the endurance session they were about to begin.
"Alright, we'll start with a light warm-up," Neil announced. "You've got 10 minutes for jogging in place and dynamic stretching. Let's go!"
Kenneth and his teammates immediately began light jogging in place, maintaining rhythm and increasing their heart rates. After three minutes, they transitioned to dynamic stretches, including leg swings, lunges, high knees, and butt kicks. Each movement was designed to loosen muscles and prepare their bodies for the main workout. Kenneth felt his body warming up, his muscles relaxing, and readying themselves for action.
Once the warm-up was complete, Neil signaled for them to begin a challenging circuit training session. Kenneth glanced at the treadmill in front of him, took a deep breath, and started running at a medium-high pace for two minutes. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his heart rate quickened, but he maintained his rhythm.
When the time was up, he leaped off the treadmill and moved to the battle ropes, gripping the thick ropes with both hands and whipping them up and down for a full minute. His arm muscles burned with exertion, but he persevered, pushing himself to give his best.
Next, Kenneth transitioned to the rowing machine, pulling the handle steadily and consistently for two minutes. He could feel the importance of engaging both his upper body and core.
He then moved quickly to the mat for bicycle crunches, pedaling his legs in the air to work on his core muscles for one minute. Though fatigue began to set in, Kenneth maintained a fast, steady pace, finding a burst of energy in the movement.
The circuit continued with dumbbell lunges. Kenneth picked up light dumbbells and performed lunges with controlled precision, focusing on his posture with each step.
Finally, he concluded the first circuit with bodyweight squats, bending his knees and keeping his balance throughout.
As the first session wrapped up, Kenneth breathed heavily but felt a sense of satisfaction. The U21 players were given a brief rest before starting the next circuit.
"Ugh, this is exhausting," Maffeo complained, panting heavily.
"Is that all you've got? Pathetic," Adarabioyo mocked, despite also being visibly out of breath.
"You're no better, idiot. The one with the most stamina is Lee," Maffeo retorted.
Adarabioyo glanced at Kenneth and said, "True, size doesn't always matter. Stamina is key."
Hearing their conversation, Kenneth narrowed his eyes and replied, "You're talking about my stamina, aren't you?"
"Of course. What else?" Adarabioyo smirked.
"Stop chatting and get ready for the next session," Neil Roberts interrupted.
After three rounds of the endurance circuits, Kenneth moved on to the strength training session. He started with lat pulldowns, focusing on controlled movements to target his upper back muscles. Next, he shifted to the leg press machine, driving the weights upward with steady power. Finally, he performed step-ups with light weights, alternating legs and maintaining perfect form with each repetition. The exercises tested his overall strength and endurance, pushing him to stay focused even as fatigue set in.
The gym session concluded with a cool-down routine. Kenneth used stretching and foam rolling to relax his tense muscles and prevent soreness. As he walked out of the gym, his body felt exhausted but refreshed, a satisfying result of the demanding workout.
By 9:30 AM, Kenneth and his teammates gathered in a meeting room for a tactical session led by Patrick Vieira. They analyzed past games, discussed strategies, and prepared for the upcoming fixtures.
From 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the players trained on the field, practicing set plays, ball control, and positioning under the coaches' watchful eyes. Afterward, they had an hour to rest and enjoy a well-earned lunch.
As Kenneth finished his meal, he was approached by Ruben Cousillas.
"Kenneth, the senior team needs you for the next training session," Ruben informed him.
Kenneth nodded in acknowledgment. It wasn't his first time training with the senior squad, and while he wasn't close to everyone, he had built a good rapport with players like Dzeko, Lampard, Joe Hart, and David Silva.
---
Manchester City's next fixture was against Liverpool on February 28. Just days after, they would face Chelsea in the League Cup final on March 4. Due to the final, their league match against Leicester had been postponed to a later date, likely in April or May, depending on City's schedule.
Fortunately for City, Yaya Toure had returned to the squad, bolstering their bench options. During the announcement of the starting lineup for the Liverpool match, Kenneth was shocked to hear his name included. Given Pellegrini's tendencies, Kenneth guessed the manager might be rotating players in preparation for the League Cup final.
The starting eleven included Joe Hart in goal, with Zabaleta at right back and Kolarov on the left. The center-back pairing consisted of Vincent Kompany and Mangala. Fernandinho and Yaya Toure formed a double pivot in midfield, while David Silva, Kenneth, and Nasri played as attacking midfielders behind Aguero as the lone striker.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool awaited them, and Kenneth couldn't help but feel the excitement. He was certain this would be a thrilling match.